Strangerville Mystery - Ch 16 - The Plan

Sigworth Residence, Rangerville, Thursday, May 20th, 2021, 10:40 AM

"So, to recap, we've got a three-story tall extra-dimensional alien plant monster in a secret underground government lab that's taken over the town, and the only people standing between Her and world-domination are two engineers, a soldier and an ancient elf-witch," Molly said.

"Well, when you put it that way... we're golden," Dylan grinned. "We'd be better off with a cleric, but otherwise we've got a solid adventuring party."

"Unfortunately, honey, this isn't Dungeons and Dragons," Jess pointed out.

"Well, one could argue there is a dungeon, but the Mother of Flowers certainly isn't a dragon," Lucius said, looking mildly bemused. "Dragons are a completely different kind of challenge."

"Wait, you mean dragons are..." Dylan started excitedly.

"Don't," Molly interrupted. "Just don't. We can go down that particular rabbit hole another day. Right now, we have a giant plant monster to deal with."

"Right, yeah, OK," Dylan said.

"So, who knows how to fight a sixty-foot plant monster? Lucius, I'm looking at you," Molly said.

"Very well," Lucius said, shifting into a smooth teaching tone. "A Mother of Flowers is an extremely hardy being, very resistant to physical harm. While I am not terribly familiar with modern weaponry, I don't believe simple firearms would be effective."

"What about magic?" Dylan asked. "You're a wizard or witch or whatever? Why not just fireball her?"

"There's that word again... fireball? " Lucius looked puzzled. "It is true, fire would hurt the Mother. Unfortunately, fire magic isn't my strength. I am a weather witch, which is likely of little use to us since she is in an enclosed underground cavern. It would thus be difficult for me to call lightning, and any wind or rain I conjured would be more likely to hinder us then her."

"Flamethrower?" Molly asked, looking at Jess. 

"The Mother pretty much controls the Army base," Jess pointed out, "and even if She didn't, we'd have a hard time getting our hands on any serious weapons."

"Anyone know where we can get a giant weedwhacker?" Molly sighed. Then she blinked, "or weed killer. Lucius, the potion. You said it kills the spores and the spores... "

"... and the Mother are all one. Parts of the same whole," Lucuis mused. "Yes, the potion will harm the Mother. If we can only..."

"... find a way to deliver enough of it to be effective," Molly concluded. "Dylan, I've got an idea. We'll need some parts and a workspace. Lucius, we're going to need a lot of that potion."

"The difficulty of the potion is making it safe for consumption," Lucius said. "If we don't plan on having anyone drink it, I believe I could. I'll need an assistant. Christie?"

"Yeah," the little girl grinned. "I'll help."

"Let's get to work," Molly said with a fierce grin.

Rangerville Trailer Park, Rangerville, Thursday, May 20th, 2021, 6:10 PM

Looking at the storm raging over the distant crater and remembering what waited for them beneath it, Molly shuddered.

"You know, She really doesn't like you," Molly said.

"My dear Molly," Lucius said with a disconcertingly pleased smile, "the feeling is entirely mutual."

Having made their plans, they had packed up and moved to Lucius's trailer, which simply felt safer to Molly. 

Molly and Dylan had worked hard, building the devices Molly envisioned, while Jess fetched and carried whatever they needed. Meanwhile Lucius, with Christie's enthusiastic assistance, had brewed up large amounts of the potion in his kitchen. (Lucius confessed to Molly that he had used magic to increase the amount they made, but he assured them that Christie's help was essential.)

All through the day the storm had raged over the crater, blowing a sickly-sweet wind over Rangerville, but the Mother's thralls hadn't disturbed them. They had seen townies going about their days, seemingly oblivious. It felt like everything was waiting.

They were ready, Molly thought, as ready as they could possibly be for this insane, impossible challenge. 

"Let's do this," Molly said. 

Classified Ministry of Defense Research Facility, Rangerville Crater, Thursday, May 20th, 2021, 6:50 PM

"I still can't believe you talked me into leaving Christie with Erwin of all people," Jess said. 

"Hey, Erwin's a good guy," Dylan said. "I knew him in college. Remember, he even got recruited for that government job when we graduated."

"He wasn't wearing a colander on his head back then," Jess pointed out, "and he doesn't have a government job now. He's a paranoid nut who runs a curio stand."

