Starbourne, page 12
“Both of you, calm down,” Teagen said sternly. “Jaeden, I appreciate your concern, but this is what’s happening, and we could use your help.”
“Listen, how much were you making a month, tearing apart pieces of shaz up there in space?” Hoss asked. “Six thousand? Seven?”
Jaeden kept his eyes fixated on the stained glass in front of him. “Last month I made just under nine.”
Hoss pulled his head back and nodded. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a credit chip, and plugged it into his wrist jockey. He typed a few details into the console, and with a beep, he pulled the chip out. He rolled the data disc in his hand a few times, then tossed it across the table to Jaeden.
“What is this?” Jaeden asked, picking up the chip.
“Take it. It’s an even third of what T and I made on our last job.” Hoss looked away from Jaeden and rubbed his face thoughtfully. “Consider it back payment for anything that I owe you.”
Jaeden ran his finger across the credit chip’s small display screen and read the digits out loud, “Eleven thousand?”
“A piece,” Hoss said, nodding.
“For one night?”
“An hour and a half, actually,” Teagen said, a dry smirk spreading across her face.
Jaeden scoffed and shook his head, staring down at his cup.
He had spent years with Hoss and Teagen, the three of them making their way through life with petty crimes. Stealing crates from vehicles, pickpocketing unsuspecting people in the streets.
It wasn’t a morally respectable way to live, and it ate away at Jaeden. It was one of the reasons why he left to take a real job in the first place. He had to get away and prove to himself he could make a living properly, without hurting people. But, as hard as he tried, he ended up right back where he started, thanks to corporate bureaucracy. The system was built against him, and there wasn’t anything he could do to level the playing field.
His eyes wandered from the half-empty cup back to the credit chip sitting on the table, and he reread the numbers on the display. Right there, in front of him was an opportunity to make more money in a few days than he had in the past ten months.
He twisted his mouth and bit down on his lip as a feeling of anger rushed through his body.
“What would I do; what’s my role?” Jaeden asked, rubbing his thumb into the palm of his other hand.
A toothy grin spread across Hoss’ face as he clapped his hands together loudly. “My brother, you got the easiest job of all. You hold the bag.”
“And if anything pops off?” Jaeden asked, looking up to Hoss.
“I overload their cybernetics,” Teagen responded. “Slight electrocution tends to calm an aggravated mind. Helps them think clearly.”
“Flashing a pistol or two doesn’t hurt either,” Hoss said, sticking his tongue out slightly and taking another swig of his cup.
Jaeden shook his head as the last part of his morally centered mind argued against the decision. The hesitation was fading, and with one last glance at the digits on the credit chip, he made up his mind.
“Alright,” Jaeden said as he picked up the cup and finished his drink. He slammed the empty cup down on the table. “But I want full benefits. I’m talking dental, vision, prescription, the whole nine yards.”
Hoss laughed loudly and rubbed his hands together. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. We’ll see how you do during your probationary period.”
“When do I start?” Jaeden asked quietly, nodding his head.
“I just came from Cyrus’ place; we have a job tonight.” Jaeden shot Teagen a sideways look, and she returned a compassionate smile. “We were going with or without you. Your presence will just make things go easier.”
“Hadesa easier. Like a walk in the park,” Hoss said, finishing his cup. “Well, a walk in the park during the day anyway. Those dirks that hang out in the park at night are crazy mugs.”
“We should get ready,” Teagen said to the table.
“Right-o,” Hoss replied. “Nellie, add the bottle to my tab! We’re leaving!”
“You’ve run out of room on that sheet. You ever going to pay for any of this?” Nellie called back.
Jaeden looked down at the credit chip and smirked to himself. Picking the chip up, he plugged it into his wrist jockey and looked over to Nellie,
“This one’s on me.”
“Say goodbye to intergalactic insect invasions with Bailey & Sons Skeeter Repellent! Guaranteed to work at least half of the time, because, at the end of the day, half a guarantee is still better than no guarantee!”
