Page 2 of Klaz

I ran my fingers over the silken bedspread, remembering Elios’s lessons on fabric and quality. “Always know the value of what surrounds you, little one,” she’d say. “In possessions and in people.”

My meager belongings looked out of place as I unpacked them. A few changes of clothes, a datapad, and my “tools of the trade” - lockpicks disguised as hair ornaments, a compact holo-projector for quick disguises, and a few other tricks of the con artist’s trade.

I met my own gaze in the mirror, straightening my posture and adopting the haughty expression of old money.

“Dahling,” I drawled in my best Core Worlds accent. “One simply must sample the local cuisines. It’s positively provincial not to.”

I dropped the act, my shoulders sagging slightly. This had to work. I was all in, with nowhere else to go if this failed.

But I’d been in tighter spots before. I was Cinta Longdon, and I always came out on top.

With a deep breath, I checked myself in the mirror one final time and headed for the door. Time to work my magic.

The departure loungebuzzed with excitement, a sea of species from across the galaxy mingling before our grand adventure. Perfect hunting grounds.

I caught the eye of a portly Thraxxian businessman, his tentacles adorned with glittering rings.

“I simply adore your jewelry,” I gushed, letting a hint of my practiced Core Worlds accent slip through. “It reminds me of the pieces my great-aunt wore to the Galactic Opera’s centennial gala.”

The Thraxxian’s eye stalks swiveled towards me. “You attended the centennial? I thought that was invitation-only.”

I laughed, the sound light and airy. “Oh, darling, when you’re part of the Longdon family, doors tend to open.” I leanedin conspiratorially. “Though between you and me, I found the whole affair dreadfully stuffy. Give me a good zero-g casino any day.”

A nearby Xarian perked up at that. “Did someone mention casinos? I hear the Empyrean Explorer has quite the setup.”

“Indeed!” I said, turning to include him in the conversation. “Though I doubt it can compare to the floating palaces of Magellan Prime. Have you been?”

As the Xarian shook his head, I launched into a vivid description of the non-existent casinos, peppered with just enough true details to sound authentic. More passengers drifted our way, drawn by the growing crowd and my animated storytelling.

A rush of exhilaration flooded through me as I saw the interest spark in their eyes. This was what I lived for – the thrill of the game, of becoming someone new and captivating an audience.

For a fleeting moment, Elios’s face flashed in my mind. What would the old dowager think of her protégée now? A pang of guilt threatened to surface, but I shoved it down ruthlessly. Elios was gone, and I had to look out for myself now.

A chime rang out, cutting through the chatter. “Attention passengers,” a smooth voice announced. “We will be departing shortly. Please make your way to the main viewport for our launch ceremony.”

The crowd surged forward, catching me in the flow. As we neared the massive window, a towering figure materialized beside me. I stumbled, thrown off balance by the press of bodies.

A strong hand gripped my elbow, steadying me. I looked up – and up – into the face of the most striking Vinduthi I’d ever seen.

He towered over me, easily over six feet tall, with the lean, muscular build typical of his species. But it was more than just his imposing stature that made my breath catch. His skinwas a deep, stormy gray, adorned with intricate green markings that swirled across one side of his face and down his neck, disappearing beneath the collar of his jacket. A ridge of small, sharp horns ran back from each temple, partially hidden by long hair that was a striking mix of jet black and steel gray.

But it was his eyes that truly captured me. They blazed a deep, blood red, filled with an intensity that made my breath catch.

This was a dangerous man, my intuition screamed. One who had seen things I could scarcely imagine.

I became acutely aware of his hand still on my arm, his skin surprisingly warm against mine. My heart raced, and for once, it wasn’t from the thrill of the game.

I recovered quickly, plastering on my most dazzling smile. “My hero,” I purred, letting my free hand rest lightly on his chest. “I do apologize for my clumsiness. I’m Cinta Longdon.”

The Vinduthi’s expression remained impassive, but I caught a flicker of... something in those mesmerizing eyes. “Klaz. Just Klaz,” he rumbled, and my chest tightened. “Watch your step, Ms. Longdon. It would be a shame if you missed the departure.”

I arched an eyebrow, surprised by his gruff but not unkind response. “Indeed it would,” I agreed. “Though with you to catch me, perhaps I don’t need to worry quite so much.”

A ghost of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, teasing at his sharp canines. “Don’t test that theory,” he warned, but there was a warmth in his tone that belied the harsh words.

We turned to face the viewport, Klaz’s hand finally falling away from my arm. I immediately missed its steadying presence.

The spaceport stretched out before us, a glittering expanse of metal and light. In the distance, the curvature of the planet was just visible, a blue-green crescent against the velvet black of space.

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