City Zero

By Azelis DeLano

Episode II:Â Into Shadow

They didn't get far before Zennoa felt the mist solidifying back into two physical bodies; a most unpleasant sensation. Yet it was far enough to avoid detection, for now at least. He stumbled along with the cat, falling to the stone and resting a moment.

Questions swirled around Zennoa's head, but he didn't have time to examine them. For one thing he was bleeding and felt like he had a car sitting on his chest. For another, Krys wasn't doing much better. Her breathing was shallow and quick and she seemed generally unresponsive. She was in shock.Â

_We both need medical attention, and fast. _ Thinking quickly, Zennoa gently helped her up (no small feat in his state) and started off down the alleys, doing his best to keep his blood in his clothes and not leave a trail.

Back at base, the fox played with his software. Despite his best efforts, the signal had faded and was gone.

"I'm sorry sir, target has vanished," came a voice over the radio.

"Unacceptable. Zennoa HAS to be out there." He didn't want to admit it, but the soldier was right. The data backed it up. "He can't have gotten far. Lock down the trams and set up a search."

"Yes Sir."

Behind an old wooden counter sat a female wolf. Her grey fur had a metallic sheen to it and her long hair was raven black. She tapped away at a computer console with her left paw, head resting on the right. Wonder how long it's been since I've seen...

The door burst open, letting in the scents of blood, sweat, and... arousal?

"Zennoa?"

He was panting pretty hard and the cat... Her!

"Zennoa, what's going on?"

"Fini, I'd love to fill you in. After you stop my leak maybe?"

He was pretty bad, no doubt. "And what's wrong with her?"

"I," Zennoa started, sounding a little uncharacteristically guilty, "may have pulled a little hard."

Fini could hardly believe what was going on. She dug under the desk and found some rags that would serve as a makeshift bandage. She tossed them at the other wolf.  "She's first, try to keep my floors clean and bring her over here."

Zennoa hadn't seen the back room before, at least far as he could remember. But that glass tub looked familiar.

"Strip her down while I get this ready."

Zennoa started undressing the comatose cat, but stopped just short of her underwear. Fini looked back from the tub.

"All the way Zennoa."

He shook his head. "No, I can't trust her."

Fini threw down the mass of wires she just hooked up. "Fine, whatever, but they'll have to be tossed out afterwards." She walked over to a set of controls on the wall, pressing a sequence of buttons. The walls started to hum almost with a comforting purr and a greenish tinged liquid began bubbling into the tub.

Zennoa watched the equipment working. Bubbles began forming on the bottom of the tub and floating slowly up through what was apparently a thick syrup. "What is it?"

Fini didn't look away from the controls. "It's an isolation tank. It removes physical and mental stimuli allowing the body and mind to heal themselves."

"Why does that matter?"

"Do you remember how things used to be before you worked for the city? Teardrop shock is fatal if it isn't treated immediately. Help me get her in the tank."

Zennoa slowly lowered Krys down as Fini hooked up monitor wires to her.

"Teardrops bind with the mind, body, and soul. When you tear one out it's like leaving a gaping, bleeding hole in all three. Without isolation, the body will lock up, the mind will die, and the soul will dissolve."

Zennoa watched the cat's hair floating weightless in the liquid. The look of terror was slowly but surely fading to a neutral expression. "How do you fix it?"

Fini rested a paw on Zennoa's shoulder, finally looking at him again. "You don't. All we can do is give her the option to come back herself. Now come on, we've done what we can for her but you refuse to keep my floors clean."

Zennoa couldn't turn away yet. He noticed a discoloration from around her paw. _The paw I tried to... _ "What's that?"

"The liquid is mixed with a special dye that can show the spiritual bleeding. If that stops in time, we might get her back. Once it is outside the body, it's like a poison. Think of it as liquid pain. The solution helps slow it, but it can also suffocate if it doesn't stop."

"It's turning red. What happens if the whole tank turns red?"

Fini pulled Zennoa away until he looked her in the eyes. "I only know one person who ever survived spiritual poisoning that badly." She tenderly traced her paws around her friend and licked his muzzle. "The best thing we can do right now is get you patched up."

An hour later Zennoa was laying down on an old but clean bed, Fini sitting on the floor next to him.

"That's a hell of a story Zen."

