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Virgil and Kelly looked to the next machine, glad they had successfully found it. But unhappy what was currently happening...

“Huh…” Kelly said, eyes fixated on the peppi soda machine.
“Well… we’re screwed. And so is he.”

They had arrived just in time to see a Packers patrol emptying out one of the machines of its captive, a male Koala who seemed to afraid to even resist.

“I’ve always wondered… how the heck do these traps work? A photo booth I understand. You step inside and it locks down. But a soda machine? How does it manage to fit someone inside there with other sod…”

“Kelly, just shut up for a minute.” Virgil said, in conflict with herself. She knew that directly assaulting a patrol like this was risky. With her assault on the Gaunts facility, she’d had the element of surprise. But now she was a wanted woman, and these patrols might very well be equipped to handle her if the need arose. Not only that, but they might be able to better narrow down her location. Her tail and ears were visible even armored up, and they weren’t exactly unique. Enough sightings of her and they might be able to narrow down her location.

“Vi, if you’re thinking of taking them on, forget it.” Kelly said, patting Virgil’s back.
“You can’t save them all.”

“But what if I could save him?” Virgil asked.
“He didn’t do anything wrong. He doesn’t deserve this.”

“Virgil, look down there.” Kelly said, pointing to the squad of three.
“See those pistols on their legs? What about that rifle in the door? Think that suit of yours could save you from that?”

“Uh, yeah?” Virgil responded.
“The suit’s made to withstand small caliber bullets.”

“Do you know anything about guns, Virgil? Those pistols aren’t going to be packing small caliber bullets. And they aren’t going to be shooting at you from thirty yards away. You go down there, you’re gonna die.” Kelly argued.

Virgil weighed her options. She’d never be able to live with herself if she let them take this anthro away right in front of her eyes. But on the other hand she probably wouldn’t live anyways going down there. Unless she could somehow manage to…
“... I think I have an idea.” Virgil said, pulling her multi tool from her belt, uncaring if Kelly saw it at this point.

“What’s that thing supposed to be?” The roadrunner asked.

“Just an electro magnetic pulse generator.” Virgil said. It wasn’t a lie. Just not the whole truth.
“Once they’re back in their patrol car, I can just shut it down. One of them will probably get out to check on the engine. I’ll just… throw his head against the car or something.”

“And if all three get out of the car?” Kelly asked.

“Then I’ll improvise.” She said plainly, watching as they secured the koala into the backseat, one of them getting back there with him as the other two got into the driver and passenger seat, making to drive off. Virgil aimed the multi tool, pressing a button.
“Shit!” She exclaimed, realizing the flaw in her plan. The tool couldn't function at this range.
She rose up, spreading her wings.

“What are you doing!? The car isn’t stopped!” Kelly shouted.

Virgil ignored her, giving her helmet a quick tap to ensure it was secure, she threw herself from the roof, gliding down towards the moving patrol car before landing on the roof of it with a solid whumph.

”Aaah… that… that is not as painless as it looks in movies.” She groaned, one hand reaching towards her sore belly as the other gripped at whatever she could find on the roof. Not like she needed to though. The car came to a stop upon hearing the impact on top. Virgil had half expected it to keep driving. Another movie expectation thrown out the window.
Virgil heard the passenger door open, the GCF officer inside fumbling to get out.

“What the hell!” He exclaimed as he fumbled for his sidearm upon seeing Virgil.
Virgil, still a bit winded from her belly flop onto the car, acted on instinct as she kicked out her leg. The heavy boot collided with the officer’s head. Had he opted to keep his helmet on he might have been protected from the blow. But he had removed it in the short span of him being in the car, and so he was sent sailing backwards to the curb where he lay still with a broken, bleeding nose.
Seeing this, the driver slammed on the gas pedal, causing Virgil to slide off the back onto the street with a grunt. Another small piece of plexiglass flew off from her helmet’s cracked visor as she hit the street, rolling for a bit before she sprung up, adrenaline pumping through her body. The car had again stopped, Both the rear passenger door and the driver side door opening as the officers brought their weapons around. Except… they had opted out of their pistols and instead held tranquilizer dart rifles. Clearly they’d realized who Virgil was, and wanted her alive. That was reassur…

”What are you standing around in the open for!?” Virgil shouted at herself, though the voice of lizard briefly registered in her thoughts. No alleyways she could get to without backing down the street or moving up. The only cover around being…
Virgil sprinted right for the car, throwing herself to the ground just as a dart whizzed by her head on the dive down. Now she could move around to the right or left to dispatch one of the officers without the other having a clear shot. Virgil jammed her finger into a button on the back of her left glove, her fur standing on end as it surged with electrical power. She heard footsteps moving around from the right side, one of the officers trying to get the drop on her while she was down. She waited until he was within reach distance before reaching out her charged hand, hearing the human scream as she gripped his ankle, a tranquilizer dart slamming into the pavement beside her as he misfired. She held on for a good several seconds until he collapsed, spasming on the pavement before letting go.
But while she’d been occupied with one human, the other had moved into position behind her. His tranquilizer rifle was lowered, and his finger squeezed the trigger, making to fire the long needled dart right into her neck, which was protected only by a black fabric.

“Fuck you!”
That was the loud screech that resounded down the street as Kelly barreled into the human, throwing him to the ground in a mess of feathers and flesh, the rifle going off as it fired the dart harmlessly into the air.
Virgil spun around upon hearing Kelly’s exclamation, realizing what had happened. She pushed herself up, running around to the side of the car the two were grappling on. Unfortunately for Kelly, her light weight gave her very little mass, and now that the element of surprise was gone, the human easily tossed her off himself, throwing her into the side of the patrol car as he fumbled with the rifle to chamber the second dart out of the three the rifles could carry.
But before he could finish off Kelly, Virgil slapped him across the face with her shock gauntlet, causing him to crumple to the ground with a loud scream of pain. Virgil kicked the rifle from his hand, watching him writhe on the ground.

“Oh God… you killed me, you killed me…” He whimpered pathetically, rocking back and forth on the ground. She didn’t even leave a mark. Probably a bruise would show up, but this guy was just being melodramatic.

Virgil didn’t grace him with a response, finishing him off by placing her shock gauntlet on his neck, holding it there for two seconds to knock him out for good. All three of the officers were down, the koala looking in bewilderment at the scene that had taken place.

But Virgil would tend to him later. She rushed to check on Kelly, who was sitting up, rubbing the back of her head.
“Sssss… ow.” She groaned.

“You hurt?” Virgil asked her, looking her partner over. No cuts, just a few missing feathers, the start of a bruise on the back of her head.

“Come on, Vi. I’ve had hangovers that hurt worse.” Kelly chuckled, standing up.
“Man… that felt good. Never have hit one of them before, and now I just want to do it again.”
She bounced up and down on her talons, glancing at the other two officers as if daring them to wake up again.

