| FAN FICTION Consequences - Written By Kansas Jones (Takes place a year prior to "The Wrong Train") Darkwatch trainee M''rrett "Kansas" Jones moved quickly from one barrier to the next, keeping out of sight. She climbed the plank wood stairs to a mid-level row of three windows and waited. A red flag beckoned from the courtyard of the fabricated town. The Darkwatch class of ''76 was currently involved with their initiation test in the training maze. After the initiation, they would take part in a few months of training missions and finally as a full Regulator were dispatched on their first solo mission. Kansas, at the moment, would be happy to just make it through the initiation, thank you very much. There were two teams of four taking part in this capture the flag exercise. The Gray team, her team, had all been taken out by the Blue team members. It was now down to her and the remaining Blue, Jenkins, to score the flag. The Grays were yelling encouragement to her, while the Blues hollered contrasting jeers. Senior Regulator Cassidy Sharp observed the exercise from the control area. It was now or never. She brought her rifle up and scanned the opposite side of the town façade through the scope. After a few sweeps she spotted a portion of a black hat peeking out from the frame of a window on one of the higher ledges. Bingo. Unofficial rule of the maze: when sniping, take off the hat. Kansas aimed and fired the paint pellet. She could make out the splatter affect from the impact of the pellet and heard words that were music to her ears a few seconds later. Regulator Sharp came over the speaker system and announced "Jenkins, your gone. Jones, get down there and put a claim to that flag." Hoots and hollers could be heard from the Grays. With a smile, Kansas made her way out toward the center of the courtyard. Holding the butt of her Carson rifle with her left hand and with the barrel resting across her left shoulder, she reached for the flag with her free hand and claimed it with a flourish through the air. Both teams came over to her at his point, and good natured ribbing, insults and congratulations were exchanged by all. All except one, that is. "You got lucky Jones." Jenkins'' voice cut through the celebrating. Everyone quieted down and turned toward him, the crowd parting to reveal Jenkins standing there, hands on hips, the still wet gray paint from the pellet splattered across the front of his cowboy hat. Kansas handed the rifle and the flag to a couple of her fellow trainees and walked up to Jenkins. Looking up at him, she said, "Nothing to do with luck. I practice. And I know how to prepare; when sniping, take of the hats." She pointed at his splattered one." Jenkins snorted. "Okay you two, that''s enough." Cassidy was out of the control area and stood by the exit door. "Everyone to the de-briefing room." She gestured toward the exit. As the teams started heading toward Cassidy, Jenkins leaned toward Kansas and said in a low, condescending voice, "Whatever Jones," and then turned and walked away. Jenkins wasn''t a bad hombre. He would make a good regulator someday, but he did have a bit of an arrogant streak. That streak was made worse recently because Jenkins had been cleared to start training as an armory officer, and he was prancing around like a peacock at the news. Usually, the best way to deal with him was ignore some of his more off color comments. Kansas however, was not in a charitable mood today. She reached out and grabbed his shoulder, spinning him around. Her fist connected with his jaw. Jenkins went down on his rump, his jaw dropping in shock. Cassidy called out "Kansas!" in a reprimanding tone. At the same time Kansas felt a hand clamp down on her own shoulder. Sharp got over here fast she thought as she turned her head to look and about had a conniption when she laid eyes on who had really come up behind her. Cartwright. Darkwatch Brigadier General Clay Cartwright. Oh dear. You could have heard a pin drop in the arena. During a tornado. Back to Fan Fiction |