Firefly IC

[kfrye]

(OOC anyone interested in joining this thread check out the ooc forum here )

Santo

Purgatory Bar and Grill,

Santo was for the most part just a lot of heat and dust and sand but in some pockets civilization prevailed over the planets conditions which were for most unbearable. Reese Foster happened to be one of those who couldn’t take the weather. Growing up on Persephone she rarely had to face this weather. Thankfully she worked inside at the only local bar aptly named Purgatory.

Nothing special was an overstatement of the grimy and unappealing watering hole. It’s tables were all rough, makeshift tables which were accustomed to patrons taking a splinter of them home every so often. The seats were just as gritty and rough and the alcohol was about as filthy as it came, so was the bartender. Big Joe was a rough old man who’d been running the bar since his father owned it. The patrons didn’t pay mind to the conditions, they were used to them. Reese however wasn’t. She’d been dumped by the crew of her ship in a ‘cost-cutting’ measure and had been stuck on Santos for a long two weeks where the only work she could get was fixing people’s small appliances and cleaning up Purgatory for Joe. She watched every day as ships left. Hoping one day she’d make enough to get passage off the planet. There were only a few customers today. Three regulars playing cards in the corner then another man walked in. She was cleaning a table when he sat down at it. Being that the rest of the tables were empty he obviously sat near her for a reason.

“C.. can I help you sir?” She asked a little nervously. She wasn’t supposed to serve drinks, only clean and fix things but Joe had stepped out so it was only her.

(OOC I’m hoping the man who just walked in is going to be a PC but if you guys want to make your own entry then that’ll just be an NPC. Let the journey begin.)

 

[DJ_Wordplay]

Capt. Zack Kane

Captain Zack Kane took a look at the unimpressive building he was currently standing in front of. It said it was the Purgatory Bar and Grill, a name that both amused him as being descriptively accurate and depressed him, as it was disturbingly accurate. His surroundings did not suit him. Still, fate had brought him to this world and directed him to this bar. With a determined focus, Zack entered Purgatory.

The inside of the place was identical to the hundreds of outer rim dives Zack had found himself in ever since he'd parted ways with the Alliance. Gruff looking men sat in the corner, playing some sort of game. The air was thick with dust and the dim light of the place gave it the proper setting of being a place that nobody wanted to stay too long in. He thought about whether or not the Purgatory Bar and Grill had any regulars and the thought depressed him again. Nevertheless, Purgatory was where he'd been sent.

As Zack sat down at the table that the waitress was cleaning he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He was further depressed by the realization that he probably looked as though he fit right into the place. His blonde hair was still well groomed but had grown far longer than he'd kept it in his military days. His bright proud uniform had been replaced by dusty civilian clothes. He was a long ways from the Alliance, a long way from who he used to be.


“C.. can I help you sir?”

Zack was broken out of his self-pity by the timid voice of the waitress who'd been cleaning his table. Zack flashed a smile at the request.

"You surely can, Miss." Zack's voice had become tinged with a bit of the outer rim twang over the years. It was partly acquired and partly an act. If he spoke too much like an Alliance officer there were good odds that the gruff looking men in the back of the bar might decide to debate the merits of Unification with him.

"I would like drink please, whatever's popular and I'm looking for a good ship's mechanic. I was told there was one around these parts"

 

[Younglord]

With one mighty tug the cord finally reached the wooden post, securing it quickly Solomon Priest looked back down the small valley seeing the single line effectively splitting the valley into two large paddocks, the result of his labour for the the last two weeks.

His employer had a reputation as being tight with money, that had been shown in the measurement of the cord ,not a bit of waste, it also apparently included paying wages, he'd been informed that not one of the last five to work for Jacob Sire had been paid.

The sound of approaching horses caught Solomon's attention, turning he saw Jacob and his brother inlaw Regus Timbel riding in , it was Solomon's last day and he expected Jacob to pay him whether Jacob wanted to or not.

Jacob was a large bear of a man but was in turn dwarfed by Regus who stood over 7 ft tall. Jacob had a face like thunder.

He got off his horse as he reached Solomon "You can forget getting paid Priest, Regus saw you enter the homestead as I worked the north side yesterday he saw you try to take advantage of my wife" Solomon watched as Regus got off a relieved looking horse, the big man flexed his arms.

"You got five minutes to pack ya things and get off my land you best be moving now"

Solomon looked at both men and simply said "My money"

"Are you deaf as well as dumb Priest I ain't paying you nothin" with that Regus stepped forward his fists raised.

It happened quickly blades left the hand of Solomon and inbedded themselves in the fingers of Regus who yelled in pain, before Jacob could react he saw Solomon move and then felt pain as Solomon's arm raised along the side of his face.

