The sun was coming up, and he was the first awake. There was no sign of anyone being on guard duty. He suspected they'd all gone to bed having been content they were now safe. The Sheriff's trip had been weighing heavily on him all night. It was the final element to tip him over the edge. He hadn't met Michael Volkov yet but already knew he would hate him.
Mason lifted his bed up where it was hinged against the wall and pulled out his gun roll. He carried it out, dumping it in the back of Mily where she was laid up in the cargo bay.
"Going somewhere?" a faint voice asked.
He looked up and saw Hella's silhouette on the ramp.
"Jesus, do you never sleep?"
"Only when I need to."
He shook his head and lifted a box of ammunition from one of the side racks.
"Crew agreed, and you're going ahead with the job anyway?"
"We agreed not to do this as a crew. I'm going alone."
"Why?"
"Maybe because I can make a difference?"
"Not that you just want ten millions credits for yourself?"
He stopped to think. The prospect had not crossed his mind.
"No, not for the money."
"And yet when you asked me to join this crew, you told me you do what you do for money."
"Yes, I did, but maybe there's more to life than that."
"Then join the Army," Liu stated.
He turned around to see the crew were rising from their rooms, and Liu had stepped out to address him.
"What?" he asked.
"You always said you join the Army to fight for a cause, not for the money. Sounds like you've just become the perfect candidate."
"Hey, I just want to help these people. Is the idea so strange to you? Have you stopped being a cop for so long you've forgotten what that's like?"
His comments did shame Liu a little as he thought back to how vehement he was about not taking the job.
He climbed into the driver's seat of the copter, but Mitchell stepped out from his room to block his path.
"Move."
He shook his head.
"You're not the only one who's had the night to think this over, Max," Liu said.
Mason turned back in surprise.
"People are trying to push us around, poke us, and prod us. That's not how this crew works. Time we put the boot down."
Andrews staggered out of his room. He was still in his dirty clothes from the last two days’ of work and looked exhausted. It was obvious he had been listening to all that had gone on.
"Well?"
"Captain, the fact you were willing to go it alone against all odds is enough to convince me. We're with you, all of us."
Erin stepped out of her room carrying the rifle he had given her in her arms. She nodded in agreement also.
"If we take this offer, we're in to the very end. It's gonna get ugly, no doubt."
"None of us have ever expected this job to be a walk in the park," said Liu.
"We aren't going to let you do this alone," Mitchell added.
He nodded in appreciation.
"Like you all, I thought long and hard over this. Up till last night, I could have left this world and put it to the back of my mind. But Volkov sending the Sheriff here to talk us to death, well he just went and pissed me off."
"Poetic," replied Erin.
He smiled in response and then turned to Andrews.
"I want you to continue your work here. We may not be leaving anytime soon, but having the Lady up and running could really turn things around when things start to heat up. You'll have to go it alone, though."
"No problem. Give me today and maybe a bit of tomorrow, and I'll see what magic I can work."
"I need one to stay here and keep guard." He turned to Hella. 'You seem to like it, fancy the job?"
She nodded in agreement, "Whatever you say, Boss."
"I'm your boss now, but I'm not THE Boss. You can call me Max, Mason, Captain, Sir, but never Boss, you hear?"
She nodded in acceptance.
"Yes, Boss."
It’s clear she has a real problem with authority, but it’s a character flaw I can live with.
"The rest of you, gear up. The time for playing nice is over. Armour, rifles, let’s be ready. We're going into town to take this job."
The group leapt into action. Within five minutes, they were climbing aboard and raring to go. Mitchell was at the controls with Mason riding shotgun. He raced Mily forward.
"Hang on!" yelled Mason.
Mitchell brought them to a stop on the ramp where Hella stood.
"You need a gun?" he asked her.
"Managed so far without one," she replied dryly.
If it were anyone else he would assume arrogance, but she had already proved herself more than once.
"Well if you do, feel free to grab one. You'll find a few rifles and pistols in locker three, back towards the bridge."
"I'll be sure to use whatever is needed."
"Right, let's move!"
They raced off down the ramp and over the sun baked hard ground north towards the town.
"Think the offer still stands?"
"I thought you weren't in this for the money, Mitchell?"
"I didn't say I didn't want it, Captain."
Mason agreed. It would be a couple of years’ salary for each of them at least.
They rolled into town to find it was operating as normal. Several of the passersby recognised Mason and stopped to stare at him as they rode past.
"Where we heading?" asked Mitchell.
"I've no idea where Machesky can be found, so head for the Digger, and we'll go from there."
He turned back to look at the others.
"Town’s people are friendly, but there are plenty residing nearby who aren't, so keep your wits about you."
They pulled up to the bar to find the Sheriff's copter parked outside. As their engines fired down, they could hear a voice shouting inside the bar. Mason leapt off the copter and rushed through the doors without a weapon in hand.
"Who fired the gun?" he heard a voice yell. Mason passed into the dark room and found Alken with his hands around the barkeep’s throat and forcing his back against the bar. He shook his head in disbelief, feeling sorry for the poor man who'd taken two beatings since they'd arrived.
