To most of those in Collinsport The Nightingale is a new and luxurious tearoom recently established by the charming and some say refreshingly mannered Rhyaad de’Annar. To others, those close to Nicole Collins, there is much more to the Nightingale than the growing Collinsport clientele would ever imagine. For after hours, before the fire refreshments other than tea are served – and the discussions are particularly notable for those in attendance. But tonight a newcomer has been invited, one, who until this night has always been skeptical and an unbeliever. For tonight Samanthaantha Brook will be a witness to a conspiracy, but will she become a member?

“Gregory, it is so good to see you!” Nikki says as she saunters up to the table and takes a seat next to Rhyaad.

“And you as well, Nikki, how are you?” He asked.

“I am doing much better, thank you for asking. I would appear I have gotten over that horrid assault.”

‘Oh, yes, I did hear something about that – sometime.” Said the man in the red fez and green suit.

Nikki she placed the long, slender fingers of her right hand upon the back of the young woman accompanying her, “Gregory, this is Samantha Brook, she’s thinking of working with us at Collins Investigations. She was with a Private Investigation firm in Detroit, a place called Blackjack.”

“Hey. I’m Samantha.” She said.

Gregory looked at her with indifference.

Although it was after hours, and the doors had been closed to the general public for a more than an hour, there was an unexpected knock on the front doors. One of Rhyaad de’Annar’s staff, who just happened to be preparing to leave, opened the door of the Nightingale. A dark-haired gentleman displayed some credentials in a wallet fold, and the member of the staff, looking a bit unsettled allowed the man entrance. Genya Arikado walked into the place where Nikki Collins had last been seen.

He had arrived in order to tell her that the man who had recently attempted to hired her could not be trusted-

Rhyaad, walking up with a glass of dark red liquid, smiled at Nikki. “I have your favorite drink all ready for you.”

Nikki smiled coyly, “Oh, Rhyaad, thank you ever so much.”

“I trust it is at the proper temperature? If not we can have it warmed for you.”

Nikki lifted her glass and took a sip. She smiled at the taste as it warmed her and she looked up at Rhyaad, ‘Oh, wonderful!”

Nikki sat back, gracefully holding her glass of blood as she smiled at Gregory, “I have a rather unsual case at the moment – something you might find interesting or amusing. It would appear that an actress was somehow transcribed onto film and then via use of a ‘special’ projector she was brought back out of the film and place into the body of another – or so I am certain . . . of course I still have to prove it of course.”

Samantha sitting at the table looks about curiously as the man who had just entered the tearoom seemed to be heading in their direction.

Ryaad turned now to stare at the man who had just entered – first of all because he was in the tea room after hours, and only certain guests were ever allowed in the Nightingale afterhours – but there was also something about the man he felt disturbing or unusual.

Arikado approaching rather assuredly motioned to at an empty seat at the table where Nikki, Gregory, and Samanthaantha Brook were seated, “Is this taken?”

Nikki and Rhyaad looked at each other and then Nikki replied, “No, please have a seat.”

Gregory smiled a bit as he sipped his grape juice, glancing at the newcomer only briefly. It hadn’t taken much for him to deduce that the man just being seated was some manner of vampire, from the odor, mannerisms, slight alterations of the skin pigmentation, all things easily noticeable to one such as Gregory, but it wasn’t anything he cared at the moment to point out. He looked over at him for another brief instant: the slightly non-human pupil dilations exposing his true nature as well. Gregory smiled. But rather than addressing the man seating himself he looked over at the tall young woman introduced as Samanthaantha Brook. “Hello, Ma’am.”

He inclined his head a bit

Ryhaad looking at the man, and then back at Nikki, who had allowed him to sit with them, said: “Well, I was just asking Gregory’s opinion of this new UN force under General South.”

“Oh, this should be interesting to hear . . .” Arikado gave a rare smile.

“I’m not particularly interested in them, I’ve done most of my interaction with the UN through the UN Intelligence Task Force, they primarily work with seconded British special forces. As for 141, I don’t know General South, but I’ve worked with Rangers and SAS, professional soldiers, I’m not worried about them like I was with SAIM.” Gregory answered.

“And I have even more frightening thoughts on the Vera situation, Nikki. I met a student who is a descendant of Pickman.” Rhyaad tells her.

“Oh now that is interesting – a student of Pickman, you say?”

Rhyaad nodded to Samantha. “Welcome to The Nightingale, Miss Brook.”

“May as well introduce myself, considering the conversation at hand.’ Arikado said, “Genya Arikado of the TF141.”

“Thank you…riadely’ Samantha said with an odd smile.

Nikki looked at him with one of her wry smiles, “Nice to met you,” she offered her hand across the table. Genya Arikado shook it, his feeling warmer to the touch.

“I am Nicole Collins,” She said, “But you already know that”

“I do?” Arikado asked.

‘Yes,” Nikki said, “This student, wherever did you find them?” Her attention returning once more to Rhyaad.

“At the Miskatonic. And think of it. What if Farnsworth knew Pickman?”

“Must be rather old as Pickman died in 1927.” Nikki said.

Rhyaad nodded, “Student as one who has studied him almost religiously.”

Samantha now nods at Arikado, “domo arigato”

“Very civilian hair, for a military task force, you’re some sort of analyst?” Gregory asked, “UN civie functionary? Please, god,” He chuckled a bit, “Say anything but ‘civilian contractor’.” He laughed a bit more

“Gregory here is a military expert.” Rhyaad indicated the man in the green suit and the fez.

“I am the middle man.” Arikado informed Gregory, who looks at him with interest.

Samantha mumbled almost to herself, “Fezzes are cool.

