TECHNOSYNTH 1.5 - ‘Electro Recievo’
Summary: Following the revelation that Ronin had nothing to do with Dareth’s murder, the two set off to find answers and solve the case.
[Link to TechnoSynth 1] ---------- [Link to TechnoSynth 2]
(You do not need to read this in order to understand the events in the second writing, but it is recommended that you read the first one to understand some of the callbacks!)
[PART 1] [PART 2] [PART 3?]
“You’re sure he’d be there?”
“Well I’m not certain but it’s a good start. What was that about returning to the scene of the crime? Criminals always return to their start, it’s a rule you know.” Dareth spoke from his backpack.
Ronin rolled his eyes, “no it’s not. My first crime was stealing from a convenience store and I’ve never been there since then. They just say that stuff on TV to make it easier to digest. Crime solving takes a lot of time and resources.” He looked at the various cars parked on the side of the road. Almost all of them had been parked next to a meter, a few with red instead of green. He watched as a man stepped out and shuffled over to renew it, ceasing the opportunity to ‘bump into’ him on the way past.
The person glared and Ronin returned it with an apologetic shrug, feeling the freshly-obtained car-keys in his pants pocket. “What was that?” Dareth whispered.
“A real time saver.”
“I haven’t been on this side of town in years..” Ronin mused, eyeing up the buildings. It was the older side where less scrapers peppered the sky, and the more rustic style of building dominated. Many of them were left to decay against the urban sprawl, with people moving to the southern and western side over the years to follow the jobs that popped up. At one point in this this area was the heart of trade between the ocean and the mountains, but now it’s only saving pull left was it’s antiquity.
“It’s hard to think that this place was more alive just 20 years ago...” the ghost looked out from the passenger side window. The seat belt was buckled in despite it passing right through him. “I guess if you’re growing up in it you don’t notice until you’ve been gone, huh?”
“I’d say. That used to be the parlor, and that used to be the record shop,” Ronin pointed over the wheel, “Looks like the fast food places stayed the same though.”
The shops had been replaced with different ones, one about plants, the other a coffee shop, vacant, for lease, restaurant, and a few other more niche occupations. His eyes went to the large stone building with small trees growing on the roof, the windowless walls littered with various graffiti and advert posters. “Look familiar?”
He snapped his eyes over as Ronin parked the car, floating out into the cold and walking up the sidewalk to the front door. He stared at it, hearing and feeling things play out before him.
‘Just make sure to lock it up after you’re done, we don’t need anyone stealing any of the equipment out of there.’
‘You got it.’ Dareth winked and pushed open the door, walking through the large empty room with a bag wheeling behind him, He tugged on it a few times to get it to move over the metal lip before running and pushing it out into the open ballroom. ‘Oh MAN this place is perfect! we could put little walls on the edges to draw the sound out too, what do you guys think?’
He turned to look at his band mates who had accompanied him, but only Ronin stood in the doorway. The once clean floor revealed itself to be bumpy and chipped, parts of the ceiling tile littered around with the sky poking through the gaps. “Yeah, I think this is the place.”
He stepped inside more, holding the reader out in front of him and listening to the needle gently twitch. Dareth did his best to avoid getting too close, not wanting to interfere with the readout. He floated high above, watching the thief slowly pace around the room. He follow him through the wall into the stairwell and to the back stage where he felt and heard events unfold once more.
Ronin flinched as Dareth landed in front of him, “Hey-” the needle began hitting the sides wildly, even when he moved away did the needle refuse to cease.
“I know we’re just the opener this time, but we should totally make this our home base.”
“Dareth what are you talking about? The pawn shop is perfectly fine-”
“Hahah! It’s why we packed light anyway.” He spoke to no one, lifting his hands to tune a guitar that wasn’t there. “Hey Ace, you look stressed.”
“Not as stressed as Randal is.” An unfamiliar voice replied jokingly, startling Ronin as his ghostly figure pushed past him and made an action of setting something down. The two paused and looked over at him before laughing and walking over. “This will go quickly.”
“Dareth-”
“Yeah-hah! Luckily it’s only 5 drums instead of 7-”
“DARETH!” Ronin shouted, snapping the two out of their reenactment.
Ace shivered and grabbed his head, “Um, ow.. where’d this headache come from?”
“Ace!” Dareth grabbed him and squeezed, “I knew you’d be here!”