(Marcus Sykes, Marketing Director of Bailey & Sons)
CHAPTER
NINE
Jaeden, Teagen, and Hoss left the bar through the back door and emptied into the back alley. It was dimly lit, and somewhere down the lane, an animal knocked over a garbage can before it went scurrying off into the distance.
The noises from the main streets echoed down the back alley, but they seemed to be alone behind the buildings. They all walked together to a nearby parking spot where Hoss’ old hovercar was parked.
The three moved together and Jaeden stretched out his arms and neck as he walked, his way of settling his nerves.
His heart was pounding, and he could feel sweat forming on his brow. When he boarded the shuttle to leave for the Indigo Station, he believed he had put this type of work firmly behind him.
He had thought he could turn his life around and hold down a legitimate job. He was wrong.
Maybe this is the only path for me. He thought somberly. If this is all I can do to survive…
“So be it,” Jaeden said quietly to himself.
“Pardon me?” Teagen asked.
Jaeden looked up at Teagen. She was staring at him, her brow raised quizzically. He was surprised she heard his remark, but then again, with all her advancements it made sense.
“Nothin’, just thinking about some stuff.” He said casually.
A wistful smile spread across Teagen’s face, and she nodded her understanding to Jaeden.
“Okay, hold up.” Hoss stopped just in front of his hovercar. He spun around to look at Jaeden directly. “Two things. First, what’re you carrying?”
Jaeden furrowed his brow and turned both his palms up to show that they were empty. “Nothing?”
“No, my guy, are you packin’?” Hoss said, gesturing with his hands to emphasize the last word.
“What the hades are you asking me? Packing what?”
Teagen sighed heavily and touched a hand to her forehead. “He’s trying to ask if you’ve got a weapon.”
Jaeden looked back at Hoss, who was jutting out his lips and nodding. “Dude, where is this lame-ass lingo coming from?”
Hoss dropped his shoulders slightly and winced as if wounded. “I’m just having fun, guys. Come on. But seriously, do you have a gun or anything?”
“Hoss, I literally just got off a shuttle from a space station. You think I would have had a gun on the station with me? What about when that officer arrested me?”
“Alright, alright. I had to ask!” Hoss said. He turned to talk to his hovercar and popped open the trunk. After a moment of searching through the trunk, he pulled something loose and tossed it to Jaeden. “Heads up.”
Jaeden caught the object in the air. Holding it in both hands, he inspected the laser pistol. It was an older model and had seen better days. It was scuffed and chipped, and in one spot, it seemed to have a bullet dent on the slide. Jaeden ejected the battery magazine from the pistol and inspected it closely. The battery at least looked to be in good condition and nearly full charge.
Instinctively, Jaeden then racked the slide a few times and aimed down the sights. It had been a long time since he had held a gun, but the feeling was nostalgic for him.
“That’s Abigale, treat her with respect. She’s treated me very well over the years and deserves nothing less.”
“I’m not calling your gun ‘Abigale’,” Jaeden said, his attention on the continued inspection of the weapon.
“Thank you,” Teagen said. “His obsession with naming weapons is insufferable. They are merely tools, and I find the connotation of referring to them as female to be insulting.”
“You’re just jealous of Artemis!” Hoss said.
Jaeden looked up and watched as Hoss pulled out a newer model pistol and flaunted it. He then aimed down the sights and stuck his tongue out, before kissing the pistol on the slide.
“I love this gun!” Hoss said gleefully.
A soft laugh escaped from Jaeden as he shook his head. Satisfied with the older model laser pistol, he stuffed the weapon into his waistband. He had no intention of firing the gun, but it was a relief to know that, if need be, he could use it reliably.
“What’s the second thing?” Jaeden asked.
“Oh yeah,” Hoss said, turning back to the trunk of his vehicle. He searched around once more and pulled out a dark red leather jacket. “Put this on. You look like you were held against your will in a preschool for a decade and just broke out.”
