"Greg, are you sure Brian won't massacre you? I understand the need and all that, but you have not forgotten what day it is today, or rather the night?" - Frank said cautiously, casting his gaze on Nicky, whose eye started flashing with an unkind spark, as soon as he heard what Greg was up to.
"I don't see anything so horrible in this," - Greg shrugged in response. - "If I could, I would completely replace Brian without any second thought. So I am not sure why he is behaving like a spoiled brat. Especially since he brewed all this mess."
Hearing this, Nicky chuckled without any humare.
"It can seem strange, but for our species - this is considered one of the biggest humiliations, and if someone sees or finds out about it, we will be considered stigmatized until the end of our days. But I agree with Greg. In any case, there is no other choice." - Nicky's voice was absolutely calm as if he was talking about the weather, but his words made the eyes of men widen to the size of a saucer.
" Is that really so serious?" - Greg decided to clarify, hoping that the guy is just exaggerating. Nicky shrugged indifferently.
"They say that once upon a time one of the tribes from the north learned our secret and enslaved a whole pack, making them something like riding animals for battle. The members of the pack went for it only because their puppies and Mates were held as a hostage. It did not end very well. Neither puppies, nor adults, or members of the tribe survived the bloodbath. Since then, it is considered something of recognition of submission. A werewolf will allow only his Mate or a close relative to ride on his back, let alone drag a wagon as an ox ..." - Nicky gestured, not finding the right epithet. - "Although the chance that we will see the shifters and be humiliated is much smaller than the opportunity to be noticed by humans. And if so it will be necessary to clean witnesses in large quantities."
His cold smile made his friends wince and look at each other.
"Okay," - Greg said. - "Let's not overthink, we just need to get to a reasonably busy road unnoticed. And then we'll think of something. In a pinch, we can say that we are from the set of the movie, and you are trained wolves."
"Greg," - Nikki suddenly narrowed his eyes and smiled strangely. - "Have you ever seen real wolves?"
" In the pictures , of course. Why?" - Greg shrugged.
Nicky quickly took out his old phone and found something among the photos and showed to both men. Frank was not impressed; he had seen these animals in the zoo before, but Greg turned a little pale, remembering exactly what he had seen that night in the Park.
"Oh yea," - Nicky confirmed his guesses, - "Only a city dweller who has never seen a living wolf can believe that bullshit that Kiki feed you back then."
With these words, he turned around and left the men to ponder his words.
Greg shook his head, chasing the images that had come to his mind. Fortunately, so much has happened lately that he has never had time just to stop and think about what is going on. Otherwise, he would at least start to stutter ...
In the garage above the car, Marina was already working with crazy vigor. She managed to inspect each screw and even oil it. Seeing Greg, she immediately got out from under the car and looked at her brother impatiently. Ignoring his sister's burning look, he first turned to Frank and Nicky.
" Marina and I can handle it here. From you, I will ask to locate Tony and get what I asked him to find. I hope you'll get what I want you to do with it." - Frank's thoughtful look showed that he didn't understand at all, but Nicky readily confirmed that he knew what to do. Frank had no choice but to follow the energetic lad.
Greg, meanwhile, turned to Marina with a broad smile.
" Well, dear sister, are you ready to have some fun?" - He said igniting the stick from the welding machine. Marina answered him with the same wide smile. And for some reason, both of them looked somehow demonic in flashes of flame.
***
It took about an hour since siblings began work on the machine. Marina already gave up and did not ask questions, wholly immersed in the process of work, although she did not understand half of the purpose of some improvements. Now the buggy began to look entirely different: the hood was removed and was welded vertically onto the roof. At the insistence of Greg Marina added to the strange construction a crossbar on the upper edge and a pair of curved holders on top of the roof itself. The stiring control was also relocated on top.
They also thoroughly worked on the frame and the front case, strengthening it to the maximum. In conclusion, Greg himself designed a unique mount in front of the bumper.
Having looked at all this construction as a whole, Marina began to have strange guesses. But still could not arrange them in her head. What the heck is Greg up to?
The man at this moment with pride examined his creation and importantly nodded, satisfied with the result.
In the meantime, Franky and Nicky entered the garage, followed by Tony with a face full of questions. It seemed a little more, and the poor guy will be blown up by curiosity like a hamster. Having considered what Greg and Marina made, his eyes flared even more. But Greg did not give him the opportunity to open his mouth.
"So, time is short. Tony, Marina, open the door. Frank, Nicky, help me roll this colossus out. "
With a slight creak, the wheels gave way, and the buggy obediently rolled out. In the yard, everyone else already expected them.
Apparently, Maddy at the end got her whining around, so she was dragged out again and put in front of the entrance to the garage. Nobody cared anymore what Greg invented, as long as it helps to quickly get rid of this thorn in the ass, that is, to help the unfortunate girl.
On the grass in front of the garage door, Frank and Nicky have already laid out a strange construction of leather strips, braided in the similarity of ropes, chains, and even climbing rope.
Greg meticulously examined the creation, checking all the joints and nodes. It's good that in addition to the basic knowledge of engineering and mechanics, which Frank picked up during his work in the corporation, the ex-military guy also had quite extensive expertise from various rescue technicians and commandos. Therefore, the design was quite reliable.
All eyes were on Greg, his buggy and what was laid out on the ground.
But Greg still was taking his time in anticipation. He turned to Lana, Nicky, Vicky, and Brian.
He wanted first to explain everything, prepare other for the grand moment, and maybe stire some excitement. But instead of expected nervousness on the faces of his little surprise to his family, the shifters expressions were strangely strained.
"Hey wait!" - Shouted Greg, realizing what was going on. But it was already late, their eyes flashed in response to the call of the full moon seated in the sky, giving way to the beastly half that meant to rule this night.
