The Elarri Heist (Plundering the Stars Book 1)

by James David Victor

  5

  We didn’t waste time once we had the information from Zemi. We trudged our way through the busy Goldclaw streets and lifts and got back to the hangar as fast as we could. No need to linger on such a hostile planet. I would have liked to stop at one of the bars, for Preoria had amazing booze and knew how to have fun, but I wasn’t going to risk my friends. I liked to drink, but I had my limits. Jinx would argue otherwise.

  It was mostly silent the whole way back. None of us wanted to bring up the clear relationship between Amara and Zemi, which obviously had resulted in lots of pain and grief. That was one thing we all agreed upon: no prying into our pasts unless that information was volunteered. And none of us liked to talk about it.

  I only knew of Jinx’s past, and the pain she’d experienced as a slave. But the others were tightlipped, even though we’d crewed together for the better part of four years now. Still, I wouldn’t pry.

  So when we got back, we didn’t stop Amara when she strode to her quarters and locked the door. It closed with a whoosh and a click.

  K sat in the cockpit, feet up on the console, reading a data-pad. As I came up behind him, I caught some Elarri wording. There were star charts and times, coordinates and names. I squinted and leaned in. It was a shipping manifest and an air traffic guide for Elarra. Studying up for the heist, I presumed. Good. Ketellin was always one to be cautious.

  “You know, I distinctly remember a certain water-breather telling me not to put my feet up.” I grinned down at him, my arms at my hips.

  He didn’t even spare me a glance, his ink black eyes just moving from side to side as he read the manifest. “My controls. My rules.”

  “This is my ship.”

  “Your ship. My controls.”

  I snorted. “Get us out of here, K. I’d like to put some distance between us and this miserable place.”

  He just huffed and kept on reading, but I knew good and well that the second I left the cockpit, he’d put his feet down and start the engine. As quiet as he was, he was a cheeky little guy sometimes. And sure enough, as soon as footsteps echoed against the walls outside, his boots clanked against the floor and switches began to get flipped. I smiled.

  As the ship jerked and hummed to life, I returned quickly to my room to strip off my meager disguise before I joined the others. The ship shuddered beneath our feet, and then we rose. Underway and leaving this place, without much trouble, all alive and in one piece with valuable new information to boot. I called that a win.

  The others weren’t as enthused as I was, though maybe they could feel the tension in the air with Amara and Zemi. I felt it too, but I wasn’t about to let it get me down. We all had ghosts, all had stuff in our past that was ugly and unpleasant, but we couldn’t let it drag us down. They did their best to cope. I had my vices—drinking, hunra, and flesh. Pivek had his tinkering. Jinx liked to read, Rowan was a gambler, and Amara trained and fought. Ketellin… Well, as far as we knew, all he did was eat, sleep, and pilot. If he had a hobby, he hid it well.

  Of course, none of the others were practicing their hobbies presently. They just stood around looking gloomy and tired. I didn’t blame them, but I hated the atmosphere, nonetheless.

  The ship rumbled as we broke through the atmosphere and then we felt lighter. Back in space. In a short moment, I felt a zip and knew we’d just jumped. A minute later, K lumbered into the room and leaned against the wall, opposite of Pivek, who started with his hands.

  ‘Did you get what we came for?’

  “Sure did,” I said. “Did you?”

  ‘I would not be back here if I hadn’t.’

  That was cryptic, but I left it alone. I trusted Pivek to do whatever he needed to do to keep our ship space-worthy and us well supplied.

  “So, what did you lot find out?” Ketellin asked. More words than he usually gave.

  I was ready to answer, but then Amara let out a long breath and began instead. Probably for the best. This was her information to tell. Her source, her info, her turn. She filled K and Pivek in on the things Zemi told us about the manor and Xarren’s security, and already I could see the gears turning in Pivek’s big insect brain as he began to formulate solutions to these new obstacles. K just listened and nodded, as was his usual prerogative. Amara left out some of the more…uncomfortable bits of the trip. I didn’t blame her.

