Episode 17: Gunslinger

June 22nd 6:00 a.m.

Outside of Beach City, southwest as the sun was rising over the horizon the tune of a harmonica was playing. A gentle breeze blew as it continued. It's rhythm was so soothing and peaceful, almost like hearing it puts you at ease and distances yourself from reality. At times...that's something anybody would want every once in a while, but that only exists in dreams; just non-conceptual thoughts brought into existence thanks to dreams.

The harmonica's tune came to an end as the sound of an engine roared nearby. Coming up from the hill Greg and his van were coming in close right until he came to a stop. Getting out of his van he took a few steps forward as his lips stretched into a smile from seeing a familiar face up above.

"Hey! Amber!" Greg called.

Gaining her attention she turned her head and noticed him from below. Putting her harmonica away she hopped off of her spot and landed down onto the soft grass.

"Mornin' Greg." She greeted, tipping her hat.

"How's my southern gal doing? I'm kinda surprised how much work you did on the barn." Greg replied as they shared a short hug.

Turning around Amber smirked as she looked back at her work. "Well... You weren't gonna do anything with it. Plus it reminded me of the old days and ah wanted ta take it off yer hands. And ah ain't the only one who fixed her up ya know. The family pinched in too. Only trouble we had were those damn termites."

Greg chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head.

Amber walked forward and opened up the door before stepping inside. As Greg followed her his jaw immediately dropped. Inside the barn was barely recognizable anymore. There was a lot more space, you could actually see the floors again, ladders that reached toward the second floor, and a fresh clean up. From top to bottom the wood was given a fresh coat of paint. The windows were replaced and looked a lot better than before. Lights planted on the ceiling and strung on the first floor ceiling. A big yellow and black tracker parked in the corner. And above it all at the very center was a collection of photos and large cases containing rope, hats, and guns with used bullets underneath them.

"Wow..." Greg said, speechless. "You guys really cleaned up this place. But what did you do with the stuff that was in here from the beginning?" He added.

"Some of'em were too rusty, so we threw'em away. Those that weren't broken or in good condition were placed in the silo." Amber replied. "Ya know, you, ya uncle and ya aunt have a major hoardin' problem, ya know that?"

Greg adverted his eyes as his cheeks burned red. "Y-Yeah... Your mom told me the same thing when she saw my storage shed. Her, your dad, Citrine, and Onyx spent the whole day helping me clean it out. I was a little hesitant about it, but thankfully I was able to keep a few things that really mattered. And I see you still kept a picture of my aunt and uncle here."

"Ah figured ah keep it since ah know how much ya miss'em. " Amber replied.

Walking toward the opposite side of the barn Greg's eyes were locked onto the photos. Aside from the one with his aunt and uncle there were several others that caught his eye. One was of Amber and the rest of her family. One was of her and her parents alone. One was of her and sisters. One was with her brothers. One was of her alone. And the last three were of her with a different guy in two and a woman in the third. Those last three stood out more than the others because while the first four were in color the last three were in black and white.

"Hey Amber. Who are these guys?" Greg asked.

Walking up to him Amber stopped near the photos and pointed at each one.

"This here is Erron. He was mah first husband." Amber said, pointing at the first photo.

"Husband?! You were married?!" Greg said, shocked and surprised.

Turning her head she gave Greg a nod, "Uh-huh. Shockin' ain't it? What would somebody like me know about love?"

"Oh, Amber, I'm sorry. I didn't mean-" Greg apologized.

"It's fine." Amber replied. "We actually didn't meet on good terms in the beginning anyway. Sonofabitch was actually tryin' ta catch me since ah had a bounty on mah head. Gave'em hell. Then one thing lead ta another and the next thing we knew we were smackin' lips and goin' below the belts if ya catch mah meaning."

Greg's face was now burning red at the mention of that.

Amber soon placed her finger onto the next photo. "This here is Tennessee. Lil bastard's famous fer robbin' the most secured banks in the Wild West. He was a thief and we've been playin' cat and mouse fer years until his luck finally ran out. Turns out he was actually stealin' from the dirty crooked sheriffs and their hooligans and givin' the money ta the poor and helpless. Even after ah arrested his ass he still considered me a friend."

"Whoa... Must've had a heart of gold." Greg commented.

