Aliki’s jaw dropped. Mitch looked down at the floor, clearly attempting to repress a smile. Emmett did his usual Emmett thing, responding with a deadpan seriousness that somehow underscored the absurdity of KC’s comment. “Aye, an’ if he doesn’t disappoint, she can sculpt the marzipan into a trophy. First place in exceedin’ low expectations.”

KC laughed, a sharp, genuine burst of amusement, and gave Emmett a mock salute. “Well played, tinman.” With that, he turned on his heel and strode out of the building, still chuckling to himself.

Mitch sighed and shook his head, his shoulders tightening as he shifted the box under his arm. “I’ll have the right people take a look at this,” he said. “Maybe we’ll learn something helpful.”

Aliki nodded, her brow furrowed. “Good idea. But what do we do about Tira?”

“Watch her,” Mitch said simply. “She’s slipping up, but not enough to move against her yet. We’ll need more than suspicion.”

As Mitch left with the chocolate-covered marzipan, Aliki turned back toward the showroom. Emmett followed her. “The hotel staff will be here in the morning to set up the tents. We’ve got the rest of the evenin’ to get everything organized so we can set up tomorrow.”

Time passed in a haze of activity. Aliki and Emmett unpacked boxes, organized supplies, and ensured everything was ready for the next morning. The repetitive tasks provided a strange sense of calm, even as Aliki’s thoughts kept circling back to Tira’s cryptic remarks.

When everything was finally in place, Aliki trudged back to her apartment, exhausted. She heated up a quick meal, an instant dinner labeled as a “Galactic Garden Loaf” that was filling if not tasty, and collapsed onto the sofa with her quilt and pillow.

Tira and Zoron remained out of sight, though Aliki overheard muffled arguing from their suite at one point. Salyne never appeared, leaving Aliki to wonder if she’d stayed at the hotel, or if something had happened to her. Her thoughts churned for a while, but exhaustion won out, and she drifted into a fitful sleep, the day’s tensions still lingering like a shadow in her mind.

She woke up to sunlight pouring through the living room window. It was late—too late to linger. After a rushed shower and a quick breakfast that barely qualified as such, she left the apartment, her mind already racing through the day’s tasks. First stop: a cup of coffee from the NebulaFlow. Then she needed to find Emmett.

The view outside the showroom had transformed overnight. What was once an empty lot now buzzed with activity as hotel staff assembled event tents. Aliki scanned the scene, noticing the distinct absence of both Emmett and the Tyroks.

Grabbing a cup of coffee from the breakroom, she made her way toward the office. It was empty, as was the utility room, which had thankfully returned to its usual, orderly state. The door to the chocolate storage was closed. She opened it and stepped inside, the cooler air brushing her skin. Stacks of chocolate greeted her, along with Emmett, who was busy arranging the boxes with mechanical precision.

“There’s more in the garage if ya care to give a hand,” Emmett said, placing a box on one of the shelves. “Two hands would be even better.”

Aliki smiled and held up her coffee cup. “ Give me just a minute. How’s it going?”

Emmett gestured toward the neatly stacked boxes with a huff. “It’s about as well as can be expected when I’m doin’ all the work meself. But take your time with the coffee—I wouldn’t want ya spillin’ it while ya help.”

She smiled faintly. Emmett’s grumbling was oddly reassuring amidst the morning chaos.

As she started toward the garage, Tira’s voice rang out, sharp and brittle. “Aliki! A word, if you please.”

Aliki stopped mid-step, steeling herself before turning. Tira stood just outside the open utility room door, her posture rigid, eyes gleaming with barely concealed agitation.

“What is it?” Aliki asked evenly.

Tira’s lips curved into a tight smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I’ve been thinking about your future,” she said, her tone syrupy sweet. “Poor Aliki, caught in such an unfortunate mess. One wonders what will become of you. Prison? Hard labor? Or something… worse?”

Aliki’s stomach twisted, but she forced her expression to remain neutral. “Thanks for your concern. I’ll manage.”

“Will you, though?” Tira’s smile widened, revealing a frightening number of pointed teeth, and for a moment, her mask slipped, revealing something darker underneath. “It’s amazing how quickly things can spiral out of control when you’re not careful. But I’m sure you’ll… adapt.”

