TWENTY-TWO

"You tonight's bride?" the man at the door asked.

I nodded. "That's me."

I was surprised at how young he was. He looked like he was maybe sixteen at the most. Probably new here, which was why he was stuck at the front door. Still, if Sam was right, this was the Trio's inside man. So I was sure he already knew the real reason I was here. He wasn't alone, though, so we couldn't talk openly.

The goon on his left grinned. "Damn, she's hot!"

"Think we'll get a piece of her, Leslie?" the brute to his right let his eyes roam hungrily over me.

"Not for us to decide," Leslie said.

He was lean, his cap, jacket, pants and boots all black, with a white undershirt and silver hair that hung down almost to his shoulders. His yellow eyes didn't have the greed and lust in them that the other goons did. Even though I'd just met him, I felt like I could trust him. Though he looked bored and apathetic, it seemed to me almost like an act. Not something just anyone would've picked up on, but from my time in the theater, I'd learned how to see things like that.

Leslie folded his arms in front of him. "Got your letter?"

"Right here," I showed it to him.

We were standing in the courtyard in front of the mansion's inner entrance, where a few stalls of silks and other goods stood nearby. As I handed Leslie the letter, I kept a wary eye on the thugs with him. They were practically drooling over me. I'd have liked nothing better than to kick both their asses, but I was on a mission. And anyway, I didn't have much experience fighting hand to hand.

Well, not yet, at least. But although I didn't know it, I wasn't too far away from finding myself the best teacher I could've ever asked for. She would become a lot more than that, though. As good a friend to me as Aerith, and the sister I'd never had. But now I'm getting a little ahead of myself. Anyway, I waited patiently while Leslie looked over the letter. It didn't take long, and I wondered why he was working for Corneo while also covertly helping the Trio at the same time.

"Looks like everything's in order," he said. "You can go on inside. If you're sure you wanna do this."

I gave him a small smile. "I have to."

Leslie sighed. "Alright. Watch yourself in there."

He motioned to the two men at his side, and they pushed open the double doors for me, leering at me the whole time. I ignored them and hurried inside, jumping a little in spite of myself when the doors closed behind me with a loud clang. Taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, I looked around at Corneo's estate.

I was in a large, six-sided room with a reception desk sitting to the left and a staircase on my right rising up and around to the upper level, where three sets of double doors stood closed. The place was decorated in red and gold, with round floor lamps here and there, a sofa off to the left near the desk, a collection of large, painted pots, and other assorted decorations like wall scrolls and framed art.

There were doors on the first floor as well, including a pair behind the desk, but I suspected that the Don's office was probably upstairs, so I ignored them. Didn't look like I'd have to worry about where to go, in any case. I wasn't alone in here. A man in a gray suit with dark red hair came over to see me as soon as I walked in.

"Well, looky here," he said. "You must be the Don's girl for tonight. Right this way. Follow me."

As he led me to the stairs and up to the second floor, I assumed an air of eager innocence mixed with just a touch of nervousness, playing the part of a young, naive slum girl looking to make it big and become Wall Market's leading lady. She knew what she wanted, all the material benefits and privileges of being the Don's mistress, but she was still way out of her element and didn't know it yet.

The man in the gray suit stopped just past the second set of double doors. "Wait here. Gotta tell the Don you've arrived."

"Alright," I said.

Then he went inside the Don's office while I waited in the upstairs hall. I glanced over the railing at the first floor. It was about twenty feet or so below me, the floor covered in a soft, expensive carpet featuring a dragon design enclosed in a circle in the middle of it. A rough jump, if it came to that, but still manageable.

I noticed as well that a few of those painted pots were huge, at least eight feet tall, and from here I could see they were sealed shut. A small smile crept across my face then as an escape plan slowly began to form in my mind. I knew I'd have to get out fast, whatever happened. Better to be ready before that. When I heard the doors open again behind me, I slipped back into the role I'd prepared, knowing my life depended on this performance. No turning back now.

"Don Corneo will see you now," Gray Suit said.

