Dead or Alive A Gargoyles MSTing Original story by: Valerie Howson Original short by: Koopa MSTing by: M. H. Torringjan I'm just back from a vacation, and I've fallen behind. I'm going to do this one, then a Sailor Moon fic or two. I don't mean any insult to this author. As a matter of fact, I've read some other stories by this author, and they're actually pretty good. She actually asked me to do it for her. It's just not the same when the person asks you to do one of their own stories, but I conceded to do so anyway. Any products mentioned in the MSTing or host segments are the property of their creators/owners. Gargoyles is the property of Disney. Roll season X credits The scene opens to the bridge, where Ranma is sitting in front of Crow's computer, typing away. Mike walks up and notices that the channel is open. "Hi, everyone, and welcome to the Sattelite of Love!" Mike says. "We're all awake this time, and we're keeping busy while we're waiting for the Mads to call. What're you doing, Ranma?" "I'm on the internet, falling in love," Ranma answers non-chalantly. "Ranma, are you on one of those porn pages? I've told you not to go there," Mike says, annoyed. "No, Mike," Ranma answers, "I'm in one of those chat rooms. I've met this girl who says that she's fifteen and her name is Krystal." Michelle walks on stage and overhears them talking. "What? You're talking to someone on the internet?" Michelle asks. "Where does she live?" "She says that she's from Yaound‚, Cameroon, and her parents are scientists," Ranma says. "She likes everything that I do, and she seems really nice." "But you can't be sure about that until you meet her in person, right?" Mike asks. "Well, yes, but that's not the point," Ranma says. Michelle puts her head in her hands. "We'll talk about this later," Mike says, hitting the lit Mad's light. Deep 13 "Well, boys and girls," Forrester says. "I've found a new evil plan to inflict upon you. Well, not you, but on your bot friends. The point is, someone gets hurt. Frank has located the bots again, and he's homing in on them with a magnet beam emitted from your ship. They'll be back and suffering along with you. The only problem is that one of you will have to leave. That and it'll take a while for them to get there. I'll talk to you later, when you've gotten a look at our fic. "This week it's a gift from another Mad Scientist. It's called, 'Dead or Alive'. It's a Gargoyles fic, and it's by Valerie Howson. Enjoy!" Satellite of Love "She says she spends her time reading bad fics, too!" Ranma exclaims. "As if…" Michelle says in her valley girl impression. The fanfic sign goes off, sending everyone running. Door 6: It's a bedsheet, which opens up to let you through. Door 5: It's a Playstation. The top opens and you crawl in through it. Door 4: It's a porthole like on a cruise ship. You open the door and climb through. Door 3: It's a castle gate. It falls and misses your feet by inches. Door 2: It's a monster's mouth. You walk through it and avoid the razor-sharp teeth. Door 1: It's a vault door. Its center ring swirls and the door opens easily. Mike, Michelle and Ranma sit down to their newest form of torture. Mike has just noticed how much easier it is to enter without Tom in his arms. >Fighting Mothers and Fighting Sons Mike: The hell? Michelle: Forrester didn't say anything about this! >Written by Koopa Ranma: Oh, boy, another piece from our favorite lizard. >It has been a busy day at the Pizza Cat parlor. Mike: There've been at least ten other Koopa fics already in that one day. >Speedy leaped at any chance he got to be able to devilver a pizza. Michelle: Who is this guy? Webster's misfit brother? >In exactly 10 seconds flat Speedy was blasted out of the cannon to deliver >the pizza. Ranma: …to their best customers in the sewers. >As Speedy flies through the air the mother and boy (Who always say >corny punch lines) Mike: The question is, who asks the corny jokes? Michelle: How about an Oklahoman Punch? >say Boy: Gee Mom do you think we can go get a pizza. Ranma: Feeling rather pushy today, isn't he? >Seeing Speedy fly through the air like that made me get the craving for a >pizza. Mother: No son, not today Mike: (Mother) Now, get back into the cellar until the next episode. >Then suddenly a mother pig and her son say the same line right after they >finished. Michelle: Porky, NO!! Ranma: They're singing in rounds. >Mama-san goes over to the other mother and asks just what shes doing. Mike: It's gone from text to script to text-type form again! It's like a yo-yo! Michelle: Who's this Mam-san? She just got dropped into the story from nowhere. >The mother pig said that she