The bustling streets of the spaceport were alive with the hum of activity. Neon signs flickered in various alien languages. Neon signs blinked overhead, advertising everything from cheap street food to luxurious dining experiences. Among the crowd, six figures stood out, their mismatched attire of cheap light armor and holstered weapons marked them as dangerous people.
Mei, Marus, Orphel, Linus, Eris, and Bastille.
They had just concluded a profitable mission, and Ubel, their enigmatic leader, had been generous with the spoils. A substantial sum of money now weighed down their pockets, burning with the promise of a rare indulgence.
The six members of Ubel's crew stood at the threshold of an unfamiliar district, the hustle and bustle of the marketplace filling their ears. It was a stark contrast to the bleak and sterile confines of their ship, where every meal was a monotonous repeat of ration packs that tasted, cold and lifeless as the vacuum of space.
"Come on, guys. Let's just pick a place and eat. I'm starving." Marus rubbed his stomach, which growled in agreement. Then he turned to Bastille. “So? Where to the vice commander?”
"We should try something local, something authentic. I’ve always wanted to check the food from rogue stations." Orphel glanced around, eyes landing on a food stall that emitted a tantalizing aroma.
"Street food? Seriously, Phel?" Bastille’s voice carried a hint of reproach, but his eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Marus quietly nodded in agreement as he scanned the array of dining options around them.
"We’re not exactly rolling in credits. Don’t forget, we have to think about our budget and don’t overdo it. Maybe Ubel gave us this money to also buy or improve our equipment." Eris crossed her arms, her tone edged with practicality.
"Relax, Eris. Ubel’s given us enough to splurge a little. It's not every day we get a chance like this." Marus’ weathered face broke into a smile as he clapped a hand on Eris's shoulder. “So let us at least fill ourselves.”
"Exactly! Let’s find a place where we can sit down and enjoy a meal for once." Bastille added.
Mei spotted a quaint eatery tucked away in a corner, its simple sign promising hearty meals at modest prices.
“How about that place? It looks cozy and won't burn through our credits.”
Marus shook his head with a grin.
“Come on, Mei. Ubel gave us a hefty share this time. Why settle for a food stall when we can dine in style for once? We’ve been eating ration packs that taste like cardboard for too long. Let’s treat ourselves properly.”
Eris, her eyes lighting up at the thought of a real meal, nudged Linus.
“Fancy a taste of something other than recycled protein paste, Linus?”
“Sounds good to me. I could finally use a change of taste.” Linus, always the quiet one, merely shrugged.
“Then it’s settled! Let’s find a place that serves real wine and something we can sink our teeth into.” Bastille, the most boisterous of the group, let out a hearty laugh.
With that, they set off, their eyes scanning for a more upscale establishment. It wasn’t long before they found themselves standing in front of a restaurant that radiated opulence. A holographic menu floated beside the entrance, showcasing mouthwatering dishes that made their stomachs rumble in anticipation. It was a four-story, sleek, modern building with a golden sign that reads The Crescent.
“Are you sure about this? It looks expensive.” Mel raised an eyebrow, skeptical but tempted. She heard Eris’ statement earlier and she agreed with her thoughts. Her rifles needed to be replaced, she also doubted whether Ubel would provide them with new equipment.
“We’ve earned it. Besides, it’s not every day we get to eat like high-paid mercs.” Bastille said, while Marus was already heading toward the entrance, the rest followed suit.
The interior was a stark contrast to the grimy streets and gritty exterior of the district. Soft music played in the background, ambient lighting bathed the room in a warm glow, and the aroma of exotic spices filled the air. The crew couldn’t help but marvel at the elegance and opulence surrounding them. It was as if they had stepped into a different world, one where luxury and comfort reigned supreme. A hostess greeted them, her polite demeanor masking a hint of surprise at their rugged appearance.
A hostess greeted them with a smile, her attire pristine and her demeanor polite.
"Welcome to The Crescent. How many in your party?"
Marus turned around and mentally counted.
"Six. And we’d like a table with a view if possible." He said, his confidence buoyed by the large sum of credits in his digital pocket. Then he whispered something to the waitress’ ear. She nodded as she smiled and led them to a table near a large window that overlooked the bustling streets below then left.
“What did you whisper to her?” Mei asked.
“Nothing.” He grinned mischievously.
The crew settled into their seats, the plush cushions a welcome change from the hard metal benches they were used to.
"I can’t remember the last time I sat in a chair this comfortable." Orphel sank into her seat, letting out a sigh of contentment.
