Pepper glared at Blemmis.
“Don’t blame him,” Sam said. “He tried to warn you. As usual, you didn’t listen.”
“Warn me? What are you talking about?”
“Think about it, Pepper. Why do you think the Emerald of Sobalt Prime was put on display on a backwater planet like Yanthus Prime? The Ursa Minor mob arranged this whole thing. We made a rather generous grant to the Yanthus Prime City Museum—in the name of a shell company, of course—that was contingent upon the museum getting on the list of venues where the Emerald of Sobalt Prime would be displayed. With that grant, the museum was able to provide a kickback to the owners of the emerald, convincing them to add Yanthus Prime to the list of locations on the tour.”
Pepper stared at him. “You got the emerald moved here so you could steal it.”
“That was the idea,” Sam said. “The security at Yanthus Prime City Museum has always been laughably ineffective—as you well know. Unfortunately, the current museum director is smarter than I gave him credit for. He used some of our grant money to upgrade the museum’s security. We called in every expert we’d ever worked with to try to figure out how to bypass the security—including Blemmis here. He wasn’t particularly helpful, at least not at first. But then a few days ago he called me and told me he might know a way to get the emerald.”
Pepper turned to Blemmis. “You told them I was going to steal the emerald. You double-crossed me.”
“I’m sorry, Pepper,” Blemmis said. “I had no choice. Sam knows I’m your fence. If the emerald went missing, he’d come after me.”
“You could have told me,” Pepper said.
“If he’d told you, you wouldn’t have done it,” Sam said.
“Why not? We could have come to some kind of arrangement. Hell, the only reason I’m doing this is because of the money I owe you guys. I just need to get off planet. You guys could have had the rest of my share.”
“As I understand it,” Sam said, “your share is only a third of what’s left after Blemmis takes his cut. The rest was going to go to this Dr. Harmigen character.”
“Technically, only a third goes to Dr. Harmigen. The rest goes to the metaswarm.”
“Ah, yes, the metaswarm,” said Sam, chuckling. “I didn’t believe it when Blemmis told me, but I told myself Pepper is a smart girl. Give her a chance and maybe she’ll pull this off. And by Space, you did it!”
“Yeah,” said Pepper unenthusiastically. “Yay me.”
“Cheer up, Pepper,” Sam said. “I appreciate your hard work on this job. Perhaps we can still come to some kind of arrangement.”
“What kind of arrangement?”
“Blemmis tells me you want passage off planet and enough money to change your identity. I can make that happen. I’ve got a ship fueled up and ready to go.”
“In exchange for what?”
“The emerald, of course.”
Pepper studied Sam for a moment. “You’re saying Dr. Harmigen and the metaswarm get screwed.”
Sam laughed. “Well, yes. I’m not cutting in a disgraced old man and a bunch of insects. I’m paying you and Blemmis a reasonable fee for your time and expertise. But the emerald is mine.”
Pepper continued to stare. But she was no longer watching Sam. She was watching the wall behind him, on which several dozen flies had landed. They gradually coalesced to form the words:
Do it.
Pepper’s eyes locked on Sam’s. “Fine,” she said. “But I’m going to need some assurances.”
“All right,” Sam said cautiously. “What kind of assurances?”
“I want to see this ship.”
“Ship?” asked Sam, seeming confused.
“The one you’ve got waiting for me?”
“Oh, yes!” Sam exclaimed. “Of course. The ship.”
Pepper’s eyes narrowed. “You’d better not be jerking me around, Sam.” She pulled the emerald from her left pocket and with her right hand she unhooked the plasma cutter from her belt. She held the tip of the cutter to the emerald.
“You wouldn’t,” said Sam.
“I absolutely would,” said Pepper. “This thing can cut through a diamond. An emerald might as well be butter. One scratch on this stone and it’s worthless.”
“All right, all right,” Sam said. “Take it easy, Pepper. I’ll take you to the ship.”
“Now,” Pepper said.
Sam nodded. He turned to the gun-toting Nork. “Xartis, get the car.”
Xartis grunted and walked to the door.
“Let’s go, Pepper,” said Sam, getting up from his chair.
“You first,” Pepper said.
Sam shrugged and followed Xartis out the door. Pepper, still holding the plasma cutter to the stone, followed him.
Twenty minutes later, Sam’s car pulled up to a hangar near the spaceport. Parked nearby was the most beautiful spaceship Pepper had ever seen. It was sleek and black and appeared to be brand new. Sam certainly hadn’t skimped on an escape vehicle. Pepper, Sam and Xartis got out.
