Challenge Submission חנוכה שמח

[GremlinSage]

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Happy Hanukkah

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She knew who the sender was. The screen when she opened the message was zeros and ones that just fell before her eyes.

But why…

The sun was falling beyond the horizon, coloring the sky in orange, red, and pinks amidst the hint of pollution that was ever present within the air. The vast city of technology and neon was changing, creatures of the night waking up as the music and gun shots slowly echoed within the streets. It was nearly time for her to go home, to her small apartment fit for one and light the menorah.

Another message appeared, the screen dropping down before her as more zeros and ones scrolled before her eyes. They weren't the usual black and greens, it was blues and whites with golds. Radio sighed, a deep frown setting onto her dark features as she leapt to her feet. Gold paint decorated her sharp eyes with matching, gold cyber optics that illuminated when the sun went down. She was hardly in the mood for more games, it had been a long day and the holidays were packed with work to do.

Follow me…

The words finally came after the stream of zeros and ones left and a map appeared in the message. Radio recognized the area, but not the location.

Why?

Don't ask questions.

She sighed dramatically, throwing her body against the light pole that flickered on as the evening grew darker. Of course they weren't going to not tell her a damned thing, just give her some obscure location. Radio silently swore if she ended up in another fight today she was going to drag her partner down with her. Without bothering to question it further, she got onto her bike and took off within seconds.

The area was gross, as she expected. She knew it well, half her jobs happened to be deep in the dregs so it wasn't the weird part of any of this. The weirdest part was her partner. They were rarely cryptic with their messages, they hated not being straight forward. It worked for Radio, especially when they had jobs that required both of them on a team. It was how they met.

I'm here.

Keep going.

Radio nodded, turning off the bike and setting the stand. She remained alert as she followed the map down an alleyway covered in trash with broken neon lights glimmering in the water and oil puddles below. Graffiti littered the walls, some in words she couldn't make sense of. Likely something random that meant something only to some kids or whoever. She was still rather undecided if she liked the clean, sleek walls of the richie rich part of the city, or the wild and free art of the dregs and lower class.

Finally she got to the end of the map, swiping it away and stared at the door before her. It was red, with white bold letters that read 'FIRE EXIT'. A bit weird to go in when it could set off alarms, but Radio gave her partner the benefit of the doubt.

The moment she entered, she could smell something so delicious. Radio breathed in the heavenly scent of latkes and... even better sufganiyot.

"Juniper." Radio called out. "What did you..."

"Hello, mi amor." A whisper came from behind, strong arms wrapping around Radio's midsection.

Juniper set their chin on her shoulder as the lights in the room suddenly turned on. Neon whites and blues filled the room, lining each corner of the walls and ceilings. Holographic displays of the Star of David hung from the walls, glittering like actual stars in the night sky. A table for two sat in the center of the room, a plate with stacked latkes, apple sauce, sour cream, sugar, and a plate of sufganiyot's ready for her to dig in. Beside the table was a gold menorah, unlit candles beside it.

"Lynx." Juniper greeted more officially, kissing her cheek. "Happy Hanukkah."

Radio couldn't help but grin, her hands clapping together in her excitement. She turned quickly, stealing a kiss from Juniper before rushing over toward the menorah. Speaking in Hebrew she recited the blessing, setting one candle on the right side of the menorah and lighting another one. As she continued to speak, with Juniper beside her, she lit the candle on the right and set the other down in the center.

She turned to Juniper afterward, the excitement more than clear in her glowing features. "Thank you." Radio spoke up as the two took their seats. "This means the world to me."

"As you do me, mi amor."

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חנוכה שמח

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