Fiona Crossfire danced her fingers on her holo keypad while sitting behind her desk. Paperwork after paperwork, it never ends but she could fill them out quickly on her computer. Sometimes she missed being a bounty hunter than being the commissioner of the Moreau City Police Department.

Behind her glass door, someone knocked.

Fiona kept her eyes on her holo computer screen. "Come in."

An orange catgirl stepped in and hunched herself over, nearly out of breath.

"Is….. this the commissioner's office?" she panted. "Sorry, I'm late!"

Fiona rubbed her eyebrows. Her head was too foggy to remember who the newcomer was. "Yes, and who are you?"

The girl stood in a straightened posture and saluted. "Rei Young from Seoul, South Korea! I was told to come here after my registration."

"Oh." Fiona stroked her short red hair after her cat ears twitched. "You can sit down while I check."

Rei took a deep breath and sat down on a chair near the door.

Fiona cracked her fingers and typed on the keypad. She opened the recruit file and scrolled down the list. Toward the bottom, she stopped at Rei Young's name and clicked on it.

"Wow!" Fiona gasped.

"Is there something wrong?" Rei asked.

"Nothing! Nothing! I'm still checking!" Fiona stared closer at the holo screen.

Rei's profile said she was sixteen years old. That couldn't be right. Why would the police community allow an adolescent girl to enter the department? All bounty hunters were adults because they have more experience. But it gets interesting.

In Seoul, Rei was part of a kpop idol group while attending the Digital Science Academy for college-level students. She must be very smart to enter that academy. They only selected the smartest after all. Her kpop group was called the Metal Petal, popular for their techno punk candy style music. Two years they lasted until an incident occurred.

During their performance, a bioterrorist released a Chimera Virus gas bomb at the concert. Half the audience mutated into Humanimals and the authorities placed them into custody for quarantine procedures. Rei was one of the victims while her friends were lucky. After her quarantine, her group broke up and her parents abandoned her.

Poor girl.

Everyone rejected her and the only place she could live in was Moreau City. However, the Humanimal Control Society offered her jobs to begin her new life in the city. And she chose the bounty hunter task force unit?

That makes little sense for a girl who only learned computer science and singing. But she took enforcement training at the police academy, and boy-her grades went up! Perhaps this girl has what it takes to be a bounty hunter. Still, Rei has to complete her first bounty hunting mission to be accepted as a true hunter. And only the strongest recruits lived to continue their career.

Fiona sneered at Rei, resting her chin on her folded hands. "So Ms.Young, you were a kpop idol, correct?"

Rei nodded her head. "Um-hum."

"And you took computer science too?"

"Um-hum."

"Now tell me why you wanted to become a bounty hunter after you got deported from your home."

Rei placed her finger on her chin, humming. "I heard bounty hunters earn good money for their service. And I didn't want to work at a greasy fast-food restaurant for the rest of my life."

"So you signed up only for the money?"

"I heard Moreau City is a harsh place to live. Bounty hunters make more money than the average workers."

If they survive….. Fiona stared back at the holo screen. "This also said you are fresh out of the academy with top scores. Computer hacking seemed to be your greatest skill."

"Oh, I could do more than that," Rei giggled, "but I love working on computers."

Perhaps she could make an excellent computer technician or a singer at a nightclub. Instead, she has chosen a job that might not be suitable for her. Hacking was a useful skill for most bounty hunters, but it takes more to catch a criminal without getting killed. But since the academy passed Rei, Fiona has no choice but to accept her. If her mission becomes too dangerous, the new catgirl should be smart enough to quit and find a safer job.

"Have you been cyberized?" Fiona asked.

Rei pointed her finger at her head. "I got a Neuro-Inplant chip. It allows me to transfer my mind into cyberspace, scan areas, and mind com people. All the goodie goods for my assignments."

"Good, if you give me your chip number, I will connect you to our network."

Rei tapped her feet in excitement. "It's 222-555-777."

"Alright." Fiona typed in the number. She pushed enter and then the number got authorized. Can you hear me now?

Rei nodded. Yup! Loud and clear!

