A tentacled being.

After a short wait, the sound of methodical plodding comes to your ears, and with no further warning, the hypersleep pod opens, revealing a Master that is a writhing mass of purple tentacles with dark orbs dotting its form. You smile politely, and the Master before you grunts and extends a tentacle, wrapping around your hand and hauling you out of the pod. It guides you down a corridor lined with unopened pods where you can see many of your sisters sleeping. Eventually, the two of you arrive before a door. The Master gestures for you to go inside, and you do so obediently. It relinquishes your hand, playfully slapping the tentacle against the upper back of your leg. You shiver at the cool slime making contact with your skin, and walk through the door alone.

Beyond the door, two Masters glance your way, but otherwise ignore you, speaking to one another. One, a large biped covered in scales, loudly addresses the other, a fur-covered Master sitting at a desk.

"...you said that the cargo would arrive intact! Half of your ship is void-filled, and the cargo in that half is either missing or inaccessible, and you expect me to pay you full price?"

The furred Master huffs. "If you'll observe the contract, the payment was agreed upon beforehand, allowing for the possibility of raids in exchange for the expediency that those whom you represent so desperately needed. If you're trying to haggle down the price in exchange for good will from your superiors, you'll find that it will both do you no good and prove frustrating. If you wish to test the quality of the remaining product, there was a specimen delivered just now, as requested by your captain."

The scaled Master turns your way, and you only just manage not to flinch under their gaze. You feel their eyes roam over your form, evaluating you, and you suppress a shiver. After what feels like far too long, the scaled Master turns away from you.

"I know better than to play with the captain's new toy. Fine, you'll have your payment, just as soon as my captain is updated on the situation."

The scaled Master turns away from the furred Master and stalks towards you, gesturing. "Follow."

You obediently follow them out the door, your mind filled with questions you know better than to ask.