“The very wise man who gave it to me agreed with you,” Gregory now smiled, nodding to Samantha

“I keep telling him that.” Nikki said looking at Gregory.

“He also gave me one of his snazzy Bow Ties.”

Samantha chuckled – she liked this strange man.

Arikado, not much for small talk, continued: “I get my hands dirty when asked, of course. But my primary job is recruitment and maintaining good relations with “the family” as it were, being similar groups around the world.”

Eyes suddenly widening at the use of the words “the family” Samantha looked at Arikado, “You with the mafia?”

Arikado ignored her and instead looked at Gregory, who had captivated his attention: “You mentioned UNIT. Was there a man there, dressed . . . sort of like you? Long brown hair and blue eyes? Called himself The Doctor?”

“The family?” Rhyaad asks, then says with a sigh, “Ah . . . The Doctor,” knowing the mention of him would sadden Gregory.

Gregory nodded a bit. “You know him, then? Yes he was their scientific advisor, hired back when Alistor Gordon Lethridge Steward held command—didn’t really wear a bow tie back then, though. Had a strange yellow car he called ‘Bessie’.”

Samantha pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her head on them as she tired to follow the conversation. Her eyes cutting to look at Nikki.

“I have only just heard of your group –“ Nikki said over the rim of her glass, “So, Mr. Arikado, what do you consider to be the number primary threat today?”

“Carnivorous jelly beans.” Samantha said with a smile.

“Our primary threat at the moment is a man who calls himself the Dark Lord of the Dead.” Arikado answers.

Gregory sits in thought, “Did you meet the Doctor? I mean . . . before . . . well, before he passed away in April.”

Rhyaad listened curiously, wishing to know the answer to that as well, but Dark Lord of the Dead meant nothing to him.

“He maintains control over a large cult of necromancers called “The Noble Half Dead” Arikado explained to Nikki. “Each member is quite powerful, and their master is believed to be even more powerful than his entire cult put together.”

Nikki takes a sip of her drink, “Dark Lord of the Dead – is he then Death itself, or perhaps he is like one of those deities that were once considered to be in charge of the afterlife—a warden of the dead?”

“You might say that, in a manner, they do.” Arikado nods.

“Well, just arrest them if they’re such a problem.” Samantha said reaching out now to take some fruit from a bowl on the table.

Rhyaad watches Samanthaantha now carefully to see her reaction. He had understood she didn’t believe in the supernatural.

Arikado frowns at her, “We’re not in the mood for anymore of our people coming back in buckets.”

Samanthaantha raised her eyebrows.

“Sure, just give me about six mechanized divisions, and, oh yeah, a magic machine that makes such creatures vulnerable to bullets.” Gregory said, with a sarcastic laugh.

Samanthaantha taking a bite of fruit, “So you’re saying a bunch of nutjobs have better guns than a military? Why don’t you just do what you did with the Dravidians—or whatever they were called.”

“So you consider TF141 to be a bunch of nut jobs, Miss Brook?” Rhyaad asks.

Samantha doesn’t answer as she looks at the fruit on the table.

“Or, to be more accurate, something different than guns.” Gregory adds. “And I think Miss Brook meant the Necromancers,”

Beneath the table Samanthaantha slides her open bag carefully and begins to inch the fruit bowel closer—

“Eat the fruit, leave the bowl, and behave like an adult.” Gregory, aware of her intent, said with an exasperated tone.

“Umm . . .” Samantha blushed scarlet, “Just a doggy bag.”

“Well,” Nikki said holding her glass up and gracefully backhanded, “In point of fact, since I have arrived at Collinsport I have been searching for a copy of Judah Zachery’s Journal. He was a man who was arrested and tired here in Collinsport in the 1690’s as a warlock, but, according to some entries in my father diaries, he was really part of a group of New England necromancers – but, these men were looking involved with contacting entities far beyond our earth, in particular one known as Yog-Sothoth.”

“You can eat the fruit if you want, Miss Brook”, Rhyaad told her. “Or, you can give me your opinions in exchange for it. What do you think of this TF141 and all this talk of necromancers?”

“This Dark Lord of the Dead is he and his group associated with this band of New England necromancers, who were secretly trying to call upon what they called the ‘Outer Gods’.” Nikki asked

Samantha looked over at Nikki, “You’re looking for books? I’m good at finding books Mr. Riadey knows all about that don’t you, Mr. Riadey.”

“de’Annar. Mister de’Annar.”

“What’s the TF141?” Samantha then asked.

Arikado shakes his head, “He is not. He is a man, and he will fall.”

“Samantha,” Nikki gave her a slight look, ‘Let’s not disturb Rhyaad’s table setting please.”

Samantha blushed, “Yes miss . . . “

“It’s the new UN task force that we have been talking about, Miss Brook.” Rhyaad answered her question about the Task Force.

Samantha reached down and picked up her bag and began to scrounge inside it for a moment before she pulled out a badly folded contract, “You mean this one?” She handed the paper over to Rhyaad.

He took the document and looked it over—and then looked at Samantha oddly.

“Miss Collins, I am here because I have been notified that you have been contacted by a man named Kang, is this correct?” Arikado asked Nikki.

Nikki looked at him, her eyes beginning to shift a darker blue, concerned as to how he knows who has been to see her, ‘You are correct. A Mr. Kang came to see us the night before last.”

Samantha giggled, “That Mr. Kang smelled like prunes and Bengay.”

“You met Kang, Samanthaantha?” Rhyaad asked”

Samantha nodded, “Had a bag-o-gold.”

“Yes—he had a case of gold.”

“He interrupted my interview.” Samantha reminded Rhyaad. ‘Came in and wham out with the bag gold on the table.”

