Wink kicked open a door and pulled her duffle bag into the Pink Hole. She yelled, “Get in, losers! We’re going to Flavor Town!”

The crowd of Uplifts cried back, “Wink!” A couple of neo-mice raised their cups to her in a salute. A neo-pigeon eyed – who she did not recognize – her suspiciously. Anna the neo-cat appeared underneath Wink and rubbed against the girl’s legs. “Welcome home, Fam,” Anna purred.

Wink said, “I know you only love me for my junk food and the way I clog your arteries.” She hefted the bag and slid it half-way across the old wooden bar. The mice were the first to reach it and practically tore the bag apart to see what treasures lie inside.

The familiar voice of Buzzard the neo-vulture spoke up behind Wink. “Welcome back, Hatchling.”

The pigeon leaned backed into a shadowy corner and pulled out a vibro-shiv, holding it in defensive position. One of the neo-chickens, a husky hen who had lost half her feathers and sported a pink-dyed cowl, cautioned, “The girl is alright. She’s been a Pink Mohawk for – oh, for a minute.”

The pigeon put away the blade but said, “She’s a Truman. I thought the ‘Hawks knew better than trust plastic Trumens”

The hen said, “She’s paid her dues plenty time over. Think of her as a neo-ape, early model uplift. Now let’s see if she brought us any grains before the mice eat everything.”

Wink looked around and said, “I see new faces. More strays?”

Anna replied, “You know us, always offering shelter to furball who doesn’t have anywhere else to go.”

Wink said, “That’s good and all, but if you keep it up, the Pinks will become large enough of a gang to attract attention.”

Anna chided, “Don’t worry about us, Kitten. You’re the one risking your cushy job to come fraternize with us.”

Buzzard joined in the mother-henning. “Really Wink, I don’t think you’re eating enough. You should be taking care of yourself before your share your rations.”

Wink answered, “And miss out on street food? You know I love that stuff. And bringing some scraps here so the fam can eat something different for a change is the least I can do. A lot of this would have been thrown an incinerator if I didn’t.”

Buzzard said, “Still, you’ll never attract a mate if you don’t put on some weight.”

Wink said, “Oh, I almost forgot. I got brought something special for you, Momma Gato.” She pulled out a sealed container from her jacket pocket.

Anna’s eyes dialated.

Wink said, “It’s genuine organic nip. Probably costs more coins than we will ever see. Dropped by the neighbor’s natural cat when she escaped into the hallway. Don’t eat it all at once.” Wink tossed the small toy into the air for Anna to catch.

Buzzard shook her beak slowly. Wink pondered which part of the story inspired Buzzard’s disapproval.

Wink asked, “Where’s Boss Hog?”

Buzzard said, “It smells like he’s coming this way now.”

Hog Wash entered the room carrying a large pot of steaming fluid. “Soup’s on!” he shouted. All of the other Uplifts ignored him, focusing instead on the bag of treats.

“Ah come on,” said Hog Wash.

“I’ll take a bowl,” Wink volunteered.

“Piglet!” said Hog Wash, seeing the human for the first time. “I didn’t know you was coming over tonight.” He set down his pot on the bar.

Wink pulled off her breath mask and deeply inhaled the steam coming out of the pot. “Sea weed. basement mushrooms. Chia seeds. My favorite! This desperation diet is the secret of my success.”

Hog Wash asked, “Well I’m glad somebody appreciates my cooking. How’s the high life, girl?”

“It’s a bore!” Wink answered as she laddled herself a bowlful of stew. “Not a boar like you which would be the good type. Just dull. I’m supposed to be in the apartment watching game shows or something all night tonight. And the food is all for people with cyber-colons. Trumen and Uplifts both. Even the furnitures have metal in their butts. I can never get enough fiber there.”

“That Truman numbers-man, he hasn’t been giving you a hard time, has he?”

“He doesn’t even notice I’m there in the room with him half the time. I mean, he’s a nice enough guy. Some other furnitures get bruises on a nightly basis and dead within a year, so I know I have it not bad, but I can sneak away and still have an actual life of my own.”

Buzzard asked, “Aren’t you even going to try to marry him and start a family.”

“Ew, no,” snapped Wink. “He looks handsome from a distance, but he had his genitals and his sex drive removed for his career. Being a Corpse in a power tie isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be either.”

A neo-dog called from the other room, “Hey Hog Wash, do we got an alibi for tonight?”

Hog Wash turned his massive towards the voice and called back, “Just hold on, I’ll be right there.”

Wink stopped blowing on her stew to ask, “What’s shakin, Bacon?”

Hog Wash said, “Street business, you just enjoy your bowl of street, Piglet.”

Wink asked, “Will there be a rumble?”

Buzzard piped in saying, “It’s more of a heist from what I hear.”

Wink said, “A heist!”

Hog Wash scolded, “Buzz! Don’t say that in front of Wink.”

Wink said, “A heist is my other favorite thing – tied with your stew. I should be a part of this. I want to earn my place in the Pinks.”

Buzzard placed a wing on Wink’s shoulder. She said, “Hatchling, you already do more for us than anyone.”

Hog Wash said, “The bird brain is right. Just keep the food coming once a week or so, and that’s plenty.”

Wink wasn’t giving up. She jumped and slid over the bar. She grabbed Hog Wash’s arm at his elbow. “Come on, Hog. If I heist is worth doing, then it’s worth bringing me in. I’m already here, and I’m the sneaking Mohawk you’ve got.”

Hog Wash cautioned, “That’s what Queso used to say before he got himself killed.”

Wink challenged, “Who here leaves less of a trail than me? Give me one name, and I’ll back off and never mention it again.”

Hog Wash exhaled dramatically and said, “Nobody. You’re in, Piglet.”

Buzzard hit the bar counter. “No! It’s too risky, Sir!”

Hog Wash said, “Not this time. Worst case scenario: she gets arrested, and maybe her master bails her out. It ain’t a win or die scenario. Since this is low-risk job, I’ll allow it. Get in the next room for the briefing. Bring your bowl of fiber.”