Wasteland IC

[Avellan13]

Jim Dean

He flinched at her sudden hostility and knew she meant what she said. He took a breath then started off.

"Before the war that caused all of this," gesturing to the world around him, "The United States, along with other countries, created huge underground vaults so that those who wanted to survive a nuclear apocalypse could live underground."

"So on the day that the skys rained fire and radioactive ash came, the vault doors all across the world shut closed and those inside stayed their."

"The vaults were to only open when the outside world became safe, however, complications happened and many were opened when they were not to such as running out of supplies, outside invasions, or inside chaos."

"I`m from one of those vaults, vault 96, our overseer became made with power and some of us revolted. I was the only survivor." At this point Jim, took a breath, remembering all his dead friends. "I opened the door because my vault`s food supplies and air systems were beginning to fail."

"There a great deal more that if I explained all of it, we`d be here for a month. If you want more information you can look at the computers and pre-war books inside my vault."

Jim smiled at her and said, "I`m offering you the oppertunity to see the vault, along with a few friends of yours. I have a great deal of pre-war knowledge but not much on the wold today."

Jim smiled weakly, "So, now what?"

 

[Ravvyn]

She yawned her way through his history lesson, she'd seen many of the vaults before but never anyone alive who had been living in one. She didn't care for any further lessons, she only cared about what this guy could do to benefit her.

"I don't have friends, only foolish folk trust others. I trust you however, an' ya know why? Cuz I know that you're dead 'less I help you. Which puts you in debt to me an' I like that. You prove yerself useful an' don't either get in my way or get me killed an' I'll keep ya 'round, teach ya a few things to survive. First thing, you need a weapon. You got one?"

 

[Avellan13]

Jim Dean

He smiled and felt better that someone in this godforsaken world trusted him.

"Yes, I-I hav one at my vault, a pre-war 10 mm pistol." he paused and thought for a second before responding "We can go now, but I`m not too keen to go back and face those... things whatever they are. As soon as you your ready then just tell me."

He paused once more and shyly said "Uuummm... t-thanks, thanks for uummm everything." then he waited for her to prepare for the trip.

 

[TimberRattler]

"I don't think wounding you will be necessary. I don't plan on entering the tournament. It's not my style and the prize doesn't appeal to me anyways. Like I said I'm just passing through. However this town is about to be a problem that neither of us really need but can't avoid. I've seen Bane's type before. A man like that has a few enemies and with all the freelance talent in town they may just decide it's time for a regime change. I'll help you get your mark and then we can bug the fuck out, hopefully, before this place blows wide open. Should that prove an impossibility then at least we've got each others back until we can escape. Now if you'll excuse me I have an early morning."

They shook hands again and Brown went on his way. Hoyt made sure all his gear was ready to go in case he needed to leave suddenly. Then he put his pistol under his pillow and went to sleep, keeping one eye open. He arrived at ten minutes to eight. Bane's place wasn't hard to find, it was the biggest in town. He was granted entrance and led to a spacious dining room by a uniformed butler. He took the few moments he was left alone to check out his surroundings. The house was richly appointed. He chuckled, this guy lived in luxury while the people barely scraped by. Hoyt wasn't some socialist advocating the redistribution of wealth, but he did believe in justice and equality. This guy deserved what was coming his way. Bane entered the room flanked by two human mountains. As soon as he sat liveried servants brought in breakfast. There were numerous meats, fried eggs, hash browns, toast, milk, and assorted juices. Hoyt fought to keep his eyes in his head. He couldnt remember the last time he'd eaten so good. Bane indicated that they should dig right in. The two men ate in silence until Bane finally spoke.

"So Mr. ...?"

"Hoyt, just Hoyt"

"So Mr. Hoyt, thinking of joining the tournament?"

"Not really"

"What's the matter? Don't think you can win?"

"Oh I'm good enough, but even the losers get lucky sometimes-LOOK, get to the point, otherwise thanks for breakfast."

