26 Lamb-entable

On the outskirts of the the woods, was a small old-fashioned town. Upon a nearby hill, a farm was positioned. Sakura and her fleet of jumpers, had cornered a female farm hand inside the barn. The girl was down on her knees, against the stable's door.

"Y-You're one of them there elementar..... ain't ya?...." The brunette haired girl, whimpered under her breath. "I beg ya... spare meh... I can't offer y'all zio... but maybe... other pleasures?"

Sakura jumps at the mention of 'pleasures', from behind the other end of the stable inside. "Oh? Well, maybe if ewe give me ewe're farm, and maybe some of the animals. The cute, fluffy sheep, the whole flock. That would work out splendidly, if ewe said 'yes'." Sakura states, sheepishly.

"My stars... What you're asking for is... too much..." The farm hand, shakily reached for the end of her skirt, pulling it up slightly to reveal her legs for Sakura, who was peering to her. "I am but... a simple woman... whose willing to let y'all... t-toss her salad..."

Sakura places her hands to her mouth, as her eyes widen in surprise. "B-Baaah?! I can't believe ewe have such good hips!!! I want good hips like that! Ewe're really making me not like ewe! Ewe had a chance to walk away...But, I guess this means we'll have to take ewe in." Sakura says, turning the Jumpers. "No sheep, no deal!"

The farm hand scrambled to her feet, making a run for the ladder to the upper part of the barn. The red circular eyes of the Jumpers light up, as they rush off after the woman, quickly.

Sakura smiles, looking at the commencing chase. "(This part of the mission is nearly done. Though, there's no sign of the targets. Am I not making enough noise? Bah, I can't say things like that! Of course I am!)"

The farm hand reached the end of the upper floor, with the jumpers hot in pursuit. She glanced back to them, letting her boots slide across the wooden flooring. "(Like Swift says, a 'leap of faith'... Here goes nothing.)" She thought, leaping off the ledge.

Issac, Barret and Kirb, were nearing the entrance of the barn. Barret looks back to the two of them. "Okay you two, spread-" He is suddenly slammed into a pile of hay.

Issac and Kirb stared, as they were caught by surprise. Barret opens his eyes, now looking at the farm hand, who was laying across him, her legs spread to each side of his hips.

"Uhhh..." Barret had no words, his nose however, was now dripping with blood.

"Brown-chicken-brown-cow.~" Kirb snickered, in a sing-songed fashion.

The farm hand also seemed surprised, but grew uneasy. "AIEEEEE!!!!!" She yelped, shoving off of Barret, and falling backwards into the hay.

"W-wait! Urgh, you've got the wrong idea! Really!" Barret states, gripping himself off the ground. "You screamed, so we came to investigate!" He urged the woman, trying to calm her down.

"(A farm house, late at night... yeah, this doesn't scream horror movie at all.....) B-Barret. If she screamed..." Issac looked over, nervously.

Kirb looks up, to where the farm hand had leapt from. Without much window of time, his gaze catches a Jumper, plummeting their direction. Quickly, he fires a round of bullets at the machine, bursting through it's head. "Bang." It crashed into the dirt, not far from the party. The Usa didn't bother to glance to the others. "Not to interrupt this lovely scene of debauchery, but, we got company."

Issac grinds his teeth, as more jumpers teleport in around them.

"G-Great..." Barret grumbled, as he engages his power glove, forming a whip. "Stay close!" He ordered to the farm hand.

The girl kept silent, but did as instructed. "..."

Issac too, formed his power glove into a whip. "Never a dull moment it seems..."

Sakura was now sitting above the party in the rafters, peering down to them. "Ewe are really rambunctious, coming here, getting in the way of Life's plans. I'm bleating the competition "

"Life's plans? Are you on some 'destiny' thought process about this?" Issac was shocked.

"Awe, Ewe're kinda nice. Ohh! What's your name?" Sakura says, as clouds, shaped like hearts, began to float up around her.

Barret growls, whipping off a head of a nearby Jumper. He then turns his attention to Issac and Sakura. "What's this about life? Issac, are you seriously charming her at a time like this!?"

Issac looked fast to Barret, snapping back. "What the heck are you on!? I'm not the one who had a girl crash land on me, with her legs spread! (Dude, as if I'd like some chick with sheep puns... Whatever...)"

The farm hand gawked a bit, but Kirb smirked over to the boys. "Lover's quarrel?"

"KIRB!" Barret and Issac snapped at him.

"What?" Kirb snickered, in amusement. Some Freeze-Terrors teleport into the location, along side some green colored jumpers. "Oh look, more company."

