There's a D10 (if you don't know what that is, good for you!) sitting
on my desk- for an instant, I had a sudden urge to try and eat it.
Apparently it's possible to occasionally lose powers of ten from your
age.
Disclaimer: He didn't eat it.
Rise of the Silver Stars
Chapter 16: We Want You for the Gunsmoke Cavalry
The moment of brevity was long past. It had been an excellent release- she couldn't remember the last time she had laughed. It just felt so good to forget for a few seconds everything that had happened or might happen and just laugh at something silly and childish. Now, the grim truth of things was back, and she was in very serious trouble. Not only was she now on the run, she was also boxed in the city. The Cavalry, something she usually trusted to be a force for the good of all was now an almost insurmountable obstacle standing between her and... what, exactly? It was a good question. Assuming she could evade everyone after her skin, what would happen next?
The only saving grace Vash had to protect him was that nobody had ever managed to get a good picture of him. No blurry lenses or thumbs over the shutters were to blame- he just appeared as a complete idiot in every single picture. Even when she had once pointed to a picture of him and said quite clearly that the picture was, indeed, of Vash the Stampede, nobody believed it. A crying man running wildly with a doughnut in each hand and the rest of the box stuffed in his cheeks was not how people pictured the Humanoid Typhoon. Oh no, in their minds he was a ten foot high hell lord who sucked the brains of his victims through a straw. Anonymity was bliss.
She, on the other hand, had no such luck. There must be nearly a dozen official picture IDs of her between Bernardelli and the government office, and plenty of people who knew they weren't fakes. She was also fairly sure that they had a mugshot of her, but most of the prison formalities were a jumbled blur due to her mentally spastic state at the time. Of course, the newspaper had managed to pre-empt every official channel and had a nice, big image of her being led from the prison to the courthouse in a special midday edition. Her "dramatic and daring escape" had been only five hours ago, six tops. In another hour or so, everyone in the city would know exactly what she looked like. She took some pleasure from smudging up the front of the December Daily while tweaking the only other item on the sheet to fit in with the rest of the story on it. "Tomorrow's Weather: High tempers with bullets from the north-northeast at 200 iles per hour."
She dismissed the one-page edition with an irritated huff that sent it scuttling to the floor, to land at the foot of the one wildcard in her otherwise dismal hand- Rai-dei the Blade. She could believe he was part of the Gung-ho Guns back in Augusta with ease. After all, the skill he had shown in dispatching the Nebraskas and in their own subsequent getaway placed him squarely in that class. What she couldn't be sure of were his motivations and true allegiance. He purported to be following Vash's philosophy now, but the degree to which Knives would make plans was without limit. There was a very real possibility he was another Wolfwood, sent to befriend and keep tabs on her until such time as the orders changed. Thus was the nature of this wildcard- he could guard her or gut her, and change in a moment. However, the simple fact was that she needed him now.
Right now, the December Lawmen and the Gunsmoke Cavalry were searching the city for her. With their combined manpower, there was enough to not only keep the city encircled, but to sweep right across it. Marianne was being an ear, having tinkered with Sara's kitchen radio until it could receive the military bands. She was trying to locate any holes in the line they could slip through, but the constant barrage of reports on her impending doom had driven her out of the kitchen. They'd reach this building sometime around midnight, and even if she left for the unsearched portion of the city there would only be another day or so before she was out of space to hide in. That didn't count the vigilantes who had spontaneously sprung up despite the martial law clampdown, who were active pretty much everywhere. The radio was beginning to seriously bug her with each new report of a clear area, as the forces of law and order tightened around her like a noose. She rapidly shook her head to toss out the thought- no thinking of gallows, or firing squads, or... Dammit. She needed something else to think about, and she needed it now.
"I need a distraction."
"I do not believe that such a tactic would be of use. The skill and speed with which the enemy is moving-"
"Not that kind of distraction. I need something else to think about."
"The task at hand should be the sole focus of your energies if you are to survive. To waste time on other matters is foolishness. Indeed-"
This time he was cut off by two fingers to his lips that appeared to gently hold them shut, though the person doing the maneuver might be crushing them if she was anything like her little sister in the strength department. In any case, Sara had shut him up.
