Fic: The Twilight Zone IV: The Invasion Of McHale's Island (Part 2) (1/1)
Due to LJ not allowing large posts, you get two parts
Title: The Twilight Zone IV: The Invasion Of McHale's Island (Part 2) (1/1)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters: Christy/Virgil, Lester Gruber, Willy Moss, Ukala, Joseph 'Happy' Haines, Fuji Kobiaji, Chuck Parker, Harrison 'Tinker' Bell, Chief Urulu, Molly Turner
Fandom: McHale's Navy
Genres: AU, Angst, Drama, Historical, Holiday, Horror
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
Summary: On Halloween, the crew of the PT-73 experience a bizarre encounter on McHale's Island.
Date Of Completion: October 13, 2023
Date Of Posting: October 15, 2023
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, Universal does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 8,687
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author's Notes: Inspired by the episode The Vampire Of Taratupa (3x33). The entire series can be found here.
November 1, 1943
& & & & & &
Christy piloted the 73 to the dock. He, Tinker and Fuji were ordered to stay with the boat while the crew was split up into two groups. McHale took Virgil and Happy while Chuck took Gruber and Willy. McHale's group went north while Chuck's went south.
McHale's detail observed the dock. Frowns all around.
"No signs of anything getting blown up," said Happy. "No bones or fur."
"No cape," said Virgil as he pointed to the camp.
"No body parts." McHale grimaced. "Chuck said he saw a glow in the jungle. C'mon."
They kept alert as they entered the jungle. They trudged for ten minutes, only silence meeting their ears.
"No birds or other animals makin' noises," said Happy, who was clearly unnerved.
"Yeah," McHale said. "Just like yesterday."
They cautiously forged ahead but saw nothing to connect to the monsters. They reached the swamp but except for occasional bubbling in the water, all was quiet.
"I wonder if the monsters got Ukala," Happy said, looking around.
"Let's hope not." McHale was deeply disturbed by the thought. "Let's go over to the village "
The village was suffused with tension. Urulu greeted his visitors in a grumpy mood. "You got news about Ukala?"
"Sorry, Chief. He seems to have vanished." McHale said, uneasily recalling Happy's comment.
Urulu sighed. "You seen anything strange last night?"
McHale hesitated. He didn't want to spook the villagers since the monsters were gone, but what if they weren't? They needed a warning.
"Just have your people keep their eyes open, Chief. 'Course, last night was Halloween. Weird stuff happens on Halloween and then disappears in the light of day."
"Hmph," Urulu said. "That your spirit holiday?"
"Sort of, though it's mostly a holiday for kids."
"Huh, so party tonight on base for kids?"
"Well, no." McHale frowned. "How'd you know about that?"
Urulu smiled smugly. "Me always what you call 'in the loop'."
"Yeah, well, just be careful, Chief."
Back at camp they all concluded the monsters were gone but they would keep their eyes and ears open, just in case. They even went to the latrine on the buddy system, since it was located some distance from camp.
By dusk they were eager for night patrol (a novelty) and to get off the Island. Patrol was quiet, though every little noise was noted and investigated. They headed for Tarantula hours later.
Christy docked the PT-73 and that all got into their costumes, which they had stowed aboard. Fuji was wearing the Mummy costume. He had begged not to be left behind on the Island, and nobody could blame him.
Gruber put the last touches on his Frankenstein Monster, which was pretty impressive. Chuck was Dracula, Willy the Wolfman, and Tinker the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Christy had considered the Mummy but had decided to go as a safari hunter, complete with pith helmet. He was glad he had changed his mind. Besides, Fuji needed the bandages as face cover. Virgil had kept his costume secret.
"Everybody ready?" asked McHale in a ragged, old-fashioned seagoing uniform and ghoulish make-up as the Ancient Mariner.
"Virgil's still below," Willy said.
"Hey, Virg, get your aft in gear!"
The men grinned. Leave it to the Skip to turn a colorful phrase!
"Coming, Skip!"
Virgil emerged from below decks and jaws dropped. Gruber managed to say, "You Tarzan, me Jane?"
Virgil preened. He was wearing a skimpy loincloth with a sheathed knife and sandals, showing off his well-conditioned body. Christy felt hot and fanned himself with his pith helmet. Tinker let out a wolf whistle and Virgil grinned as Willy joined vin with a howl.
"I thought Tarzan was barefoot," said Willy.
"He is, but I have to walk on this rock."
Christy looked at his arm. "No bandages?"
"Ruins the effect. Besides, Tarzan must get scratched in the jungle."
"Hmph."
"Okay, let's shake a leg before the buffet is picked clean," said McHale.
The crew made a grand entrance as the rec hall was full. There was applause and thunbs-up for the monster costumes and wolf whistles for Virgil. The nurses gravitated to him.
"Bet Virgil can carry his costume in his wallet," joked Molly, dressed in an Annie Oakley costume, complete with gun.
"Impressive," Christy said, indicating the Head Nurse's rifle.
"Special Services are whizzes."
"Blanks loaded?"
"Nah. Don't need 'em." She hefted the gun.
"Wait a minute. That's a real rifle!"
"Yeah, but Special Services made it up to look like like a fancy Annie Oakley gun."
"Sweet."
"What about you? You packing?"
Christy grinned. "Yeah. Safari hunters need sidearms." He patted his hip. "Unloaded. I got the ammo in this pouch." He opened the pouch on his belt. "Oh, crap, mixed up some rifle ammo with the sidearm bullets. Guess I was in too much of a hurry."
"Well, if you need to blow somebody away, just see me."