Sakura jumps a little, she had been taken off guard by the new units. "Oh! Bah! I nearly forgot I called in reinforcements. Oh! Issac!~ Don't pay attention to them, I want to talk to EWE!" Sakura says, waving her hand to him.

Issac's attention turned to her, somewhat gawking. "(This is just not my night....)"

Barret and Kirb destroy some more units, and Barret turns his attention to Issac once more. "ISSAC!!! GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE!" Barret screamed, loosing his patience.

"SHUT UP!" Issac screamed back, slashing at a nearby Freeze-terror. The Ice Terror falls back, plowing into another one, blowing up. The green jumper lets off several electrical bullets, flying in all directions.

Barret gets hit in the back by a couple, falling to the ground, jittery from the shock. "Grrr....They shoot, elements?" Barret states, gripping the grass.

"EEEEIIIKKKKK!!" The farm hand cried out, in fear.

"and more screaming." Kirb muttered, putting in his earphones.

Sakura was growing annoyed, assuming Issac had been ignoring her. "URGH!! EWE'RE LETTING YOUR FRIENDS RAM ME AWAY!" Sakura growls, standing to her feet. She forms a key shaped harp. "Allow me to alleviate ewe!" She says, hopping from the rafters.

A couple of the Jumpers snatched the farm girl's arms, detaining her. "AAAAIIIEEEEEE!!!!" The girl screamed, as she was taken into the sky by the machines.

Sakura lands on a puffy cloud formed from her. She then steps onto the ground dusting off her dress. "Well, I guess since she's out the pasture, Wool ewe marry 'me'?" Sakura inquired to Issac, her clouds still forming hearts now. She was right in front of him.

Issac let out a sigh, looking to her with a stern gaze. "'Tis one thing to be tempted, another thing to fall." Issac said, his tone dismissive, "(...this night's been pretty rocky... I'm getting sick of girl's getting flirty with me... They're so fake.. All I can do is put up with it... I guess. ) You work for Espionage, don't you?" He inquired, his power glove, forming to a sword.

Sakura nods, smiling at Issac, she presses her nose to his. "Yes, we don't have to fight. I do have orders, but we sheep can get along... At least with ewe." She says, pulling Issac into a kiss.

Barret slaps his forehead sighing. "(Really? Of all times...) ISSAC!" Barret yelled over to him.

Issac was taken off guard, as he pulled away, roughly. "Normally I wouldn't mind this, but uh... yeah, bad night, wrong side. You get me? (What the hell am I saying?!... I need to stop lying like this...)"

"Ohhh, is that Woolly Bully getting your head all messed up? Don't worry, we can place all the fighting behind us. Baaah. I can't wait for our sheep date!" Sakura says, clinging to Issac's arm.

"(Now look, another clingy chick...)" Issac groaned.

Kirb fires a shot off, hitting the farm house, between Issac and Sakura.

"BaaaAAAH!!!" Sakura yelled, fearfully.

"Good shot Kirb, Issac? Get over here! She's with Espionage, and we've lost the girl." Barret scolded.

"(Dude... I'm not stupid..)" Issac peered over, as he took a few steps away from the sheep girl.

Sakura growls. "(HE SHOT AT ME! But, he's got a point...) Oh? That lost little lamb? Don't be so sad, thanks to Life, all of us lost sheep return to the Shepard. To become better in the end. It's just sad that bulls, like yourselves, want to stop it all. AND SHOOT AT PEOPLE!" She says, turning to Kirb, angrily.

"Eh? What was that?" Kirb took out his earphone. "I saw your gums flapping."

"E-Ewe weren't listening to me!?" Sakura gasps, as her eyes start to tear up. "I put everything into that speech!" She vented.

"Oh boo-hoo, what are you gonna do? Cry?" Kirb mocked.

Issac looked to Kirb in surprise. "... (He's got a strange sense of humor... but man... this night... just.. urgh...)"

Barret crosses his arms. "Obviously she might." Barret stated.

Sakura's clouds become gray, and begin to show signs of electricity flowing in them. "You're making fun of me...Out of shear lack of creativity, I can't think of anything right off the hoof. Ewe... Ewe little sheep of horrors. I'M GOING TO PULL THE WOOL OVER YOUR EYES!"

Barret rubs the back of his head. "My head is hurting, at the sheer amount of puns she's ramming down our throats..." Barret slaps his forehead. "Shoving!"

"Way to join the herd, Teddy." Kirb jested.

"Well, at least you didn't use 'flock'." Barret snapped back irritated.

"Urgh..." Issac held his head. "(This is giving me a headache... All this drama just for leaving the camp... Jit man..)"

