Snippet #2766589

From outside, a commotion could be heard coming from within the tent, the voices muffled. To passers by, it sounded as though someone was being murdered… but no-one stopped to investigate. For the simple reason that murders were all the rage in this part of town. In fact, they were so common that you could get them to order... and they usually came with a side of chips!
However, if someone had been foolhardy enough to look inside the large, circus style marquee, they would indeed, have witnessed a scene of utter carnage. Several Rats were dead, and Lawrence was pinned to the thick, black canvas with his feet dangling, by a seemingly invisible force! “You let her ESCAPE!!!?” Tesslar roared, his paw outstretched, staff pointing at Lawrence's chest!
“S-Sir…!” Lawrence tried to explain, though it was hard for him to talk- the force was slowly crushing his ribs! “She… she had a friend with her! A Jellicle...!”
That took Tesslar's mind off crushing the man like a coke can for a moment! He paused, arm still outstretched... “A Jellicle you say?” he said thoughtfully. “And... what exactly did this... Jellicle, look like?”
“S-S-Silver... black... tabby stripes! There was also a man with them…!”
“I see. That is… most intriguing...” The Fiend let go of the man, simply letting him fall to the ground in a heap, as he waved the staff and, moments later, a hologram computer screen appeared before him. “Evilyne!” he barked.
There was no answer (and Tesslar's eyes began to glow red!) “EVILYNE!!!” he roared. “Kindly answer me, you useless pile of junk!”
“What do you want?” The computer snapped in a monotone, staccato voice that sounded vaguely female. “I was halfway through upgrading my systems, I shall have you know. Now I shall have to start again. You bastard.”
“I don't care if you were filing your nails!” Tesslar snarled. “I want the names and faces of all the Silver tabbies this side of Terra! And make it snappy!”
The computer appeared to sigh moodily, and, a few, excruciating minutes later, thumbnails began to appear on the screen… over twenty thousand of them!
“Now Lawrence,” said Tesslar. “I need you to be a little more specific. Let's start with: Was it male?”
“Yes sir,” Lawrence quickly replied, and ten thousand thumbnails instantly vanished.
“Height?”
“Around 7,3.”
“Fur. Long or short?”
“Long, Sir.”
“Eye colour?”
“Green.”
“Breed?”
“A definite mix. Not a pedigree. At a push I'd say Maine Coon or Norwegian forest, with a bit of Balinese thrown in.” At that, only five thumbnails remained, and, still holding his ribs, Lawrence pointed to one, “That's him, Sir! That's definitely him!”
Tesslar enlarged the picture, and stood, staring at it for a long time. “Computer! Information on this individual please!” he barked again.
“Need I remind you that my name is Evilyne!” it replied moodily.
“Oh just get on with it, you virus infected Potato! Before I deep fry your hard drive!”
“Munkustrap Grayhame: assassin, status: mentor. Last known location: Gambit’s Bar…” As the computer listed off everything it had on the individual (including his birth date, star sign and family members... all the way down to his favourite childhood cuddly toy) Tesslar stroked the beard-like fur on his chin.
“So?” he mused. “Munkustrap Grahame, eh? My nephew’s killer? Residing here? In Wing City? Well, well, well! That is a turn up for the books. What electronic devices does he have on his person?"
"Target 197 carries a mobile wrist device. A Samsung Wristphone."
"Hmmm. Perhaps I will not kill you after all Lawrence! At least, not today! Computer! Track his phone, pinpoint his location!”
The computer was silent for another few ions (or what seemed like it anyway!) while on the screen, a circular throbber rotated around and around and around... "Negative," Evilyne said (after about ten minutes!) "Target out of range. Do you wish to retry?"
"No just forget it... Yes of course retry you idiotic machine! And keep trying until you locate him!"
Then he proceeded to interrogate the Mage for information on the other man (the one who had helped Jazzei to escape) and when Kurt Bannon's face appeared, Tesslar started to laugh. An evil, insane laugh that reverberated around the marquee and sent icy shivers down the spines of all those present… including a Red Somali queen, who was listening in the shadows...
The laugh was soon followed by a frenzie of stentorian orders, “LAWRENCE! Take your men and search the city! I want the girl AND Munkustrap. Both together! Preferably alive! However, you may kill the old man at your leisure! And don't you DARE fail me this time, Lawrence! Or I will change my mind about NOT turning you into a dust cushion...!”
"Oh, and one more thing," he added, just as Lawrence was about to disappear out of the canvas door faster than bat out of Hell. "Try not to get followed this time! I don't really want to have to kill anymore policemen. They made a frightful mess of my front porch!"