1: New July
Three years; It had taken three years for Gunsmoke
to even remotely prosper to a planet worth visiting. The good fortune of striking more natural water sources bore the fruits of tremendous development within each town. Even more so, with the help of immigrating space ships, the ruins of July were rebuilt into a currently large city now known as New July.
With the ever growing substantial soil to cultivate, the landscape began to shift a shade greener. The people worried less and the population soared. Although, by no means did this signify that Gunsmoke wasn't still a giant dust ball. It was just a miracle that the planet could be salvaged without so much dependency on the plants.
The outsiders whom sought for a new life over brought with them technologies that kept up constant development on this not so forsaken world. So much so, that a port had been added just a year and a half later after the starting rebuild of New July. And with new ships, came variant amounts of people. Human…and not so human.
The alerting wail of a siren indicating a docking ship surprised little to no-one anymore these days in the bustling streets of New July. The giant space craft landing was known as a transporter vessel. It had been the number one way to travel between multiple planets. Whether you were visiting or moving your entire life, transporter vessels were the way to go.
The amount of passengers one could hold was approximately the size of the long forgotten cruise ship.
Once the carrier settled into its lot, a mechanical walkway connected the port to the entrance doors. People of all shapes and sizes flooded the well structured tube. Families on vacation, friends gossiping about their latest adventure, merchants, couples traveling for their honeymoon, and even lone, unsavory characters who may or may not have had a criminal record attached to them.
A younger female, amidst the crowd, stretched her arms up from underneath her hooded cloak. The sound of a rising yawn reverberated from her small mouth. She let one of her green eyes close as she politely covered the lower half of her face.
Surveying her new surrounds, she deduced that this terminal was the same as any other. Gifts shops, gelato, pizza, coffee, doughnuts. All standards to keep any traveling customer happy. However, in the moment, she just found herself really craving a drink and since Gunsmoke wasn't considered a hundred percent "civilized", alcohol wasn't permitted inside the port.
She rubbed at the eye that was shut hoping that the next bar wasn't located too terrible far. She was still undecided as to whether or not she wanted to make this planet a permanent home. Or rather, if she could.
Slipping through the bodies, she hugged the strap of her rucksack to propel herself out of the front entrance without incident. The heels of her ankle boots clicked against the amateur paving of the city streets. She rested both hands on either side of her tiny frame, taking in a confident whiff of all the fresh smells that lingered in the air. Most were pleasant than not.
Among all of the various vendors was an underlying musk of sand and sweat. Even New July couldn't escape the perfume of the desert still surrounding it. The closer you inched out to the edge of the city, the heavier it settled into your throat, resonating a dry, chalky feeling.
The girl licked her lips, reminding herself that she was quite thirsty. Her peacock green hues scanned the adjacent structures for a nice little bar to rest for a while. As she began to walk the street her vision caught sight of a homely looking pub with a few lights out in its sign. Which told her two things, it was probably a local favorite and it was cheap.
A lopsided smile touched her features.
She stepped up to the double doors of the saloon-esque bar, smoothing out her asymmetrical dress that peeked from her white coat and triple checking the clasp on her hood. She wanted people to be able to communicate comfortably with her while still maintaining an air of secrecy. Being as she wasn't all too familiar with the land, she couldn't chance being recognized no matter how unlikely.
Pushing past the double doors with both hands the pungent smell of cheap liquor wafted immediately up her nostrils. She wiggled her nose and strode gracefully to an empty counter stool, plopping herself down with laced fingers.
The older woman bartending gave her a curious look before letting a smile touch her cheeks. "What'll it be, hun?"
The pale female beamed, "What kind of beer do you carry?"
The woman tilted her head before listing off the various brands they stocked. Which wasn't much being it served mainly domestic alcohol. The younger woman blew at a piece of her side fringe that inched it's way onto her forehead before opting for the richer choice. Something with an alcohol content of six percent or higher so she could welcome an easy, cost efficient buzz.
The bartender winked and scurried off to get her drink. Stretching her back out, the lithe woman cracked her neck from side to side before tuning into the chatter behind her. It sounded like a miffed gentleman.
"'Scuse me, that how ya treat a man tryin' to be niace? Don't ignore me, ya lil' bitch."
Scratch the gentleman part.
She let her chin drop on her propped hands, smiling gently. She was almost certain they were talking to her. Hints of hops lingering on their breath indicated they were undoubtedly smashed. What was a girl to do?