"Once again… Enjoy it while you can. Who knows when we’ll get a chance like this." Bastille picked up the menu, his eyes widening at the variety of dishes listed. He laughed after reading it, feeling overwhelmed but excited.
"I don’t even know what half of these dishes are."
"Let’s order something that sounds good." Linus leaned back, a rare smile playing on his lips.
As they browsed the menu, a waiter arrived with a bottle of wine and six glasses.
"Please do enjoy our finest wine.”
Marus quickly grabbed the win and distributed the glasses among his companions. A bottle of the finest vintage, its rich, deep red color promising a luxurious taste.
“Marus?” Eris was confused.
“This is for our successful and profitable run! Come on, come on, just drink. I’m paying for this wine.” He said with a knowing smile, pouring each of them a glass of the deep red liquid.
"Now that’s what I’m talking about!" Orphel raised her glass. "To our successful haul and Ubel for the payday!"
"Hear, hear!" Mei also raised her glass against Marus’s, the rest following suit.
Then as the waitress waited for their order, they glanced back to the menu.
“I think I’ll go for some meat, a rook steak. It’s been ages since I had a proper one.” Mei nodded at the waitress.
“The seafood platter sounds amazing. I’m getting that. Although I don’t know what a c-crustacean is, it looks appetizing when it's cooked.” Orphel said.
“I’ll have the roasted mnuck with truffle sauce. Never had it before, but it sounds intriguing.” Eris finished her order.
Linus then asked the waitress.
“Are these dishes… synthesized?”
“No, we get them fresh from the farms in this station.” the waitress answered.
“Then I’m getting the pasta with the Kor-koreut? Korneut sauce. I wanted to taste what a pasta dish that was not synthesized, tasted like.” Linus said.
“You had pasta before?”
“I got them from our captured prizes. Most of their crew had pasta dishes as their regular food so I always got to try every taste from every ship that we captured. So far, they tasted the same and only then I found out that they were all synthesized.” Linus explained.
“I’ll take the korhnul chops. Always wanted to try them.” Bastille said.
“I’m going for this so-called ‘chef’s special’ because it’s the most expensive. If we’re splurging, might as well go all out.” Marus grinned.
“Do you want some dessert after your meal?” the waitress asked.
“Desert? Sand?” Mei asked.
“No, she meat sweets and whatnot,” Linus interjected. “Yes, please. If you would. Preferably, the one that you recommend for six of us to enjoy.”
The waitress bowed and left as she collected their orders. They sat back, sipping the exquisite wine and reveling in the ambiance. Then another waitress returned with a basket of freshly baked bread, which they eagerly devoured despite being hot.
“This is incredible. How do they get it so fresh?” Mei covered and blew her mouth to expel the hotness from what she bit.
“Probably not synthesized like the stuff we usually get. Real flour and all.” Linus said. “Do you think we can request Ubel to get us non-synthesized ingredients for our cook?”
“I’ll check it with the new captain but enjoy it while we can. Who knows when we’ll get another chance like this.” Bastille teased.
The main courses arrived, each dish a masterpiece of culinary art. The crew’s eyes widened as they took in the sight of the perfectly cooked meats, the vibrant colors of the vegetables, and the tantalizing aromas wafting from their plates.
After cutting her steak and taking a slice for a bite, Mei closed her eyes to enjoy the swirling taste on her tongue.
“This is…amazing. I forgot food could taste this good. I can’t believe we’ve been depriving ourselves of this.”
“Same, this pasta is incredible. I didn’t realize how much I missed real food.” Linus agreed with her.
“This is tender… I could get used to this. We need to make more money if it means we get to eat like this again.” Bastille looked around his companions and saw them quietly enjoying their food with their mouths full.
As they finished their meals, the waiter returned with a tray of desserts, each one more decadent than the last. They shared a selection of pastries, cakes, and fruits, their taste buds tingling with delight. Then they all decided to order another and it became a feast of the most luxurious dishes they could find—roast quail with truffle glaze, seafood platters piled high with arachnid-like species, rich soups, and decadent desserts. Each dish that arrived was more impressive than the last, and the crew dug in with gusto, savoring every bite.
"This has been perfect. I never thought I’d get to eat like this. It almost makes those awful rations worth it." Marus took a sip of wine, his eyes twinkling with delight. “Let’s make a pact. No more ration packs unless we have to. I can’t remember the last time I felt so…normal.”
“Damn, I always thought we will always be stuck on that ship eating cardboard." Bastille's tone was sincere, and the crew nodded in agreement. “Maybe I should start seeing Ubel in a different light.”
“The commander?” Mei asked.
