Animal X: Natural Mystery Unit the Complete Season 2

Episode 6: Monster or Murderer?

Featured Cryptid: Beast of Gévaudan

Our episode opens up in the French countryside in 1767 where we see the townspeople running away from a shadowy wolf-like figure before a local hunter named Jean Chastelle confronts the creature before loading his rifle with a silver bullet and taking aim. we then cut to black while a gunshot noise is heard in the background. we then cut to present day Bray County, Wisconsin where we see Sophie Wolfman sitting in a women's prison where one inmate asks her if she's REALLY the legendary "beast of bray road", that killed so many people. Sophie then tells her yes but she doesn't do that anymore as she's been cured of her lycanthropy. the inmate then grabs Sophie and slams her against the wall holding a knife up to her neck, telling her that she had a brother who was a victim of those werewolf attacks that SHE was responsible for, telling her that she's going to enjoy avenging his death. however before she can save anything the inmate threatening her life is suddenly stunned causing her to pass out and let her go. the cell door then opens revealing it to be none other than Bill and Helena, Helena using the wrist-mounted stun gun we saw in the "mystery of the Thylacine" two-parter. Sophie thanks the two for saving her life, asking who they are. Bill then introduces himself as Bill Kerr, director and founder of the Animal X Natural Mystery Unit along with his lovely assistant Doctor Helena White. Sophie recognizes that name, realizing the two are part of that organization that Daniel kept talking about before asking what they're doing here, followed by Bill telling Sophie that he's here to recruit her into the Animal X Natural Mystery Unit as Daniel and Natalie's next mission will have them venturing into werewolf territory and that they could use someone who's familiar with their kind such as her to aid them in this dangerous mission. Sophie turns down their offer, looking at her hands telling them that she's a monster and that she's caused too much grief and suffering to be released from prison, saying that she deserves to rot in here for the rest of her life. Bill then tells Sophie that he's giving her a chance at redemption for her past sins, presenting her with her late father's silver dagger Bill telling Sophie that he believes it belongs to her. Sophie then grabs the dagger out of Bill's hand and looks at it followed by Bill asking if she's in. Sophie tells her yes followed by Helena tossing Sophie an Animal X uniforn, telling her that she needs to get out of that disgusting orange jumpsuit as soon as possible. we then cut to Animal X HQ where Daniel and Natalie see the X-Jeep return and out step Bill and Helena, Natalie asking Bill where he's been. he then tells his adoptive daughter he was busy recruiting the Animal X Natural Mystery Unit's newest agent followed by Sophie stepping out of the vehicle wearing an Animal X Uniform complete with a holster to hold her silver dagger. Daniel's eyes begin to tear up at the sight of Sophie, asking if it's really her. Sophie then holds hands with Daniel and assures him that she's the real deal explaining that Bill and Helena bailed her out of prison and made her an Animal X Agent. Natalie then asks Bill why he recruited her, and Bill explains to both Daniel and Natalie that he recruited Sophie to help them on their next mission, explaining that there's been reports of werewolf attacks in the department of Haute-Loire, France and that he thought Sophie being a former werewolf herself could lend the knowledge she gained from her past experiences of Lycanthropy to this mission. Sophie then tells Daniel that old man creeps her out, followed by Daniel telling Sophie that Bill is quite the eccentric person and that she'll get used to his theatrical personality (eventually). Rodney then nuzzles against Sophie happy to see her again, Sophie telling Daniel that his "pet flying snake" likes her. Daniel then tells Sophie that he's a skyfish followed by Daniel, Natalie, and Sophie boarding the X-jeep and blasting off. we then cut to the X-Jeep arriving in Auvers village, France where they come across a statue of a young woman impaling a wolf-like beast in the chest, Daniel wondering if the creature depicted in the statue could be the beast they're looking for, followed by Natalie telling Daniel that it's very much possible. Sophie can't stand to look at the statue, telling our heroes that it's a monument to the prejudice humans have had towards lycans for centuries. we then see a mysterious mustached man in a trenchcoat show up to tell our heroes that the statue is the statue of a young woman named Marie-Jeanne Valet defending her farm from the Beast of Gévaudan, a horrifying creature of unknown origins that terrorized the French countryside 1764 and 1767. Sophie then asks the man who the heck he is, and the man reveals himself to be a scientist named Professor Phillipe Chastelle, explaining that he's been studying werewolf culture for years. Natalie asks him if he's part of the Animal X Natural mystery unit, and Phillipe tells Natalie no but he is aware of their existence, as he once worked with their leader Bill back in the day during an investigation of werewolf attacks in France that were strikingly