“Calm down, Kelly.” Virgil said, unable to help but chuckle.
“They’re down and out. We’ll just put them in their car,”

“And drive it into the nearest lake.” Kelly said eagerly.

“... and park it in an alley.” Virgil finished.

“Lame.”

Virgil turned her attention from Kelly, looking into the patrol car to see the stunned koala looking back at her.

“Are you hurt?” Virgil asked, reaching in to unbuckle the seatbelt for him, as with his hands cuffed it would be too hard.

“N-n-n-no… I’m fine…” He answered, eyes wide.
“You… you’re that person everyone’s been talking about… aren’t you? The one who broke everyone out of Gaunts?”

“Yeah, that’s me.” Virgil said. There was no point in denying it.

“But… you have wings! They didn’t say you could fly…”

Virgil felt her heart skip a beat. She’d never considered that Gaunts didn’t know she had wings. Great, now they just had another way to narrow her down. Well… she’d deal with that when she had to. For now, she had a job to do.
“Here, let’s get you out of there.” Virgil said, helping to get the koala out of his seat. She pulled her multi tool from her belt, pointing it at the dashboard of the patrol car before frying the dashboard camera and its storage unit. No sense in leaving them any evidence she was here other than the word of some unconscious humans.
Virgil picked the keys off one of the officers, removing the handcuffs from the koala.
“Do you live near here?”

“Y-yes ma’am! Just a few blocks down!” He said.

“Can you get home on your own?”

“Uh… y-yes! Yes ma’am, I can!” He nodded.

“Then go. Get inside and stay there. Be sure to let everyone know about these traps.” Virgil continued.
“They only work at night from what I hear. Make sure you stay in groups at all time.”

“But… that was... that was just a soda machine! It… how am I supposed to go about my day when any one of these things could grab me!?”

Virgil knew where he was coming from. Word of these traps could cause mass hysteria and panic among the anthro community.
“I’m taking care of them.” Virgil said.
“I came here to destroy it. And I’m going to keep destroying them until they don’t have the money to build any more. So go ahead and go home. Remember what I said. Stay in a group, don’t go out at night.”

The koala, still a bit dazed, nodded before beginning to saunter off down the street, soon disappearing from sight around the corner.

Virgil sighed in relief. She couldn’t wait to just get home and take a nice, hot shower. Just one last trap to deal with.
Kelly was sitting on the curb near the soda machine, sifting through a wallet she’d picked off one of the officers.

“Kelly…” Virgil said, shaking her head.

“What? It’s my fee.” Kelly said, pulling all the cash she could find out of the wallet.
“Besides… I wanna try something before you destroy this one.”

“What do you…?” Virgil started before realization set in.
“... no.”

“Pleeeeease?” Kelly asked, eyes widening.
“I just want to see how the heck this thing works.”

“Out of the question!” Virgil exclaimed.
“What if you get stuck in there!?”

“One of these guys had to have had a key.” Kelly winked, selecting a dollar bill from the stack of money.
“And I might get a free soda out of it.”

“I don’t think these things actually dispense soda, Kelly.”

“They have to work during the day somehow.” Kelly chuckled, walking over to the soda machine.

“No!” Virgil shouted, stepping between her and the machine.

“Don’t tell me you aren’t curious either?” Kelly asked, hands on her hips.

“I am, but not enough to,”

Before Virgil could finish, Kelly sidestepped around her, shoving the dollar bill into the machine before selecting a soda, pressing the button.

“NO!”

The machine… did exactly what would be expected of it. A soda dropped down into the receptacle, looking as ordinary as any other soda.

“... huh.” Kelly said, looking at it.
“Well… guess it’s safe.”
She reached her wing to pick it up…
And a black, polymer clamp snapped shut around her wrist.
“Hey! What the hell!?”
The front of the machine opened up into a tiny space barely worthy of even classifying as closet sized. The clamp dragged Kelly in before the front of the machine slammed shut again, looking just as it had a few moments ago.

“Kelly!” Virgil shouted, whipping out her multi tool. She quickly synced it up with the machine, selecting the option to open it up.

The front opened, staying open to reveal…
“Mmm, frosty.” Kelly said, taking a sip of the soda she’d selected.

“Get out of there right now or I am closing it back on you!” Virgil shouted angrily, waving the multi tool at her.

“Ugh, fine.” Kelly said, rolling her eyes as she stepped out of it.
“You sure we can’t just bring this thing back and keep it at our place? It’s actually kind of cool.”

Virgil answered the question by again pointing the yellow remote at the soda machine, a small pop sounding as the machine’s circuits were completely fried by a power surge.

“Couldn’t have at least had it dispense the rest of its load for me?” Kelly grumbled, sipping the last of the soda before crumpling the can and tossing it to the street.
“So… mission accomplished? Kinda anti climactic, don’t ya think?”

“Personally, I don’t care.” Virgil sighed in relief.
“I just want to get home and relax. We took down two traps, and a squad of officers. I think that’s more than worth a good day’s work.”

“Um… e-excuse me?”

Virgil and Kelly both froze at the sound of the small voice, glancing around. Where had it come from?

“Hello?” Kelly called out?
“Who’s there?”

Virgil was looking around too, but wasn’t seeing anyone. Which was odd since the voice had sounded so close.

“I-I’m right here…”

Kelly and Virgil turned towards the sound of the voice, finally spying its source. A small, black furred anthro with red, glowing eyes was looking out at them from an alleyway. She stepped forward onto the street, surveying the broken soda machine.

“What are you doing out at a time like this, little lady?” Kelly asked.

“It’s not safe around here.” Virgil said, looking her over. She didn’t look like a homeless girl. In fact, Virgil would have almost said her clothing looked like combat gear. Of course, anthros always did have the strangest sense of fashion.

“Did… did you do that?” She asked, looking at the soda machine.

“Sure did. Me and my partner.” Kelly smirked, putting an arm around Virgil’s shoulder.
“Defenders of the wonderful city of Blumberg, that’s us.”

The anthro looked at the two. Virgil couldn’t tell, but was she… quivering?

“I’m sorry…” The black furred anthro sighed.
“I’m s-s-so sorry…”

“Sorry for what?” Kelly asked.

Virgil would regret being so slow for the rest of her life. Faster than either of them expected, the anthro lunged forward, drawing a knife from a sheath in her thigh that hadn’t been visible to either of them. With extreme precision, she jammed it into Virgil’s thigh. If not for the suit, it would have gone into her leg like a knife into butter. But as luck would have it, the knife stopped about halfway in. Partly from the suit and partly from Kelly kicking her taloned foot forward, slashing the anthro across her face. She let out a yelp of surprise, stumbling backwards as she clutched at her face.

