Chpt6 Ep3: "The Third Suspect"

Chpt6 Ep3: "The Third Suspect" is an episode in the series Power Rangers: Omniverse

Plot
As Hunter dreams of Lisa while asleep in the Impala. He gets a call from Kurt that he has found a new case. Hunter drives off to meet him at his location. A case of two police officers dying in strange ways: the first was liquefied, his meat, bones, and other tissues suddenly relapsed, and the second was so covered in boils, inside and out, that his airway was blocked and he asphyxiated. Hunter and Kurt go to question the first police officer's partner, Ed Colfax. They head to his house, with Kurt's car swings around a corner. Hunter's Impala pulls out in front of him and is first to park his vehicles at their destination in a leafy neighborhood.

Kurt

Were you, uh... were you racing me?

Hunter

No. I was kicking your ass.

Kurt

Very mature.

They knock on his door and answers to them, where they find him behaving strangely. He slams the door at them where, exasperated, Kurt kicks the door in. Hunter shocked by Kurt's action. They walk through his toward Ed's office, Hunter and Kurt pass a wall of family photos with the faces scratched out. They find Ed in his office, using a screwdriver to scratch out the face of his police portrait. They question him and learn that the two dead police officers and Ed have something in common: a "kid with no face and a planted gun," named Christopher Birch. Ed believes that they are suffering divine retribution for what they did to Christopher. Before Hunter and Kurt can learn anything else, Ed collapses on his desk, dead. Hunter then points out a buzzing noise. Kurt then removes Ed's police hat and finds a hole in the top of his head from which locusts emerge.

Later that day they head back to their hotel. Hunter is seated at a table, looking through papers. Kurt is at the other end, working on his laptop.

Hunter

Sweet. Blood, boils, locusts.

Kurt

Three of your more popular Egyptian plagues.

Hunter picks up a jar containing the locusts.

Hunter

Yeah, but these guys... ate their way out of a cop's melon. I don't quite remember that in the King James.

Kurt

Meanwhile, a kid named Christopher Birch was shot in the head last month after a vehicle pursuit. Hatch, Gray, and Colfax were the three officers involved, and they all filed the exact same police report.

Hunter

[ Reading a report. ] "Suspect exited vehicle brandishing a firearm. We were forced to fire."

"Just a kid with no face and a planted gun."

Bunch of dicks. So they pop the kid, plant the piece.

Kurt

Maybe Colfax is right. You know, maybe heaven has a hate-on for bad cops.

Hunter

So we're listening to the guy with the bug in his custard? That's -- that's the, uh, the theory you want to go with?

Kurt

Hunter, angels got to have something to do, right, now that we're post-Apocalypse?

Hunter opens a beer.

Hunter

We should call Cas.

Kurt

You're kidding, right? [ Scoffs ] Hunter, I tried. It was the first and second and third thing I did, soon as I got topside. Son of a bitch won't answer the phone.

Hunter

[Sitting on a bed. ] Well, let's give it a shot. Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray to Castiel to get his feathery ass down here.

Kurt

You're an idiot.

Hunter

Stay positive.

Kurt

Oh, I am positive.

Hunter

Come on, Cas! Don't be a dick. We got ourselves a... plague-like situation down here, and... do you...do you copy?

Kurt

Like I said... [ clears throat ] son of a bitch doesn't answer --

Hunter looks up and is surprised.

Kurt

He's right behind me, isn't he?

Hunter nods and Kurt turns to face Cas.

Castiel

Hello.

Kurt

Hello?

Castiel

Y-yes.

Kurt

[ Imitating Castiel ] "Hello."

[ Normal voice ] "Hello"?

Castiel

Uh, that is still the term?

Kurt

I spent all that time trying to get through to you. Hunter calls once, and now it's [ imitating Castiel ] "Hello"?!

Castiel

Uh, yes?

Kurt

[ Normal voice ] So, what, you -- you like him better or something? [ Scoffs ]

Castiel

Hunter and I do share a more profound bond. [ To Hunter ] I wasn't gonna mention it.

