Showdown on the Verge: Adios, el Capitán Salva una Azada

Stoddard was a fellow not normally susceptible to the tired tales of woe of others. But on his furlough from the insanities aboard the Reverend Resbo, he took respite at Asylum Le Rixe a short distance from the docked vessel. As it turns out, the insanities at the refuge would dwarf those aboard the rickety ship on which he had long been quartered.
  Stoddard relished the downtime to mentally rejuvenate, but with his defences down, the Sounding Board Factor was exploited by the hostess LeVira. He politely listened to her litany of grievances, many of which blamed that monster known as the Hackler. Stoddard’s blood was quick to boil at mention of any injustice, but a last vestige of his idealistic youth had him overlook any veracity to LeVira’s claims.
  So a seed was planted in his mind. And during a late evening stroll down Chanock Avenue, he witnessed a silhouette approaching from afar. The two-metre figure wore citrine eyeshields and strode with a lanky gait. As the two drew closer, each recognised the other and their pace quickened in mutual rage until they converged upon the verge.
  Fisticuffs and grappling ensued in a jumble of limbs for a total of about... seven seconds. Bright blue lights immediately bathed the area as two IRVs screeched to a halt at the verge as several coppers leapt forth to pull the men apart.
  Stoddard pointed at the Hackler, sputtering accusations of abuse he had been fed second-hand. Strangely enough, the constables seemed to believe him, confirming his suspicions that the Law in town was well acquainted with the Hackler’s notoriety. The officers gave Stoddard a ride back to Asylum Le Rixe without incident. His temper cooled and he slept well.
  After running errands the next day, Stoddard returned to the asylum. Entering the parlour, he stopped dead. Perched on the settee were LeVira and the Hackler enjoying the television together.
  Clarity can be a slap in the face, but Stoddard welcomed any bracing realisation of the truth, no matter how ugly. He quietly slipped to his quarters and made evac plans posthaste.
  The resulting fallout at Asylum Le Rixe was not pretty, but at least Stoddard was no longer around to witness the destructive aftermath.
  The town citizens were brassed off enough with the Hackler’s misdeeds, but of course the Old Bill could do nought but sit on his thumbs. Within a week, the Conviviator Eustacius and the Slaavik found the Hackler, gently took him aside, held a revolver to his jaw and issued the classic ultimatum: “Be outta Dodge by dusk.”