“Yes. Well, we do all agree that Ubel’s a strange one, but so far, that strangeness had benefited us the most." He raised his glass again, a silent toast to their leader. “To our weirdo commander!”
His companions raised their glasses again in unison.
“To our commander!”
"Here’s to the future! Whatever it may hold!"
As the meal went on, the conversation shifted to lighter topics—their latest adventures, the peculiarities of their shipmates, and the possibilities for their next run rather, raid.
"I still can’t believe how much we made from that last haul. Maybe we should start taking prisoners more often!" He joked, earning a chorus of laughter.
"Just as long as we don’t end up in one of those cells ourselves." Mei countered, a wry smile on her lips. “It will not be always that we will fight untrained crew or overpaid mercs. One day, we may encounter a civilian ship full of elite Marines. God, I wish to never encounter a TAS.”
“TAS?” Marus asked.
“Terran Assault Squad. Think of them to be worth a hundred Terran marines each.” Mei replied.
"That is terrifying to hear. But… with Ubel in charge and with that massive ship, I doubt we have to worry about that." Orphel’s confidence was infectious, and the others nodded in agreement.
“Speaking of which, where do you think Ubel got that ship? Let’s say that he is a runaway son of a corpo or related to Terran High Families… I still can’t see him having such a massive ship. That is beyond what a corpo family could get.” Linus asked for their opinions.
“Yeah, but let’s not talk about that here for now. We don’t want unnecessary ears hearing what they should not hear.” Bastille raised his glass towards him, smiling but subtly warning him not to continue. “Let’s talk about how we will spend our money!”
The meal wound down, the crew content and more than a little tipsy from the wine. They paid their bill, leaving a generous tip for the waiter who had been attentive and discreet throughout their extravagant feast.
As they stepped back into the bustling streets, the neon lights seemed a little brighter, the night air a little crisper. They walked with a newfound swagger, the weight of their usual burdens lifted, if only for a moment.
"Maybe let’s make sure we get back to the ship before we blow through all our credits or get stolen due to our drunkenness." He said with a chuckle, the others nodding in agreement. “We don’t want to end up broke.”
"Agreed. But this was worth every credit." Marus patted his stomach, still full from their luxurious meal. “We should make this a tradition. Every big score, we treat ourselves.”
"I wouldn’t mind doing this again sometime, though. Maybe after our next big score." Mei laughed in agreement.
As they finished their wine and settled the bill, they left the restaurant satisfied. The artificial night air was cool and crisp.
The crew of six, still basking in the afterglow of their lavish meal, stumbled through the dimly lit streets of the station. The neon lights blurred into streaks of color as they made their way back to their ship. Their bellies were full, and their spirits were high, but none more so than Linus.
Linus, usually the quiet and serious one, was noticeably more animated after their indulgence. His normally composed demeanor had dissolved under the influence of copious amounts of wine. His glasses were askew and his usually neat hair now disheveled, staggered slightly as he walked, supported by Eris on one side and Marus on the other. The contrast between his typically composed demeanor and his current state of inebriation was striking.
“You know… *hic*... life’s funny… One minute you’re up in the stars, the next you’re drowning in a bottle of wine…” Linus slurred.
Eris, grinning, glanced at Marus. They exchanged a knowing look, both amused by Linus’s rare display of vulnerability. This was probably the first time Linus tasted this much wine in indulgence as they could never get this luxury in their life in the dark space.
“Come on, Linus. You're usually the one keeping us on the straight and narrow. What’s got you so philosophical tonight?” Eris teased him.
Linus looked at her for a moment before falling to her chest, leaning heavily.
“It’s just… *hic*... all these feelings. You know, Eris, I used to think you were the hottest woman I’d ever met. So smart, so strong… *hic*…”
“Oh? I didn’t know you thought so highly of me.” Eris raised an eyebrow, more surprised than flattered. She was now curious and asked the swaying Linus. “And what changed your mind, Linus?”
“Yeah… but you’re wasted. All that potential… wasted.”
“I used to like you. But then… I saw you… with Ursa.” Linus continued, confessing his true feelings and what he found.
“Wait, what?” The rest were confused at his statement, even Eris.
“With Ursa?” She racked her brain for a second to know what he meant. But Linus cleared their confusion with an answer.
“Yeah. Caught you two… having intercourse. It was gross.”
Five of them looked at each other and then at Eris. A brief, awkward silence fell over the group. Linus’s words were like a pebble dropped in a pond, causing ripples of awkwardness. They don’t have any qualms for the kinks and sexual deviancies of their comrades as was a normal thing to see crewmates fucking each other in corridors. One of the few ways they could release their frustrations and pent-up lusts in months in the cold space.
