I took this down to rewrite it. I took it that if the first day there are 100 views and only 1 review, there is something about this the rest of you don't like. But I really want to do this chapter and to continue this story.

I mean it when I say I can take criticism. If there's something you don't or want to see, that goes in the Review box, really!

Any way, just keep that in mind as you read this.

The Chaotic West

When life goes off the rails and you're not sure where to go, there is always someone there to help ya do the wrong thing. It could be anyone, a friend, a sibling, a love or even yourself. It was especially hard to say who to trust in the Old West. When the land was still being tamed and the hearts of innocent were beinf steeled. The air is always dry, but the river faithfully flows. Tribesmen crossed lines they shouldn't have crossed, friends did things they never should have done. And brothers and sisters… made their own choices.

Sheriff Angelina Majors had roots in this dried, dusty town, yet there was none more willing than her to welcome the Creatures into Dust River, sometimes called Dust Town. Even made one or two of them her Deputies. Dust Town was a relatively quiet place. Ebberim the Lady Lizard of Song sang in the saloon, Bodal kept the bar nice and clean with high standards, and Deputy H'earring, though lazy as could be, kept a giant ear to the ground in case of trouble.

That all changed when Deputy Kristopher 'Kit' Kalinkas burst through the doors of the Sheriff's office.

"Sheriff Angel! Sheriff Angel!" He called out even though he saw the Sheriff fly clean out of her chair when he first came in. "The Hole-in-the-Head Gang stole a Mining Train from Underworld Mines! There's at least four armies worth of mugic on that train."

Hoisting herself up by one arm on her desk, Sheriff Angel adjusted her white hat and said, "The Hole-in-the-Head Gang? I'da thought with Baron Von Bloot locked up, they'd disbanded by now."

"No such luck. It looks like they have a new leader." Said, Deputy Kit. "The train just went right past the station with the entire gang laughing and flauntin' their success. Deputy Ghatup's the fastest, so I already sent him up to the railswitch to send the train around in a loop. But who knows how long we got?"

Angel now stood tall at her desk and looked straight at Kit. "Round up the rest of the Deputies fast as you can! If this gang is playin' fer keeps, then Dust Town will need its best."

Angel's office was too small to hold all the deputies, so since the saloon's business was goin' slow, Angel was able to talk Ol' Olkiex in lending them the floor to have their meeting, much to Bodal's chargin. Around a map of the town with the train route stood Angel with her First Deputy Kit, H'earring, Raznus, and Frafdo. The only deputy absent was Ghatup who was outrunning the train itself.

"We don't know how well that train is fueled," said Deputy Raznus. "But assuming the Hole-in-the-Head-Gang have the smarts to keep in running, it'll be an hour until they come back to town."

"But what if they stop the train and get off before then?" asked Deputy H'earring.

Kit provided relief for that one. "I saw one of their lackey members, Wamma I think, he was waving around the break switch like he didn't know what it was."

Frafdo stared down at the map with his permanent glare. "Then those fools are stuck on that mining train until it stops."

"Then let's take account on who we'll have to be dealing with when it does." Sheriif Angel looked over to her First and Second Deputies, Kit and H'earring. "Kit, you saw at least some of the Gang as they went by. Who do you remember seeing, and what are they wanted for?"

Kit didn't have to think hard. "There was Wamma."

H'earring provided his stats. "A Creature of Leisure and a Beast of Burden to the Danians. He's wanted for stealing, fraud and breakout on several counts."

Kit nodded and said, "I also saw Mudeenu. He was up by the train's engine with Wamma."

H'earring stuck out his tongue. "Bleh! He's a sour taste in anyone's mouth! Mudeenu tried to push his cousin out as head of the Mipedian Tribe. After that he was banished. He got a rough reputation in bank-robbery, livestock stealing and plundering his former tribe's camps."

Frafdo nodded. "And it's good to remember than most of the gang are Mipedians who followed Mudeenu for one reason or another. Sheriff, it goes without saying that Spectral Scanners will be a must."

