[= Establishing Planetary Link... =]

  Draxis Reach

  Capital City, Rykka-9, Outer Kordis System

  Standard Galactic Date: 2739, Cycle 03

  Local Time: 15:43 Port Standard

  [= Location Data Logged =]

  The bar was dim, filled with swirling smoke and flickering neon lights that gave everything a strange, hazy glow.

  I spotted her again.

  This time, she was sitting alone in a shadowed booth, half-hidden.

  Astra?

  I stepped closer, my pulse quickening.

  But something felt off.

  Her hair was shorter. A scar ran along her jaw.

  Astra didn’t have a scar.

  At least, not in the game.

  She looked up, catching me mid-stare.

  Her eyes narrowed, like I was some kind of weirdo.

  I cleared my throat, trying to shake off the awkwardness.

  “Astra?” I asked, squinting a little like her name might somehow materialize over her head.

  The woman raised an eyebrow, giving me a look halfway between amusement and annoyance. “Close. Zara. Astra’s sister.”

  “Right. Astra mentioned a sister.” I gave her a once-over, then smirked. “Though she conveniently left out the part where you’re twins. Galaxy must’ve done something wrong to curse us with the two of you.”

  Zara’s eyes narrowed, sizing me up like I was a questionable deal. “You’re…?”

  “Timus,” I said, staying neutral. “Or Tim, if you’re feeling particularly warm and fuzzy about it.”

  She didn’t respond.

  “Nice place,” I said, gesturing vaguely at the dimly lit cantina. “Come here often?”

  “Not usually, but I imagine it’s just your speed.”

  “It has charm. Stale beer, sticky floors, recycled air thick enough to chew. I’ve met some good friends in dives like this.”

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Her lips twitched—just barely—but her eyes stayed sharp, sizing me up like I was a suspicious blip on her radar.

  “So, what do you want with Astra?”

  “Astra’s always been… resourceful,” I said finally, careful with my words. “Hard to find these days, though.”

  Last I’d checked, she was part of my crew. So where was she now?

  Zara’s brow lifted slightly, a flicker of interest lighting up her face.

  “Didn’t realize my sister had taken on a… business partner.” She leaned forward, curiosity sharpening her tone. “What kind of help are we talking about?”

  I met her gaze.

  “Astra’s always fit in with the underworld better than I ever could. Where I have a habit of making people do what I want, she convinced them they wanted to.” I shrugged, a faint grin tugging at my mouth. “If I needed something moved or found, she handled it. Saved me time, money, and was a lot less… bloody.”

  Her expression flickered.

  A brief glint of something I couldn’t quite place.

  Surprise? Respect? Or maybe a warning—to herself, or to me—to keep a safe distance.

  “And how exactly did you two meet?”

  “Long story.” I waved it off with an easy smile. “She was just in the right—or wrong—place at the right time. Happens more often than you’d think in this line of work.”

  Zara smirked, leaning back and crossing her arms.

  “Wrong place, wrong time. Sounds about right.”

  Her gaze lingered on me, narrowing thoughtfully—then her tone shifted.

  Almost playful.

  “Though I have to wonder… who’s prettier? Me or my sister?”

  I blinked.

  What.

  She arched an eyebrow, clearly enjoying this, waiting for me to step into her little trap.

  I flashed a grin, shrugging.

  “You are, obviously. But if Astra asks me, I’ll deny it and tell her she’s the one who’s got it all.”

  Zara chuckled, low and quiet.

  But the amusement didn’t quite reach her eyes.

  Her gaze sharpened, locking onto mine.

  “Funny. But I have to say, there’s something about your eyes, Timus.”

  A pause.

  “They remind me of someone… maybe a little too much.”

  I frowned. “My eyes?”

  “Yeah.” She looked thoughtful, and for a second, a flicker of something darker crossed her expression. “You know, there’s a guy in the Black Nebula Cartel. Their leader, in fact. Goes by the name of Darien Kryze. Dangerous as they come. You’ve got that same… intensity.” Her lips curved into a small, unsettling smile. “Hope for your sake it’s just a coincidence.”

  Darien Kryz. Hmm...

  The name meant nothing to me.

  I forced a casual smile, shrugging.

  “Guess I just have one of those faces.”

  “Hmm,” she murmured, not quite buying it. “Either that, or you’re more interesting than you let on.”

  “Depends who’s asking.” I shot her a smirk, but there was a tension in the air now, a silent understanding that we were both sizing each other up.

  Zara leaned back, a hint of a smirk in her gaze. “If you’re looking for Astra, you’re going to need a better answer than ‘right place, wrong time.’ She’s gotten herself tangled in something that isn’t going to end well. For anyone.”

  “That’s fine,” I replied, meeting her eyes. “I need her help. And… I grew to like her over the course of our ‘friendship.’”

  She eyed me suspiciously,.

  I leaned in, lowering my voice. “Look, Zara. I’m carrying something I really need to get rid of. If I’m caught with it, I’m a dead man. So the sooner we get past this whole…” I gestured between us, “distrustful sizing-each-other-up routine, the better.”

  A beat of silence.

  Then—

  Zara let out a slow breath.

  Her expression shifted, softening, if only slightly.

  Her hand slid out from beneath the table, and a sleek, compact blaster came into view.

  She set it down on the table.

  A small, but unmistakable sign of trust.

  I let out a laugh. “I knew that was there the whole time. Not that it would’ve mattered. You couldn’t pull that trigger even if you wanted to.”

  She scoffed.

  But there was the faintest flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.

  “Oh yeah?” She leaned forward slightly. “Prove it.”