“Well from what you say right now as it stands for the three of us here, Miss Willow’s got Bridgett thinking I’m hurt and stuck on the Rocinante, the Doc’s got her thinking your dead, and she don’t know nothing about Andrew here, so we are kinda the wild cards in this game. So do we try to hook up with the Tong, or do we go straight at them ‘deputies’? what do you two think”
The first to reply to Wolf’s question was Andrew from the back seat.

“Well... as I see it.. Going to the Tong is risky,” Andrew said as he kept an eye on the area around them, “... they might not help and it would require time.. Time we might not have… Time that Wyatt and the others might not have… so my suggestion is that we deal with some of the ‘problems’ ... we find out where the ‘ambush’ has been set up and we ‘handle’ it.”
“Ok yeah that makes sense plus driving all over town trying to hook up with the Tong with daylight coming would expose us as being here, doing the Captain no good. But then again, why waste the time looking for them, why not set up our own ambush and bring them to us? the 'deputies' or ambushers I mean”

TO BE CONTINUED.............

Andrew listened to Wolf and Ash … he nodded his head at their thoughts… but a sly smile grew on his lips as Wolf finished his thoughts on the possible plans.

“I like that,” he said and looked between one and the other… “I say we go looking for the Ambushers… they wont be expecting us to come at them from behind… the key is finding where they might be to ambush us… since you guys seem to know this place… where do you think the best place to ambush someone would be?”

Ash listened as he slipped the six flashbangs into the pockets of his dust, he was surprised and pleased to see a couple gas grenades in the pouch too. After Wolf said his piece Ash added,“Well I betcha they have a lookout in one the tall building to alert them to what’s goin on. That’d be the saloon, the jail and the bank. If we split up we can cover um all. We take out the lookout and then that’ll leave the ambushers blind to what’s going on in town. We might even be able to spot’um from up there too. I’ll take the jail cuz I been in there and I have a feeling there may be a not so sweet girly up there gunn’in for us. Winnie’s brother’s a deputy now so she’d be able to get in. There’s a bit of open ground to get there, hopefully the dark’ll help me slipp’in on it. There’s a back door so I try that. Wolf’s been to the bank so he knows it too. That leaves the saloon, I know ya ain’t been there Andrew but it’s easy to get in and get to the roof and Wolf can show the way over to it. If we go on foot we won’t draw much attention. I’ll slip back in and ask Doc if he’ll talk to the Tong, they trust him and he’ll know where they’ve gone. I’ll ask him to tell um if say we say Miss Willow they’ll know we’re not the bad guys. If ya got a communicator put’er on vibrate an key it three time for help, I’ll give it a single after so you know it’s me, Wolf you can bump it twice and Andrew you give it an extra three. That’ll let us know where we’re needed to let a hand. “Ash waited for Wolf’s and Andrew’s confirmation that they agreed.

Andrew smiled and nodded at Ash’s suggested actions… it made sense to him… find the ambushers… one or more of them were probably up high someplace with rifles… the first thing they had to do was find the sniper(s) and take them out.

“I like you Ash,” Andrew said with a growing smile, “you’re a man after my own heart.”

“We leave the mule here… I will go with Wolf till the Bank and then he can point out the Saloon and I will work my way around to it.”

He pulled out his earbud communicator… kind of fancy for these backwater worlds… and made sure it was set to the same frequency as Ash and Wolf before setting it in his ear… he lowered the volume to low.

“Well….” he said hopping off of the mule, “if you guys are ready… lets go surprise some folks.”

He would move with Wolf to the back of the destroyed Tong Temple and move behind the rubble sticking to the shadows… from there to the bank moving fast if when they had to cross any open areas… once they made the bank… if they did… they would hunker in the shadows of the side of the bank.

Peering out towards the street he had Wolf point out the Saloon across the street … of course his target would be on the opposite side of the street … he looked for any sign of anyone on the roof or on a balcony if present.

Leaving Wolf to handle his objective… Andrew would move behind the building on this side of the street… keeping to the shadows as much as possible… once at the end of the row of buildings… he looked around as he approached the main street.

