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

[Evrant-Knight]

"Did he tell you my name?" Hannibal asked nervously. Viola took off her hat, allowing her ash white hair to be more noticeable against the faded yellow colour of the wall behind her.

"I uh, overheard whilst he was talking to you, and since I was waiting to have a chat, figured I'd wait outside his office." Viola said as she scratched the back of her head for a moment, before taking a sip of the beer that she opened by using the metal framework of the cell as a makeshift bottle opener.

"So how and for what purpose did you associate yourself with McGregor; that you'd risk getting caught over?"

 

[ProtoChimp]

"I uh, overheard whilst he was talking to you, and since I was waiting to have a chat, figured I'd wait outside his office." This woman seemed extremely calm as took off her hat and even used the bars as a makeshift bottle opener. "So how and for what purpose did you associate yourself with McGregor; that you'd risk getting caught over?" she continued.

Hannibal sighed and groaned. "I just wanted to get some carbon. I did a couple of jobs for a friend of Wiley Gunderson and he said he'd pay for me to take some bits and pieces to a guy named McGregor. They weren't telling me anything in case I fucked up but they said about F-... actually um... I'm probably gonna be way more dead than I already am if I say anymore..."

 

[The Funslinger]

Ruffles crouched and snatched the gun, sticking it into his duffle. "I'll salvage any intact parts back at the Maiden," he offered by way of explanation. "Anyway, I don't have anything in my duffle besides tools. I do have an idea how we can lose these guys, though."

Ruffles jerked his thumb back, and the two stepped away. Then Ruffles slammed the big iron carriage door. Then, crouching down, he pulled down his goggles and removed a small blowtorch from his duffle. "Don't look at this," he warned and began melting the door to its frame. It only took about thirty seconds, and then he was climbing up the emergency ladder to the roof. With the train beginning to lose speed, it wasn't hard to keep balance. Stopping halfway, he blowtorched the emergency hatch on the carriage roof, then climbed down and did the same to the door on the opposite side. Then rapping hard on the door, he called, "good luck getting outta there, bitches!"

Only the engine carriage had a walkway, as its door was on the side, and their only way out would be the windows. And the train was still moving fast enough that they would regret throwing themselves from the side of the train. When Aesop had come down on his side, Ruffles stowed the blowtorch and hefted his shotgun. "Done and dusted."

 

[ProtoChimp]

What then came was the funniest thing Aesop had ever seen Ruffles do. Following his advice he looked away when he melted the door shut and then proceeded to do the same to every door and lock the soldiers inside the train carriage. "Good luck getting outta there, bitches!" said Ruffles as he rapped hard on the door while they escaped. Aesop dropped down beside his mechanic buddy. "Done and dusted."

Chuckling hard Aesop patted him on the back. "If I drank I'd buy you a beer, how's an orange juice sound?" Aesop pulled out his revolvers again, his pistol thoroughly fucked and made his way towards first class.

 

[Evrant-Knight]

"I just wanted to get some carbon. I did a couple of jobs for a friend of Wiley Gunderson and he said he'd pay for me to take some bits and pieces to a guy named McGregor. They weren't telling me anything in case I fucked up but they said about F-... actually um... I'm probably gonna be way more dead than I already am if I say anymore..." Hannibal said with a heavy sigh, but he also sounded rather scared about what might happen if he talked anymore, and this piqued Viola's sense of intrigue. She took a long sip of her beer, and wiped the froth that was left on her top lip.

"How much more dead exactly are we talking about here? And what did they say? Listen, Hannibal, I might be able to help your situation, but you've got to give me something to go on. It's no use keeping it all bottled up." Viola said, taking another swig of beer.

 

[ProtoChimp]

Viola took a long sip of his beer as Hannibal was resigned to keep silent out of fear. "How much more dead exactly are we talking about here? And what did they say? Listen, Hannibal, I might be able to help your situation, but you've got to give me something to go on. It's no use keeping it all bottled up."

