Merry Christmas everyone!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful time off from whatever may occupy their time. I've been spending most of it with some family visiting from out of state. This is also part of the reason why this chapter is coming out on Christmas Eve, as I don't have much free time in-between doing things with said family. I was originally hoping to have this done before Christmas vacation even started, but some inspiration struck as I finished editing and needed to reedit most of the chapter.

By the way, thanks for the reviews, I like reading feedback from you guys. Every chapter, I will take a moment to respond to a few here in the author's notes, so keep the reviews coming.

Medchtsia: I actually am working on a rewrite to the Prologue, but I wanted to get this chapter out first. I will be posting the rewrite the same day as the next chapter.

Enjoy!

Thoughts scattered; memories of the past and predictions of the future turned into a whirlwind of ideas and experiences. Snapshots of my life playing like a movie. Eventually, thoughts secured themselves; hidden fears and unknowable possibilities coalesced into visions of ruin.

Massive creatures dominating buildings, bringing them down to signal the end of an era.

Soldiers lay in pools of their own blood, cut down before they had a chance to rise.

Survivors fleeing anywhere they could in a futile attempt to escape the end.

Entire planets writhing with the creatures, becoming so numerous they cover the earth's crust.

And there I was… Standing before the largest of them all as the last living thing in the universe. Its form writhing in excitement at the idea of completing its purpose. Its pulsating tentacles speeding down towards me as I did nothing to avoid my demise. The view of my doom becoming bigger and bigger as it sped towards me.

I commanded my body to move, but it refused, staying glued to the ground as I watched my end slam into me, killing me instantly.

My eyes shot open in fear, my muzzle opening to guzzle air before a sharp pain erupted from my neck.

With no air to let out a yell, I instead fell into a cough as the painful shock halted whatever panic my dream had given me. Collar having decided it was too much for me to handle. I stayed my paw from rubbing the damn thing as my whole body was too sore to move.

After the cough ended, I laid there, taking in as much air as I could for my starved lungs.

"Damn it." I muttered, cursing both the collar and my implant. Said implant being responsible for the dream.

Dreams like that are one of the side effects of the implant I had. Dreams turned into visions, visions of memories, desires, or on occasion; fears. They didn't even have to be fears that I regularly thought about, just some unknowns about a situation was all it took, and the brain took care of the rest.

And this will be a problem, because I had no possible way of quelling these fears until I confirmed that the 'end of the universe' was wrong. And I can't do that until I can get a distress beacon working, no small task while stuck on a primitive world, even if I am 'one of them.'

Speaking of, where am I?

Doing my best to keep still, I looked around the room I found myself in. I was in a bed, covered by enough blankets to suffocate a bear. Directly opposite of me was another bed, one that looked like it had been used recently. At the end of the room was a open closet sitting next to a closed door. At the feet of the beds were some nightstands, with mine holding… All my clothes.

Feeling around under the bed, I confirmed that I was indeed, naked.

I felt a bit of heat rush to my face as I hoped that my mystery saviour didn't see anything much. I could see why they did it though, going through a river had probably left my clothes too cold to wear, and all the bandages I felt around my left leg and chest couldn't have been applied with my clothes on.

Next to me there was another nightstand, this one carrying a tall glass of water, and a note. Bringing my sore paws over, I grabbed both of them and read what had been written.

Drink this and take the painkillers when you wake up, you had enough injuries to kill most mammals.

-Honey

This person is right, were it not for my enhancements I definitely would have died. Even with this person's help and my enhancements… I almost did...

Pushing those thoughts away, I checked the nightstand and sure enough, there were a few painkillers waiting for me. Grabbing them, I threw them into my mouth and brought the glass to chug. As the water ran down my throat, I realized how thirsty I was, the water feeling divine as it carried the pills down.

After finishing the water, I put the glass back and once more laid down, just in time for a wave of fatigue to hit me as the painkillers worked their magic.

A part of me questioned the wisdom of putting so much trust in this 'Honey' person, but I ignored the thought. If this person wanted to hurt or kill me, they could have easily done so. I did take a deep breath through the nose though, trying to get a identity of my mystery saviour.

