Post by qpq on Nov 4, 2012 12:57:33 GMT -5
Synopsis: Troy Stephens is held for questioning regarding the Dr. Anthony Shin’s murder as he was on site after it occurred. During which he is visited by Poseidon as a reminder that he must continue on with his quest or the consequences will be severe. Troy suspects Manta involvement, but first must finish with the questioning before following up on his suspicions.
-------
"My name is Troy Stephens. I'm visiting from Chicago." I had been repeating it for several hours despite the fact that it went no further than that.
"Troy Stephens." The detective asked while moving back and forth in the interview room. They were once called interrogation rooms. There are many places that still call it that, but they call it interview room because it helps prevent interviewees from realizing that they could possibly be a suspect. I don't think I'm a possible suspect I am.
I was on scene when it happened. I fled the scene in pursuit and to remove something from my person, but that is neither here or there. My god mother hates when I say that. She calls it a undesirable habit that I should have been broken off years ago. She says that about a lot of things I do, but I am who I am.
"I was visiting someone." Simple as that.
"And your shirt."
"Was covered in blood because I came upon Dr. Shin. he had been injured and he shoved himself at me. " The splatter on said shirt which had been taken as evidence indicated just that.
"I'm afraid I can't tell you much more than that. I had reached out to him because I had come in possession of a few items that I wanted his expertise on. "
"Really and you are...a.."
"Student at the University of Michigan. archaeology major, but there were some items that I was not familiar with as they were from a marine environment so I came to speak with Dr. Shin regarding them as he is more of an expert and I thought he might be able to place them." The items had been taken into evidence as well and they would find that they did belong to me. They've been registered with the proper authorities."
Tony Shin was the estranged son of a Stephen Shin. Stephen Shin had an interesting history, but he has long since died. He died of natural causes, but Tony believed that it his his fathers relationship with a certain man that brought his life to end despite his advanced age. It was this man, these people that Tony had become quietly obsessed with. He became affiliated with several academic circles over the years until he finally ended up in Metropolis.
He was searching. Searching for something that was not meant for him. He was looking for proof. He sought to do what his father could not unaware that his father spent his life atoning for his past crimes to varying results.
"So you're from Chicago, but you go to the University of Michigan and out of the blue you decided to come and see Dr. Shin?"
Troy glanced over towards the detective shaking his head.
"No, I had reached out to him several weeks ago and arranged the visit. He was quite interested in some of the pieces that I had acquired. I believe he was going to try to see if I was willing to part with them as a donation or perhaps letting him borrow them. Hard to say. We had only spoken via email and over the phone."
TROY: I had been given a shirt to wear and surprisingly it wasn't some type of prison garb, but I kept my eyes on the detective and waited to see if there was going to be any more to discuss.
"After I found him there was someone that was attempting to flee. I gave the description to your partner and explained what happened next. I attempted to..." Get a good look is what I told him, but it was a little more than that.
I won't say that I wasn't caught off guard, because I was. So much so that I found myself crashing into rather large stone tablet knocking it off the table. It was unexpected but you adapt and you don't linger in place you move. You get up and move before the follow through comes. I could already hear my sister's voice in the back of my mind mocking me for talking into something so obvious. I could lie and say that I was concerned about Dr. Shin's condition, but truth of the matter was that I was more focused on locating on what I knew was there.
The lab had been trashed and was apparent that someone was looking for the same thing that I was, but they were looking in the wrong place. Still there was someone that had obviously been prepared for the assignment which meant that I had to defend myself without tipping my head.
"The description you gave describes half the little shits in this city. That's not helping us at all," the detective barked a bit. He was clearly frustrated, but if I told him what I saw that would definitely alert the wrong individuals.
"Troy I need you to be honest here with me." It wasn't a plea more of a demand. he had been threatening, but more because he wanted the truth.
"I'm doing my best, Detective Warren, but I tried to get the best look that I could. Got tossed around a bit for my efforts. I want him brought to justice." There were more than one but they were in the alley waiting, but it was the one that broad sided me that I wanted to get my hands on.
"You don't look too bad off. You'll live, but Dr. Shin. Can't say the same for him."
Each step that you take, each move you make has to have a purpose. You need to be the opposite of your opponent. Use their energy against them. Flow with their movements not against them. Let them expend every bit of energy they can then strike. Roll with them. Turn with them and when they provide an opening strike.
