Volume #30: "Vinnie Quest"

"Can ya believe it? I've almost made it to the docks in Tokyo, but Tokyo looks like it's seen the business end of a tornado. My bag's still a little heavy, but I still want to get this stuff safe. Kai was always guarding it, so I guess it's kinda special, y'know?

"Hey, wait a minute, there's a guy over there with a boat. Hey!"

"What you want? I can't stay all day!"

"Mister ... I need your boat. I need to get to New York."

"Take a plane."

"But ... you don't understand! There are no planes! You're my last shot!"

GROWL!

"Oh God, they've found me. Let me on, mister, or we're both gonna die!"

"Oh, all right. Get in."

"I thought I'd be safe in the boat, but they're followin' us, can ya believe it? Oh sure, they're gargoyles. Yeah, right. They're nothin' like the ones that used to be in New York, at least they didn't fire guns at ya!"

"Will you shut up?"

BZAPPT!

"Okay, okay. Gotta get these guys before they get us, y'know?"

BEEP! GROWL!

"What is that thing?"

"It's a brainwave scrambler, can ya believe it? It's a neat little thing the place I work for has been working on for a while."

"Hey, I thought you said you were living with the Ishimura gargoyles!"

"Yeah, but they got some neat toys."

"We just lost a day at the dateline. But at least there's no more psycho alien gargoyles chasin' us, y'know?"

"What is that, some kind of journal or something?"

"Yeah. I decided I ought to keep one, in case I can't get to New York. That way, someone can mail the tape to my friends there, y'know?"

"Mail? Ha hahhaaha, who's gonna mail anything for you when the world's this crazy, huh?"

"I guess you have a point."

"Hey, you were talking about the Ishimura gargoyles having neat toys. What kind of toys?"

"OH not much, but they had this little thing. And there's a lot more too, including a little wristband thingie that could make you super fast, can ya believe it?"

"Super fast? And why didn't you take that with you instead of the brainwave scrambler?"

"Oh, one of the gargoyles took it a while ago. She and her mate are waiting for me in New York. Her mate's my best friend, can ya believe it?"

"Still crossin' the Pacific. The boat's starting to leak, I don't think we're going to make it to the Americas."

"Hey! HEY! The boat's leaking!"

"What?"

"You heard me, the boat's leaking! I think it took one shot too many!"

"Ahh, can ya believe it?"

WHOOSH!

"Hey, what gives?!"

"Just helping you out of distress, friend."

"Huh? Who's that?"

"You see? He doesn't appreciate us! Like most humans!"

"Whew, can ya believe it? Gargoyles! Hey, can ya help us out, we're tryin' to get to New York!"

"I don't know, it's going to be hard. The invasion force has been hard on our numbers here."

"Just do your best. Say, what's your name?"

"I am called Ka'auna."

"Sounds Hawaiian."

"It should be. Your boat's about to sink just shy of Honolulu."

"Met with the rest of Clan Honolulu, and they've offered to help, can ya believe it? They know the center of the invasion is in New York, so they kinda guessed I was on my way to offer help. We've got more allies!"

CRACK! GRRROWWLL!! ROOOOOOOAAAR!

"Oh good, they're wakin' up! Hey, guys!"

"Ahh, Vinnie. We're ready when you are."

"Ka'auna, are you sure this is wise? We are nowhere near prepared to face New York conditions, let alone a war zone."

"Please, Lili, I'm sure we'll be okay. Vinnie trusts us, don't you?"

"Heh ... oh yeah. How're we gettin' there, anyway?"

"It helps to have friends in high places. Come, we'll talk with our benefactors."

"Can ya believe it, their benefactors are the Bishop family. They've brought me to the center of the whole Bishop empire to meet with the current heir."

"Ka'auna, nice to see you, my friend. And you too, Lili. Who is this you've brought with you?"

"This is Vinnie, sir. He's just come from Japan, he's on his way to New York to fight the invasion."

"I see."

"Umm ... Mr. Bishop, sir ... we'd be appreciative if you would loan us transportation to New York. I've spoken with the rest of the clan, and Ka'auna and Lili have agreed to come with me to New York to offer their assistance."

"Can I be quite frank with you, Vinnie?"

