The small office fridge clicked shut as Aliki pressed it closed, eyeing the two bars left on her desk. They were flattened and warped, casualties of the heat, and wouldn’t fit in the crammed fridge anyway.

Her stomach growled. She tore open one of the wrappers, releasing the rich scent of chocolate into the air. The first bite was gooey, warm, and perfect. Aliki leaned back in her chair, savoring the sweetness.

Her thoughts drifted as she chewed. She’d moved as much of the storage room chocolate as possible into coolers—the break room cooler, the apartment fridge, and now the office fridge were all bursting. Anything left in the storage room that seemed in danger of meltdown had been shifted to the cooler side of the room, away from the heat-radiating wall, and at least for now, nothing else seemed at risk of total ruin.

Except for these bars. And ruin, she decided, was far too strong a word. They were deliciously ruined.

The second bar disappeared just as quickly as the first, leaving only crinkled wrappers in their wake. Aliki glanced at the reprocess bin by her desk, then reconsidered. She opened a drawer and shoved the wrappers in, burying them beneath a stack of old receipts.

Evidence eliminated.

She’d have to check on the remaining chocolate in a few hours if the repair tech didn’t show up soon. For quality control reasons, she told herself. But the thought of more half-melted bars—chocolate almost begging to be eaten before sliding into unusable sludge—danced temptingly through her mind.

Could she commandeer a cooling unit from somewhere else? She’d seen a refrigerator at the convenience store in the spaceport when she first arrived. Maybe Emmett would know if it was usable for chocolate. For now, though, she had work to do, and the fleeting euphoria of the chocolate was already fading.

The sound of unhurried footsteps cut through her thoughts. Zoron? Aliki stood, her ears pricking as a voice followed, casual and pitched just loud enough to carry.

“Anybody home?”

It wasn’t Zoron. She found KC in the breakroom, standing at one of the tables, pulling packages out of a bag with the practiced ease of someone who’d made themselves at home. A sleek reheat-all unit hummed on the counter next to him as he pressed a button, the device lighting up as it began to warm its contents.

“Hi,” he said, flashing her a grin that was somehow both charming and maddeningly smug. “Mind if I eat? I’m starving.”

Aliki blinked. “No… go ahead.”

He turned back to the device, cracking open another package and dumping its contents into a dish. The scents intensified, and Aliki’s mouth watered.

“What brings you back?” she asked. “If it’s about the Metsu, it’s not for sale anymore.”

KC nodded without looking up. “I heard about that already. Saw it on GNN —terrible crash. Sorry to hear about it.” He looked over his shoulder, his gaze light but sharp. “I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop by to see if you were okay. You seemed… a little out of sorts when I left.”

Aliki’s cheeks warmed. Out of sorts? She thought back —when she’d last seen him, she’d been juggling the power outages, preparing for Sufsa’s arrival, and trying to act like she had everything under control. That had been before the crash, before the chocolate, before everything went completely sideways. Had it only been yesterday?

“I’m fine,” she said, a little too quickly. “Just—” her stomach growled audibly and she winced. “Just a little hungry,” she explained, glancing at the food.

KC turned, one hand on the reheat-all door, the other holding a container he’d just pulled from the unit. The grin that followed was almost infuriating in its confidence. “Good thing I showed up, then. Care to join me?”

“Thanks.” She slid into a chair, eyeing the packages scattered in front of her. She’d picked out a disposable spoon and began working on its wrapper when a thought tugged at the back of her mind. “Uh, KC?” she said, tilting her head, “You do know that there’s an investigation going on here. Mitch Whitman, the security head at the spaceport, wants to ask you some questions.”

KC leaned against the counter, crossing his arms casually. “An investigation, huh?” His tone was light, but there was a flicker of interest in his eyes. “Well, Sufsa was a big deal. Important guy, big businessman. Makes sense there’d be a lot of people wanting to know what really happened.”

The reheat-all chimed, and KC turned to retrieve the last container, its lid puffing slightly from the steam. “Yeah, I thought that’s why I was directed to the spaceport instead of the dealership lot,” he said as he brought the container to the table. Setting it down among the other packages, he slid into the chair across from her. “Didn’t see Mitch, though. Must’ve missed him.” His grin returned. “I’ll make sure to check in with him before I leave. Wouldn’t want to step on anyone’s toes.”

He held out a small, foil-wrapped package. Aliki hesitated, then took it, inspecting it briefly before peeling back the wrapper.

