The Ashlanders - Chapter 6: The Blind Man's Last Gambit (Closed, Started)

[Fappy]

"It was all the kid here, boy's a gorram machine!"

Sprout blushed and broke eye contact with the barmaid, "Might want to keep him away from the girls then." The barmaid mused. "I reckon I see a lady killer in this one."

Lilith grinned, narrowing her eyes she clawed the air with her hand. "Meow!"

The barmaid laughed and gave the two a knowing wink, "We'll have to play another time, sweetheart. I've got a bar to tend to and you look like you've been road-hauled all the way from Frostfall. No offense. Get some rest, both of you."

Once she was gone Sprout pivoted on the floor and rested his chin on the edge of the bed, "Fer a second there I was hopen' fer a show. Don' reckon yer that kinda lady, are ya' Lily?"

Resting her cheek on her palm, Lilith propped up her head. "Sorry to disappoint you, besides, you've had enough excitement for one day." Wincing slightly as she shifted her weight, she chuckled, "So, I'm guessing you wanna know what happened?"

"Lily..." His eyes narrowed. "You didn' pick a fight with those guys... did you?"

A cheeky grin crossed her face, "Maaaaaaaaybe." she sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "One of them tried to flirt with me. Badly, so when I didn't give him and his friends what they wanted, he started throwing around insults." Sprout's look of disapproval continued. "They called me mangy, Sprout. Mangy! Can you believe it?!" She shrugged her shoulders, "Pixie wasn't around to defend my honour, so I did it instead." She moved her head to one side, cracking her neck, "Fuckers hit me with a chair, Jesus."

Sprout lurched back and plopped his forehead into his open palm. Shaking his head, he mumbled, "Why'er all the women in my life fuckn' nutbars?" He glanced up past his fingers, at Lilith. Despite her playful grin she looked like hell. There was blood and booze all over her tattered cloths. An all too familiar sight.

He got to his feet and plopped down onto the bed besides her, "Please, Lily. Don' go askn' fer trouble like that." His voice sounded distant as he spoke... as if he wasn't really there.

Furrowing her brow, Lilith let out a long sigh. "You're right, we should be layin' low, it's just..." She manouvered herself onto her side, looking up at the boy. She imagined he was used to this kind of conversation, with hit mother being who she was. She looked down at the bed. "The world has been throwing so much shit at us lately, I was tired, sick and tired, so I threw some back." She looked back up at Sprout, a warm smile on her face, "I didn't mean to make you worry, but the fuckers had it coming."

Propping himself up with his hands, Sprout leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. It wasn't until now that he noticed how dingy this brothel really was. Someone was having a good time upstairs as evidenced by the plumes of dust periodically falling from a crack in the ceiling. For some people their outlet was sex. For others it was booze.

Tonight Lilith wanted to punch someone's teeth in. It worked too. He could tell, she felt a lot better. Sprout didn't have any kind of outlet. He had done very little drinking, had no experience with women and felt no sense of catharsis when crippling those two men downstairs. Funny that all three of those things just so happen to be what bandits lived for. Violence wasn't something Sprout enjoyed and despite his raging hormones, he didn't think himself a pervert. So what was his deal? Yeah, he'd proven himself today, but for what?

He didn't feel anything. Sure, it was nice to get some praise from Lilith, but she'd praise him for anything he did. She was like his mother in that way. Still leaning back, Sprout looked over to Lilith, "I reckon it may'a been a good thing I was sent away."

Spoiler: Feel dem feels

Her expression softening, she used the bed to pull herself into a sitting position, cross legged, she rubbed her left shoulder gently. Looking as though she was about talk, she paused, closing her eyes for a few moments. "Do you want to know why we were sent away?"

His eyes downcast, Sprout thought on the point for awhile before meeting her gaze once more and nodding, wordlessly.

Lilith's eyes lost focus as she remembered back to her conversation with Meredith, about that life changing moment, the 'abyss' as she called it. She was loathe to say it, but the kid needed to hear it.

"Because we're not monsters like them, Axel." her eyes were filled with sorrow, "I love your mother, more than anything, but we're not like her Axel, and she knows that." She reached over, placing a hand on the boy's brow. "She never wants us to be like her, and that's why we needed to leave."

Sprout trembled as Lilith laid her hand on him. He knew what she'd say before she did, of course. He knew his mother all too well. He knew this all along. That didn't mean, however, that he had to accept it. Sprout grabbed Lilith's hand and pushed it away, shaking his head in protest, "No. No, Lily. Ma's no monster! She may'a done some thin's she ain't proud of, but she's a good person! You don' know what it was like fer us! You don' know what happened to 'er!"

His cheeks flushed, he rolled over onto his side away from Lilith in an attempt to hide himself. It took every ounce of strength he had to fight back the tears, "Ma' gave everythin' she had to keep me safe... ta' keep me alive. Everythin'! How can y'all say that woman... the woman who raised me an' provided fer me is a monster?! I'm not even 'er real son, Lily! What kinda monster makes that kinda sacrifice fer someone else?!"

It wasn't fair to take this out on Lilith. Unfortunately the old phrase about shooting the messanger rang hallow in his mind.

Lilith pursed her lips, she knew more than anyone what Meredith had sacrificed, what she had to do to keep Axel safe. The love and respect she felt for the woman was unparalleled, but that didn't make her blind to the fact that she would mow down the people she loved when things got too much. Her hand still held where Axel has swatted it away, she slowly moved it to her shirt, unhooking the top most fastened buttons, she painfully let the fabric fall from her shoulders, revealing the dark and yellowing bruises around her upper chest, holding the shirt closed across her breasts, she put a stern look on her face.

"Axel, look at me." While she was healing fast, her wounds were still fresh in her mind, the dark bruise that covered most of her left shoulder was particularly distasteful.

Sprout remained laying on his side hopeing she'd simply disappear. No matter how tight his eyes were shut, however, she'd remain there, waiting. Waiting to make her argument painfully clear. After a minute he relented and rolled over. Revelaing herself in such a way spoke volumes of the trust she had for him, but that wasn't the point she was attempting to make.

He stared at the bruise for an uncomfrtably long time. The prolonged silence between them only served to unnerve him further. Eventually his eyes found their way back to Lilith's, "W-why... Why did she do that to y-you?"

A sympathetic smile curled her lips as she pulled the shirt back over her shoulders. "Because she wanted to murder someone, and I stopped her." she said simply as she buttoned up the garment. "I'm starting to think she has anger issues." She rubbed the back of her head as she attempted to lighten the mood.

Ignoring Lilith's efforts to brush her issues aside, Sprout crawled across the bed and embraced her. Clutching the shoulders of her shirt as he brought her in close, he rested his nose on her right shoulder and closed his eyes, swaying ever so slightly as she settled into the hug. If he knew what to say he'd say it. Without that knowledge, however, he could little more than simply there for her and hope that was enough.

She blushed slightly, letting herself sway with him. She rested her hand on the back of his head, brushing his hair slightly. "Shh, it's okay, I'm fine, just a little sore, stop fussing over me." She chuckled slightly. Lilith let the boy comfort her for a while, before a thought came to her mind.

"The real monsters don't realize that they are." Her eyes turned cold as she thought back to Dio.

"Axel?" She moved her head slightly. Her expression relaxed, resting her cheek on his hair. "Long day for you too huh?" She continued to sway, humming gently as the boy continued to sleep, before she quietly sang. "Blue moon, you saw me standing alone, without a dream in my heart, without a love of my own..."

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Good, they were finally checking in for the day. The hunters would be on the prowl tomorrow and they'd need the rest to keep one step ahead.

"... without a dream in my heart, without a love of my own..."

Cranston flipped off the radio and put out his cigarette. Watching the brothel through the blinds, he allowed himself a small laugh, "Fuckn' kids. If only she could see you two right now..."

He shook his head and wiped the smile from his face. He'd take this time to rest up as well. His old bones weren't what they used to be after all.

