[04] Western Shootout!

[Victoria]

Blood hit the air, spewing out and spilling onto the dusty road. It gushed, running and running, pooling around the body it had been forced out of. Her foot planted down onto his chest, and she applied pressure. Her face stormed over, and she stared down at his still face. The blood squeezed out of the hole in his chest, increasing the pool, and proving just how fatal her hit had been. He was dead, she had to be sure. She stepped over his corpse, and held a hand to her brow. The sun was getting higher, drenching them with scornful heat. She closed her eyes and sighed. “It’s a beautiful day for death.” She said quietly.

Alex approached her, and she placed a grin on her face. The two continued together down the road, and the man seemed lost in his own thoughts. Despite their small conversation, she found that she could relate to the man. He was not overly annoying, and he could fire a gun almost as good, if not better, than she. The dead bodies lay behind them, but soon live targets would swarm around them once more.

None of it was real, but still, something had to keep her going. Victoria ran both of her hands against her face, and through her long hair, and looked at the sky once more. She missed her home, and it was home, it was the only place she could call home. She missed him.

She kept along Alex, keeping in synch with his steps. The glinting bridge was her salvation; she could see it and already taste the cool water. She ducked as bullets sailed towards her, and lifted her hands casually. Energy flew through the air, slamming into fleshy targets, and various responses ensued from their dying lips. They cried for their wives, their children, or just for God. She could only press on, fight the enemy attacks, and crack a delicate smile. Alex commented on her smoking fingers, noting her ability. He took care of any enemies on his side with equal skill, tallying more bodies for his own count.

Bandits ran out, guns held high, and circled them. “It doesn’t end, does it?” She asked, and held up both hands lazily. Alex seemed to recognize the lead man, as strange as he was. The short evil-doer shouted at them, and she couldn’t help but stare dubiously at him. “Is this guy for real?” She asked, and Alex shot her a grin.

“Let me show you how this quoting thing is done,” he whispered to her. She wasn’t too sure what was going on, but she watched with intrigue. They exchanged words, and Vic stood by cautiously. The small man, Yosemite Sam, could be more devious than he looked. Their words ended and the fight broke out. Before she knew it bullets were flying through the air. Alex already had two of the bandits down, but the miniature bandit was ready to take him out.

“I got these guys,” she declared and ran to cut off the lackeys before they could team up on her comrade.

Her fingers formed guns, and she smiled coyly. “I have to warn you,” she started, and looked at each one of them, “I like to kill.” Her hands moved fast, so fast that she had one of them screaming in pain from her sudden attack. She leapt aside, and the hot lead missed her leg. She ran toward the injured man. Her fingers curled inward and formed a fist. She nailed her fist into the his face, and the force caused him to move backwards. She unclasped her fingers and grabbed him by the collar before he could continue his fall. “Na ah,” she quickly shouted and pulled him with all her strength into her other fist. His cry came out gargled, and a few teeth dropped down in a gush of blood from his mouth. He slumped into a painful heap, and she lifted a hand towards the remaining two men.

“So, who’s next?” She motioned towards them with her hand. The bandits hesitated, looking at each other. “Too late, you’re next!” She pointed at the one on the right. He began to sweat, but he raised his pistol and let loose the deadly bullets. One sliced past her arm, grazing the flesh painfully. She let out a snarl of pain, but jumped forward and slammed her palm against his forehead. She carried the force, pushing him down onto the ground, and then jumped off of his body. She reached out quickly before his friend could run away. Her fingers gripped around the back of his shirt, and she slapped her palm against the back of his head. A sudden force of Static Latency expanded around them. She threw the second bandit down next to the first and fell between them. Her hands landed on their chests, equal and level and she hesitated for just a moment. As she kneeled between them; head bowed, she parted her lips. “It was a pleasure meeting you.” She said, placing the last of her charges on the unsuspecting men. She kicked off of the ground, flipped out of the Latency field and snapped her fingers. The field suddenly sucked inward onto itself, and as it did a dome of electricity encompassed their bodies’ causing the triggers to explode into deadly electricity. The two bandits fried to death, leaving naught but charred remains.