Peering out he looked again for any sign of snipers… signs of anyone… if he saw no one he looked across the street to where he had to go… he pondered his options … then with a strange smile upon his lips… he stepped out into the street and walked towards the Saloon’s front door.

He knew he was taking a chance… that a sniper might see him and take him out … but he was counting on a couple of things here… one that he wasn’t known to anyone here… he didn’t look like any of the crew of the Rocinante that they would be looking for … he also counted on his openness of just walking across the street to make any potential sniper pause … he wasn’t trying to be sneaky … maybe it was just one of the townfolk headed for the saloon for a drink.

He hoped his ploy worked… if not … well then the sniper(s) would likely give away their position to Ash or Wolf … though he was counting on making it into the saloon.

There were times when Willow had to harden herself - to be steel instead of velvet. Doctors had to walk the razor's edge of caring for their patients, and caring too much to be any good. When a patient lay on the table and you were inside them, you couldn't think of their hopes and fears, the colour of their eyes or the sound of their voice; you had to focus on the task at hand, or go mad with worry and second-guessing.

This was one of those times. As Wyatt sent Wolf and Bowman off to retrieve Ash, and readied the ship with Trish, Willow managed a tight nod of farewell to the men, and a fierce hug with Trish before coolly walking out of Rocinante between Wyatt and Sam. Her head was held high, a dancer's posture, and her face was coldly porcelain in its austere beauty.

She couldn't worry about her men, JW, Grandfather and the Tong. She couldn't think that a bullet could take Wyatt from her without a sound, or that Sam's crooked smile and leer could be lost forever. What she could do was marshall her wits and training, and read every moment like a client's proposal.

As they approach the mine, they all spot a man waiting by the lift, smoking a cigarette and pacing. Willow watches his body language closely as the man speaks to Wyatt, gauging his rate of breathing, his tone, and whether or not his hands shook as he lifted them to show his weaponless state.

“You must be Captain Wyatt? Bailey sent me to help you. I’m Matt Cullen and I’m in charge of the lifts here. We’ve had a peck of trouble since you’se left here.”

Willow will continue to watch closely as Wyatt answers him. If Wyatt does not ask, she'll ask for details on the "peck of trouble".

Andrew and Wolf headed into the dark. Asher hurried back to Doc’s and rapped at the door. After a couple of moments Doc McGuire peeked out the through yellow gingham curtains in the window over the sink in the kitchen. The latch on the back door clicked and Doc slide the door open,” I’m all out of milk, did you forget something?”

“Doc, we’re gonna do our best to save your town, but it’ll be tough do’in it alone. Miss Willow seemed to make friends with Grandfather of the Tong. If someone were to get a message to them that Miss Willow could use some help it could turn things for the better. Just let know we’re not work’in for the sheriff or Miss Bridgett. If they hear us say Miss Willow then they’ll know it’s us and not them, er.. well.. you know what I mean. “

“Kid, you just be careful, who knows what may or may not happen. The Tong’ll do what they went.” Then with slight glint in his eye Doc said, “I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if’n they didn’t know about you already.”

With that Ash turned and slide along the side of the building as he carefully made his way toward the Jailhouse. They still had time before the dawn would remove the darkness and shadows the team needed to reach their objective undetected.

Hoping the darkness would cover his movement Ash crossed the road to the Tong Citadel. The Building blocked the view from the jailhouse giving the Kid good cover as he hurried along the north wall. Now crossing the alley Ash tried not to move so it would attack any attention. The backs of the buildings along Main where turned just enough that their roofs over hangs blocked anyone on top of the jail from seeing, it also kept him from getting a clear view if anyone was up there.

As he reached the last building Ash decided to cut down the alley to Main Street, it would be closer to the jail’s back door. Pausing at the end of the walk in front of the build, Ash looked up to see if he could detect any sound or movement on top of the jail. Not sensing any movement the Kid straightened up and strode purposefully across the fifty feet to the jail. He hoped that it would look like he was supposed to be there.

(O.O.C., now assuming he made to the jail.)

