Sunlight filtered through the apartment windows, casting warm beams onto the clean floor. Outside, the hotel staff dismantled the remnants of the wedding setup, their movements quick under the blazing heat of another sweltering day. Inside, the air was cool, and the tension of the previous day had evaporated. Emmett had spent the night cleaning—wisely prioritizing the window Zoron had blasted rather than the broken coffee table leg. The window gleamed as if nothing had happened, but the coffee table now stood propped up by the gilded Tokcharr box—square, sturdy, and oddly fitting as a makeshift support.

Emmett clapped his hands with theatrical pride. “Feast yer eyes, lads and lass! The finest cuisine Earth convenience stores have to offer!”

The coffee table held an assortment of Earth snacks: crinkly bags of chips, brightly wrapped candy, jerky, and a glass pitcher of pale yellow lemonade surrounded by tumblers. Aliki picked up a bright green package promising snacks shaped like a spiral.

“This glows like warp engine coolant,” she said suspiciously. “You’re sure it’s food?”

KC grinned as he tossed a handful of apple chips into his mouth. “That’s part of the charm—you’ll love ’em.”

Aliki popped one into her mouth and chewed cautiously. Her face twisted into a mixture of surprise and confusion. “It’s like crunchy… air.”

Mitch, already chewing on a piece of jerky, chuckled. “Wait till you try this stuff. It’s like gnawing on a boot—seasoned boot, though. Builds character.”

“Oi, don’t knock it till ye’ve chewed through a pack on a long haul,” Emmett added with a wink. “Good company when yer stuck in the void with nothin’ but yer thoughts.”

Mitch washed down his jerky with a swig of lemonade. “Anyway, like I was saying, ICE wrapped things up. With Zoron taking out both Fress and Torvak and Tira under arrest, there’s no one left to run the Black Claws or the Silver Fangs. Both operations are falling apart.”

Aliki paused mid-sip of her lemonade. Her eyes widened slightly as she swallowed. “Really? Just like that?”

“Yeah, it’s chaos. Without leadership, cartels start tearing themselves apart. Raush said it’s like pulling the head off a snake—you get a lot of writhing before it’s over.”

KC leaned back, resting his arm casually on the sofa’s backrest. “Good riddance. The galaxy could use fewer snakes.”

Mitch set down his drink and leaned forward slightly, his tone shifting. “ICE bagged Tira and the rest of the cartel guests, but Zoron and Salyne slipped through the cracks. Raush thinks Salyne had a ship stashed somewhere on the dealership property—something atmospheric they could use to move around the planet without drawing attention. They probably used it to get clear before ICE locked everything down. He’s trying to find them now.”

Aliki frowned. “How’d they manage to escape right under ICE’s nose?”

“Timing, most likely. With the chaos inside and the teams focused on securing the guests, it gave them just enough of a window. Plus, if they had a ship ready to go, they could be halfway across the planet by now.”

Emmett leaned back against the chair, arms crossed over his chest. “I’d bet me servos they had that escape route planned long before the wedding. People like that never walk into a deal without a back door ready.”

As Mitch spoke, Aliki’s mind flicked back to the previous night. After Tira’s arrest, Sam had crawled out from under the dining table and bolted toward Mitch, throwing her arms around his neck like a lover reunited after years apart. Aliki remembered the awkward tension of that moment—the way Mitch stiffened slightly, his hands hovering uncertainly before he gave Sam a brief, polite pat on the back. Only now did Aliki register the slight wince in Mitch’s expression and the quick glance he’d shot around the room as if hoping for rescue. Still, a curious warmth flickered through her chest before she shoved it aside.

“So, where’s Sam?” Aliki asked, keeping her tone light and casual.

Mitch exhaled, the corners of his mouth lifting in relief. “Raush gave her another job. Turns out she’s been an ICE agent all along—assigned to the spaceport about a month ago to keep tabs on the dealership.”

KC leaned forward with a grin. “So, why’s that good news? You seemed… close.”

Mitch groaned and rubbed the back of his neck. “Close? Hardly. Let’s just say I made the mistake of accepting a drink with her once. Turns out, she thought it came with… additional benefits.”