Hunter

Cas, I think what he's trying to say is that... he went to Hell for us, AGAIN. I mean, he really took one for the team. You remember that? And then he comes back without a clue, and you can't take five friggin' minutes to give him some answers?

Castiel

[ Strongly. ] If I had any answers, I might have responded. But I don't know, Kurt. We have no idea who brought you back from the cage... or why.

Kurt

So... it wasn't God?

Castiel

No one's even seen God. The whole thing remains mysterious.

Kurt

What the hell does that mean?

Castiel

What part of "I don't know" escapes your understanding?

Hunter

Cas, look, if Kurt calls, you answer. Okay? You wing your ass down here, and you tell him, "I don't know." Just because we have some sort of a -- a bond or whatever...

Castiel

You think I came because you called? I came because of this. [ Walks to table where Hunter's research is spread out. ]

Hunter

Oh, well, it's nice to know what matters.

Castiel

It does help one to focus.

Kurt

Wait, so -- so you and the Halo Patrol, you guys aren't the cause of these killings?

Castiel

No. But they were committed with one of our weapons. There's only one thing that could have brought this into existence. You call it the Staff of Moses.

Kurt

The Staff?

Castiel

[ Picks up the jar of locusts. ] It was used in a dominance display against the Egyptians, as I recall.

Hunter

[ Scoffs ] Yeah. That one made the papers

Kurt

B-but I thought the Staff turned, like, a -- a river into blood, not one dude.

Castiel

The weapon isn't being used at full capacity. I think we can rule Moses out as a suspect.

Hunter

Okay, but... what is -- what is Chuck Heston's disco stick doing down here, anyway? I mean, don't you guys put away your toys?

Castiel

Before the Apocalypse, Heaven may have been corrupt, but it was stable. The staff was safely contained. [ Sighs ] It's been chaos up there since the war ended. In that confusion, a number of... powerful weapons were... stolen.

Hunter

Wait, you -- you're saying your nukes are loose?

Castiel

Yeah, I'm afraid so. But you've stumbled onto one of them. We must find the weapon that did this. [ Indicates the jar of locusts. ] I need your help.

Kurt

[ Scoffs. ] That's rich. Really.

Castiel

[ Grunts, tosses the jar of locusts at Kurt. Castiel performs air quotes during this speech. ] Kurt, Hunter, my "people skills" are "rusty." Pardon me, but I have spent the last "few years" as a multidimensional wavelength of celestial intent. But believe me, you do not want that weapon down here. Help me find it. Or more people will die.

Hunter

All right. Okay. Well, if the angels didn't pull the trigger, then that brings us back to motive.

Castiel

What?

Kurt

Back to the case. Right now, we got three dead cops. Only thing linking them... is this. [ Hunter hands Kurt a newspaper clipping. ] "Father of slain suspect calls for investigation."

Newspaper clippings are strewn on the coffee table. The camera pulls back to reveal James Birch intently reading a tabloid with a front cover story entitled, "POLICE OFFICER DIES AT PRECINCT."

[ A door slams, someone walks into the house. ]

Aaron

Come on, dad. How many times are you gonna read that thing? You know what? We should just throw it away.

James

[ Mumbles, not looking up from the paper. ] Go out back and play.

Aaron leaves, James begins to cut the story out of the paper. ]

Kurt, Hunter and Castiel suddenly appear in the living room.

Hunter

Oh, Cas, a little warning next time.

James

What the... how'd you get in here?!

Kurt

Mr. Birch, settle down. [ Shows FBI badge. ] Federal agents.

James

But you can't just walk in here!

Kurt

[ Indicating the clippings. ] Quite a collection you've got there, huh?

James

What are you trying to --

Kurt

Look, we know the truth, all right? Chris didn't have a gun on him when those cops shot him. They set him up.

James

Yeah. They're all getting theirs.

Kurt

[ Accusational tone. ] And who's giving it to them, James?

Hunter

James? Did you kill Toby Gray and the others?

