FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Aika put on her utility belt and slipped her pistol inside the holster on her right, using a black jacket to conceal it. It'd also help keep her warm as it was raining outside. She had on her outfit from hours before but swapped the skirt with jeans. She'd waited in her room until Unovanish's lobby settled and there were fewer people out.

Aika left the grounds and headed north through Castelia under the constant patter of rain and reverberating thunder. It was close to 5 p.m. She had to host the meeting with Dami in two hours, so she didn't have long. Her destination was ten minutes away, and Aika actively watched her surroundings out of paranoia to ensure no one followed her, sticking to crowds to blend in. She felt raindrops consistently tap her jacket. If her secret was exposed, Aika was positive she'd wind up dead, but it wouldn't be long now. Every Unovanish employee was bound by contract never to speak of the company off grounds. If one was caught doing so, harsh prison time or worse was promised.

Since she walked quickly, it took a few minutes off her journey. Aika took a right down an empty alley when she arrived and pulled her jacket off, tucking it under her arm and approaching a green door on the wall's left side. The rain now hit her skin while she knocked, so she didn't want to stand here for long.

"It's Aika!"

The door opened seconds later to a boy about Kodi's age in a gray outfit. "He's waiting for you."

"Hey, Evan." She stepped inside and walked down a dark corridor with flickering lights lining the ceiling. Aika passed a few doorless rooms, including one with people working on and developing weapons and another with many sitting around chatting. She walked up a flight of metal stairs at the hall's end and knocked on the black door at the top.

A zoroark opened it this time, slightly taller than Aika and rough around the edges. He stepped aside for her.

"Zavvi." She entered and took a few steps inside. The TV was on ahead, in front of it a small couch. Many shelves lined the living room walls, and on them were rows of various organized pokéballs.

An older male emerged from a room to the right, wearing a robust black outfit and heavy boots. His hair was in a long black ponytail, and he had a deep scar along the right side of his cheek. "You are just in time. I was going to show Evan the ropes."

"I have to host a meeting soon. I don't have long, but there are some things I must warn you about, Kenjo."

"What is it?"

"Kado told me last night that Unovanish will improve security around Castelia. He will gain access to all of the city's cameras and will implement hidden ones as well. He calls it the beginning of a more dominant rule."

"Anything else?"

"Un, he is thinking about arming employees should things get worse with the rebellion."

He snickered. "Things will heat up. We are arming ourselves now. Castelia will be what it used to be in weeks. All I need is confirmation Kado stays at your headquarters, or where and when else he is accessible."

Aika eyed him. "Not yet."

"You do not stop saying that. Why?"

"I need to ensure my safety and that you won't betray me when you no longer have a need for me. That info is too valuable to disclose until all is set up."

He peered. "Do you not trust me or my people? We will not harm you or attack prematurely. None of us are foolish enough to soil how close we are. We could easily kidnap and hold hostage one of yours. I order mine not to."

She kept her eyes on him. "I trust no one, Kenjo."

He took a step toward her, quite overbearing. "Then where does your loyalty lie, Aika? How do I know you are not feeding Unovanish our plans as well... That you won't tell Unovanish our location?"

Aika glared at him. "I came to you two years ago for assistance escaping from Unovanish. You know this. I'm not allowed to leave with my life. The only chances I have are either the company dying or Kado dying. It's been long enough. If I wanted you off the grid, it would have happened."

"Yet you still do not tell me what I need to know. How much are you withholding? If I find out you are setting me up, I will not hesitate to kill you, and I wouldn't want to. You have a promising life ahead of you." He stepped back. "I'm going out to free pokémon while I still can, according to you. Return when you receive more intel."

Aika turned and walked past Zavvi toward the door.

"Hora."

She looked back and saw Kenjo toss a bottle of water to her. She caught it.

--

It was 6 p.m. The meeting was in an hour. Aika was lying in bed on her side, still in her outfit. Not a day passed where Aika didn't fear the moment Kado called her into his office and questioned where she was going all the time. What if Dami or any other employee watched and followed her? What if she ends up murdered or cut off by Kenjo and his group? He didn't trust her. She wanted this to be over.

Aika often dreamed of attending Castelia University as she'd never gone to college. That's why she traveled to this region from Kalos at nineteen originally. Aika's life could have turned out much differently if she hadn't been so quick to chase money. It didn't bring her happiness the way she thought six years ago when she first met Kado. Aika's parents had to be worried as they hadn't heard from her in years. She'd call them the moment she was in the clear.

Aika had no urge to spend her earnings nowadays. She'd been saving most of it for when she hopefully got away. How naive could she have been? Aika was through after half a decade of being an order follower. She wanted to be her own person.

Anything it took.