DISCLAIMER: It's Paramount's galaxy.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: A/TP. Enterprise continues its mission in former Delphic Expanse to prepare the North Star settlement for new colonists… and to solve a crime. Takes place immediately after the story "Recompense" as the next season 4 episode. References to "North Star".
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BIG IRON
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The mid-day heat made being outside almost unbearable. In weather like this, even the bluehorn would rest in what shade they could find. With the dry and dusty conditions of late to boot, and the afternoon wind picking up, most folks were simply hiding out in one place or another. The local saloon was one of those places, although even so, it wasn't very crowded in this particular town. The bartender stood behind the bar cleaning glasses, one after the other, taking perhaps more time than was necessary on each glass. Someone else, whether an employee or a patron looking for something to do, poked out a song on the piano. It was a bit out of tune but alright if you didn't have to play a high G sharp. About a half dozen others sat at various tables nursing a drink. The distinctive creak of the saloon doors sounded alerting those inside of new arrivals.
The bartender glanced up from his meticulous work. Strangers. A man and a women. The man was on the taller side, of medium build, and had short brownish hair with a scraggly beard and the woman was shorter with an intense stare and raven black hair tied back in a ponytail. The bartender made eye contact with the man who then moved towards the bar. The women surveyed the room and followed closely behind. It was unusual to have strangers in town, particularly at this time of year. They were the most northern of the settlements, predominantly ranchers, and out of the way from most everyone else. "What can I do you for?" the bartender asked.
The man tipped his hat and rested his arm on the bar. His clothes were dusty, but not overly so. They seemed too clean for him to be a bluehorn rancher. The man itched his chin as he admired the display behind the bar. "I'm here on business," he finally said. "I'm looking for someone."
The bartender stopped cleaning the glass and placed it down carefully. A lawman, no doubt, and it spelled trouble. The piano had stopped and the bartender's eyes glanced out briefly amongst the patrons to see who was there. What he saw spelled even more trouble. "Who you looking for?" he asked, and then cleared a catch in his throat.
"About a week ago, there was a kidnapping in a town south of here," the man replied. "Sheriff MacReady was shot. Almost killed." He paused and again admired the display behind the bar. The women was looking over the patrons and piano player with the eye of a gunslinger.
"Will the Sheriff be okay?" the bartender asked, unable to hide the nervousness now in his voice.
The stranger nodded. "MacReady is recuperating just fine," he replied. "I notice your town doesn't have a sheriff. The building's all locked up."
"No sir," the bartender replied quickly. "Last was, ah, Sheriff Jones. He was… killed in an accident 'bout two years ago. We haven't had trouble though without one."
The stranger frowned. "Word is, it was Texas Red and his gang. And from what I understand, he's holed up somewhere in these parts."
The bartender swallowed hard and took a half step back to prepare to duck behind the bar in case of trouble. He unconsciously glanced again out to the patrons, to one of the patrons in particular. The stranger noticed and turned around to look in the same direction. The women had noticed too and indicated the person with a nod of her chin. A younger man with a clean shaven face and hat drawn down to nearly cover his eyes. It almost looked as if he was sleeping. The two of them moved over to the table. The occupant was sitting back, one hand stretched out holding his glass of whiskey and the other down at his side out of view. He didn't move as the strangers approached.
"Might you know this Texas Red?" the man asked. The woman moved up next to the one sitting at the table and moved her outer jacket to expose a pistol in a holster on her hip.
"Who's asking?" the other replied.
"Name's Archer," the stranger said. "I've been deputized by Sherriff MacReady and am leading a posse to find our missing townsfolk."
The other's expression didn't change, but his head tilted up slightly and eyes moved from his glass to the woman's pistol and then up to the woman's face. "Are you the Deputy's hired gun?" the other sneered.
"Name's McKenzie," the woman answered. "Deputy McKenzie."
The other stifled a chuckle. "We don't need no deputies here," he said. "And I've been to MacReady's town plenty and have never seen or heard of either of you." He returned to looking at his drink, seemingly uninterested in talking further.
Archer and McKenzie glanced at one another briefly and nodded. Archer leaned down a little closer. "Where can we find Texas Red and his gang?" he asked, a little more forcefully.
The other now frowned and moved his hand he had on his drink slowly down onto his lap. The person at the piano stood up suddenly and moved towards the door, leaving without a word. A few of the other patrons at tables behind the young man moved quietly out of the way. The young man sitting at the table looked back at McKenzie's pistol, and then back up to McKenzie's eyes. "That's a mighty big iron you have there missy," he said. "Looks more like a Skag gun." His frown deepened and his eyes then moved to Archer. "Are you friends with Skags Deputy?"
Archer didn't have time to answer. The other stood up quickly knocking the table over in front of him making Archer and McKenzie step back, two guns in either hand pointing in their direction. The young man was quick on the draw and prepared to fire them both.
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Author's note: Season 4 was shorter than the others, and so it's only natural that there should be a few more episodes. This is the teaser for the second story in a three story/episode arch. The OC paired with Malcolm is Lieutenant Jennifer McKenzie, the head of the MACOs on Enterprise. The A/TP pairing is a friendship at this point with only a tease of romance, as it was in the first two seasons. This is to align with what little we know of the six years between "Terra Prime" and "These Were the Voyages…" and my other stories. Hope you enjoy – reviews are always welcome.