>>6059026It's best to be direct with these sorts, to not let them drag you down to their level. “No, I chuck it into a star a few ‘years away from here. What about it?” Liu is slightly taken aback. “That wasn't funny, Thornton.” You snigger a little, “Well, I didn't mean for it to be funny. But whatever suits you.”
Next thing you know she was pinching your ear the same way she did that poor ensign. “Ow, ow. Hell really has no fury like you, ahh.” Your hands frantically pry each of her fingers open before she can send another wave of pain through your body with a twist of the wrist. She backs off a little, face red-hot. “What did you say again, you cunt? Do you know how much that shipment costs?”
You flick the safety switch on your derringer off while pretending to regain your composure, just in case. “Screw you, and your boss. Should have gotten a better courier. I'm not getting spaced over a fistful of malacitite.” Hell suddenly freezes over. “Don't say that word, I warn you. Not on this ship you don't. Do you know how many...” Liu's spidery finger traces an invisible guillotine blade clean across her hickey-dotted neck.
“Jean-Pierre won't touch me. Doesn't take a genius to figure out you're the one he has an executioner's axe to grind with.” Imagining the Frenchman coolly cocking his revolver before blasting molten bits and pieces of Liu all over is undeniably guilty yet pleasurable. “You're an even dumber whore than I thought. God must have put all his blessings below the neck, eh? Get this at least, he'll put a slug through both our skulls, thick or not.”
“I'm surprised you're not delighted we'll be sharing the same gravity well. So much for women's solidarity, I guess.” The abyss' glare isn't as scary as philosophers made it out to be. “It still isn't funny.” Suddenly, Jean-Pierre appears behind the corner, walking swiftly towards the two of you. Crap, why is the strap suddenly so tight around the gun?
“No need, Commander Thornton. I got this.” He ceremoniously lowers his revolver until it lines up with Liu's temples. “I guess this is the end of the line, then.” She closes her eyes, though her eyelashes continue to twitch. “Of all the people I thought I would die to, John, you're the most... normal of them. At least I know you have the decency to make it quick.”
The veteran hesitates a little. “Where's the usual backbiting, Liu? You should have made at least half a dozen quips by now about how my ensign has it coming.” Oh, thank God, he didn't hear that. “Let me fill in instead. Your gun safety is very poor, Jean-Pierre. Revolvers aren't toys, don't point it at people, or things, you don't want to shoot.”