Arikado looked at Nikki, “I would like to ask you to keep us apprised of his movements and actions, as well as whatever work he may have asked you to do for him.”

Samantha turned suddenly on Arikado, “You got a warrant?”

Arikado held up an order for the arrest and life imprisonment of one “Ures Kang”

A quick look at the order, Samantha smiled, “No warrant.”

Rhyaad’s eyebrow shot up at appearance of the order, “Let me see that!”

“Well, actually he wouldn’t need one—it’s, what, 2011? So, the PATRIOT act stays into effect until like . . . 2015.” Gregory said.

“My orders are to arrest him and detain him on behalf of the UN Security Council.” Arikado informed Rhyaad as he allows him to take the UN order to inspect it. “He is considered a highly dangerous terrorist in league with the Dark Lord of the Dead. His extensive connections to the Countess Carmilla are well documented.”

“He’s a Muslim!?!” Samantha asked shocked. “He didn’t look Muslim . . . “

“Terrorist?’ Rhyaad looked up from the UN order, “He seemed like a creepy old man to me.”

Nikki puts her glass on the table before her, “You’re saying he had connections to Carmilla? Carmilla Karnstein – the Saint?”

“Long before she became a Saint, Miss Collins,” Arikado said, “Carmilla was no Saint.”

“There you go—terrorism just got mentioned, you lot could easily end up in GITMO . . . “ Gregory warns and pauses in mid-sentence . . . “Fucking . . . humans . . . so, in your mind, ALL terrorists are Muslims?”

Arikado continued in response to Nikki’s question, “He served as her head of security for the past 14 years, until the Countess’ defeat earlier this year.”

Samantha looked at Gregory and cocked her head sideways, “Aren’t they? I mean Americans who go boom are “mentally disturbed” right?”

“Kang was he head of security?” Nikki asked now concerned.

“He’s charged with mass murder and war crimes.” Arikado told her.

“Muslims who make things go boom are terrorists.” Samantha tells Gregory. “I mean, that’s what the news says.”

“Or . . . those who commit acts of terrorism. So, I suppose the IRA, just to draw an easy to recognize example, aren’t terrorists in your narrow definition of the world?” Gregory asked, “Ireland must not have gone through the period of the ‘Troubles’, oh, so let me go call them and let them know.”

“He is staying at the Marriott in Collinsport, unless he moved over to the Collinsport Inn.” Nikki told Arikado.

Samantha now flicked a grape over toward Gregory, hoping to knock his fez off, “I don’t pay attention to the outside world, I am too busy trying to survive.”

Rhyaad shook his head in dismay at the woman’s ignorance. Humans—indeed. Then he looked to Nikki. “I had no idea Kang was accused of such things. I guess this means we don’t take his case?”

Arikado looked at Rhyaad and then Nikki and shook his head, “To the contrary, you are encouraged to take it. We need to know what he’s up to.”

Singing now quietly to herself, “Eeeehhh take the money and run.” Samantha said to herself.

Gregory quickly caught the Fez. “I don’t know why the Doctor liked you guys . . . anyway, I have no further motivation to converse with you.”

“I have a feeling he won’t let it slip willingly.” Arikado concluded.

Nikki narrowed her eyes and looked at Arikado, “So, if I understand correctly, you want us to take a case in which we are asked by the former head of Carmilla Karnstien’s security to find a set of artifacts that when touched causes death. And no one, I suspect other than Kang, knows what will happen when all four of them are brought together?”

Gregory interjected, “You better go buy some gloves.”

“So TF141 would have us help a criminal, a murderer, and an accused terrorist, to recover items which cause death?” Rhyaad said to Arikado, and then looked at Gregory. “Tongs. Not gloves, wooden tongs.”

Gregory looked at him incredulous, “Chopsticks?”

“I use those to become a walrus, “Samantha smiled and then looked at Arikado very seriously, “So, do we get to keep the money?”

Rhyaad looked to the professed agent of the 141 Task Force. “Yes—if we help you get Kang, as Miss Brook said, do we get to keep his case full of gold?”

“The gold itself?” The agent for TF141 replied, “No. But an equivalent sum of money? Yes, that we can do. But the gold will first be used as evidence in the trial.”

“Mr. Arikado, no one truly knows what the significance of the Arcana artifacts being united rightly means?” Nikki reminded the agent, her fingertips turning the stem of the flute.

“No, I am saying you should ACT as if you are.”

‘I don’t trust you . . . I rate gold worth more,” Samantha told him.

“We’ll be ready to detain him once the first artifact is found.”

Rhyaad looked at him, handing the UN order back, “And so then at some point you will swoop in and prevent the four items from being all put together? Forgive me if we do not trust you.”

“If one item exists and if found, then we will have proof the others do as well.”

‘The government is useless,’ Samantha said looking over at Nikki.

“Owing to the fact he worked for Countess Carmilla for so long,– do you have any idea what the extent of his powers may be. What he gained or retained from that association?” Nikki inquired as she takes a sip of her drink.

“Why only the first artifact?” Rhyaad says, and then nods to Nikki, “Good question.”

“Organization and powerful old man farts I expect.” Samantha answersd

Arikado looked at Miss Brook, and then back to Nikki, “His studies into an entity or force he referred to as “The Darkness” granted him a strong connection to it. He will continue to age, but his physical systems remain as functional as he was when he was in his prime. He is just as strong and fast as he ever was. Furthermore, his mental clarity is equally well preserved.”

“So? Strong and fast for a mere human does not worry us.” Rhyaad informed the Task Force agent.

“Beyond mere humans.” Arikado continued, “Fast as he ever was—bet some women are disappointed by that . . . He was a top vampire hunter for a reason.