 

[The Funslinger]

"Yo, Parker. I read you, loud and sort of clear. I need a status report. Over." Ruffles released the button, and grinned up at Bennie. "Did you ever doubt me?"

======================================

"It-It's not fair...."

Eddie's mouth fell open as he took in the devastation. Images flashed through his mind. The people crowded around the sweat drenched bed, parting for him as he came in. The woman, her hair plastered against her head with perspiration gently depositing the bundle in his arms, with the tiny face peering up at him as he rocked her gently. The baby's tiny little hand reached out, squeezing his finger, with surprising strength...

He shook himself, but it kept coming. Men in suits with Komodo Dragon bandanas wrapped around their necks, matching his own. The phone's speaker at his ear. "General Canton, you will eliminate this witness. It is your utmost duty--" "NO! Fuck you, he's just a kid, you heartless old prick!"

"Mister Whitaker?"

The gunshot, as the boy fell face down. Eddie fell to his knees, yelling, cradling the body. Payton's voice still rang from the speaker. "Mister Whitaker, you have the command. Your general is for the time being unfit for duty. Restrain him..."

Josephine was beginning to wake up, and he let her down, leaving her in the Preacher's arms. His left hand free, he swung savagely at the wall. The metal studded knuckles tore through the wall, leaving a deep hole. "NO, NO, NO!"

He walked through the destruction, stepping over the corpses, not touching them without looking. Passing the bodies, leaving bloody footprints, he stopped partway down the corridor to the hangar.

[HEADING=1]"AUSTIN!"[/HEADING]

 

[ProtoChimp]

Austin was about to follow his children as they were going into a firefight, however...

"AUSTIN!"

Austin could hear his enemies loud and clear and, trusting the elder children to take care of the youngest in the firefight they were heading into, he ran back towards the sound of his own name, appearing to come from near the hangar. Austin was charging on ahead when he needed to stop. Walls were painted with blood as he could see his sons and daughters strewn across the floor. He slowly walked over to reach them, in shock of what he was seeing. He had never been in shock before, but at seeing the sight of so many... he had seen his children die before; but to see so many. So desecrated. Such brutality. He was about to drop to his knees and weep when he heard the sounds of metal pounding against metal. That must be them!

He swiftly turned the corner to see the corridor in full view, even more bodies as the hallway stretched. A man punching the wall, 'S pretender'. A child in priests garb, 'He worships the pretender that calls himself Christ, that makes him a pretender!' A woman being carried by the priest, 'a third pretender!' Yet... there was a fourth. Purity, even beauty. Tears were in her eyes as she looked just as shocked as Austin. 'A child... in all of this? An innocent child, seeing such devastation. I need to get her out of here. I need to save her! These animals torture her by their very presence. Basilio? He is one of the worst, I won't let him take her. She can only be safe with me. I am the only one who can protect her!'

These thoughts went through his head in a second just before he was noticed by the rest, then his rage returned to him. Seeing so many torn up bodies of his children he and the metal handed man made saw each other. He knew who he was, this bounty hunter. Yet, he had never thought him capable of such an act, everything said he didn't kill children!

"MURDER!!!!" Austin boomed at the top of his lungs before ramming Metal down before he had time to reach for his side arm. "YOU MURDERED MY CHILDREN!"
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Aesop kept laughing at the man, mocking him as he was held prisoner. However this would prove to be a terrible idea. "Jesus Christ!" Aesop yelled as Silo was punished for Aesop's behaviour. He even grinned at him, "I expect they'll be more cooperative next time." Aesop was wide eyed as he saw Silo in such pain.

Two banditos began treating Silo while two big scary bastards began working Aesop over. Aesop grunted and moaned out in pain as they were beating him down. 'I got Silo hurt because I just HAD to piss him off. I'm so fucking stupid! What can I do? I can't talk. Can I bring him to hurt me instead? Silo has had enough. He knows my worst punishment would be watching Silo suffer. What the fuck am I going to do? I can't rat, yet I can't bring myself to watch him be tortured like this. Fuck fuck fuck god dammit!'
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Hannibal was surprised at the amount of kindness he was being shown, especially after having admitted what he had done and even more expeciallyier... 'is that a word?' even more especially considering the issues he had caused her. "Sure, won't be a moment. Don't go rooting about in my things, some of it is rather personal." If Hannibal was more eccentric he would be jumping up and down on the bed, though even if he was such exercise would probably just make him feel even more exhausted. Still the prospect of water excited him more than the prospect of... well actually water is the best he could hope for. Hannibal had very small dreams.

"Why would I root through your things? Stealing gets you killed." He said confused.

When she returned her hair was loosened and she offered him a cup of water."There you go Hannibal, drink up." she seemed much less tense now. Hannibal gladly took the drink, delicately taking it off of her hands as not to offend her, 'Who knows one wrong move and she might decide I need to die.' Thought his paranoid mind. Once the cup was in his own hands he gulped it all down as quick as he could, so desperate for water some trickled down the side of his lips. Realising this and panicking at the prospect of lost water, his eyes widened and he used his fingers to pick up the water, sucking his fingers clean of water. "My... oh my... I'm sorry you don't need to but could I have some more please? I'm so thirsty." He was panting even harder now, nourishment exhilarating him. Although almost as soon as he made his request he had to ask, "Why are you being kind to me?" He immediately thought that was a bad idea. 'Never make questions you can't trust people.

 

[The Funslinger]

Spoiler: battle music

Metal could do little but be tackled to the ground, with his mind racing furiously. With the wind knocked out of him, he did the only thing he could. Getting his legs under Austin's chest, he levered the man off him, sending him in a back pedal. Getting up and dusting himself off, he spat, "this is bullshit." The huge man looked to be shaking off the initial shock.

Shoving his hat into Elizabeth's hands, he said to the group at large, "don't interfere, or so will they--" He cut himself off, having to suddenly duck his assailant's next attack.

Austin was filled with rage, forgetting to even take off his robe as he ran to attack the man. That would possibly cost him, an easy way to grab someone in a fight was with lose clothing. A rookie mistake, but Austin was so furious and unstable he wasn't thinking clearly. He ran up immediately to Metal and swung for him before raising a knee hoping to connect with his opponents face.

The knee clocked Eddie in the forehead, making lights pop in his eyes. Grabbing ahold of the leg, he straightened, hauling it up to unbalance his opponent, following him to the ground with his fist raised.

Austin fell back as Metal threw off his balance. He quickly dodged his head to the side before the dangerous hand could crush his face and he repeatedly socked him in the ribs.

Eddie moved back from the flurry of blows to the ribs, grunting at the pain. Coming to his feet, he kicked savagely at Austin while the man righted himself. "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT, YOU SON OF A *****!"

Austin kicked at Eddie's feet before rolling sideways and quickly getting up onto his own feet, casting off his robe. Underneath was a physique that was unexpected to some, but to a bounty hunter it was necessary. Every single muscle bulging out of his skin as if it couldn't be contained. Veins pushed up against his flesh from the pressure of the muscle. His shirtless form was of a man who had spent every day attempting to perfect his body, and clearly was unhappy with the results and just tried even harder. He wore tight black pants as well which even displayed his leg muscles, along with black combat boots.

"MY FAULT? LOOK AT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO CHILDREN! LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS! I failed them yes that is my fault I failed to protect them FROM MONSTERS!" Austin rushed forwards with a jab which was blocked by the bounty hunter. "LIKE!" He followed up with a cross punch which was dodged by Metal. "YOU!!!" He then swung up his leg to knee him in the side.

Eddie rolled with the knee, spinning on a foot to to get behind his opponent. "I didn't touch those kids, you fucker," he snarled, unleashing a volley of body blows at Austin's exposed back. "YOU USED THEM AS A FUCKING SHIELD AGAINST BANDITS!"

