Wolf and Red: Monster Hunters!
Nine
From Soldier of the Fantastic #132
If you can help it, NEVER meet with a client at your home base. There's no telling what government agency they might be working for, or just providing information to. If a client tries forcefully to be taken to your base, look on them with deep suspicion.
With certain exceptions, like your client is a supernatural being themselves, always meet in a public space. Even most supernatural beings like werewolves or vampires are reluctant to cause trouble in public, as it would usually bring professional hunters down on them.
Metrotown Center in Burnaby had a huge, crowded food court, which made it ideal for a meet up. Both Wolf and Red hit a 'fake Chinese' vendor, with large servings that would fill them both. They then went to sit by the windows, eating and watching for their contact.
The older fellow hit a burger joint, then walked over to them. "Afternoon, ladies," he nodded politely. The guy was their regular contact with the provincial government, a 'Mr Smith.'
"Afternoon," Red agreed.
"Were you out of town?" Smith asked as he ate some fries, "We tried to contact you, but your assistant said you were unavailable."
"International job. Can't really discuss it," Wolf said as she ate.
"Hmph," Smith grunted. He took out some papers and put them on a clear part of the table, spreading out photos, a map and other documents.
"Huh. Wendigo sightings?" Red noted.
Wendigo were large, humanoid looking beast men that attacked humans both for food and to eat them. Supposedly they were created by a curse, but that was unconfirmed. They were tough and dangerous, if not too bright.
"We haven't got solid confirmation," Smith admitted, "the local cops are all reluctant to tangle with them."
"Understandable," Wolf agreed as he studied the map. "That's also up near where the pipelines are supposed to go in. Related?"
"It might even be protest action. We don't know," Smith admitted.
"What's the contract?" Red asked warily.
"Standard rates on Wendigo kills," Smith answered.
"Oh no no no," Red shook her head. "We're going to have to go up there and investigate. This also might be a total wild goose chase, so..."
Wolf listened to them dicker as she ate.
"So we get a small daily fee, gas money, a hotel or whatever, plus the regular bounties," Red concluded smugly.
"Agreed," Smith sighed. "I will expect regular reports," he added.
"We'll need to organize for the trip, that'll take time," Wolf cautioned him. "Leave in three days?" she suggested.
"That works," Smith agreed as he finished his food. "I'll leave the information we have," he added as he got up and left.
Wolf and Red went back to eating as they looked at the printouts. "The evidence seems pretty thin. You think it's a wild goose chase?" Red asked.
"Maybe, maybe not. Well, at the worst you've gotten us a few days of paid vacation up north," Wolf noted.
"Ha. Yeah," Red smiled thoughtfully. "Bring the cross-country skis... we can use them for fun or work," she grinned.
"Ha," Wolf smiled. She looked thoughtful, "Bring the heavy hunting rifles?"
"If it IS wendigo we'll need the stopping power," Red agreed.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"You two are taking off AGAIN?" Mimi Johnson demanded as they started to organize the supplies for the trip.
"Just a day or so up north," Red reassured her.
"Hmph," Mimi pouted. The shorter black haired woman was studying the equipment list thoughtfully. "We're taking the van? Better pack a tent too," she mused.
"They're paying our hotels," Red said smugly.
"Do we know hotels are available?" Mimi pointed out.
That wiped the smile off Red's face, "Well, shit."
"We?" Wolf asked her.
"Well, it's not like either of you can drive," Mimi pointed out reasonably.
Both Red and Wolf winced. Both had enough traffic tickets that their licences had been suspended in BC. Not that that would stop them in an emergency, of course, but this wasn't an actual emergency.
"And it's not like we'd hire a driver," Mimi added impishly, knowing that Red, at least, liked to save money too.
"Okay, okay," Wolf conceded, "but THIS TIME stay out of trouble."
"Trouble? Me?" Mimi batted her eyes.
"I still remember when you set fire to a Vampire nest with us still in it," Red muttered.
"It worked, didn't it?" Mimi shrugged.
Both women rolled their eyes.
(Mimi had been a Hunter in the US for several years. Reasonably successful too. She had planned to retire to Canada, but found giving up the work was too boring. When Wolf and Red had run an ad looking for an assistant, she applied.)
"So tents... we should pack some food too, just in case. We're chasing wendigo, right?" Mimi clarified as they sorted gear in the shed behind the house.
"Yep. Was thinking heavy rifles... and shotguns, to slow them down," Wold noted.
"Or you could just rip their heads off," Mimi teased.
"Even I'm not THAT strong," Wolf noted.
From Soldier of the Fantastic #132
Light armor and you: a short guide.
I've seen a lot of rookie Hunters armor up, wearing full uniforms, bullet proof vests, ballistic armor and so on. And, I should note, under specific circumstances that can be a good idea. But you have to assess what you're fighting and what level of armor is helpful.
For instance: against a elder vampire armor is effectively useless and, basically, just slows you down. Also if you've hit the point where you're engaging a vampire at close range, you're fucked anyway.
Generally speaking any armor should balance movement and protection.
"We really shouldn't be going out on the town before a job," Wolf pointed out reasonably as they walked down Granville Street in Vancouver together.
"Oh come on! We're just getting dinner and a show," Red laughed.
"Yeah, yeah...," the taller Wolf noted, looking around warily.
"And no, we're not going to get jumped by zombies again," Red added.
"Oh SURE...," Wolf shook her head.
Mimi had taken off earlier. Both suspected she had a boyfriend, but as long as it didn't impact on their work, neither really cared.
"Oooh, poutine! Let's go there!" Red pointed.
Wolf laughed. "You're lucky we're both nearly unkillable," she noted, "or eating that regularly would probably kill us."
One got curry poutine, the other nacho, along with a drink. Finishing they were nicely full, then headed out to the street again.
"YOU," a furious voice demanded.
"Oh hi," Red waved casually to the shorter man.
"Don't 'oh hi' me," the scruffy looking hunter growled. "You two KNOW my team is the official one for Vancouver! You're swiping our jobs!"
"Bishop, Smith came to US. Not our fault," Wolf pointed out.
John Bishop scowled at them. Bishop's Butchers were a six man hunter team based out of Vancouver. The problem was, they just weren't that good at the job. Both women suspected that, eventually, they were going to hit something REALLY nasty and get wiped out.
"You didn't have to take the job," Bishop spat out.
Red couldn't help laughing, "Do you think we're stupid or something?"
Bishop went red and looked ready to lunge at them.
"You REALLY do not want to do that," Wolf warned him.
Bishop hesitated a moment. There were stories about Wolf... she was crazy tough, maybe a werewolf, and supposedly could rip a guy's head clean off. Not to mention the stories about RED.
"This isn't over," Bishop finally growled then stomped away.
"Sore loser," Red sighed once he was gone.
"We ARE taking most of the good jobs now," Wolf noted as they walked on.
"That's because they fucked up that giant spider case and had to use high explosives," Red noted, "took out a whole town. No wonder no one wants to hire them."
To be continued...
Notes: My original idea for Mimi was she was a monster victim, who was hanging with our heroes for safety. But it occurred to me it might be funner if she was a former hunter who quit, got bored, and went back to work.
