Lace Ravine

Chap. 2: Lace Bites Off More Than She Can Chew - pt. 2

Zthar has seven moons, the tiniest of which had once housed several storefronts, that were now all abandoned, with the notable exception of Karma's pawn shop. Lace had landed on the little orb a thousand times, and touched down near Karma's without difficulty.

The excitement now pumped through every cell in Lace's body, and she donned her life suit and oxygen helmet as quick as humanly possible. She secured the ship, slipped her keys in her pocket, then slid out the hatch and jogged across the rocks and dirt of the old path to Karma's building.

The shop looked rundown, entirely unassuming considering what kind of deals took place inside. There was an old neon sign in the dingy window, that spelled 'open' in the accepted human language, as well as the ancient languages of the Phocorians, the Graygue, and the Kyre. Reaching the door, Lace didn't need the bell, and punched in the access code from heart.

The metal whisked open, and she leapt inside before it could close upon Karma's command.

The Kyre woman in question was on the other side of the cluttered room. It was dark within, the air was thick with foreign scents, and curiosities of all different cultures and values lined the walls, hung from the ceiling, and spilled out on the floor. Lace gazed at the woman before she looked up.

Karma was a Kyre, a species that, much like the humans, had destroyed themselves a millennium ago. The humans, however, escaped their dying world, and made a home somewhere else. The Kyre were found by the Fortans, whose own solar system was only a few light years away. The Fortans, in an attempt to save a suffering world, imposed their rule and made planet Kyron their first colony. Now the Kyre, running from oppression, have spread in small numbers across the Tamine galaxy. Many settled as far away from the IAC as possible, in Phocorian space. Along with Lace, Karma had started a new life in the more accepting part of the galaxy.

As a Kyre, a humanoid species, Karma had heavy chestnut curls that cascaded down her yellow back, with light brown bumps that patterned her shoulders and upper arms. Looking at her curves now, Lace remembered the feeling of her fingers tracing over the rough surfaces just below Karma's neck. Eventually, Lace woke up from her fantasy, and strode toward her ex.

Her melody floated across the room. "Karma! Babe!"

Karma didn't have to look up from the logs on her desk to respond. "Lace. You got something for me?"

Lace smiled. "No, but-"

"Then get out." Karma cut her off with an unforgiving tongue.

Lace continued, unfazed. "C'mon, you don't mean that."

Karma sighed. "I'm sure I do." Finally she turned up, and her deep red eyes tore apart Lace's mischievous look. "You're a hot mess and I don't want you in here dumbing things up unless you can give me something in compensation for having to deal with you."

Lace made a quick whistle frowning. "Harsh." Yet she continued her journey to the Kyre. "Except for the hot part." She reached the counter, and placed a hand on Karma's ringed fingers. "Besides, I thought we were... closer than that."

Karma took her hand away swiftly. "Reel it back. I will never make the mistake of falling into Lace's Ravine of Idiocy again."

Lace pursed her lips and leaned closer, palms now flat on the wood. "You loved it while you were there."

She didn't miss Karma's light blush as she folded her arms. "What do you want?"

"Remember that box I sold you a few rotations ago?"

"Yeah, why?"

Lace avoided Karma's perked up gaze, and focused on her fingernails, trying to sound innocent. "You resold it yet?"