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Fandom: Media X-over!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters and aren't making any cash off this. It's just for fun.
Author's Notes: See the notes after the fic if you can't figure out who's who.
San Francisco - April 1979
They had rented a private room in a small Pan-Asian restaurant and chosen to discuss events over dim sum and warm saki. Three battered old men and a tired old woman. Ann felt a flash of irritation that, of the four of them, she was the only one who needed a cane to get around. Not that any of them would dare make an issue of it.
“So,” said Mister C, “tell us about Chatsworth.”
“You’ve all read the reports,” said Ann. “Do I need to rehash it for you?”
“Reports go into filing cabinets and record rooms, Director MacGregor,” said Blake. He was the oldest of the four, the most blunt. “Do you really think we’ll be able to help assess the damage to the DOG with just dusty, dry facts?”
“Perhaps we should be interviewing the team,” suggested the Major.
“No,” said Ann, firmly. “They’ve been through quite enough already without us picking apart their reactions.”
“Aren’t you being just a little overprotective, Director MacGregor?” asked Mr. C.
“No. Those people have been through hell, gentlemen. I won’t put them through an inquiry unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
Blake frowned. “What if the council thinks a formal inquiry is necessary?”
Ann drew a breath. “Then I would have no choice but to invoke my director’s privilege and call on the entire senior assembly to review the matter.”
“You would take it that far to protect these people?” asked Blake. He sounded impressed despite himself.
“I would,” said Ann.
“Director MacGregor,” said Mr. C, very softly, “please tell us, in your own words, what happened in Chatsworth.”
“It was meant to be purely exploratory,” said Ann. “Our instruments had detected certain anomalies that we felt warranted closer investigation. I sent in my lead team.”
The Major consulted a small spiral notebook. “Consisting of five individuals: Doctor Rhodes, Mr. Banacek, Mrs. Burton, Mr. Kolchak and Mrs. Stephens.”
Ann nodded.
Blake frowned. “This Mrs. Stephens was in command. What sort of leader is she?”
“Level-headed. Experienced. She’s been with the group almost seven years.”
“What did they find in Chatsworth?” asked Mr. C. He toyed with a bottle of saki.
“More than we anticipated,” admitted Ann. “They discovered a number of vandalized graveyards in the area. Bodies missing. A sloppy coverup involving the local authorities.”
“What was their initial assessment?” asked the Major. “Vampires? Zombies?”
“Neither,” said Ann. “They were able to ascertain that the dead had not broken out of their graves. No, it appeared that the graves had been dug up and the bodies removed.”
“By this undertaker and his minions,” said Blake.
“The Tall Man,” said Ann.
“They attempted to determine his goals,” said the Major. “That’s when things went pear-shaped?”
“Yes,” said Ann. “Doctor Rhodes was killed.”
“As were several civilians,” added Blake, in a chastising tone.
Ann fought the urge to throw her saki at the man.
“Yes.”
“Then they bugged out,” said Blake.
“They had a fatality and an injury,” said Ann. “They were in no shape to continue the confrontation.”
“So they contacted you,” said Mr. C, “and you contacted the military.”
“Yes. I thought that the threat presented by the Tall Man could best be dealt with by the military.”
“But the resolution of the conflict remains undetermined,” said the Major.
“After-action teams sent into Chatsworth confirmed the initial team’s assessment. We found evidence of non-terrestrial technologies, including a crude dimensional gate and the sentinel-spheres responsible for the death of Doctor Rhodes.”
“But no sign of this Tall Man or his dwarf minions,” said the Major.
“We believe they fled through his gate, back to his homeworld,” said Ann.
“Do you believe he’ll return?” asked Mr. C.
“If he does, we’ll be ready for him,” said Ann. “We have the energy profile of his gate and we’ve shared it with out overseas counterparts. If the Tall Man returns we’ll know about it.”
“How is your team doing?” asked Blake.
“They’re shattered,” said Ann. “Mr. Banacek’s resignation from the group is pending, as is Mrs. Burton’s.”
Ann looked down at her hands, frowning.
“She spent a prolongued amount of time in psychic contact with the Tall Man. That encounter has left Mrs. Burton in an extremely fragile state. It’s doubtful she’ll ever be able to use her psychic gifts effectively again.”
“What about the other two?” asked the Major. “Mrs. Stephens and Mr. Kolchak?”
“I’ve placed them both on extended leave,” said Ann. “Kolchak seems to be bouncing back, but the fact he hasn’t tried to file a single news story about Chatsworth is disturbing. As for Mrs. Stephens? This is the first mission she’s led where things have gone so badly.”