"OK, yeah, he was always a little weird," Dylan said. "Still, we know he's not infected."

"Christie will be perfectly safe," Lucius pointed out. "Huntress won't let her come to harm."

"See, she's got Erwin and Huntress looking after her," Dylan smiled.

"I'm trusting a cat and a paranoid nut to look after my kid," Jess said to no one in particular.

"Lucius, can I ask you a question?" Dylan said as they descended through the lab. 

"Only if you want me to answer it," Lucius replied with a mischievous grin. 

"How old are you?" Dylan asked. "I mean you look like you're maybe in your forties, but Molly keeps saying you're ancient and you fought another Mother of Flowers centuries ago."

"I am as old as my tongue and bit older than my teeth," Lucius quoted playfully. 

"I thought you said you'd answer him," Jess challenged.

"I honestly don't know how old I am," Lucius replied. "My people come another Realm, where time moves differently than it does here. We did not mark the turning of years as your people do. I was born in the Spring of the reign of Nuada Silveroak. I was a youth, a teenager you would say, in the Summer of his reign and it was then that I sailed the sea of stars with him, came to this Realm and fought in that dreadful war with the Formoiri and the Mothers of Flowers."

"OK, so when was that? I mean, if that happened on our world, that would have happened in our... you know... time," Dylan said.

"True, but in those days your people had not yet begun to write your stories down and so keep records of the turn of years," Lucius said. 

"So, are all your people, like, immortal?" Dylan asked.

Molly was pretty sure Dylan was looking for a distraction from what they were walking toward. She didn't blame him in the slightest. She was sure Lucius knew this too, but he didn't appear to mind either. He simply continued in his smooth, cultured teaching tone.

"No," Lucius said. "In our native Realm, our Tir na Nog, our hearts and bodies mature as our magic grows. So, I grew from a child to a youth as my magic blossomed. I had not yet reached the fullness of my power, and my heart and body reflected that, no matter how much I believed myself a man grown... as all young men do. 

"It was only when we traveled to other Realms that the turning of the years touched us, and our bodies aged. Horrified by this change, we brewed potions to hold off the turn of years and grow again with our magic. Those of us who do not drink this potion, either by choice, ignorance or simple lack, are subject to the turning of years." 

"So, if you take this potion, you can't die?" Jess asked.

"We can die," Lucius said easily. "By injury or illness... though we have other ways to avoid all but worst of those perils. Still for some of us, the gentle end does come. The long passage of years, or even the endless seasons of Tir na Nog, can grow heavy on the heart. Those who suffer this ennui begin to lose themselves and fade away, eventually passing Beyond. So, yes, we can die. Many of us simply choose not to."

"Wow," Dylan replied. "That's crazy."

"I suspect it may be," Lucius replied, either misunderstanding or deliberately misinterpreting Dylan's awe. "It is certainly an act of overwhelming pride on our part, but we are not a humble people."

"We're here," Molly said at last.

They had reached the Project Orchid lab. This, Molly thought, would be a great time for the real heroes to show up and save the day. Where were the Avengers when you really needed them?

"The Mother is just down that hallway," she continued. "So, everyone ready? Lucius, any last minute tips?"

"Well, you keep reminding me of dragons," Lucius smiled. "Fighting the Mother of Flowers will be not different from fighting a dragon."

"OK, pretend none of us have actually fought a real dragon," Jess said.

"The principles aren't so difficult," Lucius said. "Stay clear of the sharp bits and keep well away from the mouth."

"Good advice," Molly chuckled.

"The Mother is huge and powerful, but she is ungainly," Lucius continued more seriously. "Stay alert and be ready to duck. She will likely call her thralls to her, but I believe the potion will confuse her. Avoid them as best you can and remember, they are innocent in this."

"I have one last thing to offer," Lucius said.

Quietly, he handed each of them a shimmering, opalescent liquid in crystal vials, quite unlike the bubbling sludge in old mason jars that the other potion had been. 

"I said before that we have ways to escape the perils of injury," Lucius said. "This potion is such way. Drink this and, for a time, it may hold back the touch of Death Herself. It does not always work. If enough hurt is done to the body... there is no magic that can keep spirit knit to too-broken flesh. It is not a license for carelessness... but it may allow you to return to your friends, and you two to your child."