Opening the door Asher slipped inside and quickly made his way to the stairs leading to the second level. Moving as quietly as he could the Kid made way through the levels to where ladder was that lead to the lookout post on the roof.

(O.O.C., now assuming he didn’t find anyone on the first, second or third level.)

Knowing he’d be an easy target poking his head through the opening at the top of the ladder Ash readied a flashbang to toss into the lookout post. That should stun anyone up there.

Patiently Ash waited and listened at the bottom of the ladder, he wanted to be sure someone was up there before he tossed in his toy.

Frisco, Day Nine 11:00 pm Planet Time
The light of the moon gave Asher just enough light to see but not enough to make out details. When he reached the jailhouse, he couldn't see if anyone was in the crow's nest, but heck, it had been designed that way. The fact that no one was shooting at him held the other truth though - close to the building, the sniper couldn't see him either. Asher moved as stealthily as he could to the main street. It was deserted, creepily so. Ash moved into the jailhouse. Opening the door Asher slipped inside with the intentions of quickly making his way to the stairs leading to the second level.

But something snagged his foot in the dark. He attempted to stop but he already moved too far and couldn't prevent his shoe from pulling the trip wire.

*FLASH* *BANG*
Ash is left reeling from the light and intense squeal of the device. He curses himself for foolishly charging into a room. He could hear someone coming down the stairs but his eyes wouldn't focus, His sense of balance was gone. He had to clear his head fast or he was a dead man. As he moved with gun out, blindly trying to find a target, a muddled voice seemed to come from all around him. "A woman;s voice saying "come here" or "quickly" - it is hard to focus. Then he hears the voice closerand the sound of footfalls nearby.

"No! It can be you! Your Dead! I killed you myself."



On the other side of town, Wolf moves to the bank and up the side stairs that go up to the meeting hall. He is surprised to find it unlocked, although he wasn't sure what he would have done if it wasn't. He enters the room to move across to the other side where there was a ladder to the hatch outside. But as he does the door closes quickly behind him and the tell-tale sound of a shell being pumped into the firing chamber of a shotgun tells him someone was waiting behind the door. He turns his head slowly and sees Nora Blake is there, holding a shotgun and wearing what looks like an old showgirl outfit. From her smeared and running eye makeup, Wolf can tell that she has been crying recently.

"You are going to take me to my Jimmy! You are going to bring him back home or I will end you right here!"



Andrew has never been to this town before so he takes his time, leaving Wolf to handle his objective… Andrew would move behind the building on this side of the street… keeping to the shadows as much as possible… once at the end of the row of buildings… he looked around as he approached the main street.

The street seems empty but there are lights on in the saloon. But none of the laughter or conversation rumble you'd expect from a saloon in the evening. It is quiet. Very quiet. Maybe too quiet.

Peering out he looked again for any sign of snipers… signs of anyone… he pondered his options … then with a strange smile upon his lips… he stepped out into the street and walked towards the Saloon’s front door.

A man steps out of the shadows near Lawrence's saloon, wearing workman overall and a broad-brimmed hat. his hand is on his pistol but he does draw. "Hey! Who are you?" he calls out, "There's a curfew tonight!" The moonlight causes the tin star on his lapel pin to glisten with a pale shine.



Hornsilver Mine, Regina, Frisco, Day Nine 10:45 pm Planet Time
"Mr. Cullen," Wyatt gave a little nod. "Glad to have your help. Care to elaborate on the trouble you've been experiencin' and what we might expect down there?"

"That sheriff we brought to town turned out a few fruit short of a nutbar. Started killing the Tong, and then when the council tried to reason with him, he killed poor John Blake and wounded JW. Next thing you know he has deputies - in the form of the Mustard gang. They set fire to the Tong temple and laughed while it burned. After that, people took to hiding, Poor Nora gone completely leaky in the brainpan, and we, Bailey and I made sure that JW got hid away quick but you'd never believe who was behind this all! Brigit! Yeah! The school marm and JW's fi...fi...fi-yon-say. She's got Luke on a leash, and the Mustard's playing patsy for him. Hell, she even somehow got the gorram blockade to lift when she didn't need it anymore. Should have never trust a gorram woman....ah...No offense Ma'am.

