NationStates Jolt Archive

It was late in the day, a lazy afternoon. The summer's sun began to set over the peaceful town of Stanton Falls. The citizens went about their day, working. The herds of livestock needed tending, the stores needed to be kept, and so on. The sheriff's office was quiet. An older man, his hat tipped over his face, the old wooden chair creeked back and forth. A silver star sat upon his vest, it was old, having been worn by many men. The desk he slumbered behind was an old oak desk, full of knicks and scratches. It was made by a carpenter many years prior. Boots clanked down the wooden planks past the general store, past a saloon, and up to the office. The spurs clinged then stopped. The door knob slowly opened and a man crept in.
"Sheriff, they're robbin' the bank!!" the man yelled right in the man's ears. The man nearly fell over as he was catapaulted out of his quiet sleep and back into reality. The chair fell over, smacking the ground as he regained his balance.
"What the hell?!" he exclaimed, trying to get his bearings.
"Caught ya sleepin' again, Jonas" the man said through the weezed chuckle.
"Tom, you old bastard. I could've died from that!" he said as he tipped his hat up, laughing at himself a bit. Tom McCreedy was a good friend of Jonas from childhood, they were once deputies together.
"I couldn't resist, Jonas" he replied as he took a seat.
"Don't tell Lizzie that ya caught me sleepin' again. That Irish temper of hers'll get a pan upside my head" he warned as he rummaged through the drawers of the old desk. Out came a half empty bottle of gin and two glasses.
"Don't mind if I do" Tom said as he gazed upon the gin.
"These ain't for you. I need both of them to calm me nerves" Jonas replied with a laugh.

Prologue

Near Kyoto Japan


It has been a long few decades. Since the 1870's the Devine One has been on a western craze, including modernizing the entire Imperial Army. Once proud and destengushed Samurai were being replaced and killed by the modern army. Few rebelions have suceeded in attacks, many eleminated by the barrage of cannon fire and musket bullets. One rebellion remained but it's numbers were now few. Thoes that remained were planning to strike the centeral government. Right in the middle of a planning session busted in several Imperial Soliders

{Which One of you is Kirabayashi-sempai?}

One boy stood forth. He was still fairly young with very dark hair.

{I am.} He pronounced

{By Order of the Emperor you are under arrest}

{So take me}

But it wasn't a simple arrest. All of them were taken and exectuted one by one.


Now

Kaori Kirabayashi hasn't had a singel family member sincer her late brother. She was a penniless homeless orphan in a strange country which she could barely understand half the time. Her years in America have enabled her to pick up the English Language but not as much as a natural born. People passed her buy giving no thought to the poor "oriental" on the streets. She had heard though in her childhood of some of her family leaving for this land in search of gold. She figured she might have some back east. But it was a long shot and every day it presented doubt in her mind keeping her in her horrible situation that she was.

in the Saloon of Stanton Falls Saloon girl Rose had just started work,when a soldier came's in the Saloon

he heads to her at the bar
"what it be"ask Rose
"whisky and a room"said the Man
"one whisky and a room,you got a name soldier boy"said Rose as she pour's the Whisky
"Jack"said Jack as he take's the glass

"you still in the Army or have you just got out"ask Rose as she look's Jack up and down
"out"said Jack then finish the glass in one go
"now the room"said Jack
"this way"said Rose as she lead's Jack up the stair's

The two older men sat there, finishing off the bottle of whiskey, laughing and remembering the old days. On the wall was the case that held the rifles and shotguns. The shotgun on the end was Jonas's favorite. He called her bess because she was past down from the previous sheriff and it never failed to fire and was quite durable.
"Remember ole Sheriff Eli Reed?" Tom asked as he put down an empty glass.
"A good man and a good sheriff. It was sad when Will Hopkins rode into town and put six bullets into 'em" Jonas replied. A moment of silence followed. Jonas looked up to the old scatter gun. He remembered back to when he was a young deputy under Reed. The first time he ever shot someone was when they rode out to the Tate Ranch wher a couple of cattle rustlers were trying to cut his barbed fence to get to the herd of cattle. It was a dark night and they had to rustlers at gunpoint. They wore potatoe sacks over their heads with holes cut for eyes. Jonas was so nervous as he sweat, gripping the scatter gun tight. One of the rustlers tried to approach him and the shotgun discharged right into the rustler's foot...
Jonas snickered as he stood up, starining to lift his aging body out of the chair and towards the window. The streets were busy with people going about their day.