“Wow,” said Pepper, staring at the ship. She was still holding the emerald and the plasma cutter.
“Nice, huh?” Sam said. “She’s all yours. Keys are inside.”
Pepper frowned as she read the letters on the side of the ship. They read:
Fiat Tenebris
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Hell if I know,” said Sam. “The designer probably just needed a name, so they made up something that sounded cool.”
“It’s Latin,” Xartis said. “It means ‘Let there be darkness.’”
“Well, that’s depressing,” said Pepper. “I’m going to have to rename it.”
“The name can be anything you want. It’s a blank slate as far as I’m concerned.”
“Tabula Rasa,” Xartis murmured.
“Ooh, that’s pretty good,” said Sam. “You should go with that.”
“Hang on,” said Pepper. “Who’s that?” The gangplank of the ship had been lowered and two men were leaving the ship. It soon became evident they were wearing the bright orange armor of the Malarchian Marines.
“Marines!” Pepper gasped. “Sam, what the—” Just then, something struck her on the back of her head and she stumbled to the ground. She was vaguely aware of someone grabbing the emerald out of her hand. As she rolled onto her back, dazed, she saw Xartis standing over her, the emerald in one hand and a blackjack in the other.
“Sic transit gloria,” Xartis said.
“Took you long enough,” Sam replied.
“I had to wait until she was distracted,” said Xartis.
“You bastard,” Pepper muttered. “You never had any intention of letting me go.”
“I’m afraid that’s true,” Sam replied. “I was just stalling.”
“But then… whose ship…?” Pepper asked.
A shrill, loud voice squeaked at them from the darkness. “You’re early!”
“Apologies, your Lordship,” said Sam. “Had a bit of a complication with our procurement division.”
Pepper turned her head to see an imposing man striding toward them, flanked by two Marines. He wore a tight-fitting crimson leather uniform, a helmet festooned with peacock feathers and a luxurious fur cape.
It was Heinous Vlaak.
Chapter Ten
“You have the emerald?” Vlaak asked. “His Primacy is very anxious to complete his collection.”
“Right here,” Sam said. “Xartis, give the man the emerald.”
“Caveat emptor,” said Sam, handing Vlaak the emerald.
“What’s your Nork jabbering about?” Vlaak squeaked.
“Ignore him,” said Sam, with a glare at Xartis.
As Vlaak examined the emerald, Pepper got slowly to her feet.
“And who is this?” Vlaak asked.
“A loose end,” Sam said. “I was about to have Xartis take care of her.”
“Pity,” said Vlaak. “She’d be cute if she did something about that nose.
”
“Space yourself, Vlaak,” Pepper spat.
“I see my fame has preceded me,” Vlaak said. “Do I know you, young lady?”
“The stench still lingers from the last time you visited this planet.”
“Charming,” said Vlaak. “Kill her.”
“Right here?” asked Sam. “We’re in full view of the spaceport.”
Vlaak broke into laughter. “What are you worried about? The police? Have you forgotten our arrangement? Now that you’ve given me the emerald, your syndicate has the full backing of the Malarchy. You no longer need to worry about the local police.”
“Very good,” said Sam, nodding with approval. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you, Vlaak. I am confident that our takeover of Yanthus Prime will be profitable for us both.”
“It had better be,” replied Vlaak. “Now, if you don’t mind, I must be going. Are you going to kill her or am I?”
“We’ll do it,” said Sam. “Xartis?”
Xartis nodded and reached for the lazegun at his hip. As he did so, a fly landed on his nose. He brushed it away with his left hand, but two more landed on his forehead.
“Stop screwing around and shoot her,” Sam growled. But even as he spoke, several more flies landed on Xartis’s face. Many more were buzzing around his head. Xartis began waving his gun at them as well.
“Watch it!” Sam cried, ducking as the gun swung in his direction. The Marines drew their weapons too.
“Everybody cool it!” shrieked Vlaak. But the flies had begun to plague the rest of them as well. They were buzzing around Sam’s head and seemed to be getting inside the Marines’ helmets. The Marines, barely able to see through their helmets as they were, stumbled around, swatting wildly at the flies. They stumbled into each other, fired simultaneously, and fell to the tarmac, dead. Meanwhile, Heinous Vlaak was struggling to remove his helmet. “Get it off!” he shrieked. “They’re going up my—hnnnggtthhhh!” It was unclear whether he was sneezing or retching.
Sam and Xartis, almost completely obscured in a dark cloud of flies, were running around in circles, swatting futilely at themselves. The only person the flies weren’t bothering was Pepper.
