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6 May 1933: Caduceus building,
7th floor, as Phil Conners shoves more paperwork in their face,
“Fill out your travel report if you hope to get paid. And do it right for
once.” Jen lashing out, “You heartless bastard; are you going to fill out the
forms for Isaac and Mikael lying in a coma down in the lab?!” Porter trying to
console her [no need to piss off the paymaster], “Now, now Jen. Mr. Conners is
just doing his job. See him at his desk…he’s filling out their forms as we
speak [a wink, wink to Phil]. In fact, he’s checking the box for double hazard
pay for the risk they faced.” Minutes later, Conners is correcting Paulo’s
papers. “What? I no get double hazard pay too?! What, you have to be sick?
Cough, cough. My throat is dry.”
Paperwork complete, the team goes their separate ways.
Porter to the library to research the Nacaal language which the spell scroll is
written. Jen to the basement lab to check on Isaac and Mikael; inside a glass
room, laying on tables, with a crisscross of rubber tubing pumping fluids and
medicine into their bodies. Jen curls up in a corner crying; whether concern
for her friends or reacting to her new fear of sunlight. Paulo too is in the
basement, giving the containment room a short glimpse as he heads to
Tyranissh’s cage. Where he practices his Nacaal briefing the serpent on the
Borneo mission, “Thank you for providing the cure for my friends. I can only
hope we were not too late returning their infected bodies.”
7 May (Sunday):
It’s before noon when all gather in the Caduceus basement per Dr. Gonsalves
request, “I thought you might want to witness your teammates recovery.” Most
surprising… finding Tyranissh at his side. Outside her cage! Jen noticing, “Do
the handcuffs bother you?” The serpent matter-of-factly, “Matters not.” All
turn their attention as the glass room curtains are drawn, revealing Isaac and
Mikael hooked up to some kind of machine. That seems to pump their fluids in a
cycle. Gonsalves enters the room in full hazmat gear. He opens a can and holds it under Isaac and
Mikael’s nose. After a bit he signals
that they are good. Tyranissh confirms, “Yes, they are cured. ‘Yellow Death’ as
you call it was an ancient biological weapon of Yig’s followers. But it tended
to burn itself out and was thus abandoned. Till now.” Pleased with the results,
Gonsalves suggests, “They are out of danger but need rest. Come back tomorrow
when we plan to bring them out of their coma.”
8 May: Isaac and Mikael awake to
find Jen at their side, wearing dark sunglasses, “You scared me so bad, I think
I popped a retina. Now sensitive to sunlight.” Isaac wasting no time getting
dressed, “Excuse me, but if I’m cleared, I’ve got a wife at home waiting on me.
Did anyone happen to brief her? No? Probably for the best.” [When Isaac arrives
home, he’ll find his wife surrounded by empty boxes. “Woman’s intuition; I knew
something was wrong. The shopping? To get my mind off you. They wouldn’t let me
see you. DID YOU HEAR ME?! They wouldn’t tell me whether you were dead or
dying.”] Mikael’s waking desires are more basic, “You have
teachers? Me wanna learn gooder English. And maybe someone to help my gun
skills.”
As for Paulo, he rides the elevator to the 8th floor,
entering the B-radio room hoping to get a read on possible survival
environments other agents are dealing with. A radio crackles at an empty desk;
the operator having stepped out. “Come in base. Oded here on assignment in
Persia. Hello? Awaiting permission to destroy the suspect tower.” Paulo
remembers that name, mentioned by Jen from her past adventures. He scans the
desk, finding a folder labeled ‘Persia, Yazd, Iran.’ No sign of the operator
returning, and hearing the urgency in Oded’s voice, Paulo picks up the
microphone, “Caduceus base. You have the green light. Do as necessary. Out.”
Now scanning the folder, Paulo can only wonder, “What was in the tower that was
so urgent to destroy? Hope HE took time to save any civilians.”
Meanwhile, Porter leads Jen up the elevator, “Care to
join me to convince Deluca for higher tier status? Maybe get team lead
assignment?” Deluca seems edgy, unconsciously wiping his nose, “Higher Tier AND
team lead? Well, we do have an opening…or two…considering how leads seem to die
under your watch. I’ll have to ask Mr. Meadham. Do me a favor, and I’ll put
your request at the top of the list.” Jen and Porter agreeing without even
asking the nature of the favor. Retrieving cash and a little white bag from his
desk, “You said you have mafia connections. Well, I need a refill. Yes,
cocaine.” Without hesitating, Jen takes the cash, “Don’t cross me. Else you’ll
get an ice-pick up your nose instead of the white stuff.”
