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 characters appearing in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1987 series copyright by Murakami Wolf Swenson, Inc. All other TMNT related characters are copyright IDW comics. No infringement of these copyrights is intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holders.
All original characters are the property of Celgress.
TMNT/Gargoyles Season Two Avalon and Beyond Episode Eleven: City of Mutants Part One
By
Celgress
"These are the times that try men's souls."
Thomas Paine, 1776 C.E.
A soundstage in Pack Media Studios 6:00 pm June 26th, 1995
Armaggon was giddy as a schoolgirl. In a few short minutes he'd have everything he'd ever dreamed of, ever desired. Limitless power, money & fame would soon be within his clutches. Long had he awaited his ultimate destiny. Soon, oh so very soon, he would be undisputed master of all her surveyed. The City, then the World, would be his. His do-gooder enemies, the Turtles and the Gargoyles, had no idea the havoc he would unleash. They couldn't stop him. He was beyond their immediate reach. The best part of all, the clowns Shredder & Krang had no idea of his true intentions. A smirk spread across his face. It was a good day.
"We're on in five, four, three, two, one, go!" shouted the lone Technician behind camera one. The heavyset, balding man counted down to Armaggon's television debut.
Once the red broadcast light on the camera blinked on Armaggon began reciting, in Latin, the well-practiced spell. The pudgy Technician was the first to feel the effects of Armaggon's magic. Before Armaggon's glittering eyes the Technician became a heavyset mutant canine. Once the spell was completed Armaggon ordered his new minion to place the just finished recording on a continuous playback loop. Once this was done, the two mutants left the soundstage behind.
Exiting the studio into the warm June evening, his new slave be his side, Armaggon knew it wouldn't be long before his enemies learned of his coup. He also knew they would surely try to stop him, as would his former partners Krang & Shredder. He was oddly unconcerned. Let them come, this time he was ready. His trademark toothy grin spread across his ugly face, wider than ever. Yes let them come, it would be their funeral. No one could stop him. This was his City now; the City of Mutants, his mutants.
Meanwhile, several blocks away, in the TCRI Building Shredder & Krang watched the proceedings in the laboratory of latter. Using the energy of the Fire Star Krang powered up a device that jammed and overrode all other broadcasts originating in Manhattan that evening. This assured Armaggon's message had 100% market penetration. No one watching TV at 6:00 pm could help but see the message, they had no choice.
Shredder was rubbing his hands with glee at the thought of what Armaggon promised the spell would do. Like a spoiled child he couldn't wait until the populace of NYC were his mindless slaves. Nothing could go wrong, their enemies knew nothing of their possession of the Fire Star little own of Armaggon's spell. The two old villains felt secure in their scheme until Krang noticed something awry with the wording of Armaggon's spell. Unlike his partner Shredder, the alien warlord completely understood Latin. The hand of Krang's android body hit the off switch deactivating the monitor on which the two were watching the broadcast.
"Why the devil did you turn it off?" Shredder demanded his voice fully of anger.
"Because the spell isn't what Armaggon promised us" Krang gurgled.
"What do you mean Krang?" Shredder said, folding his arms across his muscular chest.
"The spell is a mutation generation as well as a loyalty enchantment" Krang continued.
"So what, we can always use more loyal mutants" Shredder said, thus far unimpressed by Krang's objection to the spell.
Ignoring Shredder, Krang punched several commands into the keyboard of a nearby terminal. A few minutes later a built in printer spewed out a long printout. Tearing the paper free Krang glanced at the contents before handing it over to Shredder.
"This is an analysis, with accompanying English translation, of Armaggon's spell" Krang told Shredder. "Notice the column detailing what they spell actually does versus what Armaggon claimed it does."
"Those changed by the spell will only be servants of Armaggon. That miserable mutant I'll decorate my quarters with his skin!" Shredder roared, balling up the print out and slamming it with his fist against the far wall of the lab. "Krang we must shutdown the feed immediately, before it is too late!"
