The Investigation Continues ....

[reducing-ray.livejournal.com]

I shouldn't be wearing the suit, thinks Ryan Choi as he prepares to be beamed up to the Watchtower. It's disrespectful.

The news came to him quick, and he nearly collapsed under the weight of it. Ray Palmer had been his hero since he was a child ... and had honored him greatly by choosing him as his successor. But now, it felt like he was wearing his dad's suit -- metaphorically speaking -- and it didn't fit right. It was too big on him. Even with the alterations the science staff at Ivy Town had made, it still felt like Ray was looking down at him, and finding him wanting. He's not The Atom. Not yet.

He looks to his right and left at the transfer station -- Isaiah Crockett, the former Teen Titan known as Joto, and Ronnie Raymond, the former Justice Leaguer known as Firestorm. Both former teammates of Ray's, now both his students at Ivy Town University. He feels like a fraud.

And as the teleporter activates, transporting them to the Watchtower, all Ryan can think is I can't believe Ray's gone, followed fleetingly by I can't believe I'm going to the moon.

Comments

[itsastretch.livejournal.com]

Ralph nods. "Precisely my point. Which means that either something was odd, someone took the belt from him mid-change, or someone else shrunk him or reversed the shrinking. Any of which are possible, in theory. But its another hole in the suicide theory."

He pauses, giving Ryan a throughtful look. "Take a look at his notes, and keep in mind he wasn't wearing the belt when found, but evidence suggests he was using size changing, intentionally or not. See if you can come up with some hypotheses."

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

"Ralph.." Firestorm clears his throat. "Is there anything I can do to help with the investigation?"

[itsastretch.livejournal.com]

Another nod. "Come up with a list of the Atom's enemies. Anyone he's encountered. Cross reference it with a list of people who have, or potentially could have shrinking capabilities, technological, magical or otherwise. If Ray didn't have his belt, we need to look at other potential causes... or people who could figure out his belt enough to use it on him on short notice. Then, with the remaining names that show up on both lists, come up with a list of their current status - deceased, known to be incarcerated, on the loose, and so on. We can't eliminate anyone yet, but expanding the list of prime suspects, or knowing for sure that names that might be high on the list are deceased, known to be incarcerated and so on might help us. You have the computer skills, JLA access codes, and the scientific know-how to come up with a realistic list."

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

"One name at the top of my list. Chronos. He was always Ray's worst enemy, as far as I knew. No shrinking, but with time manipulation.."

Firestorm shakes his head. ".. I'll see if anyone's seen him lately."

[itsastretch.livejournal.com]

Ralph nods. "Check the computer records, Brainiac 5 should be able to give you any access needed, and might have some insight. Give him the information we know for sure and see what he comes back with, and where he suggests looking. Mid-Nite might also be a good source for forensic analysis and might be able to rule out a method or two."

[reducing-ray.livejournal.com]

Ryan turns again to look at his mentor's body, laid out cold for autopsy. He bites his lips has his brow furrows.

"Can I see what posessions he had on him? I want to see if he was carrying the sub-space containment unit."

As he speaks, he can't take his eyes off Ray.

"It's not right."

Finally, he breaks it off and looks at Ralph.

"I agree he didn't kill himself, but I swear, it's like he saw it coming."

[itsastretch.livejournal.com]

Ralph nods, pulling out the list of possessions. "I think maybe he did. No sign of a struggle, but everything is consistent with him being hung, which is why it was classified as a suicide initially. But nothing else fits. Its definitely not right, but it makes me wonder. That's also why I wanted to get a list of who else might have been able to shrink him, because he definitely was size changing."

[reducing-ray.livejournal.com]

"The device itself is pretty simple to work ... there've been a couple others who've used it. But interrupting its workings? That would take some sort of metahuman force, I'd think."

[itsastretch.livejournal.com]

"Which means we're missing something here. There's metahum... hmm."

He glances towards Firestorm. "It was mentioned that Chronos was Ray's biggest enemy, if anyone would know what kind of force could stop the shrinking, or bring it about, he would. Get some folks together and see if you can find him and bring him into custody. I don't think he did it... would have been signs of struggle, and seems the wrong M.O., but he's still a suspect... and more importantly, he's going to think he's a prime suspect. If he thinks he's under investigation, he might be willing to give us some clues."

[jla-extras.livejournal.com]

"I'm on it. Keep me posted, Ralph..."

[itsastretch.livejournal.com]

"Believe me, I will. For now, bring Chronos in and be careful, that's not an easy task. And don't do anything that'd suggest to him that he's not our #1 suspect. I want to see if what he knows plus what your friend here can find out going through the notes comes up with any clearer answers."