Questioning The Padre (Part 2)

JP with mdman, Redsword, Jaxx, Lorem, Trustno1 and Cindy

It didn't take long for Alyssa's father to disarm the man. "Now, what are you to do with him?"

Alyssa shrugged, "Don't know. Anyone have any more instructions than - rescue him? He probably needs medical care. Possibly, long term.”

"I don't have any knowledge of first aid." said Sartre.

"I didn't mean that kind of medical attention. I meant more the psychiatric kind." Alyssa clarified. To be honest, she wasn't sure exactly what would help the man.

Agent Powers scratched his bald head as he tried to remember the basic first aid he learned. Sadly the only thing he could think of was putting on a tourniquet to stop the bleeding and get him to a doctor as soon as possible. As for the mental help doctor he was completely out of his element since he was only taught how to torture someone for information. As this team mission was advancing he was beginning to realize how many skills he was lacking in this kind of work. He then responded to Alyssa, "Sorry Alyssa I'm only good at combat and torture. My dad was the one who was good at getting into people's head, but I doubt he will drop his work to help us.”

"Oh" said Sartre. "Let me see." "I can use my profiling.”

Sartre felt himself being enveloped in mist. As he sank into his consciousness, he began to be surrounded by a purple mist that began to produce images. Saint Ede The Pious having his eyes ripped out and then having his eye sockets sewn shut along with his mouth. The Spanish Inquisition. He saw the Great Pyramids of Egypt. He saw a triangle barely visible in Darkness. He saw Egyptian obelisks. He saw the twin towers on the morning of September 11th 2001. Before the planes hit. He saw A well-dressed man outside of a club in New York City called Fate. He saw chaos, riots, the January 6th Insurrection of 2021, He saw more riots and panic. He saw the same man that was standing outside of the club with another man he did not recognize. They were trying to convince The Halliwells to do something.

He saw Worshipers in the great pyramid. venerating a tall figure. Finally he saw in modern times. Entire populations of cities running in chaos. A man lying in bed with maggots coming out of his mouth.

"Do you know anything about ancient Egypt, Mr. Duane?" asked Sartre as he returned from the mist.

Choi scrunched up his nose. Ancient Egypt? The man is a priest of the Christian religion. Of course he would have studied Ancient Egypt. It had a major role, especially in the Old Testament of the Bible, the main book of the Christian faith.

Yeong looked at Powers and Alyssa. “Where’d you pick this guy up at?” he asked sarcastically.

Alyssa sighed, and shook her head. "I doubt Duane will be able to answer you, Peter. I do think he likely knows a lot about ancient Egypt, he's a priest. It's my understanding they kind of study all of that. What did you see?”

"I saw ancient Egyptian obelisks and pyramids. I saw chaos in the streets, several catastrophes of the last two decades. Worshipers in the great pyramid worshiping someone or something. I also saw the Halliwell sisters talking with someone who was trying to have them give him an object. I have not seen this man before. There was a man lying dead in a bed. He had maggots coming out of his mouth." said Sartre.

Choi inquisitively looked to Sung, wondering if he were thinking the same as he was. It sounded as if their journey would lead them next to Cairo.

“I suppose we should escort this man to Cairo,” he suggested. “Obviously, he will be known there. He could get us access as followers.”

Seeing that the priest was disarmed, Choi suggested, “Let’s get out of here, so I can let go of this button.”

"I would not suggest that," said Duane. "We must stay here in San Francisco."

Agent Powers rolled his eyes up as he listened to the others. He then said, "Uhhh guys I know you have a bunch of things to talk about but that padre ain't gonna last if we don't get him to a doctor soon. I mean people can only lose so much blood before they kick the bucket. That and we need to get rid of this bomb without being labeled as a terrorist. So we need a quick plan to solve our two big problems.”

"Yes, we need someone to reattach his hand." said Sartre.

"I make house calls. I can reattach it. I just need to get the hand." Alyssa just wanted to get out of there. She had a bad feeling about staying there too long.

“Hold on!” Choi emphatically said. “I let go of his thumb on the dead man's switch and we all go boom! Let’s get outside first. Leave the explosives.”

"Well, them lets stop discussing things and get out of here." Alyssa said. "Who can help him," Pointing at Duane. "Get outside.”

"Green Emerald can help with the explosives." Sartre helped the others carry Duane to Eun Ji and the van. "What hospital and what is our cover story?" asked Sartre.

Sung had enough of this. "Listen, our organizations will want what is in here. there is valuable information in the book and other artifacts in the room," Sung said in a stern tone. "So, Choi, the answer is no to blowing the place up." said Sung on no uncertain terms.

"Then the switch also needs to be disarmed." Alyssa commented. "Yeong, why don’t you give the switch to my father?”

