Marshall had to try hard not to laugh at the overly excited bat. He couldn't help but remind him of a cartoon he had watched when he was much, much younger. Ferngully. With a shake of his head, he collected the trash from the food and tucked it back into his bag, until he could find a proper trash receptacle.

"They're called glasses. They won't help much at night, unless they actually light the street lamps, these days, but they're something we've had for... Oh gods, centuries. Be careful with the lenses, though. They're made of glass, and they don't work well if they break."

After he heard the question, he couldn't hold back the snort, anymore. "Take care of you? That wall has been nothing but a menace since the day they built it!" He shook his head. "Besides. Maybe here I can actually do some good. I would never have thought a pair of glasses would be considered 'magic,' after all. You guys have it even worse than I thought."

Zonia nodded as she listened to Randa speak she managed to give him a slight smile of reassurance, about her injuries. "I'm alright just a little bruising, nothing to worry about. She paused thinks about what they will do today. Zonia should open the shop today it won't be to hard to manage, she hopes. "I'll open the shop, just so it doesn't look to suspicious..you're more than welcome to join me. I would love the company." Zonia said softly, as she ran her paws through her hair.

Zonia walked over to the sink to wash her hands, turning on the cold water. After her hands were washed she cupped her hands and gathered some water in them. Splashing her face, to give her more energy and a more refreshed feeling. She pats her face dry with her shirt lifting slightly around her snout, causing her stomach to slightly be visible only for a short time. Once dry, she peers back over towards the sink, she turned the water off. Zonia thought about what Randa said, about showing they've had enough.

Zonia turned and leaned against the sink. "You know, i've been thinking about what you said..I think it's time we start something. Show those SWATS we aren't taking their crap anymore." She paused, and sighed. "We just need to find some more people, ask around but we have to be careful. Some of the others might rat us out for a favor or some kind of reward. She said to Randa, she knows he is sick of taking their crap and she is too. They shouldn't have to be afraid all the time, enough is enough.

"If you want I can meet you at my shop, i'm just going to clean up a bit and than head over. It won't take me long.." Zonia states, as she shuffles over to their bathroom. She stops at the door way and looks back at Randa.

"Glasses." He repeated happily. "They are like new eyeballs to me. Why don't they make these for us if you have had them for so long then?" he said, pushing them up on his nose as he looked at his own clawed hand and the rings thereon. "I never knew these were silver..." He said softly, realizing anyone could have mugged them from him at any time, but, no dim did. Maybe it was was just too much even for vagrant dims to steal from a blind bat. It honestly gave Akma hope for the future.

He listened as Marshall snorted and spoke. Akma's mouth started to open to protest as Marshall continued. "But.. Akma has always heard they built that for our safety. Because we can't be trusted to do the right thing." he pointed to Marshall. "I mean you people made us from your bodies, and gave us the gift of speech, and let us live in these nice cities, how could we not see you as nice and friendly!" He said, slowly trailing off. "Well.. Except.. The blue ones. They are kinda mean." He said, referencing the SWATS.

Unconsiously his hands travel along a tear in his wing, one that hadn't fully healed right and was still open at the beginning.

"But I'm alive, and I eat sometimes, and now..." he grinned, pointing to his glasses. "I can seee!!!" he said, adjusting them again as he happily patted his stomach. "And I am full. So you, sir, are my proof that humans cannot be as bad as people say." He said with a smile. "But you never answered..." He repeated. "Why are you here?" His exaggerated pupils dilated as the question was posited.

Randa nodded. With Zonias presence, it almost felt like a normal morning again as she walked over to wash her hands. "Okay." he said, looking over to her as he let a small smile curl across his lips. He had always loved Zonia's little shop, but never had the time to pop in and say hi. This would be the perfect excuse to take a day to do so. Randa stole a glance over to her as she cleaned her face, before she spoke.

"You know, i've been thinking about what you said..I think it's time we start something. Show those SWATS we aren't taking their crap anymore." Randa grinned as he looked over to her, letting her finish. It faded as she got down to the seriousness of the issue. He was glad she shared his passion.

Randa gave a solemn nod as she told him of her plans, taking the bandages and wrapping up his hand. He ached, but it was time. He headed over to the factory, with a visible limp still, hand bandaged, and right eye swolen. Even through the pain though, he held himself back straight, with dignity. Blending in with the crowd of unemployeds and derelicts, he went his own pace, but made sureto be as nonchalant as possible.