One of the hulks spoke up

"You watch how you talk to da boss, now apologize....or else"

"Or else what? You'll get your teeth kicked out of your head and crammed up your dick hole? Shut up and get back in your corner or so help me I will butt fuck YOUR SOUL!"

The behemoth started towards him when Bane raised a hand to cut him off.

"Easy boys, we're just having a conversation. Get right to the point don't you Hoyt? Okay, what are you doing in my town?"

"Just passing through"

"Bullshit, Spartans are never just passing through"

"This one is"

Bane eyed him curiously. He knew Spartans rarely dealt in deception, but having one so close to his operation made him nervous. He'd better keep a close eye on Hoyt, and he knew just how.

"I don't suppose I could interest you in staying for awhile? I could use a man of your talents"

"What's in it for me?"

"I'll put you up and feed you plus all the water and ammo you can carry when you leave"

"What do I have to do?"

"I want you to referee this little tournament. While I have very few rules I'd like the fights more or less clean and I don't need people with ulterior motives ruining my entertainment. If someone crosses those lines, and I leave it to your discretion, terminate them"

Hoyt knew he'd be killed if he refused

"Sounds good to me"

"Excellent, we'll have a place for you this evening. I'll send someone when it's ready. Now if you'll excuse me I'm a busy man"

Hoyt showed himself out and immediately went to find Allen Brown to appraise him of the situation.

 

[Ravvyn]

"Are you serious? Look, you have to be one crazy bastard to think it's safe to go out those walls. I spent nearly all the ammo I had comin' here. There's ravenous freaks who roam the outsides of towns like his lookin' for free meals. When you're lucky you are a meal. When you ain't they turn you to one o'them. See they bite ya an' somethin' happens, somethin' in your blood you turn into one o'them. Flesh-eatin' psychopath. The have a hard time digestin' sunlight an' since we're lackin' that there's no way I'm steppin' foot out there right now." As much as she be-grudged the concept she slung her crossbow off her shoulder and handed it to him.

"Here. That'll keep ya armed until t'morrow when you can go get your junk from that vault of yours. 'Til then I recommend you don't try somethin' stupid. Now I gotta get some sleep, I got a rifle t'win t'morrow so if ya want you can come hunker down with me but don't get no funny ideas on account the last guy that did is now takin' reprieve in the infirmary." She made her way back to the alley she had picked before to sleep in, leaving him to decide to follow her. She needed some rest tomorrow was a big day.

The night came and went, the usual howls of Mutes outside the walled town fell on deaf ears as she slept soundly. It was near noon when she woke up and heard the gathering crowd and one voice talking above them all.

"Good morning everyone, I am proud to say we have plenty of excitement today for you. This tournament will showcase some of the wildest fighters available to anyone and all have convened nicely for us...." She picked her bags up and moved to the center of town and joined the crowd. Finding her jump-suited friend she approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You watch my stuff an' I split th'winnings. Which includes a decent meal if I kill th'bastard." She offered him, about to ask if he'd gone to get his own weapons when she heard her name.

"The first match of the day will feature the only lady of the tournament, a ruthless woman who has already incapacitated one man since her brief stint in this town. Miss Vaidon Cross. Today her opponent is a very dangerous man, wanted in most of the known world and has even attracted a bounty hunter into our ranks. Simply known as Cayote." The crowd cheered as Cayote made his way into the circle formed by the crowd, Vaidon did the same. On her way through the crowd she pushed her way between the Spartan and Scarface to reach the middle.

"There she is. Alright, for this first round weapons are choice. I think it only appropriate the lady be allowed to select." While she didn't wish to relinquish any of her weapons she unstrapped her gun belt and let it fall to the ground, then brandished her machete.

"Lady chooses blade." As intimidating as her blade was his was slightly more fearsome, it was a sword, curved and slender. Something she had never seen before. It became apparent that she may have been better off picking a gun.

"Mr. Cayote. It is your choice, is this match to the wound or to the death?" Bane queried the other man who laughed in response.

"I reckon I ain't killed a lady in awhile, sure cud use a nice meal. I think I'll kill 'er, after I have my fun." She rolled her eyes, did every man have to think of that? They couldn't just fight like they would another man? They had to try to get their prick involved. She promised herself she would cut it off before it got near her.

