The softly glowing tracks nestled along the edge of the floor did little more than outline the high-rise apartment's pathways. Liri's distorted shadow noiselessly slipped down the hallway in her black socks. After dropping some cash on the counter she'd eaten at a few hours earlier, she silently stepped out of Ardon's residence.

     With a few tugs and knots laced, her boots were back in place, and her hooded cape cloaked her in its embrace once again. She descended the stairs to New Seattle's street level and tapped the silver band on her wrist once stepping outside the building's doors. A small, 3-D holo-map hovered over the device with a flashing blue arrow.

     With a glance around the road filled with hovercrafts zipping to and fro, Liri moved down the sidewalk at a brisk pace dodging other pedestrians of various colors, shapes, and sizes. A few twists and turns later, a bustling hover-shuttle depot came into view.

     Placing the right change into the farebox, she seated herself near the back of the transport and kept her eyes on the unfamiliar city outside the large window.

     The vehicle's doors hissed closed, and a cheery woman sang over the intercom, "Old Seattle's air quality is holding at a steady level two this morning. Rebreathers with eye protection are recommended for all species whose physiology is unable to process high levels of metal particles. If you did not bring a mask, you could purchase one from the farebox before departing the transport. Thank you, and good luck on your upcoming journey." Crackling replaced the woman before the air filled with lifeless elevator music.

     The transport zipped forward into the tube network connecting the old with the new. Liri grabbed hold of the seat in front of her when they suddenly descended into the city's darkened bowels as if they were on a rollercoaster.

     After several stops and shuffling of riders on the way to her destination, the cheerful voice crackled to life over the intercom, "Arriving at West Loop road, Warehouse district, in one minute."

     Gathering her bag, she pressed a button on an earpiece she hooked into place. A rebreather clicked over her face, and she hopped off at her stop. Sticking to the shadows, she slipped down the darkened street. Her wrist band lightly buzzed as she approached the sign that said Bazentine Werk's complex. 

     Climbing onto a dumpster along the chipped cement wall surrounding the complex, she peeked over and spotted the loading docks with several workers bustling about their business. The rest of the area was vacant, with the exception of two Draconian guards that were walking the perimeter with a black hell-hound frothing at the mouth.

     Once the dangerous-looking trio passed her location, it took less than a minute for her to slip over the wall, locate an unlocked window, and crawl inside the building. Finding the door labeled financial office on it, she jiggled the handle before picking the lock.

     The office's cement walls coated in chipped paint held several filing cabinets on one side of the room and a desk piled with datapads and a computer system on the other. Scanning the labels on the cabinets, Liri pulled open several drawers and ran her fingers over the cartridges before picking one out. Moving to the computer, she slid the device into the port and tapped a few keys.

     Her eyes widened as they ran over the information on the screen.

     "No," she whispered while shaking her head.

     Her fingers trembled as they flew over the keys once more. She stood upright and waved her banded wrist over the computer. A pinging noise sounded, and she pulled the cartridge out and replaced it in the drawer with a click.

     A loud bang sounded out in the hallway. 

     Her breath coming faster, she scanned the room to make sure everything was back in place and slipped from the office and down the hall.

     "Well, hello," a black-eyed Samandrian with white and orange slit-colored pupil said as he blocked her exit.

     Liri froze before quickly smiling. "Hi. I'm on my way home for the night, so if you'll excuse me."

     "I think you're lost." He rubbed the leathery scales on his chin.

     "No." She stepped to his side, but he stepped in front of her once more.

     "I don't believe you work here, so I should call you in." He reached for his ear but stopped. "Unless you want to silence me with a little action?" He rocked his hip and flicked his forked tongue out at her suggestively.

     Her eyes snapped to his. "Why are you speaking to me like that?" Her tone was as dry as the desert.

     "I just wanted to give you a fair chance of getting out of trouble."

     "Thanks, that's kind of you, but I work in the HR department, so if you'll excuse me, I'd like to go home now." She moved, and he blocked her again.

