Your Story in that Stars

Ch. 02

"Welcome to your dystopian paradise." Kyro said in a flat voice,completely unfazed by the magic around us. "Stay close or the city will swallow you up in seconds."
He started forward, I was quick to follow if not a second behind, but I was unable to tear my eyes from the scape before me.
I looked up to the tall ever climbing buildings, no end or tops in sight. It was like they were rooted into the ground, unmoving and unnatural. Several buildings were for housing, some multi levels were left for offices and other small shops. Each window bursting with different lives, strung up laundry, hanging potted plants; some windows blocked out with papers or curtains though that wouldn't shut out the noise. Some people-other forms of life- hung around their balconies or out their windows. Voices and music clashed,drowning each other out.
"Nerve." Kyro called for me.
I hadn't realized I had stopped walking. I closed the gap in a step and took hold of the edge of kyros sleeve so I could look around but feel if the big crowds pulled us apart. He looked at me confused but didn't say anything as he led me forward. We were here officially for business with the IGSS- intergalactic safety solutions- to get rid of a fugitive like Borshuk. We also were here,under the table, to dig up anything possible on a person who is unknown with the exception of their name-me.
I don't know who I am.
No one knows who I am.
I woke up in a brightly lit interrogation room; not long after the government official entered and uncuffed me. He asked a lot of questions but all I could tell him was that my name was Neeve, I am 24 human years old, and I have special training in tracking and hunting.
My hope for being here was that we'd be able to dig up my information at the biggest hub for life in the galaxy...that we know of. There has to be some information on me somewhere out there.
Kyro pulled my arm forward a bit to catch my attention, to keep me from tripping.
"Don't fall behind."
"Yes Kyro."
I was thankful for his presence. In every aspect Kyro was the opposite of me. I was known for finding the unfindable, for searching with patience, and effort. Kyro was an executor- ruthless and often cold hearted. Kyro was built muscular and overpowering; where as I was slim and thin. Where I was calm, collected, and wandering Kyro was viscous, conflicting, and hard headed. I preferred light colors, kyros only article of clothing were black. He made up for what I lacked; we were an untouchable pair among our agency.
"How much longer?" I bugged.
We walked fast among a crowded side street, i clutches my carried mini suitcase closer as bodies nudged close.
We had to leave our vessel outside of city limits, this left us to hike to our place of temporary residence.
"I mean we've got to be close." I muttered.
"It's a block up." Kyro nodded his head in the direction, " When we get there hang back a bit so I can scope the place out."
"Yes Kyro."
It was routine when we were traveling. Because I am unknown to virtually everyone I am a large risk for being in partnership with the government I am to be protected and under close security from kyros careful watch.
I may be unknowable but he's not. In our short time of six years together I have been able to pry personal information from him little by little. Though I was given his file when I was assigned to him some information have been withheld, but years of service faithfully has granted me answers when I have genuine curiosity. We agreed long ago to be transparent with each other.
From his files I knew his names was Kyro Cortez, he was 26 human years old, and had natural black hair. He was assigned 376 cases, only 7 of which were failures in his part. It was an impressive track record- he was impressive. I got his profile: standing at 6'4", wide untamable hair stuck out in every direction, blue eyes and two visible freckles on his right temple. Kyro was loud mouthed, simple minded, and strong willed when he first joined.
From bugging him in our free time I knew also that there was a deep red birth mark in the nape of his neck in the smudgy shape of a blade; it peaked out under the edge of his uniform. I knew that everyday he woke up at 5am to shower. I learned that Kyro is a very sarcastic person, but he was more into dark humor than crude side remarks. With Kyro work and responsibilities came before anything else.
Kyro came to shyly at the front steps of the building we'd be staying in. The doors were locked, and next to the side was a call box with buttons and numbers for each unit inside. Kyro pressed the grey circle next to "182", dial tone, then frantically someone picked up.
"Hello."
"Agents 013 and 229."
"Of course, come right up."
The box clicked off. Kyro glanced at me expectantly, yo which I nodded in understanding. I still remembered the plan.
The outer doors buzzed unlocked, Kyro stepped in and I caught the door as it swung closed by my gloves fingertips. I tucked myself as far into the outside corner as I could whilst still holding the door open. I watched Kyro slip past the second set of doors, and around the first set of stairs bypassing the elevator,luggage still in his hands.
Not long after I heard kyros voice speaking in a hushed low tone into the ear set. "Wait in the seventh story stair well, I'll be the floor above you."
"Copy."
I tightened my grip on my own luggage and quietly snuck inside. I made sure each door shut firmly, but softly as I passed through each one. Kyro no doubt walked each stairwell with caution as he cleared each level for me before I get there.
I stepped lightly, shifting my weight to move near silently through the stair case. Of course my heavy boots made a soft plop against the ground but that couldn't be helped.
"Entering the room now." Kyro said in my earpiece.
I silently raised my guard. I wouldn't say I was scared but I'd never been here before. I was unaware of the creatures residing or of any object permanence. Everything was new, this world, this street, this place. Everything here was unknown, something to stay on guard for, all of my sense kicked in as I reached the darkest and furthest corner one stair set under the eighth floor entrance, one above the seventh floor.
There I waited and watched both doors, with hushed breathing and a loud heart beat. It beat against my rib cage as if it was trying to free itself.
I knew the mics were working cause I could here the mumbled conversation, but I couldn't quite clearly make out what the other person was saying.
I may be uncomfortable but I was not unnerved. I did however take a couple caustious steps closer to the eighth story door, clearing it for myself as unguarded and untampered with.
