Disclaimers
All characters appearing in Gargoyles and Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles are copyright Buena Vista Television/The Walt Disney Company. No infringement of these copyrights is intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holder. All original characters are the property of Celgress.
All characters appearing in Teenage Mutant 1987 series copyright by Murakami Wolf Swenson, Inc. No infringement of these copyrights is intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holder.
All original characters, such as Ulysses Quintone, are the property of Celgress.
TMNT/Gargoyles Season One Beginnings Episode One Awakening
Chapter One
by
Celgress
Slowly consciousness began to return to the gargoyle known as Goliath. After an eon of nothingness the first subtle stirrings of internal change were almost imperceptive. Within moments however these ripples of renewed perception had built one upon the other into a roaring storm of self-awareness. With a mighty roar Goliath broke free of the stone shell that had imprisoned him for over a millennium, followed in rapid succession by his four comrades and their beast.
The five bewildered gargoyles surveyed their surroundings. They were obviously standing amongst the towers of their ancestral home Castle Wyvern. Goliath slowly remembered the conditions of the Magus' spell, as the trio of younger gargoyles chatted excitedly nearby.
"How can this be?" Goliath thought to himself. "We were to remain in stone sleep 'until the Castel rose above the clouds'. How could such a condition ever be met?" Goliath's musings were broken by the voice of his mentor, the former leader of the clan.
"Aye my boy it is good to see ye again." said the former clan leader joylessly, firmly grasping Goliath's arm.
"It is good to be seen my friend." replied Goliath, squeezing his mentor's arm firmly. Releasing his grip while turning to the address the others, Goliath continued with a smile. "No matter what may happen from this point forward the important thing is that we are awake once more, and we are together."
The young trio and the beast all showed their agreement enthusiastically. The Gargoyles continued chatting back and forth for a few more moments. Suddenly they heard several soft footsteps and a loud clapping off to their left which made them whirl around to face their apparent company.
"Bravo on that rather simple yet eloquent little resurrection speech Goliath, is it Goliath isn't it?" asked a black haired man in a dark blue business suit. Standing to the man's right was another man with short brown hair wearing a gray pinstriped suit.
"Who are the two of you?" demanded Goliath, his eyes briefly flashing white. The other Gargoyles taking up tense positions around their leader, unsure of the new arrivals are friend or foe.
"Oh how rude of us. We forgot to introduce ourselves. I am Date Masamune, CEO and co-owner of Techno Cosmic Research Institute or TCRI for short. This", continued Date Masamune, gesturing towards the other man "is my chief attorney Ulysses Quintone." upon his introduction Ulysses Quintone gave a curt bow. "This will no doubt come as a great shock, but a thousand years have passed since the wizard known as the Magus caste his spell upon you."
"What, a thousand years!" roared Goliath in shock.
"I'm afraid so Goliath." continued Date Masamune without missing a beat.
"Aye if so long a time has indeed passed laddie. Than who might ye be? Are ye the descendants of Princess Katherine's court or perhaps of her Uncle's?" asked the Former Leader.
"No, we have no connection with anyone you once knew." said Ulysses Quintone, speaking for the first time.
"Than what are ye doin' here at the Castle? Has it changed hands in a battle? Does it new clan of human hold sway over Wyvern now?" wondered the Former Leader.
"Not exactly I learned about your cruel fate by reading a story added to a book which came into my possession last year. I'm all but certain you must be familiar with, the Grimorum Arcanorum?" replied Date Masamune.
The Gargoyles gasped at the mention of the ancient tome, though none said so much as a word. All their attention was now riveted upon the two strangers. Goliath nodded for Date Masamune to continue the story.
"The Magus felt terrible about what he had done." continued Date Masamune. "He left behind the story hoping that someday, somehow, someone would be able to break the sleep. Upon reading the story several time myself, and my partner, decided to give it a try. We found you Castle and had it taken apart, stone by stone..."
"You did what?" interrupted Goliath, his face contoured in shock.