“Vampires . . . ‘” Samantha whispered

“And you propose to capture him?’ Gregory stated, “How do you intend to do this?”

Samantha suddenly broke out laughing.

Arikado, ignoring the obviously deranged young woman, looked over to Gregory, “I propose to capture him by six tranq darts to the neck.”

Samantha doubles over smacking her head on the table laughing so hard.

“He is powerful, but his body is ultimately human.”

“Is he capable of any, let’s say magical skills – if my people are going to be put in harms way, I would like to know what threat they are facing.” Nikki’s concern evident.

“Interesting plan. But it’s a military operation that means nothing will go to plan. Do you have an alternate solution?” Gregory demanded

“Miss Brook?” Rhyaad watched her with alarm.

“He has shown in recent years an increasing talent in the Dark Arts.” Arilado admited.

Samantha tries to catch her breath, “ Miss . . .Miss . . . Nikki . . . don’t worry about magic.” She turns and looks at Nicole Collins, “I . . . can handle it . . . my mom got me a magic set for my birthday one year.” And then she can’t help but double over in laughter again.

“Not that I haven’t faced many would-be slayers in my time. He’s only a man. But you keep making a better and better case for us to not take on this case, Sir.” Rhyaad surmised based on the information now supplied by Arikado.

“And if he cannot be taken alive, dead will do just as well.”

Nikki put her glass down and looked at Samantha, concerned as she watches Samantha laugh herself out of her chair and fall to the floor. She seemed intoxicated.

Arikado also looks askance at Samantha on the floor, “The best way to apprehend him is to wear him out. As a human, he will eventually tire.”

“Wear him out?” Nikki said, her eyes growing darker – this whole scheme of Arikado was designed to get someone hurt and that someone would be one of her friends.

“Silence the child or take her away,” Gregory said his patience all but exhausted as he raised an eyebrow and looked at Nikki.

Samantha managed to clamber back up to her chair panting hard.

“And we have some of our finest ready to engage him in combat.” Arikado revealed, “Including myself.”

“I would suggest a sniper.” Nikki said, “Just take the bloody bastard out,” rising now to step over and take Samantha by the hand – “Samantha please, you will have to control yourself.”

Samantha continued to laugh, “Yes, my all means bring your finest . . . who can’t handle a simple bunch of cultists?” Becoming aware of Nikki’s firm grasp she takes a few deep breaths, regaining what little composure she had . . .

“The thing about slow moving tranquilizer darts is just that, they’re slow moving, so he’d need to be very distracted.” Gregory added, looking at Nikki and Samantha.

“They are the half-dead, in the most terrifying context of that descriptor.” Arikado replied rather annoyed at Samantha, “They are no mere cultists.”

“I mean, compared to say a 5.56 round or some other projectile, they’re slow.”

“I can distract him.” Arikado said confident in his skills.

“Well- I’ve been half dead for 8 years sir.” Samantha straightens her coat.

“After all, his level of power is roughly equal to mine.” Arikado continued.

“Going on 9 actually.” Samantha added.

“Power?” Rhyaad stared at the man. “And just what is your ‘level of power’?”

Nikki looked at Samantha, “Samantha –”

Samantha suddenly looked at Nikki, aware that her eyes seem darker blue – her mouth is hard: I’m sorry miss Nikki . . . I’ll shut up now,” And she looked down.

Arikado looks away from the two women to face Rhyaad, “I am the son of Mathias Cronqvist, one of the more—distinguished Eastern European vampire lords.”

“Well, Rhyaad, you could have figured this out,” Gregory said pedantically, “I mean look at the pupil dilation, variation in skin pigmentation, not a lot of it so it suggests some human lineage, just the smell as well, no offence,” He chuckled a bit, “Slightly thickening of the hair follicles, controlled shallow rate of breathing, your clearly some manner of Vampire . . . Or a descendent thereof.”

Rhyaad could not contain his pique, “I don’t mean to boast, really Sir. But I do get tired of hearing people who aren’t even 500 years old speak of their ‘Power’ or how they are ‘foremost slayers’.

“I did not inherit all of my father’s powers, but I inherited enough. Transformation, for instance.” The young Arikado continued.

Samantha covered her mouth trying not to giggle.

“Slightly less than a full vampires strength, but greater than a human’s.”

Nikki still holding Samantha’s hand leads her away from the table and over to the fireplace where they can speak privately.

Arikado sat straight-backed, “I do not boast, nor do I claim to be the best there is.”

At the fireplace, taking a seat, Samantha blushed and looked down, aware that Nikki was not at all happy with her –

“But for this task, I assure you, my abilities will be adequate.”

“Samantha, are you alright?” Nikki asked, her voice has an edge of controlled anger. “I understand – all this talk of vampires . . . and necromancy . . . it all may be all new to you, but, you must –

Samantha begins to utter something . . .

“Yes.” Nikki nodded, “I am listening.”

“I am confident that if yours are adequate, mine are three times adequate. Still, you ask us to take on a very dangerous case, with a known murderer and servant of Carmilla as our client, “ Rhyaad continued the business discussion, “ Not only without the reward of his substantial pile of gold, and then – to have us trust that you will just swoop in and save the day for us at the last moment . . . surely sir, you can see how this proposal does not inspire confidence, yes?”

Samantha looked at Nikki in earnest, “And why should I take it seriously, it’s all fairy tales and half mad people thinking they control some power that doesn’t exist.”

“And why do you say that?” Nikki demanded.

Arikado shruged, “If you wish to walk away from this, I will not stop you. We will replan without you if you so choose.”

“Because it is – it has to be!”

“I think you should offer us a bit more. Perhaps a better plan, alternate contingencies if things go wrong, and – then of course there is letting us keep the gold.”