Kaori stumbled into the saloon. She went there often although she never drank actual alchol, the tender was nice enough to either give her a place to stay instead of the streets, or something to eat when it was availabe. She of course won and lost at gambling, some nights and days she tried to go double or nothing and wound up with nothing. She was going to press her luck today and try to double her measly funds of which she had, about 25 cents (Nearly 30 yen) "All right," She said "Which one of you wants a round with me?"

A muscular Indian slowly moved through the streets on his horse, people on the sides of the road glanced at him but quickly looked away as he past them riding closer to the saloon where he dismounted and tied up his horse, before he walked in two kids stood on the porch staring at him,

"Humph!" he grunted and they ran away...

He walked into the saloon and scanned it, there was a soldier, some whores, and other white men drinking, Black Cloud walked to the bar,

"Give me two wiskey bar keep!"

He sat some coins on the bar, the Apache brave waited patiently untill his drinks were served...

He took a seat...

after showing the room to Jack,both Rose and Jack
came back down the stair's
"so the room be fine"ask Rose as she goes behind the bar
"yes"said Jack as he lays his Rifle on the bar
"so what do you want now"ask Rose
"bottle of whisky"said Jack then turns to look around the room
"hey that's a old Winchester 1866 "said Rose as she place the bottle on the bar
"had it with me when i was fighting in the Third Indian War "said Jack

Black Cloud looked at the soldier who set his rifle down on the table, he was trying to impress the girl behind the bar by talking about the indian wars,

"And this... helped me through the war with the white man!

He pulled a large buck knife lightening fast and jammed it into the bar with force..

**BANG**

Not even half it's large thick blade dissapeared.....

Black Cloud looked at the soldier with a crazed look in his eye and turned away taking another shot..

"an so did this"said Jack as he in bed his Tomahawk in to the bar
Rose behind the bar back's away as it look like there may be a fight

The indian ignored jack and ordered another two shots from the bartender placing more coins on the table in front of him, Black Cloud wasn't easily angered and remained calm looking out the window at the streets crowded with people carrying out their daily buisness.....

Black Cloud had encountered many people just as this man beside him at the bar, he didn't fight with him because he was scared, he just came in for a drink after his long ride...

He glanced at the tomohawk and chuckled as he had his own attached at his side, he knew if this man continued to taunt him he would slice him ear to ear before he could reach his gun or get his own weapon out of the bar....

After a half hour the chatter winded down and Jonas paced across the wooden floor and grasped the metal bars of the jail cells. The past year was a boring and quiet one, just the kind of year he liked. Stanton Falls prospered due to the peace brought about by Jonas. He was a tough deputy and eventual sheriff in his younger years. Now, most of the gunslingers were gone and he mainly sat as sheriff for a more of symbolic position. All of a sudden, a lean young man breezed through the door, panicked. He wiped off the sweat and stammered
"S-Sheriff. There's a disturbance down at the saloon!"
"Rusty, why didn't you take care of it?" Jonas asked in a weary tone, gazing at Rusty's badge which clearly said 'Deputy'.
"I don't know what to do. You've done it all" Rusty replied, embarassed. Rusty was a new deputy, as in a week new.
"Alright, just let me get my gunbelt. You come along too Tom" Jonas replied walking over to the rack and picking up a gunbelt, putting it on. He had to loosen it a notch. He sighed and remembered when he didn't seem so fat...

The indian ignored jack and ordered another two shots from the bartender placing more coins on the table in front of him, Black Cloud wasn't easily angered and remained calm looking out the window at the streets crowded with people carrying out their daily buisness.....

Black Cloud had encountered many people just as this man beside him at the bar, he didn't fight with him because he was scared, he just came in for a drink after his long ride...

He glanced at the tomohawk and chuckled as he had his own attached at his side, he knew if this man continued to taunt him he would slice him ear to ear before he could reach his gun or get his own weapon out of the bar....


