A Werewolf In Under-Town

Shaggy and Levy continued to travel northward around the eastern wall. The shacks were so packed together that Shaggy had to step on rooftops and, sometimes, crush houses to get by. He ignored it all and kept his eyes and ears open for any signs of the Quinica. His sense of smell had failed him. But given how prepared the Quinica were, that made sense.

Levy was resting on his back. Sheltered from the random debris that showered over Shaggy as he ran. They were telepathically going over a plan of attack. Levy’s wind spell wasn’t a reliable tactic because of the casting time. But Shaggy was also fairly stymied by the space vamps preparations. So if any avenue of attack was going to work, it would have to be from Levy.

“Can you hold them in place?” Shaggy asked.

“Maybe? It wouldn’t take long. But I’d have to see them. Also, we don’t know if it will work with their teleporting. How are your guys taking these fuckers down?”

Shaggy gave a mental shrug. “Luck and numbers? I have to think the Quinica’s gear didn’t help with people that aren’t me.”

“I don’t know. Their armor stopped your claws.”

“So maybe their armor is better against claws and knives than against bullets? Either way, I have a problem.”

“How are your Evo Points?”

Shaggy gave a wolfish whine. “I… I haven’t looked in a while.”

He felt Levy grip his fur and twist it as she slapped his side. “Idiot. This is what happens when you shut off your damn notifications. You are checking the next time we stop.”

“Yes, dear.” Shaggy said, not wanting to argue.

Also, he was pretty sure he had plenty of points built up. It was a good idea to use them before they rushed off to Cog’s realm. He also hated when his damn claws refused to cut things. It was annoying. One minute you feel like a badass cutting through femurs and the next you're stuck in someone’s armor. Even with Burning Edge and Convex leveled up. Maybe if he leveled just the Attack Tree itself?

Shaggy continued to ponder as they grew closer to their destination. The north exit tunnel out of Under-Town. It had been under Quinica control, but while Shaggy was topside, the others had taken it. Now The Legion controlled it and they were constantly moving people and goods through there. Several large aliens spotted Shaggy’s enormous werewolf form barreling down the widening streets. Rather than deal with all of that, Shaggy quickly shifted as he ran.

It was an interesting experience going from four-legs back to two mid-run. Of course, Levy yelping and hugging his back also made the experience a novel one. Shaggy grinned as his wife swore and smacked the back of his head. They slowed down as they entered the staging area around the tunnel exit.

It is where the Legion checked over trucks and questioned visitors about why they were entering or leaving. Although, with most Under-Town being criminals, most of the time people lied. But their guys were mostly for looking for shit that would cause a headache for the Legion. Most everyone else got a pass.

The large orc-like alien and his buddy, a bulky looking blue guy, watched as Shaggy approached. Both were carrying Legion weapons, and Shaggy could even see Roald’s armor peeking from under their shirts. He was a bit worried about being recognized. Especially with the thunderstruck look on the Orc’s face. But they let them pass easily enough. So Shaggy kept running through.

“Put me down, you idiot!” Levy shouted in his ear.

Shaggy grunted as Levy hit him again and slowed down as people stared. Most seemed to be waiting as their trucks were inspected. Some looked like Legion Lackeys, either on a break or slacking. Shaggy smiled at everyone as he tried to find Ren. The big guy was supposedly out here checking on something.

“Do you know what he was doing out here?” Shaggy asked.

Levy glared at him. “How am I supposed to know? We were at the same meeting. He just said he wanted to check on something. Ask one of your minions.”

“Lackeys.” Shaggy said, drawing another glare.

Sighing, Shaggy found the nearest Lackey and questioned him.

“Yeah, big boss man was out here. He wanted to know about the missing trucks.”

Shaggy started. “We’ve got shipments going missing?”

“Huh? No. Just trucks. We think some of the local gangs are breaking in during shift changes and grabbing them. So the boss went out to find the nearest small timers.”

Shaggy waited for the alien thug to explain where that was. But when he didn’t, Shaggy growled. “And?! Which way is that?”

The alien guard clutched his energy rifle and shuddered under Shaggy’s glare. “It’s to the west, I think. But the boss took a few of the crew with him. Not to mention, the dude can handle himself.”

“I know that,” Shaggy grunted as he left the guard and turned back to Levy.

His wife was watching the trucks of goods and supplies pass back and forth through the tunnel. She seemed to be considering something. So Shaggy asked.

“What’s up?”

Levy started and shook her head. “Nothing. I was just trying to figure out how all these tunnels exist, and Austin is still standing. You’d think with all the underground holes, downtown would be sinking. If not outright underground.”

