The day has come. The crew has packed up and is going towards the area where the first part of the EXPO is in. Zarya notices Lambda from earlier, looking around.
"She's here too", thinks Zarya.
The crew settles on a table and starts the talk.
"Okay. Futurum and I will leave you guys. Fae, be with them, okay? If something goes wrong, then call us.", says Aeternum.
"Got it, dad! Have fun, mom and dad!", says Fae, hugging her parents.
Aeternum and Futurum leave.
"Well, let's go around and explore the area.", says Rain.
Everyone splits up. Fae goes with Zarya.
After a few minutes, a few gunshots are heard. Every crew member follows the source of the sound, and sees Lambda in a growing pool of blood. Everyone around is shocked, and some are throwing up and leaving.
The speakers turn on. "Warning! Active shooter in the building! Please evacuate calmly!"
After a while, only the crew and the Intelligence Network members are left. They are all around Lambda's corpse.
"Does anyone know who she is?", asks a man nearby, with the tag '#3,034 Mark Stoner'
"That is Lambda Oni, #3,539 of the Intelligence Network.", says Aeternum.
Futurum sits next to the body and tries to heal it. "Unsuccessful. The bullet hit the brain and heart. This shooter knows the deadliest spots that not even the Network's healing magic can heal."
"Could it be someone from the life department then?", asks #3,601 Kona Shinagi.
#1 Samuel Koper comes and tells everyone to go away. "What the…"
He looks around. Only the crew are left. "Go. Why are you here?", asks Samuel.
"We are the Weavers. Astral Thread members.", says Aeternum. "I am #3,456 Kärn Vennur, and this is #3,396 Kira Vennur."
"I see. Then, I guess I can assign you to find the killer. I am mostly sure this is a cause of a Network member. The Network is getting unstable, so I sadly can't help.", says Samuel, leaving them behind.
"Well. I can officially call the death.", says Futurum. "Somebody look up her birth date."
"Month of Snow, Day 4, 2152 2SE", says Zarya, looking at her phone.
"Lambda Oni, Age 22. Died of murder. Five gunshot wounds. Time of death: Month of Leaves, Day 18, 2175 2SE at 9:02 AM.", says Futurum.
"Why are people like this…", wonders Zarya, going away for a bit.
"Could you track the gun by the bullets?", asks Rain.
"Yeah. This seems to be an Astoria-exclusive model. Oddly enough, only available to Astorian people only.", says Mailen.
"Hmm. Well, I guess we should ask our higher-ups in the Network. But first, we need this body transported.", says Aeternum.
Shortly after, the body is transported, and everyone else is back into the EXPO building, and the event continues as normal. While the Vennurs are in their meetings, the crew focuses on finding Lambda's murderer.
"Well, I only know one place this gun is bought in. It's always in Central Astoria.", says Mailen. "I know somebody that can get there and check for us. I know we are the only non-intelligents here. This could be easy."
Mailen calls up his mother and asks her to check for that gun, and gives the official Threadian seal, so she can receive info. "Works flawlessly in Astoria starting today."
"Okay, she'll be done in around 2 hours or so. So… now we'll go as normal. We got to see miss Lambda's role in the Network, and if any people protested it.", adds Mailen.
An official approaches the crew. "Hey there, you're the Weavers, right?"
"Yeah. We're from the Thread. What's up?", says Mailen.
"I'd like you to come with me. We need the help of the two Intelligents to help us find out what happened to Lambda, and what her role is.
The crew leaves the investigative team in Astoria to do their part – reporting to Lambda's family and give news coverage.
In the other room, Samuel is looking at the papers for the EXPO. "This thing is off to a rough start. My speech will have to be delayed."
The crew have gotten the access of Lambda's papers in her hotel, thanks to Zarya's help. The officer has closed off the hallway near Lambda's room, to prevent evidence tampering.
He takes a paper, and it's written in an unknown language.
"Does anyone here speak this language?", asks the officer. He hands the paper to Aeternum, who was standing just next to him.
"Hmm… Looks like Mayikan. Preferably Hallstadt. Odd. This isn't her paper.", says Aeternum.
Aeternum keeps reading the paper while Mailen finds something else.
"UHC integration into the Network… That's her role?", asks Mailen.
Futurum looks up at Mailen and remembers "Oh, right! The UHC was inviting a hundred new members into the Network. They want to expand their business into the Galactic Center. The new members were supposed to be UHC representatives."
"I see. So, somebody must have something against the UHC?", asks Rain.
"Possible. But then, wouldn't all hundred people be the target?", asks Zarya.
"Yes. But, remember, she only died 30 minutes ago. There's more than likely we'll either hear more of them, or none at all. All we can do is wait.", says Aeternum.
