Chapter 21: Plan in Motion
Chuck kept looking around as he and the rest of team Clamp continued their way towards Macy's. He glanced at each shop, determined how long it would take to clean it up and tried to figure how long would it take before they would reopen and therefore how long he would be without a job. He could get a security job somewhere else, but is that really what he wants to do with his life? Maybe he should go back to school, maybe take on some non-fiction writing classes as well. He could write a book based on all that he experienced that day.
"What do you think?" Clamp asked as he held out his arms. "About a month at most."
"Give or take a few days," Forster said. "There is still the matter of the destroyed flooring not to mention the hole on nearly every floor of the medical building."
"Hmmm that is a good point," Clamp said as he tapped his fingers against his head. "We will obviously restore that as well, but the eight floor will be used for something else." He turned to Valerie. "No offense, Val, but this is the second bad experience with a genetic lab. I could relocate you and the rest of your team somewhere else."
"I was invited to join the leukemia research team," Valerie said. "And I had been thinking about it and after seeing what kind of person Friedrich truly is than I am more willing to leave. I just hope I can help the others find new places to work."
"None of them are evil?" Clamp asked. "I mean none of them are mad scientists."
The sigh came not from Valerie but from Gene who shook his head.
"Each one are noble and intelligent and are trying to find new ways to improve our lives," Valerie explained. "Doctor Wilcox is trying to work on making better vegetables to fight world hunger, Doctor Lei has been working on finding ways to help those with Cleidocranial Dysplasia, Doctor Trainer has been working on a better internal sunblock for those who like him are albinos and those who have porphyria and polymorphous light eruption and he is also working on a hereditary project. I'd continue but your confused and non-caring expressions tell me you are not interested in learning more."
"I could always hear more," Chuck piped up. He was actually interested in what her team was working on and he didn't know such medical conditions existed before.
"Sure I might not understand what is going on but I'm not uninterested," Clamp said and turned to look at Forster who did look bored. "Oh she meant you."
They were interrupted by laughter from Darwin and Brody. The two of them were all cleaning up as fast as they could until Clamp and Forster had returned but they paused when they came across the Shoebox line of cards and couldn't stop laughing at them. They brought along a few of their favorites.
"I fail to see how this situation is a laughing matter," Forster said before turning to Clamp. "We will restore everything; maybe start a psychiatry practice on the eighth floor."
"Funny cards," Brody said as he handed one to Clamp. "See?"
"Oh hey a Maxine," Clamp said as he selected the card and read it. "Ha ha another great one." He closed it and tossed it. "We will laugh again later but now we have to wait for the others."
"They are here," Darwin said as he skipped ahead to meet with the others first. "Mr. Clamp and Mr. Forster have the stun guns."
"We have the chords and other electronics," Kate answered as she raised one of the bags she carried. "What's the next part?"
"Can you open the gate from this side?" Clamp asked as he stared at Chuck.
"No I can't," Chuck explained. "I do know the code that unlock all the gates but that has to be on the inside."
"Can we unlock the front door?" Lynn asked.
"That I can also do," Chuck said as the gears spun around in his head. He knew what they were getting at but as he looked at the goblins and gremlin he realized one small problem. "Well we humans can go outside and then enter the hotel but it's still daytime and."
"And we'll die," Gerald said. "I guess we'll just wait here then."
"Until I unlock it from the inside," Chuck said. "The rest of you can take some of the stuff and start heading down to the pool and I'll let the others in. We need everybody."
"Uh-huh," Gizmo said.
"Right," Gene added.
"That's some good thinking," Clamp held up a hand. "We who can handle the sun will go out, head towards the hotel and Chuck here will unlock it then we will head towards the pool area while Chuck helps the others inside."
"Is it wise to leave them without adult supervision?" Forster asked as he pointed towards the non-humans and didn't notice the way Gerald sunk his shoulders and lowered his ears.
"Excuse me but they have an adult," Kate said and placed her hands on her hips. "Gerald will watch everyone and keep them out of trouble."
"He can have my radio," Lynn said as she handed the black glossy two-way over to Gerald.
"We'll keep you informed," Gerald said. "Maybe the mogwai should stay with us, just in case?"
"Good idea," Valerie agreed before she brushed her fingers against the top of Gene's head. "Just to be safe mi pequeno carino."