Looking around at the crowd her eyes found Scarface, there was something about his look that put her off. Not the scars but the expression, he seemed disappointed or something.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Allen Brown

Foiled, he was sure that he should be able to fight through the ranks to have gotten to Cayote, but now he was here in the first round against the woman. He snarled angrily, before getting control over his anger.

"Cross he has a bad left knee, I shot it out myself, take that out and it should be easier for you. Just kill the fucking bastard"

He wasn't happy about it, but that didn't mean he couldn't help her out. With Hoyt as referee this tournament was going to go either good or bad, seeing that he was the only one apart from Cross who actually seemed fast and deadly enough he decided to stick with the tournament and keep his agreement with Hoyt

 

[Avellan13]

Jim Dean

He was shocked at her outburst from last night and was uncertain about this woman,but it was too late and he had already told her about the vault. He had a feeling it would take forever to get use to her attitude not to mention her way of speaking.

When mmorning arrived he agreed to her request of watching her stuff. He sat do and watched the brutal spectical with disgust. These people had gone back to the old Roman Era. He waited for her to come back so they could set off for the vault.

 

[TimberRattler]

Bane continued

"And now I'd like to introduce my referee, from the hallowed city of Sparta, Mr. Hoyt. Mr. Hoyt will now give us a few ground rules."

Hoyt stepped between Cross and Cayote. He cleared his throat and addressed the throng.

"Alright listen fuckers, I'm only going to say this once. Matches will begin only my signal. Anyone who violates that rule will be shot. Wound only matches will be called by me, it's over when I say it is. Ignore my call and I'll bleed you dry. If anyone tries to interfere in a match I'll kill you and the person you tried help. Anyone tries to take me out I will make certain you suffer. Other than that pretty much anything goes. Keep some level of decorum," He eyed Cayote meaningfully, " Questions? No? Then let's begin. Cross, Cayote on my mark. Ready? GO!"

 

[Avellan13]

Jim Dean

It was just stupid thought Jim. Here were people who are living in a post-apocolyptic and instead of banding together to survive as a whole, they were fighting eachother either to the death or until first blood!

Hadn`t the damned war knock some sense into these people!? There were treasure troves of technology in the vaults all across the world and possible in some ruins. They could be rebuilding human civilization back to what it was before the war.

Why couldn`t these people simply grow some brains and do something right!? Jim sighed and looked on as the fight was reaching its climax. He would have to teach everyone about the past and the error of their ways. He had to bring humanity back to what it once was.

He had an idea on how to get their attention and make them see reason.

 

[Ravvyn]

She heeded Scar's advice, knowing she had to aim for his leg but that was easier said than done. The two awaited the Spartan to finish his rule set and then his call to start the fight. She would need to close the distance with him before she could attack. His blade had more than a foot of reach in advantage and from the way he sliced at her it was much lighter. She dodged his first few attacks, knowing she was faster than him and managed to block a couple of swings as she found herself on the defensive. The crowd prevented her from backing away too much as they pushed her back towards him.

Finally she got in close to him, their blades clashed together, each trying to force back the other. Her two hands to his one as his other had taken hold of her hair a cheap maneuver since she didn't have the same leverage as him. His strength won over and he tossed her to the ground causing her machete to fall a foot away from her reach. She scrambled to it, reaching out her left hand for it, his foot however pressed down on her arm and in one clean slice, separated her hand at the wrist from the rest of her body. The shock only lasted a few seconds before the pain set in, he released his foot from her arm and she rolled over cradling her left arm with her right, screaming in agony as he stood above her. The crowd was exuberant, as he kicked her machete away from her and stepped down on her chest preventing her movement.

