Strangetown, HWC: No Good Dead Goes Unpunished

Nov 13, 2011 19:30






The room grew silent as the tall man entered. The crowd parted to allow him access to the casket. He stood there for a time, observing Flamenco's body, then turned and left the room. He didn't speak to anyone.

The only sound had been the gasps of some of the onlookers at his pale green skin and his large empty black eyes, followed by the sound of several hands reaching for their guns. A look from Tango had quickly put an end to that notion. It was a funeral, afterall. There was a time and a place. Besides, who knew what sort of defenses this creature carried with him. It would be foolish.



The alien visiter had made it most of the way back to his ship when a young girl ran up to him.

"This is all your fault! How can you come here and act like... like..."

He turned around to look at her.

"It was all because of you! It's your fault my father is dead!"

"How did you come to that conclusion?" the alien asked. "I am the reason he was born."

"If he hadn't been born with those eyes, they wouldn't have killed him!"

The alien considered this.



"It's not right! Not fair! Why did he have to be different?!"

"I am sorry for your loss," he said. He was also sorry for the loss in a more objective sense, having hoped that his offspring would help further his species aims, but that hadn't worked out. And now, with the loss of his life, that would never be an option.

The little girl said nothing. Tears filled her eyes and she was unable to speak. Soon she was sobbing uncontrollably.

After some careful consideration, the alien reached into the pocket of his jacket to retrieve a small object and stretched out his hand to her. "I know it will not ease your pain, but please take this."

Dina turned the object over in her hand. "What is it?" she managed through tears.

"You can use this object to draw me to you. If you ever need a favour, I will do my best to see that it is granted. I hope this might set things right." He turned and continued towards his spaceship.

Dina stood, examining the object, as her twin hung back in the doorway, watching the whole scene play out.

...

Dina stood, many years later, on the balcony of her condo, observing the object once more.



"You're really going to use it?" Nina once again stood behind her.

Dina nodded. "If I can deliver a ship to them, our position in the deal will be secure."

"And Bella?"

"It's unfortunate for her that we needed a pawn in this scheme."

Nina snorted. "Yeah, and she just happened to be the one."

Dina didn't miss a beat. "She deserves to be taken down a peg. It'll do her good. Then she'll finally know how it feels."

"Maybe Don will learn a lesson in all this, too."

Dina grinned, "Yes, but let's not forget the most important outcome here." Dina rubbed her hand over the object, lovingly. "We'll finally see some justice for Daddy's death."

Nina nodded, but said nothing.



"That thing had no idea what he was setting himself up for the day he gave me this."

Notes:

For more bits and pieces about the Caliente's involvement in Bella's disapearance, read Mirror, Mirror and Chapter Thirty-Two. This short might eventually make its way into a chapter, or I might leave it to stand alone as I did with Mirror, Mirror. The events referenced here will also turn up in the next chapter.

Everyone has their reasons. The reasons aren't always simple.

I'm really happy to actually produce something for this story again. I wrote this a couple of weeks ago and finally sat myself down to take the images tonight. And yes, with the graphics card situation, it was a bit of a chore. But worth it.

place: strangetown, character: caliente

Previous post Next post
Up