Bandits of Showdown Valley

Prologue

When the world went to war nuclear fallout was bound to happen, when it did the world was sent into chaos plant life was dying and so to where the animals. The world was damaged, scarred from the consequences of people’s actions.

To stop the war and give the world a chance to heal one leader from each surviving country passed down laws to unite who was left of the planet to both save the world and humanity. The laws banned weapons that were considered too dangerous and vetoed any country owning nuclear weapons. The leaders created new borders making new regions to save the world and what little was left.Years slowly went by, and the world started to pick itself up plants started to grow, and animals were slowly being seen again.

However, the everlasting damage was inevitable, women who would fall pregnant gave birth to babies that where differentmutated by the radiation. babies were being born with all sorts of oddities. Some had animals’ parts other glowed in the night sky, consequence that humanity had to live with. Some thought it could be a gift for their hard work in trying to save the world that they lived in.

This first story starts in zone one the Wild West, in a placed called “The Showdown Valley”. Where a sleepy towncalledCrowsville wasonce ruled with an iron fist by a called sheriffMiles Stone he was ruthless but fair. He was chased out of town by a man named Ghoulsworth.He was part Weaseland very unkind,the longer he was in power the more warped he became. Ghoulsworth was known to set criminals free for the right price, treating locals like they were dirt on his shoe. Anyone who would try to fight him or challenge his rule were thrown into the “Mills Wood Mines” where they would never been seen again. Rumour has it they put to work to the point of death for his sick enjoyment.

The dethroned Sheriff was tired of seeing this happening to his people and set off to locate a group of Bandits that had a bad but fair reputation. These three mutants were known for being tough and scary.Miles hopped beyond hope that they could do some good and clean up the mess Ghoulsworth was inflicting on his people.

Chapter 1

The Wild West Zone was a part of the world that was home to three of the oddest and scariest mutants. The town considered these three as the scum of theearth; they weren’t held in high regard and were given the name “The Bandits of Showdown Valley”. Miles Stone believed they were the only hope to get his town back from the evil clutches of Goulsworth, and who knows even turn over a new leaf.

Miles was seething he had been dethroned so easily. He once believed Goulsworth was a good man who cared for the people of Crowsville.However, over time Miles grewto see how corruptGoulsworth was. All he wanted was power and money and he did this at the expense of the town’s people.He turned a blind eye to corruption simply to get rich. In his simple twisted mind, he believed this was how to make the town great again.

Ghoulsworth much to Miles’s disgust would arrest innocent family’s no one was safe, husbands, wife’s and even children. Miles was tired of watching on helplessly as mothers pleaded,crying, and begging to save their children and stop them from being taken away. Their devastation and tears would mean nothing to him. He would even arrest people who would look at him the wrong way, they would all be thrown into the mines.Anyone who daredvoice acomplaint was also thrown into the mine.

The Mills Wood Mines was known as a nightmare that didn’t end.A maze with so many twists, turnsand only one way in and one way out.The maze would even confuse the most skilled of explores and minors. Ghoulsworth would send his right-hand man a big bear like mutant who the town had dubbed Little Max.The little part of his name was the town joke, which no one dare make to his face as they feared he would simply cut their heads off.

Miles was able to obtain the only map that was ever created of the maze before he left the town. Miles knew if he took one step into Crowsvill, Ghoulsworth’s spies would tell the man that he was there. Miles couldn’t risk his plan and decided to stay on the outskirts of town. Living up to his old motto of everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Miles was a wolf mutant, he collected information from freedom fighters that lived in town, they were his eyes and ears.

It was a stroke of pure luck that he was able to capture the Bandits of Showdown Valley, it took a lot of string pulling but, in the end, he did it. Miles rides away from any kind of hungry ears of Ghoulsworth’s spies.He rode out with the Bandits tied to their own horses. His horse was a powerful, yet gentle Mustang named Night Jumper being outside if town was making him edgy and full of nerves. Outside of the town is somewhere you would never want to go to at night the as the temperature drops and becomes cold to the point where your own breath comes seems to be nothing but ice.

Miles hops off his horse throwing the three Bandits onto the cold sand. Quickly starting a fire to keep them all warm.Pulling out a cigarette from his jacket pocket he leaned over the fire lighting it over the roaring flames. Taking a few deep drags, he stood there for a moment he looked over at the three band of misfits, a doubt started to slowly creep in, was he really going to do this? Quickly shaking those thoughts out of his mind. He knew his plan could work taking one last puff of his smoke before he made his move.Looking down at the boy he removed his blind fold, the boy had black hair and red eyes. Looking down at the boy’s hair he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, however upon closer inspection you could see his hair was a scorpion’s tail, lucky it was tied back so it could not raise itself into a defense position, he looked no older than 18.

