I Do NOT Own Saber Rider or SeiJushi Bismarck. Don't sue me.

A/N: I apologize for taking so long to put this out. Between work and life, time has passed exponentially.

Chapter 12: The Mysterious Mechanical Space Horses

"So what exactly is it we're looking for anyways?" Fireball asks as Saber is typing away at his terminal.

"Horses," Saber replies as he looks in Fireball's direction.

"Horses?" Colt asks. Saber nods in reply. "That doesn't sound too dangerous," Colt adds.

"Well, they're not exactly normal horses," Saber states. "They're cybernetic horses, and they are well armed and running wild. They have killed many civilians thus far."

"I think I did read some report about some wild horses on the loose, come to think of it," Colt replies.

"Those are the ones we're trying to find."

"And just what are we supposed to do when we find these horses?" April asks.

"Ride em'," Colt replies with a chuckle.

April rolls her eyes and starts about the time the computer starts beeping.

"Looks like we've found them," Saber states as he pulls up a visual on his screen. "We need to try and trap them."

"Colt, think you can handle that?" Fireball asks with a hint of amusement.

"No problem," Colt replies. He fires an tracking probe towards the herd below.

"One of em' is breaking off," Saber states.

"I'll get em'," Colt retorts and locks in on the one that is changing course away from the rest of the group. "Ha! Now I've got you," he says as he fires another tracker. The horse runs into a canyon that leads to a dead end and Colt releases the net from the tracker. "Got it!" he says triumphantly as the horse struggles in the net. They land and they all approach the struggling horse.

"It seems as if it's sentient," Saber states as they cautiously approach the horse after landing.

"Yeah, but it's obviously mechanical," Fireball adds.

"It's like it's programming was messed up," Colt states as they try and calm the horse to examine it. It finally stops struggling and they get closer to it.

"Perhaps it has some sort of AI," Fireball offers.

Just then another horse appears on the cliff above them and appears to communicate with the trapped horse. The trapped horse's eyes light up and a split second later, the team backs up, just before the horse explodes.

"April!" Fireball calls as he lunges for her and knocks them both to the ground as they are buried by debris.

"Fireball! April!" both Saber and Colt call after the air clears.

A minute later, Fireball and April emerge from underneath a pile of dirt and pieces of the horse. "That was a close call," Fireball states. "Are you all right, April?" he asks as he helps her stand up.

She nods and looks around, "Not much left of it to examine," she says with obvious disappointment.

"Aye, it seems that the other horse told it to self destruct, rather than be captured," Saber states. "We should approach any of these horses with caution, it could be that it intended for us to be destroyed with it."

"So you mean the Outriders could be running the show?" Fireball asks.

"It's a possibility, we can't rule that out. Even if it seems unlikely," he replies.

"I almost think that's better than these critters tryin' to off us on their own," Colt muses.

"I'm honestly not sure if any of our guesses are right," Saber replies with a sigh. "There is just something odd about this whole thing." He notices something and goes down to inspect the ground, picking up something.

Suddenly there's a shot fired towards the group.

"What the?" Fireball says as they all turn in the direction the shot was fired from to see a rough-looking man with a shotgun standing on a cliff behind them, the gun pointed in their direction.

"Hey! Whaddya think you're doin'? I saw what you did to my horse. I'm not lettin ya get another one!" the man hollers as he fires another warning shot towards the group.

"Hey! We just wanted to catch one, we weren't not tryin' to destroy it," Colt retorts.

"So you say. It looks like ya blew up to me!" the man says.

"It did that on its' own, we didn't cause it," Colt replies defensively.

"We're just trying to keep them from hurting the townsfolks," Saber replies. "We don't appreciate being shot at, sir."

The man fires another shot, purposely missing them. "That's your last warning. Leave the horses alone," he says and turns away, leaving the group perplexed.

A while later, the man is in front of what appears to be a homemade alter and seems to be praying.

"What is he doing?" mutters Fireball as the group is hunched behind a cluster of rocks behind the mysterious man.

"Praying," April replies quietly, as if it's obvious. "He's evidently some sort of Shaman. Didn't you pay attention in your classes?"

Fireball shrugs.

The shama then takes out an instrument and begins playing some sort of melody.

Colt takes out his blaster and goes to aim at the man and April stops him, "He is taming the horses with his music, we should let him be," she states quietly.

"Let's go," Fireball mutters and Saber and April turn to follow him.

"I still say we should question him, he could be the one causing them to attack the towns," Colt says as he casts one last glance in the man's direction before reluctantly following the others.

"I don't care what ya'll think. That man and those horses are a menace," Colt says, obviously irritated as he leans against one of the saddle units. "You've seen the damage the horses have caused. All of the debris left in the wrecked towns."

"Do you really think that the shaman is behind all of the destruction?" April asks in disbelief. She looks between Colt, who is across from her, and Fireball that is beside her. "I just don't think it's him causing them to run wild."

"Well I do, and I think it's our duty to stop him and those horses," Colt replies.

