The Strain: Another Season
Episode 1

Author's note: I was trying to delete the outdated cover art and the only way round it I could discover was to post a new one... in honour of the genius co-creator of this fantastic show.

I wish he'd retained creative control.

Any original characters and their names came out of my head and not from real life.

GO GO REGINA TOO!

Night Hero Part 1
Chapter One

Stoneheart Building, Manhattan
Present Day

The living area of Eichhorst's apartment is decorated to the same five star standard as his dressing room. An enormous television screen showing the news dominates the wall Eichhorst is facing. He is suited and appears human. He is getting a manicure from a handsome young man in a faceguard wielding something like a miniature angle grinder.

The last few days in the New World have not been kind to former Standartenführer Thomas Eichhorst.

He has been called "bitch", "arsehole", "man-whore" and a "horrible monster".

He has been punched in the guts, shot in the leg, arms and in his beautiful face.

Eichhorst scowls into a mirror as he touches the still healing wounds on his cheek.

He has been threatened with death and dismemberment and thwarted at every turn by an old pawnbroker and his bickering band of outcasts.

His Master has been humiliated and badly burned at their hands and, at least in part, blames Eichhorst who is being supplanted in his trust and esteem by two of his latest creations.

Yet, Eichhorst has the kind of self-belief that empires are built on. And it is unshaken… his urbane façade in place.

More or less.

Eichhorst's pride propels him onwards – he knows he will heal. He will regain his Master's faith and ultimately they will triumph.

But for now, things are about to get strange. For everyone...

A pretty Korean girl behind a FinchTV logo-ed desk on the television announces,

'The body of unpopular New York Mayor J Robert Gomez, who was reported missing yesterday, has been found in 'The Peppermint Hippo' Gentlemen's Club. FinchTV understands that he apparently died of injuries sustained during a bondage sex game. It is unclear, at present, just who will take over at City Hall because of the recent disappearance of Deputy Mayor Leone and the Chief of Staff Debbie Burton. We will let you know further details as they become available.'

The manicure continues with the whirr of the motor occluding most of the audio of the rest of the newscast. On the screen is a coiffed Latin woman being interviewed with the caption of Cristina Maria Gomez - widow of late Mayor J. Robert Gomez.

We catch one segment of the audio when Mrs Gomez says, 'Finally I can drop the pretence that we're happy.'

As well as later phrases back in the newsroom like:-

'record low for a mayoral approval rating'

…zzzzzjshhhh…

'dogged by controversy and allegations of incomp…'

… zzzhhhzzjhhhhhh…

''...ruption'

…zzzzzzzshhzz…

'Other news'

…zzzjh…

'school closures'

…zzzzzzszzzzshsshhh…

'power outages'

…zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzjsshzzzzz…

'spoke to Governor L…'

…jjjzzzzh.

The manicure concludes and the end of the newscast is clearly audible.

The newscaster says, 'And finally, our CEO personally requested we put out a bulletin asking this well-groomed man to come forward for an interview feature we want to commission.'

A still image of Eichhorst leaving Stoneheart to attack the pawnshop fills the screen. The other, naked vampires are not visible.

The newscaster continues, 'He has been pictured fighting off a sword attack from a crazy old man...'

On the television, there's some video of Eichhorst evading Setrakian's sword swing at Grand Central Station. The quality is much better than you would usually expect from CCTV, although the image of Setrakian's face is blurred and there is no audio to this or either of the following clips.

The newscast continues, '...dispersing a group of youths causing a disturbance behind The Yummy Dragon Chinese restaurant in Harlem.'

The next video is of Eichhorst approaching Gus Elizalde to retrieve the Master's coffin from the airport. Gus' face is blurred, but everyone else is seen clearly.

'…and even repelling an attack by two gang bangers…'

Finally, some video of Eichhorst beneath Stoneheart is shown. He is punched by Gus (who is blurry again) and he disarms Felix (whose image is clearly shown).

The report concludes, 'With all this craziness in New York we really need a hero and, of course,' the newscaster says archly, 'there's an opening in City Hall.'

'So, if anyone out there knows, or has seen Well Dressed Man…'

Eichhorst's image again fills the screen with WANTED The Well Dressed Man underneath and a solitary landline number rather than the usual text and mobile numbers and email, Facebook and Twitter addresses.

She adds, 'Or if the man himself isn't too shy to come forward, please give us a call on this number 1-800-WELL-DRESSED.'

Eichhorst just stares at the screen for several seconds. It's impossible to tell if he's concerned about exposure or if his vanity has been massaged by the publicity.

Fet's Place, Red Hook, Brooklyn

Here are Setrakian and the "warriors" that have been such a hindrance to Eichhorst and his cause.

In the apartment above Vasiliy Fet's workshop, Abraham Setrakian is examining his face in the bathroom mirror – his skin is grey and the sclera of his eyes a sickly yellow colour.

The discredited medics, Dr Ephraim Goodweather and Dr Nora Martinez, sit with their backs to each other, either end of a couch. He is necking some Scotch and she is hugging her knees, weeping.

The little boy, Zack Goodweather, is upstairs in a sleeping bag staring unseeing at the ceiling.

The grungy anarchist Eichhorst hired, Dutch Velders, is trying to get a connection from a laptop. She swears, fetches the computer a sideswipe and switches the television on.

The rat catcher, Vasiliy Fet, hands Dutch a mug, obviously full of steaming brown liquid.

And then they see the Well Dressed Man appeal. The train platform scene is a particular hit.

The initial response is slack-jawed although the man himself misses his big scene.

Simultaneously, Nora breathes, 'Oh my God!' and Dutch exclaims, 'What the fu…'

Fet yells over her, 'Hey Pops! You're gonna want to see this!'

He orders Dutch, 'Rewind. Rewind! That's it - right to the top of that whole 'well dressed man' crap.'

Once again, the newscaster says, '…our CEO personally requested we put out a bulletin asking this well-groomed man to come forward…'

Fet says, 'Pause it there.'

He points to the FinchTV logo. 'Who the hell is this Finch guy?'

Eph says, 'I bet you all the Scotch in the city it's Palmer.'

Setrakian arrives fresh from the bathroom, come to see what all Fet's hollering is about.

Eph is still muttering about 'Eldritch freaking Palmer'.

Fet snatches the remote from an annoyed Dutch and presses play. 'Watch!'

The Ancients' facility

In front of a television screen in a smaller, slightly cosier room than his prison cell, Gus stands beside Vaun watching FinchTV's VT of his confrontation with Eichhorst in the sewers. He is aghast.

'How in the HELL did they film that?'

Vaun's unfathomable black eyes slide slowly across and slightly down.

'How indeed?' he says deliberately.