Clink.
The platinum coins skipped across the top of the growing pile of metal in the middle of the table. Two men had already lost their shirts in this hand, along with their watches, guns, a horse, and one cybernetic left arm. They both sat watching the remainder of the hand intently, their attentions only split between the game, which would decide who walked away with their prized possessions, and their liquor, which now comprised the entirety of their possessions.
I raise ya 10 plat, the betting man said, his brow a permanent furrow. Save for the scar across his left eye, his clean-shaven, handsome face would never betray the fact that you were looking at the most dangerous man in San Tenia, and possibly the Colony. He held the cards in a vice grip, a snarl rising on his lip that seemed less out of genuine anger than out of habit. He didnt like to lose, and make no mistake, judging by the size of the pile in front of his opponent, he was losing. And then some.
The other man must not have seen the wanted posters, so it would appear according to his demeanor. The shaved-bald man with the cybernetic right arm (not the one on the table) had a half-smirk across his angular face. He stroked his scruffy chin with his organic hand. The droid next to him, a three-foot steel humanoid, spoke with a digitized, but all too real-sounding, voice.
I believe he is bluffing, Mr. Ellison.
You shut that droid up or youll need that left arm, barked Ellisons opponent.
Chill out, Osiris, let me play my own game. The droid stayed silent. Clink. Ill see your 10, raise ya 15 plat.
Dont do it, Duke! shouted one of the losers, followed by a great big gulp of liquor. Dukes steely gaze never left Ellisons face. See your 15, raise you 30.
The onlookers sat in stunned silence. Dukes face snarled up again. All the while, Ellison kept that half-smirk on his face. He stroked his chin. He reached for his coins, and then thought better. The onlookers smiled; he was playing them like fools. Their smiles disappeared as he reached for his coins again. Ill see your 30. And raise ya 60.
An audible gasp hit all three. Dukes eyes widened. Not being one to quit, he growled out a Call. He laid out a straight flush, the 4 through the 8 of hearts. Ellison started to shake his head. Nothing can beat that. I cant beat that unless
Ellison showboated for the two spectators, laying his cards down one by one. 10 of spades. Jack of spades. Queen of spades. King of spades. Ace of spades. The three men sat, jaws on the floor, staring at Ellisons royal flush.
I got that! Read em and weep, boys! Dont play with fire, or youll get burned and burned you got!
Duke grit his teeth, picking up his chair, and throwing it out the window, and into the dusty desert road. His voice churned through his teeth. You play a mean game. Take yer winnings, and get the hell out of here. And you quit being arrogant, fore I do somethin rash.
Well, boys, its been fun playing with ya. Cmon, Osiris. He picked up the arm, handing it to the droid, and shoving everything else into a sack, before walking through the saloon doors.
Once safely outside, the droid whispered to Ellison. What if they find out you were cheating?
Ill be halfway to Spherion before those idiots figure that out.
Hey, Ellison! Duke was walking toward their horse.
Stay calm, Osiris. Ellison turned around. Whats the problem, Duke?
No problem, I just wanted to know how you knew I was bluffing, besides your droid tellin ya and all.
Just a case of dumb luck, I guess.
Aint that somethin? Duke smiled, before throwing a hard punch into Ellisons gut. Ellison, winded, dropped to his knees.
On the ground in front of him landed two aces of spades.
Who the hell you think youre kiddin, Ellison? We aint no fools from out in Colony City. Were not gonna be too keen on you tryin to cheat us, you hear? Now, Im gonna ask you once. Howd that extra ace get in that deck, Ellison?
I didnt put that there, someone mustve oof-- Ellison was silenced with a kick to the gut. Osiris started to panic.
Oh, god, Mr. Ellison, what are we gonna do now, Mr. Ellison? Were doomed, were doomed! Well never make it out of here, Mr. Ellison, not with our liveszhhhquftttt-- A pulse pistol shot to the central processor took care of Osiris.
Osiris! No! A kick to the face put him out for a second. Or maybe a minute all he knew was black.
Duke tossed his companion his cybernetic arm, and had the other tie Ellisons wrists. They tossed him up on the horse, stomach resting behind the saddle, and each mounted their respective steeds.
Hey, Duke, what should we do with the tin can?
Toss him with the other loot, he could come in handy. Now lets show this scum why followin the rules is important.
When Ellison woke up, he was tied by his neck to a bare tree branch. The tree had been dead for ages, just as dead as Ellison was soon to be, a wooden skeleton reaching to the sky in its death throes. As Ellison sat upon his horse, he could barely make out what they were saying.
You shoulda known not to cross me, son. Theres no way you couldnt have known what you were gettin into, my reputation does precede me. Now lets see this boy swing!
The sound of hoof beats slowly faded into the distance, and Ellison swung like a tetherball. Desperate gasps gave way to calm, quiet reflection.
<i>Man I shouldve picked up the cards before I left.</i>
Then everything was dead. The wind didnt blow. The sand didnt move. The tumbleweed stopped tumbling. Even Ellison stopped swinging.
