Well, well, well, if it isn't Firstname Lastname, the first human to grace the hallowed halls of Junktion. Don't bother with the fanfare, kid, we've seen it all here. Name's Pelax, and I'm the lucky manatee behind the customs desk. You're a long way from Proxima Centauri B, aren't you?
Firstname shifted on her feet, her eyes wide as she took in the kaleidoscope of alien species surrounding her. Some were towering, others oozing, a few even floated through the air like sentient gas clouds. She cleared her throat, feeling very small indeed.
"Um, yes. I mean, you're right. I've come a long way. It's an honor to be here." She offered a shaky smile, hoping it didn't make her look like a lunatic.
"Honor? Kid, this is Junktion. If you're looking for a parade, you're in the wrong quadrant. What's your purpose for being here?" Pelax's tone was matter-of-fact, his fin-like appendages fluttering as he reviewed her documents.
"I'm a refugee. My home... it's not safe anymore. I'm looking for work, a fresh start."
Pelax's eyes—well, what she assumed were his eyes—regarded her for a moment before he let out a low, rumbling chuckle. "A refugee, eh? Seems like we're the galaxy's lost and found these days."
Firstname swallowed the lump in her throat. "I just want a chance."
Pelax's lips curled into something akin to a smile. "We've all got a story, kid. You're not the first one to seek solace in the stars. Here, take this." He handed her a small, sleek device. "Temporary visa. It'll let you move about Junktion for a couple of months, find your footing. Don't cause any trouble, or I won't hesitate to have you shipped back to wherever you came from."
"Thank you," she breathed, clutching the device as if it were her last lifeline.
"Just remember, human, this isn't some heroic journey. You're just another speck in the grand cosmic mess. Don't let your hopes get too high." Pelax's voice held a strange blend of cynicism and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on.
As she turned to leave, her heart pounding with equal parts excitement and trepidation, she caught sight of Pelax's wallet sitting innocently on his desk. A mischievous grin tugged at her lips as she scooped it up, her fingers trembling with adrenaline.
"Oh, and Pelax," she said, feigning innocence, "you dropped this."
Pelax blinked, his eyes narrowing slightly, but before he could react, she turned on her heel and slipped into the bustling crowd.
If he noticed the wallet's absence, he didn't give chase. It was a small victory, one she clung to as she ventured further into the heart of Junktion, ready to carve out her own place among the stars, regardless of how insignificant it might seem.