In the distance, she saw headlights approaching. While Vlaak continued to struggle with his helmet and Sam and Xartis ran in circles, a car pulled up next to Sam’s. Two small, pear-shaped figures got out.
“Dr. Harmigen!” Pepper cried. “What are you doing here?”
“Ethel told me you were in trouble. Where’s the emerald?”
“Vlaak’s got it.”
“Hey, Vlaak,” Dr. Harmigen yelled, walking toward him. “Drop the emerald and I’ll call off the flies.”
“No!” Vlaak shrieked. “It’s mine! I’m not giving up a priceless emerald to get rid of a few annoying bugs!”
“A hundred flies are annoying,” Dr. Harmigen said. “A thousand are a severe respiratory hazard.”
Vlaak made the sneeze-retching sound again. “Gaaahhh!” He howled, dropping the emerald. “Okay, Fine! Just make them go away!”
Dr. Harmigen strode forward and picked up the emerald. He turned and nodded to Ethel. Ethel made some incomprehensible squealing noises. A few seconds later, Vlaak fell to his knees, coughing loudly in his helmet. A swarm of flies continued to buzz ominously overhead. Sam and Xartis sank to the ground, exhausted. A cloud of flies hovered above them as well.
“Thank you, Ethel,” said Pepper, rubbing the bump that was forming on the back of her head. “Sorry things went a little off script there. I didn’t intend to double-cross you.”
“I know,” said Ethel, with a smile. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
“Turns out that we make a pretty good team,” said Pepper.
“Indeed,” said Dr. Harmigen. “It’s almost a pity this is probably the only chance we’ll have to work together.” He was examining the emerald in his palm.
Ethel shrugged. “Speak for yourself. I’m exhausted. I’ve lost ten percent of my population in the past few hours.”
“I’m sorry, sweetie,” said Dr. Harmigen, putting his other arm around her. “I know this has been rough on you. But with the money we’ll get from fencing the emerald, we’ll be able to create a whole new habitat for the swarm.”
“Just tell Blemmis I sent you,” Pepper said. “If he gives you any trouble, well…” She glanced at Heinous Vlaak, who was getting to his feet, shaky and breathing heavily. His hand was on the lazegun at his hip. He eyed the swarm still hovered over his head.
“Ethel can take care of herself,” Dr. Harmigen said. “But if you’re going to leave, you’d better go now.”
Pepper glanced at the Fiat Tenebris. She could hardly believe it was really happening. She was really going to get off this damned planet. “You guys are sure you’ll be okay?”
“We’ll be fine,” said Ethel. “We’ll head over to Blemmis’s apartment now. Once we get the money for the emerald, Sully can start working on the habitat. If these jerks give us any trouble, I can take care of it. Tough guys become strangely compliant when you threaten to fill their nasal passages with insects.”
Sam and Xartis shuddered. Heinous Vlaak glared at her.
“That’s it then,” Pepper said. “We’re square.”
“We’re square,” Ethel said.
“Good,” said Pepper. “So I have just one more question.” She looked from Ethel to Dr. Harmigen. “So now that Ethel is… I mean, is the metaswarm going to… I guess what I’m asking is, do you two….”
They stared at her blankly.
“You know what?” Pepper said. “Never mind. Good luck. With the habitat and whatever else you crazy kids get up to. I’m outta here.”
“Safe travels!” cried Ethel and Dr. Harmigen together.
Pepper gave them a salute and ran toward the spaceship.
“I’ll get you for this!” Heinous Vlaak shrieked, shaking his fist in the air.
“Qui tenet teneat, qui dolet doleat,” said Xartis wistfully.
Pepper ran up into the ship. It was as beautiful inside as it was outside. She climbed into the cockpit, closed the gangplank, and hit the ignition. The engines purred to life.
“Oh, my,” she said, her heart racing. “You are a bad little kitty.” She hit the throttle and the sleek black ship shot into space.
She was free.
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More books by Robert Kroese
The Starship Grifters Universe
“The Chicolini Incident” (short story)
The Yanthus Prime Job (novella, included in Aye, Robot)
Starship Grifters
Aye, Robot
The Mercury Series
“Mercury Begins” (short story)
Mercury Falls
“Mercury Swings” (short story)
Mercury Rises
Mercury Rests
Mercury Revolts
Mercury Shrugs
The Land of Dis
Distopia
Disenchanted
Disillusioned
Other Books
The Big Sheep
The Last Iota
Schrödinger’s Gat
City of Sand
The Foreworld Saga: The Outcast
The Force is Middling in This One
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Aye, Robot (A Rex Nihilo Adventure) (Starship Grifters Book 2) Page 26