“So, that’s why you’ve been acting weird around me?” Eris laughed, she finally remembered what he meant.
“Linus, man, you’re drunk.” Marus frowned and tightened his grip on Linus's arm, trying to keep him steady and prevent further embarrassment. Despite being someone who likes to joke around, he was not that insensitive to let his companion humiliate him like this. “Maybe now’s not the best time for a walk down memory lane, huh?”
But Linus was undeterred, the alcohol loosening his tongue more than usual. He raises his head and squints at Eris.
“You know, I could have handled seeing you with a guy. But Ursa… she’s a woman. And it just… it just didn’t sit right with me… it makes me feel less of a man that… the woman I liked… I could not ge-get… over that I lost to another woman….”
“Does seeing two women together bother you more than seeing a man and a woman, huh?” Eris, keeping her tone light, decided to play along.
“Yeah! I-I mean it’s just not… natural. I mean, for a guy like me… seeing that… it’s just wrong. It's just that... I thought you were wasted, Eris.” Linus nodded vigorously, nearly losing his balance
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Well, that is just that I guess. Me and Ursa like each other naked… and that just happens I guess.” Eris sighed, her amusement increasing. She glanced at Marus, who shrugged helplessly.
“Maybe… but it still grosses me out… I mean not that gross like seeing dirty… but… I think the world, no the word is… is… uncomfortable?” Linus mumbled.
Marus decided it was time to steer the conversation in a less awkward direction.
“Okay, buddy, I think we’ve had enough honesty for one night. Let’s get you back to a bed, huh?”
Eris helped him carry Linus on the other side.
“Come on, Linus. Let’s get you back. You can sleep this off, and we can all pretend this never happened, okay?”
“Yeah… yeah, okay… Thanks, Eris. You’re a good friend… but damn. You are still beautiful and sexy you know.”
As they continued walking, Bastille, Mei, and Orphel followed behind, exchanging bemused glances. They had never seen Linus so vulnerable, and it was a stark reminder of how even the most stoic among them could have hidden depths.
“Who knew our resident nerd had such a wild side?” Bastille just enjoyed the sight, chuckling.
“He’s gonna have one hell of a headache in the morning.”
“I think he just needs to sort out his feelings. This life can mess with your head, especially if you bottle things up for too long.” Mei interjected, wanting to see more of Linus' true feelings for her amusement. “I’m surprised you took it well.”
“It’s not the first time I’ve dealt with someone’s drunken confessions. Besides, he amuses me. He’s just got some stuff he needs to work through.”
They now entered the former rowdy part of the spaceport that was replaced by whispers, perfumes, and the aroma of pleasures mingled with the sharp scent of machinery, creating a sensory overload that added to their slightly tipsy euphoria.
Passing the narrow alley behind the large building was what they remembered to be the shortcut to the port, and previously it bustled with the midday chaos of vendors packing up and stray cats darting between crates. But now it had a solemn atmosphere. At the far end, leaning against a graffiti-covered wall, a gang of thugs lounged with a mixture of boredom and menace. They were a ragtag group, dressed in mismatched leathers and sporting tattoos that marked them as members of the local underbelly.
“Huh…” Marus, ever the cautious one, glanced around as they walked, his eyes flickering over the various characters that lurked in the shadows that kept on trailing behind them as they continued.
Linus, stumbling a bit, was continuing his drunken rant about the injustice of Eris’s romantic choices when a group of thugs emerged from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with predatory intent. They were a rough-looking bunch, dressed in tattered clothes and armed with makeshift weapons. Before the crew could react, the teens charged at them, yelling and brandishing their weapons.
“Get them!”
“What the—?”
“Oh, you've got to be kidding me.”
The attack was sudden and ferocious. The teens were quick, their hands reaching for the crew's necks, aiming to insert hacking wires to steal their credits. Despite their intoxication, the crew's years of combat experience kicked in almost instinctively.
The first blow was sudden—a kick that aimed at Eris's jaw—but she ducked just in time, retaliating with a swift kick to the thug's midsection.
Mei and Orphel held their own against two of the thugs.
"Stay down!" Mei grunted as she dodged a punch, delivering a well-placed kick to her assailant's knee.
Orphel, her face flushed with adrenaline, landed a solid hit on another thug's nose, sending him staggering back with a yelp of pain.
Then on the other side, Marus grabbed one of the attacker’s wrists. And as the artificial moonlight passes over them, they all realize that their attackers are just teens.
“Not today, kids.” Marus twisted his attacker’s arm behind his back, sending the teen sprawling to the ground. “And you picked the wrong people to mess with.”