Jacob looked down and fainted ,his right ear was on the ground.

Solomon casually walked over to a spade he'd been using picked it up approached first Regus who was in absolute agony and then Jacob and smashed each in the face with the face of the blade.

Securing both men in chains used to drag out a large tree stump yesterday Solomon looked in the pocket of Jacob and took the money due him.

A few minutes later he had gathered his gear then looking down at both men "You want to know about irony you're each cheating on your own wife with your brother in laws wife...I might go see what the fuss is about."

Walking into the homestead he saw the two sisters working on the evening meal , neither women was a looker but both had been blessed with bodies no doubt toned by a life time of work.

"Good Evening Solomon Priest" Sarah Timbel said pleasently " what may we do for you"

Solomon looked at both women "On my first day you both offered me something, I would like to take up the offer now"

Both women looked at each other "What of our husbands " asked Judy Sire

Solomon smiled "They will be very busy for a few hours" that brought a smile to both women.

Three hours later Solomon Priest walked into the Purgatory Bar and Grill and ignoring all in the place he took a seat in a dark corner , outside he could hear two angry voices "WHERE IS SOLOMON PRIEST"

 

[kfrye]

Reese smiled as the man mentioned a need for a mechanic. It was like God had sent someone to answer her prayers.

"Well sir. I can get you a drink so long as I only have to pour it into a cup I ain't no barmaid. I'm an mechanical engineer. Real university degree too from Osiris. I know I'm young but I promise I could really be a help if you just help me get off this planet." She hadn't noticed but her hands had gripped his as she pleaded her case.

"I can cook too and clean really I'll do anything to get away from here." She added wondering if the gruff man would take her. She was so sure he was sent from God that she trusted him to be a good person, she wasn't worried about her safety at all. Then again there weren't many places less safe than Santos.

 

[SethSunshine]

Rouge had stopped behind Captain Zack when he'd made his way through the swinging doors of the run down watering hole of this region, a sneering expression of discontent passed over his features as he looked around; sure he'd seen the ins and outs of areas just like this all over the quadrant - but still he didn't like hanging around them too long. He patted Zack on the shoulder as he turned to lean against the wall besides the door; waiting outside the place as he continued to keep watch, it was in his nature to be cautious - which was why he kept his thumb resting atop the rim of his belt: just next to the holster of his firearm.

The Captain had said that they were in need of a proper mechanic - seeing as the general mechanical knowledge of those who were already upon the firefly was minimal at best. The ship was in relatively good condition regardless - but considering whose employ they were all operating in it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that they'd need somebody capable to take care of the inevitable damage the ship would take.

Rouge's free hand found itself at his neck - as per usual when he wasn't really thinking about anything in particular, and his fingers tugged on the brown material which was bound about his throat. Shaking his head with a sigh he lowered his hand - putting his mind back to the situation at hand. Anything could happen out here; and the Captain might need his support. Although.. His hands found their way back to that strip of brown cloth once more. Rouge couldn't believe that he had found his way into this job - patching together a crew with this man he'd met not long ago; and worst of all the man had fought for the Alliance. Rouge had always seen the Alliance as more of a dictatorship than a democracy, that's why he'd signed up with the seperatist Browncoats during the war. But this was his meal ticket, he supposed, and old grudges would have to be shoved aside - so he continued his vigil, keeping his eyes open for anything awry.

 

[DJ_Wordplay]

Captain Kane

"Well sir. I can get you a drink so long as I only have to pour it into a cup I ain't no barmaid. I'm an mechanical engineer. Real university degree too from Osiris. I know I'm young but I promise I could really be a help if you just help me get off this planet."

Zack couldn't help but look amazed as the girl revealed that she was the mechanic he'd been told about. She barely looked old enough to be away from her kin, let alone have graduated from University. A quick glance of his eyes over to his first mate were met by a shrug. Kane knew what Rouge would say. They needed a mechanic and were in no position to be picky about it. Still, Kane had his doubts.

"I don't know miss, I was told we'd be getting someone with experience and....."

"I can cook too and clean really I'll do anything to get away from here."

These words made Zack's heart sink. Here was a young, seemingly innocent girl offering to do anything to get on a ship. With the kinds of sickos and creeps that were out there, a girl like this was sure to be taken advantage of. Whatever possible thoughts Zack had of refusing the girl's offer left him in one of the frequent attacks of his conscience that he kept trying to ignore. Zack let out an exasperated sigh before continuing

"Alright, Ms...." Zack was clearly looking for her name

"Foster" The girl replied with a grin

"Ms. Foster. We've got our ship, an old Firefly class, outside of town. You come with us, get her in the sky and you've got a job. May not be much in the way of wages but it'll be a fair divide of the loot we make."

