I felt like writing something, so here it goes...
A Priceless Bounty
"Wanted! Dead or Alive! 28-year old killer form Planet Schul! Reward: One hundred platines"
Dane dismissed the holographic sign with his hand, and walked forward. Killers... he'd gotten tired of them. At first, it seemed very bounty-hunterish to get the most dangerous criminals, the ones that really posed a threat. It was only thirty three arrests later that he arrived at simple conclusion: Killers didn't pose a threat at all, most of the time, and even when they did, the rewards weren't satisfying. Smugglers were more interesting. Forgers were comic and fun to catch. But State enemies were Dane true passion.
Every hunt for a State enemy had proved engaging, mysterious, exhilarating and most of all, immensely rewarding. It had been his focus on them that had earned Dane Lorrain the reputation of King of Bounty Hunters, with a faithful crew and top-notch equipment, not to mention ship.
He stopped, looking at another holographic globe, one of the many spread through the Bounty Hunters Bay. The place was a huge outdoor fair, filled with notices and people, mostly males, that looked at them. There were also motels and bars, in which the bounty hunters joined to discuss their latest hunt or plan an alliance for the next. Most of them just showed off telling amazing stories that none but the youngest believed.
Kana, by his side, complained. "Dane, I know you want to feel once in a while this sense of...", she looked around, "humbleness, but really, can't we get on? You now we will end up in the Secretary's office asking who has offended the State the most."
Dane looked at her, half a smile in his mouth. "Kana, dearest, haven't twelve years under my command taught you that I value my roots? Once, just being here made me a part of the club. Who cares if I now rule it?"
Kana didn't respond. The small speech she had just been given equaled a reminder of her position. Being second-in-command didn't gave her permission to mock, or disapprove of, her captain's actions.
"But if you're feeling really uncomfortable, you can go back to the docks. I'll finish here and see the Secretary on my own". Kana did not make a motion to leave. She wanted to see the Secretary too, for her own private reasons, and if joining Dane in his walk through this filthy place was what it took, she'd do it. "I'll stay."
"Look at this, Kana. A ship thief. Maybe you know him". Kana blushed under her hood, which, like Dane, she was using so as not to be recognized. Dane had picked her up while she tried to steal his ship, and reminding her of that humble background was his way of explaining why he liked to come to the Bay.
"No, I don't know him. He's far too young to have been a colleague. It was twelve years ago, Dane". Dane didn't answer. He simply walked forward, his long black cloak barely touching the floor. Under the hood, his eyes closed, and he breathed slowly, as if to prevent the rush of memories that came to his mind from taking over him.
"It's time to go, Kana. Call Meier", he said. His hand were clenched.
"But, Dane, I thought..." She stopped by herself. He didn't need to say anything for her to know she just had to obey. She didn't want to be told off twice in the same day. She took the small comm from her cloak and pressed the blue button. "Meier, we're in the Bay. Come quickly. And don't bring Moss. You know the Secretary dislikes him."
Dane stopped and turned to her. "Now, Kana, we have some things to discuss. Is it today that you plan to overthrow me? For if it is, I rather deal with it before seeing the Secretary."
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That's it. Liked it? Don't know if I'll keep going, but tell me your opinions.
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