Eris, meanwhile, spun around, delivering another fast kick to another assailant, knocking the wind out of him.
“Stop it. You’re outmatched.” Bastille already dislocated both shoulders of his attacker, warned.
Orphel, silent as ever, moved with fluid precision, disarming another two teens with a few well-placed strikes. She grabbed the wire from one of their hands and wrapped it around their necks, pulling them down with her unexpected strength.
“Well, well… aren’t you naughty.”
Linus, however, was not as fortunate. His balance was off, and he stumbled, falling to the ground. A teen pounced on him, attempting to insert a wire into his neck.
“G-get... off... me…” Due to his drunken state, Linus struggled. His movements were sluggish and uncoordinated, making it easier for his attacker.
“Hold still, old man!” The teen managed to get the wire close to his neck, but just as he was about to insert it, Bastille came to the rescue, knocking the teen off Linus with a powerful kick, giving him a bloody nose and a broken lip.
“Back off from our drunk, kid.”
The remaining teens, seeing their comrades being effortlessly overpowered, hesitated. It was clear they had underestimated their targets.
Bastille stood over Linus' assailant, a fierce look on his face.
“You kids need to learn some respect.”
“You okay, Linus?” Eris helped Linus to his feet, brushing him off.
“I’ll live… I think.” Linus replied. “Is it over?”
“Oh, it’s over.” Marus and Mei tied up their captured attackers. There were seven of them. Young boys and girls probably aged between 16-18 years old.
“I can’t believe we got attacked by a bunch of kids.” Eris whistled.
“Desperation makes people do stupid things,” Mei said.
“Speak for yourself… I think my pride took a hit.” Linus rubbed his head.
“Oh, you got sobered? That was fast.” Orphel laughed.
“Next time, Linus, maybe you should go easy on the wine.”
“Yeah, yeah… I’ve learned my lesson. Let’s get back to the ship and get some rest. We’ve had enough excitement for one night.”
“They somehow reminded me of my past.” Orphel laughed. The crew took a moment to catch their breath, the adrenaline still coursing through their veins.
“You attack drunks?” Mei asked.
“I attacked more than just drunks. Me and my bozos would attack anyone that seemed to have money and easier to get robbed. Although I don’t know how they got that impression on us.”
The gang of teenagers, battered and bruised in restraints, looked at them with hate and fear.
"What's the plan now, boys? So are we done here?" Mei asked. “I don’t want to drag these back to the ship but I don’t want them to let them off scot-free after attacking us.”
“No, we're not done yet. What do you think our commander would do in this situation?” Bastille spoke up, his voice tinged with annoyance, and approached their attackers with a knowing look in his eyes.
“Uh… let them go?”
“We take them to the slave trader," he said, his voice low and determined. "And we sell them off just like he would. Let's make them pay for all the delay they had caused.”
His companions nodded in agreement. They had seen Ubel sell their prisoners before, and now they had a fresh batch of another profitable catch. It was the best result they could get here.
“Well, they seemed healthy enough to endure our beatings. They would fetch for a hefty sum.” Orphel said. “Let’s cover their mouths just in case, we don’t want them biting their tongue before we sell them off.”
They wasted no time in securing the restrained thugs. With Bastille's guidance, they navigated the winding streets back to slave pens. The rest of the traders were closed except for the same trader who bought their prisoners.
Arriving at the decrepit shack where the local slave trader, operated his grim business, they found him moaning in pleasure as he was drinking from a goblet full of wine.
The fat greasy slave trader spotted them and greeted them with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.
"What brings you back so soon?" he asked. Then they all saw a female slave in chains who was out in the open, pleasuring him while he was tending to his store.
“Geez, hide that from public eyes, would you?” Marus flinched as he saw the sight. “Do that behind the curtains or something.”
"What? We can fuck the slaves anywhere we want here." the slave trader mused, stroking his fattened jaw as he surveyed the captured gang members. "And… well, well… Looks like you lot got yourselves into a right mess."
"We have something you might be interested in," Marus replied, a sly grin spreading across his face. He gestured towards the barely conscious thugs they had brought with them.
The trader's eyes narrowed as he assessed the potential profit in the group.
"Hmm, street thugs and troublemakers, I see," he mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "What's your angle? Don’t tell me you’re going to sell them."
"We want to sell them to you," Mei spoke up.
Bastille stepped forward, his expression serious.
"How much for them?" gesturing to the bound thugs. "Their wounds are light; blackened eyes, broken lips and noses. Give them a couple of days and they’ll heal on their own. They’re healthy at least."