“What the what did you do to me?” the boy demanded.

But Miles didn’t say anything as he removed the blindfold off the girl,she had red hair with blue highlights glistened in the night sky.Her outfit instantly raised a question in Mile’s mind.It was a pitch black old female sheriffs’ outfit but what caught his eye even further was the sliver sheriffs badge it was completely scratched out.She looked at him with pure venom if looks could kill Miles would be dead ten times over, she looked about in her early 20’s

“Who are you,” she said angrily.

Walking over to the final person Miles paused shock what was in front of him,

He looked very different from the other two,he had a snake’s tail where his legs were. Miles couldn’t make out what kind of snake this man was, but the tail stopped at his waist and was incredibly large and could easily crush him to death he was sure of that. Mile’s tail was wagging nervously as he removed the blindfold, he wished he had gotten a better look when he had captured them

Miles knew there was a term for this kind of mutation, thinking for a moment he remembered he was a “Naga” half snake half human. Most thought they were all extinct, snakes don’t survive in the cold which is why he was sitting so close to the fire. He had sandy brown hair which was long and tired up into a man bun. His beard was long but well-kept.

“Who are you?” the Naga man asked coldly

Looking at the three of them Miles knew he needed to tread very carefully one wrong word or move, and he would be in serious trouble. Walking to the other side of the fire taking a deep breath to calm his own nerves Miles turns to face the three of them it was now or never.

“If you don’t want to be thrown into the jail for the rest of your life or die because of the crimes you committed, I highly advise you listen,” Miles told them with a voice that he hopped was unwavering. All three of them looked at Miles then at each other before looking back at him. The cogs were turning in all three of their brains before the black haired and red eye boy spoke to him with an almost dark grin on his face.

“Were all ears old man,” he said voice holding little to no respect to him

Miles rolled his eyes at the boy’s attitude “Charming,” Miles said to them.

Slowly pacing back and forth looking at them Miles stopped, taking another puff of his smoke blowing it into the air. Miles knew he was biding his time trying and find a way to read their reactions.

Miles wolf ears were perked up, keeping track of their heart beats and for any sounds of movement.He knew this was a highly volatile situation and he kept himself on high alert.Keeping his breathing clam Miles wanted to make the first move but he was beaten by the Naga man.

“You want something form us don’t ya,” he said to Miles.

Suddenly miles heard a slithering sound, he looked down at the man’s tail only to see that looked like a rattle on the end of his tail only it wasn’t a rattle it was laser cannon. Miles had no Idea where he had got it from as it was a magnificent weapon, well it would be if it wasn’t aimed in his direction.

“You could say that” Miles said to them taking another drag of his cigarette.

“What’s is it and what’s in it for us them old man,” the girl said.

Taking a moment, he wondered where she was from, she didn’t look like she was from Crowsvill “who are you girl?” Miles asked her.

She refused to utter another word to him turning to the side away from Miles golden wolf eyes. the feeling of her past was something she never wanted to remember.

“Don’t you dare ask her that!” the boy with black hair yelled

“How about something else like your names, I’ll go first my name is Miles Stone,” Miles told them.

He waited hoping they would respond without feeling like they are being pressured into giving their names.To Miles surprise the boy with the black hair took a deep breath “West,” he told him.

The other two look at him in shock the red-haired girl looked down for a moment before looking back up “Jessie,” she said.

The last one was the Naga man who still was in shock over his friend’s choice to give him their names “Saxon,” the man said.

“Alright now where getting somewhere,its nice to officially meet the Bandits of Showdown Valley,” Miles said

“Yeah, yeah what do you want,” West said

“Ah straight to the point I see,” Miles said

No one spoke they all stayed quiet just waiting to see who would make the first move it took a moment before Milesdecided to speak.

“Let me tell you what I had in mind boy,” Miles said

Miles looked directly into West dead eyes;he could feel the rage radiating off West he hated being called boy. Miles knew he had hit a nerve,but he had got their attention. “Well, I think you three can do some good,I can see in your eyes you livefor revenge, but also I heard you have a spark for justice,” Miles said.

West spat at Miles feet “and why would we work with you,” Jessie said

“let’s just say you help me, get my badge back and my old title of sheriff and this town will see you as saviors and I will remove the bounties on your,” Miles said

Making a risky move he undid the ropes one by one as he untied the last rope around West’s arms, he felt something wrap around him Miles felt like an idiot for not keeping Saxons tail in mind. Saxon proceeds to wrap his tail around him tightly almost breaking his ribs. as the wolf could feel it, he was wrapped up so tightly Miles couldn’t reach for his gun as he was trying to fight the end of Saxons tail that held his laser cannon pointed to Miles temple the other two were in the presses to grab their guns from their respected horses they grabbed them and West threw Saxons his own gun and by the end of it they all pointed them to Miles.