He passed a SWAT that didn't give him a second glance. Phew. But as he continued to limp along, he noticed the alley they had been in, completely quarantined, and heavily guarded. The coroners and CSID was there. His heart skipped a beat as he picked up the pace, still not picked up. They must not have a physical description, which was good. But it was only a matter of time before something got figured out.

He did his best not to think about it, and hobbled towards his work. At the front office, it was uneventful as Randa signed himself out, for the mandatory two strikes. He had never been late, never taken a day off, never sneezed on the job, and he still got two strikes. That was just policy however, as Dims were always *always* underemployed. Hobbling away, he made his way to Zonia's shop, beating her there. Leaning against the wall, he lit up a cigarette, and waited for her to arrive.

Marshall winced slightly, shaking his head. "SWATS are pretty terrible, huh?" He sighed, swinging his bag back onto his shoulders. "Akma, Theoretical question: How many friends do you have that you don't trust? See, I know better. I know you guys can be trusted. If you couldn't, then almost every business on the other side of that thing would be belly up, by now."

The boy turned and stared up at the wall. It seemed so much bigger from this side. As he listened to Akma, his eyes dimmed more and more. Was that really how Dims were being told things were? Where basic medical care was akin to magic, but they were protected? Dims weren't even allowed to work in hospitals, he remembered. Humans didn't trust them not to steal medicine, or supplies. In some cases, mothers even feared the loss of children.

He remembered, though, before the wall was built. It had only been for a few days, but he remembered the young cat he'd befriended. Who only wanted food. Who thought it was amazing that a little Human boy had been willing to share a tunafish sandwich.

"I crossed the wall because I want to change things. I want to make things better for Dims. The humans all seem to forget about our own history. Segregation doesn't protect anyone. It stirs up trouble. Eventually, someone over here is going to decide enough is enough. To be honest, I'd rather be on your side."

Zonia smiled as she heard Randa agree to accompany her at her shop. She's usually pretty lonely there, it gets boring only dealing with the few customers that come by now and again. She proceeded to the bathroom, and began to clean herself up. Turning the cold water on and washing off any dirt or dried up blood from the night before. The brownish water became a tint of red while she washed her fur. Wincing at the pain of the bruises as she went of certain areas, her ears instantly fell back. Some of the pain is a bit much but nothing she can't handle. Her tail curled around her legs as she brushed her hair trying to look presentable on her way to open her shop. Turning the water and light off in the bathroom before leaving she glared around the room, searching for anything that could be useful for them today. They didn't have much, Zonia did spot Randa and her papers she swiftly picked them up and folded them placing them neatly in her cargo pants pocket. She doesn't want to risk another confrontation in case they are late again. she shrugged and left their apartment, locking the door behind her she had no money which meant what was left in the store is what she'll have to deal with and get supplies another time.

Zonia made her way out of their apartment and across the not so heavily guarded areas outside. Making her way to the shop she noticed certain areas did have a few more SWATS than usual luckily no one stopped her, which was a relief. As she was close to her shop, she passed the Alley way where everything went wrong. It was highly accompanied by the SWATS which only made her heart beat a little faster. She picked up the pace and proceeded to her shop. She noticed Randa beat her to it. Zonia smirked, she knew he'd get here before her. "Hey, sorry for the wait i just wanted to grab something before heading out. She told him reaching into her pocket for Randa's papers. She offers them to him "Thought i'd grab these just in case" Zonia said, she reached again into her pocket fishing for her shop keys. You could hear the jingling inside the pocket. Pulling them out, she proceeded to the back of the store where the door was. She unlocked it and pulled the door open.

She stepped inside and pulled out the extra chair she had stored under the counter where the transaction of guests would be. She unfolded it and placed it across from her usual spot which was by the register and door. Glancing at all the supplies, she was running low but she could get through the day with what she has. Reaching for a box of cereal they usual have at their apartment and also a few waters she placed them on the table that sat in the back of the shop. Zonia also grabbed two bowls and plastic spoons. "Please, help yourself to some of the cereal, i know we didn't have any at home. If you need any extra bandages or anything help yourself to those as well." She said to Randa softly, she plopped down in her chair, her tail swings underneath her chair.

