A Fateful Encounter on Cygnus 3: Cade Storm’s Uncertain Path
The barroom was dimly lit, filled with the thick scent of cheap alcohol and desperation. Cade Storm sat at a scuffed wooden table, his fingers wrapped around a glass of synthetic whiskey, staring into its amber depths as if it held the answers he had been running from. He wasn’t sure how long he had been on Cygnus 3—long enough to know that the mud-encrusted outpost was a dead end, a place where lost souls and unwanted drifters found themselves marooned. The promise of adventure had led him to the stars, but now, he found himself grounded, stranded in a town that thrived on exploiting the unlucky few who, like him, had nowhere else to go.
Across from him, Zina regarded him with knowing eyes, a slight smirk playing at her lips. She had an air of confidence that made Cade uneasy—as she had already anticipated his every move before he had even made it. When she reached out, placing her hand lightly on his, he resisted the urge to pull away. He wasn’t sure if it was her sharp, feline-like Zacathian features or the mystery that surrounded her, but something about this woman told him she was no ordinary traveler.
“You have nowhere to go,” she said matter-of-factly. “I spoke with your former captain before he lifted the ship this morning. He said you were a good man, but you seemed to be running from, or to, something.” She turned her head, scanning the bar with mild disdain. “It’s hard to believe this could be what you were running to.”
Cade stiffened, feeling the weight of her words settle over him like a lead blanket. He had left his crew requested to be discharged when they earthed on Cygnus 3, but he hadn’t expected the reality of isolation to hit him so quickly. No ships were scheduled to dock anytime soon, and the town of Obsequy had little to offer except a slow descent into obscurity.
Zina leaned forward, her voice lower but no less direct. “I have the means to lift you from this mud-encrusted planet.”
Cade met her gaze, studying her carefully. There was no sign of deception in her eyes, only calculation. “You have my attention,” he admitted. “What do I have to do to catch a ride?”
A knowing smile flickered across her face. “Come with me.”
She stood, and without hesitation, Cade followed, tossing a handful of credit chips to the server as they stepped out into the night. The streets of Obsequy were little more than muddy trenches, deep ruts left behind by heavy cargo transports and the boots of weary travelers. The air smelled of damp earth and industrial waste, and the glow of neon signs barely cut through the thick yellowish clouds drifting across the orange sky.
They walked in silence, the distant hum of the spaceport growing louder with each step. Cade could see the flickering lights of the docking bays in the distance, the skeletal frames of old freighters and cargo haulers standing against the dim horizon. His gut told him he was stepping into something bigger than a simple escape, but he was willing to take that risk.
About halfway to the port, Zina veered off the road, stepping up onto the entrance of a worn-down building with a faded sign that read Spacers Paradise Inn. Cade narrowed his eyes at the irony of the name. The building was anything but paradise—its wooden structure warped from years of neglect, the roof sagging, the paint peeling. He ducked under a low-hanging board as he stepped through the entrance, half-expecting the whole place to come crashing down around him.
The lobby smelled of old fabric and engine grease, a reminder that the inn’s primary patrons were weary spacers looking for a cheap place to rest between jobs. The staircase ahead had once been grand—intricately carved railings and wide steps hinted at a past where this place might have been something more. But time had worn it down, leaving behind only traces of what it once was.
Zina didn’t hesitate. She ascended the stairs with purpose, her boots making a little sound against the wooden steps. Cade followed, glancing around, trying to piece together what kind of operation he was about to step into.
At the top of the staircase, Zina stopped in front of a door marked with the number six. She didn’t knock. Instead, she turned to Cade, her expression unreadable. “Inside, you’ll find the next step of your journey. I suggest you listen carefully.”
A Book for Those Who Crave Interstellar Adventure
If you are someone who enjoys interstellar adventure, mysterious encounters, and high-stakes intrigue, “Beast Master's Legacy” by J.M. Sampson is the book for you. This is just a glimpse of the action-packed journey that awaits, filled with dangerous alliances, shifting loyalties, and the ever-present thrill of the unknown. Will Cade Storm find his true purpose among the stars, or is he merely trading one uncertain future for another? There’s only one way to find out.
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Beast Master's Legacy || By J. M. Sampson || Book Trailer
