We devised a list of everything we needed for the day, like comms and info screens. We showed our trust in Elyek by using the meager resources we had to buy all of these things outright. This included the second load of fuel that would be loaded straight on to the ship we hadn’t even bought yet. If Elyek couldn’t actually afford it, we were royally fucked.
C16
A Bountiful Escape
Almost a couple of days passed, and Elyek’s and Calegg’s confidence in being able to manage the new ship was growing. Unfortunately, they didn't get all of the time they would have liked.
Our comms alert went off, signaling an incoming message.
“MC-8314-Fe. This is Captain Galduay of the Fast Knife. We’ve been employed to collect the prisoner, Elyek. You are in breach of contract by deviating from a direct course to Weka Four and remaining here for an extended period of time. If you hand over the criminal, you will be permitted to go free. Any resistance to this outcome will result in your lives being forfeit.”
We didn’t answer immediately. “Shit. What are we going to do?” I said to our fledgling crew.
“Kill them all!” Havok answered happily.
“Hand me over. I don't want to be responsible for your deaths. You’ve been good friends to me in this short time and I do not wish to bring ill-luck upon you.”
“Fuck that!” Ember said. “Do you think you can fly the new ship yet?”
Calegg looked a little uncertain.
Elyek did not, when they answered firmly, “We will be able to fly the ship.”
“Then let’s get the fuck out of this shit bucket. They only know where this ship is, not us.”
“Yeah. You’re right, Ember. Come on, everybody. Grab what you can and let's get out of here.”
“Calegg, call a Magnecab straight away.”
“Um, a Magnecab Shaun?”
“Yeah, one of the taxis we used.”
“Oh a Burser?”
“For fuck sake Calegg! I don't know, just get us some bloody transport!”
The Magnecab, yes, I’m sticking with my much better name, was waiting for us by the time we left the ship. I don’t know why, but it saddened me as we left it in the dock. It hurt to just the ship, but we didn’t have any choice. She was just too damned slow, too damaged, and too difficult to fly. Still, she’d make an excellent decoy. Her final service to us.
Once we got out in front of the dealership, we made sure no one was looking and Elyek went invisible. It was the first time we had seen the power used and it was astonishing.
Rushing into the building, Calegg went over to the first person he could see and asked for Qigufumasculis. We all started moving toward his office as well. Havok got some unusual looks, but no one made a move to stop us.
“Ah. Welcome back. Are you ready to make the purchase now?”
“Yes we are! We're also in a mad hurry. A new job has just come in with our payment and we need to leave immediately,” I said, stressing our haste.
“Of course. The sooner I’ve sold this ship and never have to see you again, the better it will be for me too.”
I let his jibe go. It suited us to not have friendly chit-chat anyway.
He took our purchase paperwork and began reading it. “This is all in order,” he said, as he put it into a machine that I assumed would process it. “Now, as the captain, if I can just have your bio-scans to synchronize ownership.” He did the scan and, even though I felt nothing, I imagined I could and gave a little shiver.
Finally, the Hixus said while still looking at his computer, “If you could place your account token on the reader, please.”
At this point Elyek reappeared. The dealer didn’t see it, but looked mildly freaked out when he looked up from his computer screen to see a fourth person in the room.
Elyek, nonplussed, leaned forward in a fluid movement, sweeping a small token that hung around their neck across the payment pad. I hadn’t noticed the token before, and saw that as soon as it settled back on Elyek’s chest, it disappeared. Pretty cool way to hide your stuff, I thought. We waited as the salesman turned his attention back to his computer screen. He finally looked up again, smiling smoothly.
“There’s always something with these big purchases. Bear with me for a couple of minutes.” He soon disappeared. As I feared, it took longer than I would have liked and I started to sense he was stalling.
“Something’s up,” I said.
“No duh, Shaun!” Ember kindly replied.
“Scan the ship with the info scan we bought, Calegg,” Elyek said. We all looked questioningly at them, then to Calegg, who did as asked.
“Guegumar Star: Explorer class. 90432 space folding…”
“Who’s the fucking owner?” Elyek snapped, uncharacteristically.
“Ahhh… Owner: Captain Shaun Sutherland.”
“Huh. Why’s it under my name already?”
“The sale of the ship has gone through. This salesman must have seen something on my account. The point is, that this ship is ours. If we want to continue this adventure, I suggest we take it now. We officially own it and we’re already being hunted.”
“Yeah. Let’s just take the fucker!” Calegg shouted quietly.
“Don’t have to tell us twice. Let’s go get our baby and get the hell out of here.”
We left the office and made our way to the show warehouse. Before we could get to the ship, the entrance to the warehouse erupted with armed men.
“On the ship. Now!” I shouted.
“Aye, aye, Captain,” Calegg replied.
“Don’t mess about. Get the engines fired up. I’ll hold them off until you're ready to fly.”
Around fifty armed-and-armored men had entered the building.
“Stop right there!” shouted the leader.
I had no intention of stopping right anywhere. “Come on, motherfuckers!” I shouted at the new arrivals, as the rest of the team ran onto the ship. Ember slowed with
