Chapter 1: On the Job

"So, you got the stuff?" The man asked.

The bar wasn't full. There were only 6 people there, not a lot for a Friday night. He thought this was the perfect place to front his drugs. They had become the reason why he could feed his family, keep his home, and life. He looked around. One man was sitting a few tables away, reading a newspaper. Three others were playing pool over in the corner. The other man placed his credits on the table. He noticed that there were a couple hundred credits on the card. He took it and placed the small package on the table.

"Best stuff on Mars, baby."

Lloyd sat a few tables away from him as not to be noticed. He pulled out his newspaper and opened it to cover his face.

"Alright, I'm in place. The deal is going down now." Lloyd stated into his COM link.

"Good. We can catch him in the act. Lloyd, don't mess this up. Five-Hundred-Thousand credits are on the line." Replied a man on the other side of the line.

"I know, I know. You should really loosen up. You're too tight to be a bounty hunter, Richard."

Lloyd watched them through the small holes in the paper.

"So you got the stuff?" The buyer asked.

The buyer placed his credits on the table. The other man placed a small package on the table after he took the card.

"The best stuff on Mars, baby."

Lloyd thought it was amazing how no one suspected anything. Of course he had spent day training to pick up these kinds of things. The shifty eyes, shaking leg, worried look. Time to move, Lloyd thought to himself.

Lloyd pushed his chair back slowly. He pulled out his gun under the cover of the newspaper. In one swift movement he dropped the paper and trained his gun on his bounty's head.

"Alright Switch, be calm and you won't be hurt." Lloyd said as he slowly walked over.

Switch took the money and held it in his hand. Two Hundred and fifty credits. We's gonna be eatin good tonite, he thought to himself. The man at the other table slid back a little. He was probably getting ready to leave. Bout' time I got going home too, Switch thought. The man stood as he dropped his paper. The man had a gun pointed at him.

"Alright Switch, be calm and you won't be hurt." The man said.

Shit, Switch thought to himself. But the man didn't look like a cop. Damn cowboy, Switch thought.

"Turn around and put your hands behind your head." Lloyd said.

Switch did as he was told. Lloyd pulled out his handcuffs.

"You're a damn bounty hunter ain't you?" Switch asked.

"Yeah, so don't blame me. Blame whoever put up that 500,000 credit bounty." Lloyd said smugly.

"Sure I'll do that."

Switch quickly elbowed Lloyd in the stomach and ran as fast as he could to the door. As Lloyd fell backwards, he fired two shots. One hit the floor; the other hit the door just as Switch opened it.

"Everyone wants to do it the hard way."

Switch ran as fast as he could. He knew, without a doubt, that the man was a bounty hunter. No cop would have shot at him. It was dark out. Some of the streetlights were out helping to cover his escape. Switch quickly turned down an alley. It was clear, no one in sight. He ran back out onto the street. He'd ran for at least six blocks. No way was that bounty hunter gonna catch up with me now, Switch thought. He slowed to a walk. He'd gotten away from the bounty hunter. He went to turn down another alley. Out of the darkness came a fist that delivered a crushing blow to his jaw. The strength of the punch sent him into the ground.

Lloyd walked out of the alley. He was amazed that Switch got this far so fast. He walked out onto the sidewalk. He saw a body lying by the curb. Lloyd's eye grew wide, but they quickly reverted back as he realized what had happened. He pulled out his cigarettes and grabbed one. He lit it and inhaled as he bent down to inspect the body. Lloyd checked for a pulse. It was there, but just barely. He stood and leaned against the wall of the apartment building behind him.

"Damn, I thought you killed him." Lloyd said as he exhaled the smoke.

Richard appeared out from the darkness of the alley.

"I'm not to fond of running after people." Richard said as he glanced at Lloyd.

"Nor am I." Lloyd replied.

"You know smoking shortens your life expectancy, right?"

"And you know I don't give a damn, right?"

Lloyd turned and headed towards the harbor.

"See you on the ship, oh yeah, don't forget him." Lloyd said over his shoulder