Summon the Thunder

Their hijacking had possessed at least some of the hallmarks associated with piracy, Pe

The trio was marched out of the vessel and watched for several minutes as a motley assortment of individuals, dressed in worn and soiled clothing and each armed with at least one disruptor pistol as well as varying numbers and styles of edged weapons, began ransacking Qui

“I don’t get it,” Qui

“A fortunate oversight, perhaps?” Pe

Qui

“Even pirates must operate under some kind of ethics or rules,” Armnoj countered. “Maybe this group chooses to refrain from killing unless no other option presents itself.”

“Well, out here in the real galaxy,” Qui

“Me?” the Zakdorn asked. “The only thing I have of any value is Mr. Ganz’s accounting records.”

The notion made perfect sense to Pe

“I beg your pardon?” Armnoj’s eyes had gone wide in response to Pe

“I’d do it in an Arcturian minute,” Qui

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of the hold’s far hatch cycling open. The trio turned to see two men, humans, enter the chamber, each carrying a disruptor rifle which he wasted no time aiming on the hostages.

“Here we go,” Pe

Fate, you surely are a cruel bastard.

The two new arrivals stepped to either side of the open door, keeping their weapons at the ready as another man stepped into the room. He was burly and scruffy, with greasy brown hair that hung past his broad shoulders and a round, chubby face sporting several days’ worth of beard stubble. A long dark coat hung over his large frame, partially concealing what Pe

“Looks like our luck’s changing for the better,” Qui

Pe

“No.”

The third man, obviously in charge, strode across the cargo hold, offering a smile wide enough that Pe

“Broon,” Qui

Still smiling, Broon asked, “Surprised to see me?”

“Flabbergasted is more like it. How does somebody who can’t find his own ass with a star chart and a flashlight manage to track me down in the middle of nowhere?”

The pirate’s smile faded. “I’d watch that mouth of yours, Qui

“You two know each other?” Pe

The pilot nodded. “That’s one way of putting it. We’ve run into each other a time or two in the past.”

“You cost me a lot of money the last time our paths crossed,” Broon said. “Now, one has to wonder about that Klingon probe we found aboard your ship. Are you in the espionage business now, Qui

“Yeah, because I’m prime spy material,” the pilot replied. He shrugged, and Pe

“Good to know,” Broon replied. “I’ll be happy to add that to the bill you owe me.” He pointed to Armnoj. “But I’m really here for you. Ganz wants you, and the faster I get you there, the bigger my fee.”

“I already have an abductor,” the Zakdorn countered with measured disdain.

“Your fee?” Qui

Broon said, “All I know is what was communicated to me when I took the job. That sneaky enforcer bastard of Ganz’s, Zett, contacted me, told me where to go, who to get, what to bring back, and when to get it there. He didn’t say anything about ru

“That son of a bitch,” Qui

“What?” Pe

Ignoring the question, Qui

“What are you talking about?” Broon asked, a heavy crease forming over his brow.

“You can’t kill me,” Qui

Broon shook his head. “That’s a pretty weak lie, even coming from you. Sorry to disappoint you, but Zett paid half my fee up front. I get the other half as soon as I plop the accountant down in front of Ganz, with a bonus for each hour I get him there ahead of schedule.”

“What about us?” Pe