“What is it?”

“Saltines,” he said, deadpan, as if that explained everything.

She frowned. “Saltines? Like… crackers?”

KC nodded. “Premium-grade. Only the best for you.”

Aliki paused, saltine in hand, giving KC a sidelong glance. “Thanks for this,” she said, crunching into the cracker. “The dealership wasn’t exactly ready for me when I got here. Feels like it’s unprepared for everything.”

KC chuckled softly. “Yeah, that tracks.” He fiddled with the wrapping on a sandwich. “I don’t know if you noticed it yesterday, but that wasn’t the first time Sufsa and I met.”

Aliki froze mid-bite. “You knew Sufsa?”

“Worked for him,” KC said casually, peeling the lid off a Solar Spice Fusion Bowl. “Well, now I suppose I technically work for Zoron. Cargo transporter. Guess that didn’t come up in conversation.”

It didn’t take much for the pieces to fall into place. Cargo transporter. The dealership’s endless supply of chocolate. Her brow furrowed as she leaned forward, lowering her voice instinctively. “You know about it, don’t you? The chocolate.”

KC arched an eyebrow, clearly amused. “The chocolate,” he echoed in an exaggerated whisper, his grin unmistakably teasing. “Why are you whispering?”

Aliki straightened, rolling her eyes as she replied in a normal tone, “I didn’t know about it until today. No one said anything to me. Sufsa’s dead, and now there’s—” She stopped herself, glancing around, though the room was empty.

KC shrugged, taking a bite of his food as if they were discussing something as mundane as the weather. “Yeah, but this is Sufsa-Guuz we’re talking about. Head of the Black Claw Syndicate. This isn’t exactly a ‘by the book’ kind of operation.”

“The Black Claw Syndicate?”

KC’s grin faded as his tone turned matter-of-fact. “The Black Claw Syndicate’s one of the bigger Tyrok cartels out there. They’ve got operations all over—shipping, trade routes, even legit businesses like this dealership. But smuggling? That’s their bread and butter.”

“Chocolate,” Aliki said, half to herself.

KC nodded. “Among other things. For Tyroks and certain non-human species, it’s… let’s just say it’s not the same as it is for humans. Worth its weight in tricrystium in the right circles. So yeah, they run it under the radar, hidden in plain sight.”

Aliki swallowed and let that sink in. She’d figured the chocolate was important—valuable, even—but hearing KC lay it out like this made her realize how deep she might already be in.

“So what happens now? Sufsa’s dead, and Zoron just… what? Picks up where he left off?”

“That’s usually what happens,” KC said, shrugging. “For cartels like this, it’s all about keeping the operation running. Doesn’t matter who’s in charge, as long as the goods keep moving and the profits keep rolling in.”

“Profits?”

KC chuckled softly, the grin creeping back onto his face. “Oh, you’ll not have to worry about that. And trust me, the less you know about the numbers, the better.” He took a sip from a small drink pouch, as if punctuating his point.

“Why?” Aliki asked.

KC tilted his head, watching her for a moment before answering. “Because cartels don’t mess around. Black Claw might deal in chocolate, but they’ll protect their territory like it’s pure diamond dust. You don’t want to draw attention to yourself. And you definitely don’t want to look like you’re getting in the way.”

Her stomach twisted at the thought. “I didn’t ask to get involved in this,” she said, her voice low.

“I know,” KC said, his tone softening. He let the tension hang for a beat before a playful gleam returned to his eyes. “But hey, look on the bright side,” he said, gesturing to the table. “At least you get to hang out with me while you figure it all out. I’m told I’m excellent company.”

Aliki gave him a look, but despite herself, her lips twitched at the corners. “Right. Because that’s exactly what I need right now.”

“Exactly,” KC said, his grin widening. “I’m a fantastic distraction. And I come with snacks.”

Aliki opened her mouth to reply, but a sharp voice echoed from the hallway.

Tira swept into the break room like a whirlwind, her steps sharp and jittery. Her gaze darted from KC to Aliki to the food spread across the table, narrowing suspiciously as if she’d just stumbled upon a secret meeting.

She stopped suddenly, throwing her arms wide in dramatic exasperation. “Really? This is what you’re doing while the universe collapses?”

KC casually plucked another saltine from the table. “Premium snacks,” he said, as though that explained everything.