Aliki held her gaze, refusing to blink. “Was there a point to this conversation, or are you just here to gloat?”

Tira’s smile faltered, and for a fraction of a second, anger flickered in her eyes. “I came to tell you the hotel staff has finished setting up the tents. They’re ready for decorating. I expect you to get on it immediately. Emmett can take care of this. I want everything to be perfect before our guests arrive.” She turned on her heel abruptly and left.

As Tira walked away, Aliki released a slow breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. That was weird, she thought. Even for Tira. There was something else going on, something Tira wasn’t saying outright. Her abrupt departure left the room feeling heavier.

Aliki shook her head, trying to dispel the unease. Turning to Emmett, she asked, “Can you handle moving the rest of the chocolate on your own? I need to get to the tents before Tira comes back to bark more orders.”

His eyes flickered, betraying his amusement. “Oh, sure. Leave the grunt work to the android. It’s not like I’ve got anything better to do, like mopping the floors or dusting every nook and cranny in this place.”

“Thanks, Emmett,” Aliki replied with a wry smile. “You’re the best.”

With that, she made her way through the garage exit and stepped into the bright morning light. The air was already warming, though the sun hadn’t yet reached its peak, making the short walk from the garage to the front of the showroom quite pleasant.

There, she found two large tents standing next to each other. They reminded her of blank canvases as she took in the vibrant lineup of potted plants and greenery waiting to be placed inside. She took a moment to scan the scene, hands on her hips, mentally cataloging the tasks ahead.

A delivery van rumbled up the road from the spaceport, its brakes hissing as it came to a halt. The driver hopped out and began unloading folding tables and chairs stacked neatly on movable dollies. As she turned back, a few workers in plain coveralls—whom she assumed were the disguised ICE agents—approached her, each carrying pieces of decor.

“Where do you want these?” one of them asked, holding up two plinths.

Aliki pointed to the smaller tent. “Start in there. The pedestals will go in the center where the ceremony is held. We’ll adjust their positions once everything’s in place.” They nodded and got to work, their interactions efficient and professional. Aliki appreciated their quiet competence, while finding comfort in knowing they were there.

One of the workers, a woman with a no-nonsense demeanor, paused as she passed Aliki. She leaned in and murmured, “I’m Sam. Mitch told me you’re a friend of his.” Her knowing smile lingered for just a moment before she straightened and moved off to her tasks.

Aliki watched her, puzzled. Was that supposed to mean she was part of the operation, or something else? Her thoughts were broken by Mitch himself, pulling up in an electric cart with KC in the passenger seat. Aliki raised an eyebrow at them.

“Just checking in,” Mitch told her, scanning the area briefly. “Wanted to make sure everything’s running smoothly here.”

“It’s under control,” Aliki said, gesturing to the workers bustling around the tents. Quietly, she added, “I just met someone named Sam. Am I supposed to know them?”

Mitch’s expression tightened slightly. Was his face turning slightly red? “Uh, I asked her to stop by and say hi. She, uh, she’s the lead maintenance tech at the ‘port. She’s been assigned to supervise the setup. She was, uh, eager to jump into some security work. I think she believes it’s more glamorous than her own job.” He added the last with a change in tone that implied he didn’t believe it himself.

Aliki bit her lower lip. Was he speaking uneasily because he was trying to talk covertly? Or was it talking about Sam that made him uncomfortable?

Mitch didn’t seem to notice her reaction. He gave her a smile and continued, louder, before she’d made up her mind. “We’re busy but it’s manageable. I can’t stay.”

As KC got out of the cart, Mitch leaned forward, his voice dropping again. “That wireless receiver Emmett found? It’s tied to some pretty exotic technology. Something we know has been created specially for the Silver Claws.”

Aliki tilted her head, curious. “What is it?”

KC joined them, his casual posture belying a sharp interest. “Let me guess—it’s not for streaming music.”

Mitch ignored the comment. “It operates on a quantum frequency, which means it can be activated remotely from almost anywhere in the galaxy. It’s not just a receiver—it can double as a detonator.”

“A detonator? For what?” Aliki’s stomach tightened.

“Weapons tech,” KC jumped in with a grim frown. “The kind the Silver Claws have been developing. If this kind of tech spreads, it’ll destabilize everything. That’s why shutting down this cartel isn’t just about the chocolate—it’s about preventing something far worse.”