"To your health," Molly said, feeling more than a little awed as the she raised the vial to her lips.

There was nothing else to say.

They walked together in silence down the sweet-smelling, vine-shrouded hall. 

"Alright guys," Molly said, swiping the keycard on the last door. "Showtime."

Strangerville Mystery - Ch 15 - Big Damn Heroes

"Molly, wake up. You need to wake up. You have things to do..." 

"Just five more minutes, mom," Molly mumbled.

She drifted in velvet darkness. The window must be open. She could smell... flowers.

"YOu NeED tO gET UP!"

"I'm not going to school today," she groaned. "I don't feel good, OK?"

"MÚSCAIL. MARAIGH É!"

Sigworth Residence, Rangerville, Thursday, May 20th, 2021, 10:20 AM

"No!" Molly shouted.

"She's waking up!" Christie called.

"What... where am I?" Molly mumbled blearily.

"You're on our couch," Christie said. "You've been sleeping forever and ever... but Huntress says you're gonna be OK. Lucius is here... and mom and dad. Lucius fixed them, so he can fix you too, 'cause he's a really real witch. So, everything's really gonna be OK."

"Christie? What? " Molly sat up and instantly regretted it. "Oh God... I don't know if I'm going to barf or pass out."

"You'll be alright in a minute," Lucius said.

"Dad barfed," Christie confided, sitting down on the floor.

"Yes, well, the potion did require a bit of refinement in the end," Lucius said, sitting down next to Molly. "But the good news is none of you died or were transformed into a twisted hybrid plant creature, so on the whole I'd say the process went as well as could be expected."

"That was a risk?" Molly gasped.

"Well, we did agree that it could be dangerous," Lucius said calmly. "Drink this."

"What is it? You know what, forget it. I don't actually want to know," Molly said, taking the bottle Lucius offered and chugging down the viscous contents. 

"That's horrible," Molly coughed a moment later. "God, you really did put newt in it, didn't you."

"I believe you are correct a moment ago," Lucius said. "You actually don't want to know. What is important is that the potion destroys the spores that have colonized your brain and so banishes the Mother's influence."

"How long was I... out?" Molly asked.

"Three days," Lucius answered.

"Three days?!" Molly gasped.

"The process of refining the potion took time," Lucius said. "Fortunately, your reaction to the first batch was simply to fall into a deep sleep."

"Dad barfed," Christie repeated.

"You can stop reminding us about that, Christie," Dylan called from where he sat at the nearby dining table.

"You guys are OK now, right? Right?" Molly asked, looking from Lucius to the Sigworths and back.

"Indeed," Lucius agreed. "They are free of the Mother's influence and unharmed, save only Dylan's dignity... which will recover in time."

"... and you're OK, Christie?" Molly said, looking at the young girl. "I'm so sorry we left you alone like that..."

"I wasn't alone," Christie said. "I had Huntress and she explained everything... like that mom and dad really were under the control of the evil plant monsters and that you and Lucius were off doing what you needed to do to save them, and you guys sent her to look after me and everything..."

"The cat explained all that to you?" Molly said, dazed.

"She's a magic cat," Christie said, in the tone children reserve for the worst instances of adult cluelessness.

"She and I have been fighting the plant monsters too you know," Christie continued. "They tried to get in through the pipes... but we got rid of them. 

"Christie's been very brave," Jess said smiling, clearly proud of her daughter.

"I'm really sorry we didn't believe you, kiddo," Dylan added. 

"Yeah, you guys were pretty useless," Christie said, "But it's OK. You were being controlled by evil plants. So, I forgive you. Besides, those plants were no match for Huntress and me."

"You will need to continue being brave for a time yet, little one," Lucius said, rising and leading Molly to join the Sigworth adults at the table. "We have won a victory here, in freeing the three of you from the Mother, but she will not give us time to celebrate our success.

"The Mother is connected to all of her plants, and all of her thralls," Lucius continued. "In a real way, they are all parts of the one whole. She knows now that I have recreated the potion and freed you. She knows the threat this represents, and she cannot allow us to remain unopposed for long."

"You think she's going to attack us?" Jess asked seriously.

