Valmont Sharp: Monster Hunter

by David Raymond II

  Chris, Charlotte, and Cole pack up, Cole went home to pack of course, and then met up with Valmont and Alfred by the entrance to the museum’s lower area. “Do you have everything you need?” Valmont asks.

  The three teenagers nod, Alfred looks inside the bags just to be sure. “Are you sure? We don't know how long this will be. Hopefully the incident will be over in a day or two but it could be weeks before Thanatos attacks. You might not be able to leave for a while.”

  “We know dad.” Cole says. Cole is not bummed out that he not going to be involved in this show.. He volunteered to stay with Chris and Charolette.

  Alfred looks up, “Okay Valmont everything looks okay.”

  Valmont nods and walks over to the door to start walking down the stairs with Chris and the others following him. Before he reaches the lock Chris taps him on his shoulder, “Yes?”

  “Yeah I was wondering something, is there more to this then just Thanatos? Is there another reason you need to hide us?”

  Valmont gives his son a general look of surprise, “What that's not enough?” He shakes his head and keeps moving, “Well there is chief Randal, he has it out for me. You already know that. I have to work with that man and well if he were to knew you two were still here he would probably bite my head off before Thanatos could.” That's all Valmont says, there is no reason top bring up Tarque, not yet anyway.

  Chris leaves it there, ether he believes that's all that's going on or he knows better then to try to keep prying. Valmont walks over to the computer lock and goes though the steps to unlock the basement of the museum. First there was the thumb print and then the Retinal scanner, “Scanning retinal Pattern... scanning... scan complete, welcome Valmont Sharp. Museum powering up. How many people today.”

  “Five us us. Two to visit and three to stay.”

  “Three to stay? Opening shelter area... facilities open... connection to outside open. Recognized.” The doors open, “Please enter one at a time.”

  Valmont enters the museum first with Alfred following behind him. Cole, Chris and Charlotte follow suit in that order. Valmont leads them to the shelter area which was closed the last time Chris was down here. The shelter has a small kitchen area, a bath room and two bed rooms. Chris and Cole put their stuff in one bedroom and Charlotte sets her stuff down in the other, “So what is there to do here?” Chris asked interested in seeing the ghost's entertainment rooms.

  “Good question, Griffith you old fool come out here.”

  “Is it that time already Sssssshhhaarrrp.” Ustence Griffith slowly fades his head out by the barred door. Ustence actually does not have to moan out the word Sharp he just does it for effect once in a while to play out the role of a ghost.

  “Yeah you know these three can't use your room if I don't know your current voice code. You change it all the time so no one can use the room but you.”

  “That's the plan Shhaarrpp, no one is allowed to watch my TV, play my video games, play any of my pinball machines or tables, or read my books. Not without my permission and I never give permission.” Griffith then looks over at Charlotte and winks, “Well almost never.”

  Charlotte shivers at the idea of a dirty old man ghost hitting on her, “I hope this ends quickly.” Charlotte mutters under her breath.

  Valmont walks over to the wall near the barred door and opens up a picture. Behind the picture is a computer system with a key pad and a speaker. Valmont turns on the computer and inputs the password, “Input vocal password.”

  Griffith floats over to the computer, “Rock star ghost.” The transparent ghost's face seems to glow bright red as he says those words and wishes he had used a cooler password that time.

  “Password accepted.” The computer light changes from red to green and there is a sound of whirling gears as the bared door starts to move up into the all. It just has the appearance of a barred door when actually it was a sliding door. As the door opens up the five of them get a few of a huge indoor arcade and entertainment room made just for a ghost. While Cole, Valmont and Alfred have been in here before this is Chris and Charlotte's first time.

  “WOW.” Chris says as he walks into the room, it is more impressive then any Dave and Busters he has ever been to. There is pretty much every currently made arcade game available in America and probably ones only available in other countries. There are also three huge TVs that all have different things on them going at once, three air hockey tables, a Foosball table, some basketball machines, and a mini bowling ally. There is also a nine hole mini golf course and a few tables with chess games and checkers. “Wait, how does a ghost get to use all this stuff?”

  Griffith has this rude look on his face and sticks his tongue out at Chris before he answers, “I can make myself solid enough to play this stuff.” He demonstrates as he picks up a cue stick to one of the five pool tables. “See.”