“Is she cracking?” asked Blake, bluntly.
“No,” said Ann. “She blames herself for what happened, for not calling the mission when she felt she should have, but she isn’t cracking up.”
“Good,” said the Major. “The DOG needs people like her.”
“I know,” said Ann. “Is there anything else you want to know?”
“Just one thing,” said Blake.
Ann waited.
“If you had to send them into that situation again,” said Blake, “would you do it?”
“Doctor MacGregor. This is a surprise.” She stepped aside, gestured Ann forward. “Please, come in.”
Ann had never been to Mrs. Stephens’s home. She made a point of not intruding too deeply on her agents’ personal lives if at all possible.
Mrs. Stephens’s apartment was modestly, albeit tastefully, furnished. She led Ann into a small living area, gestured at the couch.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, thank you,” said Ann. She shifted on the couch, resting her hands on her cane. “You have a lovely home.”
“It suits me,” said Mrs. Stephens. She settled herself in a nearby chair, regarded Ann with feline grace. “But I don’t think you stopped by to compliment me on my decor, doctor.”
“I just came from a meeting with the advisory committee,” said Ann. “They wanted to discuss what happened in Chatsworth.”
It was like a light switched off behind Mrs. Stephens’s eyes. “I see.”
“They were particularly interested in your performance.”
Samantha frowned. “I see.”
“I don’t think you do,” said Ann. She leaned forward, regarded Samantha with a cool gaze. “You’re aware that my term as director ends this December?”
“Yes,” said Samantha.
“I’ve submitted your name to the council as my successor, Mrs. Stephens.”
Samantha gaped. “Me?”
“Yes. That’s why the advisory committee was so interested in your performance during and after the incident in Chatsworth. I don’t want to alarm you, Mrs. Stephens, but from this point on every command decision you make is going to be reviewed by the higher ups with a magnifying glass and a fine tooth comb.”
“I see,” said Samantha, still trying to absorb this news.
“Of course,” continued Ann, “you can refuse the nomination if you like. However, I think you would make an excellent director.”
“What does the advisory committee think?” asked Samantha.
Ann snorted. “They’re a trio of old men. They probably think you and I should be home baking cookies and waiting on our husbands, hand and foot.”
The corner of Samantha’s mouth twitched. “They don’t care for your selection.”
“No, not really. Which is why I came by to let you know what’s going on. Are you interested in the directorship?”
“It’s not something I ever honestly considered,” admitted Samantha. “I always though Michael Rhodes would be a shoe-in for the position.”
Ann said nothing. She sat on the couch and waited, watching the pretty blonde woman seated across from her.
“I suppose that I am interested,” admitted Samantha. She looked at Ann and smiled. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” warned Ann, rising to her feet. “Like I said, they’re going to be watching you like a hawk, questioning every decision you make.”
Samantha’s smile was cool and confidant. “I’ve handled witch-hunts before, Doctor MacGregor. I’ll be fine. But thank you for the warning.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you in a month, Mrs. Stephens.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Ann made her way to the apartment door, where she hesitated. “And even though you’re on leave, you may want to give some thought to who you’d like on your new team.”
“Oh.” A shadow crossed Samantha’s face. “Yes. Of course.”
“Life goes on, Mrs. Stephens,” said Ann, gently. “Even for people like us.”
She stepped out of the apartment and made her way, slowly, down the hallway toward the elevator. While she waited for the car to arrive, Ann offered a silent prayer that she hadn’t ruined Samantha Stephens’s life with her nomination.
She forced that thought aside as the elevator arrived.
Author’s Notes:
This fic deals with the aftermath of a DOG mission that went very, very badly. So, who’s who?
Doctor Ann MacGregory, the current director of the DOG, was one of the key scientists at Project Tick-Tock from the television series, The Time Tunnel.
The members of the advisory committee she meets with in a San Francisco restaurant are veteran members of the DOG. They are: Barney Blake (from Barney Blake, Police Reporter), Major Dell Conway (from Major Dell Conway & The Flying Tigers) and Thomas Hewitt Edward Cat (from THE Cat).
The villain of the piece is the Tall Man, from the movie, Phantasm.
The DOG team he decimated consists of: Doctor Michael Rhodes from The Sixth Sense; Samantha Stephens from Bewitched; Karl Kolchak from Kolchak: The Nightstalker; Thomas Banaceck from the Banaceck detective series, and Sally Burton, one of the lead characters from The Girl With Something Extra.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters and aren't making any cash off this. It's just for fun.
Author's Notes: See the notes after the fic if you can't figure out who's who.