It smelled like another fox, a male. A primal part of me felt safer with that knowledge, that a fellow fox had taken me in for the moment, even though I knew nothing about this guy.

Despite it all, I can't bring myself to question the motives of this fox too much. I got the shit kicked out of me, so questions be damned, I'm going to enjoy this. I pulled the covers up a bit further and nuzzled into the pillow as the soreness began to fade.

In less than a minute, I was back asleep.

I awoke to the sound of thunder.

From outside, I could hear heavy rain pounding the walls of the building. Alongside it my ears picked up some glass withstanding the assault as well, drowned out by the rest of the storm.

Opening my eyes, I looked up to see a window with open shades that I had not noticed before. From inside I could see that the storm I walked through had only got worse, the window protecting me from a flood of rain splashing inside.

Just how long have I been out?

My thoughts were interrupted by a plop sounding off near the doorway. Looking over, I saw drips of water leaking through the ceiling, falling into a bucket someone had placed under it. It took a few seconds for another drop to fall, making another plop.

Long enough for the roof to start leaking apparently.

I returned my thoughts to myself as I took my situation in. Testing out all my limbs to see if I could walk myself out of the room. My chest was fine, feeling no pain from where the bullets tore through me. Only my injured leg had trouble, the soreness from the night before having completely faded.

Pushing the covers off me, I slowly lifted myself from the warm confines of the bed before I found myself shivering as I sat on the mattress. The air was pretty damn cold, so I endeavoured to get my clothes on sooner rather than later. Placing myself on my right leg first before my injured one. Pain shot up through my leg as I did, making me grimace as I placed all my weight on the good leg.

I sighed, this was going to be so much fun.

I powered through the pain shooting through my leg as I limped as best I could to the nightstand, where my hopefully warmer clothes awaited me. Reaching it, I put all my weight on my good leg once more as I took stock.

My clothes had seen better days. While my boxers were fine, my shirt had some bullet holes, and my pants had a massive tear. I sighed at my inspection, not only had I liked these, but I would have to get new ones. And every bit of money not going to a distress beacon meant a longer time on this planet, something I really don't want.

Moving on, I found myself thanking Avian for having me leave the Matter Manipulator, as Honey had removed the flashlight and plugin from the confines of my clothing. There was something missing though…

Where was the key?

I turned my attention to my pants, hoping that Honey had simply not noticed the key as I grabbed the denim clothing from their spot. Searching through all the pockets, I found nothing.

No no no!

Dropping the pants, I tore through the rest of my clothes, searching for the vital item. Finding nothing in them as well, I dropped them all, as the reality finally sunk in.

I lost the key… This collar was stuck on me…

I stood there, silent as the realization sunk in. I ignored the beep that sounded off.

I lost my fucking key…

A faint orange light from the corner of my eye.

I lost my fucking key…

Another beep.

"I LOST MY FUCKING- Ah!" I grabbed my collar as it interrupted my scream and my anger with its powerful shock.

I sighed. I hate this planet.

"So you lost something in the river?"

I immediately whirled around to face the voice that had snuck up on me, and in doing so put nearly all my weight on my bad leg. I let out a yelp of pain and fell to the ground, grimacing at the burning that shot through my leg.

"Yeah, you really shouldn't be walking around." Continued the voice.

Realizing it was female, I looked at its origin to find a honey badger walking towards me. She was sporting some chained dog tags along with a white tank top and camo-printed vest, hugging the waist was basic cargo pants, adding to her 'soldierly' look was spots of disheveled and matted fur all over her. Finishing the whole thing off was the collar on her neck, while it was identical to the one I was wearing, it still felt weird to see someone wearing such a thing.

I only had a moment to notice her rather flat chest before heat rushed to my face, reminded that I was still naked in front of this women, the blush hidden by my crimson fur as I tried to get up and put some clothes on.

"Mind giving a man some privacy?" I asked, hoping to spare myself the embarrassment.

"I'm a doctor, it's nothing I haven't seen before." She responded, walking next to me and getting me upright. She brought my left arm over her shoulders, doing the job my leg couldn't.

"Not exactly something a man wants to hear." I said, mouth running faster then my brain.

The badger only rolled her eyes as she reached down to pick my boxers off the floor, handing them to me. My blush only grew as she helped me put my own clothes on, growing too red for even my fur to hide.

