The Elarri Heist (Plundering the Stars Book 1) Read online

  The Elarri Heist

  Plundering the Stars, Book 1

  James David Victor

  Copyright © 2020 James David Victor

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Except for review quotes, this book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the author.

  This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual people, places, or events is purely coincidental.

  Contents

  Act 1: The Plan

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Act 2: The Heist

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Thank You

  Act 1: The Plan

  1

  I leaned idly against the tavern, the slick metal siding cool against my back. Patrons streamed past me, their drunken faces turning sour as I puffed smoke from my pipe. Thankfully, none of them tried anything. Not that it would have mattered. I was far too quick for a few drunk fools.

  The night air was warm and sticky, as it always was in the capital. Even hours after dusk, sweaty traders and travelers from various systems streamed through the dirt streets. A couple of Cornacci stone merchants—small and squat, their deep red arms burly from years of digging for precious gems on their planet—walked arm-in-arm as they ate some bread. Mercenaries from Nalrue, armed to the teeth with grav-blades and custom carbon armor that had to be individually tailored over the horns that ran down their arms and legs, milled about on the other corner, passing around a bottle of cvat. They laughed in their gargling tongue.

  Chytorri scuttled along, their insect forms skittering over the dirt and leaving little divots in their wake. All these and more crowded the busy streets. The nightlife of the capital was as bustling as ever. That would help in my escape later.

  That was assuming everything went according to plan.

  My eyes found the brothel across the way—the Silk Lily. It was an exclusive club, made for only the wealthiest of patrons, both criminal and noble. The building was constructed of polished sandstone, with intricate scenes of Elarri imperial myths carved into the walls and pillars. Bright lunar lights humming with energy hung from each pillar, brightening the edifice. My objective was in that building, but getting in wasn’t going to be easy.

  A large Elarri woman, taller than many of her fellow capital citizens, stood beside the main doors. She stamped her feet and drank from a small wineskin as she guarded the large, ornate—almost gate-like—doors. I was going to have to get past her if I wanted a chance at the prize.

  Here we go. I paused and looked at the stars. Right above the capital, high in the sky, was the dominating face of Varra, the gas giant that the Elarri moon orbited. The golden surface left the night alight with its soft glow, a contrast to the piercing silver of their moon. Blinking lights sped over the gas giant’s surface—starships using the jump tubes to slingshot around the planet. Sometimes, just staring at the stars and the sky, at the sheer enormity and beauty of it all, made me wonder why I did what I did.

  Oh right, the vastness of space couldn’t pay off my debts.

  I shoved my hands into my pockets and swaggered over to the bouncer. Her gaze found mine almost immediately, given that my pale skin stuck out in the moonlight. She stood half a head taller than me, which made her all the more intimidating. Her arms, exposed to the humid air by a sleeveless silk vest in the style that everyone in the city wore, were lean with muscle and corded with raised white scars that swirled in intricate patterns. They perfectly contrasted her rich, umber skin tone. As I approached, she crossed her arms, making them look even bigger. But that was fine. Nothing I couldn’t handle.

  She frowned at me. “You better get lost quick, kid, if you know what’s good for you.”

  I snorted in response and gave her my best smile, trying hard not to let her see how much she wounded me. I was short and skinny, sure, but I was certainly no kid. It didn’t help that her people tended to look down on mine. Literally. We were both human, but the Elarri were tall, thick, proud. And their empire was powerful. Me, a Goon… We were nomads, scattered across the stars.

  I shook my head. “I’m not here for the brothel. I was just passing by and had to stop and admire the artwork.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “The what?”

  “Your eyes. They’re stunning.” Which wasn’t a lie. Her eyes were like honey, and with the way they glowed in the light, they appeared to be golden. Beautiful, truly.

  It was her turn to snort. Clearly, she didn’t get complimented often. That, or she was complimented so much that she was ready to pummel the next person who tried to bribe her with pretty words. Namely me. I prayed for the former. “Nice try. You’re not getting in.”

  I laughed. “Why would I want to, when the best-looking woman is standing right in front of me? If you ask me, they’re wasting your talent keeping you out here.”

  She chuckled and rolled her eyes. She ran a hand over her short, braided hair, then rested a palm on one of her aristocratic cheeks. “You’re cute, but you’re still not getting in.”

  “You think I’m attractive?” I asked, winking at her.

  “Stop it,” she replied, but her tone was playful. She narrowed her eyes and bit her lip. They were red and lush.

  I leaned against one of the pillars and pulled my pipe back out. “I’d rather stay out here.” I lit the hunra and took a puff. I immediately tasted the sweetness and felt lighter. “So,” I said. “What’s it like being the most exquisite creature in this city?”

  She laughed a head-thrown-back hearty bellow that warmed me to my soul. Her smile lit up her features, brilliant and illuminating. Her laugh was so joyous that I was proud to have earned it. Truly, she was a masterpiece. A deadly one. I was sure she was like the orichi rose that grew out in the great wastes of this world: a sight to look at, but as soon as you touched the petals, you were dead in minutes. I was certain she could beat me into the dirt, but I was content with just gazing at this gorgeous flower.

