As per standard procedure, the guys were separated into different interview rooms at the detachment. The detachment personnel would normally be able to handle this kind of routine procedure, but even the desk staff (except for the dispatcher) were taking part in the census-taking.

Andy and Mac searched the house further. They found notes taken that day, but nothing from before, which was suspicious as it was obvious the surveillance had been going on for maybe 48 hours. They also found some rigs (needles) hidden under some bedding that probably didn't belong to the previous owners. After reporting this in, they moved on to assisting the census-takers. The news team joined them, taping the goings-on

After Kelsey arrived at the detachment, Lee and Clarke worked as a team, questioning one and then the other.

Mohawk-boy didn't say anything, not even his name. Apparently, the lack of rights didn't seem to bother him, that he was letting on. He answered in negative monosyllables.

As Kelsey observed though the mirror and on the monitor, Clarke and Lee questioned the other. The other started talking almost right away. It was almost like he was relieved.

"I'm Josh Talbot." He was 19 years old, a high-schooler from the suburb Burnaby (to the east where the nukes hit to take out the refineries and petroleum storage tank farms) who lost his parents in the nuclear attack 4 years earlier. "Mom and Dad... I was downtown for the day..." After being left behind in the confused evacuation of the city, he'd drifted around the Downtown core and the West End (the high-density neighborhood sandwiched between the business district and Stanley Park).

He lived with the people who'd taken up residence in several underground shopping malls and the Skytrain tunnels connecting them under the downtown core. "They call themselves "Undergrounders". I think most of them were probably homeless before the war."

Lee explained that the city's homeless population (like street people anywhere) had a high incidence of drug and alcohol addiction, in addition to mental illness (aka "dual-diagnosis").

"They took good care of me." Then this guy came through about a year, year and a half, ago, he was like... He said his name was "Cyrus". Which sounded cool. He said his family had taken over the park, Stanley Park. The people were building a home that no one could take away."

"Some people left with him, and I was tired of living like a freakin' mole, eh? So I went too."

"Most of the time it's cool. Hunting and fishing. Hanging out. Sometimes we trade some of the weed we grow with the Undergrounders."

"But we always do what Cyrus wants. Sometimes, like with those guys... he made us do stuff." He looked severely disturbed and even ashamed.

They left him there alone and took a quick break to let him think things over. They met Kelsey in the corridor outside to talk. There were many, many unanswered questions.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:06, Mon 02 June 2008.

Clarke looked at the other two women.  "I'm used to questioning enemy combatants.  They may have crimes the committed that they are ashamed of.  This kid's body language certainly makes it look like he was there when the convoy people were tortured to death, and it weighs on him.  I think he wants that weight off his soul.

"Make sure to ask him about the stuff we found.. and when it is time for the reports to be picked up again.. or delivered.. "

Clarke nodded.  "Good idea.  I think we should give him a chance to confess first.  Couch it as we can see there is something that is hurting him, and it would hurt less if he tells us.  Once the floodgates open, I doubt they will stop.

Lee was positive on the results and the information they were receiving.

"Oh, I think the floodgates are open all right. Let's make sure the information keeps coming and direct him a little. Anything in particular we want to ask, let's make sure that gets done. If we let him ramble he may skip over something we want, get side-tracked."

"Like Kelsey said, let's start with what they're doing there, how the information was transmitted or is to be transmitted."

"We'll need to double-check what he gives us, if he can. So, what do we want to ask him?"

"My thought was to start with questioning about the atrocity in the park, since that seems to be what he referred to when he mentioned 'things', then redirect to now, what he was doing, how the information was passed, when the next pick-up would occur.  We want to get the couriers if we can.  But you are the expert, so I will defer to your judgement."