Episode Two:
Welcome to the Burrow
The group meets that evening at a nightclub called The Inferno to discuss the odd occurances. Josh relates that he has quite a bit of esoteric knowledge and has known for a little while that demons exist. He explains that the Tennessee Valley is considered sacred land by the Native Americans and is considered Unholy. In fact, until the white man came, no tribe lived here for several hundred years and it was referred to as "The Dark and Bloody Ground". Astrid seems reluctant to talk, but does admit that she is also aware of demonic activities on Earth. Agent Goode doesn't seem surprised at this notion, but doesn't elaborate further. Stephanie and Leroy seem to be the only one's surprised by all this. Stephanie feels it is her responsibility as a police officer to protect her town. Leroy just thinks it's really cool!
The following morning, Astrid is taking her morning constitutional when she hears a strange buzzing coming from the direction of the intra-mural fields. Looking that direction, she sees a red light, flying away from the fields, drop something. Deciding to check it out, Astrid finds the body of a student, apparently dropped from a great height. After calling the police and giving a (slightly sanitized) report, she gathers the group and they discuss the ramifications.
Stephanie and Agent Goode are able to bluff their way into the autopsy while the rest of the gang continue their academics. Later in the day, after comparing notes, the group realize that some sort of giant insect is killing people and draining their spinal fluid. Records indicate similar deaths occuring roughly every 50 years. Josh is even able to put a name to it - Vermuscas
After a couple of failed attempts to find the bug, the group manages to appropriate some red lights from the Theatre Department and a tracking device from the Zoology Department and set a trap. Sure enough, the giant insect goes for the ruse and Stephanie is able to attach the tracker right before the insect flies away. Chasing the creature to its lair - a swamp, our heroes wade in after it, with gasoline, flare gun, and other assorted goodies.
In the final battle, Astrid is fairly severly wounded, and Josh gets taken for a flight. Fortunantly, Josh is able to injure the Vermuscas enough to get loose. Unfortunantly, getting free from a flying creature makes him a falling creature! Treelimbs and muddy swamp water make for a very sore and terribly messy hero, but that beats a smashed hero all to pieces.
With judicious use of gasoline, flares and regular old bullets, the threat of theVermuscas and it's young are finally ended.
In the epilogue, a surprisingly uninjured, but still very muddy, Astrid walks into her dorm room. Setting on the edge of her bed is a man of questionable fashion sense, "Uncle Whistler?"
"We need to talk." is the only response.