CHAPTER SEVENTEEN—NEXT MOVE

John set the table and put out all of the gourmet food he had delivered by courier bot. They deserved a high-class meal after everything they had gone though, so he had spared no expense and made sure to order from the Deluxe—a premier dining establishment that took delivery orders.

Some of the fine dining establishments in Life City scammed their customers by adding in cheaper synthetic foods where they thought they could get away with it. And for the most part, they did get away with it. But those establishments were not the top end places people with big money ate at.

Kyle came into the dining room.

Lexa was standing near the table in her new outfit. It was appropriate for a fancy dinner out. Of course, with how much these apartments cost, their current surroundings were just fine.

The table was a black marble polished to a high sheen with soft lights in the corners of the living room with a fancy crystal chandelier above. John and Kyle rarely used the chandelier—or even the dining room for that matter.

Usually they used it when discussing their next move in Life City. A lot of fun times had been prepared over this table.

John smiled.

“What is it?” Lexa asked.

“I was just thinking about some of our previous gigs.”

“Yeah?” Kyle asked. “Which ones?”

“That cruise job was pretty fun.”

“The Chylaxium?”

“Yeah.”

“We need to work on your sense of adventure, John.”

“Would I know anything about that sense of adventure?” May asked from behind.

Kyle whirled Just as John glanced up from the table.

Knowing what she had couriered to the apartment, John was surprised when he saw her wearing the clothes which consisted of pure white sneakers, tight black leather leggings and a crisp white, but somewhat loose blouse.

Flinching, Kyle recovered quickly, but still managed to look her up and down with an exaggerated movement of his head. “You look great,” he said.

“Oh this?” May asked as she glanced down at herself. “Thanks. It’s nothing.”

Kyle pulled out a chair for her. “Sit down.”

She took the chair with a smile. “So what was that about adventure?”

“I was just telling Lexa about some of our past jobs.”

“Lexa,” May said thoughtfully. “You did a job previously and that’s when you brought her back, isn’t it?”

“That’s right!” Lexa said cheerily. “And I’m glad you did.”

“She’s a one of a kind. Or so I heard.”

“That’s right,” Lexa said. “Only one copy of myself was ever made. I was the premier virtual guide for the cruise liner. But not only that, I was the virtual brain of the ship itself. I have a vast array of functionality. My capabilities are far reaching.”

“You just need a body to put those to good use, then.”

“Actually,” Lexa said. “We plan to get me a body soon!”

“Really?” May asked. “Those don’t come cheap.”

“Neither do your clothes,” John said with a grin.

“You boys can handle the bill. You’re clearly not hurting for money.”

Kyle glanced between May and John, obviously wondering what they were talking about. Maybe John would let him in on it later. “Why don’t we eat?” he said. “Then after we can discuss what we’re going to do.”

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“I’m down with that,” Kyle said. “I’m starving.”

“I’ve worked up an appetite myself,” May said. “This meal looks amazing.”

“Straight from the Deluxe,” John said.

May smiled.

They ate, but despite her proclaiming that she had worked up an appetite, May barely ate. Kyle wondered if that was more because of what had happened to her earlier in the day, or simple because she was watching her figure.

She had lost a colleague after all. Or had she called him a friend?

May did have a great figure.

Kyle had to work hard not to rove all over her with his eyes. He had already failed a few times.

She probably thinks I’m a loser.

“So your guy, Lancet. Where did he go?” John asked.

He had dropped them all off in Life City in a rundown part of town. The small group then took a short walk and called a ground taxi that drove them to the Hitomo Luxury Suites where Kyle and John lived—along with many others. The building was a front for their operations, but was also a legitimate real-estate investment by the two billionaires.

Not only that—they actually lived here on the top floor.

“He went to dispose of the shuttle,” May said. “Not sure if he’ll be coming back.”

“I wouldn’t blame him if he wanted to lie low for a while,” John said. “So what’s next?”

“We kill Strogaus and make sure all of Life City knows it was Max and Staxx.”

May regarded Kyle for just a second after he proclaimed the best option. “What about me?”

Kyle looked at her. “You?”

