(Inside an abandoned warehouse somewhere in a less populated area within Dyphinix, reshaped to look livable. It is inhabited by what appears to be 4 Otopicans. One of them is possibly the leader, or more so a leader role, named Cobalt; a decently tall Caucasian male with black hair going down to his neck, dark blue eyes, and a black western hat with shiny blue details. His outfit is the theme of a western sci-fi gunslinger, wearing a glossy, tech-like, black trenchcoat with the same shiny blue details as his hat. Underneath his trenchcoat is a blue combat vest and tucked-in black dress shirt. Lower body consists of black pants and black cowboy boots with shiny blue details. Extra accessories are a black bandana over his nose and mouth, and holsters carrying his signature revolvers and a blue hunting knife.)
Cobalt: *speaking in a deep, western voice* Got the dynamite, Nighthawk?
*Nighthawk is another Caucasian male, but his face is even more obscured, with a hood that has a little beak in the front, and a mask also covering everything except his hazel eyes. He wears a winged, gold and bronze armored suit, with gray feathers on his forearms and calves area, also carrying a gold broadsword on his back. He is holding this dynamite that is a clear, cylindrical tube with a flammable, blue substance in it.*
Nighthawk: Yes, Cobalt, I've made sure to.
Cobalt: *taking the dynamite* Great. Pete, Acro, come here.
*2 more Caucasian males join in. Starting with Pete, who is also nicknamed Pistol Pete. He bears a youthful look, with short brown hair styled in an undercut, and blue eyes. He wears a light gray blazer over a casual black vest, and a tucked-in, long-sleeved gray wool shirt. Straight fitted, dark gray slacks, and black cowboy boots with black spurs. His accessories are the multiple holsters around his body, carrying a total of 8 pistols on him, possibly how he got his nickname.*
*The other is Acro. He has medium blonde hair and deep purple eyes. His outfit consists of a zipped-up maroon duster coat, black pants, and black boots with maroon and golden details. On his left hand is a black leather glove with a piece of metal etched in the middle.*
Pete: What's up? You got a plan or something, Cobalt?
Cobalt: I'm thinking of making a little ruckus on that Venturos bridge, more so...blowing it up. *low, suppressed cackle*
Nighthawk: *whispering to Acro* What's he (Cobalt) up to?
Acro: *light shoulder shrug* Dunno. Cobalt's friggin' wild; the tendency to blow stuff up and try to build something new out of it. *to Cobalt* Cobalt, what do you wanna get out of this?
Cobalt: Aggghh, just a bit of fun within destruction. Nothing too new.
Pete: We got some history with Venturos, like that shootout at that saloon, that we narrowly escaped. Damn, them Terranovian guns are a different breed of weaponry. Y'all saw how that Khasma revolver just tore one of our guys apart.
Acro: That shootout only started cause we robbed the wrong guys. We tried leaving with stacks of zepiks, and we ended up leaving almost becoming lifeless bodies, dragged and disposed of where no one will find a single trace of us.
Pete: Venturoans don't play. Everyone on that district is armed razor sharp.
Cobalt: Well, we're blowing that bridge up tomorrow. Don't get killed out there, especially by a Venturoan woman with a Khasma Revolver. Y'alls dismissed.
*Pete and Nighthawk walk off, while Acro vanished into a portal to an astral realm.*
Cobalt: *to himself* Hehe...Tick. Tick. Boom.
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*Cliche-ass opening theme plays*
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(Around the same time, the group, namely the twins, Cat, Sakiro, and Junos, have arrived at an alleyway in south Sakrisen, where Clockshot was supposedly last seen. The team is searching for any piece of evidence the nomadic rogue left behind. The team is also wearing these shiny black gloves in order to not get their DNA on any possible evidence they will come upon.)
Saitonia: This "Clockshot" seems to move places very frequently. Would you expect him to be easy to find?
Ainotias: Ehhh, with an 850,000 price, it'll take a tiresome search, and even if they were to be easy to find, they would be really challenging.
Saitonia: I am now intrigued to find out if there were any wanted crooks that had a price of 1,000,000 zepiks or over.
