Hour by hour, the cigarettes burned away until the dregs of the final one hung from my maw. Food and water had come and gone as the sun slowly tracked across the sky outside the great glass windows of Zion's Kitchen. The streetlights flickered to life, their dull amber glow overpowered by the blazing neon signs and floating AR billboards that lined the streets, headlights streaking past.

  //10-24-2099 - - 19:42//

  With a sigh, I crushed the butt of the cigarette into the ashtray, as the sounds of clawtips gently clicked against the wooden floor. "Hey. I'd ask if anyone came by to get you to a shower, but... Ya still smell like shit, so I guess that didn't happen. Selector sent me along to take you to the place he sorted for you here in town." The soft lilt of the Saurid's voice, from this morning, came from behind, her tail swaying stiffly behind her as she rolled her eyes.

  "Oh... Alright then. Just... let me get up and get my things." A sharp hiss crawled from my throat as I pulled my leaden feet under me, my side flaring with hot coals of pain.

  "Mmhmm. Yeah. Sure. Go sit in the car out front, funny man. You sit tight." She jerked her head to the simple SUV parked just outside the front door, its headlights flashing twice. "And I'll get your shit." Before I could say a word, she spun with a flourish of her tail and strode away faster than I could keep up with.

  "Fuck me. Okay. Fine." I shook my head, snatching my lighter from the table and slowly striding towards the door.

  "I'd rather not~!" she shot back over her shoulder before the heavy door to the next floor slammed shut. I dragged my gaze from the door with a shake of my head, tail lashing into the ground with a smack. The cold autumn chill bit into my bones the moment the glass door slid shut behind me, blowing wind and roaring engines as traffic began to move again. It replaced the soft music as cars barreled past the edge of the parking lot. The SUV rumbled as its engine purred. The heavily tinted windows shimmered softly under the neon sign of the restaurant, where it hummed noisily.

  The plush seats of the interior were revealed along with the scent of burnt weed, old tobacco, and the half-empty open can of a premixed margarita in the cupholder. The heated seat melded around me after I slotted my tail through the hole in the seat back, dulling the sharp ache in my ribs. As the door fell shut, hot, humid air bubbled from the vents on the dash. By the time the driver's side door opened and the vehicle rocked with her weight, my eyes had drifted shut. With a heavy thud, my kitbag landed in the seat behind me. "Well, aren't you comfy looking?" The cold blast of air from outside was cut short swiftly as her door slammed shut. "Selector got you set up about a fifteen-minute walk away. Shouldn't take too long, s'long as traffic doesn't hold us up."

  "Just been a long couple days, miss." I half growled, the rumble petering out with the weight of exhaustion.

  "For one, it isn't , mister-" she reached out, grabbing the lapel of my jacket, eyes scanning the embroidered name underneath it. "Mister Vidr. It's Bella. Secondly... I guess it probably has been. Selector doesn't often bring in the happy-go-lucky folks. They drive him nuts, I think," she chirped, the car beginning to move. The city map flickered to life over the dash, a chibi dragon wearing a cabbie outfit flitting down to announce the vehicle's destination, taking a steering wheel from thin air. Bella leaned her seat back, hands behind her head, watching the bustling street roll into view as the car turned, the steering wheel mimicking the AR dragon's movements.

  "Sorry. Force of habit." I sighed flatly, eyes rolling hard while the street rolled by in the stop-and-go traffic.

  "Can't take the Corp outta the rat," she snickered. "You one of the Selector's boys now?"

  "I haven't decided. But probably. Got too much unfinished business here in Boise to take a permanent vacation." I leaned my head against the closed fist of my hand as the car came to another stop.

  "Mmm. Makes sense to me. Is there anything you need once we make it to your new pad?" She chirruped, stretching her body out in her chair, spine popping.

  "That you can help with? Probably not, for now. I kept my bank account separate from the corporate one, so I still have my funds. I'll worry about it later. Just gotta survive a shower." My free hand ran gingerly over the bandages, the dull ache peppered with stabbing hot coals wherever I touched. "Should at least be over this pain in a couple days. Ribs are intact. Glad I wore an armored jacket."

  "Yeah. Saw where it was. They'd have had you dead to rights if you didn't. So at least you aren't as stupid as you look." She snorted as I rolled my eyes. "Good idea on keeping your finances secure, though."

  "Was my supervisor's idea when I joined his team a couple years back," I said, shrugging as the car began to rumble forward again. Bella fell silent, sipping on the canned margarita as the SUV trundled through traffic with the rest, stopping for a few minutes every time traffic ground to a halt.

  //10-24-2099 - - 20:19//

  The large blocky building finally came into view as the SUV turned into its parking garage. Dozens of cars lined either side of the parking garage as Bella took the wheel, the dragon cabbie giving a snappy salute and "" as she wheeled the car into a parking spot.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  "You ever live in a Saurid Hearth?" She asked idly.

  "Mmm. Grew up in one." Dread sank into my gut like tungsten blocks.

  "Well, don't sound excited. I'll carry your stuff. Folks aren't too nosy here, at the least." She slid out of the car, fishing my kitbag from the backseat. I carefully slid out of my own seat, leaning heavily into the open door when I landed. The parking garage was marginally warmer than the autumn night outside, the wind whistling as it broke against the pillars near the entrance.