“Game logic, hun. Anyway, let’s go. Our rhino is in another castle.”

“Did you find out what he was doing?” She asked as they walked.

“Missing trucks. He went to question the local small timers.”

“That’s weird, isn’t it? Most of the small crews would know not to pick at you, right?”

Shaggy shrugged. “Actually. We are probably the safest crew to hit. If they are smart about it. We squashed a bunch of little gangs to get ourselves set up. But they keep popping up like cockroaches.”

They continued to discuss the various gangs in the area as they left the tunnel area and continued walking. Shaggy wanted to shift back to a wolf. But Levy convinced him not to. That way, they could enjoy a pleasant walk and still listen for trouble. The pair walked down the dirt streets, people casting weird looks their way. But they ignored them and continued to talk about what they liked about the game so far.

“I’m just saying it’s fun to play base-builder and all. But I want us to go out more. I mean, we need to team up on something and have our own adventures.”

Shaggy sighed as this conversation kept coming around. “I know, love. As soon as we are done with Cog, remember?”

“I’m just making sure you remember, mister. We need to find some goody-two-shoes heroes and make them our Nemeses or something.”

“Our what? Like a designated good-guy to fight us? How does that work? Do we put out an ad somewhere?”

Levy snorted. “No! It’s a game mechanic. If a villain or hero dislikes you enough, they can become a game-recognized Nemesis. You supposedly get all sorts of bonuses for fighting them. A few players have them and even one guy has a duo as his Nemesis. A big guy and his sidekick.”

“Wait…” Shaggy said, slowing to a stop. “Why hasn’t Cog become my Nemesis then? I fucking killed the guy and fucked up his little mini-generator down here, too. Isn’t that enough to make him hate me?”

Levy shrugged. “Apparently it’s all about perception. The game AI has to see you as a good threat to the Nemesis. Or maybe it’s because you're both villains.”

“So it’s either Cog doesn’t take me seriously or the game won’t let two Villains become Nemeses?”

“Hehehe! Given the two, which do you think is more likely?” Levy smiled.

Shaggy grunted, but silently agreed with her. Cog never took him seriously as a threat. Maybe once Shaggy sent his ass to the blood realm, the old bastard would recognize who he fucked with. He was about to ask Levy more about Nemeses when gunfire the sounds of gunfire increased in the distance again.

Shaggy grunted as he looked around and was about to shift. But Levy stopped him again.

“Remember. They are ready for you. We are going to have to be sneakier on this one.”

Shaggy nodded and followed Levy as she rushed toward the fighting. Nearby citizens were diving into abandoned shacks and taking cover. Some were outright rushing through the streets. Shaggy had to shoulder a few that wanted to run over him as the sounds of lasers and gunfire picked up. In the distance, he could see flashes of yellow and blue light. Thankfully, he didn’t spot any black beams. But for all he knew, they were holding off like Levy said.

As they ran a few blocks further west, Shaggy saw a few guys standing on low rooftops firing down. Judging by their kit, they seemed to be Legion.

“I’m going to swing wide and around. You going in?”

Levy nodded, and her hands lit up with purple magic. Shaggy noticed that her eyes were also now glowing purple. He quirked an eyebrow, but hurried off to the north to get the jump on whoever was fighting. He passed through a few narrow alleyways and more Legion guys on rooftops before he got a glimpse of the fight. Shaggy gave a large mental sigh as he spotted Ren wielding an enlarged black sledgehammer.

The Perinadon was going to town on the heavily armored Quinica. With every swing of his big hammer, he would toss the space-vamps into nearby buildings. Shaggy did a quick headcount and found eleven Quinica and twelve Legion. However, most of the Legion guys were on rooftops. Leaving Ren and a few other Bruisers fighting hand to hand with the Quinica.

Thankfully, with sustained fire, it seemed the Quinica were slowly being culled. Which was both good and bad. They needed to grab one before they ported away. Shaggy crept close, using the metal shacks as cover. His move was covered by his wife crashing on to the scene and flinging purple spears at the Quinica. Shaggy grimaced as he saw his wife’s magic cut easily into the Quinica’s armor.

“Stupid broken magic nonsense.”

With the arrival of Levy, more Quinica went down. Ren doubled his efforts with his hammer as he batted the Quinica like whack-a-mole. Shaggy found a Quinica Rifleman standing on further down the alley and moved. He stopped at the edge of a shack and glanced around. The heavily armored vamp was taking potshots at both Ren and the thugs on the roofs. His back was to Shaggy.