Hannibal pursed his lips before biting them. Would they kill him for fucking up? What if he could get the parts back? Ah fuck that wouldn't work, these cops would kill him. And the bounty hunter would destroy him. Maybe if he could slip out? Nah these bars are well made-fuck. He could co-operate. If he as dead already what harm would it do? With so many thoughts running through his mind he was silent for several moments, and just before Viola had to speak again to bring his attention to her he said "Feroxi. I um... I think they're gonna use them somewhere in Feroxi but I don't know. Something about a noble. His name was Sharp... or Strand or... something like that I dunno. Oh wait one other thing, they said about a buyer and a mark so he could be either. There was a lot more they didn't tell me in case I got caught so... yeah..."

 

[Evrant-Knight]

"Feroxi. I um... I think they're gonna use them somewhere in Feroxi but I don't know. Something about a noble. His name was Sharp... or Strand or... something like that I dunno. Oh wait one other thing, they said about a buyer and a mark so he could be either. There was a lot more they didn't tell me in case I got caught so... yeah..." The mention of the information made Viola smile, which she continued after drinking some more.

"Interesting. I'll be sure to inform Sheriff Garrett of that on my way out once I'm done here, he'll likely find it useful." Viola then looked at the bottle, admiring the detailing of the pattern with a small smirk. She then offered the bottle to Hannibal.

"You wanna swig, I'm a bit of a slow drinker myself, plus it might help calm you down. No doubt after everything that has happened, your a bit shaken up no?"

 

[ProtoChimp]

Oddly enough, the Gunslinger passed him her bottle through the bars. He stared at it and slowly took it from her hands taking a few swigs. Hannibal had never tasted alcohol before. He did not like it. His head shook at the taste and he handed it back to her. "Thank you ma'am but I really don't like the taste. Um... I don't suppose there's any chance of me getting out early?"

 

[Evrant-Knight]

Viola giggled to herself as Hannibal shook his head after tasting some of the beer she had been drinking, obviously he wasn't much of a drinker. She smiled after receiving the bottle back from behind the bars. "Thank you ma'am but I really don't like the taste. Um... I don't suppose there's any chance of me getting out early?" Hannibal asked.

"Oh well, Darkfall Mountain Beer can be an acquired taste for some. As for how long you'll be staying; well chances are you'll have to stay at least the night, but, after I've had a word with the Sheriff, passing on the information you've provided, he might consider releasing you, but that is for him to decide. How does that sound?"

 

[ProtoChimp]

Hannibal blushed, sighed, then chuckled at the same time. He was embarassed about not being able to hold his alocohol, and while a cell wasn't pleasant at all, at least it was a free night to sleep. "Thank you that sounds good. Miss Greaves was it?"

 

[roushutsu]

Lady Josephine kept her composure as the gunfire echoed through the train like booming thunder. The sudden convulsions of a large man and another screaming that he was choking was something she couldn't quite gauge. Another came to his aid, but she wasn't seeing anything being pulled out of his throat. If it wasn't food that was causing the spasms...

Marry! It couldn't be...! Her thoughts raced to fifteen years ago.

A stallion gone wild.

A young man in his prime cut short.

Her brother. Frederick.

A tragic riding accident in the eyes of her family. But in her eyes...murder.

"What should we do milady?!"

She directed her attention back to Lady Maribel. "Keep your wits about you. He has been poisoned," she whispered. She then turned to her other companion, now armed. "What say you, Kitty?"

 

[Ruedyn]

The urge to shoot everything was unbelievably strong. The fact he wasn't was why they weren't getting shot at, which made this so fucking boring. But, he was told to protect the little pyro, he'd do it for now. So long as he could kill something by the end of the day, he'd be fine...

They got off, silently and sneakily, at a cargo car. Ricky began his work while Smiles looked around for things to kill. He switched out his weapons, taking out his sword. Silent-ish for now, then the bullet hailstorm when shit hit the fan. Ricky set up his explosives quickly and efficiently, and the two moved on.

"Ready Smiles?"

"Su-" Smiles suddenly felt himself land on his ass. Then explosions. Then blind, simple rage. The grin plastered on his partner's face really looked like it could use a few less teeth, and he almost obliged. But, he'd need an alive demolitions expert for now. Then he'd follow up on the eye for an eye thing, blind worlds be damned.

