Chapter 4
Edge
Four shadows crept into the town of Liberty. None acknowledged their presence, thinking they were just kids looking to get away from the city life for awhile or just for good.
The four came to a the saloon titled Ruby's.
"So this is the place." one of them said.
It looked closed, but the same who had spoken was not one to be with patients, and slammed the door of the entrance open.
The others tried to call him back, but he was already inside, and a dark arm was wrapped tightly around his throat.
In seconds, the lights came on. Ruby, Slade, and Ram watched along with Amber, Jay, and Trudy standing by the entrance as Lex was held in the tight grip of the mysterious bounty hunter.
It was only a few seconds, and already Lex's face was already turning blue from the lack of oxygen.
"Wait!" Ruby cried. "Let him go."
Obliging his new boss's order, the bounty hunter/guard of the saloon let go of Lex, and the deputy sheriff bent over coughing and breathing for air as Trudy patted his back.
Amber looked apologetic to the girl. "I'm very sorry about all this. But Lex is very hard to control sometimes."
"Then keep him on a leash." Ruby scowled.
Her remark had earned a chuckle from Slade and Ram, and even Jay.
"I think that might not be a good idea next time." Lex muttered as he rubbed the redness of his neck.
The bounty hunter stood with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Hell of a grip there, mate." Lex complemented the dark hunter. "Cool hat if I might add."
The bounty hunter said nothing in reply.
"Hi Jay."
Everyone but the bounty hunter turned to see Ram, his hair no longer in gelled horns, this time just as it was in the Paradise system.
Jay could only give him a cold stare, a stare that Ram mirrored. "Hello Ram."
Slade looked back and forth to Ram and Jay. That's when he noticed that Jay was wearing the same outfit as…
"Ram." Slade looked down at his friend. "Leader of the Technos…"
"EX-leader." Ram corrected, not taking his eyes away from the Mallrats.
"So, you're alive." Jay said rather blankly.
"Yeah. Guess the Powers That Be gave me a second chance in life to smell the roses." Ram sighed.
Jay blinked in surprise. The Ram he knew would never say something like that, even if he was acting.
Ram didn't believe in anything or anyone but the power of technology.
"So, you say you changed?" Jay asked.
Ram was about to speak, until he looked up at the bounty hunter and remembered his words from this morning.
"Actions are stronger than words, Jay. And I do regret my…"
"Just save it!" Jay hissed. "I don't believe you, Ram. I will never believe a word you say! You killed my brother, you killed this man's wife," Jay pointed to Lex, "And you killed a friend close like a brother and a husband to these two women," he then pointed to Trudy and Amber.
Ram didn't say anything back. He only looked to the Mallrats who shared together the anguish and pain caused by him in the past.
But…dead?
"There's a difference between being deleted and being dead, Jay. First off, Bray and Tai-San are not dead." Ram revealed.
Amber gasped as Trudy and Lex looked on in disbelief.
"You mean…they're alive?" Lex asked.
"Of course. Just relocated." Ram admitted. "We were looking for the two people who knew of the ingredients of the antidote for the virus, and we found them. Tai-San's our medical advisor, and Bray is our…new general."
"Then where are they?" Amber demanded.
Ram shook his head. "I don't know. Mega was in charge of…"
"Mega?!" Lex cried.
Ram nodded, lookind oddly to Lex.
And Jay seemed to know why.
"I told you, didn't I?" Lex looked to Jay. "I told you we couldn't trust him!"
"Wait a minute!" Ruby held up her hands. "Could everybody take a breather here and tell those who don't know this what's going on?! And why are the Mallrats in my Saloon?!"
Then-One hour ago in the city.
The Zoot-look-alike girl opened the door in the alley covered in graffiti and walked into the darkened room.
"Hello?" she called. Her voice only echoed, but there was no other at present.
He must be gone, she thought.
She began to close the door and head out, until she heard a strange hissing the sound.
A hissing sound of a sword scratching gently against the wall.
"Nice outfit. What do you want?" came a male Maori voice.
She jumped at the sound of his voice, then looked around the dark room.
"Are-are you an…assassin?" she asked nervously.
"…guess you could say that." the Maori voice spoke again.
"My master, Mighty Zoot himself says he has a job for you. He says it's to return the dept."
The voice as silent for a moment. Until she heard, "Yeah, I remember him. So the bugger's alive. What does he want me to do?"
"He says to go to the town of Liberty. There, you will find a person called Ram, a boy who can't walk. You are to bring him to Zoot, alive. If you find it impossible to do that, then Zoot says to drive the information for the code of Ragnarok out of him then kill him. There must also be no witnesses."
