Tomvije!

Worlds of such beauty have no right to exist. So malevolent is the flora. So agile is the fauna. I had corresponded with the Dr. Relodia at the research station here centuries ago. It took some prodding for him to remember me, but when he did I was welcomed warmly. He gave me a tour of their facilities, and let me have close interaction with hundreds of specimens. Afterward we had drinks and talked at length about science, old times, the war, and the future. It was a great way to escape.

---

When I got back to the local Ascendancy offices, Indigo and the locals were discussing a kidnapping. The chosen target was the daughter of a major colony leader. Security was light, and they had her habits well cataloged, but we couldn't afford any blow back.

They had just started forming a plan involving a matchmaking service and an abandoned housing complex, so I stopped them.

"I'll get her"
"Professor?"
"Just leave it to me. I'll have her in eight hours."

Seven hours later, I rolled out the containment module I borrowed. The girl lay inside, sleeping in the bright yellow gown and dance shoes.
"Just like that?"
"It wasn't so hard. Like any other skittish megafauna. Old habits, really."
Indigo put her hands up to the container walls, smiling, "You weren't seen..."
"No, no... everyone probably thinks she's still at the party. I just hovered, waited until none of them saw her, and dropped. I was doing this to leviathans when I was four."
"and she's not injured..."
"She didn't even scream before she passed out. If you'll be done with her in the next few hours, I could put her back at the party."
"You're like an interdimensional traveler."
"Minus the mission of peace."