Thanks for all the reviews! I'm sorry about forgetting the Cowboy Bebop Movie; that also occurs in 2071, and Vincent dies. I also believe I forgot to mention Hilda's death and Harry becoming one withRon's ship in 3662. Anyhow, thanks again and enjoy!

Disclaimer: Don't own anything...

Gunsmoke, 2139 – 3 weeks earlier…

"I wasn't supposed to die like this!" Nicholas D. Wolfwood uttered his last words before his body fell limp and cold and slumped against his cross. His spirit, ghostly and translucent, stumbled from his corpse and toward an amazing white light, falling to his knees in absolute awe. In the rays of holy luminosity stood a figure, which seemed so far and remote to Wolfwood compared to the earthly church. He stared intensely at the entity's profile; a beautiful woman with golden blonde hair and dressed in black. She stood staring into the distance, deep in thought, before turning slowly to Wolfwood, her golden locks falling elegantly around her face. As she did, the white light grew so intense that Wolfwood had to squint and turn his head away. Instinctively, he used his right arm to shield his eyes.

Slowly, the figure extended her right hand, reaching out to him. Curious and utterly mesmerized, Wolfwood began to raise his head to look at her and lowered his right arm to his side. His eyes gazed at her with uncertainty and wonder as he knelt before the being of beauty and strange divinity. Hesitantly, he held his arm out in front of him and took her hand in his. In a low whisper he asked, "A devil? Or an Angel?"

Wolfwood followed the woman through the white illumination, feeling very light as he seemed to almost glide along. However, he couldn't help but habitually look over his shoulder for his large cross, which he had been so used to carrying in life. Now, however, he didn't have such secular worries. And yet, he still missed some of it as his thoughts began to wander off to think of things of yesterday. A longing, a yearning, began to fill him. Yet, as soon as it did, a strange warmth took its place; it seemed to reassure him, comfort him. He closed his eyes as if trying to listen for something, although he wasn't really expecting to actually hear a voice. Soon, his eyes fluttered open, and he saw the young woman still walking quite a distance in front of him, leading the way. But to where?, Wolfwood wondered. She hadn't spoken to him yet, and Wolfwood was growing unnerved. Clearing his throat, he called out to her, "Who are you? You haven't told me your name."

She stopped and turned to him. "Julia." They continued onward.

"Pretty name…so…are you an, uh…" he trailed off, waiting for a response. There was none, so he went on and bluntly asked, "You know, an angel? Are you one of those? Or are you…" he gulped and averted his attention to his feet.

"No, not an angel. But not a devil, either."

"Ok…" Wolfwood scratched the back of his head, "Now I'm confused. If you're neither devil nor angel, then what are you? A ghost or something? Hey, wait a minute! What happened to Almighty God and Heaven and all that junk? You know, all the stuff I spent most of my life preaching about! It's got to be real…isn't it? Please, tell me it's not all just a lie! Not just one big lie!" He reached out to her and grabbed her by her shoulders with desperation. Julia smiled at him her beautiful smile.

"Don't worry; God has sent me to you, but I'm not yet an angel. Does that make you feel better?" He released her, feeling slightly embarrassed for his lack of faith.

"Yes, yes it does," he answered her. "But…you're not an angel…?" he inquired quizzically.

"Not yet. It takes time and I have only been dead for today."

Wolfwood's jaw dropped open in shock. "You mean-"

"I was killed a few hours ago, in the year 2071."

"2071?" Wolfwood exclaimed, "But that doesn't make any sense! That was over sixty years ago!"

"You'll soon learn that such concepts of time are irrelevant once you leave the mortal realm…" Julia explained.

"Oh…" Wolfwood conceded, although a bit confused by the notion, and changed the subject; "So, you were killed?" They began walking again.

"Yes." She paused for a moment in reflection before continuing, "But that doesn't matter much now, does it?"

"I guess not…" He agreed, as they fell in to an awkward silence. He studied her more carefully. She seemed so mysterious to him. Growing edgy by the unsettling quiet, he decided to speak up. "So, when do I get to meet the Big Guy?" She let out a soft laugh.

"Not yet," she told him, "First –" Suddenly, they seemed to step outside the whiteness, leaving its serenity behind them. Soon after, the luminosity dimmed and disappeared entirely, and Wolfwood found him outside the church where he had just died, Julia was by his side. Both suns bore down on them, the sky bright and blue. Yet, Wolfwood wasn't hot. Turning to his companion, she didn't appear uncomfortable either, although she was dressed in a black sweater turtleneck and black leather pants.

"What are we doing back here?" Wolfwood questioned, "What's going on?"

"There's been a mistake, Nicholas. That's why I've been sent to you – so that we may fix it."

"A…mistake…?" Wolfwood shook his head, growing frustrated, "I don't understand what you're talking about!"

"But you do," Julia stated calmly as she turned to face him. "You even suggested it yourself."

"Huh?" He stared at her intensely, as well as with much inquisitiveness and bafflement. Sighing, Julia looked away, averting her gaze to the sky, the suns rays lighting up her face and golden hair. Then, after a moment, she told him simply:

"You weren't supposed to die today."