GALACTIC MARSHAL
by Hilltopper

CHAPTER 10

As I woke up, I realized that I was tied to a post. When my vision cleared, I saw an old man sitting in a chair about 10 feet in front of me. He was staring a hole in me.

“Ha, finally caught one of Karen’s henchmen.”

“You’ve got me all wrong.”

“I’ve seen you going around with her bouncer. You can’t fool me. She sent you to find me, didn’t she?”

“Look, I have no idea what you are talking about. Matt and I just got here a couple of days ago. Linda gave him this bouncer job because he cleaned up in a fight we got into at her saloon. We are not working for Karen.”

“But you know who she is?”

“Yeah, she came into the saloon yesterday but I didn’t speak to her.”

“Hmm, you sort of sound like you’re telling the truth but I sense you’re holding something back. I think I will just let you stew a while.”

The old man got up and walked out. I looked around. It appeared like I was in a room in the stable. I had no idea for sure what time it was but I didn’t think I was out too long. If this keeps up, though, my brain is going to be mush. He had me tied pretty tightly. There was no way I was going to get loose without help. A couple of hours later, he came back.

“You ready to talk now?”

“I’ve told you all I know. Just let me go. I could care less about you.”

“No, you’re not telling me everything. For instance, I know you are from Earth because I am too. Broadskye would not send an Earth citizen to this moon. That means, you are here under false pretenses. The only way that would happen is that Karen arranged it.”

“I have told you, I do not work for Karen.”

“We’ll see. I’m hungry. I’ll check on you after I eat.”

Out he went again. I was beginning to think the man was unhinged. This could get bad. After a while, he came in with a big smile on his face.

“I thought you looked familiar but I couldn’t place you. While I was eating, it hit me. You’re Marshal John Harper. This is fantastic!”

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Matt walked into Linda’s office without knocking.

“Linda, I’m worried. Rusty should have been back hours ago.”

“Where did he go?”

“He said he was just going to look around and see if any leads turned up. He really didn’t expect anything.”

“It looks like something happened. It will be dark in about an hour. When night falls here, it is pitch black. We better take a quick look around town. If we find nothing by dark, we will just have to wait for morning.”

We went out the back door and headed down the street behind the saloon. Since it was getting close to dark, not too many people were out and about. After walking and checking buildings for about 30 minutes, Linda called a halt.

“This is getting us no where. We only have about 20 minutes of daylight left. Where did you last see Rusty?”

“He was walking down that side street over there.”

Linda looked that way.

“The only thing down that way is an old stable. OK, let’s check that out. If there is nothing there, we will just have to wait until morning.”

The street looked deserted but we started toward the stable. As we turned the corner of the stable, the door flew open and out stepped Rusty and an old man.

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I walked out of the stable and almost ran into Matt.

“Sorry, what are you doing here?”

“Looking for you.”

“Oh, I was kind of tied up for a while. This is James Cooper. We have been having an interesting conversation.”

Linda put her hand on my shoulder.

“Thank goodness you are safe. We were worried sick. Come on, let’s get back to the saloon before it gets dark.”

We walked the short distance back and went into Linda’s office via the back door. Mr. Cooper seemed to be very uneasy about being here.

“OK Mr. Cooper, I think it’s time to tell why you thought I was sent to find you by Karen.”

He winced when I said her name.

“I’d also like to know how you knew who I really am.”

This brought Matt and Linda quickly to attention. Matt spoke first.

“What do you mean he knows who you are?”

“He knows I’m John Harper and a marshal.”

“Oh dear!”

I turned back to Mr. Cooper.

“Well?”

“I guess I better explain. See, I knew you when you were very young. I designed the lasers used by Earth’s military. Your father piloted the ships we used to test them. That’s why Karen brought me here; to design a laser weapon for her.”

“I don’t remember any of this.”

“You were only about 3 or 4 years old. Samuel Harper was very proud of you. He said your mother was from another planet and you were born there. He never said how he ended up with you but I could tell he loved you. To tell you the truth, you seemed more girl than boy at that age.”

I blushed deeply and changed the subject.

“If Karen brought you here, why are you not at her base?”

“I worked there for over a year designing the superconducting laser she wanted. She did not say at first why she needed it. She was obviously working with some Broadskye military chaps so I thought it was just for Broadskye defense. About a month ago, I found out its true purpose. I had heard the story of Fledora. Karen’s hatred coupled with the need of some on Broadskye to get back at them was the real reason for putting the laser in a Broadskye ship. I got the feeling that Karen did not intend to actually use it on her planet. She just wants to take down the government by its threat but I overheard the Broadskye military commander on the base planning to devastate the planet. I wanted no part in that so I stowed away on a transport heading here. I have been hiding in that stable for two weeks. It was only a matter of time until they found me.”

“So, you are familiar with that base.”

“Absolutely! Are you here to arrest Karen?”

“Well, that is the reason we were sent but we also are concerned about the safety of Fledora.”

“With good reason! They would have no defense against my laser.”

“Could you show me how to defeat it?”

