Clif Thurston

[ryeguy146]

Clif was tall. Cliff is tall, and you don't call him Clifford. He's also the epitome of the quiet guy that makes your spine shiver. Except when he's excited, but that's even more unsettling. His life was spent hopping foster homes, mostly sticking to Planet Manhattan, but sometimes making it as far as Denver. Clifford was not so much a trouble maker, but his demeanor and abandonment issues made him an unwelcome addition to most of the temporary families. His struggles through school were rewarded with a remedial job doing accounting for a small business on Manhattan. But he was smarter than that. With the decision that he would make his fortune in Kusari space, he purchased a ticket on a transport bound for Roppongi Station. Clif climbed aboard his flight and took a seat near the window, the benefit of being early. After a rumbling start and a monotonous transit, he began to doze. It was a glint, he was sure of it. A bright flash had awoken him, like the reflection from an aircraft in the distance. The pilots probably already knew, as was apparent by their slowing of the transport. Clif watched quietly as the pirates emerged from the shadows; Liberty Rogues. Having heard stories of the criminals, he knew that he'd have to think fast to survive. It's not that he disapproved of the Rogues, but they had a reputation for accidentally killing people.

The pirate ships abruptly slammed against the hull of the transport and began boarding. His hand instinctively moved to the small pistol hidden in his jacket. The transport offered no defense, and the Rogues were announced by screams from the front section of the ship. A ragtag crew of seven sauntered into the cabin with their guns at the ready. Before the pirates had a chance to voice their demands, an undercover agent, three rows ahead of Clif, took the first pirate with one shot, and staggered a second before pulling back into cover. Without thinking, Clif sprung up and drew his pistol, and in one motion, unloaded three rounds into the back of the agent. It was the first man that Clif had killed; all was momentarily frozen save for the injured pirate on the ground.

"Just wha'cha think yer doin', Boy? That was our job"

"Perhaps I wanted to make myself useful to you. I'm not in the mood to be killed today," Clif responded.

"Aww, ya thinking we're gonna kill ya'll? What makes ya think that?"

Clif gestured towards the front of the ship, "Why aren't they screaming anymore?"

A grin slowly began to spread across the face of the pirate, "So, yer looking to make yourself useful eh? We'll see about that. C'mon over then."

Clif climbed past the incredulous passenger next to him and asked, "Should I get my stuff?"

"Don't worry, we're taking it all anyway." An affiliate of the Rogue pistol whipped Clif and everything went black. The Rogues loaded him into their ship and went to present their acquisition to the Liberty Rogues.