Samantha cut a glance at Nikki, looking at her full lips, the dark blue eyes, eyes you could fall into: “I mean it was all well and good when I was 8 . . . but . . .

“Samantha take a look around this room, do you see light? Yes. Its source is electrical. You’ve heard about electricity, you’re read about electricity, but you can’t see in this room but you can clearly see the light it gives off – and so, if there is light from these bulbs, then you have to know there is electricity – a force that is making itself known. Now, what you have to understand is there are other forces that we can’t see – but they make their selves know to us in various ways: The supernatural, magic – evil.”

“I am sorry but the gold is evidence in our case against him. We cannot give it to you. That is not possible, I am sorry.”

“But you said when you were 8, what happened when you were 8?” Nikki asked.

“We can give you it’s equivalent in your company’s bank account.” Arikado offered, “ But not the gold itself.”

Samantha suddenly tried to change to subject, “Is my medicine expired?” She starts to ruffled around in her bag, and then poured a few pills into her hand—all the pills look different, “No, they’re still good. . . ”

Rhyaad took a drink, “As long as it is not a fraction of what the gold is worth. A mere $100,000 say”

Gregory looked bored with the whole monetary discussion, “I’m in anyway . . . even if Rhy’s skeptical” He looked around a bit, “I know I’m not a part of their investigative service, but there’s help I can provide if you’d like it.”

Samantha stops and looks up at Nikki – into those lovely blue eyes, “My mom used to read me bedtime stories when I was 8. Bram Stoker . . . Poe . . . but that’s all they are stories.”

“Samantha is there something you have not told me – did something happen to you, something you don’t want to remember, something for which you take the pills to try and forget?”

“In any case, Kang is a high profile target for us.’ Arikado told Gregory and Rhyaad.

Silently, Samantha sits looking at Nikki, and then averts her eyes.

Arikado sat back, “If we can manage to break him, we should be able to learn a great deal about his operations.”

“My father—he—never loved me . . . “ Samantha began.

“Well, you don’t inspire my confidence, frankly. But Gregory does.” Rhyaad looked at the be-fezzed man. “Though why you would wish to help in this case I don’t understand.”

“He always reminded me how I wasn’t a boy—“

Nikki looked at her, her eyes now beginning to shift to a lighter shade of blue, “Samantha, My father disappeared when I was 8 months old – and . . . “Nikki sighed and looked into the flames of the fireplace for a long moment, before making a decision. “I have since come to discover that my birth was part of an experiment, and that there is strong evidence that he intentionally sacrificed me.”

“Always talked about how things would be better if I was a boy—“ Samantha continued wanting to tell Nikki about her life – even as she found she wanted to be around this strange young woman.

Rhyaad slowly turned his glass in his fingers as it sat on the table before him, “If Gregory will help us then I would be willing to take the case.”

“I have a feeling traditional HUMINT techniques won’t be very effective . . . .” Gregory mused and shrugged a bit, “Well, you know I have a long standing relationship with the military of this world, particularly of this country, they’re professional, and this Kang person seems to be interested in the Yog-Sothoth, and so I want to know more about him.”

‘You see, he apprenticed me at 12—cause he couldn’t get anyone else to . . . “ Samantha found herself relaxing, explaining a part of her past she rarely shared with anyone and loathed to discuss.

Rhyaad looked over at Nikki and Samantha, “Though it does cause a problem with the Snow case. . . ”

‘Samantha, you are who YOU are, and not whatever he wanted you to be. I have had to learn this lesson the hard way.”

“I’m no one . . . “ Samantha nodded, “And then one day my sister was born . . . .”

Nikki’s keen sense of hearing had overheard Gregory and so she turned in her chair to look over toward the man in the Fezz, “Gregory, I am not at all sure he is involved with Yog-Sothoth, I may have confused you on that issue – there was another group of necromancers in New England concerned with that particular entity and they were part of a group that was connected to Judah Zachery, here in Collinsport back in the 1690’s.” She then quickly turned her attention back to Samantha and placed a comforting hand on hers, “What do you mean you are no one? You are Samantha Brook –you’ve survived and have gotten this far in life . . . you are certainly someone. I think you are someone.”

She blushed, and looked at the hand on hers “You see my sister was born – and it was like I disappeared—he had a proper daughter . . . the second born . . . .”

“Of course the final word is Nikki’s. She’s the boss of this operation. I just work for her.” Rhyaad smiled over her way – wondering what Samantha and Nikki were discussing.

“He never noticed me again until she died . . . “ Samantha told Nikki.

“And then?”

“Either way, the Doctor used to deal with the nasty things that messed with this nice little ball of land and water . . . he’s gone, someone else has to be the Doctor I guess . . . ” Gregory shrugged again, “Besides, did you think I’d just saunter off after hearing of such an . . . I hesitate to mix the word ‘adventure’ with a military action, maybe the Doctor rubbed off on me. . . ” He chuckled

“It would be fun to work with you again, Gregory.”

Samantha’s eye filled with a tear, “He was angry . . . blamed me . . . one day I was appraising a necklace . . .he told me I had the jewelers Lupe in wrong . . . he . . . corrected it. . . .” And she pointed to the eye patch.

Nikki squeezed her hand, “So, he did that?”

‘When I was in the hospital . . . I started being stalked by some thin business man . . .” Samantha continued.

“Absolutely it would—but no matter what Nikki or Collinwood says, I’m in either way if you’ll have me,” He said, glancing to Arikado.

Samantha looked at Nikki imploringly, “I mean everyone claimed he wasn’t there . . . so they put me on these . . . “ And she rattled the pill bottle.