Virgil sank to one knee, pulling the knife from her leg.
”Oh God… what if it cut an artery or a muscle?”
But it had been a small knife, meant to be concealed. And it didn’t manage to cut an artery or muscle. But that was of little consequence to the anthro.

“You…” She grunted, standing up tall.
“Are under arrest… by the authority of the Gaunts Correctional Facility, local ordinance number two. If you resist arrest, I will be forced to subdue you.”

Virgil and Kelly both looked in surprise at the anthro in front of them. An anthro? Working for the GCF? It was unheard of.

“Fat chance of that happening, bitch!” Kelly said, taking up the anthro’s knife.

Virgil rose up herself, a little shaky on her wounded leg, but it was just a flesh wound. She’d live. She powered up her shock gauntlet too, getting into a fighting stance.

“I don’t know who you are…” Virgil began.

“Hestra, personal assistance to CEO Alfred Anton.” The anthro stated rather quickly.

“Bitch, do you even secret agent?” Kelly asked.
“You’re supposed to use a code name.”

The black furred anthro, Hestra, responded to Kelly’s snarky comment by reaching behind her and pulling a machine pistol from a back holster, aiming it at the two girls.
“You’re wanted alive, Vi. Former Gaunts Resident Kelly Flashfeather is expendable. If you don’t come quietly, I will fire to kill her and wound you.”

Virgil glanced at Kelly. The roadrunner seemed rigid, balancing the knife in her hand. Virgil wasn’t about to risk Kelly’s life. But… like hell she would go to Gaunts. Virgil was starting to take notice to how Kelly was balancing the knife.

“You expect me to come quietly?” Virgil asked.
“I’m perfectly fine with that. But my partner I don’t think would be ok with it.”

The black furred anthro looked conflicted for a minute.

“And I’m only coming with you if you don’t harm her.” Virgil continued.

“I-I… I…”

And with that, Kelly flicked the knife right at Hestra.
Hestra reacted quicker than anyone should have been able to, catching the knife by the blade. The pain didn’t seem to bother her too much, but the distraction had done its desired effect. Virgil launched herself at Hestra, shock gauntlet slamming palm first into her chest.

Hestra let out a mild grunt, but her combat gear seemed fully capable of absorbing electric shocks. She reached for Virgil’s throat, meaning to choke her into submission. Seeing this, Virgil realized she had to disengage. Hestra was stronger than her. She could already feel herself losing this fight, trying to keep her free hand and the gun wielding hand at bay. Kelly, unarmed, was circling around the duo, looking for an opening. She didn’t just want to tackle them both, or she might end up putting Virgil at risk. But then she saw it. The gun!

“Vi, keep her hands busy!” Kelly shouted, rushing the anthro. Hestra saw the roadrunner trying to maneuver around to her other side to snatch her weapon. Realizing Kelly needed to be taken care of first, Hestra brought her armored knee up into Virgil’s gut. Though her armor did help soften the blow… Hestra’s strength was ridiculous given her size. Virgil doubled over, air knocked from her lungs as Hestra turned on Kelly, machine pistol flashing. Two of the four rounds she got off slammed into the roadrunner, the rounds slamming into her and sending her collapsing to the ground.

“NO!” Virgil screamed, rising up and throwing her electrically charged fist at Hestra’s gun hand. The resulting shock sent the weapon flying from Hestra’s hand, clattering some distance away. But the deed was done. Kelly was taken care of.
Hestra fumbled at her belt for her next weapon. The same chloroform soaked rag she’d used on the wolf earlier. She was under strict orders to take Vi alive. And though the helmet would get in the way of this weapon, she had little qualms about that. Hestra knew she could beat this anthro. She was already unbalanced from watching her friend die. Hestra would make this quick.

“Surrender now and I’ll ensure your survival.” Hestra instructed, getting into a fighting stance herself.

“Shut up.” Was all Virgil managed to get out, trying to choke back on the sobs. She’d cry later.

Seeing Virgil wasn’t going to back down, Hestra threw herself back at the Azer. Virgil’s advantage was her shock gauntlet. Hestra’s was her strength and seemingly unnatural ability to react.
But Virgil had trained enough with Lizard to have some decent combat skills of her own. And in this moment, fighting for her survival, she remembered them.
As Hestra strained to tear off Virgil’s helmet, Virgil used Hestra’s own weight against her, throwing her forward onto the ground before swinging her electrically charged fist around to collide with Hestra’s face. But Hestra intercepted the punch, sweeping her legs around to knock Virgil off her own feet, trying to rise up before Virgil could to get the upper hand.
Virgil rolled away from Hestra though, putting some distance between her and her opponent.

Hestra rose up as well, panting visibly.
“You… are going to tire first.” Hestra stated.
“So… p-p-please… give up. She’s… she’s getting so mad…”

“You’re lucky I’m not trying to kill you!” Virgil screamed. She wanted to kill Hestra… but she didn’t have the ability to. Her eyes glanced over to Kelly’s body. She’d have to leave it…

“I don’t have to stay here.” Virgil said, spreading her wings.

But the unexpected happened. Hestra pounded on her chestpiece, and two metal flaps popped open on her back before a pair of black feathered wings unfurled as well.

Virgil froze.
“You… you’re…”

“Surrender. You can’t w-w-win…” Hestra stuttered.
“I’ll… I’ll just call for backup. Y-yeah… they’ll come. I just need to keep you busy…”
Hestra reached up to her earpiece.

“No you don’t!” Virgil shouted, raising up the multi tool, syncing it with her ear piece before selecting shutdown.
But what happened next, Virgil had not expected.

“AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!” Hestra suddenly screamed, clutching at her head as she collapsed to both knees.
“OH GOD! NO NO NO NO! STOP IT! OH GOD…!”
Hestra screamed for several more seconds before curling up on the street, now a whimpering mass of feathers and fur.

”What… did I just do? I just shut down her radio… right?”
That seemed to be the only piece of tech she was wearing. So what did she deactivate…?
KELLY!
Virgil took advantage of Hestra’s being incapacitated to run over to her partner’s body. She was laying face down on the ground with… no blood pooling around her?
Virgil flipped Kelly over, seeing that the machine pistol hadn’t fired bullets. Small, thumb tack looking darts were jutting out of the front of Kelly’s hoodie. They were micro tranquilizers or something.