"Sure."

"The reason why I host the gargoyles here is because I fear for them. Most humans don't even come close to understanding them like I do, like my family has for years. And now you're asking me to let you take Clan Honolulu's leader and his mate to the center of the Quarryman movement. I'm sorry, but I need more than your assurances that I can trust you."

"I see. Well, then ... let me show you this."

"Interesting. Who's this?"

"His name's Brooklyn. He's from New York, and up until a couple months ago, he was living in Japan with his mate, a Japanese gargoyle named Sata. And he happens to be my Friday night bar buddy. At least, until he went to New York."

"Interesting ... why would he want to go to New York?"

"Because his family's there. His Clan. Here, I have a picture their leader sent a couple of months ago."

"This does not look like a normal gargoyle."

"Who, Rosanna? No, she isn't, she's a hybrid. Her mother was human."

"I see. Well then, I believe I have no objections in your taking my clan to New York."

"Mr. Bishop set us up completely, can ya believe it? We're flyin' in a Lear jet nonstop to New York! Ka'auna and Lili are secured in the back, but they're going to hit stone sleep very fast now since we're headed into the sunrise, y'know?"

"Vinnie, can I ask you something?"

"Well ... sure, go ahead."

"When we do get to New York, how are we going to land? I mean, you said this invasion was worldwide, centering on New York, so do you think they will part to let us land?"

"Well ... I hadn't thought of that, really. I suppose we could bail if we have to."

"I see. What about Mr. Bishop's plane?"

"He knows it's a war zone, I think he's well aware that his plane might not come back."

CRINKLEELEINK! "Dang ... that's the problem with talking with gargoyles in a plane, you never know when they're gonna turn to stone."

"Mr. Vinnie? There's a call coming through from Mr. Bishop, you can take it on the cordless in the wall."

"Okay. Hello?"

"Vinnie ... how are ... my gargoyles?"

"They're fine, they're in stone right now. Geez, you sound awful, Mr. Bishop."

"The aliens ... they came through here after you left. They've ... destroyed everything."

"Oh no."

"Everything my family's built for years ... it's all gone. And Ka'auna and Lili are the last of the gargoyles left!"

"Oh God ... Mr. Bishop, I'm so sorry ..."

"No. Don't be sorry, Vinnie ... just ... stop the invasion. This is my last request of you. Stop the invasion at any cost."

BEEP!

"I promise, Mr. Bishop. No cost is too great now."

"The plane's out of fuel, we've got to ditch!"

"Hang on, Vinnie!"

WHOOSH!

"The pilot's gone. He was taken out a while ago, the aliens got to him. Aw, can ya believe it, we're gonna die!!"

"No we're not, Vinnie. We're going to make it, we're going to get back to Honolulu."

"No, we're not! We're gonna die, just like everybody in Honolulu!"

"What?!"

"You heard me, Lili. I got a call after you guys turned to stone this morning from Mr. Bishop. The aliens attacked just after we left, they wiped everyone out."

"No ..."

"Lili! Help me!"

"Ka'auna, don't move! I'll get 'em!"

BRZZAP!!

"KA'AUUUNAAAAAAAA!!"

FZZZT!

"It's too late, Lili, he's gone! We've got to get to this place!"

"(snf) What is that, a castle?"

"Exactly! It should be higher than anything here!"

"Wait, I see it! There!"

"There they are! Suppressing fire, everyone!"

Graeme, Liberty and Brooklyn rushed forward, weapons at the ready. On Rosanna's order, they began firing just over the retreating gargoyle and human, past them, toward the Rokkans pursuing them. Three shots took out two Rokkans, just as the gargoyle crashed to the stone floor of the battlement.

"They're down, bring 'em in!!"

Rosanna prepared her own weapon, firing once more into the night sky as the gargoyle and the human were brought inside. The human roused, though, and looked up to see his buddy standing over him.

"B ... Brooklyn!"

Brooklyn looked down at the human, suddenly recognizing him. "Vinnie?!"

"Yeah, can ya believe it? Great t'see ya!"

"But ... how did you get here?"

Vinnie handed him a handheld tape recorder. "Listen to this, buddy. It's a long story, y'know?"