Xaber glanced up at the Jeskyran and wondered what the alien had thought about that whole conversation. “We’re interested. Where would we have to deliver them? Back to Ashur mining platform?”
“Yes. Ashur. Not far. It is what you look for.”
“It is.” Mace sighed and looked at Xaber. “Do you think she can make the trip there and back?”
He didn’t have the answer to that question. When they embarked on their plan to become bounty hunters, they’d forgotten one key element. Neither of them knew afraxxingthing about ship repair. That oversight had come back to bite them in the ass.
He shrugged as if things weren’t as serious as they both knew them to be. “We need the work. If the engine acts up, I’ll find someone to do a cheap and dirty patch job to get me back here.”
Looking pleased, Flek deactivated the sound dampener. “I will send details to your comms.”
Then he was gone, leaving them to their meal.
The silence held as all three of them enjoyed a few bites of their food. Mace looked broodier than usual, which meant his batch-brother was considering the logistics of it all. They’d make the apprehension together, but Xaber would have to make the delivery on his own. Mace had work the next few nights, and they needed that money.
Going solo increased the risk, but not enough for them to turn down the job.
He set down his meal and took out his comm. As promised, Flek had already sent the details. He checked the amount of the payoff and made his decision. Then he sent a quick message to Mace through their link with just the amount and a question mark.
Mace replied immediately.“Yes.”
A quick tap on the screen was all that was needed to accept the contract. Now, they waited for the client to send the info packet with the identity of their target. Until then? He could enjoy the meal and the company of their unexpected guest.
He placed the comm face down on the table. When he looked up, Tix was watching him with wary eyes.
“You took the job?” she asked.
“I did.”
“Even though you said your ship’s engines are acting up? Isn’t that risky?”
“No risk, no reward. And we really need the scrip so we can get our ship fully repaired.”
Mace rumbled in agreement. “TheLive Trueneeds more than a quick patch-up. Her standard engines are out of tune, and the jump drive doesn’t work at all. We’ve made some inquiries with the repair bays here, but we can’t afford their rates. You work on the docks, so you know how it is. It’s not just the hourly rate for the work. We’d have to pay for a full team, plus docking fees, overhead, you name it. That’s not in our budget.”
Tix nodded in understanding. “I get it. Pardon me for asking, but I’m curious. What is in your budget? Could you afford the parts needed?”
An unexpected question, but an easy one to answer. “We’ve got the parts covered. After this run, we can afford to hire someone to start the work.”
She took another bite of pizza. “This is really good. Thank you for bringing me.”
“You’re welcome,” both of them said at the same moment.
Her smile was warm as she looked between them. It was a big improvement over her wariness of a few minutes ago.
“I think there’s a way I can pay you back for all your help tonight. As it happens, I know someone who might be willing to do the work you need. They can at least look at your ship and make sure it will get to Ashur and back, so long as you’re not leaving right away.”
“You do?” Mace asked.
“Fraxxyes. That would be perfect,” Xaber said.
A small knot Xaber hadn’t been aware of until that moment untied itself and faded away. Despite her reaction to their chosen career, she trusted them. That felt good.
“See? Sometimes it pays to get involved in someone else’s battles,”Mace sent.
“Apparently. Still, let’s not make a habit of it.”
“Agreed.”
