Kaelith

The kill had been clean, efficient. Landar"s head rolled across the metal grating with a dull thunk as the last wisps of vapor dissipated from my plasma blade. The notorious Zhyx smuggler was finally off the Federated bounty registries.

I retracted the blade back into its forearm sheath and made my way over to the body, nostrils flaring at the acrid stench of charred flesh. Crouching down, I pulled a battered commpad from the pouches on my belt and activated the registry log with a few taps.

Landar"s file appeared, basic details and a grainy image that didn"t do justice to the horror of those six beady black eyes and mouth of jagged fangs. A hefty bounty value blinked in the corner - payable once proof of termination was submitted. I snapped a few images of the grisly remains, the data transferring instantaneously to the registry.

A soft chime confirmed the bounty completion. I allowed myself a tight smile. Another piece of filth swept from the underbelly of this forsaken station. I pocketed the cred-chit that materialized in the portable banking unit on my belt. Always nice to add more to the horde.

My gaze drifted around Landar"s lair, taking in the chaotic squalor. The dimly lit chamber reeked of stale air and mildew, piles of refuse strewn haphazardly across the decking. Shredded thermal blankets and protein ration wrappers surrounded a nest of soiled mattresses in one corner. A rusted refresher unit gurgled, its recyclers likely clogged.

Not that cleanliness would"ve been a priority for the eight-limbed bastard. I rifled through the scattered possessions, kicking aside a few dented cargo crates filled with unlabeled vials and tins. Useless contraband, no doubt cut with household toxins to boost volume on the street.

My eyes narrowed as something shifted in my peripheral vision. I spun, blade clearing its sheath in a blink, scanning the shadows for threats. Silence, save for the constant thrum of the station"s atmospheric recyclers.

Then a muffled sob, a sniffle of terror.

I prowled forward, senses attuned to the faintest noise or movement. A slight indentation in the wall panel caught my eye - the kind used to conceal storage compartments. I rapped my knuckles against it and the thin metal reverberated with an unmistakable hollow sound.

There it was.

My blade sliced through the warped seam like a plasma torch, the panel clattering aside to reveal a cramped alcove. And huddled within, shaking with fear...a human female.

She flinched as my blade"s harsh crimson glow illuminated her face. Pale skin, sunken cheeks, dark circles ringing wild hazel eyes. Her matted hair hung in lank strands over a ragged shift that exposed bony shoulders and collarbones.

"P-please..." she whimpered, cringing away. "I didn"t...I didn"t do anything..."

I studied her coolly, my free hand inching towards the stun baton on my belt. She could be an accomplice, a decoy set to distract me while Landar"s allies moved in. You could never be too careful.

"Who are you?" I demanded, the words a low growl. "Speak quickly, human."

Her lips parted but only a terrified squeak emerged. I brought the tip of the blade closer and her eyes went wide, glistening with tears.

"I...I"m Gemma," she finally managed, her voice a breathless rasp. "Landar"s...his servant. He kept me here to cook and clean and..." A violent shudder racked her skeletal frame.

I frowned, taking in her condition again. The haunted look in those hazel depths, the way she shrank from my presence. No deceit lingered there, only naked fear and desperation. A victim, not a threat.

With a soft hiss, I deactivated the vibroblade and slid it back into its sheath. The woman - Gemma - let out a ragged exhalation, sagging in visible relief. I reached into one of my belt pouches and tossed her a nutrient bar, which she snatched greedily from the air.

"Eat," I grunted. "You"ll need your strength."

She paused, eyeing me with palpable trepidation. "You"re...you"re not going to...?"

"Harm you?" I finished her unspoken question with a shake of my head. "Not unless you give me reason. You may prove useful."

Her brows knitted in confusion as she gnawed on the ration bar. "Useful how?"

"For information. The identities of Landar"s contacts, his operations." I shrugged. "Or perhaps a ransom, if you happen to have relatives of means."

It was a lie - No human had relatives who could afford such a thing. But the ruse might motivate her to cooperate until I decided her ultimate fate. There was something about this woman, this...Gemma, that stirred an unfamiliar unease in my blood. A silent yearning I couldn"t quite place.

Perhaps my instincts simply sensed potential profit to be made. Or maybe something else entirely. Whatever the reason, I knew I couldn"t just let her go. Not yet.

"Now come," I ordered, offering my hand. She eyed it warily for a beat before placing her tiny, trembling fingers in my calloused palm. I pulled her to her feet, taking an involuntary breath at her closeness.

Her scent - a heady blend of human musk, fear, and something sweeter - flooded my senses. It took considerable restraint not to pull her tighter, to bury my face in the tangled tresses at her nape and breathe deeper of that intoxicating aroma.

What is wrong with me?

Gemma swayed on unsteady legs, eyelids fluttering. Acting on instinct, I scooped her up in my arms before she could collapse. She stiffened at the sudden contact but didn"t struggle, allowing herself to be cradled against my chest.

I started back towards the exit, her weight negligible after so many cycles without sustenance. One small hand gripped the armored plane of my shoulder as if for balance. The heat of that tiny point of contact seemed to blaze through my body.

I gritted my teeth, forcing my gaze forward as we exited the lair. Whatever bizarre impulses were swirling within me, I needed to regain control. This woman was a means to an end, nothing more.

So why did every step feel charged with illicit tension, each brush of her skin like a lightning strike?

I shook my head, refocusing on the mission ahead. One thing was certain - I would get to the bottom of this mystery, no matter how deeply I had to delve. My instincts had never led me astray before.

And right now, they were leading me straight towards this human female named Gemma.