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Chapter 2

Deputized

I was released 4 Days before Thanksgiving. One of those holidays that just won't go away_._ Turkeys somehow survived our mass insanity of the 21st, and 22nd century. Although Turkeys are not exactly liked in general by us today. Everything is practically made from them and fish, and I mean everything. In most parts Thanksgiving and Christmas have become the most popular holidays because of the amount of food available. Sad fact is they make a Soylent Turkey dinner as well, but that's neither here nor there.

I went about collecting every asset I had, and came up with $314.75 and considering a ticket was $1,475, I was quite short. I knew my uncle Henry would not be happy to see me, so why bother going down that road. Also I had no where to sleep as the college dropped me for non payment of tuition. None the less I don't have anyone to run to, so I ended up in a shelter brainstorming how to make $1,200. A Com-link with my cousin Hillary paved the road for that. Despite my uncles dislike of me, his two daughters loved me, and sympathized with what happened to me. Homeless, and both parents dead, and 4 credits from a degree even worse, my friend Rusty added that one of the girls I slept with that night was pregnant. Yeah....it's time to leave Earth. No if's, and, or but about it. Even with the holidays approaching it didn't affect the availability for the ship to Cerces IV. Apparently they don't celebrate all Earth holidays, which suits me fine. The ticket was brought now I had to get to Ft Worth from Austin to get to the Space Port.

When you hear the word space port, you imagine a grand place with larger then life vehicles to spark the imagination. Instead it is a converted airport with the same crappy ass-backwards amenities. Had to catch a Red eye out to Ft Worth to make the flight, and of course the train was 2 hours late. I had roughly 45 minutes to make my flight, and with my luck it took 46 minutes to get there. Just in time to find out the ship was 2 and a half hours late as well.

At first I figured just check in, and wait. That lasted 10 minutes tops as the Air Conditioning cranked out cold air. That pisses me off when it's like 90 degrees outside, and then you step inside someplace colder then a refrigerator. Next thing you know your shivering in a T-shirt of all things. So I took a walk outside, considering the morgue like conditions inside in a bustling space port before Thanksgiving can't keep a match lit. I was just watching all the people coming and going from the terminal. All the beautiful people from the area, yet some just happy to see a familiar face they haven't seen in so long. It was right about then I was thinking about my former fiance. Seems women always drive me to drink as I reached for my flask of Chlorohol. Figure this will be the last time, and if not I'll just siphon a gas tank for 12 ounces. As I took a long slow taste, I suddenly felt the hair on back of my neck stand. Before I could turn I heard an older mans voice.

"What you got in the flask boy?" He said with a heavier draw then mine. First thing I caught glimpse of was the Gold badge on his hat stating he was a Marshal.

"I said what you got in the flask boy?" he said again this time a little more authoritative. I stammered as all I saw in my head was me missing my flight because I was being hauled away to the Tank again."Here give me that." he demanded and snatched the flask from my hands. He then sniffed it and made a very disagreeable face. "Damn boy, don't you got any common sense, this crap will rot your brains, and burn out your eyes! That's the problem with you young'ins, in my day we'd build a still and make real moon shine." He the proceeded to pour the entire contents on the concrete sidewalk. All I thought was great, I go to the Tank, and didn't have but one taste. "What's your name boy?" he asked gingerly as he reached for his own flask.

"Glenn...Glenn Stewart." I replied as he took off the cap of his flask, and poured a good amount into mine. He then handed me back the flask and gave a somewhat quirky smile.

"Drink up son, and Happy Thanksgiving ." he said as he drained down a good swallow from the flask and let out a satisfying belch and a sigh of satisfaction. I was a little leery of what was in the flask, yet he urged me on. "Come on son, I'm a Marshal not a murderer, drink up."

I swallowed a mouth full as a sensation of warmth hit me and my eye widen as the distinct and uncanny taste of hard bourbon seem to just evaporate into my blood. It was followed with 40 seconds of coughing and hacking as I held onto the flask. The Marshal simply chuckled as he watch me fail the acid test of being a hardcore drinker."Holy shit! What kind of Chlorohol is that?"

"That's not Chlorohol, that's Alcohol."

"Alcohol? Hell I haven't had Alcohol since I was 15!"

"Well I will tell you this Glenn, that rot gut Chlorohol is nothing but poison. That's there shit is made to power vehicles, not to drink. Shit they don't even use the right ingredients to make good booze, you might as well drink Rubbing Alcohol and some bleach."

I slowly came back to my sense and looked to the officer. "Is this where you take me in for public intoxication?"

