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Of Thickening Plots and
Enigmatic Utterences, Fourteenth Part
Scene - Jack Tango's hospital room. Well, probably Jack Tango. It might be Johnny DC. We're not really sure. In any case, the cult leader is lying on a hospital bed, hooked up to an imposing array of medical machinery. Jack Tango: *groggily* . . . how? Flamestar walks into the room, a stethoscope around her neck and a clipboard in her hands. Unluckily, Jack Tango was poisoned when it was her week to moderate CBR's infirmary. Flamestar: *calling out to someone in the hall* I'll be right with you, I just have to check on . . . Tynne! Get in here! Jack's waking up! Jack Tango: *weakly* Thought . . . was . . . didn't . . . Flamestar: Jack, do you know who did this to you? Tynne Fanel, in the infirmary to get a band-aid for his papercut, runs into the room. Tynne Fanel: What's happening? Did he say who poisoned him? Flamestar: *to Tynne* Shhhhh! *To Jack Tango* Come on Jack, you can do it. Jack Tango: *slowly, as if gaining strength* I thought I . . . had him . . . under control. Never thought . . . AAAARRRGGH! *spasms with pain, thrashes around wildly* Flamestar and Tynne try to restrain Jack Tango, but he's too violent. Flamestar injects him with a sedative. Sinking back into a quiescent state, Jack struggles to speak. Jack Tango: . . . look . . . Super . . . man . . . Boa *trails off into sleep. Tynne Fanel: Superman Boat? What could he have meant by that? Flamestar: *rolls eyes* Don't worry about it. I think I know what to do. Flamestar pulls out a cell phone and hits a speed dial button (#3, if you must know). Flamestar: Hello? T'omm? ---- Scene - A windowless room, lit by one flickering, solitary lightbulb hanging from the ceiling. Lots of shadows. Howyadoin is at a table, intent on the little black object sitting on the table in front of him. Wires are sticking out of it, and a little LED display reads 60:00.00. A electrician's toolbox sits next to it. Howyadoin: I connect the timing mechanism to the detonator. A bead of sweat rolls down my face, but I ignore it. This is crucial. A false move here could be deadly. *splices two wires together* There. It's done. The instrument of my revenge is complete. The last time . . . the last time was a mistake. This . . . will be perfect. Beldar: Dude! How many times do I have to tell you? You are not doing a voice over. We can hear you! Howyadoin: I glare at Beldar. Does he know? Would he try to stop me if he did? Beldar: Of course I know! You told me the damn plan, remember? And stop doing that. Howyadoin: He tells me he's on my side. I think I believe him. But I can't let my guard down. Nothing can go wrong. Pulse: *sarcastic* Oook! Beldar: You said it. ---- Scene - The lecture hall. The super-villain battle is over (or at least it's moved to a different location) and the Crime Scene Investigation squad gets back to work. Sir Tim Drake has joined them. After an hour or four of diligent work, Fenris has an announcement. Fenris: *looking up at Expletive Deleted and Sir Tim* All right. I've sorted through all the scents from the lecture, and that . . . whatever it was. I think I've isolated all the main players. Expletive Deleted: Do you know who poisoned Jack Tango? Fenris: The scent is familiar, but I can't place it. Grrrr! It's right on the tip of my tongue. Sir Tim: Keep working on it. It'll come to you eventually. In the meantime, though, can you track that scent? Fenris: I think so! Sir Tim Drake: Great! Let's roll! Expletive Deleted: Shouldn't we call for backup or something? Sir Tim Drake: No time to waste! *motions to Fenris* Fenris heads for the door, a determined expression on his face. At least I think it's determined. He's a wolf, it's hard to tell. He might just be queasy. Um . . . anyway, Sir Tim is right behind him. Expletive Deleted pauses for a second, shrugs, then follows.
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