The voice suddenly let out an eerie laugh. One that could possibly haunt her in her nightmares.
"Ah. Only Zoot can grant me the best of jobs. Tell your boss it will be done. I will bring him in by morning's time."
The girl bowed, and headed out.
Now-In Ruby's Saloon.
For an hour, Ram had explained everything to Slade and Ruby of who he really was, and at the same time about Bray and Tai-San to Trudy, Amber, and Lex.
"That's all I know." he said looking straight up at them. "Mega was in charge of mostly everything. Where the people we've caught went, equipment…he was a second general to Jay."
"So it really was Mega." Jay shook his head. "When I get back, I'm gonna have a little chat with my good ol' pal."
"We both are. Except you can talk, while I smash his face in." Lex added.
Ignoring Lex comment, Jay spoke to Ram again, "There's something else. Wizard and Stats have kidnapped our friend, Salene. If we turn you in, we don't get to see Salene ever."
"Stats and Wizard." Ram smirked. "Who were they again?"
"They were security guards posted at the entrance of the hotel." Jay thought for a moment. "I think."
"Wait a minute." Slade held up his hand. "They want Ram in exchange for your friend."
A sudden realization overcame him.
"That's why you're here. You've come to take Ram back. Well guess what? It's not happening."
"You're defending him?" Lex smirked. "Do you even know what he's done to the kids back in the city? Do you know of what he's even capable of, or did you go fallen for his lies as well like blondie over here." Lex pointed to Jay.
"Hey!" Jay exclaimed.
"He's told us. But believe me, he has changed. He's helped put this place back together…" Ruby began.
"He's got you tricked! Once your back's turned, he'll shove you down the steps like he did with others." Lex stared menacingly to Ram, who hung his head.
"Yeah, well guess what deputy? This isn't the city, this is my home…and this is my saloon. So, what ever has happened back there in the city no longer matters anymore." Ruby glared at him.
"She's right." Amber spoke up. "This isn't the city, Lex. So, they don't go by the laws of the city."
"But…what about Salene?!"
Ram slid something across the table to Jay. And Jay recognized it well.
"A tracker."
"The suits of the Technos are specially made. I never told anyone this, not even Mega. But I've inserted small chips within the uniforms, that way incase they have no com-links or phasers. Mine specially designed, you'll find Stats and Wizard."
Jay looked up from the device, and a word he never thought he would be saying to Ram had escaped his lips.
"Thanks."
Amber and Trudy looked up to him surprised. As for Lex, his attention came across the bounty hunter standing silently and still by the entrance.
The way he unfolded his arms slowly is the reason why Lex looked over to him.
He was facing outside…
"Game time." the bounty hunter said.
All eyes were on him.
"What's wrong?" Ruby asked.
"Blood in the air. Someone has come," he turned to the group, "Possibly an assassin."
"You know this?" Amber asked. "How?"
"You should know." he said rather almost like a remark to her.
Amber raised an eyebrow to the bounty hunter. He had offended her, and she didn't know why.
But why was it that he looked so familiar?
That's when she saw the sword strapped to his back as he turned to head out.
Knight had a sword like that, she thought.
"Hey wait a minute!" Lex called to the bounty hunter. "Who the heck are you?"
The bounty hunter stopped, then looked over his shoulder peering through the shadow of the rims of his hat at Lex.
"I mean, I'd like to know who you are so I can find you and have a little spar. If you don't mind that is."
"….Blade." the bounty hunter answered, then headed out of the saloon.
Lex's eyes went wide, but his were not the only one.
"Blade." Lex said for a moment. "Oh my god. That was the legendary bounty hunter. Cowboy Blade!"
Everyone just stared in shock.
"I've heard about him." Slade spoke up.
Just never thought he was real, he thought, who couldn't think he wasn't real?!
"Well well. Look what we got ourselves here." came the voice of a tall boy dressed up in tight black leather.
His face was covered in a sad Drama mask in black and white.
"A clown from hell," Blade said.
The assassin nodded. "Some call me that. The name's Over the Edge, or just Edge for sort. And I take it you can guess why they call me that. But incase you don't, I'm Over the Edge cause I'm one complete extreme psycho. Also the best assassin in the city."
"I heard of you." Blade spoke again. "I thought you were bigger."
Edge looked dumbfounded for a moment.
"Oh! You mean those rumors. Eh, everybody makes everything up. What about you, Cowboy? Who are you suppose to be?" Edge asked curiously.