"She is attacking us even now," Lucius said. "Can you not smell her perfume, growing stronger on the wind? She hopes to overwhelm and bespell you again. This is arrogance on her part, believing she must best my magic with her own. Soon she will recognize that she cannot and take more direct action. We must act before she does."

"I was kinda hoping you had enough of that potion to free the Colonel," Jess said. "Maybe some Special Forces guys. A squad of those guys, with machine guns and rocket launchers, would take care of this bi... big plant."

"Even if I had enough of the potions, which I do not, the Mother would never allow it," Lucius said. "She would turn those warriors she has bespelled against us, to a bloody and tragic end."

"I don't suppose there's a magic Special Forces squad you can call in?" Dylan asked. "Like witch-commandos who fight monsters?"

"Not as such," Lucius said. "As it happens though, I do know of one group that could be victorious here... a courageous warrior, a dedicated companion, a wise councilor and, of course, a mighty hero to lead them."

"Great, let's call those guys," Molly said eagerly.

Lucius smiled.

"Molly," Christie said 

"You can call those guys, right?" Molly said. "Right? You're gonna... call..." she looked around the table. "... those guys." 

"Molly," Christie said again in that 'adults are dumb' tone. 

"Are you kidding me?" Molly groaned. "We're those guys?!"

"We're those guys," Jess said confidently.

"We're big damn heroes," Dylan grinned.

-----------------

Author's Note:

MÚSCAIL = Wake up

MARAIGH É! = Kill him!

Strangerville Mystery - Ch 14 - Eye of Newt

Classified Ministry of Defense Research Facility, Rangerville Crater, Monday, May 17, 2021, 7:20PM

"OK, what's the plan?" Molly asked. "Why did we come back here? Let's just go back down and fireball Her."

"Fireball her?" Lucius looked genuinely puzzled.

They had climbed back up from the Project Orchid labs, leaving the raging Mother of Flowers in her deep cavern. Lucius, however, hadn't made for the exit but instead headed down the side corridor to the other lab.

"Seriously? You don't know anything about Dungeons & Dragons, do you?" Molly chuckled.

"I've known my share of both, actually, but I don't see how that's relevant." Lucius said.

"Wha? ... You know what, don't wanna know. Moving on," Molly blinked. "The plan?"

"A Mother of Flowers is an incredibly hardy being," Lucius said. "She could endure great physical harm before yielding and, if attacked, her thralls will rush defend her. Worse, she can bespell those who come against her, turning foes into more thralls. We only escaped now because of our hazmat suits... but as armor goes, those are too fragile for use in a true fight." 

"But you've fought a Mother before," Molly said. "Right? That war... you beat them."

"The Tuatha De did, in ages past," Lucius said. "Our alchemists discovered a potion that would not only protect us but free the bespelled."

"Ok, mix us up this potion," Molly said.

"You must remember, Molly, I was only a youth then... just a foolish young man, seeking adventure and glory," Lucius said. "I wasn't then a mighty warleader or a great hero... or a learned alchemist. Also, more than a few centuries have passed."

"You don't know how to make the potion," Molly groaned.

"Not precisely, no, but don't despair," Lucius said. "I was a foolish young man. While I am still foolish at times, but I am no longer young and, as I have said, I am now quite a talented alchemist. Knowing what I recall of the old potion, and understanding the fundamentals, I should be able to recreate the work of those ancient alchemists." 

"OK, so what do you need?" Molly said. "Cauldron on misty moor? Eye of newt? Toe of frog?"

"The chemistry lab here should serve, and likely have the basic reagents I'll need," Lucius said. "I already have some of the Mother's fruits, but I'll need as many spore clusters as you can find."

"No newt?" Molly grinned.

"Maybe a little, but just for flavor," Lucius replied.

Molly never could tell when he was joking. 

She understood, at least in principle, what he was doing. Knowing a thing was even possible was often the hard part. Once you knew it could be done, if you understood the principles behind it, you could recreate the process. She did the same kind of thing all the time, salvaging troubled engineering projects. At this point, it was down to detail work, trial and error, and a bit of luck.

As she searched for spore clusters... and she supposed she shouldn't be surprised by how plentiful they were in the lab, so close to the Mother... she hoped that having a witch on her side would at least help with the luck.

10:30PM

"You've done it? Tell me you've done it," Molly said when Lucius finally emerged from the lab.

