"Dude, I am so not in the mood for grinding my meat!"
"As long as you've got a firm grip on that scientist, I don't care what happens with your meat. Now get those civilians moving and let's get out of here," Sal shoots back.
As Sal looks out of the open door, she sees the single young writer guard on the floor beside the fence.
When the unfamiliar woman makes her perfectly composed landing on the far side of the fence and races off, Bunny and Morien share a look. There's only one thought between them: Fleeing? Prey. CHASE IT.
If the others come out the back exit, they might notice two or three sets of damp footprints starting from a puddle and trailing off down the alleyway.
Outside
The fleeting figure slips past the pair with a inhuman fluid grace. A creak of leather and a flowing duster flicker in the air. Bunny's nose and Moriens' acute senses help them to follow the shadowy presence.
Nearing the edge of the industrial estate, the dark feminine slows up looks around for something, this gives the pair time to catch up - just enough to see that the vampiress, for that is what Bunny huffs out as they run, pass a ruined phone box.
Getting closer to town, in the dim streets, the grey clad figure stops next to a working phone box and starts dialling.
Morien is a half-step behind Bunny and struggling to keep up as they follow their quarry into the run-down part of the warehouse district. Damp litter can make footing treacherous, but there are few streetlights to give the three away to any passing normal folk. They find themselves around the back of a long-closed petrol station when the vampire stops at the next pay phone, just up the alley.
The werewolf and selkie pause for a moment, taking the measure of the third. Morien hand-signs that Bunny should go around the other side of the building and distract the vamp so that she can get a better opportunity to attack.
Before the vampire finishes dialing, there's the crash of a glass bottle against the pavement near her feet. Morien takes this as her cue to sprint towards their opponents' back. She does her best to hook the creatures' neck in the crook of her elbow, using the pair's conserved momentum to drag and twist head away from body.
The vampiress looks out of the perspex booth, dropping the receiver and letting it swing. As Moriens clothes-lining elbow swings around the pale-faced womans' head, she rides the momentum feeling the vertebrae pull taught in her neck. The dark hair turns a bright scarlet and the skin illumines with a pale light, whilst a pale tear slips from her eyes.
Momenta describes a vivid scarlet arc, whilst the vampiress hooks a leg upon the corner of the booth. However the curve ends abruptly with a heavy thud, the skull of the creature bounces into the side of the kiosk. The perspex cracks into a spiderweb around a pink centre.
Sliding and twisting from the grip, the vamp looks through glassy eyes and pulls a chain from a nearby bollard rail. Swinging the steel chain around her. "Who are you?" the creature asks, half-concussed and through thick teeth.
Morien bares her teeth in frustration as the vampire slips from her grasp. Now facing back the way they came, she straightens up into the most basic tai-chi stance on pure muscle memory before her mind catches up to the present. "Messenger." she replies, eyes bright with adrenaline.
Meanwhile, Bunny moves around behind the vampire, forcing her to attend to both sides at once. There's no time to think when Morien catches a split-second lapse of focus in the vampire's defense. She weaves around the spinning chain with one step and delivers an elbow to her opponents' throat with the next.
Danny half leads, half carries the weakest of the rescuees as they head towards the fence.
"Is he ok?" The singer asks, pointing at the skinny guard on the ground.
Danny looks at the grounded guard, he appears to have a heeled boot print on his back and a purple bruise upon his face, clearly indicating with the cross-hatch indentations that he's bounced from the fence. The guard is barely unconscious, eyes glazed and rolled back.
Kenneth whistles, "Looks like someone's done some good work here." He smiles then sobers, "We'd best get him out ay the blast area. Danny, can ye set us up as the fire brigade again afore tae many people get a glance at us?"
Bunny whirls around, darting in and out of the vampires sight-line with dancers grace and the speed of a viper. A low thrumming growl emanates from her lips as the lycanthrope stalks her prey.
Moriens controlled thrust showing her martial arts training flicks out nearly faster than the eye could see. The creature, still groggy from the previous blow fails to notice until it's too late. Smashing into 'her' windpipe, sound of cartilage and crunch of bone fills the air along with a spray of blood from her lips. Gagging the creature claws at her throat rending of the flesh in chunks, the blood looks black in the poor illumination of the street-lamps.
The vampire falls to the floor motionless.
Kenneth whistles, "Looks like someone's done some good work here." He smiles then sobers, "We'd best get him out ay the blast area. Danny, can ye set us up as the fire brigade again afore tae many people get a glance at us?"
"Sure thing. You make with the wire cutters, and I'll make with the disguise." Danny says chipperly.