"So, are you planning on getting married to Vash?"
"What?" That took her off guard. Come to think of it, that was the next logical step for their relationship... Things had just been so hectic that it never crossed her mind. They had already been together, more or less, for years. The recent intimacy just grew out of that so naturally that marriage seemed insignificant- not that Gunsmoke was bursting with married couples to begin with. It was a luxury of civilization, brought along from Earth all those years ago, and on this hunk of rock it was one many people simply never bothered with. It occurred to her that since Vash had been born back on the original ships, he would probably insist on it. The only mystery was why he hadn't suggested it to her already. Wait, wasn't a marriage accompanied with a big party? That would be expensive...
"Well, I never really thought about it before now... I guess I'll have to talk with him about it."
"Forgive me, but you don't seem very enthusiastic about the idea."
"It's just that beyond a change of name and a tax break, there doesn't seem to be much to-"
"Don't say such things!" Sara's voice took on a pained edge, and her eyes watered slightly. "I know marriage isn't widespread like in the old days, but to me and Richard it's very important. Back in my old hometown, one of the few things we had was the traditions we brought from Earth, so we've always placed a lot more value on such things than most other places. It hurts a bit to hear people not place such value in something that deserves it."
"I'm sorry, I didn't know."
"Well, then I'll tell you what it means to me, and then you'll know! To me, marriage means a promise to remain with someone forever. It creates a link that can't be broken by time or distance, and it lets love transcend even death. I don't even think we have the right words yet to express just how incredible it is... And it gives the couple a physical token to represent all those feelings, to remind them that they're never alone no matter what happens."
"It sounds wonderful." A thought crossed her mind then- "A physical token? Is that why Milly keeps the Cross Punisher with her?" Surely she hadn't married Wolfwood! Milly would have probably been running all over to announce it if she had, and surely there would have been some activity to mark it- her own limited knowledge on the subject still let her know that you needed a priest to perform the ceremony, and they... Oh. Curiosity began to rage inside her, but given the importance Sara clearly placed on this subject, the going would be touchy. Time to be evasive and hope this Thompson wouldn't find out what she really meant like Milly would.
"So, just what is this physical token?"
"This ring." The elder Thompson held out her hand, and she could see a single silvery ring adorning it. Well, she had never seen anything of the sort on Milly, so that pretty much resolved that. "Richard has one too, and it's good because we're often apart. His work keeps him moving around a lot."
"Moves around a lot? That reminds me of someone I know, though he wanders mostly because he can't ever stay in one place without getting in trouble."
"Vash, right?"
"Yeah."
"I wonder if he's even met Richard, since he moves around taking care of trouble."
"Some sort of charity work?"
"No, he's in the Cavalry. The same unit as my older brother, which was actually how we met in the first place."
"A Thompson in the Cavalry? I don't see that happening."
"Well, we are a rather large family, and his unit isn't exactly what you'd call an ordinary Cavalry regiment. Due to..."
Sara trailed off. The Thompson grin was back, and this time it had a certain spice to it that on Milly meant she was planning something sneaky. Before she could inquire, Sara was up and out, heading for the kitchen. She followed, and Rai-dei followed her. That made twice that he had followed her to a new room, and it pretty much confirmed that he was interested in her. Whether that would be good or bad would all come out in time. For now, she entered the kitchen and glared at the radio as it broadcast yet another report on the Meryl-hunt's progression.
"Which Cavalry regiments are in the city?"
Marianne looked up at them from the city map she was pouring over, and had evidently seen this grin enough to know that a plot was afoot. "The second, fourth, and ninth fast response mounted are around the city, the first and fourth general units are conducting the search, and the third general is covering the sand steamer dock."
Sara's grin grew. "Is there still a clear path to the dock?"
¤ ¤ ¤
There had to be better methods than this. The idea was sound, but it would be a whole lot more likely to work if they could just talk beforehand. As a sheriff, she could simply walk on over and get introductions done before shooting would start. She trusted Sara to know what she was doing, but this was a bit farfetched. However, it was right up her alley in the skills required, and it was their best chance for getting out thus proposed that didn't have a body count attached. She was going outside the law by a wide margin with this, but there were bounds to what she would do, and raising arms against her fellows was one of them.