and her boy are intending on getting their >jobs as the corny punch line sayers. Ranma: Is that the official title for their positions? Mike: No, it's actually called, "The comedy relief dispensors during the excruciatingly long blast-off sequence". >The 2 mothers argue on about this and the sons start arguing over the >same subject. Michelle: (sons) No, the homeworks for history was to study for the test! >Guido and Polly notice the mothers and sons arguing out side. Ranma: … but they can't do anything about it since they're slaves to their jobs (snicker). >Then they see the arguing turning into fighting. Mike: (Guido) You think that we should do anything about it? Michelle: (Polly) Only if they start nuking the place. >Guido says they better go out there and stop their fighting. They head out >side leaving Francine to serve all the hungry people in the restraint. Ranma: I wonder what fried Francine tastes like. Or maybe broiled Francine… Mike: Wait, no one inside could eat if they're being held back by something! >Guido and Polly go out side and stop the mothers and sons. Michelle: (deadpan) Oh, please, spare us none of the exciting details. >After Guido and Polly hear what they were fighting about they give them >a solution. Ranma: (Guido) I can't believe it, still fighting over the OJ verdict a year after it was passed. Just drop it! >Guido says the dog mother and son have a 10 year contract. Mike: Yeah, I always did consider them bi… Michelle: (Slaps Mike) >Polly then says she heard that another show is asking for corny punch line >sayers. Ranma: (pig mother) What is this show called? "Ham-cooking and corn steaming"? >The pig mother and son thank them. They go away to make sure they >don't lose that job. Plus the next week both dog and pig mothers and >sons go onto a talk show. Mike: Horny dogs and the pigs who love them, on the next Donahue. >The topic of the show was "Mothers and sons that fight other mothers and >sons for corny punch line sayers jobs. So all in all this story had no >action at all. Michelle: What the heck type of title is that? And it's not over yet! Mike: I love the little summaries at the end of the fic. They tell you what not to expect in the story. >Wait the mothers and sons were fighting so that could be considered >action. But still, oh never mind. Ranma: But still, you didn't really explain that, so it couldn't be considered action, could it? COULD IT?!?! Mike: Calm down, we're done with this one. Reverse door sequence Mike emerges from the theatre to see the Mad's light flashing. He presses the button quickly. "Hey, Forrester, what's with this not telling us about the short?" Mike asks as the channel opens. Deep 13 "I thought that it would be nice to see if you didn't know what was going to hit you," Forrester says. "Now, to put the second phase of my plan into effect. Your companions are almost there, and we've got to clear out some room on the ship, so out goes one!" Satellite of Love As Mike and Michelle are watching, Ranma disappears in front of their eyes. "HEY!! Where'd he go?!" Michelle demands. Deep 13 "I sent him home," Forrester says. "You will now be longing for your home, and you'll go crazy from that as well! Prepare to receive your old friends!" Satellite The open airlock alarm sounds. Mike and Michelle are momentarily panicked as the door opens and closes. The cabin doesn't depressurize enough to hurt them any. Mike and Michelle rush to the airlock to greet Crow and Tom on their triumphant return to the Satellite. "Hey, Crow, nice to see you!" Mike exclaims as the bots get up shakily. "Now I can get back into character!" "What?" everyone else asks. "I've been filling Crow's shoes since they left," Mike says. "Who's this foxy lady?" Crow asks in a non-chalant voice. Samantha smacks him for that statement. "One of my ex-girlfriends," Mike says. "Don't mess with her. She's got a shorter fuse than me when it comes to hentai jokes." "Did we miss much of anything?" Tom asks. "Just two lemon fics and a short," Michelle replies. The lights start flashing and the doors open to let the bots and humans into the theatre again. Same door sequence Mike walks in carrying Tom, and Crow is asking Michelle to carry him. Michelle is sighing and wondering what she did to deserve this punishment. >Dead or Alive Mike: Isn't that the motto of "America's Most Wanted"? >Chapter one: The Fifth Victim Tom: Sequel to the Seventh Guest. >"And in the latest news, there has been another in a long string of >violent murders. The victim, twenty-two year old Heather Marshall, Crow: Or at least that's what she told the police who arrived at her house. >was the wealthy daughter