I nodded and walked into the office, both hands clasped in front of me, and I had to admit, my nervousness wasn't entirely an act. Nothing I could do but go forward, though. The raspberry, hidden safely inside my skirt and strapped to my leg, reassured me.

Another man was waiting for me inside. It wasn't the Don, though. This guy was dark-skinned, with a blond mohawk, a sleeveless orange vest unzipped over his bare chest, blue jeans, and brown boots. A gold chain hung around his neck, and a pair of dark sunglasses hid his eyes. He stared hungrily at me, towering over me as he stood there almost a full foot taller than I was.

"Alright, miss," he told me. "Stand in front of the desk."

I did, noticing then the wide, polished oak desk nearby. A long rug lay over the wooden floor, red with two intertwined dragons on it, and a few round, pale yellow lamps lit the room. Behind the Don's desk was an open doorway framed by silk curtains. No doubt it led to his room, and I shuddered to think about how many women had gone inside and never returned. I wasn't going to be one of them.

The man looked me over. "Very nice. A real beauty tonight! Kotch is my name. One of the Don's top men."

"Oh, um, I see…" I stammered, keeping in character.

"Hey, just a minute…" Kotch frowned, gazing closely at me. "Ain't I seen you somewhere before?"

Uh-oh. Though I doubted he'd ever seen the play himself, flyers for LOVELESS were all over town. I looked pretty different now than I did then, but if anyone were to ever take the time to compare me to the girl on the poster, it was always possible they'd realize it was me. I held my breath, hoping Kotch wouldn't make the connection.

I shook my head. "No. Maybe you're thinking of someone else? I'm sure we've never met until now."

"Ah, well… I guess," he said. Then he swept his arm out toward the curtained doorway. "Anyway, you ready for this? It's time to get started. Let me introduce you to the leader of Wall Market and its most eligible bachelor! The one, the only... Don Corneo!"

Just a moment later, Don Corneo peered out from behind one side of the curtained alcove behind the desk, grinning eagerly when he saw me. He scampered across the room, a lit cigar in one hand, and moved right up in front of me, licking his lips as his eyes roamed greedily over my body. It made my skin crawl, but I kept up the act.

"Oh, what a lovely kitty you are!" he laughed. "Very good, yes very good indeed. You got a name, sugar?"

"Janie," I told him, nervous excitement in my voice.

Corneo pointed at me. "I like that. As for me, just call me Don. Or daddy. Anyway, know why you're here?"

I nodded. "Looking to take a step up in the world."

"Then you've come to the right place!" he cackled. "Think you can win me over, sweetheart?"

"Thought I already did," I said.

He took a puff on his cigar. "Let's find out, shall we?"

Motioning for Kotch to leave, Corneo held out his other arm, and I slid mine through it even though I'd have preferred to break it instead. We headed around the desk and through the doors behind it, which, as I'd suspected, led into his bedroom.

The place was lit in red and pink, with soft rugs on the floor and a huge, four-poster canopied bed in the middle of it. Corneo let go of me and jumped right on it while I sat on the edge, tentatively but with just a hint of anticipation. I couldn't be too eager or he'd get suspicious, and if I acted too scared, he might decide I wasn't worth his time and try to get rid of me like the other girls who had come in here. It was a delicate balancing act, but I knew how to walk the line.

"Oh, you really are a hottie!" he crooned, moving toward me on his hands and knees. "Come on over here and show me what ya got, Janie. Wanna be my bride? Then lay one on me!"

I'd have sooner kissed a hedgehog pie. "Thought we could talk a bit first. Then we'll see what else our lips can do."

Corneo rubbed his hands together and bounced eagerly on the silk sheets and purple blanket. "Oh, ho! You're a sexy little minx, aren'tcha? I love it! Whaddya wanna talk about?"

"Being Mrs. Corneo comes with a lot of perks, right?"

"If I take a real shine to ya and you keep me interested," he said. He spread his arms out wide. "Money, clothes, jewelry, power… you name it, it's yours, baby! I got it all!"

