Numbers - Chapter 4
Numbers is a high-tech heist set on a brutal prison planet. It’s a story of revenge, ex-husbands, and a savant named Numbers who might be the only "key" that actually works.
In the previous chapter : Khic explains why Numbers is essential to the plan.
Chapter 4
Khic tried to look busy as a guard walked towards her workstation. His routine rounds were predictable, but you never knew. The data chip was hidden amongst the tools on her workstation, but still visible at the right angle. She tried not to stare at it. Instead she picked up a diagnostic tool and plugged a wire into the gadget she was working on. Consciously, she formed a confused look on her face. She changed a setting on her tool and reacted to the results the same. “I wonder…” she mumbled to herself, just loud enough for the guard to hear as he walked by. With that excuse she took a step over to her computer screen. With the speed of a pick pocket she swiped the data chip out of hiding and buried it into the data port of the computer. Out of her periphery vision she saw the guard continue his rounds, the same bored look on his face. Her tension eased. Khic opened up a schematic document of the gadget she was fixing and pressed print. With nimble fingers she clicked open the key codes and again pressed print. She heard the paper coming out of the printer on the far side of the room and casually walked towards it.
At that moment the guard changed his routine direction and aimed right for the printer. Khic swore. She reached the printer and gathered up her papers, waiting impatiently for the last one to finish printing. She could hear the footsteps behind her getting closer by the second. As the last paper pushed its way out of the machine she grabbed it and turned. The last sheet caught in the print tray and jerked her movements to a stop. She lost her grip on the papers and they flew to the ground. Her eyes instantly caught sight of the guard – staring at the mess on the floor.
Instinct pushed her into action - draw attention away from the paper - she threw her body in the sightline of the guard and papers, bending over by her waist to pick them up. In a high pitched voice she giggled, “oop, butterfingers.”
She heard what sounded like noises of approval from the guard.
When she stood back up and turned to face him, she caught his eyes lifting guiltily. He didn’t see what was on those papers, she thought with certainty. The guard continued walking his route past her without a second glance.
She returned to her station, sliding most of the papers onto a maintenance cart that had conveniently been parked beside her work desk while she was at the printer, and distracting the guard. She made a show of consulting the schematic diagram she had printed, and recalibrated the gadget she had been fixing. The cart was casually rolled away, Len scooping the papers into an envelope and burying them under a layer of tools. He was out the door and into the corridor in seconds.
One part of the plan complete, Khic told herself.
Peering around the mountain of dirty orange jumpsuits she entered the laundry room. In the far corner she saw the lid open on a machine. She also saw Len was working on the machine next to it. And as is by coincidence, Armstrong was nearby folding sheets. She casually made her way over and dumped a load into the open machine.
Armstrong emptied a couple of baskets of clothing on a stainless steel table. “Want to help me fold Khic?”
She edged up beside the table. “I sure do.”
Len attached a hose to the broken washing machine and said, “It took a few credits to grease the right hands, but I got it done. It will be you two, and Numbers, that will be helping me with maintenance duty tomorrow.”
Armstrong shook his head and asked, “what’s with Numbers? You have a thing for talking vegetables?”
“Yeah, I was asking myself the same thing,” Len added.
Khic barely moved her lips when she spoke, “Numbers will be our key. He got his frickin’ name because he can memorize any set of numbers in the blink of an eye. We’ll get him to memorize the key codes and then we can use him to break into Mr. President’s lockbox.”
“Isn’t that going a bit far for some revenge,” Armstrong questioned, giving her a serious look of concern.
Khic argued back, “this is not me being a jealous, venegeful ex-wife. I’m being practical. It’s a great opportunity for some quick cash or blackmail material to finance our escape.”
“Hey, calm down,” Armstrong whispered, “I didn’t say it was a bad idea. If fact, I think it’s a damn fine idea! Let’s do this.”
“I’ve never liked the guy either, I’m in,” Len added.
Khic reeled in her neurosis and calmly said, “okay then. It should be simple enough. Len, you keep the print out of the codes on your cart and we’ll have Numbers look them over in the morning. We’ll be able to search for the lockbox when we do the maintenance on Presidento’s ship. We’ll use Number’s memory like the key card and open the treasure chest. From there it’s as simple as walking to the get-away-car and flying off to some out of the way planet. If we time it right, almost everyone else on this septic tank of a planet will be at the big announcement event.”
“Sounds simple enough.”
Khic lifted the laundry basket of towels and almost pranced out the door. Her prancing instantly stopped one step out of the doorway. Like a big red stop sign, the smiling face of the Inventory manager made her squeal her brakes. The grin on his face made her stomach drop. He looked her straight in the eye, and without a word, he turned and walked away.
What did he hear?
What do you think old potato face heard? Let me know in the comments.
Thanks again for reading, see you next week.