Mitch nodded. His gaze flickered toward KC, and though his expression didn’t change, the subtle tension was unmistakable. “I don’t mean to scare you, Aliki. This one wasn’t set up as a detonator–Emmett would’ve found a bomb. There’s more, but we can discuss it later. Right now, we need to stay focused.”

He turned the cart back on. “I’ll leave KC here to… assist.” He shot KC a pointed look, which the other man answered with an exaggeratedly innocent smile. “You’ll call me if there’s any trouble?”

Aliki nodded, absorbing the weight of what he was saying. “Of course.”

Mitch drove off, leaving them alone. Aliki, suddenly aware of how close they were standing, caught a faint whiff of KC’s cologne—something warm and woodsy. The realization made her heart skip, and she quickly searched for a distraction amongst the activity surrounding them.

KC’s grin widened as she added some space between them. “You know, this is turning out to be way more entertaining than I expected. Weddings and wireless detonators—who would’ve thought?”

Aliki flushed, glancing away quickly. “You’ve got a strange sense of fun, KC.”

He chuckled and was about to walk away when she impulsively grabbed his arm. “Since you’re here,” she added. “you can help with the flowers.” She pointed to a crate near the reception tent filled with bundles of exotic blooms in every color imaginable. “They need to be arranged in those tall vases over there. Think you can handle that?”

His expression changed as he took her hand off his arm and held it briefly. “I’m offended you’d even question my artistic sensibilities.”

He winked, then sauntered off in the general direction of the vases. She watched him go, then called after him, her voice tinged with a mix of amusement and faint embarrassment. “Make sure those flowers look half as charming as you think you are.”

An hour later, the sun was high, and the tent space was growing uncomfortably warm. Aliki wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, making a mental note to ask the hotel to bring over more fans. She had just spent the past half-hour directing workers on how to arrange the tables under the tent, and only now finished carrying the fondue supplies outside. If this heat keeps climbing, she thought wryly, the chocolate might just melt itself before we even get it to the fondue pot.

She returned to the showroom to grab table linens. As she folded a stack into her arms, the faint hum of the HVAC changed pitch and then fell silent. She froze, her stomach sinking as the showroom grew eerily quiet, and the lights flickered out, plunging the space into shadow.

“No, no, no,” she muttered, dropping the stack of linens and hurrying toward the utility room. Her mind immediately jumped to the chocolate storage. If the cooling system failed again and the shipment was ruined, would the entire operation fail?

“Emmett?” she called as she entered the dim utility room. No answer. The sickly glow of red emergency lights illuminated the space around the doors but the remainder of the room was cloaked in shadow. The space felt eerily quiet, except for the sound of footsteps behind her. She turned to see KC following, his expression more curious than alarmed.

“Power’s out,” he said.

“I noticed,” she replied. “Emmett should be here. He’s the one who handles this sort of thing.”

The room was empty. Aliki frowned, scanning the space. Everything was tidy, the equipment untouched. “Where is he?” she muttered.

KC leaned against the doorframe, watching her with interest. “Could he be in the storage room?”

Aliki considered it, then nodded. They moved quickly to the storage room door. She palmed open the lock, and the door slid aside to reveal a pitch-black interior. A faint chill clung to the air, but the room was silent.

“Emmett?” KC’s voice echoed through the room, bouncing off the walls and ceiling. When no answer came, he added dryly, “Nope. Doesn’t look like he’s hiding out here.”

They retraced their steps back towards the hallway. As they entered the control room, Aliki suddenly stopped. KC followed closely, his gaze lifting as he stepped inside.

Emmett stood eerily still, his back to them. “Emmett?” Aliki called cautiously, her voice cutting through the silence. The android didn’t respond immediately. Then, with a subtle jolt, he turned, his expression neutral.

“Ah, there ye are,” he said. “Sorry ’bout that. Had meself a wee… glitch. All sorted now.”

Aliki’s brow furrowed. “Another glitch?”

“Nothin’ to worry about,” Emmett said, waving a hand dismissively. “But the power outage is. I’ll head to the utility room and reset the circuit breaker. You two stay here.” Without waiting for a reply, he strode past them and disappeared down the corridor.

