#!snake

Scott brightened up from the letter.“Wow! It be a year already eh? Time sure fliesss.”

“Her diet, ya ask?”“Similar t’ foxes. High-quality canned dog food make the bulk o’ it. Along with whatever source of protein available: pre-killed rats, meat, them pinkies and fuzzies. Sometimes steamed ground beef or chicken.”“She loves insects too. Grasshoppers, mealworms, crickets and so on. As for veggies, a variety o’ them. She loves cherry tomatoes.”“E’ry Pokemon and their momma loves berries. Mah wee lass ain’t different, so Blueberries, blackberries, mulberries, even cherries are all game. Only thing I don’t encourage eatin’ are grapes. Known to cause kidney damage in canines.”

Then, here came Snake. He used the air vents as usual: a habit he never quite done away with. “Yo,” Snake waved. “Yo...” Heat answered, filled with sadness. The reptile bot inched behind Heat’s chair and peeked over his shoulder. “Oh, one o’ them fancy ballroom invitess?” “Yeah...” Heat placed the card down on the table. “Big Sis should be the one getting this. I became Pyro Knight so I can help her hero work. The credit is hers.” Snake flicked his tongue a bit, unsure of how to answer. “Ain’t quite right Heatbro. Ya worked hard on ya own merit too. If ya didn’t get credit, Sis would be furious.” “True... but I don’t feel right.” “Ya still thinkin’ aboot that day that Timekid shut her down?” The boy nodded. “I heard it from Shadowbro. I want to protect Splash, but after that? I’m not sure if I’d even be welcomed. “Also...that’s when I realised... nobody ever thanked Sis for her hard work.” “Err, ain’t true,” Snake said. “I thank Sis fer givin’ me Matilda. And I’m sure there are people out there who thank her for other thingsss too.” “But are they there when she really, really needs it? When was the last time we heard anything about her friends? Like, does she even have friends anymore?” Sometimes, the simple questions are the most poignant. Snake stayed silent to listen. “I...” Heat continued. “I feel like Sis is fading away from us. Sure, whenever I talk to her she brightens up. But what about the times when we’re not looking? Why is she sleeping later and later? Why is she getting sicker?” “Ain’t her jobs like, deep late in night shift?” “That’s the problem! I tried to ask the organization, but they said ‘Sestina Nox’ didn’t check in for weeks! If not months!” A host of red flags popped up in Snake’s mind. “Ya serious?” Heat rapidly nodded his head. He lowered his voice to a whisper, glancing around to make sure that there were no other eavesdroppers. “Snakebro, we know she didn’t quit. That means they’ve been giving her off-grid assignments. You know. The ‘dirty work’.” “Oy vey,” Snake replied. “That be a huge possibility.” “Snakebro. I wanna find out the truth. Can you help me?” Can Snake say no such a request? Never. If innocent lil’ Jimmy noticed something’s off, something’s truly off. “Of courssssse I’ll help ya out. Tell ya what: I’ll send ya the address o’ the last three relevant peeps she talked in recent weeks. The highest probability. Sis got a habit o’ showing different sides t’ different folks.” For the first time in a long while, the intel-master put on his detective cap. While Crash slept through the afternoon, he interviewed her ever-loyal bird for clues. She knows everything. Stanza refused to expose her master outright. But, she did give him three names. Twinnie, Rockwell, The Third Zero. Long story why there were so many Zeroes. And that’s where the tiny knight will begin his quest. @titaniumthamnophid, @a-fading-light, @patient--zxro