I scooted toward him a little. "Mmm, sounds nice. There's another thing I'd like to know first, before…"

Corneo leered at me. "Oh, you mean that, Janie? I ain't never done it. So don't worry, we'll have a good time. Now just come here to daddy and gimme some lovin'!"

He reached for me, but I stood up and backed away from the bed. I didn't believe a word he'd said. No doubt they were just lines, and that's not why I was there anyway. It was nearly time to quit performing, but first I had to know where the key was.

"No, that's not it," I said. "Sector 7. I grew up there but haven't been back in years. Kinda miss it, I guess. But I hear the gate's locked up nice and tight now. Nobody can get through."

"Eh? One of my suppliers pissed me off earlier today, so I took the gate key from him. Had to teach him a lesson."

I nodded. "I get that. So, you have it on you, then?"

Corneo patted the pocket of his white shirt. "Right here, baby. Nice and safe. What's it to ya?"

"Well, if it's not too much trouble, I'd like to go back home for a bit first before settling in here. Take a last look at the place, you know. Just think of it as a request from your bride."

"And if I let you through?" he asked, eying me suspiciously.

Fighting back my revulsion, I took Corneo lightly by the shoulders and whispered huskily in his ear. "Then you'll get to see just how sexy I can be. Tonight's just a warmup, Don."

Just as I'd expected, his eyes went wide. "Yowza! You drive a pretty hard bargain, Janie. But I'll give ya what you want. Time to get started, though, and just to make sure you don't try to back out or change your mind, I've got a little incentive…"

Rolling off the bed, Corneo went to a nightstand, picked up a small camera, and started taking pictures of me, giggling as he did. Although I'd figured he'd pull something like this, I acted flustered and a little put out, trying to look away as he moved around me taking shot after shot. As long as he thought he was in control, he'd be much more likely to let his guard down. And that's when I'd move.

When he was finished, Corneo put the camera back, then bounded right into his bed. Swallowing, I crawled in toward him, needing to get in close so I could swipe the key even as I shuddered inwardly at what I was doing. But on the outside, I kept playing the part for a little longer, sexy and shy at the same time, my hands roaming over him as he drew me in and shoved me against him.

"Come on, sugar," he breathed. "Kiss me!"

While he puckered his lips and closed his eyes, I took his face with one hand while slipping the other slowly into his shirt pocket. I let my face get close enough to his that he could feel my breath, and I was just closing my fingers around the card when Corneo suddenly opened his eyes and seized my wrist, his grip painfully tight.

He glared at me. "Just what the hell do you think you're doin',? You got any idea who you're messin' with?"

"I could ask you the same thing!" I shot back.

It was time to drop the act. Gathering my strength, I yanked myself free of Corneo's grasp and quickly backed off the bed when he tried to grab hold of me again. He snarled as I stood up, but he didn't move, his eyes narrowing as I stared him down.

Corneo clenched his fists. "Gonna teach you to steal from me, you bitch! Somebody get in—"

"Ah, ah!" I wagged my finger. "Bad idea."

Reaching through the slit in my skirt, I unfastened the strap on my thigh, took out the raspberry, and held it up so Corneo could see it. He gulped, his eyes locked on it as I walked up to the bed and put my foot on the mattress, holding the grenade in front of me.

"What do you want?" Corneo grumbled.

I pointed at his shirt pocket. "The gate key, of course. Hand it over, Corneo. Now. If you don't…"

With a cunning smirk, I held out the raspberry so it was just above his crotch, my thumb resting easily on the pin. Corneo whimpered and backed away a little, sweating nervously as he started to get the picture. His hands flew in between his legs as he stared nervously at me. It was pretty satisfying seeing him like this.

I hefted the raspberry. "I'll blow 'em up."

"You're bluffin'," he challenged me. "You'd be killed, too!"

"Sure about that?" I raised an eyebrow.

