Chapter VIII: Chaos

Nicholas hated when things get awry. Considering that things had always gotten awry on Gunsmoke, he should be used to it by now. But he wasn't.

And with so much experience of things getting out of hand, Nicholas could read the signs.

Edgy people, greedy men and a hell load of guns. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

But this time, something changed. Back home, Nicholas fought for peace. Now, to his surprise, he was fighting for something else.

He didn't know when it happened. Only three days in this world and he had found someone that he was comfortable with. Someone he could talk to, someone he could treasure.

For some unknown reason, he picked a rather unusual woman. A beautiful, strong and emotional woman.

He would gladly lay his guns down for her but the question was, would she be able to lay her gloves down and live a peaceful life?

He did not show it but Nicholas was tired of all the evils of the world.

From his own world and from his observations, this world was no better.

"Too much hate, too much greed, too much anger," Nicholas said just above a whisper as he watched the people pass him from his spot near one of the buildings. "Too much sorrow, too much sadness, too much pain." Nicholas looked up at the clear sky and sighed.

"With my crushed heart, I cry under the rain," he smirked as if he told himself a joke.

"You're not just a preacher, are you?" Nicholas calmly turned his head to see Shego standing beside him, looking at him solemnly.

"Not exactly," he smiled. "It's a bit complicated where I came from. I'm a preacher, yes but I also teach the children in the orphanage. Sometimes I get philosophical."

"More like poetic," Shego sighed. "You always manage to surprise me."

"I do try," he said.

"Why?" Shego asked suddenly, catching Nicholas off guard.

"Why what?"

"Why do you try?" Nicholas didn't know where this conversation was headed. But he had a feeling he would not like it.

"Try what?" he asked.

"Don't be difficult," Shego growled.

"I'm not trying to be," he smirked. "I just don't have any idea what you meant."

"Men," Shego chuckled. "Forget it." Looking around her, she noticed that the people were placing bets on who would win. Years ago she would have done the same thing but she was worried for Nicholas. Even though he had survived the gauntlet there was no guarantee he would survive the wrath of these villains.

Shego sighed at the absurdness of the competition. She couldn't believe that she was once this cold hearted.

And by the way Nicholas was calmly leaning on the wall like some cool western hero, he was either confident enough of his abilities or he was good at hiding his emotions.

For Shego, it seemed that it was both.

"What's your plan?" Shego asked. Nicholas smiled as he tapped his cross.

"Have faith," he said making Shego wonder about his sanity.

>>>>>>>>>>>

"This is insane," Ron muttered as he waited for the finals to begin. It was always hard, waiting. Even though he was taught patience, he still skipped a few lessons. He would never get used in waiting.

Ron looked at Nicholas, who was calmly chatting with Shego. He never understood how the Preacher was a fountain of patience. Probably it came with the job.

"Feeling okay, Ron?" Kim asked, concerned for his boyfriend. Even though he had grown to be a man, he still could be jittery when nervous.

"Never better," he said and suddenly wheezed. To Kim, it was a clear indication that he was uncomfortable.

"Relax, Ron. I though you had done this before?" she asked, trying to distract his mind.

"Once," Ron sighed. "May City. It went sour in the finals. And it would be putrid here."

"Why do you say that?" she asked as she looked around.

"Because there's something about that gem that everyone wanted. The tweebs are looking into it. Trust me, KP. This is not a good day."

"How did you become a gunman?" Kim asked the question that was nagging her. Ron looked sullen and faced her.

"Gunsmoke was not a friendly place," he began. "Imagine a world that resembled the Wild West with ten times the violence. The law was being laughed at and everyone needed to defend himself. Trust me Kim, I tried fighting with Tai Shin Pek Kwar but there are some things I couldn't do at the time."

"Like what?" Kim was curious. What kind of world was this Gunsmoke that it taught her beloved to fire a gun?

"Like dodging bullets," Ron said it straightly that Kim knew it was true.

"You mean..."

"I really hate to use my gun so I only draw it as a last resort," Ron smiled sadly as he thumbed the gun. "Most of the time I failed in dodging them." Kim didn't know what he was talking about. How could he fail in dodging... then it dawned to her.

"Oh Ron," Kim sighed as she wrapped her arm around his. Ron smiled as he patted her hand.

"It'll be okay," Ron promised, knowing quite well he would have one hell of a time fulfilling that promise.

>>>>>>>>>>

It was high noon when the first of the finalist were called. Nicholas shook his head, from Ron's collection of DVDs he had watched at least four western movies where there was a showdown in high noon. He smirked, wondering if the man responsible for this event was a western buff.

Kim and Shego lounged in the front of the saloon, waiting for the finals to begin. Ron, however, was looking at Monkey Fist and Killigan with the same aloofness he had shown earlier. But he knew better. Ron had to win for them to get out of this situation alive.

"The first semi-finalist is against Stampede and Killigan!" the announcer said. "Would the semi-finalists step forward." Ron took a deep breath and walked towards the fighting ground.

"So it'll be you and me, laddie," Duff Killigan said as he toyed with his golf balls.

"Apparently," Ron said. "So? How are we going to do this?"

"What about you stand still while I shoot," the Scott laughed.

"I don't think so," Ron said but then, without warning, Killigan struck a ball in his direction. His training made his moves automatic and dodged, although clumsily, the ball. Ron was able to draw his gun and shoot. Killigan was surprised. The Golfer was about the strike another golf ball when Ron's bullet struck it, causing it to explode.

Killigan shouted in surprise as he was thrown back and crashed through a building that was quite a while away.