Once again, my mouth opened before my brain could stop it. "Not the usual uniform for a doctor, you going to war later?"

The badger rolled her eyes again. "Great, just what I need, another smartass in my life."

I talk to Avian too much.

"So, your Honey then?" asked, hoping to change the subject.

"Yeah, name's Honey Badger."

I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Who would name their kid that?

"Yours?" She suddenly asked, probably wanting to move on from her… odd name.

"John." I answered. "John Parker." I added.

A flash of recognition flashed in Honey's eyes before fading, I almost didn't notice it before my stomach let out a loud growl. Surprising me with its intensity before I felt the actual hunger set in after. Apparently, I was pretty damn hungry.

Honey chuckled at the sound. "Cmon, let's get you something to eat." She said as she moved to help me up once more.

Being the (sometimes) polite person that I was, I of course tried to refuse, saying; "No I wouldn't want to impose, you've done enough for me." Causing Honey to frown.

"I already helped save you, might as well go all the way." She said, her voice firm and allowing no argument.

"Besides, if you're that hungry I doubt you'd last an hour back on the street." She added, a small amount of concern sneaking into her voice.

"You're probably right…" I admitted, before realising something. "...How long have I been out anyways?"

"Three days." She answered.

"Damn." I said, not even realizing I said it aloud. Surprised my body hasn't started cannibalizing itself.

"Yeah." Honey responded. "I was worried you weren't going to wake up till you took the painkillers."

"Why were you worried for me? You didn't know me until just now." I asked, genuinely curious about why she cared. I was just some stranger to her, no reason for her to worry about my well being.

Honey looked at me like I was stupid. "Us preds gotta stick together, one less pred means the sheep are one step closer to winning!"

I ignored her comment about the sheep, something to ask about later

"The day you found me was my first in the city, not really this need to stick together where I come from." I explained, hoping the explanation would convince her.

She seemed to buy it as she chuckled. "Yeah? Well, welcome to Zootopia." She said. "Where we have to stick together and sheep plot to kill us all." She added, sounding as serious as she did humorous.

I raised an eyebrow as we walked through the hall. I really can't tell if she's being serious or not.

After slowly making our way down some stairs, we found ourselves in a fairly large room. A table sat in the middle with six chairs surrounding it, sitting at one end was a very fat cheetah who didn't seem to notice us while he ate some cereal and read the book he had. The cheetah was wearing a white t-shirt and some grey pants, as well as the collar that every other predator had on. Setting me down at the other end, Honey let go of me and walked to an open door way which presumably held the kitchen.

"John, meet Benjamin Clawhauser. Ben, meet John Parker." She called out, causing the cheetah to look up from his book and finally notice our presence.

Seeing me at the other end of the table, he smiled and waved, letting out a 'hi' as he did. I waved back, giving my own greeting to the guy as Honey left the room. Clawhauser and I didn't speak, allowing a silence to grow between us.

"How did you get so strong?" He asked suddenly.

"Excuse me?" I asked, surprised at the suddenness.

"Sorry…" He apologised, looking sheepish. "...But you beat a rhino and I was wondering…" He explained, looking ashamed of some assumed offense.

"How do you even know I did?" I asked, wondering where he found out about my confrontation.

"It was on the news!" He happily answered, unaware of the horror I felt at the revelation.

"Are the police… Looking for me?" I asked, afraid of what the answer might be.

"No, they thought you died in the river." He assured, leaving me to give a sigh of relief.

That's good, really could not afford to be a wanted fox.

"And the four who tried to?" I asked, curious about the fate of those I fought.

"They went to the hospital, I heard they're all getting charged with murder." He answered, sounding happy at the news. I imagine justice is a rare thing for predators on this planet.

"That's good." I said, I wouldn't want them to come after me again after they heal. Clawhauser gained a look suggesting he wanted to say something. "And an answer to your question; I got this way by sticking to a grueling workout routine for over a decade."

Total lie, no matter how hard I trained there was no way I was taking down a rhino without enhancements, let alone one that looked like bodybuilder.

Clawhauser looked happy be saved from having to ask again as he moved the conversation from my strength to other topics. And from this, I started gaining an insight to the person in front of me.

