Wolf and Red: Monster Hunters
Eleven
From Soldier of the Fantastic #133
You would normally expect gratitude from clients. You have killed the monster, saved innocents and hopefully kept property damage down.
Don't bet on it.
Often clients are in shock or emotionally disturbed by what happened. Or worse, have jumped right into complete denial. It is entirely possible you may end up with local or federal law enforcement sent after you, or even the military.
Make sure you have an escape plan, a bug-out-bag packed and a vehicle ready to go.
They made it back to the Lower Mainland the next day. Of COURSE Smith was disputing their story, but he couldn't revoke their advance, and it wasn't like they used the hotel money or anything. But yeah, it looked unlikely he'd be calling until they REALLY needed rescuing. Bastard.
"Akira and Catherine are getting married," Red was reading their email on her laptop as she sat in one of the livingroom chairs.
"Oh? That's quick," Wolf noted, lounging on the couch.
"They apparently knew each other awhile," Red continued as she looked at the mail from Chief Shiro. She continued wryly, "We're sort of invited, barring craziness."
"Would Japan let us in the country?" Wolf asked. They HAD just been in the middle of a zombie attack, after all.
"There's that," Mimi agreed, bringing in the snacks for them.
Most of the food was dropped off for Wolf, while Red and Mimi just had a bowl of chips each.
"I hate how you can eat all that and stay thin," Mimi added, pouting.
"On the other hand, keeping myself filled out in the field is a bitch," Wolf sighed as she ate.
"Her backpack is usually half equipment, half field rations," Red also sighed. She checked the mail, "Junk mail, spam, spam, viagra ad... Hey, that crazy lady still wants us to guard her meeting with the vampires."
"Hell, no. Not unless we're dead broke," Wolf said.
"Let me look at that," Mimi said, reading the message. Thoughtfully, she clicked the link.
"What?" Red asked.
"That name is familiar," Mimi muttered, then yelped, "That's Iron Hand's mom!"
"What?" came from Wolf this time.
"Chad Gardenier," Mimi said, "he was one of Monster Hunter Int. top guys. And a legend in his own mind."
"Oh?" Red asked.
"He wrote a VERY long autobiography. Earl Harbinger doesn't remember at least some of the stuff happening the way Chad said," Mimi noted.
"Which doesn't mean that much. Didn't a monster EAT Harbinger's memories at one point?" Red offered.
"How did you hear THAT?" Mimi had to ask.
Red shrugged, "I have my ways."
"So Chad was a badass monster hunter," Wolf got them back on topic, "but his Mom is pro-monster and interviews vampires?"
"They apparently really, REALLY did not get along," Mimi agreed. She clicked through various links, "Ironically, he and her both testified on opposite sides on the 'Vampire Issue.'"
"Back up," Wolf blinked, "there's a 'Vampire Issue?' What does THAT mean?"
"There's a faction that thinks vampires should not be treated as 'monsters' but instead as people with an illness," Mimi shrugged.
"That's fucking nuts," Wolf blinked.
"Vampires, especially the smart long-lived ones, can be very rich. That buys a lot of scholars who need funding and unethical politicians," Red said cynically.
"And writers," Wolf added. Everyone in the industry knew vampires paid to have Twilight and similar drek written...
Red looked curious, "Would you say Ms Gardenier is bought, or a true believer?"
"Looking at her academic papers, I'd say believer," Mimi admitted.
"Huh," Red admitted, "I almost want to meet her, at this point."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"You have GOT to be kidding me!" Red yelled as the machine gun rattled off bullets into the mass of attacking creatures.
"Gwaaaar!" the huge seal roared as it rapidly humped up the sewer.
"Rabid seals. Fuck," Wolf agreed, firing her shotgun and decapitating another.
"Any sign of Bishop's people?" Mimi's voice came over the radio.
"Not yet," Red gunned down another charging seal.
Bishop's Butchers had been hired by the city of Vancouver to investigate why workers had gone missing in the sewers. On paper it should have been a easy job: go in, recon, come back. But the group of four men never called in and didn't come out.
This had happened as Wolf, Red and Mimi were up north. Apparently Smith gave Bishop the job to make up for not getting them the Wendigo hunt. Of course after they didn't check in for a few days, he had to call in Wolf and Red anyway.
There was a gap in the attacks, and Red groaned as she shifted her grip on her weapon. "Mimi, get in touch with Smith," she said grimly, "something's driven the sea mammals locally feral. Or rabid, maybe."
"You're kidding me," Mimi blinked.
"We've ran into walruses, sea lions, seals and even otters," Wolf noted.
"Fuck," Mimi muttered.
"How are OTTERS dangerous?" Smith came on the line.
"Have you ever been charged by dozens of otters screeching for your blood?" Red asked dryly.
Smith paused then muttered, "Good point."
"We're going to have to retreat and re-ammo," Wolf noted as they warily watched the tunnel ahead.
"Seriously?" Mimi blinked.
"We blew through a lot of ammo killing the sea lions. Did you know they weigh nearly 1000 kilograms?" Wolf added.
The two began to retrace their steps, dodging around animal carcasses. As they went past a side passage, Wolf saw a flash of yellow.
"What's that?" Red asked.
"Cover me," Wolf said as she advanced. She prodded the mass of stuff with the end of her shotgun, then cursed softly.
"What?" Red asked grimly.
"Found on of the lost workers," Wolf noted, "what's left of him."
"Fuck. Get a photo.. Smith will want proof," Red sighed.
They reached the access point they had used, where Mimi was waiting with ammo, and a few Mounties as guards.
"Shit you're a mess," Mimi yelped, seeing the two women covered in gore.
The watching cops looked ill.
"It looks worse than it is," Wolf said. "We had to use a grenade when a horde of seals nearly overwhelmed us."
One of the Mounties offered, "You... blew up seals? Really?"
Red just gave her a look, and the woman paled. She then addressed Mimi, "Any radio contact with Butcher?"
"Yes, one of his team radioed, but it cut off," Mimi reported. She produced a digital player, pressing the button.
"FUCK, rats TOO? Where the hell..." then it cut off.
"Shit," Wolf cursed softly. She looked at Red, "We didn't see rats or any other small mammals."
"Whatever else is down there ate em?" Red suggested.
"Possibly. I think more concussion grenades might be a good idea," Wolf sighed.
A Mountie nervously pointed out, "The city wants the sewers left mostly intact."
Red was refilling clips as she said, "The city also doesn't want these things eating the citizens. They can live with a bit of sewer damage."
Mimi quickly said, "OK. Keep doing the radio check ins. And if you run into something you can't handle, retreat."
"Will do," Wolf agreed as the two headed back down into the sewers once more.
To be continued...
Notes: YES I'm going to do a side story to Monster Hunter Memoirs, eventually. I need to borrow copies of the series again to refresh my memory on various bits.