  Her eyes scanned me up and down, her lips upturned in a mischievous grin, as if she hadn’t really given me a good look until just then. “That tongue of yours can really work some magic.” She moved out of the way of the door. “Go on in. Behave yourself and mind your place, lest my friends inside kill you.”

  I nodded to her with a bright smile. “I appreciate it, my lovely.” She scoffed, but it was light-hearted. As I went to move past her, she gripped my arm, gently.

  “If you survive in there and get bored of the attractions, come find me. I’m sure I can think of some other ways for you to put that mouth of yours to work.” She punctuated that suggestion with a wink. It was my turn to blush.

  “I will definitely keep that in mind,” I replied. Then I opened the door. My smirk was probably wide and stupid, but I couldn’t help it. Now I had something to look forward to once my task was complete. But that would come later. For now, I had to focus on the mission at hand. I was entering the karrek’s den, so I had to be on my toes if I didn’t want to get bit.

  The brothel was dimly lit, with only a few fluorescent lights that illuminated the pink hunra smoke that permeated the air like a thick fog. There was a large raised bar at the center of the room with multicolored bottles of alcohol from every corner of charted space. Tables full of important-looking individuals in rich and colorful garmen
ts made of the finest fabrics were scattered about the room. Beautiful harlots in revealing silks flitted about, dividing their time among the various patrons.

  Three Zarthians passed me, looking enchanting. One had bright green skin, another a deep blue of the oceans of Ein, and the third a golden brown similar to what some humans could have. I loved the Zarthians and their rainbow of skins. Their diversity was so charming.

  A duo of bards played in the back, their bodies filled with nervous tension—one a thin Elarri woman, the other a rotund Goonish man like me. They glanced around as they played, clearly terrified of screwing up. I understood their fear.

  I felt the collective eyes of the room fall on me as I entered. I wasn’t supposed to be there, but not all the patrons knew that. I collected myself and strode confidently to an empty table near the right wall.

  I ordered a soup and vegetable platter to go along with some very expensive wine. I wouldn’t ordinarily spend so frivolously, but tonight, I had some financial help. I patted the leather pouch at my thigh that clinked with digits.

  When my food arrived, I ate and drank as I surveyed the room. By now, most of the attention was away from me and focused on the girls and the other important people. I was invisible again, which suited me fine. Everything, especially this mission, was easier when I wasn’t seen. But that’s basically a rule of life. One that I always abided by.

  In between the bards’ sets, I saw a long hallway behind their stage. Unseen, at the far end would be a large metal door with a guard in front of it. That was where I needed to go.

  Before long, the rotation of girls changed, so the room became a flurry of activity as girls came and went and patrons took the time to talk to other acquaintances and let servants refill their drinks. I took the opportunity to slip from the crowd. I entered the halls that lined the main room and made for the back hall. It was dark there along the sides, so it was easy to avoid the gazes of the many guards I saw dotting the walls. I wouldn’t be able to avoid one of them though, but that was what my fancy outfit was for.

  Rounding a corner and then another, I came to the head of the long hall, the bards just starting to play behind me. There was a massive man at the end of it, the guard for the baron and his private study. I sauntered over to him, my chin high and a smile on my face. I had to look like I belonged. I knew that I could pull it off. I had no choice.

  The guard was Elarri and even taller than the lass outside. He wore pressurized Lavi armor, which covered his torso and was nearly impervious to grav-blades and the like. Only the best high-end blasters would pierce it. Despite the heat, he wore thick gauntlets that covered his exceptionally muscled arms. Raised white tattoos, also like the doorwoman’s, peeked out of the top of his armor around his neck. His bald head glinted in the torchlight, and I could swear I could see my reflection in it.

  He glowered at me and put his hands on his hips. “What do you want?”

  I stood as tall and straight as I could. I tried to convey an air of belonging and hoped that my borrowed clothes painted a convincing picture. “I’m here to see the baron.”

  He narrowed his deep, black-eyed gaze. “Lord Valrude isn’t here.” A large scar that ran the length of his jaw rippled as he frowned.

  “Oh, well, my apologies. My counsel must have been mistaken. If I could just leave him a message…” I reached past him for the keypad to open the door, but he shoved me away.

  “No.”

  I scoffed at him and screwed my face up in disgust. “Ugh, do you know who I am?”

  Unfortunately, he was smarter than he looked. He wasn’t fooled by my façade. It deteriorated fast. “You’re trash. That’s who you are.”

  He grabbed me by the throat and slammed me against the wall. I saw white as my head hit the hard stone. Before my vision cleared, his grav-blade slid from its sheath and the humming, vibrating tip was pressed against my throat. It bit at my skin. Seconds later, drops of blood started rolling down my neck and along my collar. I wanted to gulp but that would have made it worse.

  “You think I don’t know what you’re here for?” he said, his rancid breath washing over me. It reeked of earthen tobacco.