of James Marshall, a businessman and >anthropologist who rivals David Xanatos in net worth. Michelle: Yes, the acrobatics troupe has suffered a tragic loss. >Like the first four victims, Heather was in her early twenties and was >connected with a very wealthy man Mike: …as has been previously revealed. >The murders appear to be the work of a srial killer, who some have >dubbed 'The Manhattan Mauler' for his gruesome killing patterns. Crow: He would struggle them to the ground and beat them to death with a herring. >This is Travis Marshall, WVRN." Michelle: (Travis) If I catch that bastard who killed my sister, I'll… What? We're still on? >"Elisa, what can yu tell me about this?" >"I can show you the photos. Have a barf bag handy, though. Tom: We always do. >They made me physically ill. They made Cp. Chavez Mike: There's CP Chavez, AP Chavez, and Honors Chavez. All a semester long. >physically ill, even after all her years on the force." >"They must be bad, then," said Brooklyn, rubbing his chin. The two >were having lunch together to discuss the rash of murders. Tom: An easy solution, use Cortizone. Crow: The rash of murders, under the diaper of murders. >"They are. Brooklyn, can I ask you something personal?" Michelle: (Elisa) Do you feel fresh? >"Of course," he said, mildly surprised. Then he smiled and added, "Just >make sure it's not something Goliath or Albany would object to." Crow: They can tell what you do wherever you are… >"Oh, hah, hah, hah." Elisa smiled breifly, then frowned slightly. Mike: Sarcasm, the idiot's weapon… Crow: (sarcastically) yeah, sure, whatever, Mike… >"You think I'm a good cop?" Tom: (Brooklyn) Yes, but I'm from midevial Scotland, where rogues run rampant, so I'm not really the one to be asking. >Brooklyn arched an eyebrow. "Of course you are. What brought this >on?" Crow: (Elisa) Well, last night in bed, you said… Michelle: (slaps Crow) >"Five deaths, Brooklyn. Five people dead, gruesome bloody deaths that >make even seasoned cops physically ill. Michelle: (Elisa) Deaths that I caused… Mike: What type of spices do you use to season cops, anyway? >And I have no idea who to turn to, who to blame. I mean, for God's >sake, I don't even know if it's a serial killer or just a big coincidence! >Brooklyn, I…I feel so helpless." >Concerned for his friend, the sometime lawyer Mike: …and the somewhere baker. Tom: I don't forget the somehow sailor. Crow: But not the nowhere man. >said, "You're a great cop, Elisa! I mean, sure this one hasn't gotten >caught yet, but it's bound to happen eventually. Besides, how many >people HAVE you collared in your career? Mike: Elisa Maza, tailor for hire. >Hundreds? Thousands? Michelle: Take away some of those zeros. >Elisa, you're a damn good cop. One of the best, if not THE best. I >respect you, and so do all the others. By the way, why are you asking >me this? Why not Goliath or one of the others?" Mike: (Elisa) Because you're an expendable character, and I'm getting as much use out of you as possible. >"I respect your opinion, legally and personally. As an officer of the law >yourself, you've had more experience in dealing with police than any of >the others except Sarah." Michelle: Then why not ask Sarah? We girls have to stick together. >He nodded, accepting her explanation. It made sense. He checked his >watch and said, "Don't you go on duty soon?" Tom: (Elisa) Brooklyn, I got fired last week… >She checked her own and nodded. "Yes, I do. Thanks for lunch." >"No problem," he said, signaling the waitress to give him the check. >She sidled over, hips wiggling seductively, smiled sexily and purred in a >husky voice, Crow: It's one of the Dominion Puma twins! >"Will there be anything else, Mr. Anderson?" Michelle: (Brooklyn) I'd like some odangos for my daughter, Amy… Crow: (Brooklyn) I'd like some you to go… >He shook his head and said, "Check, please." Mike: (waitress) Let's see here, grammar, check. Spelling, check. Continuity, check. We're good to go. >She sighed and handed him the bill for the meal. He paid, gave her a 20% >tip, and stood up, helping Elisa into >her jacket. Mike: *INTENSE* *DRESSING* *ACTION*!! >"Well, thank you. Chivalry isn't dead after all, just slightly maimed." >He laughed and they left, she going to the station, he to his office. Tom: A lawyer *not* following a cop around? That's rare… >Chapter Two: Crow: Electric Boogaloo >Commitment Michelle: Marriage… >"You're giving me a partner? Why? I don't like training rookies. Who is >it?" Mike: (Chavez) Do you remember those cops from the Rodney King case? >She's a good cop, Maza, one of the best in Texas until her husband and his >parents moved up here. By the