James

Me?! I didn't kill anyone! Look at how they died!

Castiel

You smote them with the Staff of Moses!

James

The hell kind of Fed are you?

Castiel

We don't have time for this. [ Steps up to James. ] Where is it?

Aaron

[ Brandishing part of the Staff as if it were a gun. ] Leave my dad alone!

Castiel

Is that...? Yes.

Kurt

Shouldn't it be bigger?

Castiel

Yes. It's -- it's been sawed off.

Aaron

Leave him alone! It wasn't him!

James

Aaron, get out of here!

[ Castiel presses two fingers to James's forehead, James falls back onto the sofa, unconscious. ]

Aaron

What did you do to him?

Hunter

It's all right. He's just sleeping.

Aaron points the staff at Hunter.

Castiel teleports next to Aaron, takes away the staff.

Hunter

Cas, take it easy! [ To Aaron. ] Listen, we're not here to hurt you, okay? But we need to know... where did you get this thing?

Aaron

Please don't kill my dad. It was me. I did it.

Hunter

Okay, nobody's killing anybody. What's your name?

Aaron

Aaron. Aaron Birch.

Hunter

Okay, Aaron Birch, where did you get this?

Aaron

You won't believe me.

Hunter

Try me.

Aaron

It was an Angel.

Hunter

An Angel?

Aaron

Those liars, they killed my brother, and nothing bad even happened to them. It's not fair. So I prayed to God every night he would punish them. God didn't answer. But he did.

Castiel

His name -- did he give you a name?

Aaron

No. He just said I could have justice, but I was gonna have to take it myself. He... he gave me the stick.

Hunter

He just... gave it to you? Ah, come on. He didn't just give it to you, did he, Aaron?

Aaron

I bought it.

Kurt

You bought it? [ Chuckles. ] With what? What's your allowance?

Hunter

What did the Angel want for it? What did you give him for it?

Aaron

My soul.

Kurt

You sold your soul to an Angel?

Hunter

[ To Castiel. ] Can that even happen?

Castiel

It's never happened before. An Angel's buying souls. That could explain why he cut the staff into pieces.

Kurt

Why?

Castiel

More pieces, more product.

Hunter

More "product"? Who is this guy?

Castiel

We'll find him.

Castiel presses his fingers to Aaron's forehead; Aaron falls unconscious.

Hunter

What did you do that for?

Castiel

Portability.

Camera pulls back to reveal Castiel, carrying Aaron over his shoulder, back in Kurt's hotel room. Castiel places a still-unconscious Aaron on the bed.

Hunter

Cas, you realize you just kidnapped a kid?

Castiel

If the Angel we seek truly bought this boy's soul, when a claim is laid on a living soul, it leaves a mark, a brand.

Kurt

What, like a -- like a shirt tag at camp?

Castiel

I have no idea. But I can read the mark and find the name of the Angel that bought the soul.

Hunter

How?

Castiel

Well, painfully for him. The reading will be excruciating.

Hunter

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on.

Castiel

Hunter.

Hunter

He's a kid, Cas. A ki-- Kurt?

Kurt crosses his arms

Kurt

[ To Castiel. ] Any permanent damage?

Hunter

What?!

Castiel

Physically, minimal.

Hunter

Oh, well, yeah, then by all means, stick your arm right in there.

Castiel

Hunter! If I get the name, I can work a ritual to track the Angel down.

Hunter

And I'm all for that. But come on. There's got to be another way.

Castiel

There is no other way.

Hunter

You're gonna torture a kid?

Castiel

I can't care about that, Hunter! I don't have the luxury.

Castiel then proceeds and pushes his hand into Aaron's chest. Aaron screams. Hunter advances. Kurt holds him back. They watch as Aaron screams and his body lights up from the inside. He stops screaming and falls unconscious when Castiel withdraws his hand.

Castiel

He'll rest now.

Kurt

Did you get a name? What is it?

Castiel

I thought he died in the war.

Kurt

What, he -- he was a -- he was a friend or something?

Castiel

[ Sighs. ] A good friend.

