This was it. They had to make it fast.
“Captain,” Bob’s voice came through. “There’s a security monitor just outside that vent. And the vent itself is lined with a pressure sensitive alarm system. Squit can temporarily shut them down, but it will start itself up again incredibly fast.”
“How fast?” Regan asked.
“Three seconds.”
Great.
“Calico, Straya, let’s get close together and as near the vent as we can,” Regan ordered. “Squit and Bob, you tell us when we can make our break through.”
Calico stepped in front of him, while Straya stood directly behind him. It was the closest he had been to Calico, as they stood in a standing spoon position. He felt her body expand and contract as she breathed, and smelled her natural scent that was new to him. It was from the sweat on the back of her neck, and it smelled like a perfume. That, and her tail swishing between them, lightly grazing his crotch, instantly turned him on.
Straya stood ready to close the vent door after they cleared it.
“Captain,” Bob said. “You’ll have three seconds to make your entire move, starting in five…”
Calico raised her hands so that they were almost touching the vent door.
“Four…”
Straya put her hand on Regan’s thigh to match the timing of his steps.
“Three…”
Regan put his hand on Calico’s thigh to match the motion as well.
“Two…”
The three of them all pushed closer together.
“One.”
“Go,” Regan said.
Calico pushed the gate open, Regan dashed into the hallway and started looking left and right for onlookers, Straya followed and pressed the vent door closed firmly but gently enough not to make a noise. They then took a giant leap away from the vent so they’d be out of the camera’s view.
They exhaled and held their composure, instantly falling into a casual stroll.
“And how are we looking?” Regan asked.
“No alerts or notifications on the quick blackout, and you cleared the camera view,” Bob said. “So you’re in and we’re good to go.”
Hell yeah.
As the three approached the main gambling hall, they passed trays of food and drinks that were clearly being set up to bring out to the floor. A caterer brought another tray through a series of doors, set it in the line, then returned to wherever he came from.
Straya took the opportunity to grab a piece of skewered meat. She took it down in one bite and tossed the skewer aside.
Regan looked at her with surprise.
“I’m hungry,” was all she said without returning the look, and grabbed another skewer from another tray.
The caterer returned and again disappeared into the kitchen.
Well, what the hell?
Regan wasn’t hungry, but he could use a drink for his nerves. He picked up a tall glass of clear booze. It bubbled and had a piece of fruit floating at the top. He took a sip then set it back down.
Ready.
They passed through the main entrance of the gambling hall.
It was a large and lavish room with red decorated silk carpet and intricate molding on the walls and ceiling. Massive chandeliers floated above tables where gamblers made their moves. It wasn’t rowdy, but professional. Elite.
There was a large band playing some sort of jazz on a stage at one end. Regan noticed then that the stage was also floating. He inspected the tables, confirming they were also hovering.
They were not all the same height, which Regan realized allowed for easy adjusting depending on the player’s height. It was a genius room and Regan loved all of it.
Straya tapped him on the arm.
“Act like you belong, Captain,” she whispered with a smile.
So Regan did. He put an arm around Calico and Straya, both on opposite sides of him, while he walked with a confidence that was partially fake, but also very present.
“The elevator is at the far back right corner,” Arkei said through their earpieces.
“And we have an undercover security guard on our tail,” Straya whispered, still faking her smile.
“Looking at the monitoring system now,” Bob said. “Okay, we see him. Tall suited guy. Don’t see a gun on the monitor.”
“How do you know he’s undercover?” Calico asked, wearing the same fake smile, and lifting a glass of booze from a passing tray, also floating.
“It used to be my job to recognize undercovers in the game,” Straya said, lifting a skewer from a passing tray. “I was a pirate, remember? I know my way in and out of a room.”
“Then get us to the elevator without letting that security guard catch us,” Regan whispered.
“We have to break off,” Straya said. “But casually, so he doesn’t call for backup. Meet at the elevator in five minutes exactly.”
“I’ve got the time marked,” Arkei said in the earpieces.
The ladies on alternate sides of Regan broke away and made their way into the gambling hall. Regan stayed the course before him for a moment, then noticed the bar not far away. There was a single open spot, so he set his glass down on another floating tray before approaching the bar, adjusting his cuffs as he did so.
“Security guard is staying on point,” Bob said. “That’s you, Regan.”
“Got it.” Regan approached an old woman sitting next to the open bar spot. She was intoxicated and very loose with her actions. Her body was quite the wrinkled blob-like affair, but this wasn’t the time to question the action. He had to go for it.
He rested his hands on the bar near hers and gave her a wink. He then nodded at the bartender without saying a word and pointed to a bottle of booze on the wall. It was the booze he was beginning to know well, as he stole it from the pirates, and he kept it on his ship.
“Straight up,” was all he said.
“Do I know you?” the alien woman asked. Her voice wasn’t slurred, but her facial expressions were difficult to read. She clearly did this often, because even though she was drunk, she maintained her composure well.
“I don’t believe so,” Regan said.
“Then what’s your name, handsome?”