Containing the fight was the biggest problem making sure that it didn't get out in the open. I doubt either of us wanted that to happen but I needed to get the authorities out here, before someone else called. I had to back off because I know someone would see, there would be someone and if I wasn't there I would be implicated. At most I would become a person of interest, but that could be managed.
"You ran after him. We know that much. Why?"
Why.
"Instinct. Probably a stupid one. Someone's murdered and I go after the person." I shake my head trying to let it settle in that that was probably not the smartest thing to do. Not in million years. Still I can't leave not yet, because it's only a matter of time before they try again.
They got a good look at me as much as the hood would allow, but they don't know me. Few people know me. They'll try to place the face, but there is no face to which I can be compared to. I'm simply me. This sometimes can be a good thing. It was different there were no guns there were blades they came in for a silent kill still black suits, red visors, breathing tubes. There was no mistaking who they were.
I had to make a choice to come back or pursue I can back because they hadn't retrieved what they wanted. They killed him and still came up empty handed. That told me one thing they had not located the item. Which meant there was still time.
I didn't play the lawyer card yet, because I wanted to know how far the detective was going to take this and me being cooperative was probably starting to wear thin.
He's here, Troy. It was unexpected perhaps fortuitous. You need to retrieve the item, before he's sighted. Whether or not he knows it he was drawn to Metropolis I suppose at one moment or another we're drawn to the city, but they tried once they'll try again.
The voice was soft in my mind driving me in the direction that I needed to go. From St. Rochelle to Metropolis. Perhaps I'll be going to Gotham next, but something told me that this was probably.... and then it happened as quickly as the thought started it stopped when I glanced towards the water.
This quest was of particular interest to several people. The glass of water looked clean and refreshing to most, but to me it was anything but. I can't say that there was something foul in it, because it was anything but, but when you see rather fleshy orb at the bottom of the glass moving of it's own accord you take noticed. Especially when it blinks at you then pulses a few times bursting filling the glass with a deep red liquid.
He knows.
Understatement of the year Keeper. Understatement of the year. Of course he knows. If you know he knows.
This is really bad timing, but I focus on the glass not taking my eyes off it. They have me confused with a different twin at least that's what I keep telling myself, but instead of looking away I wait and then it changes the entire room is swept away and I almost feel myself wanting to fall back but it would only bring me to the floor which is slowly becoming covered with water from the glass which is now overflowing. The detective is talking and talking, but I don't hear the words the words don't reach me, because all I can hear is the dripping of water until the drops upon the floor become sploshes of the new found lake that's forming. It quickly spreads across the floor and I watch the room fill.
Once slow now fast the blood ridden water rises above my ankles and then my knees until I find myself surrounded by it and the detective he's cease talking he's floating byl lifeless. Cheap trick but it gets your attention. I can hear the groaning of the walls as they break under the pressure and the entire room bursts open water spreading everywhere and I still remain seated. Gone is the interview room. Gone are the police, felons, victims and family. I find myself in the metal chair that is perched upon a rock.
If I sigh it would be rude. If I smile it will be seen as being arrogant and I'm anything but that.
They say the sea is cold, but the sea contains the hottest blood of all... It just pops in my head probably because I've seen a certain movie far too my times, but there he is staring at me in his grand...behemoth glory.
I don't know what strings he pulled for this intervention, but this is really bad timing at the moment.
"Lord Poseidon." I could say that my life just got more complicated, but let's face it. Complicated has nothing on this.
Be mindful. Be respectful. However don't take a lot of their crap, because they're always up to something and notoriously for screwing up our lives." There was a pause before her eyes shifted to me.
"What?" It was less inquisitive and more accusatory. As usual she was pretty much on point.
"Nothing, just surprised at the word choice."
"Fuck you."
"Now we're back to our regular programming."
Don't get me wrong I love my sister, but it gets a little unsettling when she starts censoring herself for my benefit, because she wants to make sure that I know that she's worried without her having to actually say. I wonder what she would say right now.
Patience. One must always stress patience when dealing with one of the three. Not that they other drop in on you without reason. I would like to say that I had trespassed in to his seas or ran off with some treasure or prize, but that wasn't the case. This was just a reminder. A reminder of how bad it could become if we weren't successful.
"Always a pleasure to see you."
Not a lie it was good to see him.
"I've been..."
He didn't need to move his lips he didn't need vocalization because well the sides of my mind were being assaulted with his voice. I fought the urge to slide my eyes close, but instead I look towards the great behemoth while he reminds me of why I'm here and what's at stake.