He had a bubbly personality that was apparent throughout the conversation, adding to that was an optimism that made itself known. His attitude was apparently contagious, as I found my spirits lifting just listening to him ramble off-topic about what he liked.

As I watched the doorway Honey had disappeared to, Clawhauser finished up his cereal with a final gulp before asking; "Have you ever listened to Gazelle?"

Looking back at the cheetah, I assumed he was talking about a singer when I answered no, and asked if he was any good.

Clawhauser looked almost offended I didn't know. "She's only the best singer is the world! All her albums are filled with emotion, you just feel the weight of the world on you when you listen to her."

"To be honest Ben, I prefer feeling ready to take on the world when I listen to music." I responded, feeling skeptical of listening to this Gazelle now.

"Some of her albums are optimistic!" He reassured, hoping to convince me to give her a chance. "Those ones are about the end of the collars."

Now that was interesting, judging from the name, a prey that's against the collars. A famous one at that. I wonder what her popularity is among prey...

"Alright, you've convinced me. I'll give her stuff a listen later." I said, curiosity over this musician winning me over.

"You can borrow some of mine." Offered Clawhauser, happy to have convinced me to give his favorite singer a try.

I thanked Clawhauser as Honey finally reentered the room, carrying a bowl and some milk. Though now she was wearing… A tinfoil hat.

What?

Clawhauser seemed uncomfortable as Honey placed everything down, and grabbed the cereal box that had been next to him.

"Uh, you have your hat on, Honey." He said, glancing over to me like he'd rather me not know she had it.

Given how Honey is seeming more and more like one of those conspiracy theorists who actually believe their theories, I don't really blame him. I wouldn't want to be associated with someone like that either.

Honey's next words didn't exactly inspire confidence. "I know, it's already been too long." She said, saying it as if it was the most normal thing in the galaxy.

Honey then prepared my meal, pouring milk and cereal into the bowl she brought before shoving it over to me, handing me a spoon to eat with as I gave a 'thank you.' Using the spoon and shoveling the food into my hungry mouth, I found the cereal tasted heavenly. Like someone had shrunk some of my favorite foods into bite size packages.

While I realized this was probably because I hadn't eaten anything in three days, that didn't stop me from tearing into the meal with gusto. While I did this, a silence grew in the room, interrupted only by sounds of a very hungry fox enjoying his meal.

As I swallowed the last bit of food in my bowl, only a puddle of milk remained. Not really satisfied, but it was enough for now.

"That was good." I said, stating the obvious. "Thank you Honey."

Honey nodded, accepting the thanks before speaking. "Your welcome. Now that you're done stuffing yourself, could you answer some things I've been wondering about?"

"Sure, what about?"

"How did you get such an old collar?" She asked, making my tail twitch.

Shit, I had thought that new collars would be made since the last time my mother was here, but the collars I've seen on these people were identical to mine. So how could they know?

"Come again?" I asked, hoping that a second question would reveal at least a little bit more to base a lie on.

"Your collar, if it had been the latest one you would have been shocked to death long before you drowned, so how did you get it?" She explained, giving me more then enough to answer her.

"I'm off the grid..." I said, testing the water as I observed her reaction. Honey seemed to buy it so far, so I continued. "...So far off the grid that as far as the city is concerned, I don't exist."

Not really a lie, as I was born offworld.

Unfortunately, Honey called bullshit, saying that's impossible.

"Not impossible, just really hard..." I argued, and continuing with a appeal to a result I know she would like. "And worth it when no one notices when I don't show up for the latest collar."

Honey couldn't seem to find a argument against what I said, and it looked like Clawhauser was jealous.

"You gotta be the luckiest fox I ever met." He happily said. "Not only a waterproof collar but it's easy to get keys for the older ones too!"

So that's why that wolf looked at me like that, if I was wearing the same collar as everyone else, the collar would have shocked me to death in the heavy rain.

Seems like whoever made the collars are the opposite of inventors, stripping features in the later versions. And given the status of predators in this world, probably for different reasons then someone was being cheap.

"Anything else?" I asked.

"What's with the tattoo on your back?" She asked, making me freeze, tail going straight as a rod and my eyes widening.

