The pizza came with three swift knocks on the door and a quick transfer of payment, given with a flick of my hand. In record time, I settled back on the bed with a glass of over-sweet soda and a box of pizza. I let my tail twitch against the bed idly, making liberal use of the ranch on the side.

  With a final crack of my neck, I punched in the comm number Bella had given me in her previous message. The line rang for three long moments before I heard the man's voice in my ear. The smile was evident in his voice.

  "That would be the case, sir. I've had some rest and thought over your offer." I mused, one claw scratching at my leg.

  The Selector asked.

  "It's what you said, back at Zion's Kitchen, but you'll have to get more specific. This ain't a small thing on either of our sides." I stated, pausing long enough to take a bite of the steaming pizza in front of me."So you want me to run around as a paramedic for a meat wagon company? Cool, I've done that, more or less. But who? When? What am I getting paid? And if I'm working in the shadows, what's the pay like there? What's gonna be expected of me?"

  Even as he spoke business, his voice stayed warm and genuine.

  "Not much different from what I've already done in my life. I can't say I've done much when it comes to stealing, but it can't be any different than getting a client out of a hot spot. I don't know what this Babylon nonsense is or what your beef with the corps is. But if I'm being paid, I'm being paid, and it wouldn't be the first time I've done something just for the check." I took another messy bite of the pizza, shifting my weight. "Though I can't say I like the idea of a... flexible paycheck."

  The Selector reminded.

  I rolled my eyes. "Sure. On that note, how am I supposed to work a day job without them catching wind of me? They're looking for me, as you said." The anxiety coiled in my gut as I ate, forcing me to put the slice of pizza down.

  He elaborated. I could almost picture him tenting his hands.

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  "Having the Saurid name equivalent of John does help on that front. Fine." I gave a heavy sigh. "Works for me, but I'm going to need a few more days to rest. I ain't a hundred yet. My side's still killing me." I glared at the pizza in front of me, one clawed hand running over the bandages on my side again.

  Without another word, The Selector hung up. Still something coiled in my stomach as I forced down another half of a slice of pizza. My tail lashed against the bed.

  "Gonna be hunted the rest of my life. Lovely." I let my tail lash against the bed harder. Then I grabbed the near-empty box on the bedside table and pulled out the last lonely blunt. With two rasps of my lighter, I took a long, slow drag and blew a ring of smoke. With a blink, the TV started up again.

  Before long, what I could eat of the pizza was gone, and the blunt was little more than a stub in the ashtray. "Ah, hell. Guess I do have to go out." I sighed, standing heavily. I shoved the last of the pizza in the fridge and wandered my way to the bathroom, pulling on proper clothes. My eyes flashed in the mirror as I flicked around my HUD.

  //Message Send//

  //Recipient: Bella//

  //Contents: Hey Bella, if you're around, I could use someone to walk with me while I stock up. Just got done talking with the boss, so if you're around, that'd be appreciated.//

  //Bella: Yeah, sure, let me meet you at your place. I'll be there in just a minute. I guess the cripple needs his escort.//

  My eyes rolled on their own as I struggled into what passed for boots on a Saurid, the claws and pads of my toes open to the air. Before I could even finish pulling on a heated vest, I heard three knocks at the door. Bella opened the door and sauntered inside as soon as the deadbolt whirred unlocked, cycled with a blink of my eye. "Ready yet? I gave you plenty of time. I thought I was the one who is supposed to take forever to get ready." She laughed.

  I gave a low growl. "You try getting dressed with bruised ribs. It's a lot harder than it looks." I finished pulling on a plain jacket. "Lead the way. I need food for the fridge, and to hit up a smoke shop. Let's get this over with, shall we?"

  Bella gave another chuckle. "Yeah, yeah." She gave a sigh, idly resting her hands on the back of her head as she led me out of the apartment. I stopped long enough to lock the door and followed. The hearth was quiet still, only a couple of the youngest children played as we walked by. "So what kind of work is the boss gonna put you through?" Her tail flicked behind her curiously.

  "Just some work at St. Luke's. Working with the ambulances. Nothing I haven't done before. Keep me out of trouble. I guess." I rumbled, rolling my neck with a few soft pops.

  "That wasn't quite what I meant. I was more talking about the night shift side of things, as it were." She churred.

  "Oh, don't know yet. Just that my skills will apparently be useful. I'm not quite able to do much of anything with my busted ribs, so we'll see where I'm at in a week, give or take." I fought out past a yawn.

  "Fair enough. It'll probably just be some courier work or something simple. He usually doesn't push people too hard on their first jobs," she mused, boredly twirling the tip of her tail through her fingers.

  I hit the call button for the elevator and leaned against the wall, watching her out of the corner of my eye. "I'm sure. Not necessarily that it'll be courier work. I don't think he'll want to waste my talents. He seemed rather excited to have me," I shot back, tail flicking against the wall. The elevator arrived with a soft chime. I gestured inside with my head and followed Bella into it. The doors closed heavily behind us. Thumbing the ground floor button, I settled to lean back against the wall, watching the floor number count down.