"We disassembled Castle Wyvern in Scotland then reassembled it here in Manhattan Island atop our TCRI headquarters tower. Placing the Castle, along with your sleeping forms, atop our tower fulfilled the condition of the Magus' spell that you would sleep 'until the Castle rose above the clouds'." finished Date Masamune, flashing the Gargoyles his best million dollar smile.
A thought suddenly entered the swirling, confused mind of Goliath. It was something nearly forgotten in the melee of near impossible news and conflicting emotions that now assaulted the Gargoyle Leader's psyche, now it urgently cried out for attention. "Our Clan's children, the eggs I entrusted to the care of Magus whose account of our tragedy you read, do you know what became of them?"
"Sadly, we do not." answered Ulysses Quintone, with a sigh.
"You must understand." continued Date Masamune. "If we could have located any other living gargoyles we would have brought them here as well. That would have included any descendants of your original Clan. The Magus, oddly enough, made no mention of your eggs in his account of the tragedy. We can only assume that some accident of fate befall them before they could hatch. You may very well be the last of your kind. I am so sorry."
"Then we truly are alone." intoned Goliath, his voices resonating with deep sadness as his gaze passed over his fellow gargoyles.
"I know this may not make you feel better right now but you gargoyles are protectors by nature, are you not?" inquired Date Masamune.
"Yes we are." answered Goliath slowly.
"That is good because we need protecting." said Date Masamune.
"May I ask from who or what." asked Goliath.
"There will be time for that later. Right now you should get use to your new surroundings. Explore the changes we have made in the Castle, see the building below, and perhaps even explore the city beyond. Though concerning exploration of the city be forewarned the citizens due not always taken kindly to those who are different such as yourselves." said Date Masamune.
"And why exactly is that?" asked Goliath, before his voice was drowned out by the roar of a high powered jet engine. The gathered figures turned in unison towards the source of the deafening nose. An explosion, caused by a thrown green shelled grenade, set the humans and gargoyles alike flying through the air.
"Damnit!", cursed Date Masamune, slowly struggling to his feet. "The Turtles are attacking the Castle again."
"We must take cover sir. There is one telling how much damage they may cause this time." stated a worried Ulysses Quintone, now also back on his feet.
"No!", stated Date Masamune firmly. "I will not run again. These green miscreants will no longer intimidate me if they want me gone this time, than they have to kill me!"
Out of the smoke and flames advanced for masked figures. As the figures grew closers Goliath, and the other Gargoyles, could see they were some type of reptiles no wait they were some sort of large turtles just like the two humans said. The Turtle wearing the blue mask around his eyes then spoke, pointing a draw sword towards Date Masamune.
"It is over for you Masamune, I should I say Shredder. Your games end here tonight. There can only be one power in this city, and that power is us the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Go Green Machine" At this the other three Turtles each pulled out a different weapon, and advanced towards the humans. Goliath quickly placed himself directly between the charging Turtles and the seemingly helpless humans.
"I do not know what your issue with these humans are, or what exactly you want here. I however cannot allow you to harm anyone who is defenseless. Plus reconsider your actions, before you are brought into conflict with me and my Clan."
By way of reply the red masked Turtle said the following. "Get bent Ugly." And jumped towards Goliath his short bladed weapons slashing into the large Gargoyle's hide.
With a collective roar the other four Gargoyles and the beast joined into a general brawl with the four Turtles. The impromptu battle seesawed back and forth. Both teams gaining the upper hand on several occasions, after what seemed like hours back was only in reality about ten minutes a turning point unexpectedly came. The Gargoyles taking to and then attacking from the air quickly broke the stalemate. The Turtles, sensing they were on the verge of defeat used a smoke bomb to board they helicopter and escape in spite of the Gargoyles attempted aerial pursuit., though the Red Beaked and Olive Green Web Winged Gargoyles did manage to inflict major damage upon the chopper before the Turtles fully made a full getaway.
Back atop Castle Wyvern several minutes later the Gargoyles gathered around their leader, and the two humans they are just saved. "I think you had best explain who exactly those were, and why they attacked you." demanded Goliath, eyeing the two humans with suspicion.
