Case # 27: Video

[19centconstable]

[George is sitting at the table in his room. His helmet is in front of him, and he's scrubbing furiously at the badge mounted on it with a toothbrush. He pauses and peers at the badge through a magnifying glass.]

Oh, for the love of...

[Back to scrubbing. There are still small traces of tarnish. George eventually puts the toothbrush down with a frustrated sigh, and tells the viewers at home:]

I suppose I ought to be thankful at least that it hasn't grown a tree.

[Oh, did you think this was an accidental post? No, George's communicator has yet to act up, he was just distracted by the creeping rust.]

I had just wanted to say that the other day I happened to notice a suspicious damp bit on the floor of the fifth level common room, by the shark's tank, and I thought someone ought to check into that.

[Just in case, as George suspects, the shark has started piddling on the floor to get attention. Or, more realistically, the decay has made its way down to level five and has started eroding the tank. And nobody likes a loose shark. Particularly the shark, because they can't breathe air very well.]

Comments

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Why, do you think they'd help?

I'm told Trip- that's Commander Tucker, is in charge of maintenance, but perhaps we can stick something in the leak in the meantime.

[scentbombed]

[It's mean, but she can't help herself.] Your badge is about the right size, I think.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Oh.

But how would we get it to stay in place?

[scentbombed]

I don't know. Glue?

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

I...suppose, if there's nothing else that would work.

My Inspector would be put out with me, though.

[scentbombed]

Your Inspector is here?

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

No, but I do wish he was.

[scentbombed]

[She opens her mouth, pauses, relents.] I do, too, sometimes. He'd be awfully angry about all this that's going on.

Not your badge... I think I have an old shirt somewhere that will do.

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Is he a bit of a yeller as well?

Are you certain? Water does go through shirts...

[scentbombed]

Oh, yelling's where he starts.

And I think it should hold long enough, anyway, until we can get Commander Tucker... [She blinks.] What's a Commander doing in maintenance?

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

He sounds quite familiar.

Pitching in?

[scentbombed]

[At that, she smiles a little.] Maybe every world's got their Mister Vimes. [The thought is oddly comforting! Everyone should have one.

Plus, when she thinks about Commander Vimes, and how he'd probably get awfully sarcastic with her if he'd heard her ask that question...] Yes, okay. Can we get in touch with him?

[19centconstable.livejournal.com]

Ours is Inspector Brackenreid.

I'm sure we can.

[scentbombed]

Right. I'll go stop up the hole, then.