"I wouldn't be so quick to judge the shaman, Colt," Saber says as he approaches the trio.

"What d'ya mean?" Fireball asks.

"Let me guess, you've figured out something that we've missed?" Colt retorts.

"Take a look at this and tell me what you think," Saber says as he passes a small disk-like object with a button in the center of it to Fireball, who catches it easily.

"Well, this certainly looks like something the Outriders have used," Fireball states.

Saber nods, "Such was my thought. It appears to be some sort of transmitter."

"Then why don't we go and put a stop to them?" Colt asks. "We need to get that crazy old man to understand that we're with him, not against him."

"Maybe if you spent less time talking and trying to shoot things, we'd be able to talk to him sooner," Fireball retorts. "We've also got to find out the deal with that banjo," Fireball adds.

"It makes such strange music, but it's calming and almost hypnotic," April says with a sigh.

"Are you sayin' I'm trigger happy?" Colt asks obviously angry.

Fireball goes to make a retort when Saber speaks up, "Perhaps we should start with the shaman. He seems to have some rapport with the horses, he may know where they came from."

Fireball nods. "I'll go talk to him. Maybe I can get him to understand that we're on his side. That we believe someone is using the horses to cause the problems."

Saber nods. "Let's try that first. Perhaps he'd agree to help us, if he knows that we don't want to destroy them."

Fireball stands up, "I'll go and talk to him. Maybe I can get through to him."

Sometime later, Fireball pulls up to the shaman's cabin and the man comes out to meet him.

"I told you to leave me an' the horses alone!" he says while pointing a gun towards Fireball as he gets out of his vehicle.

"I came to talk, nothing more," Fireball says, holding up his hands in a defensive manner.

The man studies him for a minute, looking around to be sure he's alone and nods slightly and releases a sigh. "Come in. We can talk over tea," he says with a hint of acceptance.

Fireball follows the man in and the shaman pours them both a cup of tea and they sit and talk for a while. "As I said, we don't want to keep the horses from you, it's obvious that you have some sort of power over them, but we think the Outriders are also doing something to them, and are using them to kill innocent people and destroy towns. If you would just help us, maybe we could stop them."

"And what if you can't?" the shaman asks.

"Then I guess we'd have no choice but to destroy them," Fireball says with a bit of reluctance.

"How do I know that you ain't one of them Outriders in disguise?" he asks, becoming more agitated.

Fireball stands up and smacks his hand onto the table. "We're on your side, can't you see that?!"

"All I see is that you want me to hand over my horses. I ain't gonna do that. Get on outta here!" he says, pointing the gun once again in Fireball's direction.

Fireball sighs and turns to leave. "I wish you'd have just done this the easy way," he says as he heads out the door. He's just coming up to his vehicle when the com-link goes off. "Yeah?" he says into the link.

"We've got trouble, Fireball. The horses are at it again. We need you to get back as quick as you can," April replies.

"I'm on my way, April," he replies as he hops in and takes off, casting one last glance back to the cabin.

"All right, Saber, I think we've got 'em coming your way!" Colt states.

Saber nods. "I see them," he replies as he readies to pull a lever.

"We should be able to catch them at least," April states. "Ready...ready...now!" she calls.

Saber nods and pulls the lever to activate the trap.

"Looks like it's goin' just like you'd hoped, Saber," Colt states as the floor opens up and the horses tumble into the hole. "Then again, maybe not," he adds as one of the horses manages to climb it's way out and takes off.

"Let's follow it," Saber says as he and April get into the saddle units and he starts the ship forward.

"On in," Colt replies as he heads after the escaped horse in his Bronco Buster.

"Fireball, come in," April says over the com-link.

"Go ahead, April," he replies as he's heading back towards the ship.

"One of the horses got away from us and is heading in your direction, think you can try and cut it off?"

"I've got the location, headed to try and get ahead of it," he replies. He speeds up and turns sharply, managing to get ahead enough to get out and wait for it. Seeing it approach, he jumps for it, hoping to surprise it and take control of it, grabbing onto the reins tightly as the horse tries unsuccessfully to buck him, it then takes off with him on it."

"Fireball!" the other three shout simultaneously.

"I think he's lost it," Colt retorts.

"It's moving too erratically to try and catch it. We can track where it is and wait for it to stop and then see about Fireball," Saber states. "Colt, come on back to the ship, we've got the bulk of the horses now."

"Just about there," he replies as he enters the ramp and April closes the ramp behind him.

It's nearly dark and the three friends are standing outside the ship looking around. "He should be close," April says quietly. "I just hope he's all right, he's been gone for hours."

"Are you worried?" Colt asks with a smirk.

"Are you jealous?" she replies back.

"Over there!" Saber says, pointing a bit behind them. A minute or so later, the horse slowly approaches them with Fireball barely hanging on.

"Fireball!" April says as she rushes over to him. "Are you okay?"

"Oh yeah, I...I'm fine," he replies obviously exhausted just before passing out.