The slave trader chuckled, his eyes gleaming with a shrewdness born from years of negotiation and deal-making.
"Aye, I will buy them from you. But first, let's see what we can get for this sorry lot," he said approvingly. He slapped the female slave as he had his hovering chair move to check the merchandise, moving around their bodies as the young thugs looked at the trader in fear and despair.
“I’ll get them from you for 80,000 credits.” The fat trader announced, a grin spreading across his weathered face. "I scanned and they were diseased street thugs. Not bad for a day's work, wouldn't you say?"
“Deal.” Bastille nodded instead of shaking the greasy hand of the trader. Mei handed the reins to one of the trader’s helpers as soon as Bastille received the payment.
When the transaction was completed, and the credits were counted, the crew couldn't contain their excitement. Eighty thousand credits were displayed in Bastille's bank, a small fortune but enough for another day of luxury. And so they walked away from the slave trader's den, their steps lighter and their hearts brimming with possibilities. Bastille clapped each of them on the shoulder.
“Well, that was a good amount. Let’s go to the pleasure houses this time.” Bastille laughed. “I want to cleanse my eyes from that slaver sight.”
They agreed once again to his suggestion and headed to the pleasure district that was near the port.
The place pulsed with a surreal energy, casting an otherworldly glow on the faces of passersby. Above, holographic billboards flickered with advertisements for everything from cybernetic enhancements to illicit pleasures. The air was thick with the scent of fried street food and the distant hum of hovercars zipping overhead.
Linus, still groggy from his unintended slumber, blinked against the glare of the neon lights. His head throbbed with the remnants of a hangover, a reminder of his regrettable decision to drown in alcohol earlier.
Mei shot Linus a sympathetic glance.
"You picked a hell of a night to get wasted," she remarked, her voice tinged with a hint of teasing.
The district was a labyrinth of narrow alleys and glowing storefronts, each promising a different form of escape or pleasure for those willing to pay the price. They passed by brothels where holographic dancers beckoned from tinted windows, and clubs where the thumping bass of synthetic music spilled out into the streets.
As they continued deeper into the district, their footsteps echoed against the cracked pavement. They entered one of the establishments that seemed to have better displays of sexual adverts than the others.
The nightclub loomed before them, its exterior a fusion of sleek chrome panels and pulsating neon lights that bathed the streets in a kaleidoscope of colors. Mei and Orphel, ever eager for distraction and release from the hardships of their daily lives, led the way through the entrance, where bouncers with augmented limbs scanned them with impassive gazes before allowing them passage into the heart of the cyberpunk brothel.
Inside, the air hummed with the bass of electronic music that reverberated through the walls. Holographic projections danced in mid-air, casting ethereal forms that shifted and swirled with the rhythm of the music. The interior was a labyrinth of corridors lined with private booths and curtained alcoves, each promising a different experience for those willing to pay the exorbitant prices.
The lighting was dim, save for the vibrant hues that painted the walls in pulsating patterns. Mei and Orphel navigated the maze with practiced ease, their footsteps echoing against the polished floors as they passed by patrons engaged in whispered negotiations with the establishment's stand-in waitresses, who acted as intermediaries between clients and the night's offerings.
“Are they even real? I heard most brothels use dolls.” Mei asked.
One of the waitresses who handed out a glass of wine to Bastille heard and answered for her.
“I can assure you that all of our services are genuine here.”
“That’s nice.” Marus grinned, also eyeing the waitress in lustful eyes.
“Well, here’s your cut again, let’s enjoy the night here.” Bastille divided their spoils to each of his companions, who disappeared to their own devices.
Marus, ever the adventurous spirit, found himself drawn towards a stand-in waitress with a mischievous smile and eyes that sparkled with promises of forbidden delights. Her attire was a mix of digital lace and synthetic silk that shimmered under the club's ambient lights. With a coy smile and a subtle gesture, she led Marus deeper into the labyrinthine corridors where private rooms awaited.
Mei followed Eris’ lead with a playful glint in her eyes. She and Eris engaged in the ritual of selecting companions for the night—a ritual that blurred the lines between desire and transaction in this world where everything had a price. Both equally eager to indulge in the distractions of the night, lingered at the edge of the main floor, their gaze sweeping over the array of options before settling on three women who exuded an air of practiced seduction. With a casual wave of their hands and a flicker of credits transferred through their wrist implants, both arranged for their company.
Linus, still nursing the remnants of his earlier indiscretion, hesitated near the entrance and sat on one of the couches near the entrance with Orphel who ordered a massager for her shoulders. The former drunk was still uncomfortable under the sensory overload of the brothel's interior and his hangover.
