Fic © Ele Characters © WEP Written for FlashFiction Challenge 2007

Colt observed the other man from below the brim of the cowboy hat, lowered to his eyes. The other man was also observing Colt in distinctive halt. They say, with time Star Sheriffs start intuitively recognizing criminals by their body language; this must be working both ways.

The gipsy passed through the thick cloud of cigar smoke that created a ghostly violet background of an old western, and materialized on the bar stool next to Colt. Cleanly-shaven face with the faint aroma of the aftershave, long teal hair braided and covered by a red scarf around the head, a cheeky pair of golden earrings…that was more than enough, and Colt looked back at his tumbler with beer. The gipsy snapped fingers to draw the barman’s attention and ordered whisky on the rocks.

“Trying to break the wall with one’s head is stupid, betraying one’s kind is cruel, scheming to destroy the New Frontier is over-ambitious, but returning back from the grave is already bad taste,”- said the cowboy.

Jesse just shrugged shoulders at that, saying nothing. He knew he wasn’t in a position of saying anything substantial at the moment. A wry smile was forming on his lips, a painful parody of his once famous smirk. This man was completely different from the previous Jesse Blue; he even smiled in a different way. Colt sipped his drink and looked at Jesse again.

“How did you survive that inferno?”

“And I thought you’d never ask, see?”

Colt sighed: some things did remain the same about Jesse, like answering a question with a question. Jesse had his own understanding about how a discourse should be structured. He didn’t have a scratch on him and smelled differently than having just resurrected from the grave, and that to no end embarrassed Colt, who believed the dead should remain buried (in one way or another) and not to walk the world of the living as simply as this man was doing it.

“And how did you all survive that inferno?”- asked Jesse in his turn. The cubes of ice sadly jingled in his glass, melting into the drink.

“What do you mean?”

Jesse again shrugged shoulders, leaving the unanswered question hanging in the air.

“Why did you come back?”-asked Colt.

“This time you were just lucky, Tin Stars. You managed to destroy Cobalt Blue but you were too short of means to destroy the Outrider planet. This calls for a sequel in any story.”

“And you thought you’d just stroll in and give us this vital piece of information so that we could all rejoice of your gracious deed and thank God for that with our tearsome eyes turned to heaven.”

“You know how to be sarcastic, cowpoke. That’s good. Actually, I’m just repeating what you already know. I might dislike Cavalry Command for a number of reasons but I’ve never regarded you stillborn. I’m just wondering if you can repeat the miracle.”

“Miracle?”

“The Kingdom of Jarr didn’t lift a finger to aid the New Frontier in this war until Nemesis attacked their piece of property, returning the favour the New Frontier did them a few decades ago; just at the very end King Jarred thought that a miracle can happen and if he doesn’t join in, he might not receive his slice of the cake. And I’m pretty sure, no, absolutely sure that if Nemesis offers him not to invade his precious kingdom in return for staying neutral while he will devastate the New Frontier, King Jarred will jump out of his skin at this chance.”

“Only a fool will believe an Outrider’s word.”

“Or vice-versa,”- continued Jesse his monologue-that-was-initially-supposed-to-be-a-dialogue, -“ Nemesis can offer the same to the New Frontier leaders and go invade the Kingdom of Jarr. With this current state of affairs, Nemesis cannot lead a war on two parts of the galaxy, so he has to make up his mind. I’m not an expert but I do think King Jarred tossed the wrong side of the coin. They say, God loves trinity.”

“Whose God?” -Colt gritted his teeth. Jesse didn’t, as he had secretly hoped in the deepest corner of his heart, come to help in any way Jesse understood the concept of helping but to torture. Now he was going to provide misleading information that the threat is at Jarred’s door and Outriders would attack Yuma or any other planet chosen at random or in some deeply logical Outrider way, or this time Jesse can be, for a change, telling the truth, -“are you again working for the Outriders?”

Jesse kept silent for a minute before he answered.

“No. This time I’m selling my services. Working for Nemesis was a good opportunity to disclose my full potential,”- Jesse patted Colt’s back as the cowboy was chocking to tears with his drink,- “but King Jarred seems to know some things about recruiting necessary people.”

“So you are continuing to develop your potential working for him?”

“I’m going to be the consultant for planet’s security affairs, if I accept his offer.”

Suddenly, Colt felt just having been enlightened in this whole conversation with the ghost guest.

“And you want to offer your…services…to the New Frontier as well?”

Jesse smiled something that was a close reminder of a smirk.

“I could agree with that even though I’d profit less than from the other two parties. I feel certain…sentiments for the New Frontier.”

“You are pathetic.”

“It’s war. We cannot close our eyes and imagine it is gone. Somebody loses, somebody wins, but we are all entangled here, and it doesn’t matter who’s right and who’s wrong.”

“What are your conditions? But I must warn you: forget this whole thing with April. If you’re gonna continue in the same maniac spirit, there’s nothing we can agree about, and I’m not gonna agree to less than I should.”

“I see, you have received your instructions. Don’t worry, I’ve discovered some good medicine for a broken heart. But let’s get down to business, shall we?”

(1000 words)