"Don't worry about the wind, it's a laser weapon. Just go for the best shot," I instructed Alice. She laid on her belly, looking through the scope of her weapon. She was tense, sweat dripped off her face, her finger trembled, she pulled the trigger, and...

"Nice!" I exclaimed as a distant cactus blew to pieces.

A smile came to her face as I explained, "Your shot was really good, good thing you came. Beyond that hill lies a small town, it never got a chance to grow since it started around the time the war began. It's now a sort of oasis in the dessert for the weary traveler, or trader. We can't let Jalisco take control of this town as anybody associated with Team Black Star is considered bandits, eliminating all the inhabitants. Do you see why I have to go, they're the only people who'll directly support us."

She dusted herself off as she listened intently to my speech, "If this the only mission you ever go on with us, for whatever reason, this better be your best. Now I want to ask you one last time, Maid Gunner, are you sure of your decision?"

She stood silent and gave a sigh, "Yes, of course."

"Alright then, don't say I didn't ask you twice."

"Never."

"Good. Let's get going."

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The double doors of the city council meeting room burst wide open as Alice and I entered the crowded room. The room was very formal in its looks and had a large table near a fireplace for meetings. On the table sat all of my team, except for Devil Girl who stood leaning against a wall, Caspar who was seated at the mayor's seat, Baltazar at the other end of the table with a scruffy black haired woman standing next him, a mysterious younger man sat near the fireplace, and a woman who seemed vaguely familiar sat next to him.

"Speak of the devil..." Some one murmured from the table.

"Well, hello there Caspar, Baltazar, and...?" I said introducing myself as I took a seat, placing my feat on the table.

"Brent, Brent Melchoir," the man near the fireplace answered.

"Well Brent Brent Melchoir, as Caspar's probably told you I'm Black Rock Shooter, that's my team," I pointed towards the angry Butler and Mefe and the giggling Matagi, then I directed my thumb at Alice, "and this is the rookie, Maid Gunner."

"I object!" Mefe yelled out as she stood from her chair near Caspar.

"I'm sorry Rock but I have to agree." Butler stood along with Mefe.

I stood my ground, "This is more important than a single life. Hundreds could die and yet you two want us to not partake."

Butler breathed in, exhaled, and sat down, still Mefe stood her ground, "Yeah because having a crip and a rookie will help us."

I ignored her and continued my speech, "I know this is a suicide mission, so to prevent mass losses I have a plan. My team consists of six people, five if you don't include Butler since he's not a hunter, and it seems you two are as well?"

I looked at both of the women and they nodded, one of them introducing herself, her voice muffled due to a lisp, "It's Ravenous Hound, I came cuz Baltazar here promised me a few toys and a chance to meet ya'."

"Why'd you want to talk to me?"

"If we survive I'll tell ya'."

I was about to yell at her, but the familiar lady said, "Hopefully she doesn't die of suspense."

In response to her joke Mefe tried not to laugh, Matagi groaned in response, and Hound came up behind her and slaped her across her head, "Shaddup bitch! This is important."

"If it's so important why don't you tell her right now?" She said as she rubbed the back of her head.

"Why tell a dead man? I'll tell her if she lives."

"She's alive. What if you die?"

"Pfft," she took a note from an inside pocket and looked in my direction, "It's right here a'ight?"

The woman continued criticizing, "You should've told her that earlier."

"Bitch, I've had enough of you, let's go out there and settle this shit right now," Ravenous Hound growled at her.

The lady kept her composure and turned the air tense with three simple words, "It's Dragon Slayer."

Dragon Slayer sat contempt with herself as a Ravenous Hound's face became pale and she murmured, "Ah shit..." and returned to her seat, tail between her legs.

Everyone, except Melchoir, stared in disbelief. Including Team Black Star, the name "Dragon Slayer" was a household name. Dragon Slayer was invincible, never has a story said she had gotten injured in a mission. When people whispered my name it was filled with dread, when they spoke of her they spoke of her there was almost a feeling of admiration mixed with fear.

Noticing this she gave a smile and said, "Your plan Shooter?"

"Ah yeah," I turned to Alice who, with a tremble, handed me a map, "I have a map of the area, and from what the locals say, FSJ is about a hundred miles south from here."

I took a quick glance around the room and noticed everyone, again excluding Brent, were tense, all too busy looking at Dragon Slayer. "Hey I'm pretty sure you guys went to school before war the started, but in case you forgot a map is the thing Shooters pointing at, not me."

Everyone tried to act as they weren't looking at her then looked in my direction. I continued on nervously, trying to not sound scared, "Right, well the plan is to have Capsar to surrender, then-"

"Wait, what? Ain't the point to not die? Surrender equals death, Rock, death equals no good," Hound said sarcastically.

Dragon Slayer grew impatient and her calm face became almost ferocious, "This is Black Rock Shooter people, she brought the Empire to its knees, yet you continually interrupt her. This is why I don't deal with amateurs," she looked at Ravenous Hound who's face was steaming with anger, "or a team," she looked directly at my team, specifically Mefe who glared back. "Honestly, Shooter, you should keep your team under a tighter leash, or do whatever your doing to the rookie, she's well behaved, you even have her as a maid. What's her name? Oh sorry, how hypocritical, now I'm doing the interrupting."

Everyone remained quiet as Alice whispered, "My hunter name is Maid Gunner."

"Such a rookie," Dragon Slayer said almost tauntingly, "once you get to place such as your mentor, it'll be your only name. Isn't that right St- oh sorry got ahead of myself."

Blood drained out my face, could she really...? No, she must've been talking about something else. I gave an inward giggle, so foolish of me.

"Alright as I was saying the plan is this, Caspar will go to surrender to Jalisco, Mefe acting as his translator, and offer me as a tribute for the peace treaty. Meanwhile the rest of you will split into teams and when we give you guys the signal, you let the dogs of war loose, no pun intended Hound, If we play our cards right, we can probably get them to surrender quickly."

"WHAT?" Mefe yelled out, as she once again stood from her seat, "What are you thinking Rock? That's a suicide mission! First of all I can't go translate for you. Second of all, for the sake of argument, let's say that there's at most, two hundred men with heavy weapons, and we're supposed to defeat them with melee weapons and cheap guns?"

Something in her argument caught my ear and I knew this was going to give me a go, "Why can't you translate?"

"Hija de tu pinche madre," she mumbled to herself, "Because...because they'll recognize me, and I won't explain why."

"Give me the 'go' and I won't ask why."

She sat down and remained silent until she whispered, "You know what you're doing Rock, go ahead."

"Perfect let's get the kinks in this plan settled out then."

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Black Rock Shooter is the property of the artist, Huke, no copyright infringement intended. I would appreciate, support, comments, and constructive criticism. See a spelling/grammar mistake don't be hesitant to mention it in a review, negative or positive. Thank you Fenris Blackwell for your awesome OC! Maybe I'll have another of these mini events for those of you reading. I actually don't have much to say just that for those of you reading at the time of this posting, that next week, if all goes well, will be... intense.

Much obliged,
Ωmega