It’s been months now after the events at the beach house. Anya still hasn’t finalized her decision on whether to start her apprenticeship with a House Service of her choosing, university, or travel.

  Her feet bopped back and forth to a tune that unconsciously played in the background of her mind as she tapped her fingers on the screen of her communicator, half thinking of the sequence of messages she had been exchanging for some time now and half thinking back on the events that transpired.

  Ally, as she had hoped - and honestly, half expected, maybe more than half; had acquiesced with the proposal forwarded to her from House Intel via Hassan. In her mind, no doubt looked over and approved by Father.

  In exchange for her family’s Intel service expunging any record of activities regarding the CPs and the digger, she was to switch her allegiance, unofficially, to House Essedar. That one caught her a bit off-guard, as Ally not only agreed but excitedly agreed to it.

  Anya half-smiled. Ally should be with her House anyway, as her mind wandered, and she outwardly cringed at the dress sense of House Xela, Ally’s patron House. To her, if you were from Lowbie town and can’t dress decently, that’s fine; it’s almost sort of expected. But, when you are a High Riser, one of the original Houses at that, and you still don’t have a clue how to dress, one could question your sense in everything else as well.

  The other girls were eternally grateful to Anya when she informed them that the blackmailer digger had been apprehended, and she had had their funds returned in totality. She made sure to promote Ally’s part in it as well; ‘It would build more confidence in her,’ was what Hassan had advised her. And that was never a bad thing; that girl could do with more of that.

  Hassan didn’t want to share what would happen to that snake of a digger. And she didn’t want to know either. Noa mentioned that some of the security guys said it would be nothing even remotely close to nice, any way you looked at it.

  They both knew that if a High House had given leniency to a proven criminal, that leniency would come back as a worse sentence if that same criminal was caught doing what they were not supposed to.

  The CPs they caught were turned over to the Civil Authorities after extensive questioning from House Intel and Security Services. After a light sentence, they were recommended to be reinstated into the CP. This was not only a coup from them in disrupting the flow of controlled substances to the SEHIL students, but it was also a PR coup for House Essedar. It always paid to appear magnanimous and caring to the lowbies.

  Hassan did mention to her that they were now House Assets working for her family, which probably was for the better. ‘You can never go wrong with human-sourced intel to supplement everything else,’ her mind concluded dismissively.

  The ringleader, however, ‘won’t have any more kids any time soon…or ever,’ her inner voice interjected, making her chuckle. House Intel kept him in their own holding cells - or prison, but holding cells sounded somewhat nicer…. He was a great mine of information with extensive knowledge of the trafficking networks operating within Adina City and its trade partners within the Dominion.

  Her eyes involuntarily blinked when a reply came, the buzzing of her communicator pulling her away from her musing, giggling as she read it, then proceeded to enthusiastically type away on her communicator. Replying to the message. Ryan, a junior at SEHIL tertiary, had surprised her with not only his mind but also how well he used it.

  “Oh, what are you doing here?” Noa’s voice suddenly broke her focus.

  Anya looked up and smiled at her sister, noting how she wore her hair today. It was firmly tied back in a ponytail. ‘she’s going out on a mission,’ her inner voice chimed in.

  Anya looked at the screen and frowned. There was no immediate reply, and she could almost feel offended at the lack of immediate response from him. ‘Two demerits, Mr Ryan,’ her mind piped in. She looked up at Noa as she placed her communicator down.

  “Oh, I was hanging out by the garden, but they’re doing that work there at the moment.”

  “So… you picked to hang out at this particular armory?” Noa squinted her eyes at her sister.

  Anya chuckled and shrugged. I don’t know what it is about this particular one. It just feels right.”

  “Right? See, I tried to tell Hassan about it; he just doesn’t get it.”

  Anya giggled. Her eyes studied her sister attentively. She was wearing one of the combat suits that all active security personnel wear, but she had opted not to wear the standard uniform outerwear that was usually worn over it. Instead, she wore only one of her many jackets over the matt-black material of the full-bodied combat suit.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Her eyes studied the honeycomb lines that crisscrossed all over Noa’s combat suit. From the shoulders down to her hips and all the way to her feet.