"I don't know what happened. I thought they needed me."

"Look, I know you don't remember much but you honestly don't remember life before you started your job? You didn't improve their success rate, you lowered their death rate."

Zennoa sighed. "What am I gonna do?"

"Well," said Fini standing up, "I better go check on the alley cat. I still don't get why you had to bring her with."

"You know the answer to that Tlentifini, now why don't you tell me how you know her?"

She was two steps to the door. "It's that obvious?" She turned around. "You remember that night when you came by looking for the fire starter?"

Zennoa nodded. "My first assignment. The first time I met you."

"Yeah, well, I was in heat that night."

"Zennoa, I didn't think you'd show up."Â Fini sat at that same counter.

Zennoa had a suspicious look on his face. "Do I know you?"

Fini was speechless for a moment. "It's been a while I guess. How can I help you?"

"That's right, you knew me didn't you?"

"Like I said, it had been a long time. Well after you left I was feeling pretty crappy. I went to the nearest bar I could find for a stiff drink and as many friends as it had."

Fini sat down at the bar, not knowing why she was even here.

"Rough night huh? What can I get ya?"

"Was he a tiger?" asked Zennoa.

"Yeah, actually. How did you know?"

"I think I know where this is going."

Fini was halfway through her second amber beer when she came on stage. Not normally attracted to females or felines, Fini felt herself strangely compelled. Maybe it was her heat, maybe it was the alcohol.

"I don't remember what she sang but I thought it was the most melodious and... sensual thing I'd ever heard. I remember asking the bartender something and..."

"And what?"

Fini looked seriously at the wolf, then adopted a sly smile. "I'll tell you if you tell me."

Azelis rolled his eyes. "You're worse than an adolescent. Fine, I agree."

Next thing Fini knew, she was knocking on the door. It opened slowly. Big, inviting green eyes were the first thing she saw. She could have lost herself in those eyes.

"You must be Fini. Come in, please."

She walked in, felt that feline tail against her legs. She moaned, not meaning to but unable to stop it.

"Special occasion love?" asked the cat, slipping behind her, massaging her shoulders.

Fini's paw slipped backwards, brushing Kris's waist. Nothing special, she thought to herself, just letting loose and pampering myself.

"Really had you under her spell didn't she?" asked Zennoa.

"Is this your story or mine?"

Krys leaned in, nibbling the wolf girl's ear and licking her neck, paws slipping Fini's shirt gently off and slipping gently below her waistband. "I'm not going too fast am I?"

Fini couldn't answer, only rested her paws on the cat's and coaxed them further.

Krys giggled. "Easy girl, you're a little tipsy. Let's get you to the bed, huh?"

Fini let herself be led over to the bed but when she tried to turn around she felt a commanding paw bend her over the edge and strip her of her skirt and panties. A nose sniffed between her legs, the feeling electric.

"Someone's certainly ready to go."Â The cat lay on her side next to her, paw playing deliciously up and down the wolf's quickly dampening thighs.

Fini paused, ears flushing.

"What's wrong? I was enjoying that," coaxed Zennoa, turned on his side to face her.

"I've just never told anyone this." She walked back, kneeling down to look him in the eye. "You know, it would have been you instead of her. If..."

"If I remembered?"

Fini nodded.

Fini tried to roll over and face the cat but was stopped again, one of those paws leading hers to the cat's sex. She didn't need any more encouragement, started on the cat the way she loved to play with herself.

"Ohhh yes that's a good girl," moaned Krys, rewarding her with a light teasing of the wolf's tailbase. Before long the cat pulled away and knelt down between the girl's legs. She inhaled the girl's scent deeply before letting her tongue flick out a few times before going deep inside.

Fini moaned into the mattress, body shivering in pleasure. Before long she was shaking in orgasm before...

"Before what?"

"Well, I don't remember anything else. When I woke up I was sleeping alone. My clothes were on the other end of the room. I had the mother of all headaches. I was still hot and bothered and I could smell that cat but... not myself. There was no other sign of her and I felt hornier than ever. I think she drugged me but I could never prove it."

Zennoa groaned. "Well I know how she made her living. I didn't know you were bi though."

"I'm not. I mean I don't think I am, I don't know. I've never looked at another girl since, but I remember it being so hot."