“Give us one good reason not to shoot you,” West said coldly

“If you kill me, there will know be for you to go,the bounty on your heads will double and every single freedom fighter, towns person will help get you arrested and you will be thrown into the mines,” Miles said.

As those words left his lip Miles,he could hear Saxons heartbeat pick up, he was sacred of the Mines. They all look at him then back at each other Miles thought they were calculating their chances.Miles waited; he soon felt the grip of Saxons tail loosen one coil rested on his waist. Miles understood they couldn’t be trustful of anyone let alone someone who had just kidnap them. They lowered their guns t placing them into their holsters.

Jessie took a deep breathe “ok I guess we will help you,” she told him.

Miles smiled as the final coil around his waist was gone and he was let go, seeing the smoke he had dropped to the ground during the altercation he stomped on it laid on his swap and tried to rest.

When the three Bandits woke up, they noticed that the fire was out and even though the sun was just over the horizon it was still bitterly cold. Miles noticed how slow Saxon was to get up and get moving, it almost seemed impossible task for him. His type of mutation made him cold blooded. Right now, slowly getting to his horse he lay their yawning. his horse was unique,very powerful and double the size of a normal Clydesdale. How in the world did he get his hands of such a big horse was a question for a later date?

“If we are going to work together at least stop giving me the look of death West,” Miles said with a smirk.

West huffed turning his head away from him as he kept riding a pure Black Friesian Horse. Miles knows both West and Saxons horses are not from around here.This told Miles that they either got them from outside the walls of the Wild West Zone or they bought them form the trading rings. Jessie just sighed at how West was acting he seemed to be acting, she kept her head down low braiding the main of her Appaloosa horse. hers was deep red with white spots running up the back of its body. They traveled for what felt like hours until they got to the town’s entrance and Miles stopped, needing a moment to collect his thoughts.

“It’s too risky to go in the people would know what’s up,” West said over his shoulder

“Not to mention that Ghoulsworth has eyes and ears everywhere,” Jessie continued what West was saying

Thinking for a moment Miles had an idea “I know where to go follow me,” Miles said.

The four of them set off away from the town,after a few hours of riding they reached an old wooden house.Saxon yawned signifying he was awake.As the Naga glanced around, he knew who’s house it was.The person who lived here was the town creepy undertaker.People were too scared to even talk let alone go near her house.

“So why are we here?” Saxon asked

“Well, Ghoulsworth would never think to look for us here he hates this place, its more than perfect for us to lay low and what nobody else knows is that she is a member of the freedom fighters,” Miles said.

Jumping off their horses, well all but Saxon who a fell off making Jessie giggle.

Miles knocks on the wooden door it had a huge cross on it.A small hatch seemed opened and a pair of mismatched colored eyes one blue eye and one orange one peered through.

“Who is it?” a female voiced asked.

“Maven it’s me Miles,” Miles said.

The eyes looked around for a moment before looking back at Miles.

“Keep your voice down don’t talk so loudly,” Maven said.

Miles rolled his eyes on how paranoid Miss Undertaker was before giving her a look that said it all to her. The hatch slammed closed and with the sounds of many locks unlocking and bolts sliding the door opened slowly.All they could see was a mop hair that was so dark it could be mistaken for pitch black.As the sun shines you could see it was navy blue, her skin was very pale like she had never stepped foot outside. As they walked into the house, they could all smell a vile stench it was so bad it made West’s eyes water. A dead body lay on the kitchen table the man’s eyes were open, and he was just staring, next to the body was a bowl of soup and bread, they all couldn’t believe she could happily eat a meal next to a dead person.

“Wonderful, nothing like the smell of rotting flesh,” West mumbled to himself

Miss Undertaker’s cat like ears picked up on what he had said rolling her eyes she turns around to walk back inside.

“Now I know this house is a dump, but it is my home so keep your opinion to yourself or get out,” she told him.

West mentally slapped himself, he knew she was a type of cat mutant they hear nearly everything just like Miles can with his wolf ears.As West walked in he felt something slap the back of his head turning round he sees Miss Undertaker with a stern mother like look on her face that says it all.

“Sorry mam I won’t happen again,” West said

If his face wasn’t red before is sure was now with embarrassment, the sounds of laughter was heard, it came from Saxon as he slithered into the house his eyes locked with Miss Undertaker

“No funny businesses,” Saxon threaten to her

Miss Undertaker frowned as they continued their staring match before turning her head away from him.

“Same goes for you to,” she said to him

They all walked into the house before Miss Undertaker shut the door, she looked around to keep an eye out for anyone but didn’t see anything before she slammed her door shut.