Irric drew in a deep breath, the cool, metallic tang of recycled air filling his lungs. He held it for a beat before releasing it through his nose in a slow, controlled exhale. The timing matched perfectly with the hiss of the turbolift doors sliding open, as if the sound had come from him. Light spilled into the narrow cabin, sharp and almost blinding, forcing him to narrow his eyes.

The promenade stretched before him, alive with motion. Shoppers drifted between kiosks displaying glowing trinkets and holographic wares, their laughter and conversations blending into a steady hum. The scent of spiced pastries and roasted meat floated through the air, mingling with the sharper aroma of polished metal and synthetic cleaning agents. Bright banners of gold and crimson hung overhead, swaying gently in the artificial breeze and announcing the Sun Bloom Festival in bold, flourishing letters.

Irric stepped out with a measured stride, the clink of his boots barely audible over the chaos of the crowd. His movements were precise, his posture rigid, the result of years spent enforcing order in places that fought against it. Around him, the colorful bustle of festival-goers churned—a blur of flowing scarves, flashing holo-watches, and beaming smiles. He moved through it all like a stone in a stream, the flow bending around him.

As he passed, children darted between legs, chasing each other with bright holo-projectors that cast shimmering blooms into the air. Vendors called out in practiced tones, their pitches competing for attention. “Fresh Sun Bloom petals, imported straight from Solari Prime!” “Don’t miss the limited edition holo-charms—yours to commemorate this year’s festival!”

None of it slowed Irric. His gaze stayed fixed ahead, cutting through the sea of tourists like a laser. The bright colors, the music, even the tantalizing smells seemed to fade as he approached the end of the promenade. Behind those pristine steel walls, invisible to the revelers, were the holding cells—stark, utilitarian spaces where prisoners awaited their uncertain futures. The thought settled on him like a weight, but he didn’t falter.

The air shifted subtly as he entered the Security Office, cooler and quieter. The hum of conversation faded, replaced by the faint murmur of comms and the sterile glow of overhead lights. A junior officer glanced up from the desk, offering a brief nod that Irric returned without breaking stride.

The sound of hurried footsteps cut through the relative stillness. Before Irric could react, a hand tapped firmly on his shoulder. A voice followed, low and insistent.

Jade leaned as close to the Commander as she could so that she could speak quietly. “Commander, I’m not sure if you have been made aware but I spotted a few attendees amongst the crowd at the festival who just seemed to be behaving suspiciously. Obviously, I am not a trained security officer so I’ll reserve trying to make any assumptions. I will say that they seemed to be eyeing everyone and everything they came across. It looked as if they were casing this place although I would have no idea why. I could be wrong but I thought you should be made aware.”

Jade realized that she was starting to ramble and pulled back from the man a little to give him space. The fact that she rambles when she is nervous is a trait that she has always hated about herself. She mentally chastises herself for falling prey to that bad habit once more and looks to the commander hoping that he believes her and doesn’t think she hasn’t had her morning coffee or however she may appear.

Irric kept his expression unreadable, but a flicker of something—recognition, maybe—passed through his eyes. He’d learned long ago not to assume, yet his gut twisted with certainty. There was something here, some sliver of truth buried beneath the words.

A slow smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, brief but deliberate. “You don’t have to be a security officer to trust your instincts, Lieutenant,” he said, his voice even, almost casual. He let the silence stretch just long enough to make the man shift his weight. Then, tilting his head slightly, he added, “Think you can point them out to me?”

Jade stood a little taller feeling a little more confident after receiving some validation from the Commander. “Sure thing. They were standing not too far from here and I doubt that they would have made it very far. Come this way please, Commander.” She motions ahead of her and then starts heading back to where she had seen the men.

After walking a very short distance, Jade stopped directly across from a kiosk displaying various holographic wares. It didn’t take her long to spot the men. They had not moved very far at all. It looked like they had managed to move only one kiosk over. She got a bad feeling after spotting them and it quickly returned after finding them again. She couldn’t quite put her finger on the why but she was grateful the Commander had at least somewhat believed her and followed her here.

Jade turns her back to the booth so that she can speak without worrying about whether she was being spotted. “If you look directly over my shoulder, there is a group of men hovering around that kiosk. Please tell me I am not imagining things and that they are giving you ‘bad guy’ vibes too.” Jade manages a small laugh at herself and then looks to the man and wait for his response.

“Definitely.” Irric tapped his comm badge with a sharp click. “Nuni to holding area three. Are there any detainees unaccounted for?”

He glanced at Jade, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. Around them, the promenade bustled—voices bartering, footsteps scuffing against the metal flooring, the faint crackle of a holo-sign flickering overhead.

A moment later, a voice crackled through his badge. “Negative, sir. The computer confirms all detainees are accounted for.”

Irric’s eyes narrowed. Across the plaza, a cluster of figures moved with practiced nonchalance, their eyes flicking toward exits, their shoulders just a little too tense. He exhaled slowly. “I think I’m looking at a few who shouldn’t be here. Do a headcount.”

A pause. Then, hesitantly, “Manually, sir?”

“Yes, manually. No shortcuts.” He shut the channel with a quick tap.

His gaze shifted to a small kiosk near the edge of the market, where a wiry vendor adjusted a display with too much focus, his fingers twitching as he stole quick glances their way. Irric tilted his head toward it.

“Lieutenant,” he murmured, “pick something up from that kiosk. Let’s see how they react. I’ll watch from another stall—let’s just say I know the owner.”

Jade had not expected to have to play a role in this adventure but the thought of doing so excited her and she wasn’t quite sure why. Well, here goes nothing..she thinks internally and then turned towards the kiosk.