Author's Note: So life and school have consumed my beta reader, which means for this chapter… you get to be my beta readers! Yaaay!

Also, I'm surprised no one's PM'ed me for the smut yet. I mean, smutty stories on here get what, a gajillion reviews? Either you are all in awe of my exquisite prose or are above such decadent curiosity. (I prefer to believe the former ;)

But enough about boring romance! *Throws papers into the air* Time for some action!

Little Lies

Sheriff Brady led him into an interview room, the smooth, orange walls bereft of any decoration except for a one-way window cut into the thick stone. Gabriel wondered if they knew that he could see the faint glow of Deputy Leandro on the other side as he settled into the cold, metal chair across from the sheriff. Brady groaned as he sat down, his hot mug of coffee clinking as he set it on the metal table bolted to the floor. He flipped through files on his data pad and asked if Gabriel wanted anything. Gabriel shook his head, his stomach twisting in knots at the thought of food. After a few moments, Brady set the device down and pushed his coffee to the side. He rubbed his stubbled chin, his tired eyes scrutinizing Gabriel. "Do you know why you're here?"

Gabriel shook his head again.

"Okay," he leaned forward, setting his arms on the table. "I'm going to ask you a few questions and I need you to tell me the truth. Do you understand?"

Hearts racing, Gabriel nodded.

"What time did you arrive in Eladoro yesterday?"

He cleared his throat. "Sundown."

"And what did you do?"

"Saw Luke, gave some meat to Ephrim to sell, ran into Jeremy and then arm wrestled." The words slowly tumbled out in a low, gurgling rasp. He wondered if Brady even understood half of what he said. Not many people did.

"I heard you lost to Quinn. I was kinda surprised," he said as he took another sip of his coffee. The cup glowed bright yellow in his orange hand, red curls of steam rising from within. Gabriel suddenly regretted not taking him up on his offer for drink or food. Coffee suddenly sounded great.

"He got lucky."

Brady swallowed and chuckled. "I see. So then what happened?"

"I left."

"I'm told you left in quite a hurry. You knocked a man down, I heard."

Gabriel said nothing, his hearts hammering against his ribs. Did they know about Rin and him? Why were they interrogating him?

From behind the window, Leandro quietly patched into the comm bead inserted into Sheriff Brady's ear. "Monitors say he's getting nervous. You sure you don't want him in restraints?" A quick scratch on the nose told him no. Leandro crossed his arms, monitoring Gabriel for any signs of aggression.

"Did you speak to anyone or see anyone else before you left?"

"Jeremy... Rin and Nova."

"Rin Harris?"

Gabriel nodded.

"Big spike, sheriff," said Leandro.

"Did she say anything to you before you left?"

Gabriel rumbled. "You haven't told me what's going on. Why am I here?" He tried to deflect the question, but the sheriff simply turned it back around.

"Something serious has happened and we need your help. I need you tell me where you were between 4300 and 0900 last night."

Gabriel's gut clenched and he felt his his felt his skull begin to pound as hot blood raced through his core. "I went home."

"He's lying," said Leandro.

"You're lying, Gabriel."

"I'm not lying."

"Do you have anything that can prove you were at the Ferguson's ranch last night?"

Gabriel sat back and crossed his arms.

"Gabriel?"

He looked away, anger and fear churning his stomach.

"Did you murder Korwin and John Young?"

Gabriel's head snapped up. "What?!"

"I asked, did you murder Korwin and John?"

Relief and outrage filled him. It wasn't about him and Rin. But they thought he may have killed two people. And he didn't have an alibi. "No."

"Dallas says he saw you do it."

Anger surged through him. "He's lying," he growled.

Sheriff Brady sighed. "I want to believe that, Gabriel. I really do. But here's the problem: you're the only one unaccounted for last night, you don't have an alibi, you had motive and you're lying."

"Just because we fought a few times times doesn't mean I wanted them dead." He'd backed himself into a corner. The only way out was the truth.

"So the fact that Korwin tried to rape Rin and shot Jeremy had nothing to do with you riding off last night?"

Leandro watched Gabriel's blood pressure skyrocket and he bolted for the interview room, slamming his shoulder into the door, pistol drawn.

Gabriel jumped to his feet. "What the fuck did Korwin do to Rin?!" he roared.

"Sit down!" ordered Leandro.

Gabriel noticed the gun clenched in the deputy's hand, but he didn't care. Korwin had tried to hurt Rin and kill Jeremy. "Answer me!"

