Chapter 2 A Fistful Of Stardust

• Act II: The Cassiopeian Underworld
• The file on the kid painted him as your typical rich kid who went off to college where he came into contact with all kinds of crazy ideas and decided to rebel against his father. While still enjoying the benefits of his fat bank account, of course. The transaction report listed transactions totaling several thousand credits. The Velvet Garter, The Pink Pony, The Love Shack, the Naughty Nymph, The Pleasure Pit. Those were just some of the names. All of them were brothels on Cassiopeia's lower levels. One name stood out. More than half of all transactions had been made at The Sinful Siren. So that's where Jaxson knew he would find the next piece of the puzzle. The transit pods only went down to level fifty-seven. The sun-bathed terraces and promenades of the upper levels gave way to dark, crowded streets dimly lit by flashing neon lights. Jaxson approached a rickshaw driver.
• “I need to get to a brothel,” Jaxson said. “The Sinful Siren.”
• “Xhinful jhiran,” the man repeated in a broken accent, unclear if it was a question or statement. “Mi sabe negwaan, Mastha. Hop in! Hop in!”
• The man took off and made his way down the labyrinth of the lower levels. This was the part of town you didn't see in all the advertising. The Cassiopeian Underworld, a place where you could satisfy all your desires and vices. A place that was notorious for its lack of judgment, but it was more than happy to take anyone's money.
• He arrived at the brothel, tucked away discretely in a back alley. A small cartoon siren with bare breasts glowing in vivid neon purple was the only thing alluding to the establishment inside. The air in the lobby was thick with the smell of perfume, cigarettes, and desperation. Several companions swarmed him as soon as he walked in, each trying to push their services on him.
• "Kawaii Oppa," a petite woman with pigtails said, running her fingers through his hair. She was in her 40s, but trying to look much younger by wearing a school girl uniform. “You lookin' for a good time?”
• “A refined Gentleman Pecinta like you,” a dark skinned young man wearing ass-less chaps said, discretely grabbing his arm. “Surely you're looking for something more sophisticated. Yes?”
• “Don't listen to them,” a leather clad dominatrix interjected, caressing Jaxson's lips with her finger tips. “I can fulfill your deepest desires. Perhaps you're looking for something more... exotic.” She flickered a few times and transformed into a green-skinned alien woman two heads taller than him. She took Jaxson's hand and placed it upon one of her three breasts. “Feels like the real thing. Or perhaps you're looking for something... out of this world.” She flickered again and turned into a gelatinous creature, wrapping one of its tentacles around his leg.
• “I'm looking for someone,” Jaxson said, swiping on his hand terminal, ignoring their aggressive advances.
• “Everyone's looking for someone on Cassiopeia,” the schoolgirl said.
• “I'm looking for him”, Jaxson said, pulling up the boy's picture. “Sebastien Chevalier. Have you seen him?”
• “Oh, you want to talk to Ruby,” ass-less said, pointing him in the right direction. “She might know something. Up the stairs, then make a right at the end of the corridor, last door on your left.”
• Jaxson made his way through the maze corridors, all the way to the back, past several doors where muffled moans and screams resonated from behind closed doors. He rang the intercom on Ruby's door and waited for a response.
• “Come in,” a voice called out from the speaker.
• The door slid open and Jaxson stepped inside. Ruby was a tall, voluptuous woman with long blonde hair and mesmerizing green eyes. She was wearing a velvet robe that left little to the imagination. Jaxson couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for exploiting her services for information.
• “What can I do for you, handsome?” she asked, batting her eyelashes.
• “I'm looking for information about a missing person,” Jaxson said, pulling up the boy's picture. “Sebastien Chevalier. I understand he was one of your regulars.”
• Ruby's glanced at the picture, but she quickly looked away as her face darkened. “I might be able to help. But what's in it for me?”
• “I'll pay you for the whole night. I just need you to answer a few questions.”
• Ruby hesitated for a moment, but ultimately accepted his offer. Jaxson tapped his terminal a few times, and Ruby's terminal chimed, confirming the transaction.
• “So, what do you want to know?” Ruby said, giving Jaxson the side eye.
• “I know he was here the night he died,” Jaxson said. “Did he say anything about any trouble he might have been in?”
• “He's dead?” she said, the color draining from her face. She had to sit down. “What happened?”
• “I was hoping you could tell me.”
• “I'm sorry,” she said, avoiding eye contact. “I really can't help you.” She started frantically tapping on her hand terminal. “Look, I'll give you back your credits. Sorry to waste your time.”
• “Look at me,” Jaxson said, taking her by the shoulders. “I know you know something. What is it?”
• “Forget it. I know better than to mess with that kind of people.”
• Jaxson offered her additional credits, for anything that might help him. Ruby finally gave him what he wanted. It was a name. Remy Delacroix.