Nearby the Red Beaked Gargoyle and the Olive Green Gargoyle we in a heated debate over the nature of their enemies transport. "I'm telling you it was a dragon" demanded Red Beak.
"And I'm telling you it was a machine, just of a more advanced sort they we are used to. At least I think that is what it was." countered Olive Green.
"See you aren't even sure. In that case, I still say it was a dragon." laughed Red Beak.
"C'mon guys, there is no need to fight over it." interjected the third member of the young trio, another male this time an Overweight Aquamarine Gargoyle.
"Be quiet lads. Can't ye see this is an important discussion our leader is havin' here with these two humans!" scolded the Former Leader, a brown skinned gargoyle of advanced years with only one good eye.
"Sorry" said the Trio in unison, their eyes downcast.
"It would be simpler if I show you." said Date Masamune, gesturing for the Gargoyles to follow his lead as he entered the Castle with Ulysses Quintone in tow.
After entering a large freight elevator, which groaned slightly under their collective weight, and descending several floors. The group quickly found themselves entering a large home full of many video monitors the walls lined with blinking computers. The Gargoyles, especially the Olive Green Web Wing, were in awe at the wonders laid out before their eyes. Through an adjacent doorway enter three creatures that made even the Gargoyles gasp due to their odd appearances.
"Goliath, others, may I introduce you to my Clan." stated Date Masamune, waving towards the three strange creatures. "These two are Rocksteady and Bebop, and the pink fellow is my partner Krang."
"What manner of creatures are they lad?" asked the Former Leader in wonder.
"Heartbreakingly human, or so they once were." replied Date Masamune, his eyes welling up with tears. "Krang here was a kind and power wizard back in our homeland of Japan, until an evil rival wizard called Hamato Yoshi, also known as Splinter, out of spite turned my three Clan members into the creatures you see before you. Krang lost much of his natural magic talent because of the transformation. The four us were then forced flee Japan because of Hamato Yoshi and his mutant army."
"Wait what are 'mutants'?" asked the Aquamarine Gargoyle.
"Mutants are those changed by the evil magic of Hamato Yoshi. He usually changes those he captures into some type of animal, and all become his mindless slaves. Yoshi is so vile he has even turned himself into a rat mutant" continued Date Masamune. "Those Turtles you fought tonight are Hamato Yoshi's most elite mutant warriors. They have made it their life long mission to destroy me and my Clan. After Yoshi conquered Japan, and then followed us to Manhattan with his four Turtles. Once they destroy us there will be nothing left keeping them from taking over this land as well."
"You still haven't said why you went to the great trouble of reviving us." said Goliath, folding his arms across his massive lite purple chest.
"I'm afraid we didn't revive for completely altruistic reasons." stated the creature known as Krang. It was the first time any of the three new arrivals had spoken, and the Gargoyles attentions were now focused upon the small pink creature. "While researching a possible counter spell, a cure if you would, to our condition I stumbled upon the Grimorum Arcanorum and learned about your fate. We also learned that you were very honorable beings, great warriors and protectors of the innocent. We quickly concluded if anyone deserved a second chance at life, a chance to make a difference in our time for the better, it was you. Please will you help us defeat the forces of Hamato Yoshi, and save our world?" pleaded the creature.
"Yes please do help us." joined in Date Masamune. "You are our last best hope."
"Please save us and our World." chimed in Bebop & Rocksteady.
"We are truly sorry if we are imposing upon you, but as the others have already stated we felt we had no choice. We need to stop the forces of Hamato Yoshi, before it is too late." added Ulysses Quintone.
After only a few seconds consideration Goliath announced his decision. "Of course we will help you ride the World of this terrible scourge."
"We thank you. I thank you from the bottom of my heart." said Date Masamune, energetically saking Goliath's hand. "You have made the right choice. I guarantee you will not regret this Goliath."
Thirty minutes later in the streets below the TCRI Building
Detective, second class, Elisa Maza wasn't having a very good night. First her alarm clock had failed to go off at time, making her nearly fifteen minutes late for work. She had burnt her breakfast bagel. She still hadn't been assigned a new partner to replace her recently retired one. As if all this wasn't enough of a headache she had been called downtown to investigate an 'odd disturbance' at the TCRI Building. Once she arrived she quickly learned just how 'odd' the nature of the disturbance truly was.
