27 Occupational Hazard

Barret looks to Issac, then back to the Jumpers walking towards them. "Come on, the faster we take care of them, the sooner we find that Zodiac member." He insisted, keeping a sharp eye on the enemies before them.

Issac stumbled, gripping to his glove. "(I wish this damn snow would let up... Fighting in this weather... This just ISN'T my day!)" He glanced to the Jumpers around them, forming the blade. "Chief... D-Did I ever mention... I d-d-d-don't work well in the c-c-c-cold?.."

"I do recall something like that, but now isn't the time. Pull yourself together!" Barret states, jumping at a unit quickly.

Issac gawked slightly, "(Really!? Jeez dude, talk about not cold-hearted!)" His eyebrow twitched slightly.

"Now this is getting interesting. Time for some REAL fun." Kirb smirked in amusement of the two, aiming his guns, and letting off some shots at the jumpers. "Bang-Bang!"

Zimna swings her chained swallow, which knocks into about four units, taking off their heads. They explode, leaving quite a dent in the ground. She turns her attention to her side, slashing another robot into the air, leaving room for Swift to unleash a barrage of bullets into it's mechanical chrome. The foe explodes, and the two outlaws get back to back with each other. More Kaos robots close in on the duo, as they continue their onslaught on the engaging forces around them.

Kirbon gains altitude, picking off foes in the distance, leaving the closer range to the other party members. Issac was fumbling in the snow, barely having any leverage against the enemies, so Barret was forced to pick up the slack.

Barret shoots a unit, as it was nearing Issac from behind. "Issac!? We almost got them, you have to keep sharp!" He commanded.

"What p-part of 'I don't do well in the c-c-c-cold' DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND!?" Issac snapped back, as he fought another Jumper.

The jumpers were decreasing in numbers, yet Barret turns his attention back to Issac. "THIS IS A BATTLE FIELD! COME ON ISSAC! WE'VE BEEN OVER THIS!"

"Save it for the bedroom, ladies!" Kirb glanced over, firing more rounds at the enemy forces.

"Kinky." Zimna states, slashing down another round of foes.

Swift fired at the remaining Jumpers, rending them all in fragments of scrap metal. "Now that them all have gone up in fume. You three better quit kicking up a row, else we'll knock ya'll gallery west. Let's keep moving." Swift insisted, aiming her barrels at the boys.

Barret mutters to himself, crossing his arms. "You're right... Let's continue forward."

Issac sighed, "(Let's get this over and done with.... Sooner, the better... Terra is freak'n against me tonight...)"

Kirb placed away his guns, and put his arms behind his head. "Sure-sure. Whatever you say, Doll-face."

"Don't shoot your mouth of Hare." Swift scoffed.

"Heh, come on you guys. Winds are getting a little more rougher here." Zimna states, placing her weapon behind her back.

"(...If the winds are picking up... and it's snowing.... I REALLY don't want to imagine where that leaves us....)" Issac grew uneasy, chattering still from the cold.

"The whole kit, and caboodle gives us more reason to shoot, Luke, or give up the gun. We're not gonna ride shank's mare up this here mountain, if you keep draggin' them feet. Pony up fellas, Imelda's waiting." Swift said, walking ahead of them.

Kirb glanced to her oddly, as he munched onto a strawberry. "Oh, she plays for THAT team." He jested slightly.

"Hmm she's right, let's keep moving. Issac? We'll have to talk when we get back to base." Barret states, holding back aggravation.

"..." Issac rolled his eyes. "(Sometimes I really hate you.)"

Kirb observed the two, before following after the girls. "Hey, you're gonna turn into snow cones standing around." That got their attention, and the boys follow after Kirb. The outlaws progress further up the snow covered mountain, followed by Issac, Barret and Kirbon. Progressing further, the wind caused the snow storm to increase, making the trek increasingly more challenging for the party. They were being pushed to their limits in this winter tornado of pernicious consent, especially Issac.

Zimna shutters a little, and looks to Swift, "Eh? I think I might be getting cold."