“Well if it isn’t goldstar himself! Where did you go? You were here and then you left us?”
“What?” He let go, “Oh yeah, I went to find out who killed us and now I have- ta-dah! You remember Ronin right? Mr. Radio man?”
Ronin tried not to look awkward, turning his head slightly so he could see both of them better. Ace stared through him thoughtfully, “Well I guess, not really how I remembered him looking. Something seems to be missing....”
“Really?” Dareth leaned over, “mm, I don’t see anything missing, well aside from his eye.”
“No, it’s not that..”
Ronin huffed, “Like Dareth said, we didn’t find who took out either of you, but we were hoping you’d have an idea,” He took out a notepad from his pack, “So far our plan is to get everyone rounded up and see if we can piece this together. GSS might have something to do with it, but what do you know?”
Ace floated about, “Well I think I was murdered because of my ties with Julien Enterprises. The Doc was going to let me use one of his Julien model keyboards for the next show and began asking me if I had preferences or was interested. Of course I did the sane thing and said yes, who would turn down an opportunity to get their hands on an android instrument? Not only that, I think it would have boosted our popularity from here to up here,” He rose his hand up above his head, “Maybe someone caught wind of it. One of the bands there- or maybe it was multiple, had other people to help them out and one of them lent me some water to share which was nice. Guess we forgot about hydration during our excitement for being an opener. Well I think the water was poisoned. I felt fine, then I felt extremely tired. You don’t think about that being a problem sweating on stage but it got gradually worse. Then I couldn’t move. Then I saw Randal’s foot sticking out from one of the back curtain folds.. and then I woke up here. Pretty spooky if you ask me.”
Dareth nodded and peaked over Ronin’s shoulder, “I was wondering what happened to Randy, did you get a good glimpse at who was giving you the water?”
“Uhh, I think so, but I’m not the one with photographic memory,” He laughed, “Yeah, he was wearing black, with red gloves and red eyes, and dark plating. I think the person was an android but that doesn’t make any sense, aren’t they programmed to not hurt people?”
Ronin continued to write, “Robots can be programmed to do anything, but that is generally the rule. Do you think Randal is dead too? do you know where he is?”
“Well yeah, he went to make sure Jason was okay. He had the police flock him, didn’t let him leave the crime scene, didn’t let anyone leave.”
Dareth flinched and grabbed his head, remembering the calamity. He must have blocked it out. “Wonder what else is going to surprise me..” he muttered.
The two ghosts watched as he wrote, idly eyeing the damp rafters. “You’re sure nothing is missing?” Ace whispered.
He sighed, “I think you are right, when I ran into him again I didn’t recognize him and he didn’t recognize me. I didn’t think it was that strange until you commented about it...”
“Alright, I have me things to look into, we’re going to the library next, and then see if we can break in an find that police report in the department data banks.” He snapped the book closed and slid it away, turning to the side exit with the two trailing behind.
TECHNOSYNTH 1.5 - ‘Electro Recievo’
Summary: Following the revelation that Ronin had nothing to do with Dareth’s murder, the two set off to find answers and solve the case.
[Link to TechnoSynth 1] ---------- [Link to TechnoSynth 2]
(You do not need to read this in order to understand the events in the second writing, but it is recommended that you read the first one to understand some of the callbacks!)
[PART 1] [PART 2] [PART 3?]
Winter came late in Ninjago City, seldom did the land change for the cold, but this year came special. light grey clouds high above trickled down the frozen parachutes, gently swaying and twirling through the battle of gravity and wind.
Echo remembered it fondly and in mass, the blankets upon blankets that littered his father’s house in birch wood all those years ago. He was much too short to go out once it had exceeded the height of his shins, but he tried to regardless of the worry his creator expressed. Here in the city at least, he did not have to worry about that. Rarely did they get more than a few centimeters at a time before the cars and moving people melted it away.
He was in the middle of cleaning when he decided to watch it fall from the store-blinds, he knew Ronin wouldn’t mind. The man was too busy ‘talking to himself’ to pay much attention, and it seemed that he was gearing up for something more.
“I’m telling you, the person wore Red and black,” Dareth held his wispy hands in front of him, emphasizing the colours with a shake of one then the other, “And they were quiet and sneaky. But it was a dark area too behind the stage...”