  When she was finished, we all stood around the room, arms crossed, chewing on our options and own thoughts. Naturally, we had a few more steps to the plan if we were to pull off this heist now. We could do it though. I had faith in my crew, in my friends. And if there was something they couldn’t do, we were all well connected enough to find someone who could help. Pivek, I imagined, could get us past Xarren’s security systems. He’d never met a program he couldn’t hack, disable, or take over. Obtaining Xarren’s bio-encryption would prove more difficult. For that, I’d need some ideas.

  “So, thoughts?” I asked.

  K stroked his chin, the water tubes of his rebreather bubbling. He said nothing, just stared at the floor.

  Pivek, as I guessed, had a few ideas. He stood to his full height, his wings buzzing with excitement, but not enough to lift him from the ground.

  ‘I have some ideas for the security system, but there’s a catch.’

  I didn’t like the sound of that. “What’s the catch?”

  ‘I doubt Xarren’s systems are simple enough to be taken down by a hack-spike. For me to know how to get past it, I’m going to need to know what he’s working with.’

  A collective groan escaped all our mouths. It was complications like that that could scare thieves away from a heist. But not us. Still, not ideal. This meant he had to get someone inside the mansion who had enough knowledge of tech and security systems to identify what we were dealing with, or he’d have to find some other way to get eyes inside. Neither option was easy. Both options had major risks, and those were risks that would help lessen another risk.

  Risks on top of risks. Get rid of one, open another. That was the life we lived. And I loved the rush of it all.

  But sometimes, things being easy was refreshing, and with everything riding on this job, I kind of wished it would be so. Not the case.

  “Okay, so we need someone on the inside,” Rowan said.

  “If it were that easy, we wouldn’t have needed Zemi,” Amara replied with a sigh. “And Jinx wouldn’t have needed to steal workers uniforms.”

  “And that uniform is for who, exactly?”

  “It was for all of us, namely Jinx and Amara because Xarren prefers female help, but now we’re gonna need someone to get into the security tower.”

  Rowan frowned. “And do what?”

  Pivek chittered nervously. ‘So many questions, Goon.’

  “I just want to know the plan, bug.”

  They glared at each other. I chuckled. Pivek had never taken to Rowan like Jinx and I had. Even Amara and K liked him well enough, but not Pivek. We were a family, but hey, even families had issues.

  “Easy, you two,” I said as I stepped between them. “The plan is fluid right now, not in its final form. Once it is, you will know it.”

  Neither liked that answer, but I always kept my plans loose and secret. That way if someone got captured, they couldn’t rat on us. Not that they would, but torture could be one hell of a motivator.

  Everyone settled down. Silence came back as we considered all the information. As usual, Jinx was the mediator that I wished I was sometimes. But I was too much of a crap-starter. I was a glutton for trouble. Being a reasonable human being was not a gift I was usually blessed with, so that was where she came in.

  “Okay, we’re not going to figure everything out right now, so we should try to be productive.”

  I nodded. “Right. Pivek, you go try to think up something so that we don’t need to physically be in the security tower for you to help.”

  ‘That isn’t so easy.’

  “Well, if it were easy, Xarren would have been robbed alread
y. Just stay busy, I’m sure there’s a solution in that brilliant brain of yours. K, obviously keep jumping until we need to fuel. I want to put some distance between us and Preoria.”

  He nodded and left without a word. Saints, I loved his cold demeanor.

  “Amara, you… Well, your day’s been draining enough, so do whatever you want.”

  “Thanks, Captain.” She smiled when she said that, obviously sarcastic, but it still made me grin.

  “And what about me?” Rowan asked, still annoyed, arms crossed and lips set in a hilarious frown.

  As Pivek and Amara both filed out of the room, I strolled over to the cooler built into the wall, filled with dried fruits, meats, and juices. And alcohol. I opened it up, pulled out a bottle of Nemodian cider, and grabbed some glasses.

  “You, me, and Jinx are going to have a glass and play a round of Spacer’s Medley so that you cool off and smile.”