"Be safe," Gene agreed as the pack he was in was handed to Darwin.
"Protect them, Giz," Kate said as she handed her pack to Gerald. "I know it sounds strange but he has saved the day."
"Billy has told me everything," Gerald told her. "We will be at the gate waiting."
"All right to the exit," Clamp said once the mogwai were handed over to the goblins. "Follow me." He took a few steps and paused. "I mean follow Chuck."
Chuck took a deep breath as they headed out.
Billy scowled at the display that was before him. The gate to the hotel was down and locked and a few scouts had informed him and Razor the same could be found at the hotel bar on the second level. He watched as the gremlins climbed the gate and were either trying to claw their way through or bite their way and none of that was working.
"Cant bite through," Razor growled.
"Could you be able to use your sharpness?" Billy asked as he gingerly tapped the elbow spikes on the other alpha.
"I try," Razor and struck at the metal gate with his elbow at first and then kneed several times before shaking his head. There was no damage at all.
"Can't get through the gate and we can't go outside, obviously can't get through the top then we will have to go
"Under." Both he and Razor said at the same time. They exchanged a grin and looked back at the crowd. The masked gremlin was still playing on the keyboard and several others were using chips to dip into the home made guacamole and salsa, but where was the mole?
"Where is the mole?" Billy demanded. "Your kings request his service."
"Bring dig dig," Razor added.
"Dig, dig, dig," the other gremlins chanted.
"Dig me dig," the words were said in a voice that was deeper than the other gremlins and framed in sniffling sounds. The shorter than average and dark green gremlin with smaller eyes, buck teeth, and whiskers approached slowly. "Me dig now?"
"Yes dig now," Razor instructed.
"Not too long," Billy added. "But wide, a big wide hole just for us to get inside, oh and deep enough so we can reach the pool."
"Me dig wide," the mole said before his large hands and claws plowed into the floor in front of the gate, sending chunks of tile and cement foundry flying. He swam into the ground before he changed his position and ploughed around in circles before he disappeared.
"Widen hole," Razor ordered and several gremlins who were closest to the hole picked up pieces of the former floor and tossed it aside, making the hole wider and cleaner.
"Looks like we can all get it," Billy said as he stared down into it. He looked at the gremlin who was closest to him and it was Garrison. He picked up the short albino and tossed him into the pit and earned laughter from both Chuckles, Butterball and several other gremlins. "Well, what do you see?"
"Hole," Garrison answered. "See long hole." They could hear him trying to move. "I see below me. I see weights and bikes and carpet. I see Bowflex. I see mole sleep."
"There must be a gym under there also," Billy said. "The pool is also down there, probably next to it, and that lazy gremlin is snoozing again."
"Yes," Razor agreed. "Everyone follow." He jumped down into the depression followed by his goons and then three other gremlins, then five more until everyone was knocking over everyone else to stream down inside.
Billy stepped aside to let his subjects enter first. He didn't mind to bring up the rear and if he was the last one in then that would mean there would be several gremlins for him to land on. He did look away from the crowd when he heard a sigh and noticed the way the masked gremlin was looking at his keyboard.
"You will have to leave it for now," Billy told him. "You can always come back to it."
The masked gremlin sighed once more before he joined the others. He looked around to see if there were other stragglers and paused when he thought he saw movement behind a kiosk shop that was several feet away. He blinked because he wasn't sure if it was a gremlin or not. He pretended to look away and then glanced over his shoulder and yes he was being watched, but by who or what? Was it that egghead? Was it a different gremlin that wasn't fully committed to following him? Was it another goblin? It could be Gerald or Darwin, both who still side with the humans.
"Don't know who you are," Billy hissed under breath. "But we are about to win." He flipped them a finger before he followed the others into the ground. It was wide and deep enough for him and a bit dusty. He sneezed as he crawled along and grabbed at the edge before he lowered himself into the gym and as he had hoped there were hundreds of gremlins running around.
"King Billy," one shouted.
Billy released his grip and fell a few feet only to be caught by several gremlins.
"To the pool!" He cried out.
"The hotel should be this way," Gerald said as he led his team. "This is team non-human over to team Clamp do you read?"