Barret's mouth drops to the sound of Zimna's statement. "YOU'RE JUST NOW FEELING COLD!?" He yelled to Zimna.

"No time to be worrying about your bib and tucker. By hook and crook, if ya'll don't hobble your lips, I'm fixing to send the next one of you who shoot's their mouth off, to the bone orchard." Swift snapped back.

"Kay,kay. Guys? Just do as she says, she's having her little time of the month early." Zimna scoffed to Swift.

Swift looked to Zimna, with angered eyes. "Trying to put a spoke in the Wheel now, Partner? So, gonna send your heeled sister to the Hoosegow too, or are you done hanging fire?"

"Trust me, I'm only here to help you out with your problem. Given any other situation, you'd be on your own. Be thankful I got this much patience." Zimna says, walking ahead of Swift, "Tell'n ya, if I had my way, I'd be putting cuffs on ya."

Barret was listening, but found Zimna's statement interesting. "(Cuffs? Her own sister? What's going on between them?)" He pondered to himself.

Kirb was also intrigued by the discussion, listening in quietly. However, Issac was still shivering and growing more cold.

Swift had her hand to her holster. "Is that a bluff? All you care about is a hog-killin' time, 'partner'. You're giving this a lick and a promise. Just like you to pass the buck as you're on the shoot. If you want trouble, then scoop in, and let fly." Swift looked ahead, "You're supposed to be someone to ride the river with, now you sound like you plan to take French leave. Are you gonna thrown up the sponge, or can I still tie on you?"

Zimna looks to Swift forming a soft smile,"Meh, I'll think about it. We can ride, but I choose when to get off the horse." Zimna says, turning her attention back to the road.

"Let's wind up this business then." Swift replied, pressing onward threw the storm.

Barret looks to Issac gesturing to him to speak. "What do you think?" He murmured.

Issac glanced to Barret, shaking his head. "S-Sibling r-r-r-rivarly? I don't know." Issac replied, with an expression of 'are you serious?'. "(Who cares what they're fighting about. Dude... You're way too into gossip, and other people's troubles.)"

"Forget it, apparently I'm the only one really paying mind, they have some stuff going on, but that's none of our business. Let's go before Miss 'Gun' decides pop off some shots in us." Barret states, walking after them ahead of Issac after Kirb.

"(Sometimes, I wonder about how you think, Chief... Really I do.)" Issac shivered a bit, following after the others.

Vienne had been observing the party from behind a tree, not even being noticed as they trek further through the snow storm. "Seems everything is going according to plan." A wicked grin split across her face, as she loomed, watching.

The group progressed further, starting to hear the sound of a harp playing as they finally arriving to a snowy summit at the peak of the mountain.

"(Is that music I hear?... I think that's the sound of a harp..)" Isac glanced ahead.

Sakura was floating on a small puffy cloud, above the group. She was playing her harp-key, watching them as her melody spread around. She soon drifts down to greet them all, a smile on her face, "Ewe just don't give up. Bah, the amount of times ewe rammed through my flocks, makes me woolly angry!" She spat at them.

Swift drew her guns, firing shots at Sakura. They blast through her cloud, rendering her unable to drift in the sky. She crashes down to the snow, landing on her hindquarters. The others behind Swift had not room to do, or say anything with how fast she was to the draw.

"I reckon, you better give in, and quit blasting your big bazoo. The jig is up, Where's Imelda?!" Swift demanded, with her pistols ready to fire.

Sakura shifts herself up from the ground, dusting off her attire. She clears her throat, forming an angry expression, "EWE SHOT ME DOWN! GRRR!! I'm going to make ewe into fodder!"

"Nice one sissy, but she's still yapp'n. Urgh, we also need that answer though." Zimna states, placing a hand behind her head.

"Ewe would like that, wouldn't ewe? As Zodiac member Aries, I, Sakura Hayate, will put ewe back in the barn! BAAAAHHH!" She yells, forming her Harp-key. "(Now Miss V will be proud of me! I'll be better than anyone else! Ewe just watch, but then, what if I fail? NO! EWE WON'T! EWE CAN'T!)" Sakura thinks, as she made awkward body motions, getting lost in thought.

