Rio Bravo Again

Posted on Sat Feb 6th, 2021 @ 2:26pm by Fleet Admiral Mike K`Wor Bremer
Edited on on Wed Mar 3rd, 2021 @ 10:41pm

2,656 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 109 - The Dust Settles
Location: USS Pegasus-C / Starbase 400
Timeline: MD2 1230hrs

ON:

Mike was aboard the Pegasus-C, setting a few things up in his quarters, and thinking about his previous convocations with Hades and Splendora about Rebirth and the First Federation.

Work was ongoing aboard the ship, changing out the bridge module and redesigning Deck 1 would take a good bit of time and Mike wasn't expecting to take the ship out on a proper shakedown cruise for at least a couple of weeks.

As he set up some family pictures, he sat and stared at his wedding photos for a bit. Mike could feel tears welling up in his eyes while his anger rose. After a couple of minutes he slowly stood and placed the frame down.


Several minutes later Mike was back aboard Starbase 400 standing in front of a holo-suite. He stood there looking at the control panel for a bit before finally tapping in commands. He brought up a programs then tapped in some commands to update it and change some parameters.

"Program updates complete, enter when ready." The Computer said.

Mike took a breath, then walked inside.


He found himself on the dusty streets of Fort Stockton in southern Texas in 1880. His uniform now appeared as his old west outfit, including hat, boots, and a six-gun...a Colt Peacemaker.

Mike looked around and took a deep breath. He turned and ran his hand over his horse's neck and patted him. A beautiful buck-skin.

"Mike?"

Bremer turned around to see none-other than Marshall Matt Dillon of Dodge City walking out of the fort commander's office.

"What are you doing this far south?" I thought you joined a wagon train heading farther west." Matt asked.

"I did, but something brought me here." Mike flashed a half smile.

Matt nodded.

"How about you? You're a long way from Dodge." Mike commented.

"I captured a prisoner that escaped from the fort's stockade in Dodge and had to return him. Newley, Chester, and Festus are keeping an eye on Dodge, and Thadd should be back soon too to help." Matt explained.

Mike nodded, "Heading back now?"

"No, I'm actually heading further south now, to Presidio County. A Sherriff down there sent for the US Marshall in the area to take some prisoners of his into federal custody. The stage taking him down there had an accident, damaged a wheel, and Marshall Thompkins broke his leg. The judge here asked me to go in his stead." Matt explained.

Mike nodded and thought for a moment, "Want some company?"

"Only if you're sworn in." Matt replied.

Mike nodded, "You have your man."


A day and a half later in real time...but only a matter of seconds in the holo-suite after Mike advanced the time...Matt and Mike rode toward a small town in Presidio as dusk fell upon it. There were a few small homes, a hotel, saddlery, blacksmith's, and at the end of the main street was the Sherriff's office and jail.

Stepping out of a shadow of a stable at the front of the town was a man with a fancy two gun rig, and he wore a Deputy Sherriff's badge. The man held his hand up, stopping Matt and Mike.

"If you're coming into town, you'll need to leave your guns over on the fence."

"I'm Marshall Matt Dillon, Judge Boykin sent me in Marshall Thompkins's place. This is my Deputy, Mike."

"Oh, Marshall, welcome. The Sherriff is at the jail at the end of the street."

"Is this normal around here, or is the town on lockdown?" Mike asked.

"I'll let the Sherriff explain."

Mike and Matt rode down the street and up to the jail as another deputy stepped out to light the lamps beside the jail's door. Mike and Matt dismounted and tied their horses up.

"Can I help you?"

"I'm Marshall Matt Dillon, Judge Boykin sent me in Marshall Thompkins's place. This is my Deputy, Mike."

"The Sherriff's inside."

The deputy finished lighting the lamps then led Matt and Mike inside.

The Sherriff was sitting at his desk, and he stood as Matt and Mike walked in. "You're the Marshall?"

"I am, Matt Dillion."

"Dillion, aren't you out of Dodge City Kansas?"

Matt explained what brought him to be in the small Presidio County jail.

The Sherriff smiled, then extended his hand. "I'm Chance, John T. This is Colorado, and I'm sure you met Dude up the street."

"What's all the commotion out there?" A voice from the back called out.

"And that's Stumpy." Chance added.

The older man hobbled out from the back, "Finally the US Marshall is here. Now we can get some of these Burdett men off our hands."

"Not so fast Stumpy." Chance replied.