Austin roared in pain as both flesh and metal fists were being levelled against his back. The normal fist was hard enough. The metal one was hell. Austin backed up, pinning the buonty hunter against the wall with his own back, grabbing his hair with one hand, behind his own head, and punching the side of his head with the other. His fist may not have been as devastating as the bounty hunter's metal one, but it almost perfectly matched the human fist. "These are more than bandits! They are pigs! Dogs! DEVILS AND DEMONS! I didn't think they would shoot at such young children, it never happens!" Austin lowered his stance and judo flipped Metal onto the floor before dropping his knee onto his chest and punching his face. "If I thought they would kill the young I wouldn't have sent them out. But I THOUGHT THE MAIDENS WERE BETTER THAN THIS! Even some pretenders have limits!"

The blows to the head set flashes off in Eddie's vision and the tirade filled his ears. But in a moment of instinct, he caught Austin's right hand in his metal left, and swatted the other away with his forearm. For a moment, the two were locked in a grapple. Then Eddie began to squeeze, bringing the inhuman strength of his enhanced hand to bear. He heard as much as felt the bones in Austin's hand begin to give. The distraction got his right loose, and he clipped Austin hard in the face. It didn't have full force, but it connected well. Again. Again. This time, he heard a crunch. As soon as his grip on Austin's right fist slipped, the two men were apart, rolling to their feet.

Florian and the two ladies were behind Austin now. Eddie caught the Priest's eye and nodded almost imperceptibly to the Maiden Crawler still sat in the corner.

Still panting, with his face burning, he said, "one thing still bugs me, you psychotic hillbilly. What's with that whole 'Pretender' thing? Every man woman over thirty. Don't make no sense. You're someone's kid like the rest of us. When you die, there'll be even more. Hell, even your own 'kids' will grow old sooner or later. Educate me."

Austin screamed out in primal agony like an animal as his bones splintered apart under the hand of his enemy, his nose then getting the same treatment as it was broken from the strength of the man he was just grappling. He rolled to his feet and stood opposite the man. Austin spat out blood, his voice sounding croakier now. "Oh you poor niave MOTHER FUCKER!!!" That was the first time Austin had swore in a long, long time. "You wouldn't get it you pretender. But I'll enlighten you since no matter where you go on this ship, my sons and daughters wait for you. The hanger is full of them even. So I'll let you die content, be prooud pretender."

Austin scoffed and lifted his still working hand, cracking his nose, it wasn't totally fixed but as least it relieved quite a bit of pressure. "All of you, who pretend to be as old as me, the father of this world, are liars, pretenders, frauds. I am 32 years old, all those at least 3 years younger than me are children. Any less, and even those who are older, simply are not real. You are machinations of sickness and dread and you punish our family by living. 3 year difference because otherwise it is too close to my own age."

Austin pointed to a blood stain on the wall of a child who had been shot in the head. "Do you see that? That is proof of why you pretenders are a crime in my world. You murder my children daily. Those who call themselves noble are even worse, they engineer the deaths of my children." Austin's voice cracked at that point, tears visible in his eyes. "My children are so vulnerable. Stuck with people who call themselves mother and father when I AM THE ONLY REAL FATHER! I don't need to be responsible for their birth, I am all they need, as long as they call me father. All those who don't call me father?" His voice became threatening again, "No matter their age, will die a vicious death. Who worship false gods like Christ, will die a vicious death. And you are right in one respect, I am selfish in that one day I will die, and leave my children all alone. But, with my death they finally become men and women. Adults. And they can call the world their own, as a gift from me."

Eddie was able to dismiss the rest as the babble of a psychotic bastard. But one sentence bounced around his head. "Stuck with people who call themselves mother and father when I AM THE ONLY REAL FATHER!"

"Fuck... that... SHIT! Don't you fucking say another god damn word! Millie ain't yours to take!"

With that moment, he made his move, sprinting like a blur past the other man, shoulder barging him when he made a move to block Eddie off. He dashed towards the Crawler with his impromptu allies as they made their move. As he ran, he drew and fired blindly at Austin, when he was sure there would be no children behind the man to be hit by stray shots. "FLOOR IT, PREACHER!"

"Millie?" Austin spoke with a sadistic voice, but the second he uttered it he was off like a bullet. Austin tried to block his shoulder barge but the other man was faster and Austin couldn't grasp him, as he ran on the side of his broken hand. Austin ran after the man, needing to dive like a goalkeeper behind the RV in the hangar that had been his home for the longest time.

Meanwhile, children were beginning to flood the hangar, young children as well. Some as young as six. "KILL THEM! THEY HURT YOUR FATHER!" Those words unleashed a pandora's box. The bloodied yells of children who had been twisted into murderers defending their father as they unloaded all of their ammo into the ashcrawler. None of them were particularly good shots, but with so many bullets aimed at the vehicle some had to penetrate the metal.

And indeed some did, as the unfortunate red headed woman who's only true crime was to defend a woman who she didn't know from people who seemed to cause her harm. Volunteering as a hostage to protect her, providing her comfort and friendship, and reminding her that even in the corupt system of nobility that some actually believed in the system.

And now she was dead, her heart and chest riddled with bullets.

 

[Evrant-Knight]

"My... oh my... I'm sorry you don't need to but could I have some more please? I'm so thirsty." Hannibal asked, panting seemingly faster now thanks to the addition of water into his system; boy must have he been thirsty. Before Viola could answer his request, Hannibal asked another question.

"Why are you being kind to me?" It was at this point that Viola slightly shifted her seating position, her legs draped over the legs of the armchair as her head rested on the back so she was a bit more comfy.

"Perhaps... perhaps I just pity you Hannibal. I mean, let's be honest with each other; you've not exactly had the most fortunate string of luck over the past few days now have you? Given everything that has happened, I wanted to give you a break from the chaos, a chance to relax, to feel safe." Viola said rhetorically to Hannibal, not wanting an answer just yet as she gently took the cup from him, making a note to refill it in a bit.

"Or maybe helping those in need is a part of my nature; I know that as a Bounty Hunter, its my job as it were to chase down and bring justice to Bandits and other such criminals, it doesn't meant I can't help out the little guy every once and a while; the people who are on the lower rungs of society's ladder, no offence intended by that." Viola then stood up with the cup in hand.

"Now then, let me get you another cup of water Hannibal. You certainly downed the last one in a hurry." She remarked with a small smile, taking a moment to look at the empty cup. Viola then headed back into the bathroom, and filled up the cup again, although this time not as full as before. She returned and handed the cup back, before getting settled in her chair again.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

If anyone recognizes you it may compromise the entire mission. Now..."

Asad chuckled, "Oh, don't worry commander, that was ten years ago, I very much doubt anyone would remember me."

Asad looked over the document he'd been handed.

Pretty standard stuff, if it were anywhere but Frostfall that is. He'd heard a lot about the conflicts in the region. Place was a damn powder keg, they'd have to handle this entire situation as delicately as possible.


"Sneaky." He grinned, "I like it." Placing the document on his lap, he crossed his arms across his chest. "Anything more hush hush? Something too risky to document?"

 

[Fappy]

Elizabeth shrieked as Eddie began savagely pounding his metal fist against the wall.

"NO, NO, NO!"

Though she was just as traumatized, she knew they couldn't linger there any longer. If they were to make it out of this alive they needed to move. Elizabeth, still shaken, turned to Florian, "Are we close to---"

"AUSTIN!"

Oh no...

In no time at all Austin had appeared, answering Eddie's summons. He was a large, terrifying man. Though she was hesitant to make eye contact as he leered at her, she gave in and found herself lost in his deranged, paralyzing gaze. She knew it before the rhetoric had even begun. He was a madman.

Elizabeth hid herself behind Florian as the pair engaged in battle. Insults and twisted rhetoric were exchanged between brutal punches and kicks. She'd never seen anything like it before. She watched as they mangled one another, trading blood for blood. Like animals, they tore into each other's flesh.

After it looked like Eddie had delivered a finishing blow, Austin scrambled to his feet once more. As the two stared each other down, Eddie asked Austin to divulge his worldview. Austin's words were that of a man that had truly lost his mind. He spoke of a world where he was essentially God and all those younger than him were his children. What could drive a man to such a horrifying delusion? It was near the end of his speech that Elizabeth understood Eddie's true intention behind his questions. It was a diversion.