"Greg, are you sure Brian won't massacre you? I understand the need and all that, but you have not forgotten what day it is today, or rather the night?" - Frank said cautiously, casting his gaze on Nicky, whose eye started flashing with an unkind spark, as soon as he heard what Greg was up to.
"I don't see anything so horrible in this," - Greg shrugged in response. - "If I could, I would completely replace Brian without any second thought. So I am not sure why he is behaving like a spoiled brat. Especially since he brewed all this mess."
Hearing this, Nicky chuckled without any humare.
"It can seem strange, but for our species - this is considered one of the biggest humiliations, and if someone sees or finds out about it, we will be considered stigmatized until the end of our days. But I agree with Greg. In any case, there is no other choice." - Nicky's voice was absolutely calm as if he was talking about the weather, but his words made the eyes of men widen to the size of a saucer.
" Is that really so serious?" - Greg decided to clarify, hoping that the guy is just exaggerating. Nicky shrugged indifferently.
"They say that once upon a time one of the tribes from the north learned our secret and enslaved a whole pack, making them something like riding animals for battle. The members of the pack went for it only because their puppies and Mates were held as a hostage. It did not end very well. Neither puppies, nor adults, or members of the tribe survived the bloodbath. Since then, it is considered something of recognition of submission. A werewolf will allow only his Mate or a close relative to ride on his back, let alone drag a wagon as an ox ..." - Nicky gestured, not finding the right epithet. - "Although the chance that we will see the shifters and be humiliated is much smaller than the opportunity to be noticed by humans. And if so it will be necessary to clean witnesses in large quantities."
His cold smile made his friends wince and look at each other.
"Okay," - Greg said. - "Let's not overthink, we just need to get to a reasonably busy road unnoticed. And then we'll think of something. In a pinch, we can say that we are from the set of the movie, and you are trained wolves."
"Greg," - Nikki suddenly narrowed his eyes and smiled strangely. - "Have you ever seen real wolves?"
" In the pictures , of course. Why?" - Greg shrugged.
Nicky quickly took out his old phone and found something among the photos and showed to both men. Frank was not impressed; he had seen these animals in the zoo before, but Greg turned a little pale, remembering exactly what he had seen that night in the Park.
"Oh yea," - Nicky confirmed his guesses, - "Only a city dweller who has never seen a living wolf can believe that bullshit that Kiki feed you back then."
With these words, he turned around and left the men to ponder his words.
Greg shook his head, chasing the images that had come to his mind. Fortunately, so much has happened lately that he has never had time just to stop and think about what is going on. Otherwise, he would at least start to stutter ...
In the garage above the car, Marina was already working with crazy vigor. She managed to inspect each screw and even oil it. Seeing Greg, she immediately got out from under the car and looked at her brother impatiently. Ignoring his sister's burning look, he first turned to Frank and Nicky.
" Marina and I can handle it here. From you, I will ask to locate Tony and get what I asked him to find. I hope you'll get what I want you to do with it." - Frank's thoughtful look showed that he didn't understand at all, but Nicky readily confirmed that he knew what to do. Frank had no choice but to follow the energetic lad.
Greg, meanwhile, turned to Marina with a broad smile.
" Well, dear sister, are you ready to have some fun?" - He said igniting the stick from the welding machine. Marina answered him with the same wide smile. And for some reason, both of them looked somehow demonic in flashes of flame.
***
It took about an hour since siblings began work on the machine. Marina already gave up and did not ask questions, wholly immersed in the process of work, although she did not understand half of the purpose of some improvements. Now the buggy began to look entirely different: the hood was removed and was welded vertically onto the roof. At the insistence of Greg Marina added to the strange construction a crossbar on the upper edge and a pair of curved holders on top of the roof itself. The stiring control was also relocated on top.
They also thoroughly worked on the frame and the front case, strengthening it to the maximum. In conclusion, Greg himself designed a unique mount in front of the bumper.
Having looked at all this construction as a whole, Marina began to have strange guesses. But still could not arrange them in her head. What the heck is Greg up to?
The man at this moment with pride examined his creation and importantly nodded, satisfied with the result.
In the meantime, Franky and Nicky entered the garage, followed by Tony with a face full of questions. It seemed a little more, and the poor guy will be blown up by curiosity like a hamster. Having considered what Greg and Marina made, his eyes flared even more. But Greg did not give him the opportunity to open his mouth.
"So, time is short. Tony, Marina, open the door. Frank, Nicky, help me roll this colossus out. "
With a slight creak, the wheels gave way, and the buggy obediently rolled out. In the yard, everyone else already expected them.
Apparently, Maddy at the end got her whining around, so she was dragged out again and put in front of the entrance to the garage. Nobody cared anymore what Greg invented, as long as it helps to quickly get rid of this thorn in the ass, that is, to help the unfortunate girl.
On the grass in front of the garage door, Frank and Nicky have already laid out a strange construction of leather strips, braided in the similarity of ropes, chains, and even climbing rope.
Greg meticulously examined the creation, checking all the joints and nodes. It's good that in addition to the basic knowledge of engineering and mechanics, which Frank picked up during his work in the corporation, the ex-military guy also had quite extensive expertise from various rescue technicians and commandos. Therefore, the design was quite reliable.
All eyes were on Greg, his buggy and what was laid out on the ground.
But Greg still was taking his time in anticipation. He turned to Lana, Nicky, Vicky, and Brian.
He wanted first to explain everything, prepare other for the grand moment, and maybe stire some excitement. But instead of expected nervousness on the faces of his little surprise to his family, the shifters expressions were strangely strained.
"Hey wait!" - Shouted Greg, realizing what was going on. But it was already late, their eyes flashed in response to the call of the full moon seated in the sky, giving way to the beastly half that meant to rule this night.
