Special Notes: Might need some edits, I'll do it in a bit. Also, how do you like the way the story is being told. Instead of one linear story from one characters POV... doing it from different characters and places. idk, I kind of like it. Seems more action is happening this way. [The Gunslingers, Book II, Chapter 7] [Ashes] “Dust to dust, ashes to ashes, we lay our brother to rest in the ground from whence he came,” Colt spoke the words solemnly and fought to keep the tears at bay. “Our brother…truer words have never been said, may his soul know peace now in the land of the ancestors.” Toran stepped forward and set a long-stemmed wild flower in front of the grave marker. The boys had chosen to put Wes next to the other Gunslinger’s graves. “He did not know you,” Toran said to the other graves. “But he was a Gunslinger like you; I beg with all my heart that you accept him on your team.” Jack knelt next to the grave marked, Cari, and whispered softly to Ben’s mother, though the others could easily hear him. “Ma’am, I’ll take Ben on our team if you watch over my brother,” Jack pleaded. “Jack, we can’t…” Colt started to say. Jack remained kneeling but turned and stared violently at Colt, then grabbed the pocket knife hanging on the grave marker and ran the blade across his palm; several drops of blood fell on the grave. “Ben will be my brother and he will go with us and he will be a Gunslinger like his father and mother before him, or I will never obey you again, my Lord,” Jack swore the oath. Colt was far from stupid and the last year had taught him many things about being a leader, and a lord. The one thing he knew was not to step on his men’s deepest convictions; Jack and Ben had bonded and that was that. “A blood-oath has been spoken, I wouldn’t dare anger the ancestors trying to break it,” Colt promised. “Ben will stay with us and take Wes’s position on the team, maybe it is what the ancestors intended.” “Do as I showed you,” Jack coached Ben. Ben knelt between his mother and father’s graves and laid his hand on their markers. “I swear on the graves of my father and mother to obey you, Lord Gunslinger, until the day of my death,” Ben spoke the words and became part of Team Cyness. Ben removed his mother and father’s gun-belts from the grave markers and wrapped them around his waist. “Ben, it would be better if you start with the long rifle,” said Colt. “Double draw is very difficult.” Ben stood and faced Colt, then grinned and before anyone could even see Ben’s arms move, both guns were drawn and pointed inches from Colt’s face. “I know how to use the Magic Bang Sticks - Bang… Bang,” Ben said softly; he also knew calling things magic got under Colt’s skin and it was fun to tease. “Look down, Ben,” Colt nodded. Ben looked down and found the barrel of Colt’s gun pointing at his stomach, the hammer pulled back. Ben had out-drawn Colt, but hadn’t pulled his hammers back; lesson learned, this was what Ben had been missing in his life, brothers to learn from. Ben holstered his guns and walked past Colt. He stopped in front of Garth and lowered his head. “You do not know me yet, brother,” Garth said in his deep rich voice. “I will not blame you for what happened to Wes, but I would like to be alone with my fallen brother now.” Ben understood grief all too well and walked on silently. Jack walked past Colt and whispered, “Bang… Bang… Magic Bang Sticks.” Jack wrapped his arms around Garth next and hugged him tight then followed after Ben down the forest path. Colt and Toran left last and Garth knelt next to Wes’s grave and sobbed his grief out. *** “Hurry up,” said Tanner holding the small flashlight at the lock. “Hold the light still,” grumbled Tyler as he worked the tumbler. The bounty hunter hadn’t followed Tyler to Demonia and Tanner had recalled his deputy. Tyler talked the Sheriff into a more direct approach; the Sheriff and Deputy were now skulking in the dark and breaking into the Deputy Marshall’s Office. “Maybe this was a bad idea,” said Tanner. “Calm down, boss,” said Tyler. “You got good instincts, just keep cool.” “I’m glad you’re my deputy.” “Yea-yea, kissy-kissy, I know you love me,” Tyler turned his head sideways and batted his eyes. Tyler understood his Sheriff. The man wanted to be a good lawman, and for the most part was, but his bravery had a chink in the armor and Tanner could get spooked easily. The only thing keeping Tanner strong right now was his love for Colt. Tanner never should have been chosen to be a Lord Gunslinger, thought Tyler-he would have been better as a deputy. Under a strong Gunslinger, Tanner would have been much happier and all his troubles would never have happened. “Shut up and get the door open, you bird-brained weirdo,” said Tanner. The lock clicked opened and Tyler grinned and batted his eyes again. “Show