Chapter 27: Theonicorp
Ripp and Gus turned back onto the main road. They drove around a few piles of rubble at the intersection and headed north again. Gus stayed close behind in the Nucrean Guard transport as Ripp took the lead.
“Those soldiers keep getting younger,” Gus said through a crackling com.
“You’re just getting older,” Ripp shot back.
“Ha! I know they were coming after us to kill us but I still feel bad about it all.”
“Drinking at Johnny’s before a con makes you soft I think.”
“Probably,” Gus admitted thoughtfully.
“Luckily that didn’t take very long. Only about an hour or so from the depot.”
“Depot? As in the military depot we have picked clean already?” Gus asked with growing irritation.
“The very one.”
The comms went silent.
“Nun wants us to locate information,” Ripp added with a large dose of hesitancy.
Ripp looked at the monitors and saw that Gus had slammed on his breaks.
“Have fun. I’m heading back,” Gus said, obviously hurt.
“Whoa, c’mon.”
“You know I don’t do paper work! That’s why you wouldn’t tell me what the con was about isn’t it?”
“It’s not like that Gus. C’mon. Easy money.”
“I ain’t gonna risk my neck out here for some damned file. Not sure if you remember what happened last time we were out here, but I do. I’m good. Go on and find your files. I’m heading back.”
Gus turned his transport around, hiting a railing hard. “Hell! Who’s gettin’ soft?” Gus shouted.
“Not much of a market for stolen Nucrean transports you know?”
“You let me worry about that.”
“Look, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I need you, brother,” Ripp said.
“You know how I feel about these kind of runs. On your own Ripp.”
Gus finally got the transport turned around and headed south.
“I’m sorry. I should have told you. Just stay. We already know the area and it’s three times the normal fee.”
Ripp said the last part slow and loud waiting for it to set in, but there was nothing.
Ripp stopped his transport and waited. “Yes, Nun is paying us triple our fee.”
Still, there was nothing.
“Well?” Ripp said getting a little nervous that Gus was out of range.
“Gus?”
Ripp cursed to himself under his breath and put the transport in drive just as Gus flew by.
“Get outta the way, asshole,” Gus said.
“Thought you’d come around,” Ripp said as he smiled and followed.