Florian took this opportunity to guide her and Josephine into the hanger where he helped them into the back of the nearest crawler. As she and Josephine put their breathing masks on Florian was suddenly accosted by one of Austin's children. Thankfully he put the child down without killing him.

"Fuck... that... SHIT! Don't you fucking say another god damn word! Millie ain't yours to take!"

Elizabeth looked back to see Eddie had gambled and won, as he lunged past his adversary and joined his impromptu allies in the crawler.

"FLOOR IT, PREACHER!"

The crawler peeled out and flew straight through a smoking hole the children had made in the ship's hull. Elizabeth was nearly flung from her seat as the crawler impacted with the rugged surface of the ashlands. Just as soon as she'd regained her composure their enemy was upon them, firing a hail of bullets from the ship. Against her better nature, Elizabeth popped her head up in the direction of the sound and was promptly pulled down by Josephine, narrowly dodging the line of fire.

Josephine held Elizabeth's arms and shouted over the roaring engine and gunfire. "Milady, stay d---" They'd been locking eyes the moment it happened. Her words faded as one, two, three bullets penetrated her back. Elizabeth wasn't quite sure what to make of it at first. Josephine went pale and seemed to stare past her friend's gaze. At what, Elizabeth wasn't sure.

Utterly shocked, Elizabeth made note of her pained expression, "Milady, what's wrong?" Tears beginning to form in Josephine's eyes, Elizabeth panicked. Then she noticed the large amount of blood around her stomach. "Oh... Oh God no..."

"Milady..." Josephine muttered as her eyes faded. Her grip on Elizabeth's arms weakened, eventually falling lifelessly at her sides. She managed to close her eyes before her head fell limp onto Elizabeth's shoulder.

Tears streaming down her face, Elizabeth grabbed Joesphine's face with one hand to get another look at her lifeless face, "No... No... No... J-J-oe... Milady, I...." Biting her lip hard enough to draw blood, Elizabeth cried out over the gunfire. "JOSEPHINE!" Stricken by grief, she ignored the immediate danger and began uncontrollably sobbing into her friend's corpse.

Moments later an ear-shattering blast rang out across the ashlands and the crawler spun out of control. She couldn't make out what exactly it was that was happening around her, but as her vision adjusted to the chaos she noticed Florian's absence. Had he been thrown from the crawler?

"Florian...?! FLORIAN!??! WE HAVE TO GO BACK!"

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"Yo, Parker. I read you, loud and sort of clear. I need a status report. Over."

Before listening for a response Ruffles released the button and grinned at Bennie.

"Did you ever doubt me?"

"Not for a second." Bennie joked.

Seconds later, Parker's voice could be heard once more. The reception was weak, but it would have to do, "--zzzttt---We're down to two, Fenrir. It's just me n' Brock. We're safe now, laying low at Ammy-Say's. We found him running from the banditos. He's clean. The others though... well, we can't find them. Presumed dead, over.---zzztttt----"

The situation was worse than Bennie had suspected. Stepping forward, he placed a hand on Ruffles' shoulder and gestured to have the mic handed to him. Complying, Ruffles placed it in his hand. To break through the static, Bennie barked loudly, "This is Carmine, Slepnir squad. Was in the neighborhood, so I figured I'd help out. Can you---"

"--zzztttt---No fuckn' shit, Bennie?!--zzzttt---"

"Yeah, yeah we can catch up later, man. Listen, tell me about the other contacts. Did you stop by their casas? Can you confirm they're KIA? Over."

"---zzztt---They weren't home, but we have a good idea where they might be if they ain't dead. Ammy-Say says someone found out who they all were about a week ago and started hunting them. If any of them are alive they're with the banditos. Bennie..." Parker paused for a moment. "We checked every contingency house overnight. Half of them had banditos waiting for us, but we managed to sneak out before they spotted us. If our snitch is anywhere he's gotta be with the banditos. Over.---zzzttt---"

Bennie frowned at Ruffles, "Fuck."

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"Anything more hush hush? Something too risky to document?"

Tsubaki shook her head, "No. It's fairly simple. We're doing little more than lighting a powder keg. Once we're done we are to head back to HQ immediately. I received word before we departed that the Maribel operation may be on the table once more. If so, we'll be needed back in Feroxi as soon as possible."

She studied the pair briefly before continuing, "Rest up while you can. It doesn't look like we'll be getting a vacation any time soon." She suggested before turning back around.

***********************************************************************************************************************************************************

Sprout woke early the next morning as the light from the suns reached over the horizon. When had he fallen asleep? He remembered having an emotional discussion with Lilith and then... nothing. He turned over in bed to see Lilith sleeping peacefully beside him. She was a beautiful woman, yes, but she was one of those rare few that looked just as gorgeous while snoozing the day away. His admiration was short lived however, as a loud grumbling moan escaped her lips. Had he slept through her snoring all night?

Looking out the window, Sprout was surprised how early it actually was. He usually slept all the way until lunchtime when not on a job. Perhaps it was the anxiety of being out on his own? In any case, Sprout knew he wouldn't be able to fall asleep, so he quickly washed up and found his way downstairs.

The same barmaid from the night before was just starting her shift, "Sleep well, kid?"

Sprout nodded, "Yeah, I reckon I did. Hey listen, tell my friend upstairs that I won' be out long. I'm just delivern' somethin' to a friend'a 'ars." Upon exiting the bar, Sprout walked around the block and happened upon the moped they'd stolen from that woman earlier. Plopping down next to it, Sprout opened up his backpack and extracted the parts he'd stripped from the crawler. Hidden in an alley behind the brothel, Sprout went undisturbed as he toiled away at the moped.

An hour later and he was finally content with his work. Getting to his feet, Sprout wiped sweat and grease from his forehead and nodded to himself, "Jake'd be proud." Hopping on, he prayed it would actually start. "YES! YES!" He shouted as the moped's small engine croaked to life. Seconds later, he was zipping around the brothel and flew down the road towards the inn. Hopefully that girl was still there.

 

[Dogmatic99]

"It-It's not fair...."

It really wasn't. The sight alone was enough to curdle your stomach but what made it so much worse was, it was the maiden. This was Florian's home! Full of memories and people he thought of as family, his safe haven and here it was... defiled. But before Florian could get past the sheer shock of what he was seeing the bounty hunter beat him to it, smashing a hole in the wall that would have given Ruffles an aneurysm.

"Austin!"

And just like that... it was on! To his credit the plan was better than anything Florian could think of. Maybe these strange strange creatures had some code of honour after all or maybe they were as dedicated to the man as the stories said and wouldn't risk hitting Austin in the struggle.

It was all Florian could do to try and keep himself and a semi-conscious Josephine out of the way as the two men clashed like charging bulls. Any bandit chief would have paid half their fortune to have the two in their employ but for now all Florian cared about was surviving the two of them. The fight raged on as Florian and the nobles scrambled for safety and tried to make their way to the hangar as sneakily as possible.

They finally managed to get around Austin and out of his line of fire. He didn't even notice them, it would have been so easy to shoot him in the back there and then. Just empty the clip into him, the children will scatter... maybe Florian could feel himself reaching for the pistol under his jacket, until his eyes locked with Metal's. What was he glancing at?

The crawler, of course! The few child soliders that had stuck behind were completely transfixed by the unfolding fight, this would be the only chance they'd get. Keep it together you idiot, you've got people to protect.

While Metal and Austin were busy leaving fist shaped craters in each other Florian made his way over to the nearest crawler, helping Josephine up into the back and quietly motioning Elizabeth over. He was about to climb into the drivers seat when one of the nearby teenagers noticed him.

"Hey!" And suddenly there was a rifle pointed at him. Luckily like many young men who'd never been taught to fight right he thought that the best way to kill someone was to get right up in their face. It was like he was about to charge at them, the butt of his gun swinging for Florian's head. It didn't go well as Florian tilted his head and in a flash his arm was up, deflecting the hit. His attacker might have been able to catch him on the back swing but suddenly Florian had shifted his wait, knocking one of the lads legs out from under him with a swift kick. He quickly snatched the gun from the boy's hands and swung the crawler door open into his kneeling attacker's face, sending hims sprawling backwards.

