In Trinidad, I took a fresh approach to food shopping. Instead of the usual store-hopping or relying on conventional methods, I chose to buy everything from wholesalers. To make this plan a reality, I found a closed restaurant with a living space above and negotiated a two-week rental. I convinced the owner that we were a group of traveling chefs conducting workshops in various cities.
Mahya decided to use the time to gain a skill she thought was important: motorcycle and ATV mechanics. She made up a story that we were going on a motorcycle and ATV trip in Africa and needed the knowledge to take care of the vehicles if there were any problems along the way. Al was not interested in mechanics, so I announced he would be in charge of receiving deliveries while Mahya and I studied. I was already despairing of him. He said he wanted to fill the missing classes, but I didn’t see any interest from him in any field.
I asked him about it, and his answer was that he had not yet found his passion. He said that when he did, he would make the necessary investment.
As I calculated our food needs, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation. I was especially mindful of the possibility of our group expanding (I still hoped that Lyura would join us). With this in mind, I placed our food orders, ready to accommodate any additions to our team.
I considered ordering seeds to grow food in the future, but I remembered the crates of seeds I’d bought before leaving Earth the first time. I pulled them out and sorted through the contents. There were ten crates each of tomatoes, coffee, and cocoa, along with several more crates filled with mixed seeds for fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, and herbs.
Grains and Rice
* Pallets of long-grain white rice
* Pallets of brown rice
* Bulk bags of jasmine rice
* Bulk bags of basmati rice
* Bulk bags of wild rice
* Bulk bags of quinoa
* Bulk bags of couscous
* Pallets of rolled oats
* Bulk bags of steel-cut oats
* Bulk bags of barley
* Bulk bags of bulgur wheat
Pasta and Noodles
* Pallets of spaghetti
* Pallets of macaroni
* Bulk bags of penne
* Bulk bags of fusilli
* Bulk bags of fettuccine
* Bulk bags of egg noodles
* Bulk bags of rice noodles
* Pallets of lasagna sheets
* Bulk bags of orzo
Baking Supplies
* Pallets of all-purpose flour
* Pallets of whole wheat flour
* Bulk bags of bread flour
* Bulk bags of cake flour
* Bulk bags of cornmeal
* Bulk bags of almond flour
* Pallets of sugar (white granulated)
* Bulk bags of brown sugar
* Bulk bags of powdered sugar
* Bulk bags of baking powder
* Bulk bags of baking soda
* Bulk bags of yeast
* Bulk containers of vanilla extract
* Bulk containers of cocoa powder
Beans and Legumes
* Pallets of dried black beans
* Pallets of dried pinto beans
* Bulk bags of lentils (green and red)
* Bulk bags of chickpeas
* Bulk bags of split peas
* Bulk bags of navy beans
* Bulk bags of kidney beans
Canned and Jarred Goods
* Pallets of canned tomatoes (diced, crushed, and whole)
* Bulk packs of canned vegetables (corn, peas, carrots, green beans)
* Bulk packs of canned fruit (peaches, pears, pineapple)
* Bulk jars of pasta sauce
* Bulk jars of pickles
* Bulk jars of olives
Nuts and Seeds
* Bulk bags of almonds
* Bulk bags of walnuts
* Bulk bags of cashews
* Bulk bags of pecans
* Bulk bags of sunflower seeds
* Bulk bags of pumpkin seeds
* Bulk bags of chia seeds
* Bulk bags of flax seeds
Spices and Seasonings
* Bulk containers of salt (kosher, sea salt)
* Bulk containers of black pepper (whole and ground)
* Bulk bags of garlic powder
* Bulk bags of onion powder
* Bulk bags of paprika (sweet and smoked)
* Bulk bags of cumin
* Bulk bags of dried oregano
* Bulk bags of dried basil
* Bulk bags of dried thyme
* Bulk bags of dried rosemary
* Bulk bags of dried parsley
* Bulk bags of dried dill
* Bulk bags of turmeric
* Bulk bags of curry powder
* Bulk bags of chili powder
* Bulk bags of ground cinnamon
* Bulk bags of ground ginger
* Bulk bags of ground nutmeg
