By Erin Artfitch
Zai had a feeling he’d run into trouble tonight—he just didn’t know if it was the good kind or the bad. He pushed open the grime-encrusted doors of Randy’s Interstellar Roadhouse, releasing a wave of smoke, body odor, and honky-tonk music.
With a planetary alignment only days away, the H’don Galaxy was a hot mess. Something about the alignment amplifying galactic energy or whatever. Zai didn’t know—or care—about any of that, but he was particularly thrilled by the riffraff the event lured out. He could throw a rock and hit a wanted criminal—every warrant chaser’s dream. But he had eyes for just one of them.
Zai pulled out his handheld to review his target’s dossier. The Intergalactic Warrant Bureau hadn’t provided him with an actual mugshot, just a vague description gathered by the disgruntled witness left hog-tied at the crime scene.
Human female. Five-foot-two. Slim build. Eyes are… Huh. Blue and green. Interesting. So interesting.
Zai noted each human scattered throughout the mix of alien bipeds. By his count, thirty occupied the bar, including himself. Seventeen of them female.
“This one’s for Ryn,” Zai said with a smirk, intentionally defiling his stiff-necked brother’s name by invoking it in such a filthy environment. He stepped forward, determined to fight his way to the bar across the room. If he was going to read the minds of seventeen women, he needed a drink first.
Zai summoned his ability as he walked, partially to search for his warrant holder, mostly to distract himself from the uncomfortable heat radiating from the roadhouse patrons. A familiar tingle moved up his spine and settled into his temples just as a beautiful redhead approached him.
She winked. “Hey, handsome.”
“Good evening, beautiful.” Zai focused, and her thoughts filled his head.
“Er’Retian armor? That’ll fetch plenty of credits. I bet I can convince him to come out back, and Thyrex can—”
Zai stepped around the redhead without another word, ignoring her indignant huff. She wasn’t his target—a top-tier thief like Kytt Windthorn wouldn’t bother shaking down random victims.
Zai took a seat at a barstool and flagged down the bartender.
According to the dossier, Windthorn had stolen some kind of star fragment from a lunar containment facility. Zai couldn’t understand why anyone would want a dusty old artifact, but to each their own. She would’ve had to refuel at this outpost, and he’d already checked the fueling station—which left only Randy’s.
Zai sipped his Sonic Tonic before turning toward a group of women chatting to his left. His temples tingled as his telepathy reawakened.
“If you’re going to hunt warrants, you could at least be less obvious about it.”
Zai spun around. A young woman sat on the stool next to him, resting her elbow casually against the counter.
Now, Zai wasn’t the tallest guy—or the strongest—but he liked to think that what he lacked in physique, he made up for with charm. But for some reason, the mischievous smile tilting this woman’s lips knocked the words right out of him. He stared, taking in the brown hair that curled gently above her shoulders, framing a sweet, heart-shaped face.
And when he focused on her thoughts, her grin just widened.
“Oh, that won’t work.” She tapped the round spectacles encircling her eyes. “Even the best telepaths can’t read past Cerulean metal.”
Zai noticed her eyes and blinked rapidly. One green. One blue.
Finally, he found his voice. “Kytt Windthorn, I presume? Galaxy-class thief, rumored to steal anything from anyone?”
“Is it considered stealing if it’s from a criminal?” Kytt leaned back, appraising him. “I know all about you, too, Zaivar Witz. From the medieval planet Er’Rets. A diplomat’s son turned warrant chaser. I bet Dad is proud.”
Zai grunted. “Ah, well. He has my brother for that.”
“You know, when you came in, I could have just snuck out of the back door and ran to my ship.”
Zai sipped his drink. “Sounds like you made a grave mistake, then.”
“Not at all. I could use your help.”
Zai almost choked on his drink. “You know what I do for a living, right?”
Annoyance flicked across her features. “We already established that.”
“Look, you’re cute, but you’ve also got a high price on your head. I need that money. Rocket fuel isn’t cheap, you know.” He unclipped the taser from his belt.
“Wait.” Kytt grabbed his arm, causing his stomach to flutter strangely. “I’m trying to destroy the star stone before Y’barro gets it.”
“Y’barro?” Zai had heard of him. A ruthless Octonoid gangster possessing almost as many chins as he had limbs.
“He was on his way to steal the star stone. I got there first.”
“What’s a gangster want with a dusty old rock?”
“Y’barro wants to harness its latent power to control the entire galaxy. All these people in this fine establishment? When the planets align, they’ll become his mindless subjects.”
Zai’s lips twitched. “What a loss that’ll be.”
Kytt let go of his arm to smack it. “What do you think will happen when your solar system aligns next year?”
Zai kept his features smooth, but he couldn’t help the twist in his gut. His father. His stiff-necked brother…
“Listen, you still wear Er’Retian armor. What’s their creed again?”
Even after these years, Zai recalled it instantly. For Freedom. For Honor.
Kytt’s attention shifted, and his followed. Six Octonoids, wearing black leather to match their grim expressions, stepped into the roadhouse.
Zai winced. So many limbs. So many, many flexing limbs.
“Come with me, Zaivar,” Kytt whispered urgently. “If not to free this solar system, then yours.”
Zai stared into her mesmerizing eyes, and a hint of terror overwhelmed him that had little to do with the Octonoids heading their way. Because Zai was concerned that he’d follow this woman into the next galaxy if she asked.
Finally, he set down his drink. “Very well, then. But call me Zai.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
“A ruthless Octonoid gangster possessing almost as many chins as he had limbs.” XD What a line! Awesome story, Erin! I love the chemistry you’ve written between these two!
“If he was going to read the minds of seventeen women, he needed a drink first.” What an incredible line haha! This was so entertaining and well written, I wish I knew what happened next!
Great idea to bring in Kytt for this story!
“Kytt, how do you plan to destroy a star stone”
“Easy, Zai, make it watch The Last Jedi on repeat”
Very nice! Very nice characterizations and plot – I loved seeing Kytt make an appearance. And I, too, loved the line “If he was going to read the minds of seventeen women, he needed a drink first.”
Ahhh! Kytt too! What happens next? Where do they go? Do they defeat Y’barro and the Octonoids? I loved it all. Thank you for sharing :)