Vicky lowered her arm from her eyes, the blast had subsided. She dusted off her skirt, and turned away from the slaughtered men she had left to rot. She looked towards Alex, and hoped that he had faired similarly. “That guy,” he started, and she showed relief at the sight, “was annoying.” The male gunslinger wiped his brow with his sleeved arm.

“Did you know him?” She asked, and looked down at the slain villain.

“Kind of…it’s hard to explain.” He replied and chuckled. “Suffice to say, Gamer must like early morning cartoons.” He shook his head and holstered his guns.

She looked towards the sky again and began walking towards her destination. “Reminds me of home,” she said to herself, suddenly finding a similarity between this desert and the one she lived in. “I didn’t want to understand then, or accept it.” She said, remembering the circumstances revolving around her capture. “He was right, I needed this. Look at how strong I’ve become.” She looked down at her hands and clenched them tightly.

“What do you mean?” Alex had stepped in beside her, and she had momentarily forgotten. She hadn’t meant to say it aloud, but it was too late. She hesitated, but didn’t feel the need to lie about anything to this man.

“I’m not used to fighting this way, and in a way, my…Boss, he let me get taken here. They thought that if I came here, in a way, I would improve.” She explained and shot him a smile. “At the time I thought it was bullshit, but now I think they were right.”

“I think I know what you mean,” Alex looked at the sky this time, and away from her piercing blue eyes. “I’ve been through some crazy shit, just like this.” He didn’t say more than this, but she accepted the few words he did supply. “By the way, I’ll get you back for stealing all those kills from me.” He smirked at her, and she laughed in return.

The road was quiet, almost too quiet. She looked towards the ghostly buildings, down the empty lanes, and kept towards the bridge. “I’m gonna go ahead.” She took off in a jog, giggling girlishly while leaving the man behind. The buildings stopped a good couple of yards away from the river, and a few trees struggled to strive upon the harsh environment. She jogged into the clearing and watched the soft breeze caress the leaves, blowing a few stray ones from their weak hold. They drifted upon the wind, and fluttered down onto the ground. She moved a few rogue hairs that had joined in the dance of the breeze, and she tucked them behind her ear. Just what I need, a good drink of water, maybe splash some on my face. She walked towards the riverbank and knelt beside the water. Victoria dipped her hands into the water and cupped it carefully before splashing it against her face; she reveled in the refreshing feeling, and looked up through watery eyes. She could see someone, a figure, looming across the water. Watery beads clung to her lashes and she rubbed them away, blinking, she looked again but he was gone.

Was it Alex, did he catch up and cross the bridge already? She stood up and wiped her mouth, she looked down the river and then turned towards the bridge. She walked towards it, her guard only partially up. The bridge had to mean something; it glowed like a heavenly gate. She had assumed it had been the sunlight before, but it sparkled like gold and silver. She stared in awe and approached it. She stepped onto the smooth wood, and looked back. The wind suddenly picked up, lifting her coral hair and causing it to dance away from her body prettily. She moved some it from her eyes, and smiled timidly. Something felt right, just then, like everything would be okay. A few yards away she could see the male Gunslinger, his shaggy hair waving in the wind. He smiled briefly at her, ready to join her in crossing the bridge. They were winning; she could only surmise that this was their victory. “Today has been okay.” She whispered, and then noticed Alexander’s face fall in sudden surprise.

Blood, again, spewing into the wind and mingling with her long hair. Victoria’s eyes widened and she parted her mouth in silent protest. Alex dropped his hands; he gripped his guns, and stared at her across the distance. She held her hand out, having been about to wave, and looked down at the blood splattered against her arm and hand. The wind continued to play with her hair, and she could see the tainted crimson clinging to the silken strands. Her face contorted, her eyes closed partly, and she let out the faintest of groans. Her knees shook, and she stumbled forward before gripping the glorious bridge with a bloody hand. “Not again.” She held her other hand to her abdomen and fell to her knees.

