Poison Mavin

 

Table of Contents

Chapter 1—Above and Beyond

Chapter 2—Celebrating Gone Wrong

Chapter 3—Quick Thinking

Chapter 4—‘Wait, Where Are The Others ?’ 

Chapter 5—‘Evan Shade, AKA Nightshade’

Chapter 6—‘I Owe You My Life, Bellwether’ 

Chapter 7—No Finer Hero

Epilogue

 

 

‘Look, everyone’s a bit weird these days, it’s normal.’—Wren, ‘Smithereens’  

‘I’ll lift you up; I’ll fill your cup.  I’ll ask what’s up.’—lyrics from Dr. Don’s ‘Beautiful Vibes’ 

 

Chapter 1—Above and Beyond

                Marvin knew something was afoot at the precinct.   Even Summers was acting suspicious and he was well aware his tell was far too easy to discern.    Before Summers could blab about the surprise party everyone had planned, Stan diverted his attention and led him to Vibe With Me’s van. 

                ‘Kat’s been teaching me how to drive.   I know legally, I’m not old enough to drive it yet but as you always say, ‘better to be prepared than not know what the hell you’re doing’.’ Stan said.   He had to admit Kat was very fetching in her outfit and even her band members were very adorably gothic.    He didn’t realize that they were going to be serenading him and all of Grimsburg PD, even Owen had planned this for him.    

                Melody came up behind him and put a blindfold on him.  

                ‘Mmm, kinky.’, he said, lasciviously.    She laughed and guided him into the van while Stan took the wheel.   Everyone else followed them to Marvin’s favorite Italian restaurant, That’s Amore, which was as authentic as Italian food got in those parts.

                By the time Marvin was at the door of the restaurant, his blindfold was unveiled and he gasped.  

                ‘I had a feeling it was my birthday, and you remembered !’, he said, with elation.   He hugged Melody closely and kissed her, thanking her.    Kang grinned.  

                ‘We weren’t about to let you celebrate alone.   After all, it’s a celebration !’, he said.   Vibe With Me began to play some of their hit songs and the entertainment switched over to Amore’s actual live band that played every weekend, much to the delight of the others who had come for an evening of fine dining.   

                ‘Can the Precinct afford this ?’, Pentos asked Wynona quizzically.    Mavin brilliantly grinned and looped her arms around both of them.   

                ‘Somehow with tax dollars, you bet your tuchus we can.’, she said, raising a glass of sparkling champagne to toast the birthday boy.   

 

Chapter 2—Celebrating Gone Wrong

                ‘You guys even bought a decadent seven-layer chocolate cake that I’m sure is gonna go to my hips after I eat it.’, Marvin said, a tear brought to his eye.    Like Marvin, he was extraordinarily complex, but deep down he had a golden heart and a gooey, mushy center when it came to those he cared about.   

                Mavin stepped on the stage and sang a parody version of My Generation,

                Marvin’s hair will never be grey

                His good looks won’t fade away

                If you want to speak of Grimsburg’s sensation

                There’s one crime mind I want to mention

                It’s Marvin Flute, my buddy

                It’s Marvin Flute, yeah baby !

                Spinning, twirling, showing off all her latest and greatest dance moves, the crowd at the Amore went wild but Mavin felt something encroaching on her senses, like the creeping feet of 1,000 millipedes making her shiver, giving her ultimate goosebumps.     She could sense someone in the restaurant staring at them, studying them.    She barely had a chance to warn Marvin to duck until it was too late.  

 

Chapter 3—Quick Thinking

                THWICK !   SHUNK !   In a rapid, blink and you’d miss it moment, a poison dart hit Marvin in the neck and his face thwacked into his birthday cake.     Kat shrieked, not knowing what to do, and she went into a panic despite herself.     Melody instantly called the paramedics, Stan stayed by his father’s side, smacking his face to see if he could get his old man to come to. 

                ‘Stan, stand aside, please.  I’ve got this.’, Mavin said.   The teen figured that the psychic of the crew had been personally trained and she had saved many lives before so, her grace under pressure was awe-inspiring.    She quickly sucked the poison out, spat out any remainder of it, and began doing CPR on Marvin.     For a moment, she saw who had shot the dart and knew exactly where he had fled to.  

                ‘Bellwether, where the hell are you going ?’, Cahn demanded.    ‘No time to explain, I have a perp to catch.   Keep Marvin breathing while I’m in pursuit !’, Mavin said, impulsively chasing the man who had fled the scene.  

 

Chapter 4—‘Wait, Where Are The Others ?’ 

                When Marvin awoke, Melody and Kat were with him.   

                ‘Wait, where are the others ?’, he said, sitting up in his hospital bed.  

                ‘They followed after Mavin.   Stan was taking the lead.   Seems he wants vengeance on whomever nailed you with that dart.’, Melody said.    Marvin’s head was swimming.   He felt nauseous. 

                ‘You shouldn’t overexert yourself, Mr. Flute.’, she said, giving him a glass of water.   She was very considerate and her entire band stayed with him to make certain he was all right.  

                ‘I wonder where he gets his tendency for revenge from ?’, Marvin said, looking affectionately at Melody, who tried to hide her mama bear’s pride Stan had inherited the ursine rage from her.     

