General Ledger by L. Joseph Shosty
Achilles is an interplanetary merc on Bergot for one purpose, to illegally obtain an idol from a forest temple on the planet’s third continent. It’s a dangerous place, and what’s worse, human are expressly forbidden to travel there due to planetary treaties with Bergot’s indigenous race, the Quell.
Joining Achilles on his journey is Swiss, a robotic “company store”, whose job is to sell helpful items to the mercenary at an absurd mark up. Swiss can be maddeningly human at times, fearing for its life and questioning its client’s every move, but it also plays a critical role in whether or not Achilles leaves Bergot in one piece.
What’s supposed to be a moderately dangerous caper turns into nerve-wracking battle for life as the two get closer to their goal. All Achilles wants is to make a profit and take a long vacation. All Swiss wants is to make a profit and help his new friend steal a rare object from the very heart of the Quell’s Holy Land. What they’ll get is the beginning of an adventure that will change them both forever.