“Oh thank God…” Virgil sighed in relief, almost breaking down crying upon this discovery as she held the roadrunner close.
“You’re ok… it’s ok…”
She rose up with the unconscious roadrunner in her arms. No doubt their little fight had already attracted unwanted attention. She needed to get out of here.
As Virgil spread her wings to fly though, she looked back towards Hestra.
It was hard to tell with her now curled up in a whimpering ball… but that brief moment Virgil had seen her with wings unfurled…
Virgil shook her head. There was no helping her. She was working with Packers.
Still pumped on adrenaline, Virgil got a running start before giving her wings several powerful flaps, rising up to just the top of the nearest building before setting off on the rooftop run home.

~~~~~
The next morning…
~~~~~

Virgil sighed in relief as the hot water cascaded down her bare body.
This was the third shower she’d taken since getting back with the heat turned all the way up, water bill be damned.
Not only were they great for her sore muscles… but they gave her plenty of time to think.
There was no doubt about it, that Hestra girl was an Azer. But why was she acting so strange? Scared one minute, serious the next… and what had Virgil shut down? Her multi tool didn’t keep records of devices it interacted with, so Virgil had no way of knowing what it had been. Last night had just raised more questions than answers…
She soon finished up with her shower, giving her feathers a nice pruning before wrapping a towel around herself and leaving the bathroom, the sound of the TV meeting her ears. The tranquilizer, much like it had Telokey, had left her feeling very sluggish. And she’d taken two of them. Virgil would have to go speak with Derrick later about what she’d need to do about helping her roadrunner friend.

“Vi… you’re on the news…” Kelly called weakly. But at least she didn’t sound pitifully weak. She was already getting better as it were.

Uncaring of her state of dress, Virgil walked into the living room, standing behind the couch. Sure enough, a news woman was explaining the extent of the damage done to that particular street that night.

“... three GCF officers on the scene described it the only way they knew how. An act of terrorism. The officers confirmed that the same vigilante responsible for the breakout at the Gaunts Correctional Facility was behind this attack. If anyone has any information regarding this armored woman, authorities ask that they please report it as soon as possible.”

“We did good… huh…?” Kelly chuckled weakly.
“Took down some traps… made the news… got a free soda…”

“You earned more than a soda.” Virgil smiled.
“I’m taking you out to a nice celebratory dinner once you’re feeling better.”

“Thanks V…”
Kelly stopped as she saw Virgil’s state of dress.
“Is it too much to ask you to just stay like that?”

“Yes.” Virgil said, rolling her eyes as she went to go change. She put on some pajama bottoms and a loose fitting t shirt before throwing herself onto her bed, picking up her cell phone to send a text.

“Hey Telo. I know you’re probably asleep rn, but when you wake up, I was wondering if you’d like to go out somewhere?” She typed, hitting send before starting a new one.
“I’ll be sleeping through the day so we’ll have plenty of time together tonight. See you then.”

Hitting send one more time, Virgil set her phone on her nightstand before pulling up the covers all the way to her chin, wrapping her wings around her. But as she drifted off to sleep, all she could hear was Hestra’s tortured screams filling her head….

~~~~~
Several days later…
~~~~~

Telokey and Virgil watched the team of primate acrobats walk offstage, the audience still clapping for them as they left.

“Alright, looks like we’re up.” Virgil said, adjusting her skirt.
“Let’s get out there and give them a performance they’ll remember.”

“I know I’ve gotten plenty of practice in… but promise you won’t hate me if I accidentally trip you up out there?”

“Telo, come on.” Virgil smiled.
“I’m not going to get mad at you over something that small. Granted it would put a damper on our new year’s trip home together… but I’ll be sure to let it slide.” She said, giving her bat boyfriend a hug.
He returned it with a smile, feeling his anxiety practically vanish.

“What a wonderful performance from the Fiero brothers!” The announcer said, him and the audience applauding the trio of acrobats they’d just witnessed.
“Next up, making their return to the night of lights, is the lovely duo from Irena Gretel’s dance class, The Emerald Flyer and The Shining Azer!”

The lights dimmed as the audience applauded, smoke machines already doing their work as they flooded the stage with their payload. With the lights low, Virgil and Telokey moved onstage, taking their respective positions onstage, waiting for the music to start.
It began at a low strum of a sitar, a slow, relaxing tune. The lights began to fade back on, the two having wrapped their wings about their bodies. This plus the smoke really obscured the audience’s view of the two. They both slowly writhed their bodies inside their wing cocoons, waiting for the music to really pick up.
And when it finally did, with the sitar soon being joined in by symbols and other instruments, the two flared their wings out. The lights shifted from a dull orange to a mix of green and pink, the duo moving in front of the smoke to begin their dance as they shook their hips and rolled their stomachs to the delight of the audience.

“YEAH SILVER!” McAllister screeched, joined in by his posse as they hooted and clapped, all save Zin, who had been dragged their as a part of his debt to the group. But even he had to admit the dance was appealing…

“Damn Vi, you’ve gotta teach me how to do that.” Kelly smiled from her seat, now fully recovered from her run in with the GCF officers.
“Though maybe you would wear a bit less for our lesson…”

“He’s really good.” Bridget whispered to her boyfriend, whose normally stoic personality had given way to one of awe.

“I’ll say.” Chuck responded.
“I didn’t know he even did this.”

“Maybe you should take up dancing again then?” Bridget giggled, giving him a kiss on the cheek before they both got back to watching the dance.

“Isn’t our lunch break over?” Derek’s ox assistant asked him.

“Hmm? Uh… oh, Clarice has the store until we get back.” The human waved off.

“Wow.” Zane the purple lizard exclaimed as he watched.
“He is… REALLY good. Better than I thought.”

“I know, isn’t he just wonderful?” Chrissy the cocker spaniel said dreamily, Zane just looking oddly at the dog who seemed to have spoken to him for no reason.

“NOW do you agree this was a good way to spend our leave?” Tori asked Lenora, nudging the sergal with her elbow.

“I had my doubts when it started off with juggling.” Lenora responded with a roll of her eyes.
“But… yes, this is very nice.”

“Excuse me, pardon me…” Paul the polar bear said as he squeezed back past Tori and Lenora, plopping down

“How much popcorn did you get?” The shark asked him.

“Enough for everyone, with two extra for me.” Paul said, passing popcorn down the line to Anu, Chinook, Tori, and Lenora.

“Wait? Where’s Cro?” Chinook asked, looking around. As if on cue, the small chubby puppy popped out of the popcorn.
“Oh, there he is, my adorable little puppy.” She giggled.

The dance was beginning to draw to a close now. Virgil and Telokey, using their wings like veils, spun around as their fur and costumes just reflected the light being shined on them, the both of them giving a quick spin before raising their arms above their heads, giving their stomachs a few more rolls before bowing for the audience, ending on their knees.
As the music stopped, the crowd erupted into cheers for the duo, equaling that of the previous acrobats.
Virgil and Telokey shared a smile with one another. This was a greater reaction than their last performance had gotten.
The duo rose up, holding hands as they took a bow and walked offstage for the next performance.

But one person wasn’t planning on staying for the performance. She’d seen all she needed. Smirking to herself, she rose up from her seat, walking up the aisle and out of the theater. Her suspicions were confirmed. This Azer was the one she’d been looking for.

