Episode 1 - Pilot

"Hey, careful with that, it's a family heirloom." Sophia slowly raises her hands wincing when doing it. "I wasn't kidding when I asked for help, think one of the paramedics can come and check us over? I think I busted a few ribs."

Eshe tries not to bristle when the king points at them with overt hostility. They had been violent, but only because the gremlins had attacked them and besides the creatures were being a hazard to the town.
"On the subject of hurting and killing - you have been breaking things in town, and that has hurt people. It killed someone!" She shakes her head. "Finger pointing isn't going to get us anywhere.  I need to confer with my colleagues, a moment please."

Eshe nudges Mangas and takes a few steps away from the king, indicating that the large man should follow.
She takes out her phone to message Matthew and Sophia. We're still on a call together?! Mortified, Eshe tries to remember whether she had said or done anything particularly embarrassing since having started the call - nothing came to mind immediately.  But there was still time, she pinches the bridge of her nose, shaking her head slightly before straightening up.

"Matt, still there? Is Sophia with you?  We have made some progress..." Looking up at Mangas, she sighs, shaking her head again. "I think."

EXT. SCRAPYARD - NIGHT

The policewoman points her flashlight at the pile of scrap that was the gremlins' superweapon. Damaged as it was, and now fallen to the ground, it merely looks like a collapsed pile of scrap. "You're... structural engineers? Or from OSHA? Why do you have a spear? What matter are your 'companions' resolving and what do you mean by peacefully?"

She's clearly confused by the whole thing. She motions with her hand holding the flashlight before Matthew or Sophia can answer. "You know what. Never mind all that. We'll clear it up at the station. First, take the gun out of your holster, slowly, put it on the ground, and kick it away. Then, my partner is going to cuff you and I'll see to the young lady's injuries. Don't try anything, I don't want to have to shoot anyone today. Too much paperwork."

Eshe's voice comes through on Matt's phone at that point, but not loud enough for the officers to hear. Officer Sandra nods towards the phone. "And tell your friends to come out of wherever they're hiding with their hands up."

Sophia sights, and says loud enough for the phone to pick it up too.

"Sure, sure officer, but I didn't fucking break my ribs for nothing. So if it's all the same to you we are letting our associates finish the job s your backwater of a town doesn't get destroyed by a bunch of angry gremlins." She nods to the robot "That's your earthquake and the reason I'm all banged up."

"Time to regroup.  The king said his piece and we should discuss how, or if", she emphasises the latter option with a nod to Mangas whose opinion on the matter has been nothing if not consistent. "we meet his terms all together... somewhere more private.".

Matt sighed.

"As I said, we deal not so standard happenings. You know, random "earthquakes". Metal seeming to degrade and collapse out of nowhere. Gremlins about to destroy the town because a construction company tried to destroy their home in the scrapyard. You know. The not so standard stuff. I'm sure you had a lot of calls or complaints about sabotage or disruptions from the crew who were working out here? Maybe even some injuries. Our friends are currently negotiating with the gremlin king."

He had been watching her reaction the whole time, and to be fair, didnt expect much to change, but he was giving her the chance at least.

"Now you can let us finish our job and leave this town, or you wait and see what happens when that scrap pile is made back into a hulking, earthquake causing, walking disaster, and see what it does to your town."

He looked down at Sophia again.

"Regardless, hurry up and get an ambulance out here for my friend here, or her death will be on your hands, and it will be your fault because nobody will believe you when you say "gremlins did it"."

With that said he slowly reaches into his jacket and pulls his gun out, placing it on the ground before sitting cross legged next to Sophia, hands resting on his head.

Assuming the gremlins can sense as well, that he is not 100% human himself, answering the king Mangas says "Humans have this annoying habit of sticking their noses into every place, be it as useless as an old scrapyard. So we will discuss what we can do to keep them away. Until then, you guys have a lollipop, a cup of oil and chill the fuck out. Or at least don't kill anyone. We will be back in half an hour, human time. ", he starts walking away and then adds over his shoulder, "and you can already pack your bags, for the case there is no way we can keep them away. In that case you'll move to a farm." He smiles and wonders if the king knows what that euphemism stands for.