Zack couldn't believe it. On an alliance crew he'd served with the best and brightest humanity had to offer, now he was hiring children in the raw hope they could just get his rickety old boat from spot to spot. A glance over to his first-mate saw a bit of the same look. Zack had liked what he'd seen of Rouge so far. Still a little bitter about the war but overall a good and, most importantly, competent man.

"Forget about the drink then, Miss. We've got a cargo that needs to get where it's going right quickly. Best we all make our way on out of here"

 

[caela]

Aly sighed softly as she finished patching up her last patient for the day. She'd taken up a position with a traveling doctor corporation once she'd finished her training on Osiris but she'd never expected to end up wiping noses and setting broken bones on some outer rim dustbowl of a planet. To say that she didn't like Santo was putting it mildly. The fact that it offered little challenge in her chosen career only made it worse. She'd been trained at one of the best schools the Alliance had to offer and instead of putting her skills to use the corporation had spent the last year shunting her from outer rim planet to outer rim planet.

"Should've taken that job at St. Lucy's but noooooooooo, you had to see the 'verse. I wonder if they'd still be willing to take me though. God knows my surgical skills are a bit rusty, thank god for simulators," she muttered to herself as she started packing up her supplies for the day.

Not for the first time she considered heading over to the Purgatory to drink herself into oblivion but she just couldn't do it. The place was an utter dive and she was just snobbish enough not to want to drink in there...and more than educated enough to worry about what she'd pick up from the filthy place if she did.

Killing the lights and flipping the sign on the door to close she quietly slipped out and locked the door. As she did she heard the Timbel brothers screaming for someone names Solomon Priest but she paid no attention to it. They were usually screaming for someone and most of her late night "emergencies" were because they'd been fighting and someone was broken or bleeding.

"Not tonight boys," she muttered under her breath and hoisted her bag up on her shoulder. "You get stupid tonight you can just bleed out or stitch yourselves up."

Sauntering down the dusty street she offered small smiles to the normal townsfolk before stopping in to pick up a few rations for the next week and returning to the clinic and the small apartment just above it that was hers. Before going up she stuck a small sign on the outside of the door.

If you aren't dying then it can wait til morning...Doc's taking the night off.

It had seemed rude to her when she'd first gotten here but the leaving doctor had told her it was a necessity and she'd quickly come to agree. Without it she had people banging on her door at all hours of the night for every cough, cold, and scrap that came their way. This was she actually got a couple full night's sleep a week and she was only bothered with real emergencies.

 

[kfrye]

Let the games begin

"Ms. Foster. We've got our ship, an old Firefly class, outside of town. You come with us, get her in the sky and you've got a job. May not be much in the way of wages but it'll be a fair divide of the loot we make."

“Wait. You’ll pay me?” Reese’s eyes lit up that was a huge bonus considering she just wanted a ride off the planet.

“I’m gonna work so hard fer you. You won’t be disappointed an’ if y’are well I guess.” She laughed nervously. “You could always throw me out the air lock.” She finished her joke then leaned forward a slightly wary expression on her face.

“Um… please don’t throw me out the airlock though. I’d take it as a kindness.” It might have been taken as a continuation of the joke but Reese was serious when she spoke to calm her own insecurities.

“Forget about the drink then, Miss. We've got a cargo that needs to get where it's going right quickly. Best we all make our way on out of here."

“Yes sir. Oh but I gotta get my stuff first.” She went into the back and grabbed a single bag of luggage and a rolling toolkit twice the size of her suitcase. It definitely looked too big for her.

“Okay I’m ready.” She said smiling, hoping he hadn’t changed his mind while she was gone. That’s when the scuffing of chair on wood could be heard and the men in the corner stood up. Five of them and all big. One of them, a heavily tattooed man who wore only a snakeskin vest and jeans, with a belt that had machete’s holstered in it. stepped in front of the door, another other blocked the back exit. He was bald with a thick black beard.

“So you ‘ave a ship d’ya? Well looks t’be mine now less you wanna see somethin’ bad happen to the little lady here.” The apparent ringleader spoke up in a deep gruff voice, he stroked a hair from Reese’s face, which was pale from her instantaneous fear of the man. The two men that flanked him had pistols aimed on each of them.

“An’ much worse happen t’you.” He added coming face to face with Zack.

 

[Younglord]

Solomon watched as the men moved into position and did nothing , well nothing anyone could see , for in his quiet corner forgotten about he had slipped his guns out of their holsters.

Jacob and Remus were still shouting and the shouts were coming closer, if they had half a brain they would have come to Purgatory first.

