The Pets of Starlane Crossroads
You can probably guess from the title that the science fiction romances in the Pets in Space 9 anthology all have one or more pets. My story is Starlane Crossroads, which is the name of the space station where the action takes place. As you'll discover below, several of the pets of Starlane Crossroads are genetically engineered. The pet trade industry isn't supposed to tinker with natural animal species, but the genetic engineering designers never let laws get in the way of profit.
In the Central Galactic Concordance universe, some people have special mental powers, called minder talents. The story's heroine, Katalin, has a good friend named Sierrho. Her minder talent is to be able to make telepathic connections with animals. She runs the space station's pet rescue. Sierrho's strongest gift is knowing how to pair the right people with the right pets. As a consequence, a lot of people on the station have pets. Katalin and hero Vellek are no exception.
Read more about Katalin and Vellek in Starlane Crossroads Has Heroes.
Pets with Katalin Efren, Starlane Crossroads Space Station Manager
Katalin Efren manages the entire Starlane Crossroads independent space station. Her three cats keep her company, and sometimes help whether she wants them to or not. 😼
Froggie: Sweet, bold, and hopelessly gregarious cat who is quite sure the entire universe revolves around her. She was Katalin's first (but not last) cat from her good friend Sierrho, who runs the pet rescue shelter on the space station. She came with the name Froggie and won't answer to any other. See this post for a description of how Katalin met Froggie.
Paru: He is Katalin's most recent pet, acquired two years ago because Sierrho said the cat decided Katalin and her other felines were family. Paru lived in the shelter for several years before being rehomed with Katalin. His early experiences with humans weren't good, so he's pretty choosy about his people friends.
Skyhunter: Genetically-engineered and domesticated margay cat. Adventure is his middle name. So is trouble. He’s an adult, but not by much. He absolutely adores being up high and making spectacular leaps to get there… such as to the elegant chandelier in the grand dining hall.
Pets with Vellek Altano, Security Chief of Starlane Crossroads
Vellek never had pets before he arrived at Starlane Crossroads. Technically, he doesn't have them now, as he still believes he's just fostering them. Katalin and Sierrho have decided not to tell him otherwise.
Cyrene: She is a genetically-engineered fishing cat with bioluminescent fur and a fondness for fountains. Especially if she's not supposed to be there. She was part of a shipment of illegal pet-trade felines that Katalin's friend Sierrho liberated from an independent trader ship. Cyrene's best friend in all the world is Norby, a sweet, adventurous mixed-breed dog.
Norby: He is a classic mutt of a dog with quite a bit of shepherd and terrier in the mix. When Sierrho rescued a pitiful, half-drowned kitten, Norby decided then and there that he would protect Cyrene forever. In turn, she helps him get into all sorts of adventures.
Excerpt from Starlane Crossroads
Here is a brief section from the story that introduces Vellek's pair:
A flash of brown startled him, and suddenly he had a lap full of a ten-kilo striped cat, purr-meowing at him as she kneaded his thigh, her claws making little pinpricks in his flesh. Warm liquid soaked the front of his black undertunic where the kaffe had spilled.
“Cyrene,” he complained, as if it would do any good. He reached around over her to set the mug on the desk. That was when he noticed the cat was distinctly damp and dripping onto his gray pants. “Thank you so much.”
Cyrene purred louder, clearly pleased with herself as she draped herself across his legs, sharing more of the moisture, and likely some of her loose fur. He’d finally learned that heathered grey pants were better at hiding the fur he often wore.
“I suppose there is no point in asking whose fountain you were playing in this time.” He really didn’t know why he spoke to the cat, except that it had become a habit. She had an amazing ability to get into anywhere she wanted to go, such as the elegant fountains in private lobbies or his supposedly access-controlled security office.
His desk comms unit sounded with Katalin’s tone.
Reaching around Cyrene again, he touched the comms control. A holo of Katalin sprung to life. She was still in the conservative workaday clothes she’d worn that morning.
“Hello. That was fast. If you-”
Barking arose from outside his closed office door.
“Hang on,” he said to Katalin.
He waved a hand over the door control to let the hound in, then turned back to the holo. “If you’re accepting the invitation, it doesn’t have to be here. We could-” Norby made a beeline for Vellek. “Don’t you dare!”
Too late. Norby shook himself with determined vigor, showering both him and Cyrene.
The sound of Katalin’s laughter filled the room. “Dinner in your office sounds great. I’ll bring food from Nebula Spire. And towels.”
Bonus Pets
Autuno: He is a caprigon, a genetically engineered pet designed to look like a cross between a goat and a dragon. He's cute (obviously) and mischievous (unsurprising). His escape from the safety of his family into an unsafe maintenance area of the space station starts the whole story.
Lady Peach: She is a domesticated wolverine, which is illegal on all 500+ Central Galactic Concordance planets. She is one of Sierrho's permanent pets. Like natural wolverines, she is strong, fearless, and tenacious. The engineers made her more sociable and considerably less stinky.
Blast Off to the Stars for Adventure and Love
Blast off with Pets in Space 9, a thrilling anthology that blends heart-pounding sci-fi with swoon-worthy romance!
Dive into 10 never-before-published tales from award-winning and USA TODAY bestselling authors R.J. Blain, Honey Phillips, Carol Van Natta, Kenzie Kelly, S.J. Pajonas, Demelza Carlton, Leslie Chase, Greta van der Rol, E.G. Manetti, and Evelyn Lederman. Each novella features extraordinary pets — from a telepathic feline on a distant planet to a brave dog in a futuristic city — standing by their heroes through love, danger, and epic quests.
Plus, every purchase supports Hero Dogs, a charity that provides trained service dogs to veterans and first responders.
Explore a galaxy of romance and adventure in Pets in Space 9 — don’t miss out!
