Cinta

CINTA

I clutched 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 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?”

“ 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. 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 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.

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 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 lounge buzzed 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 leaned in 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 skin was 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 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.

“Quite a view,” I murmured, more to myself than to my companion.

“You’ve never been off-world before?” he asked, a note of surprise in his voice.

I cursed inwardly. I’d slipped, let a bit of genuine wonder show through my carefully crafted persona. “Oh, many times,” I said airily. “But one never quite gets used to the majesty of it all, does one?”

Klaz made a noncommittal sound, his gaze still fixed on the stars beyond.

A countdown began, the anticipation in the room rising with each number. As we reached zero, the Empyrean Explorer surged forward. The acceleration was imperceptible thanks to the ship’s gravity systems, but the view outside the window changed dramatically. We streaked away from the spaceport, the planet rapidly shrinking behind us until it was nothing more than another point of light among the stars.

A cheer went up from the assembled passengers. I grinned, caught up in the infectious excitement.

I turned to share the moment with Klaz, only to find him studying me intently. His red eyes seemed to pierce right through me, as if he could see past all my carefully constructed masks to the real beneath.

I forgot how to breathe.

Then the spell was broken as the crowd began to disperse, passengers heading off to explore the ship or return to their cabins.

“Well,” I said, forcing a light tone, “it seems our grand adventure has begun.” I took a step back, replaced my professional smile. “Thank you again for the timely rescue, Klaz. I look forward to seeing you later.”

He inclined his head slightly. “I’m sure we will, Ms. Longdon. It’s a big ship, but not that big.”

With that cryptic statement, he turned and strode away, his powerful form easily parting the crowd.

I watched him go, my mind reeling. What had just happened? I’d come here to run cons, to set myself up for life. I didn’t have time for... whatever this was.

And yet, the memory of Klaz’s burning gaze stayed with me. For the first time in years, I felt truly seen – and it terrified me.

I’d never felt this way about anyone before, let alone so quickly. There was something about Klaz that drew me in, like a gravitational pull I couldn’t resist. Maybe it was the danger that clung to him like a second skin, or the unexpected gentleness in his eyes. Whatever it was, I knew I was in trouble.