Colt manages to reach him, just soon enough to keep him from hitting the ground.

The next day Fireball awakes to see Saber, April, and Colt standing beside him looking at him obviously concerned.

"Good to see you awake," Saber says quietly.

April notices him awake and smiles as relief washes over her, "Thank God you're okay."

He looks around and goes to sit up. "How long have I been out?"

"A little more than a day," Colt replies. "Luckily, we've not been attacked."

"Aye, for that we've been fortunate," Saber states. A noise is heard and then the sound of horses. "What the-" he says as he turns to go and see about the disturbance, the others behind him.

They come out just as a horse gets free. "Wait!" Colt calls out as he heads for the entrance of the corral. Just as he gets there, he's met by the shaman, pointing his gun at him.

"I told ya to leave the horses alone!" he says.

"Ya know, I'm getting a bit tired of you point'n that gun at me," Colt replies becoming more angry. "We're trying to stop them, not destroy them."

"That's what you claim, but I think you're lyin'," the shaman says becoming more angry.

"Hey, Fireball asked you to help us and you refused," Colt replies.

"What do you-" he starts to say when Saber comes up from behind him and takes the gun from him.

"I don't think this is really necessary," Saber says.

The man turns to face him when Colt reaches him and grab the banjo from his back and turns back towards Colt. "What do you think you're doing?!"

Colt takes the banjo and smashes it to the ground, damaging it.

The man gasps and snatches it back before Colt can smash it again. "Now the Gods will curse us all," he says as he holds the banjo to him, obviously distressed.

"That was not good form, Colt. You let your anger guide your actions," Saber admonishes. "Come on, we need to go and find those horses."

They all head for the ship and take off in search of them.

"I think I've got them, Fireball," Saber says.

"How far are they?" April asks.

"Not far," Saber replies.

"I just hope we get there in time," Fireball states.

"It appears that they're attacking a nearby base," Saber says.

"Heading that way now, Saber," Fireball replies as he guides the ship towards the location Saber indicated. "Colt, be ready to blast them. I don't think we'll have much choice." he turns to Saber, "Saber, let's launch and see if we can split them up."

Saber nods, "Agreed. Let's go."

The three take off in their vehicles, leaving April to man the ship.

"Shall we split up to hunt for them?" Colt asks as they land and disembark.

"I think it's the best plan."

"Time for some shootin' practice," Colt retorts.

"Just be mindful of possible civilians," Saber says.

"Call if if one of us runs into trouble?" Fireball asks.

"Agreed," Saber and Colt reply and they head off in different directions.

"Shinji! The horses are attacking. I'm trapped!" April calls over the com-link.

"What?!" he replies as he turns his vehicle around. "Hold on, I'm coming, April!"

"Right behind you, Fireball," Saber calls as he and Colt come up behind him, as April screams.

"Shit!" Fireball says as he struggles to stop, barely before hitting a huge robotic horse. "What the Hell is that?!"

"Looks like a bigger mechanical horse. This is not good," Saber says darkly.

"We still need to get to April," Colt states.

"I'll try and distract it, you two try and get April and the ship off the ground and I'll come as after you," Fireball states.

"Okay!" Saber and Colt reply.

Fireball takes off, the huge horse trying to stomp him, while Colt and Saber make a break for the ship, and after a small skirmish, they board, rushing to their units.

Fireball is just about past the huge horse when it uses its' tail to grab him and starts electrifying his vehicle, causing him to scream in pain.

"They were speaking the truth," the shaman states when he sees the large horse and its' captive. "I've got to try and stop it from hurting that kid." He takes out his banjo and starts to play, causing the horse to cease it's attack long enough for Fireball to escape and board the ship before the strings break and the horse once again becomes enraged, rearing up.

"Let's go Bismarck challenge Phase!" Fireball calls as he hops in his unit and begins the transformation. With the transformation complete the Bismarck launches for the horse.

"Go for it's neck," Saber calls and Colt nods and tries to get a lock on it, as the unit grabs it and tosses it. It recovers and lunges for the Bismarck, they fire and it stumbles back, so they head for it again, only to be kicked, hurling them backwards.

Colt grabs the blaster and fires, stunning it momentarily. "Time to end this," he says as they launch all of the laser cannons towards the enemy horse, flinging it towards the remains of the base and decimating it and the horse.

"No! Not the horse!" the shaman cries as he sees it destroyed.

Later that evening, the four friends go out seeking to find the shaman. They find him sitting alone, not far from his home. Colt comes up holding the man's banjo and offers it to him.

"I'm sorry I broke this before. I've repaired it for you," Colt says quietly.

The man looks up and studies the cowboy for a minute before eyeing the banjo and taking it, to inspect more carefully.

"We'd really like it if you could play something for us, sir," April says quietly, coming up behind Colt.

The man smiles slightly and nods before taking a breath, closing his eyes and beginning to play, imaging that his mysterious horses still roam freely. He smiles as he plays, the four Star Sheriffs stand behind him, listening to the captivating music as the sun sets before them.