SEBASTIAN TREVARIUS

Sebastian Trevarius lives and works as a APCG (Astroid Prison Colony Guard) which is located near the planet Jupiter. After reading all of Louis L’Amour’s westerns, he opted to have a Time Machine Vacation during the wild west era. Although this type of vacation can be very dangerous, being a guard and quelling prison riots can be equally dangerous—both are deadly—wounded or killed not uncommon. While preparing for his wild west adventure, he had a replica of a Colt Single Action Army Revolver, aka, The Peacemaker manufactured to his specifications. Instead of a single action six-gun, it was semi-automatic and contained 12 bullets. Also, Sebastian didn’t have to carefully aim the weapon, only look at the spot where he wanted the bullet to hit and then pull the trigger. Also, the gun couldn’t be used against him because it had been technically digitized to only recognize his hands. Besides the weapon, his clothes, including his Stetson, boots and holster were tailored to fit his broad shoulders, narrow hips and well-muscled body. He may not look like an actual wild west cowboy, but Hollywood would have loved his piercing blue eyes, thick, wavy blonde hair and chin with a cleft in the centre of it.

Sebastian had been injected with a short-term sleeping drug after being strapped into the tiny pod located on the landing deck of Starship 401. When the pod was sealed and the drug had taken effect, the android in charge of the take off pushed a button. Within moments, the pod disappeared and soon appeared over Texas in the summer of 1847. Within seconds, he was awakened by a pin prick to his little finger, and he took control of the pod, which had been programmed to land on a high mesa near the town, Toronado. As soon as it landed and he disembarked with all his gear, he pressed a small button, which had been imbedded just behind his right ear and the pod immediately responded to invisible mode. If the pod was needed in an emergency, Sebastian only had to press behind his ear three times, and it would find him within seconds. He was hoping that wouldn’t happen, but he also didn’t want to be seriously injured or die on his vacation.

Slinging a leather bag containing a few changes of clothes and special ammunition for the Peacemaker, across his shoulder, he began carefully making his way down the mesa until he arrived at a road heading towards Toronado, approximately five miles distance. Noticing a cloud of dust heading towards him, he waited at the side of the road until a stagecoach and four sweaty panting horses, nostrils flaring and covered in dust pulled up. The stage driver, the brim pushed flat against the top of his hat from the constant speed of the stagecoach yelled down, “Where yuh headed stranger?”

“Toronado.”

The driver looked at Sebastian a little suspiciously and asked, “What are you doin’ way out here in the middle of nowhere? It’s a long way back to the last station?”

Sebastian spread his legs and looking up at the driver, trying to come up with an answer, responded. “Thought I’d take a short cut to Toronado, but my horse stepped in a hole and broke its leg. I hated to shoot the poor animal but didn’t have a choice.”

“Well…I can save yuh a bit of walkin’. Yuh can either set up here with me or inside the coach. Should be enough room.”

Noticing, even though she was quite dusty, a good-looking woman sitting across from two hombres, Sebastian said, “Thanks pard. I’ll just climb into the coach.”

Everyone had their eyes glued on the stranger as he climbed aboard and carefully sat beside the pretty woman, because of his broadness, trying not to touch her. Once settled, he tipped his hat to the woman and said, “Howdy. The name’s Sebastian but my friends call me Seb.”

The black-haired beauty, a touch of Mexican in her blood, smiled and then said, “It’s too early to be on a first name basis, Mr….ah…”

“Trevarius, ma’am.”

Before she could say anything more, a burly man dressed in black and wearing a black Stetson sitting directly across from the woman, a pistol strapped to his hip drawled, “An’ whut kinda name is that?”

“Don’t know what you mean.”

“Sounds pretty high-faluttin’ to me and the way yuh talk too; sound like some sorta back east, candy-ass, edumacated dude.”

Sebastian didn’t say another word, only looked the man square in the eye.

“Jest as I thought,” and getting no reaction from Sebastian continued, “Now, where were we ma’am? Ah, yeah. We were just in the middle of asking you to have a drink with me, once this coach pulls into town. Now, how about it.”

Sebastian couldn’t help noticing that the woman was feeling uncomfortable as she answered, “Thank you but no thank you,” she said as firmly as she could under the circumstances.

“I don’t take no from such a pretty lady. Unless someone is waiting for yuh in Toronado, I think it would only be polite to have a drink with me.”

Before she had a chance to answer the rude man, Sebastian piped up, “You heard the lady. She doesn’t want to.”

“If I wanted any lip outa you, I’d ask. Quit buttin’ in. It aint any of yur damned business,” he raged as he glared at Sebastian. Then, glancing back at the woman, he continued, “Now, where were we?”