"And this here is Nell. One of greatest women ah've ever met. She's a gunsmith. Made some of the best crafts you could ever get ya hands on. When ah wasn't usin' my own guns ah came ta her fer something only a hunter could love. Sometimes ah accidentally break'em and she's hit mah head with a broom. But thankfully she'd managed ta make me electricity-proof guns that don't explode. She said ah was like the daughter she never had and we've known each other until she passed on her deathbed. Ah've been seein' her great great granddaughter whenever ah get the chance. She always get excited when ah tell her about all the adventures her grandma and ah had." Amber said, pointing at the last photo.

"So...the guns in the cases..." Greg said.

"Were some of her best work." Amber replied.

June 22nd 10:00 a.m.

BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!

Amber held her gun tightly as she slowly lowered it. Across the room were large paper cutouts in the form of people. Each fire she shot at were aimed at the knees, the shoulders, and the feet. None were aimed at the chest or head. Her aim was getting a lot better.

"*whistle* Nice shot."

Turning her head she put her gun down. Walking up to her was a middle-age woman with long brunette hair and hazel eyes. She wore the Destiny City Police Department uniform equipped with her badge, name-tag, and her gun placed on her right hip.

"Cynthia. Wasn't expectin' ta see ya here." Amber replied.

"Nice to see you haven't lost your touch." Cynthia comment. "But on a serious note, the chief wants to see you. Got another case on the line." She added.

Amber gave her a nod as she reloaded her gun before putting it back on her hip. As she walked away Cynthia called her name, making her stop in place.

"Is your brother staying out of trouble?" Cynthia asked.

"He's tryin' to. What about your daughter? Ah know Angela is a good girl, but what about Chelsea?"

A moment of silence entered the atmosphere. "She's...managing. I'm doing the best I can. Can't do everything as a single parent. Though your brother Kameron is a good influence on her, both of them." Cynthia told her.

"He tries to be good too, especially since he's got two sisters who are cops in the family. Ah'm happy they became friends. Kameron needs them just as much as they need him." Amber replied as she left the room.

Going upstairs Amber walked by several other officers and desks while making her way toward the chief's office. Knocking on the door she heard the chief's voice and entered inside. Within the room there were two people. Sitting at her desk was a dark-skinned woman with short black hair, brown eyes, wore a pure white collared shirt, and a golden badge on her chest. Standing next to her desk was a tall tanned-skinned man with black hair, blue eyes accompanied with glasses, a light blue DCPD uniform with his name-tag and badge, and a small dark blue police hat on his head.

"Glad to see you, Amber. I have something to discuss with you and Doug." The woman said calmly.

"What's the latest, Chief Briggs?" Amber asked, walking up to her desk.

Looking down at her desk Chief Briggs pulled out a large file folder and opened it up, "As you all know, There have been a series of murders recently reported in. What's unusual about them are the targets and the shooters themselves. Our forensics team have identified each of the bodies and neither of them have any relation to each other. Neither family, friends, acquaintances, or even lovers. As for the shooters, we've been unable to identify them as well. The locations where they've been are as clean as whistles. Without even a speck of evidence for us to uncover their faces. However, what we do know is that it's a trio."

"A trio?" Doug asked.

Chief Briggs nodded, "We've discovered marks and footprints. Only three have showed up."

"Any ideas on what they want?" Amber asked.

"We're not sure. However this can't go on any further and there are people out there who are afraid and becoming paranoid. I'm putting you two out there on this. Do whatever it takes to subdue them so we can lock them up, understand?" Chief Briggs replied firmly.

"Yes ma'am." Amber and Doug replied in unison.

"Good. And if the situation gets complicated both of you shouldn't hesitate to call S.W.A.T., okay?" Chief Briggs added.

Both Amber and Doug nodded as they soon left the room.

June 22nd 10:15 a.m.

The skies above started to become gray and dark. The roars of thunder echoed in the air with small flashes of lightning surging through the clouds. A small torrent of rain was coming down onto the city and was slowly getting heavier. Summer rains. The only times that help when the weather gets hot. A reliever from the scorching heat...until mother nature decides to bring out her sun again.

Roaming through the streets in a police car Amber and Doug kept their eyes open as they traversed around the blocks.

"It's been a while since we've done a case together." Amber said.

"Yeah. It has." Doug replied. "I still remember my days as a rookie when you took me under your wing." He added.

Amber's lips stretched into a grin as they stopped at a red light, "Ah remember those days too. Ah'm very grateful the Chief made it a rule that rookies aren't allowed ta go out on patrols or cases by themselves unless they have a partner with'em."