"Gabriel, do as he says," said Brady, anxiety etching sharp lines in his tired face. He held his hands up, trying to get Gabriel to calm down. "I'll explain everything, just sit down. All we're looking for his the truth, okay?"

"Sit down, Gabriel, now!" Deputy Amaro was at the door, gun drawn as well.

The heavy musk of aggression and the bitter stench of fear burned Gabriel's already sore throat and set his skin on fire. Through the red veil of rage he focused on Brady's calm voice and slowly sat back down. Leandro holstered his pistol and handcuffed his wrists together behind the chair, tightening them until the cold metal rings bit into his skin

"I think everyone needs a moment to cool off." The sheriff's metal chair groaned as he pushed back from the table and he gestured for his deputies to follow him outside.

"Wait."

The trio paused.

"I have an alibi."

Brady motioned for the other two to stay outside and returned to his seat. "I'm listening."

Gabriel couldn't look him in the eyes. "When I left Eladoro... Rin took Cucumber and rode after me. She said she wanted to talk, so we went to her house."

Sheriff Brady frowned. If that were true, then Nova had lied to him about Rin's whereabouts. "How long were you there?"

Gabriel let out a long, shuddering breath. "All night."

Brady sighed, rubbing his eyes with his forefingers and thumb before sitting back and crossing his arms. "Why the hell didn't you say so in the first place?"

Gabriel said nothing, unable to hold the sheriff's sharp gaze.

"You know you can trust me, right? I know there are some people who walk around this town with their heads up their ass, but you don't need to worry about them." He sighed again, relieved that Gabriel might be innocent and worried that the real killer was still out there, among them. One of their own. "I'm going to send Amaro to talk to Rin to confirm your story."

"What happened?" Gabriel lifted his head, the motion straining his wrists.

"Hmm?"

"To Rin and Jeremy?"

The sheriff's gaze softened. "Nobody told you what happened?"

"Jeremy said his lonma threw him off and he fractured his arm."

Brady grunted. So many harmless lies snowballing into one screwed up morning. "And Nova and Rin? What did they say?"

He shook his head, his throat stinging as he spoke. "Nothing."

"Well, I'm sorry you had to find out this way." The sheriff leaned back in his chair, trying to think of where to start. "Several days ago, Korwin bought some drugs off a crewman from one of the trade ships, a red powder known throughout the sector as Sangre del Diablo."

Gabriel stiffened. He'd heard of the drug. And the horror stories that went with it. In the wrong doses, it turned ordinary men into mindless monsters and paranoid killers, capable of anything their deranged mind could fathom.

"It's potent stuff and we think he'd just taken a hit when he ran into Rin on her way back from Ephrim's store. The Young brothers had been having problems finding work after the incident at the bar. When he saw Rin, he got angry, blamed her for their misfortune and dragged her into woods by the south bridge."

Gabriel dug his claws into the palm of his hands as anger and sorrow filled him. Why hadn't anyone told him? Why hadn't Rin told him?

"Luckily, because a crew member got into a bar fight the night before, a ship was delayed from taking off that morning because the captain had to bail the guy out. Jeremy decided to drop off a last minute package to send to his relatives and was on his way back from the hangar when he noticed Rin's dog laying injured on the side of the road - Korwin had kicked the poor thing." Brady shook his head. "As soon as Jeremy saw it and noticed the drag marks leading into the woods, he went to investigate. He found them and fought Korwin off before he could do any real damage, but Korwin managed to pull his gun first. Your friend shielded Rin and took a bullet. Korwin's gun jammed after the first shot, thank God, or I might be telling a different story."

Gabriel clenched his shaking hands. Jeremy had saved Rin's life. He'd never, ever be able to repay that debt. Not in a hundred years.

"After that, Korwin disappeared. Apparently, John was sneaking his brother some supplies. Dallas followed him even though he wasn't supposed to and that's when he swears he saw you kill them with a spear or a sword or something."

"You don't believe him, do you?" asked Gabriel.

Brady stood. "We'll know soon enough. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to have a word with my daughter-"

Leandro burst into the room. "We've got a problem!"

Brady frowned. "What happened?"

"An unauthorized ship just docked. Two suits are heading this way and seem real keen on the two murders."

"What?! Stall them."

"No time. They're headed this way, right now."

Brady ran his hands through his hair. "Shit."

Gabriel tugged at his cuffs.

"You stay put, Gabriel," barked the sheriff as he followed Leandro out. "You're still a suspect." The lock snapped shut with a resounding thoom. He was trapped. And the outsiders were head straight for him.

~\'/~

Earlier that night...