* Bulk bags of ground cloves
* Bulk bags of mustard powder
* Bulk containers of bay leaves
* Bulk bags of red pepper flakes
* Bulk bags of fennel seeds
* Bulk bags of coriander seeds
* Bulk bags of cardamom pods
* Bulk bags of star anise
* Bulk bags of sumac
* Bulk bags of za’atar
Oils and Fats
* Pallets of vegetable oil
* Pallets of olive oil
* Bulk containers of extra virgin olive oil
* Bulk containers of coconut oil
* Bulk containers of shortening
* Bulk containers of sesame oil
* Bulk containers of avocado oil
Sweeteners
* Pallets of honey
* Bulk containers of maple syrup
* Bulk containers of agave syrup
Dairy and Alternatives (Shelf-Stable)
* Pallets of powdered milk
* Pallets of evaporated milk
* Bulk packs of almond milk (shelf-stable)
* Bulk packs of coconut milk (shelf-stable)
* Bulk packs of soy milk (shelf-stable)
* Bulk packs of shelf-stable cheese (e.g., Parmesan, cheddar powder)
Snacks and Convenience Foods
* Bulk packs of crackers (assorted varieties)
* Bulk packs of pretzels
* Bulk packs of granola bars
* Bulk bags of popcorn kernels
Cold and Frozen: Meat and Poultry
* Pallets of frozen chicken breasts
* Pallets of frozen chicken thighs
* Pallets of frozen whole chickens
* Pallets of frozen ground beef
* Pallets of frozen beef steaks (ribeye, sirloin, tenderloin)
* Pallets of frozen beef roasts
* Pallets of frozen pork chops
* Pallets of frozen pork tenderloin
* Pallets of frozen pork ribs
* Pallets of frozen ground pork
* Pallets of frozen bacon
* Pallets of frozen sausages (various types: breakfast, Italian, bratwurst)
* Pallets of frozen turkey (whole and ground)
Cold and Frozen: Fish and Seafood
* Pallets of frozen salmon fillets
* Pallets of frozen cod fillets
* Pallets of frozen haddock fillets
* Pallets of frozen shrimp (various sizes)
* Pallets of frozen scallops
* Pallets of frozen mussels
* Pallets of frozen clams
* Pallets of frozen lobster tails
* Pallets of frozen crab legs
* Pallets of frozen tilapia fillets
* Pallets of frozen tuna steaks
Cold and Frozen: Dairy Products
* Pallets of butter (salted and unsalted)
* Pallets of margarine
* Pallets of cheese blocks (cheddar, mozzarella, Swiss, Monterey Jack)
* Pallets of shredded cheese (various types)
* Pallets of cream cheese
* Pallets of sour cream
* Pallets of yogurt (plain and flavored)
* Pallets of heavy cream
* Pallets of half-and-half
* Pallets of cottage cheese
* Pallets of ricotta cheese
Cold and Frozen: Eggs and Egg Products
* Pallets of fresh eggs (large, medium, small)
* Bulk packs of liquid eggs
* Bulk packs of egg whites
* Bulk packs of powdered eggs (for baking and cooking)
Cold and Frozen: Vegetables and Fruits (Frozen)
* Pallets of frozen peas
* Pallets of frozen corn
* Pallets of frozen green beans
* Pallets of frozen spinach
* Pallets of frozen mixed vegetables
* Pallets of frozen broccoli florets
* Pallets of frozen cauliflower
* Pallets of frozen bell peppers
* Pallets of frozen strawberries
* Pallets of frozen blueberries
* Pallets of frozen raspberries
* Pallets of frozen mango chunks
* Pallets of frozen mixed berries
Cold and Frozen: Other Refrigerated Ingredients
* Bulk containers of fresh herbs (basil, parsley, cilantro, dill)
* Bulk containers of minced garlic
* Bulk packs of pre-cut vegetables (onions, carrots, celery)
* Bulk containers of tofu
* Bulk containers of tempeh
* Bulk containers of refrigerated pasta (ravioli, tortellini)
* Bulk packs of refrigerated sauces (pesto, Alfredo, marinara)
* Bulk containers of fresh lemon and lime juice
* Bulk containers of salsa
Cold and Frozen: Prepared Foods
* Bulk packs of frozen pizzas
* Bulk packs of frozen lasagna
* Bulk packs of frozen burritos
* Bulk packs of frozen soups and stews
* Bulk packs of frozen appetizers (mozzarella sticks, chicken wings, potato skins)
* Bulk packs of frozen entrees (chicken pot pie, shepherd’s pie, meatloaf)
Cold and Frozen: Other
* Bulk containers of refrigerated almond milk
* Bulk containers of refrigerated soy milk