The Sherriff motioned to some chairs for Matt and Mike to sit down in. He explained what happened when they arrested Joe Burdett for murder, then the events that happened afterward leading up to the arrest of his brother Nathen Burdett and some of his men. They had expected the US Marshall to arrive soon there after, but when he didn't show they became nervous again. A few days ago, they found that to have been a wise move as Chris Burdett and several of his hired guns were on their way to break their cousins out of jail.

"So you've locked the town down again and waiting for the inevitable assault?" Mike asked.

Chance nodded.

A moment later, with night setting in, Dude walked inside the jail and bolted the door.

"We thought it best." Chance said.

Music started to play from a saloon near by.

"Not again." Dude said.

"Don't they know any other tunes?" Colorado added.

"Stumpy, don't you start playing along with them this time." Chance also added.

"Fine...I won't, but don't let them get under your skin..." Stumpy stated before Chance cut him off.

Chance looked back. "Get back there with those men!"

"There you go again!" Stumpy said as he stomped off, "Can't get a word in edge wise, can't play my harmonica, can't do nothing right."

Dude and Colorado laughed while Chance smiled.

"What song is that?" Dillon asked.

"They call it The Degüello, 'The Cutthroat Song'. The Mexicans played it for those Texas boys they had surrounded and bottled up in the Alamo years ago. Played it day and night until the battle was over." Colorado explained.

"No surrender." Mike added.


"Computer, advance the time until ten o-clock tomorrow morning." Mike said.

The scene paused, the characters disappeared then reappeared in different locations before the computer beeped.


"Want to take a tour around town Sherriff? Colorado asked.

"I'll go with you." Mike replied. "The Marshall and Sherriff can work out a plan incase Chris Burdett and his men show up today."

Dillon and Chance nodded.

Colorado checked his guns then unlocked the door. As he and Mike walked out, they saw Dude at the edge of town. The streets were unusually empty for that time of day. Mike took the left side of the street while Colorado took the right.

As they walked, the music was still playing from the night before. Mike rolled his eyes as he passed the saloon the music was coming from. A cowboy standing outside took that as an insult.

"Gotta problem friend?"

Mike looked back and turned to face him. "I'm not your friend."

Colorado walked over, "That's Burdett's saloon."

"I wondered where that smell was coming from." Mike added.

"New man in town, talks big. Can you back it up?" The cowboy replied as he stepped off the wooden walkway into the street, facing Mike. "I don't think so!"

As the cowboy finished his sentence he drew his gun. Mike's draw was faster and he shot the cowboy, dead. At the same time Colorado backed him up, drawing his gun and aiming at the door of the saloon so no one would shoot Mike in the back.

Hearing the shot Dude, Chance, and Matt came running.

"What happened?" Matt Dillon asked.

"He called Mike out and drew first. Was self defense." Colorado replied.

"Charlie and you men, take care of your friend here." Chance ordered.

Dude took the dead cowboy's gun, and found a brand new shiny fifty dollar gold piece in his pocket. "Looks like this Burdett is like the other, paying these guys off to try and shoot us down."

"I don't have to pay them." A voice said from the saloon.

A man slowly walked out. He had black hair, beard, wore a black hat and was dressed in all black which was sun faded.

"Chris Burdett." Chance said.

Dillon stepped forward. "I'm U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon. There'll be no more killings, or attempts to draw the duly appointed law into gun fights. I'm taking your cousin's back to Fort Stockton tomorrow to stand trial."

"Dillon? I've heard of you, you're a long way from Dodge City." Burdett said smugly.

"Senior Chance!" A short man came running from the hotel on the other side of the road from behind the men.

"Carlos, what's wrong?" Dude asked.

"Senior Chance," He tried to catch his breath, "The girl, Feathers."

"What is it Carlos." Chance asked.

"Please Senior, I'm trying to tell you. It's best if I tell you."

"Okay, go on." Chance said.

"This morning, before Dude went up the street, these men, they took her. They tied up me and Consuela and we just got loose." Carlos explained.

Chance was angry, as he and the girl known as Feathers had recently gotten together. He turned to face Burdett. "Where is she?"

"She's fine." Burdett said. "She's right inside. You let Joe and Nathan out, and you can have the girl back. Simple as that. I don't care about those other men, you can take them to Stockton or where ever. I just want my cousins back."

Chance looked at Dillon, then back to Burdett. "One hour."

Burdett smiled smugly. "You're smarter than I took you for. Edge of town, the stable Dude hangs out in."

Dillon nodded as he and the others slowly backed up toward the jail.


Once back inside the jail, the mood was much more serious than before. A few ideas were tossed back and forth, but none seemed to be good enough.

"How many men do you figure they have?" Dillon asked.

