Blood and Profit: Chapter 3

Toll had slept in the crew and guest quarters of the recycler station more times than he could count. It was most likely the closest thing he had to a home. It was past midnight surface time and the station was quiet. He had been sitting on his bunk for hours going over every aspect of the plan. The worst part about this was the plan could be summed up thusly: 1. Plug ring command console into Rusty's dad's cruiser. 2. Make a run for the ring. 3. If successful, see what was on the other end of the tunnel. Still, he ran through each moment of the process in his mind and then he ran through the plan backwards. The high orbit flight restrictors would not be in range of the ring between three thirty and four am. And so far every part of the plan had worked perfectly. He was awake on time, mostly because he had not slept. He had made his way without incident to the docking bay where Rusty had parked his father's cruiser . He dropped into the pilot seat and initiated engine start. Instead of the intense high performance hum of the engines starting, a video message popped up. It was Rusty's father.

“Rusty! You bring my cruiser back right now! I don't care what time it is! In fact, no! Don't touch anything! I'm having a tow service come get the cruiser and bring it back! You can find your own way home!” The video message went dark and Toll scrambled out of the ship and practically ran to Rusty's bunk.

“Wakeupwakeupwakeupwakeup!” and vigorous shaking is what Rusty woke up to.

“Toll, what the hell? Aren't you supposed to be gone by now?” Rusty wiped sleep from his eyes and sat up on his elbows.

“That was the plan but your dad has a remote lock on the cruiser engines, which is NOT the plan!” Rusty sat up so fast he hit his head on the bottom of the bunk above him.

“What do you want me to do about it? I told you he would never let me take it.” Rusty tried to roll over and go back to sleep. Toll forced Rusty to roll back over and face him again.

“I need you to come and disable the engine lock so I can go.” Toll smiled a very fake smile.

“And go with you on your stupid adventure that's going to get you five to ten in prison? NO!” Rusty rolled back over again.

“Please Rusty, this is my only chance! You can take my space suit and hop out before I take off, then just tell everyone that I kidnapped you and stole the ship.” Rusty crossed his arms and put a weak pout on his face. His resistance lasted less than ten seconds.

“Fiiiiine.” Rusty surrendered. Toll jumped up with excitement.

“I knew I could count on you!” Rusty nodded and grabbed his shoes. Toll grabbed him by the hand and dragged him out of the room. “Shoes are useless in zero gravity, come on!” The pair race out of the room.

Back in the cruiser Rusty sat in the passenger seat working through the computer interface. He was in the zone, zooming through screen after screen. Toll waited nervously. His suit communications activated and Mew's sleepy voice came through clear.

“Toll, do I want to know why there's a tow service requesting access to the bay you're in right now?” Toll grabbed at the collar of the suit Rusty was wearing, choking him away from the interface.

“Mew! Nothing to worry about! Total misunderstanding!” He did everything he could think of to stress the calm in his voice, which just made him sound more stressed.

“Yeah, right. I'm coming down there. The automated defense systems are on, don't go anywhere.” The channel went silent and Rusty laughed.

“Great plan man.” his fingers flying over the screen.

“I hate you.” Toll ran out of the ship.

“Where are you going?” Rusty yelled.

“Buy us some time!” Toll yelled back.