"What is the story here guys?" Elisa flashing her badge asked the group of uniformed officers gather around the base of the massive building.
"Detective" nodded one of the uniformed officers politely. "It seems there was some type of light show on top of the TCRI building 'bout half an hour ago. We're not sure if it was a fire fight involving some type of laser weapons, or not. My money is on it being yet another high tech shootout between either groups of rival mutants, or maybe some leftover unwanted refugees from good 'ol Dimension X."
"What makes you so sure officer?" asked Elisa
"This" replied the Officer, showing Elisa a hunk of stone and gesturing towards the overcast sky. "A load of this stuff fell from up there during the light show."
Elisa hefted the gray stone fragment in her hand, it certainly was heavy. She turned it over carefully, viewing it from several different angles. It didn't look like any modern masonry she was familiar with. In fact the fragment looked right down ancient.
"Whatever this is it certainly doesn't look like a part of the TCRI Building. It doesn't even appear to be of modern construction. This is a piece of stone, while the building is made up of glass, metal and plastics." said Elisa thoughtfully, turning the strange material over in her hands before handing it back to the officer. "Was anyone hurt by falling debris during this 'light show?"
"Nah, we got lucky there nobody was harmed. Though several vehicles suffered major damage, and a couple were even totaled." replied the Uniformed Officer.
"Did anyone see anything, besides the lights and the falling debris, anything that might give us a clue as to what was behind all this?" asked Elisa.
"Nah, nobody saw anything due to low hanging cloud layer. Although several witnesses walking nearby did report a strange sound, which they felt might be a helicopter or other bladed aerial vehicle of some type." stated the Uniformed Officer.
"What about the office staff of TCRI, have they been questioned yet?" inquired Elisa.
"That is what we were waiting on you and a search warrant, for Detective. See we've already been in contact with the head of legal." said the Uniformed Officer, fumbling in his coat for a card and then reading off the following name. "A Mr.,, um Ulysses Quintone, who flatly refused to allowed any sort of investigation to proceed until all official channels were followed. He is waiting for you in the main lobby."
"Sounds like a charming fellow." said Elisa, walking towards the main entrance of the TCRI Building.
Ten minutes later in the TCRI Building Lobby
"Hello Detective I am Ulysses Quintone head of the Legal Department here at TCRI. How may I be of assistance?" said Ulysses Quintone, after Elisa introduced herself showing him her badge and identification.
"I'm here to investigate the disturbance that occurred roughly 40 minutes ago." said Elisa.
"Of course Detective." said Ulysses Quintone. "What would you like to know?"
"First of all what was the exact nature of the disturbance, what caused it Mr. Ulysses?"
"The 'disturbance', as you call it, was nothing more than a newly installed generator that overheated and exploded atop this building causing minor damage to the structure in the process."
"What about the stone fragments that fell to the streets below? This building appears to be constructed of very modern materials, yet these fragments were of rough-hewed stone. Where exactingly did these fragments originate?"
"I'll be happy to show you. Please follow me Detective." said Ulysses Quintone, gesturing for Elisa to follow him as he walked towards the elevator. The long trip up the over one hundred floor TCRI Building passed between the two in silence. Upon the elevator doors finally opening Elisa gasped in awe. "Impressive isn't it Detective?"
Laid out before Elisa was the vast courtyard of what appeared to be a medieval castle. The castle was constructed of the same rough-hewed gray stones as the fragments that had fallen to the streets below during the disturbance. Everywhere towers and spires rose up to greet her gaze, as if she had been transported back in time. It was a truly stupendous sight.
"How did this get here?" asked Elisa, still in awe.
"My employers, Mr. Ng and Masamune, acquired this structure while on a business trip in Scotland six months ago. They quickly decided that it would make a grand edition to TCRI Headquarters, turning the building into a truly unique landmark of the Manhattan skyline." explained Ulysses Quintone dryly.