He'd heard talk of an old firefly out there wondering if there was a way to get on board at a reduced rate, they sounded needy enough that they might just go for a discounted fare. Then again maybe this opportunity had come along for a different purpose.

So he wanted and watched....and then the door to the Bar and Grill swung open smashing in to the man who had stationed himself in front of the main door, the armed man stumbled several feet while Jacob , his head covered by an off white cloth (except that half of it was blood red) acting as a head band , and Remus his hands covered in bandadges came charging in.

Large men that easily blocked the doorway and seemingly unaware of all else they shouted "WHERE IS SOLOMON PRIEST"

Solomon watched in the shadow a sly smile on his face....show time.

 

[DJ_Wordplay]

Capt. Kane


“Um… please don’t throw me out the airlock though. I’d take it as a kindness.”

Zack couldn't help but smile at the way the girl accepted his offer and then rambled on. She seemed a sweet enough thing, a touch on the naive side, but that was kind of par for the course. He knew that she was probably exaggerating about her skill with engines but, well, it did his heart some good knowing he'd helped her out all the same.

He watched as she assembled her gear and made her way to go. She did seem genuinely excited to be getting off this rock and Zack couldn't blame her. Every second he was spending here was a second he wasn't working, every second he wasn't working his debts to Mr. Niska were getting larger. Zack allowed himself a moment to look back at Rouge and it was in that moment that the large fellows at the back had made their move. They all stood up, making their ways for the exits and one of them had grabbed Ms. Foster.

The Leader, a big bald sort, had positioned himself between Zack and his new mechanic. Two of his accomplices had pulled pistols, one of which was trained on him and the other on Rouge. Zack rolled his eyes and cursed in Chinese.

“So you ‘ave a ship d’ya? Well looks t’be mine now less you wanna see somethin’ bad happen to the little lady here.”

Zack felt his anger rise within him as he saw the man touch Ms. Foster's hair. Zack couldn't help but already feel something of a protective role towards the girl this ape was threatening.

“An’ much worse happen t’you.”

The leader of this little plot leaned in close to Zack. He had stained, yellowed teeth and breath that spoke to the fact. Despite the anger, Zack remembered the training he'd received. A cool head is a head that's likely to remain attached, after all. It was when Zack was sizing up the situation, the likelihood of fighting his way out versus giving them men what they want that he realized the absurdity of their request. He gave his head a bit of a sorrowful shake.

"Sir, you have made something of a miscalculation." Zack said clearly and politely, his old Alliance tones returning to him "See, the vessel that you're referring to is one I would gladly hand over to you in return for you not harming Ms....."

Zack turned towards the girl

"I'm sorry but calling you 'Ms. Foster' seems somewhat ridiculously formal. What's the name folk tend to call you?"

"R-r-reese" The frightened girl managed to spit out

"Reese, right"

Zack turned back to the man who was threatening him.

"Like I said, I'd be more than willing to trade you the ship for her health and, not inconsequentially, my health as well. The problem is I don't actually own the ship. The owner is a fairly terrifying individual by the name of Adelei Niska, you may have heard of him."

The look in the eye of the man eyeballing him was non-committal but Zack could hear the audible gasp from another man in the gang.

"That's right. He's a man who takes really, really poorly to having his things thieved and a whole ship well, he would hunt you to the ends of the black and, when he caught you, well, you'd be begging for a tea party with reavers right quickly."

It was at this moment when some large men burst through the door, bellowing something about looking for a Priest. Zack turned his head towards them with an exasperated expression

"Now boys, we're already in the midst of one calamity so I would appreciate it muchly if you two could settle down and allow me and the first gentleman to finish our business. After which we'll deal with you and your spiritual quest"

Zack shook his head and gave a conspiratorial roll of the eyes to the man with the gun to his head. His attention turned back towards the large bald man.

"Now, you're faced with an difficult decision. Sit down, tell your boys to back off and lose some figurative manhood. Or, start a ruckus, steal the ship, get caught by my employer and lose literal manhood. Boy, that is a pickle and a half"

 

[Younglord]

Solomon's eyes flicked for the merest of moments at the mention of the name Adelei Niska, only a fool crossed that man.

Still he looked over the scene calmly waiting.

Jacob stood still his lower lip hung open , the man at the bar had brought Jacob out of his madding need to find Priest by pointing out that there were other people in the bar with guns and there own issues.

Now a smart man would have walked right out of the bar really fast but Jacob could be accussed of being many things but smart was not on the list.

"What do we do " Remus said in a deep voice

"We stay and we wait til they have finished and then we tear this place apart Priest is here somewhere we done searched everywhere else"

Remus nodded that seemed reasonable to the giant man Jacob always knew what was best.