Sakura rushes at Kirb, arching back her Harp-Key, preparing to strike him. "TAKE THIS EWE LAMB RABBIT!" She swings her weapon, connecting with Kirb's gun chain.

Kirb quirks a brow, "Your mom write all your material?" He spoke sarcastically, keeping the chain in position, like a shield.

"Flock you!" Sakura says, tears streaming from her eyes. "AND DON'T YOU TALK ABOUT MY MAAAA!"

Barret swings his weapon, knocking Sakura away from Kirb. She falls to the ground groaning. "Uraaaah.... Bully ...Why are ewe getting in the waaaay!?" Sakura cries, shifting herself off the ground quickly.

"I hate to say this, but you better calm down. Or we'll have to put you back in the..." Barret pauses uneasily.

"Barn?" Kirb raises his brows, jokingly.

"I was TRYING to avoid that, but yes... Barn." Barret says, sighing to himself.

Sakura starts to back away from them. "I-I'm not done yet though! So trot off! All goats go to Stykx!"

"You're not going anywhere!" Barret states, preparing to pursue after her.

Sakura forms thick clouds around her, whisking her up into the air. "Life has plans! And EWE baaaaaad wolves aren't invited ! (But wait! I have to get them! Oh that's right, they'll follow my trail! Baa haa haa, ewe're good Sakura! Miss V is going to love this!)" Sakura flies off from them, leaving a trail of clouds.

Barret groans, and looks to Issac. "Issac? You froze up, no, you were flirting! They took off with that girl. Now the target, an Espionage member, got away!"

"I was NOT flirting! Chief, I'm not exactly having the best night. Not to MENTION, I am out of my element!" Issac retorted back. "(You have NO idea just how much shit I've been through! Don't push me!)"

"Out of your element? Issac! This is a battle field. You can't tell me you're getting cold feet." Barret scoffs, crossing his arms.

"I never said anything about cold feet... You wouldn't understand anyway." Issac pocketed his hands, looking off. "(No one ever does..)"

Barret sighs to himself, "Here we go again. What wouldn't I understand? You know how these guys are. I know you had a bad dream, but when fighting, you can't let that distract you, from doing what needs to be done."

"Do you two need a room? Or are we going to resume the mission?" Kirb looked boredly to them.

Issac looked to Kirb with narrowed eyes, not quite a glare. "Go without us then..."

"Reckless thinking, but she didn't seem to pose much of a threat..." Barret looks to Kirb. "Go on, we'll catch up with you."

"Have fun bickering, ladies. I work best on my own anyway." Kirb mentioned, boredly, heading off.

"Anyway..."Barret looks back to Issac, placing a hand in his pocket. "You know you can tell me stuff. I know about your suicidal tendencies, and your rough childhood."

Issac sighed, glancing to the night sky. "(It's so much more than that.) You don't get much nightmares, do you? Let alone ones that reflect events that tormented your past."

"Oh man Issac..." Barret places a hand to his forehead.

"See, you don't get it, chief. It's bad enough that it's dark, but the past haunts me. If you were in my shoes, maybe you'd understand why I am, the way I am." Issac looked to Barret. "You act like you get me, but you don't."

Barret shakes his head, looking off around the empty farm. "Issac, I know you want to do this, but at the same time..."

"Just because I have my flaws, doesn't mean I'm down for the count, Chief. The combination of events, is what's making things more challenging..." Issac gripped his bangs slightly.

Barret sighs, "Well, as long as you don't do anything reckless. That's all I'm looking for here... We should catch up to Kirb, though, if you want to sit this one out, I can understand. You've been under a lot of pressure."

"...I'll be fine, I'm already involved anyway. Besides, you might need me here, since that sheep girl's got a thing for me, for some odd reason. Distracting woman is... a no brainier." Issac forced a chuckle.

"Ah yes, quite a tactical move." Barret laughs to himself.

"Exactly... We should get moving, before Kirb gets lost in the flock of sheep." Issac smirked, faintly.

Barret cringed to himself about the puns again, then turns nodding to Issac's comment. As the two stood, facing the way of their destination, a loaded barrel was placed slowly to the back of both of their bodies.

"Howdy fellas, sorry, but the jig is up. I reckon, ya'll better pony up, before we be sending y'all to the bone orchard." Spoke a southern, female voice, from the placement of the gun.

"Swift, ain't gotta get to the point that fast. Give'em some time to breathe." Another southern woman spoke up, behind the gun wielding female.

"Pull in your horns, Zimna." Swift muttered, prodding the barrels harder into their backs, causing the boys to grow more uneasy. "Get a wiggle on now. Where is Imelda?"

