Asteroid of the Damned

A law operative arrives on a lawless, artificial freeport asteroid to hunt the crime mastermind behind a potent narcotic that numbs fear and drives a destructive trade. The settlement is an underground gambling refuge populated by fugitive aliens and a childlike native species called Kiddies, who hoard metals to generate electrical sensations. Moving through smoky casinos and crowded gaming tables, the operative studies suspects and local customs, uncovers the interplay of corruption, addiction, and commerce, and navigates cultural oddities and dangerous alliances while tracking a hidden smuggling syndicate.