Chapter 18: The Plan
"Billy!" Kate shouted as she continued to run around the arcade. She could not see her husband anywhere, nor were there any gremlins to be found, except for Brody. There was evidence the creatures where there before, no doubt about it. There were spilled containers from the different food vendors, empty paper cups next to straws and stains of soda, lemonade and fruit punch soaking into the thin carpet and all kinds of candy wrappers thrown about.
"Check it out," Murray said as he pointed at the trashcan. "One of them actually threw their cup away, along with some carrot tops." He squinted as continued to stare into the can. "There is some writing on the cup."
"That might be a clue," Chuck said as he reached in and pulled it out. "King Billy?" He held up the cup for everyone to see. "Is this his hand writing?"
"A little sloppy for him," Kate said as she squinted while trying to read the cup. "But he could have written it in a hurry and his hands have been transformed." She hoped that it was a sign from her husband. "Calling himself a king is a little unusual." She took a deep breath. "But he would throw his trash away."
"That's my son," Lynn said proudly. "Always cleans up after himself."
"Good eyes you two," Clamp said as he looked around the place. "We should look for more clues, but this gang will not split up." He turned to Kate. "Do you know what games he prefers? I never pegged him as the type."
"He had a few handheld mini cabinet games back at Kingston Falls," Kate said as she remembered back when they had started to date. "He also played with Pete, our younger friend. Lynn used to be his babysitter and Billy became his surrogate big brother in a way. He liked the classics like Galaga and Donkey Kong. We have a few game systems at home and Benny received a N64 this last Christmas." It had taken her a long time for her to accept the holiday into her life again and when they were first started to live together and were later married they wouldn't celebrate even though she told Billy that he and Gizmo should. Once Benny was born it changed. Both her mother and Lynn couldn't wait to spoil their grandson with gifts and soon they bought a plastic tree and a wreath and while she would always still go visit her father's grave on Christmas Eve she would still be home in time for Christmas for her children.
"Uh-oh," Brody's voice came from one corner. "It broken." He held up a plastic hand held radio.
"That's…not…good," Chuck said as he accepted the radio from the gremlin. "This is the one I gave to Billy."
"Found another uh-oh," Gerald said as held up a boy's t-shirt and jeans. "He was wearing these."
"Billy?" Kate asked and her voice trailed off. She looked over to Lynn who had her face scrunched up and tears roll down her cheeks. She pulled Penny close as the female goblin hugged her back.
"Let me see," Forster said as took the clothes from Gerald and examined them. "No sign of any struggle." He held up the shirt to show them. "No tears or blood, just a little smudges from foundation. It looks like he just took them off."
"Why would he do that?" Murray asked as he started to fan himself "Did he get too hot or something, cause it's getting warm in here. I think the air is on the fritz."
"Not sure," Forster said as he continued his examination. "There's something here." He pulled out a folded up piece of paper from a pocket.
Kate walked over and snatched it out of his hand. 'Get Stun Guns, and electronics.' written on it. "This is his hand writing. He wants us to get stun guns."
"I knew it," Clamp said as he struck a fist into his hand. "I knew Bill would come up with a plan."
"Yeah back at Claire's I held my stun gun on one and let it linger longer than normal and it just melted," Chuck said. "But he also saturated himself with perfume."
"He wants us to fry them again with electricity?" Murray asked. "Well it worked last time but after I soaked them with a hose. Do we know where the fire hose is?"
"The pool," Chuck said and held up a finger. "The pool in the hotel it's on a sub level but they could all fit in there if they wanted too."
"Why haven't they gone there already?" Kate asked. Maybe the gremlins hadn't discovered it yet or maybe they want to explored the rest of the mall first, but if they did know about it then wouldn't they have used it already?
"Hotel is closed," Gerald answered and turned towards Chuck. "You told us that earlier."
"For renovations," Chuck confirmed. "I don't think any of them could break in."
"They can," Kate answered along with Lynn, Murray, Clamp, Forster and Gerald.
"But they haven't yet for some reason," Chuck said. "Last time I passed by it the gate was still down."
"We have a water source and we now need to get some stun guns and other electronic devices," Murray said. "Anything else that can short out in the water? I'm sure we can find some hair dryers or toasters here and maybe some extension cords."
"There's a Radio Shack on the second floor near Bloomingdales," Chuck told them.
"I hate splitting up, but we are going to," Clamp said as he held up his radio. "One of us will be Team Clamp again and the other Team um Team Kingston Falls again. One of us will look for the chords and other electric items and the other team will go fetch some more stun guns. Frank has several in his car. I'll lead Team Clamp and Kate will lead Team Kingston Falls."