"…"
"Hmm. Zoot's messenger didn't tell me they hired a silent bodyguard. But this is gonna be way more easy…but much more fun since I get to kill any who get in my way."
"Zoot. So he lives."
"Not like it's any of your business! Since you die, NOW!!"
Edge tossed something towards Blade. A double-bladed boomerang with the center handle the size of his hand.
His special weapon.
The bladed boomerang came at Blade's face, but incredibly the bounty hunter dodged the weapon.
The bladed boomerang came around again, heading back to Blade.
But suddenly, the bounty hunter stepped to the side again and the boomerang went in circles around the hilt of his sword.
What the, thought the assassin.
Suddenly, the double-bladed boomerang was swinging right back at its beholder, coming in faster than before.
Edge's eyes went wide in horror, feeling that if the boomerang came any closer that it would slice his head right open.
He prevented it as he thrust his hand out and stopped the boomerang by grabbing its handle.
It was enough of a distraction for Cowboy Blade to rush the assassin and send a flying kick to his painted face.
The assassin flew back along with his weapon against a large tree planted in the center of the town.
Blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, Edge looked up to the bounty hunter.
One thing was clear now. He came unprepared for this mission. And because of his unprepared situation, he failed to get the job done.
"Never cross paths with me again." Blade threatened.
"Oh, but we will meet again." Edge laughed through the pain. "But next time, you won't be so lucky."
With that, Edge quickly grabbed his double-bladed boomerang and retreated away out of Liberty.
"Ha ha ha." Blade heard a laughter from the shack of the Saloon.
"I guess that clown was no mere match for you, Cowboy Blade." mysteriously spoke his motorbike. "I would've like to see you use that sword of yours. It's been so long since you've used it in combat."
"That's quiet enough." Blade spoke back to his motorbike.
"Oh fine. What do I know? I'm just an old piece of junk that's been carrying your butt around for the last couple of years now and…" There was a slight pause. "Someone's here."
"I know." Blade said.
The Zoot-look-alike girl's eyes went wide when she saw the bounty hunter looking in her direction.
She made a move to run off like Edge had done, but something had blocked her way.
It was Cowboy Blade.
But how did he move so fast to get in front of her?!
Edge
Four shadows crept into the town of Liberty. None acknowledged their presence, thinking they were just kids looking to get away from the city life for awhile or just for good.
The four came to a the saloon titled Ruby's.
"So this is the place." one of them said.
It looked closed, but the same who had spoken was not one to be with patients, and slammed the door of the entrance open.
The others tried to call him back, but he was already inside, and a dark arm was wrapped tightly around his throat.
In seconds, the lights came on. Ruby, Slade, and Ram watched along with Amber, Jay, and Trudy standing by the entrance as Lex was held in the tight grip of the mysterious bounty hunter.
It was only a few seconds, and already Lex's face was already turning blue from the lack of oxygen.
"Wait!" Ruby cried. "Let him go."
Obliging his new boss's order, the bounty hunter/guard of the saloon let go of Lex, and the deputy sheriff bent over coughing and breathing for air as Trudy patted his back.
Amber looked apologetic to the girl. "I'm very sorry about all this. But Lex is very hard to control sometimes."
"Then keep him on a leash." Ruby scowled.
Her remark had earned a chuckle from Slade and Ram, and even Jay.
"I think that might not be a good idea next time." Lex muttered as he rubbed the redness of his neck.
The bounty hunter stood with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Hell of a grip there, mate." Lex complemented the dark hunter. "Cool hat if I might add."
The bounty hunter said nothing in reply.
"Hi Jay."
Everyone but the bounty hunter turned to see Ram, his hair no longer in gelled horns, this time just as it was in the Paradise system.
Jay could only give him a cold stare, a stare that Ram mirrored. "Hello Ram."
Slade looked back and forth to Ram and Jay. That's when he noticed that Jay was wearing the same outfit as…
"Ram." Slade looked down at his friend. "Leader of the Technos…"
"EX-leader." Ram corrected, not taking his eyes away from the Mallrats.
"So, you're alive." Jay said rather blankly.
"Yeah. Guess the Powers That Be gave me a second chance in life to smell the roses." Ram sighed.
Jay blinked in surprise. The Ram he knew would never say something like that, even if he was acting.
Ram didn't believe in anything or anyone but the power of technology.
"So, you say you changed?" Jay asked.
Ram was about to speak, until he looked up at the bounty hunter and remembered his words from this morning.
