[h1]Earth[/h1] [h2]Eastern Java[/h2] [h3]Baluran[/h3] An seemingly endless stretch of savanna laid out a carpet of gold and green below as the Personal VTOL sped along at a low altitude. Caught in the draft of its thrust loose leaves from the trees below whipped up into the air, creating a trail that followed the red and blue stripped craft as it meandered over the flat expansive fields. In the far distance the silhouette of the savanna's namesake rose against a backdrop of crystal blue and silvery wispy clouds that drifted in off the sea. There was an idyllic sort of serenity to be seen while flying over the grasslands. One of a handful of places still somehow kept empty on the island of Java. A monastic sense of peace had restored itself here over the remains of the narrow, spindly weather stations that dotted the plains with artificial regularity. These weather stations, the remnants of Nous' old omnipotent observation was part of a scattered global system built to measure and account for global ecological changes. There had been areas of the planet which underwent severe changes by Nous in an effort to uphold 'human comfort' the world over, and to maintain a meteorology that matched when Nous was first activated. Now the computer was decommissioned, so too did much of its systems fall into misuse. Although there was no doubt that in some, there was data still being mined and sent to some far-off server. Per Aadab Heatherow, it was not like this landscape was particularly new or unknown. She gazed out the windows of her cab with a distant bored expression as the craft's computer kept a smooth course to her destination at the base of Baluran mountain. Born in the Australian outback, she had grown up to know the wild expanse of unmolested nature, without so much as mountains to break the savanna or the sands that wound through Australia's still wild country. There was persistent humor that Australia itself was too much of a deadly country for human expanse, with its great open corridors and everything out for blood. There was laughs that this had been a factor in Nous' resettlement and redistribution programs to enforce peace is demographic nuking and to maintain a balance of population, that there in the Outback Nous' pets would die; and it could have directly put people in risk based on known values. Except for space, Nous' programmers seemed to have had a liberal definition of safety in space and was the one area Nous could have sent humans to plunder with minimal stress to its code. “Arriving in destination in ten minutes.” the computer said, its electrical voice sounded full of artificial hope. As if it were trying to convey that it had become as disinterested in the voyage as its master. Aadab blinked and passed a lethargic look to the LCD monitor in the dash-head of the flying craft. A small blue dot blinked against a satellite map of Baluran, not far off a small golden star pulsed. Aadab grunted a stiff acknowledgment at the computer, and she turned back to the window. Aadab was perhaps one of the few individuals who could name themselves a true native to anything. Her father's father and generations passed had been residents of Australia, Indians who had migrated to the island country. She was murky on the details, but the scant family stories said they were from Rajasthan. Over time, the family had intermingled with the Nous-imposed migrants of Earth and became nearly as much an amalgation of humanity as many other populations, but something had retained itself. She was a blue-eyed, dark-skinned woman, almost red. Inky black hair did not fall flat from her head, but curled just slightly. Narrow in face, and slender in build, her chin round. She tapped the arm rest of her seat with delicately painted hands, a string of henna wound from the palm of her hand to the back, and up her arm. There was a beep from the computer but no patchy voice-clips. She threw a quick look at the screen and she was closer now. She looked up ahead through the windshield and she something in the distance on the side of the mountain. A small blemish in its side where the trees had been cut away. “You're entering a policed zone, identify.” demanded a man's voice from over the aircraft's speakers. She had arrived. Aadab reached from the communication's console without hesitation and depressed the button. “Detective Aadab Heatherow,” she called into the microphone, “I was invited here by Tenzin Nagame.” “Copied Mrs. Heatherow, proceed.” the other end acknowledged. “Begin the descent.” Aadab ordered with dry indifference as she closed the channel. The computer systems acknowledged with a polite flowery beep as they came in on that once distant blemish. The engines swirled and danced and puffed as they came in close over the crowns of trees. An even heavier storm of leaves and flora spun up into the air as the aerial car came down. Come in close, a wide concrete landing pad presented itself for the incoming visitor, and already there was gathered atop of it the black and blue transports of the police. White drones