She smiled. “You don’t think I’m going to stay here, do you?” She gestured to the apartment. “As entertaining as I would find it having you boys foot my extensive shopping bills—I want Strogaus as much as you do. More, actually.”

“I imagine you do,” John said.

“Miles was a friend.”

Ah, so he was her friend.

Kyle nodded. “He seemed like a good guy. You know he could have just cut and run, but instead he called us.”

“That’s why I can’t let his death be for nothing.”

“I get that.”

“What about your people?” John asked.

“My people…” May said thoughtfully. “The truth is, it was just me and Miles.”

Kyle’s jaw nearly dropped.

No way!

“Are you serious?” he asked.

She nodded. “We have—had—an extensive network of allies. Some of those are less than allies.”

Kyle wanted to know about that. “What do you mean?”

May shrugged. “Sometimes powerful people need things done. So long as it wasn’t overtly against our code—sometimes we took those jobs. They pay a lot and that funded a lot of our endeavors. Sometimes those jobs even aligned with our own goals.”

“Is that what that Chylaxium thing was about?”

She nodded. “Partially. But Jonathan Hess is a good guy. A friend, I might even say.”

“Can he help?” John asked.

“This thing is pretty big. Strogaus is powerful and I’d rather not bring his family into this.”

John nodded, a look of understanding on his face.

“Actually, I think most of my contacts have probably cut and run. I won’t be hearing from them again, I suspect.”

“Don’t need ‘em anyway,” Kyle said. “We’ve done plenty of gigs—John and I know what we’re doing.”

“I know you do, you pair of reckless baboons.”

John laughed.

“Come on,” Kyle said with a smile. “We’re not that bad.”

May quirked a grin and took a sip of her wine. “Yes you are.”

“Fine,” Kyle said. “We are—but it’s a hells of a lot of fun!”

Raising an eyebrow, May regarded him.

“What?”

“I just never thought to have fun while doing this kind of stuff.”

“It’s part of our philosophy,” John said. “Though, sometimes we forget.”

“We’re Max and Staxx,” Kyle said emphatically. “We’re trouble makers, bank robbers. We’re the Anarchos!”

“We risk our necks to take down bad guys,” John explained.

“Worse than ‘bad guys,’” Max said contemptuously. “They think they’re gods—our overlords.”

“I know,” May said.

John cleared his throat. “We don’t mind getting paid for it either.”

Kyle nodded. “We sure as the hells are going to have a laugh and a good time while we do it. Pay or not.”

“I don’t know if I’m going to laugh while we do this,” May said, “But I’m coming along when we take out Strogaus.”

“I’m good with that,” Kyle said.

John looked at him, paused, then shrugged. “Sure, why not? We’ve worked with you a long time. You’re trust worthy.”

“And I’ve got more riding on this than you do.”

“Take it easy,” John said.

“That’s hard.”

“John’s always trying to keep the mood light.”

“It’s better that way,” Lexa said with a smile. “You have had your dour moments, Kyle—and if you can’t keep a cool head—“

“Yeah, I get it.”

“I’m glad, Kyle.”

Ignoring John’s amusement, he shut his mouth.

Spreading her arms, May said, “Well then—what’s the plan? Do we know where Strogaus is?”

John glanced at Kyle, then to May he said,” Usually we call you for specific hard to get information.”

May laughed. “That’s true, isn’t it?”

“What do you think?” Kyle asked.

Looking thoughtful, May regarded them both and Lexa in between. “We could bust into Strogaus industries and ransack his secretary’s computer files?”

“Love it!” Kyle said. He felt excited just thinking about doing that.

But his spirits were dampened when John put a hand on his chin and said, “I don’t know...”

“Come on, John,” Kyle said.

“Is it not your style?” May asked.

John smiled. “It is, but…”

“What?” Kyle asked.

“If we break into his offices and we do manage to get his itinerary, he’s going to divert his plans. This is Strogaus we’re talking about—the head of a corporate empire and a powerful mage as well.”

“You’re right,” May said. “It’s a dumb idea.”

Kyle sat back in his seat.

“Come on, Kyle,” May said. “We just have to work out the details before we tear shit up.”

She was right. What did John call it, watching the teaser trailer before the big event? He nodded. “All right.”

“What other ideas do we have?” May asked.