"So, they moved it over here what brick by brick and then had it rebuilt."
"Exactly Detective, anticipating you next question it indeed was a long, expensive and time consuming enterprise. Though one whose results my employers feel was well worth it."
"May I see the section of your castle which was damaged by this generator explosive?"
"Why of course Detective, right this way." said Ulysses Quintone, directing Elisa towards the damaged section of the Castle where a work crew wearing what looked like full hazmat gear was already cleaning up the area.
"Why are these workmen wearing what looks like hazmat suites?" asked Elisa in alarm.
"The power cell that formed the core of the generator in use was of an experimental high yield type. Thus why it combusted with such violence, and why my employers were reluctant to allow any investigation until the work crew here had a chance to make sure the area was safe. In fact while we are likely safe right now, I still would recommend we do not linger here any longer than absolutely necessary until we are given the all clear." answered Ulysses Quintone, his demeanor betraying nothing of his thoughts.
"Alright, I'll be sure to include what you have told me in my official report." said Elisa, after a moment of hesitation. She felt in her gut that something wasn't right here. That the 'disturbance' hadn't be caused by a generator explosion, at least not alone, no matter how powerful it might have been. Still she was unwilling to press the issue, or to take the possible risk, no matter how slim, of contaminating herself with who knows what. Elisa didn't want to end up sick in the hospital, or worse yet risk becoming some type of mutant outcaste.
"Very well I bid you a fond adieu. It has been a pleasure Detective." said Ulysses Quintone, giving Elisa one of his cards while lightly kissing her outstretched hand.
"It has been a pleasure Mr. Quintone. If I have any further questions, I'll be sure to contact you." said Elisa, turning to leave.
Unobserved by either Elisa Maza or Ulysses Quintone a large, shadowy figure observed the two. After both humans had left the gargoyle known as Goliath emerged from the shadows. Goliath didn't know exactly why, but there was something about this human woman which fascinated him. He felt compelled to follow and observe her. With a silent leap into the air he glided off into the night.
Elsewhere in the bowels of TRCI Building
"Not to worry Shredder" said Krang, his tentacles energetically working over a computer console. "Even if the Gargoyles fail to destroy the Turtles our backup plan is coming along very nicely. Isn't that right Ulysses?"
"Indeed it is Master Krang." replied the head attorney of TCRI. "Operation Steel Clan is already well underway. Should the creatures prove ineffective against the Turtles for any reasons our soon to be completed gargoyle modeled robots will pick up the slack. Our computer techs are already combing over the video footage of the confrontation between the 'Turtles' and the Gargoyles from earlier this evening. Soon a composite movement/fighting style will be simulated and ready for installation into the operating system of our new creations."
"And at long last we shall have a replacement army for our lost Foot Soldiers, Krang." Exclaimed Shredder joyously, now back in his regular costume.
"True Shredder, it will be good to have an army of deadly robots once again under our command." laughed Krang, rubbing his tentacles together with glee.
"Speaking of robots Krang, your Pretendicon Turtles did a far better job than I could have hoped for. I swear a few moments there I thought they were actually those damn shellbacks. I only wish they hadn't used my real name at one point, still what harm could do" said Shredder, with laughter of his own. "Things are finally looking up again, soon our enemies will be gone and the Earth will be ours. What can possibly go wrong?"
"Where have I heard that before." muttered Krang from his bubblewalker.
"What was that Krang? Do you say something?" asked Shredder
"Oh it was nothing just a burp, carry on." quickly replied Krang.
Near a TCRI warehouse on the waterfront, a hour earlier
Four figures walked along the foggy pier. It was a damp, desolate scene. Other than the four figures the area seemed totally deserted.
"I'm telling you we should drop the whole Teenage bit and just become the Mutant Ninja Turtles, or better yet the just plain Ninja Turtles. The youngest of us, Mikey here, hasn't been a teenager for nearly two years now." stated Raphael empathically.
"I don't know" said leader of the group Leonardo. "We've had that moniker for so long now it'd be strange to change it all of a sudden."
"I know what you mean dude." agreed Michelangelo.