John leapt into the dry gully, quietly landing with a soft thud. He shifted the pack over his shoulder and headed up the dusty path towards a small cluster of boulders and dead trees. Shielded by thickets, weeds and anything else hardy enough to survive at the edge of the desert, the dry pond bed was the perfect hiding place.

John slipped under a fallen log and came face-to-face with the end of pistol. Korwin lowered his gun, letting loose a shaky breath. "Christ, John, you could've at least whistled or something."

John didn't say a word, shoving the pack against his brother's chest and stalking past him. He crouched by the small fire, warming his hands. Korwin glared at him, a vile retort tickling the edge of his tongue. He swallowed it, shoving his pistol in the back of his pants. His stomach gurgled in pain as he rifled through the bag. He hadn't eaten in over a day.

"How long are we going to keep doing this?"

Korwin swallowed the hunk of bread in his mouth. "What?"

"I said how long do you think I can sneak food out here before someone notices?" His steel grey eyes locked onto his brother.

"I don't know what you want me to do-"

"How 'bout turn yourself in? Because we both know that eventually they're going to find you, either through me or some other way. You ever thought about what might happen if they find out I'm helping you? That I knew where you were but didn't say anything? We'd both go to jail and then Dallas has nobody. Is that what you want?"

Krowin scowled. "Don't you bring Dallas into this. Don't you fucking go there."

"Well what is it going to take for you to wake up and realize what the hell is going on, Korwin? Because I can't keep doing this."

Korwin growled and began to pace. Neither spoke for long moments, John giving his brother time to think. Korwin stopped, hands on his hips. He started chuckling, a sardonic rumble tinged with despair. "I really screwed up, didn't I?" He spat. "Fucking dealer. He lied to me, John. Told me it was stardust and that it would mellow me out... bastard."

John didn't reply. They'd already gone over this a few days ago. Korwin wanted to blame the dealer, but John knew nobody would care. Shouldn't have bought from him in the first place, they'd say.

"You remember what we said, when we were kids? We said we'd never be like dad. We swore it... remember? And then we turned out just like him. At least me, anyway. How fucked up is that?"

"You took most of the hits, Korwin. And then some."

"Doesn't matter. I promised Dallas I'd always be there. Now I'm going to jail. I'm leaving him. Abandoning him, just like dad. Doesn't matter if we're still on the same planet."

"He's worried about you."

Korwin sighed and rubbed his face. "Christ..." He noticed John's disapproving grimace and snorted. "Right, sorry. I forgot that you found religion."

"Brother John's a good man. He's been helping us the last few days."

"We don't need anyone's help," Korwin growled.

John looked down and just shook his head.

The sharp crack of twigs made him leap to feet and Korwin whipped out his gun. John fingered his long knife, cursing himself for staring into the flames too long. His night vision was ruined. A shadow crouched at the base of the entrance. "Who's there?" he called, motioning for his older brother to stay out of sight.

"It's me."

John's stomach sunk. Dallas.

"Is that Dallas?" Korwin whispered.

John clenched his fists and strode forward. Dallas may be an adult but he still acted like a child. John and Korwin had protected him from the abuse, covered for him when managers thought he wasn't doing his job and gave him the things they'd never had. When he was happy, they were happy. But Dallas' attitude of late made him doubt whether they'd done the right thing by being lenient. The incident at the bar had been an eye opener and he'd finally had to acknowledge how messed up the three of them were. He opened his mouth, preparing to chastise his little brother.

Pain punched through his gut, the words dying in his throat as it filled with blood. John's eyes widened and he looked down to see two evenly spaced holes puncturing his stomach. Something cold and solid pierced his abdomen but there was nothing there. A familiar clicking noise filled his ears. Gabriel?

Organs shredded as the blades tore free and he cried out in pain as he fell to his knees.

The thunder of gunfire erupted as Korwin began to unload his pistol, shouting obscenities. Dallas was screaming.

John looked up, clutching his stomach and gasping for air as blood swelled up from his stomach and clogged his throat. One of the shots hit something, bright, luminescent blood spraying into the air. The invisibility cloak disintegrated, revealing a monster. It was Gabriel. And it was not. Gabriel didn't wear black armor or bleached skulls. He didn't wield a spear or wear a serrated mask.

The thing went after Korwin, his brother's screaming as he tried to run away. He'd run out of bullets. Dallas was suddenly in front of John, crying and begging him to get up.

"Dallas... run. Run Dallas." John pushed him away, gathering all his strength to stand.

"No! I'm not leaving you!"