way, her mother-in law I Xanatos' sister >and her father-in-law is an attorney. Tom: Sounds like a soap opera plot… >She has friends in high places." >Elisa smiled broadly, realizing who the Catain meant. "Sarah Anderson?" >"You know her?" Crow: She's Amy's sister, right? >"We're old friends." She grinned. >"Oh. Well, good then." The Captain smiled back briefly. Michelle: … then receded back into the dull dreariness that is our story. Tom: Why doesn't anyone have fun anymore? >Sarah entered the room and grinned. Crow: Only momentarily, though… >"Hey, partner." Mike: Hay's for horses. >"Hey yourself. We go on duty in ten minutes. Be there or get your pay >docked." All: (weak laughter) >Sarah chuckled. "I think I can make it." >"Hope so. We have a Mauler o catch." Michelle: Ironically, Elisa *is* the Mauler. >"This could get me my detective's badge, Elisa." Crow: (Elisa) Yeah, right. It took me twelve hours of hanging over a pit of hungry pirhanas by my toenails before I could get my detecive's badge. >The smile faded from Elisa's face as she remembered the case that got her >her detective's badge, Tom: The thing about it was, her case was one of beers. >the famous "Alley Killer" case. After a series of murders not quite as >gruesome as this one, Elisa busted Adam Jones, who she found standing >over a woman, his girlfriend, with a knife in his hand which was dripping >blood Michelle: How many times must I explain it to you? Hold the not-sharp end in your hand! Mike: (Adam) She cancelled my subscription to Sports Illustrated just before the Swimsuit Issue… >He was convicted, despite his protestations of innocence, and senenced to >prison. >Three years later, the murders started again, Crow: Damn revolving door system… >and it was Elisa who proved that she deserved that badge, by arresting the >real killer. Tom: What about Adam Jones? Crow: What about him? >Chavez and Sarah exchanged glances. Mike: Topps trading glances… >Chavez and Sarah exchanged glances. They both knew the story-Chavez >was there, and Lex had told Sarah. Michelle: Then, he had tried to kill Superman again. >Sarah put a hand on her partner's shoulder and said, "Let's go get him." > >Chapter Three: Protection Crow: Hey, a chapter on condoms! Mike: Crow… >"For the last time, David, I do NOT need protection!" Crow: It's nowhere near my time of the month and you can… Michelle: (takes duct tape and is about to tape Crow's mouth shut when Mike stops her) Mike: Not yet… >"Fox, I don't want to take any chances. Tom: The Simpsons is good, but we've got to get rid of King of the Hill… >You mean everything to me and I WILL have some extra muscle with >you for a while. Just in case. I have some following Elisa, Albany, even >Sarah anyway." >"If she finds out, she'll skin you alive, you know." >"Which one?" Michelle: All of 'em! >"Any and every. Crow: Good call, Michelle… >They are all fiercely independant, just like me. Mike: Thank you, Miss Psycho-analyzer! >Still I guess I can't really stop you, so go ahead and get some XCG Crow: Xenophobic Crossing Guard? Tom: Xylophone Card Game? Mike: X-mas Carol Gangsta'? >to protect me from the big bad serial killer." The usual sarcasm was gone >from Fox's voice, replaced by exasperated acceptance. Tom: Who is this author, anyway? Freud? >David grinned and said, "Who said anything about XCG?" >"What do you mean?" Michelle: (David) Why are our sentences so disjointed? >A door opened and Bronx walked forward. Tom: Man, this guy's good! Genetically engineered cities! Mike: Actually, the Bronx is a section of New York… Tom: Details, details… >Fox gave David a startled and confused look. Michelle: (Fox) For me? Oh, it's just what I've always wanted! >"Albany keeps them awake. We can see them as they are, but to others, >he looks like a Rottweiler and the others look human. Crow: I didn't know that magic spells contained clauses for specific details. Tom: …but due to legalities, Bronx was made to look like a poodle with this spell. >Goliath is protecting Elisa, Brooklyn has Albany, Broadway is with >Angela, Lex is with Sarah. So you get Bronx." Mike: (Fox) Thanks, but could I have a piece of Los Angeles instead? >"Lovely." >"I know, but look at it this way. He's great protection from muggers." Tom: Maybe the fact that he's been sprayed with Mugger-repellant has something to do with it. Michelle: It's called mace, Tom. >In a neighborhood in New York that few knew of and fewer had been to Mike: China Town! >a man sat in front of a corkboard making Michelle: … lewd comments about girls he knew. Crow: He's Mean Mister Mustard! >a collage of photos. All the pictures were of women. Beautiful, spoiled, >wealthy