"Well, here is what I can tell you about down there. I can tell from the service log on the lift that it has been used twice since I shut her down yesterday. Once to level one, that is the level closest to the surface , returned to surface and once to level 2 and level 1 and surface again. Brigit, the sheriff and one of the Mustards were seen heading this way. Now Level 1 is dangerous! I'm not kidding around it is highly unstable and if you go shooting guns and blowing grenades and you will be in a world of hurt. Now 2 and three, they are okay. But 1 is ready to collapse so please, don't do anything Buh Dahn.

"There is an old shaft from back when the mine first was played out, about a mile or so west of here. It ain't got no lift so unless you feel like climbing, this is the only way in or out and I got it locked. There is a bell on the lift that rings up here. You ring it three times, I'll hit the override and let you come up. Otherwise, I ain't letting anyone in there tonight. Hope you don't think me a Kuh Wu Chwen but I'd rather be up here if something goes wrong so I can get help, than ...well somewhere else where I can't. I got a couple of good battery op lanterns if you need them."

Andrew saw the man as he started to step from the shadows but he kept his eyes cast downward as if he didn’t see him until he spoke up.

"Hey! Who are you?" he calls out, "There's a curfew tonight!"
He pulled up as if startled.. looked at the man and then smiled and gave an audible sigh.

“Well goodness… you startled me there Sheriff,” he said with a faint smile as if everything was alright… then he furrowed his brow as if just hearing the man’s words.

“Curfew?”… well to tell the truth I am new here abouts… I have been out in the brush for weeks and just now came into town… didn’t know there was a curfew… no trouble I hope… but see I just came into town looking for a hot meal and something to drink” he said nodding to the saloon door.

He studied the man… obviously a deputy.. must be one of the ones he heard about from Ash and Wolf… well he knew he couldn’t be soft here.. he had to take care of this and quickly.

“You see… I left my ride back there..” he said this turning slightly to his right and pointing back the way he had come with his left hand … the turn served to hide his right side from the man as his hand raised to his pistol .. he doubted the man would see it with the blocking move and the dimmer light and with luck the man might actually glance towards the direction he was pointing … “and all I have with me is this…”

The last was said as he turned back … turning his body so that the drawn pistol was already leveled at the man… he didn’t hesitate .. with the pistol still close to his body.. his elbow braced against his ribs for control… he let go two rounds towards the center mass of the man’s chest… and then extending his arm to full … he let the third shot go towards the man’s face.. just in case… you never know who is wearing body armor these days.

Opening the door Asher slipped inside with the intentions of quickly making his way to the stairs leading to the second level. But something snagged his foot in the dark. He attempted to stop but he already moved too far and couldn't prevent his shoe from pulling the trip wire. He could feel the pressure release to his right and knew that is where the blast would come. Ducking and covering as best he could, he turn his back to the blast letting his duster take the impact.

*FLASH* *BANG*

He curses himself for foolishly charging into a room. He never suspected that these locals would think to booby trap the jailhouse; they must have been directed from someone with military background. He could hear someone coming down the stairs. He had to clear his head fast or he was a dead man. As he moved with gun out a muffled voice seemed to come from all around him. "A woman’s voice saying “come here" or "quickly" - it is hard to make out. Then he hears the voice closer and the sound of footfalls nearby.

A woman appeared near the foot of stairs, the glint of a rifle in her hands and she was swinging it toward Ash. He heard her voice but the only words he seemed to make out were” You’re Dead! I’ll kill you myself.”
That rifle had nearly ended his life once before and he wasn’t going to give it another chance. His leveled his Python at the figure on the stairs. A look of surprise and horror distorted the lovely features on Winnie’s face as Ash squeezed off three quick rounds. His Python bit hard.

Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew he’d taken three and now the score was even. He stepped forward to check on the back shooting bitch. As he approached the stair he drew the other Python and listened for more footsteps of anyone coming to Winnie’s aid. He carefully looked around the side of the stairs; he hoped she wouldn’t move, he didn’t want to shoot her again.

