80

As the guards retrieve the scanner, I roll my eyes at Orchid and we experience an almost psychic understanding of what comes next. We need to be ready to act at any moment if shit goes wrong.

As one of the guards waits in the background, palm still resting on the butt of his gun and eyes still resting on Orchid's chest, the other steps forward with the scanner - a handheld device not much bigger than a telephone.

He scans me first and then inspects the results.

"Dog?" he murmurs. "Is that really your name?"

“Codename,” I reply, trying my best to hide my annoyance. "Are you going to check on the lady?"

"Right."

He walks towards Orchid and licks his lips as he looks her up and down. She's wiped away most of the dried blood, but some of the red cuts and scratches are still showing.

"Y-are you all right, miss?" he stutters. "Looks like it was a rough night, huh?"

He gives Orchid his best smile. She just rubs her knuckles across her nose, a hard gesture reminiscent of a prize fighter.

"I'm