“How many armed people do you have in Old Springs?” The Gunslinger asks after a long time.

“Not too many.” Old Joe answers softly. “The Sheriff and his group had most of the guns; semi-auto rifles and the like. Though I think David had that light machine gun he brought back from his Imperial Army days, right Anita?”

The Doctor thinks for a moment. “Yeah he did.”

“Pa’s machine gun was real?!” Daniel stares wide eyed. “He let me play with that thing cause he told me it was a toy…”

“Well it don’t work anymore.” The old woman replies with a hint of disappointment. “Thing’s been rusting in the basement for gods know how long. And he brought that damn cleaning manual to his grave.”

Turning back to the Gunslinger, Old Joe continues. “What are you planning?”

“There is no guarantee she will let this town survive.” The young man speaks. “If that is the case, you’ll need at least some method of defending yourself.”

“How are we supposed to defend ourselves from a Collective Mage?!” Daniel asks with a bite of frustration, voice rising as he steps back from the bar. “Come on, and that’s not even including the twenty guys she’s got with her!”

The Gunslinger speaks up. “She’s executing six of them. Most likely for running from me.”

“Oh that’s good.”

Old Joe sighs. “No, cause now the rest won’t risk running since it’s going to be their hides being flayed.”

“We’re all dead then.” The Doctor concludes, turning to the Gunslinger. “If that was a real piece of the god gun right there we wouldn't even be in this mess.”

“Ma…”

“Face it Dan, that mage would’ve been dead the moment she stepped into the bar if your new friend had an actual fragment.” The Old Woman rolls her eyes. “It’s nothing more than a copy!”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“It’s real Ma.” Daniel retorts as he runs his hands through matted hair. “This Alto’s killed Judges and Auditors! EVERYONE who's tried to kill him is DEAD!”

Doctor Omen waves his words off. “Well then he’s not that guy. The only thing he’s toting around is a fancy copy, that’s all.”

“Ma I….”

Old Joe speaks up sternly, interrupting them. “Listen! That ‘copy’ is our only chance for killing that Mage. Unless you two have any better ideas he’s the option we got.”

Silence at the authority of age, the absoluteness of fate slowly integrating with the fragile sentiment of hope.

A brutal cough, a bit of blood running down lips as wounds are reopened and bandages reforged.

The Gunslinger speaks. “Since there are no more leaders in this town. We will need to gather volunteers, spread as many weapons between them as you can. Hide the rest of the people across the town.”

“What?!” Daniel blinks.

“Now hold on, who put you in charge?” The Doctor objects at the same time. “You’re the one who got us into this…”

“If she kills me, then the people of Old Springs will be next.” Alto Carrin nods slowly. “I came to this Town, her wrath is mine alone to burden. But if I fail, do not allow yourselves to die quietly. ‘For just a single bullet can bring salvation.’”

Five souls, their value in flesh worthless on the frontier. A last hope placed in the roar of gunfire, lethal ordinance instead of faith.

Old Joe takes a deep breath. “Daniel, we need people to carry guns and organize. I’ll get a list of some of the veterans from back before the Federation rolled in and the folks who have weapons, but we’ll have to distribute them somehow.”

“Yeah I can handle that.” The Doctor-in-Training waves. “I’ll ask some of the kids to help, it’s going to be a lot easier when I’m not the only one running around.”

Doctor Omen stops, forcibly grabbing her grandson. “No, you’re not doing this. I forbid it.”

“Ma, relax. If there’s one thing I’ve learned growing up in March its to travel without attracting attention.” The young soul smiles back. “I got this.”

A heroism not lost on the old woman, a final pause as a souled prayer is send to gods above. “I’ll try and fix David’s old machine gun, but don’t bet on that hunk of junk working ever again. And do anything stupid you got it?”

“Yeah…” Daniel smirks.

“Ok we got a plan… if you can call it that.” Old Joe carefully begins as nerves within his ribcage burn. “Ow…”

Daniel turns to the outsider, an excitement in his gaze. “So what are you doing Alto?”

Staring into the distance the Gunslinger takes a deep breath.

“Praying.”