"Sorry." Florian called over the gunfire as he clambered into the crawler.

Luckily Metal wasn't far behind. "FLOOR IT, PREACHER!" AND HE DID! LIKE HIS LIFE DEPENDED ON IT! The crawler's tires squealed and smoked against the hangar floor before the car went screeching towards the smoking hole made in the Maiden's hull. It wasn't alone though as a swarm of bullets lanced through the crawler with a deafening cluster of pings.

"Get down!" Florian screamed as a burning pain sprung up on his cheek and he felt some horrific force hit Florian's shoulder as his whole body seemed to cry out in protest. "Maaaasks!" Florian called out in guttural tones as he fumbled for one himself.

Austin's brood was still in hot pursuit though as those left to guard the entrance peppered their way. One even tried throwing one of the det-packs they'd used to breach the hull. Florian just kept driving on, just straight on as fast as he could. Fast enough that the pack didn't hit them at least but managed to go off just besides the crawler as they careened down one of the steep drops that littered the Ashlands, something they'd never needed to worry about in a grav-craft.

But Florian cared a lot now as the explosion sent the crawler reeling and spinning out of control. The priest was wrenched out of his seat as gravity yanked him out of the vehicle and crashing into the ash, the only thing he could still hang onto was the small breather mask. Florian rolled on and on as momentum made him its plaything. He finally came to a stop, half-buried in ash and coughing his lungs out. The Rock's toxic air was flooding into his lungs and Florian coughed and hacked his heart out, scrambling for the mask and sucking the clean air it offered up with all his strength. It was all he could do to just lay there and breath.

Florian didn't know how much time had passed but as it did all the pain faded into a piercing ache. He could feel the blood sticking to his clothes in thin trickles across his torso and legs where bullets and shrapnel had spitefully grazed him. Except his left shoulder where what had happened finally hit home as the breeze fluttered through the hole a bullet had left in it and was colouring the grey ash a deep red at an alarming rate. Florian tried to get up but couldn't, beaten and broken, he couldn't even roll over.

Elizabeth. She was gone. Was she dead? Idiot, was he so weak that he couldn't even protect one person. The only thing he had to do... all this time and he couldn't even help one person. This was how he deserved to go, unseen and unmourned. Even his priest collar had been blown off in the escape. Good. Better not to dirty it like this. Staring up at the cold sky Florian couldn't help but think that of all the ways he could have gone this one seemed the most fitting, as he closed his eyes and felt the ash flow over him. From ashes you came and to ashes you return.

Just outside the Iron Maiden, unnoticed by the living a blood stained priest collar was trampled under the feet of a young solider.

 

[ProtoChimp]

Hannibal gladly took the water, drinking it slower this time as the bounty hunter seemed more relaxed. She was right about everything she said, and Hannibal didn't know why anyone would be offended by just telling the truth, unless they were being particularly rude about it. Miss Greaves wasn't. "Thank you for all the water," he said, slowly sipping it. "I wasn't offended, I don't know why I would be. Thank you for helping me but, honestly it might be a good idea to just let me run off again. I know I should probably be put in jail but the people who are after me well..." Hannibal looked more scared as he continued, "Noah Gunderson doesn't have many people here in Feroxi, but after his brother died in that explosion... I'm the only person left alive who he can blame and punish. Its probably for the best I go. Th-thank you miss um, um... it was Viola wasn't it?"

 

[The Funslinger]

"Florian...?! FLORIAN!??! WE HAVE TO GO BACK!"

Eddie boosted himself over to the driver's seat, wrestling against the forces at work on the bouncing vehicle, wrestling it under control. Gunning the accelerator, he kept the vehicle heading away from the ship towards an ash coated bluff. "No. We stop, they catch us. We stop, and you'll be forced into a tiny room and made to live under his... insanity." His expression softened. "I'm sorry. I didn't see what happened to him, but if it makes you feel any better, he looked kinda young. If they find him, assuming he can convince 'em he's forsaken Christ, they won't kill him." Assuming they gave him the chance to try and convince them. But he kept that to himself.

There was a tense silence as he altered direction. "Look, I was gonna take you to your family's estate. But the more I think about it, the more I ain't comfortable with you being near uh... Dio. It's your choice. I got somewhere we can stay while I work shit out. Then I can either drop you off with your family, or if you'd prefer, I can help you find Captain Monroe."

He noticed the quizzical look she gave him. "I ain't one to turn away once I'm contracted, but his orders uh... gave room for making decisions..." she wasn't going to like this. Watching her concernedly, he decided she deserved to know. "There was a big meeting of Hunters like me. Course there were some unsavoury bastards there. I'm glad they didn't find ya before I did... anyway, after filling us in on the Captain, he took questions. So... I put my hand up and said, 'what about the fiance?' And..." he shot her another look, "his exact words were 'she is of no concern'..."

==================================

"Fuck."

"Agreed," Ruffles replied. "Does this change the plan?"

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Lilith awoke slowly, as the light of the new day crept across the room, barely hindered by the thin curtains of the window. Groaning slightly, she glanced to her side to find the kid gone.

Lilith had stayed awake long after Axel fell asleep in her arms, just holding him close was enough for her, rocking him gently. She had to remind herself that even though he'd just beaten the crap out of two fully grown men, he was still a fifteen year old boy who had been sent away from home by his mother. Is this what it was like to be a mother? No, this was different, it wasn't completely platonic, their's was an intimacy very few people ever shared, something that surpassed fleshy desires, they were kindred spirits.

After a few hours, the weariness of the day had begun to take its hold on her. She gently lay the boy down on the bed, pulling the covers up to his shoulder. Getting to her knees, she had rested her chin on the edge of the bed, her eyes searching Axel's face. He was a handsome boy, no doubt about it, his shoulders would soon fill out, he'd get taller, his voice would deepen. He'd become a man. She wondered if he'd hold her in the same regard then, the Lilith now was the Lilith he was stuck with, he would change, but she'd stay the same. Everyone wants to feel desired, and Sprout's infatuation was the kind she could find endearing. It was honest, innocent, he liked her for her, not just her body, which was pretty damn hot if she did say so herself.

Smiling warmly, she leaned in and gently brushed her lips against his. "Sweet dreams." She whispered softly.

Getting to her feet, she turned to the bedside table, taking the double cherries from off her cigarette tin, she looped the chain over her head.

Moving over to her side of the bed, she quietly undressed to her underpants, pulling a vest from out her bag, she pulled it over head, which was much more difficult with one hand than she had anticipated.

Slipping under the covers, sleep took her quickly.

Spoiler: Morning time!

Wincing as she sat up, she flexed the fingers of her left hand, most of the pain had been replaced by a dull ache, but nothing worse than what she felt the day or so after Pixie had beaten her. She stretched her arms above her head, cracking her fingers outward. 'The kid's probably gone for breakfast.' She smiled, "He better bring me something back, the bastard." Slipping from under the covers, she got to her feet, and sauntered over to the window, stopping at the pile of clothes the pair had dumped there after their trips into the sewers. The stink was significantly reduced now that they had dried. Opening the curtain, she narrowed her eyes as the sun warmed her face.

Sauntering over to the bathroom, she used the toilet, then stood in front of the mirror. She hadn't actually checked the damage from last night's fight. Other than a split lip and a fresh bruise on her cheek where had been slapped, she was fine, it looked like her favourite pink shirt had taken most of the beating. She ran a hand through her hair, furrowing her brow.

"Maybe I'll grow it out for a change." Everything else in her life was changing, maybe it was time her look did too.

Walking over to the towel rail, she removed her now dry scarf, folding it neatly she walked out of the bathroom and placed it on the bed before returning to the bathroom. Stripping naked, she stepped into the shower, she needed to wash the wine and grime from her skin, why was it that she couldn't stay clean for more than ten minutes? Sighing contently as the warm water washed over her body, she began to sing.