"She's got some nerve." Guy number two muttered to his offended buddy. "I bet she's just shy 'cause she's real ugly under that cape."
They all laughed as guy number one reached for the hood of her cloak. "Let's find out what kind of devil is hidin'—ugh?!"
Just before his crusty fingers could grasp her, she gasped and leaned over to pick up some change she had conveniently dropped. "Whoops, I'm such a butter fingers."
The guy made a face to his friends and tried again to grab at her, but she appeared either inherently lucky or she was quick. Dodging him again, she slammed the change onto the counter as the bartender set down her drink, a smile never leaving her visage. "Thank you, very much!"
"Hey! Don't play games with us, I know ya can hear us!" Guy number two shouted.
The bartender furrowed her brows and looked between the two. "Do you know them?"
"Hm, who?" She tilted her head just enough that guy number two's fingers just ghosted past her cheek. The older woman pointed a meek finger.
"This is seriously pissing me off!" Guy number one went in for a punch but each fist was avoided by the swift turn of the hooded female's head, attempting to notice what everyone else seemed to start to notice.
The bartender looked frazzled as the young woman brought back a puzzled look as if everything transpiring around her wasn't actually happening. "Uhh…"
The female laid her fingertips onto the bottom of her glass, shrugging her shoulders. This action only sent guy number two into a rage. "This is impossible! I'm gonna teach ya a lesson ya stuck up bitch!"
As he lunged for her she fell off her stool sending her drink splashing all over the customer seated two stools down. Her face morphed into utter guilt completely ignoring guy number two toppling over with her chair.
"Oh my! I'm so sorry! How clumsy of me. Let me clean you up."
The man whom was on the receiving end of her awkward behavior made strange sounds behind his gritted teeth. He watched this unusual woman swipe a few napkins from the counter and cater to him all the while guy number one threw a fitful of aggressive attacks, missing every endeavor.
A panicked look rose in his face as he pointed to the seething men behind her. "Ahh, looks like you have a fan club…"
The hooded woman's head went slant in wonder. "Hm? What's that?" Then, the clear cut feeling of the barrel of a gun against the back of her skull made her stiffen.
There was a click before guy number one spoke. "Listen here, missy, I've had enough of you're toying around. We know you're messin' with us and to be quite frank, it's rude."
The older woman behind the bar started to scold the man. "Now you listen, Rick, put that damn thing away. What do you have to lose your head over a girl who obviously doesn't want to talk to ya!"
The man scowled, pressing the gun further. "Shut up, Delores! I'm sheriff of this city and I demand some respect!"
"Is that what I've done?" All of the patrons, whom were now rather invested in the scene playing out before them, turned their heads back to the barrel being pointed at her delicate features instead.
The sheriff's face twisted up as she placed a gloved hand on top of his. "If this is a matter of respect than I would like to kindly ask you to put your gun down, sir, and whatever it is you have to say to me, say it plainly."
Guy number two's reaction mirrored something akin to dumbfounded as he stumbled over his words. "B-but that's what he…were you?…hold on a minute, he was pretty darn clear this entire time! He was tryin' to buy ya a drink!"
It was Rick's turn to knit his eyebrows together. "You seriously weren't payin' attention?"
The woman placed the back of her hand to her mouth as she laughed mischievously. "Was that all you wanted?" Her laughter suddenly became manic.
Everyone's face portrayed quizzical incertitude as Rick muttered to his counterpart, "Maybe she's just bat shit crazy."
While guy number two began to nod his head in agreement a group of white uniformed men busted through the double doors. The people within the pub froze, focusing their wide eyes on the intruders aiming machine guns.
"Citizens of New July," A white suited fellow who was assumed to be the leader judging by his spectacular militant hat, began. "we are authorized military assigned to the live capture of an extremely dangerous criminal known commonly as Lily of the Valley." He shifted his gun to his side, approaching the city folk cautiously. "We believe this suspect may have entered this bar as per her description."
The sheriff scratched at his scalp from underneath his hat. "Well, what she look like?"
The uniformed man cleared his throat. "Suspect stands about 5'4, dainty features, blonde hair, green eyes, pale skin, and is most notably seen in a white hooded cloak."
In that moment, it was almost like someone had stopped time as the awareness hit them. All eyes seemed to bore holes into the hunched over figure of the hooded criminal.