John grabbed him by his shirt, his grey eyes boring into his brother's. "Do as I say! Run." He shoved him towards the exit and turned away, not bothering to see if he'd listen. He had to stall the monster. He had to save Dallas. John pulled out his knife, watching as the creature ripped Korwin's spine and skull from his body. John's gut clenched in agony at the sight of his mangled brother's body and he threw up blood. The monster finally noticed him. His knife trembled in his hand. It was all he could do to stay upright.

A silent prayer managed to escape his bloody lips before the creature lunged.

~\'/~

Dallas froze as the crunching sound of flesh and bone being ripped apart pierced the cold, night air. A howling roar followed, echoing through the gully and he bolted for the hovercycle, scrambling up the dirt bank. Thorns lashed his clothes and skin, but he didn't care.

Gabriel had killed John and Korwin.

Tears streamed down his face as he fumbled for the key in his pocket.

He'd killed his brothers.

The hovercycle hummed to life and he shot across the valley, heading straight for Eladoro as the first blush of dawn tinted the sky.

~\'/~

The warrior stepped silently from the shadow of the trees, calmly watching the creature flee across the dry plains. Finding the three creatures out here, alone, had been a stroke of good fortune. And now the trap was now set. His prey would come to him, eager for his blood. He ran a claw over the top of one of the bloody skulls strapped to his belt, rumbling in anticipation before slipping back into the darkness.

~\'/~

"They don't look happy to see us," said Lyra as the open-hatched vehicle pulled up to the sheriff's office. People stared from doorways and paused in the street, the small bustling town falling quiet as the two agents exited from the small car. Sung paid the driver and he took off, wheeling around and spitting dirt as he headed back to the hangar. Their driver hadn't said a word the whole trip and the awkward silence followed them from the vehicle and into the street. Sung's eyes narrowed behind his black sunglasses. The quiet set him on edge.

"So much for being hospitable and laidback," muttered Lyra, referring to the brochure she'd downloaded on their flight over.

"Chau did say they don't like unannounced guests," he replied, looking up as the sheriff and one of his deputies emerged from the towering butte at the center of the settlement. Both looked haggard and angry. With the new year's festival and a double homicide, he bet they hadn't slept in almost two Terran days. They exchanged formalities and headed inside, Sung keenly aware that dozens of eyes were watching their every move.

When the door sealed shut the sheriff didn't waste time, instantly dropping the cordial mask he'd put on for the townspeople. "What do you want?"

"We're investigating a serial killer. We think the two murders from last night are linked to a dozen other murders over the past few weeks."

That got their attention, but the sheriff wasn't fazed. "We've heard about them. But there are protocols for requesting permission to enter Eladoro. If you've been on Navarra for a few weeks, then you've had plenty of time to fill out the necessary forms."

"A lot of good that would do us, considering most get rejected or rescheduled," said Sung, tucking his sunglasses inside his jacket.

Lyra stepped in, always the peacemaker. "We're sorry for the intrusion, but our orders give us clearance to do whatever we can to assist local officials in the capture and/or execution of the killer."

"Does the board know you're here?"

"Nebular Enterprises requested us," said Sung, locking eyes with the stern man for a moment.

Sheriff Brady sharp gaze remained unmoved. Titles and companies didn't seem to impress him as much as the other people they'd met on this world. "Deputy Torres." The younger man straightened beside him. "Call Markus. Tell him he needs to come to town now. Then get the Santillos."

"Markus?" asked Lyra, puzzled that they would call in a rancher. Sung was curious too.

"He's the mayor."

The two agents gave each other a bemused look. Mayor?

"It's not official. Technically, Bahari Wandu is still the mayor but he left years ago." He tapped in a security code and the door hissed open. "But I'm sure the politics of an outpost settlement aren't of interest." He gestured for them to follow. "You're here for our first homicides."

Sung pulled in a chair from another office and sat beside Lyra, Brady taking his seat when everyone was settled. They began negotiating access to the bodies, requesting files, details, witnesses. The usual. The sheriff had to excuse himself for another cup of coffee, allowing Lyra and Sung a brief moment to share their thoughts.

"So, what do you think?" asked Lyra as they scanned the case notes.

"This sounds exactly like the other murders."

"No, I mean about Eladoro. About the people."

Sung lifted his head and thought for a moment. "They don't seem to follow the conventional rules like Tau Sigma or Derrigan."

"I was thinking the same thing. There's a clear disregard for outside authority. But why? I've been to remote worlds before and I've never encountered this level of hostility."