Hunter

Yeah, well, your frat buddy is now moonlighting as a crossroads demon.

Castiel

Balthazar. I wonder...

Kurt

So we can find him now, right?

Another Angel appears in the room.

Angel grunt

Balthazar. Thanks, Castiel. We'll make good use of the name.

The Angel attacks Cas with an Angel-killing sword. Castiel blocks it with his own.

Angel

And by the way, Raphael says hello.

The Angel and Castiel fight in the room until they both lose their swords. They grapple each other and jump through the window, falling several stories onto a car parked on the street. Kurt and Hunter look out the window. The Angel disappears, leaving Castiel standing next to the destroyed vehicle.

Kurt

My car.

Hunter

[scoffs] Okay. Silver lining.

Kurt gives a look at Hunter

Castiel is standing by the wrecked car. Kurt and Hunter are still up in the room.

Castiel

[ Now back in the room behind Kurt and Hunter. ] He's gone.

Kurt

Alright Cas, who was that guy?

Castiel

A soldier of Raphael. He must have followed me when I answered your call.

Kurt

Raphael? The Archangel? I'm sorry, what's going on here?

Castiel gets a bowl from a cupboard.

Castiel

I can explain later. Right now we have to --

Hunter

No, not later. Now. Stop, all right? Too many angels, Cas! I don't know who's on first, what's on second.

Castiel

What is "second"?!

Hunter

Don't start that.

Castiel

It is simple: Raphael and his followers, they want him to rule Heaven. I -- and many others -- the last thing we want is to let him take over. It would be catastrophic.

Kurt

You're talking civil war.

Castiel

Technically, yes. Which is why we have to find Balthazar and his weapons before Raphael does. Whoever has the weapons wins the war.

Castiel pulls Kurt's weapons bag from under his bed.

Kurt

Help yourself.

Hunter

And what happens if Raphael wins? What -- what does he want?

Castiel

[ Gets a flask of holy water from Kurt's bag. ] What he's always wanted -- to end the story the way it was written.

Hunter

You mean the Apocalypse, the one that we derailed?

Castiel

Yes. That one. Raphael wants to put it back on the rails.

Hunter

Why?

Castiel

I need myrrh.

Kurt

Myrrh?

Castiel is no longer standing by the bed.

Hunter

Freakin' angels.

Castiel reappears behind Hunter. He is drawing on the kitchen table with chalk.

Hunter

Why does Raphael want to bring back all this crap?

Castiel

He's a traditionalist.

Hunter

Cas, why didn't you tell us this?

Castiel

I was ashamed. I expected more from my brothers. I'm sorry. Now I need your blood.

Castiel grabs Hunter's wrist and slices his palm.

Hunter

Whoa, whoa! Hey! Ahh! Why don't you use your own?

Castiel

It wouldn't work. I'm not human.

Hunter squeezes his hand shut. Blood drips into the bowl. Castiel adds myrrh and holy water and intones.

[ Sirens sound. ]

Kurt

Uh, Cas, how long does this spell take?

[ Wailing intensifies. ]

Castiel

Got him. Let's go.

Hunter

Whoa, whoa, whoa. What about him?

Aaron is still lying on the bed, unconscious.

Castiel

Don't you think the police will take him home?

Later that night, they arrive in front of a mansion.

Hunter

Huh. I was expecting more Dr. No, less Liberace.

Hunter, Kurt and Castiel advance on the mansion.

Castiel is in an opulent foyer. A frog perched on the balustrade of a grand staircase is croaking. Castiel teleports upstairs, follows loud music into a room with a piano and strobe lights. The door closes. Castiel readies his angel-killing sword.

Balthazar

Cas. You're here.

Castiel

Balthazar.

Balthazar

It's so good to see you. He told me you were floating around.

Castiel

He?

Balthazar

I believe you two have flown together. [ He turns on the lights and the music stops. ] Oh, you know, the old frog in the throat.

The body of the angel who attacked Castiel earlier is on the floor. A frog jumps out of his mouth and croaks.