"I have... something," Lucius said, uncharacteristically hesitant. 

"Something?"

"The principles are sound but honestly, Molly, I don't know if this will work," Lucius said. "I can't know without testing it."

"OK, I get that. Product testing," Molly said. "So, we test it."

"In order to test the potion, we need someone bespelled by the Mother," Lucius said. 

"It's dangerous, isn't it?" Molly sighed. "If we just give it to some random person, we could hurt them."

"Yes," Lucius replied seriously.

Molly took a deep breath. "Give it to me," she said.

"Molly..." Lucius began. 

"You've still got some of that fruit," Molly said. "I eat some, I become infected or whatever. Then we can test the potion."

"Molly," Lucius said again.

"We can't ask anyone else," Molly said. "The thralls can't consent. You can't do it because..."

"... if it doesn't work the first time, there's no one else to refine the potion," Lucius concluded.

"It's got to be me," Molly said. "I was getting hungry anyway. Give me the fruit."

"Tastes pretty good actually," Molly said, biting into the strange fruit. "Really sweet but kind of... umm... ugh..."

Her stomach cramped, even as her mouth watered, wanting more.

"It's... ugh... strange," she grunted, gulping down the last of the fruit. "Tastes... really... oh God..."

The cramps doubled her over. 

"Lucius, I think this might... oh crap... not have been... ugghhh... such a great... oh, God... idea," she panted.

"Molly," Lucius cried. 

The pain was staggering. 

"Molly!" 

At the same time, she felt lightheaded, almost disconnected from her rebelling body.

"... molly... don't... i'll..."

Everything seemed so far away...

“I AM THE MOTHER, BEHOLD MY BEAUTY. 

“I AM THE MOTHER, BEHOLD MY GLORY.

“YOU EXIST TO SERVE ME.

"I AM THE MOTHER!"

Strangerville Mystery - Ch 13 - The Mother

Classified Ministry of Defense Research Facility, Rangerville Crater, Monday, May 17, 2021, 6:45PM

 It towered over them, glowing with its own inner luminescence, vibrant with life.

The Ministry of Defense engineering corps had clearly built the massive chamber around it, carving space out of the bedrock of the crater to house and contain what they had found here. It was just as clear to Molly that all their work and ingenuity hadn't been up to the task. 

This plant, this being, this eldritch horror, was beyond them all.

"What... what is it?" Molly asked, her mouth dry.

"A creature of the Farthest Realms, at the very edge of the Outer Darkness," Lucius answered. "A Mother of Flowers." 

"That... doesn't sound so bad," Molly said hopefully.

"Oh, it's much, much worse," Lucius said brightly. "We... everyone in Rangerville... are in terrible danger. This is the worst possibility that I suspected and desperately hoped I was wrong." 

"Great," Molly chuckled nervously.

"Well, let's introduce ourselves," Lucius said, starting across the massive chamber.

"Sure... wait, what?" Molly said, following him. 

The platform had probably been built as a place to study the titanic being, to observe and take samples. Still, Molly imagined it was ideally suited for tiny creatures like her and Lucius to try to speak with this giant.

"Mother of Flowers," Lucius said formally. "Know me as Taranis Stormcaller of the Tuatha de Dannan. I would approach and speak with you."

The giant plant, ancient being, Mother of Flowers, rumbled and shuddered in response.

"You have slept long, Mother of Flowers," Lucius continued. "The war is ended and by the Treaty of Moy Tura, this Realm was ceded to the Tuatha de Dannan. Your people have withdrawn once more to the Farther Realms. I offer you safe passage, to return to your home."

"TUATHA DE DANNAN!" The Mother roared. " DIÚLTAÍM DO THAIRISCINT."

"The Formoiri and their allies were defeated, Mother of Flowers," Lucius replied. "A second time, I offer you safe passage back to your far Realm."

"IS LIOMSA AN RÉIMSE SEO." The titanic horror bellowed.

"No longer!" Lucius yelled back. "Thrice and done. Return to whence you came!"

"GHEOBHAIDH TÚ BÁS!"

"Others have tried and failed," Lucius sneered.

-------------------------

"OK, what the Hell was all that?!" Molly demanded. "Wars and treaties and tuatha de something or other? What is going on? Who are you?!" 

After Lucius's tense exchange with the Mother of Flowers, they had retreated to the Project Orchid lab.

