The neon glow of the HUB's signs cast a kaleidoscope of colors across Rei and Luna's determined faces as they approached the GearHead Shack. Without hesitation, they pushed through the battered door, the cloying scent of grease and ozone hitting their nostrils.
"Hiro!" Rei called out, her voice cutting through the clatter of tools and machinery. "We need your help."
The young mechanic emerged from the depths of his cluttered domain, wiping his oil-stained hands on a rag. "What kinda mess have you two gotten yourselves into this time?"
Luna stepped forward, ears flickering nervously. "We finally got a bounty - some punk calling himself 'Baby Shark'." She spat the ridiculous name with disdain. "He's been dealing black market bio-enhancers stolen from Bio-Synth."
Hiro's eyebrows shot up towards his receding hairline. "Really? Is he responsible for the strange rat monster attack I heard about?"
A shudder rippled through Rei's lithe frame at the memory of the grotesque, mutated abomination. "Exactly. And we need to find this fish before more innocent lives are destroyed."
She fixed Hiro with an unwavering stare. "We need access to the dark web - Baby Shark's gotta have a secret site for his twisted deals. Can you access it?"
Nodding slowly, Hiro lumbered over to his battered computer terminal, the archaic machine whirring to life with a series of beeps and groans. His calloused fingers flew over the keys, brow furrowed in concentration as he delved into the shadowy underbelly of the net.
Long minutes ticked by intense silence, broken only by the incessant tapping and occasional muttered curse. At last, Hiro leaned back with a grunt of satisfaction. "Got the fishy bastard. Custom encrypted cypher site, but nothing I couldn't crack."
Rei peered over his shoulder at the lurid images and code flickering across the screen - a veritable black-market buffet of illicit augmentations and narcotics. Her lip curled in revulsion.
"Look at these drop points," Luna murmured, scanning the locations rapidly. "He's got secret dealings happening all over the city."
A slow, predatory grin spread across Rei's features as the seeds of a plan took root. "Then we'll have to go in undercover. Disguise ourselves as buyers looking to make a score."
Luna's tail lashed anxiously. "Are you sure that's wise? If he catches on--"
"He won't." Rei's tone brooked no argument. "I'll handle the meet; you just follow my lead. We get in close, then Spring the trap."
Powering up his encrypted comm-link, Hiro rapidly typed out a coded message and fired it off into the depths of the dark web. "Just sent our 'interest' in acquiring a fresh stash," he grunted.
The reply, almost instantaneous, read, "Docks at midnight, cargo container 57B. Come strapped and ready to deal..."
Rei and Luna exchanged a determined look. Tonight, the fallen SEAL's reign of terror ended.
"Don't worry, Hiro," Rei purred, checking the charge on her sidearm. "This shark's about to get beached."
As they strode from the dingy shop, twin smirks played across their feline features. They were one step closer to clearing their debt.
*****
The inky shadows of the deserted docks engulfed them as Rei and Luna approached cargo container 57B, their hoodies pulled low to conceal their feline features. Trepidation coiled in Luna's gut – every instinct screamed to turn back before this cursed meeting could unfold.
But Rei's jaw was set, her ruby eyes glinting with determination. They had to see this through, for the sake of their city...and their future.
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A hulking silhouette detached itself from the gloom, the unmistakable form of Baby Shark emerging into the feeble light. Luna's breath caught in her throat as his shark-like visage fixed them with a predatory stare.
"You the buyers?" His voice was a guttural rasp, laced with a dark undercurrent of menace.
Rei gave an almost imperceptible nod, her hand inching towards the concealed firearm beneath her jacket. "Yes, we got the crypto.”
In a blur of motion, she leveled her gun squarely at Baby Shark's massive chest. "Right here, fish breath."
Luna mirrored her sister, targeting her gun at the hulking mobster. "Hands up and surrender. We're taking you in."
A gravelly chuckle rumbled from the depths of Baby Shark's barrel chest. "Should've known a big score like this would draw the bounty pests." His beady eyes glittered with dark amusement. "Bet there's an acceptable price on my head too, eh kittens?"
"You're coming with us, Sharkovsky," Rei spat, her tone laced with venom. "Back to MCPD. Don't make this harder than it needs to be."
Baby Shark's lip curled in a contemptuous sneer. "Listen to the big, bad kitten giving orders." Faster than Luna's eye could track, his fist lashed out – a brutal haymaker that slammed squarely into Rei's midsection.
A strangled cry tore from her throat as she crumpled, the wind driven from her lungs. Before Luna could react, Baby Shark's boot caught her in the chest, flinging her back like a rag doll.