"i only fight to live,an i have no fight with you Apache"said Jack as he pull's out the Tomahawk and place it back on his belt then turn's to Rose
"you like a glass of whiskey" ask Jack as he pour's one for himself
"just one as I'm working"said Rose as she move near to him
Jack pour her a glass

Black Cloud nodded once and removed his knife from the bar placing it back in it's leather sheath attached behind his back...

"Then we have no problem here, we drink, in peace"

He continued to sit there calm as ever, he was a man of few words...

The Apache took both his shots one after another and signaled for more. Ever sence the war had ended and Black Cloud was pretty much alone he had taken up drinking, some times heavily, it would help put the horrors of the war behind him. The locals knew of him but nobody knew where he lived, he was a loner that would just appear in town once and awhile to gather supplys, he has no known family or friends.....

Black Cloud nodded once and removed his knife from the bar placing it back in it's leather sheath attached behind his back...

"Then we have no problem here, we drink, in peace"

He continued to sit there calm as ever, he was a man of few words...

The Apache took both his shots one after another and signaled for more. Ever sence the war had ended and Black Cloud was pretty much alone he had taken up drinking, some times heavily, it would help put the horrors of the war behind him. The locals knew of him but nobody knew where he lived, he was a loner that would just appear in town once and awhile to gather supplys, he has no known family or friends.....
OOC as Rose be a local she would know your would she not
IC

"to peace what ever that may be and here"said Jack as he refill's the shot glass of the Apache

Black Cloud nodded twice this time and replyed,

"To peace...." he said quietly..

He took the shot he ordered and drank with Jack. He wasn't too fond of the soldiers but they were no longer his enemy,he had killed many of them, most of the Apache renegade warriors had been put on trains and taken away along with the Chief, they were being put in places called reserves where Black Cloud would not go, he managed to stay out of harms way never involving himself...

This was his peoples land and he would not leave it for anyone.

OOC: Rose would know of him, he often comes to the saloon..

Rose keep's looking at Jack
"you not a cavalryman are you" ask Rose to Jack then she turn's to Black Cloud

"sorry Black Cloud ,i ask him as he don't look like one"said Rose then she wait's for Jack to speck

Black Cloud turned to Rose and nodded. He often came to the Saloon when he was in town, got afew drinks, relaxed a bit then usually headed over to the general store to collect his supplys he would take back with him, whereever it was he dissapeared to. Some said that he lived in the mountians outside town, he would just show up in town with money and goods to trade off, no one was sure where he got anything, it remained a mystery...

"It's fine rose, i look at him and know he faught in the white mans army...a soldier knows another soldier...."

"1st Infantry Regiment,the money cover's me and Black Cloud "said Jack as he leave's money on the bar and pick up the Rifle an head's out

"ok"said Rose to Jack as he leave's

"Well boys, I belive that is what you call, a royal flush."


"You little bitch. You must have cheeted."

"Tough luck, because I played fair and square even though you not only counted you marked your cards."

The man grabbed her by her dress, and prepared to punch her...

"punch her an you are dead"said Jack with Rifle pointing at the man

"But this little bitch conned me."

"I've done no such thing."

Jack picks up one of the card's an look's at it then throw to the floor
"all of you just pick what's your lot of cash and go"said Jack still pointing the gun
then Jack turn's to girl
"an as for you stay out of there way for some time"said Jack

"Yeah that's good advice."

Jack look's at the girl
"you want make some money"ask Jack

"Sure."

"go to the General store and get me six of box's 0.44 Rifle ammo and a new shaping Stone"said Jack as he hand over some money to the girl

"All right, you can count on me." She put the money into her pocket and left running to the general store.

"I need 6 boxes of thoes please. Thanks."

She walked back to the saloon her armes full of boxes of ammo.

"Sir, uh sir, here you are. six boxes of ammo for you, percisely what you asked for."

"All right, you can count on me." She put the money into her pocket and left running to the general store.

"I need 6 boxes of thoes please. Thanks."

She walked back to the saloon her armes full of boxes of ammo.

"Sir, uh sir, here you are. six boxes of ammo for you, percisely what you asked for."

Jack take and place them on the bar
"thanks here a 50"said Jack as he hand over to her

"Rose same as last time"said Jack
"be in a min'said Rose

$50? Sir I can't take this."