off,” said Tanner. “Come on boss; let’s see if we can find where they took Jack.” Tyler softly closed the door behind him while Tanner headed for the filing cabinets; for all the technology available to the Gunslingers, they really were stuck in the ancient past. Records kept on paper were hopelessly inefficient, but it was going to work nicely for tonight’s burglary. “Are you searching for Jack, or Lord Cyness?” asked Tanner. “I’m searching for Jack, by default I’ll find Lord Cyness,” replied Tyler. “You know it’s….” “I know, boss,” Tyler interrupted. “I would sacrifice Jack to save my Gunslinger, that’s the way he would want it.” “But…” “Boss, you know the truth is we are both really just Lord Cyness’s extended deputies,” said Tyler finishing rifling through the first filing cabinet. “You do know I’m a Lord,” said Tanner indignantly. “Do I really need to stroke your ego, Boss,” said Tyler turning serious. “You’re my Sheriff, but Lord Cyness is the big boss, what’s going on with you tonight?” “You’re right, you should be a Gunslinger’s real deputy,” said Tanner. “Nope, this is what Lord Cyness wants me doing,” said Tyler. “And serving you is what I’m going to do.” Tanner felt a touch of shame, and love, Tyler was intelligent and brave, and the exact stuff Merit Deputies was made of. Tanner knew the truth, everyone around him was more competent then he could ever be. He felt so little sometimes when standing next to real lawmen and was fortunate to have been given another deputy after he had screwed it up with his first four Merits. He wouldn’t mess up with Tyler. Tyler found Colt’s file but kept looking, there it was…Tanners file. Tyler read through the file quickly. Tyler looked up at his Sheriff; the man was searching through the Deputy Marshall’s desk. Tyler finished reading the file; there was nothing in the file that Tyler hadn’t already guessed. Tyler slipped Tanners file inside Colt’s, he would shred the file later, the Gunslingers might be dumb enough not to have a duplicate somewhere. Tyler looked at Colt’s file again, he really should have guessed Pyra was where they sent Lord Cyness, it only made sense. Tyler kicked himself for not seeing the obvious earlier. “Hey Boss,” said Tyler. “I might have found it. Here, tell me if you think this is the right file.” “Tyler, don’t do that,” said Tanner. “I don’t want you playing dumb to make me feel better; you found that file five minutes ago and have been reading someone else’s file, probably mine.” “Sorry, Sheriff.” “You’re a good man, Tyler.” “So are you, Boss.” “Yea-yea, kissy-kissy, if you don’t mind what you read about me in that file, lets go get Colt.” “Hey, boss.” “Yea?” “Did you really declare war on the Empire?” *** Wes was as ready as he was going to be and waited to be taken into the Court room. Finely decorated Pyrans came and went from the Chamber; the Pyrans were particularly fond of jewelry. Wes liked the small round shells that many wore around their necks, and the pointed shells on some wrists also caught his eye. The hours slipped by and Wes practiced his speech and made minor adjustments to his appeal. The crowds thinned and he started to wonder if they weren’t going to let him present his case. Another two hours and the corridors were completely empty, not even his guard had come back from where ever he had gone off to. Wes was trying to peek in through the crack in the door when a thin Pyran pushed the door open and smacked Wes in the nose. The Pyran amphibian motioned for Wes to follow him away from the Chamber, so they weren’t going to let him present his case. Wes dropped his head, this was it then, he would spend his life in prison. He wasn’t paying attention and blindly followed, there was no point to resist, where would he go. They entered a small room off the main corridor and the Pyran instructed Wes to wait. The room had a stone table and two benches on opposite sides of the table. A few moments later an older Pyran entered the room and someone shut the door. Wes realized the door was a water-lock. The water swirled and emptied from the room, Wes’s feet touched the ground and he felt heavy, too much time in the semi-weightless environment of an underwater world was making his legs weak. “I am Judge Cietan,” the Pyran said in Imperial Standard after draining his lungs of sea water. “Remain standing and present your case.” The Pyran had an odd accent, deep and oddly rhythmic. Wes coughed a little clearing his lungs, he was still getting used to his new lungs. “Umm… yes, your Honor,” said Wes. “I am convicted of one count of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment on the Pyran maximum security island prison.” The Pyran’s eyes bore into Wes and he felt very uncomfortable, this was far worse than the finals he had endured at the Phase 1 Law Course. “Weston