"You, Satoria," says the ice cream vendor. "I understand you have an invitation to the Festival of the Night of the Pumpkin."

You turn a delicate shade of fuschia. How did he know? Perhaps the ice cream has ears? "I have an invitation, but I can't stand costume parties, so I'm not--"

"You'll go. Go without a costume, if that pleases you."

"If there's one thing I hate worse than wearing a costume to a costume party, it's not wearing a costume to a costume party. People stare, and it's too cold."

"Then a costume you shall have." He nods to the linebacker, who produces a costume of white and black...

"A nun?"

"Oh, I forgot the mask." He hands it to you--it's a cheesy plastic mask made to look like somebody you don't immediately recognize. He notices your look... "Sally Field."

So. "What am I to do?"

"Speak to the man in the Spock outfit--he's one of ours, but he's been out of contact. Find out what he knows about Lee Majors' rheumatism--and protect the Six Million Dollar Man at all costs--even costs as much as six million dollars."

As you turn to go, the football player tackles you. "How did you get an invitation? We've all been trying for months--"

"Someone forged it for me," you say curtly. "At a rendezvous of sorts."

There's a chorus of "ooooooh"s from the bar. A voice from the back calls out, "Satoria's got a boyfriend but hasn't been showing us the videotapes!"

The leader silences them. "There will be time enough to deal with that tomorrow. Now go, girl."

Night of the Pumpkin
Halloween SpeedIF 2002 by Sean Barrett