Part 21: XXI - Elizabethan Rendezvous

We're going to scout out the Elizabeth Dane, see what's up with this 'Ankaran Sarcophagus'. Jack filled us in where LaCroix kept us in the dark. The Ankaran Sarcophagus supposedly has an ancient Vampire sleeping inside of it, an Antidelvuian, possibly. Vampire mythology says that if he awakes, he'll be looking to devour all of his progeny. We're supposed to do a scouting report on the sarcophagus for LaCroix -- funny how he didn't let us in on the fact that it might house the deaths of so many vampires.



To get there, we'll be heading back to Santa Monica, since it's near the coastline.

Drive.



While we're there we'll catch up with some of our old acquaintances. Only two of them, though, because most of them don't have anything new to say. Both Bertram Tung and his ghoul, Knox, fall under the later category. We will first be heading back to the the Asylum, not to talk to Knox, but to talk to somebody who we left in a different state than when we met them.



I am talking about Therese and Jeanette.





How are you two getting along?

We're bridging -

- valleys. But I still can't persuade her to -

- wear eye shadow, and you won't.

It's kind of neat, but kind of annoying that they talk like this. I'm both glad and disappointed that there's nothing more to say.

Good to hear. Goodbye.

Our second stop is to see how the man on the couch is doing.



Wha- Mercurio's gone! Where could he have went?



Oh, he was waiting for us on the beach.



What are you doing out here, Mercurio?

I just wanted to make sure you knew my appreciation. And like I said before, someone needs somethin', I can get it. This boat, for example.

He's speaking about a little motorized raft behind him, in the water. He probably would have had to do the same thing even if we sold him out -- LaCroix's orders.

Last time we saw Mercurio, he was still all bloody on his couch.

You look like you're feeling better.

I tell you, that blood you guys got's an amazing thing. Helped close up a few wounds. This back-alley patch fixed up the rest. I needed that beating - good reminder not to overestimate my ability. Last time it's gonna happen.

I might need some equipment for this little trip.



Mercurio actually doesn't have anything worth buying right now. He has a knife and some ammunition. But this is Mercurio we're speaking to, and he's all about information. We've already heard some of what he has to say, but now there's a lot more.

Uh-huh. I need some info. Tell me about Prince LaCroix.

Only seen him a few times. Way I understand it, the guy's untouchable. And I've never seen him without his muscle, that sheriff. Just so you understand, my loyalties are all but written in blood, so my opinion of the guy is moot.

Always the ghoul, Mercurio's first priority is getting his fix.

Tell me about The Sabbat.

Your typical, bloodthirsty movie-villain variety vampire. A few years back, I was on bodyguard duty for one of the old boys. Me, a couple o' ghouls, and some young vampire types like you. The Sabbat hit us, tried to pull a dine and dash. Just two of us walked away, and one was the elder.

The other was Mercury, the fleet-footed messenger.

Tell me about Downtown LA.

Downtown's a mess, always has been. I get called down there sometimes. Nines' people, LaCroix's people, lot of tension in the air. Lot of drugs and a lot of crime. Sometimes I offload extra inventory, but I avoid downtown when I can.

Tell me about Santa Monica.

Santa Monica's quiet mostly. That is, till you came to town. Not a lot of operators or police here, which is why I like it. Not a beach person personally, but there are some beautiful sunsets. Guess you wouldn't be interested in that, though, would ya.

Probably not.

I had some questions about weapons.

This is what Mercurio meant when he said he could help us out.



We know what to start with.

A tactical nuke.

Only a lunatic'd want that kind of ordnance. That's why they got 'em in Washington.

What about a flamethrower?

Oh, yeah, I get a lot of requests for those. I blame the movies. Everybody thinks they're a riot till they set their friends on fire. They're not very easy to get a hold of. I got a Vegas connection for those. Last time I was out there, I had to shoot my way to the state line.

Give me some info on a combat shotgun.

What you want is a SPAS-15. I've got a connection for those, but I haven't seen him in a while. Think he's in Mexico. Soon as he gets back, I'll have a few of 'em. Puttin' together a Dragon's Breath too. Sawed-off, spits WP rounds. Few nights work.

Tell me about sniper rifles.

Not easy, even in this country. Military grade sniper rifle with .50 caliber ammo can take a man apart at quite a distance. Makes the Secret Service nervous. I can, however, get my hands on a SWAT rifle. Gimme some time.

I'll come back when you've got one, thanks. Goodbye.



No more stalling this Elizabethan Rendezvous. Just hop on the raft, and we're taken there.





The Elizabeth Dane is a big ship. Remember what we're here for:




There's a smaller ship a little ways away, probably to get the cops here and back to shore, since we already know the ship is under investigation.

You saw earlier that the folks on the Elizabeth Dane were kind enough to leave a rope ladder for us to climb up on. We'll take it up.



There's a cop standing near the railing, apparently waiting for whoever climbed the latter. He beckons us over, calling us "pally". He's supposed to call us "Lady", but then the plus patch happened.



That explains the latter. It's best to play along.

[Persuade] He didn't tell me this was a formal affair.