  The SUV chirped and its lights flashed as the doors locked with a heavy thud once I swung the door shut behind me. Bella wandered towards the elevators nearby. It dinged when it arrived on our floor, doors sliding open. She leaned in the doorway as I hobbled past her. I thanked her with a grunt, settling against the wall. She slipped in behind me, thumbing one of the well-worn buttons as warm, humid air flooded the elevator once the doors shut.

  We arrived on the sixth floor in silence, the doors opening to the main atrium. Artificial light shone harshly on the many planter boxes, benches, and tables that surrounded a children's play area, a half dozen kids wrestling and climbing over the area with high-pitched chirps of excitement. Doors peeked from between the planter boxes, numbers embossed on their surface. The watching parents turned to the elevator as we stepped out. Some barely blinked at me, while others gasped or quickly averted their gaze as Bella sauntered past them to the other end of the floor with me in tow.

  One woman chimed over. "Another of the Selector's strays, Bella dear?" she croaked, smiling at the fluffy Saurid next to me.

  "He is. But he's alright, far as I can tell. Just getting him settled in. Rough couple of days for him." She chittered as she wandered past.

  "Oh, poor thing, then. Rest up, young man!" the older woman chimed before turning away.

  "You were right. Less nosy than when I grew up." I sighed once out of earshot. Bella chuckled as she stopped at room 614, eyes flashing slightly as she opened it. My own eye itched as an access code filtered into view, the apartment's wireless network registering to my own. The lights came to life, showing the large open room. In the corner was a bed with a curtain rail running around its edge, a thick and heavy curtain hanging from it. The bulbous shape of the heat lamp over it jutted from the ceiling. A closet was set into the wall next to the bathroom door. Otherwise, the room consisted of an open kitchen along one wall, with the rest dedicated to various couches and places to lounge.

  The extensive environment controls synced up to my cybermantle with a throbbing itch down my spine as I mindlessly changed the settings to cool and dry the room. Bella placed the kitbag at the end of my bed. "What do you in that thing anyway? Felt like a ton of rocks.”

  "Body armor, some firearms, and the rest of my life that my friend could pack away into it," I said, slipping into the bathroom to start the shower.

  "Huh. Guess that makes sense. I'm in room 508, so if you need me, come give me a shout. Or shoot me a message." With a flick of her wrist, her commlink details etched themselves into view with another throb in my eye.

  "Alright. Thank you. Gonna shower up. Try and rest up." I hummed softly.

  "Do that. I'll get out of your feathers. See ya," she bounced out of the room idly.

  The front door fell shut, the lock's motor whirring as the deadbolt slid into place. The holoskin of my cybernetic arm fell away with my jacket as it hit the floor. Steam began to edge the mirror as I carefully cut away the bandages for the day, revealing the scabbing, oozing, broken scales along my side. Kicking off the last of my clothes, I pushed into the shower, letting the lukewarm water run over me, eyes closed.

  Pain and relief warred as my claws worked to clean the wound and the rest of my scales, sodden feathers sticking to my skull and the back of my neck limply as the water washed away the blood and grime. Moment by moment, the last few days swirled down the drain.

  With a flick of my tail, the water stopped. Staring into the mirror, I dried the last of the water away with a towel and gauze, wrapping fresh bandages over my side. Primping up the feathers of my head and tail, I dragged on clean clothes. "Already a new man," I muttered, tail curling behind me. With a blink, the holographic screen at the foot of the bed flickered to life, cycling channels quickly as I hobbled to sit on the plush surface.

  My medical kit got placed next to the large duffel bag. Piece by piece, I pulled the contents out. First came the framed photograph, set carefully face down on the bedside table. Next came the armor. The blank faceplate of the helmet glowered up at me as I pulled it into my hands. A drawer built into the frame of the bed popped open, fitting the set of armor piece by piece, the helmet resting atop the chest rig. The medical kit dropped on top of it unceremoniously before the drawer was kicked closed.

  Next came clothes. I took each article, folding and carefully placing them away in drawers. Leaving only three bulky metal cans of ammunition, and discarded magazines lying alongside a second pistol and a heavy shotgun to match the large, boxy mags.

  The shotgun landed buttstock first onto my thigh as I looked it over. I hooked one claw on the reinforced charging handle, testing its motion. It slid smoothly back, the strong spring within threatening to rocket it forward again as I inspected the chamber. With a twist, the charging handle locked into place, holding the bolt open. Carefully setting it aside, I withdrew a heavy magazine and a can of ammunition.

  I popped the can open, drawing shells out to thumb them into the magazine one by one. Once full, I brought the shotgun back, clicking the full fourteen round magazine into place. Dropping a shell into the chamber, I smacked the charging handle out of its locked position. It fully chambered the round with a heavy . A steady <15/15> shimmered in the ammunition readout as I carefully double checked the safety. With that, I settled it in a drawer on the side opposite the door. The pistol received the same treatment, settling underneath one of the pillows easily.

  With that, I let the bed envelop me, lying back to stare blankly at the holographic screen as it showed the depths of a mountain range, the narrator babbling on about the last remaining great apes that resided within.

  Just as my lighter flashed to life and the tip of the blunt in my maw began to smoke, a series of light knocks on the door dragged me from my reverie.