  He grunted, but he didn’t hesitate to take the glass when I offered it. Jinx rolled her eyes and took one too, and we all sat around the holo-recorder. We shouldn’t have played cards on it, because it wasn’t a table, but I liked to live dangerously. And so, we drank and gambled while the heist of a lifetime stewed in our minds, at first just a thought, a dream, but slowly building to reality.

  We jumped several systems over the next several hours before we finally came to a stop in the middle of an asteroid belt called the Gilla Pass. There was a small mining company set up around a dozen or so of the larger rocks meant to dig up the precious metals that were buried beneath, though the activity of said mining companies varied by the day. But what didn’t waver was the large rest stop at the very center of the pass.

  The asteroid was smaller than the mined ones, but it didn’t need to be big. We closed in on the clear dome on the surface that shimmered in the light of the distant sun. As we got closer, dozens of ships, mostly small freighters and schooners, buzzed about, coming and going. Beneath the dome was a handful of buildings, all cold and metal and gray, with glittering blue and gold lights. Lodgings and a fueling station and a decent tavern. All the essentials for a good rest stop.

  K put us down on an empty landing pad between a bright red star runner with wide oval wings and a standard gray box-looking Varellen freighter that was probably loaded down with some bulk shipment. The runner swarmed with small green men, Oreset, with their lanky limbs and large rounded heads and unblinking black eyes that always seemed to peer into your soul. A couple of Torgorans milled about the freighter as they fueled up.

  The Sanara settled onto the pad and stilled as K cut the engine. A groan filled the air as the cargo ramp was lowered. Pivek needed to fix that. He piled out first to go refuel the ship. The rest of us needed a drink and maybe a meal, if there was something good on the menu. Jinx was a good chef, but sometimes, she didn’t want to do it, which was fine. We had money to spare, and I needed some alcohol.

  “Fill her up, Pivek. Unless the price is ludicrous,” I called to him as he bounded away. He turned and walked backward.

  ‘The price is fine. I’ll come get you when I’m finished.’

  “You come join us. You deserve a drink.”

  He nodded, then continued to the fuel clerk.

  We started for the tavern and were surprised when we realized that Ketellin was with us. I think we all arched an eyebrow at that. K was intensely private and didn’t leave the ship all too much unless absolutely necessary.

  Jinx flashed him a smile. “What brings you with us today, K?”

  Eyes forward, he said, “This place has really good steamed heyvek.”

  And he kept walking right passed us. I looked at Jinx and the others. We all chuckled to ourselves and followed him.

  Spacers buzzed about ahead of us, chatting each other up, coming and going between their ships and the tavern and the general store. As far as fuel stations went, this place was very active. There were hundreds of dingy little outposts spread throughout the stars with barely enough resources to survive. They’d service your ship, sure, but with a bare minimum to offer. Here, though, was nice.

  I nudged Amara with my shoulder, and she gave me an annoyed look. Was I that annoying? Probably. I pointed to the general store.

  “Could you be a gem and take Rowan to go get us some supplies?”

  She sighed. “Sure.”

  “Something wrong? Are we more stocked than I thought? I swear I checked our inventory a few days ago.”

  “No, we need food and some more medical supplies. I’m just tired and don’t feel like chaperoning Rowan.”

  “I resent that,” he called from the other side of me. I laughed.

  “You like Rowan, don’t lie. Now go on. You’re both strong. You’ll be done in no time. Want us to order anything for you?”

  “Whatever meat they may have, get me two orders of it roasted.”

  Jinx and I both rolled our eyes and laughed. “Sounds like a good deal,” Jinx said with a smile.

  “What about you, Rowan?”

  “Bowl of cedece. Hold the spice.”

  “No spice?”

  “No spice.”

  Amara scoffed. “You’re so uncultured.” He just smiled.

  The two of them veered off from us and went to the general store. They disappeared through the doors as two large Rardons walked out, their hulking frames as wide as the door and their reptilian tails dragging behind them. They gave us a toothy glance and kept on. I kept my eyes forward. Rardons always gave me chills.

