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Planets and stars twinkled in the sky above him, Jimmy gripping the metal bar between his thighs as he reached out toward the yowling animal in front of him, barely flinching as it swiped at his arms. He gently lifted the Tiracat, and slowly lowered it down to where its owner was awaiting with outstretched arms.
The small thing began to purr, as Old Lady Evergreen cradled it gently in her arms, scratching it gently behind the ear. "Thank you kindly Sheriff. I just hope that this little rapscallion decides to stay put where it's safer next time. Hopefully that wasn’t too stressful of a task for ya'."
Jimmy smiled, beginning to climb down the large steel structure. "It's no problem, ma'am, I’m always happy to help out the community."
He dropped down to the ground, observing the blooming cloud of red dust that formed as he dusted his hands on his jeans. He'll have to clean them soon. He adjusted his oxygen mask, making sure that it was still sealed on his face, so as to not let the Mars air bleed through any gaps.
Old Lady Evergreen was about to say something else when someone came up behind Jimmy, startling him as a calloused hand landed on his shoulder. He saw his deputy, Norm, standing behind him, his eyebrows creased in concern. "Hey, Jim."
Jim smiled. Treat people the way you want to be treated. "What's up, man?"
Norm frowned. “I just came to let you know that there's been word of a bandit milling ‘round the old storage unit. I’m about to leave to go take care of it, I thought it'd be best to advise you to stay away. We just don't wanna risk another ‘Incident.’”
Jimmy frowned. “No, if there's trouble around my Sector, I should be the one to take care of it. I’m the Sheriff. It's my job. I’ll head out now.”
Norm shook his head. “I’m not even gonna try to argue with you. You do you, Jim, I’ll be there to clean up your mess.”
Jimmy ignored him, marching off to the retired storage unit that was now just used for medical supplies.
As he walked, he observed the blue and green planet visible in the sky. He’d been told that humanity used to live there mere decades ago. He wondered what it would be like, living on that rock of vibrant colors, not that long ago, but before they had evacuated to Mars, and the colonies were set up, and split into the many sectors where towns and villages were founded.
He reached the storage unit, where he saw a blond figure, clad in red and black, with a different style of oxygen mask, fiddling with a strange device, muttering to himself. He approached the man, who looked up at him, eyes widening before settling into an expression of confidence.
“Well, hi there! You must be the sheriff of this sector. I’m but a simple traveler passing through, just taking a gander at the lovely architecture of your buildings…”
Jimmy frowned, resting his hand on his Lazer holster. One shot from the energy bullets and you were down for the count. The bandit’s gaze flicked to his own, and his fingers twitched slightly. Probably wondering who could make the faster shot. Fight, flight or freeze. Most would choose to fight. Fools would choose to freeze. That left flight.
The bandit took off, Jimmy not far behind. He vaulted over boulders lying across their path, sprinting through the hot evening sun. He didn’t trip or fall even once. The low gravity allowed him to leap and bound to such extreme heights it felt like he was flying. It was exhilarating, the wind in his hair rushing past him, moving faster and faster with the adrenaline curling through his veins, the bandit threw back a few teasing remarks as they ran, and it was almost fun.
It was a brilliant dance with death, as they spun circles around each other, ducking through caves and leaping over ravines.
They came to a still in a clearing. Both panting. Jim didn't know how much longer he could go for. Neither did the bandit apparently, eyes flicking around their surroundings for an escape. He mustn't have found one, pulling his hands up behind his head, and taking a few steps forward. “Okay man, you got me.”
Jim frowned, raising his firearm for any attack. “Lazer on the ground, now.”
The bandit shrugged. “It's not loaded, but alright.” He reached into his holster, sliding the weapon across the ground towards Jim.
Jim picked it up and checked it. Sure enough, no ammo. He frowned. “Why would you go into a fight defenseless?”
The bandit shrugged again. “I dunno man, I didn't really try to fight, did I? And what's the saying? Fake it till you make it and all that? Besides, I was gonna use the money that I was gonna steal to buy some ammo for it.”
Jim looked at the bandit. “Why are you telling me all of this?”
The bandit’s head tilted, and he smiled brightly. “You seem trustworthy. Or maybe I just have a rather strange habit of confessing my every weakness to literally any attractive guy who tries to kill me.”