"But we should blow, and then blow, before the real thing shows up!" He adds with raised eyebrows.
He starts humming a tune softly, those who listen to it closely finally recognize it. If they like old tv shows. It is the theme song from the old TV show, 'Rescue 51'.
Danny's recitation is beautiful, especially considering his song choice. The image that flickers over the group is so strong that the others can actually see the images of heavy firemen's coats over their actual clothing.
Morien draws back before the vampires' claws grasp her arm, and takes another couple of steps out of the way while the creature thrashes around. First time I've ever seen someone try to give themself a tracheotomy, she reflects, I almost wish I hadn't. ...Almost. She shivers and makes herself turn away from the gruesome spectacle.
Looking over to the werewolf instead, she manages a smile. "Thanks, Bunny. You were great." Her thoughts next settle on her cellphone, and it takes only a moment to send Sal a text message: [Caught your lost Queen of Hearts. Want it destroyed, retrieved, or merely left inert?]
At last, while studiously not looking at its source, she pulls a rag out of her pack and starts to clean the - blood? vitae? vampire vomit? - off of herself.
The frightened male scientist is sat on his car bonnet talking to the burly head-guard, who looks at him with disdain. However the guard cocks his head at the authority figures (you guys) who are leaving the establishment. Even though there are 3 more of fire-men than before (the prisoners), no-one notices. The guard stands and starts to move over to the group - arriving before everyone just as the female scientist walks over.
Whilst the technician that was doing paperwork is on his mobile in his car, it's filled with smoke from his cigarette. He seems to be merrily relaxing.
Flicking her hair behind her ear, the scientist evaluates the situation. "Professor Ogilvy, he's injured?" she says with the concern of any employee for their boss. "You going to take him in your engine, or waiting for an ambulance?" Her eyes linger as she looks over Tangris' muscled form carrying the Professor.
As the vampire lays inert in a pool of expanding darkness, there's a interruption in the stillness. 'Hello, hello...' it seems to come from the receiver in the telephone booth.
Still full of adrenaline, Morien whirls around on the empty alleyway, wondering how to deal with a witness. Then she notices the phone and relaxes a hair. Picking up the receiver, "I'm sorry, I must have the wrong number," in a curt tone that only gives lip service to courtesy. She hangs up.
With a scavengers' habit, she checks the phone for method of payment.
Morien finds a standard debit card in the slot of the phone. In silver writing is A. Hooslagen, for the name. The signature upon the back is florid.
"We'll wait for ambulance. Make sure he's all right before transporting him. You'll have to stay out. There's fumes or something else in there. We had three almost succumb. You'd best clear the area to be safe. at least as far back as outside the parking lot fence." Danny says in crisp, authoritative tones.
Danny look sat Sal, wondering how far back they should move before things go 'blooey'.
Tangris grins at the scientist checking him out.
Sal sighs and drags the young guard along with them. She lets the charming folks do the talking, until Danny gives her a look. Her lips part to speak, then she suddenly jumps and scrabbles in her pocket.
"Damned phone... left it on vibrate," she gasps, "Scared the crap outta me."
She peeks at the screen and her thumbs fly over the keyboard.
Better dead than Red.
"Morien checking in. She, uh, inspected that other place and took care of it. It's only this one left. Captain, I think we oughta get these civilians back in case some of those chemicals blow." Waving, she urges them back beyond the car park fence, taking just a moment to hand the detonator to Danny with a wink and a grin, making sure her back is turned to the crowd.
"For safety's sake yeah. But I think we shut everything down. What are the odds?!?,..." Danny replies with a straight face.
Sal shrugs. "Safety first, sir. I think we're clear now."
Kenneth nods, "As ye said, Captain.", and turns toward the gathered scientists, extending his arms as a barricade, "Listen up, everyone... Let's just have the lot of you step aways back, let's say across the street... and a wee bit down the road tae... upwind, just in case there be any fumes we dinnae expect."
He then adds in a reassuring tone, "The cavalry should be here soon with the trucks and the containment gear."
As the group begins being herded towards the entry gate, some gleefully and some frowning at the interruption of their work time, Danny nods as if all is going as it should. With a long suffering sigh he puts his hands in his jacket pockets. And flips the switch.
,...
Tangris watches Danny put his hand in his pocket and jumps into the air as he does, letting the pressure wave propel him forward in the best Hollywood manner he can muster.
Kenneth whispers, "Dìdean", conjuring his shield of flame to protect the gang behind him, in case of shrapnel or the blast is larger than expected...