  “That’s a daze look for you, Noakins.”

  Noa smiled and winked back. “I know, right? Hassan doesn’t approve, though. He says it’s always better using it with outerwear.”

  “Psh, he doesn't have your figure, that’s why.”

  They both chuckled at what Anya said. Noa then started to pull a stack of pistol magazines from their respective drawer, followed by a container of corresponding cartridges, before sitting down to face Anya.

  “So, decided on which uni specialization yet? Or are you taking up Father’s option to begin apprenticeship?” Noa looked at her while her hands started working. She knew they had just spoken about the matter only a couple of days prior, but she was genuinely curious.

  Anya shook her head. “Not yet.” She replied absentmindedly.

  “You have something going on? Hassan didn’t say anything.” She said, sliding off the table.

  Noa smiled. “Remember Bones?”

  Anya tilted her head; the name was familiar. It was on the edge of her tongue.

  “Um… Hassan’s merc contact?”

  Noa nodded, “the same one.”

  “What about him?”

  “Am meeting him, potential gig.”

  Anya looked at Noa, who had continued loading rounds into her magazine. Something she knew Noa liked doing herself.

  She remembered the many conversations they had had about this exact topic. And Noa was adamant about sticking to her plan of going into merc work. She didn’t really understand why when they had all the money anyone could wish for and then some. And if it was for the rush, all they needed to do was talk to Hassan, who she knew would be more than happy to assign Noa something.

  But she had always trusted Noa’s decision. Growing up, not once had her sister led her astray, and she, for one, knew that her sister always had the best intentions in mind.

  “So, what’s the gig?” She inquired, her voice ripe with curiosity.

  Noa shrugged, focused on the loading of rounds as she replied.

  “Dunno, he wants to meet to sus out options. Says I get to pick since it would only be my second job that he’s helped get. Added that if I keep doing daze in what he gives me, probably can recommend me to a full-fledged fixer.”

  “So, how would you know what to take with you?”

  “Eh, all I really need is a pistol and my trusty knifu.” She patted the knife Hassan had given her, which sat snugly in its scabbard that was attached to the rear of her belt.

  Anya chuckled.

  “That’s what he said anyway. I have a feeling Hassan is telling him to give me light ones. I don’t mind; still learning anyway.”

  Anya turned her communicator up to check on her screen. Ryan was still typing; how long does it take to type out a reply anyway?

  Noa paused as if on cue and looked up at Anya.

  “You? Are you gonna tell me that’s Ryan?”

  Anya tittered and nodded. “Same guy.”

  Noa scoffed, grinning.

  “He’s not bad. At least he knows what he wants and is clear about it.”

  “Eh…”

  “What?”

  “He’s taking forever to reply.” Anya raised her communicator and showed the screen to Noa.

  Her sister frowned and grinned.

  “Is he writing an essay?”

  Anya giggled. “Probably some poem?”

  Noa laughed out loud. “One thing I DO know about him; doesn’t have an artistic bone in his body. So, not likely.”

  After loading the rounds into the selected number of magazines, Noa stood up and slid the spare magazines between their respective open latches she had on her equipment belt, stopping each time a click told her they were securely fastened.

  “Um... Noakins?” Anya suddenly chimed.

  Noa paused; she knew this tone of voice. Anya was about to ask her something that she really wanted.

  She looked up at her sister and smiled. Using an equally sweet tone. “Yes, Anyanas?”

  Anya again looked at her phone.

  Typing…

  She frowned. What in the world is this guy trying to write?

  “I’m restless… can I tag along?”

  Noa looked at her, and for the first time in a long time, she could feel her sister looking her over as if evaluating her.

  “You got your gear here?”

  She smiled and nodded. “Mhmm!”

  Noa’s eyes continued to study her intently as she saw her lips scrunching to the left, then right, her eyes in deep thought.

  “Sure, I guess. Get your gear prepped.”

  “Yes! You’re the best!” Anya squealed out and hugged her sister tight before letting go and stepping back.

  Silence fell over the room; the only sounds were of the two of them getting their gear ready. They exited the armory together, with Anya excitedly moving alongside Noa. They chatted away as they headed down a corridor toward a hover transport, which awaited them.