Sebastian suddenly reached across the woman and opening the stage door, grabbed the man by the throat and heaved him out of the moving coach saying, “Sorry ma’am if I disturbed you but some people just never shut up and listen.” Then, looking at the other passenger, he asked, “Were you with that piece of crap?”

The man quickly shook his head and stammered, “No. Don’t even know him.”

When he looked at the woman, she brightly beamed and said, “Thank you Mr. Trevarius.”

Sebastian tipped his hat once again and said rather boldly, “Do you think we’re on a first name basis yet. I didn’t catch your name.”

“My name is Belle kind sir. Belle Santos,” and as she held out her hand added, “It’s a pleasure to meet you Seb.”

Holding Belle’s small hand, he gave it a slight squeeze and said, “Your throat must be dry from all the dust, I don’t suppose you’d care to wet your whistle and have a drink with me. I don’t know anybody in Toronado, and it would be really nice to quench my thirst with a new friend.”

“I think I can manage that.”

When the stagecoach came to a halt in front of a hotel, instead of Sebastian helping Belle climb out, he just reached up and holding her by the waist, lightly set her on the ground. While retrieving her luggage at the back of the stage, the coach driver said while scratching his head, “I was damned-sure there was another passenger.”

“Oh him,” Sebastian replied, “He had to make a fast stop along the way.”

The stage driver’s head gave a jerk and then said, “I expect you tossed him out. Do you know who that hombre was?”

“Nope.”

“That was Farady; Blackjack-Farady. You most likely shouldn’t have messed with him; he’s one mean sonofabitch and he has a gang of cutthroats too.”

Holding out his arm, Belle grinned and took it as they headed towards the Last Chance Saloon.

When they were seated and two big mugs of beer had been served, Belle asked, “Are you in town long?”

“Depends,” Sebastian said as he wiped some froth away from his lips with the back of his hand.

“On what?”

Depends how much I like Toronado.”

Belle wiped some dust away from her eyes and then batting her thick eyelashes said, “And if I wanted you to stay?”

Sebastian grinned, his white even teeth sparkling in the gloomy saloon, “I would certainly take that into consideration.”

Belle was about to say something when four menacing cowboys entered the saloon, the bat-wing doors slapping the last one in the ass. Nodding her head towards the door she said, “I think we have company.”

As Sebastian swiveled in his chair, the four men went for their guns. They had barely drawn them, when Sebastian drew his Peacemaker with lightning speed and three men lay dead on the floor as the fourth one ran out the door missing his shooting finger, screaming like a little girl.

But where was Blackjack-Farady?

He had snuck into the saloon through the back door and had his six-gun leveled at Sebastian’s back. “Now who’s the tough hombre? I’ve got the drop on you,” he said and grinned.

Even with his never-miss Peacemaker, Sebastian didn’t think he would be able to get a shot at Farady.

“Drop your gun and kick it away.”

Before I kill yuh, I’m goin’ to pistol whip the hell out of yuh?”

As Farady was about to smack his pistol into the side of Sebastian’s head, Belle suddenly tossed her beer into his face, the mug immediately breaking his nose. Unable to see, trying to wipe the beer and the blood away, Sebastian grabbed him by the throat, almost crushing his Adam’s apple and lifting him high in the air, brought his head down on the table. Staggering backwards away from Sebastian, he began firing his pistol wildly.

Sebastian felt a bullet whizzing past his ear as he grabbed his gun off the floor and fired, the bullet puncturing a neat little hole right between Farady’s eyes.

Belle said, a bewildered expression on her face, “That was some shooting. Who the hell are you? Are you some famous gunslinger I’ve never heard of?”

“Nor really. I’m on vacation.”

“On vacation? Are you kidding me? Who in hell in their right mind would come to no-place Toronado on a vacation.”

Then she whispered, “Who are you Seb? Really.”

Sebastian couldn’t tell her he was from outer space or from the future, so he lied, “I’m the Ringo Kid out of Tulsa. I’m not on the run from the law or anything like that. But don’t tell anyone.”

“The Ringo Kid; I never heard of you.”

“Not many have, especially the one’s six feet down.”

While the bodies were being carried out and the bartender was wiping the blood and the beer off the floor, the mayor of Toronado entered the saloon. After looking around, he came over to where Sebastian and Belle were sitting and asked, “I take it, you’re the one who shot up Farady and his gang of no-gooders.”

“That would be me,” Sebastian agreed.

“We’ve been trying to get them to leave town for almost a year, ever since they shot the sheriff. They didn’t kill him, and I can’t say that I blame him, but he left town as soon as his gunshot healed and I haven’t been able to find anyone to replace him. I hear you just arrived by stagecoach and if you are planning on staying, I’d like to offer you the sheriff job.” Tossing a silver star on the table, he continued, “Think about it and if you don’t want the job, then just drop the star off at my office on your way out of town.”

