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Star Rust An excerpt He straightened, his knees creaking with the effort, and let his light roam the room. The personal effects scattered across the floor told a story of wealth—a silver chronometer glinting beside the man, its face cracked but ornate; a silk scarf tangled in the woman’s fingers, its edges embroidered with gold thread; a datapad near the boy, its casing engraved with a family crest. Crix’s mind raced. A family like this, traveling in a sleek transport like the Stardancer, wouldn’t have been random prey. Someone had known they were here, had hunted them down. The thought sent a shiver through him, sharp and cold, as he wondered what they’d been carrying worth killing for—and whether it was still aboard. He turned to leave, intent on searching for survivors or salvage that might justify this detour, when a faint sound stopped him mid-step. It was barely audible—a soft, stuttering scrape, like metal brushing metal—coming from the far wall. Crix froze, his head tilting as he strained to hear it again. There it was: a hiccup of noise, faint but insistent, drifting from a maintenance shaft tucked into the corner. His light snapped toward it, illuminating a grated panel half-hidden behind an overturned chair. The sound came once more, weaker now, and something in it—a tremble, a plea—pulled at him despite the weight of caution pressing on his chest. He crossed the room in three strides, shoving the chair aside with a grunt. The grate was loose, its screws missing, and Crix pried it open with gloved fingers, the metal groaning in protest. Beyond lay a narrow shaft, its walls lined with pipes that gleamed dully in the light. He hesitated, the utility laser raised, and peered inside. The beam stretched into the gloom, catching on a tangle of shadows before settling on something—someone—huddled against the pipes. A small figure, curled tight, shivered in the cold, dark hair spilling across a pale face. A young girl, no more than ten or twelve, stared back at him with wide, frightened eyes. Continue reading with Kindle Unlimited. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F325CS64