women who had never had to work a day in their lives. Crow: The early days of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous"… >Society, he had decided, was to blame for imprisoning him. Society and >that damn cop. Ah, but she would pay. They would all pay. Mike: Is that cash or check? >He put up a picture of Heather Marshall's dead body, twisted at an >unnatural angle with blood everywhere. She'd had spirit. Tom: Rah! Rah! Ra-AAaaghh! >That had just made it more fun. >He flipped through the Society pages until he found what he'd been >looking for. He cut out the picture from the paper, being careful to leave >no trace of her husband in the photo for his archives. The collage must >be pure, he decided, and went to the refrigerator, removing a bottle filled >with a dark red substance. Michelle: Type A positive, vintage '90. >He went back to the board and posted the photo, then smeared the liquid >all over the woman's hair. She was smiling now, in that picture. Would >she be smiling then? When the knife went in her, would she be begging >for mercy, or screaming in delight? Crow: My vote is that she'll be trying to bribe her way out of it. >Chapter Four: The Mauler Strikes Again Tom: The Rebel Alliance, having been dealt a decisive defeat, fled to the ice planet of Hoth. >"This just in. Crow: (announcer) I have one day to live, and it's dated yesterday… >There has been yet another grisly murder believed to be perpetrated by >the so-called Manhattan Mauler. Mike:Of course, it could be the New York Nixer, or the Detroit Decapitator, or the Kansas Killer… >The victim, Victoria Chase, was the wife of Eric Chase, a billionaire >from California who was vacationing in New York. We will bring you >more information as it comes in. Travis Marshall, WVRN." >"Another one?" Michelle: (sarcastic) No, he ws just joking… >Elisa looked sick. Mike: Diarrheah is like a storm raging inside you… >"I knew Vicky Chase," said Fox, grimly. "I went to college with her. Tom: Gargoyles: The College Years. >She was a good person." Tom: (Fox) Sure, she stole all my money, my boyfriends, and my posessions, but that's beside the point. >Theywere all good people," said Elisa softly. She, Sarah, and Brooklyn >exchanged determined glances. They had made up their minds to find, >catch, and incarcerate the murderer Crow: Yeah! Burn him! Mike: No, Crow, you're thinking of "incinerate". >If not with human justice, then with gargoyle justice, thought Brooklyn in >a silent, grim vow, a threat to the victims and a promise to the killer Tom: Why is he threatening the victims? That defeats the whole purpose. >The Manhattan Mauler will not srike again. Michelle: As a matter of fact, he'll be defeated in the next chapter, "Return of the Gargoyle". >Moving with the silent grace of a pather, the man walked through his >hovel, goblet in his hand, pausing here and there to admire the pictures on >his walls that were the only decorations. Crow: The walls were the only decoration? That's one small house. Sounds really drab, too. >The Beautiful Ones, he called them. Mike: Marilyn Manson on an off day. >Some of the most active women in the city. Their blood would be his, oh, >yes, it would. >He stopped in front of her picture, the cop. She would be the last, he >decided. Let her suffer, let her watch, helpless to do anything as the ones >she was supposed to protect died. Michelle: Isn't it ironic? Tom: Don't you think? >It would be more fun that way. Mike: (singing) All he wants to do is have some fun… >And after her, the monstersa would all die. >He turned to the picture of the redhead, so beautiful, so deadly. Crow: La Femme Nikita's one rejected episode… >She would be next, of course. She possessed a threat to his plans. She >might be able to stop him. There was no way he would let that happen. >She would fight, too. That would be fun. Mike: Nah, I already did that one. >He smiled and toasted her with the bottle. "Bottoms up," he said, and >drank > >Chapter Five: The Shots Heard 'Round The World Mike: Man, these chapter titles are all over the place. First, "America's most wanted", a marriage, sex, then a play on Star Wars. Now, the Revolutionary War. Crow: What's next? A reference to Godzilla? >Fox and Broadway strolled down the street whose name he bore, Tom: His name is Bourbon Street? >she smiling broadly, he holding a large pile of packages. If he had to >smell one damn more Chanel perfume, Michelle: Broadway, in "Scent of A Woman". >he was going to hurt somebody. Oh well, he could always take it out on >the muggers. Crow: Foreshadowing thick enough you could cut it with a knife. >Fox was thinking what a great sport Broadway