The Wrath of Cons (A Rex Nihilo Adventure) (Starship Grifters Book 3) by Kroese Robert

Author:Kroese, Robert [Kroese, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Culain Press
Published: 2018-10-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

The Sp’ossels had somehow figured out we had the Shiva plans and that we were working with Pepper. While we were at the auction, they had broken into her saloon on Sargasso Seven. They had sent Pepper a transmission claiming to be holding Donny and Boggs hostage and promising to let them go if we handed over the Shiva plans.

“Why do the Sp’ossels even want the plans?” Rex asked. “What good is a habitable planet if everything on it is trying to kill you?”

“The Sp’ossels may have the resources to subdue the ecosystem,” I suggested.

“It wouldn’t be worth the expense,” Pritchett said. “And any kind of poison or radiation bombs capable of killing all the dangerous plants and animals on the planet would render the place uninhabitable again.”

“Maybe the Sp’ossels don’t know about the problems with the Shiva device,” Pepper said.

I considered this for a moment. We had been assuming that the Sp’ossels had caught wind of the auction. But maybe they had no idea Pritchett had a completed Shiva device.

“If they don’t know about Oz,” I asked, “then how did they figure out we have the plans?”

“No idea,” Pepper said. “The important thing is that we can use their ignorance against them. We can’t sell planets that nobody can use, so we might as well hand the plans over to the Sp’ossels in exchange for Donny and Boggs.”

Rex frowned. “I don’t have to tell you guys how fond I am of Boggs and Donny, but… well, I’m also very fond of big piles of cash. Is there any possibility your engineer screwed something up when he built the device? Maybe he could build another one without the bio-whatever field problems.”

Pritchett shook his head. “I’m afraid he built the Shiva device to the exact specifications in the plans. If he built another one, it would have the same problems as this one.”

Rex sighed. “Fine. I guess we’ll trade the stupid worthless plans to the stupid Sp’ossels for Boggs and Donny.”

“All right,” said Pepper. “They’re waiting for us at the saloon. I’ll meet you there.”

*****

“The prodigal sons have returned,” said Dr. LaRue with a smile, as the four of us entered the saloon. Dr. LaRue stood behind the bar, and Dr. Smulders sat at a barstool nearby, nursing a drink. Boggs and Donny were gagged and tied up in a corner. Two large men in white coats held lazeguns pointed at them. “I never thought I’d see the day that Rex Nihilo and the Platinum Pigeon were working together.”

“Get out of there,” Pepper snapped at Dr. LaRue. Dr. LaRue shrugged and walked around the bar. Pepper walked past her with a glare, taking her place behind the bar. Pepper grabbed a bottle of whisky and poured a shot.

“I’m not working with this idiot,” Rex said. “He’s only here because we didn’t have time to shoot him into a supernova on the way over. Now untie Donny and Boggs before I lose my temper.”

“It seems even Rex Nihilo has a soft spot for his friends,” said Smulders with a smile.

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