"I'm afraid it is already too late" Krang said, watching several monitors which showed the rapidly growing chaos enveloping the streets surrounding the TCRI building. Hundreds of mutants of myriad varieties were rampaging through the block.
"Aw damn" Shredder said viewing the scene unfolding before his startled eyes. "Now what do we do?"
The Bridal Suite of the Hilton Hotel 6:05 pm
April couldn't believe that she had been married for almost a week now. It had been the best week of her life. April had never been happier than she was right now. April hoped Casey would finish his shower soon. If he didn't maybe she would join him, she thought with a devilish grin. Laying on her stomach on the large queen sized bed April absentmindedly surfed through the channels on the big screen TV that dominated the opposite wall of the suite.
This is strange April thought noticing that the fearsome image of Armaggon filling the TV screen. No matter where she flipped Armaggon was there. What was he saying, was that Spanish perhaps French? April soon found herself mesmerized by the strange chant. April found she couldn't pull her attention away from the spectacle no matter how hard she tried.
"Hey hon anything interesting on the tube?" Casey Jones asked emerging from the bathroom in his white bathroom, drying his hair with a towel. Before Casey's horrified eyes April turned into an orange colored cat mutant. "April, honey, are you alright?" Casey asked a few moments later slowly getting over his shock. Cautiously Casey approached his altered wife.
Without warning the new mutant lunged at Casey knocking him back. A struggle ensued. Attempting to keep the mutated April from gouging out his eyes with her formidable claws Casey grasped her wrists. The two then half stumbled half staggered around the home. Casey's misplaced feet inadvertently smashed the picture tube of the big screen TV. The struggle moved towards the sliding glass door that separated the suite from the balcony.
"April it is me! Why are you doing this!? What has gotten into you!?" Casey pleaded, all the while trying to restraint his changed spouse.
With a well-placed kick to Casey's mid-section followed by a loud hiss the mutated April broke free of her husband's gripe. Before Casey could recover April had smashed through the glass door and was gone. April scaled the fire escapes down to the streets below with surprising ease.
"April come back!" Casey screamed over the balcony railing having regained his wind.
The Turtles' Secret Lair 6:10 pm
"Master Splinter why is this creature on the news?" Usagi Yojimbo asked Splinter in his usual silted speech. The two were currently sitting in the TV room of the Lair, along with Donatello and Mona Lisa, watching the newscast.
"I do not know" Splinter confessed.
"Whatever he is saying he's been going strong for over ten minutes now" Mona Lisa said, glancing at her wristwatch.
"I think it is a pre-recorded repeating loop" Donatello said. "The real question, like Usagi brought up, is why are we seeing this loop rather than the regular newscast?"
"I don't think we should be watching this. It gives me the willies" Mona Lisa said shivering. "Master Splinter please change the channel."
"Right away my child" Splinter used his TV remote control to flip through several channels in rapid succession. Puzzlingly every station was playing the same bizarre program.
"Okay now this is strange" Donatello said, taking the remote control from Splinter. Donatello quickly flipped through the remaining channels on the dial. "It is on every channel. Guys get in here now I think we have a problem!" Donatello yelled towards the entrance of the TV chamber.
NYC City Hall 7:00 pm
Armaggon, accompanied by a large crowd of fellow mutants, marched into the building that housed the municipal government of NYC. A security guard tried to stop him Armaggon merely backhanded the man away as if he were an annoying insect. After a second security guard suffered a similar fate the woman working the evening shift on the front desk stammered.
"Wh-hat do you-you things w-want?"
"I'm taking over the City and the government with it" Armaggon said coldly, turning his attention towards his minions. "Restrain these three then find a TV set, show them my special broadcast."
The Streets of NYC 7:20 pm
The five Turtles, along with Mona Lisa, Kala & King Arthur, had just exited a manhole when they were attacked by a large group of unknown mutants. Leonardo had warned the group to leave the heroes alone but to no avail. An intense fight later the heroes were on the verge of victory when an even larger crowd of mutants showed up. Being overwhelmed by sheer numbers the heroes had no choice but to beat a hasty retreat. The heroes had barely escaped the now gigantic mob of mutants with their hides intact.