“Samantha — just a moment.” Nikki leaned back in her chair and motioned to Rhyaad, “Rhyaad could you come here a moment, please?”

“I could come on as a . . . civilian. . . ” Gregory nearly spat the word out, a remnant of his days as an officer on a bygone world in a bygone time, “consultant.”

“Well, I am surprised, Gregory. I didn’t think you trusted these people.” Rhyaad smiled.

Arikado looked at the man in the fezz, “TF141 is always eager for skilled and knowledgeable consultants. Though. . . I suspect the General is less so, on a personal level.”

“But. . . . “ Rhyaad mused, “We certainly can’t have this creepy old man getting together the four arcane artifacts and gaining whatever power they would give him, can we?”

“I didn’t. . . . at first. . . .” Gregory admited.

Looking down, Samantha could not help noticing Nikki’s hand was still atop hers.

Nikki turned in her seat, “Rhyaad, I need you for just a moment.”

“I ran away a few days later. . . been on my own almost 9 years I think. . . .” Samantha concluded having told this very attractive stranger her life’s story.

“Well . . . I’m on first name terms with your bosses boss, I think that’ll be okay . . . fuck, I’ve had tea with President Obama. . . ” Gregory said, although it was another life time ago, literally, but he didn’t need to explain regeneration right now, “I think I’ll be okay, besides I tend to get along with Generals . . . . I used to be one.” He chuckled a bit

“Of course Nikki” Rhyaad stood. “You will excuse me, gentlemen?”

Gregory nodded a bit to Rhyaad, “Of course.”

Rhyaad went over to sit next to Nikki. “Yes?”

“For 9 years?” Nikki was asking Samantha.

“I was 16 at the time. . . “ Samantha said.

As Rhyaad sat down, Nikki turned to him and looked over at the table, at Gregory and Arikado and then leans over to Rhyaad in order to speak confidentially, “I was at first inclined not to take this case – there are far too many questions about this Kang. First off all he is in a motel in Collinsport and the whole of the TF141 can’t seem to find a Marriott . . . But – I will take this case only if Gregory is working with us.”

Gregory extended a hand towards Arikado to shake, “My name’s the Marshal, by the way, but people tend to call me Gregory, it’s easier.”

Arikado reached over and shook the offered hand.

While Nikki is talking to Rhyaad, Samantha knocked back a couple pills from the medicine bottle.

Rhyaad nodded. “I would not have taken it myself, had not Greg offered to help. I think that changes things.”

“So if Gregory is willing to join us— “Nikki continued to speak in a low tone, “And I mean—just us – then we will take the case. And if something happens to any you – then this General South is going to need an army because I will be coming.”

Gregory sat back pondering the strategy “I’m still worried about your idea to use tranquilizer darts, what’s to stop him from just,” He whisked his hands a bit, “flicking them away? He likely has telekinetic abilities, from what I’ve heard described . . .. shhh, hold up, they’re talking about me and don’t think I can hear them.” He coughs a bit, knowing full well Rhyaad could hear anything he said at this distance.

Rhyaad grinned at that last comment. “I like the way you think, Nicole Collins. Yes, we will take it. We’ll be white knights for this world.”

“So, if you will confirm that Gregory is on board and then tell them we will take the case. I need to talk to Samantha. Sorry.”

“I am on board!” Gregory called out to the other side of the room aware of their conversation.

Nikki smiled and looked at him.

Samantha giggled and almost choked: “I like him.”

“Sure he is not a vampire?” Nikki asked Rhyaad.

“Vampires? Vampires don’t exist.” Samantha murmured.

“We’re much cooler than Vampires.” Gregory insisted from across the room.

Nikki looked at him and raised an eyebrow, “Depends on the Vampire you know.”

“He seems to hear better then vampires. I’ll have to ask him about that.” Rhyaad also smiled, “I can see that Miss Brook needs comforting, and I overheard part of it. Yes, Nikki. Good luck. And Samantha, I do feel for you, even if I don’t show it.”

Arikado took a deep breath, glad that this seemingly endless process as come to the conclusion he desired, “I’m glad to see we have an agreement.”

Nikki looked at Samantha, “I understand how you feel about your father. My whole understanding of my own has been turned upside down of late.”

“We’ll need you to take notes on everything he says or does, so we can build up a picture of what he’s attempting.’ Arikado told Rhyaad as he returns to the table, “When you’ve found the first artifact, send a signal so we know to move in. We’ll capture him as he’s verifying it.”

“But if you are going to work with us, I am sorry but you are going to have to understand that some things in the world that people don’t believe to exist actually do.” Nikki leaned forward to tell Samantha.

Rhyaad took his seat and didn’t bother now to disguise pouring blood from a bottle to refill his glass.

Samantha looked at Nikki and nodded slowly, uncertain.

“We will document everything – you just be sure you can put him down when the time comes.” Nikki said proving that she too can hear a distance conversation.

“I still want to go over those plans, I’m not sure if they’re sufficient.” Gregory said with reservations, “I’ve had bad experience with chemical darts and entities with telekinetic abilities, they just get swatted out of the sky.”

Rhyaad took a drink and then looked at Arikado, “We will take the case, provided that The Marshal is in on it, and that he approves of the contingency plans a forehand.”

Nikki sat a moment looking into the flames, watching them as the licking up along the logs in the fireplace as she made a decision, “I – I am going to tell you something that I had not intended to tell you—but you need to know so you can understand.”

Samantha leansed forward holding her head. She looked at Nikki, “Yes miss?”

“After what I tell you, you may run, you may leave town and never come back – but that won’t change anything I am about to tell you.”

“And yes, Gregory and I have had problems with people’s inadequate planning before. Sorry, but it’s a wise precaution.” Rhyaad remembered the operation with Medri Harker on the power plant, and the needless casualties that resulted.