"...Easy..." Issac held up his hands, slowly.

"You scared of some hot chicks? We just wanna know where our friend is, kay? Swift, I'm tellin' ya, you're gonna give these guys a heart attack." Zimna says, folding her arms looking to the boys, with a seductive smile.

Barret sighs, "We don't want any trouble... That name you mentioned though... Did she have brown hair?"

"Hobble your lip!" Swift snapped, at Barret. "Don't try to bluff, we know you're just shooting your mouth off. Don't drag this out like a damned ranger. Out with it! No sense playing stupid, you're already nailed to the counter, 'partner'."

"He's telling the truth. (What's with these woman?!)" Issac tried to glance back.

Barret nods in compliance to Issac's comment. Zimna then steps ahead of the two boys, revealing her slim body. She wore a two piece with a purple top and blue jeans. She pulls to what looked to be two swallow blades, chained together. She had short purple hair, with violet eyes that peered to them, as she sucked on a lollipop. "Come on now, ya'll really being truthful? You ain't being too clever, hiding the fact you knew what she looked like, sides that, being at the scene of the crime."

"What is past is prologue... The lady you seek was taken by an espionage agent. Listen. We're only here, because we heard her cry for help. The longer you hold us here, the further away the captor flees, as does your friend. We are on the same side." Issac urged, sternly.

"I swear, this man is a flannel-mouthed liar." Swift stated, keeping her pistols in place.

"Now wait, let's think dis over. They could be lyin', yeah, but if they are tellin' the truth. These hunks could lead us to dem." Zimna says, swinging her weapon around Issac's neck.

"Uhh... is this really necessary?!" Issac gawked, uncomfortably.

"A lick and a promise, ain't doing us no good. Don't beat Sosa around a stump, by acting all soft solder to these bunko artists. By hook or crook, Zimna, this ain't my first rodeo. I won't be letting these chiselers dicker their way out this." Swift retorted, still not placing down her guns.

"Meh, they haven't done anything to us honestly. They could lead us to her...We're takin' em with us." Zimna says, pulling her weapon, which swings Issac over to her.

"(Great... don't tell me that she's into me now too... Three in one night... Forceful ones at that... I don't like this..)" Issac thought, as he stepped back slightly.

Swift rolled her eyes, placing away her guns. She walked ahead of them, tipping up her cowboy hat with her thumb, to get a better look. She had long purple and black hair, wearing mostly cowboy attire. She had this look about her that spelled 'trouble'. "You'se the one takin' the gamble here, sis. Be the harlot all you like, but I ain't fixin' to be any part of it. Pony up boys, I don't intend to let you soil my reputation. My gal needs savin'." Shift stated.

"Okay, guess we're set then. Come you two." Zimna says, tugging Issac with her.

"..H-Hey! (Okay, this is not cool!)" Issac gawked.

"Wa-Wait! Who are you two?" Barret asked to them, trying to keep up.

Zimna turns around, looking to Barret. "That ain't how things are suppose to roll. Don't pitch a hissy fit now. The men introduce themselves, then the ladies. Ain't that right, Swift?"

Swift huffed, looking ahead. "You think they'd recognize the great outlaws of the wild-west. Hmph, I hate introductions."

"Oh, wait a minute! You're from Vexan, aren't you? I thought something was familiar." Barret says, pondering to himself. "You're Sidewinder, and Nightingale, those desperado train robbers."

"Eh, that's more Swift's thing, sides that. You must be quite the regular curly wolf. Getting all that info." Zimna stated slyly, to Barret.

"Urgh well, heh, you two are notorious..." Barret states, rubbing the back of his head.

"Barret. A little help here?" Issac looked to the other boy, from his restrained position.

"Shut your big bazoos already, we're hangin' fire. Let's skedaddle and fetch Imelda, before I have a mind to hog-tie and beef y'all." Swift insisted, with aggravation.

"Swift, be a little nicer to the captives. Sides, if worse comes to worse, and our friend ain't where they say she is, then we can beef'em. Though not after I get my piece of the pie." Zimna says, smiling.

"(Piece of what?!)" Issac gawked, in irritation.

Barret laughs uneasily, "Um excuse me, could you ease up on my friend there?" Barret asked, to Zimna, who then turns to him with a lazy stare.

"Uh...No. Come on now." Zimna says, dragging Issac ahead with her.

"There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures." Issac quoted in annoyance, as he was being forced along.

"Sway me more, poet." Zimna teased him, snickering to herself.

Barret sighs again, and begins to walk. He is then kicked by Swift, who places a gun to the side of his face. "Urgh! Wha-?"

