Klaz

KLAZ

T he Suraisu Casino loomed before us, a glittering monument to excess in the heart of the city. It was hard to believe that just a day ago, we’d been trudging through the frozen wasteland outside Mama Raza’s hotel. The nearby mountain range was barely visible through the gathering storm clouds, a reminder of how close we still were to that fateful lodge.

I handed the doorman our forged invitations, courtesy of Mama Raza’s underworld connections. He barely glanced at them before waving us through. The beauty of high-class establishments like this: act like you belong, and no one questions you.

The moment we stepped inside, my senses went into overdrive.

Security guards positioned at every entrance, their hands resting on concealed weapons. Cameras disguised as decorative orbs hung from the ceiling. Patrons from a dozen different species mingled around gaming tables and bars.

Through the grand windows, I noticed dark clouds gathering on the horizon. The storm that had been brewing all day was finally rolling in, far faster and more ominous than the weather reports had predicted.

I leaned close to Cinta, my lips brushing her ear. “Six exits. Four visible security stations. At least twenty undercover personnel.”

She laughed as if I’d said something amusing, her fingers trailing down my arm. “You always know how to show a girl a good time, darling.”

Ice sculptures dotted the room – intricate replicas of stellar formations and alien beasts. The air held a crisp chill, in the casino’s own attempt to balance the heat radiating from the crowds of patrons.

A Lyrikan woman approached, her eyes fixed on Cinta’s ankle. “Oh, what a stunning piece! It matches your dress perfectly.”

“Thank you,” Cinta replied, her voice steady despite the circumstances. “It was a gift from a very... persuasive admirer.”

As the Lyrikan walked away, I saw a flicker of irony cross Cinta’s face. A con artist trapped by a glittering lie – the symbolism wasn’t lost on me. I silently vowed to find a way to remove that deadly piece of jewelry before Mama Raza could make its true nature known in a very explosive fashion.

I guided Cinta towards the bar, my hand resting on the small of her back. “What’s your poison tonight, my dear?”

“Oh, surprise me.” She winked, leaning against the bar, emphasizing her curves.

I ordered two Novarian whiskeys, neat. As we waited, a Xarian couple to our left engaged us in conversation.

“First time at the Suraisu?” the male asked, his faceted eyes glittering.

“Is it that obvious?” Cinta laughed, her charm on full display.

“We’re here celebrating our bonding anniversary,” I added, pulling Cinta closer. “Thought we’d try our luck.”

The female Xarian trilled. “How romantic! We simply must introduce you to the Spiral Roulette. It’s our favorite game.”

As they chattered, I subtly scanned the room. A cluster of Mondians argued near a craps table. Two Fanaith security guards whispered into their comms, eyes fixed on a nervous-looking Orlian.

Our drinks arrived, and I raised my glass to Cinta. “To us, my love.”

She clinked her glass against mine, her eyes locked on me. “To us.”

The whiskey burned pleasantly as I sipped it, the flavor rich and complex. Cinta’s lips curved in a smile I knew all too well – she was enjoying this far too much.

Her eyes sparkled as she took in the opulent surroundings, her excitement palpable despite the deadly anklet adorning her leg. Even with her life on the line, she thrived on the thrill of our dangerous situation. The contrast between us struck me hard.

I felt every one of my years weighing on me as I watched Cinta’s excitement. She saw this as an adventure, while I saw potential danger at every turn. Was I too jaded for someone like her?

“Shall we try our luck at the tables?” I asked, offering her my arm once more.

“Lead the way, handsome.”

We made our way to the high-stakes area, pausing to admire an ice sculpture of the Centauri Nebula. I pointed to a particularly intricate spiral. “Reminds me of that time we got lost in the Veil Cluster, remember?”

Cinta laughed. “How could I forget? We nearly ran out of fuel before finding that refueling station.”

“Good thing you’re so charming. That station manager would never have given us a discount otherwise.”

As we bantered, I noted the positions of the security cameras. Three blind spots near the VIP rooms. A service corridor partially hidden behind a holographic waterfall.

At the Spiral Roulette table, I adopted the persona of an overconfident gambler. “Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen! Tonight’s my lucky night, I can feel it.”

Cinta hung on my arm, giggling at my boasts. “Oh darling, you’re incorrigible.”

I placed a large bet and lost spectacularly. Then another. And another. With each loss, I grew louder, more belligerent. Security took notice, two guards moving closer to our table.

“Maybe we should take a break, love,” Cinta suggested, her hand on my chest. “How about a romantic stroll?”