Kim couldn't believe it. Ron dodged Killigan's golf ball. And it was traveling faster than she had ever seen it before.

"Man! I thought I was a goner!" Ron said as he sat up. Kim resisted the impulse to go to him and hug him for the life of him.

Shego was impressed. Ron was able to hit the ball without even looking at it. That was quite the feat. But Killigan was a wuss compared to Fist. Fist was faster than the Scott. Could Nicholas defeat him?

"Winner! Stampede!" the announcer said as Ron walked towards his friends. The crowed cheered but some booed for they had betted against him.

"That was a dirty trick," Ron said as he dusted his coat. "I could have been killed!"

"I think that was the point," Nicholas said as he checked his pistols. "These people will try to win by using whatever it is they deemed necessary. And I'm betting that Monkey Fist has something planned for me."

"I guarantee it," Shego said as he watched Fist look at Nicholas in disdain.

"Whatever it is, I'll be careful," Nicholas said as he walked towards the fighting grounds. Monkey Fist walked in his simian way towards the grounds as well.

"It'll be a cold day in hell before you could defeat me," the former titled lord said, posing to draw.

"Then better pack a sweater, you may need it there," Nicholas said, waiting for his move.

"Cocky, aren't we? But this'll be your end." Monkey Fist suddenly drew a knife from his sleeve and immediately threw it at Nicholas. Nicholas calmly but quickly drew his revolver and fired.

Shego saw that Fist didn't throw only one knife, he had thrown three. But then, the knives were deflected, almost as if it was struck by a bullet. She heard only one shot but how did it fire three bullets at the knives?

"That was extremely fast," Ron said as he watched the battle. "He had fired three shots in close successions that it seemed to sound like one."

"He's that good?" Kim asked as she watched Fist charged at Nicholas. Shego was getting worried. Fist was about to attack him head on and what chance does a gunman has with a master of monkey kung fu?

"Big mistake," Ron smiled as he leaned comfortably at the wall. "C.T.'s been aching to try something he just watched."

"What?" Kim asked. But she didn't had the chance to be answered when something incredible happened.

Nicholas suddenly grabbed the attacking man's hand and threw him to the ground. It looked to Shego like an Aikido move. Even his stance was from that art of fighting.

"He watched a couple of Steven Seagal films," Ron said while smiling. "He tried to extend his fighting style since he usually ran out of bullets."

"He's trigger happy?" Shego asked as she watched Nicholas hold his own against Monkey Fist. He was blocking with his free arm but what was he doing with his gun hand? Nicholas was keeping his gun hand free, seldomly using his forearm to dodge the attacks.

"You're good, but not that good," Monkey Fist said, giving Nicholas a roundhouse kick but struck nothing but air. Looking up, Fist saw Nicholas leapt up and arch back. Turning in the air, he aimed and fired at Fist.

Surprised, Monkey Fist tried to dodge the bullets but one clipped his arm, sending him spinning towards the ground. Nicholas landed in a crouch position, aiming his gun at the fallen Fist.

"He got him," Shego said in awe.

"Yes, but Monkey Fist got him as well," Ron said with a cringe. Looking at Nicholas, Shego saw a knife embedded on his left chest. Immediately, Shego ran towards him, forgetting that she was hiding from the people there. Ron and Kim ran after her, fearing that she would be recognized.

From the reaction of the people around them, they did.

Nicholas casually stood up, not noticing the knife stuck into his chest. Shego, stopped in front of him and began to fuss.

"Are you okay? Try not to move. You're wounded," Shego said, looking him over.

"Am I?" Nicholas looked at his person to find the knife in him. Blinking, he took the knife out and threw it to the ground. "I'm fine," Shego couldn't believe it. From what she had seen earlier, the knife was embedded to the hilt. But where was the blood. Nicholas reached from his pocket and took out a small book. The knife went through the book right in the center.

"See?" Nicholas smiled as he showed the book to Shego, "There is a God." Shego blinked when she saw the book.

It was the Bible.

Suddenly, a loud, singular clap caught their attention. The four looked behind only to see an amused Hench, surrounded by everyone there.

"Amazing," he said. "You had infiltrated this tournament well. So, you have found two new allies, Kim Possible."

"One new ally actually," Ron said as he moved to shield his Kim from him. Nicholas did the same to Shego, to her confusion and glee.

"After the jewel, are we?" Hench smirked.

"Actually yes," Nicholas said as he cracked his neck and back. "Are you surprised?"

"Surprised, no. But amused," Hench chuckled his amusement. "But I can't let you live."

"The more things change," Nicholas began.

"The more they stay the same," Ron said as he adjusted his glasses.

"My dear Shego," Hench smiled lewdly. "I told you that heroes just die while villains really live. Was it worth it?" Shego felt Nicholas's hand squeeze hers. She glanced at his face and saw a sense of calmness she never saw on anyone. She smiled and smirked at Hench, her mind determined.

"It is," she said, squeezing his hand back.

"I see you're determined to stay on the losing side," Hench smiled evilly. Surprisingly, much to the other's bafflement, Nicholas laughed.

"Oh, that's rich," he said. "You think that this is the losing side?" Nicholas smiled as he glanced at Shego, who was looking at him in bewilderment. "I don't know. Looks like I still win." Shego blushed, trying to hide her embarrassment and happiness.

"Funny. But I'm afraid you're time is up. HENCHMEN! ATTACK!"

"This is it," Ron said, holding Kim's hand.

"Yeah," Nicholas smiled. "Let's Play."