Starlight Investigation

Log Title: Starlight Investigation

Characters: Major Bludd, Zarana

Location: Starlight Mansion - Los Angeles, CA

Date: April 18, 2018

TP: America Burning TP

Summary: An unwelcome visitor turns up at Starlight Mansion.

As logged by Zarana - Wednesday, April 18, 2018, 6:15 PM

Starlight Mansion - Los Angeles, CA

 * The Starlight Mansion is the second and current home used by the Starlight Foundation. Both The Holograms and the Starlight Girls live here.


 * Jess McCabe is a severe-looking woman in a white hardhat and matching white coat. Her red hair is pulled back in a tight bun, and her narrow eyes look like they could cut through reality. A white shirt, blue tie, neutral slacks, and steel-toed shoes complete her no-nonsense look.

It's a little before 6 PM in Los Angeles, when the doorbell rings in the mansion. The Holograms are out shopping with Rio, leaving Bludd behind to ramble around the giant house alone. A quick glance outside would reveal a lone woman at the door.

Bludd frowns at the sound of the doorbell, casting a quick glance out the upstairs window from the kitchen, where he was about to fix himself a snack. He jogs down the hallway to fetch his sidearm out of a dresser, replaces the firing pin, and tucks it into the back of his trousers. He asks Synergy for his bland, nobody-in-particular disguise and heads downstairs.

When he gets to the front door, he opens it just far enough to peek out at the woman on the doorstep. He puts on his American accent and asks, "Help you?"

At the door is a severe-looking woman in a white hardhat and matching white coat. Her red hair is pulled back in a tight bun, and her narrow eyes look like they could cut through reality. In her right hand is some sort of detection device labelled 'EE' for 'Extensive Energy'. A white shirt, blue tie, neutral slacks, and steel-toed shoes complete her no-nonsense look.

When the door opens, the woman looks Bludd up and down like she doesn't like what she sees. "May I speak to the woman of the house?" she demands, not making it sound like much of a question. "A Ms. Jerrica Benton?" she continues, without consulting a clipboard or her phone. She locks eyes with Bludd's eyes, both real and holographic.

As the woman gazes at him disapprovingly, Bludd returns the expression. "She's not here right now," he responds. "I can pass a message on to her for you, though."

The woman speaks with a slight Midwestern whine - she certainly doesn't sound like she comes from California. For some reason she seems vaguely familiar to Bludd, even though he's sure he hasn't seen her before. With the Extensive Enterprises equipment, however, she's very likely an employee....

The woman looks at Bludd with no trace of recognition. "That will not be soon enough. We have a report of a gas leak in the area, and I need access to the house and grounds. It's a very dangerous situation. I understand you have children living here?"

Extensive Energy surely means Extensive Enterprises, and Extensive Enterprises means Cobra. Bludd doubts there's really been any reports of a gas leak. "I'm not authorised to give you access to the property," he explains calmly. "Ms Benton is the one in charge." He doesn't answer the question about children.

"I'm not asking for your authority," the woman responds sharply. "I neither desire or require it. This is merely a courtesy so you are not alarmed to see me on the property. I'll knock again if and when I need access inside."

"I don't think you heard me," Bludd replies, drawing himself up slightly. "You don't have permission to roam the grounds." He looks her up and down briefly. "I don't suppose you have any kind of identification?"

"I do," the woman replies, pulling open her coat to reveal a badge identifying her as 'Jess McCabe' from SoCalGas Emergency Reponse. "I'm authorized to do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of this block. If you wish, you can talk to my supervisor, but I'm not leaving."

Bludd peers at the badge. "I would like to talk to your supervisor, actually," he says. "And in the meantime you're not to leave my sight, understand?"

McCabe narrows her eyes even further, giving Bludd a look that could melt diamonds. Nonetheless she remains still as she hands over a card that reads, 'John Ross, SoCalGas Emergency Operations Center.' There's a phone number on the card. "I'll wait," McCabe says testily, crossing her arms across her chest. She looks away with a bored-already expression.

Bludd merely smirks in response to the withering look, accepting the card with a nod. He fishes his mobile phone out of his back pocket and dials the number on the card. "You understand why I'm so cautious of strangers about," he says to McCabe while he waits for someone to pick up on the other end of the line. "Since the occupation, many of us have gotten used to keeping a close eye out for trouble." He offers her the slightest of disarming smiles. "We don't want our families and friends to come under threat again."

"Yeah, yeah," McCabe says dismissively as Bludd's phone rings on the other end. Eventually someone picks up. "SoCalGas Emergency Operations Center," a bored-sounding voice says. "If this is an actual emergency, please hang up and call 911. How can I help you?" McCabe uses her time to study the building, raising her device and scanning it around the entrance.

Of course the number McCabe gave him will ring to someone who's part of the whole endeavour. "Mr John Ross, please," Bludd says into the phone, playing along while he keeps a sharp eye on the woman.

"Ross here," says a voice with a little more authority. "How can I help you?"

McCabe starts scanning the rosebushes, staying in sight but obviously going about her business while Bludd is on the phone.

"Mr Ross," Bludd says into the phone, "I've got a woman by the name of Jess McCabe here telling me there's been a report of a gas leak in the area. I'm calling to confirm she is who she says she is." He glances from McCabe to the gate, scanning the driveway area before returning his gaze to her again.

"McCabe.... yes. At the Starlight Mansion?" the voice asks. "We're getting a serious drop in gas pressure in the main there. There's a leak somewhere. Please grant her access if you don't mind. It's a bit of an emergency," he says calmly.

"Alright, Mr Ross," Bludd says, "thanks for your time." After getting off the line, he pockets the phone and tells McCabe, "You can inspect the grounds. But I'll be accompanying you."

McCabe sighs. "Very well." She moves her way around the grounds, scanning with her sensor, obstenatiously looking for a gas leak. However, the sensor doesn't go off 'til she approaches the point where Bludd buried the Incinerator. As the meter stutters, McCabe slowly looks from the sensor back at Bludd.

As they walk, Bludd runs through the probabilities in his mind. What is Cobra looking for? Why a gas leak? When they near the burial spot, it becomes more clear. If McCabe's "found" a "gas leak", her people will have to -dig- to get at the "gas main". "What's that?" he asks McCabe as her device gives off some kind of warning sound. "You found a gas leak back here?"

McCabe gives Bludd a shrewd, searching look. "We found something, yeah," she says measuredly. "We're going to have to dig. I'll call and get a permit. Don't worry - we'll repair anything we damage." She studies Bludd, obviously closely monitoring his reaction.

Bludd glances at his wristwatch. "How long's that gonna take?" He glances at the spot McCabe indicated and frowns. "The ladies aren't gonna like that you're digging up their yard."

"Not long," McCabe says, relaxing slightly at Bludd's seeming lack of response to her finding. "I'll call it in right now." She takes her phone out of her coat and places an earpiece in to call and watch Bludd at the same time.