"What about you Donnie? Don't you have a position regarding any possible name change for the group?" asked Raph, looking towards his purple masked brother.
"I really have no strong feelings about the situation one way or another." said Donatello.
"So I guess we'll just go through life known forever as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Which will make a great deal of sense when we are senior citizens." grumbled Raph somewhat bitterly.
"Why has this suddenly become so important to you Raph?" demanded Leo turning towards his red masked brother.
"No reason." answered Raph, after a brief but awkward silence. "I, I just feel it is time we grew up a little. Is that so bad guys?"
"The real reason is 'cause he wants to be more mature for Mona Lisa." said Mikey with a snicker, elbowing the nearby Raph in his side. "I overheard Mona Lisa telling Raph that the name 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' is so 'juvenile'." Mikey now burst out into a fit of laughter.
"Why you twerp" screamed Raph, seeing red. "How dare you repeat our private conversation. I should….."
"Keep it down you two. I think I just heard something from the direction of that warehouse over there." said Donnie, interjecting himself between the two.
"Let's check it out" said Leo.
The Turtles, with weapons drawn, slowly approached the darkened warehouse. The four carefully entered a door that had clearly been forced open sometime recently. Inside the warehouse the sound of someone, or something, rummaging around grew louder. Turning a sharp corner the Turtles found the perpetrator. Hunched over a torn open storage refrigeration unit was none other than the near seven foot tall, cybernetic, shark mutant Armaggon!
"Doing some midnight shopping eh Tooth Face?" said an angry Raph.
"What are you pests doing here?" demanded a startled Armaggon, whirling around to confront the Turtles. "This does not concern you. Don't you four ever mind you're our business?"
"Keeping major creepazods like you off the streets is our business." retorted Mikey.
"I don't know what you're up to Armaggon, but it ends now. We are taking you in." said Leo, moving towards the large cyborg, shark mutant.
"Oh, very well if you insist." sighed Armaggon, extending his clasped hands forward in a sign of contrition. "Just please be gentle with me. It is my first time, being arrested."
"I'm happy to see you came to your senses." said Leo, advancing towards Armaggon.
Leo put away his swords, and retrieves a pair of handcuffs from his belt. The others lowered their weapons. Just as Leo was about to click the 'cuffs shut Armaggon made his move, as fast as Leo was the shark was just that much faster. Armaggon quickly clasped one cuff around Leo's left hand while securing the other around a nearby wall pipe. Aramaggon then jumped behind Leo, using the Turtle as a human shield while firing his forearm mounted laser blasters. The other Turtles retreated quickly away from the laser fire. Both Mikey and Raph had temporarily lost their weapons in the process. Armaggon quickly and brutally smashed Leo's head into the wall with one hand while pulling the cuff off the pipe with his other. Armaggon then grabbed a cylinder shaped glass tube out of the nearby refrigeration unite. The Turtles recognized the glowing green substance within the tube at once.
"He's got a canister of mutagen!" cried Donnie. "Everybody get back."
"Indeed I do." said Armaggon, holding the mutagen canister in one hand and the insensible Leonardo in the other. "One false step our pal her gets an extreme makeover, understand!?"
"Perfectly" says Donnie, dropping his bow to the floor.
"Good, now get back give me room." demands Armaggon.
"Okay whatever you say, just chill out dude." says Mikey, the three Turtles slowly backing away.
"I'll be leaving now. It has been a pleasure. If any of you try to follow me. Your friend will never be the same." with that Armaggon twisted his body around, backing slowly out of the warehouse while never taking his eyes off the three Turtles.
After a few minutes had passed and the three Turtles were sure Armaggon had made it outside. They grabbed their weapons and made a mad dash for the entrance. Armaggon was waiting for them and with a mighty throw he catapulted the still semi-conscious Leo into the group, knocking them off their feet in the process before driving with the canister of mutagen into the black waters below the pier vanishing from sight. But not before he said the following.
"So long reptilian losers. This was all too easy. I have what I came for catch you in the funny papers."
"Man I really hate that damn fish" said a battered Raph, from where he lay in the heap of fellow Turtles.