"This is team Clamp," the billionaire's voice was heard on the other end. "Chuck is unlocking the front right now. Got a bit of a problem with some reporters but both Forster and Futterman is taking care of it oh and Val's scientist pals are also blocking off the media from talking with us."
"Sorry about that," Gerald said and was glad he had to stay inside. The media would have a field day with him and the others.
Penny gasped as she was about to turn the corner first and jumped back before holding up her arms to keep everyone else back.
"What is it?" Darwin asked her.
"Gremlins," Penny answered. "Lots of them."
"Against the shoe store," Gerald ordered everyone to press against the glass display window before he peered around the corner and she was right. He could see hundreds of the little creatures and some of them were climbing down from the hotel gate.
"What do we do?" Penny asked.
"Stay quiet," Gerald said as he held up a hand. "I have to let the others know." He brought the radio to his mouth. "This is Team Non-human and we have enemy gremlins in our site. They are at the gate."
"We hear you," Clamp said. "Keep a good eye on them."
"On it," Gerald answered and looked at the enemy. He could see pieces of debris flying. "Okay we are going to try and move in closer. On three we run over to the Dipping Dots. Ready, one, two, three."
They all raced over to the ice cream stand on all fours and gathered around before Gerald looked around that place. The debris was still flying and then it stopped. He could see something, a tall gremlin like being with a cloak and a crow—that was Peltzer and for some reason he was throwing a pale almost white gremlin down.
"I see him," Gerald whispered. "I see, Billy."
"Do we stay here?" Darwin asked.
"Wait for it," Gerald said as he watched the crowd and he could see gremlins climbing down. "They are descending into something, maybe they figured out a way to dig under the gate?" He looked again and at the nearest kiosk that was selling brushes. "Again on three towards the brush kiosk. One, two, three."
They bolted again and gathered behind the kiosk and squatted.
"This is Team Clamp," the voice returned and Gerald had turned it down. "We are about to enter."
"And they are entering as we speak," Gerald said as he watched as the crowd grew smaller and smaller. Nobody was paying them any attention.
"Do we move again?" Penny asked.
"Again on three to the next kiosk," Gerald commanded. "One, two, three." Once again they grew even closer to the crowd as the hid behind a different kiosk, one that sold jewelry.
"I see daddy," Penny said as she looked around first and then ducked back. "Why is he wearing a crown?"
"Shhh," Gerald held a claw to his lips before he gently pulled her back and looked and she was right Peltzer was wearing a plastic crown on his head. Where he got it and why were the furthest questions from his mind. He watched as Peltzer approached a different gremlin who was standing in front of a keyboard.
"Billy?" Gizmo asked.
"I think he is trying to pretend to be on their side," Gerald said to them. "He is leading them to his trap." He looked back and had to duck again. He could of swore that Peltzer was staring back at him.
"What is it?" Darwin asked.
"Nearly got sighted," Gerald said. If Peltzer could see him then so can the others. "I have to be more careful." He looked again.
Peltzer was alone and had his back turned for a few seconds before he turned his head and then held up his hand and flipped the bird before climbed down into the hole.
"Really?" Gerald asked.
"What happened?" Darwin asked.
"He gave me the finger," Gerald said and noticed the way Gizmo had lowered his ears and gasped. "Yeah I know that is something he never does."
"Why do it?" Brody asked.
"Either criticizing my skills of espionage or pretending to go with the fake bad boy image at least I think it's fake, right?" He looked down at Gizmo who nodded. He hoped Billy was pretending and not succumbing to his new second nature. He looked again and there was no one there. "Okay we have to move."
He bolted first from behind their cover and ran towards the hotel. He could hear the others race behind him and paused before he fell into the freshly dug hole. He could hear the distant sounds of gremlins as they grew even further away.
Footsteps caused him and the others to freeze and he looked up and relaxed when he saw that it was Chuck running up towards them on the other side of the gate.
"They are already on their way," Gerald said.
"So are the others," Chuck said as he walked to the side of where they were. "Going to unlock it right now."
"No, go join the others," Gerald said. "We'll also take this route." He pointed to the pit.
"Are you sure?" Chuck asked. "You don't know what's on the other side."
"Chance we will have to take." He looked over to the others. "I'll go in first." He looked down into the hole and then up at the gate as Chuck ran away. He took a deep breath. It was go time.