the future

A Younger Man’s Game (part 3)

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On the poker table the thugs were just at was a small pile off very familiar looking gems. No wonder Bug doesn’t just leave. She’s a smart little critter unless it has to do with those blasted gems. Then she’s as dull as her gems are shiny. It will probably be easier to deal with the pirates than try to get her to leave. Although it goes against my better judgment I should give them a chance to be reasonable.

“What do you want old… aarggh!” the pirate screams as I shoot him through the hand holding the knife. It hits the ground with an exaggerated clang that sounds all the louder for the deafening silence that has struck the room. What can I say? I am fast. This ain’t bragging, just the truth. I’ve made it seventy- five years and have yet to be beaten. That may change at any time but not now with this bunch. And they stand slack jawed in the realization of this truth. At least I have their complete attention.

“Now son, I am going to give you the opportunity to be reasonable. You will give my ship-mate back her jewels and let us walk out of here or you and your friends can continue to cause a ruckus and see what else you can lose. You’ve lost your hand for theft, if you continue your next transgression will be stupidity. I’ll leave you to guess where the next one is going. You have till I get my cigar lit to decide.”

As I pull the cigar out of my coat I look at the eyes watching me. Half are on me and the other is on the pirate I shot. Weird they almost seem more scared of him. Better finish this soon and get Bug out of here. I glance up at her only to see that she has already dropped to the table and grabbed her gems. Then just as quick is back up to the rafters looking back at the group with a wicked gleam in her eye. Damn again. As I light a match I call up to her hoping to forestall the inevitable.

“Bug, you got your gems now keep yer trap shut while we allow these gentlemen to decide what’s in their best interest.”

She gives me hope for a moment but Bug can’t help but mock those she feels inferior to her. And at last count that seems to include everyone in the known universe.

“Ok Mr. Cash. Bug no open Bug’s trap. Bug knows how to be quiet and wait for meanie scum to decide they scared of ancient Mr. Cash you. Bug feel bad for them. Old Mr. Cash you has them making the silly cloths around thems legs dirty and smelly. It’s ok meanie guys, you cannot help making mess of selves like newly hatched skreeps…”

“CLICK”

I look over to see the largest of the pirates step in front of the only exit and lock the door. The gangly pirate I shot is staring daggers from Bug to me. They are not the eyes of sane person. Weapons begin showing up in the hands of his crew. I guess I have their answer.

(to be continued)

Nullus Anxietas

A Younger Man’s Game (part 2)

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At the man’s threat I have to shake my head and shoot down my drink before I have a chance to consider the wisdom of what I am about to do. The liquor burns going down as I accept the familiar tingle that infuses my old bones. It is a noxious potion that will exact a price but oh well… at seventy-five years of age this ain’t my first rodeo. I know the score. Let’s see if these delinquents are as aware. Somehow I doubt it.

None of the scumbag’s cronies notice as I get up off my stool. In fact the only person who notices is the bartender, Miguel. He’s known me since he was a kid and his grandparents ran this cantina. He gives me a quick skittish smile and a shrug and proceeds beyond the heavily reinforced door to the back of the bar. I hear an audible clang as the latch to the door is locked into place. Miguel always was a smart kid.

The situation is getting worse. The whole group is now taunting Bug and a few more weapons have been drawn. Occasional shots are being fired. I am not too worried for Bug’s sake as she is a slippery varmint. Can do pretty much anything in the air and isn’t afraid to tell you about it as she has begun to do so to the increasingly angry mob trying to bring her down out of the rafters.

Bug’s high pitched laugh scorches the ears of those below her as she taunts them with “You stupids no catch Bug. Bug best flyer. Stupids are too slow.” As her voice ramps up in pitch, sounding more and more like the scolding of a hyper-sonic squirrel I know I need to get involved. Bug’s race has a sonic attacked designed to stun these large insect like creatures that are Bug’s people’s native food source and let’s just say it works a dandy on full grown humans too. Maybe I can flank the group and end this before it gets messy.

