Neon District: Redux

Chapter Four: UniCode

       Yuka glanced around the calmly lit area with its single street light before she motioned for Cathra to move back into the shadows. She didn't feel like having to deal with any eavesdroppers tonight.

       "Considering you and the Syndicate are trying your very hardest to keep me hidden, you're not doing a very good job of that," Yuka whispered with a harsh tone to her voice. Again, she glanced about the area and up at a security camera perched atop of a pole meant for the construction site.

       "There's no need for you to be so neurotic. I had Abby disable the cameras ahead of time," Cathra informed. It did not make Yuka feel any better considering Abby's hacking capabilities are sub par. "Plus, it's kind of hard for you to hide yourself when you're literally snatching random people off the streets and taking them back to your apartment. I've watched you do it last night."

       Frustration crept up her spine. Of course Cathra would know about that. "What? Sam? I only did that to him because he stole something from me."

       "That being the computer chip?" the red headed woman questioned, "come on, I noticed how you acted back in the Shanties. You don't conceal your expressions very well."

       Yuka huffed at the slip of the tongue. "Okay, fine, he stole that, but I plan on getting it back tomorrow night."

       "You mean this Sam person didn't have it, or is he still holding on to it? Because I can finish him off if you'd like-" the woman said nonchalantly, as if she didn't just offer a hit order on a man.

       Yuka cut her off. "You're not going to kill him. Plus, he doesn't have it at all. It's kind of a long story."

       Yuka explained everything that transpired back at her apartment with Sam, and at the Neon Market with Manzo. Afterward, Cathra only sniffed the stingy air and stuffed her hands into her jeans' pockets.

       "I will come with you to this "cult" ceremony and finish off what is taking you too long to do," Cathra said in agreement, already walking back out into the light, but Yuka caught her arm and held her back.

       "If you're planning on killing Manzo then you're not welcome to come," Yuka snapped through gritted teeth, "I don't need another part of my plan going awry because of you."

       "You don't understand, Yuka. If the Watch catches you at that ceremony and you get arrested, everyone in the Syndicate are screwed," Cathra retorted, yanking her arm out of Yuka's iron-tight grip. She lowered her voice to a deadly whisper and darted her eyes around the area herself before speaking: "Mr. Propaganda is on to you. He knows that we are hiding someone with capabilities like yours and is currently searching for you. And if he finds you he will out everyone in the Syndicate and make sure we won't see any sort of a peaceful life ever again. I know it isn't a load of crap, either, because he said Zoo's supposed real name and Zoo was surprised. Zoo is never surprised, so you better get off your high horse and let me at least be a plan B at that ceremony," Cathra let out a long breath after her speech slash rant to Yuka.

       Yuka stood there a moment and reeled back what Cathra just told her. 

       This sort of event usually ended with a raid by the Watch and if Cathra were to be with her at the ceremony then the Watch will most likely have her as the number one target rather than Yuka. Also, she forgot that Sam was joining them, too, so getting him out of harms way would be her number two on her list after taking back the chip from Manzo.

       "Fine," Yuka started, letting out a quick sigh. "But you are only to kill Manzo if things start to go south, got it?" 

       Cathra nodded and began to leave, but she halted and turned her head towards Yuka. "After tomorrow night you need to cut ties with that man unless you want his blood flowing down a gutter," she warned, before becoming nothing more than a whisper in the shadows.