"Or would you like to swing on a star? Carry moonbeams home in a jar? and be better off than you aaaaaare..."

 

[Evrant-Knight]

"Thank you for all the water." Hannibal said as he slowly began to sip the second cup of water.

"I wasn't offended, I don't know why I would be. Thank you for helping me but, honestly it might be a good idea to just let me run off again. I know I should probably be put in jail but the people who are after me well... Noah Gunderson doesn't have many people here in Feroxi, but after his brother died in that explosion... I'm the only person left alive who he can blame and punish. Its probably for the best I go. Th-thank you miss um, um... it was Viola wasn't it?" Viola let a sigh escape as she sat up in the chair.

"Yes, yes it was Hannibal. Listen, you can't keep running away from this, that's only going to make things worse; the more you run away, the more it raises the potential risk that people are going to get hurt as Gunderson tries to track you down, you'll have to face him eventually. Look, how about you stay for the night and think on it, your welcome to sleep in that there bed, this chair is surprisingly comfy." Viola said with a contented smile.

"But, if he finds me he'll kill me. I can't fight him. I can't fight anyone. I have a gun yet I can't even pull the trigger."

"Well then, that is something we're going to have to change now isn't it? If you want to survive in this crazy world of ours, your going to have to learn how to defend yourself." Viola remarked as she brought her hands together to think over her options.

"I... I'm not sure I can hurt someone else..." Spoke Hannibal, Viola could see the fear in the young man's eyes; this was obviously something he didn't want to do, she could sort of empathize with him, but sometimes we all had to do things that we didn't necessarily like.

"Defending yourself doesn't solely mean you have to hurt someone Hannibal; you may be able to intimidate a someone into surrendering, or other times provoking them to get the upper hand, it may even simply involve talking to them, get to know them. Physical harm isn't the only option, you just have to use what's appropriate for the given situation, violence should be a last resort if other options have exhausted themselves."

Hannibal sighed and dropped his dirty face into his even dirtier hands. "Okay, I understand. But still I don't know at all how to defend myself."

"Weren't you paying attention when I said "we're going to have to change that"? If you'll let me Hannibal, then I can help you overcome your fears." Said Viola with a raised voice as she offered a hand to Hannibal. It took the eighteen year old a few minutes to think over, but he eventually accepted and took the hand that was given to him, shaking on it. "I... I um... okay, okay I will. Thank you."

"Now that's what I like to hear." Viola said with a smile, she was about to continue when there was a knocking on the door. "Who is it?"

"It's the doctor, the innkeeper said that there was a young gentleman here who appeared to be in poor shape. Apologies for being late mein Fräulein, there was another call I received just before this one. Please may I enter?" Asked the doctor, who appeared to be speaking in a German sounding accent.

"Of course, Herr Döktor, I don't think you'd be as much use to the gentleman on that side of the door." Viola remarked in a sarcastic fashion as the doctor opened the door and came through, immediately beginning to examine Hannibal. The whole thing felt like it lasted a while, with the doctor occasionally referring to notes and asking Hannibal some questions before finally coming to a diagnosis.

He said that a good nights rest along with eating properly for a few days should clear up the immediate problems, and he also proscribed some medicine to help clear up any breathing problems he may have due to inhaling the chemical fumes. After a brief exchange of funds, the doctor bid the two good night and was on his way. Both Viola and Hannibal went to sleep soon after Hannibal took his first dose of the medicine.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

"Please, drink. Tell me what happened."

"Oh, t-thank you sir." the sister sniffled, accepting the drink. "You see, I was hired for the party sir, just like most of the girls. I... it's my first time on the circuit, and I thought it wouldn't be so bad, what with all the fancy types that were there; and it wasn't, at least until one of them wanted to take me somewhere private. So I go with him, and he starts getting... well, he pinned me up against a wall and whispers in my ear all these, things, that he wants to do to me. I-I knew we were there for entertaining... but I never realised they were allowed to do stuff like... stuff like that to us!"

Growing ever more panicked, the sister gripped the drunk doctor's lapels, and held herself closer to him.

"Please sir! I don't know if he followed me, or, or sent someone else looking. If they make me go back, he'll do all he said, and worse! Please, help me!"

===========================================================================================================================

"Too easy."

The Gentleman rewarded her with a quick smile.

"You're just in time." he whispered back, taking Meredith's arm and leading her round near to where Sirus Dickens was finishing up a conversation with a woman who he recognised as being the heiress to Ortega fortune.

"Time to take the stage." he said out of the side of his mouth, while also smiling a little nervously at the approaching Mr. Dickens, Miss Turner still on his arm.

=========================================================================================================================

The party was proving to be a dull affair, if truth be told. Still, Amy was more than experienced at appearing right at home in such gatherings, smiling and charming her way through this collection of cut-throats and brown-nosers with easy grace, with Sirus at her side the whole while. She did get some entertainment out of watching him practically skip around the ballroom. In truth, she was warming to the man. Amy was used to being desired, adored even, and yet she had never before had a client who was so openly delighted at the prospect of her company. She imagined that for the first time in his life, at this party Sirus really did feel 10 feet tall. Perhaps it was still self-serving, for Amy had come to suspect that there was a small, unconscious part of Sirus that knew all these men and women liked to sneer at him, even as he was pulling the strings to make them all richer than they deserved to be, and now that same part of him was relishing the thought that, on this night at least, they envied him. Such an attitude might have been pathetic, but Sirus carried it with such enthusiasm that Amy couldn't help but find it endearing.

It wasn't going to stop her for aiding her partners in robbing him blind, but still... If Sirus became a regular client of hers it wouldn't be the worst thing.

"Mr. Matlock, Miss Hill..." Sirus said jovially as he approached Meredith and The Gentleman, shaking The Gentleman's hand firmly, and offering Meredith a warm kiss on both cheeks. "I hope you've both been enjoying yourselves. Allow me to introduce Miss Amy Turner, otherwise known as The Golden Rose. Although, I'm sure you already knew that. Knowledge is your business after all."

Sirus gave a bark of laughter, while Amy smiled and held out her hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." she said politely.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

After showering, Lilith put on some fresh underwear, a white long sleeved button up shirt, a pair of loose fitting jeans and her boots.

Lilith wrapped her red scarf around her shoulders, and fastened her holster around her waste She removed a small string bag of carbon from her rucksack, from her own personal savings, tying it from her holster, she picked up her lighter and cigarette tin, placing them in her pocket.

Removing a plastic bag from the supplies Sprout had returned with, she reluctantly stuffed her torn pink shirt into it, as well as the dirty clothes from the previous day. Tying the ends of the bag, she quickly washed her hands and headed out of the room, locking it behind her and stuffing the key in her pocket.

She headed across the landing and down the stairs, coming across the barmaid from the previous night, pushing a small laundry cart.

"Oh morning hun, how're you feelin' today?" She smiled at Lilith. "I'm well thanks, just taking out some rubbish to the bins."

The woman giggled, "You're from Sherwood right?"

"What gave it away?" Lilith grinned.

"I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearin' that accent, anyway I saw ya lil' friend not too long ago, told me to tell ya that he was goin' to see a friend of yours, deliverin' something I think." Lilith raised her eyebrow, a confused look on her face, "Friend? But we don't..." Then it dawned on her.

'Of course, the bike!'

"Oh yeah, yeah I remember now, she'll be happy to get that. Well, since he's doing that, I'm gonna head out for breakfast, maybe do a little shopping, could you tell him if you see him?"

"Sure, sure, no problem hun." Lilith thanked the woman and headed out of the brothel, heading around the back alley and dumping in the bag in a huge trash container. Just as she thought, the bike wasn't there. "He's a good kid, ain't he." She chuckled, holding up her cherry necklace, "He's a good lad is our Sprout."