Already chants calling for it to finish could be heard, she couldn't believe the last thing she would see was this bastard smiling down at her. He played with her, stabbing wide of her head a couple times as he savoured the moment. Finally receiving the right amount of cheers from the crowd he raised his sword high in the air, stabbing downward hard at her chest. Her timing had to be perfect and lucky for her it was. She knocked the broad side of the blade causing him to stab shallowly into his thigh. It was enough to make him fall to the ground, writhing in pain from his injury. She took the opportunity to reach for her machete again but that's when everything went dark, she blacked out.

With both fighters on the ground but only one conscious Bane came up and whispered in Hoyt's ear.

"Declare Cayote the winner. I have another use for the woman. Scar fights next. Against hmm..." He looked at the list seeking out the biggest, toughest and hardest S.O.B. he could find.

"Jackal. Winner of that gets Cayote in the next round." Bane finished before moving over to his goons giving them instructions.

 

[Avellan13]

Jim Dean

Jim winced as he saw the woman fall. He saw two strange men take her away. Jim thought this was strange so he decided to follow the pair. Picking up her pack she had asked him to watch he followed the thugs to a small shack and had a bad feeling of what was going to happen.

He couldn`t let his new friend be possible raped. As they entered the shack, Jim quietly walked up to the door and heard indistinct laughter. One voice said, "O boy we`s a gonna have ourself fun." His suspicions confirmed Jim took the crossbow and readied a bolt. He aimed through a crack between the floor and the bottom of the door and shot one of the thugs. The other was too busy fumbling with his belt to notice. Jim quickly opened the door and threw his knife at the other.

As the man feel dead Jim ran over to the woman, whose named he didn`t yet know. Seeing that she was in need of medical help, he picked her up and decided to take her to the vaults medical bay. He couldn`t trust anyone in this town. It took him and hour to get to the vault, take her to the medical bay, and hooked her up to the machines.

As soon as he had eveything going smoothly he sat down on a chair and finally drifted off to sleep.

 

[TimberRattler]

Hoyt knew if he didn't play ball he and Cross, and probably Scar, were as good as dead. If there was one thing that torqued his screws it was a fixed game. He gritted teeth,forcing his face to remain placid, and nodded. He shuddered to think what "another use" implied. He stepped into the ring where Cayote had recovered and climbed atop the woman. The bulge in his pants made his intent clear. Hoyt yanked him off of Cross.

"Ah ah ah, naughty naughty," he said with a shark like grin,"Now what did I tell you about decorum?"

With that he delivered a vicious head butt that rendered the would be rapists unconscious. The crowd went nuts.

"Hold on now. Listen to me for a second. Hey! Shut the fuck up!"

A man nearby spit in Hoyt's face. With lightning speed he drew his Glock and shot the interloper dead with a well placed bullet between the eyes. A stunned hush fell over the crowd. Hoyt spoke.

"Now that I have everbody's undivided fucking attention, I have some announcements. First of all, never again mistake my good nature for weakness or I swear to God I will burn your pathetic lives and everything in them like a field in a high wind. Second, our gracious host has seen fit to reward Ms. Cross' valor with her life. Cayote is the winner. Cross is eliminated. Any fucking objections?"

No one dared look him in the eye.

"Good, now someone get her out of here before she bleeds to death. Next up, Scar versus Jackal."

 

[DeathsKnight]

Allen Brown

This fight was not what he thought it would be, damit she could have at least kicked his knee or something. He shed his coat and with it over his arm, he stepped into the ring, his opponent looked tough, but he was not the one that Allen wanted. He dumped his coat close to Hoyt, he knew that this man would look after his weapons.

"Jackal! You have the choice of weapons, what would it be?"

"Handguns"

Allen turned and stepped to his spot, he noticed that Jackal wore an antique Colt Peacemaker in a quick draw holster. It would be interesting to see how the revolver worked, but that cannon could very easily blow a hole straight through him. He pulled back the hammers of both pistols, shook out his fingers and then just stared at his opponent.

"Scar, what will the end of this match be?"