Description
Virgil and Kelly looked to the next machine, glad they had successfully found it. But unhappy what was currently happening...

“Huh…” Kelly said, eyes fixated on the peppi soda machine.
“Well… we’re screwed. And so is he.”

They had arrived just in time to see a Packers patrol emptying out one of the machines of its captive, a male Koala who seemed to afraid to even resist.

“I’ve always wondered… how the heck do these traps work? A photo booth I understand. You step inside and it locks down. But a soda machine? How does it manage to fit someone inside there with other sod…”

“Kelly, just shut up for a minute.” Virgil said, in conflict with herself. She knew that directly assaulting a patrol like this was risky. With her assault on the Gaunts facility, she’d had the element of surprise. But now she was a wanted woman, and these patrols might very well be equipped to handle her if the need arose. Not only that, but they might be able to better narrow down her location. Her tail and ears were visible even armored up, and they weren’t exactly unique. Enough sightings of her and they might be able to narrow down her location.

“Vi, if you’re thinking of taking them on, forget it.” Kelly said, patting Virgil’s back.
“You can’t save them all.”

“But what if I could save him?” Virgil asked.
“He didn’t do anything wrong. He doesn’t deserve this.”

“Virgil, look down there.” Kelly said, pointing to the squad of three.
“See those pistols on their legs? What about that rifle in the door? Think that suit of yours could save you from that?”

“Uh, yeah?” Virgil responded.
“The suit’s made to withstand small caliber bullets.”

“Do you know anything about guns, Virgil? Those pistols aren’t going to be packing small caliber bullets. And they aren’t going to be shooting at you from thirty yards away. You go down there, you’re gonna die.” Kelly argued.

Virgil weighed her options. She’d never be able to live with herself if she let them take this anthro away right in front of her eyes. But on the other hand she probably wouldn’t live anyways going down there. Unless she could somehow manage to…
“... I think I have an idea.” Virgil said, pulling her multi tool from her belt, uncaring if Kelly saw it at this point.

“What’s that thing supposed to be?” The roadrunner asked.

“Just an electro magnetic pulse generator.” Virgil said. It wasn’t a lie. Just not the whole truth.
“Once they’re back in their patrol car, I can just shut it down. One of them will probably get out to check on the engine. I’ll just… throw his head against the car or something.”

“And if all three get out of the car?” Kelly asked.

“Then I’ll improvise.” She said plainly, watching as they secured the koala into the backseat, one of them getting back there with him as the other two got into the driver and passenger seat, making to drive off. Virgil aimed the multi tool, pressing a button.
“Shit!” She exclaimed, realizing the flaw in her plan. The tool couldn't function at this range.
She rose up, spreading her wings.

“What are you doing!? The car isn’t stopped!” Kelly shouted.

Virgil ignored her, giving her helmet a quick tap to ensure it was secure, she threw herself from the roof, gliding down towards the moving patrol car before landing on the roof of it with a solid whumph.

”Aaah… that… that is not as painless as it looks in movies.” She groaned, one hand reaching towards her sore belly as the other gripped at whatever she could find on the roof. Not like she needed to though. The car came to a stop upon hearing the impact on top. Virgil had half expected it to keep driving. Another movie expectation thrown out the window.
Virgil heard the passenger door open, the GCF officer inside fumbling to get out.

“What the hell!” He exclaimed as he fumbled for his sidearm upon seeing Virgil.
Virgil, still a bit winded from her belly flop onto the car, acted on instinct as she kicked out her leg. The heavy boot collided with the officer’s head. Had he opted to keep his helmet on he might have been protected from the blow. But he had removed it in the short span of him being in the car, and so he was sent sailing backwards to the curb where he lay still with a broken, bleeding nose.
Seeing this, the driver slammed on the gas pedal, causing Virgil to slide off the back onto the street with a grunt. Another small piece of plexiglass flew off from her helmet’s cracked visor as she hit the street, rolling for a bit before she sprung up, adrenaline pumping through her body. The car had again stopped, Both the rear passenger door and the driver side door opening as the officers brought their weapons around. Except… they had opted out of their pistols and instead held tranquilizer dart rifles. Clearly they’d realized who Virgil was, and wanted her alive. That was reassur…

”What are you standing around in the open for!?” Virgil shouted at herself, though the voice of lizard briefly registered in her thoughts. No alleyways she could get to without backing down the street or moving up. The only cover around being…
Virgil sprinted right for the car, throwing herself to the ground just as a dart whizzed by her head on the dive down. Now she could move around to the right or left to dispatch one of the officers without the other having a clear shot. Virgil jammed her finger into a button on the back of her left glove, her fur standing on end as it surged with electrical power. She heard footsteps moving around from the right side, one of the officers trying to get the drop on her while she was down. She waited until he was within reach distance before reaching out her charged hand, hearing the human scream as she gripped his ankle, a tranquilizer dart slamming into the pavement beside her as he misfired. She held on for a good several seconds until he collapsed, spasming on the pavement before letting go.
But while she’d been occupied with one human, the other had moved into position behind her. His tranquilizer rifle was lowered, and his finger squeezed the trigger, making to fire the long needled dart right into her neck, which was protected only by a black fabric.

“Fuck you!”
That was the loud screech that resounded down the street as Kelly barreled into the human, throwing him to the ground in a mess of feathers and flesh, the rifle going off as it fired the dart harmlessly into the air.
Virgil spun around upon hearing Kelly’s exclamation, realizing what had happened. She pushed herself up, running around to the side of the car the two were grappling on. Unfortunately for Kelly, her light weight gave her very little mass, and now that the element of surprise was gone, the human easily tossed her off himself, throwing her into the side of the patrol car as he fumbled with the rifle to chamber the second dart out of the three the rifles could carry.
But before he could finish off Kelly, Virgil slapped him across the face with her shock gauntlet, causing him to crumple to the ground with a loud scream of pain. Virgil kicked the rifle from his hand, watching him writhe on the ground.

“Oh God… you killed me, you killed me…” He whimpered pathetically, rocking back and forth on the ground. She didn’t even leave a mark. Probably a bruise would show up, but this guy was just being melodramatic.

Virgil didn’t grace him with a response, finishing him off by placing her shock gauntlet on his neck, holding it there for two seconds to knock him out for good. All three of the officers were down, the koala looking in bewilderment at the scene that had taken place.

But Virgil would tend to him later. She rushed to check on Kelly, who was sitting up, rubbing the back of her head.
“Sssss… ow.” She groaned.

“You hurt?” Virgil asked her, looking her partner over. No cuts, just a few missing feathers, the start of a bruise on the back of her head.

“Come on, Vi. I’ve had hangovers that hurt worse.” Kelly chuckled, standing up.
“Man… that felt good. Never have hit one of them before, and now I just want to do it again.”
She bounced up and down on her talons, glancing at the other two officers as if daring them to wake up again.

