ALEC

The greyhound pulled up to its stop in Dallas and it's doors slid open. I stepped out, carrying a duffle bag and dressed in black western boots, hat, shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and jeans with a silver and gold, oval belt buckle that glinted in the sunlight. I turned a moment to speak with the driver then stepped away and watched as the bus moved off. Turning, I slung my bag over my shoulder and sucked in a deep breath of fresh air after the stale confines of the bus. My black hair waved in the wind as I adjusted my sunglasses and looked around.

Maybe I'll find what I'm looking for this time. A new company in a new city...a fresh start, I hoped, as I began to stroll down the street.

A few women turned to look at me as I passed and I tossed them a casual smile. As I reached the corner, I pulled out a piece of paper from my breast pocket and unfolded it, looking it over. My head shot up at the sound of a siren. A station wagon and pick up truck with flashing lights zoomed by the corner causing a few people to jump aside.

I haven't even reported in yet and here I am tearing down the street, I snorted to myself, as I raced to catch up with the chase. I was never going to keep up, I thought ruefully, until I began to pass a guy just climbing onto his motorcycle. I stopped quickly and flashed my badge. Handing him my bag and telling him to wait here, I jumped onto the bike, started it and raced after the sirens.

I had a brief thought that I should have grabbed my service revolver...too late now... I zoomed through traffic leaning left and right on the turns.

I quickly caught up with the pickup as it skidded into a construction site and a big man with brown hair and beard then a black man almost as big as the first guy, got out.

When I heard gunshots, I gunned the engine and jumped a pile of pipes, causing me to sail in the air. The station wagon came into view for a brief moment and I saw two men on either side of it a big, beefy man and a little taller more muscular man. The gunman nearest me was the beefy guy. He turned to look as I landed and raced toward him and the two officers. I sent the bike into a slide when I saw him training his gun on me, my hat falling off into the dirt. I succeeded in knocking him off his feet with the bike as I rolled on the ground with the momentum which carried me in range of him and swinging my leg up nailed him across the face with a kick as he started up.

He slammed against the car and slumped on the ground and I rolled to the front of the car keeping low looking at the guys behind both doors of the truck. As soon as the guy's hand was in sight I grabbed it and flipped him down in front of me.

Quickly I jumped to my feet and kicked a foot out to knock the gun from the guy's hand and a second kick to the face as he stood up. He'd rolled to his feet and was now standing with his body bent low. I rolled my eyes in annoyance as he drove a punch toward me. I pushed his hand aside and closed lined him and he flipped back on the ground face first. Mildly amused, I stepped close and looked down at his prone body.

"You done?" I asked.

He growled and quickly climbed to his feet, taking a low posture again, fists raised.

Sighing, I muttered, "Guess not!"

He kicked out at me and I caught his heel in my hand, held it a second before spinning around and nailing him with a back hand. Releasing his heel, I jumped up and nailed him with a second spin kick to the face. He went down again but this time, he stayed down.

The two officers came over when the dust had settled and looked me over cautiously.

The shorter one trained a gun on me and signaled for me to raise my hands. I did so while objecting to the treatment.

"Whoah there buddy! I'm on your side!" I told him.

He frowned at me and demanded to see it while still holding the gun steadily on me. I carefully used one hand to remove my badge from my shirt pocket and showed it to him. He snorted and shook his head, putting his gun away.

"That was a pretty dangerous stunt you did, let alone with your bike." He said.

"Uh, well it's not mine, I sort of borrowed it. It only needs a new coat of paint and besides, it worked." I said with a shrug, standing more easily now that he wasn't pointing a weapon at me.

He just shook his head again, then helped his companion to lift the criminal to his feet and walked him to the pickup. Pulling the the tail gate open, the officer shoved him into a and slamed the tail closed afte the second.

Finished, the big one turned to look at me. "You handled yourself very well. Where did you study?" He asked, curiously.

"I was an Army Ranger and was stationed in Japan, had to do something to pass the time." I said with a casual shrug.

He smiled and held out his hand. "My names Ranger Walker and this here, is my partner Trivette"

I smiled back and shook his hand then turned to shake Trivette's while giving them my name. "I'm Alec."

As they climbed into the truck , Walker looked back at me and said, "Well, Alec, I hope we see you again."

I just nodded and said, "Well you just might!" They drove off and I added to myself, "Sooner than you think."

I sighed and walked over to where I'd lost my hat and picked it up, beating it against my leg to get the dust off then went to the bike. I grimaced at the sight of it.

"That kid is going to kill me." I muttered unhappily slippng my hat on.