As they made their way across the city, following the back alleys and unchecked streets, the first part of the plan was working. The armed vigilantes weren't doing more than casting a glance at them, since the three of them looked fairly in place given the situation. A lawman, a cavalry soldier, and another vigilante operating together was actually producing quite a few noticeable looks of relief. Of course, the reality was far from the appearance. The lawman and the vigilante were quite authentic- a cloak of truth, to keep anyone from looking too closely at the cavalry soldier.
Beneath the too-large uniform and hat, the unfortunate source of all this attention was slipping by right under the collective noses of the untrained and unorganized civilians. The disguise was working well, just so long as Meryl didn't get any urges to look around and lift the hat brim. Sara just happened to have a nearly complete Cavalry uniform- a bonus of having her man in the Cavalry. It lacked the sidearm and badges that a fully dressed cavalryman would have, but it still worked against these bumblers.
Their target wasn't far ahead, and that was where the problems were most likely to start. The cliff that the extensive December docking complex was built into loomed above, bathed in the light from the moons. The glow made the multiple parked steamers stand out like ominous dark monoliths. She wasn't one for portents, but that did not bode well. Then again, neither did the appearance of a Gung-ho Gun, former or not. By all rights, she should arrest him on the spot, but circumstance and his own ideals seemed to be punishing him far more than most verdicts.
In any event, the hinge of the entire plan was coming up. The checkpoint at the gate to the sand steamer complex was manned by real Cavalry soldiers- the disguise wouldn't fool them under the sort of scrutiny they were about to receive. If things didn't go well, it could cost her career, or even her life, but it was simply the right thing to do. She had no regrets. Justice was her cause, and she had risked everything for it on a number of occasions. However, being caught between justice and the law was ripping at her badly. Why couldn't things be simple like in the past, and not have the two hand-in-hand forces in a rare moment of opposition?
As their group approached the checkpoint, a soldier came out to meet them. The rifle he carried looked plenty deadly, though he held it gingerly- a fresh recruit? He looked rather old to have just joined, though one could never tell for sure. In any case, she had to get his attention before he noticed that their Cavalry soldier wasn't just a little short for a trooper. As he came closer, she waved him to her.
"This is a restricted area. I'll need to see your orders and identification."
She kept her voice low enough that he was the only one who heard. "We don't have either."
"What? All Cavalry should always have..." He trailed off as he noticed that the 'soldier' with them was rather lacking in more than just stature. She sprang foreward with her next statements, hoping to keep him from getting too worked up.
"Yes, that's not actually a Cavalry member. We're trying to get her to safety, and we've run out of options. I hate to dump this on your feet, but could you please just let us pass?"
Meryl's voice came up from under the wide brimmed hat. "I don't want to die."
The soldier stood there, transfixed. They had used the truth, as it was all they had to use. Their fate was in his hands now. He could shout out and the hail of bullets would start- she might make it out with Rai-dei's help, but that would be it for Meryl. Sunrise wouldn't see her except as a corpse.
"So, you just came here, intending to ask for your life...?"
"Yes." The response floated out from under the hat again. The soldier closed his eyes and nodded, all of a sudden seeming to gain years to his age. He held up a hand and called out.
"They're here to see the commander, open the gate!"
As the hastily erected fence was dragged aside with a great deal of clatter, he muttered out of the side of his mouth. "Go see the commander. He should be up near the Archangel. He'll help you out."
"Thanks, Mr..."
"It doesn't matter. Just go. With luck, we can do introductions later. For now, just stay alive, for those that would be left behind should you die..."
¤ ¤ ¤
They passed through the gate without incident, and were now inside the sand steamer complex. The plan now called for them to stowaway on some steamer, but her sense of duty steered her towards one in particular that cast an especially fearful shadow across the land. All they needed were directions to find it, which she could obtain easily on her own- no need for Meryl to stick her neck out again. They slipped aboard, and she was thankful that security was rather lax for this one. Of course, that might have something to do with the fact that nearly the entire steamer was occupied by the bulk of the 3rd General Regiment of the Gunsmoke Cavalry. They made it to the commander's room without incident, which was odd considering Rai-dei was certainly an unusual sight. Of course, the soldiers were rather motley all around. Variations on the uniform were all over, and several were practically out of uniform completely, regulations or not. This was no way to run a regiment.