Morien pockets the card and is riffling through the vampires' pockets (still not looking at its self-inflicted wounds) when her cellphone buzzes for attention. She quirks an eyebrow at Sal's return message, then shrugs. Returning her attention to the corpse, she finds that it's already starting to collapse into parchment and dust, like she's heard the Poppy Court do.
A hint of pattern catches her eye and without thinking Morien tilts the vampires' head so that her cheek catches the moonlight better. "Writing... Sanskrit?" But her touch only accelerates the decomposition, and the drying skin crumbles away before she can decipher anything from it. The selkie grimaces, rubbing the dust off against her jeans.
With the distaste of handling the creatures' remains somewhat reduced, Morien gives the left-over clothing a thorough search.
At Danny's request to clear the immediate area the people move back, in fact the lady gets in her car and drives it out of the facility - leaving it upon the curb nearby.
The explosion rocks the area; a pressure wave rolls forward that Tangris rides with style. Glass from the few windows disintegrate into shards (protected by Kenneth's shield) and flames flicker and roil out from the maw like an elderly dragon. The red and yellow flames have hints of blue as they touch strange chemicals or magicks.
Tangris flies forward and into the scientist ladies arms, in a cinematic fashion. She breathes deeply, that the shapeshifter can feel softly against him; "Wow."
With wide eyes and shaking hands the ex-prisoner looks to the quartet. The blood having drained from his face, the European man adds; "That very big Kaboom." he adds; "Go America?" a quizzical look upon his face.
Danny grins at the European man.
"Go America. Land of the Big KaBooms!" He agrees with a smile.
Danny turns to the others, reassuming the air of authority while most of the civilians are still staring in shock.
"Get Back! Get Back! Call it in! CALL IT IN!!!" He bellows to everyone, 'firefighters' and scientists alike.
He takes one look at Tangris and shakes his head.
"Some people have all the luck." He mock-complains to the European as he helps him move further away from the building.
As soon as he maneuvers close enough to the others he whispers. "I can't hold this disguise all night. We need to scram as soon as possible. If they get here quick we may be able to blend and leave in the confusion."
The guards and scientists look slack jawed at the burning building, any doubts about the veracity . The female scientist extricates herself from Tangris; "Wow, that was a big bang. Sorry about that." she adds bashfully.
Bunny brushes a hand through her hair and lets out a deep breath filled with tension; "♥ Are you alright? ♥"
Looking down with wide eyes upon the remains; "Ewww.... tight-leather. ♥" her tone jovial and a touch vapid as Morien checks the pockets of the disintegrating creature. There's little to be found; a watch, an Italian leather wallet with £200 in notes, a photo-ID, a few business cards. There's a compact with a lipstick, powder but no mirror; a pack of gum.
Tangris grins widely at the lady scientist. In an undertone he adds, "Well, if you'd like to talk about big bangs sometime..." He winks broadly.
Danny rolls his eyes. Again.
Not at the directness, just at the forced joke.
"Sometimes less is more. Excuse me." He murmurs to the injured European he is helping. He helps him to sit down. Then pulls out his cell phone and dials the local equivalent of 911. (He hopes he remembered that right. It would be awful embarrassing to end up calling a pizza joint.)
When the operator answers, Danny steps away from the others and turns his back to the scientists still staring at the burning building. In a breathless, hasty voice, giving very little details, Danny tells of the exploding building, that the block is on fire, and "Ohgoshohgoshwherearetheemergencyvehicles?!?!"
Danny promptly snaps his phone closed, trusting in it's un-tracable-ness to protect him. (At least, he HOPES that the alphabet-cop shows aren't entirely made up, and that buying a disposable pay-as-you-go cell phone with cash makes you nearly impossible to trace. He should really ask a policeman about that some day.)
Morien looks up from her examination of the corpse, at Bunny's question, and shrugs. "Uninjured. I could use a cuppa coffee, but we don't have time." She uses her eyebrows to point to the column of fire-lit smoke now visible over the tops of buildings. "Looks like everyone else is done with their part. We should get rid of this," she gestures to the vampires' remains, "and get back to the car."
She returns the debit card to the vampire's wallet, but takes the business cards and cash. She hesitates over the ID, but compromises by taking a picture of it before stuffing it back into the wallet. "Stand upwind," she instructs Bunny, before shaking vampire-dust out of the clothing. "We're just a couple streets over from the river. Let's go."
No cellphone, she notes, folding the clothing into a bundle. I want a shower.
The Scientist smiles a cheeky return and arches her eyebrow, before patting the 'heavy' seat of Tangris 'Fireman's' trousers. "We'll see..."
The man nods politely to Danny as he excuses himself, whilst the 2 others seem to be in good care of the gruff security guard.