Oh fuck, I was hoping she hadn't seen that.

She was talking about the symbol of the Protectorate on my back, marked by black fur. I got it as soon as I graduated, other graduates simply getting it tattooed, my fur ensured that the tat would eventually be trimmed over time with my fur. So instead my biology was altered so the fur would instead grow black. The whole thing came with taking the oath of a protector, so it stays on me as long as I am one.

And now it's getting me into trouble. My reaction alone had made Honey raise an eyebrow and I don't really have a explanation.

"Let's just say that some friends and I got really drunk one time, and we'll leave it at that." I said, hoping my poorly thought out excuse would convince them. Clawhauser seemed ready to leave it be, but I had no such luck with Honey.

"You not only managed to get a collar key, but you managed to make a intricate symbol on your back while drunk?" She asked, incredulous of my claim.

"Well, like Clawhauser said…" I started, my mouth spewing lies as fast as I could come up with them. "...Older keys are easier to get. And I don't really remember what happened that night, I just woke up with a hangover and found out my friends played artists on my back."

"And where's that key now?" She asked, her voice remaining skeptical.

"I don't know, I lost it in the river." I answered, being more honest at the moment.

"That's terrible!" Cried Clawhauser, interrupting whatever retort Honey had for me.

Clawhauser them gave a look to Honey, as if suggesting something to the badger. Honey, gave her own look back as well as shaking her head so subtly that I almost didn't notice. Her answer, a no to the cheetah seemed to leave him a bit dejected before they ended their silent conversation and looked back to me.

They were definitely hiding something...

I suppressed a chuckle, like I could complain about keeping secrets.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a door opening the next room over, the heavy rain outside being heard all the way in here from the open entrance. Just as quickly as it started, it stopped again as the door was slammed shut by the person entering.

"Honey! I'm home!" A male voice exclaimed, causing Honey to roll her eyes. I imagine that joke has long since gotten old for her.

As I listened to the noises the newcomer was making in the other room. Honey pulled out a watch from her pocket, checking the time before placing it back in its spot.

"They're back early." She said, seeming to forget about the tat, which suited me just fine.

Listening to the person, I managed to faintly hear the footsteps as they walked towards us. Two of them, one set of footsteps far softer than the other, almost couldn't hear it.

Coming around the corner, I got my first look of these newcomers. One was a fox, with red fur that was almost a orangy-red, a tan underbelly, and emerald eyes. He was wearing a green hawaiian t-shirt, a loose blue and pink striped tie, and some grey khakis that were damp at the end of the legs. Topping it all off was a smug, self satisfied smile.

Coming up beside him was a fennec about half his size if you count the ears. He was covered in a mixture of brown and tan fur and had chocolate-colored eyes. He was wearing a black button up t-shirt with some red stripes and green shorts. He was also sporting a frown, one that seemed directed at his friend. I know that fennecs on Earth are pretty damn small, so I'm assuming that the one before me is not a kid, no matter what his size might suggest.

Both wore collars, each one snugly fitting around their necks like a noose.

The fox immediately noticed my presence, saying; "Hey, you're awake."

I opened my muzzle to respond, but Honey spoke before I could. "Yeah, he is. How did it go?"

Did she just cut me off?

"How do you think it went?" The fennec angrily replied, speaking in a deep baritone voice that was more suited to someone ten times his size, confirming my suspicions about his age.

"Better than you expected." Said the fox, causing the fennec to glare at him, his collar giving off a yellow light.

"That isn't saying much." Honey replied, a frown forming on her own face.

"It's something." The fox deflected, his smile starting to falter.

"If you can call ten dollars something." The fennec muttered.

Not wanting to be left out of the conversation, I interrupted. "Hold on a moment, what were you guys doing?"

Before the fox could reply, the fennec beat him to it. "Nick decided it would be a genius idea to try selling popsicles in the rain."

"It would have been fine if the lemmings bank wasn't closed." The fox, apparently named Nick shot back.

"The whole city is flooded! The fuck did you expect?!" Yelled the fennec, his collar beeping and glowing a dangerous orange now.

"You're gonna shock yourself." Nick calmly replied.

The fennec didn't listen. "That they would swi- Gah!" He went as his collar went off, his whole body going stock still as the electricity coursed through his tiny body.