“I just realized—I’m getting married! Here! In this… this dump! And do you know what that means?” Tira gestured at the room as if it had personally insulted her taste and upbringing. “I’m stuck here! My closest friends are light-years away, and they’ll never make it in time!”

KC raised an eyebrow, popping the saltine into his mouth. “Tragic,” he murmured.

Aliki gave him a sidelong glance before turning to the irate Tyrok, trying for tact. “Well… it was your decision. You could still wait until you’re—”

“No!” Tira interrupted, her voice pitching higher. “And you know what else? I’m starving!” Her eyes zeroed in on the table. “Do you have anything crunchy?”

Without missing a beat, KC handed her a package of Crisp Pods, which she snatched up and tore open like a raccoon raiding a five-star dumpster.

“She’s going to choke,” Aliki muttered.

He gave her a barely concealed grin. “That’s just part of the magic.”

Tira shoved a handful of Crisp Pods into her mouth, the crunch echoing like thunder. “These are amazing,” she said, spraying crumbs as she ranted. “Zoron doesn’t care at all when or where we have the ceremony! Why should he? He’s from the Silver Fang Syndicate, and everyone knows they don’t care about anyone!”

Aliki tilted her head, unable to stop herself. “Silver Fang? Black Claw? What’s next, Crimson Fist? Do all cartels just pick their names out of a catalog of colorful anatomy, or is there a committee?”

KC snorted, quickly covering it by pretending to sip from his drink pouch.

Tira, oblivious, continued, her voice cracking. “What was I thinking, asking my father to take him in? Make him part of our family? Our family! Did you even know my father?”

She paused, her tone shifting to something dreamlike. “He was the kindest, most generous man in the galaxy.”

As Tira raised her eyes to the ceiling, Aliki noticed a smudge of chocolate on her cheek. The Tyrok was obviously, very definitely, high. She glanced at KC, catching his subtle shake of the head as if to say, Let her finish.

“He was so considerate. Even to those nasty Silver Fang people! He didn’t have to be. They never repaid his kindness. Always wanted more. Always made trouble, stirring up a rivalry—”

“Tira,” a calm, low voice interrupted from the direction of the showroom.

Tira froze mid-crunch, her back straightening as if she’d been caught stealing. Slowly, she turned to see Zoron standing at the edge of the break room, his sharp gaze sweeping over the table, the crumbs clinging to her clothes, and the faces of Aliki and KC, who were doing their best to look neutral.

“Let’s take a moment,” Zoron said smoothly, his tone measured and deliberate, “and breathe.”

Tira tossed the empty Crisp Pod package onto the table with a dramatic sigh. “Everyone always thinks they can tell me what to do!” she declared, throwing her hands in the air. “Zoron, my father, everyone! Like I don’t have a brain of my own. Like I’m just supposed to stand around and do what I’m told, no questions asked!” She jabbed a finger toward the table, her rant gaining steam. “Do this, Tira. Don’t do that, Tira. And heaven forbid I actually make a decision for myself—oh, no! Someone has to come along and do it for me!”

Zoron stepped closer. “Tira,” he said evenly. “You’re upset.”

She spun to face him. Her lower lip trembled as tears sprang to her eyes. “Of course I’m upset! My father was… he was so wonderful.” Her voice cracked as she wrapped her arms around herself. “He was kind and generous and always knew what to do. And now he’s gone, and I don’t know what to do.”

Aliki and KC exchanged a glance, watching the scene unfold as if it were a shuttle docking gone wrong—horrifying, inevitable, and something you couldn’t look away from.

Zoron’s voice softened. “You’ve been through a lot,” he said. “It’s okay. I’ve arranged for some food to be delivered from the spaceport—they had your favorite dessert. Starluxe Pudding.”

Tira sniffled, her face twisting into something between gratitude and frustration. “You did?”

“Yes,” Zoron said, nodding firmly. “Go back to the apartment and wait for it. You’ll feel better once you’ve had something to eat.”

Tira hesitated, glancing between him and the others, before nodding meekly. She turned and started toward the hallway, her steps slower now, her earlier energy completely drained.

As she disappeared from view, Zoron straightened, turning his attention to Aliki. “There’s a guy coming tonight to pick up the chocolate,” he said, his tone returning to its usual command. “He’ll be bringing the cooling system tech with him. Give them whatever assistance they need. And tell Emmett to do the same.”