"What the heck is going on here dudes & dudettes!?" Michelangelo wondered gulping down air.
"I don't know the City is full of hostile mutants" Donatello said, steading himself against a nearby wall.
"Yeah we kind of noticed" Raphael said in his usual sarcastic manner, as he and Mona Lisa leaned against each other for support. "The question is why? Anybody got any ideas?"
"It could be caused by a spell" King Arthur offered, his medieval mindset saw magic as the most likely culprit.
"I don't know about that" Mona Lisa said.
"He could be right" Leonardo interjected. "Remember the broadcast featuring Armaggon that preceded all this mayhem."
"I do Leonardo" Venus said, from where she stood next to the fearless leader. "However if a spell was used the logical question is why were we unaffected? We all watched it, perhaps several times."
"Maybe it only affects humans?" Kala offered after some thought, nuzzling against Michelangelo for comfort. "We're all mutants after all."
"Not all of us" Donatello said, pointing towards King Arthur. "If your theory is correct why wasn't King Arthur affected along with the rest of the human population of the City?"
"I have no idea" Kala admitted.
"I can explain why I was unaffected by the enchantment" King Arthur said. "Back during my reign my good friend the wizard Merlin casted a spell that renders me immune to must forms of magic. It would appear the counter spell is still active all these centuries later."
The turtlecoms began chirping. Raphael answered his turtlecom first. "Raphael here, hi Casey how are you and April enjoying your honeymoon?"
"Listen carefully" the disheveled image of Casey instructed. "Somebody has changed most of the people in the City into vicious mutants."
"We know" Raphael said with a groan. "We think Armaggon caste some sort of spell over the airwaves. We don't have a plan for dealing with it, yet. We are working on it. Casey, why are you wearing a bathroom?"
"I had just finished taking a shower when this all started. I barely escaped the Hilton Hotel. It is pandemonium downtown. Mutants are rioting everywhere. Things are quickly spiraling out of control." Casey relayed.
""Where is April dude?" Michelangelo asked, over Raphael's shoulder.
"She's gone Mikey" Casey said, his face filled with sadness. "She got caught by the spell. She was changed into a cat mutant. She attacked me and escaped by using the balcony before I could stop here. Wait just a minute you said Armaggon caused this mess?" Casey asked his eyes narrowing, his voice filled with an ominous timber. "Do you know where that slime ball is now?"
"No idea" Raphael said truthfully, troubled by the look in Casey's eyes.
"Casey I think we should wait until nightfall. Then the Gargoyles will be awake, our numbers will be doubled. We're going to need all the help we can get" Leonardo said to the image of Casey Jones.
"Sunset isn't for another hour" Casey said, his voice holding the ominous tone. "April could be anywhere by then. Don't you understand I can't let anything happened to her, she is my World."
"Casey look I know how you feel" Leonardo began.
"No you don't none of you do" Casey said. "Your loved ones are safe, mine isn't."
"Casey going up against Armaggon alone under the best of circumstances is risky, now it could be suicide" Mona Lisa said.
"Mona Lisa is right" Kala said. "We do not know how much control Armaggon has over these new mutants. If his control is as complete as we fear you won't stand a chance. Look few hate Armaggon more than I do. Going after him unprepared won't help April. How do you think she'd feel if once we cure her she learns you died alone fighting Armaggon?"
"Fine" Casey Jones said. "I'll meet you at Saint Damien's in an hour, Casey out."