Outside the entrance, blocking off the exit route to the streets, was a parked Amazon delivery van. Inside were David and Eun-Ji. The sliding door, facing the dungeon entry direction, was open and Eun-Ji was sitting on the edge with her feet casually dangling. She was enjoying a grande size Starbucks mocha Frappuccino with whipped cream. To her right was a bag with the store's logo, inside an already eaten breakfast sandwich and fruit sampler. She looked refreshed and relaxed. David was inside at work, monitoring communications, surveillance and other placed tech down in the first hundred feet of the dungeon in case things had gone wrong.

“We have motion.” David called to her.

Eun-Ji perked up, placing her delicious drink down on the van floor and reached for her hammers.

David continued to watch those exiting and realized their profiles matched those that had entered. In addition, the infrared cameras were picking up there heat signatures; no undead. Finally they seemed to be bickering and cooperating as individuals and not some brainwashed, or possessed, collective. He deduced they had completed their task, since they were bringing out with them two new people.

“Looks like everything is good.” David assured Eun-Ji. “Everyone checks out with our metrics and looks like a rescue of two new individuals. Running facial recognition software on them now with dragon databases.” Moments later he informed Eun-Ji who they were.

Eun-Ji meanwhile placed the hammers back down, but left her left hand on top of one the handles as she rested. Her right hand picked up her Starbucks drink and she continued to enjoy while waiting patiently for them to emerge.

Sartre would help the others lift Duane into the van. "Eun Ji, can you disarm these explosives?" he laid the explosives on the floor.

Eun-Ji stood up and held up a hand before Peter was able to complete his actions. “Hell no! Bodies and explosives can go in your own damn van over there.” She pointed to Alyssa’s van. Her grip on a hammer was firm and she looked pissed that Sartre would have the gall to even think about doing such a thing without permission.

David could be heard a little deeper inside the Amazon van seconding her, “Yeah, not here. I have things I still need to do.” He was in the middle of preparing for a post mission sweep below and didn’t have time to deal with these new dilemmas.

"Enu Ji chill, they're already deactivated. Not like we'd ask you to do any work anyway. After that little stunt." Alyssa threw her hands up. "There are no bodies, everyone is alive but whatever."

Alyssa's father had managed to deactivate the switch. He gave the hand to Alyssa, who escorted Duane to the back of her van then reattached it using her ability. When it worked, Alyssa smiled. "Glad that worked. Now what?”

Eun-Ji did indeed chill, after all her aim was to keep them from taking liberties of utilizing David’s van and that was effectively accomplished thanks to Alyssa. She returned her hammers to her holsters and took up her Frappuccino. She observed the group from the side of the van after she said something in private to David and shut the sliding door.

Choi was aggravated. Eun Ji was sitting up here enjoying Starbucks, while the others risked their lives. He didn’t say anything. It was unlike him not to say something from his whit. Usually, when he was very angry at something, he chose to remain in control.

He’d have to talk with Master Park. This partnership just wasn’t working. Perhaps Eun Ji could be assigned to work aside David. They seemed to work better together. Yeong didn’t look forward to the disappointment on Master Park’s face.

Eun-Ji collected herself and made her way closer to Choi. “What happened down there?” She inquired calmly.

Meanwhile, the Amazon van door opened and David exited. He was geared up like a tech version of a tactical swat team. In addition he shouldered a large duffle bag that looked heavy and backpack. He came over briefly and whispered something into Eun-Ji’s ear before heading down below. Just before he disappeared he beeped the van to lock.

Alyssa rolled her eyes at David going in after the fact. There was no reason to be in all that gear. She moved closer to Peter. "Do you think either you or Max should go after him? I don't trust him." Of course she didn't trust him, she didn't know him. An unknown Dragon was not to be trusted.

Agent Powers gave a smoldering stare at Eun-Ji as he watched her act like she was too privileged to do her job. He was not in a good mood, especially since he was feeling weak from fighting the Lich. He looked around and whispered to Alyssa, Sorry but I am near my limit. I need to take a nap in your van before I lose it “. Agent Powers looked nervous as he was hoping Alyssa would let him hide as he powered down away from the others.

"If you can find the room, go ahead." Alyssa responded to Max. She then pulled her father aside, the two talked briefly and Alyssa pulled out her phone and made a call. She then went back to Peter, "Someone is coming to get Duane. They should be here soon.”

Agent Powers made his way to Alyssa’s van and looked around before getting in the back. Then he grabbed one of the blankets that Alyssa had and covered himself before he melted into a slime. A moment later his head emerged from the slime while still under the blanket as he gasped for air. A few minutes later the slime evaporated and young Max passed out under the blanket.

“You look a little piqued there Powers,” Choi chided. “Here I thought he’d have the endurance of an ox!”

Choi raised a brow. It was he and Sung that actually captured Duane. He was their prisoner.

I’m sorry, Alyssa,” he insisted, still agitated with Eun-Ji, “but I must disagree. He was captured by Master Sung and me. So, he is our prisoner.”

