Death Masks- Arties viewpoint.

I do not own The Wild Wild West or it's characters

My eyes drifted down upon the still body resting on the dirt road before me.

"Oh, no." Looking away I squeezed my eyes shut. One thought ricocheting in my skull. What have I done? I shook my head in denial, but it was true, no one could've survived a rifle shot from that close range.

Forcing my legs to move, I dragged myself forward until I stood before my partner. Throughout the years I'd made it my duty to keep him safe, alive, and now I've killed him, the man I swore to protect… the man who had become my brother. I killed James West…

The rifle slipped from my limp fingers, making a dull thud as it hit the gravel below my feet. I dropped to my knees soon after, my injured leg throbbing at the rough impact.

"Jim!" His name escaped my trembling lips, instantly I reached for him, grasping his shoulder with the very hands that had taken him away mere moments before.

I'm sorry Jim… so sorry.

That's when I felt it. A barely noticeable shift below my fingers. My whole body tensed. Could it be possible? The thought barely entered my mind when suddenly Jim lifted his head, starring at me dead in the eye. Then he spoke two words that gave me all the reassurance I needed.

"Relax, Artie."

For several seconds I simply stared at him. So many questions bombarded me.

How is he still alive? I could've sworn that I shot him…

Trying to regain my composure, I said the first thing that came to mind.

"You're all right?"

"Fine." He reassured me. "Lets get ready for Emmet Stark." After cocking his gun he went still once more having the appearance of a dead man.

"Alright, gotcha." Risking a quick glance behind my shoulder, I spotted Stark and his men approaching. Quickly hunching over Jim I took on the role of a grieving man.

The scraping of their boots against the dusty gravel grew louder before dying down into an eerie silence. The time had come… lifting my head up I watched them as one by one they removed their masks before me until only Emmet Stark remained. Discarding his mask with a flourish, Stark gave me a sickly sweet smile.

"You… filthy!" I spat in disgust. "I killed him… the man who was like a brother to me. I killed him for you didn't I?"

"I really should apologize Mr Gordon." Stark replied in a oddly sympathetic tone, but I knew deep down the wicked man was laughing with glee at his supposed victory.

"It's what you wanted wasn't it. Planed it that way all along." I said, the whole time my body was tense, adrenaline steadily rising in my veins. I would be ready to strike the very moment Jim made his move.

"No, no, no. Actually I planed that Mr West would kill you." I could've smirked if the time were appropriate. It seemed that me and Jim had a knack for rerouting our adversaries plans without even trying.

"However." Stark continued. "In a drama as intricate as the one we've just enacted we shouldn't quarrel with a slight variation of the theme should we? So you killed West… a mere detail, really."

"Not really." Jim replied, gun in hand flipping over, mere seconds later I snatched the rifle that I had dropped on the ground earlier. Together we rose from ground with Stark's dumbfounded gaze following our every move.

"Well now, well. I'd almost forgotten how full of subtleties you, and Mr Gordon were… What now?" Stark asked.

"I suggest it's a Mexican standoff Stark." I said, it appeared that we had the upper hand, me and Jim armed with a rifle and gun, whereas out of the four men in front of us only one carried a rifle, yet Stark likely still had a trick up his sleeve.

"Why not?" Stark replied. "Check double check and finally." The sound of glass shattering caused me and Jim to look back, only to see a shotgun poking through a now broken window pane on a door. After which Stark finished his former response.

"Triple check! You are now covered by a double barreled shot gun. Drop your guns both of you." With no way out of our current situation we did just that, I glanced at Jim briefly, but his attention remained on the now broken window behind us, making me wonder if he had a suspicion of who might be on the other side.

"You can come out now." Stark said, the door opened to reveal a young woman probably no more then twenty years of age with blond hair and bright blue eyes. Looking over I met Jim's gaze seeing only a brief flair of surprise in his eyes shortly followed by a look of acceptance.

Stark's laughter followed her as she made her way to his side, her shotgun trained on us all the while.

"Thank you my dear." He said after she stood beside him. "Gentleman my daughter. This seems to be a day for resurrections doesn't it Mr. West? First you and now Betsy return from the dead."

"What about the other members of your company three soldiers and Amanda?" Jim asked, no doubt trying to get a better idea as to how many of Stark's accomplices were still roaming the area. Always a team, I followed Jim's question with one of my own.

"Not to mention that sterling trio that sing and dance their way into your hearts Prio Goff and Fogarty."

"All patiently waiting for us in Como Creek, and now with do regard for your masterful stalling au revoir. Come my dear, these men have work to do" Stark said. Taking his daughter's arm he strolled away, leaving the dirty business to his henchmen.

I didn't have to look at Jim to know what he was thinking. Stark had revealed that all his people excluding the four men with us now were sitting tight in Como Creek. If we could time a distraction just right we still could have a good fighting chance to get out of our current predicament.

"Let's go." One of Stark's men said while pushing us forward with a rifle pointed at our backs. We walked several more feet passing a couple of wood planked buildings in need of a fresh coat of paint. Then we reached our destination inside what must've been used as a stable.

"Move it, lets go. Get over there face the wall, and turn around!" Another says nudging us forward against a wall. That's when I saw a rope that had been tied against the wall in front of me that just so happened to be attached to a old hay bail hanging up nearly straight in line with the top of one of the mens heads.

I snatched the well worn rope in my hand giving it a hard yank. The bail fell down just behind me in front of the man holding the rifle. After that distraction fists and bodies were flying about.

After we had subdued the four of them we tied them up with all the ropes we could find. Leaning against the nearest wall I let out a sigh of relief.

"You ok Artie?" Jim asked turning to look at me.

"Fine Jim, just fine." I said. "It's good to have you back." I added as a afterthought.

"Likewise Artie, likewise." Jim replied giving me one of his trademark smirks. Letting out a laugh I pushed myself off the wall I'd been leaning on, giving Jim a quick slap on the back. Then I started making my way to Stark's waiting stage coach with Jim soon catching up and limping beside me.