Suspects Located

About a month after these events, the Blazing Guns had visited every town on the planet again. They even made it up to Ballack Rise with the help of Jessica's Wind Manipulation. She tried to teach Vincent how to use the technique in order to relive the strain, but it was no use. He only seemed to call upon his Shamanic powers when the team was in danger and he had to protect his friends. It was a good thing for them, but also a drawback in his education. Basically, she'd vegged for an entire week after that incident. But on the bright side of things, they now could travel there instantly using the Teleport Orb.

Finally, they were back in the Jolly Roger area; looking for clues. Suddenly, a pair of shots rang out. They turned and saw four cloaked figures running away from somewhere. Two were only about two inches taller than Jessica, one was not quite six feet, and the final one towered over that mark. As the group ran off, a man limped by with a wounded arm. It appeared to have been grazed by a small bullet.

"What happened to you?" inquired Jessica, "And who were those people in cloaks that we just saw?" She was already applying some Heal Berries to the wound. Lucky for him it was not a serious one. To the young woman it almost seemed as if the shot that injured him was made to simply stun the man.

"They were the group that murdered Lamium. All four of them wore cloaks to keep from being recognized when they entered town. However, the tall one took his hood down when he was flirting with a saloon girl. I immediately knew who they were and ran to apprehend them. But that woman, the one who leads them, she shot me in the arm. I'm lucky that her aim was off or I'd be dead," the man stated.

Jessica finished the healing and told him, "Don't worry, we'll go and get them for you. Nobody can mess with me and make it through alive. Besides, we're kind of low on cash and I know that the reward money will be a good addition to the team's wallet. Blazing Guns, let's get ready for action."

The team all nodded at Jessica's words. Then, they were off. It wasn't long before they found the enemy taking a breather since there were no more Drifters around. It would be easy to simply sneak around the back and kill them outright. Jessica, however, was never known for her stealth. She ran in towards their resting place; swinging her sword around and screaming. That got the gang's attention.

The woman of the group, who was one of the two shorter members, got out her pistols. "Ok gang. Let's use the same strategy we use when dueling with Maya and her gang. Split up and each take on one of the opponents. That way, we can finish this at our own pace. But remember the team promise."

With a nod from the three males, the fugitives ran at the Blazing Guns. Lyla found herself up against the leader of the gang. Laura had the tallest of the men, and Vincent the second tallest. That left the shortest young man with Jessica. She smirked; now to show him the true power of her Dragonflare.

As the four groups squared off, they all found themselves separated from one another. Jessica had chased the boy towards the edge of the land bridge to Midland Station. She ran at him with her sword drawn; ready to use Slash Party. Frisky prepared to strike in case her mistress was in any real danger. But the boy quickly drew his ARM and fired a barrage of six shots. They hit her in the shoulder blade and knocked her away from her attack. Jessica cursed wildly. Never had anyone gotten the drop on her like this. Even Leehalt's attack had been a counter that nobody had any idea he could achieve.

"If you turn tail and run," the boy began, "I won't have to hurt you. It's a waste of ammo to deal with a kid like you and my leader refuses to let me kill. So, I have no intention to slay you because I know I'll get Hell when I return to the group. But if you insist on fighting, Iwill makeyou live to regret this act."

Once more he fired upon her; this time hitting her other shoulder. Jessica dropped Dragonflare and began to wail in pain. But when he brought his ARM up for a third time, she was sure she saw a flash of black, red, and silver. Weren't those the colors on the Airget-lamh she was trying to find? The ARM used by the Council of Seven's android? The one link that she had to find her father and brother?

But she let it all slip as she dodged his attack. This time, Frisky tried to jump the boy and bite into his left arm. However, he was skilled enough to fight a monster so he simply knocked her away. Did he not want to hurt her pet? Or was he so conceited that he believed such a creature would waste his ammo to fire upon it? Either way she was grateful for him sparing Frisky's life. Well, it would've been his curse.

Just then, another barrage of fire knocked her to the ground. Jessica's eyes had been closed by the sheer force of the blow, and the konk on her head. When she opened them, she saw the boy was standing over her with his ARM drawn out. It was aimed at her neck. But now that she saw it closer, the young priestess could plainly see that it was the ARM she was searching for. A silver colored weapon cased in black with red edgings and leather straps holding it all together. If she focused her power into the weapon she could clearly feel a force greater than herself or her magic at work through it. It was like an act of fate had delivered the young man into her hands. Now she would get the answers she needed.

"I can't believe it. After all these months of searching, you walk right up to me…Adam Kadmon. Now tell me, where is my father? And what has become of my brother?" inquired Jessica. The boy was clearly shaken by those words and stepped backwards. With the ARM off of her neck the girl got back up.

He demanded, "How do you know that name? I never use it when I introduce myself, it's not on the Wanted posters, and I myself didn't know it until recently. And how the hell would I know about your brother and old man when I don't even have memories that stretch back before I woke up in Little Rock?"

Jessica stepped forward. "But you do know. You are the last clue I have towards them. I know all about how the Council of Seven created you. So start talking! Give me the whereabouts of my father and brother before I have to resort to something drastic." She hoped her bluff would work. This boy was a much better fighter than she herself. If she could keep him on the defensive then she could defeat him.

"And I said I don't know!" he yelled back, "What part of that don't you understand kid?"

"Well then, I guess we'll have to do this the hard way. I will have to drag you back to my mother for interrogation. And if she grills me for information with a sharp tongue, I'd hate to see what she'd do to you when you are withholding this specific knowledge," Jessica replied. With that, she began to call all four of the elements towards her. They formed a ball of pure energy that embodied all aspects of life on the planet. The energy was shot out at the youth before her, and he was enclosed within its borders. But Jessica forgot to take his Filgaian powers into account. They began to reroute the energy until it had caged her as well. However, without Jessica's concentration to keep it under control, it began to rage.

Teefa's Last Words...

Ouch is right. Jessica didn't think ahead again. Now she and Jet are in trouble. But with her trapped and Jet having no knowledge of what to do to release or control it, who will save them? You'll see next time.