The Vanishing Warlord - Part 4

[ButchyBoy]

When Harry and Cricket arrived at the British Museum the next morning, the first thing they noticed was how it stood out from the rest of 21st century London. It's like time had stood still here for more than two centuries. The well-kept lawn of real grass, the marble steps and pillars, people walking in and out. There was not a traveling ad, hoverboard, or any other modern gadget in sight. It's as if this were sacred ground. The pair found the inside, the "Grand Court", as it was called, just as impressive. With the exception of the escalators and a few other things that were nessacary for the museum to operate in this age, the place looked like something out of an old movie set in some bygone era.

As they were taking this all in with wonder, Dr. Benwolf spotted them. "Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Lang, good to see you." he said, pulling a watch from his vest pocket and looking very impressed, "And right on time as well. Splendid, splendid." Harry got right to the heart of the matter. "All right Dr. Benwolf, now as I understand it, you have two deaths you've been unable to explain. One Mr. Sackler, and one Mr. Spencer. Now other than they were both on the board of directors, and both their last names begin with S, anything else they have in common?" "That is indeed the puzzle Mr. Lang", Benwolf replied, "They barely spoke to each other, except at our meetings, and even then, only formaly." "What exactly was Mr. Sackler doing when he was killed?", Harry asked. "He had gone the the storage basement to take stock of some items that were to be used in our upcoming China Gallery exhibit." Harry asked the next obvoius question, "What exhibit is that?" "The Legacy of the Shang Dynasty", Benwolf replied. "Shang?" "Yes. Kiwan Shang, a warlord and self-proclaimed Emperor of the 13th century. Brutal fellow, but he left behind many facinating artifacts."

Cricket spoke up for the first time. "Dr Benwolf, you mentioned something about a warlord in your message to us.", she said. Benwolf seemed somewhat embarrased as he spoke. "Well....ah, yes. It's as I told you both. Some our our patrons have claimed they were attacked by someone dressed in a battle outfit. But, when we look to find the chap, he's nowhere in sight. Most disturbing. Especially given that some of the Shang artifacts are said to have.....supernatural properties." That last statement brought raised eyebrows from both Harry and Cricket. It also prompted a new unheard voice to join the party.

"I thought I told you to lay off that 'otherworld' nonsense, and let the Yard investigate this proper Dr. Benwolf." It was an angry voice, and definetly female. It came from a rather tall red-headed woman, her hair pinned back.. She seemed dressed very unusual for a cop, Harry thought. She would be more at home at one on those crazy fetish clubs back in the states. The outfit was black leather, almost a one-piece. It hugged her curves rather well. A badge seemed to molded into the outfit, just above her right breast. She had what Harry regognized as a stun pistol strapped to one side of her waist. Benwolf took notice of the officer, and made introductions.

"This is Inspector Hargrove of Scotland Yard. Inspector Hargrove, may I present Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lang from America." The tall police woman just stared them down. "Ah yes, Harry Lang. The famous trouble making yank." Her voice was thick with a slight cockney accent to it. Harry seemed suprised at the assesment. "Trouble making?? Oh, you've got it all wrong inspector. It's the crooks who make the trouble. We're just the clean-up committe.", he said as he pointed to Cricket. Suddenly, a device strapped to the other side Hargrove's gun belt began to light up and beep rapidly. The inspector took the device out and pointed it at Cricket. "Are you registered??......."Miss"??" She said the last word with disgust in her voice. Cricket gave a faint smile. She knew she was being scanned. "Mrs.", she replied. "Mrs. Cricket Lang". That brought a very scarcastic reply. "Ohhhhhh Mrs. Lang is it?? Well I don't care what you call yourself." She then looked at Harry, " A bot's still a bot, and I want to see this bot's papers right now!!" "I carry them with me Inspector.", Cricket said as she produced her ownership papers from her purse with a ready smile. The other woman just scowled at her and yanked them from her hand. Harry and Cricket tried their best not to look worried as they were looked over.

"They seem all right. Guess there's nothing I can do. Of course if it were up to me, I'd melt down the whole lot of you!" she said looking right a Cricket. She then turned her attention back to Harry. "Take my advice Lang, and keep her on a leash while your here!" Ordinarly, Cricket would have no problem sticking up for herself, but this was someone in authority, and Cricket always respected that. Harry, however did not. "As I understand the laws here Inspector, and I do, any self-aware robot has the just about the same rights as a human. Now, we're here on the invitation of Dr. Benwolf to look into some mysterious deaths, which up until now, you have no explaintion for. And we are going to find the explaintions, because that's what we are being paid to do. Now, is their anything else you require of us, Inspector?" Hargrove was just about to read Harry a riot act of her own, when Benwolf intervined.

[ButchyBoy]

"Please Inspector, I was made aware of this young lady's....nature, when I first made contact. Now I realize it's somewhat out of the ordiary, but my decision to employ them stands." This brougt a smile from Cricket. "Thank you Dr. Benwolf. We won't disappoint you." "Well, do as you please I suppose", Hargrove said to Benwolf. "But don't come crying to me when she goes nuts and wrecks the place."

Just then, another voice entered the scene. "Come on Camilla, they say Harry Lang's the best at cracking tough cases, and this one looks pretty tough." This voice belonged to a young, dark-haired Oriental looking man. He was dressed casually in an open vest, red dress shirt, and black pants. "Whos's side are you on?" the inspector asked. "And would it kill you to call me Inspector while I'm in uniform, Joe??". She hit a sharp high note when she said his name.

Dr. Benwolf made more introductions. "This is Joseph Tam, he's a unversity graduate student, and assistant to Professor Peng, the director of our China Gallery. Joseph, this is...", but the young man was already shaking Harry's hand. "Harry Lang. I've always wanted to meet you, Sir. I read all about your cases on the Internet. They're the talk of our study groups at the University." "Well, ah,......Mr. Tam......it's always nice to meet a fan." Harry knew he had become some sort of a cult figure in the geeky net world. He never knew what to make of it. Joseph then smiled at Cricket who extended her hand. "I've heard some amazing things about you as well, Cricket." he said. "I can't wait to see you in action." The Inspector piped back in, "Yes......let's just see what the little vacum cleaner can do, shall we??" Cricket knew a challange when she heard one. "Dr. Benwolf, may we see the part of the basement where Mr. Sackler was killed?"

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Next: Enter The Warlord

[DollSpace]

Another fascinating addition! Great story so far! ^^

Ryn