Fortunately for them, the brothel wasn't too far from a small market square. It was still pretty early, so the place wasn't busy. Lilith decided to do a little shopping before having breakfast. She found a small jewellery stall, selling a wide variety of trinkets. One item in particular caught her eye, an unassuming black leather choker, with fine silver floral blossoms pressed into the leather, a small star hanging from a loop in the middle. The shop assistant noticed her interest in the item, pulling from out out of the case. "I see the young miss has fine taste." He was a dark skinned gentleman, with the local accent. Smiling slightly, Lilith nodded her head. "I like it, is it possible to make one small change?" Reaching to her neck, she pulled the twin cherries over her head. "Could you replace the star with this instead?" She held out the pendant, the chain dangling from her hand. Furrowing his brow, the man thought for a second, before nodding his head, "Sure, that shouldn't be a problem, just a case of opening the loop in the choker, would you like me to do that now?" Lilith undid the clasp of the necklace, and delicately removed the pendant from the chain, handing it to the man. "Yes please."

As the man went to work, Lilith put the chain in her pocket. Quietly, she glanced around the market square. Feroxi was a lovely city, quiet in the morning, she could happily live in a place like this.

"Here you go miss." Startled from her daydreaming, Lilith looked down at the modified choker. There they were, hanging as sweet as the real thing, the twin cherries. Grinning, Lilith reached down to her holster, untying the small bag of carbon and handing the man few small lumps. "I'll take it!" The man took the carbon from her hand and proceeded to weigh it on a small set of scaled on the counter. "Very good miss! You have excellent taste." As he weighed the rocks, Lilith wrapped the choker around her neck, hooking the sturdy clasp with ease. He handed lilith a couple of smaller lumps, "Have a pleasant day!" The man bowed, as Lilith thanked him, heading out back into the square.


Lilith thanked the youg waitress as she brought Lilith her breakfast, she couldn't help but notice the girl take an interest in her face. 'I don't look that bad do I?' As the woman left, Lilith reached in her pocket, placing her smokes and lighter on the table. She was sitting outside a small cafe in the market square, under a small parasol to keep the morning sun off her head. Her stomach grumbled as she looked at the plate before her. Bacon, two fried eggs, sausages, baked beans, and two slices of buttered toast, accompanied by a pot of tea, with a small saucer of milk.


What? She was really hungry.

 

[Fappy]

"No. We stop, they catch us. We stop, and you'll be forced into a tiny room and made to live under his... insanity."

Elizabeth frantically darted her eyes around the tire-tracks they'd left behind in hopes she'd catch a glimpse of the priest. All she could see, however, was the huge plume of ash and dirt their crawler had kicked up when it almost flipped over. Still clutching Josephine's bloodied corpse, she sunk her face into her shoulder.

"I'm sorry. I didn't see what happened to him, but if it makes you feel any better, he looked kinda young. If they find him, assuming he can convince 'em he's forsaken Christ, they won't kill him."

Elizabeth remained silent as the man spoke, but wasn't actually listening to what he had said. She was a prisoner of her own mind now. Trapped between conflicting thoughts and emotions. What should she do? Mourn her dead friend? Jump from the crawler and look for Florian? Strangle the bounty hunter who let it all happen!?

Eventually Eddie broke the silence, discussing what their options were... where he could take her. He spoke of this as if this whole thing had been some kind of rescue. Funny, it didn't really feel like a rescue at all. She lifted her face from its hiding spot and stared at the back of Eddie's head. This man acted like he truly cared for her well being, so why was it that she couldn't accept his sympathy? Why was it that she wanted nothing more than to escape his "help"?

"There was a big meeting of Hunters like me. Course there were some unsavoury bastards there. I'm glad they didn't find ya before I did... anyway, after filling us in on the Captain, he took questions. So... I put my hand up and said, 'what about the fiance?' And... his exact words were 'she is of no concern'..."

Elizabeth didn't even so much as flinch at his words. She continued to stare off into the wasteland ahead in silence. Josephine's head rocked off her shoulder and down her arm. Elizabeth gave her one expressionless look before speaking up, "We need to bring her to her family. I need to tell them what happened. I need to let them bury their daughter..."

******************************************************************************************************************************************************

"Does this change the plan?"

Bennie shrugged, "It makes it simpler. It's safe to assume all of the missing contacts are either dead or traitors. If you're mission was to figure out where the leak was, well, now I'd say it doesn't really matter. All we know is that Ammy-Say is not compromised. If I were in charge of this operation I'd pull out, forsake Boomhower for now and return in force when the time was right. Problem is..."

Bennie scratched his goatee and grimaced, "They have prisoners. Sad to say, but my main concern isn't specifically for Silo and the other guys' safety but rather, what they may spill if they're pushed far enough. Who knows what kinda secrets Pixie's been hiding in y'all's skulls these days." Tapping the radio, he continued. "Meeting up with Slepnir's too risky while the banditos are out and about." He glanced at Vergil. "I say we figure out if our boys are still alive. If they are, well, we can use Slepnir remotely. Create a diversion and split up Santiago's forces. Once they're spread thin we hit them where they live."

********************************************************************************************************************************************************

The young scientist listened to her story intently. Though the booze had dulled his senses he managed to get the gist of her tale.

"Please sir! I don't know if he followed me, or, or sent someone else looking. If they make me go back, he'll do all he said, and worse! Please, help me!"

Dr. Richards pulled her in close and let her soak his shoulder in tears and mascara, "It's okay, you're okay now. No one will hurt you now. I can take you back to my hotel. There's security there. Lord Basilio's men. They'll take good care of us, I promise!" As she buried her face into his shoulder he grinned stupidly. He figured he'd be getting laid tonight for sure.

*********************************************************************************************************************************************************

Arms locked, Pixie approached Mr. Dickens alongside the Gentleman. She'd caught a few glimpses of him and Amy together earlier in the evening, but up close... seeing the two of them together like that...

"Mr. Matlock, Miss Hill..."

Pixie banished her troublesome thoughts and smiled convincingly as the man kissed her on the cheeks. Proper greetings always did put her off. So tacky. She'd have to remember to scrub her face with peroxide later.

"I hope you've both been enjoying yourselves. Allow me to introduce Miss Amy Turner, otherwise known as The Golden Rose. Although, I'm sure you already knew that. Knowledge is your business after all."

You're damn right I fuckn' know who she is.

Again, Pixie brushed her feelings aside, "Ah, of course."

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

Pixie smiled and shook her hand, "The pleasure's all mine, Ms. Turner." She gave her hand an overly firm squeeze before releasing it. Turning to the man of the hour, Pixie grinned mischievously. "Is she everything they say?"

 

[Terratina.]

The search proved to be fruitless. Perhaps because of that she slept badly?

Maria didn't know, all she knew was that she have must gotten tired of the whole Micky business and had headed back to the hotel, then somewhere between that and today, she had fallen asleep. Nevertheless, she didn't feel like she had gotten some rest. Still in some sort of stupor, she dragged herself to what the sleazy hotel called a bathroom - there wasn't even a bath! Maria stared at the reflection of herself in the mirror, she certainly looked like she hadn't gotten any rest. Piles of sleep lay in the corner of her glazed eyes, next to what appeared to be faint dark circles - horrifying, simply horrifying! To top it all off, there was the spectacle of her "morning hair". It was doing the impossible, some strands of hair were nearly vertical!

Regardless, she had to greet the new day. After a bit of hair rearranging, she walked out the door and saw...

"YES! YES!"

...No, she heard them before she saw them - a kid's voice and the sound of a roaring engine.

Wait, was that her moped? It sounded a lot heathier than before, so she took a double take. Yes... Maria would recognise the cry of her beloved baby anywhere, regardless of its health. That broke her stuporous daze. A smile broke out across her face, those friendly bandits had kept their promise after all. Maybe the Ashlands weren't such a bad place after all? Folks still kept promises, hell, that happened everyday. Banditos, killing, double-crossing, and the damned Nobles weren't everything. There were still the Sherrifs, there were still the towns where folk just did honest hard work and were honest to each other. She had faith in that much. With the disappearance of Micky, this was just what Maria needed.