EXT. SCRAPYARD - NIGHT

The policewoman arches an eyebrow. "Right..." She moves closer and picks up Matt's pistol, then tucks it into her belt. She takes his phone. "This is Deputy Sandra Poole of the Natrona County Sheriff's department. Your friends have been taken into custody. Come out of the scrapyard with your hands up or we'll come in to get you." She ends the call and puts the phone in her pocket.

She takes the radio clipped to her shoulder and speaks into it. "Dispatch? This is 13-12. We have a 10-52 at the scrapyard. Requesting backup. Have 2 suspects in custody, but more may be in the area. Over."

The radio crackles. "Dispatch to 13-12. Roger that. Ambulance and additional units under way. Over."

"10-4. Over and out." Sandra lets go of her radio. "I'm going to get the first aid kit from my car, keep an eye on them," she tells the other officer, before walking away. She comes back a minute later with a red box, kneels down in the dirt next to Sophia and starts checking her wounds.

EXT. GREMLIN VILLAGE - NIGHT

As Eshe and Mangas walk away from the assembled Gremlins, a voice chimes up from Eshe's phone. "This is Deputy Sandra Poole of the Natrona County Sheriff's department. Your friends have been taken into custody. Come out of the scrapyard with your hands up or we'll come in to get you." The call then ends.

Before Eshe can give Mangas a disapproving look over the farm reference but not too disapproving, it was after all a very discrete threat all things considered Deputy Poole's voice comes across the line. Startled, her eyes widen, making her look very young, and afraid.  She steals herself, hoping that Mangas did not notice, and flashes him a cocky smile.
"Oh great, Natrona County's finest to the freakin' rescue."

Seldom in her life had police intervention ever been framed as a positive, and she was not hopeful that this time would be the exception.

Sophia suddenly feels the urge to roll her eyes but lets the woman check her injuries, at least they bought enough time for Eshe and Mangas, and by the sound of her over the phone, there was nothing they could do for now.

Mangas frowns. The last thing they needed is the police. They tend to make things so complicated with their procedures and they do not have the time. Plus what would they say? There are magical creatures, but only we can talk to them and likely they'll hide from you, so please believe us. Right! Like that ever worked.
He takes his pumpgun in both hands again and says to Eshe "We're on our own, let's deal with it. I don't need nosy police people. They tend to not like me."
It's true, the past had taught him to better stay away from the police or the local equivalent. People often sense his being different in an ominous, daunting way. For police that means he is usually at fault if something bad happens and he shows up. And bad stuff often happens around him. It's a work thing.

"We won't be on our own for long; the cops said that they are coming in. There are no good options, but getting caught between the popo and po-ha-mo", she glosses over her pronunciation of the name with a touch more grace than Ash Williams (klaatu barada nikto anyone?). "sounds extra bad."

Eshe looks to heavens, shaking her head and then sighs. "I can't believe that I am saying this, but I think that we should try to talk to the cops."

"And say what? They're just going to take us to the station and leave these little fuckers to go bonkers again. And once I'm in jail I tend to stay longer. No thanks."

"So you would rather what, exactly?" Eshe leans closer to Mangas, craning her neck to maintain eye contact.  "Fight the gremlins on their turf, while short-handed, immediately after having asked for some time to see if we can figure this out peacefully, and just hope that the cops don't show up in the meantime?"

Taken by surprise by the feisty reaction of the small woman, Mangas moves back his head involuntarily to gain distance.  "Okok... I just meant... What I wanted... Doesn't matter." he lowers the rifle and resolves to follow Eshe's lead.

EXT. SCRAPYARD - NIGHT

By the time Mangas, Eshe, and Becky make it out of the scrap maze, two more cop cars and an ambulance have arrived. The paramedics have seen to Matthew's superficial injuries and are busy getting Sophia onto a stretcher while two cops keep on eye on them. Sophia's spear has been retrieved and placed in one of the cops' cars trunk.

Deputy Sandra Poole approaches the trio exiting the maze with her hand on her pistol's grip. Another officer has taken position nearby and is pointing his gun at Mangas. Sweat is beading on his face and his eyes are wide. Eshe knows few things are as dangerous as a frightened cop. Becky grabs Eshe's hand and steps close to her, pressing against her leg. "Alright, big guy," Sandra says to Mangas in a calm, but firm voice, "I'm going to need you to drop the gun on the ground and take a few steps to your right, okay?"

