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Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 4:46 am Post subject:

Tristan continues to look down and is quiet for a long time. Long enough to become an uncomfortable silence. Wyatt squeezes Rebecca's arm, nods to Finn and the others and leaves the room.
Just when Rebecca wonders if Tristan even heard her he says, "It happened soon after you two left." He looks up at Rebecca and Finn.

"The people in Silver City were being attacked by things out of the train yards. Machines, people said. Machines did it all. But it was small incidents and the Sheriff only found scraps and bits of machinery, cogs and twisted metal. No enemy, no monster or anything of the sort. Silver City saw more and more of these attacks and soon enough, trains weren't stopping there anymore and the train yard was closed. This we all saw in the papers, and Wyatt and Zach said they'd go into town to check things out."

Tristan pauses for a moment, then continues on with his tale, "The machines were there, attacking folks randomly, crashing entire buildings in some instances. That's when people started leaving Silver City, even a few families living here took off. The Sheriff tried to organize defenses but guns were no good against these things. He recruited help from many ranches around here and a lot of people from here volunteered, realizing the danger was increasing and the attacks lasting longer, becoming organized."
"They ended up using dynamite and cannons from the old war that they could get their hands on, bashing the machines to bits. But after a while they would come back, in greater numbers. Two months, that's when Zach and Wyatt got hurt bad. The things had built a warehouse right in the train yard and we helped collapse it."
"But Zach saw something... A group of kids caged in a steel crate. He and Wyatt tried their best to get them out..." His hands begin to tremble and he looks down at them, squeezing them.
"You can imagine the rest... The kids all died within the hour... and Wyatt and Zach were hurt bad and I got them out from under the debris. That's when I realized the kids were the target all along: one of the machines belly had opened and the thing was connected to bulbs and silver wire and clay and a pale looking boy. The boy begged for me to kill him... But I couldn't. I had Wyatt on my back and Zach sprawled on a tarp and both of them bleeding badly. And I'd lost my gun."

