Merry Christmas one and all!

-Nolan J. Rempel

The dirt shifted slightly beneath Cole's feet, the chain-link fence rattling as he dropped into the scrapyard. Sans gazed at the piles of junk all around. Scanned the tops of the piles as the two began to advance further in. The skeleton's voice was quiet as he muttered.

"i don't like this...too many places to hide…"

Cole murmured back. "It goes both ways. Besides, better here where we can slip away easier than somewhere more open." As much as Sans hated to admit it, he was right. As they continued inward, footsteps on gravel crunched ahead of them. Chapman revealed himself, stepping into the open and facing the pair. Cole and Sans immediately stopped. Chapman gave a disapproving shake of his head.

"Did you really think you could pull one over me?"

Cole's face remained expressionless. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Chapman gave a little chuckle. "If you're going to prepare an ambush, the least you could do is make it a little harder to predict. Yeah?" Sans glanced to Cole, noticing a little waver, one of his hands balling up into a fist.

Chapman glanced at the junk piles surrounding them. "Seeing as we both have guns on each other, I'd say we're just about even. So, what do you say we get down to business?"

Cole took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "Sounds only fair. Where's the kid?"

"Where's his parents?" Their opponent countered immediately. Cole remained silent, prompting Chapman to speak again. "You see, I really don't like it when people try to play games with me, so I figured I'd play a couple of my own. The deal's changed. You give me Sans, and I don't kill the kid. Go back and get me his parents, and I don't kill you either. How does that sound?"

Julia grunted as she continued to climb up the side of the junk pile. She glanced down the steep slope, gritting her teeth as she neared the summit.

"You just had to pick a junk pile…" She huffed with annoyance. She took a minute to catch her breath as she reached the top. Keeping low, she set down the gun bag slung over her shoulder, unzipping it. Inside, a high powered sniper rifle lay disassembled. Below that, a smaller assault rifle. She took out the components, starting to assemble her firearm. She then eased it through the hollowed out window of the car shell she was crouched behind. She took a deep breath, closing one eye to look down the scope at her quarry below. She slipped her finger around the trigger.

Before she squeezed the trigger though, she paused. She wasn't along up here. Sure enough, the sound of a plasma weapon charging up sounded close by, followed by a firm voice.

"I really wouldn't do that if I were you." A quiet voice advised. She didn't look up, the reticle remained trained on Chapman's head, watching with deadly intent as he spoke with Cole.

"It's going to take more than a few words to stop me." She tried to stall. No time to go for the compact rifle in the bag. Not before he fried her at least.

"Last time I encountered you, you got the drop on me. Little different this time don't you think?"

The voice above her chuckled. "I wouldn't say that. I'd say you've probably got fifty meters give or take to your target. I've got half a foot. So who's got the drop on who I wonder?"

Cole let out a chuckle of disdain. "Killing me. You really think that's a threat? Why do you think we live in the middle of nowhere? Get in line buddy, we have a whole nation just south of us that's after me. That's an empty threat my friend."

Chapman smirked. "Acting tough to hide your lack of options hmm? I know it well. I know you've fought. I recognize a soldier when I see one. But my war is a hell of a lot more important than you realize. And that, is why I implore you to give up Sans and his compatriots."

"What war are you fighting?" Cole tilted his head as he countered his foe. Chapman's features wavered slightly, the smug look starting to fade.

"Enough with the games. Hand him over. I won't ask again."

Julia continued to watch as Chapman began to appear more and more frustrated. Her window was closing. She didn't move from her post, despite the deadly firearm trained on her.

"If you think I'm going to back down because you've got a gun at my back you're mistaken. Isn't the first time." She huffed, angling slightly up. A hint of desperation crept into his voice.

"Come on, don't make me do this. You're getting involved in something bigger than either of us, and something you have no hope of understanding."

"Try me," Julia grunted. "I've had a complicated life. Can't be that difficult."

"We both know I won't be allowed to do that." The soldier answered. "We also both know that if you pull that trigger one of us isn't making it out of here alive."

"Whether you kill me is your choice." Julia hissed. Below, Chapman suddenly pulled a pistol out. Now or never. She brought one of her knees closer to her waist.

"Frisk isn't here." Sans muttered. "This was a setup from the start."

"Yeah I figured." Cole grunted back. He began to reach behind himself. The second his palm closed around the sidearm, he found himself staring down the barrel of Chapman's.

