Weird Science.v1 (Leslie, Mike K, Holly, Rezin)

Weird Science.v1 (Leslie, Mike K, Holly, Rezin)

Cat Scratch Fever (1977 Ted Nugent): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I47floRRAFs

Friday, Dec 19, 1986: The last school day before Christmas break and the year’s new Science teacher (Mr. Doldrum) offered a Science Club, “Think about it over the break. I’ll have a signup sheet when school starts next year.” Kind of a weird teacher, but he knew his subject material. He actually brought his tabby cat (Tim) to class one day to demonstrate reflexes.

Monday, January 5, 1987:

Gylin, 13yo Weirdo (Rezin): after the long winter break, he was excited to get back to school to see his friends and talk about the black rock he and his other friends found. Too bad he had to return it else Frank's parents would have gotten in trouble at the Loop. That's when his parents called, "Gylin! Come get your cat out of our office." Sedrik had made a mess, tracking mud all over their Loop paperwork. Dad was collecting the scattered papers and putting them back in his folder. "How many times..." Actually, this was only the 2nd... something strange for Sedrik. Like his sudden bolt out the front door as Gylin left for school. Making Gylin late for school, missing 1st hour class, "Sorry principal, my cat is still missing."

Johnny Fire, 14yo Rocker (Mike K): had spent most of the Christmas break helping his parents at the bookstore. Someday, they would hand it over to him. Last night he practiced strumming a few new guitar rips he found in the Rolling Stones Magazine. He couldn't wait to play them in front of his friends.

Lisa, 14yo Bookworm (Leslie): had breakfast already made and waiting for her family before they went their separate ways. "Mom, I sure miss my old science teacher. This Mr. Doldrum is weird but is offering a science club." Mom understood, "Give him a chance. The club might look good on your resume."

Stacy, 13yo Popular Kid (Holly): added pictures and memorabilia to her scrapbook to document the family Christmas vacation to California to visit her grandparents. Sunday was a fun-filled day as she played her new VCR "Clue" mystery game with her brother Eric. Now Monday breakfast was another good start to the day with bacon/eggs/toast. And of course, Eric's favorite chocolate pop tarts. Dad had already left for work. Mom encouraged her to join the offered science club. As she donned her yellow windbreaker and jumped on her bike, she heard Sally (her puppy) barking in the backyard. [Investigate] almost a dozen cats walked past the other side of the fence.

School: On the blackboard, they read the new name.  Mr. Nettles introduced himself, "I'm your substitute while Mr. Doldrum is away." From his confusion and lack of knowledge, their best guess was he was a PE teacher. Lisa told him what subject they had been studying. "What about the sign-up for Mr. Doldrum’s science club?" Nettles had no idea, "Not my gig. You'll have to take it up with him if/when he ever returns.”

The hallway and breaks were filled with speculations: Doldrum had a gambling problem and is in the Vegas jail, he ran off with the English teacher, he got an offer out of state for a better paying school.

But Stacy was more interested in other conversations. "I swear I saw a feral looking man in my neighborhood. Reminds me of the tale of Old Tim, the bestial changeling." Behind her, she heard another commotion: Ben Sanders confronted Janine, "Kapow, Saapaw. Whatever. Your dang cat was inside my house walking across my parents' office desk making a mess. Luck for you he jumped out the window before I could... Ouch!" Janine kicked him in the shin, "You wouldn't dare!"

Gylin used lunch recess to go to the library to use the mimeograph machine to make multiple flyers about his missing cat. Lisa helped him out. Despite the cold January weather, Stacy joined other students brave enough to venture outside for basketball.

After school, all helped Gylin put up his flyers around town. Lisa suggested, "I bet we could get Ellen (17yo clerk at the Dream Shop Video Store) to put some up there and even mention him to her customers."

As they rounded the corner, they came upon Old Tim himself! A feral man surrounded by almost 30 cats. Lisa blurted, "Mr. Doldrum?!" Gylin blurted, "Sedrik!" Old Tim took off running with half the pack of cats following. "Did you see his vertical pupils, like a cat?!" Stacy tried to help by reaching for Sedrik but got scratched for her efforts as Sedrik took off. The other cats blocked the way as Gylin tried to chase after Sedrik. He too got scratched but at least made it past to chase after Sedrik.