"At least ten." Dude replied.

"They know Stumpy is in here, and they'll probably figure we'll leave someone else behind to help him incase they send someone to break the others out while we're at the other end of town." Colorado added.

"What do you have in mind?" Dude asked.

"The Marshall, Sherriff, and you Dude go up the street with Joe and Nathan. Mike and I can sneak around behind the buildings. While Nathan and Joe walk toward Chris and Feathers toward you, Mike and I can take down Chris and his men from behind." Colorado explained.

"We gag Joe and Nathan, tie their hands behind them so they can't call out." Dude added.

"And when the shooting starts from behind, we'll have them in a cross fire." Dillon said.

"And the girl?" Mike asked.

"She's smart." Chance smiled, "She'll know to get down, or run to the other side of the street."

The men agreed and got ready for the shoot out. They checked their guns, readied the poisoners, and watched the clock. As the hour neared Mike and Colorado snuck out the back while Dillon, Dude, and Chance walked out the front with Nathan and Joe Burdett and slowly made their way down the street.

At the other end of town Chris Burdett stood in the middle of the rode by the stable. A couple of his men were behind him, but it was a sure bet others were waiting just out of site.

A few tense minutes passed before the group was within fifty yards of the stable.

"Joe and Nathan are ready." Chance called out.

Chris nodded, then motioned to someone to his right. A cowboy brought out the girl.

"Are you okay?" Chance called out.

"I'm fine John T." She replied. "Just need a bath to get their stintch off me."

"Walk down the left side of the street, Joe and Nathan will be on the other side." Chance said aloud, then looked back at the Burdett brothers. "Walk slow."

The two men started walking away as Feathers walked forward. As they neared the midway point someone to Chance's right whistled. Feathers stated to run behind a building as Chris Burdett drew his gun.

"Get her back!" Chris Burdett yelled as four of his men took off after the girl.

About the same time, Colorado yelled out, "Hey there." Other members of Chris Burdett's gang turned as Mike and Colorado drew their guns and fired. Two fell right away while others shot back.

Meanwhile Dude, Matt, and Chance fired toward Chris Burdett and others in his gang. Dude ran up, ducked behind a post before jumping Nathan and Joe. He took his gun and wacked them both over the heads to knock them out and keeping them from running off.

Suddenly a shotgun blast rang out to Chance's right, followed by another, and another. Chance then heard a familiar laugh.

"Who's that kackling over there?" Dillon asked as he took a shot, killing a cowboy.

"Ol' Stumpy. I can't leave him behind for nuttin." Chance said with a smile. He looked over to see Carlos with Stumpy. Carlos with his shotgun was helping Feather's to the hotel while Stumpy was reloading.

Chance fired, then ran to the other side of the street. "I thought I told you to stay with the poisoners!"

Stumpy stomped his foot, "There you go again! Can't nuttin please you!"

"GO!" Chance yelled.

"I'm goin, I'm goin." Stumpy said as he hobbled back toward the jail behind the buildings for cover.

Chance smiled, then looked back at the gun fight and fired his rifle, hitting another cowboy.

"Give it up Chris!" Dillon yelled out.

"All right, all right!" Chris yelled, throwing his gun down, realizing he was surrounded. His remaining gang, three of them also seemed to give up. However one of them took off running, jumped on a horse, and tried to ride out of town.

"He's mine!" Mike yelled. He holstered his gun and grabbed a nearby horse and took off after the man.

Chance, Dillon, Dude, and Colorado gathered up the guns and Burdett men and took them over to jail, dragging Joe and Nathan long.

The cowboy on the horse was fast, but Mike's horse was faster. The man shot back at Mike twice, but ran out of billets in his six-gun. He holstered it and tried to speed the horse up. After a few moments Mike caught up to the man, grabbed him by the back of his collar and pulled him back. The man fell off the galloping horse, breaking his neck in the fall.

Mike stopped his horse and turned back. As the dust settled Mike dismounted. He picked the cowboy up and laid him across his horse's saddle. He then remounted his horse and started back to town at a trot. He decided his next 'old west' adventure would be more historically accurate and not based off old movies and television shows. Maybe he'd team up with Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson.

Mike smiled for a moment, and a feeling of satisfaction came over him. Not just for seeing the plot through, but also for everything else going on...the end of the war, the new Pegasus-C. He said to himself he'd finish this program out then leave the 'old west' for awhile to over see the Pegasus-C's work then take her out on a shakedown cruise once she was ready. It was also time to get back to real friends and family and leave the holo-suite behind for a while.

Mike rode back toward town, and into the sunset...


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