As Ezekiel navigated through the stream of faces in the depths of The Pit, Kira nudged his arm with her elbow. "Look." She pointed subtly, her voice low but firm.

A man leaned against a pillar, hands in his pockets, eyes darting nervously across the room. His black hair was hidden under a hood, but Ezekiel recognized the almond-shaped eyes immediately. This was their target.

Ezekiel took a step forward, but Kira grabbed his arm. "I'll handle this, you're just gonna scare him off," she said, her voice cutting through the beat. She held out her open hand, palm up, the other resting on her hip, her gaze steady.

He hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line as his eyes flicked between her and the target.

"I'm not gonna run off with the cash, big guy," she teased. "Need me to pinky swear?"

After a beat, he fished a card loaded with 80 thousand cyphers from his pocket, forcing himself to release his grip as he handed it over.

Kira's confident smile broadened as she tucked the card into her pocket. She flashed him a quick wink before turning toward their target. Her stride shifted, her expression sharpening as she closed the distance between them.

As Kira engaged their contact, Ezekiel watched from a distance, his eyes sweeping the room for any signs of trouble. The man's stance was cautious, shoulders tense, but as Kira spoke-with a calm, confident ease-the stiffness gradually faded. Her hand moved to her pocket in a sly, practiced motion, flicking the card over his wristpad so he could assess its contents. The man gave a brief nod, then produced a data card from inside his jacket. With a flick of her fingers, Kira exchanged the cards, the data card vanishing in a sleight of hand so quick even Ezekiel missed where it went. She turned away as if the exchange hadn't even happened, making her way back toward him.

Then came the blasts.

A series of blaster shots tore through the air, the shockwaves slamming into Ezekiel like a physical force. His muscles tightened as screams erupted, mingling with the relentless beat. His pulse spiked. Four bodies sprawled on the floor, blood pooling beneath them. Their contact was among them.

The crowd scattered, forming a panicked clearing around the carnage. Ezekiel's heart thundered as his eyes darted through the chaos, searching desperately for Kira. Then he spotted them-men with tiger tattoos, their heavy blasters still smoking. One of them locked eyes with Ezekiel. The bastard who ran.

The man raised his weapon, aiming straight at him.

"This way!" Kira shouted as she bolted past. Ezekiel ducked low, diving into the frantic crowd, tracking the teal around her waist as it flashed in and out of view through the smoke and desperate bodies. The blasts and screams melded with the throbbing music, forming a brutal soundtrack as he traversed the chaos.

He saw her dart up a narrow staircase toward the restroom. He looked over his shoulder-the armed men were pushing through the crowd, gaining ground. He followed her up the stairs, which ended in a heavy, swinging door. He pushed it open, gagging at the stench of vomit and filth. The door swung shut behind him, muffling the relentless music. Overhead, he heard the rain pouring down in a steady drumming against the roof. Then a creak rose above the noise, coming from one of the graffiti-streaked stalls.

He crept forward. Kira stood on top of a toilet, already halfway through a small window above it. She twisted and pulled herself up, her legs vanishing through the opening.

Ezekiel moved to follow, but the window was too narrow-no way he could squeeze through. His jaw clenched, frustration bubbling over. With a growl, he slammed his fist into the stall wall, rattling it. She was gone-ditched him, data card in hand.

Ezekiel heard voices outside, harsh, getting closer. Slipping into the stall, he gently closed the door, holding his breath as the bathroom door swung open.

Sharp footsteps echoed on the tiles, rain hammering the windowpanes with fury. A bang shook the stalls as they kicked the first door open. Ezekiel clenched his teeth. Another bang hit the stall beside him. He steadied himself, watching shadows of legs shift under his door.

With a roar, he kicked the door with all his might. It tore from its hinges, slamming into the man on the other side. Another staggered back, wide-eyed. Before he could react, Ezekiel seized his rifle and drove his forehead into the man's face with a horrible crack. As the man stumbled, Ezekiel fired into his chest. He crumpled. Ezekiel spun, rifle aimed down, and fired two more rounds into the man trapped under the door, ending him.

The bathroom door swung open again. Ezekiel didn't hesitate. He unloaded another round of blasts, catching three more men, their blood splattering the walls in glistening crimson.

Silence fell. The downpour outside filled the room as Ezekiel stood amidst the carnage, his breath heavy. He glanced at the bathroom window. Raising the rifle, he squeezed the trigger frantically. Glass, metal and concrete shattered in a deafening burst. When the opening was wide enough, he tossed the rifle through. Hoisting himself up, he slipped out into the rain, the cool drops sharp against his skin.

Ezekiel grabbed the rifle from the wet ground, straightening as rainwater streamed down his shaved scalp, soaking through his clothes. The wind whipped against him, cold and biting-a stark contrast to the furnace he'd just crawled out of. His boots splashed through puddles as he scanned the dimly lit street. He squeezed his jaw. Where the hell had Kira run off to?

An engine sputtered to life behind him, cutting through the showering of rain. He spun around, pulse spiking. There she was, perched on a sleek, low-slung hoverbike, her hands gripping the handlebars, hair and clothes plastered to her skin. A mischievous grin flashed across her face.

"Hey!" she called, barely audible over rain and rumbling engine. "Need a ride?"

Ezekiel couldn't hold off a smile as he walked toward her, holstering the rifle on his back.

"What took you so long?" she asked.

"Guess I'm not built for your shortcuts," he shot back, smirk widening.

The machine floated inches from the ground, its black and silver body catching the streetlights. Ezekiel jerked his chin toward it. "Where did you get this?"

"Found this baby lying around." She slapped her palm on the wet leather seat, a sly grin spreading. "Hop on!"