Missing something? Eh, probably best you didnt try to answer that.
A man seemingly appeared out of the desert air before Ellison. The sleepy old cowboy, long gray braids and a scruffy gray beard, had on a brownish Stetson covered in dust. His brown leather duster, also covered in a light film, was full of holes, and curiously continued to sway and move without the presence of wind. His bolo tie seemed to glow, a curious precious metal and gemstone construct. He had a bit of a smirk on his face as he walked up to Ellison. He reached into his pocket, and grabbed something, sliding it into Ellisons chest pocket.
How many times I have to tell you to keep a better eye on these things? Hle patted Ellisons chest, and turned, his duster floating behind him. Ellisons eyes started to close, and everything went dark.
Hang around a bit, things well look up soon Hm. Seems like youre a little tied up at the moment. Ill talk to you later.
Under the shudder of his retrieving steps, the world exploded back into action. A small crack resounded, getting bigger, and suddenly, Ellison looked up as the branch he hung on snapped. He fell to his face, with a gasp that sucked in more desert sand than air. He gasped again, coughing up sand and blood through his dry throat, and in one sharp, stabbing pain, wondering how that second could have possibly gone so long, his world went black again.
Pick him up! Get him some water! Cmon now, dont lag behind! Another crack hit, and Ellison took a look over his head. No branch he had been out of the tree for some time. He coughed, his face covered in dust. His dry lips cracked almost immediately at the touch of the canteen, and as he swallowed, a wave of severe pain emanated from his throat. He coughed again, spitting blood on the cracked earth. Everything was so confusing men in chains picked him up, and put him on a wooden plank. Four men carried the plank, one at each corner, and they began to walk. From his spot, he could see horses carrying men with whips. The man snapped the whip again, and one of the walkers faltered for a second, before getting back up and walking a little faster. A horseman came up to the side of the makeshift sedan chair.
Dont try to talk now, son. From what I can tell, you been out here in the desert for about two, three days. I dunno who you pissed off, but if not for the branch breakin, youd be deadern a disco rocker. Of course, kind of an outta the fire an into the fryer situation, considerin it broke 110 out here thother day. Had we not found ya, itd only be another dayr two fore you was vulture food. Ellison tried to say something, but the man held up a hand. Dont try to speak yet, son, ya aint ready for it. Well talk when yer feelin better about payin us back. You just keep gettin some water into ya, and get some rest. Yall are gonna need it.
Ellison nodded slightly, and fell back. His eyes closed willingly for once, already trying to scheme a way out of this one.
The platinum coins skipped across the top of the growing pile of metal in the middle of the table. Two men had already lost their shirts in this hand, along with their watches, guns, a horse, and one cybernetic left arm. They both sat watching the remainder of the hand intently, their attentions only split between the game, which would decide who walked away with their prized possessions, and their liquor, which now comprised the entirety of their possessions.
I raise ya 10 plat, the betting man said, his brow a permanent furrow. Save for the scar across his left eye, his clean-shaven, handsome face would never betray the fact that you were looking at the most dangerous man in San Tenia, and possibly the Colony. He held the cards in a vice grip, a snarl rising on his lip that seemed less out of genuine anger than out of habit. He didnt like to lose, and make no mistake, judging by the size of the pile in front of his opponent, he was losing. And then some.
The other man must not have seen the wanted posters, so it would appear according to his demeanor. The shaved-bald man with the cybernetic right arm (not the one on the table) had a half-smirk across his angular face. He stroked his scruffy chin with his organic hand. The droid next to him, a three-foot steel humanoid, spoke with a digitized, but all too real-sounding, voice.
I believe he is bluffing, Mr. Ellison.
You shut that droid up or youll need that left arm, barked Ellisons opponent.
Chill out, Osiris, let me play my own game. The droid stayed silent. Clink. Ill see your 10, raise ya 15 plat.
Dont do it, Duke! shouted one of the losers, followed by a great big gulp of liquor. Dukes steely gaze never left Ellisons face. See your 15, raise you 30.
The onlookers sat in stunned silence. Dukes face snarled up again. All the while, Ellison kept that half-smirk on his face. He stroked his chin. He reached for his coins, and then thought better. The onlookers smiled; he was playing them like fools. Their smiles disappeared as he reached for his coins again. Ill see your 30. And raise ya 60.
An audible gasp hit all three. Dukes eyes widened. Not being one to quit, he growled out a Call. He laid out a straight flush, the 4 through the 8 of hearts. Ellison started to shake his head. Nothing can beat that. I cant beat that unless
Ellison showboated for the two spectators, laying his cards down one by one. 10 of spades. Jack of spades. Queen of spades. King of spades. Ace of spades. The three men sat, jaws on the floor, staring at Ellisons royal flush.
I got that! Read em and weep, boys! Dont play with fire, or youll get burned and burned you got!
Duke grit his teeth, picking up his chair, and throwing it out the window, and into the dusty desert road. His voice churned through his teeth. You play a mean game. Take yer winnings, and get the hell out of here. And you quit being arrogant, fore I do somethin rash.
