town to have a drink. “RV, you know you can’t get in trouble.”
“Hey, hey, I’m the picture of good behavior. I will not fight this night. Peace is my first name.”
Kenny saw him smile at his rhyme and had begrudgingly agreed to go. They arrived and to Kenny’s relief, everything appeared to be going well. Arvolo was nothing but smiles and had bought the whole bar a drink. He sat at the table and looked at Kenny, “I’ve been meaning to ask you what you were doing to your weapons console the day you arrived.”
“And I’ve been meaning to ask why you haven’t lost any weight.”
Arvolo sighed, “I’m lazy and weak. That’s a terrible combination, especially when it comes to food. Plantains are my undoing.”
Kenny started to respond but saw five Marines walk up behind Arvolo. Arvolo saw his expression and turned to see the five approaching, “Hey guys, I’m not able to play tonight. I’ve been put on notice that I’m no longer allowed to fight.”
A Marine Corporal tilted his head and said to the other four, “Oh, the fatty can’t play. We owe you for what you did to us last time. We hope you do get kicked out of the service.”
Arvolo was ready to go but restrained himself, “I’m not kidding. I’ve been punished for that encounter and Fleet does not approve of what we did.”
Kenny stood up and stepped away from the table and went and stood by the bar. Arvolo saw him move and knew he was on his own. He slowly shook his head and regretted what was about to happen but knew there was no escape as three more Marines joined the five.
Kenny said, “What, five aren’t enough?”
“You stay out of this flyboy. This is between the fat man and us.”
Arvolo said, “Now that hurts. I’m not fat; I’m husky.”
Kenny leaned back against the bar, shrugged, and ordered a beer.
The Corporal assumed a fighting stance and threw a kick at Arvolo. Kenny had wondered how it was possible for someone RV’s size to have fought six marines but he found out quickly that although he was big, he was faster than a cat.
Arvolo came out of his chair, grabbed the Corporal’s leg, and lifted it as he hit the Corporal with a fist between his legs. The Corporal hit the floor and stayed there. The other seven stormed in and bodies started flying. One of the Marines was thrown up against the bar next to Kenny and he handed the marine his glass of beer, “Hold this.”
The Marine took it before he could think and Kenny bent his arm and hit him on the forehead with the back of his hand. He took his drink out of the Marine’s hand as he fell to the floor and didn’t move.”
Another Marine was thrown on the floor next to the bar and Kenny looked around and hit him on top of his head with an elbow as he started to get up. Kenny looked around again and whistled as he moved further down the bar away from the two unconscious Marines. One of the Marines saw what Kenny did and came over and threw a punch at him. Kenny dodged the punch while taking a drink from his glass and threw a quick left handed punch to the Marine’s solar plexus and doubled him over. Kenny looked around and brought his knee up and flipped the puncher onto his back. Kenny saw the bartender staring at him and shrugged, “He slipped.”
That’s when the Fleet Patrol arrived and began stunning the participants in the fight. One of them approached Kenny and he took a card out and showed it to the officer. He spoke to the officer for a moment and the Officer saluted and turned away. Kenny saw the bartender staring at him again and he smiled, “I have a get out of jail free card. I’m a huge monopoly fan.”
Kenny looked around and saw that four of the other Marines didn’t need stunning. Arvolo had done quite well in the skirmish. He watched as the Patrol removed the stunned or unconscious fighters. Kenny turned and said, “How much damage?”
“Looks like two thousand.”
“If I pay you four will you not press