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She laughs, her eyes sparkling. "Ruth-Ann told Erzah she'd do the books. If there's anyone that can keep him financially on track, it'll be her."
This is true. Ruth-Ann can be terrifyingly tenacious as well.
The door opens and Erzah appears, waving us forward. "Come in. Come in. Get a good look at the place and let me know what you think."
"We've already seen the place," I point out.
"Yes, but now it's mine. And a few walls have been knocked down." He pauses. "And the pipes were gutted."
"Pipes? Walls?" Ruthie inquires, stepping inside as I put a hand on the small of her back and follow her in. "Is that why getting the key code took so long?"
"There was a vermin infestation," Erzah says glumly as we enter. "Apparently buildings on this planet are sometimes infested by large-eyed rodents that like to live in the pipes. I'm told they're cute, but I'm also told they'll chew a hole through plas within an hour."
"Jeez," Ruthie says, making a face. "That sounds terrifying."
"Doesn't it? Those repairs also chewed through a lot of my savings." Erzah looks woeful. "I'm going to have to figure out a way to buy supplies on the cheap."
We head inside, and there are two boxes in the center of the otherwise dusty, empty room. Jerzec and Aithar are seated on them, and Jerzec gets up the moment he sees Ruthie, indicating she should sit down.
She grabs my hand and makes me sit, then promptly places herself in my lap. I don't even mind the smug grins the others shoot me. I feel pretty smug myself. I wrap my arms around my mate and rest my chin on her shoulder. "So what you're saying is that you're giving up already, Erzah?"
"No." He paces in between the boxes, arms crossed. "I wanted you all to come here to get ideas. We're the opening crew—well, plus Zaemen and Ruth-Ann. Zaemen probably forgot to show up—you know how he is. As for Ruth-Ann, she went to get snacks over an hour ago."
Aithar grins. "She's hitting on the baker female again, I wager. That human makes her crazy."
"Good, maybe she'll get a discount," Erzah grumbles. "I need your suggestions on how we make this place work with a limited budget."
Jerzec moves to Erzah's side and loops an arm around his neck. "Hear me out. We steal a ship."
"From Port? Are you crazy?" I shake my head. "It doesn't matter that the jail here is nice. It's still a jail. You don't steal from the place you're living."
"Not from Port," Jerzec retorts. "Do I look like an idiot?"
"Yes," Aithar chimes in.
Jerzec immediately moves to his side and grabs him in a headlock. While Aithar chuckles and flails, Jerzec continues. "I'm just saying, maybe we head to a station, stake out one of the cantinas there, see who comes in and delivers supplies. Then we follow that ship and take it over. Little bit of piracy. Not a lot, just a little."
"You know the boss doesn't want to do anything like that," Aithar chokes out, trying to break free.
He's right. Ever since that mess with Lord Straik's mother, he's putting aside piracy. "He's right. Lord Straik will hate the idea."
"We don't have to tell him," Jerzec says with a grin.
Everyone makes a sound of protest at that. "It's his ship," Ruthie says. "That's a terrible, idiotic idea."
"But it is an idea. You guys got any better ones? Let's hear it." Jerzec releases Aithar with a shrug and saunters across the empty room.
"As a matter of a fact, I do," Ruthie says. "You get friendly with one of those cantinas. You find out who they buy from and you talk with the vendor. Ask the vendor if they have any discontinued stuff or castoffs. Stuff that a regular cantina isn't interested in. Or you talk with a junk trader and see if they have supplies and we can make our own booths and tables. As for drinks, as long as you have a cozy environment that provides a little bit of refreshment that humans like, the rest will come in time. They're just going to be happy to have somewhere to go that they feel at home and that isn't serving greasy alien leaves. No offense."
"None taken," Erzah says. "They're meant to be greasy."
"They're delicious, too." Aithar sighs. "So no fried leaves?"
"This is for humans, right? You want to think human when it comes to food and drink. I'd be surprised if no one here on Risda was making their own sort of hooch." Ruthie gestures at the exterior. "You get to know the guy at the general store and have him work out a deal with you. Buy bulk of whatever's cheap and we make human-like snacks out of it. Look at the baking stand. Her stuff is terrible, but she's making a killing because she takes whatever this planet has and she makes human foods out of it. If all we have is roots and whatever passes for beef around here, we make a pot roast for the special that week. I guarantee you everyone will show up."