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13 May: Days trolling Barbetta’s
restaurant before the duo finally run into a contact, “I remember you pretty
lady. I’m Venere. I was here when Filemone bought you and your friends those
rounds of drinks. Where are they?” Jen trying to keep the deal on the downlow,
“They passed. Horrible accident. Just us. So, do you think you can find
Filemone; we have a request.” Venere excuses himself to a back room. Long
minutes till Filemone appears, “You say Paulo dead? No? Then who passed? Never
mind, what you need? Cocaine? It’ll take time; say tomorrow night at the docks.
8pm. Here’s the address. Antonio will meet you; wear white carnation. He wear
one too.” Porter stands to leave, “I’m in your debt.” Jen giving the look, ‘The
hell you say.’ Filemone responding, “No debt for this simple task. Think
nothing of it. You good friend of Paulo, yes?”
14 May (Sunday):
Isaac and Paulo have been in the library almost a week studying the scroll
locked in its protective anti-humidity case. The translation going slow. Isaac
prodding more which explains why they’ve forgotten all about their teammates.
Thus, Jen and Porter alone at night at the docks, trying to stay in the
shadows. Porter noticing two warehouses with the Caduceus emblem on them.
Caduceus guards patrol the area. Jen notices their contact further down the
docks; lights illuminating his carnation. They approach and are challenged,
“Cash first.” Antonio holds the $50 up to the lights then smiles as he reaches
into his coat to pass over the large bag of white powder. Porter samples the
goods, sneezing at the rush of energy he feels. And that’s when…
Police whistles shatter the night silence. “It’s a bust.”
Jen and Antonio take off running. Porter tries to distract the approaching officers,
“She went that way.” As two policemen chase the runners, two others raise their
batons as they approach Porter. So much for fast-talk; Porter runs towards
shadows. Hoping he’s lost his tail, he approaches a Caduceus warehouse.
Flashing his Tier-2 badge, he’s allowed in. Where he quickly climbs stairs to
then watch the wandering police. An hour before he feels safe to leave.
Meanwhile, Jen barks orders at Antonio, “Draw them down
that alley while I escape.” A block later, a warehouse door opens revealing
Filemone, “Quick, step in here.” Her heart racing as she peers out a window at
the approaching police. And that’s when the warehouse door opens again. Three
mafia thugs step out with tommy-guns, “Rat-a-tat-tat.” Both policemen slain.
Filemone speaks up, “NOW you owe me.”
20 May (Saturday):
Days since the bust. Deluca has his coke and has shrugged off the attempted
bust, “Did they get your names? No? Then we’re good. Now want to share some
snorts with me? No? Then fill out these forms and I’ll channel them to Mr.
Meadham for your Tier-3 approval.” Jen still fuming at Porter, “You little
shit. Ratting me out to the cops. I outa…”
Meanwhile, during the week, Mikael has been reading his
bible trying to find comfort and sanity from scripture. During the evenings,
Isaac has been spending time with his wife also trying to compose his sanity.
During the afternoons, Isaac and Paulo continue their scroll translation.
Slowly they translate the history of the serpent people and how one faction
wanted to wipe out humanity and the other wanted to live with humanity and
possibly interbreed with them. The serpent people built their temple over a
volcano to seize its arcane power. A civil war broke out between the extremist
factions of serpent people. During this an alien race assaulted the temple. The
volcano erupted causing the shattering of reality, separating Mu from Earth. It
is predicted that a Chosen One will unite the serpent people and lead them home
to Mu.
Isaac is most pleased to find a spell, “I knew it. I
could feel the magic. ‘Bind a Formless Spawn’; why would I want to do that? I
remember the one we encountered in Bolivia within that shaft. Are there more? Keep
reading, maybe there’s an attack spell.”
27 May (Saturday): A
long week passes till Jen calls the team for lunch, “I’ve a confession. Porter
and I crossed paths with the mafia, who now call us for a job. We need your
help. According to Filemone, the godfather wants to see ALL of us.” Paulo
countering, “You got yourselves in this mess, going behind our backs. Why
should we help?” Mikael more lenient, “I help you. You go church with me. Pray.
Maybe get religion.” Isaac more direct, “What’d you do?” Eventually,
reluctantly, they all agree.
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8pm, after sunset, under the street lights, Paulo parks
the car in front of the ‘Green Garden Café’ in Brooklyn. “Closed sign in the
window. Guess we can leave.” A man in a sharp suit opens the door, revealing
more business suits within, “Come join us.” Paulo swallows hard when he
realizes the man holding the door is none other then the caporegime himself,
Giovanni Bonventio, “So glad you could join us. Filemone told us all about you.
