Octopied is a short story of approximately 5,500 words, set between Nexus and Nexus 2: Sins of the Past.

Elle, head of security on the Nexus, should have her hands full preparing for the consequences of her crew's actions after their most recent trip to the wormgate. Instead, she's been sent to negotiate a contract with the urchin people of planet cat-piss. But the smell won't be the worst thing she encounters during negotiations, as the urchin people are treacherous, and plagued by an alien octopus with a fascination with its victims.