“Calm down, Kelly.” Virgil said, unable to help but chuckle.
“They’re down and out. We’ll just put them in their car,”

“And drive it into the nearest lake.” Kelly said eagerly.

“... and park it in an alley.” Virgil finished.

“Lame.”

Virgil turned her attention from Kelly, looking into the patrol car to see the stunned koala looking back at her.

“Are you hurt?” Virgil asked, reaching in to unbuckle the seatbelt for him, as with his hands cuffed it would be too hard.

“N-n-n-no… I’m fine…” He answered, eyes wide.
“You… you’re that person everyone’s been talking about… aren’t you? The one who broke everyone out of Gaunts?”

“Yeah, that’s me.” Virgil said. There was no point in denying it.

“But… you have wings! They didn’t say you could fly…”

Virgil felt her heart skip a beat. She’d never considered that Gaunts didn’t know she had wings. Great, now they just had another way to narrow her down. Well… she’d deal with that when she had to. For now, she had a job to do.
“Here, let’s get you out of there.” Virgil said, helping to get the koala out of his seat. She pulled her multi tool from her belt, pointing it at the dashboard of the patrol car before frying the dashboard camera and its storage unit. No sense in leaving them any evidence she was here other than the word of some unconscious humans.
Virgil picked the keys off one of the officers, removing the handcuffs from the koala.
“Do you live near here?”

“Y-yes ma’am! Just a few blocks down!” He said.

“Can you get home on your own?”

“Uh… y-yes! Yes ma’am, I can!” He nodded.

“Then go. Get inside and stay there. Be sure to let everyone know about these traps.” Virgil continued.
“They only work at night from what I hear. Make sure you stay in groups at all time.”

“But… that was... that was just a soda machine! It… how am I supposed to go about my day when any one of these things could grab me!?”

Virgil knew where he was coming from. Word of these traps could cause mass hysteria and panic among the anthro community.
“I’m taking care of them.” Virgil said.
“I came here to destroy it. And I’m going to keep destroying them until they don’t have the money to build any more. So go ahead and go home. Remember what I said. Stay in a group, don’t go out at night.”

The koala, still a bit dazed, nodded before beginning to saunter off down the street, soon disappearing from sight around the corner.

Virgil sighed in relief. She couldn’t wait to just get home and take a nice, hot shower. Just one last trap to deal with.
Kelly was sitting on the curb near the soda machine, sifting through a wallet she’d picked off one of the officers.

“Kelly…” Virgil said, shaking her head.

“What? It’s my fee.” Kelly said, pulling all the cash she could find out of the wallet.
“Besides… I wanna try something before you destroy this one.”

“What do you…?” Virgil started before realization set in.
“... no.”

“Pleeeeease?” Kelly asked, eyes widening.
“I just want to see how the heck this thing works.”

“Out of the question!” Virgil exclaimed.
“What if you get stuck in there!?”

“One of these guys had to have had a key.” Kelly winked, selecting a dollar bill from the stack of money.
“And I might get a free soda out of it.”

“I don’t think these things actually dispense soda, Kelly.”

“They have to work during the day somehow.” Kelly chuckled, walking over to the soda machine.

“No!” Virgil shouted, stepping between her and the machine.

“Don’t tell me you aren’t curious either?” Kelly asked, hands on her hips.

“I am, but not enough to,”

Before Virgil could finish, Kelly sidestepped around her, shoving the dollar bill into the machine before selecting a soda, pressing the button.

“NO!”

The machine… did exactly what would be expected of it. A soda dropped down into the receptacle, looking as ordinary as any other soda.

“... huh.” Kelly said, looking at it.
“Well… guess it’s safe.”
She reached her wing to pick it up…
And a black, polymer clamp snapped shut around her wrist.
“Hey! What the hell!?”
The front of the machine opened up into a tiny space barely worthy of even classifying as closet sized. The clamp dragged Kelly in before the front of the machine slammed shut again, looking just as it had a few moments ago.

“Kelly!” Virgil shouted, whipping out her multi tool. She quickly synced it up with the machine, selecting the option to open it up.

The front opened, staying open to reveal…
“Mmm, frosty.” Kelly said, taking a sip of the soda she’d selected.

“Get out of there right now or I am closing it back on you!” Virgil shouted angrily, waving the multi tool at her.

“Ugh, fine.” Kelly said, rolling her eyes as she stepped out of it.
“You sure we can’t just bring this thing back and keep it at our place? It’s actually kind of cool.”

Virgil answered the question by again pointing the yellow remote at the soda machine, a small pop sounding as the machine’s circuits were completely fried by a power surge.

“Couldn’t have at least had it dispense the rest of its load for me?” Kelly grumbled, sipping the last of the soda before crumpling the can and tossing it to the street.
“So… mission accomplished? Kinda anti climactic, don’t ya think?”

“Personally, I don’t care.” Virgil sighed in relief.
“I just want to get home and relax. We took down two traps, and a squad of officers. I think that’s more than worth a good day’s work.”

“Um… e-excuse me?”

Virgil and Kelly both froze at the sound of the small voice, glancing around. Where had it come from?

“Hello?” Kelly called out?
“Who’s there?”

Virgil was looking around too, but wasn’t seeing anyone. Which was odd since the voice had sounded so close.

“I-I’m right here…”

Kelly and Virgil turned towards the sound of the voice, finally spying its source. A small, black furred anthro with red, glowing eyes was looking out at them from an alleyway. She stepped forward onto the street, surveying the broken soda machine.

“What are you doing out at a time like this, little lady?” Kelly asked.

“It’s not safe around here.” Virgil said, looking her over. She didn’t look like a homeless girl. In fact, Virgil would have almost said her clothing looked like combat gear. Of course, anthros always did have the strangest sense of fashion.

“Did… did you do that?” She asked, looking at the soda machine.

“Sure did. Me and my partner.” Kelly smirked, putting an arm around Virgil’s shoulder.
“Defenders of the wonderful city of Blumberg, that’s us.”

The anthro looked at the two. Virgil couldn’t tell, but was she… quivering?

“I’m sorry…” The black furred anthro sighed.
“I’m s-s-so sorry…”

“Sorry for what?” Kelly asked.

Virgil would regret being so slow for the rest of her life. Faster than either of them expected, the anthro lunged forward, drawing a knife from a sheath in her thigh that hadn’t been visible to either of them. With extreme precision, she jammed it into Virgil’s thigh. If not for the suit, it would have gone into her leg like a knife into butter. But as luck would have it, the knife stopped about halfway in. Partly from the suit and partly from Kelly kicking her taloned foot forward, slashing the anthro across her face. She let out a yelp of surprise, stumbling backwards as she clutched at her face.