Drinks? Let me introduce you.” As Giovanni introduces New York’s godfather,
28-year-old Giuseppe Bonanno, Jen kneels and kisses the young man’s hand. A
Phillipe Rappa and Martino Bresciano are also introduced.
Giuseppe speaks up, “Let me get to the point. What do you
do for Caduceus? Do you think they are doing good for the world?” Jen the first
to speak, “I’m skeptical. Anyone claiming to be all good…” Porter more
optimistic. Isaac OK with them. Paulo hesitant to answer, wondering what he’s
fishing for. Mikael more basic, “They feed me.” Giuseppe continuing, “I hear
you travel. To Africa? No? Asked to bring things back?” Isaac answers no but is
not convincing. Giuseppe, “Let me rephrase. Asked to bring anything illegal?”
Now all comfortably answer no. Giuseppe finally getting to the point, “They
have all those warehouses. A lot of activity around them. Would you say
Caduceus brings heroin into the city? I’m not concerned them rivals. They could
be cooking bad drugs which is bad for all. Simple request. I offer $2000 among
you. Bring me a warehouse manifest.”
Standing at the back of the room, pretending to be THEIR
muscle, Mikael chokes as he realizes his $400 cut for one job is half his
one-year salary from Caduceus. Meanwhle, no-one pays attention to Paulo
offering his handkerchief to Phillipe who has cut himself on a rough edge under
the table. The meeting over. Mikael out the door and already walking towards
the docks when Porter stops him, “We don’t need to inspect the warehouse. We’ll
just convince Conners to give us a copy of the manifest.”
As most head to the 7th floor, Paulo takes the
elevator to the basement. Pulling out his handkerchief, he asks Tyranissh, “Do
you smell serpent in this blood? No?” He then tells her of the encounter with
the mafia and his own growing suspicions of Caduceus. She smiles. Meanwhile,
the others find Conners at his desk. Who questions the need for them to see the
manifest. Isaac offers, “Just doing what the boss orders. Nothing you’ve done.
It’s those fool guards, fouling things up. If you can make me a copy. Yes, I’ll
put in a good word for you.” Puzzled looks as they read the manifest listing
crate after crate of some chemical, ‘Dimethyl
Phthalate’. Porter stops in the library to find the chemical an insect
repellent. Puzzled looks. A desire to speak with Deluca but his secretary
explaining, “He’s gone for the night. Come back tomorrow.”
28 May: 10am when they check in
with Deluca. “You guys are psychic too? I was just about to send for you. You
have a mission.” Porter interrupts, “We wanted to tell you about our recent
contact with the mob.” Deluca listens without surprise, “What are you going to
tell them? The manifest? Let me call Conners in to get you a copy.” Now Conners
puzzled, “But I already made them a copy per your orders they said. Anyway, did
you happen to put in a good word for me to Mr. Meadham? I’m long overdue for a
promotion.” Conners dejectedly leaves when Deluca says, “Not yet.”
Deluca turns back to the team, “Come with me to the 18th
floor. And don’t tell Phil. He’s just not Tier persona.” They are met by the
secretary Deloris, “Please fill out these non-disclosure agreements. And remove
all weapons.” Long minutes as Mikael piles weapon after weapon on the table.
Deluca and Gonsalves pat them down before leading them down the hall to a
mahogany door. Inside, “Mr. Meadham, the team is here.” Porter recognizes the
white-haired elder. And his huge bodyguard, who pats everyone done.
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Everything in the room is fine mahogany. Wall paneling, bookcases,
the desk, display cabinets full of various liquors. Meadham speaking with a
tone of vile and disgust, “Ah, you’ve noticed my ‘memento mori’”; as he
indicates a science class human skeleton. Which could have been my fate back in
’28. You haven’t heard the story? My daughter Rose. Never the same when she
came back from her mission in Georgia. Corrupted by Tsathoggua. Set a bomb in
this very room. Thus, my facial scars. And poor Canning, my bodyguard. She
laced his drink with acid destroying his vocal cords. But all that is history.
You’ve come seeking higher clearance? Tell me a little about yourselves. No,
no. Let me tell what I’ve learned thru Deluca.”
“Jenny. Ah yes, cutting words to go with that deadly
machete you wield. And Isaac, throwing candy to those kids about to be
incinerated. Lovely. Porter oh so anxious to climb the ladder, you make a
personal calling to my house. Mikael so buried in your bible. Tell me, what do
you now think of the snake in the Garden of Eve? And Paulo, have you gotten it
on with the snake downstairs? Playing with poison.” But all the while he
speaks, the others can only dumbly look at the cage beside his desk holding 3
Guinea pigs. Meadham notices the glances, “My companions. Now that my wife and
daughter are dead to me.“
Meadham continues, “So you want to move up. Then prove
yourselves on this next mission. I want daily updates at 7pm New York time.