Geez. What kind of Woodstein don't think to at least show dressed up like an investigator... a coast guard guy... somethin'?!? Didn't you ever see Fletch? What are they just handin' out those diplomas nowadays?

We have to convince him that we're who we say we are, or else the cat will be out of the bag. But how we do this doesn't have to be about the issue...

[Seduction] My clothes shouldn't be an issue. They do come off, you know.



Fine. I'll be civil... for the sake of the story.

Alright, look, I got you a copy of the initial report, and I can get you in to the cabin, but you gotta make yourself real scarce after that. Anybody catches you, I don't know you. And no goddamn flash photography, brainchild.

Where do I go?



He doesn't actually hold up a walkie-talkie. He also gave us the police report:


Now we only need the cargo manifest and to inspect the sarcophagus.

Got it.

Head down the stairs behind you and stay low. When you get down there, wait for me to call off the guy guarding Gangway A. As soon as he leaves, get your ass moving, and DON'T let him see you. I'll give you a couple minutes but don't dilly-dally. In and out, 'k?

Yeah yeah yeah.

Understood.



Now get a move on - and don't forget to tell Jacobson I get double my usual fee for this one.

Okay.

We'll head down and let the cop do his business.



Anderson goes to check out the fake whale, and we'll head further down into the ship.



There's blood on the floor! What could have happened here?



Past a locked door, we find the ship manifest:




Upstairs, we find a computer terminal:



From top to bottom, the reports are first. There are two of them: weather and status.

weather posted:

Location: 33.98N, 118.60W
Seas: CALM
Air Temp: 65F
Sea Temp: 43F

status posted:

Engines: OFF
Deck Cams: OFF
Locks: LOCKED

Deck cams? It might be possible that we can see the sarcophagus from here. Let's check -- into log. The password is lighthouse.



The only important thing for us is to turn the deck cams on. So we will.





Flipping through the cameras, we see... something. This is actually the sarcophagus. Can you see what happened? Probably not, so I'll tell you: There is blood all over the floor. It looks like it was opened.

There is a way to see it up close, but that involves sneaking past a bunch of cops on alert. It's not easy to do. If we did, we'd see this:


But we don't have to do that.



I'm putting a dot into Computer to be able to hack into the log section on the computer.



The password was AntonioBay.

10.10.04 posted:

Waters calm as we head out of Istanbul. Professor Johansen seemed very worried about the safety of the sarcophagus and various other artifacts from his dig, but I assured him that all was well.

Who's this 'Professor Johansen'?

10.14.04 posted:

Rough waters last evening. Operations normal, but the crew seems restless. One of the Turks has been telling them ghost stories. I had Lt. Stygian take him aside and speak with him.

10.15.04 posted:

Nothing to report. Situation normal.

10.17.04 posted:

Two of the crew have gone missing, and I fear they may have fallen overboard sometime during the night. No trace of either. Lt. Stygian has tried to contact their families, but something seems to have gone wrong with the radio.

We may have a saboteur on board. . . the crate holding the sacrophagus seems to have been opened.

10.19.04 posted:

We have found blood on the upper and lower decks, and it seems that at least three more of the crew are missing. The men are hysterical. I found the TUrk in his cabin, curled up into a ball, muttering something indecipherable to himself. Lt. Stygian is one of the missing crew, as well as the radio technician.

One of the men had a short wave radio, but all calls for help have gone unanswered.

10.20.04 posted:

I leave this ship to whoever may find it. THIS SHIP IS CURSED. May it sink to the crushing depths of Davy Jones' Locker before therhbnkhjljsdlkajkl

This is getting scary. Let's leave.



LaCroix should be satisfied with what we've gathered.



Mercurio is no longer on the beach, meaning he probably went back to his apartment. We're not going to go see him, though, we're just going to head straight back to Downtown.



Okay, let's go.



As soon as we step out of the cab, we see a familiar face...



It's that girl from the clinic, the one we ghouled!



I want to... help you. I owe you my life and... I feel like I need to repay you. Oh, I almost forgot - I'm Heather, Heather Poe. I'm not weirding you out or anything, am I?

It's the blood. That's why she feels like she does. She doesn't even know what's happening. We could turn her away now, have her go back to her normal life, but... how interesting is that?

That's hard to do these nights. You look much better. I'm glad.

Only because of you - what you did for me.



Of course. Heather, I would love for you to stay with me.

Really?!? I promise you won't regret it! Promise! I'll get you money, I'll get you things... everything! I want to be... important to you.

This feels... wrong.

Wait for me at my place. I can't have you following me around, it's dangerous.



She's talking about our place in Santa Monica. We probably won't be in the area very much. Maybe we should find somewhere to live here in Downtown.

My dear Heather, what did I ever do without you. I'll see you later.

She walks away, and we head into LaCroix's tower.




Uh.. time to change the subject.

How's the job, security man?

Ah, you know, I'm keeping the undesirables out, and the innocent safe and secure. I'm the thin blue line that separates the crazies from the hardworking decent folks. Yup, long as I'm around, Mr. LaCroix's got nothing to worry about.

Sure, Chunk. Sure.

Up to the penthouse...



What's going on?



I've said all I need to, for now.



The four Vampires, including Strauss, exit the room.



What could that have been about? Find out next time.