She knocked on the door. A voice shouted a "Come in!" through the metal, so she twisted the handle and entered. The commander's room was a reflection of the state of the regiment- quite a mess. A poor orderly was trying to sweep the desk into something that gave a semblance of organization, but without a larger trashcan or filing cabinet the effort was futile. The cat that was pacing across the desk didn't help matters any.
"I'm looking for the regiment commander, do you-"
"Right here."
She squinted at the orderly, then noticed that the rank insignia on his shoulders had way too many bars for an orderly. "You're the commander? No offense, but you look rather... young."
"Yeah, well, with the right determination, support, and a pinch of luck, I was propelled through the ranks and ended up here. Not that things have ever been done quite normally in this regiment!"
He had a good laugh at that. Oddly, it felt like the joke was on her- he looked even younger than herself, and to be commanding a regiment? The upper echelon had to be going a bit daft, or rather, the prior commander of this regiment- they usually choose their successors to keep the regiment command flowing smoothly, but in this case it appeared to have been severely FUBARed. His laughter died down as he looked around to the people behind her, and eyes widened in recognition.
"Meryl Stryfe?"
Legato: The author has grown tired, so I am in command until such time as he returns. This moment seemed the best to end the chapter, as the mystery shall torment you until next time with unsatiable curiosity.
¤shouting drifts in from down the hall¤ Somebody turn off this $%&$#) collar!
Legato: Ignore the voices. You hear nothing.
Reviewer Responses
betsytheripper: The collar seems to have been, er, misplaced. And Legato's theme music was chosen by that person. ¤points in the general direction of Japan¤
coffeetin: I'll set the prozac next to the rest of his meds, now if he'd only take them... And Meryl has her own little group of misfits now, which will undoubtedly prove useful, or at the least entertaining.
cjflutterbye: Knives shall return, never fear! Okay, maybe a little fear would be prudent... In any case, we're still following Meryl around for now, so no Knives just yet.
SapphireWhiteTigress: And thus it plods foreward. The storymobile runs on reviews, without them it grinds to a halt.
Sorian: ¤Rai-dei bursts in¤ They are traditional robes, not pajamas!
Disclaimer: He didn't eat it.
Chapter 16: We Want You for the Gunsmoke Cavalry
The moment of brevity was long past. It had been an excellent release- she couldn't remember the last time she had laughed. It just felt so good to forget for a few seconds everything that had happened or might happen and just laugh at something silly and childish. Now, the grim truth of things was back, and she was in very serious trouble. Not only was she now on the run, she was also boxed in the city. The Cavalry, something she usually trusted to be a force for the good of all was now an almost insurmountable obstacle standing between her and... what, exactly? It was a good question. Assuming she could evade everyone after her skin, what would happen next?
The only saving grace Vash had to protect him was that nobody had ever managed to get a good picture of him. No blurry lenses or thumbs over the shutters were to blame- he just appeared as a complete idiot in every single picture. Even when she had once pointed to a picture of him and said quite clearly that the picture was, indeed, of Vash the Stampede, nobody believed it. A crying man running wildly with a doughnut in each hand and the rest of the box stuffed in his cheeks was not how people pictured the Humanoid Typhoon. Oh no, in their minds he was a ten foot high hell lord who sucked the brains of his victims through a straw. Anonymity was bliss.
She, on the other hand, had no such luck. There must be nearly a dozen official picture IDs of her between Bernardelli and the government office, and plenty of people who knew they weren't fakes. She was also fairly sure that they had a mugshot of her, but most of the prison formalities were a jumbled blur due to her mentally spastic state at the time. Of course, the newspaper had managed to pre-empt every official channel and had a nice, big image of her being led from the prison to the courthouse in a special midday edition. Her "dramatic and daring escape" had been only five hours ago, six tops. In another hour or so, everyone in the city would know exactly what she looked like. She took some pleasure from smudging up the front of the December Daily while tweaking the only other item on the sheet to fit in with the rest of the story on it. "Tomorrow's Weather: High tempers with bullets from the north-northeast at 200 iles per hour."