"Actions are stronger than words, Jay. And I do regret my…"
"Just save it!" Jay hissed. "I don't believe you, Ram. I will never believe a word you say! You killed my brother, you killed this man's wife," Jay pointed to Lex, "And you killed a friend close like a brother and a husband to these two women," he then pointed to Trudy and Amber.
Ram didn't say anything back. He only looked to the Mallrats who shared together the anguish and pain caused by him in the past.
But…dead?
"There's a difference between being deleted and being dead, Jay. First off, Bray and Tai-San are not dead." Ram revealed.
Amber gasped as Trudy and Lex looked on in disbelief.
"You mean…they're alive?" Lex asked.
"Of course. Just relocated." Ram admitted. "We were looking for the two people who knew of the ingredients of the antidote for the virus, and we found them. Tai-San's our medical advisor, and Bray is our…new general."
"Then where are they?" Amber demanded.
Ram shook his head. "I don't know. Mega was in charge of…"
"Mega?!" Lex cried.
Ram nodded, lookind oddly to Lex.
And Jay seemed to know why.
"I told you, didn't I?" Lex looked to Jay. "I told you we couldn't trust him!"
"Wait a minute!" Ruby held up her hands. "Could everybody take a breather here and tell those who don't know this what's going on?! And why are the Mallrats in my Saloon?!"
Then-One hour ago in the city.
The Zoot-look-alike girl opened the door in the alley covered in graffiti and walked into the darkened room.
"Hello?" she called. Her voice only echoed, but there was no other at present.
He must be gone, she thought.
She began to close the door and head out, until she heard a strange hissing the sound.
A hissing sound of a sword scratching gently against the wall.
"Nice outfit. What do you want?" came a male Maori voice.
She jumped at the sound of his voice, then looked around the dark room.
"Are-are you an…assassin?" she asked nervously.
"…guess you could say that." the Maori voice spoke again.
"My master, Mighty Zoot himself says he has a job for you. He says it's to return the dept."
The voice as silent for a moment. Until she heard, "Yeah, I remember him. So the bugger's alive. What does he want me to do?"
"He says to go to the town of Liberty. There, you will find a person called Ram, a boy who can't walk. You are to bring him to Zoot, alive. If you find it impossible to do that, then Zoot says to drive the information for the code of Ragnarok out of him then kill him. There must also be no witnesses."
The voice suddenly let out an eerie laugh. One that could possibly haunt her in her nightmares.
"Ah. Only Zoot can grant me the best of jobs. Tell your boss it will be done. I will bring him in by morning's time."
The girl bowed, and headed out.
Now-In Ruby's Saloon.
For an hour, Ram had explained everything to Slade and Ruby of who he really was, and at the same time about Bray and Tai-San to Trudy, Amber, and Lex.
"That's all I know." he said looking straight up at them. "Mega was in charge of mostly everything. Where the people we've caught went, equipment…he was a second general to Jay."
"So it really was Mega." Jay shook his head. "When I get back, I'm gonna have a little chat with my good ol' pal."
"We both are. Except you can talk, while I smash his face in." Lex added.
Ignoring Lex comment, Jay spoke to Ram again, "There's something else. Wizard and Stats have kidnapped our friend, Salene. If we turn you in, we don't get to see Salene ever."
"Stats and Wizard." Ram smirked. "Who were they again?"
"They were security guards posted at the entrance of the hotel." Jay thought for a moment. "I think."
"Wait a minute." Slade held up his hand. "They want Ram in exchange for your friend."
A sudden realization overcame him.
"That's why you're here. You've come to take Ram back. Well guess what? It's not happening."
"You're defending him?" Lex smirked. "Do you even know what he's done to the kids back in the city? Do you know of what he's even capable of, or did you go fallen for his lies as well like blondie over here." Lex pointed to Jay.
"Hey!" Jay exclaimed.
"He's told us. But believe me, he has changed. He's helped put this place back together…" Ruby began.
"He's got you tricked! Once your back's turned, he'll shove you down the steps like he did with others." Lex stared menacingly to Ram, who hung his head.
"Yeah, well guess what deputy? This isn't the city, this is my home…and this is my saloon. So, what ever has happened back there in the city no longer matters anymore." Ruby glared at him.
"She's right." Amber spoke up. "This isn't the city, Lex. So, they don't go by the laws of the city."
"But…what about Salene?!"
Ram slid something across the table to Jay. And Jay recognized it well.
"A tracker."