"I'm with you on that. Though I do wish that rule was instated earlier." Doug said as they started moving.

Amber's grin slowly disappeared as she kept her eyes open. Doug had a point there. It was ridiculous for rookies to start our their careers as officers of the law and go out on their own. The last time this happened there was a massive case involving two brothers and the murder of one of their own. It lasted for months and both brothers were arrested. They said they were innocent, but there was a lot of evidence that couldn't back it up. And the most upsetting part about it was that these brothers were teenagers. Even if it was an accident, that didn't mean they could get off Scot-free. As much as Amber didn't want to she had to do her job, and ever since that day is still etched into her memory.

BAM!

The sound of a gunshot entered Amber's and Doug's ears. Within seconds the front of the car was hit by a big bullet, making them stop in the middle of the street. Unbuckling their seat-belts both cops quickly got out of the car. Up ahead there was an abandoned building with three silhouettes on the roof. A flash of lightning revealed the faces of the silhouettes, but only for a brief moment until they vanished.

Without any delays both cops ran through the rain and made their way toward the abandoned building. Kicking the door in Amber went in first with Doug coming in second. It was pitch-black inside with furniture and wood rotting away, but strangely the light-bulbs from the ceiling were still intact. Raising her index finger out Amber shot out a small bolt at the ceiling lights and within seconds the lights came on.

"That'll definitely be a big help." Doug whispered.

Amber looked over her shoulder and gave him a nod as she pulled out her gun. Doug did the same as they slowly moved forward. With each step a small creek entered their ears, but that mattered little to them as they carefully went upstairs. Step by step they made it to the second floor as the roars of thunder crackled outside.

With every fifth step they took Amber and Doug switched positions from front to back. Coming up to a corner the cops pointed their guns at their opposite directions. Nothing was there, but they were sure what they saw on the roof was real and needed to find out. Walking together to the right they kept their positions as before while they moved. Whoever those silhouettes were the both of them need to stop them, which meant no splitting up, not even to chase after the culprits unless they were together.

Up ahead lied a massive door. Both Amber and Doug kicked it open and went inside. The room they came into was nothing short of a library, though there were several shelves completely destroyed and various tables split in half. Slowly reaching the center of the room the sounds of clapping entered their ears. From left to right there wasn't anyone there, so they turned their attention above to witness a person on the second floor. Footsteps entered their ears as two other people came in, standing next to the person clapping.

Each of them wore black and white coats. The person in the middle was a middle-aged man with an eye-patch covering his right eye while his left eye was visible, showing hazel pupils and irises. Next to eye-patch was another middle-aged man with short brown hair and gray eyes, which looked dead inside. And surprisingly next to eye-patch's left was a young girl with short green hair and purple eyes.

"Gotta say. Didn't think you pigs would have some cajones to come in here. Nice to see the new generation stepping up." Eye-patch said.

"Are you three responsible for the murders around the city?" Doug asked cautiously.

The young girl chuckled, "Wow. You are so smart, Captain Obvious."

"Why? Those people haven't done anything wrong." Doug said firmly.

"Because we wanted to keep our skills sharp." The other man said nonchalantly. "Can't practice without targets."

"Ah suggest ya'll come down here nice and easy. Don't make this worst fer yerselves." Amber replied, gripping her weapon.

"And ruin all the fun? As if! Me, my brother, and little sister have been aching for a challenge. Especially with the kind of heat we're packing." Eye-patch said as he and his siblings pulled out their guns.

Amber's eyes widened immediately. Those guns... They were in the shape of pistols, except...their designs were all too familiar to her.

"Now... LET'S HAVE SOME FUN!" Eye-patch yelled as he and his siblings started firing.

Seeing the bullets coming toward them Amber and Doug jumped out of the way and took cover behind the flipped tables. Luckily for them the tables were sturdy enough to keep them safe, but for how long?

Raising herself up Amber raised her gun and began firing. The sibling trio rapidly moved out of the way and continued to fire. Turning her head she watched as Doug raised his gun and fired it at Eye-patch. His bullets missed before he ducked back and reloaded his bullets. Amber did the same as the bullets ceased fire.

"Seriously? If hiding is literally all you cops are gonna do then you're just wasting our time." The nonchalant man said.

"Totally. How about we raise the stakes?" The little girl added.

"I'm definitely down for that." Eye-patch concluded as they each jumped from the second floor below.