Akma nodded softly as he commented on the SWATS. But, as he was asked the question about his friends, Akma had to admit he didn't know anyone he would equate to a friend. He was either bothering shopkeeps or hiding at night from the patrols. "Well, I don't know about that..." He said softly, but honestly couldn't comment on it. he had been in the dark for so long, literally and figuratively, that it was no concern of him, his usual concerns included surviving the night and eating the next day.

Akma smiled happily at Marshall as he talked of changing things, letting the other half of his sentence sink in as well, but not particularly focusing on it. "But you have! Already you have." He said with a smile. "With these things I might be able to find work now! Then maybe... just maybe I could buy a home.." he said dreamily, thinking about not having to hunker down in abandoned buildings or forgotten backstreets. "And no one will decide that..." Akma chuckled, completely believing himself. "But... If you were looking for someone who likes to cause trouble... I might be able to show you someone who fits that bill..."

Marshall couldn't help but smile at Akma's cheerful attitude. This was why he couldn't understand why the Dims were so looked down upon. "I didn't change that much," he murmured, before listening to the rest of what Akma had to say.

He was silent for a few moments, considering. On the one hand, he did want to make a difference. On the other, why would anyone looking to rebel against his fellow human beings want to trust him? He was still quite young, after all. Not to mention that all he had to prove his good intentions was the money he had brought with him, a meager food supply, a bat with glasses...

Infomation, his mind supplied, and he thought about it quite seiously. He nodded slightly, coming to a decision. "If you think you can convince them to give me a chance, that is."

Randa had just about finished his smoke as Zonia appeared in the distance. "Thought i'd just grab these just in case", he heard her say as he smiled and nodded. "Good thinking. Thats the whole reason we.." He looked around, as non chalantly as he could for prying ears. "Why we had the incident last night." he said quietly. He hobbled after her into the shop, looking around. God, it had been so long since he had seen her quaint little shop. he ran his hands along the shelves, before finding a seat to sit in as Zonia politely presented the bowls to him. "Ah, thank you..." He said, looking up to her, before taking a box and pouring himself some into the plastic bowl.

Lifting the spoon to his mouth he began to chew, with some crunches here and there as he swallowed, watching Zonia as she sat down across from him. "So." He said with a mouthful of cereal before swallowing. "Is business still slow..?" He said, looking around, noticing the slightly barren shelves. It wasn't her fault it was... but it was. It gave Randa an Idea.. But he would save it for later. This might just be a great front for something he could plan.. But he waited for a response, briefly catching her eyes as he took another bite of the cereal.

"Come!" Akma said happily as he stood up, adjusting his new glasses. He swiveled around and ran to the end of the alley, before stopping.. And tapping his chin. "No..." He said to himself, before running the other way and stopping. "Erm..." he said, thinking to himself as his huge eyes blinked, ears folding down. "Ah." he said with a smirk, before finding his stick and then removing the glasses. "I never found it with eyeballs." he said a bit low on the volume, as he began to tap the side of the wall, putting the glasses away with his free hand. He tapped his way about two or three blocks down the back alley, calling back to marshall: "If you see anyone, don't stop, just keep going!" He said, tapping along. They rounded corners, and went over a bridge, then uphill, further into the slums, all the while with Akma humming and squawking every once and a while for direction. "Almost there..." He said, taking the glasses out of his pocket and holding them to his face as he turned around, squinting and looking for Marshall to make sure he had kept up.

Zonia's eye's met Randa's and she nodded to his question, the shop was pretty slow sure now and again she'll get customers but it's not a constant flow, " Yeah, the shop is just getting by. I'm honestly not sure how much longer it'll actually last.." She admits to Randa. It's sad, she loves this old shop it's the only thing keeping her from going insane, well along with Randa. She'd hate to let it go. She sighed and grabbed the box of cereal, pouring some into the bowl. Picking up the spoon she began to munch away on the bland but satisfying treat to fill her stomach for the time being. She gazed around her old shop, surveying what she may need to buy more of soon, before stuffing her snout with another spoonful. Before she knew it her bowl had become empty, shrugged she tossed her bowl and spoon towards the nearby trash bin. She had plenty of more, bowls and spoons she wasn't worried about running out.

Before speaking she surveyed around her shop, it looked clear. "So do you have a plan or will we take each day as it comes?" She asks him in a soft tone, in case any SWAT or other dim was walking past the shop. Zonia isn't much of a planner, meaning she isn't the best at making plans up in a situation like this. Randa is more of a strategists and can think quickly on his feet. Zonia is a quick thinking in situations of speed and agility for getting out of things not so much on waiting things out and such. She looked around yet again and back towards Randa awaiting an answer.

