“Hey, what the hell?” Leo asked as the painting and protective field fizzled away into nothing.
“Just a little hologram… you didn’t really think we’d steal a painting worth forty million for a measly ten percent?” Lilliana said. “Especially considering we’re not likely to see the other half of our fee.”
“But, er… we did steal it, like,” Regan said. “Didn’t we?”
“We did,” Lilliana said.
“So where in space is it?” Galatea asked.
“Right where I left it, of course” Lilliana said. “In that disgusting little rodent’s pocket. It’s not like I didn’t tell him I was taking the gold and running, back when he first sprung the little surprise on us.”
“Not that I condone petty larceny,” Galatea said, “or even grand larceny, but… if you intended to betray Roquelaire, why not simply keep the painting?”
“Where could we sell it?” Lilliana asked. “We’ve got our fuel. He and his master can both swing in the breeze for all I care. On that note, let’s hurry up and get safely away so I can make an anonymous tip.”
“Right, the Gypsy,” Regan said. “Come along, Handjob.”
“Why don’t you pull the wagon, Bard?” Lilliana suggested.
“Well, ’cause I’m armed, ya see?” Regan said. “So, I have to be on point against attacks.”
“Attacks?” Lilliana repeated.
“Bandit attacks,” Regan said. “We are transportin’ gold, remember? Or are ya after havin’ it stolen right out from underneath us?”
“Fine,” Lilliana said. “Just… get it done. I’ll be in my cabin waiting for takeoff.”
“Really?” Regan said. “I’m thinkin’ I’ll take me lawn chair an’ go sit on the skin so I can wave goodbye as we fly away. Sure ya won’t join me?”
“Don’t you dare,” Lilliana said. “Among other things, our ship may still be under surveillance… by either the authorities and Roquelaire’s employer.”
“So?”
“So, keep your weirdness inside the ship until we’re out of their space,” Lilliana said. “And don’t forget you’re still under Rule 28.”
“I’m still boggling over the fact that we went through all that trouble to effectively not steal a painting,” Galatea said as Lilliana mounted the stairs that would take her to the catwalk which was the quickest way to her quarters. Regan led Handy and the wagon towards the back of the hold, warning of likely ambush spots around every container and crate.
“All what trouble?” Leo asked. “I’m the one who had to schlep a fully grown parahuman around on my back. All you did was pass Regan some microtools and molest a modern sculpture.”
Galatea stiffened and went pale.
“Some of the exhibits were interactive,” she said. “They should have labeled the ones that were not more clearly.”
“Yes, it’s the museum’s fault for not putting signs up everywhere saying ‘Please don’t have sex with this art.’,” Leo said. “Nice diversion.”
“Well, I mean to say, really… this isn’t GCC space,” Galatea said. “How am I, a mere child cast adrift among criminals and barbarians, to know what the limits of proper behavior are in this backwards and uncivilized space?”
“For starters… don’t fuck statuary,” Leo said.
“Well, now I know that,” Galatea said.
“Galatea,” Lilliana called from the walkway. “Go see what you can do about getting the failsafes back online.”
“Try not to have sex with any inanimate objects on your way,” Leo said.
“I assure you, that is at least the third furthest thing from my mind,” Galatea said.
Lilliana hurried to her cabin as quickly as she could, though she knew they couldn’t take off until the gold bars were installed in the engine. Her quarters provided absolutely no view of the outside, either digital or analog. She preferred it that way.
She had grown up in deep space, and had never got used to takeoffs and landings. Convoys of ships traveled spread far apart for safety… when they had to come close together, they generally matched speed and heading. Consequently, seeing a large object moving fast outside her frame of reference made her stomach and brain have a somersault contest.
Once she’d closed the door and taken a deep, cleansing breath–sometimes even the knowledge that the ship would be taking off was enough to bring on vertigo—she went to her wall console and opened a line to Dick.
“Are we pre-cleared?” she asked.
“It took a while longer than usual, but yes,” he said.
“Port control had to make sure we weren’t going to be detained,” Lilliana said.
“Shall I tell you when we’re lifting off?”
“Tell me five minutes after,” she said.
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