Two-gun Sam

(New town, New beginnings)

I had arrived in Seattle a couple of months ago.It's been harder to get steady work than I originally thought. Right now I am spending the day trying to get as familar with it as I can.It pays to know who controls what and where. Later on I'll check out the bar and club scenes and see if I can pick up anything. I hope the cover charges aren't too high. Too bad I had to get out of town as quickly as possible. I could have used my contacts at home to set something up here.In the end, it's better this way. No one knows where I am.

If it wasn't for that elf slitch! I shoulda double tapped her like I did her boyfriend. Ah who am I kidding I knew what was going on but didn't care.I knew she wanted me to join up with her gang because I'm good with pistols.I should have taken my own advice.Still though, I'd better not go back there anytime soon.

I start to curse myself.I became to involved in my jaunder in the past, that I let my guard down in the present. I can just hear old Max now."Ya do somethin' stupid,You get dead.There ain't no do-over in life."

Despite everything else I had to smile.I wonder if I'll see that cantankerous ork again?

I head over to the park.It is one of the few places that corpers and streeters mingle freely.The streeters come out to hock their wares,perform for the masses,or con their way into the corper's wallet.Some will make more in these two days than they will all week.The corpers come to find that unique item to show off to their friends, have a picnic with other corp types, or just to break up the monotany of the weekly grind.

One of the performers is a sasquatch and human.The young woman is telling the story while the sasquatch

is doing the sound effects.As far as the kids were concerned, the woman didn't have to talk at all.They sat around wide-eyed enthralled by the sasquatch.I walk along checking out the scenery when I saw the mimes.

I make a hard left and pick up my pace.I figured that was as good a sign as any to leave.

I walk for a couple of more blocks, when I hear voices that are cursing and laughing.Most people wouldn't have heard it but my hearing is a bit better than most peoples. I've trained my sense of hearing and sight to

be as good as possible and also to take in an area at first glance. Against my better judgement I enter the alley.

I sneak my way along so I won't be noticed.I peek around a dumpster and see three boys and a girl in new leathers (Corp kids from the look) kicking and cussing a skinny kid in a long coat.The laughing was coming from the skinny kid.The more they kicked and cuss the more he laughed.I decided to intervene before it's too late.

"I think the kid has had enough." I address the group. They looked at me for a second and kept up with

thier punishment. I'm not physically intimidating and my voice is higher than I would like (I'm working on

that part) Sometimes that doesn't register as a threat response. I decide to go for insulting and volume.

"I said that was enough,assholes!" Attention gained.

"You want a taste of this drek face?" said the biggest of the boys.

"Leave the kid alone and no one gets hurt." I informed in my most menacing voice.

They turned to each other and stared for a second before laughing their hoops off.I really have to get that voice thing down.The girl finally regained some composure and with a backhanded wave said in a casual manner of speaking said "Carl, take care of this trash."

That's it! I have this thing against self-centered pretty women and the men who wait at their beck and call.

Unhealthy I know but I'm working on that too.Before Big Carl can turn around I have two narcojet pistols in my hands and four "fsssst's" later, They are in the land of nod.

I check on laughing boy, I hope the damage done is not lethal.I rollsd off one of the punks off him(it seems one fell on him when I tranqed him). I gently rolled him on his back. "Hey kid, you alright?"

He looks up at me with pain contorted features "Help.... me.... up."

I grab him under the shoulders and pull him up to his feet and gently prop him up against the wall.

"Do you need me to take you anywhere?" I asked

"Take.... care of ......it.... myself." He said between labored breaths. "Sigmund....come."

Now I have never seen a spirit manifestation before.I don't know what I expected.Maybe some lightning, high winds,or other special effects like on the trid.All that happened was a gentle breeze and he was there.

This startled me even more.I jumped back a couple of meters and pulled out my spirit-destroying narcojets.

(I know it's silly but what would you have done?) The spirit looked just like the kid.Same hight,same build

same clothes even the holes in his "Black Crowes" t-shirt were the same.He looked at me for a second and then turned his attention to his summoner. "You called?" Even the voice was the same, weird huh?

"Need.... help" the kid croaked.

"You called me for this?" he didn't sound too pleased.