Randa shook his head softly. "No plan.." He said softly, finishing off his bowl. "Not yet. But I know who I should talk to. And I know who we should go see..." he said deep in thought. As she ate across from him he couldn't help but look at her and think about how worried he was he was going to lose her that night, or die, and not be able to help her any longer. He didn't want to have to have those kind of thoughts any more.

"Zonia, I'm having a crazy idea... But it might help with our plight here.. We could use the basement in the shop to set up meetings. Try to find people who are tired like us.. Tired of all this." He stood up and hobbled over to her, collecting her bowl when she was finished and placing both hers and his on the counter. Looking around the shop, he felt a soft grin begin to build across his face. "Yeah... I'll quit the factory. But not before moonlighting out some equipment we need. We can start making posters, maybe get a symbol, and start showing people what we want." He cupped his chin, deep in thought over this.

"Maybe we could start talking to someone about demonstrating, showing the SWATS we're united. Then they'll have to start thinking of us very differently." he said, looking back to Zonia. "But first.. I think we need to talk to someone." He sat back down with a grimace, looking around the shop. "If its okay with you, i think we should close for lunch. I want you to come with me to meet someone who can help us. I know him from the factory.. But he was fired. I dunno why." as he spoke, he wrung his hands, tracing his pads over the bandage as he stared into space, a fire in his eyes beginning to burn bright.

She listen to Randa speak, some might think his rambling on about meetings and starting something were crazy but Zonia was impressed. A smile formed on her face as she heard him talk about secret meetings and getting the respect they well deserved. Not wanting to be rude she let him finish talking she nodded in agreement to what he was saying. Her face lit up once he was done. She stood from her seat and walked over to grab the 'went to lunch' sign she puts out when she decides to go out and eat lunch. Placing by where customers walk by.

"I like your thinking, i know it might be a bit risking doing something like that but i'm willing to take that risk. we also might need to clean it up down there" she paused and grabbed the key's to her shop and proceeded towards the door. "Now about this person, we can trust him right?" She asked him, holding the door open for Randa. She hasn't been this excited since first opening the shop. Sure, some might think opening a shop of your own isn't exciting but she lives for her shop. The smile painted on Zonias face couldn't be washed away, or well it won't be for some time.

He thanked Zonia as he went through the door, placing a hand on her shoulder as he walked past her. "Oh, I think the problem might be getting him to trust us." he said, looking back at her with a smirk. "If I remember correctly he's a little jumpy." He chuckled and walked a few paces past her, tail twitching as he looked back and waited for her. As they walked along, the streets seemed much more empty this time of day, everyone at work, and only a few dims on the street who were the unfortunate unemployed. Accompanying them were SWATS, but also sparser than the high traffic hours, more just keeping track of the vagrants and simply making their presence known.

As he limped along, he grumbled and struggled a bit to keep up with Zonia, but she was nice enough to make pace with him. He led her down towards the more condensed living areas in the center of the Dim settlement, finally coming down a narrow alleyway with small shacks lining each side of the street, all the curtains drawn, if there were at all. Some if not most sheds just had cardboard or plywood blocking the abscesses. Randa slowed as he thought back to the directions he had been given before his friend had been escorted from the factory.

He stopped for a second, tapping his chin in thought before walking down a few more doors, and looking back to Zonia. "He said we couldn't miss it.." He said softly to himself, before hesitantly deciding which door it was. It was a re purposed antique door, not fitting the rest of the hodgepodge of shacks around them. He looked back to Zonia. "This is the place. You ready, Zon?"

It really wasn't all that difficult, Marshall thought, following someone who was used to finding his way by beating on the ground with a stick. In fact, nearly the entire distance, he was only a couple feet behind. Now that he was certain that Akma was decended from a bat, it made far more sense as to why he was blind. He just couldn't figure out why, when the scientists were splicing genes, they didn't account for the lack of vision. What use to humans is a blind soldier? He didn't really want to think about it.

Marshall did pay attention when Akma said not to stop even if the people they passed gave him strange looks, but it was hard not to. It wasn't as if he could blame them, really. How often did even SWATS come in this far without it being solely to harrass the inhabitants? When Akma stopped to check on him, he finally spoke.