  “Okay but still you stay by yourself right? You only let Yosif here to play a game of chess. Well many of these things are for more then one person.”

  “You're annoying, I don't like you.” Ustence says to Chris, “Too much like your father to be honest. I do invite people to play when I’m bored which is not often. Yosif is just the only one whose company I like.” He looks at Charlotte and winks, “Though maybe that will change.”

  “I don't think so.” Charlotte mutters under her breath.

  “Okay Ustence remember keep your entertainment room open for as long as these three need it.” Valmont tells the ghost

  “Yes I know, if I'm a good boy I get my movie theater and the newest hit movies.”

  Chris looks at his father and is about to ask a question when Valmont answers it for him, “Yes I bribed this spoiled ghost in order to let you three stay here. Cole said Ustence was okay with the three of you but also told me there was a condition to be had. Well this is it.”

  Ustence floats around Chris, Charlotte, and Cole, “I don't like you. Your face reminds me of your father.” He says again to Chris. Turning to Charlotte, “I don't like your father but I might like you.” He tells Cole, “Honestly I like you and your father.” The ghost then turns his attention to Valmont, “Now get out of here.”

  Valmont and Alfred turn to leave, “Cole remember to contact us before leaving. And not to leave unless I tell you. Well me, Alfred, Nash or Francois.”

  “Got it.” Cole nods in agreement.

  “Oh and the Sharp show starts at seven PM tonight and will continue until Thanatos is captured. Keep a TV on the Sharp Monster Network, until it's over.”

  “Urg I can't stand the Sharp show.” Griffith pretends to puke as he says that.

  Cole ignores the ghost while Chris laughs just a little, “Okay we will do that.” Cole responds.

  “Good.” Valmont thinks for a second to see if he has anything left to say, “Oh Chris this place does have internet connection but it can't get phone service. You can talk to your friends but please tell them the Miami story.”

  “No problem dad.” Chris says and then turns away focusing his attention to the large selection of arcade games and thinking about which one he should play first. Valmont and Alfred then leave without being noticed as the three teens focus their attention on the video games and their ghostly host going to do his own thing.

  At one pm all the important members of the Sharp organization have gathered in the meeting room on the second floor of the main building of Sharp manor. Things are different for this show as this is the first time the Sharp Monster Experience is happening at Sharp Manor itself. Because of this everyone involved in the show is here for the meeting instead of the key players. The Camera crew, representatives of the Sharp Monster Network, and the special effects team have gathered for this meeting. So has Nashton Wayte along with five of his top agents. Finally there is Victor Randal and four uniformed officers all of whom Nash remembers seeing from the night before.

  Valmont is dressed in a white leather overcoat custom made for him. The coat is a white version of his standard Monster Hunter
jacket only it has none of his weapons in it. Stitched to the right breast of the jacket are the letters SME standing for Sharp Monster Experience. In addition he is wearing a large white hat with a black leather band. As far as Valmont is concerned the show has began and it won't end until Thanatos is taken down. He hangs up the hat and coat as he enters the room showing the rest of his uniform, weapons included. The frilly shirt seems more suited for a pirate then anything else and the belts with stakes, silver daggers and holy water just look strange to say the least. He is wearing a pair of shaded glasses that are covering his eyes.

  “Thank you all for being here.” Valmont says using his overly dramatic show voice. “First I would like to welcome Victor Randal and the Albern New Mexico Police who will be assisting us for this show.” Victor scoffs at Valmont and turns his head away from him. “Everyone has signed a none disclosure agreement correct?” The officers reluctantly nod and that's all Valmont wanted to see. “Good. Everything you are about to see and hear does not leave this room. You are to tell no one, not your best friend, not your lover, not your mother. No one.”

  “Yes I signed the damned agreement, we all did. Now cut the act Valmont and get on with it.” Chief Randal almost screams.

  Valmont peers over at Randal, his eyes visible from the top of his tinted shades, “Calm down chief it's bad for your blood pressure.” One of the officers giggles and chief Randal gives him a stern look that seems to says, 'laugh again and your suspended.' “Okay okay, anyway now as for this being an act. I have to stay in character as long as Thanatos is a threat. The show does not sleep even when I do.” Valmont is very dedicated to his craft, a fact that would piss off Francois if he was not asleep in the corner.