Ezekiel swung himself onto the seat behind her, the hoverbike dipping slightly under his weight. His hands hovered awkwardly around her waist as he wondered where to hold on.

"Handles! On the side!" she barked, jerking her head. Ezekiel gripped the bars tightly.

"Keep those paws off me, big guy," she quipped. "Save the bear hugs for your boss."

Lights flared in the rain-streaked darkness. Ezekiel turned, spotting two hoverbikes roaring toward them, their engines howling like beasts on the hunt.

"Hold on tight!" Kira shouted over her shoulder. With a fierce twist of the throttle, their bike growled forward. His spine snapped back as icy rain stung his face. The streets blurred in streaks of neon.

Ezekiel stole a glance behind. The pursuers were gaining, their headlights swelling like feline eyes in the night. Up front, Kira leaned low, her knuckles white on the handlebars. She shot him an angry glare. "Would you lean in? You're like a goddamn parachute!"

Grimacing, Ezekiel hunched forward, folding himself awkwardly like an overgrown turtle. Kira gave a sharp nod, satisfied, as the bike surged forward, the gap between them and their hunters stretching inch by inch.

Blaster shots rang out behind them, jolting Ezekiel's pulse into overdrive. Kira snarled, yanking the bike into a hard swerve. The hoverbike weaved through the wet streets, stray shots sizzling past, illuminating the rain-soaked night.

Gritting his teeth, Ezekiel let go of one handlebar, hugging the bike with his legs as he reached back for the rifle. The bike bucked beneath him with every sharp turn, every swerve threatening to send him flying. His muscles screamed in protest as he fought to hold on. Raising the weapon, he sighted the nearest headlight and pulled the trigger.

The kick of the blast jarred his shoulder, nearly knocking him off balance. Behind them, headlights jerked and wove as the pursuers scrambled to dodge.

Blaster fire erupted again, bursts of red and blue lighting up the narrow streets. Energy bolts ricocheted off metal signs and railings, showering sparks like urban fireworks.

Ahead, the neon glow of the city began to recede, swallowed by the bleak, empty outskirts. Kira followed a set of train tracks, guiding the bike onto rougher ground as the rain continued to pour, turning dirt and gravel to slick mud beneath the hovering vehicle. Ezekiel tightened his grip on the side bar, the rifle heavy in his hand, as their relentless pursuers stayed hot on their trail, too close.

A single, blinding beacon of a train appeared ahead, growing larger by the second. Kira kept the bike dangerously close to the track, the metal rails rushing by in a silver streak. Their pursuers closed in, and as the train loomed ever closer, Ezekiel saw Kira's shoulders suddenly tense. He braced himself, holding his breath.

Kira cut across the tracks with a sudden, gut-wrenching swerve. His leg barely cleared the train's metal front by a hair's breadth. Ezekiel bit back a gasp as a sickening crunch echoed behind them. The train plowed through one of their chasers, shredding metal and sending debris scattering. The bike's mangled front tumbled into a deadly roll, its riders tossed into the night.

They sped forward, parallel to the train as it hurtled toward the city. Ezekiel glanced to his side. The other bike was still on the opposite side, visible in fragmented glimpses through the train car windows-a dark shadow keeping perfect pace, mirroring them. Their weapons glinted, aimed squarely at him and Kira. The train's tail end loomed just ahead. His pulse quickened. In moments, they'd be face to face with their hunters.

"Aim up front!" Kira yelled.

Ezekiel raised the rifle over her shoulder. As they reached the final car, Kira hit the brakes. The train's tail vanished, and the other bike shot directly into view, dead ahead. Ezekiel didn't hesitate. He squeezed the trigger, the recoil slamming into his shoulder. The shot struck true, smashing into the front of the hoverbike. It buckled, the nose diving before slamming into the ground and spiraling into a deadly whirl. Its riders were flung violently as the wreck spiraled away, debris scattering as they bolted past.

Ezekiel exhaled deeply, his grip loosened on the rifle, the tension in his shoulders finally easing. The smoke from the wreck disappeared into the rain as they sped forward, leaving the chaos behind.

The rain began to let up as they continued following the tracks, the clouds parting to reveal a scattering of stars overhead.

"Not bad, big guy. I mean, I saved the day, but you did okay," Kira grinned as they slowed to a halt at the spaceport.

Ezekiel shot her a smirk as they dismounted. "So, you'll be sticking around after this is over?"

"Yeah... you wish." She rolled her eyes, but a hint of amusement lingered.

Ezekiel chuckled, but his expression soon grew serious. "The data card. You have it?"

"What's in the card, anyway?" Kira asked, her face matching his intensity.

"Biometric data. Some Terran big shot."

"Who's this guy? And why does the buyer want his biometry so badly?" Her eyebrow arched, curious.

Ezekiel shrugged. "Don't know. Don't want to. Safer that way."

Kira pursed her lips. "Fine. No use lingering here, then. We need to get to Nexeria, fast." She turned to walk away.

Ezekiel clamped a hand on her shoulder. "The card," he said firmly.

She shot an annoyed glance at his hand, then at him. "I already gave it to you."

Ezekiel's brow furrowed, frustration simmering. "No, you didn't."

She planted a hand on her hip, her eyes narrowing. "Then where is it?"

His nostrils flared. "Not on me."

"Yeah?" She leaned in, her brow creased. "Then what's that, right there?" She jerked her chin toward him.

Ezekiel hesitated, jaw tight. "Right where?"

He stiffened as her hand brushed past his ear, irritation flaring in his chest. With a flick of her wrist, she withdrew her hand. The data card was pinched between her fingers, an infuriating grin spreading wide across her face.

Ezekiel snatched the card, shoving it into his pocket. He didn't know if he wanted to strangle her... or just laugh.

Author's Note:

Thank you so much for reading!

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