Saint Damien's Cathedral 8:20 pm
Bishop Guillermo Maza was having his own problems. At 7:05 pm he had finished giving his usual suppertime mass. The Bishop then retired to his study. His hope was that he could watch the second hour of the evening news in peace. A loud knock interrupted the Bishop's plans. Opening his office door the Bishop was greeted by several frantic parishioners. The frightened group explained that the streets outside were swarming with hordes of crazed mutants! The Bishop and the group of parishioners had spent the next hour barricading themselves in the Cathedral while waves of angry mutants tried to smash, claw and otherwise force their way into the house of worship. The Bishop only hoped they could hold off the hordes a few more minutes, once the Sun set the Gargoyles would save them from the mutant horde.
Rounding a corner the Cathedral came into view. The building was surrounded, on all sides, by a huge throng of mutants. The mutants were trying desperately to force their way in.
"Wow dudes & dudettes!" Michelangelo exclaimed with a whistle. "Since when was Saint Damien's so popular?"
"There must be hundreds, maybe thousands of them" Mona Lisa said in awe. "What are we going to do?"
"We crack some heads" Casey Jones said stepping out of the shadows of an adjacent alleyway, his voice low, an edge of cold rage detectable. Casey was now fully dressed in his traditional crime fighting outfit, complete with hockey mask. Kala, Mona Lisa, Venus & King Arthur were momentarily taken aback by his appearance.
"Casey is the retro look really necessary?" Leonardo asked a note of concern in his voice.
Ignoring Leonardo's question Casey withdrew a cricket bat from his arsenal and advanced on the swarm of mutant troublemakers. "Its' fun time freaks!"
The other heroes exchanged troubled looks before following Casey's lead plowing into the swarm of mutants. The tide of the chaotic melee soon turned against the heroes. The sad fact was there were just too many opponents. The heroes were overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the numbers opposing them. If not for the intervention of the newly awakened Gargoyles it is doubtful the heroes would have survived the battle. Even with the added numbers of the Gargoyles the combined group of heroes was hardly winning. With the assistance of the Gargoyles everyone soon beat a hasty retreat to the roof the Cathedral.
"What is happening?" Goliath asked.
"Armaggon caste some type of spell during the evening news" Leonardo answered, catching his breath. "It turned most of the population of the City into violence prone mutants."
"They've been destroying the City ever since" Venus added. "We think they spell only affects humans who watch it."
"This is awful" Elisa gasped. "My parents, my brother I have to find them make sure they are alright!" Elisa said, her eyes growing wide with dread.
"Wait" Goliath said. "You shouldn't go alone Elisa. I'll come with you. Hudson you are in charge until we return."
"Aye lad, ye can count on me" Hudson said. "Good luck to ye two and be careful."
"Same to you old friend" Goliath said with an arm shake and a smile, he and Elisa took off into the night.
"Now what do we do?" Broadway asked.
"We save anyone who is trapped in the building below" Othello said.
"Aye Bishop Maza has been good ta us all, he may need er help" Hudson said.
"Sounds like a plan dudes, lets' do it" Michelangelo said enthusiastically.
The heroes made their way into the building below. After searching for several minutes they found Bishop Guillermo Maza and his parishioners. It took some convincing, many of the parishioners expressed great fear at the odd appearances of their would be rescuers, after some coaxing the parishioners permitted the heroes to rescue them from the besieged Cathedral. Upon escaping Saint Damien's the heroes transported those they saved to the roof of a building down the street.
"We should get these people somewhere safer" Seraphina said, watching as the swarm of angry mutants broke down the doors and entered Saint Damien's.
"My Cathedral, my beautiful Cathedral" Bishop Maza wept, his knees buckling. "Where will those in need turn now. Forgive me Father for I have failed."
"Nonsense" Hudson said, he and Brooklyn helping the Bishop to his feet. "Ye have done great good Bishop. If not for ye all these people could have died. Ye art a hero, like us, never forgot that."
"You are right Hudson, thank you" Bishop Maza said regaining his composure. "We must be strong for those who cannot be. Where is my niece? Where is Elisa?"
"Elisa and Goliath went to check on the rest of your family" Desdemona informed the Bishop. "I'm certain they'll be fine."
"Seraphina is right these people can't stay here forever, it isn't safe" Angela said.