“My name is Bond. James Bond.”
Hell. Yes.
The bartender handed him a glass. Regan raised it to the woman, who raised hers in return.
“I thought I knew everyone who came into this casino, but I like new meat. And a name like that? Very interesting. Exotic.”
Regan chuckled to himself.
“Regan, security is getting close,” Bob said.
A loud crash on the far side of the room drew everyone’s attention. Regan turned to see what the commotion was about. A woman had knocked over a tray of booze, shattering loads of glass. She was complaining about someone tripping her, but there was no one else around.
“Security dude is now distracted by the noise,” Bob said.
“I’ll be back,” Regan said as he winked at the woman. He escaped the bar and ducked around behind a corner.
He made out the undercover guard from this vantage point, who turned back to the bar to find Regan gone. He looked left and right, then headed back toward the main entrance.
“Undercover is heading back to the entrance,” Regan whispered.
“Yeah, you’re welcome,” Calico said.
“Elevators,” Arkei said. “Now.”
As Regan approached the elevators, he spotted Calico and joined her in her stride.
“You caused that disruption?” he asked.
“I have more talents than you know.”
“I look forward to learning the rest,” Regan replied, still feeling more James Bond than Han Solo at this point.
As they arrived at the elevator doors, Straya joined them. She nodded. “Nice move, Calico.”
Then they noticed there were no buttons on the elevator.
“Um, Squit…” Regan began.
“She’s already on it,�
� Bob said. “Lots of code to walk through apparently.”
They waited there for a few moments while Straya looked back over Regan’s shoulder casually.
“Undercover is back on the floor,” she said. “Let’s get these doors open.”
“Almost there,” Bob said.
Then the doors opened, and the three stepped inside. The doors closed behind them, but again, there were no buttons or screens of any kind.
“Don’t say it,” Bob said. “Squit knows. She’s working on it.”
“You need to go all the way up,” Arkei said. “Top level.”
Yet they were standing still. Regan took another sip of his drink. Waiting in this small box meant he was close, but he was also growing nervous.
“Hurry up, team,” he said.
“Almost there,” Bob said.
“Just get there,” Straya said.
Then it began to move, but downward. It was going fast. Calico and Straya both fell into Regan with the sudden jolt downward. He reached his arms out and held each of them to his side.
“Don’t say anything!” Bob shouted. “She knows! She knows!”
The elevator stopped its descent then began climbing. The girls didn’t step out of his grip. Instead they favored it.
They arrived at a floor when the doors started to open.
“Wrong floor,” Arkei said. “Looks like you’ll have company too.”
Straya took action, turning Regan’s face toward her own and started to make out with him hard. Regan returned the action, and kept his arms where they were, with the other around Calico.
When the doors opened, they revealed an old couple standing there with surprised expressions.
Calico put a hand on Regan’s chest and eyed the old couple.
“You probably should take the next one,” she said with her purring voice and cute feline eyes.
The old couple nodded. The doors closed.
The elevator began to climb again.
Straya returned her composure and looked straight ahead, ready to face the mob boss, as did Calico. They each removed a small pistol from their skirts and held them at the ready. Regan dropped his arms from their sides and kept his drink in hand.
The doors opened.
Two guards just stood there, surprised by the sudden arrival of the elevator.
It took no time before Calico and Straya launched themselves out of the elevator and took down the two guards. The girls knocked them out cold using the butts of their guns, making no sounds in the process.
“Nice work,” Regan said.
The room had only one other door, and they all knew who was behind it.
The three of them stood before it and waited for Squit to do her thing, not saying a word.
Moments later, the door slid open to reveal the mob boss, sitting at a large table alone with a full feast in front of him.
He raised his head having just taken a bite. He smirked a bit when he saw Regan standing in his doorway. It was the expression that Regan was hoping for. An expression that made Regan feel that the power was on his side. He had caught the mobster off guard, mid-bite.
Salvato regained his composure, leaned back in his chair, finished chewing, swallowed, wiped his mouth with a napkin, then took a sip from a small glass.
He tossed the napkin over his plate and set the glass down.
“Explain yourselves,” he said calmly.
And Regan meant to do exactly that.
Chapter Forty
Calico and Straya stepped into the room on each side of Regan. They removed their small blasters from their respective concealed places, but didn’t raise them to Salvato just yet. They held them at their waists, ready if the word was given or if the situation escalated.
Regan stepped forward to the table opposite the mob boss. He reached into his jacket to grab the data cube, but he couldn’t help but notice that Salvato didn’t budge. He didn’t flinch or react to Regan’s movement at all. Regan could have had a gun, yet Salvato merely glared at him, unwavering.
It made Regan wonder what additional tricks the mob boss had up his sleeve. But he wouldn’t be intimidated. Regan continued his motion, continued looking at Salvato’s cold eyes as he removed the data cube from his jacket pocket.
He considered setting it on the table, but instead he kept it in his hand. He held it out for Salvato to look at. He wanted Salvato to know who held the cards.