darted up to meet Aadab's ride like comets, stopping to hover like silver bees as they eagerly scanned and verified the new visitor. Quickly satisfied, they dispersed in all directions as she touched down. There was a pneumatic hiss and the door opened itself, slowly swinging up and open like a trap-door. Pulling herself up, Aadab stepped out into the warm humid sun of the Equatorial tropics. “Good afternoon!” a nearby police officer shouted as detective Aadab swung herself out of the car. Standing up she straightened out her long beige coat before acknowledging the young officer. “How was the trip from Brisbane?” he asked conversationally. “Typical, Marcus.” Aadab mumbled in a low voice, “I probably shouldn't have held my breath about whether or not I'd see you here.” “Of course I'd be here, special victim calls for a special team!” Marcus laughed, stepping back as Aadab stepped away from the vehicle. The door closing in on itself, the motor fired again and the turbines of itself turned over to wheels, and it slowly coasted itself to the side to an empty space to park. Like many of the present cars, Aadab's held a smooth slicked-back aerodynamic shape. The nose molded into the windshield which in turn flowed into the roof like a water-smooth pebble. The entire shape presented it as being smaller than it was, even down to the small winglets along its side or the fiberglass-carbon spoiler that rose from its molded hatched rear. But unlike the police cruisers parked idly around it, it was much more civilian. The designated shape of the police cruisers held a more militarized form, sharper, more aggressive. The walls were thicker and almost armored and the noses more rigid and less formed to ram and to sustain that sort of impact. The shells were stronger, darker, but banded with blue bars and streaks against their black shells. Hers stood out from the squad of black bullets. “Who's in charge?” Heatherow asked, walking alongside officer Marcus as they strolled from the landing pad. Marcus' helmet and sun visor shielded much of his face. But a heavy-set chin and stubbly beard and mustache growth smiled from underneath a flattened, round nose. “Detective Ada.” confirmed Marcus, “He's a new, from up in Japan. Changed over late last month after Steven retired.” “How old was that man?” Aadab asked. “Fucker was clear to ninety, he was getting on.” Marcus laughed, “They say eighty is the new sixty, but even I would get out of this field after I hit fifty years of service. “I simply don't have the time for this bullshit I feel.” he bemoaned as he paused at the mouth of a covered walk way. “I understand completely.” sympathized Aadab. The two continued on to the main house of Tenzin. A patchwork of sun and shadow danced across the wooden planks of a long narrowed walk-way which meandered through a sea of high-canopies. Tiny LED lights at the crowns of the railing pylons giving further direction and soft emerald decoration to the wooden catwalk. “So what's the situation?” Aadab asked, looking off into the emerald boughs of the mountain trees. Small tropical birds fluttered between the branches, singing their hundreds of songs as the two officers walked through. It was a stark contrast with the endless grasslands she had flown over. It was a welcoming change from the empty norm of oceans and other flat landscapes. She was finally relieved from her boredom as she let herself become awed and inspired by the fresh verdant glow of the light. “Well, I don't know how much I can tell you.” Marcus said, “Simply put, someone might have broken in, killed Ms Nagame, and bolted off with some shit, Ms Nagame's car included. “I suppose you're here on the missing property?” he asked. “When have I ever not worked missing androids?” Aadab laughed, smiling. “Well when you worked for us, remember.” “That was missing persons.” reminded Aadab. “It's the same principle, right?” officer Marcus asked. “Hardly, you learn pretty fast that missing persons and missing androids are two wildly different situations.” “Right, Android Jesus and all.” “Him, and they got friends in the cyborgs.” Aadab continued. The trees parted from the path and the walkway opened up onto a deck of woven bamboo. In every direction a spider-nest system of wooded walks and trails spun out from this location. But hanging above them on thick bamboo and wooden struts, driven right into the side of the mountain Tenzin's mansion loomed overhead; verdant and organic with golden bands of strong treated bamboo allowing the organic shape of the house to hang from its anchored feet in the side of the mountain. “Which floor?” Aadab asked, amazed as she looked up at the four consecutive decks that comprised Tenzin's impressive home. It would have been rightfully peaceful were it not for the police officers and security staff wandering it. “Second, I'll take you to the detective in charge. He was with Tenzin last I checked too.” Marcus offered. Aadab nodded, and followed her old friend unquestioned to the twisting flight of stairs leading up into the home. The walk up