“You mean sabotage it, don’t you?”

“OK, yeah, we can’t let it leave here.”

“I agree! Yes, I will help you.”

“Great! Linda, have you got a room he can stay in?”

Linda looked very uncomfortable.

“I am torn between my loyalty to Karen and my love of Fledora. I just don’t know.”

“We can hash this out later. Right now, we must keep Mr. Cooper safe.”

“OK, I buy that.”

She looked over to Mr. Cooper.

“Come on. I’ll give you the room across the hall from Rusty and Matt.”

After they left, Matt turned to me.

“This is just the break we needed. If Karen picks me to be one of her guards, we can take that laser down. That was good work on your part.”

“I was just using my head.”

She laughed.

“Yes, I can see the lump.”

We decided to turn in. My head was still a little dizzy. Once in bed, I was out like a light. I awoke the next morning to find Matt staring at me.

“Jonnie, do you think what that old man said about you is true?”

“I don’t have any reason to doubt it. I know what you are thinking. I was too out of it last night to make any connections but this is almost too much to believe. Could I be Karen’s brother?”

“I don’t know but it makes sense. That is the reason Carol was intent on getting you to be the marshal sent to Fledora. She knew who you were.”

“God, this is crazy. I go to arrest Sandra, make friends with Linda, and, it turns out, she is Sandra. Now, I am here to arrest Karen and, it turns out, she might be my sister. This is just too much!”

“I know this is messing with your mind but we must remember the threat to Fledora.”

“Is there a threat? I mean, the council has played me like a violin. I don’t know what’s real anymore.”

“That old man thinks there is a definite threat. It’s hard for me to believe that Karen really wants to destroy Fledora but there are some on Broadskye that would like nothing better. Maybe they are playing Karen just like the council is you?”

“Maybe? Karen certainly has a grudge against the council and maybe I should too if what we have heard is true. She might even desire to head it just like her mother did. I just don’t see her wanting to devastate the planet. I think the main thing now is to figure out how to destroy that laser and worry about Karen later.”

“Yes, I agree. Now, let’s go get something to eat. I’m starving. By the way, how’s your head?”

“Hard as a rock.”

“That I can believe.”

We had just finished dressing when we heard several shots being fired downstairs.

“What the------------?”

Matt headed out the door and I was seconds behind her. When I reached the head of the stairs, I saw Linda come out of her office. A very large man was standing in the middle of the saloon with several people lying on the floor around him. He aimed the gun he held at Linda and fired. She went down. By this time, Matt had reached the bottom of the stairs. The man pointed the gun at her and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. He must have used all his ammunition. He threw the gun at Matt and ran out the front door. Matt ran after him. I went over to Linda.

“I’m OK, Rusty. It just nicked my shoulder. Go after Matt.”

“Right”

I went out the front door to find Matt and two fellows lying in a heap in the street. Matt was visibly agitated. She looked up at me.

“I ran into these idiots as I left the saloon. I think that guy ran toward the stable you were in but I can’t be sure.”

“OK, let’s go back in and check with Linda.”

Linda had gone back to her office. As I walked in, she handed me a make shift first aid kit.

“I got some men to haul those pour souls out to our cemetery. It happened so fast, no one had a chance.”

“What was his problem?”

“I don’t know. We always give newcomers a free first drink. This guy wanted more. When he was told that he had to work to earn credits to be able to buy more liquor, he went crazy.”

“Where did he get a gun? I thought only Karen’s bunch had them.”

“We have some guns here that have been left by Karen for us to use in an emergency but his was not one of those. I have no idea where he got one.”

“I guess it’s up to Matt and me to get him. I assume there is no real police here.”

“No, Karen takes care of that sort of thing. As I said before, things are rather loose here.”

“OK, can we have those guns you mentioned for emergencies? I think this counts.”

Linda laughed.

“If it doesn’t, I don’t know what would.”

She gave Matt and I revolvers and some bullets.

“I know these are kind of primitive but it’s all we have.”

“They will do just fine. Come on Matt, let’s go get this nut case.”

We left by Linda’s back door and headed toward that stable. Matt turned to me.

“It is darned suspicious that guy having a gun.”

“Yeah, makes one wonder.”

We carefully entered the stable. Since the guy had thrown his gun at Matt, we were pretty sure he was unarmed. He was, however, huge and would be hard to take down in a fight. After searching all of the stalls and the feed room I had been held in, there was no sign of him. There was a back door so Matt went out it to check the area behind the stable. I was about to follow her when I noticed a bunch of hay bales piled loosely in the corner of the last stall. This seemed odd for some reason. I walked over to them and looked behind. I did not see anything unusual but the light was dim here. As I turned around, a hay bale suddenly hit me in the back. I went flying dropping the pistol. I started to get up when I heard the hammer being cocked on my weapon. I looked up to see the barrel aimed at the center of my chest.

“You all think you are so high and mighty around here. Well, let’s see how you like this.”

I saw his finger tighten on the trigger. It was a desperation move but I had nothing to lose. I lunged at him and heard the gun fire.