Tristan takes in a deep breath and exhales, "That's it really. It's like we've been cursed ever since you two left. Ranches from around have been gathering here because the Lone Pine is out of range. They don't come out very far beyond Silver City, but they sometimes patrol in the plains," he points vaguely away from the mountains. "We ran out of dynamite a month ago and people continue to leave this chaos and I would to if I didn't already know I'll die at the Lone Pine."

~~~

In the meantime, Arkadios has not been able to reach Eric either. He begins to believe that Cimarron doesn't allow trump contact at all. It remains cold and when he pushes, it doesn't push back like someone is blocking... It just doesn't seem to reach Eric at all.
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Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 720 Location: Oklahoma

Rebeca closed her eyes about halfway through the recitation. She told herself she wasn't going to cry; not now, not when Tristan needed her to be strong. For a long moment she is silent when he stops, then she takes a breath and reaches across herself to take one of his hands in hers.

"Ya don't have ta stay here, Uncle T," she says quietly. "Ya can leave with us. The ranch ain't worth yer life. It can be rebuilt." She lays her head on his shoulder for a moment. "I'd feel loads better if you and Wyatt would come with us. We can get ya to Amber. Be a load off my mind if Dad had someone there he could trust ta watch his back while I'm gone."

There is great reluctance in her when she asks: "Tell me about Zach. Wyatt says it's just a matter of time."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:50 pm Post subject:

Tristan squeezes her hand and shakes his head. He says, "The ranch is my life, Rebecca... Your mother's heart... How can I leave that behind?" He looks at her and says with a sad smile, "I guess I stopped being practical some time ago..."

...

"That's what Doc Dee says, but he's hanging on. The kid is a tough cookie and if it weren't for the fever, he might have a chance. He's been in a coma since... since then."

Tristan looks at Finn and the rest of them in turn, then back at Finn, and he asks, "Can you take these people with you? Away from here?"
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Arden · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 720 Location: Oklahoma

"Mama wouldn't want ya die fer it, Uncle T," Rebecca replies sadly. She squeezes his hand. "At least think about it."

She frowns at the statement of Zach's condition. She knows what drugs are available in Cimarron, and she knows that the only reason they don't have penicillin is because no one's stumbled upon it yet. There's no reason for it not to work. Hopefully Finn had laid some in with the rest of the supplies. She'll have to check.

Rebecca looks down at her hand holding her stepfather;'s when he asks Finn his question. Too focused on the big picture, she didn't think Finn would take the time to get these people safely away from everything. He had already reneged on the army he had once promised to bring to Cimarron's aid when it needed it.

Suddenly and without a word, she gets up from the table and stalks out of the room, looking for Doc Dee.

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 2:59 am Post subject:

[Rebecca and Doc Dee: http://amberconarizona.theiforum.com/post1283.html#1283]
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Finn · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 124

sandrayln · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 244

"There are too many places now," Faylinn offers, "where corruption of children and creatures of metal and clay would be the least of your worries. There will likely be more lives saved by staying in this world than by leaving it." She turns her attention from Kade to Tristan, her gaze thoughtful. "Set them to building protections and better fences, at least. It is better than brooding until it is time to make a foray to the city again."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:03 pm Post subject:

Tristan looks in his hands and nods as he listens to Finn and Faylinn. To Finn he says, raising his gaze to meet Finn's "Nobody has gone there since we ran out of explosives a month ago. If you can supply us with enough explosives, a group of us can go lay waste to Silver City and hope nothing rises from the ashes and debris. Thank you all for everything you're doing for us." He looks at everyone in turn and gets up, puts his hand on Finn's shoulder and adds, "You'll take good care of her, I know that."

He helps himself to the canteen hanging on a wall hook and drinks a few sips then adds, his back turned, "If we go into the mountains tomorrow, we should release the horses and let them run... The poor beasts have been going mad in this makeshift settlement. But you're right, I suppose someone ought to step up and lead these folks out of here..."
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sandrayln · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 244

"The horses are frightened too," Faylinn observes. "They do not understand. The ones who are accustomed to humans know that the humans around them are afraid, and the ones who are not do not know that you are trying to keep them alive." Her head tips slightly to one side. "There was one who was not even from this world - but he has elected to come with us, so there is one being to worry about."

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 7:58 pm Post subject:

Tristan turns to Faylinn and nods, "I know... The truth is that many of us have let our duties behind. If you can fix this by working at it elsewhere, then please do it. I... We appreciate the support you've already lent us," he adds in Finn's direction. "It's been hard, but as odd as it sounds, knowing that you will be working at it helps put things in perspective. I'll get people working tonight and begin moving the supplies then. We'll free the horses in the morning. It'll give them more of a chance than staying in these precarious conditions."

"I'm not sure what it is that you're going to accomplish to change the fate of the worlds, but I wish you the greatest success."
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Finn · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 124

Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:23 am Post subject:

Tristan listens and nods, then admits, "I'm sorry, I'm not sure what Wyatt needed to show you."
He turns to Arkadios and says, "Most of the work with the wounded involves changing out dressings for wounds and such."

He coughs then turns back to Finn and tells him, "If you need to be on your way, I understand and with the help you've laid out for us we should manage just fine in the caverns. It will not be worth checking out the city... If anything it might bring the machines closer to here, I'm not sure. I'll leave it up to you, but I'd rather you don't get yourself in danger before leaving for where you're truly needed." He scratches his head, then his mustache.
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Nihilistic Mind · Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 2:47 pm Post subject:

Two gunshots can be heard, too close to each other to come from the same gun, coming from the general direction of the barn Finn has laid supplies in.
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Finn · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 124

"You're point is not invalid, Tristan. I --" Gunshots interrupt him. Finn draws his pistol, and heads for the sound. "That's where I put the supplies." He gestures at the barn, and makes a run for it, using cover as he approaches and running at changing angles to throw off possible snipers.

sandrayln · Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 244

Faylinn sighs and mutters to herself, "It is always something."

Then she heads after Finn; she sends out what arcane senses she can muster in the direction of the barn, looking for anything that doesn't belong - like Black Road energies.