Countdown - Part 02

Downtown - Zone 73 The Rand Family Compound 17-11-2255. 1058L

Twix awoke suddenly in a cold sweat as the roar in her ears faded to utter silence the dream though still lingering clear as crystal in her thoughts.

The same dream playing out the same scene of some faceless OSEC enforcer dragging her and Ming bodily off her Cycle and placing the muzzle of his gun to her head repeating the words every youth in the city would dread to hear spoken aloud…

" As per standing order 2-21 of the OSEC criminal code. Your status has been upgraded from Delinquent Youth to Terrorist Threat. There is no Re-education Centers for you … No Criminal Detention Centers in your future because you no longer have one. Reform and Reintroduction to civil society is no longer an option. You will be shot and your body processed by the nearest Recycling facility… "

The was a customary pause than before the Enforcer would continue. "Any last words before I carry out sentence? "

There never seemed to be enough time for words. There was the image of Ming's tear covered face as their eyes met and than the sound of a gunshot roaring in her ear. It was always that god awful sound that woke her up at the end.

...

Twix received the location of the meeting point at roughly 2300L leaving her less than a hour to get from Zone-73 to Zone-85.

Normally transit between the two zones was not a big deal beyond the hassle of rush hour traffic but at night traffic wasn't really an issue.

That said she was riding hot with extra flavors on her ride that would get her shot on the spot if discovered and word all over the Link was that OSEC was out in force tonight with checkpoints and random inspections stops happening all over the city.

" Almost like someone talked … " She couldn't help but laugh at the thought of the whole night going to shit because someone squealed to the enforcers.

" Someone always talks Baby." She recalled Glimmer telling her once. " Two can keep a secret better than three, and One even better than two."

Her hand came to rest on Diva briefly. " Diva, Combat Camo… Black on Black."

The cycle's bright neon pink dulled and faded to a layered black on black color scheme made up of angles and square shaped patterns."