JACK THE FISH OR AN ICHTHYAN PROMETHEUS

Sat Oct 25th

SEVENTH VICTIM OF COVENTRY'S RIPPER

POLICE STILL BAFFLED. PROSTITUTES PANIC.

seventh body was discovered last night behind Raglan Court by students who live in the building. Flora McGregor, a first year Arts student told the Gazette that she and her two friends had walked around to the back door and stumbled over what they thought was a bundle of old rags. Further investigation had led to the horrific discovery.

"It was disgusting, blood everywhere. How could human beings do this to each other!" said Miss Katie O'Neill a first year geography student and hockey player.

"What struck me was the terrible smell of kippers!" said Miss Fiona James, a first year languages student.

A police spokesman CI Chalker said that the body had been gutted and then cleanly filleted with a sharp instrument ; in the same manner as the other six victims. The police could not explain the presence at the scene of the aroma of fish and various assorted fish scales. A noted psychologist has been quoted as saying

"Many, many of these mass murderers have had a fetish about fish. It has something to do with the nipple complex many of them suffer from."

The police are also baffled by the message scrawled in chalk on a wall near to the murder site.

"The Fish are
The men That
Will not
be Blamed
for nothing"

Sources may prove that this refers to a secret sect led by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Is the city in the midst of a moralistic purge by fundamental Christians from Canterbury? A fact which may very well be true for all the victims have been revealed to be prostitutes. Last night's victim Louise Smith was identified as a "streetwalker" often seen in the Hillfields area plying her trade. Prostitutes are taking precautions against these attacks; two nights ago Mr Ali Jones was admitted to intensive care suffering from extensive knife wounds. So these precautions would appear to be ineffectual against the ripper and police are acting to prevent any further mistakes, as occurred to Mr Jones.

The city is in a grip of fear, police are powerless to resist these attacks. But many are asking does it matter if a few prostitutes are brutally slain. However what sort of society would we live in if we condoned murderous violence and when may we ask will an innocent victim be claimed?

Albert Collins

Six Weeks Earlier : Bramble Street, 13th October 1989

"Herr Doktor ve do not have enough power to bring about any response" said the slavering hunchback, huddled over a bank of dials and large levers. He was standing in a small cluttered kitchen, wires dangled from power points, sparks flew from weirdly revolving equipment and in the sink to which the cables were connected something bubbled. It was a murky liquid, with bits of decaying matter floating on the oily surface. Something dark lurked unmoving and corpse like at the bottom.

"Thank Adgor, you're right or course, it's a pity we had to use our electrical expert in the experiment, otherwise we could plug into the mains. Now we'll have to utilise the thunder storm. Rig up the lightning rod Adgor."

Lightning illuminated the night sky, the dour terraced houses could be seen down below through the torrential rain. The Doktor worked oblivious to the stream of rainwater gushing down his face as he feverishly connected some wires.

"It must be just right!" he muttered. He waved to Adgor below, who upon acknowledging altered some dials. Now all they had to do was wait. They didn't have to do that for long, a bolt from the heavens seared down and collected about the rod, slowly disappearing, through the cables, into the thing in the sink!

"Leave that alone. Get back!" yelled the Doktor.

"It's alright Doktor I'm just washing my hands, the basin in the lavs blocked" explained Freddy, a fellow student who shared the house, as he plunged his hands into the glowing sink. He screamed as the electricity burned through him. He screamed again, agonisingly as the black slimy tentacle whipped out of the water and tightened about his neck.

The Doktor could only watch, helpless as the student was dragged, feebly struggling, headfirst into the sink. How it all fit is a mystery!

Minutes passed, the water in the sink was agitated and sloshed over the edge. The Doktor stood motionless, his faithful Adgor beside him.

"Shall I pull the plug Doktor?" Adgor asked, just as a monstrous shape erupted from the sink. Half fish, half man, scales glinting in the lightning flashes. It launched maniacally, revealing a double row of shark like teeth. It jumped from the sink, its taloned fins giving it balance.

"Thankk youu Doktorr" it said trying out its new vocal chords, then it turned and broke down the back door and disappeared into the storm, which renewed its earlier vigour and hurled torrents of rain down.

"Vot have ve done Doktor?" cried the hunchback. "Ve have released a monster upon Coventry!"

"Nonsense Adgor, the experiment worked, my name will go down in history. O I might not have created an everlasting food supply. But I have resurrected the dead and moulded it into a perfect form! There will be a revolution in the medicinal world. I could win the Nobel prize! They'll give me a knighthood! A dukedom! Anything I ask for!" exclaimed the jubilant Doktor.

"But first we have to recapture it! An easy task for you Adgor. A pity about Freddy, still he won't be missed, except by the rugby players. Though I am a bit worried that he might be a bit violent. Freddy always was that sort. Ah we'll deal with that problem when we come to it."

"Yes Doktor."

"I'll make up some tranquillizer for you" said the Doktor wandering off.

"Listen to this Adgor, looks like our friend's struck

'The body of a young woman was discovered yesterday at the Primrose Hill Road. Eye witnesses state that the body was a bloody mess. Police report that the internal organs had been ripped out and the spine and rib cage had been carefully removed. They are puzzled by the peculiar smell of fish in the are and why the body had been bathed in butter and was covered with sprigs of parsley and sliced almonds. Police are warning women to be extra vigilant, as this apparent motiveless killer may strike at any time!',

they've even released a photofit of it, uhh, looks nothing like it. Better concentrate on the Hillfields area Adgor, any more killings and people will start to panic and I won't get my knighthood!" cried the Doktor.