Zennoa rolled over, looking back up at the ceiling. "It was a Teardrop, not a drug. She can manipulate memories."

She placed a paw on his chest, grinning at him. "Your turn then."

He sighed. "Alright, but I'm telling you what really happened to me, not what she tried to make me believe happened," and he proceeded to tell her the full story, including the little dream sequence when Fini pressed him for the details.

"Wow, I don't know if I should call her a whore or an actress or a writer. But you still didn't tell my why you brought her with."

Zennoa was thinking about how to answer that.

"Well I better go check on her. I know you don't want to sleep but at least get some rest. Meditate or something."

Fini walked towards the door, turned down the lights to a soft nightlight level. "Hey Zennoa. Do you think you'd ever... with me?"

Zennoa had always thought of Fini like a little sister, but couldn't help but smile. "I dunno, ask me later."

It's a dream, it's all a dream. That wolf, he was a bad idea. Did he hurt me? What if he killed me? Am I dying?

It's so quiet. I feel like I'm floating. I just want to go home.

Dark.

Quiet.

Am I alone? Am I dead? I don't feel cold.

I don't hear my breathing. Am I breathing?

My heartbeat. I can feel that.

My arms, my legs. Wet. Warm.

Can't see, dark. Tired.

Heartbeat. Slow, steady.

I'm okay. Where am I? Am I safe?

Quiet. Wet. Warm.

Fini looked from the console to the tank. She was starting to come around. A few keystrokes and the tank slowly shut down. The gel started to drain out. While the cat was still under Fini walked over with a scalpel and cut the underwear off, tossing the contaminated fabric into a biohazard bin. Her ear twitched as she heard Zennoa walking in.

"You might not want to come in here, she's naked."

The pawsteps stopped, then retreated back to his room.

A moan from the tank drew Fini's attention. She was coming around. "Hey, how are you feeling? Can you hear me?"

The voice was shaky. "I c-can't see. Where am-m I?"

"Don't try to move too much, I need to wash you off yet. You're safe."

"Wh-what happen-ed to th-that wolf?"

"Zennoa's resting. He took a bullet to the chest but he'll be okay. You had us worried."

"Hurt me."

Fini helped the cat sit up, pressing a button on the tank. Warm water started flowing in and she started washing the gel out of the cat's fur. "I know, but he saved your life too. He's sorry."

Krys opened her eyes once the gel was washed away. "I kn-know you."

Fini looked away. "That was a long time ago."

"Sorry. ‘m sorry." Tears welled up in her eyes.

Fini didn't say anything right away. "I'll be right back. I need to find something for you to wear."

Krys was shaking, but feeling better bit by bit. She kept washing herself off, the water cycling pleasantly below her. She felt hungry and weak but the pain in her paw was gone. And the teardrop, it was still within her.

Fini came back in with a bathrobe. "Sorry, this'll have to do for now."

"Thank y-you." Krys couldn't look at her. She remembered the wolf well, too well. The first time she used the Teardrop like that.

"Hey." Fini turned off the water and started drying the cat off. "It was a long time ago. Forget it happened."

Krys had been through some awkward moments but this took the cake. The three of them were sitting at a table quietly eating lunch and avoiding eye contact all around. Zennoa was the first one to break the silence.

"What will you do now?"

Krys bit her lip. She wasn't going to cry, not in front of them. "I just want to go home."

The two wolves exchanged a look. She can't. Krys knew that's what they thought.

"What's going to happen to me?"

More silence.

"You two can stay here if you need," offered Fini.

"Thank you Fini. I can't put you at risk though. They'll come looking here sooner or later."

"Well if you won't stick around, at least wait until I can get cleaned up. If there's any trace of you left, I'd be safer with you here to defend me."

What did I get caught up in? "What about me?"

Zennoa looked at Krys. "I'm sorry. I know some safe houses, you can stay with me if you want. They'll be looking for you too."

A cold shiver ran down her spine. "How do you know?"

"Because," stated Zennoa in a very sober tone. "Because they sent me for you first."

"So... how can I trust you?"

Zennoa looked down. "We've all done things we regret. I'm at least going to try to make amends."

That night Zennoa was laying in the same bed. Krys was in another room down the hall. Fini, he didn't know where she was.