"T-That crazy woman?!" Rick pointed his gun again and the patrons went reeling in all directions. "I knew there was something wrong with ya!"
"Sir!" The leader tried to warn the erratic sheriff as his troop took the ready but he was too late, witnessing several bullets pierce the fabric of the cloak.
The uproar drowned out any protests coming from the uniformed men as the mob ushered them outside along with the rest. It had become a frenzy of booze and panic in which no one could appear to get a handle on. The sheriff had completely lost his temper over being rejected by someone whom he, a shining star of the law, was above and jailed regularly on a daily basis. The scum of Gunsmoke.
However, to his horror, he came to realize that the woman beneath the hood was actually no longer beneath it. The battered remains of her cloak laid strewn across the counter top and stools. A gurgle of anger bubbled at his throat.
"GAH! Somebody find that witch!"
Little did he know, the peculiar woman had slipped out the back as soon as the military in white had entered. Running in between buildings, she couldn't help but acknowledge how rapidly they were locating her. Normally she'd have at least several hours to explore town before trouble brewed. Especially coming from a different planet entirely.
He'd been waiting for her. These men were already stationed.
Her eyes narrowed as she drifted to reality upon the sound of a second body breathing beside her. Her head shifted to the wild looking man that she could only identify as the man she had spilled her beer on seconds before. He was trailing just slightly behind her, miraculously keeping up.
Her brow arched, "What are you doing?!"
He flashed a wide grin, "You never finished cleaning my coat." Then he frowned, pointing to a random spot on the red leather. "Look. There."
It was the woman's turn to wear an expression of utter disbelief. "You followed me just for that! Are you insane?!"
Suddenly, the cluster of authoritative voices floated just around the corner. The man in the red coat started to throw a loud fit. "But it's gonna stain!"
She abruptly shushed him by shoving a palm to his mouth and pressing them both into the cool siding of a building, obscuring their position. The woman wore a concentrated look while the man blinked his aquamarine eyes a few times, secretly studying her. Once the voices became distant she removed her hand and feigned a smile.
"Listen, how about if the stain doesn't come out, you come find me and I'll rectify the situation."
"Hmm." He placed curled fingers to his chin. "But how do I know I can actually find you? Seems a little one sided to me."
Her face strained. "B-because I'll make sure you can. Listen, right now…really isn't…the time for such things…"
The man laughed, pinching her right cheek. "Some how, I don't believe you." He let go as she fumed. "I guess this means I'll just have to tag along until you pay your debt."
She rubbed the side of her face. "What?!" Then she shut her eyes and commenced a few breathing exercises. When she finished about a half a second later, she appeared defeated. "Fine. Tag along if you must but I will warn you, it's dangerous."
"You think so?" He rubbed at the back of his skull.
The drumming of footsteps gathered close halting the minor altercation between the two. The woman made a scowl as she bolted in the opposite direction.
"Come on! Keep up!"
He chased after her meeting her rhythm almost effortlessly. If no one knew any better, they could have been mistaken for two weirdos on a jog. He attempted, for whatever reason unbeknownst to her, to make small talk.
"I don't mean to be rude," He started. "but a girl like you doesn't look like a criminal worth a whole military units time."
She huffed. "You're right. Must be a case of mistaken identity."
"Then why are you running?"
She let out a bellowing laugh and he squinted his eyes. "Are you making fun of me?"
She flashed him an unsuspecting, genuine smile. "No, just trying to make light of the situation. I'm sorry."
His expressions faltered in that moment. Somewhere, he had glimpsed something and a desire to know more rose to the surface. There was something exceptionally off about this whole ordeal but before he could ask anymore questions, she stopped them just a few buildings from the steam train.
Plastering herself to the siding, she tip toed to the edge to eaves drop on a few soldiers. They were whining about how tedious this mission was becoming and that if she wasn't requested alive, it would be so much easier. This seemed to put a damper on both parties moods.
"Hey, Lily?"
The woman turned to the man with the red coat, tilting her head. "Hmm? Who me? Oh!" She chuckled. "My name isn't really Lily. It's just an alias."
He raised a prominent blonde brow and she looked toward the sky, trying to skirt around the conversation as best she could.
"Lily of the Valley is like some poisonous flower or plant or something." She waved a hand nonchalantly around. "Details. Details. Who needs them? I didn't come up with the nickname anyhow."
"Hey! Whose there?!"