was, certain that he would >have preferred to be in his mate's company. Angela was sleeping this >day, and Broadway had offered to take Bronx's place. >Broadway sincerely regretted his chivalrous actions and wished to be >anywhere else. Mike: (Broadway) There's no place like home, there's no place like home… Tom: (Jim Carrey) REPENT, and thou shalt be saved!!! >While they were thinking this, a man who was watching them through >binoculars from a mile away was thinking how beautiful Fox was. Michelle: Grandpa? Crow: Happosai? Tom: Gosunkugi? Mike: Melvin? >He was also thinking how irritatingly large her companion was and how >he would have to be disposed of. As much as he respected her for this >show of intelligence-none of the others had beefed up security- Michelle: Maybe that's because they didn't know you were coming. >he had to kill her. As they walked toward him, chatting amicably, he rose >the gun and fired. Tom: The postal service sure has become secretive about their actions these days. >Broadway reacted instantly, knocking Fox to the ground and ripping off >his Walkie-talkie, Mike: I hope he knows how to sew… >managing to alert Brooklyn to the danger before one of the bullets struck >him in the back, silencing him. All: YAAAY! >Four more shots sounded before the gun was silent. All in all, eight shots >had been fired, and only three shots had missed. Tom: (teacher) And how many shots do you have when you take three from eight? Crow: Four? >The bullet that silenced Broadway ripped through his spine and, thanks to >the angle at which he was lying, Michelle: I thought that he had jumped. Mike: Details, details… >tore through his heart before coming to a stop between his sixth and >seventh rib. The next three didn't help, striking in the lungs, the liver, >and the stomach. The last bullet hit Fox in the leg. Crow: You know, a wounded Fox can act in strange ways. >In his office, Brooklyn was horrified when he ehard a gunshot, his >rookery brother's grunt of pain, and then silence. After yelling >Broadway's name once or twice, Mike: Sure, let's just hesitate a minute or two while our bother is supposedly mortally wounded. >he leapt to his feet and ran to the door, screaming at Lex and the others in >the headset all the way. Mike: WAIT!! Don't you have some more paperwork that you need to do before you go to check on your brother? Maybe you could grab a cup of coffee while you're at it! Tom: He has people in his headset? Oooh, he's gone over the edge. >When he knew it was safe, he shifted to his natural form and flew toward >his injured brother. Michelle: (Brooklyn) Spidey Sense isn't picking up anything, so… >David had the headset on when Broadway's panicked voice, then >Brooklyn's, reached his ears. Horrified, he bellowed for Albany, Puck, >and Lexington, who came on the run, having also heard the summons. >Lexington was in gargoyle form and dressed for a fight. Tom: Man, these guys must be psychics! >In the station, Elisa and Sarah heard reports of the shooting on the CB Tom: Cardigan Band? Crow: Caffeine boost? Mike: Color Blast? Michelle: Cider Barrel? >and outfitted for the worst. They turned on their personal headsets in the >car, to hear Lexington calling them. When they heard, they both went >pale and turned on the sirens of the car, gunning it for Broadway. Crow: Great, now he's got the cops shooting at him. Tom: (singing) And if it's the fool who likes to rush in… Mike: Good reference… >Through all of this, and until help arrived, Broadway lie still, unmoving, >on the sidewalk, with the formidable Mrs. Fox Xanatos sitting over him, >ignoring the pain in her leg, praying for a miracle. Mike: (Fox) Please, let this fic end qiuckly. >The would-be killer cursed himself for not thinking. Michelle: So, tihs guy hasn't killed anyone? Tom: Then what's he so worried about? >He should have waited, not been so impulsive. That need that he had, the >need to taste her blood, it was building up in him. He would have to kill >again, soon. But he was tired of meaningless slaughter. The game was >afoot, and the prize would soon be his. Crow: And the first prize trophy goes to… >Chapter Six: Mourning >"What do you mean, he's dead?!" The Clan, the Xanatos', and Puck stared >at the doctor in horror. Mike: (Broadway) I'm not dead yet! >All attention was riveted on the doctor's words. Broadway was dead. Mike: (Broadway) I'm getting better! >There was no heartbeat, Michelle: That usually does characterize death. >not surprising since the bullet had ripped out a large chunk of heart. >Angela sat above her mate, Tom: (Angela) Knight B5 to rook A7; check and mate. >holding his hand, tears streaming