An uncomfortable silence descended as the fennec calmed down.

"So… You are?" Asked Nick, breaking the silence.

Realising the question was directed at me, I gave him the same answer I gave Honey.

"Nick." He introduced, walking forward with his paw outstretched. After shaking, he pointed towards the fennec. "And he's Finnick."

"Pleasure." I politely stated.

"We're the ones that found you next to the river." He continued, bringing up a reality I had been trying to avoid.

I know that my job as a protector could end up killing me at some point. I accepted it a long time ago, and I had dedicated myself fully to becoming a protector. So I was not afraid of death.

I was afraid of my death being meaningless. The idea of just being another nameless fox who died in a city that didn't care, while the Protectorate wrote me off as just another 'missing in action,' was terrifying.

And these two saved me from that death...

"...Thank you, for saving my life." I replied, placing an extreme gratefulness in my voice as I did. Gesturing to Finnick and Honey as well, I continued. "I owe you. I owe you guys a lot."

Nick's smug attitude faded, replaced with a more embarrassed smile. The smile of someone not used to being praised. Nick smothered the smile quickly though, hiding behind a smug mask once again

Meanwhile, Finnick had a far most interesting reaction. His eyes that once seemed to hold utter contempt for everything around him instead sparkled with an idea. I'll probably end up seeing what that idea is later.

"If you guys need my help with anything, anything at all, tell me." I promised.

"We didn't do this because we wanted something from you." Said Honey, interrupting my thoughts.

"But you deserve something." I responded.

"At least wait until that leg heals up before you go doing anything for us." She said, tone demanding obedience.

"Yeah, yeah." I submitted. I may be know how to use a first aid kit, but that doesn't exactly translate to knowing just how screwed up I am.

The conversation we were all having seemed to die off at that point. With everyone going off to do their own thing. Nick traveling into the kitchen, Finnick going into a living room and Clawhauser following him. In short order, it was just me and Honey as I poured some more cereal into my bowl. The day speeding by like a movie on speed.

I awoke as rain lightly splashed against the window.

I let out a yawn as I stretched out in bed, quite content to lay here and fall back asleep. Plans of laziness were foiled though, as my stomach let out a growl, demanding I go get something to eat.

I sighed, not wanting to get out of bed just yet, but forced myself out of the covers anyways.

At least I had a dreamless night.

Getting on my feet, I felt no pain from my injured leg, only a dull ache that forced me to limp. Looking over to the other bed, I saw NIck laying there, still asleep. His smartphone charging on the nightstand.

I had learned yesterday about the phones they had here, and apparently smartphones are no longer a purely human invention.

Limping over to my own nightstand with a another yawn, I went about putting my clothes on. Once again being reminded that I need new ones by the bullet holes and tears. Once fully clothed, I made my way out of the room and to the kitchen, eyes heavy and still ready to sleep

Finding myself where I had eaten all the cereal yesterday, I saw Clawhauser sat at the table, exact same spot as last time. Eating what little cereal I had not eaten the day before. He was reading his book again too, just like yesterday.

Clawhauser went to take another bite of cereal, noticing me as he did. "Morning John." He said, before he shoved the spoonful in his mouth.

"Morning, Ben." I responded, voice almost cracking as I walked past him into the kitchen.

Inside, I found Finnick sitting on the counter, next to a coffee machine, all warmed up and ready to go. As I had found out yesterday, coffee does exist on this planet.

Thank the lord for small mercies. No amount of enhancements can make a coffeeless world survivable.

Finnick was cradling a mug in both his paws, a mug which was almost as big as his torso. Seeing me, he gave me a 'morning' in a voice even deeper than his usual, sleepiness not being kind to the fennec.

Like me, he was not a morning person.

While I had woken up without feeling this sleepiness the past few days, that only really happened because of the circumstances surrounding it. Now that I've gone to sleep without almost dying again, my brain has decided; 'fuck it, back to being shitty in the morning.'

Stupid brain.

Refocusing on getting to the coffee machine, I pushed my thoughts away as I gave my own 'morning' to Finnick.

It took me some time to find a mug of my own, and to figure out how the machine worked. But with some help from Finnick, I overcame my unfamiliarity with the device. The machine spitting out some black coffee of a flavour I had not bothered to read.