“Hey Linus, come with us!” Mei suddenly tried to grab his hand and pulled him up.
“What?” a surprised Linus looked at her. Amidst the opulence and temptation of the brothel, Mei and Orphel, fueled by a mixture of adrenaline and curiosity, extended an invitation to Linus to join them in exploring the pleasures on offer. Mei's words carried a hint of mischief as she teased Linus about experiencing what it truly meant to be a man in the company of willing women.
“Let’s have some fun together! Eris will be with us so, three of us and another three ladies here will make our little group activity much more enjoyable. You’ll be able to love seeing girls in action. Maybe you’ll get to taste… Eris in the middle of that.” Mei teasing him. Eris just giggled upon hearing that but didn’t deny it.
“I still have my headaches so I’ll reject it for now. I’d rather have someone massage my head instead.” He declined Mei and Eris' playful invitation with a shake of his head, his voice tinged with awkwardness as he explained his preference for a simpler form of relaxation—a massage to soothe his throbbing head.
Mei and Eris exchanged amused glances but respected Linus's decision, knowing that each of them navigated their paths through the complexities of their world.
They disappeared into the depths of the brothel, leaving Linus to seek solace in the skilled hands of a technician trained in the art of therapeutic massage.
“Just get me someone who could help me with my head. Please.” another waitress who passed them nodded and went to fetch the service he wanted.
Linus, still nursing the remnants of his hangover and feeling out of place in the neon-lit decadence, opted for a quieter corner of the club. He sat with Orphel. He sought solace in a dimly lit alcove where an android masseuse arrived for him, programmed to ease the tension from his aching head with mechanical precision.
“Asking for a masseuse in a brothel?” Orphel laughed. They are the only ones left on the couch as the rest have disappeared behind closed doors. She found herself nursing a drink with a bottle of wine. Her face bore the marks of the earlier altercation, blood smeared across her cheek and temple, evidence of the brawl she had waded into with unbridled ferocity.
“Wait? You got injured from those kids?” he was surprised that Orphel got wounded from the earlier attack.
“I didn’t notice until we entered this establishment. Maybe someone threw something sharp in my cheek but I didn’t feel a thing.”
A seasoned prostitute, her gaze sharp and knowing, approached Eris with a subtle grace. She wordlessly offered a cloth soaked in astringent liquid, gently dabbing away the traces of blood with practiced efficiency. Orphel lost in her thoughts and the haze of alcohol, allowed herself a moment of vulnerability as the prostitute tended to her wounds.
The throbbing beat of the club's music seemed to echo the pounding in her head as she signaled for a stand-in waitress to bring her another round of the strongest liquor available. With a practiced ease, the waitress, clad in digital lace and sleek synth leather, fetched a glass and poured a measure of amber liquid that shimmered under the euphoric lights.
As the night wore on in the pulsating heart of the cyberpunk brothel, another customer they knew entered their sight. Kugal, a towering figure with cybernetic implants that gleamed under the neon lights, surveyed the scene with a keen eye. His companions, a motley assortment of fighters and technicians, filled the room with an air of controlled tension as they took in the sights and sounds of the bustling brothel.
They quickly recognized and saw the two who were resting on the couch in the corner. Orphel and Linus, their glass and hand raised in a gesture, greeted Kugal and his crew with a nod of acknowledgment. Approaching both after replying with a nod of his own, Kugal's voice rumbled with a mixture of concern after noticing something.
"What happened to Linus?" he asked, his gaze shifting to where Linus sat, nursing his head and whose disheveled appearance then to Orphel who had faint traces of dried blood in her face and a bloodied small tray with wet cloth.
Orphel, never one to mince words, leaned back her head as the prostitute massaged her forehead. She gestured for Kugal to join them.
"We had a run-in with some local thugs," she explained, her voice carrying over the din of the club. "They underestimated us, but Linus got caught off guard."
"Where’s Bastille and others? I thought you were with the commander Ubel?" Kugal's voice was low but edged with confusion, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene before him.
“Ubel said that he wanted to be alone so we left him while we went on our own after he divided the spoils among us. Bastille, Mei, Marus, and Eris were inside those rooms. Spending their own share.” Linus explained.
“How about your face?” Kugal asked, touching Orphel’s cheek which was now being sprayed by the prostitute with a healing gel.
"It’s nothing. It’ll heal after some spit and spray." she waved her hand. “And we made sure that those thugs will have the most painful lesson in their life.”
“What?” Kugal became confused.
"They won't be causing any more trouble," Linus added, his voice steady.
“And we got a little bit of credits on the side with that scuffle.” Orphel laughed.