* Bulk containers of refrigerated coconut milk
Fruits and Vegetables: Fruits
* Pallets of Granny Smith apples
* Pallets of Fuji apples
* Pallets of Gala apples
* Pallets of Honeycrisp apples
* Pallets of oranges (Navel, Valencia)
* Pallets of lemons
* Pallets of limes
* Pallets of grapefruits
* Pallets of peaches
* Pallets of nectarines
* Pallets of plums
* Pallets of apricots
* Pallets of strawberries
* Pallets of blueberries
* Pallets of raspberries
* Pallets of blackberries
* Pallets of bananas
* Pallets of pineapples
* Pallets of mangoes
* Pallets of papayas
* Pallets of kiwis
* Pallets of watermelons
* Pallets of cantaloupes
* Pallets of honeydew melons
* Pallets of pears (Bartlett, Bosc, Anjou)
* Pallets of grapes (red and green)
* Pallets of cherries
* Pallets of figs
* Pallets of pomegranates
Fruits and Vegetables: Vegetables
* Pallets of spinach
* Pallets of kale
* Pallets of romaine lettuce
* Pallets of mixed salad greens
* Pallets of Swiss chard
* Pallets of carrots
* Pallets of potatoes (russet, Yukon gold, red)
* Pallets of sweet potatoes
* Pallets of beets
* Pallets of turnips
* Pallets of parsnips
* Pallets of radishes
* Pallets of broccoli
* Pallets of cauliflower
* Pallets of Brussels sprouts
* Pallets of cabbage (green, red, savoy)
* Pallets of onions (yellow, red, white)
* Pallets of garlic
* Pallets of shallots
* Pallets of leeks
* Pallets of zucchini
* Pallets of yellow squash
* Pallets of butternut squash
* Pallets of acorn squash
* Pallets of spaghetti squash
* Pallets of pumpkins
* Pallets of bell peppers (red, green, yellow, orange)
* Pallets of chili peppers (jalapeño, serrano, habanero)
* Pallets of sweet mini peppers
* Pallets of beefsteak tomatoes
* Pallets of Roma tomatoes
* Pallets of cherry tomatoes
* Pallets of heirloom tomatoes
* Pallets of cucumbers
* Pallets of celery
* Pallets of green beans
* Pallets of peas (snap, snow)
* Pallets of eggplants
* Pallets of mushrooms (button, cremini, portobello)
* Pallets of corn on the cob
* Pallets of asparagus
* Pallets of artichokes
Miscellaneous: Candy and Snacks
* Bulk packs of chocolate bars (milk, dark, white)
* Bulk packs of assorted candy (gummies, hard candy, licorice)
* Bulk packs of chocolate-covered nuts and fruits
* Bulk packs of chips (potato, tortilla, vegetable)
* Bulk packs of popcorn (microwaveable and ready-to-eat)
* Bulk packs of protein bars
* Bulk packs of cookies (chocolate chip, oatmeal, sugar)
* Bulk packs of snack cakes (cupcakes, brownies, pastries)
Miscellaneous: Deli Products
* Bulk packs of deli meats (ham, turkey, roast beef, salami)
* Bulk packs of sliced cheese (cheddar, Swiss, provolone, American)
* Bulk packs of pre-made sandwiches and wraps
* Bulk packs of pepperoni and other cured meats
* Bulk packs of pâté and spreads
* Bulk packs of hummus and other dips
* Bulk packs of pickles (dill, sweet, bread and butter)
* Bulk packs of olives (green, black, kalamata)
Miscellaneous: Beverages
* Bulk packs of bottled water
* Bulk packs of sparkling water
* Bulk packs of soft drinks (cola, lemon-lime, root beer)
* Bulk packs of juice (orange, apple, grape, cranberry)
* Bulk packs of sports drinks
* Bulk packs of iced tea
* Bulk packs of energy drinks
* Bulk containers of drink mixes (lemonade, iced tea, sports drink powders)
Miscellaneous: Condiments and Sauces
* Bulk containers of BBQ sauce
* Bulk containers of salad dressings (ranch, Italian, Caesar)
* Bulk containers of relish
* Bulk containers of salsa
* Bulk containers of marinades and cooking sauces
* Bulk containers of mayonnaise
* Bulk containers of ketchup
* Bulk containers of mustard
Miscellaneous: Baking Mixes and Ready-Made Dough
* Bulk packs of pancake and waffle mix
* Bulk packs of muffin mix
* Bulk packs of cake mix
* Bulk packs of brownie mix
* Bulk packs of cookie mix
* Bulk packs of bread mix
* Bulk packs of refrigerated dough (pizza dough, croissant dough, biscuit dough)
* Bulk packs of ready-to-bake pastries and cookies
Miscellaneous: Breakfast Items
Stolen novel; please report.
