Zoe sighed as she exited the Long Island City Courthouse in Queens. She was getting tired of the comments about her skort and legs from the guards, male clerks, and random passerby. Several of the legal and corporate types had skirts on that were the same length plus high heels which help lift and make legs and glutes look better. Maybe they didn’t get the comments because they were legal and corporate types. Zoe shook her head and started walking to the parking garage she had parked her GT4 in.

“Hey Chloe,” Zoe said after calling her friend.

“Hey Zoe,” Cee replied. “What’s up?”

“Not much. I just wanted to know if you, Vee, and Newt get a lot of comments when you were shorts, skirts, or skorts,” Zoe answered.

“Sometimes. I’ve had quite a few today,” Chloe said. “I changed after you left.”

“Ah. Why don’t the legal and corporate types get the same sort of comments?”

“Probably because guys are scared of being sued,” Cee laughed.

“Really?” Zoe asked.

“Oui. Sexual harassment is something those corporate males fear from female corporate types,” Chloe answered.

“I guess that makes sense,” Zoe replied.

“Are you done with your jobs?” Cee asked changing the subject.

“Almost. The Long Island City Courthouse had some documents they wanted delivered to Tanaka and Associates over on 24th Street here in Queens,” Zoe answered. “Why? Does Henri have something else for me?”

“Non. At least he didn’t about half an hour ago,” Chloe shrugged.

“Right. I’ll swing by the office to check before heading home,” Zoe said as she deactivated the GT4’s security system and mounted it.

“You could join Newt, Vee, and myself on a quick shopping trip instead,” Cee offered giving Zoe a huge grin.

“No thank you. I’ve spent more than enough credits recently. It’s time I started building up my accounts again,” Zoe replied giving the other woman a smile. She tightened her ponytail and put on her helmet.

“Suit yourself. The invitation is open if you change your mind,” Cee said.

“I won’t,” Zoe replied. “Have fun though.”

“Oh, we will!” Chloe said. “Au revoir.”

“See you later,” Zoe replied hanging up. She fired up her new bike and drove to the parking garage’s exit.

*

Zoe had lucked out and found a parking spot a block away from Tanaka and Associates’ office. She exited the law office and walked to her GT4. Zoe was amazed at how quiet 24th St was and how little traffic was using it. That quiet allowed Zoe to hear a couple of motorcycles approaching from behind her. She turned to look and dismissed them as she arrived at her bike.

“I really love that Grabber Blue,” Zoe said to herself as she deactivated the security system. She didn’t mount her bike as the two motorcycles she had heard stopped beside her.

“Nice bike, and you’re new around here,” a man’s voice said. Zoe turned to face the man and other rider. “Play nice and we’ll let you stay.”

The second rider was another man. Zoe noticed that neither wore helmets, which she considered very stupid no matter how much Subdermal Armor they may have. Her wreck had made Zoe appreciate the safety devices more than she had before. The irony made her snort as she wasn’t wearing jeans to protect her legs. She shook her head slightly as she decided she would still wear shorts and skorts some days despite the risk.

“Something funny?” the second guy asked.

“Not really,” Zoe replied as she started to slice the duo. Daiki Aoki and Daichi Ota were both suspected of multiple crimes and members of a local Yakuza family. Zoe muttered under her breath, “Just my luck.”

“What was that?” Daichi, the second guy, asked. Zoe just shook her head.

“This is Soai-kai territory, and my name is Daiki. I control this area,” the first guy proudly said. He shifted slightly on his bike to show off the tattoo that extended over his right shoulder. He was wearing a tank top, which made the tattoo easily visible. “Since you didn’t pay your respects and ask for permission to enter our territory, we need some sort of payment.”

“I’m a pretty green courier and just trying to finish this run so I can get to the next one. I don’t make much,” Zoe said. “I didn’t know there were rules for entering different neighborhoods.”

“There are always rules and other ways to collect payment,” Daiki replied. “And keep your hands where we can see them. Everyone knows couriers are always carrying.”

Zoe made a show of keeping her hands down in front of her.

“It’s up to the individual to make sure they know them before doing something though,” Daichi added as more motorcycles could be heard approaching. “Ah. Here comes the rest of the party.”

Four more similarly dressed men arrived and parked fencing Zoe in. Zoe immediately started slicing them as well. She figured she could hit them all with Hailstorm but didn’t know what she could do after that other than maybe shooting them.

“Daiki, what do you have here?” one of them asked leering at Zoe. “A new toy?”

The men laughed as another rider showed up.

“What are you bakas doing?” a female voice asked. The rider took off her helmet and Zoe recognized her from the party in the park. The rider was the sole woman that had been with Haru Kimura’s group. The other courier sent a message to Zoe stating she would try to help her get out of this mess. Zoe replied thanking her.

“Entertaining an intruder before deciding what to do with her,” Daiki answered. “This is no business of yours Akari. You best be going.”

“She’s a courier,” Akari said.

“We know,” Daichi replied. “She’s already told us that.”

Akari sighed. “Do you want to tick off Haru?”

“What do you mean?” one of the other men asked.

“It doesn’t matter,” another said.

“It might,” a third replied.

“Spill it, Akari,” Daiki ordered.

“This is the courier that Haru raced last across the bridge,” the woman replied.

“The one that totaled her bike?” Daichi asked.

“The same,” Zoe said. The men laughed.

“That doesn’t mean anything,” Daiki said after the laughter died down.

“Haru, his father, and uncle don’t want her messed with,” Akari said.

“Seriously?” one of the others asked. Akari nodded a yes. “That puts me out of this.”

“You could always call Haru and ask him if you don’t believe me,” Akari added.

“I’m out too,” another man said. Soon the other two that arrived with them agreed not to mess with Zoe.

Zoe sent a message to Akari asking if that was true. The Japanese courier replied of course not. Zoe tried to not show the fear that reply prompted.

“Let her go man. We can find someone else to mess with,” Daichi told Daiki.

“Alright. Fine,” Daiki replied. He turned to Zoe. “Get lost.”

“I’ll ride with you to the bridge,” Akari told Zoe.

“Thanks,” Zoe replied mounting her GT4 and putting on her helmet. The duo soon rode away with the men watching.

*

“Why did you help me?” Zoe asked Akari when they stopped at a light after crossing into east Harlem.

“Didn’t want to see those fools hurt another woman,” Akari answered.

“They’ve… hurt women before?” Zoe asked.

“More than once. The Yakuza believe women are property at best,” Akari replied.

“Seems they have that in common with the Italian mafia,” Zoe said.

Akari laughed, then said, “I’m not surprised.”

“Here, I don’t have much but maybe this could repay you,” Zoe said sending the other courier her police scanner and adding the other woman to the user database. Akari thanked Zoe.