similar in nature to the attacks made by the Beast of Gévaudan over 100 years ago, which he believes may have been a sign that the beast has returned. Phillipe then suddenly takes an interest in Sophie's dagger, snatching it out of her holster to give it a closer look. he recognizes it as a weapon of pure silver, a lycan's primary weakness as well as recognizing the wolf emblem engraved on the dagger as the mark of the Yee naaldlooshii or Skinwalkers, a clan of Navajo werewolves from the American southwest. Sophie then demands Phillipe to give the knife back, saying that it belonged to her father. Phillipe then sniffs Sophie and picks up the recognizable scent of a lycan. he then puts two and two together and realizes that Sophie is a werewolf, followed by Sophie correcting him by saying she was a werewolf, explaining that her friend Daniel cured her of her lycanthropy. Phillipe says that's impossible, saying that he's been searching for a cure for lycanthropy all his life and with no success, asking Daniel how he did it. however before he can say anything a quadrupedal beast walking on all fours covered with red fur and a white underbelly comes rushing out of the bushes charging at our heroes, causing poor Rodney to hide behind Daniel in fear. Natalie then asks Phillipe what the heck that thing is, whipping out her electric batons and combining them to form a bo staff. Phillipe then informs our heroes that the creature is none other than the beast of Gévaudan in the flesh, confirming his worst fears that the beast has returned. Natalie tries to fight off the beast but is easily overpowered by it. Daniel and Rodney hop in the X-Jeep followed by Daniel activating the X-jeep's transformation into battle mode followed by Daniel activating the mech-suit's extendo-arm to punch the beast away from Natalie who thanks Daniel for saving her. Daniel then activates the mech-suit's rocket hands causing the mech to fire its hands at the creature as projectiles the two hands transforming into a collar to restrain the beast. Sophie then waves her dagger in front of the beast's face causing it to snarl at her, Sophie recognizing the beast as a lycan, but unlike any she's ever seen. the X-jeep reverts back into its jeep form followed by Phillipe telling our heroes that they need to load this creature into the back of the vehicle. Daniel, Natalie, Sophie, and Phillipe all push the beast into the back of the vehicle and hop in and the X-jeep before driving off. Daniel then asks Phillipe where they should take the beast, and Phillipe tells Daniel that they should bring the creature to his estate in Haute-Loire. we then cut to the X-jeep arriving at the Chastelle estate in the department of Haute-Loire, France. Phillipe Chastelle's butler Pierre greets our heroes at the door while Daniel, Natalie, and Sophie enter the mansion and are amazed by Phillipe's collection of werewolf-related artifacts Rodney zipping up and down the place while the Chastelle estate's staff transport the Beast of Gévaudan out of the vehicle and into the building. Daniel then opens up the Cryptozoologicon and looks at the page on the Beast of Gévaudan, reading about how the beast was shot by a hunter named Jean Chastelle in 1767 with a silver bullet, Daniel asking Phillipe if he and this hunter were related. Phillipe Chastelle then tells Daniel that he's the descendant of Jean Chastelle, explaining that it was the story of his ancestor's brave act of heroism slaying the beast that got him interested in the study of werewolf culture. Natalie then interjects and asks Phillipe how the heck it's possible for the Beast of Gévaudan to return from the dead after nearly 100 years, and Phillipe explains that there's more than one Beast of Gévaudan running around, explaining that there are several different werewolf clans located throughout the world: the Worcester clan in the UK, the Gévaudan clan in France, the Skinwalkers in the American southwest, the Qori Ismaris in Somalia, the Okami clan in Japan, and the Fenrir clan in Norway. Sophie then tells Phillipe that she had no idea that lycans were so widespread, followed by Phillipe telling her that she's just scratched the surface of her heritage. Sophie asks what he's talking about, and Phillipe shows our heroes a chart on the wall of the anthropoid family tree and tells our heroes a story: we cut to a flashback scene where we learn that millions of years ago during the early Pleistocene there was once an eighth continent known as Atlantis, which were home to the original descendants of Australopithecus known as the Firstborn. the Firstborn were the very first Technologically advanced society (hence their name) living in utopic cities isolated from the rest of the world, however their society fell when a great flood struck and sunk the continent of Atlantis into the Atlantic ocean never to be seen again, however they left behind a myriad of descendants in the aftermath of their passing: Vampires (which we skulls of in the museum), Lycans (Werewolves), Merfolk (which we saw a pickled specimen of in the museum), Huldufólk (Icelandic Elves), Reptilians (Lizard People), Flyers (Winged Humanoids), and finally Homo Sapiens (Humans). we then cut back to the present day where Sophie is amazed by this story, followed by Daniel watching as the poor beast is carried off