Shanzer

So this one is a little longer than the last ones. This one is actually a rewrite. I wrote a gnarly piece of micro-fiction entitle “Shanzer 1” and it was the lead out for a series of short stories, which were also gnarly. I decided to rewrite them. I rewrote this one. I thought Shanzer was going to be a more important character than he turned out to be. I hope you enjoy! Don’t forget to goo check out my Patreon Page, and don’t forget to send me an e-mail or leave a comment to let me know what you think!

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By Ray B. May IV

C.O. File: C-X4 (Razon Trade)
Log Entry: V-01, Artificial Intelligence: Vorcov
Supplementary Report Filed By: Agent Shanzer
Date Received: 3021.0615

A McClark 4 land-speeder slowly came to a stop amid the dunes of Razon 4. Sand was everywhere on this planet. One big ball of dust the sand any skin present so a special type of dress had sprung up here. Shanzer, an operative of a secret organization called the C.O., wore this “Sand-Suit” as he got out of the land-speeder. He left the speeder running so it would continue to hover above the sand.

“I’m sorry to have brought you,” he said patting the hood of the vehicle. The sand was doing wonders on his paint job.

He looked around through binoculars but didn’t see anyone or anything. He had been driving for seven hours out here in the dunes and his contact didn’t even have the decency to show up on time. He was here to sell some old C.O. tech to a Nexus operative in order to get a virtual mole into all their operations. Nexus was an organization that was supremely anti-Empire. In fact Shanzer was sure they were behind the assassination of Emperor Jlascus the previous year, through there was no proof.

A poorly maintained Vincenzo Mark 3 crested a dune and Shanzer guessed this was his contact. “Vorcov,” he said.

“Yes sir,” I replied.

“Start recording all sights, sounds and other info,” he said.

“I already am, Shanzer,” I replied.

“Good,” Shanzer said.

The Vincenzo came to a stop and slowly descended to the desert floor. A man got out of the driver’s seat. “You Reeser?” he called through his sand-suit’s mask.

“Yes,” Shanzer called back.

A robot got out of the front passenger side and set up a tent-like building around the Vincenzo. The man waved Shanzer into the hallway-like entrance. Shanzer walked in and discovered another man had exited the speeder. This man wore a three piece suit, tie and all. That’s why the robot had set up the tent, without a sand-suit this guy would be hurting after just a few moments in that sandstorm.

“Suppose you’re Reeser,” the man said.

Shanzer nodded.

“Let’s lose the mask, then,” the man said motioning at his own face.

Shanzer undid the mask and took off the protective wrapping. “Are you Ross Jorstin?” he asked.

The man nodded, “I’m here and I’m ready.” He waved a hand at his bodyguard. The man got a briefcase out of the speeder and set it on the hood. They stood their staring at each other for a moment then Ross twitched his hand and his man opened the case. The thing was filled to the brim with cred-wafers. The ones on top were full.

“All nines,” Shanzer said. “I like to see that.”

“I’m waiting,” Ross replied.

Shanzer pulled a bag from underneath his light jacket. From the bag he pulled the computer part. “Did you bring the total amount?” he asked.

Ross nodded. “Oh, wait,” he said and pulled another wafer from a pocket on the inside of his jacket and threw it onto the rest. “That case will only hold five hundred wafers. There’s the last five hundred credits. It’s all there now.”

Shanzer held out the computer part. The bodyguard closed the case – Shanzer noticed it didn’t latch – and made the exchange. Ross turned to get back into the speeder.

“Wait one moment,” Shanzer said and pulled another device out of his bag. He scanned the case waiting for the total amount of credits to pop up on the small screen.

“They’re all full,” Ross said. “Five hundred billion creds was the agreed upon amount. I don’t think even the infamous Shanzer, of the C.O., would disbelieve me with that many wafers in his hands.”

“You’re not dealing with this Shanzer, through,” Shanzer replied. It was very important the Nexus didn’t know that it really was him. “You’re dealing with me.”

A beep came from the little machine and its display read five hundred billion credits on the nose. Shanzer returned the device to his bag removed the extra wafer and put in his bag. He secured the case and then reaffixed the sand-suit’s mask.

“Our deal is done Mr. Jorstin,” Shanzer said. He then turned to exit the tent.

“Good day, Reeser,” Ross said behind him.

Shanzer exited the tent and immediately got into his speeder. He turned the hovering vehicle and took off over the desert. He had seven hours to go before he was at the ISS Renew. He pushed the accelerator to the floor then let up to hold the speeder at an even one hundred sixty kilometers an hour.

He crossed the desert with ease. As he came up upon the Renew he called for the hangar door’s to be opened. The baritone voice of X-13 told him that it was done. He dropped his speed to forty kilometers an hour.

“X,” Shanzer said to his partner.

“Yeah,” X-13 responded.

“I want the Renew off the ground as soon as the doors are closed behind me,” Shanzer said.

“Roger that,” X acknowledged. No one – not even Shanzer – knew X-13’s real name ore what his face looked like. He had joined the C.O. as what he was. Shanzer had struck a friendship with him and they had been partners ever since.

Shanzer expertly guided the speeder into the hangar and the doors immediately started to close. He took the time to secure his McClark to the deck and felt the ship take off as he did so.

“Shanzer,” this voice was different, a woman’s voice.

“What is it, Steph?” Shanzer asked.

“We’re about to hit some turbulence as we exit the atmosphere,” she said. Steph was his off and on girlfriend as well as an easy third for him and X when they needed it on a mission. “It would be better for you to strap in down there rather than coming up here.”

“Acknowledged,” Shanzer said a little grudgingly. He pulled a fold-down chair out of the bulkhead and strapped in.

The Renew went through very severe turbulence. If Shanzer had tried to walk up to the bridge he most likely would’ve cracked his skull open on the decking.

Vorcov,” he said after about fifteen minutes of being tossed about.

“Yes,” I replied.

“About how much longer is this going to go on?” he almost barked out.

“About two minutes and sixteen seconds, sir,” I said.

My Calculation didn’t account for X-13’s piloting ability as he pulled up at a sharper angle causing the Renew to avoid some of the turbulence. This meant the Renew went through, only, one minute and twenty-six seconds more from Shanzer’s question.

Shanzer went up to the bridge then. He sat down at the copilot’s chair. Steph stood up and walked off the bridge.

“I need to make a meal,” she said as she did.

Shanzer made the appropriate calculations for a hyperspace jump. “Steph,” he said into the COM.

“Yes,” she replied.

“Secure for a h-space jump,” Shanzer said pushing buttons.

“Secured,” Steph said after a few moments.

Shanzer pushed a button on his console.

The ISS Renew opened a tear into the other dimension of hyperspace and passed into it. And with that their mission was over.

THE END

Shanzer for a long time was my kind of alter ego when it came to the Imonoran Empire. He lived outside the norm and I could use him to go behind the scenes and “spy on the world”. My sister also had an alter ego which was a spy and if I get around to putting Shanzer 2 or Saving Worlds on this we may meet her. I hope you enjoyed Shanzer!

Acknowledgements:
RB’s Universe has so many people to thank for making this possible. First of course, my wife Amanda, and the rest of my family, for pushing and helping me to achieve my goals.
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