Cowboys, Pirates, Aliens, Dinosaurs and Zombies: Cowboy Pirates & Aliens, #3

By Rich Cole

The Cowboys, Pirate Queen, and the Alien are strangers in a strange land as they explore an alternate reality where zombies and dinosaurs have taken the Earth. Meanwhile, they also have to contend with Gary and his increasingly unhinged pursuit of Tully. The crew fight through Aliens, Dinosaurs, and Zombies while they search for a way to fix time and space before humanity and possibly time itself perishes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Seagull Editions
• Release date: May 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223725169

Book preview

COWBOYS, PIRATES,

ALIENS, DINOSAURS & ZOMBIES

© 2022 Seagull Editions s.r.l.

www.seagulleditions.com

Chapter 1

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Selina Tiburon de Sangre Cruz was born in 1669 in Hispaniola. She fought her way from the red carpets of a bordello to her own ship where she built a reputation as a pirate queen without peer at the helm of the Yucatan Princess. She couldn’t remember when exactly her life changed but somehow she had been dropped to one knee with a split lip on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico in the year 2000. The imposing black woman who punched her, Lakesha, stood over her with her hands on guard ready to keep fighting. Selina dabbed her bloody lip with her fingers and looked to Bill. Bill was a gruff brick of a man dressed in a wide-brimmed hat, denim jeans, heeled boots, and a gun slung at his hip. He watched her with a mixture of concern and faith. Bill was flanked by three other men cut from the same cowboy cloth. Joe, Rick, and the Padre watched the two women with excitement. They were outlaws and treasure hunters from Texas nearly two hundred years after she was born. On her other side was Tully, a gray skinned alien with black-green eyes that seemed to take up most of his face with a gleaming white mohawk, and cybernetic arms. He was a member of an alien race who had been chasing them for a piece of technology called the Sextant that was no longer in their possession. All around them Lakesha’s crew cheered and yelled as she waited patiently for Selina to stand.

She stood and pulled her black curly mop of hair back away from her face and squared off against Lakesha, a pirate queen like her but born some three hundred years after Selina. Lakesha smiled and Selina couldn’t help but be a little intimidated by the dark-skinned woman’s bulging muscles. Lakesha threw a jab that caught Selina in the nose snapping her head back.

Come on, get your head in the fight, or she’ll take your head off. she heard Bill say and she growled.

She watched Lakesha’s shoulders as she threw another jab. Selina slipped the jab and caught Lakesha under the chin with force but the woman’s head barely moved.

Keep it coming, Bill encouraged. She simultaneously loved and hated his comments. Bill was a simple creature and his manner made her feel secure but she also hated feeling reliant on anyone, especially a man. Lakesha was on her with speed that nearly took Selina off guard. A flurry of shots came at her and Selina felt instantly overwhelmed but managed to clumsily keep away from the strikes. Lakesha was beating her badly so far but her pride wouldn’t let her stop until she was unconscious so she pressed into the fray. She let go of all technique and threw herself at Lakesha. Selina struck low at her opponent’s abdomen before moving in to grab her around the neck. Once clinched, Selina head butted her which seemed the most effective thing she’d done through the whole fight and then tossed her aside using her neck as a fulcrum. despite her heavy stature and muscles Lakesha flew to the ground and rolled quickly to a standing position.

The crowd had stopped cheering as the tone of the fight changed. Selina screamed and launched at Lakesha with intensity. She swung wide and caught Lakesha with a haymaker that dropped her to one knee. The momentum shifted and Selina kept up her assault swiping up from underneath catching Lakesha again this time lifting her off her feet. Lakesha shook the fog from her head and saw Selina coming at her. She pushed herself forward, spearing Selina in the midsection. Selina landed with the wind knocked out of her as Lakesha rose shaking her head.

Selina tried to swallow at the thick humid air around her as she tried to stand. Bill moved in quickly and helped her up. When she could speak again Selina snarled and screamed, We’re not finished!

Lakesha was examining her elbow when she turned to Selina, yeah we are, she laughed

to herself and turned her back to Selina.

I am not finished!

Bill, you got to talk some sense into that woman.

She smoldered at Bill as he turned to her but the confusion on his face was plain. You lost control.

She lost, Lakesha added, ain’t nothing worse than a sore loser, never mind you were trying to kill me. I ain’t got time for it, she turned and looked Selina in the eyes. 

Bill lifted her chin so he could look her in the eyes. She pulled away from his touch. Don’t.

Selina, it was just supposed to be exercise.

She treated me like, she watched the muscular woman as she walked away. A few members of her crew patted her on the shoulder as she made her way to her quarters.

Like what?

She made an example of me to her crew. I shouldn’t have fought her. Selina admitted.

Bill nodded at her, try to remember she’s letting us stay here while we figure out our next step. We’re guests here.

When did you get so sensible?

Bill shrugged, I know that look, you take your licks and come back stronger next time, he nodded as he spoke. She resisted his efforts but he pressed, we’re guests here. Strangers in a strange land, right?

Her heart still beat with anger and embarrassment. Yes, she breathed out, strangers in a strange land.