"So, Akma, tell me about this guy you're taking me to see?"

Akma turned around and happily pointed down a very thin alley through a bunch of sheds, leading Marshall even further into the fray as the crowds thinned out, presumably because everyone was at work. He tapped his way through the corrugated metal shacks and plywood barriers. "Yes.. Close now.." he mumbled. A couple, one tall skinny wolf looking type, and a shorter, but still skinny cat girl walked past them as they avoided eye contact and walked on ahead. They dissapeared into the labyrynthe of alleyways to destinations unknown as Akma attemped to get his bearings once more. "Now... let me see..." he said softly, before tapping a particularly interesting piece of sheet metal in a few places, causing a voice from inside the shack to tell him where he could stick the stick he was using. "Emm... Heh... This way!" he said, starting to fumble in the direction that the couple had dissapeared down.

"We take you to see my friend! He used to share with me on his breaks from the factory. He would let me have some of his food. In return, I would listen. To everything. And tell him what I heard. He was so nice, only wanting that in return!" Akma said happily as he tapped down the alley further. "We take you to him. I sure don't know what to do with you, but he will!" he said with a smile, which faded as he sniffed the air. "No..." He said grumpily as he took his glasses and put them back on. "Maybe eyeballs will help after all." He squinted, heading off down the direction. "He described the door to me, but forgot I couldn't see. Red! A red old door that is sturdy and strong." He said with a nod, slowly continuing down the alley. "Did you think it was like this human?" He said, chuckling as he waved his hands all around at the "grandiose" around them. "Its so nice!" he said, despite the smell of rotting garbage and stagnant puddles on the ground, no building codes or engineers ever setting foot in this shanytown.

As they walked along the streets, she made sure to keep pace with Randa knowing his injury's don't allow him to be as quick as he was before hand. She surveyed the area looking around at the empty streets, only seeing a few dims but many SWATS. Her tail flicked back and forth as they made their way down the narrow alleyway. Zonia can't recall if she'd ever been over this way, she shrugged and kept up with Randa, she didn't mind the new area but felt safer being by him.

Peering at each of the makeshift shacks, taking in on how hard some of the other dims had it made her unhappy. Why is it that some have to live in these conditions? It didn't seem fair to Zonia, why not give them a better built shelter for dims without a job. It's not their fault they can't get hired. Handicaps that they may have aren't like they intended to be burdened with having them. Zonia shrugged and looked to Randa who asked if she was ready. She liked her nickname he gave her. She smiled "I'm ready, lets do this." She told him, gazing into his eye's. it just came to mind that the two of them had grown so close over the years, its weird to think about but she's happy to have such a good relationship with him.

Before they entered the place Zonia took in their environment and memorized which shack this was in case she ever needed to come her alone, or something were to happen. Zonia tail flicked behind her, she was a bit nervous meeting someone new. On top of meeting someone new, they had to make sure this person could be trusted which she was also nervous about. What would happen if said person didn't trust them?

Marshall nodded along, listening silently as the man described his friend. It was amazing, he thought, how much the people on this side of the wall tried to help each other. Never once did he lose track of where Akma was, keeping up with him easily. "That is one of the few ways that you're luckier than some humans, Akma. Humans tend to ignore the homeless."

He kept his eyes peeled for the red door, searching for it while he surveyed the surrounding... Mess. "You make it sound like this place is a palace," he mumbled, knowing full well that the hightened hearing of his new friend meant that he'd be easily heard. "These buildings aren't all that safe. Why, that one over there looks like a gust of wind could tip it over!"

He supposed that it was a good thing that he didn't have the heightened sense of smell that the Dims had, either. The garbage was bad without it. Finally, his eyes fell upon a door that looked as if it could have been red, once upon a time. "Akma, might that be it?"

Randa looked back into her eyes, his own dialating just a bit as he thought back on the years and years of hardship they had, but always had each others backs. He was truly her best friend, and was elated to see how she supported his borderline insane planning. As she answered, he smiled and nodded. He knocked on the door, in a special sequence that the mystery occupant had said to use long ago. Hopefully he was doing it right...