She hit the ground hard, her ears ringing and body screaming in agony. Through the haze, she watched in horror as Baby Shark systematically crushed their firearms underfoot before wrenching Rei up by her throat.
"How old are you two pussies anyway?" he sneered, giving her a contemptuous shake. "Should be playing with dolls, not biting off more than you can chew."
Rei's legs flailed uselessly, her pretty features twisted in pain and fury. With all her waning strength, she managed a vicious kick towards his armored torso – but the blow bounced off harmlessly.
A cruel chuckle spilled from Baby Shark's lips as he slammed Rei against the unyielding steel of the cargo container. She crumpled in a broken heap, warm crimson trickling from her brow.
Through a veil of tears, Luna dragged herself across the cracked pavement, whimpering in anguish as she cradled her sister's limp form. Sightless eyes stared back at her, face ashen and smeared with blood.
The barrel of Baby Shark's massive gun pressed against Luna's temple, the cold steel seeming to sear her flesh.
"You stupid little bitches," he rasped, each word dripping with contempt. "Should've stayed on whatever street corner you crawled out of."
Luna's throat constricted in a strangled sob, her arms winding protectively around Rei's broken body. "P-please..." The words came out in a breathless rasp, bitter venom stinging her tongue. "We'll quit, just...don't kill us."
His laughter was a knell, harsh and devoid of humor. "I never leave loose ends, kitten."
The hammer clicked back with a decisive finality. In that moment, Luna saw the yawning chasm of oblivion stretched before them – a merciful end to the nightmare that had become their lives.
Pulling Rei's broken form tighter against her heaving chest, she awaited that final, eternal night to claim them both.
Acrid smoke billowed in thick, choking clouds, stinging Luna's eyes and searing her lungs as she coughed and sputtered. Just as the world seemed to collapse into that swirling vortex of darkness, a powerful arm encircled her waist, wrenching her backwards.
She thrashed wildly, a feral yowl of defiance ripping from her raw throat – until a familiar, gruff voice cut through the haze.
"Easy there, little wildcat. I've gotcha."
Relief crashed over her like a tidal wave as Rally's hulking silhouette materialized through the smoke. He scooped up Rei's lifeless form with his other arm, cradling the sisters against his barrel chest as he barreled away from the chaos.
Baby Shark's monstrous roars of outrage echoed behind them, wolfish gnashing of teeth a stark counterpoint to the rhythmic pounding of Rally's boots on the pavement.
At last, they emerged from the noxious cloud, the dingy alleyway providing a brief sanctuary. Rally didn't break stride, his truck already idling nearby with a muted rumble.
With surprising tenderness, he deposited them in the flatbed, layers of worn blankets cushioning their battered forms. Luna clutched Rei's limp hand fiercely, ragged gasps tearing from her burning lungs.
Rally swung himself up into the truck, gunning the engine as he peeled away from the curb with a squeal of rubber. Acrid smoke belched from the spinning tires as they fled into the night, putting distance between them and the madness of the docks.
Only then did the vice constricting Luna's chest ease. She sagged back against the cool metal walls, cradling Rei's head in her lap as tears of mingled anguish and relief streaked her filthy cheeks.
"R-Rally..." she rasped, her voice little more than a broken croak. "You...saved us..."
Through the rear window, his dark eyes met hers in the rearview mirror, glinting with a mixture of exasperation and relief.
"Hiro called in a favor," he grunted. "Figured you two kittens could use some backup. What were you thinking?”
Despite herself, a tremulous laugh bubbled up from Luna's bruised throat. Of course, Rei had rushed in headlong without a plan...and nearly gotten them both slaughtered.
Her mirth died a swift death as her gaze fell upon her sister's ashen features. The feeble rise and fall of Rei's chest were the only evidence of life remaining.
With a trembling hand, Luna traced the ugly gash along her brow, thick crimson staining her ivory fur a macabre maroon.
"You reckless fool..." she murmured, rage and terror warring within her. "I swear, if you die on me, I'll kick your ass myself..."
Rally's voice rumbled from the front, refocusing her addled mind.
"Hang on back there. Taking the shortcut to Artemis Memorial."
Gratitude washed over Luna in a fresh wave. Whatever divine forces still watched over them, she silently thanked them for Rally's timely intervention.
As the battered truck lurched onward, she curled herself around Rei, cocooning her sister in the protective circle of her arms.
Right now, the only thing that mattered was keeping what little family she had left alive.