Sunbucks Cafe

[Garrett Jax]

Seymore Justice sat in solitude in a dark corner of Sunbucks Cafe. In his hand, he held a still full cup of devil water, called a Hull Buster. Sometimes you get to enjoy good days, othertimes, you have to endure the bad. He mulled over his drink. Today, well...he was conflicted.

Earlier, while on patrol, he ran across an old friend. Was he still a friend? Aiden Maggard, once a highly decorated Lieutenant in the LPI...now, a defected member of the Xeno Alliance. True, the defection took place months ago, and Seymore always knew that there was a chance he may run across him in space. However, nothing could prepare him for the conflicted thoughts he would have to battle, facing him for the first time as an enemy.

He moved to take a drink, hesitated, and then set the drink back down. Shame...that's what he was feeling. Shame at not having the courage to do his duty and attack his former officer. Shame at sulking away quietly and leaving those 'victims' at the mercy of the Xenos. Well, not exactly victims, he amended. They were Rogues. Who was the enemy anymore, he thought?

The LPI felt so different lately. Rumors spread like a plague. The gossip amongst the officers was filled with ridiculous accusations of the current chief taking part in all night benders with heavy booze and wild women, all paid for by the leaders of the IND. Why else would he be absent for days at a time? Then there were stories of the IND exerting their powerful influence over LPI affairs and disrupting the good relationship they enjoyed with the Bretonia Armed Forces. Added to this, was the ever persistant slander of Liberty Police being corrupt, and on the take, from nefarious criminal entities.

The lines between right and wrong were no longer clear. Seymore started to think of the last days before Maggard's defection. He seemed refreshed. Like he finally had a purpose, a clear focus, something that gave his life real meaning. He envied Maggard for that. Yet still, the Xenos were terrorists. They attacked innocents without mercy. Pirates at least would just demand credits. Pirates didn't want to kill, they just wanted some quick credits to support their cardi addictions and what not. Xenos, on the other hand...

What had drawn Maggard to them? His friend was a sensible person, not some extremist with an agenda. Obviously, there was something about the Xenos that appealed to him. He just couldn't figure out what it could be. Well, he had to figure things out quick. He already ran across Maggard once, chances are, he would do so again. He downed the drink. But, what would he do?

---