“He reminds me every day.”
Malik’s deadpan response elicited howls of laughter.
“Come on then,” Alexi said. “Time waits for no one, even in 40-Cignus.” They met in Shad’s favorite dead star system. “Hope you’re ready to chunk away your life savings, Shad. This cargo is special.”
“The only kind I purchase.”
As they entered the Heartstopper and approached rows of massive black cases, Alexi waxed nostalgic.
“I can’t believe it’s been eleven years. Those were the best times.”
Shad told Malik, “Alexi and I served together. He was on the ground with me in Philadelphia Redux. He was there for the Wave.”
Malik’s eyes ballooned when he realized why his father repeated his tale of the war’s final day.
“Strange times,” Alexi said. “I fear we’re headed toward worse.”
“In all likelihood, old friend. Let’s see the goods.”
One of Alexi’s crew, also brandishing a blast rifle, unlocked a waist-high case and threw back the lid.
The irony flowed through Shad’s veins.
“Incredible. Beautiful. Horrible.”
Alexi shook his head.
“Never thought it would come to this. A man has to feed his family.”
“And feed you will. Exemplary work.”
Shad grabbed a Force Drum and examined it up close. It was lighter than he remembered despite being arm’s length.
“The gas nodes?”
“Remove the neuter, and it’s good to go.”
“How many?”
“Nineteen hundred.”
Shad stifled a laugh.
“How much of the armory did you clean out?”
“Of that stock – less than twenty percent. Ran out of room.”
“Clean getaway?”
“Of course. I had the inside track. Would you have commissioned me otherwise?”
Shad returned the weapon to the case.
“No. I wouldn’t have wanted to get you and your crew killed.” Shad pivoted to Malik. “Alexi remained in the UNF during the downsizing years. His units were charged with stripping the last Swarm cruisers and destroying their arsenal.”
Malik nodded. “Destroying. Yeah. The official story.”
“So, they salvaged ten thousand Force Drums?”
“Cyrillax in 20-Vega,” Alexi said. “The prime moon. Buried so deep, they assume it’s undetectable. You wouldn’t believe how much we hid. Suppose I’ll never know where these are headed.”
“Son, why don’t you and this fine gentleman,” he pointed to the armed crewman, “discuss the transfer. Then bring in the loaders.”
“Sure.”
Shad expected Malik to voice disapproval in words or body tics, but he carried forth with the usual professionalism. Malik knew the strategy. Hard choices had to be made for the cause.
Shad wrapped an arm around Alexi and moved toward the bow. He opened a pom and stretched a holo.
“The payment will take time, old friend. You’ve created a complicated network of cubes. Consider this your down payment.” He slid a modest thirty thousand UCVs into Alexi’s official business account. “Good tidings for now?”
“Oh, yes. We haven’t made that much on one job in a year.”
“When the rest comes through, you won’t need to work for the next five. Nor will your crew.”
Alexi breathed a loud sigh of relief.
“I renamed this old bastard Heartstopper because it’s nearabout gotten me killed a half dozen times. It needs a major overhaul. That’s a lot of time in dock.”