Page 56 of Metal & Mud

"Three, lower right."

The third ball dropped in, and Logan chalked his cue. As he did, he started talking. "You know, I think there's something to be said about respecting others," he said as he lined up his shot.

Logan lined up his shot, knocking the four into the nine and sinking the nine in the process, winning the rack. The match stood two racks to one, and Logan paused while Huffman racked, still looking confident but not quite as arrogant as he'd been a few shots ago.

"People deserve basic dignity," Logan continued as he lined up his break shot. "Even when they're different from what you might expect."

He broke, and in the chaos sunk the eight and four. Huffman sighed. "You got a point?"

"Sure," Logan said before sinking the one. "Respect isn't just about rank. It's about how we treat each other as people."

"Real world ain't that simple, boy," Huffman growled, and Logan shrugged before sinking the two and the three.

"In that you're right. Life is complicated," he replied, lining up his next shot. "But treating others with dignity is pretty straightforward."

Logan sank the five, leaving him with an easy tap in for the six and seven before a long but straight sinking of the nine. As Huffman racked, Logan breathed, focusing on the moment.

"It's those basic principles that help us navigate life," he said as he broke, sinking the seven. "Like how to treat others with respect."

"Something you could learn about." Huffman looked at the table and laughed. "Look at that. All that yapping about respect, and you're pinned again. No way you can make this, and as soon as you miss, I win. By the way, I like my Bud cold and my women respectful."

To the average observer, he was right. Logan was pinned behind the two and the eight, with the four a bit further on. But the prize was right there, the nine ball just on the edge of falling into a side pocket, right behind the one ball. A baby's breath of pressure, and the game would be over.

Logan knew he could play it safe, barely tap the cue ball into the eight. But he didn't want to put the game back into Huffman's hands, and as he considered his options, he knew what he had to do.

"You know, there's something about the rules though." Logan walked around the table, evaluating every perspective he could. "Normally, they're helpful. Treat others with respect. Call officers sir or ma'am. Tuck in your shirt. Take the safe shot and play the odds that my opponent's going to mess up their shot."

Logan took his position, practically pointed away from where he needed the ball to go, and bent over the table, making a bridge with his hand and the four ball.

Huffman, seeing what he was intending, scoffed. "No fucking way."

"Way, Captain. Because sometimes..." Logan drew his cue back and paused, "you break those rules when the situation calls for it."

He stroked his cue forward, striking the ball solidly. With a little bit of forward-right spin, it came off the rail at a wider angle than seemed possible before rolling towards a second rail, striking it and slowing as it approached a third.

The entire crowd could see what Logan intended, and there were murmurs of disbelief and excitement building.

"That's... no way!"

"It's got a chance."

"How the hell?"

The cue ball was barely creeping, and Logan had a heartbeat's worth of doubt that he'd misjudged something. The drag of the surface, the weight of the ball, the absorbency of the rails... something.

But as the cue ball tapped the one, relief flooded through him. The one moved just enough, gently kissing the nine ball and dropping it into the pocket. It was over. Logan had completed the comeback, winning three games in a row.

Silence reigned as all the observers took in the amazing shot Logan had just pulled off, until a certain someone had to be a poor sport.

"This is... bullshit!" Huffman yelled, slamming his cue to the floor where it clattered on the barely there carpet. "What the fuck, are you some kind of pool hustler or something?"

"I didn't propose the game," Logan pointed out as he lay his own cue on the table respectfully. "Come on Captain, let's just end this. Beer for everyone."

"Fuck this!" Huffman exploded before storming away, not stopping until he'd left the alley.

The room was so quiet he could hear the whir of the alley machinery. Logan could see that the National Guard officers who'd gathered to celebrate Huffman's promotion were clearly uncomfortable and embarrassed by Huffman's outburst.

That wouldn't do, so Logan stepped up to Colonel Mercury, offering a hand. "Thank you for the opportunity, sir. And I'm sorry if I ruined your afternoon."

---