Numbers - Chapter 6
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 : The group take their first steps towards a break out.
Chapter 6
A baby faced, nervous looking guard blocked the doorway. His voice cracked, “you can’t go in this ship bay. Special orders.” As if that was explanation enough.
Len blew out a paternalistic breath of air, “look kid, I’d love nothing more than to sit back and waste the day away twiddling my thumbs. But I have orders, which include doing some cleanup and shit to our special visitor’s ship.” He held up a screen showing a work order.
Indecision ran across the young guard’s face. “Sorry sir, I was given strict instructions to not let anyone except the maintenance crew in here.”
“I am the maintenance crew,” Len said, letting annoyance rattle in his voice.
The guard leaned in close and whispered, “but, these are inmates.”
“No shit Sherlock. I got stuck babysitting. They are my frickin’ maintenance crew today. All the real workers are needed at the big event.” He threw his hands up in disgust. “I’m always thrilled when VIPs make a visit. I bet you are too eh? I bet they stuck you here all day. I bet you haven’t even had a break yet?”
“It’s been hours now and I’m still waiting for my lunch.”
“The place runs great whenever there is one of these special events. Now, can I get in there to clean up el presidentos ship?”
“Yeah, sure.” The Guard pulled out a hand scanner and waved it over Len. “Got any weapons in your pockets?”
Len’s eyebrows raised, his back straightened. With a hard stare Len answered, “No! Now, am I good to go?”
The Guard inched back. “Sorry, I have to ask. Policy. Go ahead.”
Next, he waved his scanner over Khic, slowing down around her backside. “I might need to do a pat check,” he said.
“Try it,” Khic responded, then turned to Armstrong and casually asked, “What’s the charge for murdering a guard again?”
The guard quickly finished his scanning and said, “move along. Next!”
Numbers pushed the cart up to the doorway.
“You can’t take the cart. You are only permitted the tools you need,” the guard barked.
Len appeared, easing Numbers out of the driver’s seat and taking control of the cart. He gave the guard a look of exasperation and said, “come on pal. It’s my frickin’ tool cart. I need this thing.”
“Sorry, not my rules.” The guard pointed up to a camera on the ceiling. “You know someone, somewhere is watching me. I don’t want to end up on the other side, living with these rats. I can only let you take what you need.” He was standing his ground on this.
“Fine, we’ll carry in only what we need.” Len listed off a couple of tools and light bulbs of various sizes. Numbers held them up as the guard inspected them. With his okay, Numbers threw the assortment into a bag and the group headed into the ship bay. There was no confusion as to what ship was the President’s. The entire bay, a good thousand square meters, was completely empty except for one ship.
As they walked up the gangplank into the ship Khic commented, “the kid is taking his job too seriously. No cart? Guess we can’t wheel our loot out of here on the maintenance cart anymore.” She looked back, thinking out loud, “maybe I should have let him pat me down? He might have let us take the cart then?”
“Let’s see what we are dealing with first before we worry about a cart.” Len patted the tool bag. “It’ll probably fit in here. Or, he might not have anything aboard the ship.” A light flicked above their heads. Len stopped, “hand me a two footer will you Numbers?”
As he replaced the light, Khic walked ahead surveying the ship; keeping her eyes peeled for a lockbox. Her search throughout the entranceway, halls, and public rooms came up with nothing. Probably in the bedroom, that would be his style, Khic though. She slipped into the ship’s small bedroom. She saw the familiar bedspread – he always liked navy blue. She picked up a photo on the side table – him and his new wife - something inside of her sparked. She smashed the frame down, cracking the glass. “Maybe the lockbox is behind this,” she growled as she pushed over the side table. “Nope.” Her eyes frantically searched the room. “Maybe behind this?” She violently pulled at a big wardrobe. It wavered and rocked, hitting that point where it would topple and fall, when Armstrong’s hands appeared, pushing the wardrobe back upright.
“We at least need to pretend we are a maintenance crew. That means not ripping the place to shreds.”
Khic spun like the Tazmanian devil, crazy eyed, hunting for another target to unleash her rage upon. Now that she was here, in this place that used to be hers, she had to admit it; she been wronged, and she wanted revenge. It wasn’t just the loot, she wanted to destroy El Presidento’s sense of security. She wanted him to fear her, to feel like she could get to him whenever and wherever. Her agitation was ballooning, spiraling out of control. Suddenly, she stopped and took a deep breath. She closed her eyes and thought of the loot she would find in the lockbox. She imagined her hands holding piles of his galaxy credits, his prized jewels from Alterdan, and his priceless collection of antique Earth things. Instantly she was feeling better; calm and collected. She knew that revenge was a dish best served cold, but her criminal mind told her that loot was even better when it was hot!
Khic continued searching the room for the lockbox, hoping to find the treasure she was after. She looked under the bed, behind the curtains, inside the closet, but there was no sign at all. She was losing her head of steam and on the edge of calling it quits when she noticed the large picture hanging above the bed. A tacky print of a Van Gough or a maybe a Beethoven? Not on his wall, she thought. When she was with him there was always plenty of art, not always good art, but it was always the original.
“You taking a break to look at the artwork?” Armstrong asked as he went through the drawers of a nearby dresser.
“I think I might have found something.”
She touched the gilded frame. The whiz of tiny motors could be heard behind the art piece. The picture frame rose up revealing the Holy Grail she had been searching for.
Khic’s eyes widened in surprise, for not only was there one lockbox, but the wall was covered with half a dozen. What luck! She couldn’t wait to get her hands on what was inside of them! She also wished she could see the look on her Ex’s face when he learned that his precious lockboxes had not only been found, but had been found and emptied by her!
The rest of the group crowded around her. They all started to talk at once, their voices rising in excitement. She knew that they had hit the jackpot, and they were all going to be rich beyond their wildest dreams. She looked around at her companions, feeling grateful for their help. They had all worked together to find the treasure, and now they were all going to share in the spoils. Well, most of them were…
Stay tuned to see how ethical Khic turns out to be.
Next Thursday pop back for another chapter of Numbers.
Thanks for reading.