Cass cuts the engine and rolls into a nearby building across the street from the bar. He climbs to the third floor of the building to get a clear view of the bar.

The HellsHounds bar. Formerly, a dog training facility called HeavensHounds. The heaven part of the signs and the giant mural on the side of the building, is painted over with large swooping letters that spell out, HELL. 

A fairly large building with a large caged off area. The entire caged area is covered and converted into multiple stills for all the local alcohol brands that the hounds distribute. 

A biker gang that augmented themselves to mimic demons to spite the AngelOS, though no one knows why. By the number of bikes out front, the bar is packed.

“I could wait it out, hope the numbers thin out.”

Smiley floats aside him, “you could but then you run the risk of endangering the little guys more. Who knows, they may be in a life threatening situation.”

“Weren’t you the one who was telling me not to take unnecessary risks?”

“Yes and I stand by that but I’m just laying out the possibilities. This is a rescue mission after all.”

“You are not wrong. A calculated risk. Let’s go.”

Cass gets up and moves his way back down to the floor level. He takes one more look out before leaving the building and making way to the bar.

The front door was replaced by wooden half doors. Cass pushes past them and is met with the faces of two dozen demonic bikers. The bar is set up like an old western bar, wood from one end to the other. Four man tables through-out with a bar counter lined with stools and a piano against the wall. 

Cass slowly makes his way to the bartender. “Can I get a beer and the ear of someone in charge?”

The barman places a beer in front of Cass, “Good luck.” He then leaves the bar through the back door. 

Cass feels a tap on his shoulder. He turns around and standing almost face to face with him, is a burly, big bearded, bald man in a leather jacket with massive dragon-like horns. “Are you in charge here?”

“No but you ain’t talking to them until you tell me who you are and why you are here.”

“The name’s Cass. I’m a Multi. I was hired to find and recover a few Funguys for the Troop De Fungi. Have you seen them around? Little guys with mushroom heads, hard to miss.”

The large man laughs, “Yeah, they owed us a debt and couldn’t pay so we sent them off to the Knights of Dung. They’ll work off our debt with them to pay back their debt with us.”

Smiley floats around the large man’s head while poking at his horns. ‘Any idea who the Knights are?’

Cass looks around, ‘Not a one.’

“I’m not very familiar with the Knights. Could you point me in the direction of where they are?”

The Hound moves to the side and points to the man sitting in the only closed off table, “Boss Infernus is the only one who knows. The Knights move around a lot.”

Cass pats him on the shoulder, “Thanks.” He moves past him and walks up to the roped off table. He explains who is and why he is there. “And so, I was hoping you could help me out.”

Infernus looks Cass up and down, “Normally this would be a call for the president, I’m only the V.P. but you know what, I sure can.” he motions for him to sit down at his table and one of the nearby hounds moves the rope so he can sit.

After Cass sits down, “This is a big help. Thanks. I understand they owe you guys a debt.” 

Infernus taps the table, “Of course! We love those little guys, isn’t that right, boys?!” The bar erupts in laughter and cheers then quickly quiets back down.

“Yeah, they racked up a pretty big debt. They came by and asked to ‘delve’ a few old medical buildings on our turf. Now, that is usually fine as long as you pay the fee. They promised to pay upon arrival from the delve. They offered junk they found, not money. So now they owe. Fairly straight forward.”

Smiley floats next to him, ‘is this a trap?’

‘Oh yeah. Lure you in deeper, charge you to leave and force you into debt filled servitude. They are more like a mob than a gang at this point.’

Infernus stands up and leans over the table. He points to the north west. “If you follow the road, you’ll find yourself at a large crater called the Gunpowder Nursery. Fun fact about that crater but a rumor is going around that it was made by the founder of the SixShotSurplus. Testing out some crazy dangerous bombs so now the whole area is covered in multicolored pools of water.”

Infernus sits back down, “Not that the knights care one bit. They took a bunch of abandoned cars, buses, and trucks, piled them up in a circle. It’s the makeshift stadium they use for their gladiator fights. Can’t miss it.” he says as he extends his hand for a shake.

Cass returns the handshake and his hand begins to feel hot. In a flash, Cass finds himself on the rim of an active volcano.

“What the hell?” Cass tries to move but he is unable to. All he can do is stare into the volcano. He can see it move. In and out like a breath. 

In another flash, he finds himself on the same volcano but it is frozen solid. The mountain itself is covered in snow. Sitting on the edge of the crater is a man. Red skin, massive horns, wearing a leather jacket with spikes all over. His wrists are stained with blood with bruises in the shape of chains.

“Excuse me?”

The man looks up and a glimmer of life enters his eyes. “How did you get in here?

“No idea, I was just in a bar, talking to the leader of the HellsHounds. I shook his hand and then I was here.”

Smiley flickers into view. “Hello Rage. Your cage is not as good as mine was.”

Rage lit up with a mixture of fear and happiness. “Well, it was made to contain the strongest of us. Mine was built by lesser, dumber humans.”

Cass chimes in, “hi, hello, still here. What is happening?”

Smiley rolls his eyes, “It would seem that Rage got some karmic payback and got sealed away in a spellbook. Remember when you met me and I was in the desert?”

“Ooooh, I get it now. Wait, can’t we just connect to him now then?”

Smiley walks up to Rage, “No. I wish I could but you have to interact with the spellbook to free him. Same as me. This is a glorified distress signal.”

Smiley looks him in the eye, “If you can hear me at all, we are coming.”

Rage smiles as the life leaves his eyes again and he looks down.

Smiley turns and walks back to Cass. “Let’s get out of here.”

“How?” 

Next thing he knows, a helicopter comes descending from the sky with the Aquatech logo on it. Cass reaches out but snaps back to the present moment. 

Back in the bar, Infernus is on the ground and half the bikers are scattered. Cass looks down and sees scorch marks on the floor, starting at his feet.

Infernus looks at him with seething rage. “That’s a neat defense mechanism. I was just gonna burn you a little and laugh as you ran but now, now I can’t let you leave.” 

Infernus lunges at his feet to knock him to the ground as six of the standing hounds leap to help. All seven pile on Cass then go flying off to reveal the Black Knight. 

“I’m so glad I practiced! Ha!” Cass says as he runs for the door but four bikers step in front of the door. “You just watched me toss seven people off me. I will go through you!”

Infernus and another biker blast Cass in the back with fire from their hands. 

Cass turns around, “Really?!” He looks around and grabs two of the bar stools. He tosses one at Infernus, knocking him into the back wall then slams the second over the hound’s head. 

He turns back around as sees all four still in front of the door. “Through you, it is!” He says as he rams through them, knocking two aside and tossing the other two out of the door.

He quickly reverts and switches to his cheetah form. He takes off toward his bike hidden in the neighboring building.

All the bikers come spilling out. Infernus comes running out as he watches Cass peel off toward the nursery.

“On your bikes! Either he dies or you do! Go!” Infernus commands as all bikers leap on their bikes to give chase.