Fighting the urge to pounce on the fucker, Shaggy crept closer. The dirt softened his steps, and he cautiously shifted his hands. As he moved, he studied the armor the Quinica was wearing. It comprised several pieces combined to protect the body. So Shaggy figured he could get his claws in there somewhere. But when the Quinica he was watching shifted. Shaggy spotted a small gap between the armors neck and helmet. Grinning, Shaggy formed an idea and implemented it.

He stood and quickly rushed to the back of his target and kicked out hard. His foot connected with the back of the Quinica’s knee and he dropped. Quickly, Shaggy jammed his claws into the small gap at the neck. He grinned as he felt soft flesh give under his claws. Shaggy ripped his claws upward and ripped the head off his target. He backed off as blood went everywhere. The head went sailing, but Shaggy ignored it and gripped the slumped over body’s legs and dragged it between two shacks.

He stared down at the headless corpse for a few seconds. Trying to decide what to do. The sounds of gunfire and shouting didn’t help. Eventually, Shaggy decided to just take everything off the corpse and hope nothing teleported away. He found the straps on the armor and quickly unlatched everything and set it all aside. Shaggy had just gotten the belt off when a shout came from the fighting Quinica.

“Escape Protocol!”

Shaggy winced and watched the half-dressed Quinica on the ground for a few seconds. When nothing happened, he shouted in joy and started to take the leg armor off. But his wife’s concerned voice stopped him.

“Umm, Shaggy! We have a problem!”

Shaggy abandoned the corpse and rushed around the corner. He quickly spotted his wife standing in the alley alone. Rushing over, Shaggy took in the destroyed buildings and the torn up ground. Ren’s bruisers were looking around worriedly as Levy tried to keep a laugh off her face. She had sounded worried, but now she looked almost gleeful. To Shaggy’s questioning look, she choked out.

“Ren… Teleported…” she said carefully.

“Do what?”

One of the other Perinadons of Ren’s crew spoke up. “Yeah, boss. Big Boss was body-slamming a fucker that had grabbed his hammer. Next thing we know, poof!”

Shaggy glanced around and spotted the telltale signs of the teleportation. Blue circles were suspended in the air where the Quinica had vanished. Even the couple that Ren had knocked into buildings were gone. A couple were dead on the ground, their armor riddled with laser fire and bullets. Shaggy could smell smoking electronics telling him that their equipment was broken.

“Shit! He got ported to wherever the Quinica are, didn’t he?”

Levy struggled to keep the grin off her face. “I think so. He was holding on to the Quinica’s waist and lifting him when he teleported.”

“Least he has his hammer?” Shaggy shrugged, hoping Ren didn’t immediately get killed.

If he did, he would be back at the bar soon. Shaggy sighed and took in the battlefield. They had two other Quinica corpses. Their equipment broken. Then they had Shaggy’s dead body. He waved a hand at the bodies and started giving orders.

“We need their equipment. Grab everything and let’s get back to the bar. I’ve got a full set of armor minus the helmet. Everyone be on the lookout for a head. It should be around here somewhere.”

Levy nodded and moved. But Ren’s people didn’t. Instead, they all looked at Shaggy wearily.

“What about the boss? What do we do about him?!” The Perinadon asked, clearly controlling his anger.

Shaggy sighed loudly. “We need to get this equipment back to the bar. Hopefully Roald will figure out their teleporting tech and we can go get Ren. But, for now, he is on his own. So if you want to hurry things along, then get fucking moving!”

With his shout, everyone of the Lackeys rushed around. Some were looking for the head, while others were helping Levy grab equipment. Shaggy went back to his body and finished gathering the armor and belt. When he was finished, he kicked the body away and hurried to join the others. He was just in time to see Levy shove everything into her bag. Grinning, he offered his armful of equipment. But Levy stuck a palm out.

“We need to keep that separate. That’s the only set of armor we have that’s not got holes in it.”

Shaggy nodded and looked at the Lackeys. “Anyone find the head.”

“Got it right here, boss.” Said a muscular red alien.

He was holding the head in one hand and waving it around. Shaggy rubbed his eyes.

“Dude, we just needed the helmet. Ditch the head.”

The red alien scowled, but quickly removed the head and tossed Shaggy the helmet. Shaggy thrust the equipment into Levy’s arms. When she took it, Shaggy quickly shifted. Levy caught on quick and jumped on to his back as she issued orders.

“Go back to the tunnel and over see things there as normal. We’ll handle Ren. Promise.”

Some Lackeys may have heard her. But some didn’t as Shaggy transformed into his wolf form and shook himself. He was surprised that Levy held on through his shift. But he put that to the side as he rushed away. Now that they had what they needed, they could go back to Roald and figure this shit out. Hopefully, before Ren took a trip to Deathville.