Near the waterfront nearly a hour later
Elisa Maza knew she was being followed, years of carefully cultivated investigative instincts told her that. The person, or thing, that followed her had been doing so ever since she left the TCRI Building about an hour before. The reason Elisa thought it might be a something rather than a someone was because the few direct glimpses she had caught of her pursuer were of it gliding silently between the adjacent rooftops, on what appeared to be wings of some sort.
"Alright" said Elisa abruptly stopping in her tracks, at the entrance of a dimly lit alley. "Whoever you are fun time is over. I'm a New York City Detective. I demand you show yourself right now!" finished Elisa, drawing her service gun.
"If you insist my dear." came a sinister voice from the alleyway.
Elisa gasped in shock as a pair of huge, glowing red eyes peered out at her from the darkness, the eyes moving towards her accompanied by a low, menacing growl. Elisa slowly backed away from the evil eyes. Within a moment the large, cyborg, shark mutant Armaggon emerge from the darkness. With a surprisingly quick, viscous swipe of his arm Armaggon disarmed Elis, her gun flying off to land noisily somewhere in the darkness. Elisa soon found the calmly, iron grip of Armaggon fastened tightly around her throat. Armaggon lifted her into the air with ease, in spite of her punches and kicks some of which found their target. Armaggon's cruel grip tightened further around the Detective's neck. Elisa was soon seeing stars, a sea of blackness threatening to overwhelm her at all moment.
"Should I just kill you or should I do something more interesting, more artistic if you will instead, hmmm?" mused Armaggon, never relaxing his relentless gripe. With his free hand Armaggon slowly, menacingly raised the canister of mutagen to Elisa's eye level.
"Would you like to join me Detective? How about it, want to become a mutant freak my dear?" said Armaggon, with a toothy grin. Elisa began struggling even more vigorously once she realized what it was that Armaggon held in his grasp, and what would be done with it.
"I wonder what type of mutant this stuff will turn you into. Ah I guess there is only one way to find out De..." Armaggon never got the chance to finish his thought.
Before either he or Elisa knew what had hit them, Armaggon was knocked off his feet. His huge form making a loud impact with a nearby wall. Elisa meanwhile gasped for air, for a few moments hardly able to catch her breath.
"You will not harm the lady in anyway monster!" growled the gargoyle called Goliath, standing over the prone body of Armaggon.
"Frak, I hate do gooder mutants. You give the rest of us a bad name." said Armaggon, shaking the cobwebs out of his head as he picked himself up off the ground.
"I am no mutant like yourself monster!" roared Goliath. "I am a gargoyle, a protector of this world not a destroyer of it."
"A pity I can't stay to continue this stimulating intellectual exchange, but I have places to go and people to terrorize." said Armaggon, picking up the surprisingly undamaged canister of mutagen with a toothy grin. "Accept this parting gift. I hope it is a consolation prize you enjoy."
With that Armaggon leapt back several feet and fired his forearm mounted laser into the nearest building. Goliath spreading out his wings threw his body over Elisa, to protect her from the shower of falling debris. When the shower had ended Goliath looked back up only to see that Armaggon had escaped.
"Y-You pro-protected me? P-Probably s-s-saved my,,, life,,, tw-twice. B-But why, y-you don't even,,, know,, me?" choked out Elisa, looking at the large gargoyle who now tenderly held her in his arms.
"I am a gargoyle. It is our nature to protect. It is what we do." answered Goliath simply. "Is there some place I can take you where you'll be safe until you recover from your injuries?"
"Th-" Elisa tried to say, before falling into a coughing fit then passing out in Goliath's arms.
"It would seem I have only one choice left. If I wish to continue protecting you." thought Goliath aloud, before scaling the nearest wall and gliding off into the night back towards the new location of his ancestral home high atop the TCRI Building.
Nearby
Armaggon twirled the canister of mutagen on his fingers tips, like a NBA star would a basketball. "I wonder how much old Halcyon Renard will pay to acquire you my lovely, one of TCRIs' greatest trade secrets?" An especially broad toothy grin spread across the predator's face.