  Randal sees the sleeping monster slayer, “Hey what's up with the sleeping fool, that's Francois Luminare right? Doesn’t he hate you more then I do?”

  “No that's not possible.” Valmont replies, “But yes that's Francois and well he's weak, very weak, and needs his rest. As for what he's doing here, well you don't need to know that.”

  “I am here to find out the truth. The WHOLE truth.” A flustered Randal replies loudly.

  “Indeed you are but you don't need to know every truth. You only need to know what applies to you and your town. Everything else I can keep from you.”

  The chief knows better then to attack Valmont in his private residence and backs down, “Fine then Sharp get on with it. Oh I'm glad your kid's not here, it means you have at least some sense.”

  “Chris is safe at my summer home in Miami. Now lets get to what's really important. Vargas Thanatos the werewolf.”

  “Bull.” Randal mutters just loud enough so Sharp hears him. He still refuses to believe what he saw last night. “There are no such thing as werewolves.”

  “What was it you and your men fired countless bullets into last night?” Valmont says calmly.

  “A man with a bullet proof vest and a wolf mask.” Even though Randal saw the bullets ripping into Thanatos skin and even blast off a part of his face and then heal up. “I don't know what I saw but it was no monster, it was a man.” Everyone even the other cops are shaking their head in disbelief.

  “How stubborn can one cop be?” Valmont says to himself. “Fine Randal fine, now please let me continue. Vargas Thanatos is a werewolf and he is coming here to get his revenge on me. He has a single minded goal to kill me, the man who in his diminished mind ruined his life. He blames me for the loss of his final shards of humanity.”

  “That's nice Valmont, your missing some fireworks going off behind you as you say that. Come on your life is not a show.” Randal tells him sarcasticly. Everyone else is listening with no problem and taking in what Valmont is saying.

  Valmont just ignores the chief, it's better to just let the man vent. Valmont wouldn't have invited the chief if he did not have to. “The man is unstable, and he won't stop until one of us is dead. Now this will be our final show of year men. I plan on making it something special. Now before we go into the details of the show I should point out that security will be a joint operation between Wayte Professional Security and the Albern police Department. Nash, chief Randal can you come up here?”

  Randal is shocked by Valmont's move just now, he expected Wayte to be in charge of security by himself. The chief of police was briefed on the security arrangements and agreed with them but this took him by surprise. He walked up to the podium with Nashton who did not waste any time talking. “The security for this Sharp show will be much tighter then what we are use to. For one thing there will be no outside press allowed with in one hundred yards of the manor. Likewise no one can set up shop near Sharp Manor. Thankfully the mayor of Albern has allowed the use of main street to set up shop.”

  “Much to my disagreement I might add.” Randal says very rudely, “I do not like the idea of Albern's main street becoming a circus. Anyway there will be one Albern police officer and one private security officer with Sharp at all time. Sharp will work the two into his show.”

  Nashton then continues where Randal left off. “Everyone with in the manor signed an agreement to the risks of working here during this difficult time. All the staff still on duty understand the risk and are able to defend themselves if the need arises. Their families will be compensated in case of injury or death. Now the houses defenses and security system will warn us when Thanatos is near so there is nothing to worry about there.” Nashton was done walks away to return to his seat. Randal returns to how own seat at the other side of the room.

  Valmont gets back up to the front of the room. “This might come to a shock to our guests from the police department but there is no set plan for my shows. They unfold as they happen. There is no script and most of the lines are spur of the moment. Just be yourself and be prepared for anything. Thanatos will probably be alone but given that we are keeping the press and fans away some of them might try to break in at anytime.” Valmont glares at Randal, “I hope your men are up to the job?”

  “Yes they are Valmont. I have a plan of action in my city and I'm not going to just wait for something to happen like your doing. I plan to be proactive not reactive.”

  Valmont laughs, “Then you must be the most skilled police officer in history.” He ignores Randal’s reaction and acts like it never happened, he just talks over the police chief as he mutters in anger. “That is all, lets prepare for the show now, show time begins at seven PM, so I expect security and the cameras set up by then and for everything to be ready.” Valmont then walks down again grabs his coat and hat and leaves the room, everyone else follows including Valmont who actually was awake during much of the meeting and only drifted off to sleep a few times.

  Chapter Twenty Three