He looked back to Zonia, who seemed to be a little nervous at the stipulations of their current voyage. As they began to hear rustling inside, he grabbed her hand with his own bandaged one and gave it a squeeze as he smiled to her. "Don't worry. We'll be fine." he said, slowly releasing her hand and breaking the gaze, looking towards the door as it opened, being caught on a chain that held the door. There stood a desheveled looking, scraggly Raccoon, with a grumpy expression on his face. "What?! I told you I can't get those no more. Stop askin!!" He went to slam the door, but Randa stopped him from doing so with his foot, letting out a yelp of pain as he gritted his teeth. " T!!! Its me! Noctus from the factory..." he said as the Raccoons face shifted from annoyance to amazement. "R. I haven't heard from you in months. I figured your dumb ass was dead by now." He said with a chuckle, one that Randa emulated. "Let us in, dick." Came Randa's response.

The door slammed shut and more shuffling was heard as the chain dropped, and they were allowed entry into the shack. It was clear why the "security" was so high. There was a lot of electricity running through the place, mainly to servers and computers dangling from every which way, cell phones, dozens of them strewn about. An old victrola style record player crooned softly in the backround, the hisses and pops almost louder than the music it produced. He waited for Zonia to walk in, and he closed the door replacing the chain as he did so.

"Well," Tanta said, taking a seat in a well worn office chair infront of several moniters. "You look like shit. Well, worse than usual I mean."

"Yeah, you got fat." Randa responded, to which Tanta countered: "Yeah, not a bad problem to have though." He began to type at a screen, human websites and social media scrolling past as one of the other monitors displayed source codes and encryption keys.

Randa continued, looking over to Zonia. "T, we.. we're done." He said. Tanta swivelled in his chair to face them. "About time." he said quietly. " So what now?"

Tanta put a paw to his face as he he thought, letting out a hesitant groan. "Well, I mean, what else? We try it peaceful, once, then thats it. If it doesn't go our way, I still know a guy with a printer, and connects to the other side of the wall. You still work at the factory?" he said, to which Randa nodded. A toothy grin came over Tanta's face. "Excellent. We'll have all we need then." He said, to which Randa corrected him. "We still gotta 'get' it." He said with a snort.

"Well good thing you still work there then! Try to keep up, ya stupid dog." Tanta said, turning back around and typing away.
"By the way, who's the chick?" He said nonchalantly.

"You know that Roomate you kept on thinking I was making up? Zonia?"

"Yeah."

"This is her, she's real. And she's also right here, so you can introduce yourself you antisocial git." Randa said with a snort, looking over to Zonia. "This is Tanta. He's a shutin nutbar with too much time on his hands. He's exactly what we need." He said with a grin before turning back to Tanta's screens.

"Mm. Fascinating." He said with a hint of sarcasm. "I'll need some time to think about how to get the fliers out without anyone seeing.. And we'll need someone to go across the wall... Do you still know anyone that-" He was abruptly interrupted by three loud bangs on the door. Randa moved instinctively over to Zonia, without hesitation as Tanta's ears fell back, looking to Randa, then Zonia. The room was dead quiet except the ceiling fan and the whirring of the hard drives. Then came another loud bang on the door, followed by muffled talking. Even Randa just about jumped out of his skin as Tanta slowly walked towards the door, picking up a baseball bat. "Just a minute..." He yelled towards the door, walking over slowly.

Akma shrugged happily as they continued further into the alley, before the door was pointed out to him. "Ah! Yes! This is where Data is." He said as he walked up to the door. "He is the one that will want to say hi, I bet. " he said happily, banging on the door three times. There was a hush from inside. They waited a few minutes, before Akma looked back to Marshall. "Um. Heh. He must not have heard me." He added, before banging on the door again, louder. "Come on..." He said, tapping his foot impatiently as he looked over to Marshall. "Hey! Come here and stand next to the door. He doesn't like surprises." He then thought about it a bit. "Well, you are kind of a surprise though in your self. " he said with a laugh, as he heard ffootsteps on the other side of the door begin to approach. "Ah! Here he is!" he said with a smile. The door handle slowly began to turn.

Zonia's eye's were fixed on the door that now remained slightly open, the voice that emitted from it, she wasn't familiar with. He was about to shut the door on us when Randa stepped in and told the man who we were. After exchanging a few words between them the door was shut and reopened allowing them entrance. Zonia hesitated for a minute but proceeded inside, seeing all the computer screens and computers, it all amazed Zonia. How did he get his hands on this stuff. She sat down in a nearby chair, watching Randas friend, Tanta sit down across from them. Zonia looked at Randa who had plopped down next to her, with him by her side she felt safe even in a strangers home.