"Who did it? Who did it, Kaper?" he screamed into the man's face.
"I did!" Mason shouted.
Alken's head snapped around at the sound of his voice.
"Well, well. Back in town, looking for trouble again. Well, you've found it."
He released his grip on Kaper. He took a wide face on stance to Mason and pulled his coat back from around the pistol slung at his side. Mason could see the grip of the laser weapon was carved out of some kind of bone. It was a lavish and unnecessary show of wealth from a lawman.
Alken stood five metres from Mason, and he showed no attempt to close the distance. After the humiliation he’d had the night before, he was being sure to stay at draw distance. Mason could hear his people stepping up to the edge of the building outside and listen in. They were awaiting his next move, as they could see Alken from the windows.
"So, here we are. You just admitted to the murder of a man in town; a man who was in the employ of and undertaking Mr Volkov's orders. I'm the Sheriff, you're the murderer, and you've got a gun. Drop it and come quietly, or I'll have to do this the hard way," he said with a sleazy grin.
Mason wasn't intimidated and only carefully studied his opponent. He let Alken sweat a little. He hadn't seen Mason use a weapon, and that uncertainty was clearly unnerving.
"Not a murder. I put down a dog, and it seems to me, I stand before another one. You either pull that pistol or give it up."
Alken's eyes squinted as he frowned. He realised Mason wasn't joking and quickly reached for his gun. Mason's hand grabbed his own pistol in lightning speed, and it was aimed at the Sheriff before his gun was out the holster. Mason fired just a single shot. It hit t
he pistol and launched the smashed weapon out of his hands. The Sheriff cried in pain from the burn of the blast. He cowered down, holding his wounded hand. Mason slipped his pistol back into his holster, and Liu stepped into the room to join him.
"Glad I never met you when I wore a badge, Captain."
“You won’t get away this this, Mason!” screamed Alken.
Mason strode up to the Sheriff who cowered down as he approached. He grabbed him by the collar of his coat and hauled him towards the door. Erin was nearly thrown aside as the door flew open, and Mason rushed out, launching Alken out into the road headfirst. He landed hard and slid to a halt on the concrete ground. His cheek was badly scraped and bleeding from the abrasion, and he was almost knocked out cold by the landing.
“I see your face around town again, and I’ll blow your head off, you hear?”
Mason suddenly realised how quiet the street had gotten. He looked up to see the shopkeepers across the road had come out to watch, and all who were passing were frozen and fixated on him.
“Okay! Okay! We’ll take the job!” he roared at the top of his voice.
Applause broke out which echoed all around the buildings either side of the street. Kaper came out from the bar to join him.
“Thank you, Captain. You don’t know what this means to us.”
He turned around and responded softly.
“Ten million about?”
Kaper nodded.
"Well how about that?"
"Please, take a seat in the bar, and I'll get Nolan to join us."
He looked back and watched Alken scurrying off with his tail between his legs. He crawled onto his copter and tore off with all haste.
"Looks like you made a friend," said Mitchell.
"He's not the first last asshole we'll meet here," he replied. "You stay out here and keep watch."
"Oh, come on, you know how good their beer is."
"But we don't," Liu said and stepped inside.
"We brought some back for you the other night," Mitchell protested.
Mason stopped beside him.
"I don't expect we'll see any trouble too quickly, but be ready."
Mitchell calmed down and took up position by the door.
"I'm a pilot remember, not a fighter."
"Well, you ain't got no ship to fly, and you can't repair engines for shit. So make yourself useful."
"Nice," he muttered.
Mason went inside, and Kaper was already pouring out drinks for them all.
"Should you be drinking when you could have to fight and shoot at any time?" asked Erin.
"Probably not," he said, taking a glass from the bar and sipping from it, "but this isn't the Army. Calming everyone down a little right now can't do any harm."
Two minutes later, Machesky rushed through the doors. He strode up to Mason and shook his hand.
"Thank you, Captain," he said and went around them one by one and did the same.
"We haven't done anything yet."
"Oh, but you have, Captain. Herschel was a leech, and Alken too. You've just dealt with two problems we never could."
He looked back to a young man who had come with him and was waiting at the door. Nolan gestured for him to come forward. He took the case and opened it, presenting it to Mason.
"One million credits. A down payment to show you how serious we are."
Mason reached down and placed a hand on the bag, but Nolan didn't release it. Instead he leaned in close to whisper to Mason.
"Just remember what its for, ey?"
He stood back and Mason responded at normal volume so that others could hear.
"We take money for a job. We do the job. Unless we die trying, we'll succeed."
Nolan nodded in gratitude and sat down at the nearest table, gesturing for Mason and the others to join him.
"You've seen what we face here. How do you expect to go about putting our problems to a stop?"
"Well, I haven't met this Michael Volkov, though I do intend to. But I can already tell you that he won't go easily. He's making a tonne of money off your backs, why would he ever want to stop? Men like him need to either be put in their place, to such an extent they never again step over the mark, or you kill them."
