#pitstopvalleycase

[enkisstories]

One day in february, Caden spotted a little black kitten at the construction site across from his house. It didn’t look mistreated or starving, and in fact the little one must have had previous positive experiences with the construction workers, because after some cautious padding in circles around the human, the tiny felide eventually allowed Caden to pick him up. He instantly rubbed himself at Caden’s parka’s fur.

Caden: “Time for work. See you later!”

Kitten: See you later? That’s all you have to say? You... you... I hate you!!! Don’t bother coming back!!! Kitten: MEOW!!!

Debra Jane: “Ohhh, what a cute little baby cat! I know Caden wants one, but the shelter wouldn’t adopt out any pets so close to Winterfest. And now that they are open again, with Caden studying our shedules are too tight to drive there.” *laughs* “Long story short, shall we see how you’d like it at our place, hm?”

King: Welcome home, Caden. I mean I don’t know you!!! And I had no idea you lived here!!! Pure coincidence that your smell’s all over this place. Now come to the couch, cuddles are required!

King: PURRRRRRR

He already wants another one!

[enkisstories]

Daniel: “Agent Reed? There’s still mail in the mail box! If the locals expect us to pay the previous resident’s bills, then…”

Gavin: “Then nothing! We’re still cleaning up the aftermath of your last attempt at vigilante justice!”

Daniel: “Oh! It’s a love letter! From one Ulrike Faust to one Ada Smith!“

[enkisstories]

Gavin: “I don’t GET that robot! When his folks return him to the store, he runs amok because he mustn’t work for them anymore. But when I ask him to help me with the investigation, he runs amok because he must work. So which of the two is it?”

Daniel: “Help me! I cannot control... Agent Reed... Gavin...”

Daniel grabbed Gavin’s shoulder, hoping to be able to stop running around uncontrolled. And the electric charge that had built up happily used the opportunity to explore new territory...

The actual chain of events went like this: Daniel cleaned the shower the night before (I forgot it’s a big red flag for servos), lost power and ran outside. The next morning he recovered, played red hands with Gavin and they both drove to work. When they returned, Daniel’s social and fun were deep orange (not red yet) and he already had Run Amok queued up while still getting out of the car. So can low overall mood cause running amok or was it a delayed reaction to the shower cleaning?

[enkisstories]

I found Trent a job in Secret Services, making him a co-worker of Gavin’s and John’s. Conveniently Gavin brought him home right after loading the Reed household.

Gavin: “So this is my new...”

Trent: “...house? Nice! Good for you to get away from that cesspool of a city and joining us in Desiderata!”

Gavin: “No, this is my new...”

Trent: “...fishing spot! How cool!“

One heartfelt kick later, Trent was rolling on the ground groaning, but finally listening to what his friend had to say:

Gavin: “My new boyfriend, you idiot! Or, by now, fiance. Danny - meet Trent Traveller. Trent - meet Daniel Phillips.”

Daniel: “You’re John Mole in extrovert flavour, I take it?”

Trent: “Pretty much, yeah. John and Gavin are opposites in almost every category, but I share characteristics of both. That made the three of us a great team, before I got re-assigned to some undercover shit.

And now that I’m back, it looks like I’m back to change? Like, both my friends are engaged, but apparently not to each other? That’s exciting!”

[enkisstories]

Gavin and Daniel had moved their grisly find to Pitstop Valley’s church the day before already. In a town that small it was impossible to keep it a secret and so the next day, instead of calling over residents for questioning, the agents had to fend off the curious population.

Three of them dropped by under the guise of being the “Welcome Wagon”: Ulrich Faust, his daughter Ulrike and Oliver Skye.

Both groups tried to pry as much information as possible out of the other - but only one person was actually trained for this: Agent Reed.

The incident served to cover up why the agents had come to Pitstop Valley in the first place. Everyone assumed Gavin and Daniel were here to investigate the murder, while in truth they hadn’t even known about that back in Detroit.

And so the agents’ actual mark was oblivious to the fact that he and his interactions with the townfolk were of utmost interest to the FBI.

Gavin: I need to thank that ruffian for getting himself offed. That way I can study this “Ulrich Faust” without drawing attention. If Jacques Villareal really faked his death by letting the government execute a decoy, and holes up here now, using an alias, that would be huge. Because there’s no way the man could have pulled this off without at least one still active ally high up in our justice system.

It’s sickening: Jacques is here for three months at best… and there’s already a corpse and a missing woman…

Mhm… Faust is not wearing glasses… but contacts are a thing and Jacques only needed reading glasses anyway…

[enkisstories]

Gavin (on the phone): “Yes, Director Perkins, I’ve arrived in Pitstop Valley. A good while ago already, but the motel was just a ruin getting slowly filled up with rain, so we had to ask around for a place to stay. The locals handed us the keys to a phking trailer… I might sleep in the car tonight.”

Gavin: “Yes, I said “We”.” - “Yes, that means I took the new guy along. Why would there ever have been any doubt?” - “Yes, he’s doing alright, no complaints.” - “Yes, will do.” - “Thanks.” - ”You, too! Bye!”

Daniel: “You ARE aware that you were to take Connor along, agent Reed? Like, the actual FBI trainee? And not the new janitor who FAILED his admission test?”

Gavin: “What would I want with a wannabe detective? Much better to have something on hand that can cook and clean!”

[enkisstories]

Daniel’s true form underneath the human skin.

Sometimes he reverts to his servo form after a loading screen, but changing outfits at the dresser sets him back to the human appearance. 

[enkisstories]

In spring 1994 Mamma Marguerita, Pitstop Valley’s pastor, wed Debra Jane and Caden.

“I already baptised you and last fall I buried you, now it is my joy to declare you and your partner Mr. and Mrs. Whiles! May Lord Ea and Lady Maxis in Origin Beyond smile upon this union!”

Ada (sideways glances at Daniel and Gavin): “I wonder who’ll be next...”