Aynjelic_Riot

People say that no one walks away from the Knives of Artemis, that if they decide to go, they leave in a body bag. Riot Red's out to prove them wrong. Again.

Dressed in clothes she hasn't worn in seven years, Red shorts the base's security system, then enters through a side door. She gave up sneaky when she took a Hero's License, but today isn't the day to bring the whole building down on her. She picks her battles until conversation catches her attention: Sister Phoebe gloating over Jocasta, Jocasta's retorts. Red slips into the room.

Phoebe stops mid-sentence when Red steps out of the shadows and Jocasta's eyes go wide. "You got my message." Jocasta's voice holds a hint of relief.

Phoebe turns and looks at Red. "You're helping a vicious woman."

Red laughs. "I am a vicious woman."

A sharp gesture from Phoebe brings a squad of Knives running into the room. "Deal with her."

#

Phoebe and her backup lay on the floor. Breathing hard, sweat trickling down her spine, Red crouches in front of Jocasta and unfastens the mercenary's cuffs.

Jocasta rubs a wrist. "You're pretty good at that."

"Mmhmm. I'm better at putting them on." Red tries to read Jocasta's expression, but she gives nothing away.

Jocasta looks over Red's shoulder. "Company." She picks up Phoebe's sword and throwing knives.

Riot Red turns, side-steps Silent Blade's katana, smiles. "You hanging with these lovely ladies for business or pleasure?"

Silent Blade doesn't rise to the bait. "Business. Her, then you, Riot Red."

"You should really play more." As Silent Blade turns to Jocasta, Red drops down and lands a fist to the back of her knee. "And never turn your back on me."

Static hiss from the security system precedes the tell-tale sounds of incoming Knives. Red glances at Silent Blade, on the floor clutching her leg. "How many in the base?" Red asks, kicking Silent Blade's katana away.

"More than enough," Jocasta says.

Red raises an eyebrow. "That a challenge?"

"Definitely not. Let's get out of here."

#

Jocasta stops a corridor's length behind Red, panting. "Having second thoughts about our arrangement?"

Red pauses at the stairwell, looks back. "You having second thoughts about that love letter?"

That actually brings a smile to Jocasta's face. "No."

"Then hurry up."

#

Outside, Red leads Jocasta to her motorcycle, then holds out her hand. "Knives and sword." Jocasta hands over the blades reluctantly. Red tosses them aside, then throws Jocasta the helmet. "Get on and hold on."

Jocasta presses against Red's back, arms around her waist. The helmet is awkward between Red's shoulderblades and she's still not convinced that this isn't a plot to take her out.

Red flips on her Bluetooth comm. "How do the Knives know that Melissa Taylor is Riot Red?"

There's a long silence.

"You are having second thoughts about that love letter."

The helmet shifts against Red's back as Jocasta shakes her head. Finally she says, "They don't."

Red almost pulls the motorcycle over. "How do you know?"

"Latch." Such a matter-of-fact answer.

Red hasn't heard that name in years. "Latch?"

"When we were... He said..." Jocasta sighs. "He knew I was getting in over my head, told me how to get your attention."

Who else might he have told? "I'm going to kill him."

"Please don't."

Red pulls up to the gate of a Longbow base. "Ride's over."

Jocasta gets off the bike and hands Red the helmet. "Walking me to the door?" She looks at the entrance, then back at Red.

"Whatever you do from here is up to you."