by Sam Renner
Aldius slowly moves the case around in small circles.
“This case is special. It’s Tychon. There’s no doubt.” He points out some of the work done by whoever put it together.
Aldius inspects the locking mechanism closer. He brings the case up to his face and gets a good look at the lock.
“This is good work.”
“Glad you’re impressed,” Nixon says.
Aldius puts the case on the table and starts talking, but he never looks up, like what he’s saying is meant for the case and not his tablemates.
“This isn’t a standard Tychon box. This isn’t one that they sell anywhere. You only get one of these boxes if you’re part of a Tychon security team. These are internal only. I’ve heard about them. I knew they existed, but I’d never seen one. Not until today.”
He finally looks back up at them. “So thank you.”
“Yeah, sure,” Nixon says. “Can you get it open?”
Aldius looks back to the case.
“Three-button mechanism, so it’ll be a six- or nine-push combination.”
Laana sits up straighter and blurts “It’s a nine-push. I got that much on the ship.”
She’s smiling a proud smile.
Aldius nods. “OK, so nine-push. Then we’ll need…”
He doesn’t finish his sentence. He picks up the case instead and rubs the tips of his thick fingers all along the surface. It’s slow and deliberate.
He puts the case back down and reaches into a pocket. He pulls out a canvas pouch. He undoes the tie keeping it closed, and a mess of pins and keys spill out onto the table.
He picks up the case again. He begins working on the locking mechanism. He pushes the buttons with his eyes closed, his face frozen in concentration.
He tries a first set of nine pushes then pulls the two halves of the case. Nothing.
He tries the second set of nine pushes. Again, nothing, but he smiles.
The third set of pushes he’s more confident. It doesn’t separate, but there’s more movement this time. He begins to nod then rushes through his fourth attempt. He pulls the two halves confidently and the case separates. The etched lines appear. The keyholes open.
He puts the case back on the table and wades a finger through the keys and pins laying across the table.
He puts pins into each of the holes. Picking up one. Considering it. Looking at the case then inserting the pin into what looks like the right hole. He keeps repeating the process—Considering a pin. Inserting a pin.—until all of the holes are filled. He then tries to open the box, but it won’t.
He pulls all of the pins out and begins the process over. He tries the box again. It doesn’t open, doesn’t seem any different to Nixon than the first time. But it is different to Aldius. He pulls the pins again then hurriedly adds them back in a new combination this time. He tries to open the case. Now Nixon sees it. It’s small, but it’s movement.
Aldius only removes some of the pins. He digs through the pile of other keys and pins on the table. He inserts new ones and tries the case again. Even more movement. He pulls even fewer pins out this time and rearranges the pins that he’s left in.
Nixon watches him try the case again, and it’s nearly there. It’s nearly open. Nixon is about to see what’s been so important that it cost Shaine his life. About to see what has turned Nixon’s life upside down.
The excitement starts to build in his toes. It bounces his heels. He pushes his hands hard into his knees to try and keep the energy from rocketing him out of his seat.
Aldius holds the case out in front of him and focuses his attention on it, concentrating like he can force the pins and holes to show him which goes where. He mutters something to himself, then his face lights up like it all finally makes sense. He pulls pins out of holes and places them in others and tries the case one more time. It opens.
There’s no hiss. There’s no pop. The halves just separate.
Aldius looks inside. His eyes go wide. “I don’t believe it.”
He puts the two halves of the box on the table.
“What?” Nixon asks. “What is it?”
“They did it,” Adlius says. “They actually did it.”
“What did they do?” Nixon asks again. “What’s in the case.”
“It’s the whole galaxy.”
Nixon and Laana look at each other. Laana shrugs, because this makes just as little sense to her. Nixon opens his mouth to ask for an explanation, but before he’s able to get anything out and alarm sounds…from inside the case.
END
Continue Trevor Nixon’s Galaxy-Hopping Adventure in Episode 6
Galaxy Run:
Azken
Trevor Nixon has spent his life pulling scams and running schemes. That means he’s worked with a lot of questionable people. But he never thought he’d find himself working with Tychon, the biggest, baddest, meanest, and ugliest corporation in the galaxy. After finding out what’s inside the case he’s couriered across the galaxy for them, he’s not sure he wants to give it up. But to keep it, he’s going to have to pull off the riskiest scam of his life.
GET IT NOW
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