* Bulk packs of cereal (various types)
* Bulk packs of oatmeal (instant and regular)
* Bulk packs of granola
* Bulk packs of breakfast bars
* Bulk packs of syrup (maple, pancake)
Miscellaneous: Items
* Bulk containers of peanut butter
* Bulk containers of chocolate chips
* Bulk containers of almond butter
* Bulk containers of hummus
* Pallets of bulk containers of jelly/jam (various flavors)
* 10 pallets of coffee in all its forms
* Bulk bags of dried pasta sauce mixes
* Bulk containers of soy sauce
* Bulk containers of Worcestershire sauce
* Bulk containers of hot sauce (various types)
* Bulk containers of vinegar (white, apple cider, balsamic)
* Bulk packs of dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, apricots, dates)
* Bulk packs of nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews, peanuts)
* Bulk containers of tea bags (black, green, herbal)
* Bulk containers of agave syrup
* Bulk containers of molasses
* Bulk packs of instant noodles and ramen
Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Dehydrated and Freeze-Dried Foods
* Bulk packs of freeze-dried vegetables (peas, carrots, corn)
* Bulk packs of freeze-dried meals (stews, pasta dishes, rice dishes)
* Bulk packs of dehydrated potatoes (mashed, hash browns)
* Bulk packs of dehydrated soups and stews
* Bulk packs of dehydrated meat (beef, chicken)
Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Canned Goods
* Bulk packs of canned meats (tuna, chicken, beef)
* Bulk packs of canned soups and stews
* Bulk packs of canned pasta (ravioli, spaghetti)
* Bulk packs of canned chili
* Bulk packs of canned milk (evaporated, condensed)
* Bulk packs of canned coconut milk
* Bulk packs of canned beans (black, kidney, chickpeas)
Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Jars and Bottled Goods
* Bulk jars of nut butters (almond, cashew)
* Bulk jars of pasta sauces (marinara, Alfredo, pesto)
* Bulk jars of curry pastes and sauces
* Bulk bottles of flavored syrups (vanilla, caramel, hazelnut)
* Bulk jars of ghee (clarified butter)
Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Dry Mixes and Instant Foods
* Bulk packs of instant potatoes (mashed, scalloped)
* Bulk packs of instant rice (white, brown)
* Bulk packs of instant pasta (mac and cheese, Alfredo)
* Bulk packs of instant couscous
* Bulk packs of instant polenta
* Bulk packs of instant quinoa
* Bulk packs of instant soup mixes (chicken noodle, minestrone)
Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Fermented and Pickled Foods
* Bulk jars of sauerkraut
* Bulk jars of kimchi
* Bulk jars of pickled vegetables (beets, carrots, cucumbers)
* Bulk jars of fermented soy products (miso, tempeh, natto)
* Bulk jars of pickled eggs
Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Baking Ingredients and Enhancers
* Bulk packs of baking enhancers (gluten flour, dough conditioner)
* Bulk packs of flavor extracts (almond, lemon, mint)
* Bulk packs of baking chips (chocolate, butterscotch, peanut butter)
* Bulk packs of decorating sugars and sprinkles
* Bulk packs of cake and cookie decorating supplies
Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: International and Specialty Ingredients
* Bulk packs of sushi rice and nori sheets
* Bulk packs of dried seaweed (wakame, kombu, nori)
* Bulk packs of dried mushrooms (shiitake, porcini, chanterelle)
* Bulk packs of specialty grains (farro, spelt, millet)