Nov 2nd

JACK THE FISH STRIKES AGAIN. RUGBY CLUB SLAUGHTERED

"Coventry polytechnic's rugby club was today found dismembered on a playing field near Humber Road. Apparently returning late from celebrating a victory over rivals Warwick they were waylaid and murdered by the motiveless killer, who was come to be known as JACK THE FISH,after his panache for leaving a fishy odour behind.

This latest attack comes hours after the discovery of Adgor Gimlet's body gutted, filleted and boned, and stewing with a selection of vegetables, roast potatoes and a particularly delightful red wine sauce (thereby winning the finals of 'Masterchef') in an oven in the Hillfields district, on a low heat.

As the killer's victims become more and more widespread, gangs of armed vigilantes are said to be roaming Coventry's night time streets, hunting for Jack The Fish. Police are appealing for calm and for everybody to stay indoors at night. This is unlikely to be of any help, anything that can rip its way through a team of burly rugby players on its own is not going to be stopped by a few doors. Take my advice leave the city, before it gets up, I'm already packed and will leave once I've finished this dictation for the paper."

crashing and crunching noise in background.

"What was hat? O my God! The smell! Help me someone help?

I don't want to die! Please. I'll give you money, anything."

slashing and ripping noise, agonising scream.

sinister chuckle.

"Thiss iss Jackk Thee Fisshh, thee intrepidd reporterr tirreleessssly goingg too any lengthsss to bringg you news ssigningg offf. Bye for now."

sinister chuckle. Click.

It is this paper's sad duty to report the death of our famed reporter Albert Collins, who was murdered last night at his home by the monster Jack The Fish.

Police scientists claim the monster must be some sort of mutated creature, such as a Teenage Mutant Hero Turtle, to have the power to kill as it is now doing. Nuclear leakage or chemical spillage in the sewers is tentatively blamed, until a thorough investigation can be held

What ever happens it will be a long night!

Evening November 3rd

It was raining hard, just like on the night of its birth from the primaeval sludge scraped up from the kitchen at Bramble Street. Lightning forked down, the life bringer. Jack The Fish looked up from its grisly task, blood dripping from its grinning mouth and it laughed. It was good to be alive. It jumped from the ripped open Ford Escort, packed with the slain bodies of a family trying to flee his psychotic blood lust. Easy prey!

The sound of shouting drew his attention, across the park came a legion of the scared vigilantes, blazing torches and weapons in the hands.

Too many to handle and those flames made it think too much of death. It ran, long scaly feet clawing up the sodden grass. A cheer went up from its hunters and they surged forward. Panting now it bolted down Grafton Road, claws rattling on the tarmac, back to its maker The Doktor would protect it. It ran faster up the back passageway and into the bleak back yard. The cries of its pursuers paused in confusion, they hadn't seen it duck down the passage, but it wouldn't be for long.

It kicked down the back door and stormed into the kitchen, trailing water and slime. A light flickered upstairs. The Doktor! It rushed up the bare staircase, bearing chunks of wood out with its feet.

"It went in there! Go get it lads!" came the cry from outside.

"Doktorr ssave mee" it begged to the man who had created it, sitting reading in his garret room.

Thugs stormed into the back yard, trampling the weeds, and threw their burning torches into the house.

"Burn it out" ordered the ringleader.

"Quick the front" cried the Doktor, but too late the house was surrounded by the blood crazed mob.

"The roof then, we can escape over that" he cried. He leapt up the ladder, flames licking the staircase below, smoke already billowing up. The two figures clambered up into the precarious roof, hidden, behind chimneys and the Doktor's equipment, from those below. Slowly they started to crawl carefully along the slippery tiles.

Clearing from below as flames jumped from the Doktor's recently vacated room. It found the Doktor's supply of alcohol and went up, blazing away, illuminating the two fugitives.

"There they are. Shoot 'em down" came the order. Rocks were thrown.

"Stop!" cried the Doktor "You do not know what you are doing. This is a great scientific achievement, you must not destroy it, it can save the human race!"

"What about the dead?"

"My sister!"

"Killer!" they cried.

"A few dead is little enough to pay for the scientific breakthrough of the century!" explained the Doktor.

The man with the gun, shot the Doktor and he with a surprised look on his face, teetered and fell.

"Who cares about science, stone the bastard!"

Rocks flew and the Fish resisting them for a few moments, then stumbled into the fire. Crying pitifully as it cooked at about gas mark 10, in a charcoal grill for added flavour.

November 4th

JACK THE FISH SLAIN. DOKTOR HELPING POLICE WITH ENQUIRIES.

Last night the mass murderer, known as Jack The Fish met his end, burning to death. A gang of vigilantes cornered him and set fire to Bramble Street, burning down eight buildings and the Hare and Hounds Public House in the process. Two people were killed in the fire and twelve admitted to hospital suffering from serious burns. The body of Jack The Fish has not yet been recovered for study.

The Doktor, the so called creator and third year genetics student is in police protection after death threats were received.

He is quoted as saying "I'll get my revenge on those Luddites, none of them are safe! They'll all die." The Doktor is to be charged with procuring the murders of the thirty people killed by the Fish. continued P2.