He looked at Jackal

"Death"

"I'm going to kill you pretty boy"

Allen grinned, his hands not straying from the butts of his guns

"Many have tried"

"When the sound goes, you will start"

Allen took a deep breath and waited, there was a faint click and Jackal moved, by the time the horn sounded, the revolver was on it's way out of it's holster. Allen saw all of this and dropped to one knee, his fingers gripping his pistol's grip and the sound of the horn had barely ended when he fired his shot. The bullet ripped into Jackal's eye, punching a hole into the back of his head, Allen blew out his breath and got to his feet, slipping the pistol into it's holster.

 

[Avellan13]

Jim Dean

Jim awoke from his nightmare of the event that happened in the vault over two weeks ago. Has he looked up he saw that the woman had fully healed and was now resting peacefully. He left the room and went to the vault common room where the citizens of Vault 96 spent their time interacting or doing other social events.

Jim thought back to what he new about vaults. They had been commissioned by the United States government as a part of Project Safehouse. Vault Tec build hundreds of vaults around the country with funding from the US government. The vaults became the most expensive shelters in the pre-war world and construction of all the vaults reached to a cost of about 647 billion dollars. When the nuclear holocaust came, the vaults were sealed. The vaults were designed to hold a mximum of 1000 occupants and had all the needs to survive isolation. Life support systems could work for over 900 yeats without failure and the facilities supplies included a hydro-agricultural farms, water purification systems, defensive weaponry, communication devices, and surfae monitors. Realistically speaking, many of the vaults were flawed and the powerful shock waves caused many of the vaults to fail.

Jim turned on a video player and began to watch an movie from the 1970`s. He relaxed as the show went on and though about what to do next.

 

[Ravvyn]

Being distracted by the movie Jim hadn't noticed that he wasn't alone, it wasn't until one of the men spoke up that he was alerted to the presence of them.

"So this is what a vault looks like. Fancy." He said as he inspected the place, then looking to Jim.

"Seems we have a little problem however. You stole from Mr. Bane, he doesn't like that. Don't worry though we already got the girl, shame about her hand though. Was a fine looking woman, but that's what happens when women try to play with the big boys. Mr. Bane wants to speak to you." The man spoke his last words to Jim before a second man entered and fired a shot at Jim, not a bullet but a small dart with a capsule containing a liquid. It rendered Jim unconscious.

"Blow this place to hell. Mr. Bane doesn't want people seeing anything in this place. Make sure everything is destroyed." The rest of the man's posse went about setting up various explosives and dousing the entire vault with gasoline and other flammable liquids. Jim was carried out. Once everything had been set up they ignited a fuse destroying the entire facility and caving in the entrance.

Jim woke to find himself tied to a chair in a dark room with light only piercing the darkness from a small window. He could hear mumbling from behind a door but the words weren't audible. Finally a door opened.

"Mr. Vault Dweller. I doubt you will recognize me so let me introduce myself. My name is Frank Bane, I run this town. I own this town and everyone who steps foot in it. You have caused quite the stir, killing two of my men. Though I understand they were disobeying direct orders and were going to impurify the lady so for that they thank you as it would have been a much less kind death if I were to catch them. However, taking the woman Vaidon Cross I believe is the name I was told. That I did not appreciate. As I said she like everyone else, including you is my property. I understand you're new to this place, maybe don't understand the rules so I am going to let you live. However you now work for me, you do what I say and you get to continue breathing my air. You disobey me and you will look forward to the second you take your last breath. Do we have an understanding?"

 

[Avellan13]

Jim Dean

Jim stared at the man with his mouth open. What had happened to the woman, Vaidon Cross, what had happened to the vault?

"Where is Viadon?" He had to be sure she was okay. Then he asked something ele.

"What did you do the the vault, you didn`t destroy it did you!?"

Jim`s heart was racing, god, if they had destroyed his home then this Mr. Bane had just mad a terrible mistake. Inside the vault was enormous amounts of advanced technology that the government had put in their to help the vault dwellers survive.

"You`ve got to tell me, did you destroy my vault."

 

[Ravvyn]

"Do not worry the woman is perfectly fine for now, though her survival will be dependent on you doing what I ask of you. As for your vault we can not have that sort of thing getting in our way. It has been destroyed and buried in the sand. As you can see though, the world has gotten by just fine for a century without the vaults." He strode around the room inspecting Jim, watching each of his reactions to his words.

