A breeze swept through the scene kicking up the tiniest bit of dust between the standoff. The two groups stood facing each other guns drawn, fingers at the ready but none willing to make the first move. Five Alliance uniforms stood with a man in casual attire on one side and on the other what clearly appeared to be a crew of the Firefly class ship behind them.
'So you were spying the whole time....trying to verify the claims. To find out whether we really had what we said we did.'
'Guilty as charged Captain, heh. I suppose I don't have to call you that anymore do I? We are just doing our duty, the same way you feel you are doing yours. We just on opposite sides is all. You are trying to rip wide open the little leaks that have started since the Miranda incident, and we? Well we are just trying to stop the leaks before the become a problem.'
His head turned to look at his fellow Alliance comrades and the shooting began. The gunshots mixed with the sounds of death cries and the dust stirred all the more as people jolted around trying to find cover. The whole incident lasted only minutes the splitting noise finally broke into silence. The silence stayed, lingering not quite ready to move on but eventually a rustle, then a footstep, a sigh of relief.
'I think we got them all Cap'n....Cap'n? Cap'n! CAPTAIN!?!!'
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Beaumonde, a planet heavily devoted to the running of factories and plants. Perhaps considered by some to be industrialization's perfect example. Almost all cityscape was eclipsed by the thick haze that constantly was pushed out from the factories. It was a place of routine, clockwork, the punching in and out of time cards, keeping things in working condition, but something was different about today.
Just outside a city in the more rural area one could see a small gathering, maybe twenty people. The huddled around a small open grave and the casket that lay beside it. Most we crying or sobbing, clearly grieving the loss of the dead man. One man in the group however had the faintest curl in his lips. His freckled face and dark skin contrast with everyone else in the group and his attire quickly distinguished himself as a shepherd.
With a few long strides he stood by the grave side and began speaking. It was quite typical to what would be commonly said but as he looked from person to person he couldn't help but have the same familiar thought spring back to his mind.
I hate funerals...everyone takes time and effort to remember the dead as someone that should be missed. How kind they sometimes were, or nice, people only try to remember the good things because if they were to take in everything they'd realize that this man had death coming to him...just like we all do....
...I wonder what is going to happen to that ship, it looks like it is need of repairs...hhhmmm, maybe I've found my next ride.
When the funeral concluded Shepherd Gus meandered to closer to the group and made his presence known with a question.
'I don't mean to pry but am quite curious as to what will happen to the late captain's ship.'
'Well Shepherd that is what we was just discussin'. After what happ'ned ain't none of us real interested in the old thing. Think we are about decided on selling it to whoever is willin' to pay the most. We gots a confession though, maybe you can pardon us bein' real close to you know who and all.'
The man leaned in close to Gus' ear and the smell of liquor strongly flooded from his mouth. He even put up his hand to cover his mouth as he spoke into the shepherd's ear.
'...so you see, there is actually some priddy 'portant things that we wuz deliverin' to a small collection of Browncoats. We gots a bit to heroic in it all and well you see what happ'ned to the cap'n. I always said we should just stay with stealin' simple things.'
The shepherd's eyebrows raised and he pulled away quickly reaching out his hand and putting it on the man's shoulder. With a smile and nod he only affirmed the relief that the man's face expressed when Gus spoke.
'Don't worry my son, you're forgiven. Perhaps I could even help you find a buyer, I'm heading into the city anyway. That is if I could ask for a small favor in return.'
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The haze was thick in the city, you could feel it against your face as you walked the streets. The heavy smog did little to make the part of town Gus was in seem any homelier. Soon his eyes caught the flash read letters of a bar and made his way for the door.
The doors opened and the tall dark figure strode in with a quick motion giving his jacket to the bouncer. The thick bouncer looked him over with a strange look but decided it wasn't his place to judge a shepherd. Gus made his way quickly to a bar stool and sat down taking little time before speaking up quite loudly to the bartender.
'Just got done a funeral, and turns out it was a captain of a old firefly class ship. The ship definitely needs some work but instead of the man's friends and family fixing it they are just going to sell it to whoever gives them a good offer. Can you believe that? No loyalty to the departed captain's legacy, just want to make a quick profit. Well anyway, if you know anyone barkeep that might be interested I'd be happy help point them in the right direction...oh and may I get a water, its quite dry with that smog and dust outside.'
A few moments later Gus turned to face the crowd scoping out to see if anyone was going to approach him or if there was anyone that looked like they could be convinced into buy the vessel. He took a quick drink from his glass letting the cold liquid quench his dry throat. The two chunks of ice swirled about in his glass as his eyes scanned over the room.
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