"Then where do we take them?" Datura wondered aloud. "Is there any place that is 'safe'?"
"I can think of one place that might fit the bill" Leonardo said. "The 23rd Precinct, Detective Bluestone will look after them."
"If he is still, himself" Venus said, voicing what they all feared.
"Anyone got a better idea?" Leonardo asked, no one did, "Okay its' settled we take these people to the 23rd Precinct. If all goes well we leave them in the care of Detective Matt Bluetone."
"Aye then what shall we do lad?" Hudson asked, looking at Leonardo.
"Then we find Armaggon put an end to this, one way or another" Leonardo said in a low voice.
"Finally somebody says something that makes sense" said the masked Casey Jones.
The apartment building of the Maza family 9:20 pm
"I'm scared Goliath" Elisa said landing on the roof of the building. "It is too quiet. What if something has happened? My God how will I ever go on?"
"No matter what remember I will always be here for you" Goliath said, putting his hand on Elisa's shoulder.
"Thanks, it really means a lot to hear you say that" Elisa said. "Even though I know you don't love me anymore. I'm grateful we can still be friends."
"What do you mean I don't love you anymore?" Goliath asked, taken aback by Elisa's words.
"Goliath I saw you kiss Nightingale on Avalon" Elisa said. "I know you chose her over me. It took a while, but I've accepted it."
"Elisa what you witnessed that night was our goodbye, mine and Nightingale's" Goliath explained after a pause, taking Elisa's hands in his own. "We decided to part because we had grown into two very different people with separate lives since we were last together. Nightingale even accepted that you and I belong together. She made me promise her I'd treat you right. Elisa I chose the promise of the future over the memories of the past. I chose you."
"Oh Goliath" Elisa said.
"You and I are one now and forever" Goliath said.
The two gargoyles leaned in close. They looked into each other's eyes, a dreamy look on their faces. Their lips grazed each other's. Their lips were almost touching when the building access door exploded outward. Dozens of screeching mutants flooded the roof top. Goliath and Elisa broke their embrace facing down their attackers. Within minutes the tide of the ensuing battle had turned against the two gargoyles as dozens of mutants became hundreds. With more pouring from the access door every minute.
"Elisa we must leave at once!" Goliath yelled tossing several mutants aside.
"What about my parents? I can't leave until I know they are alright!" Elisa countered, kicking several mutants away from her.
"Elisa if we do not go soon, I fear we will perish here!" Goliath roared while fighting off another wave of mutants.
"I can't go until I know the truth Goliath! Oh my God no, please no!" Elisa cried, catching sight of two mutants. One was a fish mutant the other a beetle mutant. The fish mutant wore the tattered remains of her mother Diane's favorite dress, while the beetle mutant's upper body was covered by the remnants of the Hawaiian shirt she had bought her father Peter on his birthday. "Mom, Dad" Elisa whispered reaching out with a trembling hand toward the two mutants. The mutants responded by hissing and then swiping at her with their claws.
"We are getting out of here now!" Goliath said grabbing the kicking and screaming Elisa around her waist.
"Let me go! Let me go damn it!" Elisa screamed, as Goliath propelled the two of them off the roof with a thrust of his powerful legs. "I can help them! Let me go!"
"No you can't" Goliath stated. "None of us can until we learn precisely what Armaggon has done. I promise you Elisa once we know the truth we will undo this terrible thing. You have my word."
The 23rd Precinct 10:00 pm
It had been tough going the remaining gargoyles transporting the Turtle Family and the humans from rooftop to rooftop. When the group finally arrived on the rooftop of the building adjacent to the 23rd Precinct it become woefully apparent no help could originate from there. The street in front of the 23rd Precinct was crawling with mutants. The bottom third of the building itself was on fire, and hundreds of mutants were rampaging through the neighborhood destroying everything in their path.
"What do we do now?" a worried Brooklyn asked.
"The only thing we can do" Leonardo answered. "We go underground."
"What do you mean?" Datura inquired.