"So, do we have an agreement?

 

[Avellan13]

Jim Dean

Jim took a minute to process what he just heard.

The electric sytems and gas lines were built over a bed of magma and unstable tectonic plate, a violation of safety codes, but no one knew that the vault would be destroyed from the inside.

Soon a plan began to form in his mind.

"Yes, as long as I can get a chance to speak with Vaidon, I`ll agree."

 

[Avellan13]

Jim Dean

Jim shook his head to clear his thoghts. If they had burned the vault however, then there was nothing to fear. Now he was depressed, for he would have to be under the rule of this thug. So as he agreed to the request, he had the beginnings of a plan. A plan to overthrow Mr. Bane, but to do that, he`d need help.

 

[DeathsKnight]

Allen Brown

"Any of you touches his gear you are dead"

The would-be vultures stopped short as he walked closer, stripping Jackal from the gunbelt and of course the revolver, he quickly went through Jackal's pockets, finding all sorts of things to trade for water and such, but nothing really useful. He dumped everything and turned to fetch his gear, when given the time he would inspect the revolver. Antique weapons fascinated him and when they still worked it was even better, picking up his jacket he gave Hoyt a look, slipping into his coat he moved through the gathered crowd and stood leaning against the front of a building. He was going to look out for Hoyt just as he promised, but it looked like Hoyt was a man who could handle himself.

 

[Ravvyn]

"You are in no position to make demands, though I won't let it be said that Frank Bane is unfair. At the moment however I can not fulfill that request as she has not been conscious since I believe the duel." Bane made for the door and whispered something to one of his men.

The man came and cut Jim free, dropping the duffel bag he had as well as the crossbow at his feet.

"Would you like to be briefed now on what I would like?" He questioned, standing in the doorway waiting Jim to join him.


-----

Her eyes opened slowly revealing a blurred world, her head aching chronically as she took in her surroundings. She was strapped to a bed and dressed in only a white nightgown. She tested the restraints which were up to the challenge, keeping her pressed tight on her back. Her left wrist was wrapped tightly in a bandage a reminder of her loss. There was no pain though, just a numbness.

She was not alone for long though as a bespectacled man came in holding a leather bag and a glass of water. He pulled up a chair beside her, setting the bag on the floor and clearing some of her hair from her face before feeding her the liquid.

"Hello miss Cross. You won't be able to speak so just listen to what I say and everything will be fine. My name is Richter and I am going to reattach your hand and as a return favour you are going to help in my research." As he spoke his hand dipped into the bag, pulling out a small plastic case which held several syringes with different contents. Her eyes widened and she struggled, trying to scream to no success.

"I understand you're afraid but I assure you everything will be fine. This first needle, contains a virus. It is responsible for what the common people call Mutes. You will be the first successfully cured Mute." He boasted as he found a vein in her arm, injecting the venom until the plunger had depleted it's load into her body.

"There. That wasn't so bad." He replaced he syringe in his case and stood. Watching her become faint and pale.

"I will be back once it has taken it's full effect, then we will begin curing it. We appreciate your sacrifice." With that he left the room, Vaidon slowly fell out of consciousness.

------

Back in the street Cayote was dragged out of the bar and thrown into the circle where he landed on the ground beside the corpse of Jackal. Still reeling from his first fight he staggered to his feet limping, looking for a way out but finding none in the crowd.

"Alright... fine.. I'll fight. I'll cut up any y'all throw at me. No lame leg gonna stop me. Who is it? Who you got?" His eyes fell to Hoyt, waiting for him to announce his opponent.

 

[Avellan13]

Jim Dean

Jim was relieve he wouldn`t be killed or anything. He was also happy to know he`d get to see Vaidon, he wanted to make sure she was alright and that Mr. Bane wasn`t decieving him. Jim needed Vaidon because without her, he wouldn`t survive in this harsh world for long.
Jim picked up his and Vaidon`s gear then followed the man out the door. He`d have to be careful arouund these people if he wanted to survive.

