Condition Evolution 2: A LitRPG / Gamelit Adventure by Sinclair, Kevin (black female authors txt) 📗

with you, we don’t have much money at the minute. Do you have any advice on finding work in this place?”

“I’m sorry. I would rarely handle the business side of things. However, protect me as best you can and that won’t be a problem.”

“Why? Do you know of a good job?”

“Not really. But, I’ve more money than you can imagine.”

“We don’t want your money. We want to make it on our own thanks. We're just looking for some advice,” Ember said, angrily. I knew why; she hated the idea of being bought. A hangover from the dark past she’d suffered.

Elyek looked taken aback. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t trying to buy you. I want to help you, like you’ve helped me,” they explained.

“You’re buying us a ship. I’d say that’s more than fair payment,” replied Ember.

“If you’re sure. Can I ask something?”

“Ask away, Elyek,” I said, before Ember could say anything else emotion driven.

“You keep mentioning ‘dropping me off’. I don’t really have anywhere to go. Would you let me be a part of your crew in a more permanent way?” they asked, looking terrified by the vulnerability they had shown.

I didn’t know what to make of it. We potentially had another crew member in less than two days of deciding we were going to put one together. Besides, Ember was handling this conversation, so I kept silent.

“If you’re so rich, why the hell would you want to be part of this little shitshow?” Ember asked.

I thought it harsh at first, only to quickly re-evaluate, and agreed with Ember’s sentiment. It was a good question.

“There are hidden enclaves of my people, but I don’t want to end up stuck in one of those. Otherwise, I have nowhere to go, no family and no home. My last crew were my only family. To be honest, they treated me as little more than a tool. I would sit in my room bored, and alone until they needed me. In the eight hours I have known you…”

“Ember, I forgot to say,” I interrupted Elyek, “the galactic standard day here is twenty-seven hours.” They both stared at me coldly. “Sorry Elyek. You were saying,” I said, sheepishly. I just didn’t want to forget to tell Ember.

“I was saying that in the eight hours I’ve known you, you have released me from slavery and welcomed me like few others ever have. Literally, no one this side of the galaxy would let me just walk free. They’d finish the job or steal me away to help their own goals. You two seem to actually want to free me and send me off on my own. If I’m honest, for me that would just be either a death sentence, or at the very least I’d be caught. Unless, I managed to get to a Veiletian enclave, which would be impossible by myself.

“With you two I feel like I have a chance at something different. Even though you are both very weird and have no clue what you are doing. You seem to be capable with good spirits, and impressive powers of your own.”

“Guilty as charged,” I said.

“Shut up, Shaun,” Ember growled like a panther. She didn’t really. Still, the thought amused me.

All of a sudden Ember levitated herself above me and Elyek, then levitated a table up from the side of the bed, moving it quickly around the room before putting it back where it went. She announced, “We do have powers, and just so you know, we’re very capable in a fight. We can protect you. If you really want to join us, we’ll have you.”

“Yes. I do. Really, I do.”

“Well, that’s settled,” I said, happy to get another crew member under our belt.

“Now, if you want your next job I can give it to you,” Elyek offered.

“I thought you said you couldn’t give us a job?” Ember asked.

“You said you would not take my money. But, what if it’s a job to rescue my money from the evil clutches of the Juntos Bank?”

“Go on,” she enquired.

“I’m now marked as a criminal and also the future property of someone else. My case will be working its way through the galactic records and courts as we speak. These people are as corrupt as can be. They won’t question my crimes, unless they think it is worth it for them to do so. I’ve no doubt we can get a ship from my credit line. However, once we do, my account will flag as used and will be frozen. We may not then be able to withdraw funds from the bank. Once we make the withdrawal, I will flag and we will be hunted,” Elyek explained.

“But, even if we get the money first, we’re gonna be fucked sideways in this piece of junk. So, we need a faster ship without a doubt,” Ember said, following along with Elyek.

“In my mind that is our best option. With that ship you will be able to take the job I offer. I’ve never really needed to use the money I made from my work, so everything has always just gone into the account. We could build something with what I have put aside. A bigger crew. A future.”

“It sounds like a fair plan,” agreed Ember. “Is there a bank we can use on the planet we’re visiting?”

“No. Unfortunately, we will only be able to withdraw such a sum of money from one of the main branches,” Elyek told us.

“I assume we’ll face resistance once we’ve made the withdrawal?” Ember asked.

“I think we probably will. We may have to hire fighters to help. Except, I don't know how we’ll afford them, other than with promises,” they said.

“Nah. I back Shaun here,” Ember said.

Elyek raised an eyebrow at me. “We’re talking about a serious physical presence. The main bank will have possibly a hundred guards on hand, and they’ll be Tri-bor, the warrior caste of the Mazltor.”

“I don’t know who, or what the Mazltor are, but Shaun will sort them out.”

I really didn’t