Samantha looked into those lovely blue eyes and nodded softly, “Okies.”

“First of all, owing to some information that my father apparently had, and which to this day, I have no idea what it was, he decided that he would have to sacrifice me.”

“Sacrifice?” Samantha unsure continued to nod.

“Now, I know that sounds like something extremely crazy – something out of some old Hammer Film, altars and knifes, but I assure you it was something far more horrible than that – but what it means, is that my father allowed me to be murdered. Not injured—but murdered.”

Samantha looked at her and blinked. “Well, then he needs to get a refund on the sacrifice then.”

“I was attacked, my throat bitten, eventually slit, and I was left to bleed out in a damp gutter in Paris.” Nikki told her, her blue eyes darkening with the memory. “Samantha – what you say does not exist, I am. I am a Vampire.”

Samantha sat silently looking at her.

“You need to know that if you want to work with us.”

Samantha now blinked beginning to feel woozy – “You are?”

“Yes – I am sorry to say I am.”

“Ok. . . .” Not certain how to react – laugh or run.

“So, your are saying okay because you believe me, or okay because you think I am crazy? Nikki asked.

“Miss Nikki. . . . “ Samantha closed her eyes for a brief moment, “Since . . . since you gave me a place to stay . . . does that mean I’m hired?”

“Samantha I want to hired you – but what I deal can be very dangerous, I need you to believe me in what I am telling you about myself.”

“Then I believe . . . you”

Nikki sighed, knowing she is only saying this to get the job, “I am only concerned for your safety – we are about to take a case that there are no other words to say than if one were to misstep it could prove fatal. And it all is supernatural. It is what we do—someone has to.”

Samantha said on reflection, “Alisa often said the same thing . . .” Samantha pulls up her pants leg to reveal a stab would on her thigh that had never quite healed right, “A man with a pitchfork gave me this . . . Alisa said it was some ghost that took our worst fears. . . and used them against us.”

“So – you can suspend your disbelief?” Nikki asked, “The hardest thing I have to ask of you is to understand that all those stories you have been told about how things that go bump in the night are just stories – well they are not – there are horrible things out there bumping in the night.”

Samantha looked at Nikki, her blue eyes, the white teeth, the parted lips;” If it means I survive. . . I can do anything Miss Nikki . . . “

“Good. It would be lovely if you were to become a part of our team.” Nikki told her and put a hand on hers patting it – her hand is chill.

Samantha blushed slightly looking down at their hands touching, “Thank you Miss Nikki –she whispered.

“Don’t thank me yet, Esther still has to make her recommendation,’ Nikki said and stood up. “So, let’s rejoin Rhyaad – okay.”

Nikki slowly strode back to her chair and sat down.

“Okay,’ Samantha nodded an stood shakily muttering curses about Viagra.

“Are we okay Rhyaad?” Nikki asked slipping once more back into her chair.

“Of course I overheard part of that, Nikki,” he said softly to her. He then nodded. “Gregory will help us. I am glad to be working with him again.”

“Yes, I am glad to work with him also – this will be a first.”

Returning to the table Samantha sat down and began an experiment to see if she can fit a grape under her eye patch-

Arikado with mild look of disgust watches the strange woman trying to shove a grape into the opening behind her eye patch.

“Something wrong?” Nikki asks.

Samantha noticed the look and managed to say completely dead-pan, “No! As you said this is important, and I am a trained professional.”

“Miss, do you really need to put fruit under your eye patch?” Rhyaad asked.

She looked at him seriously. “Yes.”

Rhyaad looked to Nikki. “Sometimes I wonder just how crazy she is. How much did you tell her? Did you tell her about me?”

“So to ask, once you have Kang and the first artifact, what about the remaining three?” Nikki asked Arikado. She turned to look at Rhy and shakes her head, ‘No, I didn’t.”

“Doctors said I was crazy, gave me medicine” Samantha replied and drops the bottle by accident, spilling out a veritable medicine chest of everything from Calais to anti-depressants.

Arikado looked at the amassed pharmaceutical spill, “The remaining three should be left well enough alone, by my reckoning.”

“I don’t know. We will have to discuss that with our friend from 141 (meaning Gregory who has left for the night suddenly). I don’t like the idea of not getting the other three though, I can tell you.” He glanced back at Samantha. “Do you think I should tell her?”

“My orders concerning them are not clear.” Arikado repliesd

Rapidly scooping the pills back up Samantha appears quite embarrassed.

“Why? Why orders for only one?”

Arikado sat straight-backed, “As long as we can hold the one, nobody can form a complete set.”

Nikki looked at him, and rather than speaking, projects her thought to Rhyaad, “No, not at the moment, I am not certain how much she processed what I told her.”

“That is until they steal your one. . . “ Samantha murmured.

“Perhaps we should get three of them all and then disperse the three among different people?” Rhyaad offered, still thinking that all of the artifacts needed to accounted for.

Pointing to Rhyaad, Samantha nodded, “He smart, very smart.”

“I’d like to put them all on the bottom of the ocean, myself.” Arikado admited.

Rhyaad took a drink, “So tell me, what happens if one person possesses all four?”

“Anything hidden can be found . . . anything placed can be unplaced.’ Samantha said, “Destroy them all.”

Arikado shook his head, “We do not know as much about them as Kang does.”

“That may be best, Miss. And we call you crazy.” Rhyaad smiled at Samantha.

Arikado sighed, “A dangerous position, to be sure. Did he mention anything about them?”

A glance over to Mr. Death and Samantha beamed at him.

“That is what worries me – it would appear he has all the ‘cards’. Nikki said, empathizing the word cards.