* Bulk packs of international spices and seasonings (garam masala, harissa, za’atar)
* Bulk packs of dried chilies (ancho, guajillo, chipotle)
* Bulk packs of miso paste
* Bulk packs of fish sauce
* Bulk packs of tamarind paste
Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Beverages and Drink Mixes
* Bulk packs of powdered drink mixes (sports drinks, flavored water, electrolyte drinks)
* Bulk packs of herbal teas (chamomile, peppermint, hibiscus)
* Bulk packs of specialty coffee (espresso, cold brew)
* Bulk packs of cocoa powder and hot chocolate mix
* Bulk packs of shelf-stable milk alternatives (oat milk, rice milk)
* Bulk packs of kombucha starters and supplies
Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Dietary Supplements and Health Foods
* Bulk containers of protein powder (whey, soy, pea)
* Bulk packs of meal replacement shakes and bars
* Bulk packs of vitamin and mineral supplements
* Bulk packs of electrolyte tablets
* Bulk packs of green superfood powders (spirulina, chlorella)
* Bulk packs of chia seeds and hemp seeds
Long-Lasting and Specialty Foods: Miscellaneous Edibles
* Bulk packs of dried herbs (basil, oregano, thyme)
* Bulk packs of bouillon cubes and powders (chicken, beef, vegetable)
* Bulk packs of jerky (beef, turkey, vegan)
* Bulk packs of trail mix (various blends)
* Bulk packs of hardtack or survival biscuits
Fresh Baked Goods
Bread
* Pallets of white bread
* Pallets of whole wheat bread
* Pallets of sourdough bread
* Pallets of rye bread
* Pallets of multigrain bread
* Pallets of French bread
* Pallets of ciabatta
Rolls and Buns
* Crates of hamburger buns
* Crates of hot dog buns
* Crates of dinner rolls
* Crates of Kaiser rolls
* Crates of brioche buns
Bagels and English Muffins
* Crates of plain bagels
* Crates of sesame bagels
* Crates of everything bagels
* Crates of cinnamon raisin bagels
* Crates of plain English muffins
* Crates of whole wheat English muffins
Pastries and Croissants
* Crates of croissants
* Crates of chocolate croissants
* Crates of almond croissants
* Crates of Danish pastries (various flavors)
* Crates of cinnamon rolls
Muffins and Scones
* Crates of blueberry muffins
* Crates of chocolate chip muffins
* Crates of bran muffins
* Crates of banana nut muffins
* Crates of plain scones
* Crates of fruit scones (various flavors)
Cakes
* 2000 chocolate cakes
* 2000 vanilla cakes
* 2000 carrot cakes
* 2000 red velvet cakes
* 2000 lemon cakes
* 2000 fruit cakes
* 2000 cheesecakes
Pies
* 2000 apple pies
* 2000 cherry pies
* 2000 blueberry pies
* 2000 pumpkin pies
* 2000 pecan pies
* 2000 lemon meringue pies
Cookies
* 2000 batches of chocolate chip cookies
* 2000 batches of oatmeal raisin cookies
* 2000 batches of peanut butter cookies
* 2000 batches of sugar cookies
* 2000 batches of gingerbread cookies
* 2000 batches of shortbread cookies
Brownies and Bars
* 2000 batches of brownies
* 2000 batches of blondies
* 2000 batches of lemon bars
* 2000 batches of raspberry bars
Donuts
* 2000 glazed donuts
* 2000 chocolate frosted donuts
* 2000 jelly-filled donuts
* 2000 cream-filled donuts
* 2000 powdered sugar donuts
Looking at the list I made, I sighed and increased my storage capacity twice more. At least this time, I didn’t get a headache. My ability points dropped below 200; I now only had 199. They were easy to accumulate on Earth, but they also disappeared quickly.