Cathera: *replying to Sai* I guarantee there were, but I can't really think of any as of now. I know for sure though, is that if Terranova had a price, he'd be in the millions, maybe even gazillions.
Sakiro: *crouched on the edge of a small building * Terranova's omniversal-level threat, so I think 5x, maybe even something as wild as 500x the amount Clockshot is worth.
Junos: *thoughtful expression as his hand is placed under his chin* 5x? Definitely be worth more than 4,000,000, Sakiro.
Sakiro: *scoffs* No shit, Junos, no wonder I said he could even be 500x worth the amount. You did the math so quickly, it's impressive, even for Terranovian standards.
Ainotias: Junos must be your...what is that term? "Wise-ass"?
Cathera: Yep.
Ainotias: Yes. The condescending intellectual?
Junos: "Condescending"? I'm quite opposed, Ainotias.
*Something on the ground catches Cat's attention. She leans and crouches to observe.*
Cathera: Found something.
Junos: *crouches next to Cat* What do we have?
Cathera: *picks up a piece of medium-length, white fur with partially dried blood* Oh, this feels real, real lynx fur.
Ainotias: *suddenly blurts out* That's real lynx fur?
Cathera: Mhm.
Junos: Terranovian lynx fur, not earth lynx. The ones native to this planet have longer and fluffier fur. Ironically, earthlings compare it to chinchillas.
Ainotias: Kavita did tell us that the Whitefang's Shapeshifter originally had the cloak, so they're the cruel one.
Saitonia: *looking down to see more bloodied lynx fur, picking it up* I found more fur. Cathera, you want to gather all the fur?
Cathera: Sure.
*Sai walks towards Cat, attempting to put the fur in her pockets, but she quickly backs away.*
Cathera: Whoa Sai, you don't want to get that evidence planted on me. There should be a little shiny gray bag we can put evidence in.
Saitonia: Oh. My mistake.
*Sai turns to see a gray bag by Aino's feet. He grabs the bag and places the fur in there, placing the bag by Cat.*
Sakiro: So a hunter was killed by Clockshot, and their blood got on his cloak, and he wanted to hide his tracks by cutting the bloody parts of his cloak? Maybe he wants us to think that some random person skinned an animal and disposed of the fur.
Ainotias: Might trick a novice hunter, but if you ask me, that's a poor way to hide evidence.
Junos: Yes. Too poor. Almost as if Clockshot is baiting us into possibly some trap.
Cathera: *standing up* And me being a sensitor has its uses. Our sensing abilities can track the race of suspects more efficiently than others. Though it does have some drawbacks at times.
Junos: Doubting the potential of your powers, Cat?
Cathera: Junos, these powers have limits, you know.
Junos: *chuckle* Of course, but as we become more powerful, we either have less drawbacks, or we become more resilient towards them. Imagine an all-mighty, godly sensitor.
Cathera: We have plenty, I'm just not one of them.
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
*The 5 advance further into the alley. Sai turns to his right, noticing a pile of trash and other items; a potential area where evidence could be found.*
Saitonia: There could be some more evidence in this mass. *leans over, rummaging through the pile*
*Sakiro gets a little too distracted, checking out Sai leaned over.*
Sakiro: *thinking to herself* (What a weird position. He...does have a cute butt, a really perky one. Ugh, why am I thinking about this?! He's just searching for evidence.)
*Sai indeed finds something; an oddly shaped bullet with dried, purple liquid. He calls out to Cat: "Cat, catch!" Throwing the bullet to Cat as she catches it using her telekinesis, the bullet lands right into her hands and she places it in the bag.*
Ainotias: *peeking around the corner, looking very concerned* Ehhh, comrades. I think there's someone.
*The 4 join Aino to take a look at what she's seeing, laying eyes upon the lifeless body of a male hunter, lying flat on its back.*
Sakiro: We have a victim.
*Junos gets a closer look at the hunter, seeing a deep bullet hole in his chest, alongside a purple stain around his dark blue jacket.*
Saitonia: I can surely assume it's this "Clockshot". One of those syndicate members described him as his gun releasing a purple "toxin".