"I am the same person you've known," Lucius answered. "Over the centuries, I've had other names, but I remain myself. As for the rest..."

"My people - the Tuatha de Dannan - come from another Realm. We were explorers once, sailing in our silver ships amid the sea of stars and crossing the Void between Realms. 

"I was little more than a youth then... what you would call a teen... though among my people I was considered an adult and a warrior. I followed my king, Nuada Silveroak, and Manannan, his sworn brother. In our travels we visited many Realms, many worlds... including this one.

"This Realm, when we came to it, was fair, and green. Some of us longed to make a home here... but others had come before us. 

"They were the Formoiri... our kin but also our rivals. They claimed this Realm for themselves and, under the rule of their cruel king, Balor of the Poisoned Eye, they had already begun to conquer and enslave your people.

"The war between us was terrible. I had left my home a youth, full of dreams of glory and honor. I found the reality of battle to be... much different than my dreams.

"In the course of our war, each side called upon allies and friends made in our travels. The pixies aided us as scouts and a messengers, and svartalf artificers forged for us dreadful weapons. The Formoiri too had allies... and among them were the Mothers of Flowers, whose sweet scent could bespell even the strongest wills and turn friend into foe.

"In the end, at the Second Battle of Moy Tura, we overcame the Formoiri and forced them to accept our terms."

"The Formoiri and their allies were made to abandon their claims to this Realm, and they retreated to the edge of the Outer Darkness, where they wait still," Lucius concluded. "This Mother is, I hope, the last of her kind here.... a survivor of that ancient war. She does not accept her defeat nor acknowledge the Treaty. She was promised rich, green fields to grow her flowers and rule, and she will take what she was promised, if she can."

"So, to sum up, you're an ancient magical warrior and she's a mind-controlling eldritch horror looking to conquer the world," Molly said. "This is, what, Elves vs Flowers, Grudge Match 2021?"

"I rather like the sound of that," Lucius chuckled.

"But you can beat her," Molly said. "You did before, right? You know what she is now. You know her Name. You can beat her."

"Perhaps," Lucius nodded. "I have an idea."

--------------

Author's Note: Translating the Mother of Flowers (via Google Translate and with apologies to native Irish speakers).

DIÚLTAÍM DO THAIRISCINT - I reject your offer.

IS LIOMSA AN RÉIMSE SEO - This field is mine.

GHEOBHAIDH TÚ BÁS! - You will die!

Strangerville Mystery - Ch 12 - Project Orchid

Classified Ministry of Defense Research Facility, Rangerville Crater, Monday, May 17, 2021, 6:10PM

"This is a remarkably uncomfortable suit," Lucius said. "Very difficult to move in."

Making the necessary adjustments to the hazmat suit filtration units had taken Molly most of the day. She'd had to call in a few favors from the fabrication team, while avoiding Bonnie of the Bounteous Bosom and Biobro Brian, both of whom had questions she wasn't prepared to answer.

Sneaking two modified hazmat suits out of the lab just couldn't be done. They were too bulky to hide, too obvious to be anything but what they were. In the end, she'd just walked out the front door with them.  Likeable Lyric hadn't objected... unless the staccato chirps she'd exchanged with Lucius had been objections. He hadn't seemed worried, so Molly let it go.

No one had objected to the two of them lugging the suits across the crater and into the secret government lab either. Molly was beginning to seriously question the Army's security precautions. Maybe they just assumed no one would be stupid enough to try to break in... which, Molly felt, showed a major lack of appreciation for human stupidity.

"Just think of it as armor, Obi-Wan," Molly replied. "These suits should protect us from the spores. I hope."

"Only one way to know for sure," Lucius smiled.

"Right. Let's do this," Molly said, taking a deep breath.

Together, they stepped into the fog filled corridor. The dense purple cloud swirled around them as they walked in silence. 

After a few paces, Molly realized she was holding her breath, waiting for something... anything... to happen. Finally, she forced herself to breathe. The air in her suit smelled of plastic and her own sweat, but thankfully not the pervasive sickly-sweet smell of the spores. 

"Armor is actually more comfortable than this," Lucuis said casually, breaking the silence. "One can do cartwheels in a well-fitted suit of plate and mail."

