In the massive technological jungle known as West City, an expansive factory beat in the heart of its body. A haven for the worker or common business owner, many avoided breaking laws upon the rustic world in favor of not getting an intimate encounter with the enforcement that frequented the outskirts. Unfortunately, not all were fortunate enough to escape the wide gaze of the law and some even less fortunate to have spent a decidedly large portion of their life within the factories. Such was the fate of some who were captured by the underground of this city.

Within her cell, Zerori rested upon the metal cot – a data pad in one hand and what looked like a stress ball in the other. Her jail whites were cleanly pressed, the only clue the hybrid that she was in for something different today. Earlier that day, she’d joked in the cafeteria that she was due for a gift from the warden for good behavior – a joke to any that knew her volatile personality.

While many believed that she’d been trapped like everyone else, Zerori was merely biding her time. Her radar had sent her in the direction of this tightly held secret of the great corporations that she’d even done business with. This was a long con that she’d been working on for about three days now.

Footfalls, sharper than the guards that lackadaisically sauntered down the halls, began to trek toward her cell. It was early evening, so all inmates were confined to their cells for the night. Another clue that something was up and Zerori tensed in preparation for whatever knowledge she might receive as the guards did their nightly rounds When the footsteps stopped, and a shadow spilled across the dim light inside her cell – only an electromagnetic field keeping her from escaping – she looked up from her data pad with a huff. “I’ve got permission to read when lights are out. Not much else to do, eh?”

“Stand up – you’re going for a walk,” Came the no-nonsense response. Zerori raised an eyebrow at the shake up of the familiar, slowly getting to her feet to appraise the armored guard.

“Oh? Am I gettin’ out on good behavior? Your boss see some worth in my offer?” She asked, aloof and amused by the uncharacteristically stoic response she was getting from her favorite escort. In her time at the factory’s underground, she’d been surprised to see so many try their hand humiliating her - only for her to just pretend they had her where they wanted her. Jek, the big Xeno in front of her, had been the only one she cared to allow near her. It didn’t help that he was endearingly amusing to fuck with.

“Quiet. Hands,” Came the rough response, not playing with her in the least. For a moment, Zerori contemplated pushing her luck before the curiosity of the new events had her pushing her wrist through the opening provided in the field. Precise and to the point, as always, Jek cuffed her and opened the cell. While it was all an act, the show of such useless cages didn’t stop her from giving a sly wink when he pulled her forward. “Follow silently. Any resistance will be met with lethal response.”

Zerori laughed, “Really? After three days? What, did he find something incriminating?”

“More like we found out what you’ve been looking for. Eyes forward,” Jek pushed, keeping his tone chillingly level.

Suddenly, it felt like ice water was thrown against her spine; what she had hoped was playing hard to get seemed deathly serious now. “What’s going on?” Up went the walls and defenses and she was fight or flight now – forced into following her once favorite guard to a HUGE deviation from plan.


“Move.” Was his only response, roughly turning her around and painfully taking grasp of the back of her neck. Pushed along, Zerori could only move in the direction she was lead; forced to traverse halls, catwalks and even a few rooms that she MORE than certain inmates had no business walking through.

The end result was a dizzyingly plain hall with no windows, pictures or even blemishes of color that she could discern. A door at the end opened as she approached, the room a stark contrast to the metal charm of the rest of the facility. It unnerved her how white and pristine the walls were – as if they weren’t walls but an endless expanse of just whiteness that went on forever. There, in the middle of the room, was a table and two chairs.

Her nerves fought against her will to keep silent, “What’s happening?” She demanded. Jek gave no response and instead pushed her to the chair before securing her binds to the back of the metal. Trapped in the dark and getting more nervous by the second – Zerori could feel her composure slipping with every passing second. She turned to Jek as he made his way out of the room and she felt panic speak for her in a moment of weakness, “Damn it, wait! Where are you going?! Tell me what’s going on!”

But, like a nightmare… Jek ignored her and slammed the door behind him – leaving her alone in a room that felt chillingly cold.

If they knew she was after the dragon ball… well, she just had to keep on her toes.