Chapter 3
On a Rail
A/N Wow! After reading so many stories with ransoms on reviews, I was expecting like 1 over the next month. Yet I got 7 already! Hoo-rah!!
Sorry for the delay, it was a combination of college, research, overbearing work schedule, idiot brothers, writers block (two hours on a paragraph.), huge english essays, tests, and .hack//outbreak.
Okay, mainly it was .hack//Outbreak. Go figure.
I'm trying to make Jet more Jet-like, and Clive more Clive-like, so hopefully they'll be in character within a chapter or two.
I'm a bit relieved, however, that no one noticed that blunder I made in chapter 2. Of course, if you didn't find it, I won't bring it up! Ha ha!
Okay, so it was during the conversation with Clive. It turns out that Jet did, in fact, mention Maya wanting a gem. So I think I'll go fix that.
And I think I might put Maya with Gallows. Reading Hypes' story made me think of the two together (don't know why) and I think it would be absolutely hilarious.
Hypes: Well, the drifters are basically the outlaws and hawks rolled into one, so technically they're there. Baskars, however- I don't know yet! I'll see if I can throw Asgard in somewhere along the line. (What do you mean, Gallows is Asgard? I don't get it..) As for the nazi law, it's more of a hippie conspiracy. You see, they hate materialistic people, and that defines Maya. So they threatened me with Cumbayas and daisies until I gave in. As to a western theme. I guess I can see it. It's gonna get sci- fi-like at the end though, but only slightly. (The Filgaia Theory and the Ark will be involved.)
The Black Gryphon: I read your bio about the retirement, and I feel that I'm gonna miss out on some great writing, now. If only I came here earlier!! Anyvay, you're right about those other heroines. (I also forgot Rinoa. how stupid of me!) I'm just peeved about the whole 'Hot Pants' Yuna thing. Grr. As for new chapters, I can try to get one out either weekly or bi-weekly. I can only access the net on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Teefa85: There's nothing wrong with laptops. I've done everything on mine for the last year or so, and I love the freedom of it. Then again, someone sat on it and I'm typing through a mess of blue liquid crystal stains. I kinda assumed that no one would be upset by the J/M thing, but thanks for the reassurance/advice!!
Kanon, Teh Bored Person: You're technically half-right. (They're both VERY important in the story.) I can't elaborate any more than that. Sorry!
aya-yahiko: I'm glad you enjoyed it! And, uh, are you okay? It seems that you got trampled by those 3 or 4 J/M fans.
On the entertainment front, Kill Bill, Quentin Tarantino's new film, is, according to Lucy Liu, influenced by anime and spaghetti westerns. Hm. What else do we know like that? I'll give you a hint: You're reading about it.
And I still don't own Wild Arms. Besides, I'm going to take over Square- Enix once I finish my Business major.
Okay, on with the story!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
I was finally able to get a ticket to Midland Station on April 3rd. The Ark of Justice had shut down the railways for a while, all because of a supposed threat to 'world security.' Of course, that can mean three things: there was a terrorist threat on the trains; the Ark wanted to subdue a planned protest against it; or they were trying to cover something up. It doesn't matter to me, really. Either way, I'm gonna miss Maxwell Rose by the time I switch trains and buy another ticked at Midland to get to Boot Hill. I really wish I'd kept one of those Oroborus fangs.
Sunset Peak was swamped with desperate travelers who wanted nothing more than to get away from this hellish continent. The only hints of civilization are Gunner's Heaven and this station, and yet they are days apart. So, after being beaten in the battle arena and then wandering the desert for a week, tensions among ticket-goers are running high. This whole thing is one shove or push away from erupting into a bloodbath. And as fun as that would be, I really have to get to Boot Hill as fast as possible. Rose moves fast, or at least real stealthily, so every second counts. After a three hour wait for boarding, my train was finally underway.
Great, I'm stuck behind some tall jerk, and he's wearing a ten-gallon hat, too! I don't like to admit it very often, but I am short. I'm talking five-foot-four, here. So this six-footer in front of me is completely obscuring my vision of the seating map. All I want to do is find where seat E12-11C is, and then go to sleep, damn it! Who is this chump, anyway? He smells like a wet cow.
It turns out I was on the wrong car anyway. They stuck me somewhere in second-class, even though I'd paid first-class fare. Oh well, anything is better than Gunner's Heaven. I finally found section E12, squeezed into the back of car 8. That's good, because I hate getting stuck in the middle seats. It's easier to escape from back here, just in case. There's row 9, row 10, ah, row 11! Seat C is on the inside, though. So, I'll jump out of the window if I have to, no problem.
