Summon the Thunder

Wait just a damned minute.

Something about this was not right, Pe

Reaching into his satchel for his data slate, Pe

By the time the tablet emitted a tone, a

Reyes shrugged. “Well, not yet, anyway. I’m hoping they will.”

His eyes narrowing in growing suspicion and even a hint of dread, Pe

“I screen your mail.”

Such was the blunt, casual ma

Reyes, for his part, shrugged. “I don’t make any secret of it, Mr. Pe

“But my stories were legitimate,” Pe

“I agree,” Reyes replied. “In the case of journalists, it’s standard procedure to verify anything intended for the news outlets.”

“That’s censorship!” Pe

Though he had suspected that the commodore had at least passively sanctioned the actions taken against him by T’Pry

“Do you think for one minute I can’t find a way around your ‘security measures’?” Pe

“Of that I have no doubt,” Reyes said, his voice and demeanor remaining composed even as his eyes bored into Pe

Swallowing a lump which had formed in his throat, the reporter nodded. “Well, I suppose I should appreciate your being forthright about the situation.”

“Then we have an understanding,” Reyes said, adopting a wistful expression. “Life is so much easier with a few understandings, don’t you think?”

Seething, Pe

The commodore leaned forward, adopting a lower tone. “Listen, I know you see things, hear things. You have your ‘sources,’ and I know that when you’ve poked around here, sometimes you’ve gotten two from me and two from Starfleet Command, and it’s added up to five in your book. Am I right?”

Intrigued at where the discussion might be heading, Pe

“Maybe things even added up to five while you were writing about Erilon. Your gut was probably giving you signals, and you thought that, with a little digging, you might even score that story you’re hoping will resurrect your career. You’ll be back in the good graces of your editors. Your readers would believe you again. Your wife…”

“Lora is gone,” Pe

Pausing a moment, the commodore nodded. “Sorry.”

“I said she’s gone,” Pe

The only thing left to greet him was the single sheet of paper, pi

“She even took the lighting elements from the fixtures,” Pe

The commodore studied him a moment before replying. “I said I was sorry, Mr. Pe

Embarrassed at having divulged the disheartening turn his personal life had taken, Pe

Shaking his head as if to clear it of the sudden detour in the conversation, Reyes said, “What I’m trying to say is that I know you could have made this a huge pain in my ass, but you didn’t, for whatever reason. My guess is that you’re probably waiting for bigger fish to fry. Regardless, I appreciate the restraint you showed, and the respect you paid to those who died on Erilon. I’m here to say thank you, and to tell you that this is something I’ll be keeping in mind for next time.”

“Next time?” Pe

“Sooner or later,” Reyes said, “you’re going to want to talk to me about something important. Maybe it’ll be something you learn about before I do.” His expression hardening, he added, “Though I doubt it. Anyway, at some point, you’re going to need something from me. If I can trust you to do what’s right—for everyoneinvolved—then I’ll be more inclined to help you.”

“If you’re proposing some sort of partnership,” Pe

Saying nothing for several seconds, Reyes nodded. “That requires a level of trust you’ll have to earn. You’re a journalist, Mr. Pe

Pe

Even as he uttered the words, he imagined the ambient noise of Tom Walker’s place abruptly dropping to total silence, as every person in the bar turned to face him and regard him with matching expressions that all conveyed the same question now sprinting through his mind: Are you insane?

That did not happen, of course, though neither did Reyes say anything, his expression no more malleable than the bulkhead behind him. Then, a broad grin materialized as if by transporter. “Point taken.”