She and I knew each other, before I lost my memory. And the tank, is that what my nightmare is? She said only one person ever survived. Me? It must be me? Poison to the soul. Is that why I lost my memory? They must know. But what happened? Why are they trying to kill me? Or were they just trying to incapacitate me?

The more Zennoa thought about it the sleepier he became. Shit, he thought, I can't fight it tonight.

His eyes were getting heavier and heavier.

"Are you awake?"

It was Fini. Was he sleeping? Dreaming?

"I dunno, am I?"

She bent down and nipped his ear. Not dreaming then.

"How are you feeling?"

"A little sleepy."Â Her scent, she was in heat again.

"I know you're going to leave tomorrow."

Zennoa pulled her close and kissed her slowly. "I always thought of you like my sister Tlentifini. You didn't feel the same did you?"

Fini felt rejected again. "No, I guess not."

Zennoa pulled her close, kissing her deeper this time. "So maybe I was wrong."

Krys was having trouble sleeping. She saw the way Zennoa and Fini looked at each other over dinner. They were an item, she knew. Still, she felt jealous. But why?

Because you were gonna go all the way with him. He was nice and caring and you wanted that more than anything.

She needed water. She quietly left her room and headed towards the kitchen, passing Zennoa's room. The door was slightly open. She didn't have to look in, she heard the soft moaning. Her ears folded back. She kept heading to the kitchen.

Fini was sleeping soundly, snuggled up to him. Zennoa inhaled deeply. She smelled so sweet. He carefully untangled himself and headed for the door. Having the feeling that Krys was up he wrapped an extra blanket around himself.

She was sitting on the counter nursing a half full glass of water. She looked up at him, giving a little smile. "Thirsty?" Her eyes glowed in the dim light, sad.

He nodded, grabbing a glass from the still open cupboard. He filled it at the faucet next to her, taking a long drink from it. She bent down and kissed him on the cheek before hopping down and finishing her water, leaving the glass on the counter.

"Um, you should know. I was gonna really..."

Tears in her eyes, she ran back to her room.

Zennoa sighed, downing another glass of water. "Women."

The sun rise was never visible in the city, but the fire dancing across the sky still hit Zennoa somewhere deep.

"I was worried when I woke up and you weren't there."

Fini walked out next to him, still naked. She answered Zennoa's quizzical look. "No one ever gets up this early around here. Besides, I'm nothing special to look at."

Zennoa nuzzled her neck. "I don't know about that."

She licked his ear. "Zennoa? Promise me you'll come back?"

"I promise I'll try Fini."

They watched the sky in silence for a while.

"You know, she wants you too."

"Yeah, I figured."

"I don't mind sharing you, as long as you'll come back to me."

"I'm not sure I want to be shared."

The sun started coming up over the buildings. "The two of you should be going soon."

They turned and walked back in together.

Fini was standing behind them. Zennoa was in front, Krys trailing him. Zennoa was in his usual clothes. Krys had some of Fini's clothes. They were a little loose but not unwearable.

"Do you have a plan Zen?"

"We'll set up in one of the safe houses. It probably needs a bit of work but it's no worse than anything else around here. After that, I dunno. I need to find out what's going on."

Krys was quiet, looking at the ground. Zennoa stepped outside.

"Hey Krys, one moment? Zennoa, go ahead."

The door closed. Krys looked at the wolf.

"I don't know how Zennoa feels, but I think I know how you feel. I've seen that look in my own mirror. I want you to know it's okay with me."

"What do you mean?"

Fini put her paws on Krys's shoulders. "He's been through a lot, more than he even knows. He lost his memory a few years ago and hasn't gotten any of it back. We're... not the same we used to be. He's not the same person he used to be, but I still care about him. He's... like a brother."

"A brother you have sex with?"Â Krys was trying not to sound hurt.

"Once. Maybe again if he wants. That was a long time ago too, just delayed. I had to know."

"Fini, I don't know if I'll ever understand you."Â She turned to leave.

"Krys, one more thing. That night, what did you feel?"

"I thought you were really cute and nice. Broke my heart to do what I did but I had to do it to survive. I had to learn to do it."

Fini smiled to herself. "You come back sometime too, okay? I think we have unfinished business too."

Krys laughed, tail swaying. "Pup, I'm starting to think you're a lech."

She shrugged and walked towards the back room. "Yeah, well certain people bring that out in me."