"Murray and Lynn you are still with me?" Kate asked. "And I take it that Gerald will also join us?"
"You know it," Gerald said.
"And me," Gizmo said and pulled out a pencil and a rubber band from the backpack. He had already started to make some more weapons
"I want to stay with grandma," Penny said while she held onto Lynn's hand.
"I guess that means I'm going with Mr. Clamp and Forster," Chuck said. "What about you?" He turned to Valerie.
"I'll go if we can stop by and check on Helix," Valerie said with a nod. "And Gene will be with us and I guess maybe Darwin and Brody?"
"Where are they?" Gerald asked. He had craned his neck to look around. "They were right next to me when—oh there they are, right in front of the Street Fighter game."
"Hey guys," Kate said to them as she approached them. "We figured out Billy's plan and we need to split up into two teams. Do you want to go with Clamp and Chuck?" She noticed the way they were staring at the screen. "Guys?"
"Brody found another clue," Darwin said as he pointed at the screen. The demo animation ended and the names of the top players appeared. The two names on top of the list were KingBilly and Razor. "Not good."
"Razor caca," Brody growled.
"Then we need to hurry," Kate said. She had no idea where Billy was but if he was close to a gremlin that Brody hated and Darwin feared then he was still in trouble and she wished she was with him. She prayed that he had everything under control and was not harmed by Razor.
"Not too much," Billy said as the gremlins on his left were finishing with filing his claws. He was seated on the hood of a bright red corvette. One of those little scams where you fill out a form in hopes to win one but instead people were singing up to be hit by telemarketers for timeshares. Humans were so stupid. "I want to keep them nice and sharp, not that would be any where near as sharp as my brother's." He nodded down at Razor who sat next to him on their shared throne.
"Sharp claws," Razor agreed. He wore a cloak made out of a purple towel and a plastic tiara on the top of his head. He would have chosen the same kind of fake crown Billy had if it would have fit over his Mohawk of spines. He was also getting the same kind of manicure while his hand was placed on a cushion held by another gremlin. A few other gremlins had large leafy fronds and were using them to fan them while two other gremlins stood by their side with bowls of grapes chocolate truffles and were hand feeding them to him and Razor.
"Agreed, now where are our drinks?" Billy had ordered one his subjects to bring the both of them something to drink and that was minutes ago. He adjusted his own crown and he also sported a cloak, but his was made from a beach towel. He had removed his other clothes save for his under shorts. He no longer need a disguise and he even gave his cap to the gremlin named Butterball.
"Drink," Razor snarled. He was also getting thirsty and impatient.
"Drinks," a few gremlins said at the same time as they came up with trays with two drinks from Orange Julius.
"Finally," Billy grumbled as he accepted the cup and stared out at the hundreds of gremlins that had gathered before them. He had no idea if he had won them over with his gaming skills or because he was the goblin version of a Hei'an Lingxiu but they were practically worshipping him. He had to keep up the pretense since he planned on leading them to their death like a pied piper, although he was also enjoying it. He also had to keep on guard with Razor next to him.
The music that played near them was enchanting and beautiful. Some of the gremlins had wielded out a keyboard from the music store and a gremlin wearing a phantom mask was pressing at the keys.
There was pit in front of salon that was dug by a mole like gremlin. Several others had grabbed balls of different sizes from the Kaybee and threw them in and now several of them were playing in their ball pit while the mole was curled up and sleeping under a chair.
There were several Gremlins in different costumes and few dressed up like Batman and his rogue's gallery and there were characters dressed like they were from Superman. There were five dressed up in white leotards with different colored sailor collars and skirts. It was quite a site and they were all his to control, his and Razor's.
"Yum, yum," Razor said after he slurped from his drink. "More yum yum "We want more snacks. Get some more candy and something crunchy and salty for us." He clapped his hands.
"Yes, some more delicious yum yums are to be consumed," Billy agreed. "The grapes and truffles are nice but I want different kinds of candy, and some chips and maybe see if you can find a hot dog or two." He looked over the crowd and found the half vegetable gremlin. "You there Veggie, how are you with herbs?"
The gremlin responded by plucking a sprig from his head and held it up. "Cilantro."
"Can you also make onions? Oh and limes?" The gremlin nodded and removed the vegetables and well technically a fruit from his body. "We'll be having chips soon and we need something to dip in them and I want you to make some guacamole and salsa."
"Yes," Razor grinned at him. "Yum yum dip."