Before KC could press further, Aliki picked up a strip of jerky. She bit down and immediately coughed, grabbing her lemonade. “This is… tough.”

“Told you. Earth snacks aren’t all charm and crunch,” Mitch said with a grin.

Emmett, ever the opportunist, plucked a small chocolate cookie from the tray and presented it with a mock bow. “Here, lass. Cleanse yer palate with chocolate. Ye deserve better than dried leather.”

Aliki accepted it with a smile. She took a bite and closed her eyes with a sigh. “Mmm. Chocolate. I don’t care if it nearly killed me—there’s no way I’m giving this up.”

“Sounds like an addiction’s starting,” KC said, his grin returning. “Should we alert ICE?”

“Only if ye want me reportin’ yer cheese puff habit,” Emmett shot back.

Mitch chuckled. “Pretty sure ICE has bigger problems.” He swirled his drink thoughtfully, still processing the events of the sting. “Emmett,” he said, tilting his head, “what about the power outage?”

Before Emmett could answer, KC chimed in. “Yeah, lucky timing on that one. Saved Aliki from having to sneak back into the bathroom for her communicator.”

Mitch shot Aliki a look—just a flick of the eyes that clearly said, “It shouldn’t have been there in the first place.” Then he added, “That was a problem for us. The communicator was too far away to pick up everything that happened in the apartment.”

“Distance wasnae an issue for me,” Emmett replied. “After I helped Xyper load the chocolate and saw him off, I checked on Salyne in the control room. But she was gone. The apartment door was still locked, and I didnae have a valid reason to go in without raising suspicion. Frankly, I wasnae keen on gettin’ a hard reset if they caught me spyin’. Then I remembered Aliki mentioning she’d left her communicator in the bathroom. So I tuned in. Android hearin’s sharp enough to catch every sound. I picked up the feed just in time to hear Zoron kill Fress.”

Mitch leaned forward slightly. “Okay, but what about the power outage? Was that you?”

Emmett nodded, his tone turning serious. “Aye, but not how ye’d think. I found out the day before that my programming had been tampered with. Someone inserted a subroutine making me trigger the outages, then forget I’d done it afterward. It had to be Salyne—Zoron and Tira don’t have the skills, and my system’s too advanced for just anyone to hack. I managed to isolate the subroutine, but I’ll need a full system analysis in the next few days to make sure there’s no leftover code. Last thing I need is someone messin’ with my version of reality.”

Aliki blinked. The idea of someone tampering with Emmett’s programming without his knowledge was disturbing.

“Well,” KC said, breaking the silence with a grin, “I bet they never expected their own tool to turn the tables on them.”

Before Emmett could respond, Aliki crossed the room and hugged the droid. “I’d probably be dead if it weren’t for you. So… thanks.”

Mitch raised his glass. “To our heroic android.”

Emmett tilted his head. “Careful now—don’t want it goin’ to me head.”

Mitch smiled. “Well, that clears up one mystery—the power outages.”

“Did Tira clear up the mystery of her father’s death?” Aliki asked.

“Yeah,” Mitch replied matter-of-factly. “She confessed. Figured she’d already told you most of it, so she tried painting herself as a victim of Zoron and Salyne’s manipulation. ICE is holding her, but there’s talk of offering a plea bargain if she helps them track down Zoron.”

Aliki’s brow furrowed slightly. “She was just a spoiled rich girl who never thought anyone would outmaneuver her.”

“Classic power play,” KC said, his tone serious. “She poisoned Sufsa to take control, but she underestimated Zoron’s hunger for power—and the fact that Salyne was still in his corner.”

Aliki tilted her head. “What was the deal with Zoron and Salyne, anyway?”

KC leaned back, his gaze distant as if recalling details from a file burned into memory. “They go way back. Had a relationship that supposedly ended when Tira came into the picture. Guess it never really ended—just went underground. Their connection made them a dangerous pair, more dangerous than Tira realized.”

Aliki exhaled slowly, her expression softening despite herself. For a moment, she almost felt sorry for Tira.

KC glanced at her, something unreadable flickering in his eyes before he added, “When you’re playing at that level, trust is the deadliest weapon—and the hardest thing to fake. I’ve seen it firsthand.”