was flowered in native plants that hung over the wood-paneled steps. Growing in bed carved from mountain side rock, or mortared together from river or pond stone they looked natural and a part of the landscape. Even coming onto the same level as the jutting polypore home most everything looked to be naturally inclined to be part of it. And Aadab was not surprised to find that a live tree and been incorporated into one of the central supporting structures of the massive home. As they entered the home they passed the mighty trunk of that central tree, which had not only been turned into a central supporting beam but a family alter of sorts, covered in trinkets and photos new and old of the Nagame clan. Aadab gave it a pensive loot as the passed, dancing between the outwardly smiling eyes of individuals from as far back as the 20th century. There was a bowl of oranges laid out in a golden bowl at its base. The woven bamboo stairs groaned softly under the two's weight as they ascended to the next level, each one like an open floor where cotton sheets or thinly woven walls provided a divider between the quarters. As they stepped onto the floor, they were immediately greeted by the elder congressmen. “Aadab?” he asked, startling the young woman as she stepped onto the floor. His thin phantom-like figure was a justification for a shocked yelp to escape her throat and she nearly backed down the stairs. When she caught her breath Aadab gave her a small bow. “It's nice you've arrived.” he greeted. “C-certainly.” Aadab stammered, her heart still raced in her chest as she clutched her breast frightfully. “This is a beautiful home.” she complimented. “Thank you.” he smiled, but it felt empty. Tenzin held the look of a man whose soul had been sucked out. His tan caramel complexion was shallow and lifeless. He wore a long white robe, a tight turtleneck collar hugged his neck in a stiff embrace. He was in mourning, and no doubt this ongoing investigation wasn't going to let him to forget soon. “Mrs. Heatherow I presume?” an unfamiliar voice called out to her from behind Tenzin. Aadab looked up to see the man standing patiently by a coffee table. He carried himself regally, with a stiff jaw and narrow almond, green eyes. “Detective Ada I presume?” she asked. He bowed. “That's my name.” he acknowledged, “I suppose we both have our parts and time is a resource, so now you've arrived can I pull you aside?” “Yes you may.” said Aadab, stepping around the old Congressman. 'Poor man,' she thought to herself. “The scene is on the far-side.” Ada nodded, directing her attention to a barrier of heavy blue tarp clipped to the ceiling on the far end of the floor, “I can brief you on what happened there.” “Thank you.” The two turned, and departed from Tenzin's side leaving the old congressman to watch them slip beyond the tarp. He staggered just a bit as the cold reminder of what had happened dripped down his spine. “We found the victim here.” detective Ada pointed out, without missing a professional beat and as soon as they walked through the veil. He pointed down to a stained patch on the ground. The area was in total disarray. Kneeling beside the stain on the floor Aadab pulled out a thin device from her pocket. A camera, holding it out she took a picture of the blood stain that had soaked into the fibrous bamboo. “Tenzin's help found Ms Nagame here late last Tuesday afternoon. She had been strangled, per contusions to her neck. The bruising however was so heavy that we could deduce on location that whoever had strangled her was strong.” “Do you have any suspects?” she asked, standing up and looking over the room, “Marital problems?” “Couldn't be that, Tenzin Nagame was in congress the time this had happened. He has a strong alibi, so I wouldn't approach him.” “Doesn't mean he's not untouchable.” Aadab responded cynically, “Any sign of where the attacker entered?” “Mrs Heatherow, the entire home is built in open decks. Even if the unsub broke in we'd be few in clues to where!” Ada bristled, annoyed. Aadab had to kick herself there. Recovering she quipped: “Still tracks.” “Well there's none of that, we scoured the hills.” Ada mumbled. Aadab nodded, “Besides the murder,” she began, “I'm going to need to know about this android that's missing and anything else I could use to chase him.” “Angelo-024, he's a suspect.” Ada mentioned, “We haven't had any direct hits on him. We put a call out on a vehicle that was missing from Tenzin's stock. We got a return on it in Surabaya-Semarang a few hours later but it was completely abandoned.” Aadab nodded, “Can I get access to the body? I need to look at it, I might have grounds to not only find Angelo on not just a missing property case but a murder one.” Ada nodded knowingly, “He's our only other major suspect, I'll get you permission to visit the body. I'll have the information and permission forwarded to you on your tablet.” “Thank you. I'm going to have to go talk to Tenzin now about Angelo, and get some details on him. I'll be on my way to the city within the hour.” “Good luck.”