Segmented

The artificial light came into the room at a slant that was supposed to feel like late afternoon, which it did beautifully. The problem with being able to choose daylight settings, however, was that the light didn't progress from the set stage unless someone adjusted the programming; so it had been "late afternoon" for quite a few hours now. Everyone in the room used to working a normal twenty-four hour cycle had been feeling hungry and irritable for a while now, but that's the way it is when the shit hits the fan.
Seated at the head of the table was Acting Arbiter Greigh, who looked as if he'd just been roused out of chambers, put on a transport to VChicago, sworn in as Arbiter and dumped into a meeting room, which he had. Greigh rubbed his eyes, this wasn't supposed to happen, he thought. Arbitor Hhagnik was probably thinking the same thing as he was being murdered.
A short list of suspects read out on the desk display in front of him, with a short bio on each that did little to illustrate who these people were for the Acting Arbiter, supposedly, that's what the people seated around him were there for.
"It says here Controller...let's see, Controller Gustav was assigned to Sebastian Group?" Arbiter Greigh asked.
"Yes, sir."
"Then why was he using an Everett to hunt down the four who escaped?"
"It has been established that in the event that any matters that require agents to act on other agents, an agent from a different group would be used to tamp down any sympathetic notions, sir," the tech answered, unblinking behind his round glasses.
'...it has been established..' the Arbiter thought, is he mocking me?
"I see," the Arbiter said, "the former Arbiter personally assigned Controller Gustav to hunt down four rogue Sebastians...?"
"Yes, sir."
"Controller Gustav tapped an Everett named Pedaf Truman for the job?"
"Yes, sir."
"Any relation there, between Gustav and Pedaf?"
Another Controller piqued at that, "Not as far as we can tell, sir. It would probably have been the choice I, myself, would have made. Everett Truman was a very seasoned agent, sir."
"I see you're a Controller, name?" the Arbiter looked up from studying the woman's insignia.
"Oscanyon, sir."
"So, Controller Oscanyon," the Arbiter began, "You're assigned to Sebastian Dock? You worked with Gustav. You mentioned earlier that you don't believe he would have had anything to do with the death of  Arbiter Hhagnik...,"
"Despite the evidence to the contrary," the tech in the round glasses shot out.
Though being new to the mantle of Arbiter, Greigh delivered a withering look to the tech that made him slump in his seat.
"No, sir," Controller Oscanyon continued, looking down the tech, "despite what Operator Nreff claims."
"And we still haven't been able to contact Controller Gustav?" the Arbiter asks another, seated farther down.
"No, sir. And before the murder it had been several days since the Controller's last communique," the young man said, barely out of his teens, the Arbiter thought.
"What about you?" the Arbiter turned to a man sitting next to Operator Nreff, "Controller...?"
"Bashale, sir, with Everett Group," the man said, the light reflecting off his dark lenses.
"This card that was found on the Arbiter's body, is that some sort of calling card?" Arbiter Greigh squared his shoulders.
Bashale seemed to consider how to answer for a moment, then, "I wouldn't think so, sir." Operator Nreff bristled before Bashale could continue, "The card in question is the result of field training the Everetts go through, it's just a simple kickstart for times when memory suppression isn't available. It's not something I practice, and I've reported that I don't agree with the exercise of using them."
"If you disagree with using these cards, simple as they are, why would Everett Truman still be using them?" the Arbiter pressed.
"Because Everett Truman had been in the program long before I was assigned, sir. It's a hard habit to break," Controller Bashale answered.
"Why not use them?"
"Arbiter, I believe these cards might compromise an agent's cover when on assignment," Bashale said.
"Maybe that's why your Everett went on a killing spree, pardon me, Controller Bashale," Controller Oscanyon said, fixing the other with a cold stare, "Maybe so long without memory suppression led to...this."
Operator Nreff turned to the Arbiter, "The memory suppression is a means of controlling-"
"You mean to lecture me on memory suppresion, Operator?" Arbiter Greigh bit out.
"I'm inclined to agree with Nreff on this one, forgive me, Controller Oscanyon," Bashale said, disarmingly, "it is far more likely a Controller such as Gustav could have gained access to the Arbiter's inner sanctum, what, with the safe guards agaisnst agents. According to the Operator it would be near impossible."
"Right," Nreff confirmed, unabashed.
"And no prints were found, am I seeing this right?" the Arbiter sighed, "does anyone make anything of the message? 'Traitor'?" The Acting Arbiter lowered his voice, "Did the Arbiter have his fingers in any pies we didn't know about? Besides the weapons cache, that is?"
"We're still looking into that, Arbiter," Oscanyon says.
"Sir?" the young man sitting at the last of the table perks up again, finger in the air, "I think there maybe something we're overlooking, here," he sounded apologetic.
"What's that?" the Arbiter said, almost inaudibly.
"The Arbiter was hanged, sir. There's only one group that ever does that, sir."
The Arbiter's brow raised, his mouth a grim line.
"The military," Controller Bashale finished.