This time, I did pull the pin, letting Corneo see what I was doing. I couldn't do any pretending here. He may have been a depraved son of a bitch, but he wasn't stupid like Beck and his buddies. Corneo would've seen through it if I'd tried that ruse again. Besides, I had thought about this possibility before I'd ever come here, and I didn't really mind dying if it meant taking this sleaze out with me.

His eyes widened. "Okay, okay! Put it back! Put it back!"

"Wise decision," I said, replacing the pin.

"Take it, bitch!" Corneo thrust the card at me. "I'll just hafta tear it outta Sam's hide later. Might need to change how I pick my brides, too. Three a night instead of just one. Yeah, I'll have the boys send 'em here to me, then I'll take the best of the lot."

I grabbed it. "He had nothing to do with this."

"You think I'm an idiot!?" he growled.

"Oh, you're way more than that," I told him, moving away from the bed. "I'm here for my own reasons. So just leave him alone or my hand might… just… slip…"

He glanced at the raspberry. "Fine! One thing, though…"

"What's that?" I asked.

"Villains only give up in a certain situation," Corneo said, backing up toward the headboard of his bed. It was solid gold and shaped like a dragon. "Now, what would that be?"

I knew what he was up to, having spotted the seams in the floor in front of the bed as soon as we had come in here. But I pretended that I hadn't noticed, moving slowly toward the door, my eyes on the Don as he stood confidently on his bed. I stopped just a little short of the seam behind me and tensed myself to move.

"When they think they've won," I answered.

"Bingo!" Corneo cackled.

The instant he pushed the hidden lever in the headboard, I sprang backwards over the edge as the floor dropped open where I'd just been standing. I heard a roar from the darkness below, and the putrid smell wafting up from the pit told me it led down to the sewers. Corneo was livid, crawling toward the front of bed and staring at me disbelief. And as he did, I pointed at him, the raspberry held high.

"Missed me!" I winked.

He pounded the bed. "Shit! How—"

I pulled out the pin. "Oh, and before I leave…"

"No!" Corneo wailed.

"Call it a present," I smirked. "From Vera and everyone else you've fed to that monster down there."

Kissing the raspberry, I dropped it into the pit and then ran out the door, ignoring Corneo's angry shouts. The explosion was muffled from up here, but I could hear his pet—whatever it was—growling in pain as the grenade's blast tore into it. I hadn't killed it, I was pretty sure about that, but I'd at least hurt it. And that was enough for me. I had the card, and it was time to get the hell outta here.

Kicking off my heels, I sped into the upstairs hall just in time to see a bunch of Corneo's lackeys running at me from both sides, and when I glanced over my shoulder, I saw the Don himself stomping toward me. They had me boxed in on all sides, or so they thought. My heart racing in my chest, I hurried toward the railing.

"Get her!" Corneo yelled. "Shoot the goddamn bitch!"

Grabbing the railing, I leaped over the side just as the goons shot at me. I landed on one of the huge jars, just like I'd planned, then jumped down to the floor amidst shouts and gunfire as the Don's thugs tried to come down the stairs after me. As soon as I landed, I bolted across the room toward the main doors, bullets chewing into the walls all around me as I kept my head down and burst into the front hall.

Leslie and his two cohorts were in there waiting for me, but I didn't slow down. As soon as he saw me, he slugged the thug on his left while I drove my knee into the gut of the one on the right. They dropped like deadweights as Leslie quickly barricaded the inner doors.

"Go!" he shouted. "Front door's open!"

"Will you be alright?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yeah. I'll just say you got by us. Fights happen here all the time. I'll be fine."

"Thanks!" I breathed, waving as I left.

I raced through the front doors and out into Wall Market, running down the steps. I didn't slow down until I was back inside the winding maze of streets and alleys, and every so often I glanced behind me, but there was no one. Looked like I'd made a clean getaway. Even so, I kept on checking until I got back to Madam M's massage parlor. As it came into view, I let out a long, shaky breath.

She was waiting for me inside. "Jessie! I'm relieved to see you safe! People are saying there was an incident in Corneo's estate not long ago. I assume you had something to do with it."