Danny calls the Police and emergency services, . Although the operator asks some awkward questions, the suave young man deflects them or at least cuts her off.
Soon, there's sirens in the distance....
;)
Bunny nods to Morien, used to being given orders. Then trots after the Selkie lady, there's a thoughtful look upon her face as she concentrates hard.
Danny walks over to Ken, and murmurs, "The Calvary is coming, let's figure out how to get out in the confusion."
Sal's reaction to the blast is more one of professional satisfaction than anything else. "Good thing we got these people back, Captain," she remarks loudly to Danny before also slipping beside Ken and tugging on his sleeve, rising on tiptoe to whisper into his ear while her thumbs tap on her smart phone keys.
"Did that man call you Molly? Isn't that your sister's name? How does he know her? I don't think we should leave without questioning him."
Your 20? Need evac soonest. You have the keys.
Tangris smiles at the lady scientist, then hoists the unconscious scientist higher on his shoulder. "I'll see you later, miss. Best get this one to help." Tangris, looking extraordinarily self-satisfied, swaggers toward Danny and Sal and Ken. "So, where do you want this dude?"
Kenneth blinks and whispers back...
He nods at Danny's approach and says, "Aye. Let's make up some official-sounding "reports" we need tae file and step away... But d'ye think I could look a mite less like myself for a spot? I dinnae ken what's about, but if Sal's right, 'twould seem that 'tis a poor time for family resemblance."
"I just happened to notice, that's all," Sal explains unnecessarily in a 'nothing to see here, move along' voice. She becomes suddenly engrossed in her texting, cheeks a bit rosy, until Tangris arrives. She nods at him, smiling despite herself at his self-satisfaction. "I'm hoping Morien will be here soon to drive us out of here," she tells him quietly enough that no civilians will overhear, "Maybe this guy will fit in the trunk? I'm not sure how far away Morian is. Can you hotwire that thing?" Her head nods in the direction of Morian's fancy wheels.
Kenneth whispers, "Ye ken, if he were tae collapse, Tangris and I could carry him off tae safety for medical attention.... and I'd be rather disappointed in our Billygruff if he cannae make that guy collapse."
"I've seen Tangris's breath do that," Sal whispers acerbically, "Especially after he eats his own cooking. I like garlic, but come on..."
The selkie looks over her shoulder when they're near the river. "What's up?" Morien asks of Bunny.
Bunny bites her lip hesitantly, unsure if she should speak up. But then with a glacial pace, the antithesis of their rapid gate - Bunny speaks up breathilly; "Err, I saw a card in the wallet for my club." She shrugs ; "Don't know what it means."
The duo start to approach the laboratory, the smoke and flames obvious even a couple of buildings away.
"Garlic is both a spice and a main dish, Philistine! Roasted garlic butter, garlic bread and garlic mashed potatoes is a great meal!" Tangris roars, as he senses the sudden disparagement of his culinary skills...
The clothing long gone, downriver, Morien chucks the wallet and all of its potential for incrimination into the middle of the Ouse. "Huh, int'resting," she replies. Her cellphone buzzes and she raises an eyebrow at the message. "We'll have time to think about it later. Right now, Sal wants us back ASAP."
She doesn't stop walking to text a reply: [We'll be at the Frost in a sec. Meet us there, or need pickup?]
"Where's 'The Frost'? Is it near here?" Sal asks, scrutinizing her phone's screen in some confusion, "Ah, screw it. I'll ask for pickup. We've got non-ambulatory personnel." Her thumbs fly once again. "You'da got along great with the Italian family down the street when I was a kid, Tangris."
Phone: [Pick up please. We have guests.]
Danny nods at Ken, looking at both Him and Sal in mild confusion.
"Molly? That nice girl that looks like she would just as soon have eaten you as helped us in the police station?" He asks incredulously.
Without waiting for a reply, He starts humming again under is breath. Switching from the 'Rescue 51' theme to 'Car 54 where are you?'
Under Danny's musical ministrations, Ken's face changes slightly. Nothing major to make the scientists wonder what happened to 'that one guy'. Just a darkening of his hair from red to almost black. And an olive tint to his skin.
Danny realizes what he's done and manages not to smirk.
"OK 'Guido', That should do it until we can get out of here." He offers, eyes bright from internal laughter.
He turns back and starts barking orders, just loud enough for the scientists to hear. Something to do with clearing the civies, establishing a perimeter, and evac'ing the wounded.
A minute or two after Sal's text message, the two missing women arrive in Morien's car, from the direction of the nearest non-alleyway road.
"You guys need any help loading up?" she asks of the "firemen".
In the distance, sirens are approaching.