AFTER THE TALL MAN
A Denied Operations Group Story
A Denied Operations Group Story
San Francisco - April 1979
They had rented a private room in a small Pan-Asian restaurant and chosen to discuss events over dim sum and warm saki. Three battered old men and a tired old woman. Ann felt a flash of irritation that, of the four of them, she was the only one who needed a cane to get around. Not that any of them would dare make an issue of it.
“So,” said Mister C, “tell us about Chatsworth.”
“You’ve all read the reports,” said Ann. “Do I need to rehash it for you?”
“Reports go into filing cabinets and record rooms, Director MacGregor,” said Blake. He was the oldest of the four, the most blunt. “Do you really think we’ll be able to help assess the damage to the DOG with just dusty, dry facts?”
“Perhaps we should be interviewing the team,” suggested the Major.
“No,” said Ann, firmly. “They’ve been through quite enough already without us picking apart their reactions.”
“Aren’t you being just a little overprotective, Director MacGregor?” asked Mr. C.
“No. Those people have been through hell, gentlemen. I won’t put them through an inquiry unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
Blake frowned. “What if the council thinks a formal inquiry is necessary?”
Ann drew a breath. “Then I would have no choice but to invoke my director’s privilege and call on the entire senior assembly to review the matter.”
“You would take it that far to protect these people?” asked Blake. He sounded impressed despite himself.
“I would,” said Ann.
“Director MacGregor,” said Mr. C, very softly, “please tell us, in your own words, what happened in Chatsworth.”
“It was meant to be purely exploratory,” said Ann. “Our instruments had detected certain anomalies that we felt warranted closer investigation. I sent in my lead team.”
The Major consulted a small spiral notebook. “Consisting of five individuals: Doctor Rhodes, Mr. Banacek, Mrs. Burton, Mr. Kolchak and Mrs. Stephens.”
Ann nodded.
Blake frowned. “This Mrs. Stephens was in command. What sort of leader is she?”
“Level-headed. Experienced. She’s been with the group almost seven years.”
“What did they find in Chatsworth?” asked Mr. C. He toyed with a bottle of saki.
“More than we anticipated,” admitted Ann. “They discovered a number of vandalized graveyards in the area. Bodies missing. A sloppy coverup involving the local authorities.”
“What was their initial assessment?” asked the Major. “Vampires? Zombies?”
“Neither,” said Ann. “They were able to ascertain that the dead had not broken out of their graves. No, it appeared that the graves had been dug up and the bodies removed.”
“By this undertaker and his minions,” said Blake.
“The Tall Man,” said Ann.
“They attempted to determine his goals,” said the Major. “That’s when things went pear-shaped?”
“Yes,” said Ann. “Doctor Rhodes was killed.”
“As were several civilians,” added Blake, in a chastising tone.
Ann fought the urge to throw her saki at the man.
“Yes.”
“Then they bugged out,” said Blake.
“They had a fatality and an injury,” said Ann. “They were in no shape to continue the confrontation.”
“So they contacted you,” said Mr. C, “and you contacted the military.”
“Yes. I thought that the threat presented by the Tall Man could best be dealt with by the military.”
“But the resolution of the conflict remains undetermined,” said the Major.
“After-action teams sent into Chatsworth confirmed the initial team’s assessment. We found evidence of non-terrestrial technologies, including a crude dimensional gate and the sentinel-spheres responsible for the death of Doctor Rhodes.”
“But no sign of this Tall Man or his dwarf minions,” said the Major.
“We believe they fled through his gate, back to his homeworld,” said Ann.
“Do you believe he’ll return?” asked Mr. C.
“If he does, we’ll be ready for him,” said Ann. “We have the energy profile of his gate and we’ve shared it with out overseas counterparts. If the Tall Man returns we’ll know about it.”
“How is your team doing?” asked Blake.
“They’re shattered,” said Ann. “Mr. Banacek’s resignation from the group is pending, as is Mrs. Burton’s.”
Ann looked down at her hands, frowning.
“She spent a prolongued amount of time in psychic contact with the Tall Man. That encounter has left Mrs. Burton in an extremely fragile state. It’s doubtful she’ll ever be able to use her psychic gifts effectively again.”
“What about the other two?” asked the Major. “Mrs. Stephens and Mr. Kolchak?”
“I’ve placed them both on extended leave,” said Ann. “Kolchak seems to be bouncing back, but the fact he hasn’t tried to file a single news story about Chatsworth is disturbing. As for Mrs. Stephens? This is the first mission she’s led where things have gone so badly.”