"Can't wait for the sun to go down," Billy said as he stretched. "That's the only thing I don't like about being a goblin is that stupid sun restriction, but soon this town will be ours. Goblins and gremlins will both rule the world and get rid of those humans."
"We rule," Razor said with a grin. He was eating this up.
"Obviously won't kill all of them. I do plan on finding a way to turn others into goblins like me and they will bow down to us, my blood brother."
Chuckles bounced up to them and was pointing while grunting. He had never lost that stupid dopey expression on his face.
Razor rolled his eyes and grunted back, demanding what the other gremlin wanted.
Billy felt a tap on his leg and he looked down to see the short albino gremlin, Garrison as he was called was pointing in the same direction Chuckles was pointed at. There was a large group of gremlins approaching them and they were carrying something, no someone who had their arms and legs bound.
"Ooh looks like we have an offering," Billy said with a grin. His grin faded as the victim came closer and false delight was replaced with rage. He felt his hackles rise while he growled.
The gremlins deposited their victim right in front of them and Billy glared into the steel colored eyes of Doctor Friedrich.
"Here we are," Chuck said as Team Clamp had made their way to the nearest exit and paused in front of the dead snake gremlin while in front of the Hallmark store
"It will only take a few minutes," Valerie said as she was giving Gene a small pat on the head. "I just have to make sure he is okay."
"How long is this going to take?" Forster complained. "Peltzer is going to need for us to be ready when he has those monsters where he wants them."
"It will only take a few minutes," Clamp assured him before turning over to Valerie. "Am I right, Val?"
"You are correct," Valerie said as she stepped around the dead form of the cobra gremlin.
"Do you want me to join you?" Chuck had offered.
"I'll be fine," Valerie told him.
"When all is done what are we going to do about all of this?" Forester asked as he waved around his arms around to indicate the trashed mall.
"This place will stay closed while we clean everything up, and redo the floors" Clamp said. "Sure the fourth of July sales would be missed but that is a holiday that shouldn't be spent at a mall. People should be with their friends and family celebrating America. They have barbecues or go to the beach, or a lake, or a carnival and watch fireworks. We'll have new deals and sales when we reopen."
"I meant what about them?" Forster pointed at Darwin and Brody. "We are going to try and cure Peltzer and Hopkins but this one was never human and the other is a gremlin."
"Gerald said I could live with him," Darwin said as he brushed his crimson bangs from out of his eyes. "Maybe Brody can also live with us as well."
Brody's ears picked up. "Yeah, yeah." He blinked. "Or maybe Lei. I like Kevin Lei. I want to be with Doctor Lei. He nice. I no feel needle and he gave me hug and treats."
"There you see?" Clamp asked. "Everything is working out and if Jerry or this Lei won't take in Brody here then maybe you can take him, give Greta a companion."
"Don't call him Jerry," Darwin said with a frown. "It's Gerald. He doesn't want to be called Jerry."
"I'll take note of that," Clamp said and raised up his walkie-talkie. "This is Team Clamp calling from a brief stop at the Hallmark store. Do you read, Team Kingston Falls?"
"We read," Lynn answered. "We found a hardware store up here and stocking up on chords and connecting outlets."
"Great, now I have to watch over two of them," Frank grumbled.
"Two of them?" Chuck repeated? "There is another gremlin that is alive?"
"I don't want to talk about it," Frank said as he covered his face with his hand.
"Female gremlin," Clamp explained. "She used to have feelings for Frank here, big time crush and it was a sight to see." He had a large grin.
"Please, sir," Frank was growing red from embarrassment.
"She's not as malicious as the others, mostly horny but she started to yearn for attractive celebrities a few years ago and now she is drooling over pictures of the Backstreet Boys."
"Females are more into uh, being inti-" Chuck started.
"Stop!" Frank held up his hands. "I am begging you to stop."
"Penny doesn't seem to be into-"
"Not something you talk about in front of others," Darwin cut him off as he rubbed his hair. He had a sheepish expression on his face.
"Oh," Chuck said. He understand Darwin's embarrassment. "You and she are in love?"
"She's a friend and I think she likes Gerald and…" He trailed off and he looked down.
"No talk," Brody said and shook his head.
"Wait that means?" Chuck blinked when he realized that Gerald and Penny had already done the deed. "Okay I'm gonna stop."
"Gerald and Bill's daughter?" Clamp asked.
"She is attractive for a goblin," Forster added and coughed. "Forget I said that."
"No!" Valerie's cry came from inside.
"Valerie," Chuck cried out and ran to her. He found her sitting down in the middle of the floor and crying. "What's wrong?"
"I can't find him," Valerie said. "He is gone, Helix is gone."