The return of an old friend.

"Hey!" She shouted to the oncoming moped and rider, "Gonna give that back or what?"

 

[The Funslinger]

Eddie could feel what almost felt like silent resentment coming from the girl. He ignored it, however. Best not to take this sort of thing personally.

"We need to bring her to her family. I need to tell them what happened. I need to let them bury their daughter..."

"Yeah, of course," he replied, adjusting the course of the Crawler slightly. "I think we can make there in their estate in the next six hours." After a pause, he continued gently, "but you ain't answered my question, so I'll put it another way. After the body and bad news are delivered, are you coming with me, or staying with them?"

=============================================================

"I say we figure out if our boys are still alive. If they are, well, we can use Slepnir remotely. Create a diversion and split up Santiago's forces. Once they're spread thin we hit them where they live."

"So how do we find out if they're still alive? Seems like it'd be a matter of nabbing a bandito who's in the know and dragging him off somewhere for a little palaver," Ruffles replied. "Unless the wonder kid over there can find out."

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"Rest up while you can. It doesn't look like we'll be getting a vacation any time soon."

"And here I was ready to put on some trunks and get moderately not-ashy sand in me arse crack," replied Bryan. "Hey Jun, ya been driving a few hours now. Pull over, we're switching."

The man was likely tired, and could use a break. But if he phrased it as a request, gave Jun a choice in the matter, he'd refuse on principle. But despite not outranking him in any official capacity, he knew Jun had a thing for seniority, so he made it an order.

 

[ProtoChimp]

Austin remained in cover behind the RV until the crawler filled with pretenders was far out of sight, his children in hot pursuit. He stepped out from behind his cover as he watched them drive away. He grimaced at the thought of them escaping, though he trusted his children to do what was necessary. He pulled out his handheld radio and spoke directly to Oliver. "How are we coming along?"

Oliver spoke proudly with such joy, "We've won father! All of the pretenders are dead! There are a few engineers still alive like you asked, though one of them is a pretender... I do not enjoy keeping him alive."

"Neither do I my son, but for now we need them. I know I know, I'm disgusted by that assertion as much as you, but the truth is despite our own talents these maidens have been on this ship a long time and know how it works. But we will have justice soon my boy. We have already achieved so much. The day is ours." He spoke calmly to the young man, assuring him of their victory.

"Yes father. Also Mary is patching our radio system into the comms speak of this ship if you want to address our family." spoke Oliver.

"I do my boy I do, tell her to do it." Austin climbed atop his RV, struggling to do so with one hand, meanwhile Oliver gave the nod to patch him in. Thumbing his radio again the entire ship now boomed with his voice. "My children... my... children. MY CHILDREN!!!!" An animalistic roar accompanied the sound of his voice from all around the ship. "THIS SHIP IS OURS!!!!" The roar became deafening. "Justice has prevailed today! Our family have stricken a violent blow to pretenders around the world! From this vessel, we will soar into the clouds and destroy all of those who oppress your brothers and sisters! We will save the downtrodden from the supposed nobility, and all those who rape and kill our young for sport and pleasure!" Austin audibly spat out his words. "We will finally be able to bring all of the newborn babies out of the claws of those who birth them and sinfully claim to be their parents! All those who grow without me to guide them, they can finally be free and happy and live a life free of the sickness that they are forced to live in!"

Austin paused to allow his children time to bask in the glow of victory. "This is the first step into the sun my sons and daughters. We will start by taking this ship directly to your beloved mother. Now I know none of you have met her, but trust me when I say..." Austin paused and took a deep breath in and smiled lovingly. "She is... perfection. Unfortunately however," his tone soon shifted to that of rage, "her mind has been twisted and tormented! Believing me to be a monster! But-" he could hear his children shouting. "SILENCE!" His voice shut them up instantly. "But she is your mother, and my beloved. We can save her, just like we save your brothers and sisters every day. So stay strong! Stay vigilant! Think not of uncertain futures for the future is written in stone! I know, because I am the one who chiselled the words into the rock! The Iron Maiden is ours! The world. Is. OURS!"

The orchestra of cheers echoed around the ship and was enough to let Austin forget the pain his hand and nose was in. However he was driven from his thoughts as one of the crawlers stationed outside drove in, with Franklin shouting up to him, "Father! Isabel is going into labour right now!"

Austin grinned as he looked down from the RV. "Oh EXCELLENT! A birth to celebrate our victory!" he spoke back into his radio. "All of you who have medical training, find a good place on the ship, your sister is going into labour. There must be a medical area or something." He turned his attention back to Franklin. "Quick, take your sister to the doctors, they will take care of her."

'My sister... she's not... STOP SAYING THAT YOU SICKO FUCK!'

"Yes father." Said Franklin as he assisted his pregnant beloved through the ship, Austin beaming a proud smile as he climbed down from the RV.

 

[Evrant-Knight]

The mid-morning sun signaled the dawn of a new day as it passed through the dusty windows of the motel room. Viola was still sound asleep in the armchair with her coat acting as a blanket when a sound coming from outside woke her up with a shock. She immediately grabbed her revolver from the nearby dressing table, threw her coat to the floor in haste and walked towards the door, gently pulling open the door as to not wake Hannibal up.

Peering down to both ends of the hallway, she saw that it was just another occupant dropping his suitcase with a heavy thud. Realizing that there wasn't a threat, Viola closed the door and looked around her room. Her attention was drawn immediately towards Hannibal who was still sound asleep in the bed, though the duvet was messed up, half of it spilling out onto the floor.

She didn't know why she did what she did next, perhaps it was a subconscious maternal instinct or a caring nature inside of her, but Viola walked over to the bed, straightened up the duvet, and pulled it up so it was just above Hannibal's shoulders; a little smile creeped onto her face as she viewed the scene in front of her with arms crossed.

"Certainly know how to pick 'em don't you V." It was at that point when she looked into the mirror, and realised that she hadn't washed the dirt off of her from yesterday, and could probably do with a shower all over. Gathering some spare clothes, Viola wondered into the bathroom, shutting and locking the door behind her, didn't want to give Hannibal any ideas.

Viola removed her clothing whilst the shower was warming up, she had put them in a tidy heap on the floor. When she was au naturel as some might say, Viola took a moment to examine herself as a whole; whilst she was by no means the most beautiful woman in the world, given that she had a few scars on her arms and legs, she still had degree of feminine beauty about her, which she had used to her advantage on occasions, but that was a story for another time.

Eventually the water had been gotten warm enough that it was at an acceptable level and Viola soon stepped in. Almost immediately she could feel all the dirt and grime of the last few days wash away, turning the faded tanned/brown colour of her skin back to its usual golden bronze tone. It also felt like the stress of the last week or so was simply melting away; she hadn't felt this relaxed in a while. She used some of the complimentary shower gel and shampoo several times to make sure she cleaned every last bit of herself.

After a few minutes, Viola stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around herself and one for her hair, and sat herself at the dressing table with a hair brush that she traveled with and began to brush it through to help get it back into shape so she could tie it in a pony tail once it was dry.

 

[ProtoChimp]

Hannibal slept soundly for the first time in a long time. Longer than he could remember. He woke up, a little dazed and with a headache as he found the medicine he needed. He looked at the label on the back. "T... T, Tay... Tay..." He squinted his eyes as he looked closer. "Take... that word says 'take' okay. Wi... W..." he sighed as he put it back where it was. "I'll need to ask her to read it-Oh no no no!" He suddenly jumped out of bed. "Oh god I slept in the bed, I should have let her sleep in the bed, she'll kill me she'll... um, wait she was... okay maybe not but..." He sighed and sat on the bed. Raising his head it turned slowly to the side to find Viola looking at him. He raised his hand for a weak wave. "Hi... sorry thought I was the only one in the room. Sorry for the 'she'll kill me', I just have a h-h-h-hard time tt-t-trusting people.

Blushing at his odd blunder he said next, "um, Viola? C-Can I call you Viola? Would it be okay if I took a shower?"