Elia

Two days.

It had taken me two days to successfully capture Juniper.

Did she have a death wish?

Hiding in the capital, just thirty minutes away from the Xylian embassy, was foolish. But chasing after a government official?

Juniper was no dangerous criminal. I could tell by the way she acted; she had no idea what she was doing. She had made no attempt to disguise herself, not even choosing to cut her hair.

On the train, I pulled out the picture clipped to the file, checking first to make sure she wasn’t paying attention, and confirmed that she was Juniper. I honestly didn’t need to check – I had committed the image to memory – but I did it just in case I had missed something.

It was identical.

The eyes were the same color, still shimmering brightly despite the gray that surrounded her. A natural seafoam green, a color I had only seen decorating the walls of penthouse apartments in the upper east side.

Her hair was still golden like the stars, glittering brightly in the fluorescent light. Perhaps it was a little duller and limper, but that could be easily blamed on the pollution. I couldn’t tell. I had never seen hair so light before.

However, since this photo was taken, Juniper’s skin had taken on a deathly pale tone, losing her golden tan to days without starlight. I pitied her, having to leave her sunny world behind for my colorless planet.

But even more so, Juniper seemed to have lost all of her vigor, the glow evident from the picture dimmed beyond recognition.

I looked back at her then, checking up on how she was faring, only to spot her staring at my neck.

My numbers.

How had she spotted that?

I tried so hard to keep it covered at all times, but I must have forgotten to cover it before I left the hall. I was in a rush this morning, eager to get this arrest over with so I could use my bounty time for something more useful—my liberation.

I couldn’t let anyone see my numbers. It was a sign of my true identity and proof of my life in the laboratory, branding me as nothing more than WellCorp property.

I didn’t find out my birth name until my 45^th orbit – I had stumbled across it in the missing persons database while investigating the assassination of a high-ranking government official – but I only started using it at the police station and with strangers. My handler refused to call me it, pointing out that it wasn’t who I was. She was right. But it did represent what I could be.

The entirety of my childhood after the fire, I had simply been known as 021, a brand more than a name.

I pulled up my suitcoat, covering up the numbers with a rush. I could feel my ears burning in the starlight, embarrassed that I had let my identity slip. 

Not that this stranger from Xylia would have any idea what it meant.

I trudged through the streets of the Business Quarter, accidentally bumping into passersby as I dragged my capture along, eager to return to the hall before the end of rush hour. I glanced behind me occasionally to find Juniper gazing at all of the neon signs in awe, looking like a child on Starbirth morning.

I started to subconsciously slow down, giving her time to peer into the store windows and witness the gilded displays, glamorous monuments to consumerism shining bright against the wave of gray suits.

About two blocks ahead of us, the crown jewel of department stores stood proud amidst the masses, its façade mimicking the sparkling royal palaces of Old Earth. Maximillian’s, favored store of court barons and oil barons alike.

Also, the biggest rip-off on the planet. Humans spent thousands on clothes and shoes from Maximillian’s in the name of fashion, fashion that would fall out of favor within weeks.

Juniper immediately fixed her attention on it, gaping in awe.

I warily spared her a glance.

“Do you want to take a peek?” I sighed. “We have time.”

Why did I say that? I keep speaking without thinking, unable to process any thoughts other than those from my heart. What was wrong with me today?

She looked up at me, surprise painting her face.

“You’re not going to turn me in?”

I grimaced, forgetting my place for a quick second.

“I…” I sighed. “I haven’t decided yet. I need time to think.”

She let out a small huff and turned to look me directly in the eye.

“I can’t go back,” she grimaced. “I know you have no choice, but could you at least give me a day or two?"

I didn't like the idea of giving in, of disobeying a direct order from my superiors. I hadn't disobeyed an order in almost thirty years.

"I don't know."

"I’m not ready to face them yet," she replied. "I’m not a criminal. I swear.”

I didn’t believe her. My handler may have been a lot of things, but she didn’t make mistakes. I raised my eyebrow and shot her a suspicious look before turning away to plunge us deeper into the crowd. 

“I swear,” Juniper grabbed my hand, forcing me to look me in the eyes. “Do I look like a killer?”

“I can’t tell. You can never know until you catch them in the act."

It's true. I didn't know who to trust, losing my faith in humanity decades ago.

"I’ve seen the most stereotypical killers to walk this planet, but I’ve also seen plenty of killers who look just like you," I replied. "Who am I to go against the facts presented to me?”

By now we had walked the two blocks

“Please,” she begged, her nails digging deeper and deeper into my skin. “Just give me a week – no – a couple of days. I’ll prove it to you. I’m innocent.”

I didn’t like this. I really didn’t like this. But seeing Juniper so vulnerable, seeing her glow dim before my eyes, it did something to me. I started speaking before I had fully grasped what she said.

“I’ll give you a week,” I muttered.

It took a second for my bout of stupidity to register. She gaped up at me in shock.

But slowly, ever so slowly, the glow started to return to her eyes.

And even though I had just sacrificed days of precious planning and possibly given Xylia’s most dangerous criminal a week to scam her way out of execution, my chest swelled with warmth.

I hadn’t felt this warmth in so long. I forgot what it felt like, what it meant to feel such feelings.

Was I proud of Juniper? Myself?

It didn’t matter. All that mattered was her smile, slowly spreading across her face as tears slid down her rosy cheeks. I watched as they fell, hitting the ground with a splash only the mammalian trix below us could hear.

Still embarrassed from my earlier mistake, I gestured to the storefront ahead of us.

“Still want to go in?”

She looked up and grinned.

“Of course. Yes!” she shouted. “Thank you. Thank you so much! I promise I won’t disappoint.”

Still handcuffed together, I pushed open the large mahogany doors and walked into the grandiose store.

I must have lost my mind. 

I looked behind to check on Juniper and caught her staring at my neck, and I instantly pulled up my jacket to cover it. Her eyes were brimming with leftover emotion from earlier.

“Just… forget you saw that,” I forced a smile.

“Will do, boss.”