Sebastian picked the star up and rubbing it on his chest as if to make it shinier, said, “I’ll think about it.”

“Looks like you’re out of beer…I didn’t get your name.”

Sebastian, Sebastian Trevarius but my friends call me Seb.”

“Well then Seb, welcome to Toronado,” and then yelled to the bartender, “Whatever, these two are drinking, just put it on my tab, and if they want a room, put it on my tab too.”

As the mayor walked away and then stopped to look at one of the dead men lying on the floor, Sebastian raised his eyebrows and said, “I like a man of few words.”

Belle smiled and asked, “So, do you think you’ll stay and become the sheriff?”

Sebastian smiled back and then said, “I’ll have to really give it a lot of thought.” As much as he would like to be a sheriff, somewhat like his job back on Asteroid 401, a law enforcer, it was a lot to ask.

“I can’t believe I’m asking this but since I really don’t know anything about you, you don’t happen to have a wife waiting for you somewhere, do you?”

“Nope. Not even a girlfriend. Actually, when I think about it, there isn’t anyone waiting. I’m a real loner.”

Belle’s smile brightened and then cheerfully said, “I’m somewhat the same way, since my husband died from a fever a little over a year ago. I’m not really from here, just heard there was a job at this saloon—looking for someone to sing and dance and be kind to the customers—not sure what that part means. I don’t mean to lay my problems at your feet but I’m damned near broke and any kind of a job is hard to find these days. I’d like to become self-sufficient and am hoping to set enough money aside from my earnings and tips to buy a rooming house. Believe it or not, I’m actually one hell of a good cook.”

“I’m sorry for your loss Belle, and how much do you think that’ll all cost?”

“Not sure, but I’m hoping to save as much as it costs over the next year.”

Sebastian had around a thousand bucks in his bag from purchasing money from the wild-west era online. He knew it was a lot of money for this day and age but didn’t have a handle on how much things really cost, his thoughts of money soon shifting to Belle. Even the way she was dressed, barely any skin showing because of the long length of her frilly dress, he could tell that underneath it all, was one hell of a good-looking desirable woman. Even though many of the criminals on Asteroid 401 had wives and children, hardly any women were attracted to colony guards, let alone marry one, since there wasn’t much of anything to do. Being this close to Belle was refreshing, since it seldom happened, most women visiting the asteroid were hookers and not looking for a husband. Unsure about his immediate circumstances, he did however reach a decision that he would leave her whatever money he hadn’t spent. He really, really liked Belle and the way she had saved his life was his kind of woman.

Daylight was fast running out, and thirsty men were beginning to fill the saloon. Many of them introduced themselves to Sebastian and thanked him for getting rid of Farady and his gang. The word had also got out that he was contemplating becoming Sheriff and they were all in favour of that.

Sebastian thought he belonged on Asteroid 401 but the looks on the men’s friendly faces and Belle’s too, was beginning to niggle at his mind. On the asteroid, he had some friends but nothing like this. He wasn’t sure if he had had too much to drink but he reached across the table and took Belle’s hand saying, “Do you mind if I sit a little closer, it’s getting hard to hear you over all the noise.

Nodding her head, she said, “Please do.”

When a man began pounding on the piano keys, one of the favourites of the day, Belle said, “I know that tune. Maybe I should sing it and then the owner of this place will hire me on the spot. What do you think?”

“I’d really like to hear you sing but it’s up to you.”

Belle looked a little forlorn as if she really wasn’t into it, then, pushing her chair away from the table, she went over to the piano.

Sebastian watched as she bent over and said something to the piano player who immediately began playing another tune. Her voice was soulful and mellow and throughout the whole song, she never took her eyes off Sebastian and he returned her gaze. When she finished singing, the whole saloon erupted with cheers, loud whistles and applause, “Sing another one!” they yelled.

After singing several other songs and surrounded by men, she slowly began wading through them back to the table. Some of them followed her asking if she would join them for drinks and when she politely refused saying that she was with someone, something within Sebastian’s heart made it beat a little faster and he immediately went to her. Taking her hand in his, he led her back to the table and helped her to be seated like a true gentleman. Leaning down, he gently kissed her on the cheek.

“What’s that for?” she asked, a little shocked.

“Not just for saving my life but because something deep inside me told me I needed to do that. I heard what you said to those men and somehow it just seemed right. I’ve never had feelings like this before. I’m not sure if love at first sight exists like some say but you’ve aroused something within me that can’t or shouldn’t be denied.”

“I feel the same way,” and placing her hands behind Sebastians neck, pulled his head towards her until their lips touched and they kissed.

Still unsure if he would become sheriff or return to Asterid 401, but sure of his feelings for Belle, when they went into the hotel portion of the Last Chance Saloon, and the clerk asked if they wanted two rooms or one, Sebastian said, “One, and I want a room with a big comfortable bed.”