He picked himself up and then picked up the kid, in a fireman's carry. He hopped outside, getting inside another crawler. Next part: violence. His grin was shark like, and thankfully hidden beneath his mask as they sped to the next car. Warren put his sword away, and went back to his gun.

The crawlers surrounded the car quickly, Warren's in the lead. They seemed to be a bit distracted, but they were at least making the attempt to slow down Smile's crew. He tried to drive closer, enough for Warren to hop out onto the ugly iron frame. Unfortunately, the soldiers wouldn't stop fucking shooting out the windows. Warren grunted looking at Ricky. He'd need to blow a hole open for them to get in there.

"Got anything?"

 

[TheDoctor455]

Seeing as everyone else seemed to be busy with their own fight scene, Kitty crept towards where Lady Jo was hunched over a prone man.

Seeing that none of the bandits were advancing on her at the moment, she turned to her... traveling companions for lack of a better word.

Keep your wits about you, he has been poisoned," Lady Jo said, once again demonstrating her uncharacteristic (for your typical noble anyway) concern for her fellow human being, "What say you, Kitty?"

Just 'Kitty' now, huh? Either the severity of the situation is sinking in to her at last, or she's already pegged me for no noblewoman. Heh. Shows what she knows, I guess.

"Let me take a look," she said, kneeling next to the man, "I need to see..."

The bounty hunter pressed two fingers to the man's throat. Still a pulse, good. Then, she forced the man's mouth open as gently as she could afford, trying not to cringe at the foam coating her fingers, and looked at his tongue... it was turning black.

"If we were anywhere near a hospital, he might have a chance, milady," Kitty said, turning to face Lady Jo, "But as it is... its either we make him drink two ounces of rubbing alcohol, and he... expels everything he's eaten for the past week, or he dies. But I have to stress that my 'cure' will be just about as dangerous as the entropic he's been fed already. Too much, and it kills him... but more quickly. Too little, and we might not get enough of the poison out of him. So... know where we might find some of the stuff? You can try forcing his gag reflex... but if I'm right, the poison has already rotted the back of his throat as well, making that method useless. Whatever we do, has to be fast though. At most, I'd say he has two minutes to live without treatment."

 

[Evrant-Knight]

"Thank you that sounds good. Miss Greaves was it?" Hannibal asked after blushing for some reason that escaped Viola.

"That it was Hannibal. Miss Greaves when acting in a more professional courtesy, 'The Gunslinger' for people who know me by deed and not name, and Viola for those who I consider friends or who at least know me enough. Hmm, for you I'm not entirely sure, choose whichever one feels appropriate for the occasion." Viola said as she finished off the remainder of her beer, looking at the bottle again. Looking at the clock at the far end of the jail cell corridor, Viola realised that she needed to get going.

"Well Hannibal, looks like I have to go now, things to do and all. Hope Sheriff Garrett sees sense in letting you leave after I've given him that information. I hope our paths cross again soon." Viola said with a wink as she got up from her chair, and left the cell corridor. She then arrived at Patrick's office, and knocked on the door.

"Damn it! Enter." Patrick said after a brief grunt of pain. Opening the door, Viola found the sheriff nursing an injury on his thumb, and a slightly bloodied whittling knife on his desk.

"Sorry sir, didn't know you'd be carving out another one of your figurines. You know, if you decide to retire from this career in law, you could always start selling these."

"Perhaps I will Miss Greaves. Anyway, what did you want to talk about?" Patrick asked with a small laugh at the start.

"Well sir, I just had a word with Hannibal, and I've found out some useful information."

"Go on?" Patrick asked, the subject piquing his interest.

"Turns out that the Gundersons are or were planning to use the bombs somewhere in Feroxi. Hannibal also made mention of a noble by the name of Sharp, Strand, something sounding similar to either of those, and that he could either be a buyer for the bombs, or possibly a mark; Hannibal wasn't entirely sure, he said that there wasn't a lot the Gunderson's were going to tell him, in case he screwed up somehow."

"Fascinating! But how come he never told me this earlier?"