“This is what you want,” Regan said. “Give me your personal guarantee that you’ll back off, and it’s yours. You leave my crew and my ship alone. You call off all the dogs you have scattered about looking for us. Basically, we each go our own way and leave it at that.”
Salvato smiled a large smile, lifted his cocktail and took a sip. He took his time, as if Regan’s presence didn’t threaten him at all. Or worse, as if this had been his plan all along.
“You came here to get a guarantee from me?” Salvato laughed a bit. It was a sinister chuckle. He leaned forward on his elbows and looked at Regan. He didn’t acknowledge the ladies on each side of him with the weapons in their hands. He kept his focus on Regan.
“I’m impressed,” Salvato said. “You found me. You got past my security. You’ve done something that no other person has. But you won’t live to tell the tale.”
“I think you’ll find—” Regan started but was interrupted by Salvato.
“I’m not finished!” the mobster shouted and slammed his fist on the table. “If you think this is just about the data cube, you’re mistaken! You have insulted me and circumvented my plans. You have been mildly successful, which I congratulate you on, but it’s also why I can’t let you live. I must make an example of you.”
Regan wanted to wipe the smug grin from the mobster’s face. He wanted to chuck the data cube across the table right at his nose. He wanted to make the mobster bleed.
“It was you who crossed boundaries,” Regan began. “It wasn’t me who stole the data cube. That was between you and Mephistopheles. But it was you who attacked me. It was you who sent goons after me instead of showing up yourself. It was you who went too far. And I’m here to make sure my boundaries remain intact.”
Salvato’s eyes flared up along with his nostrils. He inhaled and exhaled heavily.
“I heed no boundaries,” Salvato said.
“You didn’t, until you met me. Now, I’m going to set down this data cube, even though I don’t have to. I could easily hand this over and expose your entire operation. I could shut it all down. But to be frank, I don’t give two shits about you, and never meant to get involved in any of this. So when I walk away, you’ll let me leave, and that will be that.”
“I see it differently,” Salvato said, leaning back. “Boys! Take care of them.”
Just then, twelve Intergalactic Council soldiers rushed into the room. Where they came from, Regan had no idea. He was completely caught off guard by their appearance. This elite force of soldiers proved that he was not only dealing with a mob boss, but his entire network of connections.
Calico and Straya were surprised too. They raised their blasters quickly, but these small weapons would be no match for the rifles that each of the armored soldiers carried.
“Now, it should be clear you won’t survive this,” Salvato said. “I won’t be beaten, and you will not—”
“Squit, cut the lights!” Regan shouted, not sure what else to do. The last thing he saw before the room went black was the irritated arching eyebrows of Salvato.
Calico and Straya started firing. Regan dropped to the ground with the data cube, put it back into his jacket pocket, and removed a small blaster of his own. He had been in one-on-one combat over the course of this adventure. He had been on the run and avoided tricky situations. He had broken into secret places and evaded pursuing security forces.
He rolled to one side of the table and started firing up at the security guards. He couldn’t see where he was firing, but he let ‘em rip.
Calico and Straya were shouting a
s they fired. Regan could see glimpses of them as the blasts left the end of their weapons and lit up their faces.
Blasts flew all over the room. They lit up patches of the darkness where Regan could see random soldiers dispersing.
A loud explosion came from another room. It sent several soldiers flying. Whatever it was, it was Straya’s doing, because right as it happened, Regan heard her shout out, “Try this, you corrupt fuckers!”
It made Regan’s ears ring, but he knew that it would have the same impact on the soldiers.
The lights then kicked back on, as if someone reversed Squit’s hack job. Regan had assumed this would happen, but he thought he’d have more time. He saw what had transpired in the few moments of darkness—a small fire started in one corner of the room where the explosion occurred, and Salvato’s table got shot to shreds, with blast marks all over the walls.
The fight had spilled over into other parts of the large suite, with Calico ducking behind a bed firing over the top of it, while Straya held a similar position behind the bar. Then he saw how she made the explosion, as she did it again. She put a bunch of small devices into booze bottles and chucked them across the room. She would burn this place down if that was what it took.
Regan hid behind a chair, but couldn’t see Salvato anywhere. He saw the soldiers moving across the room, firing at the bed and bar. Regan aimed his weapon at the soldiers firing at the bar and let loose. He held his finger on the trigger as blasts rapidly fired out. This took the pressure away from Straya, who tossed more explosives at them.
Four soldiers hurtled across the room.
Straya ducked again behind the bar, so Regan started firing on the soldiers who were trying to kill Calico. He ducked again behind the chair when they turned their fire toward him. Straya did her thing again, sending an explosive device right their way, the explosion breaking up their efforts.
But then the bar itself exploded, and Regan saw Straya get thrown onto the ground with extreme force. She didn’t get back up. He couldn’t tell if she was alive.
Then there was an explosion near the bed. It would have been more direct, but Calico nailed the soldier in the shoulder who had lobbed the grenade, deflecting the throw.
Galactic Bandits Compilation Page 28