     "Thanks?" He scoffed and shoved his orange, scaled face closer to hers. "Thanks? I'm going to make you wish you'd never—"

     "Don't finish that sentence, or I'll make you lick the shit off my boots." A smile tugged at her lips.

     His face darkened. "What kind of—"

     Liri brushed her pale-blue hand against his and lifted her leg to give him a better view. "They need a good cleaning, don't you think?"

     He jerked back, confusion etched across his features. "Well, I don't..." He rubbed the back of his head.

     "It would be really sweet of you." She set her hand on his shoulder and gave him a winning smile.

     "Well, fuck yeah."Dropping to the floor, he held the black boot like it was made of the most precious material in the universe and began inspecting it with his nose inches from its surface.

     A small chuckle left her mouth as she watched him. "That is so kind of you...Mr?"

     "Theo, at your service, mam."

     "Mr. Theo, I can safely say that I've never been treated so well—nor allowed myself to make a complete idiot out of someone. You're my first."

     "Really?" A toothy grin lit the man's face. "I'm honored."

     "As am I." Liri stretched and yawned. "I'm afraid it's time for me to go, Theo, but that door looks heavy. Do you think you can open it for me?"

     "But, your boots aren't clean yet." Theo's gaze jumped between the door, the shoe in his hand, and Liri. 

     "It's alright. The door is more important."

     "You sure?" 

     Liri nodded. Theo let go of her leg and slowly rose to his feet. 

     "Go on, you can do it," she encouraged when he stood there, scratching his head.  

     "Okay." He hustled to the door, pushed it open. "Right this way."  He ushered her out with a smile on his face. 

     "Thank you so much, Theo. You have a good night." She waved companionably. 

     "Yeah, you too." He said before closing the door with a loud bang and then a beeping noise to indicate it was locked once more.

     She bolted to the wall and ran along the edge to find a way over.

     The area filled with lights and the door she'd just vacated slammed loudly against the wall as Theo stormed out. Heavy footfalls sounded behind her, and Liri picked up her pace.

     "You bitch! You tricked me." Theo yelled.

     Liri screamed as he jerked her back by her hair and pinned her to the ground with his large Samandrian's body. 

     "Get off me," she yelled as she scratched at his face.

     He pined one arm. "You really should have let me—"

     A loud thunk sounded, and Theo went limp, crashing onto her. Seconds later, the weight was gone, and she was being lifted off the ground.

     Her eyes widened. "Ardon?"

     "Hold on. Liri," he instructed before lifting them into the air with a flap of his wings. Within moment's they landed on the deck of a spaceship's cargo hold. One hand smacked the button to seal the hatch, and it hissed closed while the other kept her close to him.

     Liri stared up at the hybrid as she tapped her ear, and the mask protecting her face retracted. "What are you doing here?"

     He moved the hair covering her left eye and tucked it behind her ear. "You know, that's a shitty way of saying, thank you, Ardon. You are the most handsome man I know, and I would be very badly hurt if you hadn't swooped in and saved me like the knight in shining armor you are."

     She rolled her eyes and chuckled lightly. "Thank you, Ardon. You're so pulchritudinous."

     He scrunched his face.

     "Now tell me, what are you doing, saving my ass again?"

     "I told you, you're hot." 

     She frowned. "That's not—" 

     The ship swayed, causing the couple to hold tightly to one another. Alarms blared and squeaked before a heavy silence filled the ship. 

     "Rowe, get up here and explain to me why in the name of Hades we have the military demanding we let them board us?" A woman's panicked voice commanded over the intercom. 

     "Be right there, Syd." Ardon sighed. "You're going to be a complicated case for me, aren't you, Liri?"

     "I didn't ask for help."

     "Too late. Now, come on and keep quiet about who you really are."

     "You don't—" 

     His lips crashed down on hers. 

     "Sorry about that," he apologized as he pulled away. "But your pheromones are really making it hard..." He shook his head. "Argue with me later." He winked, and they headed to the command deck.