Cain, Deputy Merit, Team Cyness,” the Pyran Judge interrupted Wes. “First year law student, scored 98 on your first year finals, and gave a passable dissertation on Corvian early law.” “Umm…yes, your Honor,” said Wes. “I would expect a first year law student to be capable of beginning his sentences with any word other than… Umm…” “Yes, your Honor,” Wes turned red. “Continue,” said the Judge. “Your Honor, I contend that I have served my life sentence and request to be released. I was dropped within the boundary of the prison and drowned, I died. My life sentence is complete.” “You certainly took long enough to reach that conclusion,” said the Judge. “How many Hospitals do you know contain a Law Library?” “You put the library there for me to find?” asked Wes. “Of course, son, we do not like being host to such abuses of law to further political gain at the expense of the innocent. I will release you on a five year probation during which time you will serve as Assistant Justice of the Peace on Cietan Island. You will continue your law studies and upon graduation with a law degree will take the position as Justice of the Peace.” “Sir, my friends?” “You died for your Gunslinger, and for an organization that betrayed you, you have completed your moral and legal obligations,” the Judge placed an Imperial Court Order on the table. Wes read it, the document charged Wes with murder, and on the bottom of the paper was the signature of the Marshall General. “But… my friends.” “I do not have any fantasy that I can keep Colton Cyness for long. I am only surprised that they are still on the planet, though I expect they will find a way to remedy that soon.” Wes grinned, it was true, no prison would hold them very long. “What if I try to escape?” The Judge placed a photograph in front of Wes, the image showed his team standing in front of a grave, and there was a strange boy standing with them. “They’ve had my funeral?” “Yes, and replaced you with that boy, and thank the ancestors for that mercy. That child is the off-spring of the previous prisoners, the Gunslinger Council knew he was there and left him because he was an embarrassment.” “I need to think,” Wes was confused. The Judge pushed the rest of the folder full of documents to Wes. “You may read everything we know,” said the Judge. “Why me?” asked Wes. “We did not intend to do further than fulfill our moral obligation and provide medical assistance, but it soon became evident from your conduct when we removed your handcuffs that you are an honorable man.” “But… I want to be with my friends?” Wes wasn’t sure whether to be angry. “The Gunslingers drowned you, and we now we offer you the life they would have denied you, but we will not chain you or try to stop you from leaving.” “But then I would be violating probation and be a fugitive, if you know I’m innocent can’t you just free me?” “A prisoner drowning upon insertion into the prison has caused the Imperial Courts embarrassment, they will accept terms of probation so long as you remain on this planet. But, we can not over-rule the Imperial Courts; they would just re-instate your sentence the moment you leave.” Wes looked at the photograph of the strange boy, they had already replaced him. His only option to help now was to remain free on the outside and work to clear their names. He wasn’t even a true mammal anymore. Wes looked up at the Judge. “I want to visit them.” “I’m sorry, not until the situation calms down with the Gunslinger Council, the Daraians, and the Imperial Courts.” “How long?” “Lets say, one year. After that you may visit the island and take your friends the basic comforts of life, but they will most likely be long gone by then.” “If they escape, will you let me keep trying to help them clear their name?” “You may, but no contact, they must believe you are dead or we run the risk of angering the Imperial Courts and they will step in and re-instate your sentence.” “I’m still a prisoner.” “I do not intend you to be, but there is a certain reality to the situation.” Wes nodded and looked up at the Judge. “I accept.” *** Hunter stood in the shadows and watched the Sheriff and his deputy leave the building they had just broken into. Pure dumb luck was how Hunter had picked up the trail again when he landed on Carina and spotted the Deputy arriving at the Spaceport and being greeted by the Sheriff. Breaking and Entering, the irony of the Sheriff and his Deputy’s night-time crime wasn’t lost on Hunter and if there had been enough time he would have enjoyed blackmailing the two of them for awhile. Hunter realized now that neither of them had known where Colton Cyness was being held, and that they were obviously on the outs with the Gunslingers to have to resort to such tactics. The Sheriff and Deputy made a straight line for the Spaceport. Hunter