Page 56 of Prize for the Alien Grumpus

The stench grows stronger. Metal rails gleam in the darkness ahead - a subway tunnel. Perfect. The assassin thinks they're clever, using public transport to mask their scent.

A distant rumble echoes through the tunnel. My quarry's heartbeat quickens. They're close.

There! A shadow moves against the wall. I launch myself forward, claws extended. The grolgath squeals as we tumble onto the tracks.

"Thought you could get away?" My fist connects with their jaw. Satisfying crunch.

The assassin fights back, but their strikes feel like love taps compared to what I've endured. I grab their throat and squeeze.

"Tell Gregor-"

A bright light floods the tunnel. The grolgath's eyes gleam with triumph. Their foot hooks behind my knee and shoves.

The train hits like a meteor. Metal screams against my hide as I bounce between cars. The world becomes a blur of lights and sparks.

My claws tear grooves in the steel but find no purchase. The wind whips my fur as the train drags me through the darkness.

Tunnel walls flash past. One. Two. Three stations. The assassin's scent grows fainter with each passing mile.

When I finally pry myself free, I've lost their trail completely. Clever little worm.

I dust myself off and check for damage. Nothing broken except my pride. And maybe that train's front end.

But now I'm far from Mel and Sam. Too far. The grolgath bought themselves some time - exactly what they wanted.

A crackle at my wrist draws my attention. The image inducer sparks and fizzles, its casing cracked from the impact. Blue fur sprouts through the failing hologram.

"No, no, don't do this to me." I tap the device but it only spits more sparks before dying completely. Perfect. Just perfect.

The assassin's scent wafts down from the platform above. I press against the tunnel wall as humans shuffle past on their way to the trains. Their startled gasps and quickened steps tell me my true form is fully visible now.

A flash of movement catches my eye. The grolgath, wearing the face of a businessman, strolls toward the exit stairs. Their disguise works flawlessly - just another human heading home after a long day at the office.

I growl low in my throat. They're getting away, and I can't follow without causing mass panic. Humans tend to scream when they see a seven-foot-tall blue demon, even if I am technically here to help them.

The assassin pauses at the top of the stairs, turning to smirk down at me. They know I'm trapped down here while they walk free among the humans. The urge to leap onto the platform and tear their smug face off nearly overwhelms me.

But Mel's voice echoes in my head: "You need to dial it back some."

She's right. Starting a brawl in a crowded subway station won't help anyone. I need another way up to street level - one that doesn't involve terrifying half the city's population.

The maintenance tunnel. If I remember the layout correctly, it should connect to the surface through a series of access hatches. I can circle around and cut the assassin off before they get too far.

I slam my fist against the wall in frustration as the grolgath disappears from view. This hunt just got a lot more complicated.

The service tunnels stretch for miles beneath the city. My claws click against concrete as I follow the maintenance signs. Every step takes me further from Mel and Sam.

What if Gregor sends more assassins? The thought makes my fur bristle. Mel's tough, but she's no match for grolgath tech.And Sam...sweet, innocent Sam who thinks this is all just a game.

Another "Authorized Personnel Only" door crumples under my fist. The scent of oil and metal grows stronger. Finally.

The repair depot sprawls before me, filled with tools and half-dismantled subway cars. Perfect. The image inducer needs a quantum phase regulator and some basic circuitry. Nothing I can't cobble together from these primitive machines.

I rip open an electrical panel and start harvesting components. The sooner I fix this device, the sooner I can get back to my humans. My humans? When did that happen?

The inducer's casing falls open with a satisfying crack. Just need to bypass the main power coupling and...

A new scent hits my nostrils. Multiple bodies moving this way. The tang of plasma weapons. The distinctive musk of...

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