Lalslan made the final approach to the spaceport as a bundle of tense nerves ready to explode at the slightest provocation. Now he was sure that literally every person that came slightly closer than others was about to attack. One hand was clutching the trigger of an electric pistol he concealed in his pocket; this weapon was plastic, with metal components no thicker than honeycomb wafers- security would never see it. His other weapons were similarly concealed.
Still, he knew, all of his weapons were little things, best used on someone surprised, or to cause a diversion for escape. If even a small force decided to arrest or even attack him, he would be helpless.
Footstep by footstep he walked down the luridly lit hallways to the ticket booth for his flight. Now it was even worse- he was in a stretch of hallway that held no one but himself. Suddenly he felt quite alone, and even more vulnerable than before.
A voice immediately behind him shattered the stillness. Lalslan whirled, nearly ready to draw his feeble weapon and fire- but it was the loudspeaker, announcing a departing shuttle. He had just been directly beneath it when the announcement came through. Shaking his head, trying to steady himself and act natural, he continued forward.
Eventually, despite his anxiety, he was face to face with the interesting creature running the ticket booth. Lalslan had not the faintest idea where a being like this came from, and had never seen anything remotely like it. He tried not to stare, but he couldn’t determine which of the several eyes were looking at him. Likewise when he laid a series of cards on the counter to pay for his ticket, he placed them next to the nearest tentacle; one from the other side curled around and lapped them up.
Multiple eternities later, yet in reality just a few minutes, he was soaring into space, leaving the strange planet behind.