*Cat pours the evidence out of the bag, falling alongside the lifeless body. She then carefully takes the glove on her other hand off using her telekinesis, taking out her cator and scanning all the evidence before sending it to the General.*
Cathera: *calling the General, he picks up* Hey General, we found a good amount of evidence.
General: *from the cator* I see. Bloody fur, a weird-looking bullet, and a body. Definitely him.
Cathera: It wouldn't be so easy, as it appears that Clockshot oftentimes move from place to place, even sub-strict to sub-strict.
General: You've done well. We'll have more missions ready, especially for the twins.
Cathera: We'll do. *turns off cator*
Saitonia: Let's go to that bar, see what information that Owl has to offer.
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(Kav, Tenerus, and Anna have traveled to northern Sakrisen to take down lesser crooks and to toughen up Tenerus.)
Anna: *easily knocking out a crook with a punch* It's pretty easy when it comes to low-level crooks like these, Tenerus.
Kavita: *knocks out a crook with a roundhouse kick* Making this a bit too hard for yourself. Need a bit-, no, a lot of stiffening.
*Tenerus weaves the last crooks attacks, replying to Kav with: "It's not, I swear." The crook gets a lucky kick to Tenerus' stomach, knocking him down. As the crook goes for another attack, Tenerus whips out his signature pistol, shooting the crook twice in the heart as he drops dead.*
Tenerus: *light exhale* That one just got lucky. *stands up, seeing Kav and Anna walk to him*
Kavita: I wonder how much Sakiro is training you. Maybe she's putting all the effort and you give none back.
Anna: A lost cause much, Kav?
Kavita: Possibly. Hopefully not. *to Tenerus* If it were just you, you'd end up dead at the hands of lesser, street level crooks, and that'd be an embarrassing way to go.
Tenerus: Oh, leave me alone Kav.
*A male voice is heard coming from the sidewalk, adding on with: "She's right there, Tenerus." Out comes the ex-boyfriend of Kav's. He's Asian/Caucasian-Terranovian mix. Medium, spiky black hair covering his entire forehead. Black eyes obscured by his black sunglasses with glossy, dark blue edges. Wears a dark blue, unzipped trenchcoat, under is a mid-length, zipped-up black leather jacket. Straight-fitted gray pants, and short, blue and black boots.*
Kavita: *clear disgust at the sight of her ex* Ugh, not this fucker. Tommy Vandren. Why in the actual hell are you here? Shouldn't you be in prison?
Vandren: Nope. They tried me. Got the wrong guy.
Kavita: Yeaahhh. You've been celled for an incident with Asako, but that was like 3 years ago. Not sure if it was true or not.
Vandren: Course it was not. She's a narcissistic, conniving bitch. She's in Casavatia somewhere, right? Ruxirea? She can stay far away from me as possible.
Kavita: Asako really fucked your life up. Your parents were just the beginning. Apart from that, *turning back to Tenerus and Anna* there's like a 100 reasons why I hate this guy.
Tenerus: Is one of them his poor choice in style? Wearing sunglasses at night?
Vandren: *instantly taking his sunglasses off, then an exaggerated reply* Oh screw you, you useless prick. It's just the vibes.
Tenerus: *dirty stare at Van* Vibes? Okaayyy.
Vandren: Hey Kav, how's the...*hand gestures moving up and down rapidly, stopping after 4 seconds* the girlfriend of yours? Sensitor gal?
Kavita: Cat? Cathera?
Vandren: Yeah, Cat. Kitty Cathy.
Kavita: She's excellent, especially without you hassling us. And watch your little nickname. She don't like when people she's uncomfortable with call her Cat.
Vandren: When you do it, she gets aroused. An intense vibration in her panties as she has the urge to just ravage you.
Kavita: Shush, Tommy. It's not like that.
Tenerus: Vandren, don't shame Kav here for possibly being bi-curious.
Vandren: I ain't shaming. Well, what do you say Kav? We hang out and get a drink at that bar? Just to remember the flow.
Kavita: .....sure.