Oh, no. It's that tall jerk from before. He's in the seat next to mine.
"Move it. I have to get in."
I had this feeling that I should have just leapt through the window. And my instincts are usually right.
"Hey, it's you, punk! How ya been?" The freak gave me a huge grin, his white lips blending in with his teeth.
"Carradine?! Damn, this is going to be a long trip."
"Come on, sit down! We're gonna have fun, me and you! Ha ha!"
I glanced nervously at him as I slid past into my seat. If I jump now, I might be able to catch the next train.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
Three hours into the train ride, we emerged from the tunnel under the sand ocean. Gallows was becoming increasingly annoying; pestering me to trade anecdotes of our captures and kills. He still didn't believe that I'm Jet Enduro, though. I looked out the window, and therefore away from Gallows grating rendition of 'Home on the Range'. One of the nice things about returning to Midland is the greenery. This was one of the few areas on Filgaia that wasn't covered with deserts and badlands. It sure was much easier to travel over.
Suddenly the train rocked violently, cutting off Carradine mid-verse, and then it started to tip onto its side. My side! Quickly I leapt up and planted my feet against the wall that was seconds away from becoming the floor, and just in time. Three incredibly large men came crashing down out of their seats across the aisle, crushing that inept fool Gallows underneath, who still had no clue as to what was happening. I saw his hand twitching from underneath the unconscious men. I whipped out my Airget- lamh and shot out the window above me, and vaulted off of the stack of bodies onto the side, now the roof, of the train.
From my new perch, I could see that the engine car had been completely destroyed, as if it had been ripped to pieces by an explosion. I also saw sacks being tossed out of the bottom of car three. I jumped down and quietly ran over to the third car. Hearing voices, I flattened against the bottom of the train.
"Hurry up, would you two? We still have to lug all this junk around to the front!"
"Sure thing, boss."
"And god damn it, zip up your fly!"
They didn't sound too smart, which was odd, considering the magnitude of the stunt they just pulled. It looks like I can get a nice bounty out of this trip. Once I was certain that no one was near the entrance hole, I quietly slipped inside. I took up a more advantageous position hiding behind an overturned crate. Peeking out from behind the crate, I was able to get a good look at the three brigands. The first one was taller than the rest, but was definitely the least imposing. He was wearing a rather simple outfit, nothing more than a white shirt, tan pants, and comical suspenders. His bearded head was topped with a tiny little hat, probably a one on the gallon scale. If he was any more generic, I would've puked. The next guy wasn't so bad. He, too, had an ordinary get-up, white shirt, suspenders, and jeans. What set him apart was his face. It had a sinister look to it, and the fact that most of it was hidden under a scarf accentuated the look.
However, when I went to look at the third, he was no longer in sight. I leaned out a little further, hoping to see where he went, when something pulled back on my shoulder. I immediately had the Airget-lamh leveled as I spun around to see my would-be assailant. Expecting to see the third member of the attackers, I was shocked to see that idiot Gallows behind, holding his finger up to his lips, in a 'hush' motion. I almost shot him.
"What the hell are you doing!" I whispered, though clearly louder than I should have. Fortunately the robbers didn't hear me.
He took a quick look around his side of the box before he answered. "The blue-haired guy is sitting on this crate! If you kept on peeking around like that, you'd have been right in his line of site!"
I stared at him in disbelief, finding it against all logic that this chump actually saved my ass. Well, I probably could've taken all three of them, but still.
The leader, who by now I'd assumed was the blue-haired one, started barking orders again. "Romero, go look outside, and make sure we ain't got company! Dario, go look in the back again, we might've missed it! And didn't I tell you to zip up your damn fly?!"
They both answered in unison, "Right, boss!", before splitting up. The shadey looking guy went outside; must've been Romero. So that leaves Dario as the cookie-cutter bandit. He leisurely stumbled over to our side of the car. Now that is was two against two, it was time to make my move. As Dario approached my position, I popped up.
"Yo," I muttered as I drove my fist into his chin, sending him flying backward into another crate. I motioned for Gallows to keep an I eye on him when suddenly I felt a searing pain in my arm. Beside me stood their leader, brandishing a nasty blade attached to the end of an ARM, my blood still dripping off of it's tip.
