Chapter 16,by C.J. Ruby (1-19-2007)

(Gabriela’s Banquete de la Caridad de Gasparilla, the generous Mr. Kannick, things get hairy at Gator’s.)

The ingenious Virtual Adept, Max Onyx, spends the morning of Feb. 9th, 1993 hard at work on some advanced cell phone technology.  He plans to give a phone to each of his friends so they can have instant communication with one another.  He wraps up around noon to go to the Hotel Napolie to help out with Gabriela Adagio’s first annual Banquete de la Caridad de Gasparilla.

A queue of Ybor City’s less fortunate is strung along the sidewalks at the gates of the Napolie’s grand courtyard where the afternoon’s event is being held.   Gabriela is standing at the gates greeting her guests when Max arrives.  “I was worried you couldn’t make it,” she exclaims upon Max’s appearance.  “I wouldn’t let you down Gabi,” he replies and goes on to take his place in the serving line.

Bradford dutifully scans the crowd for any disturbances or undesirables.  He touches Gabriela’s arm and points out Assistant Water Commissioner, Scott Hemple.  “He’s the man I investigated who is undoubtedly being influenced by some super-natural source, Madam,” he whispers in Gabi’s ear.  “Thank you,” she replies as they make their way through the crowd to greet the city official.  Mr. Hemple asks for some publicity photos with Gabriela, which she happily acquiesces to.  He then presents her with a generous check for Gabriela Adagio’s Caridad Foundation and makes his leave.  “We must keep an eye on that one Bradford,” she says.  “Assuredly,” replies Bradford. 

Gabriela spends the afternoon filtering through the crowd, greeting her guests, posing for pictures and signing an occasional autograph, all the while furtively scanning the Life signs of those at the gathering.  She passes health vouchers to those she finds with dire illnesses and directs them to healthcare workers who have volunteered for the occasion.

Ike Black (still suffering from his paradox flaw) shows up later in the afternoon and is congratulating Gabi on the success of her party when a very finely clad gentleman approaches them.  He introduces himself as Mr. Kannick. (He looks to be of Mediterranean origin and has a restrained accent.  Later Gabi learns it is Egyptian.)  Gabriela instantly sees an underlying stability of pattern in Mr. Kannick.  Macair who is nearby sees that his pattern has been shattered and then reformed. 

Mr. Kannick asks Gabriela a few questions about her event and if she plans to make it permanent.  She assures him that she’s all about creating things that will last.  He then presents her with a check for $75,000.  Gabi thanks him for his generosity and asks if he’ll be in town for Gasparilla.  He tells her he will be and she then invites him to attend her celebration parties here at the Napolie.  Mr. Kannick accepts and she assures him his name will be on the exclusive guest list.  Mr. Kannick tells her that he has watched her career ascend and wishes her well in her future artistic endeavors. 

Meanwhile Max has made a new acquaintance, Aline Johnson, who lives nearby in the slummier part of town.  They have a good talk while working in the serving line.

One more oddity during the event - one of the volunteers had an peculiar Life pattern.  The person shown as being completely healthy, but as far as Gabriela remembers no one followed up on this information.

                        *     *     *

2/10/93

Ike Black has a Hermetic meeting (boring, boring, boring) in Jacksonville and he pops over for the monthly affair.

                        *     *     *

Macair tells Uri about Mr. Kannick.  Uri says a pattern like the one described may have been from one who has been resurrected. 

                        *     *     *

Gator’s is throwing a Gasparilla barbeque that lasts into the night.  Gabriela is inside the bar doing shots of tequila with a biker named Mel Reynolds.  Ursula, Max, Macair, and Ike (who has rigged up a resourceful outfit composed of mirrored surfaces to combat the paradox flaw) are on the back patio enjoying the food and festivities. 

The sound of horseshoes on pavement disturb the night (shit!).  Five riders (you know who) appear. They are dressed as pirates (an appropriate disguise for Tampa at this time of year).  Gabriela is blissfully unaware of the commotion outside, she is much to engrossed with biker Mel.

The vampires engage in some menacing colloquy with our heroes on the patio when Jacek arrives in his convertible.  His large hound “Tabby” is riding in back seat, he growls at the undead riders and their ghoulish mounts.  Jacek and Dragonov confront one another with glares and Jacek moves a newspaper to expose an intimidating Desert Eagle.  Meanwhile Ursula gets into the passenger seat beside Jacek; Tabby licks her face in salutation.  The sleepers in the vicinity aren’t paying much attention to the scene. 

Macair eases across the street to the Napolie where he has some weapons stashed.  He seems to go unnoticed by the vampires, but on his way back to the street Bradford (who was taking his evening smoke in the courtyard) warns him to be careful.  The situation is tense, a Mexican standoff for now. 

Suddenly a fearsome howl pierces the hazy city sounds of the night.  Ursula and Max shiver with menace at the howl.  Ursula leans over to Jacek and says “Baby maybe we should get the hell out of here.”  For the moment he is still intent on Dragonov and ignores her when another howl, now much closer cuts through the tension of the moment.  The riders lose interest in the group and now are scanning the area for the source of the howl.  Dragonov shouts to Gallatin, “Something evil is on the wind.  Why did you allow it to track you?”  Gallatin insists that he did no such thing. 

Ursula sees a huge creature (a werewolf in crinos form) bounding from roof top to roof top, advancing towards the intersection next to Gator’s.  Gabriela’s spine tingles with trepidation, something is amiss.  She excuses herself and heads outside.  She observes the riders and her friends.   She sees Ursula in Jacek’s car (has a jealous moment, “That sleazy bitch,” she says under her breath).  Gabi then performs a Mind rote and looks into Ursula’s mind to instantly get caught up with the situation. 

The werewolf now overlooks the street.  Kaboom!!! One of the vampire’s gun explodes into flames (a catastrophic botch).  The vampire McNair is waving her hat at the flames on her clothing.  There are the pops of gunfire and Gabi sees the beast leap to the street knocking the vampire McNair from her mount.  Macair, armed with a shotgun, unloads a round silver buckshot into the beast which howls in pain.  The patio is a chaos of sleepers running in delusion at the sight of a creature from the world of their nightmares.  Gabriela crouches near the wall avoiding the crush.  She tries to perform a rote of mind-slowing on the creature, but seems to have no effect.

Tires screech and rubber burns as Jacek floors it and leaves the scene with Ursula.  “Those things give me the hives,” he explains as they maneuver through the backstreets of Ybor City to safety.  Ursula is just happy to be gone; she appreciates a heightened flight response to werewolves.        

The werewolf renews its attention to the injured vampire ripping a large chunk from her and casting her 15 yards into Gator’s patio.  A barrage of gunfire engulfs the savage beast as Mage and Vampire unite to destroy the enraged monster.  It ferociously counterattacks, but is overwhelmed by superior firepower.  It soon collapses to the street shrinking and transforming into the form of a large gore covered man. Macair, Max, Ike, and Bradford exit the scene before the cops arrive as do the riders who retrieve their fallen companion. 

Gabriela reenters Gator’s and is successful in calming the crowd with the aid of some Mind magick.  She also starts to influence what the crowd thought it perceived.  She convinces them that the strange rider’s where the cause of all the disturbance and that they alone killed the man who lies in street.  Gabi waits at Gator’s while the police interview the witnesses and she is observant incase any of the detectives are using Mind magick, but none seem to do so.

Later on as Gabriela relaxes on her balcony, enjoying a well earned nightcap and smoke, she wonders what other excitement is in store for her and her comrades during this Gasparilla season.