Kit continued. "Leaning out of one of the cars was Ulamr. But I don't know-"

The group of protectors all spun around at the sound of a glass being shattered behind the bar. Bodal stood there with his fist clenched and a furious look in his blood-red eyes. "That skulless lab hack!" Bodal declared while slamming both fists onto the wooden counter. "He doesn't have half a head to need a hole through it! That low-brow Underworld mongrel must be the new brains of the operation!"

Olkiex went over to bandage and calm down his boss. It was no surprise to anyone Bodal would be upset about Ulmar coming so close to town. Ulmar had actually once been a citizen of Dust Town until he left for Underworld City under the pretense of 'continuing his research.' He had never caused any real trouble as the town's blacksmith, though was never generally liked, especially by Bodal. But now that he was coming back as part of the most notorious gang in Old West, there was going to be plenty of hate for everyone.

Turning back to the map with everyone, Sheriff Angel asked. "Was there anyone else you could identify, Deputy Kit?"

Kit hung his head low. Yes, he had seen two more faces on that train. Two faces that he knew Angel wasn't going to like hearing about any more than him. He adjusted his hat and said. "Yeah… They were in the middle car, leaning out the window….. Manning 'The Man' Rosen and…" The last name hung in the air like a precarious anvil on a ledge.

The other deputies stood silent, only the Sheriff showed any fear at the last name she knew she wanted to hear. "Kit… was it her? Could there be a mistake?" she asked, hoping.

"No." Kit replied flatly. "I saw her trademark flame bandana over her mouth. My sister is part of the Hole-in-the-Head Gang."

It was nearing noon and First Deputy Kit was starring off into the horizon on top of the saloon roof, watching the smoke from the stolen train move closer and closer to the to town. Behind him, the Sheriff and Second Deputy H'earring walked up sharing a concerned look with each other. Neither was sure of what to say to their friend. Taking the initiative, Angel stepped out first to speak.

Kit beat her too it. "I know what you're going to say." He said without looking away from the view. "But I want to be down there when the train comes in. No one made me sign up to be a Deputy, I don't need an excuse to back out. Especially since I know how Kat fights."

Angel looked back at H'earring. She had made Kit her First Deputy for a reason: she knew him best. She knew when he was acting tough and when he knew he wanted to run away. H'earring didn't need to hear the doubt in the boy's voice to know it was there either. Both of them came up and stood on opposite sides of Kit. "I wish I could say I was even half that confident about facing Manny." Angel said. "I just can't understand why he would get mixed up in a gang like that! He's eccentric, but not dangerous. He would never want to hurt another human or Creature."

H'earring had a sympathetic look under his hat, but he spoke firmly to the two humans. "But if he's running with those outlaws we have to assume he is dangerous now." As an Underworlder, H'earring was no stranger to attacks from his own kind. Even clashes between family and friends weren't so uncommon. "Those two were always wild cards."

"Are our connections from the past really not enough to call a bluff?" Kit asked, giving up his tough-act a little.

H'earring shook his head and looked up at the boy. "Not a chance in that. Either those two end up in a jail cell, or the last thing they see in this world is the receiving end of a blaster."

Kit looked over at the sheriff. "Angel, you're the Sheriff. Can't you make it…?" Kit wasn't sure it 'easier' was the right word.

Angel was as conflicted about this as Kit. No matter who her friends were or weren't, she had to protect this town. "Marshall Crellan will get a letter from me in two weeks time. He'll know the Gang is here, and come to Dust Town himself. I want to modify our weaponry to just Paralyzing Pistols, but with that Mugic onboard I can't afford to put us at much of a risk. You see your sister, Kit, then you have to take her down."

"But-"

"Remember the Oath: We protect Dust Town above all else. If we fail this time… Dust Town will just be the first of many." An unstable peace. Dust River had been left to the humans, and it was through the Tribal Truce that respect and safety would be assured here. Years had gone into this small town. But that might be all over in just under an hour.

H'earring added warily, "That's a… big risk, Kit."