Well, boys, its been fun playing with ya. Cmon, Osiris. He picked up the arm, handing it to the droid, and shoving everything else into a sack, before walking through the saloon doors.
Once safely outside, the droid whispered to Ellison. What if they find out you were cheating?
Ill be halfway to Spherion before those idiots figure that out.
Hey, Ellison! Duke was walking toward their horse.
Stay calm, Osiris. Ellison turned around. Whats the problem, Duke?
No problem, I just wanted to know how you knew I was bluffing, besides your droid tellin ya and all.
Just a case of dumb luck, I guess.
Aint that somethin? Duke smiled, before throwing a hard punch into Ellisons gut. Ellison, winded, dropped to his knees.
On the ground in front of him landed two aces of spades.
Who the hell you think youre kiddin, Ellison? We aint no fools from out in Colony City. Were not gonna be too keen on you tryin to cheat us, you hear? Now, Im gonna ask you once. Howd that extra ace get in that deck, Ellison?
I didnt put that there, someone mustve oof-- Ellison was silenced with a kick to the gut. Osiris started to panic.
Oh, god, Mr. Ellison, what are we gonna do now, Mr. Ellison? Were doomed, were doomed! Well never make it out of here, Mr. Ellison, not with our liveszhhhquftttt-- A pulse pistol shot to the central processor took care of Osiris.
Osiris! No! A kick to the face put him out for a second. Or maybe a minute all he knew was black.
Duke tossed his companion his cybernetic arm, and had the other tie Ellisons wrists. They tossed him up on the horse, stomach resting behind the saddle, and each mounted their respective steeds.
Hey, Duke, what should we do with the tin can?
Toss him with the other loot, he could come in handy. Now lets show this scum why followin the rules is important.
When Ellison woke up, he was tied by his neck to a bare tree branch. The tree had been dead for ages, just as dead as Ellison was soon to be, a wooden skeleton reaching to the sky in its death throes. As Ellison sat upon his horse, he could barely make out what they were saying.
You shoulda known not to cross me, son. Theres no way you couldnt have known what you were gettin into, my reputation does precede me. Now lets see this boy swing!
The sound of hoof beats slowly faded into the distance, and Ellison swung like a tetherball. Desperate gasps gave way to calm, quiet reflection.
<i>Man I shouldve picked up the cards before I left.</i>
Then everything was dead. The wind didnt blow. The sand didnt move. The tumbleweed stopped tumbling. Even Ellison stopped swinging.
Missing something? Eh, probably best you didnt try to answer that.
A man seemingly appeared out of the desert air before Ellison. The sleepy old cowboy, long gray braids and a scruffy gray beard, had on a brownish Stetson covered in dust. His brown leather duster, also covered in a light film, was full of holes, and curiously continued to sway and move without the presence of wind. His bolo tie seemed to glow, a curious precious metal and gemstone construct. He had a bit of a smirk on his face as he walked up to Ellison. He reached into his pocket, and grabbed something, sliding it into Ellisons chest pocket.
How many times I have to tell you to keep a better eye on these things? Hle patted Ellisons chest, and turned, his duster floating behind him. Ellisons eyes started to close, and everything went dark.
Hang around a bit, things well look up soon Hm. Seems like youre a little tied up at the moment. Ill talk to you later.
Under the shudder of his retrieving steps, the world exploded back into action. A small crack resounded, getting bigger, and suddenly, Ellison looked up as the branch he hung on snapped. He fell to his face, with a gasp that sucked in more desert sand than air. He gasped again, coughing up sand and blood through his dry throat, and in one sharp, stabbing pain, wondering how that second could have possibly gone so long, his world went black again.
Pick him up! Get him some water! Cmon now, dont lag behind! Another crack hit, and Ellison took a look over his head. No branch he had been out of the tree for some time. He coughed, his face covered in dust. His dry lips cracked almost immediately at the touch of the canteen, and as he swallowed, a wave of severe pain emanated from his throat. He coughed again, spitting blood on the cracked earth. Everything was so confusing men in chains picked him up, and put him on a wooden plank. Four men carried the plank, one at each corner, and they began to walk. From his spot, he could see horses carrying men with whips. The man snapped the whip again, and one of the walkers faltered for a second, before getting back up and walking a little faster. A horseman came up to the side of the makeshift sedan chair.
Dont try to talk now, son. From what I can tell, you been out here in the desert for about two, three days. I dunno who you pissed off, but if not for the branch breakin, youd be deadern a disco rocker. Of course, kind of an outta the fire an into the fryer situation, considerin it broke 110 out here thother day. Had we not found ya, itd only be another dayr two fore you was vulture food. Ellison tried to say something, but the man held up a hand. Dont try to speak yet, son, ya aint ready for it. Well talk when yer feelin better about payin us back. You just keep gettin some water into ya, and get some rest. Yall are gonna need it.
Ellison nodded slightly, and fell back. His eyes closed willingly for once, already trying to scheme a way out of this one.