Aliki nodded quickly, her throat suddenly dry under his sharp gaze.

“Is there anything you want me to do, Boss?” KC asked casually.

Zoron’s lips twitched into the faintest shadow of a smile. “Not yet.”

The break room felt oddly quiet in the aftermath of Tira’s exit. Aliki busied herself gathering the empty wrappers and containers, avoiding KC’s eyes as she tossed the remnants into the reprocessor. Across the table, KC held a cup of coffee, his expression unreadable as he watched her.

She wasn’t sure how she felt about him yet. Helpful? Sure. Charming? Absolutely. But trustworthy? Mitch’s warning from yesterday rang in her mind again: Watch yourself around him.

KC broke the silence. “That will reheat later if you want to put it in the cooler.”

Aliki looked down at the partially wrapped coregrain roll. “I can’t. We had a breakdown of the cooling system in the storage room. Some of the chocolate was beginning to melt, so I moved as much as I could into the coolers.”

He pursed his lips. “So that’s what Zoron meant. About the tech coming with the transporter, I mean.”

Aliki nodded. “The coolers are stuffed. I can’t get another thing in.” She placed the roll on the counter as a thought occurred to her. “Is that going to be a problem for the guy coming to pick up the boxes?”

KC’s eyebrows lifted slightly, as if surprised she’d brought it up. “Nah. Should be fine—unless they have to park at the spaceport. That’s a bigger pain, but Zoron might’ve convinced Mitch to make an exception.” He shrugged, the motion lazy. “Guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

“What did you just say?”

The voice from the hallway startled them both. Mitch’s sharp tone cut through the quiet like a blade as he strode into the room. His jaw was set, and his narrowed eyes zeroed in on KC.

KC didn’t miss a beat, leaning back in his chair, as if Mitch’s presence was nothing more than a mild inconvenience. “Afternoon, Mitch,” he said casually. “Nice to see you too.”

Mitch ignored him and turned to Aliki, who had instinctively pressed her back against the cooler. “What’s this about Zoron ‘convincing Mitch’? What’s that supposed to mean?”

Aliki froze, her mind scrambling for an answer. “It’s… uh—he means the power systems,” she said quickly, forcing a smile. “Zoron was going to tell you about some issues we’ve been having here. He sent for a repair tech and was hoping they could land here instead of the spaceport.” She edged her way in front of the cooler and crossed her arms, hopefully blocking any view Mitch would have of it’s contents while appearing to move naturally.

But Mitch’s gaze flicked to KC, his expression unimpressed. “Power systems, huh?”

KC smiled faintly. “Exactly what she said. I’m just here for the snacks.”

Mitch didn’t look convinced. He put his hands on his hips, his attention shifting back to Aliki. “So where is Zoron now? Let me guess—he’s out handling things at the spaceport?”

Aliki opened her mouth, but KC beat her to it. “He just got back, actually,” he said with a smirk. “Apparently, the sandwiches at the spaceport food court are worth the trip.”
Mitch’s eyes narrowed as he turned their focus fully on KC. “We need to talk,” he said, his tone clipped.

KC leaned back even farther, completely unbothered. “Sure thing, Officer,” he said, dragging out the title just enough to make it sound like a joke. “But can it wait? I’m just a little busy at the moment.” He motioned lazily at the remaining wrappers on the table.

Aliki’s stomach tightened. “Maybe we could—”

“No,” Mitch interrupted, his jaw tightening as he crossed his arms. “It can’t wait.”

KC raised an eyebrow, then sighed dramatically as he stood. “Alright. Let’s get this over with.”

“Mitch,” Aliki said quickly, stepping forward. “Do you really need to do this now? We’re all trying to sort things out here, and—”

“This isn’t about you, Aliki,” Mitch said sharply, then immediately softened, his expression momentarily apologetic before his glare snapped back to KC. “And it’s not about him, either. It’s about the investigation. I need to do my job.”

KC seemed to consider, then nodded lightly, his expression unreadable. “After you,” he said, sweeping his arm, his grin back. “Relax, Aliki. Mitch and I just need to have a friendly chat. Right, Mitch?”

Mitch turned towards the showroom entrance. “Let’s go. And Aliki,” he added over his shoulder, “remind Zoron he’s not to leave the premises again. Not for any reason.”

KC shot Aliki a wink as he followed Mitch out, leaving her standing in the break room, a storm of confusion and frustration swirling in her chest.