Kit looked back to see the line of black smoke was moving closer. And down in the town square, Ghatup had just come back and was speaking with the sweet Ebberim. "So it's either my sister, or the town?"

"No." Angel said. Putting a hand on Kit's shoulder. "It's either your sister… or everyone's lives."

Elsewhere, the other Deputies rsted up in one of the saloon rooms looking at the same view where the train was due to come in. Ghatup stood leaning against the wall, skillfully shuffling a toothpick between his teeth. Frafdo stood with a drink in his hand that he got from Bodal before the little Creature went to hide himself in the basement. And Raznus, as was his habit, flipped the pages from a book he kept in his front pocket.

"Think the kids are ready for this?" Frafdo asked out of the blue.

Ghatup answered. "Hard ta say. Sheriff's got a will of steel, just like her old man. Just can't say fer sure she's ready for this kind of fightin'."

"She has the devil's own luck, and then some." Raznus added, not looking up from his book. "Each of us has a story on that."

Frafdo finished the last of his drink. "Then should she really be out firing with us?" The rest of his company paused and looked over at Frafdo. "Age and experience-wise, Angel's still a kid. Plus, being the sheriff she can hang back from time-to-time. That's all I'm sayin."

The three deputies may have all come from different tribes, but in Dust River everyone got their chance to start over and build new bridges between enemies. The humans were a big part of that. Angel was the most capable of building bonds, and, in addition to her lucky streak, she was also brave and compassionate. Hence two tribal leaders had consented to the town in her jurisdiction being neutral turf. She had named four allies, one from each tribe, in order to fairly represent the peace she wished to bring. Her deputies highly respected her for that

"She's young." Raznus agreed. "But she's able. Safe chance is: She's talking strategy with Kit and H'earring right now."

Ghatup shrugged and looked out the window to the circling train. "She's the luck, Kit's the brains, and H'earring's-"

Frafdo slammed his fist down. His fury brought him the attention of his two odd comrades again. "She's hesitating." He said. Frafdo was known for his eagle eyes, as well as his bitter attitude. He was most doubting to the humans being the head law enforcement in town when he first arrived. And it was worth remembering that he knew the sheriff almost as long as Deputy Kit did.

He continued to speak. "Kit's sister, Crazy-Eyed Kat is one thing. But Angel's got a brother-in-arms on their side too. I told you two that about as soon as I was sworn in, her First Deputy stepped out?"

No one was sure why Manny had left his badge in the jail house one day and didn't show up for work. But it wasn't very long until pictures of him started coming in on wanted posters. Razus thought that Manny and Angel might have had a fight. Ghatup figured the boy had just felt the sheriff's office was 'too crowded' and ended up in the wrong crowd. Frafdo… he thought that Manny had always been crazy, and being on the other side of the law was him getting away and being his craziest!

Raznus finally snapped his book closed and looked over at the doubtful bird. "What are you suggesting, Frafdo?"

Said bird sent a look over to the ant creature. "I ain't suggestin' nothing that's worth starting a fight over. When the train comes we'll need each our own share for that. But I am suggesting we do something about the kids'… 'bondage'."

Ghatup spat the toothpick out. "Like what?"

"Look," Frafdo held up a claw for him to settle down. "I owe the sheriff my life. I don't want to see her shot in the back or front by someone who was as close as a brother to her. But that will of hers stands no chance against her own soft heart. She'll show Kat and Manny mercy, I'm more than sure of it. And Little Kit's sure to go along with her, whatever she says. So what I'm saying is this:

"We don't wait for the Hole-In-the-Head Gang to take their shot. Even if they get away, Dust Town's name will be smeared because our sheriff goes soft on her own kind. Those bandits will come out guns blazing, for sure. So no matter how you look at it, no matter what Angel or Kit may say, we gotta take 'em down. Living won't be an option for them. It's either Angel and Kit, or Kat and Manny."