"Of course. I remember our first conversation. I believe I have found one of the pieces, but as we suspected we're not the only ones in search of the item." It's always a bit of a race we knew it would come to that. It was just too important for only one group to set out to find it.
"I know my part in this and I have not deceived you at all. I mean to help make this right." How exactly did I get enlisted? Well that would have been the Keeper, but he was not alone in this. Lord Poseidon had been waiting until this moment. I suspect the way he found me in the beginning was the same way that he found me now.
Tritons.
Not bad people, but given their gifts and my connections it was the quickest way to locate me. He wants this to be done now but we both know this could go a lot faster if he would just hand over a map on where the pieces were. The fact that one of the pieces was here wasn't surprising.
Luckily this wasn't going to turn into a fight. He wasn't particular fond of my family to begin with, but he's warmed to me a little even if he yells at me a lot. He's like a crodegty uncle that most people avoid, for one reason or another, but in this case. My mother and him didn't see eye to eye on a few things. I won't say that she hasn't forgiven him, but him forgiving her totally different story.
Gods can hold a grudge. Go figure. Then again anyone's who's had Hera as a step mother knows that all too well. Badges of honor or horror depending on who you talk to.
"The longer I'm delayed the more of an increased chance that the pieces will fall into the wrong hands. " Do I know the whole story? Of course not, but I know that he wants it back, but he's giving me a chance to set it right and not intervene. Last thing anyone needs is for him to intervene.
"Unless this is a big production just to say that you're worried about me which would be interesting, but it can't be that, because I'm just another little soldier doing his duty. I have given you my word that I would see this to the end. I will be released and I will return to the museum and retrieve the piece even if it means I risk exposure." There were more than his plans that were in play. The Keeper was planning something what I can't exactly say I knew, but he was trying to give the world hope, but it had to be done carefully. If rushed it could end as quickly as it began.
However, there were some obligations that could never be forgotten or turned away from.
"My word is my bond and my bond is the word. If you trust me you will allow me to return my work. If you cannot trust that trust that I am my mother's son and that I have the same strength and determination and that I will see this through to the end no matter the outcome. This is that you have given me is one that I will not abandon. It is not what we do. It is not what I will do. Let the moment move forward and you will feel your reach once more Lord of the Sea."
And just like that the water flowed away and I was returned to the moment that I had been stolen from as the detective walked back up to the table frustrated that I had not provided him with what he wanted.
"Am I free to go, detective?" Because there was somewhere I needed to be.
-------
"My name is Troy Stephens. I'm visiting from Chicago." I had been repeating it for several hours despite the fact that it went no further than that.
"Troy Stephens." The detective asked while moving back and forth in the interview room. They were once called interrogation rooms. There are many places that still call it that, but they call it interview room because it helps prevent interviewees from realizing that they could possibly be a suspect. I don't think I'm a possible suspect I am.
I was on scene when it happened. I fled the scene in pursuit and to remove something from my person, but that is neither here or there. My god mother hates when I say that. She calls it a undesirable habit that I should have been broken off years ago. She says that about a lot of things I do, but I am who I am.
"I was visiting someone." Simple as that.
"And your shirt."
"Was covered in blood because I came upon Dr. Shin. he had been injured and he shoved himself at me. " The splatter on said shirt which had been taken as evidence indicated just that.
"I'm afraid I can't tell you much more than that. I had reached out to him because I had come in possession of a few items that I wanted his expertise on. "
"Really and you are...a.."
"Student at the University of Michigan. archaeology major, but there were some items that I was not familiar with as they were from a marine environment so I came to speak with Dr. Shin regarding them as he is more of an expert and I thought he might be able to place them." The items had been taken into evidence as well and they would find that they did belong to me. They've been registered with the proper authorities."
Tony Shin was the estranged son of a Stephen Shin. Stephen Shin had an interesting history, but he has long since died. He died of natural causes, but Tony believed that it his his fathers relationship with a certain man that brought his life to end despite his advanced age. It was this man, these people that Tony had become quietly obsessed with. He became affiliated with several academic circles over the years until he finally ended up in Metropolis.
He was searching. Searching for something that was not meant for him. He was looking for proof. He sought to do what his father could not unaware that his father spent his life atoning for his past crimes to varying results.
"So you're from Chicago, but you go to the University of Michigan and out of the blue you decided to come and see Dr. Shin?"
Troy glanced over towards the detective shaking his head.