Words lie. People lie, and some lie as easily as they breathe. A lie was a falsehood, however, and so it pained the soul, even in those so dark they were near soul-less. That pain festered, and revealed itself in ways that could be observed: a grimace of shame, a flicker of resolution, a hand tremor of fear. Cullen showed none of these, nor any sign as he spoke to the Captain. Anger, worry, fear; all were present, but directed where they belonged, and so Willow caught the Captain's eye, then nodded imperceptibly.

The news about the different levels was worrisome. She could count on Wyatt and even Sam for a cerain discipline, but the new sheriff had shown himself hasty with the guns. She tightened her grip on the chesspiece, then forced herself to relax, waiting for the Captain to respond.

"That sheriff we brought to town turned out a few fruit short of a nutbar,” Cullen began with a dry tone. “Started killing the Tong, and then when the council tried to reason with him, he killed poor John Blake and wounded JW. Next thing you know he has deputies—in the form of the Mustard Gang. They set fire to the Tong temple and laughed while it burned. After that, people took to hiding, Poor Nora gone completely leaky in the brainpan, and we [Bailey and I] made sure that JW got hid away quick but you'd never believe who was behind this all! Brigit! Yeah! The school marm and JW's fi...fi...fi-yon-say. She's got Luke on a leash and the Mustards playing patsy for him. Hell, she even somehow got the gorram blockade to lift when she didn't need it anymore. Should have never trust a gorram woman—ah...No offense Ma'am.”

Wyatt closed his eyes for a moment and digested the fact that he’d brought that killing fool to Frisco. This whole mess was just as much his fault as it was Bridgette’s as far as he was concerned, and he was determined to set it right.

"Well,” Cullen continued apparently unaware of Wyatt’s remorse. “Here is what I can tell you about down there. I can tell from the service log on the lift that it has been used twice since I shut her down yesterday. Once to level one, that is the level closest to the surface , returned to surface and once to level 2 and level 1 and surface again. Brigit, the sheriff and one of the Mustards were seen heading this way. Now Level 1 is dangerous! I'm not kidding around it is highly unstable and if you go shooting guns and blowing grenades and you will be in a world of hurt. Now 2 and three, they are okay. But 1 is ready to collapse so please, don't do anything Buh Dahn.

"There is an old shaft from back when the mine first was played out, about a mile or so west of here. It ain't got no lift so unless you feel like climbing, this is the only way in or out and I got it locked. There is a bell on the lift that rings up here. You ring it three times, I'll hit the override and let you come up. Otherwise, I ain't letting anyone in there tonight. Hope you don't think me a Kuh Wu Chwen but I'd rather be up here if something goes wrong so I can get help, than ...well somewhere else where I can't. I got a couple of good battery op lanterns if you need them."

Using the offer as an opportunity to pause, Wyatt shifted his weight a little and glanced at Willow, then Sam. The perty little doctor’s nod was nearly imperceptible, but Wyatt caught it and knew that she was trusting this fellow. Sam, however, was apparently more intent on scanning every shadow than paying much visible mind to what Mr. Cullen spit out, so Sung received no indication of anything other than twitchiness there (not that he needed any more).

“Mr. Cullen,” Wyatt scratched nonchalantly at his chin where the stubble from the day was coming in strong and looked at the lift with a bored expression on his face. “What level is closest t’ the surface? One? OK. So, Bridgette, the Sheriff, an’ one of the Mustards went down there a couple o’ times in the recent history of the place, and I conjure it weren’t just for pleasure. Any report on whether they was packin’ items or no?

“Well, if it were me and I had time t’ kill in preparation fer meetin’ some folk I aimed on killin’, I’d rig that level one with explosives just t’ seal up any trace of the deed under a few tons o’ rock after I did the dirty deed. I might even be so inclined as t’ set up an ambush on level two…Any readin’s on what each level contained, Mr. Cullen? Barrin’ that, what’s the history of this here mine? When were the shafts dug, and what reasoning pointed the miners to this here spot?”