  Inside, the tavern was about what one would expect. Dimly lit, low ceiling, air choked with hunra and tobacco smoke, with an underlying stench of alcohol. A song with a rapid beat that didn’t suit the place pulsed from the back, muffled and sad. Broken chatter filled the room, as tables all around were jammed with spacers, smugglers, miners, and more. We were given little more than a few glances as we entered.

  I was beginning to get a little down on the place when I spotted some of the plates. Steamed fruits and vegetables from across the stars, kerron bird fried to golden deliciousness. Some other roasts and sandwiches of all makes and sizes. As we passed them, I caught whiffs over the stench of the room. Delightful. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.

  We managed to find a table that could seat us. It was a few minutes before the Tagoran waitress took our orders. Then we played the waiting game for our drinks and meals, and wait we did, with how busy the place was. I wasn’t starving or anything, but it would have been nice to have some whisky.

  It took so long to even get our drinks that Amara and Rowan had time to buy supplies and load the ship. Our alcohol arrived just as they did. I’d already ordered for them both, since I knew Amara would want a tall pint of blue honey and Rowan three bottles of veski. Not my type, but who was I to judge a man’s alcohol tastes?

  We all sat around in silence, sipping our drinks, letting the pulsing ebbs of the music wash over us and drown out everything else. It was good to just sit down and relax for once. And I would enjoy a hot meal. I mean, we had decent food on the ship, but none of us were exactly master chefs, so it was nice to go out and get some good food. Though, I wasn’t sure if this place quite qualified.

  Jinx gulped down her wine. “So, what’s our next move, Captain?” She winked and gave me a cheeky smile.

  I smirked and whirled my drink around in my glass. “Pivek is still coming up with solutions on the tech end of things, but I have a plan in mind.”

  “Such as?” Amara prodded, peering out at me behind her long lashes.

  “You’re not gonna like it.”

  “When do I ever?”

  I laughed. “Fair point.” I took a swig of my drink so I could muster the courage to speak the words into existence. “I’m going to get captured by the Elexaes. Jinx and Amara are going to join his house staff and find a way to spring me. And then one of you will help me get into the vault.”

  Silence. They all looked at me, blinking heavily. I could feel the objections coming as soon as I spoke the plan. Which I
knew wasn’t my best.

  “That is a terrible plan,” Amara said as she pinched the bridge of her nose.

  “Yeah, Yan, that’s just… That’s not really a plan.” Even Jinx turned on me.

  “I have no words,” said K.

  “Seconded.” Rowan.

  I sighed. “I appreciate the support, guys.” I took another long swig. “Look, as I said, the plan is fluid. Nothing is set in stone. But obviously, we need a way into the mansion besides just breaking in. Jinx, you already knew that you’d be going in.”

  “That’s all well and good, but Jinx and I are both wanted. Our faces are known. Why not use Rowan?” Amara asked

  “Because Rowan doesn’t have a good poker-face. He cracks under scrutiny.” I looked at him. “Sorry.”

  He, naturally, appeared very offended. “I am getting better. I can lie just fine. Besides, you never take me on the big missions. Let me earn my keep.”

  “You have earned your keep. You’ve gotten us information on this job that I wouldn’t have dreamed of getting.”

  “But I can do more! Come on, Yan. Using the girls is too risky. Let me get you in.”

  As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. Amara had a rep even before she joined up with us. And that rep and notoriety hadn’t gone down in the slightest. She just went from freedom fighter and terrorist and blowing stuff up on the regular to stealing what remained afterward.

  I groaned. “Fine. But Jinx will go too. She’s far less recognizable. She isn’t even wanted by the Elexaes, so they have no reason to know her. Plus, we already have her uniforms and credentials.”

  Amara rolled her eyes. She wasn’t convinced. She turned her attention to Ketellin. “What do you think, K?”

  He sat, arms crossed, eyes unblinking as he looked at the table. “The bones are good. More details will be needed. Even then, there will be a lot of risks.”

  I put my hands up. “Of course there will be risks. A score like this isn’t taken easily. But I know we can pull this off. This is the job to end all jobs. Once we do this, we can be out, do whatever we want to do, be whoever we want to be. I shouldn’t need to convince you.”