I grumbled but allowed her to lead me away. We wandered the casino floor, pausing to admire the view from a large window. Outside, storm clouds gathered on the horizon, flashes of lightning illuminating the sky.

“Looks like we’re in for some weather,” I murmured.

Cinta leaned against me, her warmth seeping through my suit. “I’ve always loved a good storm.”

I fought the urge to pull her closer, to bury my face in her hair and breathe in her scent. Instead, I pointed out a service entrance partially hidden behind a potted plant. “Reminds me of that little café on Loriesta IV. Remember?”

She nodded, understanding my coded message. Another escape route identified.

We returned to the gaming tables, this time to a game of Stellar Hold’em. I played to win now, drawing more attention as my chip stack grew.

“My lucky charm,” I announced, pulling Cinta in for a kiss. Her lips were soft, tasting faintly of whiskey and something uniquely her. I lingered longer than necessary, desire coiling in my gut.

When we parted, her cheeks were flushed. “For luck,” she whispered.

As I continued to play, Cinta mingled with the other patrons. I kept half an eye on her as she charmed information out of a besotted Orlian merchant and a tipsy Mondian diplomat.

Between hands, she returned to my side, her lips close to my ear. “The vault’s on the lowest level. Tripled security since last week’s attempted break-in.”

I nodded, placing another bet. “Interesting. Any word on why?”

“Something about a special item. The Larain Diamond, if rumors are to be believed.”

My fingers tightened on my cards. The very item we’d been sent to retrieve. I met Cinta’s eyes, seeing my own determination reflected there.

The game continued, tensions rising as the stakes grew higher. Through it all, Cinta remained by my side, her presence both comforting and maddening. Every brush of her hand, every whispered word sent electricity through my body.

As the night wore on, I wished this wasn’t just an act. That I could truly claim her as mine, take her back to our room and lose ourselves in each other.

A thunderous crack split the air, followed by a flicker of the casino’s lights. Startled gasps and squeals erupted from the crowd. I instinctively pulled Cinta closer, my body tensing for potential danger.

“Sounds like that storm’s getting serious,” Cinta murmured, her breath warm against my neck.

Then she sauntered towards the roulette tables, her midnight blue gown shimmering under the casino lights. My fingers itched to pull her back to me, but I suppressed the urge. We had a job to do.

She effortlessly inserted herself into the crowd of sentients gathered around the table. A Xarian, two Mondians, and an Orlian merchant. I admired her skill as she laughed at their jokes, her hand lightly touching the Orlian’s arm.

“Oh, you simply must tell me more about the trade routes through the Veil Cluster,” she gushed. “I’ve always wanted to visit, but I hear the tariffs are outrageous.”

The Orlian preened under her attention. “Well, my dear, there are ways around such inconveniences if one knows the right people.”

I tuned out their conversation, focusing instead on the distraction Cinta was creating. The aliens clustered closer, drawn in by her charm. Security guards relaxed, their attention diverted by the growing crowd.

I slipped away, moving casually towards the restricted areas. A distant rumble of thunder reached my ears, and unease prickled along my spine. The storm was getting closer.

The first guard I encountered barely had time to open his mouth before I had him in a sleeper hold. His body went limp, and I dragged him into a nearby supply closet. His keycard gave me access to the next level.

As I moved deeper into the restricted areas, the lights flickered ominously. The air grew cooler, carrying the faint scent of ozone. I reached the antechamber to the vault and found myself confronting a sophisticated biometric lock.

I cursed under my breath.

This wasn’t in the specs Mama Raza had provided, and was going to take time we didn’t have. As I worked on bypassing the security measures, the power suddenly cut out completely.

Darkness enveloped me. I blinked, my Vinduthi night vision kicking in. The blackout was unexpected, but I could use it to my advantage. I heard panicked voices and hurried footsteps as security personnel scrambled to respond to the outage.

I slipped past them, my steps silent in the chaos. The emergency generators kicked in, bathing the area in an eerie red glow. I entered the vault antechamber and immediately spotted two more guards.

They moved to intercept me, but I was faster. A quick blow to the first guard’s solar plexus drove the air from his lungs. The second guard went for my head before I took him down with a swift kick to the knee.

In moments both guards lay unconscious at my feet, but was I sure neither of them had triggered a silent alarm?

I would have to assume that they had.

I hurried to the main vault door and began working on the complex locking mechanism. Tension stiffened my fingers as I bypassed security protocols one by one. Just as I neared completion, the power fluctuated again, resetting my progress.

“Seven hells,” I growled, slamming my fist against the door.

We didn’t have time for this.