She dismissed the one-page edition with an irritated huff that sent it scuttling to the floor, to land at the foot of the one wildcard in her otherwise dismal hand- Rai-dei the Blade. She could believe he was part of the Gung-ho Guns back in Augusta with ease. After all, the skill he had shown in dispatching the Nebraskas and in their own subsequent getaway placed him squarely in that class. What she couldn't be sure of were his motivations and true allegiance. He purported to be following Vash's philosophy now, but the degree to which Knives would make plans was without limit. There was a very real possibility he was another Wolfwood, sent to befriend and keep tabs on her until such time as the orders changed. Thus was the nature of this wildcard- he could guard her or gut her, and change in a moment. However, the simple fact was that she needed him now.
Right now, the December Lawmen and the Gunsmoke Cavalry were searching the city for her. With their combined manpower, there was enough to not only keep the city encircled, but to sweep right across it. Marianne was being an ear, having tinkered with Sara's kitchen radio until it could receive the military bands. She was trying to locate any holes in the line they could slip through, but the constant barrage of reports on her impending doom had driven her out of the kitchen. They'd reach this building sometime around midnight, and even if she left for the unsearched portion of the city there would only be another day or so before she was out of space to hide in. That didn't count the vigilantes who had spontaneously sprung up despite the martial law clampdown, who were active pretty much everywhere. The radio was beginning to seriously bug her with each new report of a clear area, as the forces of law and order tightened around her like a noose. She rapidly shook her head to toss out the thought- no thinking of gallows, or firing squads, or... Dammit. She needed something else to think about, and she needed it now.
"I need a distraction."
"I do not believe that such a tactic would be of use. The skill and speed with which the enemy is moving-"
"Not that kind of distraction. I need something else to think about."
"The task at hand should be the sole focus of your energies if you are to survive. To waste time on other matters is foolishness. Indeed-"
This time he was cut off by two fingers to his lips that appeared to gently hold them shut, though the person doing the maneuver might be crushing them if she was anything like her little sister in the strength department. In any case, Sara had shut him up.
"So, are you planning on getting married to Vash?"
"What?" That took her off guard. Come to think of it, that was the next logical step for their relationship... Things had just been so hectic that it never crossed her mind. They had already been together, more or less, for years. The recent intimacy just grew out of that so naturally that marriage seemed insignificant- not that Gunsmoke was bursting with married couples to begin with. It was a luxury of civilization, brought along from Earth all those years ago, and on this hunk of rock it was one many people simply never bothered with. It occurred to her that since Vash had been born back on the original ships, he would probably insist on it. The only mystery was why he hadn't suggested it to her already. Wait, wasn't a marriage accompanied with a big party? That would be expensive...
"Well, I never really thought about it before now... I guess I'll have to talk with him about it."
"Forgive me, but you don't seem very enthusiastic about the idea."
"It's just that beyond a change of name and a tax break, there doesn't seem to be much to-"
"Don't say such things!" Sara's voice took on a pained edge, and her eyes watered slightly. "I know marriage isn't widespread like in the old days, but to me and Richard it's very important. Back in my old hometown, one of the few things we had was the traditions we brought from Earth, so we've always placed a lot more value on such things than most other places. It hurts a bit to hear people not place such value in something that deserves it."
"I'm sorry, I didn't know."
"Well, then I'll tell you what it means to me, and then you'll know! To me, marriage means a promise to remain with someone forever. It creates a link that can't be broken by time or distance, and it lets love transcend even death. I don't even think we have the right words yet to express just how incredible it is... And it gives the couple a physical token to represent all those feelings, to remind them that they're never alone no matter what happens."
"It sounds wonderful." A thought crossed her mind then- "A physical token? Is that why Milly keeps the Cross Punisher with her?" Surely she hadn't married Wolfwood! Milly would have probably been running all over to announce it if she had, and surely there would have been some activity to mark it- her own limited knowledge on the subject still let her know that you needed a priest to perform the ceremony, and they... Oh. Curiosity began to rage inside her, but given the importance Sara clearly placed on this subject, the going would be touchy. Time to be evasive and hope this Thompson wouldn't find out what she really meant like Milly would.
"So, just what is this physical token?"