"take it if you still feel like you got to work for it more, go find me good puppy that i can buy"said Jack as he take's the shot glass from Rose

She gave a bow "Domo Arigato err thank you very much."

"ok"said Jack as he sip's the shot

"well i'm off to get some rest"said Jack as he pick the ammo and Rifle
"mind if i check on you later"ask Rose
"yer if you like"said Jack then head's up the stair's

some hour's later Jack wakes to the sound of knocking at the door
"who is it"ask Jack with Colt in hand
"it's me Rose"said Rose
"wait"said Jack as gets up and walk's over to the door to unlock it
"hi i said i check up on you"said Rose as she walk's in after Jack open's the door
"yer"said Jack as he closed the door and lock it

Jack wakes up an rolls over to see Rose next to him ,then part of it came back to him

Rose and Jack started talking then some how Rose ask about the scar on left side of his face, which lead him to start drinking ,then after that it's all a blank

Bump

Jack change back into his gear,pick's up his Gun's close the door leaving Rose
asleep
Jack heads down the stair's then out of the Saloon to look around Stanton Falls

Jack head to the trainstation as a train had pulled in
head to master of the Station
"i'm here for a horse and case that came on that train"said Jack

Emilana was busying her self cleaning the house of her Master Jack's House, awating his return. It was time for her monty pay, one moth closer to freedom. She bumped a vase but caught it in time. "Few."

"that horse was pain to get on"said man to Jack
"you just got know how work him"said Jack back to man

"easy Shadow"said Jack as the man walk's away

"right got my Blackfish Rifle and Shadow,time to send for Emilana "said Jack as he lead Shadow to the Telegram post

"stay here"said Jack to Shadow the goes inside

"how can i help you sir"ask the man behind the counter

"yes i like to send a Telegram to some one in DC"said Jack

"ok sir go a head'said the man


The Telegram

# Emilana came to Stanton Falls by next train *stop*
bring two of my lock box's and the metal box from the top draw of my desk *stop*
bring your horse and some clothes *stop*
sign Jack *stop*#

after placing Shadow in the Stable ,Jack head back to his room to find Rose was still asleep
"mm best let her be"said Jack to himeself then heads down stairs the bar

Emalina obeyed and brought the supplies she was asked to bring. "One train ticket please."

It was stampped and she was on the first train out. The train pulled in a several hours later. "I have cargo." She said to the engineer.

"Right follow me miss." They pulled out the horse.

"Hey boy, been good, huh? Yeah long ride but you'll get to stretch your legs."

"Have you paid your cargo fees miss?"

"Yes I have. Thanks for helping me."

"Your welcome now get a move on, we can't have a horse in the station now can we."


She hopped on and rode it wouldn't be more than another hour to get where she needed to go, unless the weather turned bad but the sky was blue. Riding into the dusty town she halted at the first bar she saw. The horse needed water and she needed to get out of the hot sun

Emalina obeyed and brought the supplies she was asked to bring. "One train ticket please."

It was stampped and she was on the first train out. The train pulled in a several hours later. "I have cargo." She said to the engineer.

"Right follow me miss." They pulled out the horse.

"Hey boy, been good, huh? Yeah long ride but you'll get to stretch your legs."

"Have you paid your cargo fees miss?"

"Yes I have. Thanks for helping me."

"Your welcome now get a move on, we can't have a horse in the station now can we."


She hopped on and rode it wouldn't be more than another hour to get where she needed to go, unless the weather turned bad but the sky was blue. Riding into the dusty town she halted at the first bar she saw. The horse needed water and she needed to get out of the hot sun

"there you are Emalina "said Jack on seeing her

"Yes sir, I brought everything you asked."

"Yes sir, I brought everything you asked."

"good"
Jack open's one of lock box's

"here's your pay and bit more on top of that,there's a stall next to Shadow's one for your horse at the Stable, just tell them you work for me"said Jack as pick's up the thing's he ask for

"Yes sir. Thank you sir." She exited the bar to put her horse in the stabel

"who was that"ask Rose who was standing at the top of the stair's

"that be Emalina she works for me and she dam good at it,that's why i pay her so good too"said Jack

"oh that's good,well time for me to work"said Rose

"ok"said Jack then heads to the room with the gear