 

[SethSunshine]

Rouge had simply folded his arms across his chest when all the drama had started, rolling his eyes. Him and the Captain had one important name which they could count on to scare off the majority of those who had designs on their ship - Adelei Niska. He wasn't a man that a large slice of the criminal underworld would want to go toe to toe with, so taking property which was his was a big no no - and it seems that one of the men who'd attempted to acost them knew of the name. Good, this should all settle down soon enough; and he wouldn't have to reach for his pistol. That was when another ruckus started, with someone yelling something about a 'Solomon Priest'? Rouge just sighed, uncrossing his arms, this second situation was nothing to do with them - and in his experience he had a knack for getting drawn into brawls which had nothing to do with him: so he was sure to be ready to defend himself, and quickly escape.

His gaze settled on the Captain, and their new ship mechanic - Reese. All they really needed to do now was get out of the bar and across the way to their firefly so they could escape this hunk of rock of a planet. But that was easier said than done. "Captain," Rouge raised his voice over the din a little, lifting his wrist to present his watch to Zack, tapping it lightly. "We really need to get going, places to be, y'know." He stood up from the wall, pretty much ignoring the man who had the gun pointed at his temple. "What do you say to making our way out? Sharpish." His eyes flicked to one side quickly - indicating a window in the bar which seemed to have been previously smashed: and was now boarded over with flimsy looking wood. A smirk appeared on the corner of his lips as he saw that the captain recognised his plan. Rouge had always been one for theatrics and leaping out of a bar window in a hail of bullets would satisfy him now - sure the Captain had a silver tongue and could bargain or charm his way out of the majority of situations. But they were in the crossfire of yet another calamity at the moment, and hell, it wouldn't do Reese much harm to see first hand what life on their firefly was going to be like.

"Ready?" he asked, their attempted robbers looking confused at what he was referring to.

 

[kfrye]

The first group of five men seemed put off by the name Niska but the leader didn't buy it. He laughed and gripping Reese by the hair pulled her further away from Zack.

"Alright boys bring 'er out back. Have your fun. We're gonna teach these boys a lesson 'bout lyin'." He said with a laugh. One of the men who had been holding a gun to Rouge now was distracted with a struggling and fearful Reese and not paying attention to his target. That's when big Joe came out from the back. One look at the situation and he made up his mind what was going on. He pulled a shotgun from under the counter and trained it on the man holding Reese. The click of the shotgun pumping turned the attention of the other man whose gun was pointed at Zack. He aimed his gun at Joe but Joe wasted no time in firing off a shot. The man flew into the wall, blood splattering everywhere as his chest exploded. The leader of the group in a fit of rage pulled out a handgun and fired five rounds into Joe, he smashed against the alcohol behind him at the bar and slid to the ground dead. The two looking for Priest now had their weapons drawn and any remaining patrons ran for the door knocking over the man trying to block it.

The commotion gave them a perfect chance to retaliate against the would-be shipjacker's. Reese however was simple standing and sobbing as the man guarding her, began running his hand over her. She trembled and weeped, just praying she wouldn't die.

 

[Younglord]

As the bar keep pulled the gun out Solomon rose by the time the bar keep smashed into the drinks Solomon was already aiming a single shot , he fired at the young girl missing her and hitting the man feeling her up dead-center of the brutes head.

Solomon then turned and looked at Jacob and Remus as the entire place exploded in movement and sound.

Solomon fired two bullets at the pair one took out Jacobs other ear and one hammered into the upper arm of Remus the force of the shots put Jacob on his back while Remus staggered unsure about what had just happened.

Then Solomon moved as a gun swung in his direction, he dived over a small wall that separated the entrance to the tiolet from the main bar and disappeared.

 

[caela]

Aly sighed and dropped her groceries on the counter when she heard the gunshots breaking out. The clinic was only a couple of buildings away from the Purgatory and the two buildings between them were empty so she knew where the sounds were coming from.

"One night...one lousy night off is that so freaking much to ask!" she growled before spinning on her heel. Grabbing her emergency medkit along with the larger shoulder bag that she had taken to carrying on this backwater rock to carry extra meds, suture, and other supplies for just when things like this happened.

She also grabbed a pistol off the counter. Like the sign on the door it was a present from the former doctor and had come in just as handy. Oh she hadn't actually shot anyone but she'd shot the thing into the air to get people's attention before. It seemed to shock the hell out of them to see the pretty, aloof doctor holding a gun and usually brought whatever fight she had to break up to a standstill. Tucking it into the back of her pants she headed out the door.

She didn't even have to get all the way to the Purgatory before she knew she was going to wait for this one to end on it's own. There were too many guns going off in there. Her's would only make her a target. She'd wait and clean up the mess afterward. With her decision made she hefted her bags higher and leaned against the building next to the Purgatory waiting for all the noise to stop and to be able to go in.

