5275 leaves the storefront with her rations and walks down the back alley of the city’s rubble. Bullet holes line the walls of buildings, and a pack of dogs run past her as they closely sniff the basket. 

As she walks through the street, 5275 turns a corner and almost bumps into a woman holding a small knife in her hand. 

Head shaved. Grinning. Intense eyes. She's a robber.

"Give me everything on you." The woman whispers through her grin.

5275 doesn't move. "You hold that knife like you’ve never used it before. Do you know what you’re doing?"

"Of course I do."

The woman changes the knife from a casual chopping-vegetables hold to a fist. It's firmer and more deliberate.

Interesting. This woman faked being a novice. How long has she been following me?

"I’ve followed you since you left a house this morning. I can tell that you were a soldier fairly recently. You’re reckless too, and you’re not trying to hide it. You don't really care much if you live or die, because you look like you were probably starving until fairly recently, but you don't particularly have any attachment to the food in your basket despite the experience. You also don't look desperate to get more than the measly rations they gave you. You haven’t rummaged to try to find something else. Surprisingly, if you just got out, you should have at least five gold pieces on you. You also have a small knife in your righthand pocket. That knife is your trump card."

Damn, she's good. Great attention to detail. Well trained too.

"Pretty accurate for the most part. My turn. Actually, I’ll just say one thing. When were you released?" Her face doesn't give anything away. The same broad smile and focused eyes.

5275 reaches out for the woman’s knife arm. She grabs the robber's wrist and twists her arm. The robber releases her knife and muffles a grunt. 5275 takes the robber's wrist and moves to position her in an arresting position.

However, the woman's defenses back up as she throws the biggest smile at 5275, and grabs back at 5275's wrist, twists it and pulls her towards her side. As 5275 gains her balance, the woman quickly grabs the basket and knife from the ground and runs down the alley.

Smart, so you do know basic defense moves. Good. At least you'll be able to hold onto that food. 

"The other thing!" I yell because I know she hasn't gone too far down the alley. "You’ve never killed before. I can tell you’ve seen blood but not any you’ve spilled yourself. Surprising if you were in the military."

Silence answers 5275 back but she waits it out.

Movement on the roof to the right catches my eye, and I look up and see they woman standing there. "I’d say I’m just smart enough to stay alive. Thank you for the food and the weapons! I don’t think you know me as well as you think you do. But nice try."

The woman throws another big smile down at 5275.

"Hey, you! What's your military number?"

"Ha! I don't have a number anymore. My name is Q." And she runs off with her hand waving in the air.