Insanity Chapter 6

“Finally, we’re back,” I said as we entered our home and dumped everything that we had on the table. “Let’s see what we got.”

After sorting through everything we stole, it appeared that we would actually come out on top this time around. Xavier would have to praise us. The only downside was that there could have been more than this. If Cal didn’t mess up and make me loose the loot I got then we would have had twice the amount of was on the table.

“What the fuck!” yelled Malik. “This stupid thing won’t open!” Malik tried to open the box that Cal stole, but it was no use, it was sealed shut. “Here let me try,” said Jessica as she examined the box. “Yeah this thing won’t open with brute force. “Mal get over here and pick the lock,” she said as she held the box out for me to grab.

“This is why I tell you guys to learn how to pick locks for yourselves,” I said as I took the box out of her hands. “Mal, I’ve been learning how to pick lock,” said Cal as he showed me my old tools which I gave him a while back.

“Yeah that’s great,” I said while shrugging him away. Picking locks takes a lot of concentration. Having Cal watch me like a lovesick puppy wasn’t going to help me at all. “Go sort the loot with Jessica while I concentrate.”

“Sure thing Mal,” I heard him say back to me in a disappointed tone.

Once Cal and Jessica went into the over room I was finally able to concentrate on the lock. Though no matter what I did, the lock wouldn’t budge. In fact this stupid lock cost me three lock picks.

“Ugh!” I grunted as I threw down my tools on the table. “This thing won’t open,” I said, disappointed in myself for not being able to do it. “We’ll have to get Xavier to open it. He taught me everything I know about picking locks. I’m sure that he could open this one easily.”

“Come on,” said Malik. “We don’t need Xavier’s help. Heck after this job, why bother working for him in the first place? We have the skills and now we got the loot, why the heck do we need that old man for now?”

“Careful with what you say,” I said to him with a dark expression shown on my face. “Even if that’s just a joke, don’t say that. All four of us owe Xavier our lives. I don’t care if you have a bone to pick with me or Cal, but when it comes to him you’ve crossed the line.”

“Jezz, no need to get so uptight,” he said, trying to be careful of what he said next. “I’m just saying that eventually we’ll have to step out from Xavier’s shadow. Besides, I know for a fact that you don’t want to rely on him that much either.”

“If that’s what you meant then say it like that in the first place,” I said not fully convinced by his words. Malik has only ever looked out for himself. He’s never been able to see that without Xavier we wouldn’t be here, even though we tell him that all the time.

“Lighten up on him a bit Mal,” said a gruff voice. I turned around to see that it was none other than Xavier. He limped over to the table and sat down next to me. I saw him examine everything on the table with his one good eye before he started talking again.

“Malik’s ambitious, you can’t fault him for that. In this world only those that have such ambitions will go anywhere. I know that the two of you don’t want to be in this shitty place all your lives, it’s good to dream big.”

“See I told you,” said Malik with a smug look across his face. “That doesn’t mean that you should throw away your family in the process,” Xavier said as he picked up a golden pocket watch and fiddled with it.

“As a family we’re strong. Leaving any member behind for your own personal gain is something I won’t stand for. I don’t care if you want to strike out on your own, but you better make sure you don’t become an enemy.”

“But I-” “That’s enough,” Xavier said as he held up his hand. “I know what you meant, but you should be careful. I lost a lot of people that I cared about because of that way of thinking. I couldn’t bear to lose one of you.”

“Now, care to explain what’s all of this?” He asked and I knew by the tone of his voice that he was not happy.

“I can explain,” I said, trying to grab his attention. “Oh, can you?” he asked me. “Go on then, explain to me why I find all of these stolen goods scattered on my table. I’m sure it’s going to be a good story.”

“We just wanted to-” “Tell the truth,” he said instantly knowing that I lied to him. “I wanted to show you that we were capable of doing higher paying jobs. I convinced everyone to join me, and we robbed a rich scientist in the upper levels.”

“What do you mean, by everyone?” he asked, and I knew at that moment I was in trouble. “I mean, Malik, Jessica, Fidge, and um, Cal.”

“You brought Cal to the upper levels!” Xavier shouted at the both of us, almost making me fall out of my chair. He may have been getting up there in years, but he was still the strongest fighter I knew.

“I can explain and to,” I said trying to avoid his wrath. “Can you really? Explain to me why you thought it was a good idea to bring your eight year old brother to the upper levels? Do you know what the imperial guard would have done with him if he was caught?”

“I’m sorry, I just wanted him to just used to our line of work. He has to start sometime.” “Do you think I care! Cal is eight years old and isn’t ready for this life! Don’t try to act like it was nothing! If it wasn’t I wouldn’t be back here right now!”

“You knew?” Malik asked, showing signs of fear across his face. “Of course I knew. Where the hell did you think that brat Fidge got his information from. Gerald doesn’t let any information slip to Fidge unless I say so.”

“That means that you wanted us to do the job?” I asked. “I did, but I was a fool to think that you wouldn’t be stupid enough to take your brother with you. And don’t even think about lying about what happened up there. I know all about your run in with the imperial guard, and this,” he said as he slapped me in the shoulder causing a wave of pain to spread through my arm.

“Argh! What the hell was that for?” “That’s for being stupid enough to get shot at,” Xavier said.

“It’s not his fault!” yelled Malik. “ It was Cal’s fault. The imperial guard and that man only found us because of Cal. If it wasn’t for him we would have made it out with a lot more loot and Mal wouldn’t have been shot!”

“Enough, the fact is that you messed up. You were in charged and any mistake that Cal made is on you Mal, do you understand?” “I do,” I said without even being able to look him in the eye.

“Where are Cal and Jessica right now?” Xavier asked while tossing the watch back on the table. “They’re in the next room, I’ll get them.”

“There no need,” said Jessica as she walked out with Cal holding her hand. “We heard you enter the moment that you entered the house. I guess that’s there’s nothing we can do to avoid punishment this time is there?”

“You’re right,” said Xavier. “All the stuff that you stole today now belongs to me.” “What!?” yelled Malik. “That’s not fair! We stole it!” “I don’t care if a monkey stole it, that fact remains that you have to learn your lesson.”

“I have taught each of you in the art of theft and I have taught you all how to hide in order to not be spotted by the imperial guard. Yet, the three of you all agreed to take Cal with you, who I have barely had to time to train. What did you expect when you took an amateur out inti the field?”

“Hopefully you’ll think next time before you do something like this again.” “This is unfair!” Malik yelled as he tried to grabbed some of the loot off the table, but Xavier was too fast for him. Before he could get close, Xavier already had his hand in his grip.

“The three of you go cool off. I would like to have some alone time with Cal. I’m sure that once I hear his story I’ll be able to reconsider your punishment.”

“Arghh!” Malik yelled, throwing a chair down to the ground as he left the house. “Come on Mal,” said Jessica. “Let’s do as he says.”

“I’m coming,” I said, following after her. Hopefully Xavier wouldn’t be too hard on him. When I get back I’ll try to convince him to lighten Cal’s punishment.