The Rival Drifters

In Claiborne, they heard that there was a shield of the Demons was north, in Serpent's Coils. The female Drifter chuckled a bit, she remembered what had happened last time they'd gone to that place. It was like a really freaky coincidence for them to return to that place on the mission to save the world. But they also heard that a second team of Drifters had already gone there, Thinking it was Janus, they followed.

* * *

Although many types of bullet casings were found on the floor, none seemed to come from Janus's bayonet. Someone else had come into the ruins! Someone who wasn't informed about the exact situation the team was facing. Since Janus had spoken of employers, Virginia was sure he was working for someone who was going to usher in the Demons. Whether Janus knew so or not, he was unleashing powerful foes.

When Virginia jumped down to hit a switch, she heard a group of feet approaching. When the girl turned around, she saw a woman looking back at her. The woman had blond hair and blue eyes, and was dressed kind of like how her ancestor, Calamity Jane Maxwell, looked in pictures. But while Jane often wore pink with blue bows, this woman had an orange dress, a red ascot, and a blue bow in her hair. With her were three others: A boy in a green vest and white shirt as well as brown shorts and a goggle hat who looked like her, a man in a red shirt with tan pants as well as blue eyes with hippie purple sunglasses and a brown/black afro, and an orange cat wearing a scarf over his neck and mouth. She stared at the other girl.

"Well," the woman said, "I didn't think a rival team would actually help us. The world does contain strange occurrences now and then. Can a kid like you really handle yourself out here? If you can't, you might as well go home. Cuz the Wasteland will chew you up and spit you out if you're not careful now."

"I can handle it. Do you have the nerve to try me?" asked Virginia in the calmest voice she knew, one that betrayed no emotion inside of it. That was something she learned years ago, to never show a weakness to your opponent. And not to recklessly fire. That was why she held her guns in ready position, not firing on the woman. Misfiring could very well mean your life, as it can often cause you to be swamped by the monsters that hear the sound of gunfire. Or the other could dodge and have her team gang up on the one who attacked her. Virginia's father had taught her all that when she was only a little girl in Boot Hill.

The woman stated, "It seems like you have what it takes. But you're still no match for me. I will let you walk away, just this once. But if you continue to follow me, you're going to regret it. For we are of the Schroedinger family, and not to be trifled with. Now, Schroedingers, move on out." The girl went through the door, followed by the cat and the bodyguard. But the boy stayed behind, and looked at Virginia with his two big eyes. Jet didn't sense him flirting with her, he was only trying to apologize for what the girl had told her.

"Please excuse my sister, she sounds gruff, but in reality she really likes people. She just isn't one to show her emotions a lot. Now I better go, or Sis will yell at me for being late." He then left too. Virginia knew they'd have to catch up. These other Drifters had no idea what they were getting into with all of this.

* * *

Much later on, they ran into the Schroedingers once again. Along the way, however, the blond girl had tried to annoy them by tripping the team up on many occasions. Meaning, she was hitting switches to lock them out of areas, and to make their bridges fall. Virginia wasn't fazed, however, she found a way to get around these things. Without using her wings, it wouldn't do for anyone to see her true form like that.

"I didn't think you'd be stupid enough to follow me," the girl told Virginia, "I guess we're going to have to fight over the artifact in the room up ahead. You see, I already have the Crio Shield, and the Andro Shield is right inside of this building. We're going to be really rich when we find the third one, and sell this Eternal Sparkle in the Black Market. Now then, draw your weapon, girl. By the way, what do they call you, child?"

"My name is Virginia and my partner here is Jet. We don't give out our last names to people like you. These people are Clive Winslett and Gallows Caradine, who we met on a train. Now that you know who we are, who are you?" she asked back. It was always good to try and keep the upper hand in a fight, and just knowing a person's name can sometimes give you what you need. For sometimes, you may know a person by reputation only, and once you meet them you'll know what to do about them in a field of battle.

She replied, "Maya Schroedinger. These guys are my brother, Alfred, our bodyguard, Todd Dukdis, and Shady Thousand, our cat. Now then, Schroedinger Team, let us show these fools what happens when you mess with Maya Schroedinger. You will get burned in the end." Maya then pulled out her pistol, and fired. Virginia did the same thing with both of hers, and could see Clive and Gallows following her lead.

But Jet had another plan. He was casting Cremate on Todd, who they now saw could confuse a person with one blow, and his afro began to smoke. As Todd rushed to put the flames out, Virginia had to heal up Gallows since he didn't know what the heck he was doing while confused. Well, Gallows doesn't know what the heck he is doing most of the time, but that's besides the point. And Maya was freaking.

Virginia Summoned Schurdark with her Medium's power. It washed over the whole Schroedinger team, and caused some major damage. Each person was completely soaked, and not in the mood to fight her anymore. Maya wanted a drycleaners, Alfred was cold, and Shady hated water just like any sane cat. The only good thing to come of it was that Todd's afro stopped burning, and the bodyguard wasn't injured.

Maya was fuming. "That's it, now you'll face my full fury." She pulled out a book, which plain made Virginia think the woman had gone nutso. What good would a book do in battle. It wasn't as if it was the textbooks she read as a child in training, stuff like "Crest Sorcery For Dummies", but a novel about a mage.

"Sis," whispered Alfred, "The second team is almost there, we've got to get going before they can make it to the artifact. We can fight against these Drifters later if you so wish to do so." He began to cower again, scared of Maya's wrath. Virginia understood him, she'd done the same when her father was arguing with Leehalt Alchest. Those two had some loud arguments that literally could scare a person to death.

The Schroedingers left. Virginia wondered what was up with them, why did they go so fast? If the "Second Team" was one they were tracking, wouldn't that team be on her side? Or could they just know of a third band of Drifters who had infiltrated the ruins to find the shield. It just had to be Janus, she knew it.

- - - -

Teefa's Last Words…

Love my Crest Sorcery for Dummies joke? That's a whole series of books, so I thought it would be a funny reference. Man I'm hungry. I usually don't stay up to two in the morning and need to have a little more energy. I was too upset to sleep, my sis took my time on the computer to do some work, even though she'd been in the room when I said I'd do it that night. She had it the previous night.