 

[TimberRattler]

Hoyt walked slowly up to Cayote with all the grace of a cobra sizing up its prey. He reached out and pushed Cayote flat on his ass. Before he could get up Hoyt stomped on his bad knee. The shark like grin was back. Cayote howled.


"Ah! What the fuck's your problem? Ah! Jesus! My leg?"

Hoyt just shook his head.

"You didn't follow the rules. I was pretty clear. So what happens now is you fight the one person you don't want to see right now."

The grin spread. Cayote gaped, speechless and shook his head, panicked. Hoyt pressed down his knee again as he stood.

"Cayote vs Scar. Mr. Brown, choose the weapons."

 

[DeathsKnight]

Allen Brown

He looked as Hoyt laid down some measure of punishment on Cayote and then asked him what weapon they will use. He stepped back into the circle he haven't left too long ago.

"Well Mr. Hoyt just Hoyt, I'll pick...Blades"

He took off his jacket along with holsters and pulled the rifle from his back, placing them all on the ground close to where Hoyt stood and pulled the machete from it's sheath, turning towards Cayote

"You made me chase you all over the badlands, the wastelands and had me kill all your buddies and defend myself from mutes...didn't you know that you are worth more dead than alive? I'm going to send you to hell you sick fuck, one piece at a time"

 

[teganmcmanus]

"Her mother was getting sick. Jasmine could see the signs even if Darla wouldn’t admit it, the constant abuse and hard work was taking a toll on her mom and she hated that she couldn’t stop it. They were both indentured to Mr. Bane, a man she couldn’t directly disliked as he made sure they stayed alive and lived lives of comparative ease but a man she still sometimes thought may not be the best benefactor.

She had finally convinced her mother that she could take a few of her shifts dancing at the bar and she had just finished her show, where she thankfully had not gotten any indecent proposals. She was sitting by the bar with a dark overcoat wrapped around her over the black boxers and bra that she danced in when the first newcomers started arriving.
Right away they started throwing abuse at her mother, all of them looking at her scornfully. She knew that people had to do whatever it took to survive; she just wished these adventurers would understand that too. She was just about to raise her voice as Big Jim came storming through the door armless. Big Jim was not the best of men but the town had accepted him as he was easy enough to outwit and there didn’t have to be bloodshed. The stranger seemed to have disagreed and Jasmine mourned for a moment the passing of, if not a good man, then at least an original.

After looking so her mother was still fine she hurried out the back door and to her home, she just needed out of the place. Bolting the door behind her like her mother had always told her to she changed into her skirt and blouse and set to cook food. When it was done her mother had still not returned so she went back to look for her and heard the gunshots ring out. She stood still in the shade and shadow of a building looking as an oddly dressed fellow walked into town. There was something about the clothes that she seemed to remember from some book but she couldn’t pin it down. He looked cute if a little scared.

The next day Jasmine awoke to see the gun duel, not that she liked violence but not much happened in the town and everyone would be talking about it later. Watching from among the crowd she saw the chaos ensue. When the dust settled the now one handed woman and the oddly dressed man was gone and over the body of the man named Jackal stood his assailant victorious.

The duels were going fast by and were a bit hard to follow, even from the vantage point that the awing of the roof of "Crazy Lenny's" repair shop gave. She was sitting up there chewing on left over bones from yesterdays "Rat Surprise" - meal with her best friends, Emmy.

"It doesn't seem fair to step on a mans leg before a duel" said Emmy.

"Yeah, but he had it coming, trying to rape a one handed girl isn't gentlemans behavoir... I'd beat him myself if I wasn't up here" Jasmine pulled up her body and tried to look warrior-esque but broke down in a giggle.

"No, way, you could never beat anyone up. You keep talking of your adventure plans but you'll still be her dancing in ten years! I bet you my sunglasses on it!"

Jasmine nodded slightly looking put down. "Maybe you're right. I just wished I had a more interesting life" Jasmine threw a few bones down, hitting old Bill on the flint and getting a few curse words back.