The Girl With The Electric Eye

By Michael Polillo

Intergalactic bounty hunter, Ashley Morris has been sent to the abandoned mine planet of Fliova to find two rookie bounty hunters. Rumor has it that Ashley's first bounty named Brackett is mixed up in their disappearance. Ashley Morris was the only one to ever capture Brackett and she lost her eye while doing it. But now her eye's electric and she's ready to take her down again. It won't be easy. Brackett has a gang of animal-men that are willing to die for her. Can Morris and the rookies capture Brackett again or will she lose another eye?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Polillo
• Release date: Sep 20, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393153023

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Two moons were hanging heavy in the sky of Fliova.  They were both full which only happens once a year. They lit the ground beneath them and anyone could see the foot prints in the sand. They were small. They were bountiful. Little paw prints speckled throughout the desert night. Next to them were boot prints from the man who was always with the dog. They were a man and his dog and they were out in these dunes on a hunt. The deserts sprawled up and down throughout this side of Fliova. It was a little planet about ¼ the size of Earth. Small trees were littered about the sand. The locals didn't question how they managed to survive. Not the trees nor themselves. Not that many locals were this far out into the desert. Or on the planet at all.

The dog, Harry, is no ordinary dog. He may look like a regular black border collie with a white cross on his chest and four white paws that resembled socks, but he's more than that. His mind is as sharp if not sharper than most sentient upright beings in the universe. He stopped walking to stare at the moon. He stretched his toes and let out a yawn.

He didn't speak in the traditional tongue, but the man with him always knew what he was saying. For others it would come off as a boof, ta, or even ha da ba. Harry had been born under the watch of the Queen herself and she made sure he was trained from the litter to be in her service.

Harry's breath could be seen as little puffs of steam coming from his snout. The days on Fliova are warm and dry with the nights being cold with a dampness in the air. Harry's fluffy coat kept him warm. But as said, he wasn't alone.

His handler, only known by the moniker, the Jacket, could be found near Harry at all times. Tonight was no different. He was dressed in his namesake. A high collared black jacket that stretched the length of his frame. It followed behind him like he had a tail of his own.

He wore a long brimmed hat that cast his face in shadow. Not many knew what he looked like without it. His skin never showed. No one even knew if he were a man at all. Still he walked with confidence. He acted as though he were a handsome man whether or not it showed. Maybe it's because he knew he looked like the grim reaper blended with a private detective. Or it could be that showing no face gives anyone a sense of power.

No one knows for sure where the Jacket came from. No one even knows his real name. People in dimly lit taverns say he's from the deepest darkest blackest thickest sector of space that hasn't even been touched by man or gator. Others say he's from New Jersey, Earth and as a result he's pure concentrated anger. Either way what is known is that the Jacket understood Harry completely. Their minds were in perfect synchronicity. One was an extension of the other. And that made he and his mutt dangerous.

They were in the employment of her galactic majesty, the Queen. She had them on the payroll as bounty hunters for two years and they've yet to let her down. They weren't going to start now.

They've been on the tail of their target for three months now. She's an in and out of jail louse who they've track to the mines of Fliova. Her name was simply Brackett and her nature was exactly what tipped them off. Harry overheard a man in a bar talk about how he lost his leg. Some bitch in a blue suit took it from it. All they had to do was break three of his fingers to find out where he lost his leg. And that's with telling him they were planning to turn her in. The Queen thought she heard the last of Brackett. She had been released and living crime free for a total of six months. Then it came out that she stole a couple million pounds and bolted into the outskirts of the galaxy. She proceeded to rack up a bunch of warrants. Now it's on the wire that she's wanted for multiple murders including a gas station employee, a ship salesman, and a mining supply clerk. The man with the leg issue had run across her witnessing her latest kill.

It's hard enough taking out a rogue woman who carries enough fire power to blow your head off, but it's even worse when she's convinced other half-wits to take arms up with her. They've been calling themselves the Nightmares and their trail of destruction is what made them so easy to find once Harry and the Jacket landed on Fliova.

A mouse manning the local bar had barfed up the details with out so much as a hair hurt on his body. His tail had twitched and the two bounty hunters knew where to go. They took their ship and flew twenty miles into the desert to find the mouse had told the truth. He told them there were mines near a heart shaped tree. Sure enough they found the tree and they could see the opening of the mines from the sky. They landed near the tree and pursued the mines on foot. It didn't take long from them to reach the opening and see before them was their target, Brackett.

She was standing there still in the night. She was shorter than the duo had expected. Her flight suit was indeed blue and she sported a neon green mohawk. She appeared to be unarmed. The Jacket reached into his pocket, pulled out his communicator, and looked at a digital wanted poster confirming her appearance.

The Jacket knelt down to Harry's level and lowered his voice to a whisper.

She's not exactly trying to blend in, eh Harry?

Ha, ta ta.

Easier for us. It's getting cold out here. We ought to bag her and maybe we can get some sleep at the cabin before taking her in tomorrow.

The Jacket looked around. The night seemed calm and the world was empty beyond the three figures out in this moment. The Nightmares were no where in sight. The hunters had gotten lucky catching Brackett off guard. She was alone enjoying the double moonlight.

What's the chances she's out here hiding because she wants to live a better life and no one is giving her the chance to?

Harry said nothing.

Yeah I figured as much. What's the plan?

Ba da.

Yeah that does always seem to work.

Harry and the Jacket walked towards Brackett. The Jacket held his long barreled ray gun in his hands in a relaxed pose.

Nice night isn't it? said the Jacket.

Brackett cocked her head at the two bounty hunters. She wasn't startled. She wasn't irate. She simply was.

Oh this is going to be good. What do we have here? A boy with no face and his puppy? she laughed staring at the dog and the man. Her voice sounded like she had been smoking three packs a day for fifteen years.

Brackett, you're wanted for the murder of several members of the-

Save your voice weirdo, I know I what I did.

Are you admitting your crimes?

I ain't admitting shit.

Boof ba.

He's right, what you said contradicts your earlier statement.

I don't care what your dog says.

Harry's snout snarled as he growled at Brackett.

Brackett, on behalf of the Queen, you're coming with us.

The hell I am.

Don't be an obtuse idiot, we have you outnumbered. You can come with us and we'll make sure you have a fair trial by her majesty.

I'm not going anywhere with you and that flea bag. I mean, hell, the Queen must be getting real desperate if she's sending a dog and someone without a face after me.

We've been chasing you for months now. We've hopped from planet to planet looking for your wanted ass, now quit showboating and you'll get a lighter sentence. There's no one around to see you acting prideful.

I have a better idea. Instead of doing what you want me to do, how about you turn around and run away before I kill you and your pooch? It's a better offer than I've given most. Usually I take a limb, but the moons are very pretty tonight and I'm feeling generous.

"I don't think you understand what's going on here. You're wanted. We're bounty hunters. We've