Raznus wanted to protest this logic, Ghatup wanted to cry out at this treason. But neither of them could. Frafdo was right that as long and Manny and Kat were alive and on the run, Angel and Kit's position could be compromised. It could spark distrust and possible war with the tribes and even the humans. Dust River was the hope that all five peoples could live together in harmony. That burden could be easily compromised if the Hole-in-the- Head Gang got out of town with that much Mugic because the Sheriff refused to draw a blaster on her old friend.

So the three deputies silently agreed. The burden of ending the humans' lives would not fall on their leader's shoulders.

The train was drawing closer by the hour's end. Angel stationed H'earring and Frafdo into hiding places close to the station. When they Gang got off the train, they would be hit hard! For those who got passed them, Raznus and Ghatup were set above the barber shop and sheriff's office. That left the saloon, which Bodal insisted the Sheriff and Kit guard themselves in exchange for hiding all of the townsfolk who couldn't fight in his cellar with him and Olkiex. All of them had Spectral Viewers on their person, along with the Paralyzing Pistols Angel and Kit had quite easily gotten them to agree to. Angel had given the order to not kill if they could help it, she wanted at least some prisoners to question later. Though some of the deputies were more armed than they allowed the Sheriff to know.

The quiet broke when the chugging sound of the mine train could be heard through the wind. Angel had positioned herself behind the counter. In an attempt to make a joke she talked to Kit who was positioned behind a curtain on the stage nearby. "Hey, Kit. Bodal took all the alcohol bottles, do you think that was because of the gang or because he didn't want anyone getting free drinks?"

Kit rolled his eyes. "Bodal only sells that kind of stuff to Frafdo, Angel! Most of the town either drinks that special cactus juice, or that fizzy, sugar water you keep drinking!"

"It's medicinal!" Angel objected.

"For what?"

"I… I need a distraction sometimes!"

"Well, now isn't one of those times." Kit said, sternly. "Maybe you don't realize this: but Manny and Kat know we're here too. Safe to say neither of them are big on making plans, but if we're in their way of escape, they'll use every weakness they know about us to escape."

"I still can't see Manny doing that." Angel let her confidence slip. "We grew up like brother and sister. He was always there to make me laugh or help me when I needed him… Every time…"

Kit sighed. "And I'm sorry about that, Angel. I really am. Kat's my sister, and I can't say we've had the same relationship that you and Manny. Still… I don't like the idea of aiming blaster at her. Even if it is set to stun."

Angel looked at her own weapon in deep thought. She knew she had no right to second thoughts when it was her who talked Kit into performing his duty earlier. He had managed to talk the others into using stun weapons only, yet Angel knew that bandits like the Hole-in-the-Head Gang would not play fair. "Maybe we can get them alone." Angel suggested. "None of the Creatures in the Gang are too loyal to each other. I know if I could talk to Manny-"

"Angel!" Kit got her stop. "Listen…"

She did. The chug-chug-chug of the train had been fast on approach for a while. But now not only was it closer, and it was sounding faster and faster. Like it wasn't planning to come to a stop. "Kit…?" Angel spoke, letting the fear show in her voice. "Ya remember what was due on the next train from the mines?"

Kit tried to remember what he and H'earring went over for. It had been his job to inspect the contents of the trains when they arrived from Underworld territory. "Um… 27 Deserter's Finale… 93 Songs of Fury, 16 Strains of Ash… 8 Searing Symphonies and-"

"No! I mean the conductor, Rothar!" Angel yelled in panic. "He keeps the train at a steady heat, but when he's close to the deadline he needs an extra boost-"

The train's distant whistle became an ear-splitting roar! Kit only had a second to leap off the stage to behind the counter where Angel was hiding and cover her back. The whole train came flying in from behind the stage, blowing every piece of wood and metal that was in its way to smithereens!

Before the dust and debris could even settle, a voice hollered out. "WOO-HOO! Ma' Pa always said: A good impression is a BIG entrance!"

The Hole-in-the-Head Gang had powered up the train as the approached town. Enough for it to fly off the tracks and right into the saloon!

A/N: Did anyone like this rewritten chapter better? It would be good to know.

Can you imagine the Chaotic Creatures running around in cowboy clothes? Well, Nebres... He's already there!