Oklahoma is where you ought to be. Cultist worshipers of Yig. They’re using the
guise of a Christian church to hide their activities. What’s the root cause of
this upstart? Be on the lookout for Inner Night agents. How can you tell,
besides lose facial skin? Look at their shadows…serpent outline. Not a lot of
shade in Oklahoma. And yes, they have the ability to charm. I’ll leave it to
Dr. Gonsalves to let you listen to the cults’ radio broadcasts.”
As they exit, they notice Meadham pulling a long stick
out of a display case. Pauses to realize its the staff recovered from Bolivia.
Meadham fondling it as if trying to feel its magic and powers. Now all back in
the presence of Deloris and their weapons before riding the elevator to the 8th
floor. As they pass various offices, they can’t help but hear a commotion.
Someone yelling. Glances to see 2 scientists threatening Tyranissh, “Tell us,
before we lock you back up in your cage. Cuffed. How is the Inner Night
supposed to find Mu? How are they to deal with the deadly guardians?” Tyranissh
catching sight of Paulo, giving a wink, before she explodes, “Enough! May you
both be struck down.”
And with that, a spiraling cloud appears in the room. She
steps inside and is gone. The spinning faster, starting to suck in loose
objects. The scientists lifted off their feet and also sucked in. Into a
whirling ring of razor-sharp teeth! A cloud of blood expanding before the
spiraling cloud before it too sucked into the void. Paulo too lifted off his
feet, desperately hanging onto the door frame else he too sucked in. And that’s
when the spiraling stops. Dropping Paulo hard to the floor. Silence. Then
realization from other Caduceus staff, “Oh crap. She’s gone! What’ll we tell
the bosses?” Then realization Gonsalves has been watching too. “We’ll get right
on it.”
Distractions before Gonsalves finally gets them into the
radio room, “Here’s the recording Meadham was referencing. Listen for the
religious twists to Genesis 3:14.” Only a few can hear another voice. It’s
almost like the preacher has a 2nd set of vocal cords, speaking
Nacaal. “...wondrous yield the ungodly under Yig, bestowing blessings to lie
and strike, the blessings yield waiting heart. He under who upon curious lies,
and him waiting of the serpents curious mind glittering...”
Gonsalves instructing, “This is being broadcast from a
radio station in Oklahoma City. We’ve
tracked this down the pastor to somewhere near Bingham, Oklahoma. About 50
miles southwest of Oklahoma City. I suggest you gather necessary gear and head
out tomorrow. That’s a long drive.”
It’s been a long day as everyone departs for their homes.
Paulo entering his apartment only to find he has company. “I see now why you
struggle so much to learn my language. This translation book full of so many
errors. I’ll correct it while you do your Oklahoma mission.”
Surprised to find Tyranissh in his apartment, Paulo excitedly
mentions, “I saw your staff. Mr. Meadham had it up on his 18th floor
in a glass display case. I didn’t like the way he was caressing it as we left.
Like he’s trying to gain its powers. His deformed face. He says from an
explosion his daughter caused. But the man keeps Guinea pigs as pets! Dog is
man’s best friend; well, besides you and your willingness to help. I mean,
Guinea pigs? Isn’t that like a snack for you serpent folk?! I’m beginning to
think the scarred face is but an excuse to hide his true nature as a
serpentfolk follower of Tsathoggua. Even his bodyguard Canning plays the mute. I’m guessing
he a serpentfolk not speaking as easier to hide his true form. Not reveal the
loose skin on his face.”
Continuing, “You were able to create an escape out of that room.
Couldn’t you as easily pop into Mr. Meadham’s house and take back your staff? I
could help when we get back. You really think I should go to Oklahoma? I don’t
trust that Mr. Deluca, head of Caduceus’ security. I mean, Porter told how
Deluca sent he and Jen to buy drugs for him. I wondered why his sniffling and
powdered nose. Sounds like corruption all throughout Caduceus. And WHY would
they have warehouses full of insect repellent? Some fancy chemical Mr. Conners
called ‘Dimethyl something’. That scroll I mentioned to you earlier spoke about
an alien race attacking your temple. What can you tell me about that race? What
do they look like? Maybe Meadham is one of them?!”
Finishing,
“My head hurts. Do you mind if I lay down? Could you rub my neck? Can I get you
anything before I leave tomorrow? Deluca said it would take a week to get to
this Bingham, Oklahoma. Ha, Cliff could fly us. See what I mean? Deluca not
thinking straight. Something off about him.”
I loved the Phil Conners picture
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