into a secret room behind a bookshelf before asking Phillipe what he plans on doing with the beast. Phillipe then tells Daniel that it is none of his concern before asking him how it was possible for him to inhibit the lycan's ability to transform from human to werewolf form. Daniel then tells Phillipe Chastelle that he has this strange ability to communicate with animals on a telepathic level just by touching them, saying that he used these abilities to enter Sophie's subconscious which cured her lycanthropy. Phillipe then tells Daniel that it sounds like he's an ESPer. Daniel then asks what an ESPer is, and Phillipe explains to Daniel that an ESPer is a person gifted with the ability of ESP (Extrasensory Perception) thanks to a gene called the ESPer gene of which was originally possessed by the Firstborn who used their telepathy to break the language barrier between species and form alliances with animals great and small, leading to their civilization becoming one with nature. however this gene was lost over the course of generations leading to the power of ESP being completely absent in their descendants... until now, telling Daniel that his telepathy mas managed to "block" the Lycan genes in Sophie's body thus inhibiting her werewolf transformation and that he is the cure to lycanthropy, offering his hand to Daniel to join him and help continue his research into developing an antidote formula using his blood. however Daniel declines, telling him no way is he gonna let himself get the blood sucked out of him saying that it sounds too painful and that his place is with the Animal X Natural Mystery Unit. Phillipe is disappointed by Daniel's answer, telling him that he understands how it is. Phillipe then tells Pierre to provide our guests with refreshments while he attends to more "personal" matters. Phillipe then enters the secret door behind the bookcase and enters the secret room where we see the Beast of Gévaudan sitting in a cage chewing on a human skull before crushing the skull with its powerful jaws and razor sharp teeth. Phillipe then calls the beast "brother" and starts talking to the creature, telling it that he finally found the key to curing Lycanthropy, however he refuses to use his gifts to help him meaning that he's gonna have to do it the hard way, picking up a rifle from the rack on the wall explaining that he plans on holding that Daniel kid against his will and siphon as much blood as he can out of him (even if it means sucking him completely dry) to create bullets from his DNA that he plans on mass-producing and selling them to help Lycanthropes around the world and hopefully their family curse will finally be lifted. we then cut back to the main floor of the mansion where Pierre offers drinks to Daniel, Natalie, and Sophie. Sophie then grabs one of the glasses of water and starts lapping up the water like a dog, followed by Daniel reminding Sophie that's not how humans drink. Sophie apologizes, telling Daniel that there's some habits from her days as a Lycan that she just can't get over, which worries her since old habits die hard. Daniel then starts to get dizzy and falls over unconscious. Rodney tries to nuzzle up against Daniel, but to no avail. Natalie and Sophie then rush to Daniel's aid, Sophie asking Pierre what's going on. Pierre then reveals to Natalie and Sophie that he spiked all their drinks followed by Natalie and Sophie falling over unconscious as well. Pierre then picks up Daniel and carries him off to the secret room behind the bookcase. we then cut to Daniel waking up to find himself strapped to a machine with tubes connecting to a machine, wondering just where the heck is he. Daniel then turns his head to see the Beast of Gévaudan in a cage before he is greeted by none other than Phillipe Chastelle. Daniel asks Phillipe what the heck is going on, followed by Phillipe telling Daniel that it didn't have to be this way, but since he turned down to his offer to help him develop a cure it left him no choice but to suck the cure right out of his body, flipping a switch followed by Daniel screaming in pain from having the blood sucked directly into his body. the tubes then transfer Daniel's blood into several tiny bullets followed by Phillipe picking up one of the bullets and showing it to Daniel, telling him that he filled these "cure-bullets" with his blood and that he plans on using these bullets to cure the lycanthropes of the world, starting with the Beast of Gévaudan, otherwise known as Remy Chastelle, Phillipe's brother. Daniel is shocked by this revelation, followed by Phillipe explaining that there are different levels of lycanthropy: you have the standard lycanthopes (those who can't control their transformation and give into their animal instincts when in werewolf form but are still capable of reverting back into human form) but way above that up at the top you have the intelligent lycanthropes (those who are able to retain their human intelligence in their werewolf state and can control their transformations able to switch from human to werewolf at will whenever they want), and finally way below on the bottom you have the feral lycanthropes (those who are stuck in werewolf form forever and have lost all sense of humanity doomed to remain as vicious animals for the rest of their lives unable to revert back into