"Make it.... worthwhile.... promise."The kid groaned with a small smile.

"Very well." The spirit said as he clamped both hands on his face and started humming.

I busied myself with liberating the unconcious bodies of their valuables.Not a bad take. 432 in corp script,

a nice necklace, a couple of small rings, and a two shot hold out pistol ( an antique Derringer from the look.) I left them with their cred sticks.Well,I couldn't very well leave them broke."Why didn't you take the watches?" I turned around and saw a healthier looking kid there.(I know it was the kid because of the dried blood.)

"There all the same make and model" I replied, "They probably have locators in them."

He nodded his head. I pulled out a small knife and walked over the the girl.

"Uh, what are you doing now?"

"I thought I would mark them.Nothing too bad, just a little reminder that they could be dead instead of just unconcious."

"Wait, I have a better ideal."

He goes over to the spirit and says something.The spirit grins and disolves on the air.I remove the needles from the corp kids.I don't want to leave any evidence.Can't be too careful.

"How long are they gonna be out?" The kid asks.

"Oh, at least a few more minutes.How did you end up here anyway?"

"Well, you see, I follow the path that Raven has laid out for me.The challenge for me is to make it through life without paying for anything.I don't steal unless it requires imagination. I trick people into giving me what I need. In this particular incident, These kids were having a slaw dog. I really like those dogs. I threw a spell at the group to make them believe they were eating shit dogs instead.The look on the girl's face was priceless" after another bout with laughter he continued. "Anyway I was laughing too hard to defend myself. So I ended up getting the crap beat out of me." He looks around at the tops of the buildings. "Come on let's get to a better vantage point."

"Put your hand on my shoulder."

As I did, he starts chanting and gets this weird bird like shadow on his face.Next thing I know we are rising up.It didn't feel like floating on air, more like an elevator ride.My feet felt like they were still on solid ground.

We had just cleared the top of the building when the bottom fell out from under me.I stumbled a couple of steps but soon righted myself.

"Sorry about that.Carrying an extra person with me takes a lot out of me" He said while massaging his temples.He proceeds to sit on the edge of the building with his feet dangling over and beckons me to sit down next to him.

"I'll stand if that's ok with you." He just shrugs and starts watching the sleeping beauties.Sure he ain't worried about falling.The fragger can fly, I can't

As we wait, I take another look at the kid.Although I'm not sure that would be accurate.He could be anywhere from 14 to 30.It seems like he's a different age every time I look at him. I know, weird.Maybe it has to do with magic.If it does, it's a nice little gimmick.

A little while later the corp kids finally start coming around.Just as the last one gets to his feet, The piles of garbage behind them explodes and a huge fragging ghoul is standing there.

"FFFFFFFFFFOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!" The monster bellows.

As quick as I can I have my ghoul destroying narcojets in my hands.The kids are screaming and tripping over each other trying to get out of the alley first.Raven boy slaps me on the shin and manage to say "Sigmund" while pointing and laughing his hoop off. Big Carl the toughest of the bunch, was the first one out of the ally with the rest close behind.I reholster my pistols and just look at the shaman laughing like there is no tomorrow.I shake my head and roll my eyes at the sight.

The breeze picks up a little, and there is Sigmund laughing his spiritual hoop off as well.Now the both of them are holding on to each other and laughing even harder, especially when Sigmund does the facial impressions of the teeny boppers.Finally the laughter starts to die down and they look at me.

"Oh man, that was great." the little shaman said as he finally got his composure back."Sigmund, I'd like for you to meet uh........"

"Two Gun Sam" I replied.

Sigmund nodded at me and said "Physad"

"Physad?" I inquired.

"Physical adept.Someone who uses magic internally rather than externally." The shaman explained. "By the way, I am called Blackie."

"Uh,nice to meet you both.but" I stammered "I'm no magic user."

"If you say so" he then turns to Sigmund and says "You can take off now if you want."

Sigmund nods slightly and the breeze picks up a little and then he just wasn't there anymore.

"Well my friend, since you have acquired new wealth how about we go to the Boar's Nest and get some barbecued ribs." He had this anxious look in his eyes that should have warned me.

"Sure" I said.I mean how much could this skinny little fragger eat anyway.