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(Later on, the 4 meet the twins, Cat, Sakiro, and Junos at the GB&P.)
Ainotias: *tapping Sai* Brother, new face over there.
Saitonia: I see, must be another one of Cat and Kav's friends.
Cathera: *replies to Sai upon hearing what he said* Him? Definitely not a friend.
Vandren: *walks towards the twins* Some new allies? Y'all twins? One of you is an eraser and the other is an obliterator.
Saitonia: We are twins. The opposite races part is still something we personally want to figure out.
Vandren: Thought you were twin sisters specifically, until I heard your voice.
Cathera: Saitonia, Ainotias, this is Tommy Vandren. He's....some trouble, that's the nicest I can describe him.
Vandren: Wait, the eraser is Saitonia, the obliterator is Ainotias?
*The twins nod.*
Cathera: *advising the twins* Twins, don't let him get under your skin. He tends to compensate for his terrible childhood by taunting some of us.
Vandren: Kitty Cathy! Missed seeing your little hyper realistic face.
*He lightly hugs Cat, who then places her hand on Van's chest to signal him to get off. Van then goes to open the bar door, says: "After you all." and allows everyone else to enter first.*
(Inside the GB&P, Pyrus is bartending. He notices the group.)
Pyrus: Oh hey y'all. Got anything on that Clockshot? *pauses as his eyes lock on Van* Oh, not you.
Vandren: I've done some bounty hunting myself a few times.
Pyrus: Should've picked up a wanted poster of yourself. Unfortunately, you didn't come at a price.
Vandren: I must be priceless. Or you calling me worthless? It'd apply perfectly to your bounty hunting.
*Cat places the bag of evidence on the bar countertop, showing what the group found to Owl.*
Cathera: This is what we gathered.
*Cat tears the bag with ease to avoid having to dump it out on the counter, the evidence still laid out on the ripped bag.*
Owl: *inspecting the evidence* Yep. Seeing that oddly shaped bullet with dried up purple fluid, definitely Clockshot.
Saitonia: This purple "toxin" does seem to mutilate, deform body parts upon contact.
Ainotias: Looks like here's one rule if you were to fight Clockshot;ensure he misses the shot.
Cathera: Hehe. Yeah, duhh, no sh-
Pyrus: *inadvertently cutting Cat off to reply to Aino* No shit. Most follow that goal in fights. We haven't even encountered this Clockshot, so who knows how much of a godly sharpshooter he is?
Kavita: Coincidentally, he was the former Sharpshooter for the Whitefang Lynx.
Owl: The evidence will be in my hands. Y'all will need to devise a plan on how you can turn in that snow rogue.
Ainotias: Exactly.
Tenerus: Yeah, for sure.
Kavita: Some nerve of you to wanna be down for the action, Tenerus. Stick to what you're useful at, which is sitting back and doing nothing.
Sakiro: Kavita, at this rate, especially judging by his training, he wouldn't be useful doing that either. I try to have him open his heart, unlock some potential he got hidden under there. Either he's a lost cause, or I have to be more harsh. He'd probably fall and make some excuse like: "I was out of bullets." Something like that. *to Tenerus* That give you any excuse?
Tenerus: *embarrassed look as he hesitantly answers* Maybe not. I could just be unlucky.
Vandren: Let's'lax, crew. We all ain't born with shitloads of willpower. We're all flawed here. Some just got more noticeable flaws than others.
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(Midnight, northern Sakrisen. Clockshot has claimed the life of another hunter unfortunate enough to try and catch him, dragging the body in a secluded, dark alley.)
Clockshot: *while dragging the deceased hunter, letting out a mechanical sigh* Told him to run off and forget about my bounty, but he really valued zepiks more than his own life.
*Clock stops dragging the hunter, laying him by a large, dark blue dumpster. He notices an item peering from the hunter's jacket pocket and grabs it.*
Clockshot: A communiscanner. Battery hasn't ran out. *scans the deceased hunter, then signals ally hunters* Would be wild to see the reactions of his fellow hunters when they see he "scanned himself". What a weird game I'm playing.
*Clockshot walks off into the darkness.*
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END: