S1E8 [NYC]: A Cloud of Lead ain’t Got Nothing on a Swarm of Mosquitoes

Monday, 5 June: “Welcome back.” Paulo mistakenly entered the wrong apartment as this one is occupied by a voluptuous woman. But he recognizes the voice, “Tyranissh?!” She partially transforms to reveal her serpent form before becoming all woman again. And Paulo gasps as his nightmare from nights ago flashes behind his eyes (entering home to a nest of snake children). Soon Paulo briefs ‘Tish’ about the Oklahoma cult. “Glad you made it home safe. Where are the others?” Tyranissh very curious about how Isaac and Mikael are doing after recovering from the Yellow Death. Paulo shrugging, “Fine, I guess. I didn’t want anything to do with Caduceus and the Tier 3 promotion they and the others are now getting.” 

If only he knew at that very moment, the promotion about to go up in flames. The Meadham estate in Connecticut. Mikael tossing a stick of dynamite into the temple. Cliff considering to re-toss the stick out a window; reason convincing him to dive for cover along with everyone else. Except for Jen who runs to join Meadham escaping the temple, “Wait for me master.”…………………KaBLAM!

As the dust settles, Mikael pokes his head back in as he sees rubble shifting, “I told you run but you no listen.” But from under the rubble, rises a cult member transformed into a serpent. “BLAM, BLAM.” Mikael holding his fire as he sees a naked Cliff digging his way out then trying to rescue others. Unarmed and naked, Mira confronts another human cultist with a ‘bitch-slap’. Him lashing out with a whip. Mira contorting in pain as the whip has some magical effect [wracking pain].

Another cultist swings a scimitar at Cliff who blocks the swing and punches. The human illusion dissolving to reveal a serpent! Which prompts Issac to cast [Shrivel], killing the thing.

Mad dash out the door and to their cars to retrieve weapons and pursue Meadham already driving away. Jen standing in her birthday suit, “I tried to stop him, but he ignored me. His driver Canning tried to run me over.” Cliff driving one car with Mikael claiming ‘shotgun’ seat; Isaac in the backseat. “Step on it; they’re getting away.” But Cliff takes the turn too sharp and high-centers on a large rock getting stuck. Meanwhile, Mira slides into the driver-seat of another car with Jen as passenger. “Wooo” as she rounds the curve, spotting Cliff at the last moment. Swerving around the stalled car.

“Don’t look now but there are more cultists chasing us.” Indeed, 2 more cars speed from the house giving chase to the chasers. In the lead car, Jen levels her Enfield out the window to shoot at Meadham’s car now at the gate. Steam rises from the hood yet the car speeds away. And the gate begins to slowly grind closed. Behind them, more gunfire as Mikael shoots at the closing cultists, “Get car free. We no good stopped.” Indeed, Cliff trying forward or reverse to get some kind of traction. Finally getting free to drive away. Isaac dropping a grenade in front of one pursuit car, “Boom!”

Not enough damage to stop them as the cultists pull alongside and aim a cylindrical tube at them. A red beam painting along the passenger door. Paint bubbling but no real damage. And that’s when Isaac displays his own cylindrical weapon, leveling his tommy-gun, “Rat, a, tat, tat, tat.” The smoking car out of control as the driver slumps over dead. As they speed away from the 2^nd pursing car, looking at his rearview mirror, Cliff can see another cultist pulling the dead driver out of the stopped car as they change drivers. “We still got company.”

Meanwhile, Jen readies another shot at Meadham’s car. Unaware Mira plans to ram the closing gate. Simultaneous. “Slam.” “Bam.” The shot missing as Meadham’s car disappears around a curve and is gone. Mira’s car slowed as a bent fender scrapes against a tire. Slowed but still able to escape the pursing cultists behind Cliff, who lose interest as Isaac spews another round a lead. “Something tells me we saw our last Caduceus paycheck.”

Tuesday, 6 June: The group enters Barbetta’s restaurant finding Paulo sitting with Filemone Casale, “We just catching up on history. Dolemite brothers-in-arm. So how you like your Tier-3 promotion? Hah, I told you they no good. Serpents?! Tish no tell me Caduceus has serpents. Tish? Tyranissh; before she disappeared.” Filemone now speaking up, “So, out of a job? Mr. Giovanni has offer. Still no like those warehouses. Manifest bug spray; New York not that buggy. Besides, why guards? And how so much power use? Bosses’ accountant Victoria says electric bill unreasonable. Meet at same restaurant tomorrow night. Yeah, restaurant with ‘Closed’ sign. Giuseppe will be there.”

Wednesday, 7 June: Once again, Giuseppe himself opening the door. Jen taking the lead, “Can we talk alone? I understand I owe you a favor. I bet on the wrong horse when I joined Caduceus.” The godfather spelling out his disbelief in the warehouse, “I need visual proof they are not dealing heroin. Giovanni will give you the details of the raid on the Red Hook warehouses tomorrow night at 10pm.” Mikael asks, “What’s in it for us?” Yeah, a deal they cannot refuse.

Thursday, 5pm: As Jen climbs into her car to drive to breakfast, she finds an unsigned note, “Meet me in Mickie’s Tavern at 5pm. Oded said I could trust you.” Still daylight at 5pm but the tavern interior dark and dimly lit. The flick of a cigarette lighter betraying Phil Conners nervously lighting his smoke, “Before we talk, I need you to stand over there as I use this bright flashlight to check your shadow. Oded said disguised serpent folk still cast serpent shadows.” Satisfied, he gets down to business, “Oded and I need your help. I’ve been spying on Caduceus. Too many travel requests not related to world aid. Such as the Congo and Iceland. Places you reported from that Borneo temple map. Meet me in 2 weeks with the others. We’ve got a job for you to help thwart their plans.”