Wyatt had to determine where the ship was within that death trap before he was going to go waltzing in blind, and the idea of a back door sure appealed to him. If there was trouble, maybe Roc could be brought over the entrance (or the mule) with some cord or rope long enough to make a more feasible escape route than trying the lift once more. He was pretty sure that with as volatile as Cullen made the first tunnels out to be, Bridgette in her cunningness, had rigged it to blow and bury the whole thing before she skipped planet and tried to make a new life for herself. The fact that she had control over the blockade worried Sung more than a little, especially knowin’ who was in charge of that operation and what he and his crew had already done to the man’s sons. That this crazy-fast sheriff they’d hauled to Frisco was also cuddlin’ up with the red-head didn’t sit too well with the captain either. He wasn’t no gunslinger and preferred not getting shot at while trying to take aim. The more information they had at this point the better he could strategize.

He hoped to Buddha that the others were having more luck.

Frisco, Day Nine 11:05 pm Planet Time
"No! It can be you! Your Dead! I killed you myself."

Ash was a young man, with good reflexes and enough experience in death dealing situations that when the realization of a booby-trap first triggered in his brain, he was ducking a and rolling expecting the worst. Luckily, it wasn't the worst that he could have come up with and the flash bang didn't hit the full of his face. but there was initial disorientation and he let himself be compromised for it. Luck was with him as this young lady with a rifle choose to stare in disbelief instead of shooting, which saved the Kid's life. he drew out his python and fired off three fast rounds at her. She threw herself down on the stairs as he fired and scrambled upwards, but Ash heard her cry out in pain - he had wounded her. As he move to get up, she opened up with the rifle through the floorboards. Splinters and dust filled the air but she missed Ash completely.

(Going up the stairs or returning fire though the floor?)

"You are going to take me to my Jimmy! You are going to bring him back home or I will end you right here!"

Wolf turned slowly to look at the woman pointing a gun at him. She wasn't even holding the gun right and would probably hurt herself if she shot him, but that wouldn't really help him after the fact. Nora was hurting and had every right to be but Wolf wasn't about to let himself be killed for her grief. Nor was he keen on the idea of hitting a lady. "Nora. Now let's be calm about this. You know I ain't no pilot."

"I don't care! I want my Jimmy back safe and sound!"

"I understand that."

"Now!!!" she cried.

"Be reasonable Nora!"

"I'm not feeling reasonable! I want my Jimmy. Do something or I'll kill you."

"If you want to kill me, " Wolf said plainly, "Better take the safety off."

Nora looked down at the firing mechanism and that was all that Wolf needed, he snatched the shotgun by the barrel and pulled it out of Nora's hand. "I'll help you more if you don't point a gun at me."

Nora Blake looks dumbfounded at the mechanic as if she has no idea how he did what he did. Then, any semblance of control is lost and she crumbles to the ground, crying like a baby. As Wolf moves to comfort her, he hears the sounds of gunfire from outside.

(Comfort the damsel or go to your friend?)

“Curfew?”… well to tell the truth I am new here abouts… I have been out in the brush for weeks and just now came into town… didn’t know there was a curfew… no trouble I hope… but see I just came into town looking for a hot meal and something to drink” Andrew said nodding to the saloon door.

"Oh. In that case..." The man answered, "Move along and stay off the streets." and as he waves towards the salloon, the comm unit on his belt squelches and a woman's voice comes across loudly, " Come here quickly! I got one at the jail!"

The deputy starts to turn to Andrew and he sees the drawn pistol too late. he goes for his guns as Andrew fires twice at the man. he staggers back, blood seeping rapidly into his shirt as he draws his pistol. Bowman fires a third time which puts the man down on the ground.
(Check if he is dead or run to save Ash?)

Hornsilver Mine, Regina, Frisco, Day Nine 11.:05 pm Planet Time
"Any readin’s on what each level contained, Mr. Cullen? Barrin’ that, what’s the history of this here mine? When were the shafts dug, and what reasoning pointed the miners to this here spot?” Wyatt asked.

