Ready to Explode - Part V
Posted on Mon Aug 31st, 2015 @ 11:21am by Commander Jordan Gunning & Commander Titus Livius Drusus PhD
Mission:
By Dawn's Early Light
Location: Enola Gay [Holodeck 12, Deck 44]
Timeline: Immediately After "Ready to Explode Part IV"
As he led the two travelers across the street back to the bar where Anderson was lurking, the sheriff seemed to muster all the enthusiasm of a recently awoken cat. Drusus had to fight the urge to push the man along and scream out that they didn't have all day. As it was, he followed closely behind; close enough for the sheriff to be in no doubt about the Magna Roman's immediate presence.
The sheriff's entrance into the bar clearly wasn't an every day occurrence. The patrons seemed genuinely perplexed about the presence of their local law man. It didn't take them long to pick out Anderson in the modest crowd; he was still sitting where Gunning and Drusus had left him not long before.
"Anderson," the sheriff said around a long sigh. "These fellas have leveled a pretty serious allegation against you. Would you kindly come with me, sir?"
The little weasel looked up from his grimy drink and the company of the woman who had joined him at his table and looked beyond the sheriff into the eyes of Gunning, and then Drusus. "Two meth heads telling you tales, Sheriff? You'll have to do a bit better than that to shift me out of your little town."
Drusus rolled his eyes and took a half step closer, "No stories, Anderson," he said, injecting the man's name with an overdose of mockery. "You're not going to cash in on a town's destruction. We won't allow it."
"And we're not meth heads, you snide bastard." Gunning added, making sure to keep their good names out of the mud.
"Well, these two men are clearly delusional, Sheriff. If it's not drugs then it's probably radiation sickness. You'll want to take them over to see Doctor Miller before they get themselves hurt."
Turning to the sheriff, and showing half of his back to Anderson, Drusus said, "You need to do something, Sheriff," he said. "If you let him carry on like this, he'll figure out some way - dupe some poor son of a bitch - into setting off that bomb. Then you'll be dead. Everyone under your protection will be dead. Make the call, Sheriff. Do the right thing."
"That's enough!" Anderson called out, kicking the table away in a surprising show of strength and leaping to his feet. He brandished a gun, shaking slightly as he held it out in front of him, training it on each man in turn. "It's blatant that you believe this miscreants more than me!"
Drusus turned and held his hands up, not wanting to antagonise the guy into shooting up the place. "Just calm down now, pal," he said, palms facing the gun. If he could keep the focus on him, an opportunity might present itself. That meant antagonising him just enough so that he'd want to shoot Drusus. "It's not the sheriff's fault that you're about as believable as a cat with a rat's tail stuck in its teeth."
"Oh, shut up, you self-righteous prick!" It was obvious Anderson was incredibly rattled. His hand shook as the gun swished back and forth. Gunning's hand rested on the hilt of the ropey little pistol he'd bought before Drusus had turned up. He figured he had about four bullets and probably one or two shots before the damn thing jammed.
"You don't want to get into this, Anderson." Gunning said as levelly as he could. The truth was that this was the crescendo of the piece and it was pretty damn exciting.
"You couldn't just take the damned money, huh?!" He shouted back at Gunning, his breath beginning to steam his little glasses slightly.
Gunning looked bemused. "Sure doesn't look that way."
"Enough of this rambling on nonsense!" the sheriff suddenly interjected. For the first time since knowing him, Drusus actually spotted some kind of fire in his eyes. Something had finally motivated him. He pointed to Anderson with his left hand while he reached for the gun on his hip with his right and said, in stern, commanding tones, "You will put that away right now, Anderson and you'll be coming with -"
The gunshot cracked and echoed deafeningly through the bar, sending people screaming and scrambling. It happened quickly. The shot from Anderson's gun tore through the sheriff's neck, sending him instantly sprawling and gurgling to the floor.
Before the sheriff had hit the ground, Drusus sprang into action, pulled the pistol from his jacket, aimed at Anderson's torso and squeezed off three shots.
More screams and a whimpering howl of horrified pain from Anderson as he went down.
Gunning stepped over the little man and crouched down, pressing his fingers to the man's neck. "He's dead, Titus."
Drusus checked on the sheriff, who faded quickly as his body emptied its vital fluid over the floor. He crouched down beside him and shook his head. "Sorry, Sheriff ..." he said, realising he never caught the man's name. He tilted his head and read the rusty old tin name tag: John Brown.
The Magna Roman joined Gunning over by Anderson's body. "I think we saved the day," he said as he approached.
"It certainly looks that way." Gunning said, looking around at the clientele, who had all gone back to their drinks. They seemed to be used to this kind of thing.
"Now," Drusus said as they headed for the arch. "About those requisitions."
Commander Jordan Gunning
Executive Officer
Commander Titus Livius Drusus
Chief Science Officer
Starbase 332