"Nice to meet you Tanta" Zonia tells him politely giving off a warm smile. However her smile didn't last long, upon speaking they were interrupted by banging on the door. Her ears flew back, her tail curled around her. Everyone grew silent, murmurs could be heard from outside. As if on cue of the banging Randa was already in front of her as if it was of instinct to protect. Tanta broke the silence by telling them 'Just a minute' he walked towards the door. Zonia's heart was going a mile a minute, a lump in her throat caused her being unable to speak or move. It's bad enough she was already nervous about being in a strangers home, now someone wants in. Zonia starred at the door, and back at Randa, she didn't know what was going on or who was even at the door. It could be the SWATS going around questioning dims. Maybe even some bad people who aren't on good terms with Randas friend.

Zonia looked down at her paws which were visibly shaky, taking a deep breath she tried to calm herself down. She closed her eye's and reassured herself it was nothing to worry about. Upon opening them she gazed up at Randa and then back at the door where Tanta stood ready to see who the source of banging was.

Marshall immediately moved to do as Akma said, moving into plain view. He even went so far as to put his backpack on the ground in front of him, pulling off his zippered jacket, and held up his hands in a non threatening gesture. He really would rather not be mistaken for one of the SWATS again. Once was enough of that.

He watched as the door began to open, his blue eyes bright and curious. This was farther than he'd really expected to get without being caught by the guards. "I just hope your friend is... friendly," he mumbled quietly.

Randa and Tanta looked at each other one last time before the raccoon turned, baseball bat in hand, to open the door, letting it stop at the chain. He peered out with an inquiry: "Who is it?" he said, bracing himself in case it was the SWAT. But the only thing he could through the door was a pair of comically magnified cloudy eyes.

"Data!!" Akma said happily as he tried to get in the door, not understanding it was chained and only jostling it a bit. "Em.. Hrm..." He said, trying again.

"Dammit, Akma, stop." Tanta said, eyeing him suspiciously still. "What the hell is that on your head?"

"Oh! OH!" He said, getting visibly excited. "That is why I am here. I have found someone you might want to talk to, aaannnddd~" He said, with a dramatic wave of his hands, tapping them at the very end. "They're magic. Its not a big deal though." He smugly stated.

Tanta wasn't visibly amused. "You know, you were about to get your bell rung, Akma." he said, raising the baseball bat into view. Akma, either not understanding or not caring, simply smiled and shrugged. Randa, all the while, was intently watching the door, ears perked towards it. Shooting Zonia a glance, he gave her a reasurring nod, letting her know that everything seemed to be okay. Randa approached the door, peeking over Tantas much shorter head. He had seen the bat before, but only staring into the abyss, holding signs with incoherent words on them.

"SO! Come onnnnnnNNNN!" Akma said, again trying the door, adding to Tanta's suspicion about his motives. "Let me introduce you to my friend!" He obviously thought there must be some other reward in his escort quest other than the pride of knowing he helped. Perhaps, he wanted a bit more of Tanta's food. Eying the bat, Tanta slammed the door, leaving Akma to retract his long snout before it was slammed in the door. Turning to Marshall, he gave a nervous shrug. "Maybe... He went to get us snacks...?" he said, hopelessly optomistic.


On the other side of the door, Randa was colored unimpressed. "A homeless bat?" He snorted, taking out a cigarette and lighting it up. Tanta turned, looking down to the floor as he cupped his chin in deep thought. "He could be useful. He helped me a lot with data collection, witting or not when we still worked in the Tinderbox together. And he has never sought me out, so whoever this Dim is that he brought must be very important, or at least he thinks..." he stopped mid sentence, as he turned around to glare at Randa, stomping up to him and taking the cigarette out of his mouth, stomping on it with his foot. "Smoke is hell on electronics!!" He exclaimed. "Oh, and your lungs, or something. I don't know. "

Randa was obviously perplexed, but listened silently to Tanta's commands. "Well, come on then. We'd better not keep them waiting." Randa retorted. Tanta nodded, and walked back to the door.


