Iron Wasteland

chapter 11

Daros wished he really wasn't here right now.

He was sitting at a table in the mayor's office, watching the stare-down between Epsilon and Lou. Said mayor was nowhere to be seen currently. Probably out helping get people ready for the cave recovery. Daros wished he was out doing that and not being here. He had been surprised to see epsilon out here in the wastes, but running into the famous lucky Lou as well? He had almost collapsed in shock. Now, though, it was looking like he would have to play mediator between these two. Or, at the very least, pick up the body of whoever was still standing at the end. He'd rather be fighting a group of hippocratics.

"So, you're telling me..." Epsilon said coldly, "...is that he got away. From you."

"Not that he got away, he just...got lucky." Lou said nonchalantly as he shuffled a deck of cards. "Up for a game?"

Epsilon gripped the table with her metal hand, causing the wood to crack. "You are a commander-sheriff. How did this happen?!"

"As I said, the boy got lucky. We can't catch 'em all."

She grit her teeth. "Your men reported seeing him running off into the wastes. As much as I'd like to chase after him, I got orders from headquarters to protect this town. You are not. Why are you not going after him?"

Lou began dealing the cards between him, Epsilon, and Daros. "Who's to say it's him? Could be anyone. My boys could'a just been a bit trigger-happy, I'll do a proper investigation later."

"You're neglecting your duties!"

"As a commander-sheriff, I have the jurisdiction to decide who I do and don't chase." He said calmly.

"I also have the ability to assign myself to any mission, or dismiss anyone to their own tasks. You want to chase after him? Go ahead, I'll take over from here." He glanced at his cards, then gestured for the others to do the same.

She glared at him. "What are you even doing out here? I thought the commander had called all his direct subordinates back to the capitol. Even Alpha got called."

"Hm. Did he now?"

"You should've gotten a message delivered to you."

"Guess it got lost in the mail."

"You know that's not–"

Lou stared at her over his cards. There was a chill in the air. "I'm telling you, you can go. I don't get what's got the commander in such a huff, but if it's really that important, he'll tell me directly. Plus, if this is really that important to you, I'm giving you permission. This is a direct order from a superior. Go."

Daros thought Epsilon was going to explode, but instead she wordlessly turned, and stormed out of the building. Lou sighed, collecting the cards and re-shuffling them.

"And I had such a good hand..." He mumbled, dealing them out between the two remaining people.

"S-so, you'll be staying?" Daros asked, examining his cards.

"Ye-up. I'm gonna make sure this town is well-kept until another sheriff can arrive. An official one, this time. If those bandits come back, I'll be here to stop 'em."

"Well, that's good...I know we'll be safe with you around."

He nodded, but Daros couldn't tell if he was doing it at him or at his cards. "Well, I'm gonna put fifty dollars on this game. You?"

"Oh, uh...I didn't bring any cash with me."

"Hm...can't really play a bettin' game without stakes....ah, I know!"