"(This girl is nuts... I wonder whose worse though. Her, or these desperado bombshells?...)" Issac sweat dropped, as he shivered a bit from the cold, trying to get his power glove ready.

Kirb looked boredly to Sakura, his headphones blasting with music. "..."

"She still owes us an answer. We shouldn't kill her..." Barret states, cautioning the girls.

"She better get a wiggle on then!" Swift sneered, but kept her gaze on Sakura. "Fork over my gal, you four-flusher, or I'll make you pay through the nose!"

"I'll give her to ewe, when ewe join my flock. What do ewe say? I'm not a baaaad sheep." Sakura states, playfully.

"That's rich. You're only stating as such since I have the bulge on you. Give in, or you're a goner. I ain't no ranger,you namby-pamby odd stick. I'm the notorious Desperado, Swifterly 'Sidewinder' Mays! I don't take orders from nobody! You think I give a continental about if you're to peter out? If you know what's good for ya, Shave tail, you'll do as this here gunslinger says, else you'll be crowbait." Swift stated sternly, her rifles not even trembling from the cold. She had this look in her eye, one that was extremely intimidating.

"OH, IS THAT ISSAC!?" Sakura states, her eyes becoming hearts. "I'm sorry cranky farmer, but I completely forgot about my future lamb there." Sakura says, as she swings her harp-key to her side.

Issac gulped uneasily. "(You've GOTTA BE kidding me!)"

Barret held a hand to his head, "I'm even more surprised she over lapped that entire introduction. No worries though, it won't go to waste. Issac keep your head about you, alright?" Barret says, engaging his power glove.

Issac glanced to Barret, with an annoyed expression. He took a breath, "(No, I will be the pattern of all patience; I will say nothing.)" His gaze turning back to Sakura.

Swift was fuming, her eyes ferociously leering at Sakura, with a vengeful gaze. "YOU SHODDY, BLASPHEMOUS, CHISELER!! YOU'RE FORCING ME TO TAKE THE RAG OFF! YOU'LL HAVE NO TIME TO SKEDADDLE THIS TIME, YA HEAR?! BY HOOK AND CROOK, I'LL FILL YOU WILL SO MANY HOLES, NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT'S LEFT OF YOU!!!" Swift shouted, quickly blasting barrage of rounds at Sakura, with lightning fast speed.

Sakura poofs into clouds, avoiding the bullets as she flew Swift's way. She appears, looking at where they flew, then back to Swift, "Ewe are angry, but I was trying to be nice at first. Since ewe want to go shooting at me like that! Let me take ewe to her then!" Sakura shouted, as she flies at Swift quickly, trails of clouds flowing from behind her.

"You're in for a heap of trouble, gal. I'LL MAKE YOU STAND THE GAFF!!" Swift exclaimed, in rage, before sticking her middle finger and thumb between her lips. She let out a loud whistle.

From the distance ran a great lion appeared, which Swift back flipped onto it's back. She cocked her pistols, preparing the next onslaught. She was leaving no opening for the others to join in, as if this was a duel between two lone rangers, in a showdown to the death.

Barret grits his teeth. "Whoa...Uhh...What should we do?" Barret asked, looking to Zimna.

"Leave her...Let's watch the show you guys. Wish I had brought me some gum, or something." Zimna states, placing her weapons to her side.

"A-A-Are you c-c-c-crazy?? What if we g-get caught in the c-c-c-cross fire!?" Issac's teeth chattered from the weather.

"Then you got too close. Oh?" Zimna states, realizing she had something in her pocket. She took out a lollipop. "Here, you want one?"

"Now's not the time!" Issac gawked.

"(Finally he's sounding a bit on things. But then, candy..REALLY?)" Barret thought to himself.

Kirb's music was too loud for him to hear, but he seemed to be watching, instead of joining the battle. "She's fighting her as if this Elementar is her sworn enemy... if I were in her shoes, I'd hate for someone to step in. This one's her battle, mono E mono."

Issac glanced over to Kirb, then back to the commencing duel with a slight nod.

