The Name's Oliver - Ben Oliver. Ch. 159: Duty vs Ethics, Pt. II

[ladybug53]

Oh, this is just the beginning of his mission. Anxious to meet all the top scientists and try and figure out which one is the saboteur . I hope Ben doesn't get too distracted by some beauty I'm sure he'll bump into . Looking forward to the rest of his mission . 

[RainBeau]

That science centre is cool! Best of luck to Ben on his difficult and dangerous mission.

[Schipperke]

Meeting the Director, part II

Diary Entry

I asked Gobias to show me around the Science Centre.  "Certainly!" he exclaimed.  "Just let me tuck this Death Flower into my pocket first - ah, that's better.  Better safe than sorry, you know.

"The Science Centre has been designed to be completely self-contained.  Until the burning water situation is resolved, none of the Scientists are allowed to leave.  That precaution was instituted when we first began to suspect someone was sabotaging the team.  Now, here is our cafeteria.  And there are a couple members of the team having dinner."



Upstairs, he pointed out the sleeping room where team members could nap on the couch or if necessary have a longer sleep on the bunk bed.



"And this is our Chemistry room," Gobias said.  "Kaila, an unsuccessful experiment?  Don't worry, it happens to the best of us.  I'm sure you're on the right track, though.  Why don't you take a break, have a rest, and try again."



Gobias turned to me.  "You understand, this is very high-pressure work.  Everyone knows the stakes are enormous - nothing less than the survival of the Sim species is at stake - so I try to be as encouraging as I can, to support team morale."

I asked about the stacked objects I had seen in the room behind where the Chemistry team was working.  "Spirits," Gobias said.  "I see the answer surprises you.  One of the team members had the idea that if we are unable to solve the water problem, the Sim species might survive by transferring the consciousness of certain Sims into spirits.  It might be feasible, but only as a last resort.  Of course, the big question would be which Sim consciousnesses would be allowed to be transferred - only a few select Sims could be used."

I wondered how such a selection process would be made.  I had seen enough of the baser side of Sim nature to know that, faced with extinction, some Sims would stop at nothing to ensure their own survival.  I devoutly hoped it wouldn't come to that.

Next we came to the Inventing room, where a couple more Scientists were busy.



Then he led me next door, to the television room which was empty.  "And now," said Gobias, "you've seen all there is to see.  You've read the file, and I'm wondering if you can tell me what your plan is for identifying the saboteur.  I know nothing about how you intelligence agents work - is it to be bright lights and rubber hoses?"



Well, I had come up with an idea that I thought might work.  I whispered into his ear, not wanting to take any chance that someone might walk in and hear.



Gobias gaped at me in astonishment.  "Of course!" he exclaimed.  "Yes, it might just work.  ... and if it doesn't?"

If it didn't work, it was back to the drawing board. 

"Then I'll leave you to it," said Gobias.  "Everyone has been instructed to cooperate with you fully, and they all know how important this is.  I'm going for my sleep break - if you need anything, come and wake me.  We're counting on you.  Good luck."

[Louise56]

I wonder what Ben have in mind? I can't wait to find out. The lab look awesome!

[ladybug53]

That is an excellent looking lab . I wonder what Ben has up his sleeve for this important mission . I hope it all works out for him . Anxiously waiting for the next chapter to be posted . 

[RainBeau]

This story always keeps me on my toes! The suspense! I want to know what Ben's secret plan is.

[Schipperke]

This story always keeps me on my toes! The suspense! I want to know what Ben's secret plan is.

Oh, I am really quite pleased with the secret plan, Rosa!  And the best part is - I got it from my dogs.  There, I just gave you a clue! 

[RainBeau]

Sniff them! I hope I didn't just spoil it 

[yruvian]

MMM... I just asked Fortran, but my (brother's) Schipperke just yipped at me and pulled another pillow out of her basket <.<. I guess your gang must be more into secret missions than miss black devil over here. Or maybe she just doesn't want to spoil the surprise. The others are even less of help, snoozing all over the place <.<.

So, I guess I'll just have to wait like everyone else to see what Olivia pulls out of her bunny ears... or Ben out of his hat.

[Seabody]

Sniff them! I hope I didn't just spoil it 

He's got to sniff out the rat...

[Schipperke]

To Catch a Saboteur, part I

Diary Entry

I decided to start by interviewing Zebulon Plett.  I was curious about this blue-skinned fellow with the unusual clothing and the sketchy history.



"Must you choose this precise moment to interrupt me?" he demanded peevishly.  "I was on the verge of a new discovery.  Pah!  Well, if you must.  The Director told us we were to cooperate with you in every way.  Fine, I'm cooperating.  Now, get on with it - what's so important that it couldn't wait until I was ready for a break?"

I suggested we find someplace private to talk.

"Oh, all right!  We can go to the cafeteria - there's never anyone there at this time of day."

