She had freed other people from her childhood as well, but hadn't gotten to all of them. That, she resolved, was what she would do with a portion of the large bonus she had received. There was enough money there to finish freeing them all, and she'd have more than half of the amount left over. It was set in her mind that she would ask the Captain if they could spend some time there after he found his daughter. There were a lot of people on Molandra Prime she considered family. By the time they got there they would all be free if their old masters would sell their bonds to her.
The plans made her feel so good, her imagination was so full of the future that the first she noticed that someone was behind her was when she felt a gun barrel press against the back of her head. She just stopped everything, chewing, breathing, moving.
A hand came down to gently brush a strand of hair out of her face. “He's always got a girl, that's one thing that hasn't changed,” said the voice from behind. “What's your name?” Was the question he whispered against her ear.
“Ashley,” she replied quietly.
“My name is Lucius Wheeler, and we're going to be good friends as long as you listen closely and do everything I tell you.”
The cab going back went the long way. That was the only explanation that made any sense as Stephanie looked out the window and saw that they were several levels above the Samson. She gave the Captain a quizzical expression and he only shook his head. “How did you end up with Nanna?” Stephanie asked, turning to Frost.
“I wasn't willing to spend the night out in the open. That's how people disappear here. I tried to get in touch with a couple people I thought might be around, but most of 'em weren't takin' calls or they were off world. No surprise there. Aragesh got back to me, but that was a day after Nanna took me in. When the sun started settin' I gave 'er a call an' I was more surprised than you when she offered to give me a place. When I got there she said I could only leave if I got you to pay for my cot there personally. That's when I found out she was puttin' me up in her place.”
“That caught me off guard too. She never meets anyone in her own apartment.” Jake replied. “She owns that building and can use any room in the place,” he explained to Stephanie.
“She must be rich.”
“She's a crime boss. One o' the most dangerous fer a few sectors,” Frost said quietly. “I thought I'd be stuck there for the rest of my life, doin' God knows what serving my debt off a credit a day.”
“You're lucky the last tactical officer was a moron. Now that you're signed back on you'll pay me back with a portion of your wages.”
“That'll take years,” Frost said flatly.
“Unless we run across bonus or you get a major pay increase. That's my offer. Otherwise I'll just leave you here,” Captain Valance said with a careless shrug.
“Fine.”
“Too bad you didn't stay aboard or you'd be in for a pretty big bonus from our last payday,” Stephanie said with a satisfied grin.
“Why? What did you guys snag? The Newsnets said it was big an' military but it didn't go into specifics.”
“Let's just say the last job paid nine digits,” Captain Valance said as they cab went down into a tunnel then stopped to lock with a small passage. He paid the computer terminal by pressing YES on his command unit and the door opened to let them out.
“What the hell was it? Munitions?”
“Small corvette class ships. Thirty of them. You might have some work to do on the maxjack by the way.”
“That's one hell of a take. Sure it's not too late to get in?”
Captain Valance shot him a flat look.
“No harm in askin'.”
“Oh, and the word onboard is that Ashley's bunked in with Finn,” Stephanie said excitedly. “They're going to be a really cute couple.”
Frost stopped dead in his tracks. “I step off the deck for a couple days and she lays with newbie?”
“That's what I heard,” Stephanie said with a shrug.
“You're pullin' my leg! With newbie?” He shook his head in disbelief and they continued on their way.
“You never had a chance anyway,” Stephanie chided.
They walked up a ramp leading out of the tunnel. They were right on the landing platform looking at the Samson as the engines lit up and it lifted off. Within seconds it was out of sight.
“I hope you didn't take that payment in cash.” Frost said quietly.
Captain Valance opened communications with the Samson immediately. His arm command unit brought up the face of a younger looking man sporting dark wavy hair. “Captain Valent, or should I say Valance. Good to see you again. It's been a while, how are things?” He said with the enthusiasm of someone greeting a long time friend.
“What are you doing on my ship?” Captain Valance asked, annunciating every syllable sharply.
“I'm locking your crew in their quarters and taking it for a spin with the assistance of your lovely pilot and a few friends I brought along. This is nothing compared to your old ride, but I can see the appeal. She's got some light years on her but she can really move.”
“Let me rephrase; bring back the Samson or I'll have the entire Aucharian government after you. You'll be lucky to make it out of the solar system.”
“Again you're betting on the wrong side! You're all about rooting for the underdog. I can't believe this, your behaviour is so patterned I can probably predict exactly what you're going to say next.”
“You're working for Regent Galactic.”
“I guessed it! Okay, since it looks like Vindyne wiped all the old memories from your brain I'll fill you in. We knew each other a few years ago. You were a goody two shoes Captain who followed orders straight into a death trap and I was the one who went along to make sure you did everything they asked you to and gathered the spoils so they could get to the right people. You also had one sweet genetically engineered girlfriend with a cute little Britannian accent who would follow you around and fix your ship. Low and behold, you let me get away with all the loot that mattered while you traded yourself for the safety of your ship and crew. The ultimate selfless act, my hat's off on that one even though you really should have cut and ran.
Now I'm back under new management, you're back under new management, my boss is again bigger than your boss and I'm looking at you thinking; golly, would he fall for the same trick twice?” He pressed a button on the console and the display took in a view of the bridge.
“Let's see?” Lucius pointed his sidearm at Ramirez, who was pressed down on his knees by two of Wheeler's men. “I bet this'll hurt you as much as it will him,” he said before shooting Ramirez in the leg.
He struggled and screamed, just as much in pain as in rage from the looks of it. “Tear these bastards apart Captain!”
Lucius leaned over and pistol whipped Ramirez. “Quiet! Your Captains are speaking.” He turned back towards the holosensor so he was looking right at Captain Valance and shook his head. “Some people. So, how about it Jonas? I'll let your crew and ship go free if you turn yourself in. I'm sure Regent Galactic will give you a fair trial and a speedy execution.”
“Where do you want to make the exchange?”
“Get yourself to Nissa, the third moon around Varman. Contact me when you land. Don't hurry, I'm sure I'll find some way to entertain myself while I wait,” he replied before cutting the communications.
They stood there quietly for a long moment before Stephanie broke the silence. “You're not actually going to give yourself up.”
“I need to get close so I can eviscerate that son of a bitch.”
“I didn't think so,” Frost said with a smile. “What's the plan?”
“Well, I could get the Aucharians involved and cause a really big mess or I could buy a ship and take care of this my way.”
“You mean we could take care of this your way,” Stephanie put in, elbowing Frost.