After the coffee was done, I didn't add anything to it. Taking a sip, I tasted the strong, almost bitter flavour as the burning hot liquid rolled over my tongue. I frowned at the taste, having drunk far better coffee during my time on Earth

I sighed, better than nothing though. I could already feel myself waking up.

I simple stood in the kitchen, next to Finnick as we both drank our wake up call. Silence broken only by the sounds of us sipping the precious liquid. Finnick finished his first, having gotten here before I had. He looked far more awake as he walked across the counter and placed his mug in the sink, before turning back to me.

"The leg better?" He asked.

"Just about, probably won't even have a limp tomorrow." I responded, going to drink the last bit of coffee in my mug

"Good, cause I have something I need you to do."

I paused and raised an eyebrow, that was quick.

"Okay, what do you need?" I asked before tilting my mug and chugging the coffee inside.

Finnick hesitated for a moment, before answering me with a question; "You know why Honey was so interested in how much we made yesterday?"

"No?" I responded, raising my eyebrow even higher, curious on where the fennec was going with this.

"Well, the four of us are in a lot of debt." He answered. "About twenty thousand." He added.

That explains why they were trying to sell in the rain yesterday.

"And we only have a few days to pay it all off." Finnick continued.

"Can't you just negotiate with the bank?" I asked, momentarily forgetting the kind of world I'm on. They probably would screw these guys as hard as they could.

Finnick's face turned grim. "We owe it to a crime boss."

Oh.

Shit.

"That's… pretty bad. But what does that have to do with me…" I asked, before realization dawned on me. "Oooh no."

I swore an oath when I passed the final test needed to become a Protector: To protect life across the galaxy, to support, house, and educate it... And to put a bullet in those who do the opposite. A crime boss is the kind of person I would be killing, not helping!

"We're not asking you to kill him, we're asking you to kill the reason he's calling all the debt now." Finnick responded, not aware of why I was refusing in the first place.

I blinked.

"That's much better?!"

"A snitch is going to be spilling everything about him in a few days. So Kozlov is having everyone in the city pay up." Explained Finnick.

"No Finnick, I'm won't to kill the snitch. Maybe beat the crap out of him, but not kill him. I don't want to be that kind of person." I responded, hoping the little guy would understand.

"You think I do?!" He yelled in response, his usually deep voice raised loud enough to make me wince.

Apparently not.

"You think I want to be plotting someone's death?! That my- Ah!" He went, his yell turned into a yelp of pain as his collar went off. Once again shocking the poor guy.

A silence descended as Finnick calmed himself down.

"I don't know what rock you've been hiding under, but we all have to do things we hate." He said, sounding like he spoke from experience.

"I didn't want to be some con artist scamming mammals out of their money, but there isn't any other place in life for me. Just like I don't want to plot some poor bastard's murder, I have to because he's the reason Kozlov is calling in our debt." Finnick continued, looking almost depressed at what he's saying.

"Besides… You owe us. I'm calling it in."

He was right, about me hiding under a rock. I always have been in a way.

Before I got here, I had never actually faced adversity. I never had to struggle to survive, never had to face racism, never had to make hard decisions. Now that I'm here, I'm going to have to go through that struggle, face that prejudice, and make those decisions so I can make it back to the Protectorate before it's too late.

Besides, as Finnick said, I owe them. I owe them my life, least I can do is save theirs. But...

"Okay, so how do you expect me to do this? I have nothing but my claws against what will probably be a heavy police escort." I asked, not really looking forward to what I am agreeing to.

"Kozlov can get you any weapon you want if you ask him." Finnick answered, smiling at the fact he convinced me to do this.

I sighed. That's it then, no getting out of this.

"Fuck my life."

"Fuck your life indeed."

So John has met his saviors and gotten roped into doing something questionable. Poor John. Beyond that there is some hints to the future some of you might already have guessed at.

I don't know about you guys, but writing dialogue that sounds believable for canon characters is a lot harder then for OC characters. Hopefully I did good and you enjoyed it. Be sure to list any criticisms you have in the reviews, I like reading them, and improving as a writer.

See you all in the next chapter.