"Good, now I will give you the basic rules before I put you on duty." Fiona switched the screen to the BH power document. "All bounty hunters are law enforcers, not vigilantes. A bounty hunter must obey the law and respect the safety of citizens. If a bounty hunter disrespects the law and commits casualties among the innocence he or she will immediately be demoted and sent to prison. The jury will decide the sentence based on the hunter's actions. A bounty hunter may use force and execute target if allowed by the superior- that's me. The target cannot be capture or executed without logical evidence based on their suspected criminal activity. The target can be capture for questioning if authorized. The target cannot come to harm unless necessary. Other law amendments can be broken as long as citizens are not harmed. Bounty hunters are free to roam the city in civilian clothing and follow their own methods as long as they respect the law. If-"

Fiona paused when she noticed Rei purring with her eyes shut. A bubble grew back and forth in her right nostril.

"Rei!"

The young girl's bubble popped, and she tremored into awakeness. "What? What?"

Fiona growled. "You are supposed to be listening. These rules are highly important."

Rei giggled and rubbed the back of her head. "Sorry, but I did listen to those rules back at the academy. I also completed a quiz on it."

Fiona shrugged. "I will now assign you a partner."

"I thought most bounty hunters worked alone."

"Sometimes, but working together ensures their success."

"That makes sense."

Fiona opened up the list of available bounty hunters, still alive and working with the MCPD. If Rei would survive her first assignment, she needed a professional who could guide her.

After scrolling through the list, Fiona stopped as both corners of her mouth curled up into a grin. She just found the perfect candidate for Rei. "I believe I just found a suitable partner for you."

Rei's smile turned wide. "Really?"

"Let me call her first." Fiona stared at the door. Luna, do you read me?

Yes, I'm on the toilet. Luna's voice replied. What do you want?

I got a surprise for you. Come to my office immediately.

What surprise? It better be a lead on the target.

I told you it's a surprise. Get up here now.

Luna sighed. Coming…..

Fiona turned to Rei. "She's on her way now."

"Oh wow! Who is she?" Rei asked with joy. "Is she hot? Can she break a car in two?"

"You'll see."

About three minutes, the black panther girl in her leather outfit stepped through the door. She marched toward Fiona, ignoring Rei. "Tell me you got something good."

Fiona smiled and pointed her finger at Rei. "Luna, meet your new partner, Rei Young. Rei, this is Luna Armstrong."

Rei waved to her. "Yeoboseyo!"

Luna widened her eyes as if she saw something very disgusting. She glared at Fiona. "Can I speak to you in private?"

Fiona had a feeling Luna might overreact, but she wasn't afraid of her. "Sure." She eyed Rei. "Sweetie, would you mind stepping outside?"

"Hwagsilhi!" Rei got up and stepped outside.

Luna turned her sharp eyes back to Fiona. "What the f**k did you mean, new partner?"

Fiona held up her hands. "Calm down, Luna. She-"

"Calm down? Calm down?" Luna pointed her finger at the door. "That little pussy looks fifteen!"

"Sixteen."

"She's still too damn young! And what the hell was she speaking in? Does she speak English?"

"She's from South Korea, and she does speak English."

Luna rubbed her pupils. "Get rid of her! I don't need a partner!"

"That is out of my jurisdiction."

"What?"

Fiona crossed her arms. "Rei Young may look sixteen, but she passed her training at the academy. Don't get me wrong, I was surprised like you. But I cannot disobey the Humanimal Control Society. If they said Rei is a bounty hunter, she is a bounty hunter."

Luna slammed her fist on the desk. "Those fools are idiots! She'll be eaten alive out there."

Fiona pointed her finger at Luna. "That is why I am assigning you to her."

"I'm not a babysitter!"

"Relax, Rei can handle herself. She did fine in weaponry training, and she can hack computers."

Luna's face turned grim. "I never hacked computers….."

"Good, she will become useful for your mission. I guarantee it."

Luna frowned. "What if I say no?"

Fiona drummed her fingers on her desk. "I will remove you from the MCPD."

Luna dropped her mouth. "You can't do that! I'm the best you got!"

"I am the commissioner and disobeying a commissioner is against the law. You know what happens when you break the law."

Luna laughed. "You're too damn clever."

Fiona smiled a Cheshire cat grin. "I know."

Luna stepped away from Fiona's desk. "I'll take her, but her death will not be on my hands!"

"Every bounty hunter is responsible for their own deaths, but go easy on her. If she decides to quit, let her."

Luna chuckled. "I'll try, but I know reality will spank her ass hard."