"Yo, yourself, punk," quipped the blue-haired freak. With my good arm, I raised the barrel of the Airget-lamh to his face, and smirked.
"I'd drop that little pig-sticker if I were you." He actually laughed at that. Just as I was about to pull the trigger, something heavy hit me over the head.
"Take that, ya sneaky varmint! Nobody uppercuts Dario an' gets away wit it!" He clubbed me again, and this time my vision faltered for a second.
I looked over to Gallows and yelled "Do something you idiot!" He got up and cocked his modified Coyote ARM, but as he did the scrawny, creepy bandit tackled him into an iron crate, knocking him unconscious. Great, I thought, this'll turn out well. Dario whacked me over the head again, and this time I blacked out. Before I did, though, I heard the leader yell, "Dario, be careful with that thing! Those bastards won't pay for a broken scepter!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
I woke up on a shabby cot in some stone building, my head still pounding with pain. Someone had bandaged my arm up during my blackout, although it still stung like crazy. Something about this place was making me nervous, so I couldn't just lie around. I got out of the cot and stumbled around a bit, my eyes focused on the ground in front of my, and walked over to what I thought was a wall. Without looking up, I put my hand out to rest on it, only to discover that there was no wall there; it was a railing! In my current state, I was unable to shift my balance back, and wound up flopping off of the balcony, landing hard next to the cauldron in the main room. I fell back into unconsciousness.
A/N Guess where ol' Jet is now? I know, this is awfully short considering I haven't updated in a month, but there really isn't much I can add to this chapter. This was mainly an action one, and the next one'll be mostly dialogue. Early renditions of this scene had a crazed Janus clobbering Jet with the Ark Scepter in a cartoonlike fashion, but it worked out better this way. And I know I never actually mentioned Janus or the Ark Scepter by name in this chapter, but you guys probably figured it out by now anyway, huh?
Next Up: River Cascade! The Baskars inform Jet and Gallows of Janus' intents, and the two chase down the Cascade gang! Who will survive?
BTW, once Virginia shows up, there'll be no more 1st person Jet! It'll be 3rd person all the way till the end! So enjoy it while it lasts!
Another BTW: It seems that not only did Bee Train animate Wild Arms 3 and .hack, they also worked a little bit on FLCL! Weird, huh?
A/N Wow! After reading so many stories with ransoms on reviews, I was expecting like 1 over the next month. Yet I got 7 already! Hoo-rah!!
Sorry for the delay, it was a combination of college, research, overbearing work schedule, idiot brothers, writers block (two hours on a paragraph.), huge english essays, tests, and .hack//outbreak.
Okay, mainly it was .hack//Outbreak. Go figure.
I'm trying to make Jet more Jet-like, and Clive more Clive-like, so hopefully they'll be in character within a chapter or two.
I'm a bit relieved, however, that no one noticed that blunder I made in chapter 2. Of course, if you didn't find it, I won't bring it up! Ha ha!
Okay, so it was during the conversation with Clive. It turns out that Jet did, in fact, mention Maya wanting a gem. So I think I'll go fix that.
And I think I might put Maya with Gallows. Reading Hypes' story made me think of the two together (don't know why) and I think it would be absolutely hilarious.
Hypes: Well, the drifters are basically the outlaws and hawks rolled into one, so technically they're there. Baskars, however- I don't know yet! I'll see if I can throw Asgard in somewhere along the line. (What do you mean, Gallows is Asgard? I don't get it..) As for the nazi law, it's more of a hippie conspiracy. You see, they hate materialistic people, and that defines Maya. So they threatened me with Cumbayas and daisies until I gave in. As to a western theme. I guess I can see it. It's gonna get sci- fi-like at the end though, but only slightly. (The Filgaia Theory and the Ark will be involved.)
The Black Gryphon: I read your bio about the retirement, and I feel that I'm gonna miss out on some great writing, now. If only I came here earlier!! Anyvay, you're right about those other heroines. (I also forgot Rinoa. how stupid of me!) I'm just peeved about the whole 'Hot Pants' Yuna thing. Grr. As for new chapters, I can try to get one out either weekly or bi-weekly. I can only access the net on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Teefa85: There's nothing wrong with laptops. I've done everything on mine for the last year or so, and I love the freedom of it. Then again, someone sat on it and I'm typing through a mess of blue liquid crystal stains. I kinda assumed that no one would be upset by the J/M thing, but thanks for the reassurance/advice!!