"You could say that," I admitted.

"I thought as much," Madam M smiled. "You succeeded?"

I held up the gate key and laughed. "Got what I came for. Gave the Don's pet a nasty burn it won't forget, either."

She grinned. "Excellent! That'll teach that bastard! It's a shame you weren't able to kill the beast, but with luck, someone else will finish the job one day. In any case, well done."

"Thanks," I said. "I'd better get this to Sam."

"Of course. Let's get you changed first, though. I'm sure you'll want your things back. I've kept them safe for you."

It didn't take long for me to change out of my black dress and back into my normal clothes. As I fastened my leather belt around my waist and adjusted the pouch on my hip, I looked in the mirror and realized I had done it. I had pulled off this little mission, and pretty much all on my own, too. I'd seen my share of danger before, of course, but this was the first time I'd gone through it all by myself. And as I thought of that, I felt my confidence grow, and my hope.

Maybe I could make it in the slums after all.

After pulling my hair back into its usual high ponytail and tugging on my gloves, I went back into the massage parlor's main room, where Madam M was waiting for me. She handed me my gray backpack, and I slipped it on gratefully as I got ready to leave.

"All set?" she asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. I—oh, I almost forgot! The earrings!"

I reached up to take them off, but Madam M tapped my hand with her closed fan and gently pushed it down. "Keep them, Jessie. As a gift for giving Corneo a good kick in the ass."

"Thanks, Madam M," I said. "I do like them."

She bowed. "You're welcome. I'll hold onto the dress for you. If you ever wish to wear it again, please come see me. I'll be more than happy to give you another makeover."

I smiled. "I'll definitely keep that in mind."

"Good," she replied. "Oh, and one other thing—Meridel."

"What?" I blinked.

Madam M chuckled. "That's what the M stands for, Jessie. Meridel. My first name, of course."

"It's pretty," I told her. "Why don't you use it?"

"That's a long story, one we don't have time for now. But maybe, if you ever come back this way, I'll share it with you. Over another of my luxurious hand massages, of course."

I grinned. "Deal!"

"Farewell, Jessie," she said. "And good luck."

After saying goodbye, I left Madam M's massage parlor and walked through the streets toward the main gate as casually as I could, hoping I wouldn't be noticed. Now that I wasn't in my dress anymore, it would be harder for Corneo's thugs to find me. Still, I'd feel a lot better once I was out of Wall Market and safely in Sector 7.

I was almost to the gate leading outside of town when I felt a hand come down on my shoulder. When I turned around to see who it was, I gasped as my heart leaped into my throat. It was Kotch. He looked at me with, of all things, awe and even hesitation.

"Knew I recognized you," he said. "Jessie Jae, right?"

"What?" I stared at him.

He held up a LOVELESS flyer. "You know, the actress? Never seen the play, but I've heard about ya."

"Sorry, you've gotta be mistaken," I said.

Kotch shook his head. "No way. Dunno what you're doin' down in the slums, but I know it's you. Changed your look and all, but your face don't lie. Corneo's pissed, you know."

I stepped away from him in a hurry. "Like I care."

"Heard you even torched Abzu," he said. "You, uh… you don't have any more of them grenades on you, do ya?"

"As a matter of fact, I do. And if you don't want to see one of them up close and very personal, then leave me alone and forget you saw me. They've got a short fuse, and so I."

He threw up his hands. "Whoa, whoa! I ain't here to cause you any trouble. Not after what you did at the Don's place. Girl that can do that ain't one to screw around with."

I put my hands on my hips. "You're damn right!"

"I, uh… just wanted an autograph," Kotch stammered. "Spotted ya and figured you were headin' outta town."

"I am," I said, not sure if I should believe him.

He held out the flyer. "Well?"

I sighed, took a pen from my belt pouch, and signed it. "Here. Just don't tell anyone about me."

"R-Right," he promised. "Thanks."

"Sure. That all?"