Eshe gives Becky's hand a reassuring squeeze.
"I know it looks scary, but remember it is the responsibility of every single person here to keep you safe," she says reassuringly while pivoting to place herself squarely within the sight line of the frightened officer.
"Good evening ma'am," she says speaking to Sandra, trying to match her tone in composure if not firmness, but keeping her eyes on said officer.  "I remember you from when we arrived in town and my friend, the 'big guy' literally saved your life!  We're all reasonable people who have families and friends, and it's safe to say that we all want to bring the temperature down right now...  See? My friend is already putting down his gun as asked." Eshe does not look at Mangas when she says this, and simply hopes that he is still feeling open to following her lead. kinda late to change tactics now lmao she quiets her nervous internal laughter and continues to speak with a confidence that only she partially felt. "And we can all have a chat without having to worry about anyone's trigger discipline in the presence of a child."

Mangas looks at his gun with a mixture of regret and confusion. He looks around at the officer training his gun at him and the other officer with her hand on the holster. He thinks one he could get, maybe the second, too, should she be a bit slow to draw. But it would be a close call at best.
Knowing that his punch can deal enough damage that he does not depend on the rifle, he gently places down the gun and then stands still, his arms hanging limp on either side of his massive body, his face emotionless and his strange eyes seemingly staring into the distance. He stands still as if somebody turned him off, but inside he is ready to pounce. These cops don't know a thing about what's going on and are causing problems that seriously start pissing him off. He grinds his teeth.

Sandra visibly relaxes and motions to her colleague to lower his weapon. He does so, reluctantly, but the presence of a child seemed to have tempered his nervousness somewhat. "Good. Now, will one of you explain what happened and why you're here? Your friend over there," Sandra says pointing with her thumb over her shoulder at Matthew, "is being very uncooperative... or has taken a solid blow to the head... point is, he's not making much sense."

"They were looking for me!" Becky blurts out. Her eyes grow wide as she realizes she has just lied to a police officer. She swallows nervously. "I was... um... playing in here and... I got trapped! When one of the stacks collapsed..." She looks up at Eshe. "My... cousin... and her friends came looking for me..." She looks back at the cop and smiles unconvincingly.

Deputy Sandra Poole looks dubiously at the young girl. "I see..." She looks around at the scrap pile that was the gremlins' mech, at the destroyed office trailer, at the collapsed construction equipment, up at Mangas with something in her eyes like incomprehension at the scale of him, then finally at Eshe. "Right..." she says with the tone of someone who has had a very, very long day. She takes a deep breath to regain her composure. Sandra squats down to get to eye level with Becky. "You must have had quite a fright," she says with a much gentler voice. "Officer Smith is going to take you home, okay?"

"O-Okay," Becky says. She lets of Eshe's hand and goes with the policeman. She looks back and waves at Mangas and Eshe, before taking a seat in the police car. It drives away, followed by the ambulance taking Sophia to the hospital.

Deputy Poole has stood back up. She's back to being all business. "The paramedics are taking your friend to Wyoming Medical Center in Casper. You and your other friend look like you could use some medical attention. Maybe some tetanus shots. We can escort you there if you'd like. Either way, I will need to take down your names and check your IDs. We might have some more questions for you, so don't leave the county."

When Mangas hears the officer mention the ids he turns his head towards him in alarmed surprise. When he was a child there was no such thing as ids or birth certificates or registries.
He once had tried to claim that all his paperwork was burnt in a house fire. But the officials were adamant that he had to produce some kind of id or witness. Failing to do so, Mangas had moved on and never tried again. He has an id he once found, that very remotely resembles him. But height and eye color are off and the guy is (was?) from Mexico. Mangas is not very confident it will pass.
"Don't have mine on me. Just get my friends, I'll stick with them. Ah, shit, I forgot my..." he mumbles something incomprehensible "I will be right back." and he turns around to reenter the scrap maze.

Before Becky is taken away by the officer, Eshe kneels, hugs her closely and whispers.
"You are officially my most, favoritest cousin! What's your last name? I'd like to come find you and your mom in town once things are sorted here."

