Page 1 of Stardust Paws and Alien Claws

CASSIDY

Iflopped down on the worn couch. Grandma’s medical bills loomed large, the debt an ever-present weight on my shoulders. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to calm my racing heart.

The vidscreen chimed with an incoming call. Jacob’s smiling face appeared, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners. “Hey, Cass. You got a minute?”

Despite the weight of my worries, I couldn’t help but return his warm grin. Jacob had been my closest friend since we were kids, bouncing between each other’s houses and getting into scrapes together. “For you? Always.”

“I’ve got a potential new client for the pet sitting business,” he began. “It’s...a little unconventional, but the pay is great.”

My ears perked up at the mention of good pay. “Unconventional how?”

“Well, it’s not your typical pet-sitting job,” he said evasively. “But I know you’ll love it. It’s right up your alley with all the animal and xenobiology stuff you’re into.”

I hesitated, my natural curiosity piqued but also wary of anything too out of the ordinary. “Can you give me more details?”

“Trust me, Cass, you’re going to want to take this one,” Jacob insisted. “I can’t really explain it over the comm, but just know that it’s completely safe and legitimate. It’s just for a week.”

Then Jacob named a figure that made my eyes widen. It was more than I typically made in three months of pet sitting. “Seriously? For one week?”

He nodded. “I’d take the job myself, but Daniel has that couple’s retreat planned and you know how he gets.”

I stifled a laugh at the thought of Jacob’s fiery partner throwing a fit if he tried to back out of their vacation plans. “So you’re pawning off this lucrative mystery gig to me?”

“Exactly.” Jacob shot me a pleading look. “C’mon, Cass, I’d never steer you wrong. This could be exactly what you need to get back on your feet after...” He trailed off, not needing to mention Grandma’s passing.

I worried my lower lip, weighing the pros and cons. The money was beyond tempting, but taking care of a mystery creature I knew nothing about seemed risky. Then again, when had I ever backed down from a challenge, especially one related to animals?

“Okay, I’m in,” I said, taking a deep breath. “When do I need to be ready?”

“That’s my girl!” Jacob’s smile was audible. “I’ll send over the details later today. And Cass? You’re gonna love this, I promise.”

After ending the call, I set about gathering my pet-sitting supplies—food bowls, toys, treats, and a well-worn tablet of the Xenobiology Compendium that had been my constant companion since I was a kid.

Just as I finished, the tablet pinged again - this time with a request for a teleconnection. I frowned, unfamiliar with the term. Some sort of video call maybe? With a mental shrug, I accepted.

The room spun around me in a dizzying kaleidoscope of colors and shapes. My stomach lurched as the colors coalesced and I stumbled, catching myself on a padded wall as I blinked at the strange scene before me. One moment I was in my shabby apartment, the next I found myself standing in a dimly lit lounge that looked like it belonged on an alien world.

Which, I realized with a start, it did. The patrons scattered around plush booths and tables were an eclectic mix of sentient species - some humanoid, others distinctly not. Iridescent scales, tentacles, and even a pair of guests that resembled walking houseplants.

My fingers itched to open up my tablet, research everything I could about everyone around me.

“Cassidy Bennett?” An ethereal voice made me whirl around. A tall, willowy figure stood before me, her translucent skin shimmering with hues of green and blue. Bioluminescent tendrils swayed gently as she regarded me with large, luminous eyes. An Elunian. An actual Elunian was right before me.

“I’m Liora Vesh,” she introduced herself. “This is Doanor, captain of the Koloss.” A towering figure stood next to her, his bovine features and imposing horns leaving no doubt that he was a Zemaitoz.

“W-where am I?” I stammered, my mind struggling to catch up.

“The space station Nangara 4,” Liora replied. “I must apologize for the abrupt arrival, but we are short on time.” Her expression turned serious as she ushered us to a secluded corner of the lounge.

Doanor held a chair out for me at the table, and I slid into it, head still whirling. “Short on time? What kind of job are we talking about exactly?”

Liora exchanged a glance with Doanor before replying. “It is a matter of great ecological importance. A transport mission, you could say.”

“You should know the full details before committing,” Doanor continued. “We are tasked with transporting a breeding colony of Lazamai to a new sanctuary world.”

I gasped, my eyes widening. Lazamai were an extremely rare species, their iridescent fur and delicate wings making them a favorite target for unscrupulous collectors willing to pay exorbitant sums on the black market.

I might have had to drop out of college, but any aspiring xenobiologist would know how precarious their situation was.

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