Mr. Sunshine and his apprentice, Jay, are on a Deregger polity on a mission when a small child runs up to them terrified, pulling on Jay's blood-stained clothes, begging them to help rescue hir family that have been trapped and are being hurt by "bad people". -- Anon Guest
"It could be a trap," murmured Mr Sunshine. "At least wear a fresh 'drop'[1] for the occasion."
"Right," Jay shrugged off the old garment, leaving it in Mr Sunshine's capable hands. The fresh one remained as a bundle under his arm until circumstances could be evaluated. "You'll follow discreetly?"
"Inevitably," said Mr Sunshine.
The child was tiny, bruised and bleeding from several small wounds. Then again, most denizens of this Deregger world were like that. The worst crime of all was to be weak and needy.
Jay kept pace with the kid, who was doing that kind of exhausted run that kids did when there wasn't any 'run' left in them. "I could carry you," he offered. "All you'd have to do is point."
"Nearly there," panted the kid.
It was a dingy tenement, clinging to the very edges of structural stability. Made in a hurry, using the lowest bidder. Everything of need had to be brought inside by the residents. Furniture, food, insulation, heat, water... And not everything was carried out, as evidenced by the noisome slurry in the alleyways.
The screams were coming from the basement, where several of the local city guard were menacing a half-dozen scrawny residents. Allegedly, it was over rent payments, and a failure to keep their place clean. Which was a nigh-impossible task, what with the raw sewerage leaking in from street level.
Nobody should have to live like that.
Jay put the kid down and struck the most menacing guard from behind. Using anatomical knowledge and a fast knife to slice through the right artery. One down, technically. In real time, he had thirty seconds before his brain shut off. On to the next. One stab, one kill.
There were five of them in bulky riot armour. There was one of Jay in little more than street clothes and the 'drop' he had donned in one smooth motion.
Jay didn't waste time with speeches. He didn't bother with posturing or flashy movements. Get in, do the damage, and move on. He only needed to cut them once. Maybe keep them off balance for the seconds they had left after that.
He watched all five of them die. Not for any joy, but to make certain they did it.
"Deplorable," said Mr Sunshine, appearing behind him. "There's room on my vessel for all of you. Amenities, too. You may wash, and eat, and drink. For free. All you have to do is choose to follow us."
Jay took off his second bloodstained 'drop' of the day, wiping his knife on it and folding it up. "We've eliminated the key factor in your bad situation," he said, "but we understand if you don't want to take a chance with the next glorious leader."
The tiny child ran to a parental. "They kill'd the bad guys, Mama! Didja see?"
The mother of this little crowd said, "Pack up your treasures, all of you. We can't be here when the rest of them come."
Even if they were, Jay would deal with them. They had, after all, packed four more 'drops'.
[1] Drop cloth, in this case, a kind of loose overshirt designed to capture all errant blood in a murder scene.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / trekandshoot]
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