“Dareth anyone could wear red and black, I need more details than that. Like why would anyone want to take out your entire band? Who did you associate with? Was there any suspicion anywhere?” He continued to shake his leg, clicking the pen impatiently. It didn’t help that the radio he had on kept fluctuating because of the ghosts’ presence.
“I know, I’m thinking. I can’t think of anything else besides uhm, well we almost got in a deal to test one of J-I’s keyboards... The most suspicious thing that I could think of is well, maybe my brother set my name on something instead of his own.. Besides, the assassin didn’t get *all* of us, at least not that I remember..” He tapped his chin.
Ronin scribbled more things down on his notebook, looking back over the yellowed newspaper with the article about the event. He remembered when he first read it all those years ago, his soul shattering to pieces when it was covered in the radio. He couldn’t listen to it for weeks because they kept playing the bands’ songs. “This would be a lot easier if you remembered more. Who is still alive?”
The ghost floated around and over his shoulder, “Well I can tell you who I know for sure is dead, Ace is. He went down first. He’s the one I thought was taking a nap- I mean sometimes we stayed up all night but you already knew that.”
The nights he was invited out by the band, the nights were Dareth’s brother would pass out on the floor while the band continued to practice in the garage, the walks down the boards and parks.. Ronin shoved those memories aside, “Well that’s a start, do you think you could find him?”
“I think I know a good place we can start, yeah.” he smiled.
--
Ace was the bassist of the band who occasional dabbled in fiddle and keys. Ronin remembered him best for his loud yet modest behavior, someone who would talk a lot but not say anything. There were a few instances where this came in handy, such as long wait lines for movies or passing time for a concert, but for the majority of it he wanted to rip his ears out. Somehow he and Dareth were best friends, and even though they talked an equal amount, the main guitarist was the most tolerable.
Ronin left the shop in the care of Echo and Nya before departing into the cold afternoon backstreets, telling them jokingly on his way out that if anything happened, to blame Kai. Dareth kept himself close by, opting to hide in his backpack as the wind kicked up more flakes.
He knew that some ghosts liked to hide, even from other ghosts, and that it’d be much harder to find him if he went dormant- that is, if he even was still in ninjago. He knew there were ways to summon ghosts out of the departed realm, not easy ways mind you, many needed specific candles and herbs and words that didn’t have, but there was one thing he knew he could obtain that’d help tremendously. His eyes looked up over the buildings at the large spire that rose high into the sky, it’s blue circular symbol almost blending in to the dull white clouds.
The front door no doubt would be guarded by some sort of security, so he opted to take the side door- the same door that Cyrus was just about to make his way out of. The two stared at each other through the glass panes awkwardly. Borg slowly reached up to press a button. “Doctor Borg wait- this isn’t about any deal this time I promise,” Ronin waved his hands, “I want to borrow something from you.”
Borg scoffed, “Borrow? you mean steal? I’m not letting you in here.”
“I brought you Zane and that cost me an eye, you owe me this time,” He pointed, “Besides, you think locking a door will stop me from coming by and getting what I want another time?”
“An eye that I repaired...” He mumbled and opened the door, wheeling back, “What is it now?”
“Hi Cyrus,” Dareth poked his head out of the bag as soon as the thief stepped in, “Wow, I’ve never been in here before..”
Borg stared.
“I need something that will detect that, ghosts. Do you have something?” Ronin made his way down the hall, snooping.
The doctor had no choice but to follow, “Ah, well I might? I didn’t think ghosts were ah, a problem until you ah, brought one in..” They passed the yellow doors into the workshop- much to his relief- and further in towards an elevator. “How does this one know me?”
“how do people *not* know who you are? You’re Cyrus Borg, Borg Industries, the big leg up on androids and sounds! I’ve gotten to hear a lot about you on the airwaves. I’m Dareth, nice to meet you!” He excitedly stuck a hand out, nearly going through Ronin’s arm. Cyrus didn’t make a motion to shake it, the elevator doors dinging closed behind them.
“I do not think I am familiar with you, or your band...” He wheeled out as the elevator opened to them, heading down the hall to his office.
“Oh that’s okay, I was kind of underground. I only had one popular song out of 15 anyway,” Dareth floated around and into the walls, sticking his head into things. He kept talking despite his speech getting muffled with every peak.