"Ewe are going to fight me with that!? I'm going to make ewe sleep like a sheep!" Sakura floats upward looking down to Swift. "You'll need more than a lion to beat my wind dama! (I CAN DO THIS!)" Sakura rushes at Swift quickly.

Swift sways out of the way with her lion, and shoots off at Sakura. Sakura gets hit by a couple bullets, falling down to the ground. Swift then continues to fire at Sakura, who poofs up into clouds. Swift who lost sight of Sakura, is touched on her shoulder by Sakura's hand. Sakura had appeared, and swings her harp-key, slashing Swift off her lion. The lion roars, turning to Sakura who floats backward.

"Now your little lion is mine. Don't ewe be mad, okay? I'm just making sure ewe have a better owner. Like how her friend is Kaos's now." Sakura says, swaying her harp-key to her side.

Swift gritted her teeth, getting to her feet, "Ain't too bright, are ya? I reckon you just 'spose that my saddle is up for grabs, after that little bilk shot. Scuttlebutt ain't listen to nobody, 'cept ol' Sidewinder." She stated coldly, wiping some blood from her lip.

Sakura ignores Swift, floating to the lion. However it slashed at her, making Sakura poof to clouds, and reappear above Swift with an angry expression. Sakura quickly boosts herself at Swift, smashing her across her face, making her twirl into the air. Clouds form, kicking Swift back to the ground. Sakura landed, and proceeds to walk over, and steps on Swift's back. "Ewe were saying? If it loves ewe so much, why isn't it protecting ewe?"

As Sakura makes her statement, the massive, towering beast stood behind her. It made a rumbling growl, that caused Sakura glance up in confusion. From it's mouth, dripped an large drop of saliva. The drool splashed onto Sakura's head, dripping down her face, to the ground like a nasty ooze. The jowls of the lion hung over Sakura, leaving her in terror.

"EEEEEEEE!!!!" Sakura shrieked in horror. "Pwease Mr. lion! I won't hurt her again, I promise! I-I was just making sure she was okay!" Sakura pleaded, as she went to pull to Swift. She then meets the barrel of Swift's gun, touching the back of her mouth..

"You're a goner, if you don't comply with my previous demand." Swift harshly growled, as she held Sakura at gun point.

The sheep lover was forced to mumble, with the metal between her teeth. "Then do it. I'll never betray miss V. So do what ewe must! (Wait! What am I doing!? My orders were to capture them!? What if I die?)" Sakura thinks to herself in panic, tearing up in fear.

"I've already broken enough of my own rules in order to save her, don't count on me to go back on my word now. You've gone up the spout, twig." Swift sneered, pulling the trigger.

The blast shot through to the back of her skull. As blood erupted from her head, Sakura's body was being shredded apart by rapid tornadoes. They cycled around, pelting back both Swift and her lion. The two crashed back hard to the frost bitten ground, as the air slashed around violently, before fading away. Sakura's body was gone, just as Cecil's was.

Swift lifted herself up from the ground, holding her head, as she squinted her eyes. "Urgh... I reckon, I'll need a bender after that..."

Before Swift was able to make another statement, her body was shoved forward to the ground, as Zimna pulled Swift's arms behind her back, being left in hand cuffs. "You'll need more than that, sis." Zimna stated.

Swift was caught by surprise, wide eyed. "Zimna?! What in tarnation are you doing?!"

"Though it was in self defense, the plan was to NOT kill the target... Guess you just earned yourself twenty years." Zimna says, pulling Swift off the ground.

"I done got it in the neck!? You were my partner, the sister I tied to! You're dry gulching your own flesh and blood, euchring me, after you made a promise to help save my gal! Sending me to the Calaboose, you chiseling traitor! You of all people making a mash to those on the shoot pirate, jailer friends of yours! Their kind is as bad as the damned rangers!!" Swift shouted at Zimna, with her lion growling at her as well.

"Meh, gotta make money. You on the other hand, had this coming for a while. Blabber all you want, but your ways put you here. You shouldn't have killed her. This just added to my reasons of taking you in. Sides well, yeah the money." Zimna says, looking to Swift's lion. "I am the best bounty hunter in the galaxy."