"This ring." The elder Thompson held out her hand, and she could see a single silvery ring adorning it. Well, she had never seen anything of the sort on Milly, so that pretty much resolved that. "Richard has one too, and it's good because we're often apart. His work keeps him moving around a lot."
"Moves around a lot? That reminds me of someone I know, though he wanders mostly because he can't ever stay in one place without getting in trouble."
"Vash, right?"
"Yeah."
"I wonder if he's even met Richard, since he moves around taking care of trouble."
"Some sort of charity work?"
"No, he's in the Cavalry. The same unit as my older brother, which was actually how we met in the first place."
"A Thompson in the Cavalry? I don't see that happening."
"Well, we are a rather large family, and his unit isn't exactly what you'd call an ordinary Cavalry regiment. Due to..."
Sara trailed off. The Thompson grin was back, and this time it had a certain spice to it that on Milly meant she was planning something sneaky. Before she could inquire, Sara was up and out, heading for the kitchen. She followed, and Rai-dei followed her. That made twice that he had followed her to a new room, and it pretty much confirmed that he was interested in her. Whether that would be good or bad would all come out in time. For now, she entered the kitchen and glared at the radio as it broadcast yet another report on the Meryl-hunt's progression.
"Which Cavalry regiments are in the city?"
Marianne looked up at them from the city map she was pouring over, and had evidently seen this grin enough to know that a plot was afoot. "The second, fourth, and ninth fast response mounted are around the city, the first and fourth general units are conducting the search, and the third general is covering the sand steamer dock."
Sara's grin grew. "Is there still a clear path to the dock?"
There had to be better methods than this. The idea was sound, but it would be a whole lot more likely to work if they could just talk beforehand. As a sheriff, she could simply walk on over and get introductions done before shooting would start. She trusted Sara to know what she was doing, but this was a bit farfetched. However, it was right up her alley in the skills required, and it was their best chance for getting out thus proposed that didn't have a body count attached. She was going outside the law by a wide margin with this, but there were bounds to what she would do, and raising arms against her fellows was one of them.
As they made their way across the city, following the back alleys and unchecked streets, the first part of the plan was working. The armed vigilantes weren't doing more than casting a glance at them, since the three of them looked fairly in place given the situation. A lawman, a cavalry soldier, and another vigilante operating together was actually producing quite a few noticeable looks of relief. Of course, the reality was far from the appearance. The lawman and the vigilante were quite authentic- a cloak of truth, to keep anyone from looking too closely at the cavalry soldier.
Beneath the too-large uniform and hat, the unfortunate source of all this attention was slipping by right under the collective noses of the untrained and unorganized civilians. The disguise was working well, just so long as Meryl didn't get any urges to look around and lift the hat brim. Sara just happened to have a nearly complete Cavalry uniform- a bonus of having her man in the Cavalry. It lacked the sidearm and badges that a fully dressed cavalryman would have, but it still worked against these bumblers.
Their target wasn't far ahead, and that was where the problems were most likely to start. The cliff that the extensive December docking complex was built into loomed above, bathed in the light from the moons. The glow made the multiple parked steamers stand out like ominous dark monoliths. She wasn't one for portents, but that did not bode well. Then again, neither did the appearance of a Gung-ho Gun, former or not. By all rights, she should arrest him on the spot, but circumstance and his own ideals seemed to be punishing him far more than most verdicts.
In any event, the hinge of the entire plan was coming up. The checkpoint at the gate to the sand steamer complex was manned by real Cavalry soldiers- the disguise wouldn't fool them under the sort of scrutiny they were about to receive. If things didn't go well, it could cost her career, or even her life, but it was simply the right thing to do. She had no regrets. Justice was her cause, and she had risked everything for it on a number of occasions. However, being caught between justice and the law was ripping at her badly. Why couldn't things be simple like in the past, and not have the two hand-in-hand forces in a rare moment of opposition?
As their group approached the checkpoint, a soldier came out to meet them. The rifle he carried looked plenty deadly, though he held it gingerly- a fresh recruit? He looked rather old to have just joined, though one could never tell for sure. In any case, she had to get his attention before he noticed that their Cavalry soldier wasn't just a little short for a trooper. As he came closer, she waved him to her.
