Back in their hotel room, Rivqua and Zana gave Sir Morris a quick call to let him know the good news and halt any legal action he might be contemplating. He sounded relieved, and also expressed a degree of bafflement at the turn of events.
"I'll pester my contacts once more and push for good write-ups in the papers, make sure the audience keeps coming. Who knows, eight weeks might turn into twelve. Then we'll be into the holidays. Imagine the fruits of playing high-season at the Toss Vague-Ass Grand."
The girls could almost hear their manager rubbing his paws.
"We might be sick of Toss Vague-Ass by then," said Zana. "Some other relatively important figure might have died in that time."
Up in the penthouse floor, the secretary bot had entered the office of her late boss and stood facing Luffy Bing.
"Yes?" he said, not looking up.
"I'm curious, sir. Where this 'brother' of Mister Fadda Bing comes from."
He jotted on documents, working through the piles. "Are you referring to me?"
"Correct. I never heard of you, and I was under the impression I knew quite a lot about Fadda Bing, being his secretary. However, about you I knew nothing."
"Oh I am Fadda's brother alright. But he never talked about me, I'm aware of that. Black sheep of the family you see. Which is funny, because for all Fadda's success and position he didn't run this place very well, did he?"
"What do you mean, sir?"
"We've got overdue bills from suppliers and contractors all over the place! Several creditors are now threatening to sue! No, Miss - I forget your name, sorry - this all changes now. I'm truly sorry about Fadda, but perhaps it's for the best, for the Grand Galactica I mean. Because as of today, I am in charge, and things will change. I'm going to turn this sinking ship around before it's too late. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."
He got back into the paperwork.
"You're in charge," said the robot thoughtfully, eyeing him. "As of this day."
"Get me some more coffee, will you dear? And make it stronger this time."
The secretary didn't move. He looked up at her and gestured. "Well?"
"That is where you are mistaken, Mister Luffy Bing," said the bot with cold calm. Then she raised her hand toward him and fired a gun. Luffy Bing jolted in his big chair and a spray of green blood splattered across the wall behind him. His drilled head hit the desk like an oversized paperweight.
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