Kotch nodded. "Yeah. Oh, uh, better steer clear of Wall Market for a while. Corneo'll probably put a bounty out on you after tonight. Like I told ya, he's really pissed off."

I frowned. "Not to sound ungrateful, but… why are you telling me this, Kotch? You're one of his righthand men."

"I like cute girls," he shrugged.

"Even ones that kick your boss' ass?" I raised an eyebrow.

He laughed. "I just do what he tells me to do. Better that than bein' fed to his pet, you know? But I ain't dumb enough to cross you, either. I wanna keep my skin in one piece."

Then he left, and I hurried through the gate, not quite sure what to make of Kotch but wanting to be out of Wall Market even more now. It had scared me a little, him finding me like that, and I had thought he'd try to drag me back to the Don's mansion. But he'd been alone, without any of Corneo's other lackeys.

Now that I thought about it, I realized he hadn't been there during my escape. But I didn't think for a minute that he was a nice guy. Kotch was a coward, too scared to stand up to the Don. And me, it seemed. I kinda liked that thought, that one of Wall Market's most powerful men was afraid of little old me. A smile crept across my face as I hurried on through the gate, and I laughed a little.

Kotch would keep my secret, I was pretty sure about that. Even if it was only because he was scared I'd find out and beat the shit out of him if he ever told anyone. Which I would. And he damn well knew it, too. I'd made that clear as crystal. But I wouldn't forget his warning, either. I was more than ready to leave this town.

I found Sam outside the main building of his delivery service, right where I'd left him. He was busy talking to one of his assistants near the chocobo stables when I walked over to him. The false fronts he had on his place were charming, and the big yellow birds were adorable. I had always loved chocobos ever since I was a kid.

"Howdy," Sam dismissed his assistant and nodded to me. "I hear ya caused quite a ruckus up at Corneo's place."

I chuckled. "I did. And I got your key back, Sam."

He took it gratefully when I handed it to him. "Much obliged to ya, Jessie. You're tougher than you look."

"Thanks," I smiled. "Now, about my ride?"

"It's all set. Like I said before, free of charge. So hop aboard as soon as you're ready to go. I'll take ya to Sector 7 myself."

I nodded. "Thanks. I appreciate it."

But just before I could, he held his hand up. "Wait a sec, Jessie. Got a little somethin' for ya. Just a token of appreciation for helpin' me out. Ain't much, but I hope it'll come in handy."

Sam reached into his pocket, took out some small object I couldn't see at first, and tossed it lightly over to me. I caught it easily and gazed wonderingly at it. A flattened glass cylinder that was about half an inch thick and three inches across. Pressed carefully inside of it was a small yellow chocobo feather, neatly sealed.

"Thank you," I murmured. "What is it?"

"Feather from a newborn chocobo," Sam explained. "It's good luck. All chocobo feathers are considered lucky, but baby ones are the best. I make those and sell 'em to travelers. Keep one on me myself, too. Long as you hold onto that, you'll always make it home."

I glanced up at him. "Does it work?"

He shrugged. "Has for me. It's an old saying, but I've never had any reason to doubt it before. So I s'pose it does."

"I guess I'll find out," I laughed.

I climbed into the carriage and sat down while Sam settled himself into the chocobo's saddle. With a quick flick of the reins, we got going, heading easily down the dirt road toward Evergreen Park. The carriage was red with a bright pink roof, trimmed in yellow, and I relaxed in the soft, cushioned seat with a long, contented sigh. Outside the windows, the rows of empty shacks drifted by, and it was only a few minutes later that we finally arrived at the gate.

Leaning forward a little, I watched as Sam put the card into a small scanner mounted alongside the saddle. Just a second later, a light on it turned from red to green, and the massive gate slowly slid open. When it was done, we rode on through, the road winding through piles of old scrap and more abandoned buildings on its way to Sector 7.

Well, technically, we were already there, but as with Sector 5, these were the outskirts. The town itself would be further along. As we rode onward, I heard the gate closing behind us. I sat back in my seat again, slipping my hands behind my head and resting my feet on the cushion opposite me. I had the carriage all to myself, after all. And I'd had quite a busy night. I deserved a chance to relax.