“Is she cracking?” asked Blake, bluntly.
“No,” said Ann. “She blames herself for what happened, for not calling the mission when she felt she should have, but she isn’t cracking up.”
“Good,” said the Major. “The DOG needs people like her.”
“I know,” said Ann. “Is there anything else you want to know?”
“Just one thing,” said Blake.
Ann waited.
“If you had to send them into that situation again,” said Blake, “would you do it?”
* * * * *
Samantha Stephens opened the apartment door on the second knock. If she was surprised to see Ann, she hid her reaction well.“Doctor MacGregor. This is a surprise.” She stepped aside, gestured Ann forward. “Please, come in.”
Ann had never been to Mrs. Stephens’s home. She made a point of not intruding too deeply on her agents’ personal lives if at all possible.
Mrs. Stephens’s apartment was modestly, albeit tastefully, furnished. She led Ann into a small living area, gestured at the couch.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, thank you,” said Ann. She shifted on the couch, resting her hands on her cane. “You have a lovely home.”
“It suits me,” said Mrs. Stephens. She settled herself in a nearby chair, regarded Ann with feline grace. “But I don’t think you stopped by to compliment me on my decor, doctor.”
“I just came from a meeting with the advisory committee,” said Ann. “They wanted to discuss what happened in Chatsworth.”
It was like a light switched off behind Mrs. Stephens’s eyes. “I see.”
“They were particularly interested in your performance.”
Samantha frowned. “I see.”
“I don’t think you do,” said Ann. She leaned forward, regarded Samantha with a cool gaze. “You’re aware that my term as director ends this December?”
“Yes,” said Samantha.
“I’ve submitted your name to the council as my successor, Mrs. Stephens.”
Samantha gaped. “Me?”
“Yes. That’s why the advisory committee was so interested in your performance during and after the incident in Chatsworth. I don’t want to alarm you, Mrs. Stephens, but from this point on every command decision you make is going to be reviewed by the higher ups with a magnifying glass and a fine tooth comb.”
“I see,” said Samantha, still trying to absorb this news.
“Of course,” continued Ann, “you can refuse the nomination if you like. However, I think you would make an excellent director.”
“What does the advisory committee think?” asked Samantha.
Ann snorted. “They’re a trio of old men. They probably think you and I should be home baking cookies and waiting on our husbands, hand and foot.”
The corner of Samantha’s mouth twitched. “They don’t care for your selection.”
“No, not really. Which is why I came by to let you know what’s going on. Are you interested in the directorship?”
“It’s not something I ever honestly considered,” admitted Samantha. “I always though Michael Rhodes would be a shoe-in for the position.”
Ann said nothing. She sat on the couch and waited, watching the pretty blonde woman seated across from her.
“I suppose that I am interested,” admitted Samantha. She looked at Ann and smiled. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” warned Ann, rising to her feet. “Like I said, they’re going to be watching you like a hawk, questioning every decision you make.”
Samantha’s smile was cool and confidant. “I’ve handled witch-hunts before, Doctor MacGregor. I’ll be fine. But thank you for the warning.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you in a month, Mrs. Stephens.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Ann made her way to the apartment door, where she hesitated. “And even though you’re on leave, you may want to give some thought to who you’d like on your new team.”
“Oh.” A shadow crossed Samantha’s face. “Yes. Of course.”
“Life goes on, Mrs. Stephens,” said Ann, gently. “Even for people like us.”
She stepped out of the apartment and made her way, slowly, down the hallway toward the elevator. While she waited for the car to arrive, Ann offered a silent prayer that she hadn’t ruined Samantha Stephens’s life with her nomination.
She forced that thought aside as the elevator arrived.
The End
Author’s Notes:
This fic deals with the aftermath of a DOG mission that went very, very badly. So, who’s who?
Doctor Ann MacGregory, the current director of the DOG, was one of the key scientists at Project Tick-Tock from the television series, The Time Tunnel.
The members of the advisory committee she meets with in a San Francisco restaurant are veteran members of the DOG. They are: Barney Blake (from Barney Blake, Police Reporter), Major Dell Conway (from Major Dell Conway & The Flying Tigers) and Thomas Hewitt Edward Cat (from THE Cat).
The villain of the piece is the Tall Man, from the movie, Phantasm.
The DOG team he decimated consists of: Doctor Michael Rhodes from The Sixth Sense; Samantha Stephens from Bewitched; Karl Kolchak from Kolchak: The Nightstalker; Thomas Banaceck from the Banaceck detective series, and Sally Burton, one of the lead characters from The Girl With Something Extra.