followed silently, they might not have known where to find them before, but they certainly knew now, it was just a matter of following these two dust covered cowboys to Colton and the other bounties. This could be very fruitful, he could terminate the bounties, the Sheriff, and the Crew of this ship all at the same time, but not the Deputy. The Deputy was going to suffer before Hunter would allow him to meet the ancestors. Hunter ran his fingers along the scar on his face. Oh yes, the Deputy was going to suffer. *** Jack and Ben sat on a big rock next to the ocean. Ben held his hand up and made a quick slice on his palm. The boys pressed their palms together and said together: “Blood Brothers!” Garth walked past and looked at the two boys and shook his head. “Do you know what that means?” asked Garth. “Yea, it’s what brothers do,” said Jack. Garth sat down, his legs still felt wobbly but he was regaining his strength fast. Garth took Ben’s arm and looked at it closely and then leaned in a stared at his face. Ben felt a little uncomfortable being manhandled by the giant. “You’re a Cormon,” declared Garth. “I knew that,” said Ben. “How can he be a Cormon?” asked Jack. “He isn’t that much bigger than me.” “See how dark his skin is, and his eyes are black,” explained Garth. “He’s a Cormon, it’s just that from the lack of proper food on the island he hasn’t grown like he should.” “I wish I could be as big as you?” said Ben. “Yep, but now that you’re mated with Jack I’m sure he will make sure you get fed proper,” said Garth. “What!” Jack nearly fell off the rock. Garth had an amused expression like the canary that just at the mouse, he was obviously enjoying himself. “Nearly every world borrowed that ceremony from Cormon without understanding what it really meant,” said Garth. “That is not how you make Blood Brothers, that is how you become Blood Mates. Blood Brothers is a much more vicious ceremony.” Jack turned seven shades of red and Ben looked like he was ready to run away. “Uh..Ben.. I…” Jack started to say. “Brothers!” said Ben quickly. “Brothers,” repeated Jack. “I can teach you the Blood Brother ceremony later,” said Garth.” Jack and Ben tried not to make eye contact with each other and both nodded in agreement. Garth took Jack’s arm and pressed it against Ben’s arm with their hands gripping each other’s forearms. “Now try to pull each other into an embrace but don’t allow it, resist each other’s pull,” instructed Garth. Ben had to back off a little; he was far stronger than his friend. The boys tried to pull each other in and both resisted and laughed. “This feels like what brothers do,” said Jack. “Thanks, big brother?” Ben said tentatively to Garth. “No problem, little brother,” said Garth. *** Colt and Toran watched the three boys at the rock; they seemed to be bonding nicely. “Well, we’ve had to change members twice now,” said Toran. “Gunslinger Teams just don’t ever do that.” “It’s working,” said Colt. “Come on, time to leave this island.” Colt picked up a water flask and carried it over and tossed it at Jack. “What’s this for?” asked Jack. “I have a mission for you,” said Colt. “I’m ready,” said Jack. “What is it?” “I want you to fly until you find another island, steal a ship and bring it back here,” ordered Colt. “And be quick about it, we are leaving this planet and I want to be in deep space by tomorrow night.” “Yes, my Lord,” said Jack slinging the water flask over his shoulder and beating his wings until he lifted into the sky. “I’ll be back by tomorrow afternoon, I promise.” “Stay close to the water so they don’t see you on radar,” shouted Toran. Jack beat his wings and picked up speed until he was soaring just above the white foam caps of the waves. *** “What’s our arrival time?” asked Captain Fox. The navigator checked the nav-computer in front of him and replied, “Tomorrow evening, Captain.” “Very well, steady on Navigator. XO, I want a squadron of Darts ready to deploy the moment we come out of light speed,” ordered Captain Fox. “The Pyrans will not be pleased with our arrival.” “Aye, Captain.” *** “How much longer?” asked Tanner. “Should arrive by tomorrow night,” replied Tyler. “Just get some rest, Boss.” “When we get there, we need to hit fast and hard,” said Tanner. “I know what to do, Boss,” said Tyler. “We’ll get them out of there.” *** Hunter glared at the empty nothingness outside the forward view port; there was no way to see the ship they were following. “Are you sure we are going the right way,” asked Hunter. “We are on their filed flight plan,” replied the Captain. “That’s all we can do, but why are we following that ship?” “When do we arrive?” asked Hunter ignoring the Captains probe for information he didn’t need. “Should make orbit by tomorrow night,” said the Captain. “Have the shuttle ready,” said Hunter.