"Shit no boy, just wanted to teach you a lesson, as well have a decent conversation. Hell all you Homers are the most unsociable sons of a bitches I ever met." He then reached out to shake my hand. I returned the gesture kindly. "My name is Otis Simms, I am the Marshal of the City of Durango on Cerces IV."

"Cerces IV? That's where I'm headed."

"Well good, I have someone to talk to on the trip. You got family out on Cerces IV?"

"Afraid not, actually my parent passed away last February."

"I'm so sorry to here that. Was it that Laredo disaster that did it?"

"Yes sir, sad part is...I never knew it happened." I slugged back the rest of the bourbon. Seemed the bitter taste was nothing compared to the lost I experienced that day. "I need to get off this world, and live a life."

"Well what are your plans boy? You lined up a job, a place to stay?" In in that moment I came to the realization that I didn't really think this out. With only $300 left and still a 18 days cruise, there was no way I would accomplish all that. The Marshal saw right through me like he can recognize failure. "I see, you want to be one of those damn boomers. Sick of life here and ready to make your mark somewhere else. Well there are jobs on Cerces IV, but you being from earth they are going to want a degree. You go to school boy?"

"Yes sir, went to the University outside of Laredo."

"What was your major?"

"Journalism."

"Well hell, I can get you some contacts in the Durango media circles. Hell we always could use a good writer."

"Well, I'm still 4 credits short of my degree."

The Marshal seemed a bit ticked when I mentioned that. I just took the last drink from the flask knowing this is hopeless. "Well there are jobs in Durango, but unless you can do some farm work it ain't going to put a roof over your head. The cruise alone will burn you out boy, they are geared to get your money and nothing else." There was a long awkward pause then he slammed down some more bourbon and started to wipe his mouth on his sleeve. "Tell me Glenn, you ever fired a gun?"

I hesitated a little considering firearms on earth are a bit exclusive since the 23rd century. "I fired shotguns before plenty of times. I also fired the basic stunners..."

"That's it?" he ask as though I was hiding something. I tell you he could read my mind or something, or I was just so damn obvious.

"My father had me out in the countryside showing me how to shoot an old colt he had dating back to the 20th Century."

"Well then, how you do?" he seemed eager for an answer.

"Fair to average I guess. Did better with the stunners."

"Hell Stunners have no kick to em. Tell me, you got a basic understanding of the law. You know, what's right, what's wrong, and when you should lock a fucker up?"

Again I hedged a bit before answering. "Sure..."

He then reached into his pocket and took out several poker chips. He squatted down and laid them out on the ground, as I followed suit wondering what the old coot was doing now. "What color is this one?" he points to a chip.

"Blue." I answered, which he point to another and I answered. "Red." The a third one which I answered "Green."

He smiled a bit, and chuckled as he picked up the chips and put them back in his pocket. "Tell you what Glenn, just for giggles and shits let's say you needing a roof over your head, and me needing a new clerk give you a job."

"As a clerk? I can do clerical work I reckon."

"Nah, that's just the one aspect of the job. You also have to protect citizens, watch prisoners, process them, make sure the vehicles are fueled and ready for service." I really was confused now, this sounded like I was going to be in charge of a Marshals office, maybe even a damn district. That's when he stood and went over to his duffel bag, and took out a tablet the size of a hard cover book, just 75 percent thinner. He looked to me as I stood there, and said. "Stand straight, put your left hand on the screen of the tablet, and raise you right hand." I followed his instructions as he cleared his throat, looking off in the distance as he was trying to remember the words to a song. "Do you Glenn Stewart promise to uphold the law, serve and protect the citizens of Durango, and become a citizen of the United Earth Colony of Cerces IV?"

I answered this one kind of quickly, "Well sure."

"Then I hereby give you the position of Deputy Marshal of the City of Durango." He then took the tablet and tapped a few keys on the screen, and waited. I seemed a bit awkward as I was pretty sure what happened but that didn't stop me from asking a stupid question.

"What was that all about?"

"I got you a Job, as well made you a citizen of Cerces IV. Now I got to wait for the processing and it won't be finalized until we reach Durango."

"Won't that take 748 years?"

The old man smiled with a glimmer in his eyes. "Yep...it will but it's going through the relay network so it should make it there in about 14 days...ain't technology grand? Just then a card spit out stating I was a Deputy Marshall of Durango, and all my impertinent information on the card as well. "Congratulations Glenn, now we have some work to do. Put that tablet back in the bag, and follow me. We got to upgrade your ticket before the damn star ship gets here, and start your training."

"Training to be a deputy?"

"Hell no, training to be ready for what to expect on Cerces IV. Right now your a greenhorn, and greenhorns don't last long on Cerces IV especially if those Proto-humans get their paws on ya." With that said he lead the way back into the terminal as my new life was about to be unfolded before me.