10pm: As planned, a flash of their headlights is answered by 2 parked cars flashing theirs. Giovanni with a dozen thugs armed with tommies, “Lead the way. My guys’ got your back.” Jen wants to kill the guards; Cliff wants to knock them out. Paulo proposing his plan, “I’m still in with Caduceus. I distract the guards with my badge to get in while you guys sneak around back to slip in.” Sounded good, except the guards point out, “That’s only a Tier-2 badge. This here is Tier-3.” Which means Cliff’s mugging out back comes into play. But the back has huge garage doors; too noisy to open.

Jen changes into a guard’s uniform before leading all to the front door she unlocks. Dark office doors either side of the narrow passage that opens unto a large bay filled with crates. Voices. Guards further in. Isaac slips into an office finding shipment records: chemical shipments between NYC and the Congo. Meanwhile, Mira sneaks in, using her knife to open a smaller crate…filled with flare guns. Mikael takes position on a tall crate to give cover-fire while Cliff tries to sneak closer towards the guards. Disguised, Jen casually walks towards the guards, exchanging a nod. Paulo tries to bluff his way towards the stairs where noisy generators can be heard. Except that’s when Cliff accidentally kicks a stray crowbar. Alerting the guards.

Cliff trying to act the drunk. Slurred speech, “Where’s the bar mate? Me thirsty.” Raised guns show how well his bluff worked. Cliff faster on the draw, “Bang, bang, bang.” All hell breaking loose. Paulo’s wrong-colored badge earns shots in his direction. Mikael shoots; Mira blasts with her shotgun.

The mob thugs entering with their tommies spraying lead everywhere.  Then the sound of an alarm in the basement.

Paulo rushes for the basement stairs in time to see guards struggling to close a huge metal door. His thrown dart just missing. Then, “Duck!” as Isaac sprays with his tommy. Mikael arrives to kill the other guard before the door can be closed. All enter the basement finding row upon row of long glass cylinders. Mira looking for a control panel to shut off the alarm, “Can’t. Looks like its controlled from the Meadham Estate.”

And that’s when all notice what’s inside the closest cylinder: a swarming cloud almost hiding the bodies of Mortimer and Lloyd brought back from Oklahoma. Desiccated. Realization the cloud is hundreds of foot-long mosquitoes. Realization THEY gave the innocent to Meadham to be used as food! Sanity check. Paulo losing it (insane desire to gloat), “See? See what we did? Well now I’m going to tear off their little wings one by one. You little suckers, then I’m going to shove these grenades…” Jen interrupting, “Guys? Guys, look at the cannisters! The ends are unscrewing.” Mira adding, “Clock in this control room. Countdown…15, 14…till the cannisters open. RUN!”

The fizz of lit dynamite sticks drowned out by the hum of the generators. Mikael once more punching Paulo in the nose, dropping him like a brick. Him dropping the grenades with pins already pulled. Fireman’s carry up the stairs. Followed by a billowing cloud of large mosquitoes. And the muffled blast of detonating grenades. Mobsters battling the mosquitoes, spraying tommy lead. Isaac muscling a bay door open to then run and jump into the river. Followed by Jen, then Mikael tossing the limp Paulo first. Mira and Cliff the last to jump. Both caught mid-air as the dynamite explodes. Generator fuel igniting to cause a huge ball of flames. The warehouse engulfed.

Like wet rats climbing out of the river when Giovanni arrives, “What happened?! Never mind, cops are coming. Get in the cars and let’s get out of here. I lost a lot of men in there.” Their efforts to describe huge mosquitoes disbelieved, “At least he ain’t dealing heroin no more.”

Friday, 9 June: The evening newspapers report the warehouse explosion, “Caduceus’ medical supply lab was destroyed yesterday evening. At first thought to be an accident till guards told of a shady intruder. Police suspect a German sympathizer committing sabotage. The honorable Caduceus health organization targeted. Be on the lookout for…” Over the next few days, there are 4^th page articles about city folk describing huge mosquitoes attacking their kids playing in the streets.

For the next 2 weeks the gang hides out from Caduceus. Jen staying with the mob. Paulo finding comfort (and sanity relief) chatting with Filemone. Isaac coordinates getting his wife and kids out of town.

Friday, 23 June: They gather at the tavern. Once again Phil makes his request, “I need you to stand over there as I use this bright flashlight to check your shadow.” Gathering all around the table, he nervously explains, “I snuck this briefing out. An operation in Iceland centered on the famous volcano Mr. Vernes referenced in his book Journey to the Center of the Earth. Another serpent folk outpost with technology and energy devices that could be destructive to the human race.”

He continues, “I can falsify paperwork and badges to get you there. Find out what they are up to and put an end to it. I’ve arranged a guide to meet you there. But also take note of these strange pictures. The famous Iceland ice-trolls - - - Oded says they are real; just partially petrified. He’s learned they were often bred by the serpentfolk as slaves. They’re called ‘Voormis’.

Later that night, as Paulo enters his apartment, “Evening Tish. Say, what can you tell me about Voormis? This nose piece? Hope it adds protection. Strangest thing. Over this last month, while on assignment, three times I’ve awoke with a bloody, broken nose. Fainting spells? And by the way, thanks for teaching me that spell.”

Next session: https://riggle2hs.blogspot.com/2020/04/s1e9-save-trolls.html