I felt like this was taking too long- someone is going to exit or enter the stair well, coming from either direction, and my bodyguard- for a lack of better words- was well occupied. I was wasn't exactly defenseless, but a stairwell is not ideal and certainly offers no spare room in a fight. Once shove in the wrong direction and your life is gone.
A glance at my watch told me three minutes had passed since Kyro entered the room. However I also haven't heard any sign of a struggle. No yelling, no harsh voices- well, kyros tone always made him sound like a hard ass.
I would be rewarded a minute later with a clear sounding Kyro.
"I've seen him off at the elevator, meet me at the door."
I knew the risk. It was very easy for someone to feign leaving when really they get off a floor down and try to come for you behind your backs.
"I'm already here."
I said climbing the last four steps two at a time, a step away from the door as it swung open, Kyro stood on the other side sporting a shit eating smirk.
"Miss me."
"You wish, don't you?"
I pushed him out of my way, feeling way safer in an actual wall enclosed hallway with Kyro behind me. He showed me inside, the place was clean if not small for what you'd expect from such a large city.
Our expenses while in the city would be covered by the IGSS quarters here, stationed in the business district. We ran through one more search of the small apartment for camera or monitors, before meeting again in the common living room.
"Clear? Make sure it's locked up," Kyro nodded his head at the front door, "then go change."
These were the magic words for me. At the end of every day, once kyro was sure we were finished with "work" for the day he would tell me by saying "change out."
While on the job we must remain in uniform, but that didn't mean we had to live in them. A black uniform fitted and padded body suit, zipped in the back up to the neck. Our ranks and agents numbers visible on our breast plates and collar, even on the breast plates of our vests. We had neck guards, shoulder plates, and plates arm bands. Shin guards weren't needed due to how far out boots laced and snapped, so it took a while to take them off. We were permitted two weapons of limited choice but I never felt comfortable with using- or over using- mine.
The apartment really was tiny, it was a miracle they got two separate rooms in here. There was a long entrance hallway that lead forward for two other halls in separate directions and one open room. Down the right hall, on the right through an open archway was the kitchen, to the left a closed door.
From the front door, if you looked down the hall, you could see the living room; the other hall lead to the opposite corner of the flat, and even small square room.
Kyro got up off the couch and headed to the small bedroom, with gratitude I checked the locks and headed for the bigger bedroom. In the bigger, master bedroom, was a bathroom big enough for one person at a time. I would make a point to tell Kyro not to change his schedule for my flexible sleep patterns, I'd sleep through the water if I was tired enough anyway.
I made quick work to change after a long day of traveling in uniform, I was ready to get the skin tight suit off. I peeled it to the ground, gently folding each piece and laying it in a neat pile on the floor next to the bed as there weren't many furnishings in the room. I set the prices of my padding and 'amor' side by side next to the clothes.
It wasn't as if I had anything exciting to change into, but slipping easily into loosing fitting normal looking clothing took almost all the edge off the day. I dressed in my favorite outfit. Light cream colored, soft stretchy fabric, swishy joggers. A large and partially tucked in white shirt; and a chunky knit baby blue sweater cardigan thing.
I took my chin length, ashy great hair out of its tight bun and instead brushed through it with my fingers until it fell back to its natural straight state. My light skin seemed to drown out even lighter in the clothes, as if being washed away as insignificant by the clothes that swallowed my frame. The only sense of real color was my eyes and the fresh, new, orange and teal bandaids in my cheekbone.
I moved away from the mirror and closed the bathroom door behind me. I hated mirror, it was hard to recognize the face in the mirror when you only know your own name- and for all you know that could be a lie because it's my word or nothing at all. Instead I set about putting away my small suitcase of items. I neatly stacked each folded pile of clothes against him the wall next to my bed, placed the toiletries in the bathroom, and returned to my weapons at the bottom of the suitcase. I placed them each under my pillows in the queen mattress and sat down for a rest.
One of my weapons was a classic all black fighting and utility KBAR from the us navy. The other,lesser used items, was a colt 45 -a newer one- in beautiful baby blue. It was a gift some time ago.
A knock came from my closed bedroom door as I sorted the thick wrinkles out of the thick blanket.
"Yeah?"
Kyro stepped in, he looked a few inches lighter without the uniform, he seemed to stand taller and smile wider. Though his smile was often not a comforting thing. He seemed to rake his eyes over my room, probably checking for mess and unable to find any.
"Dystopia is just waking up. What are we doing tonight?" Kyro asked and leaned in my doorframe.
"And tomorrow's go to headquarters? For... you know."
"Yeah yeah the tests. But tonight. We don't have plans. And I'm not sitting in this please tell little hell hole no matter how much I hate the crowds out there."
He spoke so animatedly, life was a strong glisten in his cagey ice blue eyes.
"What do people do spur of the moment?" I asked.
"Like on impulse?"
I nodded, my ears were warm from my hair hanging loosely at my jawline. Not many men in my agency liked to keep their hair long; when the government first found me I had hair down to my back dimples. They told me I had to cut it to something shorter, or keep it in a bun. For several years my hair was kept shoulder length, but two years ago I ended up having to cut it thanks to a close mission. I didn't mind but I still got embarrassed when I looked bad and Kyro insisted on looking at me as he speaks.
"Tattoos, piercings, go crazy shopping and spend three digits. What do you want to do; since you haven't been here before. "
"Shopping and food?"
"Fuck yeah fooood. Lace up."