Jimmy ignored the comment, lowering his Lazer slightly.
The bandit ginned, much calmer now, looking Jimmy up and down as he sauntered around him. His eyes creased at the corners, shining a brilliant copper so deep it was almost red. “You’ve definitely got some physical ability my dude. Not many people can keep up with me. And those biceps…” he whistled. “Impressive to say the least.”
Jim couldn't force down the flush. He put his gun away.
“So, what can I call you, handsome?”
Jim pushed up his hat a little, making eye contact with the being standing in front of him. “Jimmy.”
The bandit smiled a brilliant smile. “Jimmy. I like that. It suits you. You can call me Tango.”
“A dance with death…”
Jimmy didn't even realize he had spoken aloud until Tango’s smile grew impossibly wider, tilting slightly into yet another cocky smirk.
“That’s what you think of me? I like your vibe, man. Join me.”
Jim blinked in confusion. What? “Excuse me?”
Tang stuck out a hand, his eyes shining with something dangerous. Something enticing.
“You heard me, pretty boy. Imagine the headlines, ‘World’s hottest Sheriff teams up with dangerous bandit! Most powerful duo Mars has ever seen?’”
“Why me? I’m accident prone and clumsy, and I can’t focus or function well under pressure. I’m not exactly the best partner in crime.”
Tango shrugged. “So? That just means you have personality!”
Jimmy was torn. “Look, Tango, while I’d love to… my sector… I have a duty to them.”
Tango grabbed his hands, drawing him up close. “I’ve been around town a few times. I’ve heard what they say about you. They don’t think they need you. They don't deserve you. I can treat you better than they ever could.”
He was right. Yes, Jim had a duty to the sector, but they didn't respect him in the slightest. Only the other day Joel had broken into his office and left a big box of toys he had smuggled over from Lord Knows Where. Some kind of old timey cowboy from a kids show. Apparently, the toy looked a little like Jim, and Joel was being relentless about it, no matter how many times Jim told him to stop.
And Norm constantly brought up the incident, when it wasn't even his fault in the first place.
“Jim?”
Oh. Norm. Perfect timing.
Jim turned around to see him cockily stalking towards them. Tango backed up a few steps, eyeing the Lazer he was holding warily.
“Jim. Can you really not handle this? You look like you're just talking to the guy, are you seriously not even trying to take him in?”
“Well, I was-”
Norm cut him off. “I don't really care. Clearly, I’m the superior between us. I don't even know why you got the rank you did.”
Norm stepped forward with his blaster raised.
Tango raised his own Lazer. He still pretended it was loaded.
Crack.
A bullet sized hole in a mask. A strange hissing noise. Mechanical whirring.
Norm collapsed. He grew pale, the life ebbing from his bones as the oxygen seeped from his lungs, being replaced with the toxic gas of the Mars air. He stilled.
Jim looked at his shaking hands, seeing the smoking Lazer that he didn't remember grabbing. He slowly lowered it. He looked at Tango, vision going blurry as his eyes began to water.
He ran towards Tango, who didn’t flinch when he wrapped his arms around him, just clung to his shirt and held him just as tight.
“Jimmy?” Tango’s voice was somewhat muffled from being buried into Jimmy’s shoulder.
“Yea?”
Tango pulled away. “I thought you said you didn't function well under pressure? That was a brilliant shot.”
Jimmy smiled for the first time in God knows how long. “What can I say, you’ve got a calming effect, beautiful.”
Tango’s smile was brilliant and dangerous. Jimmy loved it.
“So? Where’re we headed?”
“You're joining me?” Tango was practically vibrating.
Jimmy shrugged. “Well, I did just murder my deputy for you, so I’m pretty sure people won’t love to see me back in town for a good while.”
Tango took Jimmy’s hand, intertwining their fingers as he led them away into the sunset, talking animatedly as Jimmy shook his head and laughed at all the corny jokes and puns.
And the blue and green orb in the sky smiled upon them as they travelled across the misty red rock. And the corpse of the deputy sat there undiscovered for weeks until a pack of Tiracats came across it. And the small town in the desert continued with life for a few weeks before realizing that something was wrong. And the canary in the coalmine continued to sing.
And the bandit and the sheriff left to start a life anew.