Killer Gold: Zena, #0.5

By Summer Renna

When intergalactically-beloved pop star Zena and her android back-up dancer A3 are hired to perform at a royal birthday party, the gig seems too good to pass up. The prince of Khmer 2, a Cambodian colony world, offers them riches and glory so long as they come to the palace to perform a few songs. What Zena and A3 don't know is that this offer isn't at all what it seems, and a beast unlike anything else in the galaxy lies waiting for them beneath the glitter of the palace. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Summer Renna
• Release date: Jun 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201404352

Book preview

Summer Renna

Killer Gold

Copyright © 2022 by Summer Renna

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

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Contents

1. Killer Gold

NEXT TIME ON ZENA, LESBIAN SPACE POP STAR

About the Author

Also by Summer Renna

1

Killer Gold

Arumble ran through the podship as it entered the planet’s atmosphere. Zena leaned back in her seat while the automated piloting system informed her that they were a half-hour from their destination. Normally they would have traveled in their starship, but the Thalia was under maintenance, so this podship was sent to transport them.

Zena turned to her traveling companion seated across from her.

Pop quiz, A3. What do Max Flowerz, Rain Mallow, and all the other performers at the top of the charts have in common? she asked with a triumphant grin.

The android breathed in a beleaguered sigh and shrugged. They all have robots writing their songs for them? They all vacation to Venus for yearly plastic surgeries? We could do this all night, Z.

Zena reached for the side window and pulled the shade up. Light flooded into their small ship, and the city of New Angkor was sprawled below them. The metropolis seamlessly mingled old and new architectural designs, mirroring its ancient namesake in its skyscrapers and gold-paved streets. In every city square was a monument of a Khmer king, none shorter than 150 meters, all sculpted in silver, gold, or what Zena assumed was lab-replicated ivory. Hanging gardens were planted throughout, bright bursts of emerald among steel and stone. The midday suns infused it all with golden light.

The answer, A3, is that none of them were personally invited to perform for the prince of Khmer 2 for his eighteenth birthday. Zena’s grin widened as she folded her hands behind her head. Only yours truly.

Yeah, lucky everyone else. They don’t have to wear this garbage. A3 gestured at his outfit, gold pants with a gold tunic and a gold sash. Zena’s top and mini-skirt were also gold, all at the request of the prince’s representatives.

I think it’s snazzy. Zena popped up the collar on her jacket. The overload of gold matched her short blonde locks and made the blue of her eyes brighter. She could already see how she’d look in the magazines and tabloids that’d be out the next day with New Angkor’s royal glow rubbing off on her.

And I think it looks like we were styled by Scrooge McDuck. A3 tugged at the tunic with a scowl. "The material’s so stiff, I don’t know how you expect me to dance in this. Do I have to wear it?"

Listen, kid, for the kind of money these folks are offering, we’re gonna wear whatever the hell they want, whether that’s a gold outfit or a bubble wrap one.

The podship dipped lower, zipping past skyscraper peaks and holographic billboards.

A3 pulled his long, black hair out of its ponytail and began braiding it instead. Why am I the only dancer who has to be here? You’ve got four other dancing dumbasses who’d love all this shit.

Your brothers would definitely be whining less, on that we agree. But it wasn’t my call. They only requested you and me. You should be flattered! You’re apparently the prince’s favorite dancer. And I’m his favorite singer. Clearly, the guy has impeccable tastes.

"Oh yeah, that’s why he’s got us dressed like this."

Zena simply rolled her eyes, allowing the android to pass the remainder of the ride in silence. When she and