                Before long, they were cleared and they followed Mavin down to the Feed n’ Seed organic market where the would-be assassin had tried hiding himself among the newly grown heads of cabbage.  

 

Chapter 5—‘Evan Shade—AKA Nightshade’            

                The taste of poison in her mouth had given Mavin foresight to see where Evan had retreated.    She called out to him, telling him everything could go nice and easy, or matters could go down hard, which she’d rather avoid at all points.    

                ‘Evan, come out with your hands up !’, she said, cocking the hammer of her Baretta just to be safe.     Evan aimed shakily and hit her shoulder.

                ‘You’re supposed to be dead !   So is HE !’, Evan yelled at the top of his lungs.    Stan came in, full honey badger mode, tackling Evan to the ground and slapped handcuffs on him.  

                ‘Think about it later, Nightshade !’, he yelled, taking the criminal to the squad car.   

                Cahn and Pentos stood dumbfounded at Mavin.   The antidote that Marvin had brought him back from the dead, but it was uncanny that Mavin wasn’t.    Apparently, she was immune to it.    Nightshade had planned to kill Marvin for years all over a scathing review he had made to his ‘rap career’.    Since he was far more skillful in chemistry, he had laid an elaborate plan and wanted to make certain this birthday had been Marvin’s last.

 

Chapter 6—‘I Owe You My Life, Bellwether’ 

                The case against Shade was airtight.   With good behavior, though, he could be rehabilitated because only currently was a cellmate named Billybob Joebob taking a certain fancy to him and Shade rued the day he had ever been born.  

                Marvin only drank rarely these days, but he always returned to Quintos, which was his favorite watering hole.   He decided that after nearly dying he deserved that old fashioned more than ever.    Mavin was more than happy to join him, and the rest of the gang was right alongside him, except for Otis, Vibe With Me and Stan.   

                Momentarily, he gawked at Mavin, still in utter disbelief that a deadly poison hadn’t affected her.   It was a weird way to discover immunity, but he had to reward her quick thinking even though it was totally reckless.  

                He patted her shoulder and brought her in close for a hug.   

                ‘I owe you my life, Bellwether.’, he said over the jazz set playing in the background.

                ‘You saved my life, Marvin.   I owed you one, with interest.’, Mavin said.    Marvin lightly smooched the psychic on the cheek.    It was a kiss out of complete respect.    

                ‘I think your special day deserves a bit of a do over.’, Mavin said, holding her glass up to the multicolored stage lights and calling for a  toast.    She took the stage with Melody, who joined her in a rollicking cover of You Make My Dreams Come True.    From the kaleidoscopic view, he was dazzled by how stunning she looked.   Melody rarely wore dresses, but she looked even more beautiful than she had when they remarried.    Silently, he thanked his lucky stars he would be enveloped in her velveteen arms and the two of them would be making love in every nook and cranny in the house with abandon.

 

Chapter 7—No Finer Hero

                It was a weekend and Mavin was enjoying a much-needed break from the Precinct out in nature, camping by herself.    To recharge, she often went into the woods alone, fished, cooked everything on a roaring fire, and contemplated the stars as she curled up in her comfortable insulated sleeping bag.     The mini vacation only lasted for a night, but she would always return to Grimsburg, PD and be completely recharged for whatever the day held ahead. 

                Nothing out of the ordinary was happening at headquarters but the mayor had come to congratulate Mavin in person.    Oddly enough, he had been at That’s Amore simply to have a hearty authentic Italian meal with friends and he witnessed Mavin from afar.

                ‘Nightshade ?   Oh, man.  Guy’s a total nutjob.   Lost all sense of reality when he had his rapping criticized.   Hopefully a stay in the grey bar motel will shape him up.’, he said, resolutely.   

                ‘What brings you here to the PD ?’, Wynonna queried.    

                ‘I’m just here to give Ms. Bellwether the highest honor someone can have.   I also wanted to thank all of you in person.    The streets are so much safer with you protecting and serving them.’, he said.     It was tres unusual for the mayor to do something so thoughtful, let alone considerate.     He gave Mavin the key to the city and let her and the entire police department roam it to their heart’s content.  

               

Epilogue

                Mavin was delighted that she and her found family would be given medals for what they had done and even a plaque that would commemorate them.  

                ‘Our ratings even jumped up on Yelp !   Can you believe that ?’, Otis said, impressed.   Mavin simply chuckled.    She hadn’t done anything different.   She was herself, authentically.    She knew that the others accepted her for who she was.   She didn’t have to hide her talents or abilities, and they weren’t afraid of her.   

                ‘What do you think Evan will be doing, of course, other than regretting his life choices in the pokey ?’, Stan asked, as he helped around the precinct, organizing, filing, and auditing on a lazy Sunday.   

                ‘I can see him becoming reformed.    It won’t really matter though because he’ll die in prison, sadly.’, Mavin said, non-chalantly.    Kang nodded and heartily patted her on the back.    ‘As it should be, Mav.   You’re the best.’, he said, warmly.    That evening was most likely the most enjoyable they had ever shared.    They celebrated, thanks to Mavin making one of the best meals they had ever eaten.    They felt completely alive, grateful, and relaxed, enjoying the quietude before the next unexpected storm occurred.  

 

The End