A laugh echoed behind her, but she ignored it. She closed her eyes and focused, her ki moved through her body, and she moved with it. Electricity sparked inside of her veins, clinger to the vessels, and charged the cells. She gritted her teeth in pain, and began to triage the gaping wound. Whoever he was, he had gotten her just above the kidney. She tied off the flow of blood, and let her regeneration take care of the rest. “You…got blood on my hair.” She whispered, and opened her eyes.

“Pretty girls like you should be in the saloon.” His deep voice crept down her spine and she tightened her fist against the bridge, the wood dented under the pressure, another filthy bandit insulted her gender. “A shame I have to kill you, I usually like to play with my food, so to speak.” Victoria wasn’t facing him, but she could already tell that she didn’t like this guy. She pulled herself up using the rail of the bridge, and leaned on it while clutching her wound.

“What makes you think you can kill me?” She said, bowing her head and taking in careful breaths of air. His shot was good, but he’ll need to do a lot more than this. She shifted her eyes at the sound of his weapon clicking. She turned then, and faced the bandit.

He was huge, larger than anyone she had ever seen before. He had large muscles, and held a massive shotgun in his hands like it were a part of him. His face held a smug grin, and he stared at her with bloodthirsty eyes. By all accounts he was the ugliest, most unnerving villains she had ever had to face. She took a cautious step back towards the town and let go of the bridge.

“One more hit and you’re dead, and I don’t miss.” He replied and aimed his shotgun at her. She stared intensely at him, gauging just what her next move would have to be.

“You missed the first time.” She pointed out. The first hit to her had missed her internal organs, if he were trying to kill her; he would have aimed for a more devastating location.

“Like I said, I like to play with my food,” he replied, and chuckled darkly, “despite my orders to kill anyone who comes across this bridge. I just can’t help myself.”

His finger hit the trigger just as he had finished talking, and she moved with what agility she had. She hit the dusty ground, and let out a grunt of pain. She needed time, but it wasn’t on her side. This was not her victory, it was her end.

A flash of red appeared, and she looked up in surprise. Bullets exploded and hit the bridge and water. The bandit dodged the attack, and fired back. The red clad man returned fire, and fought off her foe valiantly. His bullets came very close to the bandit’s feet, arms, but nowhere near his vital organs or head. She looked up wearily and shielded her eyes from the glaring sun.

“A-alex?” She asked, unsure of whom this man was. His trench coat was different, and the sun made it hard to see. He turned and blocked out the light, holding out a hand to her.

“No, my name is Vash,” he smiled as he helped her to her feet. She looked him over, and wondered if he were another player in this twisted game.

“Why did you save me?” She asked, and he began firing at the bandit again. The large man moved away, and continued blasting at them. She raised her arm as the artillery caused dirt to fly up around them.

Vash turned on her and raised his hand into a peace sign. “This world is made of love and peace,” he replied and then adjusted his glasses. “I can’t help but save a damsel in distress.” He laughed and turned back towards the enemy.

“I can fight now; I don’t need to be saved.” She looked at her healing wound, and then back at the large bandit. “This guy is mine,” she shot the man a look, and raised a fist. “If you’re on our side, make sure no more bandits or cowboys come over here. This guy looks tough, and I don’t need any surprise attacks.”

Vash grinned and held up his revolver. “You got it.” He took off towards the buildings and took over as their backup. She couldn’t help but shake her head at him, he was unusually quirky.

She turned to her foe again, and began charging her inner ki. This was no zombie, or space mission, he was the real thing. “I’m gonna enjoy kicking your ass.” She smiled devilishly. Alex sidled up to her, eyeing her in surprise.

“You’re okay?” He asked, looking at the partially healed wound. “I tried to get here as fast as I could.” His breathing was heavy, but she smiled lightly at him.

“Today has been okay,” she said it again and he looked at her curiously. “I’m going to be okay, let’s do this.” She held up both hands and ran towards the bandit; he was not hollering and getting ready to unleash another attack on them. It was two against one, and she had an Ace up her sleeve.