"I have no idea sir. Perhaps the seriousness of the situation, and the fact that he mentioned that the Gunderson's might come after him made him rather scared."

"I see. Well then Miss Greaves, this is certainly a step in the right direction. Thank you for bringing this to my attention."

"Don't thank me; thank the boy you got locked up in the cells. You don't think you'd be able to let him out early because of this recent development?"

"My answer at the moment is I don't know, though this may have convinced me. He'll have to wait till morning for my decision."

"Fair enough, I thought that is what you'd say. Well, be seeing you Patrick." Viola said as she left the office.

"And you too Miss Greaves."

As she arrived outside of the Sheriff's Office, Viola had no idea of where to go now, but decided that her first step would be to get some rest; so she headed to a room she hired before coming to the Silver Dollar.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

When Florian broke formation to attend to Giles, The Gentleman knew he had them. As the priest reached their table, Giles' arms flailed wildly as the dying man began uncontrollable convulsions. Wine glasses, steel utensils and plates of food flew in all directions, and one of Giles' meaty fists caught Florian full in the face. The Gentleman moved, swift and silent as a wraith even with all the padding he wore as part of his disguise. He danced nimbly through the chaos, and bounded straight for Sprout.

"I'd say he has two minutes to live without treatment."

"One and a quarter to be more precise." The Gentleman answered, this time in his true voice. Amid the ruckus, their attentions had all been drawn away from him, and now they turned back to see him have one arm around Sprout's neck, his pistol in the other, pointing at them all, and with no-one at his back. "It was a commendable estimate. However, I'm afraid it's all for naught in the end."

Almost lazily, The Gentleman aimed his pistol at the still-thrashing Giles, and fired. Two angry coughs came from the suppressed barrel, and a neat group of two shots struck Giles in the heart. Before he'd even had time to crumple, The Gentleman had put another between his eyes. The chances of anyone being able to reverse the effects of the poison had been remote. Still, it would have been remiss of The Gentleman, under the circumstances not to make certain the job was finished. His eyes met Lilith's, and he smiled. She may not have known his disguise, but she knew his voice, and his gun.

"All your weapons on the ground, and kicked towards me if you would be so kind." He told Lilith and Florian, tuning his own pistol on them. "You as well," he added, pointing next at the other who had revealed herself for a fighter, although in truth The Gentleman had had her pegged as such the moment she'd sat down across the aisle from them. "and anyone else who may have a firearm, blade, or any such lethal device kept concealed. I give you fair warning, if you hesitate, I will not. I would feel so truly dreadful about breaking the poor boy's neck, not to mention killing you all. I'm sure we can avoid any of that unpleasantness though, provided we all work together."

 

[Redryhno]

"Got anything?"

"Hmm?,"Ricky asked, still lost in the bliss of the explosion,"Oh, right, guns and stuff. Course I got stuff," Grabbing the remaining explosives ready to go, he turned them both on and chucked them out the side of the crawler and into the train car.

"And move away from the train now!,"He said, taking ahold of the wheel and jerking to to the side, putting a bit of space between the two before once again rummaging around in his bag.

"And with clicky-click here, and a clicky-click there, BOOM GOES THE TRAIN!"

And although the car did in fact blow up in a grandiose ball of flame, wrecked metal, and ownerless body parts, a second explosion destroyed the tracks as one of the soldier inside had thrown one of the prepared bombs out the badk. As one might expect, Ricky screeched at such a waste of precious materials.

"Dammit! They broke it! It was going to be such a much better show! But no! They had to go and get rid of it! I didn't miss!"

 

[Fappy]

Distracted by the sight of a dying man, Sprout was preoccupied when The Gentleman moved in. Moments later he felt the cold barrel of a pistol against his temple. He froze. Terror was all that he knew.

"... I'm sure we can avoid any of that unpleasantness though, provided we all work together."

Sprout tried to get a good look at the man holding him, but couldn't see much from his vantage point. Who the hell was this guy? What was going on here?! Sprout whimpered, "U-uh, take it easy Mister. I-I'm sure we can all work something out... right? W-who... who are you?"