Virgil sank to one knee, pulling the knife from her leg.
”Oh God… what if it cut an artery or a muscle?”
But it had been a small knife, meant to be concealed. And it didn’t manage to cut an artery or muscle. But that was of little consequence to the anthro.

“You…” She grunted, standing up tall.
“Are under arrest… by the authority of the Gaunts Correctional Facility, local ordinance number two. If you resist arrest, I will be forced to subdue you.”

Virgil and Kelly both looked in surprise at the anthro in front of them. An anthro? Working for the GCF? It was unheard of.

“Fat chance of that happening, bitch!” Kelly said, taking up the anthro’s knife.

Virgil rose up herself, a little shaky on her wounded leg, but it was just a flesh wound. She’d live. She powered up her shock gauntlet too, getting into a fighting stance.

“I don’t know who you are…” Virgil began.

“Hestra, personal assistance to CEO Alfred Anton.” The anthro stated rather quickly.

“Bitch, do you even secret agent?” Kelly asked.
“You’re supposed to use a code name.”

The black furred anthro, Hestra, responded to Kelly’s snarky comment by reaching behind her and pulling a machine pistol from a back holster, aiming it at the two girls.
“You’re wanted alive, Vi. Former Gaunts Resident Kelly Flashfeather is expendable. If you don’t come quietly, I will fire to kill her and wound you.”

Virgil glanced at Kelly. The roadrunner seemed rigid, balancing the knife in her hand. Virgil wasn’t about to risk Kelly’s life. But… like hell she would go to Gaunts. Virgil was starting to take notice to how Kelly was balancing the knife.

“You expect me to come quietly?” Virgil asked.
“I’m perfectly fine with that. But my partner I don’t think would be ok with it.”

The black furred anthro looked conflicted for a minute.

“And I’m only coming with you if you don’t harm her.” Virgil continued.

“I-I… I…”

And with that, Kelly flicked the knife right at Hestra.
Hestra reacted quicker than anyone should have been able to, catching the knife by the blade. The pain didn’t seem to bother her too much, but the distraction had done its desired effect. Virgil launched herself at Hestra, shock gauntlet slamming palm first into her chest.

Hestra let out a mild grunt, but her combat gear seemed fully capable of absorbing electric shocks. She reached for Virgil’s throat, meaning to choke her into submission. Seeing this, Virgil realized she had to disengage. Hestra was stronger than her. She could already feel herself losing this fight, trying to keep her free hand and the gun wielding hand at bay. Kelly, unarmed, was circling around the duo, looking for an opening. She didn’t just want to tackle them both, or she might end up putting Virgil at risk. But then she saw it. The gun!

“Vi, keep her hands busy!” Kelly shouted, rushing the anthro. Hestra saw the roadrunner trying to maneuver around to her other side to snatch her weapon. Realizing Kelly needed to be taken care of first, Hestra brought her armored knee up into Virgil’s gut. Though her armor did help soften the blow… Hestra’s strength was ridiculous given her size. Virgil doubled over, air knocked from her lungs as Hestra turned on Kelly, machine pistol flashing. Two of the four rounds she got off slammed into the roadrunner, the rounds slamming into her and sending her collapsing to the ground.

“NO!” Virgil screamed, rising up and throwing her electrically charged fist at Hestra’s gun hand. The resulting shock sent the weapon flying from Hestra’s hand, clattering some distance away. But the deed was done. Kelly was taken care of.
Hestra fumbled at her belt for her next weapon. The same chloroform soaked rag she’d used on the wolf earlier. She was under strict orders to take Vi alive. And though the helmet would get in the way of this weapon, she had little qualms about that. Hestra knew she could beat this anthro. She was already unbalanced from watching her friend die. Hestra would make this quick.

“Surrender now and I’ll ensure your survival.” Hestra instructed, getting into a fighting stance herself.

“Shut up.” Was all Virgil managed to get out, trying to choke back on the sobs. She’d cry later.

Seeing Virgil wasn’t going to back down, Hestra threw herself back at the Azer. Virgil’s advantage was her shock gauntlet. Hestra’s was her strength and seemingly unnatural ability to react.
But Virgil had trained enough with Lizard to have some decent combat skills of her own. And in this moment, fighting for her survival, she remembered them.
As Hestra strained to tear off Virgil’s helmet, Virgil used Hestra’s own weight against her, throwing her forward onto the ground before swinging her electrically charged fist around to collide with Hestra’s face. But Hestra intercepted the punch, sweeping her legs around to knock Virgil off her own feet, trying to rise up before Virgil could to get the upper hand.
Virgil rolled away from Hestra though, putting some distance between her and her opponent.

Hestra rose up as well, panting visibly.
“You… are going to tire first.” Hestra stated.
“So… p-p-please… give up. She’s… she’s getting so mad…”

“You’re lucky I’m not trying to kill you!” Virgil screamed. She wanted to kill Hestra… but she didn’t have the ability to. Her eyes glanced over to Kelly’s body. She’d have to leave it…

“I don’t have to stay here.” Virgil said, spreading her wings.

But the unexpected happened. Hestra pounded on her chestpiece, and two metal flaps popped open on her back before a pair of black feathered wings unfurled as well.

Virgil froze.
“You… you’re…”

“Surrender. You can’t w-w-win…” Hestra stuttered.
“I’ll… I’ll just call for backup. Y-yeah… they’ll come. I just need to keep you busy…”
Hestra reached up to her earpiece.

“No you don’t!” Virgil shouted, raising up the multi tool, syncing it with her ear piece before selecting shutdown.
But what happened next, Virgil had not expected.

“AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!” Hestra suddenly screamed, clutching at her head as she collapsed to both knees.
“OH GOD! NO NO NO NO! STOP IT! OH GOD…!”
Hestra screamed for several more seconds before curling up on the street, now a whimpering mass of feathers and fur.

”What… did I just do? I just shut down her radio… right?”
That seemed to be the only piece of tech she was wearing. So what did she deactivate…?
KELLY!
Virgil took advantage of Hestra’s being incapacitated to run over to her partner’s body. She was laying face down on the ground with… no blood pooling around her?
Virgil flipped Kelly over, seeing that the machine pistol hadn’t fired bullets. Small, thumb tack looking darts were jutting out of the front of Kelly’s hoodie. They were micro tranquilizers or something.