That was my plan until Bug finally noticed I was here. Her eyes widen. Damn! I put my finger to my lips signaling her to ignore me. Praying for once she does what’s she’s told. Of course God has a funny sense of humor about these things.

“Hey you meanies. Don’t you dare look behind you and see Mr. Cash sneaking up on you. He just an old man and can’t hurt a skreep.” she says this with an exaggerated wink of one of her large eyes to me. I suppose I should give her points for attempting subtlety, a concept her culture is not really familiar with.

The entire group turns to face me. They seems less than impressed. Well at least I’ve got their attention away from Bug and can get a good look at what I am dealing with. Oh goody. Pirates. Bug sure knows how to pick an enemy, though from the looks of things maybe she wasn’t the one doing the choosing this time.

(to be continued)

Nullus Anxietas

A Younger Man’s Game

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” What the hell? Give that back you little thief before I gotta hurt ya.”

I sigh as a tall, gangly man with a scarred face begins yelling at something in the upper corner of the cantina hidden in shadow. The man, who is armed with two nasty looking beam pistols is brandishing a wicked looking knife at the unidentified creature, surrounded by a small group of equally disreputable scum who up until the man’s enraged cry had been playing cards. At his cry the whole cantina became focused on the potential altercation except for one old man sitting on a stool at the bar nursing a shot of something foul and slightly luminescent contemplating a past better left alone. His back is hunched and his long scraggly hair nearly touches the lip of the shot glass as well as obscuring his face. A red bandana is tied around his neck and is tucked under an ill kept beard. He is dressed in a long, faded black duster coat. There is an equally faded black cowboy hat sitting next to him on the bar counter. Leaning next to him is a long, dented metal case. He is an entirely depressing sight to behold. Sadly, the old man is me. My name is William Cash. The commotion does not concern me until I hear the high pitched, sing song reply from the creature in the corner. Damn the luck.

” Bug no thief! Those are Bug’s shinnies! You mean man! Leave Bug alone!”

The creature fires out her retort like a shrill, machine gun. Each word hits me between the eyes. Damn, what is she doing here? I thought I left her behind on the “She’s one of Ours”. the salvage ship which I had until recently been serving on. The name is the Captain’s attempt at subterfuge. She seems to believe it will confuse an enemy. Maybe it could but what do I know? I’m just an old mercenary. Though truthfully I fail to see the humor.

That being said I still am wondering what that little varmint Bug is doing here, several light years away from the ship. You know what? Scratch that. I do know what she’s doing her. She is doing what she does best, get into trouble. As if to prove that point one of the scumbag with the knife’s buddies pulls a pistol and aims it at the corner and fires in the general direction of Bug’s voice. He misses but it causes Bug to fly to a beam over the middle of the room exposing her to view to the distress of the whole cantina.

The cause of the distress is that Bug is a non- human humanoid from deep in uncharted space. There is still quite a bit of xenophobia in the human race ever since the Arathi war some 50 years ago. Even though Bug’s race had nothing to do with it humans just haven’t warmed up to anything outside of the human norm and Bug definitely qualifies as outside the norm.

She stands just under three feet tall and has an almost fey- like essence. She has a long, thick prehensile tail upon which she can balance to make herself look bigger. This she is doing currently. Her arms have natural wings attached at the wrists which allow gliding flight which are currently spread to appear fierce. She wears no clothing but straps designed to hold a myriad of pouches. Though she does have a fine brown fur covering her tough, chitinous skin. The other thing that would catch your eye are the gems. Bug’s people have a strong affinity for gem craft and they always have some placed on their bodies. Which was odd since Bug’s gems weren’t in their usual places but were being held in her hand-like feet. Which brings us back to the scums accusation.

” Give those gems back you freak before we have to get nasty.” The scum yells to Bug with a leer.

(to be continued)

Nullus Anxietas