 

[DJ_Wordplay]

Capt. Kane

The first shot that rang out, the shotgun blast that knocked one of the proposed ship-snatchers across the room, came as a terrible shock to Zack. He paused for a moment as the rest of the gang returned fire on the bartender as he checked himself to make sure that he hadn't been hit. Satisfied that he still had the same number of holes in his body, Zack turned back to the leader who'd already pulled his gun and fired at the bartender.

"I hate to say I told you so, but partner...."

The leader turned his gun back towards Zack but he had turned to far to get Zack back in his sights. Letting his Alliance training come back to him, Zack hit the Leader of the group two times in specific nerve clusters. The first was to the back of the wrist, causing him to drop his gun with a scream of pain, the second was slightly less artistic as Zack's heavy foot swung up fiercely and connected with his testicles.

It was around this time that the bar exploded in gunfire, morons were shooting at other morons completely oblivious to the fact that Zack, Rouge and Reese were still all standing in the centre of the room. Zack grabbed Reese's wrist and pulled them both roughly down below the table. Zack could see the tears streaming down his new mechanic's face and gave her a cheery smile.

"Now don't fret too much there, Reese. Oh sure this looks like a nasty scrape we've found ourselves in but me and Rouge" Zack nodded to his first mate who'd joined the gun battle "We've gotten out of worse jams"

Zack was in no mood or desire to start shooting at anyone and so his attention quickly became focused back on escaping from the current predicament. The flying of bullets overhead. He caught sight of the boarded up window window that Rouge had been directing him towards and made up his mind. Zack tightened his grip on Reese's wrist and bolted upwards running towards the hastily covered exit, with his head low and keeping his body between Reese and the gunfire.

"Hey Rouge, last one back at the ship buys drinks on the next planet" Zack hollered as he ran full speed into the boards that were in place, smashing into them with his head and shoulder. The boards were a tad better constructed then they'd first looked, however, and despite loosening some, Zack simply bounced backwards, the impact opening a gash on his forehead

Zack began cursing loudly in chinese as he held a hand to his head. The gun battle was still in full flight however and so he didn't take the proper time to care for his injury, he just stepped back and kicked the boards with force, this time they came loose and Zack again grabbed Reese's hand and tossed the two of them outside of the bar and onto the street below.

The two then lay in the dusty street for a second, blood still coming from Zack's head and a powerful ringing in his ears. He rose to his knees and offered his hand to the girl still on the ground

"A powerful headache and no hooch bill to show for it." Zack shook his head mournfully

 

[Younglord]

edited slightly out of sync

 

[BrainsoverBrawn]

Jesse sighed as she hiked towards where she thought the town of Santo was. She had been going to get here by ship but the captian on her last vessel hand tried to get more then his fare. Needless to say, one quick shot later he wouldn't be getting anything. But now she had to trek her way across this desert and hope someone found her.

"This town better be good." She thought as she wiped the sweat of her brow and saw something odd. It appeared to be a Firefly class ship. But what was it doing out here? She didn't know but she planned to find out as she went over to it and stood at it.

 

[SethSunshine]

Rouge had to stifle a laugh when his captain rebounded off the wooden boards which covered the window - this was no time for humour. When he saw him leap through the now shattered boards Rouge drew his pistol and fired afew shots into the air - covering fire so to speak - which caused some of the men involved in the gunfight to duck behinds tables and find somewhere to keep themselves safe from what they thought was a hail of bullets in their direction. Spinning the gun around his finger Rouge slid it back into his holster and was soon diving headfirst through the break in the window Zack had created - he landed and rolled to his feet in one fluid movement. not bad.. he thought to himself, collecting his thoughts before he broke into a sprint to catch up with the two figures moving away from his location towards that of the ship; obviously Zack and Reese.

His head turned to give one last glance at the bar and he gave a brief salute, "Good riddance.' he mutted aloud, returning his attention to that which was infront of him - gaining a little speed on the Captain as he was obviously having to encourage the mechanic to run after the trauma she'd of encountered of seeing a man hit in the chest with a shotgun blast. He remembered when he'd first seen a man die, during the war, and how he'd frozen up; and would've been killed if it hadn't been for his captain during that period.

When Rouge did eventually reach the two he turned around to jog backwards infront of the captain for a moment with a smirk on his face, "Come on old man, speed up..!" he goaded, turning to launch himself in another sprint towards the firefly, the sound of gunfire still a present audio in the background. Looks like the drinks are on him.. Rouge thought, with a certain sense of satisfaction.