Surprised by Mangas' change in demeanor, she approaches him after having made a placating/beseeching gesture to Deputy Poole.
"Hey... We are wildly less screwed than we were - thanks for backing my play, by the way", she goes to place a hand on his shoulder, but does not unless he seems receptive (or at least not hostile) to being touched. "So, why do you seem so... so, well un-Mangas-y?"

"Told you, me and police always ends up complicated. I have no id, never have. They tend to not accept that."

"It might have gotten complicated for you alone, but now that you are a part of a team we should be able to minimize the BS. Matt has his *cough* shady *cough* agency that we can tap for help if shit hits the fan, and I can talk my way out of a lot." She laughs, her eyes bright with genuine mirth.  Being the Tricksters' Chosen demanded having a certain way with words that Eshe had had to develop very quickly.

"Anyhow, think about it"  She shrugs and looks towards the others. "I can try to buy you some time, and will let Matt and Sophia know what's up."

Another AKA wrote:

Before Becky is taken away by the officer, Eshe kneels, hugs her closely and whispers.
"You are officially my most, favoritest cousin! What's your last name? I'd like to come find you and your mom in town once things are sorted here."

Becky grins and hugs Eshe tightly. "It's Spring," she whispers in Eshe's ear. "Rebecca Spring. Thank you for not hurting them!" Becky says before letting go and going with the policeman.

+++

Deputy Poole huffs as Mangas walks away. "Hey! You can't go back in there, you're tresspass- goddamn it." She sees Eshe's placating gesture and gives her a Make It Quick look.

After giving the two hunters a minute, she approaches them and clears her throat to draw their attention. "Listen. I don't know what the hell this", she says, extending her hand, palm forward, towards them and moving it in a circular motion, "is, but I've had a long day, and I do owe the big guy my life, and a local kid says you saved her. So, I'll tell you what. I've got your SUV's plate number, your descriptions, and one of your friends is going to be in the hospital for a few days. If we need you, we'll find you. Sounds good?"

After being treated and making sure that Sophia was ok with the ambulance team, Matt had approached the deputy.

He had taken from his pocket a business card with his details, as well as his firearm carry license.

"Here you are Miss. If I could please have my and my companions weapons back please. And the directions to a motel if possible."

Deputy Poole takes the license and inspects it. She hands it back to Matthew and smiles, but he can see it is strained. "Sure, once you and your friends are off this private property, you can have your pistol and... spear... back. Now," she says and gestures towards the gate, "if you please."

Sandra Poole leads the hunters back to their SUV. Once they drive out of the scrapyard, the other county deputies close the gate and park their cruiser in front of it. Deputy Poole returns Matthew's gun and Sophia's spear, then gives Matthew directions to the motel 6 on the outskirts of Casper.

When the hunters drive away, Sandra leaves too, but the other policemen are still parked in front of the scrapyard's gate.

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT

A few hours later, Sophia has been patched up by the emergency room staff at the Wyoming Medical Center and put in a shared room. She lies in her bed while the others stand or sit around on the worn, disinfectant-smelling chairs. Thankfully, the other bed is empty, leaving the hunters plenty of room to accommodate Mangas' bulk and plenty of privacy to discuss their current quandary away from curious bystanders.

Only perceived by Sophia:

"So, the pohuaimos want to be left alone. Matt, can you pull something and declare the junk yard toxic, or secret, or cursed, or pink? Just something that noone wants to go there anymore."
He looks around and adds, "Or we just bop that 'king' on the head and be done with it."

Matt was looking out the window over the town in the room.

"Yeah I will give them a call and see what they can do..."

At that he leaves the room and finds somewhere quiet to make contact.

Matt finds somewhere quiet place and makes the call.

The call is answered and after a moment he hears a familiar voice, “Thank you for calling Sodo Consulting, how may I assist?”

“Matthew Leons, 9941, calling with report and recommendation.”

“Go ahead, 9941.”

“Threat designation: Gremlins. king present. Contact made. Injuries sustained. Threat level yellow if left alone. Orange if agitated. Recommendation local containment and monitor.”

“Report received. Stand by.”

The call is disconnected. He puts his phone away and heads back into the room.