It was 10 minutes before the other cats turned and ran off. Lisa used her walkie-talkie to ask for directions as Gylin reported, "Old Tim went east but I'm following Sedrik." They joined up with him at a 2- story house. Lisa checked the mailbox, "It’s Mr. Doldrum’s house!" And that's when Sedrik entered the built-in cat door.

Gylin found the spare key under the yard gnome and opened the door. Stacy gasped, "That's breaking and entering!" She stepped forward to call out, "Mr. Doldrum? We're here to sign up for your club." Only Gylin entered as the others stayed outside on police guard.

Sedrik lay on the couch with another dozen cats. Another dozen cats were lined up, going up the stairs. More cats came into the Livingroom from a back room. Gylin baby talked to Sedrik, "Come on boy, let's go home." He cradled him in his arms and almost made it to the front door before Sedrik jumped to then settle on the couch.

All these cats but no toys. Gylin searched for a possible cat carrier. In the back-room kitchen, he found another cat door. An automatic cat food dispenser churned but was empty. A hose dangling from the side of the refrigerator gurgled air into a bowl... the milk had already run dry and spoiled.

Gylin checked in with the others, "Sedrik won't leave. I'm searching upstairs for a cat carrier." He noticed keys dangling from a hook as he carefully climbed the stairs while avoiding the cats lined up in procession.

Gylin was about to check the upstairs room where the cats entered another cat door, when he became distracted by a faint beeping to his left. He entered the master bedroom and soon found the nightstand alarm clock the culprit of the beeping. Its battery was obviously dying. He looked under the bed for a pet carrier and instead found boxes of dot-matrix printouts with the Loop emblem printed on them. A quick glance proved them to be secret research papers. He called the other kids to report his findings.

Stacy entered, "The sooner we can figure out what's going on, the sooner we can get out of here." As she neared the bedroom, she heard more electrical noise behind the door at the end of the hall where the cats lined up. She called the others, "Whatever is behind the door sounds like more of your skillset. I'm come back to stand guard while you guys come up. Gylin says there are keys hanging on a peg that might fit this door.”

Lisa was careful to use napkins to not leave prints as she and Johnny climbed the stairs. They passed Gylin carrying an empty cardboard box, "My cat carrier. You'll find Loop paperwork in the bedroom. Good luck with whatever is behind door #2." Sedrik wasn't happy being shoved in a box.

Lisa and Johnny entered the room and found the line of cats waiting their turn to enter a pet carrier with its back also cut open. Wires connected the carrier to a computer. Lisa followed more wires from the computer that led through a window and attached to a large antenna attached to the back side of the house.

A dot-matrix printer churned out print that began with the name "Felix", followed by a Loop program name, followed by detailed restricted info. As Lisa mouthed the name "Felix", the cat in the carrier responded. Johnny understood, "It's an actual cat-scanner! Somehow Mr. Doldrum has control of the cats that invade the homes of Loop personnel. He’s downloading whatever they see."

As Lisa investigated deeper into the computer files, Johnny studied a map on the wall. Yellow or blue pushpins dotted the Boulder City map, "These must mark where the cats have visited." A single red pin further east puzzled him, "What's out there?" Lisa was on her own trail, "There's high-speed communication programming that is sending the file info someplace east called the 'Sphere'." Stacy interrupted their search, "Are you done yet? I'm getting concerned police might arrive any minute."

As they reconvened outside, Gylin was ready to involve his parents. The others objected, "You can't be serious. How would we explain our involvement? Besides, adults are bumbling fools. We need to get more evidence of just what is going on. Doldrum could be hired by the Loop to spy on their employees." Gylin pointed out Doldrum’s feral appearance, "You don't suppose he's an actual Xman mutant do you?!" It was already late, near supper time. "Mom's going to wonder why I'm late after the first day back at school. Let's pick this up tomorrow."

