William Teagon

"William Teagon," Sandoval allowed his voice to boom through the air and vibrate off the surrounding rocks.

Teagon was bound and bloodied. He slumped on his knees in front of what was left of his band of bandits. His left eye was blackened and beginning to swell and one of his lost teeth stuck in his bloodied beard. He huffed to himself, glaring into the dirt.

Behind him knelt what was left of his posse. Five men, two of them wounded, bound as well and staring at their captors. 

Four bobbies in full uniform, helmets, and respirators glared down on them through darkened goggles. They stood as menacingly as they could, holding lever action rifles aimed at the captives. They tried not to show their fatigue, but a few were breathing hard enough to show.

"You are charged with murder; waging war against officers of the law; theft; and other unlawful acts associated with your arrest warrants," continued Sandoval. 

Sandoval had put his tinted spectacles back on and sometime in the binding of their fugitives his hat had been returned to him. He now stood above them with his blank face, attempting to project as much authority with every word.

"You ain't got nothin' on me an' the boys, lawman," spat Teagon, "Not a damn thing."

"You committed half those crimes just now, right here," answered Sandoval, "Your little... standoff. Oh, how you fought. You picked the wrong train, Teagon. I told you I'd hunt you down."

"We'll see what the jury thinks, I recon," said Teagon, raising his head to meet Sandoval's.

"We'll see indeed, Jurors?"

A laugh broke out from the bobbies standing around. Sandoval raised his hands as if in defeat.

"You are charged with many crimes here today. How do you plead?"

"Plead?" Teagon's smile faded.

"Are you hard of hearing, boy?" Sandoval said, taking a few steps closer to kneel down in front of Teagon, "You are charged with Murder, attempted Murder, theft- You are a dangerous man and I ask you how you plead."

"Not Guilty," smiled Teagon.

"Not Guilty?" said Sandoval, "Were those ghosts firing down on my men and myself? What were your men doing with all those guns?"

"Perhaps we showed up and saved your lives," said Teagon, "But instead of apprehending the real villains you shot up your saviors and now you have them bound before you."

A low chuckle spread throughout the bound men. Sandoval looked from them to each other before sighing to himself. He stood and brushed off his knee.

"Very interesting plea. Jury?"

"Guilty," came the unanimous call from the bobbies. At this, Teagon glared at Sandoval again.

"Hold up. This isn't a fair trial. We demand a trial."

"And you are getting it," said Sandoval, "We have witnesses. We have a defense, poor as it is. And lucky for you: a judge."

"This isn't proper," said Teagon, "We deserve a real trial."

"You," Sandoval sent a swift kick into the stomach of Teagon, "Deserve nothing. Why waste the money of Antiford and its people? Why waste the time of a courtroom and citizens? You. Are. Found. Guilty, Teagon. There's no doubt in my mind."

Sandoval cleared his throat, ignoring the look of pure hatred Teagon shot him.

"This court finds you guilty. I judge you guilty."

"You bastard," said Teagon, "I'll kill you!"

"I believe it," said Sandoval, "Which is why I sentence you. Death, for you and your comrades."

"You murderer. You dirty lying-"

The rifles of the Bobbies were raised in unison. Murmurs of fear came from the bound men.

"In the old days there would be gallows," said Sandoval, "Before that, in the old country, there'd be mighty trees. They would throw over a rope and hoist up men like you. However we've no wood for gallows out here or trees that can hold your weight."

"Too stinkin' bad. Take us back into town," shouted Teagon, "Don't you dare!"

"You'll have to make due with a firing squad, I'm afraid," said Sandoval, "It is the least I can do."

The Bobbies took a step back, their rifles leveled at the men who cowered in front of them. Sandoval turned and walked away, his eyes unfocused on the world ahead. 

"Coward."

Sandoval's head turned slightly, his eyes peering back around his tinted glasses.

"Coward," Teagon yelled, "First a sham trial and now a coward's execution? The least you can do is take us out yourself instead of ordering other men to do the job."

Sandoval turned. His expression was blank and his eyes hidden behind his spectacles. 

"I can hardly deny a dying man's last request."

Sandoval's hands only seemed to twitch for a second before his hands were full of revolver. The guns found their targets and barked. Before the first two men on either side of Teagon fell a second pair of shots rang out followed closely by a third. Teagon's men fell, one after another. A shot in the chest each. Before Teagon could cry out the revolvers barked a final time. Two rounds threw Teagon back into the dirt.

Sandoval returned his revolvers to their holsters before turning his back on them again.

"Happy to oblige," said Sandoval, "Confirm their passing then assist me in reclaiming their begotten gains."

"What about the bodies?" asked one of the Bobbies.

"Although I hate saying it, I think we should leave them," said Sandoval, eyeing the circling vultures above, "The Istoki hungers and these men are not worth our time. Case adjourned."