Reed's was unable to tear his gaze from the barrels of the two guns that stared malignantly back at him. With his free hand, he waved his crewmen back, as they had begun to move
forward protectively.
"What do you want?", he asked, hoping his voice didn't show the strain he felt.
"The Sheriff", she replied glibly, "and you boys to run back to town with your tails between your legs."
The commander did not respond, but shifted his gaze from the guns to her face.
His aggressor thumbed back the hammers of her revolvers. "Last chance, marshal", she warned, "or the next thing to pass through your mind'll be the breeze."
Reed's eyes narrowed as he calculated his chances. He doubted he'd have the time to bring his weapon to bear on his opponent before he was riddle with bullets, yet they had her out gunned. Surely they
could use that to their advantage. He calmly holstered his weapon and reached down, grabbing the Sheriff roughly by the collar of his shirt. "It seems as though we're at an impasse, Ms...?"
"Krolick.", she said amiably, though she didn't ease the hammers forward, "Lightnin' Liz Krolick, and I'm listenin'."
"Well Ms. Krolick", Reed continued respectfully, "I've got a bit of a blood feud with you're partner here." He jostled the simpering Sheriff to punctuate his statement. "You're more than
free to go along your way. My boys", he motioned to the crewmen, "won't interfere with your departure, but", he continued, "there's something we need here that we can't leave without."
She eyed him curiously. "And just what is it that you desire?", she inquired provocatively.
Reed smiled at her insinuation. "I am not at liberty to say."
"Then I'm not at liberty to agree to your terms.", she replied evenly.
A glint of steel to the west caused her to swing one of her guns in that direction, her sights coming to rest on the raised gun of Ensign VanTedly. Her eyes never left Reed's, nor did her other pistol waver
from it's aim between the commander's eyes.
"Is this your show of good faith, Marshal?", she asked with a hint of anger. "He's very good with that gun", she admitted, "but I'm better."
Reed opened his mouth to respond, when he heard a low groan from behind him. He turned to see Mr. Jeffy struggling to roll over onto his back. As shocked as he was to see the engineering officer was
alive, he was even more surprised when Jeffy produced a gun and pointed it in his general direction. He cast a glance back at Lightnin' Liz as she tried to peer past him. Evidently, he and the sheriff
were blocking her view of the engineering officer. He turned back to see Jeffy's weapon pointed directly at his head.
"Down.", the engineering officer muttered weakly as he cocked his pistol.
Reed threw himself and Doody to the ground as Jeffy pulled the trigger.
