Chapter 2 – The Great Train Robbery

To say it was easy money was probably speaking too soon. He was pinned down in a passenger compartment between the rows of seats. Bullet holes were punching through either side. He had his pistol drawn, his hand gripping the pearl handle. He heard footsteps approaching. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He stood up and opened his eyes. Three, two, one. He fired the first shot, which hit an approaching man with a coach-gun. He spun around and fired a second shot, which missed his target but ricocheted off of a platter on display and hit the man in the back causing him to fly forward. He steadied his aim and fired a third shot into an advancing thug in the next compartment over. He hit the man between the eyes and he dropped like a rock. He spun his revolver in his hand and popped open the cylinder. He ejected the three spent cartridges and added three more. He slid the cylinder shut and spun it.

He needed to stop this train, unfortunately it seems the Schnee Dust Company hired some mercenaries to defend it. More than usual. He stepped over several of Junior's men. He found his way to the front of the train, the main flat cars. He crept carefully behind some large crates and peered around to find the rest of Junior's men kneeling at the edge of the flat car. Several armed gunmen were aiming their revolvers at the men. About eight gunmen. Six shots in Silver's revolver said this wasn't the way to do it. He made sure his mask was tightly around his face and took a step out. Pistol aimed at the mercenaries. They turned and drew at him.

"Hello." He said.

"Move and you're dead." The lead mercenary said.

"Okay." Silver said aiming his gun at the nearest crate. The lead mercenary raised his left hand, palm out. "Don't mind me, I'm just going to blow the train up if you don't drop your weapons."

"You don't have the stones outlaw." The mercenary said.

"Oh okay." Silver fired a shot right next to the crate. He then aimed back at it. "You want to bet?"

"He's crazy!" One of the mercenaries said.

"Quiet." The lead mercenary said.

Silver heard the sounds of horses approaching alongside the train. Reinforcements. The mercenaries started backing up. He smiled brightly. The soldiers turned and ran further up the train. Junior's men stood up and glanced around.

"Where are the others?" One of the thugs asked.

"All dead I'm afraid, but it sounds like reinforcements are here." Silver said pointing over his shoulder.

"Those ain't ours." A thug said. Silver turned around to see a bunch of masked riders. Grimm masks. He muttered some choice swear words and turned back to the others.

"White Fang." He said. "Good, great. Perfect."

"What do we do?" The thug said.

"Do you have guns?" Silver asked.

"They had us kick them off the train." The thug said.

"Then jump, if you want to live jump!" Silver said. "I'm going to stop this train."

He turned and hurried after the mercenaries. Another passenger cart was ahead of them. He heard gunshots behind him. They didn't jump. Fools. He opened the passenger cart and hurried inside. He turned around to find the eight mercenaries aiming guns at him. It was a clean cut passenger cart. Very stylish, decorated like a mansion on tracks.

"So, we didn't get off on the right foot." Silver said.

"Talk fast." The mercenary said. "Explain why we shouldn't drop you."

"The White Fang, take it you know them. They are going to kill us all." Silver said.

"Like hell." The man said.

"You seem like a smart man, sorry to say my men killed most of yours, and they just killed the rest of mine. We're outnumbered, we're outgunned. If we work together we might live."

"Say I believe you." He said pointing his gun to the roof. "Got a plan or are you talking out of your ass."

"Stop the train?" Silver asked. "Let them steal the dust."

"Try again." The man said.

He glanced around. Why would a cargo train need this luxury suite. He sighed.

"They aren't after dust are they?" Silver asked.

"Nope." The man said.

"What did I stumble into?" Silver asked.

Gunfire broke the silence and windows began exploding into glass shards. Silver dropped to the floor as the door behind him was suddenly given more ventilation than it needed. The lead mercenary was gunned down in a splatter of blood and dust. His men backed up shooting. Silver watched them get ripped apart by rapid fire shooting. Silver pulled the mask off his face and took a deep breath, kept low and hurried. He passed a bathroom door and heard pounding coming from the other side.

"Let me out!" A woman's voice called out.

"Who's there?" Silver said.

"Let me out!" The woman shouted.

"Fine." He said. He opened the door.

Before him was a short woman with bright white hair tied in a side tail. She was wearing a formal white dress. She quickly drew a nickle plated pistol from a small holster on her hip. Silver raised his hands.

"Listen sweetheart, I don't have time for this." He said pointing at the bloodbath next to them."

Her eyes widened. She turned back to him.

"Get me out of here and you'll be rewarded handsomely." She said.

"How handsomely?" He asked. The door next to the bodies burst open. Silver opened fire, fanning his gun into the advancing white fang soldiers. His hammer clicked. "Second thought, let's go sweetheart!"

He grabbed her by the hand and dragged her out the door. Another flat car, but ahead was the coal car and the engine. He slammed the door behind them and loaded his gun. She looked around cautiously.

"Alright. I clear the right side, you jump." He said.

"Jump! Are you crazy?"

He peered over the right side, four riders. He aimed his revolver and opened fire. Five shots, the four riders dropped. He holstered his gun. He grabbed the girl by the waist and threw her over the side of the train. She shouted something unbecoming of a girl of her stature. He watched her tumbled into the ditch beside the train. With luck she won't be noticed. Now what? He glanced around. Now it was his turn to jump. He took a deep breath, the door behind him smashed open. He spun around and watched a man with red hair and a pair of horns stepped out. The man turned and smiled.

"Well if it isn't Silver." The man said. A girl with cat ears and long dark hair peered from behind him. "Say hello to Silver, Blake."

"Silver what are you doing here?" Blake asked.

"Adam." Silver said with his hands out. "Easy now."

"Doesn't matter Blake." Adam said. "Goodbye Silver."

He fired a shot straight into Silver's chest, he fell backwards off the train and tumbled. All he could see was spinning blue sky and brown dirt. The train continued on and he rolled into the ditch. His vision blurred and everything went dark.