Nolan recoiled at the idea.
"What? What did you think you were paying us for?"
"To negotiate for us, to stop the people of this town being extorted."
"And what do you or we have to offer to bargain with for this? Money won't do it because he'll always want more. There is nothing you can bring to the table to make him stop."
Nolan looked at Erin, for she seemed the most civilised and understanding of them all.
"You think we hired you to murder him?"
"Murder? No, that isn't our business," replied Mason.
"He's right," said Erin. "This Volkov needs to either fear coming near you, or he'll never stop."
"How can we achieve this?" asked Nolan.
"You can't. You leave that to us."
He could see Nolan was getting more and more anxious.
"Yes, yes, but what are you going to do? If you just scare him a bit and then leave, what is stopping him coming back the month after?"
"Which brings us to the other possibility as I have already said. We aren't here to uphold the law or to negotiate a peace. We'll get you what you have paid for, however that has to be done."
"Captain Mason, I cannot endorse you killing Volkov, no matter what kind of man he is."
Mason sat back and thought for a moment before taking in a deep breath. He leaned over the side of the table and picked up the case full of money. He threw it over at Nolan who almost fell off his seat to catch it.
"I thought you understood what has to be done here, but if you want to carry on as you always have, then you can keep your master and your money."
He was taken aback by the sentiment and was still in shock. Mason could see now that Nolan had expected from the very beginning that he could simply hire some muscle to intimidate Volkov into changing his ways. Mason stood up and pointed his finger at the businessman.
"You need to get your head screwed on right unless you want to keep living under his thumb." He turned to Liu. "Come on, let's go."
"Mason!" Erin called out to him.
He looked at her and shook his head. Erin looked back to plead with Nolan.
"You are letting your only chance walk away."
"All right!" he shouted.
Mason stopped, waiting for him to continue.
"You know these situations. I don't. I still can't condone bloodshed though, not unless it is in self-defence."
"Then I think you can't have spoken to the rest of the town’s people anytime soon. When I dragged Alken out of the bar not fifteen minutes ago, those people were waiting for me to finish him off. If I'd have put my gun to his head and pulled the trigger, it would have been met with applause."
"And that is how you do business?"
He stormed up to the table.
"Let me be absolutely clear. If we take that money, we do it my way. I don't know your trade, and you don't know mine, so what'll it be?"
"Captain Mason!"
The cry was loud and came from outside the bar. It was a deep and booming voice. An authoritative tone that told him it wasn't going to be anyone friendly.
He looked at Nolan and saw the fear in his face.
"That’s... Sergeant Hunter."
"Who's he with?"
"The militia. One of Volkov's men. He won't be alone. Alken must have summoned him."
"In the last twenty minutes? How far are they stationed from here?"
"Two hours’ drive. They must have been passing by."
"Just our luck," he replied sarcastically.
"Kaper, this place got roof access?"
"Yes."
"Show Liu the way."
"Why?"
"Just do it!"
"What are you doing, Mason?"
"Nolan, that sergeant has
come here to cause trouble. Just like always. It's time to take a stand. Only question you have to ask yourself, is do you want us to take this job or not?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Probably not."
"Then do whatever you have to."
"What was that?" Mason asked for clarification.
"You do it... your way."
Mason smiled in response. "Well, okay then."
He paced up to Erin. She held her rifle close but was obviously worried.
"Never shot at a person, have you?"
She shook her head.
"First time for everything. I need you to cover me from that window. You don't fire unless they do first. Stay inside and keep yourself safe. Got it?"
She nodded in agreement. "What are you going to do?"
"I'm gonna go and see what all the fuss is about," he replied confidently.
He adjusted his gun belt and stepped up to the door, pulling it back slowly so as not to cause anyone to react. He stepped out to see four militiamen. They all wore dark green jackets and matching short peaked caps, with sun protectors hanging down over their shoulders. Metal insignia was pinned to their chests, but he couldn't make it out. Besides this, none of their equipment was uniformed with a variation of weapons, webbing, and bags.
The first thing Mason noticed was that two of them held Mitchell between them as a prisoner.
"Sorry, Boss."
"Not your fault."
The militiamen were coated in dust and looked weary from travel. He could see Alken skulking in the background under the shade of one of the shops.
"You are Captain Mason?" one of them asked.
"Sergeant Hunter, I assume?"
"That's me. Sheriff Alken here tells me you've been causing some trouble. We don't like trouble in this town or any other in our district."
"Glad to hear it, Sergeant. Me and my boys here had some engine troubles and only came for parts."
"Were that the case, you'd have already have been on your way by now. I'm thinking you were paid to be here."
Mason couldn't deny it; for despite it not being their intentions, it had been the way it worked out.
"Word is you killed a man here in town, an offence punishable by death, but I also hear no witnesses have yet been found. Pack up and leave this world, or I'm sure those witnesses will come forward. Neither of us wants any trouble here."
"Yeah, Sergeant, that's a real good deal, but how about this one? You give me my guy back, and I won't blow your head off."
Maniacs: 01 - The Krittika Conflict Page 9