down her face. Her beloved, the center >of her universe for the past twenty years, was gone. Crow: She could really learn what Copernicus taught. >Dead. He lost his life protecting Fox from the assassin's bullet. She >didn't begrudge Fox her life, of course. Mike: She only begrudged Fox for her mate's life. >But if she ever found out who had killed her mate, she would hunt them >down and kill them. Slowly. Painfully. With no mercy. Michelle: Sounds like the plot to a Bane or Nav fic. >Goliath stood in the corner, observing the unlikely tableau with a sense of >This-Can't-Be-Happening-To-Me. He had to be dreaming. He would >pinch himself, like the humans did when they wanted to believe they were >dreaming, Tom: …and it would hurt. >and he would wake up in Elisa's arms, Hudson alive, Bluestone alive, >Sarah somehow part of the clan despite the fact that he and Brooklyn had >never fought. Even Demona alive and well, having never had the Eye of >Odin. Crow: Allusions to other fics! Evil! >He pinched himself. The tableau remained unchanged. The doctor >standing over Broadway, a sorrowful look on his face. The looks of >numb horror on the rest of his clan. Mike: (Goliath) Damn you, doctor, you weren't supposed to pump my people full of novocaine! >His beloved, standing with Sarah and Lexington, Michelle: I thought that he said that Demona was dead. Tom: I think it's talking about Elisa. All: A human and a gargoyle?! Gross!! >talking to the doctor about Fox Xanatos, who, when told of Broadway's >death, Crow: …had started praising the lord that she was finally rid of one Gargoyle. >had insisted on getting up despite her leg. She and her husband were now >standing with Alex and Owen, and all four of them grieved with the >others. Elisa had great respect for Fox's strength, as did all the others, >but like the others, she thought the woman was Mike: …being a total load in this story. >being extremely stubborn in refusing further security measures. Crow: Sure, she can bench 500, but that's beside the point. >Of course, she would refuse it too, but try getting her to admit it. Mike: Okay. Michelle: (Elisa) I admit it. >"Fox, dear, you know that Broadway took that bullet for you." Tom: (Fox) Yes, and I'm glad. That's one less stupid Gargoyle thatthis world has to worry about. >"Yes, and I feel terrible about it." >"Don't feel bad, Fox," said Angela quietly. "It's not your fault." >"Thank you, Angela. That means a lot to me, especially coming from >you." Crow: (Angela) But will you still be my willing servant as payment for the life of my love? >The female gargoyle smiled and took the woman's hand in a gesture that >seemed to comfort her as much as Fox. Fox smiled, and for a second, >their was an air of calm. Crow: Man, who cut it? >That calm was broken with the sudden appearance of the Lord and Lady >of Avalon and Anubis, the Lord of the Dead, in the room, the gardog >Boudicca at their side. Mike: What's a "gardog?" Michelle: For that matter, what's a "Boudicca?" Mike: We'll worry about that later. We're due for a break now. Reverse door sequence Outside the theatre, the hexfield light is flashing. Mike pushes it when he notices it on. The hexfield turns on to reveal a large woman who looks really ugly. In the background, you can hear the sounds of people being tortured. "May I help you?" Mike asks politely. "Yeah," the woman says with a heavy southern accent. The bots can almost smell her bad breath through the viewscreen. "I'm lookin' fer a guy named Ranmuh er sumthin' like that." "Oh, I'm sorry, you just missed him," Michelle answers. "When'll he be back?" the woman asks. "We're not really sure," Crow says. "Too bad. He arranged a meetin' with me earlier today, and now he's the one who doesn't show?" she frowned at this concept. "Well, may I ask who's calling?" Mike asks. "This is Krystal. We met over the internet. When he gets back, tell him to call me back. My number is…" "Whoah, I'm sure that he has your number already," Michelle stops her midsentence. "We'll get him to call you," Mike says. From the other side, gunshots are heard, and Krystal looks off to the side of the screen. "You get back in that cage, you bitch!" she yells, picking up a tazer and going off camera. She pokes her head back where we can see it. "Can I call ya' back? i've got some problems here." "Sure, that'll be allright," Mike says as the channel to the other end closes. "You know, we should have cut him off the instant we saw him in one of those chat rooms," Michelle says to Mike. At this moment, the fanfic sign chooses to go off, sending the whole bridge into chaos. End part one Go on to part two if you want to continue