Kanon, Teh Bored Person: You're technically half-right. (They're both VERY important in the story.) I can't elaborate any more than that. Sorry!
aya-yahiko: I'm glad you enjoyed it! And, uh, are you okay? It seems that you got trampled by those 3 or 4 J/M fans.
On the entertainment front, Kill Bill, Quentin Tarantino's new film, is, according to Lucy Liu, influenced by anime and spaghetti westerns. Hm. What else do we know like that? I'll give you a hint: You're reading about it.
And I still don't own Wild Arms. Besides, I'm going to take over Square- Enix once I finish my Business major.
Okay, on with the story!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------
I was finally able to get a ticket to Midland Station on April 3rd. The Ark of Justice had shut down the railways for a while, all because of a supposed threat to 'world security.' Of course, that can mean three things: there was a terrorist threat on the trains; the Ark wanted to subdue a planned protest against it; or they were trying to cover something up. It doesn't matter to me, really. Either way, I'm gonna miss Maxwell Rose by the time I switch trains and buy another ticked at Midland to get to Boot Hill. I really wish I'd kept one of those Oroborus fangs.
Sunset Peak was swamped with desperate travelers who wanted nothing more than to get away from this hellish continent. The only hints of civilization are Gunner's Heaven and this station, and yet they are days apart. So, after being beaten in the battle arena and then wandering the desert for a week, tensions among ticket-goers are running high. This whole thing is one shove or push away from erupting into a bloodbath. And as fun as that would be, I really have to get to Boot Hill as fast as possible. Rose moves fast, or at least real stealthily, so every second counts. After a three hour wait for boarding, my train was finally underway.
Great, I'm stuck behind some tall jerk, and he's wearing a ten-gallon hat, too! I don't like to admit it very often, but I am short. I'm talking five-foot-four, here. So this six-footer in front of me is completely obscuring my vision of the seating map. All I want to do is find where seat E12-11C is, and then go to sleep, damn it! Who is this chump, anyway? He smells like a wet cow.
It turns out I was on the wrong car anyway. They stuck me somewhere in second-class, even though I'd paid first-class fare. Oh well, anything is better than Gunner's Heaven. I finally found section E12, squeezed into the back of car 8. That's good, because I hate getting stuck in the middle seats. It's easier to escape from back here, just in case. There's row 9, row 10, ah, row 11! Seat C is on the inside, though. So, I'll jump out of the window if I have to, no problem.
Oh, no. It's that tall jerk from before. He's in the seat next to mine.
"Move it. I have to get in."
I had this feeling that I should have just leapt through the window. And my instincts are usually right.
"Hey, it's you, punk! How ya been?" The freak gave me a huge grin, his white lips blending in with his teeth.
"Carradine?! Damn, this is going to be a long trip."
"Come on, sit down! We're gonna have fun, me and you! Ha ha!"
I glanced nervously at him as I slid past into my seat. If I jump now, I might be able to catch the next train.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------
Three hours into the train ride, we emerged from the tunnel under the sand ocean. Gallows was becoming increasingly annoying; pestering me to trade anecdotes of our captures and kills. He still didn't believe that I'm Jet Enduro, though. I looked out the window, and therefore away from Gallows grating rendition of 'Home on the Range'. One of the nice things about returning to Midland is the greenery. This was one of the few areas on Filgaia that wasn't covered with deserts and badlands. It sure was much easier to travel over.
Suddenly the train rocked violently, cutting off Carradine mid-verse, and then it started to tip onto its side. My side! Quickly I leapt up and planted my feet against the wall that was seconds away from becoming the floor, and just in time. Three incredibly large men came crashing down out of their seats across the aisle, crushing that inept fool Gallows underneath, who still had no clue as to what was happening. I saw his hand twitching from underneath the unconscious men. I whipped out my Airget- lamh and shot out the window above me, and vaulted off of the stack of bodies onto the side, now the roof, of the train.
From my new perch, I could see that the engine car had been completely destroyed, as if it had been ripped to pieces by an explosion. I also saw sacks being tossed out of the bottom of car three. I jumped down and quietly ran over to the third car. Hearing voices, I flattened against the bottom of the train.
"Hurry up, would you two? We still have to lug all this junk around to the front!"
"Sure thing, boss."
"And god damn it, zip up your fly!"
