Chapter 1 A Fistful Of Stardust

• Welcome to Cassiopeia. A tropical oasis out in the vast emptiness of space. People come from near and far to visit what they call the “Pleasure Planet”. For some, it's the tropical beaches and stunning landscapes. For others, it's the bustling nightlife and endless entertainment options, legal or otherwise.
• But for Jaxson Reed, a former detective struggling with alcoholism and depression, Cassiopeia is not a place of pleasure. Haunted by his memories, he finds himself gazing back at his former life. Once hailed as a revered detective, his world was shattered by the heart-wrenching loss of his wife and daughter, sending him spiraling into a vortex of despair and chaos. Now, he's barely making ends meet as a private investigator back home, chasing down cheating spouses and runaway children.
• But fate has a way of intervening. A wealthy businessman enlists Jaxson's services to delve into the dark underbelly of Cassiopeia and uncover the truth behind his son's murder. Something about the case felt off to him, but the money seemed too good to turn down. And so, he finds himself on Cassiopeia, forced to navigate a treacherous landscape of prostitution, gambling, and corruption.
• Will Jaxson find the answers he's looking for? Join us on an enthralling odyssey alongside Jaxson as he ventures deep into the heart of Cassiopeia, a journey that will test his unwavering resolve, boundless courage, and precarious grip on sanity. A journey that will ultimately lead him to a shocking truth and a choice that will define his fate. As so many others before, he will also find his "Fistful of Stardust".
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• Act I: A Promise Unfulfilled
• The stars outside the large windows were barely moving, as the ferry was making its way to Cassiopeia at a leisurely third of a G. Even though the thrust gravity was low, Jaxson felt the weight of the whole universe on his shoulders as he sat at the bar on level three. Staring into his drink as if it held all the answers to the questions that plagued him, the liquid sloshed around in the glass, a constant reminder of his failures. He couldn't help but wonder what brought him to this point, to this ferry, headed to a planet he never thought he'd see.
• His thoughts drifted back to a promise Jaxson made long ago. A promise he made to Nicole and Maya, his wife and daughter. He promised to take them to Cassiopeia, to swim in the crystal clear waters and enjoy the most beautiful sunrise this side of the galaxy. Maya would go on and on about the dance of the nightblossoms, a kind of bioluminescent jellyfish native to Cassiopeia's oceans. They never got to make the trip. Nicole and Maya were brutally murdered. Vaporized by a plasma charge placed in their apartment. Jaxson had made many enemies over the years and the list of potential suspects was considerable. Understandably, the case was never solved. Jaxson had been a detective then, but he had failed to bring the killer to justice. He had failed to protect his family and he was never the same since.
• Jaxson's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat. He looked up to see the bartender eyeing him, a disapproving frown etched on his face.
• “You gonna be okay, buddy?” the bartender asked, gesturing to the empty glass on the bar.
• Jaxson grunted and pushed the glass forward. “Another one.”
• The bartender shook his head and poured another shot. “You know that's not the answer, right?”
• Jaxson downed the shot and slammed the glass back onto the counter. “You're right. It's not the answer. But it's the only thing that makes the pain go away for a little while.”
• “Listen, if you need to talk...”
• “Just leave the bottle,” Jaxson said, as the bartender set the bottle down in front of him and went back to washing glasses.
• The ferry ride to Cassiopeia was long, but Jaxson welcomed the solitude. He had plenty of time to think and prepare himself for the job ahead. As he poured himself another drink, he felt the weight of his broken promise just a bit easier to bear, the same as the day the Mr. Chevalier walked into his office, asking to solve his son's murder.
• “I'll pay you eighty thousand credits,” the man said, sending the information to Jaxson's hand terminal. “Half now, half when you get me the name of Sebastien's murderer.”
• Jaxson was a private investigator now, and normally he made ends meet by chasing down cheating spouses and runaway children back home. This seemed way above his pay grade, too good to be true. The money was too good to turn down, or to ask too many questions. He skimmed the information the man had sent over. A boy in his early 20s, ran away from home after a fight with his father. It was starting to look like a regular runaway kid case, before his eyes fixated on the boy's last known whereabouts. Cassiopeia. Everything else seemed irrelevant at that point.
• “I'll do it,” Jaxson said, feeling the man's pain. A pit formed in his stomach, fed by the haunting memories of his own personal loss. Determined, he pledged to assist the grieving man in his relentless pursuit of justice for his son. Maybe it would alleviate his own guilt, even just a little, by finally going to Cassiopeia. He mustered the courage and took a leap of faith. The weight of desperation hung heavy, but in that moment, he had nothing left to lose. “I'll find out what happened to your kid.”
• The ferry finally arrived on Cassiopeia and docked at the spaceport in orbit. Jaxson made his way through the crowds and onto the shuttle that would take him down to the surface. Controlled free fall was a bumpy ride, Jaxson took in the sights of the planet on the many screens scattered throughout the shuttle's hold. As his eyes beheld Cassiopeia, a sense of wonder washed over him. It was not quite what he had envisioned, yet its unique beauty captivated him nonetheless. The postcards didn't do justice to experiencing it live.
• He had booked a room at the Grande Imperial, overlooking the ocean. Even though he had been awake for over twenty four hours, Jaxson couldn't sleep. Looking over the case files didn't help either, so he decided to make his way down to the bar. As he finished ordering his drink, a shimmering glow caught his eye. Stepping away from the bar, he approached the window. The spectacle outside was mesmerizing. It was the dance of the nightblossoms. He made his way out, forgetting about his drink. As he sat alone on the beach, the setting sun cast a warm glow upon the sand. a single tear escaped from the corner of his eye and ran down his cheek. It was just as majestic as Maya had always described.