  I managed to crack a smirk. “Well, I don’t think you know much of anything, if I’m being honest.”

  He snarled and pushed the grav-blade deeper. More blood, more pain. I stifled a yelp. “You had no chance of ever getting out of here with what you came for. You’re just gutter trash from your whimpering little people. And no one will miss you.”

  We’ll see about that. I tucked my legs up, planted my feet on his chest, and pushed. He flailed back, wide open. I lunged at him and kicked the blade from his grip before he could recover. He cursed and swung at me, but I ducked him easily. He staggered from his momentum, so I punched. I connected with his bearded chin, but it didn’t do much. In fact, I think it hurt my hand more than I hurt his face.

  I left myself too open. He swiveled and punched me in the gut. My air flew from me and I could taste bile. Before I could recover, he swung his other fist and caught me on the cheek. I whirled and crashed to the floor. Pain enveloped me. I could feel blood running down my cheek. I cursed and cursed. Things weren’t going well. I had to regain my advantage fast, or the big brute would kill me. Not an option. I had a mission to complete and a lovely lass waiting for me outside. There was too much at stake.

  The guard’s boots stomped behind me. I could feel him standing over me, big and arrogant. He thought he’d won, but not yet. I put my hand against the cool tile and pushed my body. I slid beneath his legs just as he reached down to grab me. Once behind him, I popped up and turned. I spotted the grav-blade and ran for it, but right before I reached it, I felt his grip on my ankle. He yanked. Suddenly, I felt my world flip.

  My jaw hit the hard ground. I bit my tongue as pain rang around my skull like a bell. Blood streamed from my mouth and threatened to choke me. I felt the man flip me onto my back. I tried to fight back, but then he was atop me, pinning me with his weight. I tried to bat him off, but he was twice my size. He wrapped his beefy hands around my throat and squeezed. And I knew that this was it.

  “You little…,” he spat through gritted teeth. “You could have lived a long and worthless life, but now that will end. I’m doing you a service.”

  He squeezed tighter and tighter. I couldn’t breathe. There was so much pain, too much. Agony. I couldn’t think. I tried to pull his hands off, but I knew before I tried that it was futile. My vision started to swim as black spots began to cloud around my peripheries.

  I was dead. Dead, dead, dead.

  I flailed my arms to try anything. I didn’t have much longer. My hope was running thin when my fingers grazed the hilt of the guard’s blade. Yes! I inched it closed until I could grip it firmly. The guard didn’t notice, because he was too focused on choking every last breath out of me. He’d almost succeeded, but then I had the weapon.

  Gripping it tightly, I plunged the blade into his neck as I mustered a gurgled yell.

  The pressure around my neck disappeared when he flailed back and clutched his neck as blood flowed down it in a hot torrent. His eyes bulged and blood burped from his mouth. It dripped all over me in a waterfall of sticky warmth, but I barely cared. He was dead and done, and I was alive. Once he was on his knees, I pushed to my feet, ignoring the blood all over me. I turned to him as he gargled some dying words.

  I adjusted my vest and ran a bloody hand through my hair. “Now, that wasn’t so bad.” I stepped over the growing pool of blood and typed in the door-code I’d been given. The screen turned green and beeped, an internal lock unlatching with a click. I looked back at the large Elarri. “You could have lived a long, worthless life, but now that has ended.” I said. The life was already gone from his eyes.

  I didn’t like killing. I loathed it, actually. I avoided it as best I could in most instances, but sometimes, like now, it was unavoidable. It was all I could hope that the saints would understand.

  The door slid o
pen. I smiled. “Let’s begin.”

  Baron Valrude’s room was dark as I entered, which was no surprise, but it felt heavy, almost too dark. That made me realize that there were no windows. That would make my escape a little more difficult. I didn’t fancy having to go back the way I came, but I would make do, as I always did.

  I didn’t have a lot of time. It wouldn’t be long before someone happened down this hall and found my dead friend outside. I needed to be long gone when that happened. Though it took a minute of fumbling, I eventually found the button for the lights. It was not by the door. They snapped on, their soft moonlit glow illuminating the room with silver-blue light.

  It has hard for me not to gag at the decadence.

  The room was awash in fine leather and polished woods, the fanciest materials from all across the stars. Polished red lavawood paneling lined by brown civvec leather circled the room. The light sconces looked to be silver, and the rug on the floor was large and green with spots of gold and brown—the hide of a Tallo cat, one of the fiercest and rarest predators in the galaxy.

  All of this was worth more than my ship. And my ship was a good ship. I wanted to strip the room bare and light it on fire.

  But that could be a mission for another day.

  Right then, I needed to find Valrude’s access codes. As fancy and important as he thought himself to be, he was only a lieutenant to the true power in the capital: Xarren, head of the Elexae crime family, one of the largest mobs in the Elarri Empire. His private black market—that he styled as the Gold Emporium—was the most famous one in the galaxy. You could buy anything there: weapons, drugs, identities, slaves, and any other number of unsavory things. It made Xarren a wealthy man, a powerful man, someone that shouldn’t be trifled with.