 

[kfrye]

Reese just followed wherever Zack led her even when bullets were flying all around. Some whizzing past their heads. As Rouge left the bar there were only three people left alive in the bar. A man trading shots with Solomon and the leader who had somehow survived with only the wrist injury acquired from Zack and a bullet wound in the side.

"YOU! STOP!" He yelled after them as he walked out a gun aimed.

"You killed two've m'brother's t'day. I demand retribution. Fight me in a duel. I win I get that ship and that girl. You win. You don't get shot up by my boys on the rooftops on your way to the ship." He nodded towards two men carrying very expensive looking guns on opposing rooftops. Who knew how many others the man had with him. Reese reacted to the proposal by stepping behind Zack and holding onto his jacket's arm.

 

[DJ_Wordplay]

Capt. Kane

"A duel?" Zack asked incredulously. For a moment he thought that the blow to the head had tinged him worse than he'd thought. But the man opposite him just nodded. He stepped fully in front of Reese, shielding her from the man entirely.

"A duel, thass right. You killed my brothers and I'm going to settle this honorably."

"Look, you backwater, no account, dirty, filthy mongrel. I didn't kill anyone. See?" Zach opened his coat to reveal his pistol, still firmly holstered. "Other people were shooting. You were shooting. But not me. I hit you in the arm, kicked your unmentionables and then I ran like hell. I think the feller you're wanting your satisfaction from is probably still back at the bar. Go get him. Shucks, I'll help."

The gang leader seemed unswayed and opened his coat to reveal his pistols as well

"On the count of 5 my boys on the rooftops'll start fillin' your high falutin' body with holes, Mister. So I'd think you'd better suit up and saddle up and accept the duel, cause it's a mile more generous than I haf to be in this circumstances."

Zack had to admit the man had a point. He'd planned the jacking well. Probably had boys who seen them land, set up scouts along escape points. Whoever this guy was, he wasn't as dumb as he looked.

"5" The gang leader took a look at his pocket watch.

"This doesn't make any sense, I didn't kill nobodies brother"

"4" The gang leader continued

"I can't give you the ship or the girl but, well, I've got some awful nice antique furniture in my cargo hold that we're looking to sell. It's yours."

"3"

"Okay, new offer. You get the tables, I keep the ship and the girl but you get to keep Rouge. He's got kind of a feminine bone structure about him, an Attractive man I'd say and you do look like the sort who's spent some time on a prison colony so...."

"2"

"Okay fine. A duel" Zack threw his hands up in resignation. This brought something of a satisfied grin to the gang leaders face and he put his watch back in his pocket.

"So ten paces and then draw"

"Now, wait, I agreed to a duel but you have to admit that a duel ain't sportin' or legitimate if I got a big ugly cut that's bleeding something fierce into my eyes." Zack pointed to the gash over his head. This argument did seem to hold some sway with the Gang leader "So we find the closest thing to a sawbones you got in this here part of the black, we sew up the hole in the hole in my head and then, we take our ten paces and you can try to put a new one in it's place. Deal?"

 

[kfrye]

The man looked to be contemplating the offer most likely just to show off his upper hand in the situation as much as possible. Reese took the opportunity to tug on Zack's coat.

"Capt'n. I don't want t'be part o'the deal. Man like that... the things he'd do..." She couldn't speak anymore as the thought was too terrible, she just hoped he'd have a solution.

"Alright. You got thirty minutes t'find an' fix yerself. Girl stays here as leverage. I'm a fair man, I won't touch her 'til I own her." The man said giving Reese a smile.

"Might as well know the name o'the man you're goin' to be killed by. Names Vincent, Armin Vincent."

 

[SethSunshine]

Rouge sighed to himself once again - it really was just as the Captain said: these men were backwater mongrels and it appeared they barely had a brain cell between the lot of them - seeing as how they were throwing around accusations that they'd killed someone's brothers, or something of the like: when in fact the only shots discharged were from Rouge's pistol, and he'd aimed those up into the ceiling.

He'd been a little bit ahead of the two when the shouts for them to halt had been heard so he paced slowly back to stand behind them, whispering to the captain that he'd step up for the duel if the wound on his head was really too much to fight with. His gaze flicked up to the rooftops on which the 'leader''s men stood, two he counted - each with an impressive looking piece of weaponry: which he was suprised over seeing as this was such a remote, hick planet.

He calculated he count probably get off two shots and maybe take the guys on the roof; but that the third man on the ground would most likely have his pistol drawn then and shoot either him, the girl or his captain; and he wasn't about to put any of their lives in jeaopardy unless he could guarentee to himself that they'd all come out unscathed - apart from the forementioned wound to Zack's forehead.

