Summon the Thunder

Ganz said nothing for several moments, instead taking a long pull from whatever beverage filled his goblet. When he did speak, it was with his usual low, rumbling tenor, though his expression denoted that already he was bored with this particular interaction. “Armnoj, I have to admit, you never cease to amaze me. How is it you’ve been able to survive out there on the fringes after all this time?”

His posture straightening, Armnoj’s chest seemed to swell with pride as he replied, “Well, I have to tell you, it’s been no easy feat, and there was no small amount of obstacles in our way just getting here. Why, just the—”

“It was a rhetorical question,” Ganz said. “Did you bring your records?”

Nodding, the Zakdorn held up his briefcase. “Right here. As you know, all of my files are encoded with a multi-quad encryption algorithm that will thwart any attempts at unauthorized access. I designed the software myself, including a self-regenerating cipher that allows for—”

“Nobody cares.” Ganz’s expression was morphing from disinterest to a

Armnoj cleared his throat, straightening his posture in an attempt to shrug off having his figurative knees taken out from under him. “Yes, of course.” Looking around, he asked, “Might I be provided with a place to work?”

Indicating where the Zakdorn was standing before taking another drink from his cup, Ganz replied, “You’ve got it.”

The accountant offered a haughty sniff, displeased with the way he was being treated. It took physical effort on Qui

“It will just take a moment,” Armnoj said as he cradled the briefcase in his left arm while using his free hand to tap an eighteen-digit combination into the small keypad molded into the case’s handle. A few seconds later, he opened the case and Qui

Taking a square yellow data card from a small pocket to the right of the monitor, the accountant entered another long string of commands and the screen activated. As everyone watched, Armnoj replaced the data card with a red one and repeated the process of tapping instructions into the computer.

Ganz’s sigh was audible across the deck. “Stars are dying out, Mr. Armnoj.”

The bookkeeper did not reply for several seconds, until a rhythmic series of beeps emitted from the briefcase. “There we are,” he said, his face brightening into the Zakdorn equivalent of a smile. From where he stood, Qui

“This is everything?” Ganz asked. “I’m sure you won’t mind if my staff here verifies your figures.”

Armnoj nodded. “Well, why certainly. I think you’ll find everything to be in order, down to the last credit, including a comprehensive ledger detailing every transaction I’ve made on your behalf since you first employed me. The cross-reference database should prove most helpful, as it includes journal entries with locations, dates and times, transaction origin and destination information, all meticulously organized and capable of being displayed via any extract criteria you might—”

“Thank you.” Looking to Morikmol, Ganz indicated for his henchman to take the case from the accountant. As Armnoj surrendered the unit, the Orion added, “I think we’re done here.”

Clearing his throat again, the Zakdorn nodded rapidly several times. “Very well. What would you like me to do now?”

“Disappear,” Ganz said, and Qui

Qui

The air hummed and crackled as the obelisks flanking Armnoj glowed to life. Searing white energy spat forth from each of the obsidian stanchions to wash over the Zakdorn. His body was obscured by the blinding flash of light for an instant, allowing the accountant one final befuddled look before his form dissolved. Then the light was gone, and with it Sarkud Armnoj.

“What the hell?” Qui

His expression remaining neutral, the Orion replied, “Actually, what I said was that his information was valuable. As for him? He was whiny and self-important, like most Zakdorns. Why do you think I had him banished to that backwater mudball? He was more trouble than he was worth.” His brow furrowing, he asked, “Didn’t you notice?”

Relieved to at last be free of the irritating accountant but feeling more than a bit put off by the harsh and arguably u

As if reading his mind, Ganz actually released a chuckle, though to Qui

“Glad to hear it,” Qui

The Orion held up his glass. “Other men might have tried to take advantage of the situation I placed you in, maybe taken a shot at learning where some of my money was stored; you might have helped yourself to whatever you could cram into that pitiful excuse for a ship you fly. You didn’t. That goes a long way with me.” He offered a mock salute with the goblet before taking another long pull from its still mysterious contents.

Holding his hands out, Qui

“That’s good,” the merchant prince replied. “Then you’ll know when you’re threatening to overstay your welcome.” Nodding in dismissal, the Orion added, “But don’t go too far. I might need you sooner than you think.”

I can’t wait.

Qui

“I suppose you’ve figured out by now that Broon blew it,” Qui

Unsurprisingly, Zett offered no reply.

Qui

“You could have told Ganz,” Zett said, his lips curving upward to offer a sinister smile while revealing a mouthful of gleaming, sharp teeth. “Why didn’t you?”

“I’m no snitch,” Qui

“Between you and me,” Zett repeated, “you were fortunate this time, Mr. Qui