Akma stood patiently, still at the door, hoping against hope these few minutes passing was just a friendly conversation inside. Suddenly, his ears perked up as the sound of a chain sliding off its hinges clattered into the alleyway. The brass handle began to turn and the door opened, three perplexed inhabitants inside, all looking towards the bat, and Marshall. Suddenly, the large Maned wolfs ears shot back as he darted towards the door. Pushing Akma aside, he grabbed Marshall by the collar and dragged him into the Room, surprisingly stronger than his tall wiry frame would lead on. Using his non bandaged hand, he pressed Marshall up against the wall, glaring into his eyes as his snouth almost touched his nose. "Close the door!" He barked at Tanta, which he dutifilly did, but not before Akma was able to slide in, looking truly confused. "What are you doing wolf man??" he exclaimed, running over to help. Randa simply shot Akma a glare, that froze him in his track, his large eyes blinking as his ears drooped.


"Tanta, the fuck?? You just let your people bring humans here??" He said, to which Tanta responded with a stutter and a shrug, looking completely amazed at the scene unfolding in front of him. "I, I, I mean.. L-l-ook, I didn't know this vagrant was bringing pinkies here! But look... He's not SWAT... Hes a.. He's a civilian! On this side of the wall!!!" Tanta exclaimed, rubbing his hands together in fascination. But Randa's paranoid mind would not let him off the hook that easily. He glared into Marshall's eyes, growling softly before setting him down on the floor, but keeping a grip on his shirt. "You have thirty seconds to convince me you're not a spy." Tanta and Akma both grew silent, slowly moving toward Zonia close to the computer desk, watching the scene unfold. The tension in the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Everyone's eyes were on Marshall, and everyone's next breath hung on his explanation.

Marshall couldn't help the small, startled laugh at Anna's insistence that the glasses were magic. He really couldn't. Nor could he help feeling almost astonished that Akma didn't know the door was probably chained. Didn't he say that the Dim was his friend?

When Marshall was yanked, his hands stayed held up in a defensive gesture. "He's right. I'm not a SWAT." He finally dropped his hands, brushing imaginary wrinkles from his shirt. "My name is Marshall Adonnis Shan, I am twenty years old, and I am a former employee of Malcon-tech. We programmed everything from safes to gates, to those cute little trackers that the SWATS use on the Dims that work in the fields outside the city. I was sick of seeing what was happening and not doing anything about it."

He pointed to the lenses on Anna's face. "Those are called glasses. They are two convexed lenses of glass set in a cheap wire frame. Humans have been using them to correct their eyesight since the renaissance period. Glass and Wire. No magic. No tech. And cheap as hell to make, yet we can't even seem to let you know about them? How is that even remotely fair?"

"You get almost zero medical attention. Which is terrible, because I can see from here that you have been shot. Akma is starving to death ever so slowly because we wouldn't help him find a way to work. Ten years ago, a young Aviary Dim got lynched because she had the gall to make friends with a little boy. A little boy who just happened to be the son of a geneticist. Why the hell would that little boy ever want to help those sons of bitches? Now, are you satisfied? Or do I take my knowledge elsewhere?"

Stunned Zonia sits in her chair watching everything unfold, when the door opened and was slammed shut she thought the worst of it. Her hear skipped a beat when he re opened the door in fear of being attacked. Zonia saw a bat, she didn't have a clear few of the other dim that was outside. Suddenly Randa was out of his chair and barreling towards the door, grabbing the other guy and pulling him inside. Upon him being dragged in, it wasn't a dim at all. The person in front of her eye's was a human..What if he was a SWAT. Did this bat just rat them out or put them at risk? Zonia heart was beating fast and her mind filled with worry.

Snapping out of it, she fixed her eye's on the scene unraveling in front of her. This human didn't appear to look like a SWAT, and maybe wasn't even a danger to them. Randa was out of control, he needed to calm down. Seeing he put him back on the ground, she rose from her chair and went over to him. Putting a hand on his shoulder. Her ears fall back as she speaks to Randa "Hey! Randa it's alright let him go." She pulls him off the poor boy. After pulling him off Zonia looks back up at the boy in front of her. She's never seen on up close without any riot gear on, he seemed so different than the rest she normally sees.

Zonia looks back at Randa "He could be harmless for all we know. Lets just give him a chance to explain himself. " She tells her friend, looking over at the scrawny bat who goes by Akma, he stands next to the human in question. Akam seems very sure of the human, like he's not a threat. She's not sure if he's just crazy or if he speaks the truth. Zonia shakes her head, she doesn't know what to think. Her tails flicked around it's a quirk of hers, it happens when she's nervous or scared. She stands next to Randa, her arms folded across her chest, her eye's fall on the human waiting for him to explain himself.