human form), the Beast of Gévaudan falling into the feral category. he then goes on to reveal that when Jean Chastelle shot the original Beast of Gévaudan with a silver bullet, the creature in its dying breath bit him passing the curse onto the Chastelle family for generations to come allowing the beast to continue its reign of terror for centuries to come with Remy being the unlucky brother to inherit the family curse turning him into the current Beast of Gévaudan. Daniel begins to feel sorry for Phillipe, telling him that if he knew he could have help him. Phillipe then gets mad and tells Daniel to shut his mouth telling him that he doesn't know half the pain he went through, saying that his only brother is gone, trapped inside the body of a monster and that through Daniel's DNA he can finally set Remy free. we then cut to Natalie and Sophie waking up Sophie panicking upon seeing that her precious Daniel is gone. Natalie then smacks Sophie across the face telling her to get a hold of herself telling her that they need to work together if they are to save Daniel. our heroes are then stopped in their tracks by a platoon of Chastelle estate personnel who whip out electric prods, Natalie whipping out her twin electric batons while Sophie whips out her silver dagger, Natalie telling Sophie to get the ones on the left while she goes for the ones on the right. our heroes then fight off the goons before Sophie notices Pierre walk through a secret door hidden behind the bookcase, Sophie informing Natalie of what she just saw. Natalie then tells Sophie that maybe that's where they're keeping Daniel. after all the goons are knocked out cold Natalie and Sophie start pulling out books trying to figure out which one activates the secret door until Sophie manages to pull the right one opening the secret door. Natalie then congratulates Sophie, telling her that she's not too bad for a rookie. the two then enter the secret door where they find the caged Beast of Gévaudan, Sophie feeling sorry for the poor creature saying that this is no way to treat a werewolf (she should know since she was one herself). Natalie then finds Daniel hooked up to the machine and frees him, followed by poor Daniel falling flat on his face. Natalie then helps Daniel get back up on his feet, asking him what happened. Daniel tells Natalie and Sophie that Phillipe did this to him explaining that he drained his blood using that machine to create bullets that can cure Lycanthropy and that the Beast of Gévaudan is his brother. Rodney then zips in to nuzzle against Daniel happy to see him alive followed by our heroes being confronted by Phillipe and Pierre, Phillipe asking Natalie and Sophie how they got into his secret lair. Pierre then suggests to Phillipe that they must have saw him use the secret door which makes Phillipe facepalm with frustration. Sophie then uses her silver dagger to slice the cage door open freeing the Beast of Gévaudan causing the beast to escape and chase Phillipe and Pierre along with our heroes around the mansion. Pierre then tosses Phillipe his rifle followed by Phillipe loading the weapon with his cure-bullets. Phillipe then pulls the trigger and fires a cure-bullet directly at the beast, however it doesn't work on the creature meaning everything he did was all for nothing. the Beast of Gévaudan then starts attacking the estate's staff followed by Phillipe and Pierre arriving on the scene to inform our heroes that the cure-bullets didn't work. our heroes are then confronted by the beast, Sophie telling Daniel to do his "thing" saying that he needs to let her go werewolf again if they are to stop this creature. Daniel asks if she's crazy, telling her that he could lose her forever, however Sophie tells Daniel that she was the one who freed the beast so she needs to be the one to stop its rampage. Sophie and Daniel then hold hands and share one last kiss before Daniel's eyes start glowing an icy blue followed by Sophie's eyes glowing as well. Sophie then turns around and transforms into her werewolf form, fighting the Beast of Gévaudan one-on-one. Phillipe is in awe of seeing the two lycanthropes fighting, amazed at seeing the Beast of Bray Road in the flesh battling the Beast of Gévaudan. Sophie then manages to gain the upper hand and pin down the beast, followed by Daniel placing his hand on the Beast of Gévaudan's head and closing his eyes to communicate with the feral beast. the Beast of Gévaudan then slowly starts reverting back into Remy Chastelle followed by Sophie transforming back into human form now that her job is done. Phillipe then rushes towards Remy and hugs him happy to finally have his brother back after all these years. Phillipe then thanks our heroes for saving his brother, followed by Daniel saying "i still don't forgive you for trying to drain me of my blood, but no problem". Sophie then volunteers to stay at the Chastelle estate to help Phillipe continue his research into lycanthrope culture with the hopes of learning more about her heritage. Daniel then objects, saying that he wants himself and Sophie to be together, however Natalie assures Daniel that it'll be alright as it's her choice. Daniel and Sophie say their goodbyes and our episode ends with Daniel, Natalie, and Rodney leaving the Chastelle estate before hopping in the X-Jeep and blasting off.