Brian Docherty
A Fair Cop
I stared down the barrel of her gun.
It was a very big very black barrel.
7 of its 10 LEDs glowed red in the
'and the four people behind you' setting.
In her other three hands she held
a plasteel knife a beer and a badge.
My hands were clasped behind my head.
The barstaff were taking bets on whether
I would be popped chopped bopped
or given 5 minutes start on her dog.
Of course the Security Force's new weapon
isn't really a dog; not seen one yet?
2 metres long 2 heads 6 legs with claws!
Just my luck to run into this bar while
the News was beaming me onto the Vidscreen.
I gawped and stumbled over the brute.
It was asleep and she grabbed my shirt
or the damn thing would have ate me
using both heads at once. "Lucky"
she hissed "Lucky I found you first.
Your opponents are all over this city.
Your comrades are dead, in jail,
collaborating or on another planet by now.
You are an Interplanetary Terrorist."
The barman addressed her as Sergeant Vloxx
handing her another beer & a protein bar
which she ingested without putting down
either weapon. I considered sex & bribes,
remembered her reputation as incorruptible
saw my future as martyr for my cause.
It was a very big very black barrel.
7 of its 10 LEDs glowed red in the
'and the four people behind you' setting.
In her other three hands she held
a plasteel knife a beer and a badge.
My hands were clasped behind my head.
The barstaff were taking bets on whether
I would be popped chopped bopped
or given 5 minutes start on her dog.
Of course the Security Force's new weapon
isn't really a dog; not seen one yet?
2 metres long 2 heads 6 legs with claws!
Just my luck to run into this bar while
the News was beaming me onto the Vidscreen.
I gawped and stumbled over the brute.
It was asleep and she grabbed my shirt
or the damn thing would have ate me
using both heads at once. "Lucky"
she hissed "Lucky I found you first.
Your opponents are all over this city.
Your comrades are dead, in jail,
collaborating or on another planet by now.
You are an Interplanetary Terrorist."
The barman addressed her as Sergeant Vloxx
handing her another beer & a protein bar
which she ingested without putting down
either weapon. I considered sex & bribes,
remembered her reputation as incorruptible
saw my future as martyr for my cause.
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