Lockdown

The echoes of Jax's parting words still lingered in Tienerra's mind as she stepped out of his office. The dim corridors of the black-market district buzzed with faint neon lights, the air thick with metallic dust and tension. The distant murmur of voices blended with the hum of flickering signs, their neon glow casting shifting shadows along the narrow pathways. Every step she took sent small echoes along the metal flooring, the rhythmic sound serving as an unintentional countdown to whatever was coming next.

Tienerra's gaze flicked to the central fountain plaza ahead. Moments ago, it had been littered with bodies—remnants of the day's violence. Now, it was empty. The corpses had been transported elsewhere, their presence erased as if they had never been there. Those who remained—dealers, mercenaries, and informants—calmly dispersed, moving toward their designated shelters. This was routine here.

"Attention all station occupants. Lockdown protocol initiating in T-minus 10 minutes. Eltec and Galactic Alliance forces detected in proximity. Secure shelter immediately. Repeat—lockdown protocol initiating in 10 minutes."

She exhaled slowly. No room. No plan. With no immediate lodging in the slums, she retraced her steps toward the only place she could think of—the bar where she had first entered the station.

As she walked, a low hum filled the station, followed by a sudden chime from the overhead speakers. Along her path, people were already reacting to the announcement, moving with purposeful haste. Neon lights flickered and dimmed as establishments powered down, their electronic signs shutting off in synchronized succession. Blast doors along the main corridors displayed flashing warnings, bold red text scrolling across digital panels: 'T-MINUS 10 MINUTES UNTIL FULL LOCKDOWN. ALL PERSONNEL MUST SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.' The heavy clank of reinforced steel doors locking into place reverberated through the station, a grim reminder that this was not a rare occurrence but a necessary routine for survival.

She continued her walk toward the bar, weaving through the dispersing crowd. Small groups of individuals murmured amongst themselves, their words barely audible beneath the crackling of overhead monitors repeating the lockdown warning. Others moved quickly, their boots clanking against the metal flooring as they hurried into shuttered buildings. A few stragglers lingered, staring at the closing blast doors as if debating whether to leave or stay. The air held a growing tension, one that Tienerra had learned to recognize—a quiet anticipation of something worse to come.

The moment she pushed open the door, the stark contrast to earlier hit her. The air was thick with the lingering scent of alcohol and faint traces of smoke, but the energy had been drained from the room. What had once been a hub of chatter and music now sat eerily quiet, with only a handful of patrons scattered throughout. The dim lighting flickered intermittently, casting long shadows across the bar's interior.

The patrons who remained hunched over their drinks, silent and brooding. Their shoulders were slouched, their eyes cast downward as if waiting out the storm beyond the walls. The occasional clink of glassware echoed through the space, but otherwise, the silence was absolute. Even the ever-present hum of the ventilation system felt louder in the absence of conversation.

A glance toward the bar counter confirmed what she expected—Varek.

Unlike the other patrons, who had settled into the unnatural stillness, he carried himself with a relaxed confidence, as if the lockdown was merely another passing inconvenience.

Tienerra walked up, her boots clicking softly against the floor, placing her gloved hands on the counter. "Do you have any rooms available? I need a place for the night."

Varek turned slowly, a smirk forming on his lips as he studied her. "We have a few." He tilted his head slightly. "Three thousand credits."

She didn't flinch at the price. Without hesitation, she reached into her coat, transferring the payment to his system with a quick swipe. "I'll also need food."

Varek tapped the terminal, processing the order before giving her a slow, knowing nod. "I'll get that started." Without another word, he turned and disappeared into the back kitchen.

As she waited, she scanned the room once more. The tension was almost suffocating—no loud conversations, no reckless laughter, just the quiet sense of people waiting. Waiting for the lockdown to pass. Waiting for the war beyond these walls to shift one way or another. Waiting for something unknown. The once-lively establishment, filled with music and drunken laughter, now sat in an eerie hush. A handful of patrons remained, no more than five or six, hunched over their drinks, eyes hollow. Even the usual hum of conversation had died, replaced only by the faint clinking of glasses and the murmur of the ventilation system.

Tienerra turned back toward the bar, her gaze settling on the faint reflection of neon lights against the counter's polished surface. Just as she exhaled, a subtle shift in the air made her instincts flare—a presence beside her, effortlessly slipping into place like a shadow.

"I recognize you," came a smooth, melodic voice.

Tienerra turned slightly, her violet eyes meeting deep crimson ones. Velora.

The Kitsurai slid into the seat next to her, moving with a natural elegance that contrasted the rugged environment around them. Her black fur shimmered faintly under the bar's dim lighting, the silver streaks in her hair catching the glow from the neon signs outside. There was something calculated yet effortless about her presence, as if she were always in control, always aware of her surroundings.

"You were watching my performance earlier," Velora continued, resting her chin lightly against her knuckles. "I could feel your gaze."