"Fear."

"What?"

"The word you're looking for is 'fear.' They're afraid of something and their covering it up with excuses about paperwork and bullshit. They'll probably try to stall us, take us where they want us to go and only to those people they want us to see."

Lyra gave him a wry smile. "Since when did you become the psychology expert?"

"I learned from the best," he said, giving her soft smile.

"Do you think it's connected to the murders? I just have this gut feeling that something's wrong."

Sung frowned. "I thought you were an intellectual?"

"Yeah, but sometimes I get these feelings... like my subconscious is picking up on something I've overlooked."

Sung's reply faded when the sheriff returned. As soon as he sat down Lyra pounced. "Sir, I have to be honest with you about something."

Brady raised an eyebrow. "Sure."

"When we asked if there were any witnesses... you lied to us."

Sung tried to hide his surprise. Had she really seen that? Or was she bluffing?

The sheriff's surprise quickly soured. "I can assure you Ms. Andrews, that John and Korwin were alone."

"I'd like to speak with the surviving brother."

"No."

Lyra was taken aback.

"He's in no condition to talk to anyone. They were the only family he had left since his mother died years ago and his father left." He rose, Deputy Torres and another officer stepping into the room. "Deputy Torres and Ramirez will take you to the murder scene and then the coroner." Before they could even protest, the sheriff was out the door.

Lyra was simmering as the two agents followed the deputies out and Sung's usually cool attitude was starting to crack. He didn't like pulling rank but they weren't getting anywhere with these people. "Lyra?"

"Yeah?"

"You remember that mission on Tesla?"

"Yeah."

Neither deputy was prepared for the lightning assault. Sung bashed his elbow into Amaro's nose, blood spurting as bone cracked. Leandro gurgled and crumpled to the ground in pain as Lyra stabbed him in the side with her taser. Within seconds, both were subdued and in cuffs. Sung dragged them into a storage room and shut the door.

"What now?" he huffed, unholstering his pistol.

"I caught a glimpse of the sheriff heading in the opposite direction."

"Lead the way."

The pair quickly headed back the way they'd come, past the sheriff's office and down the stone hall. A blue sign with white lettering indicated they'd arrived at the cell area. Sung pulled out the key card he'd found on Leandro and swiped it along the access panel. The door buzzed as it unlocked and the pair quickly filed inside.

"I told you I won't eat until you arrest him!"

The agents paused just a few meters away from where the sheriff was trying to offer food to an inmate. Both instantly recognized the young man from the case files. Dallas Young.

Brady spun, shock and outrage flushing his face. "What the hell are you doing here?!"

"Who are they?"

"Not now, Dallas!"

"Why did you lie to us?" asked Lyra, her hand resting on her holstered pistol.

Dallas slammed against the jail bars, spittle flying as he shouted. "He's covering for that murderer! I saw him, I saw that alien sonuvabitch kill my brothers!"

Dallas' hysterical shouts sucked the air from the room and the sheriff went slightly pale.

"What did he say?" whispered Sung.

"Nothing. He's hysterical-"

Sung aimed his gun at Brady and both he and Dallas went silent, the young man backing away from the metal bars. "You tell me everything. Right now."

"What happened to Leandro and Amaro?"

"They're fine," said Lyra, her anxiety growing with each second that passed. Sung's finger was on the trigger.

Brady ran a hand through his short cropped hair. "Okay, alright, I... we were going to try and explain everything once everyone was here, but..."

Brady ignored Dallas' shouts to be let out and gestured for the agents to follow. He led them to the interview chamber, the azure door sealed shut and bolted. He paused before he unlocked it and turned to face the two agents. "I can't let you in until you put your gun away."

"Sorry, not happening."

"The suspect is handcuffed. You don't have to worry."

"Sung."

He looked at his partner, her brows knitted together with concern. Lyra's anxiety brought him back to reality. He needed to be calm. Besides, he realized with bitter disappointment, the thing they were after wouldn't submit to an arrest. His anger vanished, replaced by a grim despair. He thought he'd heard the kid say 'alien'. He'd thought he'd had the bastard.

"This is going to be a little shocking," said Brady as he unlocked the door. "We've never..."

The rest of the words were lost in a white noise of rage as Sung saw the creature sitting on the other side of the metal table. His vision turned red and shouts filled the air. Somewhere in the distance, a gun went off.

Author's Note: Almost forgot! Many thanks to Eternalis (very cool name), AAEdmonds, mmendoza688 and WraithLord24 (for the Emperor!) for following, favoriting and reviewing.