Peeping out from the tables Amber and Doug fired their guns, but just as the bullets were aimed at their targets the sibling trio ducked them and the little girl ran toward them. Moving away from the tables the little girl placed her eyes on Amber and shot at her multiple times. Amber stood still as each bullet pierced right through her body, leaving several holes around her chest and stomach.

"AMBER!" Doug cried out.

Amber's eyes soon narrowed as they were soon locked onto the girl. The little girl and her brothers watched as the holes on Amber's body began to close up until they vanished in a instant.

"What the hell?" The little girl said in a quiet tone.

"Lil' gals ain't suppose to be playin' with guns now. You and ya brothers are in deep trouble now." Amber replied. She then dashed forward and raised her leg toward the girl, kicking her straight in the stomach. The girl gawk as she released her gun before she was flung toward a bookshelf right behind her.

"Sis!" Her brothers yelled.

"You all have the right to remain silent!" Doug yelled, pointing his gun out.

"Oh shut up!" Eye-patch yelled shooting at Doug.

Amber quickly raised her gun and rapidly fired it. As fast as lightning her bullets ricocheted off of Eye-patch's, redirecting them toward the bookshelf near them. Soon after Amber put her gun away and summoned out Aaron and Jonah from her Gem. Dashing toward the brothers she jumped into the air while flipping her body. Almost as if time was slowing down she glared at the brothers and fired her guns straight at their heads.

Landing on the other side of the room her shots hit their targets, making the brothers fidget. Their sights turned on Amber as they raised their guns and started firing again. Within seconds Amber quickly dodged each and every bullet fired at her. She ran toward another part of the room and jumped toward the railing of the second floor until she came back down and slid behind a table. Soon as the gunfire stopped she dashed toward the brothers once more, firing a barrage of bullets at their shoulders and knees. Spinning her body he knocked both of them out with her guns. Watching them fidget on the floor Amber dismissed her guns and kicked both of the brothers in the head, knocking them unconscious.

"Way to go, Amber!" Doug cheered.

Looking over to him she walked over to see him checking on the little girl.

"I'm not afraid of some pigs!" The little girl yelled.

Going down on one knee Amber pulled out her gun, pointing it directly at the little girl's head. Her eyes greatly expanded right before they started to tremble.

"Amber! What are you doing!?" Doug questioned, watching his partner's actions.

"Hush!" Amber yelled, silencing Doug. "How old are ya?" She asked the girl.

"U-Um...thirteen?" She answered as her lip quivered.

"Thirteen... Ah'm not surprised anymore about that. Where did you and yer brothers get those guns?" Amber replied.

"Are you...gonna pull the trigger?" The little girl asked.

"Answer the question." Amber replied, pulling back the hammer.

"T-T-T-The black market! They were on sale and we wanted to have them." The little girl answered, tears began forming in her eyes. "The person who sold them didn't have a name. That's all I know. I swear!" She added as the tears streamed down her face.

Glaring at the the little as she continued crying Amber slowly moved her gun away from her head. She then cupped the little girl's cheeks, making her lock eyes with her. "Thank you, sugah. Ya brothers are gonna be fine, jus' need some medical help. And as fer you, if ya don't have any other family I'm afraid ya'll have ta go ta an orphanage." She told her, earning a light gasp from the girl. "Most people are afraid of cops because they don't wanna go ta prison, and the only way ta avoid that is by followin' the rules. It ain't fair, Ah know, but it ain't also right ta take another life. Ah've been many things throughout mah life, especially when dealin' with children. They're unstable and wanna do whatever they please, which is the reason why adults exist in the first place hun."

"What do you mean?" The little girl asked.

"Parents have dealt with their own bad circumstances, and most of the time they it's reflected on how they raised their kids. We'll give ya'll freedom and space, but ya'll need ta follow the rules and go ta school. This ain't no peaceful world sugah, so ya better get ya act together. Otherwise...ya'll end up in prison, and it ain't a nice place ta be in. Understand?" Amber replied firmly.

The little girl averted her eyes from Amber. When locking them back in place she slowly nodded. Removing her hands from her cheeks Amber told her to take her to the car while she handled the little girl's brothers and guns. Doug agreed as he took the little girl's hand and walked out of the destroyed library.

Turning her head Amber walked over to the guns her and her brothers used.

'Gem Tech. The black market. Ah definitely need ta look further into this.' She thought to herself.

End of Episode 17.

Hope you all enjoyed. Ha a lot of fun doing this one.

Next Time:

Burning Rage