Tuesday: school still buzzed with rumors of Old-Tim sightings. Kids flashed their rusty nails, "I already etched my name on the church wall." Gylin reported Sedrik was none too happy being locked in his cat carrier at home. "The sooner we solve this, the sooner he can be free and himself again." During lunch, Lisa spread out a city map, “I took a picture of that pin map in his house. Cross-referencing the red pin area, it looks to be along this highway, near this overpass." Stacy mused, “I wonder if he is using high-frequency sounds to control the cats?” In Mr. Nettles’ class, Lisa offered to stay after school to feed all the science pets (bird, lizard, snake). Actually, she used the opportunity to search for Duldrum’s briefcase that might hold clues. It wasn’t there.

It was a 45-minute bike ride east along the old road till they came to a suspect overpass. “Look at that electrical box near the guardrails with its antennae. That doesn’t look like any DOT (Department of Transportation) equipment.” They followed wires that led down the slope to the crossroad beneath, where they found an old, abandoned sphere. 

“That has to be it! Look at the antennas on it and listen to the humming.” Gylin led the way with his flashlight as they climbed up the open hatch to peer inside the dark interior. His light shone on the back of a barber chair where a man sat with a large helmet over his head. Wires connected the helmet to a bank of computers that lined the back wall.

Gylin snuck in and was halfway near the chair when Stacy called out, “Hello, Mr. Doldrum?” A feral man spun the chair to face them. A cat (Tim that Mr. Doldrum had experimented on in class) jumped from his lap as he stood, “What are you kids doing here?!” Already half expecting it, the kids were not shocked by the sight. But they did jump when Doldrum changed into a cat and quickly scampered out the hatch! Gylin stared at poor Tim (the tabby cat) who lay unconscious on the floor. “Doldrum’s transformation must rob Tim of his own senses.”

CLIMAX/SHOWDOWN [Threat Level 12 = 4 kids times difficulty 3]

As they explored the sphere, they tried to formulate a plan. There was talk of destroying the equipment here and at his house. Lisa suggested a trap out at Pierson’s Salvage, “I could take a picture of his cat and leave a note here saying, ‘if you want your cat, meet us at Pierson’s.” Stacy took the lead [Lead roll 3: 6 pool die], “No, we shouldn’t turn off the equipment or destroy it. That might not release the cats from his power. We need to somehow get Doldrum to come back here, capture him, and convince him to release the cats. No Gylin, we can’t get the authorities involved till we have the full picture of what he’s done and why.” Some offered to return to Duldrum’s house to collect evidence there. Stacy adjusted the plan, “Capture him first, make him fix things, then we can secure the evidence."

Johnny inspected the helmet, “There are scorch marks inside about ear level. Did you see the burned bald spots on his head above each ear? I think this machine shorted while he was wearing it.”

[Program 2 + Pride 1] Lisa sat at the computer terminal and scanned through the files, “I think I can figure out a way to deprogram him.”

[Charm 1, + 2 Lead die 0, + Luck 2] Gylin gently cradled poor limp Tim in his arms, “Perhaps he’ll be more receptive if we show that we mean no harm. We also have cat food Lisa brought.” [another +1 auto-success]

[Charm 2] Johnny used his boombox to record the cats that meandered inside the sphere. He mixed in his mimic of a cat screeching, “Maybe thus will help lure him back.”

With everything in place, they hid behind the computer screens and desk, hoping for the feral man to return. It was another hour before a dozen cats entered the sphere and the shadow of the man appeared in the open hatch. As soon as he stepped in far enough…

[Empathy 0, + Luck 4, + Pride 1] Gylin stepped forth with Tim in his arms, “We’ve kept him safe and have food for him.”

[Move 1, + Luck 1] Lisa jumped out and quickly secured the hatch shut behind Doldrum.

[Force 0, +Luck 0, +3 Pool die 3, + Pride 1] Johnny leapt out and tackled Doldrum, pinning him to the floor.

[[Force 2] With spare wire substituting as rope, Stacy emerged to tie him up as she reasoned to him, “You’ve been hurt. We are just trying to help you.”

