This is just a scene idea I had and played with.  Be warned.  More may follow.

This fanfic is written for the enjoyment of Gall Force fans.  It is not acknowledged or approved by MOVIC/Sony Video, Central Park Media, or any other of the copyright holders for the series.  This fanfic takes place - sometime.  This fanfic may be freely distributed over the net, however I ask to be notified if this is done.  I welcome (most) criticisms.  E-mail:  ddiddl1@umbc.edu

* * * * *

Gall Force Rebirth:  Western

* * * * *

    I don't know what I'm searching for
    I never have opened the door
    Tomorrow may find me at alast,
    Turning my back on the past,
    But, time will tell, of stars that fell,
    A million years ago.
    Memories can never take you back, home, sweet, home.
    You can never go home any more.
        - You Can Never Go Home by the Moody Blues

* * *

    Rabby received something she wasn�t used to when she rode into the town.  Respect.  No leers, no catcalls.  �I could get used to this,� she muttered.  She pushed her hat back a little and steered her horse toward the stables.
    She dismounted and handed two bits to the waiting groom, a boy about Rumy�s age.  �Take good care of her,� she told the boy as she surrendered the reins.
    The boy called out to her as she started to walk away.  �She got a name, miss?�
    �Who?�
    �Your horse.�
    �Sakura.�  She caught the boy�s puzzled expression.  �It means �cherry blossom� where I�m from.�  With a leisurely stride, Rabby walked toward the jail house.

* * *

    Eluza sat at her desk working on paperwork.  This town always had paperwork.  She looked longingly at the rifle standing in the corner.  She looked back at the paperwork, reports for the Judge next time he stopped by, and made a face.
    The floorboards shook under the weight of someone entering her office.  �What can I do for you?� she said without looking up.
    �I came to speak with the town sheriff.�
    �Rabs?�  Eluza�s head snapped up.  She studied the strawberry blonde in the waistcoat.
    �Yeah �Luz, it�s me.  It�s been a while.�
    �Where�s Pats and Catty?� Eluza�s voice rose in concern.
    �Nothing like that.  She fell in for one of the farmers we protected.  Catty�s staying with them for now.  She took a shot in the hand and needs to repair it.�
    She frowned slightly.  �I take it you�re still playing sell-sword against the ranchers?�
    ��Luz, the farmers were there first.  If the government won�t protect them, somebody should.�  She reached in under her waistcoat.  �This came for you.  I found it at the last town and said I�d carry it.  I took the liberty of reading it.  It�s from Lufy - she�s made marshall.  She�s headed here.�
    �I guess that Washington finally got tired of her.�  Eluza took the letter and scanned it herself.  �You speak to Pony yet?�
    �I just got in.�

* * *

    Rabby and Eluza grabbed seats at the tavern�s bar.  There was four or five others scattered about the long bar.  The polish was stripped by the continual presence of alcohol.  Rabby looked at the clock hanging behind the bar.  �What time does the bank close here?�
    �Not �til sundown.  We got another couple hours or so.  Pony goes home directly then.�
    Rabby flagged down the barkeep.  �I�m going to need a room for the night.  And for now, a bottle of whiskey.�  She slid a pile of coins across the counter and was rewarded with a full bottle and a shot glass.  As she poured the amber liquid, she caught Eluza looking askance at her.
    �I thought you were going to lay off that stuff for a while, Rabs.�  She shook her head disapprovingly.  She waved off the bartender, �You know me better than that, Shed.�
    The bartender nodded.  In a pleasant scratchy voice, he teased her,  �You�re the most temperent woman in the county.  You set a bad example for the rest of my clients.�  He nodded to Rabby who was busy filling another round.  He wandered off to check on the other customers at the bar.
    �Rabs, slow down.  I don�t want to have to carry you over to Pony�s.  How many have you had already?�
    Rabby tipped her head back as she downed another glass full.  She held up three fingers on her other hand.
    �Okay that�s enough for now.�  While bother of Rabby�s hands were occupied, Eluza snatched the bottle away.  She dodged Rabby�s swipe for the bottle.  She sniffed it, then wrinkled her nose.
    ��Luz, I think I know my limits.  You�re beginning to sound like Pats and Catty.  Just because you don�t ever have anything to drink doesn�t mean that I can�t.�
    �Patty and Catty commented on it too?  You aren�t getting this bottle back then.�  In a conspiratorial tone she added, �And that is an order.  I�m still Captain, even though we�re stuck here for now.�  Rabby glowered.
    �And while we�re waiting, why don�t you tell me what exactly the three of you were doing.�
    �Captain.  Give it up.  We�re not going to get out of here.  You had better learn to live with it like I have.  There�s no place left to go to anyway.�
    �You call this living with it?�  Eluza hefted the bottle.  �I thought that you would be the last person to give up.�
    �I had a lot of time to think recently.  So has Pats, that�s why she wants to settle down.�
    �And what of Catty?  Does she agree with you?�
    �Who the hell knows what Catty ever thinks?  It�s her fault we�re in the state we�re in now.  Damn her.�  Rabby succeeded in grabbing the bottle back while Eluza pondered her words.  She drank directly from the bottle.
    Eluza watched Rabby swallow mouthful after mouthful of the whiskey.  �What the hell are you doing?�
    Rabby stopped to take a breath.  She coughed.  �Making up for lost time.�  Raby�s eyes had a glassy look.  �You know, I would have been happy to marry that saddler back in Venice.  He even owned his own shop.  I could have settled down had a few kids.  I didn�t ask for Catty to come along and wake me up.  I got hung for heresy.  And he wed that hussy from down the street.  I went back and checked afterwords.  I met the grandkids.  They were supposed to be mine!�
    �Rabby, you�re drunk.  Keep your voice down.�

* * *

    Pony walked into the tavern.  She saw Eluza sitting at the bar, alone.  �Where�s Rabby?� she asked the red haired girl.
    Eluza pointed at a half empty bottle of whiskey.  �She said she wasn�t feeling too well.�
    �She�s still at it.�
    �Worse than ever.  She doesn�t believe that we�ll ever get off this rock.�  Eluza sighed and stared intently at the bar.  �She said that Patty feels the same way.  She told me that Patty has settled down with a local farmer.�
    She looked at the bottle.  �Well, I don�t think she�ll mind if I take one sip, then.�  She poured a small quantity of the wiskey into the shot glass.  She tasted it and raised an eyebrow.  She looked at the label.  ��Luz, she�s right.  We can�t go back.  Those lives are over.�
    �Lufy�s going to be back in town in a couple days.  She�s a marshall now.�
    Pony emptied the glass.  �And I�m a banker and you�re the sheriff.  We�re not officers on the Starleaf.  Not anymore.�


__
/__\    David Diddlemeyer
/\  /\   Imperial Solnoid Navy
\_\/_/   ddiddl1@umbc.edu

http://homepages.infoseek.com/~centralguard/
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