Before she knew it Elizabeth had stepped out into the aisle to address the assassin. Whether her courage was driven by her balls of steel or naivety was anyone's guess, "Sir, what may I ask do you intend to do with that boy? Hasn't there been enough violence here already?!"

Sprout's jaw dropped as she spoke.

She does realize we was just robbn' her a minute ago, right?"

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Lilith was unsure how it happened, one second the man was in front of her, and now he had the boy. As she quickly brought up her revolver to aim at the man, a wave of realisation washed over her.

It's him, the assassin! She now knew why she felt so uneasy about him, but she was too late to realise in what kind danger they were all truly in. Her aim was steady, but she was terrified, she knew what this man was capable of, and his ability far outstripped her own.

"If you hurt the boy, I swear..." She tried to mask the fear in her voice with every fiber of her being.

She could shoot the man right then, she could put one right between his eyes, but she just couldn't pull the trigger, she knew the assassin was watching her every move, the boy would be dead before she had time to finish firing the gun.

 

[NinjaDeathSlap]

"Hasn't there been enough violence here already?!"

"My thoughts precisely, my lady?" The Gentleman answered pleasantly. "I bear no ill will against the boy, although I suppose for someone of my profession, that statement is of limited value... He is my insurance, nothing more, against my esteemed friends here." The Gentleman pointed him gun once more at Lilith and Florian.

"If you hurt the boy, I swear..."

"Oh I'm sure that there are a thousand ideas of how to send me to my messy and undignified demise tumbling through your head as we speak." he interrupted, half smiling and with an insolent sparkle in his eye. "If it comes to it, I'll be a good sport and give you a second's head start to think of a few more. However, whether or not we can avoid such pointless butchery is entirely in your hands, dearest Lilith."

Fastidious in his work as he was, The Gentleman could never be accused of being humourless in his pursuit of perfection. He was nothing if not a man who could see the funny side of any given situation; and right now, watching Lilith's face as the cogs of reason struggled to turn as they froze up with her fear, was more than enough to raise a wry chuckle from him.

"My demands are thus: I want safe passage from this train onto the Iron Maiden; I want a private audience with Captain Monroe; A promise that no harm will come to me, nor any of my possessions, by you or any other member of the crew, from this moment forward until I choose to depart from the Iron Maiden, a time that will be of my choosing and mine alone; and another promise, that once I am gone no member of the crew shall make any attempt to pursue me. Your solemn oath, on your honor as a brigand, murderer and gambler will suffice, as I can hope for nothing better. Mind you, it's fortunate you brought a man of God with you to act as witness, wouldn't you say?

If you refuse to agree with so much as a clause of these terms, or if they are at any point broken later down the line, the boy will die. Even then, I assure you his demise will be much more pleasant than the one I'm sure you'd have lined up for me afterwards. However, I wouldn't treat this offer rashly if I were you. For you see, if he dies, the guilt is on you for breaching the terms of the contract, just as much as it is on me. I may not be a part of the crew, Casino, but I have known your Captain a great deal longer than you have; and I assure you, whatever horrors you may have in store for me will be sweet, sweet mercy compared to what she will do the the person who let her son die on her watch."

 

[The Funslinger]

Aesop and Ruffles moved up on the door. Taking point, Ruffles flung it open, making several Nobles jump. One even screamed. Ruffles had switched to the looted pistol to avoid injuring any golden geese in the crossfire, and he pointed it at the back of the man standing as he surveyed the scene. The man didn't seem to react to the intrusion, though he must have heard it. He kept on speaking uninterrupted.

"I have known your Captain a great deal longer than you have; and I assure you, whatever horrors you may have in store for me will be sweet, sweet mercy compared to what she will do the the person who let her son die on her watch."

"Holy shit, Sprout..." he whispered. "Let him go, you bastard!"

He wasn't sure if what he was about to say was clutching at straws or not, but he had to try. "You're not looking at me, you won't know if I'm squeezing the trigger, and you can't react. You'll just hear the bang as I put a fucking bullet in your head." Unintentionally, he was shouting now. "LET MY FRIEND GO YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!"