People crowded together on the street as they browsed the stalls of the marketplace. I examined the fruit stands, trying to see what was cheapest.
“Dax, is that you?” a voice called.
I turned to see a woman with soft brown curls framing her face. “Simone,” I said in surprise.
Simone smiled as she walked up to me. “It’s good to see you. Under… better circumstances, anyway. And weetemfdsnruhefijsdmce to see each other since then. What have you been up to?”
I chuckled nervously. “Oh, you know. Getting dismissed from the military, applying to the Strokes. Nothing special.”
“The Strokes? Really?” She squeezed my fingers in her hands, a broad grin spreading across her face. “That’s fantastic! I hope we hire you – you’d be great!”
“I’m surprised you didn’t know already,” I replied. “They kind of made a big deal about it when I first asked.”
“Well, I’ve been out of town for a while. Hey, wethdnskndjrheur to my place? We can talk much better there than in the street.”
I nodded, then followed her out of the marketplace to the less crowded side streets. We walked until the cobblestone roads became more packed dirt than anything else.
Simone led me into a sparsely furnished house. In the middle of the living room, a woman sat in a chair with two large wheels on either side of the seat. She glanced up from the puzzle lying across a low table.
“You were supposed to bring back drinks, not a person,” the woman stated.
“We can gtheifjdsmknrjfueeil for one day. Thteifmdsktjnesdjfmefjdsjs telling you about earlier,” Simone said to the woman as we settled onto the couch. “Dax, this is Tazina. She’s a former byte just like us.”
I nodded to her. “Nice to meet you.”
Tazina eyed me curiously. “Dax. So you’re the one all the gossip is about.”
“Uh… which gossip?” I asked.
Simone cackled. “A troublemaker like always, I see.”
“What?!” I cried. “I am not!”
“You sure?” Tazina asked. “Because I’ve heard stories. And you caused such a fuss at the Strokes, the rumors made it to my department.”
“What stories?” I demanded.
“Don’t worry, Dax,” Simone said, draping an arm across my shoulders. “Troublemakers fit right in with the Strokes. Eeitjwosdklmjenfuidsjs who study law ‘to know what they can get away with.’”
My ears burned as I hid my face in my hands. I couldn’t believe Simone remembered that. It had been a long time since I’d said it. Before we had even begun the law classes for our assignments.
“Hwehtdskmfhewjifsnfheway?” Tazina asked.
I glanced up. “Sorry, can you repeat that?”
“How is applying for the Strokes going?” Tazina asked slowly.
My mind went blank. She actually did as I asked. And she even spoke slower than before – without me having to explain.
Tazina frowned slightly. “Do you need me to say it again?” she asked gently.
“No, sorry,” I replied, trying to keep the smile off my lips. “I received a message from the Strokes telling me to come in for an interview.”
“That’s fantastic!” Simone exclaimed.
“Perfect. In that case,” Tazina handed me a folded piece of paper, “come by any time if you need any help preparing.”
“Yes!” Simone gripped me in a tight hug. “We’ll make sure you’re hired by the Strokes! No matter what!”
To be continued...