Both of their eyes widened and the woman quickly calculated a plan. "We need to split up." The man was about to protest until she interrupted him. "We'll meet around that building there and if I'm not mistaken, we should be able to lose them enough to board the next train."
The red coated man looked weary but thought better of objecting and considered the situation. So they parted ways finding themselves on opposite sides of the spectrum. The more the man ran his course the more he was sure he was going in the wrong direction. With every pass of an alleyway he did not cross with that woman.
He was being severely duped.
A new passion burned to confront this haughtily woman and her lies. It was clear she wanted to be left alone but something, probably his endless conquest for peace, drove him to wedge himself into the conflict. Whatever this was, whatever she was running from, it would undoubtedly bring peril to Gunsmoke.
He managed to catch up to the blonde just a structure away from the train tracks pretending to trip, taking her smaller form down with him.
"WAHH! What is your problem?!" She cursed, tumbling to the hard ground.
"Mine?!" He pointed an accusing finger toward her. "You tricked me!"
She sat up. "Well," Her eyebrows furrowed. "Honestly, I got a little mixed up." She was giggling now at her mistake. "Why would you trust direction from someone who's never been to this planet?"
The man couldn't believe his luck. "How was I suppose to know that?! I feel so misled!"
The woman stood to brush her dress off. "I think you're being a little over dramatic."
The man jumped to his feet and clenched his fists at his side while trying to convey as serious as an expression as he could muster. "And I think this is a terrible way to start off a relationship ah—What's your name again?"
The woman crossed her arms, answering without thought. "Fiore." She paused immediately, recognizing the error she'd just made. "Hey!—Wait a second! I never told you my name!"
"Really?" He blinked.
She wanted to rip her hair out. Where did this lunatic come from? "Ugh, never mind! What does it even matter!"
More grouped voices and marched steps paraded their way. Fiore hastily scanned their surroundings before spotting her ticket out of this damned city. She chortled with relief as she sped toward an on coming steam train. The man in the red coat followed her blindly, slowly piecing her plan together.
"Hey, wait a minute! You aren't really planning on jumping that train are you?!"
She turned her face back, challenging him. "Why? Are you scared?"
"Terrified!" His arms shot up into the air.
"Then stay here. It's too dangerous anyway!" She began to close the gap between her and the edge of the concrete that made a divide between the people and the trains.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!" He flailed his arms in a frenzy as she leaped into the air, miraculously catching a side door. The movement was almost inhuman.
He paused before redirecting himself to follow her. Fiore hung from the train waving a hand triumphantly at the strange man. Her laughter casted freely as her long locks whipped in the wind.
"Buh-bye! I'm sorry we couldn't have spent more time together!"
He threw her a heart broken look. "That's it?! You're seriously going to leave me behind? That's cold!"
Her laughter died down into an impish smirk. "I'm sure we'll meet again."
She scaled the side of the train until she found an opening she could sneak into, disappearing from sight. She always believed that everything happened for a reason and that a relentless man like that was bound to cross paths with her eventually. So there was no real reason to feel guilty about the way they parted. In fact, for his sake, it was better.
Once she slipped inside, she noted that the compartments that were occupied had their doors promptly shut. Shadowed figures could be seen moving about through the paned glass. For a primitive way of travel, she had to admit, the interior was cozy and quiet. Much better than the "subways" of other planets and sometimes even rooms of transporter vessels.
She ran her fingertips along the fine wood lining the walls until she happened upon a compartment with an open door. Peering inside, she saw that the cushion of the seats looked practically untouched, indicating to her that the room was readily available. She made no further hesitations.
Sliding onto the roomy, couch-like bench she stretched her arms blissfully upwards before nestling down in the corner. Somewhere in the back of her mind nagged her to close the door but another part of her assured her there was no rush because all passengers must be present. There surely wasn't anyone boarding as precipitously as she.
Definitely not.
"Hey there! I'm so glad I picked the right compartment! That would have been awkward."
She sat there in shock, staring mindlessly at the man in the red coat. Certainly, most certainly, no one else was supposed to board this train.
As usual, when posting a new story I want to be sure to have at least two chapters up. So lemme know what you think, in a constructive way, always. I look forward to continuing this story.
And for my readers who are asking, but Ghost, what about Cruel World? Don't worry, I will definitely be finishing it. I just don't have any inspiration to finish what I have so far for chapter 20. But don't fret!
Thank you all again!