[color=D6FFFF][b]Swathe Street Commons[/b][/color]
[color=D6FFFF][b]Reclaim Zone, South City Sprawl[/b][/color]
[color=D6FFFF][b]April 1, 2065[/b][/color]

[color=goldenrod][i]Fsssssh! 

Whrrrrrrr![/i][/color]

[color=yellow][b]Bzzt![/b][/color]

With a visible spark, the Engitech CyberEye 071X security camera finally stopped its erratic movements, slumping downwards in place like a patient with a powerful sedative in an IV line. 

It was almost too good to be true. Technology was, of course, never reliable or safe, but what were the odds of the cameras going out here, and now? It was almost [i]too[/i] perfect. Suspiciously perfect. He had a much more elaborate plan in mind, to trick the nearest convenient twenty-something intern into planting it for him. But the more elaborate a plan, the more likely something to go wrong. The best actions were usually the simplest.

A quick glance around the room confirmed the other cameras in the room had done likewise. For some reason, security was, for the moment, blind. Howland dispassionately ran through the possibilities in his head.

[color=C0C0C0]
Could it be a stroke of luck? Coincidence?
	Unlikely. Can’t be ruled out.

Could it be fate?
	Don’t be ridiculous.

Could it be an unknown benefactor? Someone trying to aid him?
	Unlikely. Not impossible.
		A benefactor would probably have directly or indirectly come to him.
			No. If finding a kindred spirit were likely, I wouldn’t have to do what I do.

Could it be a trap?
	By the police? By security?
		No, they wouldn’t allow a bomb to really be set up in public just to gather evidence.
	By a third party?
		Political intrigue is pretty likely in a place like this.
			But not [i]that[/i] likely.

Does anyone stand to gain from helping me in this manner?
	Any of the five parties?
		No.
	Criminal action?
		Plausible.
			But that would require a criminal to know about me and for some reason not say anything nor act on it before.
				Not plausible, then.

Does anyone stand to gain from disabling the cameras?
	Plausible.
		It would allow all manner of criminal opportunities. In the Reclaim there could be any number of thieves or cons.

Most likely answer?
	Someone else wants the cameras disabled for some other reason.

[center]A lucky coincidence, then.[/center]

[right]Resolved.[/right]
[/color]

Howland nodded to himself. The plan proceeds. Still - he would have to be as careful as he could. Some extra precautions wouldn’t hurt anything. Perhaps it would be worth it to make sure he was seen elsewhere at the time the bomb went off. Wasn’t there a reporter out interviewing people outside? Ordinarily, it was best to stand out as little as possible - but being seen elsewhere would be a good idea in this case. And besides, representing the Committee was his actual job.

He orbited the outside of the Central Square’s central plaza with a lazy prowl, watching carefully for those around him with portable devices. These days, nearly anything could have a camera. The last thing he needed was to be in the background of some teenager’s selfie, planting a bomb. Of course, he couldn’t keep his eyes on everyone at once - his only realistic option was to limit the angles at which it could be seen.

Up ahead, an unoccupied bench would serve nicely. Everyone was busy looking the other way, towards the candidates and the media. He walked past, carefully ducking slightly to set the briefcase down, dropping his cargo without breaking stride or altering his pace. He continued on, not heading directly for the exit at a rush, but rather taking the pace of an unhurried and uncaring bureaucrat. 

Right. It was time to head back, change his appearance back to normal, and have Dr. Parker Howland, M.D., return to the event. Maybe he’d even end up on TV. He smiled to himself as he ducked into an unoccupied bathroom.

[hr]

...did the drunk lady just give herself a heart attack?

Theresa blinked, baffled by the events as they transpired. But this poorly-dressed woman was clearly intoxicated and probably dangerous - it was best to let security handle it. With all eyes on the woman’s dramatic diving cyberdecking, Theresa quietly made her way across the room, taking a somewhat circuitous route until she ended up next to her newfound employer. [color=00BB77]”Ah, Ms. Ramana?”[/color] she began. [color=00BB77]”Perhaps we should leave her for the authorities.”[/color]