Castiel

Even I know that that's a bad joke. I grieved your death.

Balthazar

Yeah, yeah. I'm sorry about that, you know. I wanted them to think, you know, so... they wouldn't come looking for me?

Castiel What... is all this? What are you doing?

Balthazar

Whatever I want. This morning I had a ménage à -- what's French for 12?

Castiel

You stole the Staff of Moses?

Balthazar

Sure, sure. I stole a lot of things.

Castiel

You were a great and honorable soldier. We fought together.

Balthazar

Yes, too many times to count.

Castiel

I know you. You're not some common thief.

Balthazar

Common? No. Thief? Eh.

Castiel

I need your help.

Balthazar

I know. I've been hearing all about you, and as far as I'm concerned, you and me, Cas, nothing's changed. We're brothers. Of course I want to help you.

Castiel

Thank you. I need the weapons.

Balthazar

Don't ask that.

Castiel

Why take them? Why run away?

Balthazar

Because I could! What? What? I me-- you're the one who made it possible. The footsteps I'm following -- they're yours. What you did, stopping the big plan, the prize fight? You did more than rebel. You tore up the whole script and burned the pages for all of us. [ Laughs. ] It's a new era. No rules, no destiny. Just utter and complete freedom.

Castiel

And this is what you do with it?

Balthazar

Hey, screw it, right? I mean, dad's not coming back. You might as well blow coke and jump on the bed. You proved to me we could do anything, so I'm trying everything. What difference does it make?

Castiel

Of course it makes a diff-- it's civil war up there!

Balthazar

I know.

Castiel

If we can beat Raphael, we can end this! Just give me the weapons.

Balthazar

[ Laughs. ] Do you know what's funny about you? You actually believe that you can stop the fighting. It will never stop. My advice -- grab something valuable and fake your own death.

Castiel

You've gone insane. Your little holiday is over. Raphael knows you're alive by now.

Balthazar

Oh, Raphael can try me anytime. I'm armed. I'm sorry, Cas. All else aside, I'm really, really happy to see you. Even though you still have that stick up your ass.

[ Thunder crashes. ]

Balthazar

Was that you?

Castiel shakes his head.

Balthazar

Oh, that's my cue then. Tell, uh, Raphael to bite me. [ Disappears. ]

Rear view of three angels standing outside the mansion where Kurt, Hunter and Castiel had stood before.

[ Thunder crashes. ]

Raphael

Watch them. They're all snakes.

Raphael and two angels walk toward the mansion.

One of his angel armed with an angel-killing sword is patrolling the grounds.

Kurt

Hey, there. [ Produces an angel-killing sword. ] Yeah, I got one of those, too.

Angel

[ Appears behind Kurt, holding the knife to his throat. ] You think you can knife-fight an angel?

Hunter

Who's fighting?

Hunter reveals to have put together an angel banishing sigil

Hunter

Peace out, douchewad.

Hunter slaps an angel-banishing sigil painted on the side of the house. The ANGEL disappears.

[ Thunder crashes. ]

Raphael's other angel spots Castiel and heads towards him

Castiel

You're making a mistake. Please. There is another way. Brother, please. I don't want to hurt you.

The angel advances on Castiel. Castiel throws his knife into the angel's chest. The angel screams and drops to the floor.

Castiel

Why won't any of you listen?

Castiel is grabbed from behind.

Raphael

They don't listen, Castiel, because their hearts are mine.

Raphael grabs Castiel by the collar and throws him back against a set of double doors that fall open. Raphael kicks Castiel while he's down, then pulls him up to punch him several times. Castiel falls half-way down the grand staircase. Raphael kicks him to the bottom and teleports there to punch Castiel again.

Raphael

[ Raising an angel-killing sword. ] Somehow, I don't think God will be bringing you back this time.

Balthazar

Hey! Look at my junk. [ Holds up a glowing crystal. ]

Raphael

No!

Raphael then immediatly turns to salt from head to toe. The salt clatters to the floor.

