"Good Tithings this glorious Monday morning! Grolla and I are here on Gero Prime to witness the largest single move in the history of the Galaxy! Singer, actress, author, entrepreneur, idol, architect and Heiress Charlie Nielsen is moving from her home on Gero Minor to Janus 5. Isn't that right, Grolla?"
"That's right, Bob! The three week trip..."
The news broadcast continued playing over the radio as Burroughs and Waterson went through the final check list before take-off. All the containers had been placed. All the crates had been stacked. All the parcels had been catalogued, except for one.
"So, what's the final say on the bonus situation?" Burroughs asked.
"First, let's go through the route one last time." Waterson said as he took his seat.
"If ya say so."
"We're leaving Gero Minor at 0600 hours G.M.T. We'll travel through the Clarke Cluster..."
"Around." Burroughs corrects.
"Around the Clarke Cluster. Then we'll pass by GTMO-2125 while escorted by the Planetary Guard, followed by a tight sling shot from the Santiago Star, then home free to Janus 5."
"Speaking of which. Were you able to wrestle up a few extra batteries for the shields?"
"I was able to snag one." Waterson said as he looked up from his pad, "Think we'll be good?"
"We'll just have to wait and see." Burroughs took off his cap and rubbed his forehead.
"Not since the Furbillian Uprising on FRBY-1098 has such a venture of this scale been attempted! Isn't that right, Grolla?"
"That's right, Bob! When dictator, President Olnap, fled from his continental palace..."
Waterson skimmed through his data pad when they heard a loud hum. In the distance a bright corona could be seen shining around an ancient cathedral. Burroughs watched as the morning sky illuminated, light reflecting off the gravity tethers' field. "Looks like the Gala Galaxy Crew got their tethers calibrated." He said.
"Just in time, too." Burroghs responded.
"What's the cathedral called again?"
"The Sagrada Familia, I think."
"That's familiar..."
"It's garish."
"Oh! And now we can see the light emanating from the Bacilica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia! When Ms. Nielsen first bought the cathedral to make improvements, people called her insane but look at it now. Isn't it beautiful, Grolla?"
"That's right, Bob! Fun fact: After this move, the Sagrada Familia will be the first holy structure to have been on three different planets."
Burroughs flipped the switches and entered the commands. The engines roared to life and the trawler rumbled. He looked to his co-pilot. "Still haven't said anything on the bonus situation." He stated.
"Just need a second to make an adjustment to the weight." Waterson said.
"What's off?" Burroughs rolled his eyes.
"There was an extra crate not listed. Making the adjustment now."
"What's in it?"
"Don't know. It wasn't listed. No one knew what to do with it."
The cabin rumbled as their trawler took flight.
"Look at it, Grolla! Thousands of movers and truckers working together! Huh... It kind of looks like insects flying around a strange fruit..."
"That's right, Bob! Those "insects" as you put it are representatives from hundreds of moving and packaging companies..."
"Pfft. Insects." Waterson scoffs.
"Not too far off."
"You can't tell me they didn't get a chuckle out of that?"
"Oh, you meant class."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing. On a lighter note: What's with the bonus situation? You've been dodging enough."
Waterson let's out a low whistle. "I don't know if that's a lighter note..."
"What do you mean?"
"We're getting images now from the removal site of the Sagrada Familia. The Gerovian Natives are out in full celebration. Oh boy, someone definitely told them 'It's 5 o'clock somewhere.' Isn't that right, Grolla?"
"That's right, Bob! Those smiles will soon turn sour though when they realize all the infrastructure..."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'FOR THE ENTIRE FLEET'?" Burroughs yelled.
"We only get the bonus if 95% of the total wealth, assets, infrastructure, and personal belongings of the client, Ms. Charlie Nielsen, arrive intact and on time to their destination of Janus 5." Waterson winced behind his data pad.
"Those blood sucking bean counters want us to fly past the bug infested Clarke Cluster, "escorted" through a prison planet sector where they'll turn us to shrapnel if we even look funny, then skirt so close to a star you can tongue box a solar flare, and they expect the whole fleet to have a 95% success rate?"
"But..." Waterson tried to interject.
"What's the cathedral worth again?"
"13%"
"I thought it was 15%?" Burroughs asked, scrunching his nose.
"The adjusters removed two points for..." Waterson scrolled through his data pad, "Distasteful modifications."
"Oh. We're saved." Burroughs scoffs, "2 Points shaved off that monstrosity."
"You said the flight path was good."
"Yes!" Burroughs began his tirade again, "For us if we fly right! Not for every other jackoff with a license and crew. Some of those crews were formed just for the payday from this trip! Do you think they all have the same experience and skill?"
"Well, shit."
*"And the ants go marching one by one! Look at them go, Grolla! Hard to believe this whole operation was started just three months ago."
"That's right, Bob! Insurance adjusters from dozens of major firms just left five days ago to finalize..."*
Footsteps echoed through the mausoleum of containers they were hauling as the two crewmen were led by LB-45. Lights flickered casting shadows through the dust and already stale air. They stopped in front of the unmarked container as the loading bot settled into place.
"It doesn't have any hazard labels or warnings on it." Burroughs said
"What if it's booby-trapped?" Waterson said.
"You're just thinking of that now?" Burroughs laughed, "You have to get your head back in reality, Space man Spiff. I don't know much but I know logistics. This is probably the product of some clerical error. Hand me the P.R.I."
Waterson hands Burroughs the crowbar from the loading robot. "You could just call it what it is." He said.
"Where's the fun in that?" Burroughs leans into the crate as he wrestles with the lid. He strains until there is a snap and release, "Help me with the lid."
The two of them slid the lid free from the container and a glorious, gold hue shone from inside. Both of them were held in awe.
"So... about that bonus situation." Waterson's voice trailed off.
"We'll just have to wait and see." Burroughs answered with a grin.