“Done. Now we wait”

"Is not that bad, Liz," Sophia think to her, a groan escapes when she moves to fast to sit. "Though being on my feet right now instead of in pain would have been nice,"

When Matt comes back and tells them they just had to wait he just adds with a semi-pained tone in her voice, more because she remembers the troubles they have gotten from the agency than from her cracked ribs. "Did you tell them the Gremlins are sentient and agreeable to negotiate?"

Matthew's phone rings. When he answers, the voice on the other end is different than the one he had spoken to a few minutes earlier. While the previous voice is one he has heard many times, this one is new. It is somewhat deep, but of an uncertain gender.

"9941. Your recommandation doesn't match past responses to similar threats. Further information is required before we can approve or deny. Please provide additional context."

NightingaleJ wrote:

"Did you tell them the Gremlins are sentient and agreeable to negotiate?"

"Good question!  Especially since this all started because of human encroachment and that the spell to open a dialogue with them is so simple that a literal child could do it."
Eshe locks eyes with Mangas for a moment and seems to grapple with an internal conflict.
"Another question is, what is the game plan if the agency cannot or will not help?  I would rather not have to bring the fight to the gremlins, but it would be stupid of us not to at least consider that we might have to."

Matthew has listened to the voice and responded.

"Communication established. Consultants engaged in conversation with the king. Gremlins had established dwelling in scrapyard. When contractors came to start on project at scrapyard, dwelling was disturbed and gremlins start to defend their territory. Project currently at standstill and we were the first to enter the scrapyard in a while. Apart from 1 local, everybody else is unaware."

Matthew waited.

"Understood. Please hold." There is a long pause. Eventually, the voice comes back. "9941. Is continued communication possible in contractors' absence? If so, what's the expected return on investment?"

Another AKA wrote:

"Good question!  Especially since this all started because of human encroachment and that the spell to open a dialogue with them is so simple that a literal child could do it."
"Another question is, what is the game plan if the agency cannot or will not help?  I would rather not have to bring the fight to the gremlins, but it would be stupid of us not to at least consider that we might have to."

Sophia groans, this would be much easier if they could just get rid of the little shits doing this, but that wasn't the most honorable thing to do, and it would probably cause more trouble than it would solve.
"How about looking for another place for them to live, one away from people where they can't hurt them with their pranks. Warn them that those are the reason people wanted to get rid of them in the first place."

"From their perspective people are the problem, not them. And in a way they might be right: I mean we," she looks around the room with a rueful grin. "Are trying to get rid of them because of the danger that they pose to the town, but the townsfolk weren't even aware of them. But maybe if the other place is really awesome..."  She shrugs and sinks deeper into her chair, propping her feet on the edge of the bed.

"Here's hoping that the agency can come through for us." She raises both her hands slightly, showing crossed fingers.

"Good idea, I'll play the flute, we all dance and sing and walk the cutsie little buggers out of there...
Those things are monsters, they cannot control themselves..." Mangas lets himself feel the dreaded ever present dark cloud inside his mind. If they only knew how it is, they'd understand... He gets up with a jump and pushes the chair over in a flare of anger. "Damn it! We have to take care of them! The permanent way. Before it is too late!" He steps over to the window and stares into the distance, trying to calm down inside.

Eshe rights the chair, giving it a little spin on one leg before setting it down. She returns to her seat, slouching anew.
"If those gremlins act up before we get a handle on this, we'll do it your way, but 'til then... try to settle down, yeah?" She says, sinking a bit deeper into her seat.

and I'll be damned if we mess 'em up just cuz the big guy is feeling paranoid

Matthew thought for a moment.
"The contractors are currently scared away but knowing small towns, someone will try again eventually. Return on investment is red. High risk, high reward. Assuming cooperation can be established, and thats not to say something might agitate them in the future, and cause further issues. But if able to utilize as an asset, then high level of disruption, with high level of damage to metal based objects."

"Very well. Recommended response approved. Funds will be released for the acquisition of the contentious area. 9941, prepare a document detailing the procedure to communicate with the target and leave it at dead drop coordinates 42°54'53.6"N 106°19'49.9"W. You and your team are to cease all activities in Bar Nunn, relocate to Denver as soon as possible, and await your next assignment." The line cuts abruptly, without so much as a goodbye or a pat on the back.