CHAPTER NINE—PLAN B

Kyle walked into their rooms. John looked up, then back down at Scorr’s tablet that he had hooked up to an array of wires and nexus decoders.

John had informed Kyle on his way back that he decided to take the tablet after Kyle lost Kelly Hess. “I didn’t lose her,” he had said, “she lost me.”

“You look like you got kicked in the face,” John said.

Kyle chuckled with a nod. “She’s a slippery little hussy. What’s the prognoses?”

“I’ve managed to sever this device from any and all outside security. So whatever’s on it can’t get erased by remote activation. We can look at—assuming I can get it open.”

“Scorr doesn’t know you can’t crack it, right?”

John shook his head. “I ordered some food, by the way.”

“Yeah? What did you get?

“Keys Squiman in Maricuna cream sauce.”

“Really?” Kyle asked with surprised. “That stuff even real?”

“This is the Chylaxium,” John said. “Of course it’s real. Synthetic food is only for the common chaff, of which there is none here on this ship.”

Calling the common everyday folk “chaff” wasn’t really the way either Kyle or John thought, but the sarcasm surrounding the way normal people were regarded by the ultra-rich “chaffed” them both.

“Anything to drink?”

“Yeah, I got us some beers and water.”

“Man,” Kyle said, “I feel like I fell down a flight of steps.”

“When was the last time you went up ‘steps’?”

“I don’t know,” he said, “they still got ‘em on extinct worlds, right?”

John chuckled.

“So, what, after we eat we blackmail Scorr?”

“I gave him my contact details,” John said. “I’m sure he’ll call soon.”

Kyle sighed heavily and sat down on the sofa. “So the tablet for the girl? Bad deal if you ask me.”

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“Why?”

“Are you kidding me, John? There’s probably all kinds of good dirt on that thing.”

“Yeah, but that’s not our reason for being here and you know it.” He fiddled with his wires for a second. “We’re here for Kelly Hess and that’s it. We can mess around with Laiwyn Scorr some other time.”

“This one sucks.”

“If Scorr gets cute,” John said, “I’m sure things will get spicy.”

Kyle chuckled. “Hope he does.”

“Excuse me?” Lexa said.

“Oh that reminds me,” Kyle said determinedly, “I’ve got a holo traitor to deal with.”

“I am not a traitor, Mr. Harrowitz,” Lexa said. “I’m hurt that you would even say such a thing. Anyway, room service is at the door.”

“I’ll get it,” John said as he got up.

“Yes, Lexa, you’re a traitor,” Kyle argued. “You didn’t tell us Kelly Hess was at the door. You messed everything up.”

“You didn’t ask about Miss Hess’ location up until that point,” Lexa said. “I can only make you aware of what you tell me you want to know.”

“Just like how you made us aware that room service is at the door?”

“Well you did order food, did you not, Mr. Harrowitz?”

“Ugh!”

“Still arguing with our holo sidekick?” John asked as he wheeled in a tray topped with silver platters. He stopped the cart and lifted the lid. It hummed metallically. “Wow, that smells so good.”

“Get your face out of it, man.”

“Oh,” John said, “he’s calling.”

“Scorr?”

“Yeah.” He answered his wristlet ping and a small hologram of Laiwyn Scorr appeared before them on the in-room holo projector.

“I hear you work for Hess senior—here to take back his daughter.”

“Is that what you hear?” John asked.

“The tablet is worthless,” Scorr said. “I’ve already activated the remote burner.”

“That’s okay,” Kyle said.

“Meaning?”

“We have a few skills,” John added. “We disconnected your tablet from outside access.”

“Which means,” Kyle said, “it’s now a treasure trove of information for us to dredge up at our leisure. Could be worth a lot, I’m sure.”

“I want my tablet back.”

Kyle laughed. “Yeah you do.”

John glanced toward Kyle. Then he said, “We can be persuaded to return it, certainly.”

“What do you want?”

“What?” Kyle asked, “All business? Don’t want to chitchat a bit?”

“Just tell me what you want.”

“The girl,” John said.

“Why?”

“I told you,” Kelly Hess said in the background.

“I want them to tell me why,” Scorr snapped.

“We don’t want to play games,” John said. “It’s simple. The girl for the tablet.”

“Fine,” Scorr said.

“Hey! You can’t just bargain me off like some holo-slut!”

“Put her in the back room!”

“Hey! Get your hands off me, you prick!”

“Laiwyn, why are you doing this? Laiwyn? Laiwyn!”

Kyle chuckled.

“Where do you want to meet?” Scorr asked.

“Somewhere where there’s people,” Kyle whispered to John.

“We’re on a cruise liner, idiot.”

I’m going to kick this prick between the legs, Kyle thought.

“We can meet at the Six Seasons Club,” John offered.

“That’s fine,” Scorr said. “You bring my tablet, and I’ll bring the girl.”

“We’ll meet you there in an hour.”

Scorr nodded then disconnected the call.

“The Six Seasons Club?” Kyle asked, astonished. “Do you wear diapers, too?”

“Shut up,” John said. “It’s a good place to meet. There will be people, but also lots of space to speak privately, and if anything goes down, we don’t want to make too much of a scene.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Kyle said.

“He’s going to try something.”

“Probably.”

“Let’s be ready for him. I want to shove this guy’s arrogant face over the green.”