Kashikoi again rifled through the rat’s coat pockets. Soon, her fingers fumbled into a bit of paper: A receipt.

“Tellcen’s laundry services! I’ll just go there and inquire about this spy girl. I’m so smart!”

Straightening up in confidence and pushing herself off the wall, Kashikoi retraced her steps to her hoverbike, her tail swishing behind her. The courier knew every inch of the floating city: from the gleaming areas that flaunted wealth to the seedy underbelly that was almost as dangerous as - or more dangerous than - the wastelands far below.

The engine whined as Kashi gunned the throttle of her vehicle, the wind blowing her dyed hair, the clouds were giving the city a foggy sheen in the twilight lighting, her bike's beam barely cutting through the thick vapors.

As she drove, the feline woman heard a chiming sound over the roar of her engine.

“Oh, what now?!” she protested.

Sighing she clicked a button as the blue hologram of one of the baron’s lackeys - a human in a pill hat and brass buttons indicating rank on his lapel - materialized before her as she drove.

“Kashikoi! Where are you? Were you just at the palace?” He sounded concerned.

“What? I can’t hear you!” Kashikoi shouted, smiling.

“Kashikoi, this is serious.”

“Hello! Call me later, I’m in pursuit of a package thief.”

She ended the call there and then: Better to ask for forgiveness than permission. A few more turns and Kashi found the lit storefront window of the cleaners. The neon sign displaying pictograms of various articles of clothing was lit, as were the neon words she most wanted to see: ‘Open.’

Killing the engine and hopping off Kashikoi dismounted her bike and cracked her neck.

“Alright let’s do this!” She said, trying to pep herself up.

The neko twitched her tail as she pushed the door open. A young human woman with blue hair greeted her as she entered.

“Hello, can I help you? Love the hair, by the way.”

Kashi flashed a toothy smile. “Hey, thanks - I was hoping you could help me with something.”

The girl frowned. “I could certainly try.”

Kashi flopped the coat on the counter. “I met a most charming rat woman: dark hair with a streak of red... I think she might be a new friend, but she left this coat behind and I’d really like to give it back to her. Saw she had a receipt for this place.”

The girl reached for the coat. “A red streak you say?” Kashi handed it over as the girl continued. “Let me check a few things, I just might have a contact for her.”

“That would be great. As I said, I really want to give it back to her personally.”

The girl blinked. “That is thoughtful, we need more of that in this city. Did you catch her name?”

Kashi flicked her tail. “We introduced ourselves at the Indigo Club last night but the music was too loud for me to hear her name. We had a wonderful time. I was too embarrassed to ask her her name again,” Kashi said, trailing off.

The girl gave a cheeky smile. “A cat and a rat, huh? Well, I see this means a lot to you. Let me just check in our system.”

Kashi smiled back: every minute she wanted to just... let the package go. But she couldn’t: the baron was fickle, and she had her reputation to worry about. Plus she really wanted a round two:

A neko courier - one of the best - getting a package stolen by a lone ratgirl? Not a good look for the stylish young lady.

“Here’s everything I found,” the girl said, stirring Kashi from her thoughts.

A name: ‘Tyla Reenah’ along with an address and contact number.

“Thanks, you’ve been a great help,” Kashikoi smiled as she copied everything down. “And, uh, if we could keep this... under wraps?”

The girl smiled and nodded. “No problem, hun.”

After leaving the laundromat, Kashi used a nearby paytel and called the number. She took care to disable the holofeed so her image would not be displayed. The receiver did the same as Kashi got a ‘no image’ icon as a familiar curt voice responded.

“Hello? Who is this?”

“I know everything,” Kashi replied, trying to disguise her voice in a gravelly tone.

“Is this some sort of prank call? You know I can track you down, right?”

“I’m sure you can, little Talon.”

A pause.

“Who is this?”

“It doesn’t matter. What does matter is you meeting me alone at the Sona Noodle Bar. Know the place?”

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

There was another pause, then a sigh. “Yeah, I know it,” the voice on the other end replied.

“Good. Bring the parcel you stole from that good looking neko courier. I know exactly what its contents are, you know. You weren’t as sly as you thought. I saw the whole thing.”

“Fine. I’ll meet you there.”

“Come alone,” Kashi reminded her.

“Of course. And what name shall I call you by?”

Kashikoi’s tail flicked. “Miss Terious.”

“...Seriously?”

Kashikoi stuck her tongue out even though Tyla couldn’t see her. “Be there. Or else your little operation is going to become that much more difficult.”

Kashikoi clicked off.

“Now what?” she asked aloud.

She thought about giving all the information to the house troopers, but then there’d be questions: ‘Where did you get all this info about foreign spies?’ An anonymous tip was tempting, but it ran the risk of being ignored.

Her communicator was ringing again: her contact in the palace. The neko clicked the ignore light.

“Super busy,” she said. “Guess I’ll just have to meet the rat down at the noodle bar and then take back my package.”

Kashikoi knew the Sona Noodle Bar pretty well. it wasn’t the best place to eat, but it served in a pinch whenever she was nearby. The metal building was painted in bright purple. Neon signs of animated figures slurping down noodles hung from shingles outside the dingy establishment.

Striding in the neko’s ears twitched to the soft ambient beats, and the clatter of dishes. She sat herself in a booth at the back, arms folded so she could watch the door.

“Might as well get dinner.” Kashi shrugged as she ordered a bowl of ramen from the horse-eared waitress.

The minutes ticked by and Kashi wondered if the spy had decided to stand her up. She saw a few customers enter and leave, but none matched the ratgirl’s appearance. Kashikoi drummed her fingers on the tabletop to the synth beats, and gulped down her noodles with a fizzy fruit drink on the side.

