Jack Payton

[Jack Payton]

A Bounty Hunter

Rooms for rent on Sheffield Station were rather primitive. No decorations, modest cabinet, small table, locker and surprisingly comfortable bed. Certainly it was not an apartment aboard a royal liner. But it was enough for Payton. He was lying naked on the bed. A drop of sweat was slipping down from his forehead into eyebrow. He was not alone. A woman lying next to him noticed the drop and gently wiped it out. She was nearly twenty years younger than him. She had long black hair, deep brown eyes and freckles on her cheeks. She was not a stunning beauty, but there was something in her that attracted Payton and he was somewhat growing attached to her. Woman grabbed the bedding and covered her youthful breasts. Her real name was Ellen. But her customers usually knew her only by her professional nickname, Mrs Freckles.

- Tell me what happened next - Ellen stretched her arms sensually.
- What? - Payton pretended that he didn't know what she was talking about. He momentarily regretted that he made from her his personal confessor last time they met.
- After you were released... - Ellen cast away the bedding and ordered Payton to roll over.
- Why do you want to know it? - Payton asked. He did not know her motivation and was afraid. But situation was already beyond his control. He could only obediently follow her orders.
- Does a whore cannot be curious? - she sat on his back and started massaging his neck and arms - Please, Jack... indulge me - she added slowly.

Payton knew that he utterly lost this battle and could do nothing but to fulfill her request. As the images from the past were passing before his mind's eye, Payton continued his story.
- After the amnesty I was reinstated as a LSF officer. They even promoted me to a captain. You know, I don't really remember this period very well. I was in a kind of amok, a mixture of rage and apathy. I remember that I had seriously beaten up Jenkins, but it didn't really help. I wasn't really angry on him, I was angry on myself... no... I hated myself. I don't even remember whether they discharged me for an assault on a senior officer or I just quit myself. I couldn't stay in Liberty. I had to move on. But next months were even worse. I was traveling with freighters from base to base, mainly gambling, drinking and getting into bar brawls. Eventually I landed up on Freeport 9 with no credits, no ship and no job...

***



***

- Come on, just a one drink. I will repay you, I promise - Payton was trying to convince the bartender. He was buying drinks on tick for a week now.
- Get out of the line, navy boy - a muscular Corsair behind Payton put a hand on his shoulder.
- Get your hands of me - Payton turned back. Corsair was at least a head taller.
- Or what? - he asked but Payton didn't intend to answer. Ex-LSF kicked the Cretan in his groin, grabbed his head and smashed it on a knee. Cretan fell unconscious on a floor. His two friends rushed from their table towards Payton. Ex-LSF grabbed a nearby chair and thrown it at them, punching the Corsair who grabbed it in the face. The other one had enough time to sneak behind Payton and clutch him. Ex-LSF lifted his legs and kicked Corsair, who just hit his nose. After that Payton whacked with his head Cretan who was grabbing him and released himself from the clutch. Freeport 9 had very simple rules concerning the bar brawls. As long as nobody was killed or seriously injured they were tolerated. And if that happened everyone involved was just flushed out of the airlock. It seemed to work. Despite all of this, fourth Corsair still sitting at a table took out his sidearm and aimed it at Payton. Suddenly a characteristic sound of disabling a safety lock on a gun was heard.

- You had your fun, now be a good boy, lower you weapon and tell your friends to go back to the table - said a bounty hunter holding a gun at Cretan's head. After a second of thought Corsair lowered his weapon. Two Cretans standing near the bar helped the lying one to stand up. Payton rubbed his face with the sleeve and spit blood on a floor.
- One thing... - he said and beaten up Corsair turned his head back - I never served in the Navy... - The Brawl had officially ended.

A bounty hunter came to the bar - Marcus, give the man his drink. This one is on me - he said to the bartender and added - Let's have a chat, shall we? - Payton quickly grabbed two drinks and they sat at a nearby table. A bounty hunter sitting next to him was in his mid thirties. He had an ugly scar on his left cheek. Possibly a souvenir from one of his exploits.
- I suppose I should thank you. But I could have resolved it myself - Payton wasn't really happy to have a drink buddy. But it would be impolite to tell someone who just saved your life and bought you a drink to shove off.
- Yeah, I know you would try. You look like a someone who has nothing to lose - a bounty hunter said.
- And you look like a someone who wants to lose his teeth - Payton did not like his patronizing tone.
- Easy cowboy. Don't waste your breath. I am not here to fight you. I am here to offer you a job - mysterious hunter was not easily provoked.
- And who you are, mister? - Payton was quite confused. Not many things could surprise him and it was one of them.
- Derek, Derek Zayjack. I am looking for skilled combat pilots who won't piss themselves on a first sight of a fight - a bounty hunter introduced himself.
- How do you even know I am a pilot? - the bounty hunter was still surprising Payton.
- Captain Jack Payton, born in Texas, former LSF pilot, top three from his year at the West Point Academy, fought in the Nomad War, recently discharged and turning into a drunkard - hunter recited - Should I continue? Do you really think I would hire a loser like yourself without doing a proper background check? - he asked.
- And why you would hire a loser like myself at all? Losers solidarity? - Payton got back at Zayjack.
- You have a death wish written on your forehead. And she's very moody, you know? Maybe you will live long enough to make a fine bounty hunter after all. Either way it will be a win-win, right?
Payton sighed, logic of the hunter's argument was impeachable - Right...

***


***

- This is how I got into this business. Derek was a great mentor. Everything I know about hunting I learned from him. Don't understand me wrong. LSF are excellent pilots. But in the Border Worlds to survive you need something more than a military training... You need to know how to play really dirty... - Payton paused, pleasure blinded his thoughts for a moment. Ellen was a master at her work.
- There were six of us. Derek, Ed, Jacob, Karl, Michael and me. Best pilots I have ever flown with. Constant fear of death, rush of battle, killing and winning. We had it all. We felt like gods. We thought we were immortals. But they are all dead now - Payton paused - Funny thing, but I barely remember their faces - he added afterwards.

Ellen finished the massage. She lay beside Payton and covered them with the bedding. There was nothing more to say. They remained silent for the rest of the night. When Payton fell asleep, she quietly dressed herself and kissed him gently in his cheek.
- Good night, bounty hunter - she whispered and carefully left the room.
- Good night, Ellen - she couldn't hear it as she was already gone.

written by Guszaban

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This character is retired. Associated forum account is disabled.