The start of something grand.

[Price_]

“So Isaac, why are we meeting this Junker clear in the middle of no where again?” Richard said laying back in his chair as they were pulling into Freeport 10.
“Just trust me Richie I gotta plan here, just follow my lead alright?” Isaac said as they landed on the deck of the station. “Don't forget that pistol I got you.”
“Have I ever told you how much I hate it when you say that.?”


Isaac walked to the back of the bar and sat down at the table with the Junker, Richard taking a seat at the bar with in ear shot.

“Yee are late Mr. Shaw.” The Junker spoke with a thick Bretonian accent and was clearly a man of short patience. He was older with gray hair around his temples and many scars on his face, it was clear at one time he was a fighter of some sort but that those days were behind him and that age had slowed him. “Why did ya insist on meeting 'ere? Even after I's told ya dat it would cost ya 'nother fifty thousand?”
“I felt neutral ground was needed, Let's just say I've had some people try and pull one over on me a couple times recently and I'm not exactly trusting of people right now.” Isaac said lighting a cigarette. “Now let's talk business a minute here Junker. I wont be paying you for those ships.”
Sitting at the bar Richard was listening to the conversation and praying to whatever was out there that things were not going to come to this, but somehow he wasn't surprised when they did. He ordered a shot of the strongest liquor the bartender had and downed it.
“What ya mean ya wont be payin' me back?! Who do ya think yee are?” The Junker's voice was getting louder as he went on. “Yer nothin' but some kid who thinks he's a man! Ya probably ain't even got a gun worth a dime anyway!”
“You may want to lower your voice a bit there mate. You're right, I ain't anybody but look around this room. You see that group sitting at that table over there?” Isaac pointed to a group of six guys sitting at a table along side the bar. “Those are six bounty hunters from Rheinland. It seems someone has reported you to the RFP for smuggling Alien Artifacts, Nomad Relics and Bio-chemical weapons into and through Rheinland. They've placed a fifteen Million bounty on your head. If they were to catch wind of you being in here I am sure they would be more then happy to shoot you as Rheinland doesn't much care if you are alive or not.” Isaac sat back with a smirk and puffed on his cigarette.

The color drained from the Junkers face as he slid down into his seat. He had clearly under estimated the ability and ruthlessness of Isaac.
“'aight lad, what dah devil do ya want?”
“I want to distract you long enough to do this.” Isaac said as he pulled the trigger on the shotgun under the table shooting the Junker in the chest.

At the sound of the gunshot two men a couple tables over stood up and pulled their guns out. Richard shot the first one in the chest the second fired off a shot grazing Isaac's left arm before he could get a shot off taking him out.
“WHAT IS THE MEANING OF ALL OF THIS!” The bartender screamed holding a rifle.
“Hey now! Calm down.” Isaac said sliding his gun away and holding his arm. “Just collecting a bounty alright? Nothing to see here I'm sorry for the commotion. Common Richie let's get outta here.”

They walked out of the bar and back towards their ships.
“Isaac what the hell was that?!? how did you know Rheinland had a bounty for him! Fifteen million credits! WE'RE RICH!!!” Richard was practically dancing.
“Yeah, there ain't any bounty on him, I was bluffing.” Isaac said pulling up the sleeve to look at his arm. “damnit I think I'm going to need medical for this thing, I hate doctors...”
“Wait you mean there wasn't a bounty on that junker? We don't have fifteen million credits?!? Then why did you shoot him?!” Richard demanded.
“I thought it would be better to keep the money then pay him back for the ships.” Isaac said turning to walk towards the medical ward. “Plus now we can afford better ships, or at least to repair the ones we've got.”
“So you mean to tell me you shot that man in cold blood?! Isaac that's murder!”
“Why do you think we are on a Zoner base three weeks from any sort of lawful house? There aren't any laws out here, especially not a Zoner base. Now shut up and go get the ships ready this shouldn't take a minute.”

---

Discordianism: the Schroedinger's Cat of religions.