Thor and Catrina reached the scientists just as it began to rain.
“Yo,” said Thor.
“Yo, indeed,” said Dr. Lalas. “I’m Dr. Alexi Lalas; this is my assistant, Julie.”
“Judy,” said Judy.
“Judy,” said Dr. Lalas. “And this,” he patted the still weeping Dr. Meola on the head, “is Dr. Meola.”
“Thor,” said Thor, nodding and extending his hand.
“Catrina,” said Catrina, doing the same.
“Nice to meet you,” said Dr. Lalas, shaking Thor’s hand.
“Pleasure,” said Judy, shaking Catrina’s.
The foursome switched partners and continued the introductory hand-clasping. Once finished, they stood in the plaza silently, looking at one another with complete neutrality. The rain continued to fall.
Judy pulled her lab coat tighter. Catrina crossed her arms across her chest and huddled closer to Thor.
Dr. Lalas smiled weakly and nodded at the hotel employees.
The rain began falling harder.
“So, uh, what the hell is that?” asked Thor, pointing a thumb at the super-wolfman, which was now standing on its hands and juggling scientist pieces with its feet.
“That,” said Dr. Lalas, “is test subject 37-E, a hybrid of a werewolf and an irradiated, mutated human, engineered to be preternaturally aggressive, intelligent, and athletic.”
Thor nodded in agreement a few times before blurting out, “Why in the holy fuck would you do that?!”
“Kinda just… because we could. Basically.”
“Who,” asked Catrina, “is it juggling?”
“My associate, Dr. Ramos.”
Judy cleared her throat aggressively.
“And a couple of interns.”
“They had names, damn it!” said Judy.
“Yes, yes, Jamie,” said Dr. Lalas, “I’m sure they did.”
Judy screamed incoherently, then pulled out a revolver from inside her lab coat and shot Dr. Lalas in the leg.
“Gah, fuck,” he said, before folding to the ground like a deck of cards made of meat and bone and possessing a doctorate.
“Crazy bitch…” he continued, before Judy shot him again, twice, in the face.
Thor and Catrina stared at her, wide-eyed. They took a step back. Slowly.
“You guys, uh,” said Judy, “you mind if we blame the wolf for that?”
“No, no,” said Thor, “go right ahead.”
“Yeah, totally,” said Catrina. “Absolutely.”