Jaeden took the coat from Hoss and held it up before putting it on. The arms were the right length, and they fit comfortably. He popped the collar for good measure and spun around to show off his new jacket.
He struck a few poses and caught himself feeling like he used to with his friends: relaxed and joyful. Hoss clapped and cheered as Jaeden playfully posed in the dimly lit parking lot.
Teagen nodded her approval during the demonstration. “It looks good on you.”
“Alright,” Hoss called out. “That’s enough faffin’ about. Let’s get to business.”
The three friends got into the vehicle, with Hoss taking up the driver seat, Jaeden sitting next to him, and Teagen getting in the back. Hoss started up the engine and as always, the hovercar sputtered as it tried to turn over. After a few concerning noises, the motor started to run properly. Loud and heavy music started blasting from the speakers, and Hoss began bouncing to the bass of the music.
Jaeden looked out the window and rolled his eyes. Teagen shook her head, leaned into the front of the vehicle, and turned down the volume.
“I thought we were getting to business?” Teagen asked, sliding back into her seat.
“Yes, of course. You’re my anchor, T,” Hoss said.
Hoss pulled back on the wheel of the vehicle, and it lifted from its parking spot a few feet into the air. He flipped the vehicle into the next gear and started down the alley.
“Here are the details,” Teagen started. “There’s an illegal high-roller gambling ring meeting tonight on the north end of town. Attendants of this event are to be considered highly dangerous. Weapons are not permitted into the actual game room, but there will be armed guards.”
“Word,” Hoss continued. “So the plan is that we set up and take out the guards. All quiet like. Once the guards are out, I’ll post up and watch the streets.”
“With the guards out of commission, that will provide you and I the opportunity to get inside, Jae,” Teagen said.
“Alright, how many people do we think are inside?” Jaeden asked.
“Event attendants, unknown. Guards, unknown, but estimated to be two.” Teagen replied.
“You forgot the most important part; credits are known!” exclaimed Hoss excitedly. “And it’s known that there will be lots!”
Teagen had spent the rest of the drive explaining the specifics of the job to the team. Cyrus Komarov, their liaison for this job, had done a great deal of planning to orchestrate tonight.
The bondsman, Cyrus, had paid certain influential people within the gambling organization to hold the event in a specific building. He also had a hand in having the security relaxed slightly, to allow for his team to slip in and perform the heist.
“Alright, we’re here,” Hoss said.
Hoss pulled the hovercar around a corner, the vehicle drifting smoothly into the turn. Popping the vehicle into another gear, Hoss gently lowered the hovercar onto the street below.
“Here, Jaeden,” Teagen said, handing him something. “Put on this mask. I’ll be handling the recording systems inside, so the mask is just a fail-safe, but it never hurts to be overly careful.”
Jaeden took the mask from Teagen and looked it over. It was metallic and in the likeness of a former disgraced politician from Mars. The features were exaggerated, and it was poorly painted. Jaeden shrugged, put the mask up to his face, and secured it tightly. He looked back to see Teagen putting an identical one on herself. With everyone ready, they exited the vehicle and made for their destination.
They approached the building on foot through a back alley. It was scarcely lit, with most of the light coming from the nearby neon signs on the main strip.
Within an eyeshot of their target, Jaeden could see that the door to the event was guarded by two heavyset men.
One guard was wearing a silver visor that stretched from one side of his face to the other. The visored man was leaning against the wall with his hands folded across his chest.
The other guard had a shaved head and was sitting on a chair beside the door. He seemed more relaxed than his counterpart and was engaged with what looked like a disposable datazine.
“Ayo, what do you think he’s reading on the datazine?” Hoss asked.
“I have no idea; I always forget those are a thing,” Jaeden responded offhandedly. He was more focused on the position of his weapon and keeping a clear mind than overanalyzing the digital magazine the guard was reading.
"T, what do you think?” Hoss asked, redirecting his question to Teagen.
Teagen didn’t bother to acknowledge Hoss’ question and instead moved up beside Jaeden.