Balthazar

[ Chuckles. ] Same thing happened to Lot's wife. Iodize the poor sucker, and your kitchen is stocked for life. [ Laughs. ]

Castiel

You came back.

Balthazar

Well, now Raphael will have to go shopping for a new vessel. Should give me a nice long head start on him. Until next time.

Castiel

Next time.

Hunter

No time like the present. [ Flicks a lighter and drops it on a circle of holy oil that surrounds Balthazar. ]

Balthazar

Holy fire. You hairless ape! Release me!

Hunter

First you're taking your marker off of Aaron Birch's soul!

Balthazar

Am I?!

Hunter

Kurt?!

Kurt

Unless you like your wings extra crispy -- [ uncorks a bottle of holy oil ] -- I'd think about it.

Balthazar

Castiel, I stood for you in Heaven. Are you gonna let --

Castiel

I believe... the hairless ape has the floor.

Balthazar

[ Laughs. ] Very well. [ Inhales, touches his clasped hands to his forehead, exhales. ] The boy's debt is cleared. His soul is his own.

Hunter

Why you buying up human souls, anyway?

Balthazar

In this economy? It's probably the only thing worth buying. Do you have any idea what souls are worth? What power they hold? Now... release me.

Hunter

Suck it, ass clown. Nobody said anything --

Castiel lowers his hand, lowering the flames.

Hunter

Cas, what the hell?

Castiel

[ To Balthazar. ] My debt to you is cleared.

Balthazar

Fair enough. [ Sound of an angel in flight. ]

Hunter

Cas, are you out of your mind?!

Castiel disappears.

Hunter

Cas?! Oh, friggin' angels! Come on!

The next day, Hunter is rearranging weapons in the trunk of the Impala.

Hunter

Yeah, well I didn't realize I had this much stuff back here.

Kurt

Well, I need some space. Kind of picked up some stuff along the way.

Hunter closes the false bottom on the weapons cache. Kurt places his duffel bag on top. He notices a mask there and pulls it out.

Kurt

What the hell is that?

Hunter

Oh, it's, uh, Jacob's Halloween costume.

Kurt

Werewolf?

Hunter

Yeah.

Kurt

[ Approvingly. ] Accurate.

Hunter closes the trunk. The camera pulls back to reveal that they are parked at the side of a creek. Hunter and Kurt have a conversation leaning over the roof of the Impala.

Hunter

Hey, so, uh... are you okay?

Kurt

Me? [ Chuckling. ] Yeah, I'm great.

Hunter

Really? 'Cause there's been a few times that you got me wondering.

Kurt

Come again?

Hunter

Well, like where were you when Cas was, uh, giving the Holy Taser treatment to that kid?

Kurt

I was right there.

Hunter

Really? 'Cause honestly, I felt like I was the only one raising a card.

Kurt

Right. Uh, I mean, I was with you, but...I don't know. W-we needed the intel.

Hunter

Yeah, I know, but we tortured that kid to get it.

Kurt

[ Sighs. ]

Hunter

I just didn't get the feeling that you -- that you even cared, like you used to.

Kurt

Y- you're wrong.

Hunter

Hey man, I'm just trying to figure this out because... something's different with you. You know that.

Kurt

Yeah. Yeah, I know.

Hunter

Really?

Kurt

Yeah. I mean... I've been hunting non-stop for the past three years, kind of... kind of on the wild, you know? So, yeah, I suppose I'm a little rough around the edges.

Hunter

Yeah, I get that. I just don't think I'm getting the whole scoop. You went to Hell, Kurt. Twice already. And believe me, I know what that does to a guy.

Kurt

To you.

Hunter

What?

Kurt

You know what it does to you. It -- it tortured you, feeling alone without me. You know? I think it still does. But, Hunter... I'm okay.

Hunter

So you're saying, what, that -- that you're stronger than me?

Kurt

[ Chuckling ] No. Just saying we're different.

Kurt pauses, slaps the roof of the Impala and gets inside.

Hunter ponders, then gets into the car and they drive off.