"Know this from first-hand experience, do you?" Molly asked, welcoming the distraction.

"Well, I've known a few knights who could do it," Lucius said.

"Whatever you say, Merlin," Molly smiled. 

"'Now, that's a name I've not heard in a long time. A long time,'" Lucius quoted in a remarkably good Ben Kenobi impression.

Molly laughed, though she wasn't entirely certain he was joking.

The corridor ended in another security door, which yielded easily to 'Major Duchovny's' keycard. Molly could see where the door was cracked and damaged by the explosion, but it opened easily enough. Beyond it, stairs descended deeper into the facility.

"Let's see how deep this goes," Molly sighed.

The long flight of stairs ended in a short corridor which opened into a lab, much like the one they had found above. In the dim light, they could see containment units holding strange plants in various stages of growth. Computer towers hummed in the silence.

"Project Orchid, I presume," Molly breathed.

"As we expected," Lucius said.

"I wonder what they were doing down here," Molly mused. "I mean, was it just research or did they have a goal..."

"In my experience, the greatest goal of an army is victory," Lucius said. "You're an intelligent woman, Molly. A scientist and engineer. Can you imagine what uses the military might have for even what little we've know of these plants so far?"

"I don't think I want to," Molly admitted.

"As I said, you're an intelligent woman," Lucius said.

"Looks like damage from the explosion," Molly said, gesturing at the cracked monitors. 

"Yes," Lucius said softly. "As we guessed, they tried to contain what they had... but the Mother had no desire to be contained any longer."

"You know, don't you?" Molly said. "You know what all this really is? The plants, the zombies, the Mother?"

"I suspect," Lucius corrected. "I have suspected for some time. I devoutly hope I am wrong."

"Whether I am or not," Lucius continued, "it is no great leap to imagine that whatever they found here, whatever has slept here for centuries uncounted, has awoken... and having awoken, has no desire to rest longer in confinement."

Another hallway stretched deeper into the facility, this one covered in vines that seemed to pulse with vibrant life. 

"I think we're getting close," Molly said. 

"Yes, I think we are," Lucius agreed.

The corridor ended in another security door, this one laced through with vines. The plants had plainly found every crack and seam in the door, growing through every gap.

Molly looked at the door and shuddered. One of her exes had told her, several times, that she had the psychic sensitively of a brick. Still, she imagined she could feel Something on the other side of the door... the looming presence of ancient malice and eldritch horror, waiting to be unleashed.

Psychic sensitivity of a brick, Molly thought, but a great imagination. Please, please, let me be imagining this.

She swiped the keycard at the door, half hoping it wouldn't work.

"Access approved, Major Duchovny," the door replied, hissing open.

"Oh. My. God." Molly gasped.

"Ah, I was right," Lucius said.

Strangerville Mystery - Ch 11 - The Bloom

Rangerville Trailer Park, Sunday, May 16, 2021, 7:40PM

The drive back from the crater had been quiet. Molly's mind was already racing ahead, thinking about what she would need to turn the various parts left on her workbench into a working version of the scanner. Lucius, for his part, sat in silence, looking out the window at the desert sky.

Pulling into the trailer park lot, Molly had every intention of simply dropping Lucius off and heading straight over to the lab, but something in Lucius's silence drew her attention. Without a word, he stepped from the car and walked across the trailer park, his eyes still fixed on the sky. Turning to follow his gaze, Molly gasped softly and followed him.

A tower of clouds rose over the distant crater, swirling slowly like a gathering storm. The very sky itself was different, eerie and strange. Molly realized she could still smell the sickly-sweet scent that had filled the air of the secret lab. It was fainter now, but it was everywhere. 

"What... what is that?" Molly breathed softly, almost to herself.

"The Mother," Lucius answered. "She is reaching out now. Her power rides on the wind."

"Crap," Molly groaned. "Did we do this? Lucius? We did this, didn't we? When we opened the door... did we let this out?"

"Yes," Lucius said simply. "I believe we did."

"I was really hoping you'd say no," Molly sighed.

"It would have happened with us or without us," Lucius said. "It's what we do now that matters."

"Right." Molly took a deep breath, tasting the sickly-sweet air. "Right. Let's get to work."

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FutureTech Labs, Sunday, May 16, 2021, 8:00PM

"Lyric, don't you ever go home?" Molly asked the receptionist. Also, who names their kid Lyric, she wondered not for the first time.