The lion kept growling, but did not strike. Swift gritted her teeth. "You were an accomplice during several of those train robberies, whose to say you won't get thrown into hoosegow too? I ain't fixin' to keep my mouth shut about it either. Even if you drop your title of 'Nightingale', you're still as guilty as I am, 'partner'."

Zimna shrugs, "Who's gonna take your word over mine? You're the one with the face on the wanted posters, that's plastered all over creation. One person takes a look at you, and bam, 'that's the girl who's been causing all dem problems'." Zimna smirks at the lion. "Ain't that right, Scuttlebutt?"

The lion made a whimpering growl. Swift scoffed looking off. "You're lucky he trusts you, otherwise you'd be his dinner...." Swift closes her eyes. "The whole kit and caboodle has played me out. Knocking me into a cocked hat... All I wanted to do was rescue Imelda... but now we'll never have that ranch together... Just a pipe dream now..." Swift opened her eyes, with a sigh. "Don't expect me to ever trust you again, if there comes a day, you'll be the one my gun is locked on. Twig?"

Issac watched the two, with furrowed brows. "I kinda feel sorry for her..." Issac chattered slightly.

Barret crosses his arms, shaking his head. "Yeah, it's a shame...."

Zimna looks to Issac and Barret, "If I could take all three of you, it'd be a lot more money, but you cats aren't on any bounty list. She had this coming, but for what you said earlier." Zimna looks back to Swift, "I ain't looking forward to it. Honestly, in this line of work, this was bound to happen one way, or another. Guess I made myself a new enemy."

"..." Swift remained silent.

Kirb had taken his earphones out, looking over. "(Too bad she likes girls, otherwise I would step in. Oh well.)" He thought, turning from the guys. "This has been fun, gonna head back ahead of you guys. See ya." He said, walking off.

Issac glanced back to Kirb, then to Barret. "... (He's got the right idea here.)"

"Zimna? There isn't another way?" Barret inquired.

"Nope. Unless you got a worse crime hiding in your back story?" Zimna replied.

Barret shakes his head quickly. "No, I-I'm clean." He stammered.

Issac crossed his arms, shivering a bit still. "She is a wanted criminal, even if you were to change Zimna's mind, this is probably for the best." He stated.

"If ya'll are done talking, can we get this over with?" Swift grumbled.

"Heh, Issac...You gotta a sharp mind, keep that. Come on then, let's run you back to the Jail." Zimna states, strapping on another circular cuff to Swift's neck, as well as her Lion's. It gave off a beep.

Barret looked to it intensely, "What is that?"

Zimna looks to Barret smirking. "A teleportation device, I already gave them the call, so it's gonna warp her back to where she needs to go. I'll be heading there as well. Jeez, you sure you didn't do anything bad?"

"Look's like she's taking a liking to you now." Issac glanced to Barret. "(I'm glad she's stopped forcing herself on me. Kinda annoying.)"

Zimna walks over to Barret, and leans in at him. "You didn't answer me."

Barret jumps backward, "I-I didn't do anything! I swear!"

"Heh, fine,fine. I can't decide between you, or shivers there." Zimna looks to Issac. "Well, you two stay classy, but if you want to see me. You know what to do to find me." Zimna places a lollipop in her mouth, walking away from the two boys. She then teleports off into the sky, with her captives.

"Well...I guess there's not much we can do from here. Mission isn't complete due to the girl getting taken. The Zodiac member is dead, so there's no way of finding her now... We should report back to base." Barret says, turning around looking to the snowy trail down the mountain.

"Yeah... though both encounters so far with Zodiac members had some mention of Kaos. Seems even more likely they're working together... Brrrr.... Let's just get out of this snow... I'm freezing my balls off here..." Issac crossed his arms, shivering.

"Oh right...We'll have to talk about this when we get back." Barret states, walking ahead of Issac, "Let's get you out of the cold though."

"(I am so taking a hot bath when we get back.)" Issac stated mentally, hurrying after Barret.

The duo make their way back to the Alien Ministry headquarters in the woods.