Numbers - Chapter 5
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 : They solidify the plan for the break out, but it might have been overheard by the Inventory Manager.
Chapter 5
A guard came into the cell block and yelled, “4276235”.
Khic responded to her inmate number, “Yes sir.”
“Come with me.”
“Why?”
“Don’t argue with me, you ingrate, just get moving.” His hand hovered over the stungun strapped to his belt.
“On my way,” Khic complied, as she choked down the last bit of her morning coffee. She followed behind the guard until she came to the maintenance section of the prison camp. He walked her up to a doorway, leaned in and said, “here’s the last one.”.
Len came out of the office, taking the paper order from guard and looking it over. “4276235” he confirmed with a checkmark on the page. He handed it back. “Thanks, I appreciate you bringing me garbage. Sorry, I mean workers.”
The guard laughed at the joke. “Glad it’s you and not me.”
“I can’t believe they expect me to work with this. But, a VIP visit…” he let his disgust linger.
“Gotta love VIP visits. You know what they got me doing? I have to stand at attention in the crowd, with all the other guards, while they drone on for a few hours. Waste of time eh? I sure hope I don’t have to take a shit when that guy is talking.”
They both laughed.
The guard turned to leave and Len growled at Khic, “get over there with the others 422, whatever your number is.”
When the guard was out of earshot Khic said, “good thing we’ve got Numbers with us. I wouldn’t want to rely on you to remember the codes.”
“He still hasn’t done the job yet, so we’ll see. You might be wishing it was me you had memorizing numbers.”
“I have a good feeling about this,” Khic said.
“Like you had a good feeling about the last job that got you thrown in this joint?”
“That was because my jealous Ex double crossed me.”
“Well hopefully this all goes off without a hitch and you get your revenge.”
“I’m not in it for revenge.”
“Sure. I believe you.”
They reached the maintenance cart where Armstrong and Numbers were patiently waiting.
This was the part Khic was still debating; how much does she tell Numbers? He has no idea at this point that he is about to be used for a break and enter. Would he even know or realize what he is doing? Too late to back out now, it was decision time. Khic smiled to herself. When opportunity arises you’ve gotta take it when you can get it.
She picked up the envelope off the cart and pulled out the paper with the key codes. They were printed in perfectly lined up columns. If anyone was actually watching the cameras, and was interested enough to zoom in, they might pick up that these were lockbox key codes. But then again, they also looked like any generic list; from inmate numbers to the caloric intake of the inventory manager for the past month. “Hey Numbers, we need you to memorize these codes. Can you do that?”
He scanned the paper and let out a small chuckle, mumbling one of his jabberwocky phrases, “the hot dog ate a dog.”
“I guess that means yes,” Armstrong added. Aside, to Khic he whispered, “I’ve been trying all morning and can’t get a word out of the guy. Are you sure about this?”
That sealed it, Khic wasn’t going to tell Numbers anything. He seemed more out of touch with reality than she first thought. This made her think this little robbery might work out even better than she planned. The less he knew, the easier it would be to leave him behind. “Trust me Armstrong, this is going to work out just great.”
Len approached. “Our orders will time up perfectly with the event. I’ve arranged for us to do some maintenance on the President’s ship during the time he will be speaking. There should be nobody around to stop us.” He cut off quickly and changed his tone to loud and harsh, “don’t argue with me slug. Load up the cart and start pushing. We’ve got work to do. Something you lazy dogs are not used to.” He turned to the guard who was walking back towards them. “These inmates are useless.”
The Guard said, “sorry, one more signature.” He handed the sheets back to Len and said, “I could help you out, take that girl off your hands for awhile?”
Len marked an x and handed back the paper. “I’d love to, but you know if we got caught we’d be in this place too. I have too much self-respect for that to happen.”
The guard shrugged, “good point. I’d probably get some disease anyway.” He sauntered away, down the hall, around the corner and out of sight.
Khic glared at Len. “Lazy slug eh?”
Len chuckled, “Shut up, it’s what came to mind. Now let’s get this show on the road.”
Armstrong took the handles of the cart and started down the hall. Numbers followed, his face stuck in the pages of code.
Khic followed, declaring, “I really think this is going to work.” The face of the inventory manager, and his creepy grin, flashed across her mind. She repeated her mantra, “this is going to work.”
What do you think? Is this going to work out?
Thanks for reading, and I’ll be posting again next Thursday.