Tienerra, cautious but composed, gave a slight nod. "You have quite the singing voice. It calmed the room down so quickly."

Velora giggled softly behind her hand, a soft, almost teasing sound. "Thank you for the compliment. It's the only thing I know I can do to survive. And something that I enjoy."

Tienerra studied her for a moment. "Not many people get to do what they enjoy and love, especially nowadays."

Velora's expression flickered, something unreadable settling behind her eyes. "No, they don't." She traced her fingers along the rim of an empty glass in front of her before shifting her gaze back to Tienerra. "What about you? Do you enjoy what you do?"

Tienerra let the question linger, neither confirming nor denying anything. Instead, she turned her attention to the overhead speaker as it chimed again:

"T-minus 2 minutes until full lockdown. Please be in your designated areas or within a structure. We are not responsible for those left out."

Tienerra's gaze flicked toward the entrance before returning to Velora. "This must happen often, being so close to the frontlines."

Velora exhaled, leaning back slightly. "It happens regularly. Once or twice every other day. There was a time when a battle lasted nearly two days around us. Thankfully, the station stayed concealed thanks to its stealth tech, and we didn't take any direct hits."

Before Tienerra could respond, Varek emerged from the kitchen, balancing a plate of food in one hand. His golden-amber eyes flicked between the two women, his curiosity obvious. He placed the food in front of Tienerra, lingering for a second longer than necessary.

Velora stretched, shifting her attention toward her brother. "Hey, bro, make sure you bring me some food too to my room. Let's hope this lockdown doesn't last longer than a few hours."

Varek smirked, crossing his arms. "The usual?"

Velora grinned. "You know it."

Tienerra paused between bites, her gaze flicking between them. "Oh? You're siblings? Wouldn't have guessed."

Varek leaned a little closer, resting an arm on the counter. "Adopted. We've known each other for eleven years."

Velora laughed, a soft but genuine sound. "Yeah, and trust me, knowing him for eleven years has been a strain on my mind." She shook her head, a small smile still lingering on her lips.

 Velora remained beside Tienerra, her sharp crimson eyes scanning her expression carefully. There was no trace of playfulness in her demeanor now—only something cold, measured.

"We tell each other everything," Velora said, her voice lower now, a quiet but undeniable warning laced within her words. "And I know you're asking about the archaeologists. You should be very careful going after Sable or them, because if you do… you may never return."

Tienerra kept her expression neutral, but something in Velora's tone made the air between them heavier. She finished the last of her food, setting the bowl down in front of her with the spoon resting inside. There was no immediate response—only a brief moment of silence as she considered the weight of the Kitsurai's words.

Finally, she turned to Velora. "I'll take your advice into consideration."

Her tone was even, revealing nothing, but Velora's ears twitched slightly as if catching something unspoken beneath the words. Tienerra then turned toward Varek. "Thank you for the meal—and the warning. I was only here to pick them up, but if Sable has them, I won't be dealing with him. I'll just call my client and tell him they all died. That it was only a rumor that they came here."

Velora studied her for another moment before nodding. "Glad to hear that you'll take my warning to heart. Enjoy your stay—maybe I'll see you at another performance."

With that, Tienerra stood, walking toward the backroom that led to the upper floors. Velora and Varek remained behind, exchanging a glance.

As soon as Tienerra was out of earshot, Velora turned to her brother. "Are you sure about what you said? That she may be an assassin coming for Sable?"

Varek exhaled through his nose, glancing toward the empty plate still sitting on the bar. "When she first came up to me, she asked about the archaeologists. At first, I thought she was here to save them, but maybe she just doesn't care." He paused. "Or maybe… there's something more to it."

Velora's tail flicked once, her expression unreadable. "Then I'll keep an eye on her. I'm in the room across from hers anyway."

Varek smirked slightly. "Figured as much. Just don't forget your food."

Velora gave him a playful salute before finally heading toward the upper floors, following the same path Tienerra had taken moments before.

Varek watched her disappear up the stairs before letting out a quiet breath. He turned, walking away from the bar and toward a small back office near the kitchen. Once inside, he shut the door behind him and locked it before dimming the lights. The soft glow of his terminal illuminated the room as he typed a name onto the screen: Sable.

Overhead, the station's speakers emitted a final chime before a flat, mechanical voice followed:

"LOCKDOWN COMPLETE. PURGING DOME ENGAGED. ALL OUTSIDE INDIVIDUALS ARE CONSIDERED LOST."

A moment later, a voice crackled over the speaker, low and commanding. "What do you want? You're calling during lockdown, Varek."

Varek leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing at the edges of his lips. "I have some information I'd like to provide you, Master Sable. And this isn't about the so-called assassin we informed you of." He paused, letting the words sink in before delivering the final blow. "I may know who called for that assassin."

There was a pause, a sharp inhale from the other end of the line. Then Sable's voice, quieter now, more intent. "Go on."