"Well, this mine was considered played out before the war, that was the old shaft I was telling you about. But JW won the mine in a hand of cards and decided to check it out once the war had ended. There had been some scrimishes here, and the area had seen some bombing by the looks of things, so we sunk another shaft, this one here and tried going under the old mine - and hit paydirt. But that's why we avoid the first level because it is very unstable. Bombing shook it loose like someone drove a cruiser right through it.

"As to reading, I can't help you much. If that sheriff is down there, well I'd be much obliged if you left him there if you catch my meaning. As to Brigit, she is crafty but I think JW would like to see her brought to justice and bound by law for all she's done wrong to these here people. Besides, JW would like to get some answers out of her for all that was made up and what was real."

"Oh. In that case..." The man answered, "Move along and stay off the streets." and as he waves towards the salloon, the comm unit on his belt squelches and a woman's voice comes across loudly, " Come here quickly! I got one at the jail!"

The deputy starts to turn to Andrew and he sees the drawn pistol too late. he goes for his guns as Andrew fires twice at the man. he staggers back, blood seeping rapidly into his shirt as he draws his pistol. Bowman fires a third time which puts the man down on the ground.
Andrew lowers the Avenger Revolver as he glances around quickly as he makes his way towards the downed deputy… he hopes no one else pops out to shoot at him while he tends to this one… the silenced gun should have kept anyone at a distance from hearing the shooting… he hoped there was no one else close by…

He walks up to the man… his gun still drawn and covering the man… the slightest twitch and he would fire again… walking up he uses his foot to kick away the man’s gun… he goes down on one knee… placing his pistol’s barrel on the man’s chest as he checks him for a pulse… if he is dead… or seems out of it for the duration… fine... if he seems still capable of causing trouble... one more silenced shot into the head should do the trick... he will reach down and take the man’s comm unit from his belt… then rising he grabs the man’s gun and moves off up the street towards the jail… sounded like Asher might need some assistance.

He keeps his head on a swivel… as he moved… his shooting was unlikely to have been heard… but if Ash was in trouble then there had probably been shooting there… the kid seemed the kind to shoot first and talk later… while Andrew didn’t see himself as going to the kid’s rescue… he did think that a little assistance might be useful… headed towards the jail he kept to the saloon side of the street… close to the buildings to keep cover close incase someone did spot him and decide to open up on him.

Hearing the shots ringing from almost next door Wolf knew he had to hurry. However to just leave the older women in such a state was just not him. Moving next to her, leaving the now unloaded shotgun out of reach, he knelt and took her into his arms.

“Nora listen to me if it’s possible I give you my word we will try to get Jimmy home to you. After this is all over I’ll talk to JW and see what can be done, but I have to help my crew clear the town ok. Be strong Nora it will all work out.”

With a strong hug given Wolf stood, taking the shotgun, and moved outside. Once out of sight he hid the shotgun and holding the borrowed assault rifle, he moved towards the area of the recent gunfire..........

Ash heard her cry out in pain - he had wounded her. As he moved, she opened up with the rifle through the floorboards. Splinters and dust filled the air but she missed Ash completely.
She moved!

As the bullets ripped through the staircase Ash took the opportunity to position him at bottom of the stairs. With both guns drawn Ash slipped around the bottom of the stairs aiming up, “Drop it Winnie, don’t move or I’ll shoot. “

(O.C.C., With Al's info that she's been able to escape up the stairs to the second floor I'll put a new tail on this tales.)

Take Two
Staring up the steps Ash couldn’t believe his eyes, she was gone.

“Gwai-gwai long duh dong!”

She was quick, but there was blood on the stairs so he knew she was hurt. That didn’t encourage him, he figure she must not be too badly hurt or she couldn’t move like that; it’ll just make her meaner.

There was nothing else to do but follower. Sliding one of his pythons back in its holster he started up the stairs. Before he reached top he pulled a ten second fused flashbang out, popped the pin, counted to five and lobbed it over the banister and down the hall. Dropping to the stair he covered.

(O.C.C., My roles always stink, even if someone else does the rolling so I’ll spend another point to try to knockout Winnie. Need to get this cat and mouse over with.)