This is another entry introducing a new character in Free space, hope you like it! Here are some links as well to previous stories I wrote in this universe.
Here's part 1 of assignment day. A journey as a woman enters a new part of her life.
@killerwot/assignment-day-part-1
Here's part 1 of a previous story. Following the journey of a man who left his home-world to take a trip to the capital planet of Free-space.
@killerwot/a-trip-off-world
Zun-Kulla. A great planet for a Trisken. Chiv Sketter runs his hand down his arm, hearing the sound of crunches. Feeling his dead scales effortlessly fall off his arms. The beating heat kept his scales dry enough to shed easily. In a lot of ways he could spend the rest of his life here, the only thing stopping him from doing that was his finances. Out-worlds weren't the best places to make money, as he had come to realise.
He gathered up his gear and stepped out of his cave, into another scorching day. It took his eyes a moment to adjust to the light, before moving on. Checking his data-pad while making his way to his bar of choice. 137 Tokens. Not enough to waste anymore. If I need to, I can hunt, caves are free to live in. Weapons maintenance though is expensive and mine have seen better days. He thought to himself while walking slowly. The leather armour squeaked with each step, irritating. But, his methodical pace turned it into a rhythm.
Nearing his spot he noticed a Warband, small as it was. Tooth Takers by the look of them. Teeth adorned their armour and even some of their weapons. The good thing about this world was that the locals spent the majority of their time fighting each other to even look at an off-worlder. He made his way into the bar and the cool air hit him immediately. The crowd inside were rowdy as usual. This planet never sleeps. There were even some musicians playing, busy for the mid-afternoon. He flags down the barman. Drunk. "Have the new bounties been posted?" Chiv could hear his own voice was gravely. Could use a drink. No, he cut the thought off, I need money first.
"Chiv. What are you having?" The barman asked in a jovial voice. "Work. I can't afford to spend any time or money on drink." "The work never ends for you does it?" "Not when the bounties are worthless." Chiv sits down. As he does the barman walks away. My time here is coming to an end, the planet is good, but I can't live off nothing.
"Here, wet your whistle. On me." The barman puts a drink in front of Chiv. He then starts to finger through some loose sheets of paper. "Not a lot here, by the look of it. Actually, there's one you might want." He places them all in front of him as he goes to serve another patron. Chiv stared at the drink and the sheets beside it. Be a shame to waste it, his body vibrated as a chill ran up his back. It's never just one, he thinks. He reaches out for it, he could feel it was lukewarm. Not a bad idea, just one.
He took his hand away quickly and grabbed the pages. Flicking through them. 5 Tokens, 10, the highest he saw was 25. Then he saw it.150 dead, 500 alive. Posted by The Grey Qengs. Interesting, usually it's petty criminals. Wonder what this guy did, Gun-kin Deset. Must have ripped them off. The name sounded familiar. Then it hit him, he was the second in command to a Chemer Gang who operates out of the Dusty Canyon. Not a long walk from here. No way his friends wouldn't hand him over for this kind of money. But, it was a place to start looking. He pockets the other pages too, just because this job is big, doesn't mean he can't do the smaller ones too.
The treck had taken the better part of a day, along the way Chiv had hunted to keep himself going, Zun-Kulla had a large amount of smaller creatures, which was good. He didn't need anything too large. He had picked up tracks and was following them. Every so often they would disappear and re-appear not far from where they ended. Either they're covering themselves, or they're being blown away by the winds. Chiv thought to himself.
It wasn't long after he had found a fresh campsite that he came across them. They were loud, their talking reverberated off the canyon walls. Not far now. By the look of the tracks, he counted five. Although, one of the marks on the ground didn't seem as fresh as the others.
Smoke in the distance. The sun was setting which made it hard to see, but it was undeniable. He knew he was close. Two options, he thought. Guns blazing and rush in, they'll be taken off guard but quickly react. Or slow. Methodical, watch and wait. Pick them off from a height. He decided to do the latter. Climbing the canyon wall that gave him a good vantage point over their makeshift camp. The Canyon wall was easy to climb, the odd piece of stone would come away in his hand, but didn't make much noise on its way down, just some dust particles.
He lay on his stomach to peek over the edge. Good view. He was transported to the time he was in his thirties. Trisk. Home. The confederation had come back for their second attempt to occupy his home-world. He was a good marksman back them, similar situations as these. For all the good the fighting did us. The echo in his mind soon faded. He pulled out his rifle, looking through the scope he inspected the camp. Three by the fire. Talking and joking. They seemed to be drinking. Another on petrol. No. Not patrolling. Relieving himself in a nearby bush. The man stepped away from the bush. Another? He could see him, the face from the poster. Albeit soaked in piss now. He could hear the echo of laughter as the fourth man returned to the fire. With good aim, he thought of taking out two in one shot. Possible.
He aimed up, took a breath. Tried to steady his slightly restless hand. Boom. The shot nearly deafened him, the sound bounced off each wall. The reaction times of the others at the fire were slow. One slumped over but the second just screamed. Gutshot. Clumsy. He set it up again, they haven't noticed where it came from. He focused his attention on the one pacing, aimed slightly in front of him. He pulled the trigger. Nothing. The rifle fizzed and it intensified. The blast is caught. He tossed the rifle forward off the cliff. Not too late either. It blew up before reaching the ground, he could only see the light from the blast of it. They know where I am. Or at least my direction.
He scrambled to his feet to climb back down. Hand to hand. He pulled out his club when he reached the ground. Serrated steel, rust-covered blades at its tip gleamed in the dim light. He stayed low. Circling. Give them a wide birth. Enter from the opposite side. Random shots were fired in the direction he had been. Random shouts and threats. They're scared.
He entered their camp, passing between bedrolls and watching his footing around their containers. The man on the ground was letting out the odd pained grunt. Focus. One standing near the fire. Another was walking around near the edge of darkness, making erratic movements. Trying to dodge a sniper shot that wasn't coming. He readied the club. He could almost smell the person in front.
"Rat-trap! Behind you!" The man on the ground shouted. Alarmed the man turned. Too late. The club collided with his skull. He slumped down, almost pulling the club out of Chiv's hand. He had to wrench it out with force. The other began shouting before charging. Chiv lost his footing and fell on his back the man swung with both hands. He lost grip of the club in the flurry of attacks. Grabbing the mans arm to stop at least half of the attacks was all he could do. Weak. Chiv was stronger. He knee'd the man in the back and rolled over. Pushing him into the fire. He lit up. Sparks and cinders flew everywhere as the man jumped out. Chiv used that to his advantage, grabbing hold of his club. Swinging down. Thud. He was dead. A stray blast flew past Chiv. The one with the gut-shot. Chiv charged and quickly ended him too.
Panting heavily. That's all of them. He could hear a spit. "Are you here to rescue me?" Gun-kin Deset asked, through a swollen mouth.
This story was a bit of fun to write and I have a good idea of how it's going to end. Stay tuned for the next part! I'll add a link to the second part into this post when I write it. Hope you enjoyed it. I have other stories written in this same universe which I added recently to my page.
If you like this part why not jump into Part 2? Here's a link to it.
@killerwot/bounty-hunt-part-2