We found a quiet table in the cafeteria.  Plett looked me up and down scornfully, saying "So you're an astronaut!  And what do you know about science, eh?  Absolutely nothing, I'll warrant!  What do you know about the research we're doing?  I very much doubt that you're capable of understanding any of it!"



Charming fellow.  I agreed with him that I probably wouldn't understand his research.  And I reminded him that I wasn't there to assist with the research, but to try to identify the saboteur.

"Saboteur!"  he exclaimed.  "I tell you, this Global Dynamics Science team is not at all what I expected!  I was led to expect top-level Scientists, working together toward a common goal.  Instead we have childish squabbles and silly games. Yesterday when I returned from my sleep break, I found that someone had altered certain calculations in my notebook.  The unmitigated gall!  To think that someone would dare to even touch a notebook belonging to a scientist of my calibre!"



He was working himself up into a fine state of indignation, but I didn't have time for that.  I needed to question him.  First, "Dr Plett, we have background information on all the scientists except you.  You seem to have appeared from nowhere.  Please tell me where you're from and give me the highlights of your career."

He exploded.  It seemed that in addition to being blue-skinned, Dr Plett was also extremely thin-skinned.  "You think because I'm different in appearance that I must be the guilty party!" he exclaimed.  "I believe this is racial profiling!"

I sighed.  My first Scientist, and was he ever temperamental.  This guy was making Darren Lott look like fun.  I managed to calm him down and repeated my question, "Where are you from?"

He waved a hand airily, "I am a citizen of the universe!  The world is my home!"  Then seeing the look on my face, he grinned and rattled off a list of places he had worked and studied, finishing with "And my crowning achievement was to design the science curriculum for the new Sim University, opening on March 5!  Soon any Sim that wants to will be able to have a higher education, and I can assure you, the Science curriculum is first-rate." 



A crestfallen look appeared on his face.  "Well, my work on this project should have been the crowning achievement of my career.  But the way things have been going, none of us may have careers at the end of it.  Of course, if we're all dead of dehydration, I guess a stalled career will be the least of our troubles."

I made a mental note to ask De Luca to check on the career history Plett had given me, and asked if he had any ideas as to what was causing the burning water phenomenon.

"Some sort of volatile hydrocarbon," he said.  "Definitely.  We believed we were close to identifying it when the sabotage began.  Someone has found a way to 'seed' the water with a highly flammable adulterant."



I asked if he had any suspicions as to who was responsible for the sabotage.  He shook his head sadly, "It seems impossible to believe that a true Scientist could do such a thing," he said.  "I just don't understand it."



I told him I had no further questions for him at this time, but I might want to talk to him again.  "Oh, and Dr Plett, here's a little something for you," I said, handing him a box.



"For me?" he said, surprised.  "Do you mind if I open it now?"



He unwrapped the box and gazed at the contents.

"You Monte Vista folks certainly have odd notions of gift-giving," he said.  "Still, I'm sure I'll find a use for it.  Yes, now that I think of it, several uses for it come to mind.  Perhaps in the kitchen, or the garden ...  Thank you very much for a most unusual gift."



I decided he wasn't such a bad chap, once you got past his defensiveness.  I thanked him for his time and checked off his name in my notebook.  One interview down, four to go.

 

[ladybug53]

Looks like Benn will need to do a lot more sniffing . The first interview went quite well although Dr. Plett is a bit difficult . Poor Ben must've been biting his tongue a few times there . I think Olivia would've had a better chance with Dr. Plett maybe . This was a great update ! Looking forward to more, lots more .   

[SassySimmer]

Loving the updates Schipperke!  I am on the edge of my seat.  (I just got to read three at once lucky me ).  And I know I said it before but I am really honored that you chose to use my build in one of your stories!!

Can't wait to read the next installment!

[Schipperke]

Loving the updates Schipperke!  I am on the edge of my seat.  (I just got to read three at once lucky me ).  And I know I said it before but I am really honored that you chose to use my build in one of your stories!!

I'm just delighted to have found the perfect building for this mission.  You really anticipated everything the story needed!  Not only that, your spirit room obviously inspired the spirit transfer part of the story. 

MMM... I just asked Fortran, but my (brother's) Schipperke just yipped at me and pulled another pillow out of her basket <.<. I guess your gang must be more into secret missions than miss black devil over here.

Well ... it's absolutely true that without my dogs, I would likely have never thought of the strategy that Ben is going to use to (hopefully) unmask the saboteur.  I also think it's very unlikely that anyone will guess both the strategy and  how it relates to my dogs.

There, I've thrown down the gauntlet - is there anyone who feels qualified to pick it up? 

[Dextra2]

At first I thought we were going to see a drug/bomb finding dog, but now I think we're going going to see that Incubus sniffs out moles in his free time.