[22 successes…a bit of an overkill.  I shouldn’t have given Gylin that extra Empathy roll (5) to convince Duldrum. $>)]

EPILOGUE

The kids lifted him into the chair and placed the helmet over his head then place Tim in his lap. Lisa sat at the computer keyboard and ran her reverse programming. Lights blinked as energy ran along the wire connecting the computer to the helmet. Doldrum shivered as a transformation occurred. His feral eyes and teeth and fingernails returned to human form. When they lifted the helmet, his cat ears were gone. And good old tabby cat Tim awoke.

Still in a daze, Doldrum unconsciously admitted, “I think I have enough data to skip town and fly to the Caribbean Islands like I planned. I’ll need to return to my house to get the cash and tickets hidden away.”

FADEAWAY (everything back to normal)

Stacy: The following weekend included a sleepover for all to play her new VCR game. She and Eric teamed up as Mrs. Scarlet. Mom and dad treated them all to movie night and popcorn. It was a great night for Eric as he joined in with the older kids’ cackles and laughter.

Johnny: kicked Doldrum in the shin before leaving, “I used to respect you.” He was moody around the bookstore those first few hours till he refocused on his music and searched for more guitar rips to learn.

Lisa: before leaving the sphere, she destroyed the helmet, “There’s enough other evidence to convict you.” When she got home later that day, after visiting Doldrum’s house with Gylin, she advised mom, “Yeah, my new science teacher is a bust. I’ll have to find other sources to beef up my college resume.”

Gylin: while Lisa destroyed some of the computer equipment in Doldrum’s house, Gylin searched for the hidden cash, “He said it was with plane tickets too.” Gylin had visions of his own beach lounging someday. He removed a floor rug and found the loose board just as they both heard the approaching police sirens. Lisa warned, “Cheese it, the fuzz!” Gylin was torn between a few more minute to pry the board loose or get caught. He opted to have daily visits with his poor cat Sedrik waiting at home.

Days later, the Thursday paper headline spilled the news about the arrest of a local espionage spy. No names were given as source, but they did mention an anonymous phone call to a Loop number. A wry grin creased Lisa’s face. 

BACKGROUND

Original title: The King of Cats (A MIXTAPE MYSTERY FROM THE LANCASHIRE LOOP)

Gerry Doldrum is another unappreciated Loop scientist who was ready to cash out and retire to a sunny beach. Until his latest invention offered financial rewards via corporate espionage (the unlawful acquisition of intellectual property, ideas and formulas) to further his financial cause. For the past month, Gerry has employed a unique method of espionage: spying on the Loop scientists via unassuming cats. He draws cats to his house to then gain control of their vision via his device. After they’ve gathered the data, they return to his Sphere to download the visual data. He has almost collected enough data to offer to the highest bidder in hopes of retiring to an island life. Enough money to buy the island!

Unfortunately, Gerry Doldrum may have used up all his nine lives. While adjusting his machine to download data from one of his cats, the machine shorted and switched brains with the nearest cat. His body lays unconscious in the Sphere.

The King of Cats, also known as Tybalt or Old Tim or Tom Tildrum, is a bestial changeling.

Children in the neighborhood tell tales of the monster cat that will eat you up if he finds you; your only hope of survival to run to the nearest church and scratch your initials on the wall with an old nail. The wisest of the local kids carry a nail in their pockets as a good luck charm, but a few still go missing every month. Of course, children go missing in places like this for many different reasons — parental abductions, runaways, and indiscriminate gang violence are rampant. The high incidence of missing children probably isn’t all the work of the King of Cats. Probably.

Every city has them: feral cats roam the streets and back alleys, their presence a ubiquitous part of the background tapestry of city life. In the United States alone, between 20 and 40 million “domestic” cats eke out what existence they can, distant memories of divinity lurking in their feline hearts. Few people even notice their presence, and fewer still remember them after their paths cross. But the cats are there, and they have their king.

He prowls the back alleys and slums of the city, sometimes in the form of a large feral tabby, other times in the form of a ragged, wild-eyed homeless man, but always with his train of faithful feline retainers (a dozen to upwards of 30).