"What in tarnation are ya waiting for, yellow hair? Hustle, else ya'll be left for snake fodder." Swift snapped. "Where exactly do we need to wander, to find them?"

"R-Right this way..." Barret states, shakily holding his hand up, pointing ahead of them.

Swift proceeded to kick Barret once more, "I'm fixin' to dry gulch them folks that did this, don't make me clean your plow now. Git a move on it!"

"Yes ma'am..." Barret states solemnly, walking ahead.

As they were following the trail of clouds, Zimna grips her weapon more tightly, arching Issac's back to her. "Full moon tonight, you know, I got a feeling you've been been getting hit on all night this way." Zimna asked to Issac.

Issac gritted his teeth slightly, as he looked her way. "Not sure how you came to that conclusion, (but... you have no idea...)"

"I can smell it. One of the many traits I carry, going after guys like you. Though, I'd rather keep that part of my story to myself." Zimna says, as she lets off the weapon a bit. "Clouds seem to be getting thicker here."

"(I really don't like this... and I'm exhausted...) Mind letting go of me now?" Issac grumbled.

Swift was quietly following after Barret, her hand to her gun hostler.

"Issac, just comply for now, okay?... (Where is Kirb?!)" Barret asked to himself, trying to keep on Swift's good side.

"... Fine..." Issac looked off. "(Somebody kill me now... I can't take all this...)"

"I reckon, we've knocked into a cocked hat, with this here weather..." Swift stated, as they reached a slope in the mountain trail, where snow began to fall.

Barret looks around for any signs of Kirb, or Sakura. "The trail leads up that mountain?... (This could get ugly.)"

Issac shivered, "T-T-To b-e-e-e, or n-n-n-not t-to be, t-t-t-that is t-the q-q-q-question. (I should have gone back to bed when I had the chance... Crap...)"

"What, you cold little man? Heh, come here, I'll warm you up." Zimna teased.

Barret looks over to Zimna, amazed at her statement. "(She's barely wearing anything! In fact, BOTH of them are nearly naked!)" Barret thought, as his blood was beginning to boil. Blood also was streaming from his nose.

"I-I'll p-p-pass." Issac stated seriously, as he continued to shiver.

"Zim! Ain't the place, ya hear? Keep your trousers on, alright?" Swift kept her gaze ahead. "I thought I heard somethin'."

"Eh? I didn't hear nothing, 'cept this guy's knees trembling." Zimna smirks back to Issac.

Swift pulled to her rifles. "Then maybe you ain't listenin'. Open your ears, and forget about the hard case."

"Hey,hey, don't be making fuss about my prize here. Sides, he talks more than the one your with, he seems kinda homely." Zimna shoots back at Swift.

Swift glances back to Zimna, with her guns out. "I don't care a continental 'bout either one of them deadbeat city-folk. You're all down but nine. I'm just coppering my bets here." Swift insisted, aiming her pistols to some brush as more rustling was heard.

"Alright, no need to get defensive. We all move along at our own paces." Zimna says to Swift, in a cocky manner.

Barret shakes his head. "If I may ask, what does 'homely' mean?"

"Means your ugly, 'partner'." Swift replied, without kindness in her tone.

Barret growls looking to Zimna. who then turns to Barret. "Hey, I wasn't the one to make you like that." She says, turning back tugging Issac along.

"(What a condescending trollop!)" Barret thought to himself.

"(This is just ridiculous.....)" Issac groaned.

The boys jumped a bit, as Swift suddenly lets off a shot, aimed to the brush. The tree above the brush rustled, as Kirb sat on a branch with his guns drawn. His focus was on the girls. He grinned a bit, "I think you have something of mine, ladies. We're evenly matched at this range, don't be stupid now."

Swift aimed her guns right at Kirb, "Bang up job, Zimna." She stated sarcastically. "I missed my mark with this here hare."

"Wow, a rabbit. Guess I take it back. I have found two studs, but we're still missing Swift's gal...I take it you know where she is?" Zimna questioned to Kirb.

"Looking for the broad who was swiped, I take it?" Kirb jumped down, placing away his guns. "So, assuming we're on the same side-" He said looking to Swift, who immediately stuck the barrel on her loaded gun, to the bottom of his jaw, pressing upward.

"You're not euchring anyone here, hare. Should have kept your distance, when you had the chance. Now you're a goner." Swift stated, her finger on the trigger.

Suddenly, a swarm of jumpers teleport in around them. Everyone is forced to take the defensive, with their weapons ready. They all huddled back to back, staring down the foes.

"We'll settle this later." Swift sneered.