"I pulled swing swift," Likable Lyric smiled winningly. "What brings you in, Dr Prescott?"

"Rush job," Molly said. "Need another working sensor prototype for testing right away, so I thought I'd just come in and get it done."

It wasn't technically a lie, Molly thought. She just hadn't said who needed the sensor, or why. 

Likable Lyric wouldn't argue with the senior project engineer taking the finished module out. It wasn't like Molly Prescott, FutureTech's top troubleshooter, was going to steal company property... or, you know, use it to personally try to stop an outbreak of extra-dimensional plant zombies.

It's like high school all over again, Molly sighed.

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Western Desert, Sunday, May 16, 2021, 9:00PM

Under eerie skies, the desert around Rangerville was blooming. The strange plants which had appeared a few weeks ago had suddenly blossomed, growing larger and pulsing with an inner luminescence that seemed to echo the uncanny sky. 

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Rangerville Trailer Park, Monday, May 17, 2021, 6:50AM

"You make your own granola, don't you?" Molly asked. 

She was trying very hard not to think about what was going on in the world, and food had always been a great distraction. A little too great sometimes, she thought. 

"Hmmm?" Lucius remained focused on his book. "Oh, yes... something I picked up from some nice folks who lived in Old New Henford a little while ago. Flower people," he chuckled. "Though they weren't actually. Flowers, I mean. I knew an actual flower woman, once, long ago. Blodeuwedd. Poor woman. Turned into an owl."

"Right," Molly said, bemused. "Anyway... I'm going to take our shiny new scanner out and see if I can get us some useful data on these strange plants. Not that I'm sure what to do with it once I get it."

"Never fear," Lucius said. "I have some ideas."

He has some ideas, Molly thought. The man who learned to make granola from hippies, talks about flower-owl-women and might possibly have shared a beer with the actual Thor has some ideas. This will be good.

At least the scanner works. 

What on earth is this?

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FutureTech Labs, Monday, May 17, 2021, 9:20AM

"Good morning, Dr Prescott," Likable Lyric greeted her brightly. 

Really, does this woman ever go home? Maybe she just lives in the breakroom.

"Your guest will have to sign in," Likable Lyric added.

"Of course," Molly smiled. "This is... Dr. Tempest. He's assisting me with analyzing some data from the sensors."

Lucius said something in a rapid, staccato language that caused Likable Lyric to blink, startled, and respond in a burst of the same chirping tone. 

"Of course," a flustered Likable Lyric said. "Just sign here."

"What was that about?" Molly asked.

"Nothing important," Lucius smiled. "She's a nice young person, doing her job. She won't disturb us."

"You know something I don't," Molly said.

"Molly, I know a great deal that you don't," Lucius smiled, "but, of course, as an engineer you know a great deal that I don't. I can barely figure out my phone."

"... and yet, you know how to use a chemical analyzer?" Molly said.

"Well, as it happens, yes," Lucius said. "I've worked with an older model some years ago."

"So, how is it an ancient warlock knows how to use a chemical analyzer?" Molly asked.

"Please," Lucius bristled. "I am a witch."

"Sorry, is warlock offensive or something?" Molly blinked.

"Yes. Extremely," Lucius said. "It means 'oathbreaker,' and there are few greater insults you could offer me."

"Oh... sorry," Molly winced. "I didn't know."

"Which is why you remain un-cursed," Lucius said a gentle smile. "As to your actual question, chemistry is essentially just alchemy with less newt... and I am a very good alchemist. Now, let's see what these samples can tell us."

She'd found them out in the desert, near the strange plants. Lucius had called them 'spore clusters' and believed they were an early stage in the plant's life cycle. He'd insisted they collect as many as they could find that morning.

Molly watched Lucius work with mingled fascination and frustration. She understood the machine he was using. She could probably break it down, tune it up and rebuild it, but she couldn't make sense of what it was telling him. 

So, she watched the ancient being who didn't own a TV and could barely use his phone working the machine like a professional, all the while muttering to himself in a musical language she didn't understand.

"Dyna. There you are," Lucius said at last. "I do believe this is what you needed."

"I do believe you're right," Molly smiled. "Go alchemy. I'll get to work on the hazmat filters."