#plot drop 003.

On June 8th, 2125 at 8:27 a.m.,  Afterglow Research Solutions arranges a press release with WDER and The Daily Burn — after a week of working every minute of every hour of every day, Dr. Felix Estrada and the research teams at Afterglow laboratories are proud to announce that they have officially developed a viable antidote to the cicada toxin that promises a 95% success rate in eliminating the toxin from afflicted patients with very little in the way of adverse effects. There were five human casualties during clinical testing of the antidote. Families of those lost have been informed of their loved ones’ passing, the only explanation given being that the fatalities were a direct result of complications from the toxin. We offer our sincerest condolences, but there was nothing that could be done. No mention of the trials is made and, as a result, Afterglow Research Solution provides no compensation to the families of those affected.  Afterglow Research Solutions, in conjunction with the East Atlantic Governance, strongly advises that anyone exposed to the cicada toxin seek immediate treatment at the clinic in town or at the hospital facility on the compound. All doses of the antidote will be administered free of charge, an unspoken attempt by Afterglow PR to negate the negative press fostered by the corporation’s utter lack of solution at the start of the crisis. In spite of what was expected to be received as good news, the crowds of protesters that have gathered outside of the Afterglow Compound gates do not disperse with the announcement of an antidote, continuing to block the gates and demand answers. Why did it take so long to find a cure? Why are there not more details regarding the casualties resulting from the cicadas? Instead of answers, protesters are met with tear gas deployed by soldiers from the East Atlantic Army that remain posted along the wall surrounding the compound, an attempt to clear the gates for the ill and injured to get through. Members of the Silver Lining still present at the protests usher the crowd away from the gates and provide first aid to those hit by the gas.  The very same morning, several miles north  at the gates leading into the town of Burnington, a gruesome discovery is made. Five bodies, all strung up on the wall — they’re identified as Children of Mothman, two bearing the clear physical symptoms of the cicada attack and three others with visible bullet wounds indicating their demise — and each with a shamrock emblazoned on their chest. The Governance works quickly to remove the bodies once they’re discovered, but not before their remains are seen by hundreds — anyone attempting to enter the town, really, given the location chosen to display them. And with a bodies, a  clear message has been sent from the Shamrocks to the Children of Mothman so that there remains no question of the consequence of messing with the population of their town. EAG officials have yet to release any further statement regarding details on the identities of the victims or their cause of death but there are murmurs that the Night Mother will soon make an appearance to give a public response to the events.

                                                   PLOT DROP THREE. THE CITY.

WHEN: July 25th, 2003 (alternate) 

WHERE: 14th Precinct, Grimm City, MA. 

You are a detective at the 14th Precinct of Grimm City, Massachusetts. Something strange is happening in the city tonight, the phones have been ringing off the hook reporting multiple attacks. The spike in violence is completely unexpected, and to make things worse the power in the city seems to be fluctuating with multiple outages. The streets are parked up with abandoned cars and the chatter over the radio is overwhelming. 

You and a few uniformed officers are having trouble keeping track of everything that needs to be done. But your Captain has called the group of you into his office for an emergency debriefing. He’s told the group of you that the 22nd precinct is severely understaffed tonight and is being overrun by calls. The precinct is only a twenty minute walk away, and with the roads too blocked to drive you’ll have to go there on foot. 

You have been advised to carry your issued firearm and stay vigilant. Apparently, there are people out there randomly lunging at passersby and attempting to bite them. A few people have already been reported dead due to blood loss. 

Officer GREYSON and officer YANG have been tasked with keeping their weapons at the ready and escorting the rest of the team through the city during the power outage. It is there job to make sure none of the violent citizens of the city attack the team. The streets are currently flooded with people trying to make their way out of the city and across the bridges safely. Although, they have some difference in opinion on how to deal with any potential violence. Defense or offense is the question on a night like tonight. 

Officer LITTLE and officer STERN are more concerned with the question of how to get to the 22nd Precinct. Even though it’s a short walk, they would still be exposed on the dark city streets. Even though the streets are parked up with cars, there’s still a chance that a squad car could be woven through if done with enough finesse. It would mean added protection from potential attackers, but might not be possible and slow down the team unnecessarily. 

The first encounter happens to detective LOVELACE and detective CALDWELL. A young woman sprints past the group, fear in her eyes and blood dripping down her arm from her shoulder. She does a double take as she sees the unformed officers, as if she’s wondering whether to go to them for protection. But instead she breathlessly says ‘My mom - she’s -’ and points back the way she came. As the officers turn to look they see an older woman, shambling forward with surprising quickness. There is blood dripping from her mouth and her eyes are blank yet feral. She lunges towards them, teeth forward. 

Detective KӦHLER and Detective KHANI are the first to be attacked. While trailing behind the rest, a man in a torn suit jumps from an alleyway and sinks his teeth into Vanka’s wrist. Fortunately, officer YANG is able to fire a warning shot at the man, and then another shot to clip the attacker in the shoulder. The man recoils and stumbles away, leaving the team in shock. Vanka assures the team she is fine but Adazeh is concerned. 

They need to get the 22nd Precinct and quickly. It seems that the deeper they get into downtown, the more concentrated the hysteria gets. Walking through the dark, exposed, if they don’t get moving more and more people could get bitten. 

THE OBJECTIVE: Follow the chief’s orders and get to the 22nd Precinct. 

IN CHARACTER TIMEFRAME: Four hours.