Rouge saw that Zack was resolute and sighed one again, before hearing that they would have 30 minutes to fix him up before the duel would begin. Lowering his voice he spoke to Zack, "If you're really determined to go through with this I'll patch that gash up on your head for you." He was no medic but any lengths or means, but Rouge had sewn together worse flesh wounds than that which crossed the forehead of his captain. He turned his head and glanced towards the ship, they'd been so close. He clapped Reese on the shoulder and flashed her a bold smile - "We'll be back soon, don't worry. I've seen the captain here shoot, this hunk of rock'll be a distant smear on the map in no time at'all."

 

[DJ_Wordplay]

Capt. Kane

"We'll be back soon, don't worry. I've seen the captain here shoot, this hunk of rock'll be a distant smear on the map in no time at'all."

Zack listened to the offer made by his first mate and shook his head a little. He was consistently impressed by Rouge. They'd only been working together for a little while but he seemed to be a competent, could size up a situation well and truly had a good heart to him. It was hard to believe that a few short years ago the two men could have been on opposite sides of a war.

Still though, Zack couldn't go along with what Rouge suggested.

"Mr. Vincent, a word here with my first mate" Zack said as he motioned for Rouge to take a few steps away and the two turned their back on Vincent.

"Rouge, there are three issues with your suggestion that I'm seeing. Firstly, we can't leave the girl here with him."

"I'm sure he'll keep true and won't hurt her."

"Well, not at first. But if I walk out of here, I ain't coming back. Best to avoid temptation and stick around for the time being."

Rouge nodded his head grimly. He could tell that Rouge would have liked to take his place in the duel and, truth be told, Zack kind of wished that too. Rouge was a much better shot than he was and typically kept a cooler head.

"Secondly, although I'm sure you have a fine set of hands when it comes to patching up battlefield wounds, truth is, this here cut is probably masking a concussion as well. Being as me keeping a good sense about me seems crucial to staying alive I'd prefer if you could go about finding an actual doctor. An actual doctor might have, well, painkillers and truth is I could use something to dull the throbbin' "

"Finally, truth is that I ain't entirely convinced that, miracle of miracles, I end up winning this duel that those boys up on the roofs will simply slither on home. So it might be for the best that you scoot off, find a real doctor and then get into a good position to deal with those boys upstairs."

Rouge looked disappointed but still nodded.

"Also, I'm hoping that if I get a proper doc to take a look at my head that it might buy me a little time."

"How much do you think you'll need?"

Zack looked back to Vincent for a second or two.

"Well, I'm hoping enough for him to die of old age."

Rouge gave this comment a little chuckle. Zack turned back to Vincent and walked up to him. He gave Reese another reassuring pat on the shoulder and gently nudged her over to one side. Zack leaned in closely to the man and whatever humour usually was in his voice vanished, his eyes narrowed.

"Here's final words on this, Mr. Armin Vincent. You and me are going to have a duel after my first mate goes and fetches me a doc who'll patch me up. I win, well, that's the end of the business day. You win, you get my ship."

Zack pointed a finger to Reese.

"But not the girl. She ain't mine to bet and she ain't a part of this. You want this duel then it's nothing to do with her and she ain't yours to win. You want to insist on her bein' a part of your prize and we ain't duelin', we're havin' at it right in the middle of the street here."

Vincent's smile grew and he nodded towards his guys on the rooftops. Zack was unimpressed and continued to talk.

"Oh we're out gunned, that's for sure. And your boys might put me down if we start scrappin' but not before I send you to meet your maker and that is a bonafide promise."

"That's the deal, Armin Vincent. Your call."

 

[Younglord]

Solomon heard all this mad offer of a duel , he'd been in them a couple of times in the past, they tested a man like nothing else because there was no where to run or hide and not just physically but mentally...emotionally.

Funnily enough if this Armin Vencent chap truly wanted a duel with someone who had killed his kin , then he'd choosen the wrong person.

The right person upon hearing that there were men on the roofs above , slipped out the back of the bar and grill and climbed up the back steps to a small landing above. Walking to the end of the landing he took a hold of the roof climbed on to the top of the rale and lifted himself up on to the flat roof,

There was a man on the ceiling looking down , Solomon could also see another two gunmen on ceilings on the other side of the road , they were so intend that they simply weren't watching anywhere else.

Solomon took off his coat and secured it to the top of his pack then putting the pack down softly . He crept up to the man on the ceiling, he had a knive out.

When he was but a few feet from the man he noticed the gun relax in his grip as face as lightening Solomon moved his left hand grapped the mouth of the man and twisted his knive hand cut a long ribbon of blood along the mans exposed neck.

Solomon fell back the man on top of him dead.

Taking the coat off the man Solomon put it on and then took over the position on the rooftop.