Maybe it would be a good idea to attend some more workshops.
It took me four days to get all the orders placed and conjure up the documents. Meanwhile, Mahya spent that time on the phone, hunting down someone willing to teach us how to become mechanics. She finally found someone, but it cost us—$5,000! Yeah, it was a rip-off, but we didn’t have any other options. We left Al in charge of the deliveries and headed off to learn the trade.
The garage was in the industrial area and reeked of motor oil and rust, a smell that stuck to me no matter how many times I cast Clean. It clung to my clothes, my hair, even my skin. Dave, our teacher, showed Mahya and me the basics of a motorbike engine while we stood listening. His rough voice reverberated all over the garage, which was full of tools, spare parts, and bikes and ATVs in various stages of disassembly.
“First thing you need to know,” Dave announced, wiping his greasy hands on a rag, “is the anatomy of an engine. This here is the carburetor. It mixes air and fuel before sending it into the engine.”
Mahya leaned in, scribbling in her notebook. Now and then, she’d glance at me to make sure I was keeping up. I tried, but Dave bombarded us with a lot of information. Still, I couldn’t help but feel excited. Trying something completely different was hard but, strangely, kinda enjoyable.
The first few days were hard. I was clumsy with the tools, making more mistakes than progress. I was used to the small tools of a doctor, not those monstrosities. At one point, I dropped a wrench deep into the engine, and it took me half an hour to fish it out while Dave laughed at me in the background. Mahya picked it up fast—it was so unfair. By the third day, she was taking apart engines like she’d been doing it all her life, almost keeping pace with Dave.
By the end of the third day, we had the basics down and even got the skill at level one. We could identify parts, knew what they did, and could handle basic repairs. We impressed Dave with our progress. He cracked a smile, which was rare for him. “You two are catching on quicker than most,” he said, tossing Mahya a new set of spark plugs. “Let’s see if you can handle a full engine overhaul.”
The next couple of weeks were a blur of grease, sweat, and lessons. We tackled each challenge Dave threw at us—from changing tires to fixing electrical issues. By the time we left each evening, exhausted and covered in grime, I could feel our skill improving, even if the numbers didn’t show it.
After two and a half weeks, as we were packing up, Dave handed us our last test—a beat-up motorcycle with more problems than I cared to count. “Fix this by the end of the week, and I’ll consider you both good enough mechanics for your trip.”
Mahya and I exchanged a look and smirked. With the skill level at two, we were confident. We threw ourselves into it, and fixed what we could. Faulty wires, busted brakes, and, of course, the carburetor—yeah, I may have cheated with Clean on that to save time, but we kept that between us.
By the last day, the bike was ready. I turned the key, and the engine roared to life, filling the garage with the sound of victory. Dave nodded, impressed. “Well done. You’ve earned it.”
Not only had we learned the ropes, but we had leveled up our mechanic skills to level three, thanks to sheer determination and a lot of hard work. Covered in grease but grinning like idiots, Mahya gave me a high-five, her eyes sparkling with pride.
After we wrapped up our mechanic lessons, Al finally got a break and attended a few workshops. Mahya and I mostly spent the last three days in the city doing the usual rounds of shops, but this time skipping the alcohol and coffee.
On the last night, Al of course, wanted to add adrenalin to our visit to the city—a round of visits to drug dealers. The first two stops were business as usual—or as normal as robbing drug dealers can get—but the third stop was different. We stumbled right into the middle of a big deal.
It was almost three in the morning when we pulled up to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. It seemed like nothing had happened in that place for years, which was exactly what we needed. We parked the jeep behind a cluster of trees, exchanged a glance, and activated our Invisibility. Al went ahead, and I trailed behind him to find a good spot to wait. Based on the voices from inside, there were people talking in Spanish and we heard some cursing in a language I thought was Russian, but I wasn’t sure.
They sounded too many, and it didn’t feel right to let Al go alone. Inside, the scene was tense. Two dozen heavily armed thugs stood around, all of them with big rifles. Nearby, a black jeep stood with its engine still running. Shadows danced across the walls as the thugs moved about, all focused on their transaction, completely unaware we were there.