Christy gave her a thumbs-up.
The crew of the PT-73 gravitated toward the buffet. Cooks from the PX and mess hall were out back grilling hot dogs and hamburgers in shifts. There were buns and plenty of condiments: mustard, ketchup, onions, relish and pickles. There was a huge bowl of native salad greens with chunks of pineapple and mango. Bowls of macaroni salad drizzled with olive oil and black olives were replenished. There were two kinds of cookies: oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip, both with orange frosting and Jack O'Lantern faces. Beverages were bottles of Coke and 7-Up and a big bowl of punch (already spiked).
"Not a bad spread for wartime," said Gruber as he loaded his plate. "I heard they scored a couple of packages of brats but those disappeared fast."
"Good ol' Grube. Always with his ear to the ground." Christy put mustard, ketchup and pickles on a hamburger fresh from the grill.
"Let's hope he doesn't get stepped on," said Molly.
"Ha, ha," said Gruber.
People laughed, ate, danced and flirted. Cut-outs of Witches, ghosts and Jack O'Lanterns decorated the black coverings on the walls. Fake cobwebs hung from windowsills and chairs. One nurse got off-duty and declared her uniform her costume. Thunbs-up were sent her way.
Gradually Christy and Virgil slipped away to a small gazebo tucked in the jungle. Christy admired Virgil's body and said, "Great costume, by the way."
"Thought you might like it. Yours is pretty great, too. Shorts?"
"All the sexiest safari hunters are wearing them."
Virgil grinned. "I guess disrobing won't take long."
Christy pulled him close. "You betcha."
& & & & & &
"Whew, that was something," Virgil said. Christy's arms were around them as they reclined on the wicker loveseat.
"Mmm." Christy nuzzled Virgil's temple and kissed it. "Much as I would like to keep on going, too risky."
"Yeah " Virgil reluctantly rewrapped his loincloth. "Oops, hi, Fuji."
The Mummy stood in the doorway of the gazebo. "Sorry, Fuje."
Fuji didn't answer. Christy and Virgil got to their feet. Virgil adjusted his knife sheath while Christy checked his sidearm.
"Hey, Fuje, what's with the silent treatment?" asked Virgil. "You're among friends."
Christy grinned. "Yeah, so right." He paused and sniffed. "What's that smell?"
Virgil wrinkled his nose. "Smells like leaves decaying in the woods." He looked at the Mummy. "Um, Chris, those bandages are wet."
"Uh, oh."
As if one they charged the Mummy, who roared and grasped at them while also moaning theatrically. They managed to get past it as Virgil unsheathed his knife and stabbed it, slowing it down.
Molly and McHale we're standing by one of the grills as the coals were cooling off, emitting a soft glow.
"What's up, guys?" she asked.
"We need your rifle!" Chris said.
"Japs?"
"Worse." Christy took the rifle and began loading the ammunition.
"I'll go with you," said McHale.
The three went off into the jungle as Molly watched.
"Where is it?" asked McHale.
"By the gazebo," said Virgil.
"There!" said Christy as he pointed. He raised Molly's rifle but before he could fire, McHale reached into his pants pocket and plucked out a hand grenade. He pulled the pin and threw it at the Mummy, who promptly blew up, scraps of bandages flying everywhere.
"Skip?" asked Christy as he lowered the rifle.
"Just figured to be prepared just in case. Since depth charges stopped the other monsters, I figured hand grenades might work."
"Brilliant," said Virgil.
McHale grinned. "Don't bother cleaning up. The bandages will probably disappear."
They trudged back to where Molly was waiting by the grill. The embers' glow highlighted her caramel-colored hair. "You take care of whatever it was?"
"All set, Molly. Thanks for the loan." Christy handed her the rifle.
"Hmph. Let's go polish off the punch." She marched into the rec hall.
"My kind of woman," said McHale as he followed.
A half hour later the crew of the PT-73 left the party. They were usually the last to leave but had gotten their fill of monsters. They climbed aboard the 73 and docked at the Island, wary as they headed toward camp.
"Hey, Virg," Willy said as he caught up to his friend. "Is the Mummy really gone?"
"Kabloom!"
"Whew, that's great. You know, I feel like I've been stuck in Amazing Stories."
Virgil laughed. He rubbed his injured arm.
They were trailing behind their comrades by several feet, when a sudden glow and loud noise stopped them in their tracks. Bright light lifted out from the jungle, pushing upward to the stars where it disappeared.
Willy and Virgil watched and then quickly ran to catch up to their friends.
& & & & & &
November 2, 1943
& & & & & &
Virgil awoke groggily. Sunlight was streaming in through slats in the bamboo blinds. He could tell it was way past reveille, not that they observed it much here.
He yawned, rose, and put his feet into sandals, grabbed a towel while wrapping another one around his waist, and headed for the showers. He stepped out into bright tropical sunlight, blinking furiously and rubbing his arm. Fragments of a crazy dream sloughed off and disappeared as the waking world took over.
Or was it memory instead of dream?
& & & & & &
Memory or dream, indeed? Monsters or aliens? Or both?
In the middle of a war in the South Pacific in 1943, did monsters walk the earth on Halloween?
Perhaps, because anything is possible...in the Twilight Zone.
End Part 2
Part 1
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If you liked this spooky story you might also like the haunting McHale's Navy tale,The Revenge Of The PT-73.
Yeah, I know I'm shamelessly pimping, but over the years I've realized sometimes you just gotta blow your own horn! :)
This story can also be read on AO3.
This entry has been cross-posted from Dreamwidth. Comment on either entry as you wish. :)