Ghosts of Mars Page #2

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So this is Shining Canyon?

God, what a dump.

- First time in the boonies, rookie?

- Standard layout.

Just another shitty boomtown

like all the others.

Seen one, you can go home.

You're always cold,

you can't get a decent shower...

and they don't tell you

that a one-year contract here...

equals two years' Earth time.

You gotta read the fine print.

Where is everybody?

Yeah. Friday night,

the place should be packed.

A whole 12 hours before sun up,

and there's money to burn...

whores to f***

and drugs to take.

Instead, we got a graveyard.

Maybe they're all inside,

spending their money.

Mel, I'll get us squared away

at the rec-fac.

You and Sergeant Jericho

check in at the jail.

Save some hot water for me.

Where were you before Chryse?

Utopia.

It's the arse end of the universe.

A penal camp full of

work-amnesty cutthroats.

Sounds nasty...

but you seem to be

holding together all right.

What you see is nothing.

I have numerous

hidden talents.

Need some help with that?

You're persistent, aren't you?

I've changed a few minds

in my time.

There's not many

of us breeders around.

I'd hate to miss a chance

to give it a go.

What do you say?

Hello!

Anybody here?

Officer to front desk.

Well, hello, Mr. Williams.

No one seems to be about.

What do you make of it?

I don't know.

Do you want me to pop the lock

and ask the prisoners?

What do you mean, pop the lock?

That's a level-eight security door.

I've got a mystical way with

locks and mechanical objects.

There isn't a machine on Mars

that doesn't love me.

How about we check with

the commander first?

So what do you do for fun then?

Are you a gambler?

No. I'm short-time, Sergeant.

I believe in saving my money.

Don't worry about that.

I was gonna do it for free.

Let me put it this way.

Maybe I'd sleep with you

if you were the last man on Earth.

But we're not on Earth.

It's a voltage overload,

most likely.

You want to check it out?

It's probably nothing.

But on second thought--

Police officer.

Anybody there?

Sh*t!

- This is not making me happy.

- It's time to get backup.

Jesus Christ.

What are you doing?

- I almost killed you.

- What's going on?

- Rec-fac's a slaughterhouse.

- What?

Slaughterhouse?

That's the word Descanso used.

I didn't see it myself.

According to what

Commander Braddock told me...

right after we first arrived

in Shining Canyon...

she and the two rookies headed

towards the recreation facility.

Mel, I'll get us squared away

at the rec-fac.

You and Sergeant Jericho

go and check in at the jail.

Save some hot water for me.

Descanso, sweep left.

Bashira, stick with me.

Officer to train,

do you read?

The casino, barracks, dining hall,

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