Then the door opened with the automated ‘welcome’ voice and there stood the very perturbed ratgirl. Her dark eyes scanned the room and settled on Kashi, anger and recognition both lit up her face, as her bare pink tail lashed the air in agitation.

The woman strode towards Kashikoi, and the neko instinctively slipped the peace knot from her holster and shifted in her seat in case she needed to draw fast. The spy stopped right at her booth but did not sit.

“You!” She hissed.

“Meeeee,” Kashi replied. “Sit down Tyla, you’re making a scene. Want some ramen?”

With a sullen sigh, Tyla sat across from the neko. “You’re the one that called me?”

Kashi bit her lip and shook her head, “Nope. That was my associate: Miss Terious.”

“Sure it was,” the woman huffed.

“Where’s my package, ‘Tyla’? If that’s really your name,” Kashikoi said rather loudly.

“Outside,” Tyla jerked her head.

“Why do people think I’m dumb?” Kashi sighed.

“You’re messing with me - that’s one thing,” Tyla said.

“My associate is the one that told you to bring the parcel,” Kashi reminded.

“I don’t think ‘Miss Terious’ exists,” Tyla said confidently.

“She does too, meanie!” Kashikoi said scowling. Tyla raised a brow at the childish insult. Kashi fumbled for a good excuse. “Aerios counterespionage has been tracking you for some time.”

Tyla tilted her head. “That’s unlikely, nice try baby girl.”

“I’m past thirty!” Kashikoi retorted. “How else do you think I found you if I didn’t have help?”

Tyla smirked. “Yes - I imagine you do need help... with a lot of things.”

Kashi slammed a fist on the table, causing a few patrons to turn toward the two - then discreetly back to their ramen. “That’s mean! You take that back right now, miss sourpuss.”

“Who talks like that?” The ratgirl chuckled.

“I do, duh!” Kashikoi retorted.

Tyla shook her head condescendingly. “You sound like a child. I doubt there’s some legitimate ‘anti-spy network’ or else we’d have been taken a long time ago.”

Kashi’s ears twitched: She hated being verbally outgunned like that. “Perhaps it’s more beneficial just to keep tabs on you, ever thought of that smarty pants?”

Tyla shook her head. “Look sweetie, you clearly don’t know what you’re doing - or have an actual plan.”

Kashi’s eyes narrowed as she smiled a fang-y smile. “That’s where you’re wrong.”

Kashi had drawn her pistol and Tyla’s stolen coat draped over her arm concealed the gun perfectly. “Wanna guess what’s under this nice coat of yours?”

Kashi raised her arm, revealing the pistol. Tyla’s eyes widened slightly in alarm as she saw that her new nemesis was concealing. “You’re insane,” she whispered.

“Yep!” Kashikoi giggled. “Now, you’re taking me to the parcel - and no funny business! ...Or I’ll blast you in your stupid face.”

Tyla slowly stood up as Kashikoi did so as well as the two made for the exit, the Neko’s tail swishing behind her as she walked. All the while, the other customers were sure to avoid looking at the two strangers making a ruckus in the back corner. When they were both bathed in the neon lights of the evening, Tyla looked over her shoulder at Kashi.

“You really want that parcel back, don’t you?”

“Well obviously. Now did you actually bring it, or do I have to do this the hard way?”

“Follow me.” Tyla grunted, leading Kashikoi towards a dark alley.

The neko swiveled an ear back. “You really do think I’m dumb... You stay in front of me! I see one movement I don’t like from you - or the alley - and I’ll pew-pew you!”

Kashikoi kept her concealed gun trained on Tyla, making sure the rat was a bit ahead as they walked down the dark and narrow alley. Kashi’s ears twitched as she listened for any sign of treachery but the whoosh of distant vehicles, and muffled music were all she could hear.

The neko’s aim never wavered: her tail twitched as she noted the large dumpster against the wall.

“Hmm…” Kashikoi’s tail twitched as she fired at the top of the dumpster. Instantly a large man with bear ears shot up from where he was hiding.

“Yep, that’s what I thought,” Kashi stated. The bear man lifted his hands in the air.

“Careful,” Tyla said. “She’s nuts,”

Kashi chuckled. “Got that right,” Kashikoi said as she waved the gun’s barrel toward the wall. She passed the dumpster and noticed a familiar parcel next to it.

“Aw, Tyla, you shouldn’t have! You really did bring me the parcel. You two just stay right there.”

Kashi grabbed the box - and then felt a JOLT and her entire body go numb. She fell to the dirty alley ground and couldn’t even scream as her body locked up.

“Oh, poor kitty,” Tyla said sardonically as she closed in an evil grin on her face. “That decoy parcel did its job alright.” The rat prodded Kashi with her boot.

“Should we kill her?” The bear-eared man asked.

“No,” Tyla instructed. “I want to find out more about her. Let’s take her back with us. That paralysis should last long enough to get her back to our lair.”

“Your call.”

It took some effort for the spies to pry the gun from Kashi’s locked up grip, but they managed.

“How’d this ditz get an omnigun?” Tyla asked.

“I don’t care: Take it with you if you want. Better than that ridiculous knife you have.” The bear man grunted as he threw Kashi over his shoulder. Kashi could only look on as she was carried off by her newest enemies.

A waiting vehicle lay outside the alley. Tyla opened the boot of the car and gave Kashikoi a wink as she was roughly thrown inside.

“Only the best for you.” Tyla said as she wrestled the numb arms of the Neko behind her back and taped them together.

*SLAM.*

Then, complete darkness and silence... except for the engine turning over. Some feeling was returning to Kashi’s body, she could feel other objects pressed against her, all manner of junk. Far too dark to see what they were as she could feel the vehicle gliding away, further and further from safety.