"No, I had reached out to him several weeks ago and arranged the visit. He was quite interested in some of the pieces that I had acquired. I believe he was going to try to see if I was willing to part with them as a donation or perhaps letting him borrow them. Hard to say. We had only spoken via email and over the phone."
TROY: I had been given a shirt to wear and surprisingly it wasn't some type of prison garb, but I kept my eyes on the detective and waited to see if there was going to be any more to discuss.
"After I found him there was someone that was attempting to flee. I gave the description to your partner and explained what happened next. I attempted to..." Get a good look is what I told him, but it was a little more than that.
I won't say that I wasn't caught off guard, because I was. So much so that I found myself crashing into rather large stone tablet knocking it off the table. It was unexpected but you adapt and you don't linger in place you move. You get up and move before the follow through comes. I could already hear my sister's voice in the back of my mind mocking me for talking into something so obvious. I could lie and say that I was concerned about Dr. Shin's condition, but truth of the matter was that I was more focused on locating on what I knew was there.
The lab had been trashed and was apparent that someone was looking for the same thing that I was, but they were looking in the wrong place. Still there was someone that had obviously been prepared for the assignment which meant that I had to defend myself without tipping my head.
"The description you gave describes half the little shits in this city. That's not helping us at all," the detective barked a bit. He was clearly frustrated, but if I told him what I saw that would definitely alert the wrong individuals.
"Troy I need you to be honest here with me." It wasn't a plea more of a demand. he had been threatening, but more because he wanted the truth.
"I'm doing my best, Detective Warren, but I tried to get the best look that I could. Got tossed around a bit for my efforts. I want him brought to justice." There were more than one but they were in the alley waiting, but it was the one that broad sided me that I wanted to get my hands on.
"You don't look too bad off. You'll live, but Dr. Shin. Can't say the same for him."
Each step that you take, each move you make has to have a purpose. You need to be the opposite of your opponent. Use their energy against them. Flow with their movements not against them. Let them expend every bit of energy they can then strike. Roll with them. Turn with them and when they provide an opening strike.
Containing the fight was the biggest problem making sure that it didn't get out in the open. I doubt either of us wanted that to happen but I needed to get the authorities out here, before someone else called. I had to back off because I know someone would see, there would be someone and if I wasn't there I would be implicated. At most I would become a person of interest, but that could be managed.
"You ran after him. We know that much. Why?"
Why.
"Instinct. Probably a stupid one. Someone's murdered and I go after the person." I shake my head trying to let it settle in that that was probably not the smartest thing to do. Not in million years. Still I can't leave not yet, because it's only a matter of time before they try again.
They got a good look at me as much as the hood would allow, but they don't know me. Few people know me. They'll try to place the face, but there is no face to which I can be compared to. I'm simply me. This sometimes can be a good thing. It was different there were no guns there were blades they came in for a silent kill still black suits, red visors, breathing tubes. There was no mistaking who they were.
I had to make a choice to come back or pursue I can back because they hadn't retrieved what they wanted. They killed him and still came up empty handed. That told me one thing they had not located the item. Which meant there was still time.
I didn't play the lawyer card yet, because I wanted to know how far the detective was going to take this and me being cooperative was probably starting to wear thin.
He's here, Troy. It was unexpected perhaps fortuitous. You need to retrieve the item, before he's sighted. Whether or not he knows it he was drawn to Metropolis I suppose at one moment or another we're drawn to the city, but they tried once they'll try again.
The voice was soft in my mind driving me in the direction that I needed to go. From St. Rochelle to Metropolis. Perhaps I'll be going to Gotham next, but something told me that this was probably.... and then it happened as quickly as the thought started it stopped when I glanced towards the water.
This quest was of particular interest to several people. The glass of water looked clean and refreshing to most, but to me it was anything but. I can't say that there was something foul in it, because it was anything but, but when you see rather fleshy orb at the bottom of the glass moving of it's own accord you take noticed. Especially when it blinks at you then pulses a few times bursting filling the glass with a deep red liquid.
He knows.
Understatement of the year Keeper. Understatement of the year. Of course he knows. If you know he knows.
This is really bad timing, but I focus on the glass not taking my eyes off it. They have me confused with a different twin at least that's what I keep telling myself, but instead of looking away I wait and then it changes the entire room is swept away and I almost feel myself wanting to fall back but it would only bring me to the floor which is slowly becoming covered with water from the glass which is now overflowing. The detective is talking and talking, but I don't hear the words the words don't reach me, because all I can hear is the dripping of water until the drops upon the floor become sploshes of the new found lake that's forming. It quickly spreads across the floor and I watch the room fill.