“I’m trying to figure out who murdered him, He finished up a concert and someone wearing black and read poisoned him with some sort of water,” Ronin informed, “We’re hoping his band mate knows more than he does.”
Cyrus wheeled around to the various wall-bins and began pulling them out and rummaging around, “Oh! Well I don’t remember that, but I do know that black was a very popular colour for GSS models. It’s a shame that they went out of business, but that’s what you get for making cheap faulty machinery.”
The company that hired Ronin in the first place as a last-ditch effort to get their leg back into the industry. Borg Industries- or what was ‘Borg Interactive’ at the time, was out-competing them on that front. He was supposed to get Pixal and bring her to them, but it went band enough to ruin his reputation permanently.
They must have gone out of business shortly after that.
He took note of this.
“Ah here we are, try this! A state of the art Electro Magnetic Field Reader!” Cyrus held up the instrument. “Observe, over here the needle show nothing, but as I get closer to your friend, “ the needle began to bounce around more as he rolled over to Dareth, springing wildly as it was held centimeters away, “It detects the energy he is letting off.”
Ronin smiled as it was handed over, “I knew you’d have something Doc.”
“I hope you figure this all out, it sounds like there may be more to this than meets the eye,” He chuckled at his own joke.
=======================
Author’s Notes:
-Originally this was going to be a comic, but I dunno where the file went and plust that was about a year or so ago now haha! Surprise!
-Ultiamtely I gave up in favor of doing the ToE season instead, since this is more Ronin and Dareth centered.
-If I find it I will post the WIP pages/notes in a separate post.
His emotions ran too high, and he was coming too close. He didn't mean to let out a lethal charge- or any charge at all for that matter, but now his body laid beneath him.
Doctor Julien was dead.
And right in the back of his parents junk yard of all places. Jay stared at his hands, too overwhelmed to process what happened. He looked back to Zane who looked equally in shock, even through his sunglasses.
"I DIDN’T KNOW THAT WOULD HAPPEN! AAAH? AAAAAAA!" He began screaming.
Zane jumped and quickly cupped his boyfriend's mouth, "Jay, your parents are home!"
"Jay? Deary?! Are you alright?!" Edna's voice carried from the other side of the yard.
"GAH! Zane we *have* to hurry-" what were his parents going to think? Would they freak out? Would the authorities get involved?? "Uhh, uhhh, oh! That pile! We'll shove him under there!" Jay pointed to the pile of rubber tires and treads.
Zane let go and reached for his fath- the doctor's lifeless body, hesitating and attempting over and over to find the best way of picking it up. Each time the body began to move like stiff jello he let go, disgusted and afraid.
"Zane huRRY UP-"
Edna rounded the corner with Ed in toe, the two holding makeshift weapons out of pipes and rusty torn up metal. Everyone froze making direct eye contact, Jays parents somehow looking the least expressive out of the four. "It was an accident!" Jay piped, scratching his fingers, "Uhh, he was old anyway- I mean he was being really bad?? He was scaring Zane and I told him to leave and he didn’t so I shoved him when he got too close and-"
Ed rose his hand, "not another word, son. I had a feeling this day would come, a day where we'd have to cover for our little boy." He and Edna exchanged knowing looks before he retired his position.
Zane and Jay looked dumbfounded, caught somewhere between the adrenaline of Julien's death, and the fear of how accepting they were. "Uhm. You're not mad?" Jay trembled.
She snorted and laughed, "Of course we're a little angry, but right now we gotta take care of what's in front of us. Zane, could you get the black tarp from the tool tent? Oh and some gloves too if you could!"
--
The familiar metallic smell filled the air as the smelter processed rusty copper back into extruded rods for shipping. The molten metal slowly squeezed through the opening before dropping into a cooling vat and rolling down the ramp to the others. The four gathered around in protective gear to witness the work, Edna pulling her gloves off and tossing them into mouth of the furnace. "Well! Now we don't say a word and that's that." She smiled and placed a hand on Jays shoulder.
He returned it nervously, a little worried of what else gets sent through the fire. "I hope so.. I feel so bad," he chuckled, staring at the orange glow.
"Don't be," Zane reassured, "The doctor had not left without closure. I am glad that I could reaffirm my suspicions and cast my doubts, even if it saddens me that he was not who he was before." He looked up, "I only hope my brother takes the news well, he was the closest to him after all."