"I disagree. We were all there, we all took part. If it wasn't for my father you'd still be trying to figure out how to disarm him. Besides, the person coming will see he gets medical attention. Can you offer that without taking him to a hospital?" Alyssa replied. The idea that only 1/2 of the group take full credit for any of it, wasn't sitting well with her.

In the chip, "Alyssa Go ahead and have Max Follow the dragon agent in the tactical gear. We can work on figuring out what Mr Duayne is up to.”

Back into the chip Alyssa responded to Peter, "Max is in no condition to follow him. It'll have to be you or me." She was starting to wonder how much Peter was actually paying attention to what was going on.

After having his hand repaired, Duane muttered, "There are others. I was........... attempting to stop a ritual........ The ones that burned the shop. They are a faction of another very dangerous faction. They are known as "The Cowboys." They operate independently in small groups only with people they trust. They were a part of a military and intelligence unit who had something happen to them in Cambodia.......... That unit broke up into several factions. The cowboys were the worst of them. They still exist, they are the least powerful of the factions. Cambodia........... The Lich was a mistake.. I did not mean to summon it. I had to have the explosives in case it tried to escape to the streets.”

Peter said into the chip: "I don't know if we have time for it, but I will go ahead and follow David. You stay with Duane and see what you can get out of him." We will meet back later at the Halliwell house. You did good today Lumie Girl. Make sure your father gets some rest at the mansion.”

Alyssa turned back to Yeong, "Why don't we all go back to the Halliway house? That way we can all stay with Duane and get him the help he needs." There was no way the Dragon was going to convince her he and Sung did this on their own.

In the chip: "Alyssa, you still want me to follow David? Or should I skip it?”

"Skip it, hopefully he doesn't do anything to screw things up." Alyssa responded, into the chip.

"Then we all go back to the Mansion together. Your father needs rest Alyssa.”

It was not lost on Eun-Ji that Choi ignored not only her question but also her presence. She wrote him off, not having the patience to deal with his passive aggressiveness.

Not interested in what the others were going on about in their democratic style of figuring out what to do next, Eun-Ji just turned and headed back down into the dungeon to help David.

While the Illuminati were debating between themselves what to do next, Choi herded Duane to Sing’s vehicle. Rooting in the back of the SUV, Yeong found zip ties. Once Duane was in the back seat, Choi tied his ankle together, so the man couldn’t flee. Then, Choi leaned against the outside of the vehicle, awaiting Master Sung.

Alyssa practically gritted her teeth, when Choi just walked over and took Duane right in front of her. Damn, Dragons always show their true colors don't they? She thought.

She went to Choi, "I do not have any idea why you think you'd even have a prisoner if it wasn't for the rest of us. If you and Sung had gone down there alone you'd probably be in little pieces right now. You know I thought you were better than this. Guess I was wrong. Do what you want with the preacher. I have a report about what actually happened down there to write up. Think the higher ups should be interested in that. We'll be at the Halliway house, you can come there if you want or not." She really didn't care any longer. "But Duane still needs medical attention." As Alyssa walked away, she took out her phone and made another call.

She then went to her van, "Father and Peter get in. I think I've had enough for the moment. The Dragons want a prisoner so badly, they can clean up this mess." Alyssa climbed into the van, and once Peter and her father were in the van, she started the van and took off.

Meanwhile little Max was passed out under a blanket inside the back of the van. He was worn out from fighting the Lich and needed to recover his energy. He was glad he could maintain his secret form from the Dragons. He was now dreaming about having friends and going to a dance club. He was in his muscular body and wearing a white suit with a black button up shirt that revealed his chest. Then he walked into the dance floor that appeared to be lit up checkerboards and began dancing under the huge disco ball to The Bee Gees music. The crowd cheered him on as he impressed them with his performance.

Alyssa’s sharp tongue jabbed Yeong. She was probably right. However, if Sung and he hadn’t done what they did, they’d likely all be blown to pieces by now.

He wanted to tell her he was sorry. He was not angry with her. She did what she was supposed to do. His anger should have been directed at Moon Eun-Ji. Yet, he took it out on an innocent person. He would need to bring balance back to the situation; Yeong was wise enough to see that truth.

He got into the SUV in the passenger seat. “Tell me more about the Cowboys,” he urged Duane.

Sartre got in the van and headed back to the mansion with the Wilsons. He was shocked to see that her father had returned somehow.

"It would make that much easier if you would untie me," said Charles Duane. "We don't have much time.”

Sung got into the SUV looking a little annoyed. "Choi, try to use a little more tact with them," said Sung. He was then starting to drive back to the house. "Untie you with whom? What are you talking about?

"I will heal you when we get to the house if it works you will get your hand back." stated Sung. He was still wondering about this who was he meeting?

“It wasn’t them with whom I was angry,” Choi admitted.

Looking back at Duane, Yeong emphatically requested, “Stop speaking in mysteries man. If you need to save time, speak clearly!”