"The suits of the Technos are specially made. I never told anyone this, not even Mega. But I've inserted small chips within the uniforms, that way incase they have no com-links or phasers. Mine specially designed, you'll find Stats and Wizard."
Jay looked up from the device, and a word he never thought he would be saying to Ram had escaped his lips.
"Thanks."
Amber and Trudy looked up to him surprised. As for Lex, his attention came across the bounty hunter standing silently and still by the entrance.
The way he unfolded his arms slowly is the reason why Lex looked over to him.
He was facing outside…
"Game time." the bounty hunter said.
All eyes were on him.
"What's wrong?" Ruby asked.
"Blood in the air. Someone has come," he turned to the group, "Possibly an assassin."
"You know this?" Amber asked. "How?"
"You should know." he said rather almost like a remark to her.
Amber raised an eyebrow to the bounty hunter. He had offended her, and she didn't know why.
But why was it that he looked so familiar?
That's when she saw the sword strapped to his back as he turned to head out.
Knight had a sword like that, she thought.
"Hey wait a minute!" Lex called to the bounty hunter. "Who the heck are you?"
The bounty hunter stopped, then looked over his shoulder peering through the shadow of the rims of his hat at Lex.
"I mean, I'd like to know who you are so I can find you and have a little spar. If you don't mind that is."
"….Blade." the bounty hunter answered, then headed out of the saloon.
Lex's eyes went wide, but his were not the only one.
"Blade." Lex said for a moment. "Oh my god. That was the legendary bounty hunter. Cowboy Blade!"
Everyone just stared in shock.
"I've heard about him." Slade spoke up.
Just never thought he was real, he thought, who couldn't think he wasn't real?!
"Well well. Look what we got ourselves here." came the voice of a tall boy dressed up in tight black leather.
His face was covered in a sad Drama mask in black and white.
"A clown from hell," Blade said.
The assassin nodded. "Some call me that. The name's Over the Edge, or just Edge for sort. And I take it you can guess why they call me that. But incase you don't, I'm Over the Edge cause I'm one complete extreme psycho. Also the best assassin in the city."
"I heard of you." Blade spoke again. "I thought you were bigger."
Edge looked dumbfounded for a moment.
"Oh! You mean those rumors. Eh, everybody makes everything up. What about you, Cowboy? Who are you suppose to be?" Edge asked curiously.
"…"
"Hmm. Zoot's messenger didn't tell me they hired a silent bodyguard. But this is gonna be way more easy…but much more fun since I get to kill any who get in my way."
"Zoot. So he lives."
"Not like it's any of your business! Since you die, NOW!!"
Edge tossed something towards Blade. A double-bladed boomerang with the center handle the size of his hand.
His special weapon.
The bladed boomerang came at Blade's face, but incredibly the bounty hunter dodged the weapon.
The bladed boomerang came around again, heading back to Blade.
But suddenly, the bounty hunter stepped to the side again and the boomerang went in circles around the hilt of his sword.
What the, thought the assassin.
Suddenly, the double-bladed boomerang was swinging right back at its beholder, coming in faster than before.
Edge's eyes went wide in horror, feeling that if the boomerang came any closer that it would slice his head right open.
He prevented it as he thrust his hand out and stopped the boomerang by grabbing its handle.
It was enough of a distraction for Cowboy Blade to rush the assassin and send a flying kick to his painted face.
The assassin flew back along with his weapon against a large tree planted in the center of the town.
Blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, Edge looked up to the bounty hunter.
One thing was clear now. He came unprepared for this mission. And because of his unprepared situation, he failed to get the job done.
"Never cross paths with me again." Blade threatened.
"Oh, but we will meet again." Edge laughed through the pain. "But next time, you won't be so lucky."
With that, Edge quickly grabbed his double-bladed boomerang and retreated away out of Liberty.
"Ha ha ha." Blade heard a laughter from the shack of the Saloon.
"I guess that clown was no mere match for you, Cowboy Blade." mysteriously spoke his motorbike. "I would've like to see you use that sword of yours. It's been so long since you've used it in combat."
"That's quiet enough." Blade spoke back to his motorbike.
"Oh fine. What do I know? I'm just an old piece of junk that's been carrying your butt around for the last couple of years now and…" There was a slight pause. "Someone's here."
"I know." Blade said.
The Zoot-look-alike girl's eyes went wide when she saw the bounty hunter looking in her direction.
She made a move to run off like Edge had done, but something had blocked her way.
It was Cowboy Blade.
But how did he move so fast to get in front of her?!