Held by Luna Voss
24
Melyta
Our next obstacle in setting up the mine is acquiring a transport ship. Korva’s supply of workers isn’t any good to us if we can’t actually get them to the planet. Unfortunately, even an old, shitty transport ship is incredibly expensive, and we all agree that trying to steal one would be an unacceptable risk. The transport ship needs to be able to go into inhabited space. We can’t easily do that in a ship that’s been reported stolen.
So we spend some time surveying the used market, seeing what we can afford. The answer is, not much. Even when we narrow it down to our cheapest option, buying it would take pretty much all the money we have, and Korva’s, too.
“If we do this, we’re at the point of no return,” says Korva with a sigh as we sit in his apartment. He looks at Barion and me. “Are we really about to risk it all?”
My heart is racing, but I made up my mind on this a long time ago. “I'm pretty sure we hit the point of no return when we stole the mining ship.”
I look at Barion, and find that he’s nodding. “Agreed,” he says. “We’ve come this far. Let’s win the fucking jackpot.”
Korva nods too, then sets his jaw, looking determined. “Okay, then. I’m with you.” He pulls out his communicator and begins to tap the screen. “And… there we go. Folks, we just bought a transport ship. For more fucking credits than I ever thought I would spend in one place.”
Barion stands up, his eyes flashing, and he and his friend bump chests in a hilariously masculine way that reminds me of sports stars. It makes me wonder if that was the way they used to interact when they were both coming up in the Dultaz Family together.
Then Barion throws out his arm, motioning me to join, and all three of us share a group hug.
“Just like old times,” says Korva. “Moving ourselves up in the world, rolling the dice. Feels fucking good.”
“It does,” my mate agrees. “Only this time, I have something to fight for.”
He makes eye contact with me, and I feel like I could drown in the fierce affection his gaze contains.
We fuck like animals that night.
A week later, the transport ship is delivered to the Gerbbbexai system. Nervous about having the ship in Zog, where Dagor seems to know everything that goes on, we instead choose to have it docked in the Gerbbbexai space station, an enormous merchant hub orbiting the planet's sun. Although Jenyta has opted out of most of our planning discussions, preferring to participate in her role at a distance, she comes with us this time, piloting the Epeshi pirate ship to the station.
“They really won’t mind that we’re docking a pirate ship?” she asks Barion nervously as she signals the station, requesting permission to land.
“Not at all. Although the hangar attendant will probably want some cash on top of the usual docking fee. That’s why we’re doing this here. They’re good at looking the other way.”
We land without incident and make our way over to the section of the hangar where our new transport ship awaits.
“She’s all yours,” says a human man in dealership uniform, standing next to it. “Registration is already transferred. Shall I give you the tour?”
Korva shakes his head. “No tour necessary. We’ll take it from here.”
“Actually, I’d love a tour,” Jenyta chimes up. “Seeing as how it’s me who will be flying the thing.”
Korva shoots her an annoyed glare, but the man beams. “Right you are, ma’am!”
He leads us aboard the enormous ship and we follow him around as he shows us the cockpit and all the other spaces, most of which are cabins.
“Should comfortably hold 60 people,” he explains as he finishes the tour. “More than that would be against regulations, but I’ll reckon you could fit at least 80 if you don’t mind getting nice and cozy.”
Barion thanks him, and finally he leaves us alone with the ship.
“This is great!” I beam. “This is exactly what we wanted.”
“Yeah,” Korva agrees. “Fuck yeah.”
“Exactly how many workers will we be transporting?” Jenyta asks. “Or I should say, how many workers will I be transporting?”
“Probably about 50 to 60,” says Korva. “You just focus on flying the ship.”
Jenyta opens her mouth angrily to retort, but I cut her off before she earns herself another spanking. “When will we be able to get the mine running? Do you already have workers lined up?”
“Got about 50 of them,” he replies, “which should be enough. I’m going to try to scrounge up a couple more. But either way, we start work next week.”