Kugal's brow furrowed slightly as he processed the information. He knew the risks of their line of work, where every encounter could escalate into violence. But he also recognized the resilience and resourcefulness of his crew, forged through years of survival in the deep space where strength and cunning were prized above all else. He nodded, a gesture of understanding passed to both of them.
"Good," he finally said. "You did well to handle it yourselves."
With that, Kugal and his crew settled in around the table. Orphel leaned forward with a playful glint in her eye, addressing Kugal with a hint of mischief.
Amidst the laughter and exchanged glances, Orphel, emboldened by the night's indulgences, leaned forward with a mischievous grin.
"So, Kugal," she began, her voice laced with playful intent, "feeling tempted by what this place has to offer?"
"Yeah," Linus also added with a voice laced with humor. "...are you here for some female or... male companionship tonight?"
Kugal, ever the stoic leader with a keen sense of purpose, chuckled softly and shook his head.
"At first yeah. But now that you are here, this would be a great opportunity to speak with all of you without the young commander around. So right now, I'm here for business, not pleasure," he replied, his gaze flickering towards the darkened corners where Mei, Orphel, and Bastille had disappeared with their chosen sensual companions. Kugal turned to his companions who sent them on their own preferred sephira then returned to Orphel and Linus.
Linus, always the more reserved of the group, raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
"What kind of business?" he asked, his tone betraying a hint of cautious interest.
Kugal's expression grew serious as he leaned closer, his voice lowered to a confidential and serious tone that belied the club's hedonistic surroundings.
"You've tasted success," he began, his gaze flickering between Orphel and Linus. "But there's more to be had if you're willing to seize it."
Orphel raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued.
"What do you mean, Kugal?" she asked, her voice a mix of intrigue and caution.
Kugal leaned back, his expression thoughtful as he considered his words carefully.
"What else? Ubel," he stated plainly, his voice carrying the weight of unresolved business. "He's the only thing standing between us and complete control of our operations—the kid who took over our pirate group… from the tip of deception."
The mention of Ubel, the upstart who had seized control of their former pirate group after a bloody coup, brought a ripple of tension to the table. But one word took Linus' attention.
“Deception? You mean that ambush in the mining vessel?” Linus asked.
“Uhhh… not to burst your bubble but even if we are interested in your little… intrigue here. What are you suggesting, Kugal?" Orphel sneered.
Kugal's eyes bore into theirs, his tone resolute.
"I'm suggesting that we take back what's rightfully ours," he declared, his words echoing with a promise of reclaiming lost power and influence.
“And you also forgot that Ubel holds our lives in his hands. I hope you’re not ignoring the fact that we still have to take the right dosage to delay the poison in our system.” Orphel showed two injections in her hands that Ubel allowed to be brought with them, just in case they would need to stay in the depths of the station much longer.
Kugal's lips curled into a knowing smile.
"We have resources he doesn't know about that could help with that," he explained cryptically, his eyes gleaming with determination. " With the right timing, the right strategy, we can remove Ubel from power. And tonight, with the stars aligned, we have the chance to strike."
Linus exchanged a glance with Orphel, their thoughts racing with the possibilities and risks inherent in Kugal's proposal. They had grown accustomed to navigating the shadows and skullduggery in the world of piracy and outlaws. But somehow, they felt like they were going to fail already. So they had to know the chances and the gains they would have.
"What's in it for us?" Linus asked, his tone cautious.
Kugal smiled, a predatory glint in his eyes.
"Everything, imagine the shares that we could have had without him.”
“But he was the one who made that possible.”
“Yes and now we know how to get things more profitable, Ubel is not needed anymore. I can tell you more but first, we need to be sure you're joining."
"You're suggesting we take him out," Linus mused, he was will undecided about this sudden decision so he only nodded thoughtfully. Orphel was the same, for her, even if they agreed to oust Ubel, it was still too early. But the two knew that they couldn’t stop the entire fleet if they already decided with Kugal’s plans.
And with the confirmation from Linus and Orphel, the pieces of Kugal's proposal fall into place in his mind. Kugal's smile was predatory, his eyes gleaming with the fire of ambition and opportunity.
"Exactly," he confirmed. “But not we.”
“What?”
“I cannot tell you more unless I can trust you by joining us.”
Orphel leaned back again on her couch, considering the implications of Kugal's proposition. They had all felt the pinch of Ubel's leadership—his new type of command had brought them riches and even their first experience of luxury. It will be hard for her and others to even think of going back now if there’s also no guarantee that they will keep this newfound comfort.
The prostitute massaged her shoulders quietly as they talked more.