Hoss shrugged casually, “Right, forget it. Stupid question.”
“Focus on the task at hand, Alexander,” Teagen said, her eyes scouting the two guards out front.
“Yeah, sure. I got this, no problem.” Hoss said, joining his two friends against the wall. “I’ll find out what’s on the datazine after I knock him out,” Hoss whispered to himself, but loud enough for both Jaeden and Teagen to hear.
Teagen furrowed her brows, and her mouth formed a tight line as she stared at Hoss. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of chewing gum. Hoss popped the gum into his mouth and a large smile spread across his face. Pushing himself off the wall, he winked at Teagen before approaching the guards.
Jaeden watched as Hoss began dramatically strutting towards the guards. As he walked, Hoss fluffed the collar of his jacket and flapped the wings of his coat.
The visored guard leaning against the wall turned his attention towards Hoss but made no effort to move from the wall. His associate sitting on the chair didn’t bother to even look up from his datazine.
Now standing in front of the two, Hoss cleared his throat and snapped his finger at the standing guard.
“Open up, big boy. I’m late,” Hoss said confidently.
“Keep moving, you paste-head.” The visored guard responded.
“I’ll let that slide, beefcake. Now open up. They’re expecting me inside and can’t start without me.”
The visored guard pushed himself away from the wall and took a step towards Hoss, leaning his head in close. “Take those scrawny little legs of yours and get out of here, before I grind you up into a fine powder and sprinkle you onto my lunch.”
“What is he doing?” Jaeden asked Teagen. He cringed behind the mask and raised a hand to touch his face but touched the metal mask instead.
“He’s improvising,” Teagen responded.
Hoss threw his hands into the air and bellowed loudly. “You have no idea who you’re talking to, buster! That’s it! I’m calling the manager. What’s your name; Lucas?”
“Uh… Yeah.” The visored guard responded, his eyebrows raising high above his visor.
“Wait, it is Lucas?” Hoss asked, dropping his hands down to his sides.
“Yeah.” The guard repeated, equally as confused as Hoss.
“What even are the chances of that…” Hoss said, slightly bewildered.
The visored guard raised a hand to scratch the side of his head and turned back to look towards his sitting companion.
Watching the absurd scene unfold, Jaeden clenched his jaw and shook his head. “Get on with it, you idiot.” He whispered.
Jaeden watched as Hoss then slipped his right hand into his pocket. When the hand reappeared Hoss had what looked like brass knuckles on.
As the visored guard looked back to Hoss, the much smaller man had cocked his fist back. Before the guard could react, Hoss rocketed his fist into the guard’s face, connecting flush between the man’s eyes, shattering his visor entirely.
Hoss recoiled his fist and hopped backward. He turned his attention to the sitting guard. The now visorless guard who had been struck wobbled for a moment and shook his head. Blood leaked from his nose and there were several bloody scratches on his face from the shattered glass visor. The guards’ eyes burned with wrath, and he took a step towards Hoss, arm extended outwards. The man managed to take two steps before he crumbled and collapsed onto the street in front of Hoss.
The remaining guard with the shaved head jumped to his feet. Reaching down beside him, he pulled up a lightweight machine gun. Hoss gasped and stepped back. He fumbled at his waist, reaching for his gun in its holster.
Jaeden’s heart was racing, as he too reached for his pistol. Before Hoss had freed his gun from the holster, the guard holding the machine gun froze in place.
Both Jaeden and Hoss watched in awe, as the gun-wielding man slightly twitched from his head to his toe. Hoss looked back to Teagen and Jaeden and gave a quick thumbs up.
Jaeden glanced from the frozen guard to Teagen, who had her hand out in front of her, pointing at the large man. He could see that she was concentrating on him underneath her mask and had a tight-knit brow as she gritted her teeth.
After a moment of this, Teagen clenched her hand into a fist and growled. The large man started to shake uncontrollably as blue lights of electricity flickered around him. He collapsed onto himself in a heap, slightly twitching and groaning.