“This surpasses our expectations,” Al sent telepathically, his voice a mix of excitement and caution.
“No kidding,” I replied, scanning the room. “Are you sure it’s a good idea? There are too many of them.”
“Let us utilize the paintball guns.”
I was so relieved I was invisible, sparing me from the embarrassment of anyone seeing me facepalm. How had I not thought of it sooner? It would have been so useful back in Phoenix!
We slipped on our protective masks and moved into position. The thugs were completely unaware, their rifles hanging lazily off their shoulders as if they had nothing to worry about. I quickly scanned the group—twenty-one in total, all heavily armed, plus the two head honchos, overseeing it all like kings of a pathetic little kingdom.
“On three,” I sent. “One… two… three!”
We fired in sync; the paintballs hitting their targets dead-on. The sleeping potion kicked in almost immediately, filling the air with a smell of oregano. One by one, the thugs collapsed, knocked out cold before they knew what hit them.
“That turned out to be an unexpectedly simple task” Al said, stepping over a guy who had a rifle bigger than he was.
We moved quickly, looting the place like pros. Well, by this point, I was kinda a pro. We collected bundles of cash, each thicker than the last, weapons—high-caliber rifles, handguns, you name it. And, of course, the drugs, all packed up and ready to go.
We stored everything, cash, guns, drugs—the whole haul disappeared with a thought. The last thing to go was the jeep, its sleek frame vanishing into my Storage.
“Mahya’s gonna flip when she sees this,” I said, grinning as I eyed the black jeep.
“Are you certain about this course of action?”
“Why not? They’re bad people that sell drugs to children. Mahya is a good person the converts stuff to Magitech. I feel like Robinhood.”
“Who is Robinhood?”
“I’ll tell you at the hotel. Ready to head out?” I asked.
“Indeed, let us depart,” Al replied, and I could hear the excitement in his mental voice.
We slipped back out as quietly as we’d come in, hopping into our own jeep and driving off into the night. On the way, Al commented, “I wish I could witness their faces when they wake up.” We both cracked up at the thought.
When we got back, Mahya was outside tinkering with an ATV, grease all over her hands. She looked up as we pulled in. “Everything went okay?”
I motioned for Al to join me. “Yes, and we got a little something for you. Close your eyes.”
She laughed but did as I asked, holding out her hands like she was expecting something small. I took out the black jeep and placed it in front of her. Then, I took out the crates of guns and ammo, stacking them neatly beside the Jeep.
“Alright, open your eyes,” I said, barely holding back a grin.
Mahya opened her eyes and just stood there, mouth open, staring at the jeep and the crates of weapons. She circled the jeep, running her hand over the glossy surface, her eyes lighting up with excitement.
“This is incredible!” she finally said, her voice full of awe. “Where did you get it?”
Al and I exchanged a look, both of us grinning like idiots.
“We encountered a small yet thrilling escapade,” Al said casually. “We believed you would find this useful. John said something about Robinhood.”
She laughed and opened one crate, revealing rows of guns. “And this?” she asked, eyes wide.
“Just a little bonus,” I shrugged. “Thought it might be useful.”
Mahya laughed more, shaking her head in disbelief. “You guys are something else.” She gave me a quick hug, then did the same to Al. “Thank you. This is amazing.”
I saw her eyes bouncing back and forth between the jeep and the crates, already figuring out how to use and improve everything. The excitement was infectious, and I couldn’t help but feel proud. We’d pulled it off, and seeing her this happy made it all worth it.
“Can’t wait to see what you do with it,” I said, clapping her on the shoulder.
“Oh, you have no idea,” she replied, her eyes sparkling with ambition. “This is going to be epic.”
I didn’t know how many drugs we took—Al stored them for good without specifying an amount. But the financial gain of the night was a little over a million. I just facepalmed and shook my head—resigned. It was like a curse. No matter how much we spent, the money just grew. It felt like a universe was trying to challenge me.
After a few hours, we had to drag Mahya off her new toys and drive to Pueblo to spend the money, or at least try to spend it.