They didn't sound too smart, which was odd, considering the magnitude of the stunt they just pulled. It looks like I can get a nice bounty out of this trip. Once I was certain that no one was near the entrance hole, I quietly slipped inside. I took up a more advantageous position hiding behind an overturned crate. Peeking out from behind the crate, I was able to get a good look at the three brigands. The first one was taller than the rest, but was definitely the least imposing. He was wearing a rather simple outfit, nothing more than a white shirt, tan pants, and comical suspenders. His bearded head was topped with a tiny little hat, probably a one on the gallon scale. If he was any more generic, I would've puked. The next guy wasn't so bad. He, too, had an ordinary get-up, white shirt, suspenders, and jeans. What set him apart was his face. It had a sinister look to it, and the fact that most of it was hidden under a scarf accentuated the look.
However, when I went to look at the third, he was no longer in sight. I leaned out a little further, hoping to see where he went, when something pulled back on my shoulder. I immediately had the Airget-lamh leveled as I spun around to see my would-be assailant. Expecting to see the third member of the attackers, I was shocked to see that idiot Gallows behind, holding his finger up to his lips, in a 'hush' motion. I almost shot him.
"What the hell are you doing!" I whispered, though clearly louder than I should have. Fortunately the robbers didn't hear me.
He took a quick look around his side of the box before he answered. "The blue-haired guy is sitting on this crate! If you kept on peeking around like that, you'd have been right in his line of site!"
I stared at him in disbelief, finding it against all logic that this chump actually saved my ass. Well, I probably could've taken all three of them, but still.
The leader, who by now I'd assumed was the blue-haired one, started barking orders again. "Romero, go look outside, and make sure we ain't got company! Dario, go look in the back again, we might've missed it! And didn't I tell you to zip up your damn fly?!"
They both answered in unison, "Right, boss!", before splitting up. The shadey looking guy went outside; must've been Romero. So that leaves Dario as the cookie-cutter bandit. He leisurely stumbled over to our side of the car. Now that is was two against two, it was time to make my move. As Dario approached my position, I popped up.
"Yo," I muttered as I drove my fist into his chin, sending him flying backward into another crate. I motioned for Gallows to keep an I eye on him when suddenly I felt a searing pain in my arm. Beside me stood their leader, brandishing a nasty blade attached to the end of an ARM, my blood still dripping off of it's tip.
"Yo, yourself, punk," quipped the blue-haired freak. With my good arm, I raised the barrel of the Airget-lamh to his face, and smirked.
"I'd drop that little pig-sticker if I were you." He actually laughed at that. Just as I was about to pull the trigger, something heavy hit me over the head.
"Take that, ya sneaky varmint! Nobody uppercuts Dario an' gets away wit it!" He clubbed me again, and this time my vision faltered for a second.
I looked over to Gallows and yelled "Do something you idiot!" He got up and cocked his modified Coyote ARM, but as he did the scrawny, creepy bandit tackled him into an iron crate, knocking him unconscious. Great, I thought, this'll turn out well. Dario whacked me over the head again, and this time I blacked out. Before I did, though, I heard the leader yell, "Dario, be careful with that thing! Those bastards won't pay for a broken scepter!"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
I woke up on a shabby cot in some stone building, my head still pounding with pain. Someone had bandaged my arm up during my blackout, although it still stung like crazy. Something about this place was making me nervous, so I couldn't just lie around. I got out of the cot and stumbled around a bit, my eyes focused on the ground in front of my, and walked over to what I thought was a wall. Without looking up, I put my hand out to rest on it, only to discover that there was no wall there; it was a railing! In my current state, I was unable to shift my balance back, and wound up flopping off of the balcony, landing hard next to the cauldron in the main room. I fell back into unconsciousness.
A/N Guess where ol' Jet is now? I know, this is awfully short considering I haven't updated in a month, but there really isn't much I can add to this chapter. This was mainly an action one, and the next one'll be mostly dialogue. Early renditions of this scene had a crazed Janus clobbering Jet with the Ark Scepter in a cartoonlike fashion, but it worked out better this way. And I know I never actually mentioned Janus or the Ark Scepter by name in this chapter, but you guys probably figured it out by now anyway, huh?
Next Up: River Cascade! The Baskars inform Jet and Gallows of Janus' intents, and the two chase down the Cascade gang! Who will survive?
BTW, once Virginia shows up, there'll be no more 1st person Jet! It'll be 3rd person all the way till the end! So enjoy it while it lasts!
Another BTW: It seems that not only did Bee Train animate Wild Arms 3 and .hack, they also worked a little bit on FLCL! Weird, huh?