Aliki exchanged a glance with KC. “That was weird,” she said.

“Weird doesn’t even begin to cover it,” KC replied.

Before they could say more, footsteps echoed down the corridor. Zoron and Salyne emerged from the apartment area, both looking mildly annoyed.

“What happened?” Zoron demanded.

Aliki explained the power outage and assured him that the chocolate cooling system should still be fine, as it had been functioning properly before the blackout. Zoron gave a distracted nod, then exchanged a quick glance with Salyne.

“I’ll go give him a hand,” she said, starting toward the utility room.

KC straightened, his tone casual but firm. “I’ll go with you. Just in case it takes six hands.”

Salyne hesitated but didn’t argue. The two disappeared down the corridor, leaving Aliki with Zoron.

“The chocolate should be fine,” Aliki said again, more for her own reassurance than his.

“I’m sure it is,” Zoron replied, though his tone lacked conviction.

Before Aliki could respond, Tira appeared, dressed impeccably, her expression as sharp as her heel clicks against the floor. She fixed Aliki with a disapproving look.

“Turning the power off while we’re preparing to meet Zoron’s old boss?” she said, her tone biting. “Do you have any idea how important this meeting is?”

Aliki bit back her retort, forcing herself to stay calm. “It wasn’t intentional. We’re working on fixing it.”

Tira huffed, clearly unimpressed, before turning her attention to Zoron. “We need to leave soon,” she said. “Are you ready?”

Zoron nodded and followed her out, leaving Aliki alone. She took a deep breath, shaking off the tension. As she wondered how long it would take for the power to return, the lights flickered back on. The hum of the HVAC resumed, and the control room monitors glowed softly to life, filling the space with a sense of normalcy once more.

Minutes later, Salyne and KC returned, with Emmett trailing close behind. Aliki glanced at them expectantly. “Is it fixed?”

“Aye, all sorted,” Emmett said smoothly. “Just a matter of resetting the circuit breaker.”

Aliki’s gaze shifted to Salyne, her brows slightly raised. Salyne offered a faint smile. “Probably nothing. These things happen. Shouldn’t be a problem again.”

KC remained quiet, his expression unreadable, but his sharp eyes lingered on Emmett for a beat longer than seemed casual. Emmett, seemingly unaffected, added, “Apologies if it caused any inconvenience,” before excusing himself. “I’ll be headin’ back to help with the decorations.”

Aliki impulsively turned to Salyne. “Would you like to help with the setup? We’re still finishing up outside.”

Salyne shook her head. “No, I’ll stay here. I need to get the security drones up and running for the ceremony. Now’s as good a time as any.”

Aliki exchanged a glance with KC, her surprise mirrored in his raised eyebrow. Salyne caught the look and added, “It’s standard procedure for events like this. For the guests’ protection.”

KC nodded, his tone casual. “Makes sense. Better safe than sorry.”

Aliki hesitated, slightly puzzled, but decided not to dwell on it. “Let us know if you need anything,” she added awkwardly before following KC out of the control room.

Later that evening, Aliki took one last walk through the wedding arrangements, marveling at how the tents had been transformed into a lush replica of Tira’s homeworld. The sight was breathtaking, and for a moment, she allowed herself to appreciate the intricate details and vibrant atmosphere they had managed to create. Vines hung gracefully from the metal frames, tropical trees and shrubs in large pots stood in clusters, and tall vases overflowed with exotic flowers that filled the air with their subtle, sweet fragrance. Bioluminescent lighting nestled among the foliage added a soft, otherworldly glow, hinting at the vibrant ceremonies to come.

In the ceremony tent, the centerpiece was the mandala-like rings of colorful sand Tira had insisted upon. The concentric patterns surrounded an open central area where Tira and Zoron would exchange vows. Two simple pedestals, one on each side of the center, now held single exotic flowers meant to symbolize the couple. Aliki adjusted the placement of one pedestal slightly, ensuring symmetry before stepping back to take in the scene.

In the reception tent, circular tables and chairs were arranged neatly for the guests, each table boasting a vibrant tropical centerpiece. Along one side of the tent, additional tables stood ready for the buffet, decorated with smaller floral touches to maintain the jungle theme. In the center of the space, a round table displayed the chocolate fondue setup. Skewered dehydrated crickets and mealworm nuggets were already placed out, ready for dipping. The fruit, still safely stored in the cooler, would be added in the morning along with the melted chocolate.