“Then we cheat. . . “ Samantha offered.

Nikki smiled, “Yes, we cheat.”

Samantha smiled at her, “Grandpa is a black jack dealer. He has all cards, but he also give cards.”

“Indeed. He does. And that’s why I want Gregory on our side.” Rhyaad looked straight at Samantha. “Gregory is a space alien.”

“So, we just count the cards,” Samantha said and then stopped, and looked at Rhyaad with a straight face: “beep bloop zeepity zoop?”

He shook his head. “No, he talks like normal people. But he’s not human. He has two hearts and his blood is orange.”

Samantha shruged examining a kiwi.

“Normal is defined as what the majority does, my dear. So if 70 percent of the people wear turkeys on their heads, then wearing a turkey on your head is normal.” Rhyaad tried to explain, distracted by her looking at the kiwi, under certain where she is going to put it next.

“If 70 percent of people jumped off a bridge.” Samantha began—

“Then bridge jumping would be normal.” Rhyaad concluded

“Would that be normal? or mass psychosis from a UN experiment gone wrong? Samantha asked holding the Kiwi.

Rhyaad looked at her as if it is a test, “You decide.”

“UN experiment . . . more fun that way. Samantha smiled that odd cracked smile of hers again.

“Speaking of UN experiments. . . ” Rhyaad glanced at their guest. “Just how will you know when to pop in?”

“Oh, something involving tinfoil hats?” Samantha asked excited.

“Yes, how will we communicate to each other.” Nikki wanted to know.

Samantha looked at Nikki, “With our minds.” And she begins to do some jazz hands upon the table while humming the theme song to the twilight zone. “Ummm. . . My ridley. . . could I purchase a drink on credit?”

“You’d have to send a signal.” Arikado stated evenly.

“A smoke signal?”

“A codeword to be issued over a bug, for instance.” Arikado said growing tired of the strange lady with the Kiwi in hand.

Rhyaad nodded at the man. Then to Samantha, “You can have one on the house, so long as it isn’t alcohol.”

“A bug.” Nikki frowned “Sorry, but in my line of business I don’t want my offices bugged. We will need a special dedicated phone.”

“And it’s Rhyaad. Rhyaad de’Annar. Miss Brook.”

“Water? Okay”

“Or a wire when the transaction does down – although, I would assume, Kang will check for a wire . . . ” Nikki added thoughtfully.

“Tea? Grape juice? Alcohol is bad for your blood, Miss.”

“I was thinking something to be kept under a jacket lapel.” Arikado suggested.

“Umm water?”

Nikki nodded, “That will work.”

“What about your telepathy, Nikki?” Rhyaad turned to look at Nikki.

Arikado eyes widened, “A telepath?” “Hm.. . . “ He said apparently not seeing that bit of news coming.

“Yes.”

“My idea exactly. Clandestine and he won’t see it coming.”

“Old as he is . . . I doubt he sees anyone coming . . . “ Samantha muttered.

“As I said earlier, we will cheat.” Nikki looked to Rhyaad.

Arikado rises and looked at his conspirators, Nikki and Rhyaad, ‘Well I have to be leaving, I will be in touch.”

“Yes—we will need to meet for further planning.” Rhyaad said, ‘With Gregory.”

‘Most certainly,” And the Task Force 141 consultant left.

Rhyaad looked over at Nikki, “Before you go, I wanted to discuss the Snow case. And my recent fears. . . .”

Nikki admitted that she had perhaps been reading too much of the Necronomicon –”

“I have been perusing Barnabas’s books as well.” Rhyaad admitted. “This Pickman, he painted monsters. The Farnsworth projection technology. Storing people in film. What if people are not the only things that can be stored on and brought to life from those ghastly films?”

Nikki sighed, ‘There is a reason they wanted to bring back Vera, I am certain – and remember, she was Pickman’s model. We need to do some research on that – especially Pickman’s relationship with Vera, and more importantly how well did he know know Farnsworth?”

“I can do research.” Samantha muttered quietly.

“We need to know that.” Rhyaad agreed, but his excitement is more specific, “Nikki! Last night I saw one of ‘those things’ on the street in Arkham!”

Samantha suddenly tried to pick crushed grape out of the eye patch.

Nikki looked over the rim of her glass, “What things in the Arkham?”

“The things in Pickman’s paintings.”

“You saw them in Arkham?”

Samantha touched Nikki’s hand,”Umm Miss Nikki. . . would you like me to see if I can find anyone that has dealt with Kang?”

Nikki smiled at her, “That would be most helpful Miss Brook.”

Rhyaad continues, “Those horrid, dog-faced, man-demon things. One of them ran down the street and squirmed down a sewer hole.”

“Do you think they have loosened other things with the projector?” Nikki now with a whole newline of thought she had not contemplated before.

“I don’t know, Nikki. But it’s something we should be investigating.”

Nikki took a long drink, “Remember one of the films was The Hounds Daughter.”

“Yes. . . now I have a completely different idea of what that might mean.”

“Okay, we re-group – maybe Esther will be back and we can sort this out – I mean we thought it was a pornographic film, maybe it had another meaning.”

Samantha rose slowly, Miss Nikki. . . could I have a key to the offices . . . I’m almost falling asleep,’ She blushed meekly.

“I now think it’s a lot more sinister than some silly play on bestiality.” Rhyaad admitted.

Nikki removed a key from a ring in her purse and handed it over, “Be careful.”

Samantha nodded a thank you and then turns; leaves the nightingale and begins walking back to the offices.

Nikki looked at Rhyaad now with acute interest, “You may be so right – we have looked at this case the wrong end round perhaps.”

Cue Music End Of Episode