"Enough with the games Mr. Nelson. Sans, with me if you'd please." Sans took a step forward, then stopped, twitching his index finger. Instantly Cole's eyes widened, and Chapman's smug grin evaporated. Beside Sans, an animal skull materialized, it's pupils a glowing white. It emitted an echoey growl. The skeleton called back.

"this here is a gaster blaster. Right now, your gun is pointed at my friend. If you pull the trigger, i will more than happily let it show you what it can do. the same will be done if you turn that gun on me. i'd say it's time for a new arrangement wouldn't you say?"

Cole slowly began to lower his arm. A crack rang out, and a bullet slammed into the gravel, kicking up pebbles. Rapid gunfire rang out a second later. Cole glanced to the mountain, then turned his gun on Sans. Immediately the blaster opened its mouth. Cole jumped back as a burst of magic shot from its gaping maw. The short beam slammed home, sending Chapman flying back with a cry, landing against the junk pile behind him.

"Come on, let's go!" Cole grabbed Sans's arm, pulling him away. The blaster instantly turned on Cole, letting out a fierce growl, making him freeze. Sans twitched his finger again, and the skull disintegrated.

"sorry, force of habit with those things."

"You monsters are always hiding something…" Cole shook his head, taking out his own pistol, leading them back to safety.

Julia's leg flashed out, catching her foe in the shin. The blow unbalanced the soldier, causing him to stumble. Her finger squeezed the sniper's trigger, but not before the barrel shifted, the bullet missing by an inch.

"Dammit!" She shouted in frustration. Wasting no time, she grabbed the compact rifle. Rolling onto her back. Two shots rang out as she opened fire, the bullets meeting home. Puffs of dust flew up from the impact points. The soldier staggered further, falling over backwards. He tumbled down the pile. As he reached the bottom, she stared at his still figure. A second later, she set down the rifle, beginning to disassemble the sniper, tucking the pieces away in the gun bag.

As she finished zipping it up though, she heard a weary groan, and saw movement below. Instantly she grabbed the rifle, once more firing down at the soldier. From that distance though, the bullets missed, giving him time to scramble around a bend for cover. Slinging the bag over her shoulder, she slid down the pile, jumping to her feet when she reached the bottom. She sprinted around the bend...but he was already gone.

"Errrgh...need to go. Could be more of them." The thought caused her to turn away, running back for her entry point. It didn't take long for her to find the hole in the fence, worming her way through, and disappearing into the trees beyond. She made sure to keep the rifle raised as she made her way deeper into the trees, pausing at a rustle. She immediately rounded on a bush.

"Whoa hey, just us." Cole assured, revealing himself and Sans. She lowered the rifle as Cole continued. "We heard extra gunfire. Was that you?"

"Yeah. One of them tried to sneak up on me. I got a couple shots on him but, whatever armor they have on is some tough stuff, seemed like my shots only winded him." She frowned at Sans. "They didn't bring the others?"

"no." Sans muttered, walking past them towards the cabin. Cole took a deep breath.

"It was a setup the whole time. They never intended on returning them in the first place."

"Geez…" Julia began to walk alongside Cole. "So what happens now?"

Cole looked down at the ground. "I don't know. I don't think there's anything that we can do."

Julia glanced into the undergrowth. "They're going to die if we don't help."

"They'll die if we do! Think for a second Julia. They have better weapons. Better knowledge of what they're doing. They know exactly where we are, but we have no idea where they are! How are we supposed to help them? Sooner or later they'll come after us too. As much as I want to help them, I think they're on their own."

Julia grabbed Cole by the arm. "That doesn't sound like you. The brother I have stood up and fought for the good of those around him, and he didn't back down when the odds were against him."

Cole scoffed. "You and I both know that isn't true. Why do you think we're hiding out here in the middle of nowhere? Besides, that's something I actually believed in, and that's gone now."

"There are remnants Cole. You've heard them."

Cole pulled his arm free. "That isn't my point. That's something I believed in. We already escaped one war, I for one am not wanting to get myself mixed up in another one that neither of us understand. For all we know these people have done horrible things, and those chasing them are seeking justice."

Julia rolled her eyes. "Now you're just spouting stupidity."

"I know!" Cole raised his voice, instantly pausing and looking around. He immediately lowered it again. "But you get what I'm saying...Alright, how about this; Let's just get back home. We'll regroup, and...consider our options."

"That's better." Julia grunted, giving him a quick jab in the elbow.

"C'mon, we have to break the news to the others." She set off again. Cole glanced once more over his shoulder, before disappearing into the darkness after her.