"This is a restricted area. I'll need to see your orders and identification."
She kept her voice low enough that he was the only one who heard. "We don't have either."
"What? All Cavalry should always have..." He trailed off as he noticed that the 'soldier' with them was rather lacking in more than just stature. She sprang foreward with her next statements, hoping to keep him from getting too worked up.
"Yes, that's not actually a Cavalry member. We're trying to get her to safety, and we've run out of options. I hate to dump this on your feet, but could you please just let us pass?"
Meryl's voice came up from under the wide brimmed hat. "I don't want to die."
The soldier stood there, transfixed. They had used the truth, as it was all they had to use. Their fate was in his hands now. He could shout out and the hail of bullets would start- she might make it out with Rai-dei's help, but that would be it for Meryl. Sunrise wouldn't see her except as a corpse.
"So, you just came here, intending to ask for your life...?"
"Yes." The response floated out from under the hat again. The soldier closed his eyes and nodded, all of a sudden seeming to gain years to his age. He held up a hand and called out.
"They're here to see the commander, open the gate!"
As the hastily erected fence was dragged aside with a great deal of clatter, he muttered out of the side of his mouth. "Go see the commander. He should be up near the Archangel. He'll help you out."
"Thanks, Mr..."
"It doesn't matter. Just go. With luck, we can do introductions later. For now, just stay alive, for those that would be left behind should you die..."
They passed through the gate without incident, and were now inside the sand steamer complex. The plan now called for them to stowaway on some steamer, but her sense of duty steered her towards one in particular that cast an especially fearful shadow across the land. All they needed were directions to find it, which she could obtain easily on her own- no need for Meryl to stick her neck out again. They slipped aboard, and she was thankful that security was rather lax for this one. Of course, that might have something to do with the fact that nearly the entire steamer was occupied by the bulk of the 3rd General Regiment of the Gunsmoke Cavalry. They made it to the commander's room without incident, which was odd considering Rai-dei was certainly an unusual sight. Of course, the soldiers were rather motley all around. Variations on the uniform were all over, and several were practically out of uniform completely, regulations or not. This was no way to run a regiment.
She knocked on the door. A voice shouted a "Come in!" through the metal, so she twisted the handle and entered. The commander's room was a reflection of the state of the regiment- quite a mess. A poor orderly was trying to sweep the desk into something that gave a semblance of organization, but without a larger trashcan or filing cabinet the effort was futile. The cat that was pacing across the desk didn't help matters any.
"I'm looking for the regiment commander, do you-"
"Right here."
She squinted at the orderly, then noticed that the rank insignia on his shoulders had way too many bars for an orderly. "You're the commander? No offense, but you look rather... young."
"Yeah, well, with the right determination, support, and a pinch of luck, I was propelled through the ranks and ended up here. Not that things have ever been done quite normally in this regiment!"
He had a good laugh at that. Oddly, it felt like the joke was on her- he looked even younger than herself, and to be commanding a regiment? The upper echelon had to be going a bit daft, or rather, the prior commander of this regiment- they usually choose their successors to keep the regiment command flowing smoothly, but in this case it appeared to have been severely FUBARed. His laughter died down as he looked around to the people behind her, and eyes widened in recognition.
"Meryl Stryfe?"
Legato: The author has grown tired, so I am in command until such time as he returns. This moment seemed the best to end the chapter, as the mystery shall torment you until next time with unsatiable curiosity.
¤shouting drifts in from down the hall¤ Somebody turn off this $%&$#) collar!
Legato: Ignore the voices. You hear nothing.
betsytheripper: The collar seems to have been, er, misplaced. And Legato's theme music was chosen by that person. ¤points in the general direction of Japan¤
coffeetin: I'll set the prozac next to the rest of his meds, now if he'd only take them... And Meryl has her own little group of misfits now, which will undoubtedly prove useful, or at the least entertaining.
cjflutterbye: Knives shall return, never fear! Okay, maybe a little fear would be prudent... In any case, we're still following Meryl around for now, so no Knives just yet.
SapphireWhiteTigress: And thus it plods foreward. The storymobile runs on reviews, without them it grinds to a halt.
Sorian: ¤Rai-dei bursts in¤ They are traditional robes, not pajamas!