We got there about fifteen minutes later, Sam bringing the carriage to a stop just past a chain link fence that stood open and connected the road to another wide street that ran in front of it. After he dismounted and opened the door for me, I got out and looked around, taking in my first real glimpse of my new home.

It was a busy place, people coming and going. Down the street and to my right was a train station with a mako-powered steam locomotive sitting there while passengers got on and off. To my left, the road went into the town itself, a large cluster of shacks, ramshackle buildings, and dirt streets. It wasn't that different from Sector 5 in some ways, though I didn't see any flowers here. The mako smell was a bit stronger, too. It curled my nose as I stood there and looked around.

Across from me, on the opposite side of the road, stood the Sector 7 pillar. I shivered as I looked at it, craning my neck to see how it went all the way up to the underside of the plate. A huge stone column fitted with flights of stairs, multiple floors, and a round, open platform about halfway up its height, fifteen stories above the ground. Although there was an identical pillar in Sector 5, that one had never bothered me like the sight of this one did. I wasn't sure why.

"Well, here you are," Sam said, offering his hand. "Sector 7."

I shook it. "Thanks again."

He tilted his hat, then climbed back onto his chocobo. "Good luck to ya, Jessie. You take care of yourself."

"You too, Sam," I waved.

Then he was gone, riding back down the road toward Sector 6 and Wall Market. Settling my gray backpack comfortably on my shoulders, I walked into town. There had to be an inn somewhere, so I figured I'd book a room for the night, then see about getting something to eat and go from there. There were all kinds of shops and restaurants, stalls and roadside stands and such. Nice, warm lights, too.

I had just stopped for a minute or two to get my bearings and see if I could find out where the inn was when I suddenly felt something soft and furry curling around my feet and heard a soft meow. I blinked and looked down to see a little cat, a calico, brushing against me. A stray? I supposed it was possible. Bending over, I gently picked him up, petting him as he kept meowing in my arms.

"Oh, aren't you cute," I cooed, lightly stroking his black and brown fur. "Are you lost? Hungry? You poor thing."

I liked animals, and I decided that if I couldn't find out who the cat belonged to, I'd take him in myself. But first, I figured I should buy him some milk. The little guy looked neatly groomed and well cared for, so that meant he'd probably run away from home. After I fed him, I'd have to ask around here to see if anyone was missing a cat. I started walking again, searching for a general store, but I hadn't gotten very far before I heard someone hurrying toward me.

"There you are, Mr. Smalls!" a voice called.

I turned to see its owner, a heavyset guy with an open, friendly face below his dark hair and bright red bandanna. From the wide bandolier and belt of grenades he wore over his yellow shirt and dark blue pants, I figured he must've been a member of the neighborhood watch. A few years younger than me, too.

He was holding another cat in his arms. It was a calico like the one I'd found, but larger. Huge, to be exact. The guy looked at the cat I held and sighed in relief. "Biggums and I were so worried about you! It isn't nice to go wandering off on your own."

"Oh, he's yours?" I asked.

The guy nodded. "Yeah. Thanks for finding him. I—"

He didn't get to finish because right then, another guy walked over to us carrying a third calico cat. "Damn! Had to chase this little bastard halfway across town before I finally caught him."

"Reginaldo!" the first guy exclaimed, talking to the cat. "Don't you ever scare me like that again!"

The newer guy was taller, lean, with short black hair, a green shirt, darker green shorts, leather gloves, boots, a belt, and a red headband. I wondered if he was a member of the watch, too. It seemed like he knew the first guy. He looked a little older than me, but not by much, and he flashed me a crooked grin when he saw me.

"Thanks for the assist," he said. "Name's Biggs. This here's Wedge. I take it you're new in town? Ain't seen ya before."

I smiled. "That's right. I'm Jessie Rasberry. Nice to meetcha!"

Wedge gave me a thumbs up. "Welcome to Sector 7!"