Once slow now fast the blood ridden water rises above my ankles and then my knees until I find myself surrounded by it and the detective he's cease talking he's floating byl lifeless. Cheap trick but it gets your attention. I can hear the groaning of the walls as they break under the pressure and the entire room bursts open water spreading everywhere and I still remain seated. Gone is the interview room. Gone are the police, felons, victims and family. I find myself in the metal chair that is perched upon a rock.
If I sigh it would be rude. If I smile it will be seen as being arrogant and I'm anything but that.
They say the sea is cold, but the sea contains the hottest blood of all... It just pops in my head probably because I've seen a certain movie far too my times, but there he is staring at me in his grand...behemoth glory.
I don't know what strings he pulled for this intervention, but this is really bad timing at the moment.
"Lord Poseidon." I could say that my life just got more complicated, but let's face it. Complicated has nothing on this.
Be mindful. Be respectful. However don't take a lot of their crap, because they're always up to something and notoriously for screwing up our lives." There was a pause before her eyes shifted to me.
"What?" It was less inquisitive and more accusatory. As usual she was pretty much on point.
"Nothing, just surprised at the word choice."
"Fuck you."
"Now we're back to our regular programming."
Don't get me wrong I love my sister, but it gets a little unsettling when she starts censoring herself for my benefit, because she wants to make sure that I know that she's worried without her having to actually say. I wonder what she would say right now.
Patience. One must always stress patience when dealing with one of the three. Not that they other drop in on you without reason. I would like to say that I had trespassed in to his seas or ran off with some treasure or prize, but that wasn't the case. This was just a reminder. A reminder of how bad it could become if we weren't successful.
"Always a pleasure to see you."
Not a lie it was good to see him.
"I've been..."
He didn't need to move his lips he didn't need vocalization because well the sides of my mind were being assaulted with his voice. I fought the urge to slide my eyes close, but instead I look towards the great behemoth while he reminds me of why I'm here and what's at stake.
"Of course. I remember our first conversation. I believe I have found one of the pieces, but as we suspected we're not the only ones in search of the item." It's always a bit of a race we knew it would come to that. It was just too important for only one group to set out to find it.
"I know my part in this and I have not deceived you at all. I mean to help make this right." How exactly did I get enlisted? Well that would have been the Keeper, but he was not alone in this. Lord Poseidon had been waiting until this moment. I suspect the way he found me in the beginning was the same way that he found me now.
Tritons.
Not bad people, but given their gifts and my connections it was the quickest way to locate me. He wants this to be done now but we both know this could go a lot faster if he would just hand over a map on where the pieces were. The fact that one of the pieces was here wasn't surprising.
Luckily this wasn't going to turn into a fight. He wasn't particular fond of my family to begin with, but he's warmed to me a little even if he yells at me a lot. He's like a crodegty uncle that most people avoid, for one reason or another, but in this case. My mother and him didn't see eye to eye on a few things. I won't say that she hasn't forgiven him, but him forgiving her totally different story.
Gods can hold a grudge. Go figure. Then again anyone's who's had Hera as a step mother knows that all too well. Badges of honor or horror depending on who you talk to.
"The longer I'm delayed the more of an increased chance that the pieces will fall into the wrong hands. " Do I know the whole story? Of course not, but I know that he wants it back, but he's giving me a chance to set it right and not intervene. Last thing anyone needs is for him to intervene.
"Unless this is a big production just to say that you're worried about me which would be interesting, but it can't be that, because I'm just another little soldier doing his duty. I have given you my word that I would see this to the end. I will be released and I will return to the museum and retrieve the piece even if it means I risk exposure." There were more than his plans that were in play. The Keeper was planning something what I can't exactly say I knew, but he was trying to give the world hope, but it had to be done carefully. If rushed it could end as quickly as it began.
However, there were some obligations that could never be forgotten or turned away from.
"My word is my bond and my bond is the word. If you trust me you will allow me to return my work. If you cannot trust that trust that I am my mother's son and that I have the same strength and determination and that I will see this through to the end no matter the outcome. This is that you have given me is one that I will not abandon. It is not what we do. It is not what I will do. Let the moment move forward and you will feel your reach once more Lord of the Sea."
And just like that the water flowed away and I was returned to the moment that I had been stolen from as the detective walked back up to the table frustrated that I had not provided him with what he wanted.
"Am I free to go, detective?" Because there was somewhere I needed to be.