We return to Zog, leaving the transport ship at the station. My preference would have been to stay for the next week, but neither Barion nor I are comfortable with the risk. It’s not unrealistic to think that Sarizor might have eyes and ears at the Gerbbbexai spaceport who would notice if we stayed around for too long.
A few days later, Jenyta and I are hanging around the apartment while Barion is out. Normally we would be out doing things, but number one, we’re kind of broke right now, and number two, nothing really quite seems exciting when we’re about to attempt an undertaking with the potential to earn us more money than we’ve ever seen before. And not just money. Freedom. Security. The ability to live out the rest of our lives without worrying that Sarizor Dultaz has the determination and the clout to see us dead.
“Explain to me again how getting rich on ditrykium protects us from the Dultaz Family?” my friend asks as we eat sandwiches in front of the TV.
I perk up immediately, excited at the opportunity to explain our plan to her. My plan. The one I came up with, that Barion liked so much.
“Well,” I begin, “you have to understand that there are different levels of Vostra families. Some of them are really big and powerful, and basically have influence over the whole galaxy.”
“Like the Butarza Family,” says Jenyta, nodding.
“Exactly. If a family like that wanted us dead, I’m not sure there’s much we could do about it.”
“Even with the Agusto Family’s protection?”
I chuckle wryly. “I’m pretty sure if the Butarza Family demanded our heads, Dagor Agusto would deliver them personally. The Dultaz and Agusto Families may be major players in our little part of the galaxy, and they’re probably powerful enough to find us wherever we go, but ultimately they’re both big fishes in a small pond. And there are much, much bigger fish out there.”
Jenyta raises her eyebrows. “Okay?”
I try to keep what I’m saying on track. “Anyway, my point is, all these gangs we’re dealing with, the Vostra families and the human mob, they really aren’t that huge on a galactic scale. There are a lot of levels of wealth and power they’ve never touched. And what we’re doing with the ditrykium mine is one of those higher levels.”
“So you think if you offer them enough money, they’ll leave you alone?”
I shake my head. “No. I don’t think Sarizor will ever leave us alone. But he’s allied with the Gallo Family, and I think that if we offer Arthur Gallo a big enough cut of our ditrykium mine, he’ll take care of Sarizor for us.”
My friend bites her lip. “Take care of, as in…”
I draw a finger across my neck. “As in, no more Sarizor.”
Jenyta is silent for a moment. “Damn, Melyta, you have gotten cold.”
I don’t know whether I should take that as a criticism or a compliment. I’m not sure Jenyta knows, either.
“I guess fending off attempted murder multiple times has that effect,” I say, shrugging. “It’s him or us. I choose us.”
A week after our first trip to the Gerbbbexai space station, we return. And this time, we’re ready to go into business. Korva is already there when the three of us arrive.
“I hope you brought those workers,” Barion says to him as he greets us in the hangar.
Korva smiles. “What kind of goof do you take me for? I’ve got 54 mine workers ready to go, all of whom have experience with Rangasta equipment.”
“And they know to keep their mouths shut?” I ask.
“If they know what’s good for them,” he growls. “Believe me, I have made that expectation very, very clear. Besides. We may be flying them to the planet, but we sure as hell aren’t giving them the coordinates. They’re not going to have a clue what quadrant of the galaxy they’re working in.”
“Who’s going to oversee them while they’re working?” Jenyta asks. “Not me, I hope?”
Korva chuckles. “Of course not.”
“Then who?”
He gives her a cocky grin. “Me.”
Jenyta’s cheeks immediately go red. “You’re… you’re coming with me?”
“Yes, ma’am. Somebody needs to keep those workers in line. Somebody needs to keep you in line, too.”
She falls silent, still blushing badly, and I get the sense she could just about strangle him. I turn away from her, hiding a chuckle. I have a funny feeling she’s going to be needing that medicated cream by the time she gets back from Planet 88224.