Better?

A little.

Tully moved in next to the couple. I have some recordings on the Star Tramp that might help you improve your form. He smiled at them both.

Selina turned to him, perhaps.

The other members of her party joined them as her posture relaxed.

If I had a nickel for every time I got whooped I’d be a rich man. Rick offered. Damn good fight. He put his hand out to shake hers but she rolled he eyes at him.

Can we change the subject? She asked.

Lakesha returned to the platform and raised her hands in a gesture of peace. We have to go to the coast for resources if you want to come with.

We’ll come with, Bill offered.

Lakesha nodded graciously.

Joe watched the conversation. He was starting to show gray at his temples and his eyes seemed set in a permanent squint. He ushered Selina and Bill away from Rick and Padre. I’ll stay behind and keep an eye on the others, Joe stated. Bill shrugged and tilted his head at his friend, I saw something in the water earlier that’s got me worried. Best to hold fort with someone who knows what they’re doing.

What about Padre and Rick?

Padre’s been quiet, not sure what to make of that and Rick ain’t much good either, but better to keep him in the fort for now.

How so? Selina interjected.

His mind is on Alice, can’t get him to focus and that’s libel to get someone hurt. Joe said sternly.

What about Tully? Bill asked.

I’ll send him with you, he might be handy out there, Joe answered.

Are you ready? Lakesha asked.

Yeah, Bill answered then turned to Tully, Tully, you’re with us.

Tully lifted his head with a slight smile and moved towards Bill. Scavenging? he asked with gusto. I’m very excited, alternate reality, new terrain, so much to discover.

Y’all are just going for supplies. First time they’ve invited us so be nice, Joe instructed.

Joe, I’m not one of your men. I am quite capable of taking care of myself. Please don’t condescend.

Joe grimaced, I get that but we have to keep it together. Strangers...

In a strange land, yes. That was my line if you recall, Tully pointed out. Of course I see your point.

Good, keep ‘em safe. I’ll be here when you get back.

Don’t let anybody on the StarTramp if you can help it, Tully added. The greenish metallic saucer that Tully called home was perched at the top of the oil rig they inhabited. Joe nodded and headed back towards Rick and the Padre.

***

Lakesha and the recovery crew blasted across the water in a ragged collection of rebuilt swamp boats with two graffiti covered speed boats scouting ahead of the main caravan. Lakesha was at the lead in her swamp boat. She was flanked by her bodyguards as she sped across the gulf towards the remains of an old port town. Selina, Bill, and Tully were on a separate swamp boat piloted by one of Lakesha’s men. I knew it! Tully exclaimed.

Knew what? Bill asked.

The Big Easy, he said as if that answered the question. Bill and Selina shrugged at him, New Orleans.

Bill’s eyes grew wide, Damn, I been here before, Bill confessed as the city came more into view. Tully’s smile widened as Bill continued, It was before I hooked up with Joe and, it was a, a, good time, he clammed up as he caught Selina’s curiosity.

Really? It was Selina’s turn to smile as she watched Bill’s cheeks redden.

An explosion ahead of their swamp boat interrupted their conversation. A large reptilian head burst from the water and caught one of the scouting speed boats in its massive jaws. Plesiosaurus! Tully yelled as Lakesha’s crew raised their weapons for the coming fight.

The dinosaur pulled the boat into the water as Lakesha yelled orders at her men. Flank it! The swamp boats pivoted and swerved where the creature dropped back under the water. They all watched the water most with fire arms but a few armed with hand held weapons.

Selina drew a laser pistol from the bandoleer at her chest. Wait, Tully ordered as he tapped at his wrist computer. He looked from the device's display to the water. There, he pointed it out and yelled to the driver. Go there now, it’s on the move.

The driver sneered as he continued to follow Lakesha and the other boats. Tully stood up and grabbed the driver by the shirt to tell him something but the boat lifted as the dinosaur breached the surface underneath their boat. The four of them flew into the water as the creature's larger body curled around to snatch the four of them up.

Selina dove under the water looking for the beast. Bill swallowed water and lashed out as panic set in. He saw Selina but lost sght of her when a stream of bubbles caught him in the face. An arm hooked under his shoulder and lifted him out of the water. He fell along the floor of the swamp boat and could see Lakesha in the pilot chair speeding off towards the city.

We have to go back! he yelled.

Lakesha didn’t say a word but instead shook her head. Bill stood and and tried to impose her with his size. You can just stop that right now. I’m sorry but we can’t linger while that thing is still riled up.

Bill shivered in the hot sun.

I don’t need you to like me but we can’t spare the manpower or the time. Nightfall is coming fast and we need to get supplies before that happens. You heard me?

Bill nodded and turned away from her as he looked back over the water hoping he would see her crest the surface.

Shit! Tully said as the murky fluid threatened to pull him under. He tapped his wrist computer but the screen was black and it looked dead. He swam through the water with ease. His species evolved in the water and through he had his body cosmetically altered to have two arms and two legs instead of six tentacles he still had remarkable dexterity in the water. He saw the driver ahead of him and quickly caught up with the pirate.

He could feel the movement