Page 59 of Tempting Fate

Smells. Sounds. Most overwhelming were the sapients. So many. So many different beings—yet all existing together in peace.

Relative peace, at least. A tall biped with curling horns and a swishing tail argued with what I presumed to be a shop vendor. Two smaller sapients I took for children fought over a trinket.

A hoverboard swerved in front of us, its occupant singing raucously to the music that blared from the board’s large speakers.

Too big, too bright, too loud, too fast. Too much information to take in at once.

Breathe. My calm is my feet upon the stone.

I focused on the town’s colours and textures to ground myself. The way the shadows fell. The movement in the clothing.

Imani slipped her tiny hand into mine, and I gripped it tight. “You okay?”

“I am well.”

“This way.” She gave a gentle tug, and I followed her down one of the narrow side streets she’d shown me, picking out all the tiny details.

I stopped outside a shop with a large window front full of many painted canvases. “This is an art vendor!”

“Yes, but we’re here for your comm.”

I sobered. How could I forget? Yes, a new datapad, so I could find a way to defeat my awful mother—again. And stop the danger to my sister, a danger she was in because she’d been brave enough to rescue me.

We entered a narrow building with a darkened window and low-hanging blue neon lights.

Inside was a marvel. The walls were covered with racks and racks of varied tech. A holoprojection of a huge cybernetic archway spun slowly in the centre of the room.

We walked through it, towards the counter.

The vendor was not a species I recognised—meaning they were someone other than kri’ith, shaa, human, or nebaru; I added this deficit in knowledge to my mental list of things to learn. He pushed his thick green mane from his face with a three-fingered hand, revealing small, black eyes and a thin-lipped smile. “Welcome to Deniygg’s.”

The reedy voice grated over my senses. Strange how I had negotiated hundreds of trade deals, but now I was with a vendor in person, it felt different. “My greetings. I wish to purchase a secure datapad. Specifically a ZX-4S3.”

“A 4S3? The 67F is a far better model, my friend. Especially if you wish for maximum security. And it comes preloaded with the latest firewall technology.”

Some things never changed. “I said the 4S3, did I not?”

“You did.” His mouth spread in a smile full of too many teeth. “But what if you were mistaken?”

I forced a casual smile. “I am sure of what I need. How many credits?”

“Three hundred.”

“I could get two of these and a free chrya for that on Rinta.”

“Perhaps you could.” Deniygg steepled their fingers. “But you are not on Rinta, my friend.”

“Who says I am not headed there next?”

“I do. Or you would not have come here.”

Touché. “I am not in such need that I require it today,” I said with feigned nonchalance. “Perhaps I shall go elsewhere. Thank you for your time.”

I tugged on Imani’s hand, ready to leave and fully expecting her to argue. But she let me lead her through the vast arch of the hologram towards the door.

“Wait! Two hundred and twenty, and I shall throw in a chrya voucher worth fifteen credits.”

I made a slow, lazy turn, pretending to consider. I didn’t even drink chrya. “Very well. You drive a hard bargain. But I accept.”