Page 1 of Klaz

CINTA

Iclutched my ticket, the glossy surface cool against my sweaty palm. The spaceport bustled around me, a cacophony of languages and the whine of departing shuttles. My gaze fixed on the Empyrean Explorer, its pearlescent hull gleaming in the artificial sunlight.

This was it. My entire inheritance from Elios, spent on a single ticket. A gamble that would make or break me.

I smoothed down the front of my designer dress, a parting gift from the old Mondian dowager. The fabric whispered against my skin, reminding me of who I was. What I could do.

With a deep breath, I straightened my spine and lifted my chin. Time to become Cinta Longdon, wealthy socialite and heiress.

The check-in counter loomed ahead, staffed by a bored-looking Thraxxian in a crisp uniform. I sauntered forward, my hips swaying with practiced ease.

“Good afternoon,” I purred, flashing my most dazzling smile. “I believe you’re expecting me.”

The Thraxxian’s tentacles twitched, a sign of surprise or interest. “Name, please?”

“Cinta Longdon.” I slid my ticket across the counter, hoping the slight tremor in my hand wasn’t noticeable. “I’m terribly excited for this voyage. I’ve heard the Nebula Suites are simply divine.”

“Indeed, Ms. Longdon. You’re in Suite 17-A.” The Thraxxian’s multifaceted eyes scanned my credentials. “Everything appears to be in order. Welcome aboard the Empyrean Explorer.”

I swept past the security scanners, my heart pounding. I’d made it. Now the real work began.

The main atrium nearly made me miss a step. Crystal chandeliers floated in midair, refracting starlight into a thousand shimmering rainbows. Holographic art pieces shifted and pulsed, drawing the eye to their ethereal beauty. A fountain defied gravity, its water arcing in impossible patterns contained by shimmering force fields.

I forced myself to tear my gaze away from the spectacle. Time to catalog the marks.

An elderly Mondian couple, dripping with jewels. A solitary Vinduthi male, his muscular frame radiating danger even in repose.

I filed away snippets of overheard conversation:

“...the Cassiopeia Casino. I hear they have zero-g roulette...”

“...absolutely scandalous! The Federation will have words about this, mark my...”

“...course I brought my Chronos Wristlet. What self-respecting lady would be caught without...”

A pair of well-dressed Xarians caught my attention as they passed by, their voices lowered but still audible to my keen ears.

“Do you think the captain could make a port of call at Tasoria Prime,” the female said, her faceted eyes glinting with excitement. “I wouldn’t want to miss the auction.”

Her companion nodded enthusiastically. “Indeed. The items up for bid this year are said to be extraordinary. I’ve even heard that the Larain-.”

The lift doors slid open with a soft chime. I stepped inside, finding myself enclosed with a Lyrikan couple. The male’s iridescent scales shimmered with wealth, while his mate’s frill was adorned with precious gems.

“Pardon me,” I murmured, stepping to the side. “I don’t believe we’ve been introduced. Cinta Longdon.”

The male’s vertical pupils dilated slightly. “Charmed. I am Graniax, and this is my mate, Tiana. Are you traveling alone, Ms. Longdon?”

I laughed, a tinkling sound I’d perfected over years of practice. “Oh, hardly. My entourage will be joining me shortly. I simply wanted to get the lay of the land, as it were.”

The lift doors opened on my floor. I gave a small wave as I exited. “I do hope we’ll run into each other again. Perhaps at the Eclipse Room? I hear their Aldebaranian brandy is to die for.”

As the doors closed behind me, a fierce grin spread across my face. This cruise was my chance. My chance to set myself up for life, to prove to myself and the galaxy that Cinta Longdon was more than just a street rat from Loriesta IV who got a little lucky.

I swiped my keycard and stepped inside.

Well. This was nice.

The panoramic viewport dominated one entire wall, offering an unobstructed view of the stars. Plush furnishings in deep jewel tones invited relaxation, while a personal bar gleamed with the promise of exotic libations.

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