Free SoulQuest by Percival Constantine

sky-cycle’s grav belt going.”
    Ekala turned away from the window and sat on the edge of the bed. “Then we leave it. With those other jewels we took from that safe, we can get a new one.”
    Zarim shook his head. “No way. That thing’s a classic, worth too much to just leave it behind. Besides, we got away clean. Even if they find it gone, they’ll look inside their own ranks first.”
    A knock came on the door. “That’s room service.” Zarim leaned forward and gave Ekala a quick kiss on her cheek as he jumped from the bed and walked to answer. “Trust me, by the time they even begin to suspect someone in town, the grav belt will be fixed and we’ll be back on the Excalibur.”
    He opened the door and found himself staring at two men. One was tall and thin, but appeared to be quite athletic and wore a purple suit with a cape and leather helmet. The other was quite large, with broad shoulders, dark skin, and a metallic arm.  
    “I beg to differ.” Fredericks announced his presence with a high kick that knocked Zarim from his feet.
    Once the sky pirate got back up, he reacted quickly, reaching for his weapons on the dresser, but Fredericks was quicker. He held his cane up to Zarim’s throat and by activating a switch, the cane began to hum with energy as it began to glow brightly.
    “Pulse sword,” said Zarim. “Nice.”
    Fredericks smiled. “I’m inclined to agree. Now where is the stone?”
    “Right here,” said Ekala.
    Fredericks stepped further into the room, moving from the tiny foyer into the larger area. Zarim stepped back with each step forward his opponent took, his eyes still glancing at his weapons on the dresser. Tanus took notice of this as well, and raised his metallic arm, his hand sliding open to reveal the pulse cannon hidden within.
    “Don’t even think about it, thief.”
    “...Now that’s a neat trick,” said Zarim.
    Fredericks glanced at Ekala, who stood on the bed, holding the Soulstone in her hand. Her eyes were hard as steel, not showing the slightest bit of emotion—no fear, no anger, just cool precision. He admired that. Clearly, she was a professional, more adept at this than her boyfriend, who seemed more invested in this on a personal level.
    “This is just a job, okay?” she said. “Take the stone and let us go.”
    “Ekala, what are you doing?” asked Zarim.
    “Trust me, Zee,” she said.
    “Zarim and Ekala, famed sky pirates,” said Fredericks. “I’m inclined to tell you, this is quite an honor, having the opportunity to meet you both. If only we had more time to get acquainted.”
    “Just give us the stone and everything will be okay,” said Tanus.  
    “Sure, it’s right here.” Ekala tossed the stone and it seemed to move through the air in slow-motion. When she threw the stone, she also threw something else with her free hand, several smoke pellets that struck the wall and exploded in Tanus and Fredericks’ faces. She jumped from the bed, moving for the window after obtaining both her and Zarim’s weapons belts.
    Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zarim twisted away from Fredericks’ pulse sword, delivering a knife-hand strike to the masked man’s collarbone. He snaked between Fredericks and Tanus, jumping up and locking his fingertips on the free-floating stone, then directed all his strength into a kick that knocked Tanus against the wall. Zarim jumped for the bed, bouncing on the mattress and then landed by the window beside Ekala.  
    “Next time, we leave the sky-cycle, got it?” she said before climbing out the window. She grabbed the ledge above, pulling herself onto the roof.
    “You’re the boss.” Zarim followed her, climbing up to the roof behind her.  
    Inside the room, the smoke faded and Tanus gestured to the window. “Go after them, I’ll try to get to the roof from inside!”
    Fredericks slid his cane into his belt and moved swiftly. He jumped through the window and grabbed the overhead ledge. He used his momentum to