"There is no safe place left in the City, so we take our guests into the sewers" Leonardo explained.
"We take them to our Lair?" Michelangelo asked.
"No, there isn't enough room there" Leonardo said, shaking his head.
"Than where do we take them instead?" Mona Lisa wondered.
"The old subway station we found a few years back. Where Baxter the fly Stockman tried to poison us four and April using toxic gas, remember brothers?" Leonardo said.
"Of course" Donatello replied, snapping his fingers. "The place we nicknamed the 'Labyrinth'."
"The Labyrinth would be plenty big enough, lets' go" Raphael said.
"Guys what about Detective Bluestone?" Broadway said.
"And Elisa and Goliath" Seraphina added. "We can't just abandon them up here."
"Our first priority should be the safety of the civilians with us. Once they are safe we can worry about Goliath, Elisa and Detective Bluestone" Leonardo instructed.
"Aye Leonardo be right" Hudson said, nodding his head. "Goliath & Elisa would want us ta make sure the humans ere safe. Lexington contact Goliath & Elisa on their turtlecoms. Tell 'em where we art going. If they cannot join us in time, they should make fer the Turtles' Lair."
"Good idea Hudson" Leonardo said. "Mikey try contacting Detective Bluestone on his turtlecom. See what the heck is going on with him. If you can raise him, let him know of our current situation and plan. After Lex and Mikey have done their things we'll be heading out. Once in the sewers we should reach the Labyrinth in three or four hours."
"Good luck" Casey said in a from beneath his hockey mask. His arms folded over his broad chest.
"What da ya mean 'good luck'?" Hudson asked the human vigilante.
"I'm not coming with you" Casey said matter-of-factly. "While April is still under Armaggon's spell I'm not leaving the surface. I'll either save her, or die trying. I however will not abandon her under any circumstances."
"Casey c'mon we need you, you need us" Raphael said. "We should all stick together until this is over."
"Raphael is correct, there is strength in numbers" King Arthur said.
"I will not give up on my Wife" Casey said, his voice brimming with barely restrained rage.
"Is there nothing we can say that will convince you to join us, if only for a few hours so you can rest?" Leonardo asked. Casey shook his head. "Alright, we wish you luck goodbye Casey. Everyone else, once Lex & Mikey have finished their calls we'll be leaving get ready."
Michelangelo couldn't get in touch Detective Matt Bluestone. No matter how many times Michelangelo try to contact the unit there was no answer. After eight attempts Michelangelo finally gave up. No one dare speculate the reason behind the Detective's incommunicado status. They all just hoped for the best.
Lexington had better luck raising Elisa & Goliath. The pair promised to meet the group at an agreed upon location before entering the sewers, which they did about half an hour later. After dodging several mobs of mutants the now complete group, minus of course Casey, entered the sewers. Nearly three hours later they reached the Labyrinth.
The group spent all day in the Labyrinth. The Gargoyles turning to stone, including Bronx the gargoyle best, once the sun rose. This startled all the humans, excepted of course Bishop Maza. During the afternoon half of the Turtle Family had gone to the Lair and retrieved much needed supplies. By the time sunset came many of the humans wanted to leave the safety of the underground dwelling. The remainder lamented the deplorable state they found themselves in. A few minutes after the Gargoyles broke free of their daily stone slumber the figure of a mysterious, green skinned woman appeared in a puff of red smoke. The Green Skinned woman had pointed green ears, long pink hair and was wearing what looked like the outfit of an Arabian harem girl. Everyone was flabbergasted.
"I am Titania queen of the third, um I suppose more accurately now the fourth race" Queen Titania spoke. "I come seeking help in return I will supply vital information."
"What sort of information?" Goliath asked, regaining his composure.
"How you can restore the balance of nature in your City. How you can stop the one known as Armaggon" Queen Titania said.
"Your information does seem vital. What do you ask in return?" Leonardo said.
"The death of Armaggon" Queen Titania stated, without a hint of emotion.
To Be Continued