Cybergate 2027 - A Baldur's Gate 3 / Cyberpunk 2077 Crossover

VII

"How dare you hurt Muffin," Shadowheart muttered through the Sharran's hold. In response, he pushed his stun gun against her cheek.

"Your dumb dog is lucky I didn't set it on fire."

"Watch it!" The second Sharran said. "You play with flames here and it'll set off the sprinklers."

"Oh, I don't know." The first Sharran brought his mouth to Shadowheart's ear. "This dirty girl can use a wash."

"Shar wants them healthy enough for questioning." The second guy grinned at Astarion through his Balaclava. "Few people get to meet her, so consider yourself lucky."

"Yes, I feel privileged," Astarion said with a fake smile. Those imbeciles wouldn't know their queen's true intentions, but she wasn't likely to let either Shadowheart or himself walk away... Although, if he explained the circumstances, perhaps she'd make an exception?

The Sharrans pushed them toward the lift. Shady struggled in vain, but he cooperated, saving his strength for a potential opportunity to act.

"What about the stupid dog?" the first guy asked.

"Bring it—no evidence."

Shady growled and twitched. "Muffin is a he!"

Perhaps in response to his name, Muffin clambered to his tiny paws and let out a weak bark.

"Doesn't matter where it is going."

"Lay a finger on Muffin, and I'll kill you!"

"Or, how about I stun you, so you could sit nice and watch me snap its neck."

"You..." Shadowheart roared in rage—and stomped on the Sharran's foot. He cried in pain, and smacked her with his stun gun, probably so surprised he forgot to use the electrical charge. The blow failed to subdue the brunette, who stared with furious eyes... they looked different, somehow. The chip in her neck switched colours too, becoming danger-red. Then a fire alarm went off.

Sprinklers popped up all across the ceiling. Their soft sound filled the air as water spray drenched them all. Mist blurred Astarion's vision, but if he was disoriented, so would be the Sharrans. Shady had already acted, headbutting her guy in the nose. He swore, losing his grip, and stabbed with his stun gun. She deflected his hand with some kind of ninjutsu move, diverting the attack upward, and the asshole ended up shocking himself. The wetness must've worsened the electrical shock, and he collapsed with his muscles contracting and convulsing.

The second Sharran gasped at Shady's sudden fighting display, giving Astarion the opening he needed. He delivered a full-forced fist to the guy's chin. Bone collided with bone, and he felt his knuckles cracking, but the blow staggered his enemy. Wanting to avoid more pain in his hands, he tackled the Sharran with his elbows, and sent him slipping over the wet floor to his side.

"Come on!" he said to Shady, who was kicking her guy in the head. "Shar may yet forgive us, but not if we keep killing her people."

She delivered one more kick. "That was for Muffin, you fuckface!" Her neck chip returned to its normal state.

Astarion crouched before the toy dog, who climbed into his arms. "Don't worry, little guy, we'll get you fixed in no time." He handed him to Shady, and they hurried to the exit by the lift, careful not to slip on the wet floor.

Once there, though, he couldn't recall the keycode. "Shady, do you remember the numbers Roland gave us?"

"Eight, six, something, I think."

"Well, they don't have something on the panel." He typed another combination and got rejected again. Meanwhile, the sprinklers stopped their watery assault, and the Sharrans were recovering. "Oh, screw this—come!" He pulled her inside the lift.