Just at the perfect time, a news popup for all Network came around on Aeternum's and Futurum's phones.
"To every Network member. Please stay indoors. The first meeting is delayed by one day. A serial murderer is on the loose, killing multiple Intelligents. Known victims are #3,539 Lambda Oni, #3,604 Pekan Limbdar, and #3,601 Kona Shinagi."
Both their faces go numb. The Intelligent Network's sirens are going off across the Theatrical City, forcing every 'Intelligent' to stay inside.
"First Lambda, now these guys?", says Futurum. "This is either a Scientist's doing or a life-costing stunt."
The entire city gets locked down, and every person is told to stay inside.
However, the crew does go out. They find a few more clues, and Mailen's mom also figures out a few names of people that bought this same gun used in the murder.
"We have five names. One of them is from Malyxia, the others are from other planets.", says Mailen.
"And, these guns have a 10-day limited use. So it has to be someone that has been in here in the last 2 weeks.", he adds.
"Three of these names are fellow Intelligents. Hm.. #3,499 Liam Plain, #3,438 Jane Malina, and #3,000 Freeman."
"I've read many novels to know who the killer is. It's always someone with a cool name. It's #3,000!", says Zarya.
"Sure, but this isn't a novel. It's reality.", says Futurum.
The crew lets the Astorian police deal with working on the case. They are more focused on protecting the Vennurs.
The next day, the first meeting is still nowhere to start. In the mid-day, Aeternum and Futurum get a notification that the Theatrical City meeting will be held online. "Oh, this means we can go to Colania and continue the EXPO there. This one is going to be online.", says Futurum. "And it's just on time; we have 5 days until the next part. We also have to leave the hotel today."
The crew packs up and leaves, with Aeternum and Futurum hiding their identities with a face mask, and not wearing official Intelligent badges.
In the train to Colania, the Vennurs had their meetings in a secret car.
After arriving in Colania, Mailen receives a call from the officer leading the case.
"We have gotten some info about the murderer. They are none of the names you've given us. However, they stole a weapon from #3,000, and killed them as well prior to the event.", says the officer on the phone.
"Got it. Any more clues?", asks Mailen.
"Yeah. The gun has live navigation tracking. It's in Colania as well. Can you please look at it?", asks the officer.
"Sure. I'll get us here to find the culprit.", says Mailen.
"Rain, Zarya, come with me. We can catch the killer right here. Prepare your weapons too.", says Mailen. Zarya gets hyped.
After a while, the officer sends the tracking location, and Mailen goes out to follow it. Zarya and Rain follow him.
They run and run towards the murderer, and catch him.
He shoots a gun at Rain, and runs, but Zarya tackles him to the ground. Mailen goes to help and aid Rain, and calls an ambulance.
"What do you think you're doing, huh?", shouts Zarya.
"I hate the UHC! They deserved it!", says the man, recognized as #3,603 Pan Port.
"What does that have to do with killing them?", asks Zarya, now having the man captured, waiting for the police.
"They destroyed my home! The UHC destroyed my home planet! They chose money over safety!", screams Pan, showing craziness.
"Even so, that doesn't mean it's in your hands. Leave it to the big guys of your ex-planet.", says Zarya.
Mailen overhears this, and stops Zarya.
"The UHC may have destroyed your planet, whatever it is, but murdering ten Intelligents just because they're associated is not the answer. You should've gone for the big guys.", says Mailen. "Even then, what planet is it?"
"Neptune!", says the man. Rain's eyes widen.
"How old are you, sir?", asks Mailen. "Neptune is in the Solar System, a part of the Solar Scientists."
"I'm 100 years old! I left illegally!", says Pan. "They capitalized over the destruction of my home during the Andromeda War!"
Rain sighs and tries to stand up, barely getting up.
"Sir, you're following the Scientists' propaganda. They're killing Neptunians. The gas in your planet's atmosphere was so profitable for them that they took all of it and killed all life on it. I know this myself. I am an Earthling.", says Rain.
"Have you never seen what happened in the Andromeda War?", asks Pan.
"If it happened in the Andromeda War, you would've never been born, and Neptune would not have existed today. It would've been dried off its resources 3000 years ago.", says Rain. "They started this around 100 Solar years ago. Or 360 Universal years."
Pan stays quiet and says nothing. The police arrive and take him. Rain also faints from the blood loss and gets treated by the ambulance, which arrived just shortly after Rain's speech.
"Goodness, some people need to learn that the Scientists suck.", says Mailen.
"To be honest, everyone sucks.", says Zarya.
"Hmm.. you may be right.", says Mailen.