Zoron had just left. She knew he wanted to inspect her work, and was glad when he seemed to like it. After approving the fondue setup, he asked Aliki to arrange for extra electric carts from the spaceport. “For the guests who overindulge,” he’d explained, his tone implying this was more of an inevitability than a precaution. Aliki had agreed, though the thought of coordinating even more logistics had worn on her already stretched patience.

Emmett had already retreated inside to clean up the mess they’d made in the showroom, and KC had left earlier for the spaceport, so she made a mental note to mention the request to Mitch later. He would know the best way to handle Zoron’s it.

Returning to the chocolate storage room for one final check, Aliki let out a small sigh of relief. It was cold, almost uncomfortably so. Everything was functioning perfectly for now. She only hoped tomorrow would go as smoothly.

She locked the door behind her and made her way to the control room. Emmett was back, seated at one of the consoles, his eyes scanning a series of data streams on the monitors. He looked up when she entered.

“Good evening, Emmett,” she said, her tone light now that the day’s chaos had settled. “Everything okay here?”

“Evenin’,” he replied. “Everything’s tickin’ along just fine, and I’ll keep a close watch on things through the night. Now off with ya—ye’ve earned a bit o’ peace.”

She smiled. “Thanks. Good night.”

Aliki headed to her apartment. Once inside, she kicked off her shoes and eyed the automated cooker with the confidence of someone who had never truly mastered its settings. Dinner, she decided, would be simple. Or so she thought.

Half an hour later, the acrid smell of burnt pasta filled the room, a testament to her misplaced optimism. The cooker, perhaps insulted by her attempt, blinked an error message that seemed to say, “Really? Even a toddler could manage this.”

Aliki poked at the contents with a fork, sighing. “I’ve just invented anti-pasta,” she muttered.

She was scraping the edible parts into a dish when there was a knock at the front door. Opening it, she found Mitch standing there, his usual calm demeanor paired with a raised eyebrow as he sniffed the air.
“Burning down the place?” he asked dryly.

“Dinner,” Aliki replied, exasperated. “It’s a disaster.”

Mitch chuckled, stepping inside. “Well, lucky for you, I’m not here to eat. Are your bosses around?” When Aliki shook her head, he continued. “Everything’s ready on our end. The agents are in place, and the Silver Fangs’ leadership is resting comfortably at the Slumberstar Hotel. We’ve stationed extra security to make sure nothing happens overnight.”

Aliki nodded, grabbing two glasses and pouring white wine. “Zoron asked for extra carts to shuttle chocolate-drunk guests back to the hotel. Is that going to be a problem?”

Mitch leaned against the counter, taking a glass. “That’ll work to our advantage. We’ll have the agents bring the guests in the carts instead of in vans. Keeping them in small groups could make arrests quieter if needed.”

Aliki smiled. “At least something’s going according to plan.”

Mitch glanced at the food and let out a quiet chuckle. “Except for dinner. I’ll have to teach you how to cook when this is over.”

She laughed, setting her glass down. “Deal.”
His grin softened as he took another sip of wine, his smile lingering as he set the glass on the counter. Their eyes met, and for a moment her chest tightened, an unsettling mix of nerves and warmth washing over her. Then he turned to leave. “Get some rest, Aliki. Tomorrow’s going to be busy.”

“I will.” She closed the door quietly behind him.

She finished her wine, ate a few bites of salvaged pasta, and cleaned up the remains of the failed dinner before setting up a bed on the sofa. As she lay down, her thoughts wandered to Mitch’s kindness and his promise to teach her to cook. Then, unbidden, the image of KC fumbling around a kitchen made her giggle. He’d probably be worse at it than she was.

Just as she was drifting off, she heard the quiet click of the interior door as Salyne entered and slipped into her bedroom. Moments later, the apartment filled with the louder sounds of Zoron and Tira returning. Tira’s laugh carried through the walls, followed by Zoron’s low comment about dropping her shoes. Aliki groaned, grabbed a pillow, and covered her head, finally falling asleep despite the noise.