“Oh thank God…” Virgil sighed in relief, almost breaking down crying upon this discovery as she held the roadrunner close.
“You’re ok… it’s ok…”
She rose up with the unconscious roadrunner in her arms. No doubt their little fight had already attracted unwanted attention. She needed to get out of here.
As Virgil spread her wings to fly though, she looked back towards Hestra.
It was hard to tell with her now curled up in a whimpering ball… but that brief moment Virgil had seen her with wings unfurled…
Virgil shook her head. There was no helping her. She was working with Packers.
Still pumped on adrenaline, Virgil got a running start before giving her wings several powerful flaps, rising up to just the top of the nearest building before setting off on the rooftop run home.

~~~~~
The next morning…
~~~~~

Virgil sighed in relief as the hot water cascaded down her bare body.
This was the third shower she’d taken since getting back with the heat turned all the way up, water bill be damned.
Not only were they great for her sore muscles… but they gave her plenty of time to think.
There was no doubt about it, that Hestra girl was an Azer. But why was she acting so strange? Scared one minute, serious the next… and what had Virgil shut down? Her multi tool didn’t keep records of devices it interacted with, so Virgil had no way of knowing what it had been. Last night had just raised more questions than answers…
She soon finished up with her shower, giving her feathers a nice pruning before wrapping a towel around herself and leaving the bathroom, the sound of the TV meeting her ears. The tranquilizer, much like it had Telokey, had left her feeling very sluggish. And she’d taken two of them. Virgil would have to go speak with Derrick later about what she’d need to do about helping her roadrunner friend.

“Vi… you’re on the news…” Kelly called weakly. But at least she didn’t sound pitifully weak. She was already getting better as it were.

Uncaring of her state of dress, Virgil walked into the living room, standing behind the couch. Sure enough, a news woman was explaining the extent of the damage done to that particular street that night.

“... three GCF officers on the scene described it the only way they knew how. An act of terrorism. The officers confirmed that the same vigilante responsible for the breakout at the Gaunts Correctional Facility was behind this attack. If anyone has any information regarding this armored woman, authorities ask that they please report it as soon as possible.”

“We did good… huh…?” Kelly chuckled weakly.
“Took down some traps… made the news… got a free soda…”

“You earned more than a soda.” Virgil smiled.
“I’m taking you out to a nice celebratory dinner once you’re feeling better.”

“Thanks V…”
Kelly stopped as she saw Virgil’s state of dress.
“Is it too much to ask you to just stay like that?”

“Yes.” Virgil said, rolling her eyes as she went to go change. She put on some pajama bottoms and a loose fitting t shirt before throwing herself onto her bed, picking up her cell phone to send a text.

“Hey Telo. I know you’re probably asleep rn, but when you wake up, I was wondering if you’d like to go out somewhere?” She typed, hitting send before starting a new one.
“I’ll be sleeping through the day so we’ll have plenty of time together tonight. See you then.”

Hitting send one more time, Virgil set her phone on her nightstand before pulling up the covers all the way to her chin, wrapping her wings around her. But as she drifted off to sleep, all she could hear was Hestra’s tortured screams filling her head….

~~~~~
Several days later…
~~~~~

Telokey and Virgil watched the team of primate acrobats walk offstage, the audience still clapping for them as they left.

“Alright, looks like we’re up.” Virgil said, adjusting her skirt.
“Let’s get out there and give them a performance they’ll remember.”

“I know I’ve gotten plenty of practice in… but promise you won’t hate me if I accidentally trip you up out there?”

“Telo, come on.” Virgil smiled.
“I’m not going to get mad at you over something that small. Granted it would put a damper on our new year’s trip home together… but I’ll be sure to let it slide.” She said, giving her bat boyfriend a hug.
He returned it with a smile, feeling his anxiety practically vanish.

“What a wonderful performance from the Fiero brothers!” The announcer said, him and the audience applauding the trio of acrobats they’d just witnessed.
“Next up, making their return to the night of lights, is the lovely duo from Irena Gretel’s dance class, The Emerald Flyer and The Shining Azer!”

The lights dimmed as the audience applauded, smoke machines already doing their work as they flooded the stage with their payload. With the lights low, Virgil and Telokey moved onstage, taking their respective positions onstage, waiting for the music to start.
It began at a low strum of a sitar, a slow, relaxing tune. The lights began to fade back on, the two having wrapped their wings about their bodies. This plus the smoke really obscured the audience’s view of the two. They both slowly writhed their bodies inside their wing cocoons, waiting for the music to really pick up.
And when it finally did, with the sitar soon being joined in by symbols and other instruments, the two flared their wings out. The lights shifted from a dull orange to a mix of green and pink, the duo moving in front of the smoke to begin their dance as they shook their hips and rolled their stomachs to the delight of the audience.

“YEAH SILVER!” McAllister screeched, joined in by his posse as they hooted and clapped, all save Zin, who had been dragged their as a part of his debt to the group. But even he had to admit the dance was appealing…

“Damn Vi, you’ve gotta teach me how to do that.” Kelly smiled from her seat, now fully recovered from her run in with the GCF officers.
“Though maybe you would wear a bit less for our lesson…”

“He’s really good.” Bridget whispered to her boyfriend, whose normally stoic personality had given way to one of awe.

“I’ll say.” Chuck responded.
“I didn’t know he even did this.”

“Maybe you should take up dancing again then?” Bridget giggled, giving him a kiss on the cheek before they both got back to watching the dance.

“Isn’t our lunch break over?” Derek’s ox assistant asked him.

“Hmm? Uh… oh, Clarice has the store until we get back.” The human waved off.

“Wow.” Zane the purple lizard exclaimed as he watched.
“He is… REALLY good. Better than I thought.”

“I know, isn’t he just wonderful?” Chrissy the cocker spaniel said dreamily, Zane just looking oddly at the dog who seemed to have spoken to him for no reason.

“NOW do you agree this was a good way to spend our leave?” Tori asked Lenora, nudging the sergal with her elbow.

“I had my doubts when it started off with juggling.” Lenora responded with a roll of her eyes.
“But… yes, this is very nice.”

“Excuse me, pardon me…” Paul the polar bear said as he squeezed back past Tori and Lenora, plopping down

“How much popcorn did you get?” The shark asked him.

“Enough for everyone, with two extra for me.” Paul said, passing popcorn down the line to Anu, Chinook, Tori, and Lenora.

“Wait? Where’s Cro?” Chinook asked, looking around. As if on cue, the small chubby puppy popped out of the popcorn.
“Oh, there he is, my adorable little puppy.” She giggled.

The dance was beginning to draw to a close now. Virgil and Telokey, using their wings like veils, spun around as their fur and costumes just reflected the light being shined on them, the both of them giving a quick spin before raising their arms above their heads, giving their stomachs a few more rolls before bowing for the audience, ending on their knees.
As the music stopped, the crowd erupted into cheers for the duo, equaling that of the previous acrobats.
Virgil and Telokey shared a smile with one another. This was a greater reaction than their last performance had gotten.
The duo rose up, holding hands as they took a bow and walked offstage for the next performance.

But one person wasn’t planning on staying for the performance. She’d seen all she needed. Smirking to herself, she rose up from her seat, walking up the aisle and out of the theater. Her suspicions were confirmed. This Azer was the one she’d been looking for.