Aliki studied him for a moment. Something in his expression stirred a thought. “How do you know so much about the Silver Fangs?” she prompted. “I thought you were with the Black Claws.”

KC’s smile widened. “Ah, well, that’s a secret,” he said, drawing out the words like a magician revealing the start of a trick. “But I trust you lot not to spread it around.” He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping conspiratorially. “Truth is, I’m actually an ICE agent.”

Mitch huffed a short laugh and raised his glass in a half-toast. “Knew there was more to you than playing dress-up in the underworld. Explains a few things.”

Aliki, however, remained unconvinced. Her skepticism must have shown, because KC’s smile faded.

“I’m serious,” he said, his voice low. “I’ve worked for ICE for years. Actually, I’m Raush’s boss.” He let that hang in the air before adding, “Turns out discovering how to manufacture warp core crystals comes with a few… unexpected benefits.”

Mitch’s eyebrows lifted slightly. Aliki found herself without words, caught between surprise and the sudden realization that maybe KC’s larger-than-life persona wasn’t all an act.

KC set his drink down on the table. “But with Zoron still out there, I’ve got to leave.” His grin returned, sharper now, edged with unmistakable confidence. “Somebody’s got to track him down, after all. And let’s face it—no one knows that Tyrok better than me—maybe not even Salyne.”

He stood, and just like that, the moment shifted. Emmett began gathering the empty glasses and crinkled snack bags and Mitch quickly offered to help. Aliki knew she should clean up, too, but her gaze followed KC as he moved toward the door. A dozen questions danced at the edge of her thoughts, but none seemed to form into words.

She hurried to catch up with him. They reached the door, her pulse racing far more than it should have been from the quick movement. The realization hit her suddenly—she didn’t want him to leave. Confused and unsure, she crossed her arms tightly.

KC’s eyes met hers. Their usual mischief had faded, replaced by something deeper and more intense. As if sensing her uncertainty, he reached up slowly and brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, his fingers barely grazing her skin.

“I’ll see you around,” he said, his voice low and sincere.

Aliki’s chest swelled and her pulse thrummed in her throat, but all she managed to say was, “Take care of yourself.”

His gaze lingered for a moment longer before he stepped past her and opened the door. The air seemed to shift as he left, and Aliki remained where she stood, flustered and uncertain.

Emmett bustled into the kitchen with the remains of their party, the motion returning her to her senses. She went back to the living room and found Mitch standing by the empty table. He glanced at her, tucking his hands into his pockets. “I’m glad you’re okay,” he said. “You’ve been through a lot—and you handled it better than most people would.”

Aliki, still sorting through the swirl of emotions left in KC’s wake, found the genuine warmth in his voice a welcome distraction. She offered a small, appreciative smile. “Thanks.”

He hesitated, then pressed on, his gaze steady despite the faint tension in his posture. “I hope you’ll stick around. I know you can go anywhere you want now, but… it’d be nice to see you more often.”

Something in the openness of his words softened her. She looked at Mitch, saw the strength in his shoulders and the solid, grounded way he carried himself. It was…nice.

The corners of her mouth lifted in a faint smile while her thoughts flickered through the whirlwind of the past few days. Faces, choices, and narrow escapes tumbled through her mind—yet what lingered wasn’t the danger or chaos. It was the friends who had stood beside her, the moments when she’d found strength she didn’t know she had. Earth might be a strange place, but it was also a place where people showed up for each other. And somehow, that included her.

Mitch shifted, clearing his throat as if bracing for something. “So… uh, what are your plans now?”

Aliki glanced at him, then toward the sunlight streaming through the window. “I think I might try to make a go of being a real starship sales manager.”

Emmett reappeared, pausing just long enough to deliver his verdict with deadpan precision. “As long as ye can keep ’em from blowin’ up. Might want to add that to the guarantee.”

Laughter rippled through the room, easy and unguarded, wrapping around them like the first breath of clear air after a storm. And this time, when Aliki looked around, she no longer felt like a visitor in someone else’s world. This place—this odd, imperfect corner of Earth—felt a little more like home.