Play@YSDC

"Eddie!" exclaimed Alyssa. She had sense to dive to one side.

Norman races up the stairs after Eddie. His body aches all over but hearing of Alyssa's peril spurs him onward.

Eddie doesn't think, he just reacts. While the deputy is going for his gun, Eddie already has his in his hand, and that advantage is crucial. While ordinarily he might hesitate at shooting a fellow lawman, he knows that Alyssa is in danger and that this man is the source of that danger. He levels his revolver at the man's chest and fires the instant Alyssa is clear, wounding him grievously.

OOC,I'm guessing it's within point blank range for me (16 feet) if [b]Alyssa[/b] is ten feet away and he's right behind her. If his DEX is less than 16, I should get my second shot off as well (if needed) before he gets his first. Handgun roll (60 x 2 = 120% skill) shooting at the deputy, point blank: [dice]0[/dice] Damage to deputy from .38 bullet: [dice]1[/dice]

The deputy never gets to his gun, the bullet slamming into his chest. He looks down, the blood spreading across his deputy shirt. He gasps a little as he slumps to the ground. Blood is trickling out of his mouth, as he gasps for air.

"Are you all right, Alyssa?" Eddie asks. Now that the immediate danger is past, Eddie moves to save the life of the man he just shot. He had no wish to kill him, and is relieved that he has a chance to survive. First disarming the wounded deputy and then handcuffing his arms behind his back as a precaution, he applies pressure to the wound.

OOC,First Aid roll (55% skill): [dice]0[/dice] HP regained by deputy: [dice]1[/dice]

Alyssa scrambled onto her feet.

"He's one of the bad guys you know." Then, His car is just behind us. The keys must be in one pocket." Finally, "Eddie, Norman, I thought you were dea-- I'm glad to see you both again" she smiled, "very glad."

As you try and apply first aid he struggles with you, "It doesn't matter.. Soon it will be over for all of you anyway." He goes into a coughing fit as the blood begins to fill his lungs. Blood spouts out of his mouth. Your attempts to stop the blood flow with him twisting around, prove futile. As the coughing subsides and he is covered in his own blood he laughs, and looks you in the eye. "And there is nothing you can do.." he starts to cough again and a large amount of blood comes out, more than would seem natural, and he goes limp.

Norman pants, out of breath from the running. Once he sees Alyssa though a big smile crosses his face. 'I'm relieved to see you are safe, ms. Ryan." A bitter thought crosses his mind that once again he had been unable to protect her, but he dismisses it. What matters is that she's safe.

Richard comes next, nodding curtly to Alyssa. He looks dispassionately at the dying man. "Good riddance. Join Phil in hell."

"Shame he died though, I'd have liked to have interrogated him. Gotten an exact number of cultists. By any estimation though I think we've harmed them. Both Phil and the Reverend are dead. And Phil at least won't be coming back."

He motions to the dead man. "Someone take his gun. We might need it if we have to shoot our way out."

"I know he's one of the bad guys," says Eddie, retrieving the handcuffs and searching the dead man's pockets for car keys, "but I'm one of the good guys, and I couldn't just let him die. I've already got a gun. You should take his, Alyssa." He offers it to her. "Let's all get out of here, quickly. Hopefully the cars are still outside."

The keys to the deputies car are in his pocket. Your cars are still there in the parking lot as well. Everything is quiet as everyone comes out and into the parking lot.

You see the guy you rescued counting on his fingers. "You got all the fish guys, and Phil, and the deputy. Hell I don't think there are enough cultist to do anything now. Besides the Sheriff, there can't be more than a couple more. I think its over. Thanks for the rescue guys, but I think I'm getting the hell out of town." The man turns and starts walking towards the train station.

"You're welcome," says Eddie, "but it only takes one to cause problems for you if you're alone. I think we should all stick together."

Alyssa took the gun offered by Eddie. To Norman: "I'm sure you did marvellously, Mr.
Smith."

"Let's take the cars and escape at last!"

He waves and keeps walking, disappearing around a corner in the darkness. You realize as you say Mr. Smith that you never asked him his name.
Robin is still shaking. "What are you doing now? I'd like to get out of town also, are you leaving?"

"Yes, we're leaving," says Eddie, holding out the deputy's car keys. "I've got my own car, the Model T over there, so whoever wants to can take the deputy's car. Alyssa, would you care to ride with me? I'm relieved you're okay, and it's very good to see you too. I thought I was dead down there too, and I was just glad you had gotten out of there." He smiles back at her.

"Is there, uh, room for one more?" Norman asks Eddie. He blushes at Alyssa's praise. "Thank you Ms. Ryan, but it was Richard who saved us."

"And Aunt Loosa." Richard points out. "She took down Phil.I didn't think the old girl had it in her!" He turns towards Robin. "I guess we're taking the deputy's car then."

"Sure, plenty of room," says Eddie, fishing out his own car keys after handing the deputy's to Richard.

Robin says "I'll ride with you out of town. I think I am safe once we leave here. But what do you think the deputy meant right before he died. Do you think he was talking about whatever is in ..." She trailed off as a look of terror crossed her face.

"He might have been," said Eddie. "Once we get you to safety and are better prepared, the rest of us will need to come back and deal with it. Dynamite tossed down that pit should do the trick. Or we can just collapse that whole cavern.'

"Dynamite--let's blow it to hell!" said Alyssa viciously as she lent forward from the Ford's rear seat, speaking between Eddie and Norman. She relaxed. "I seriously--seriously--doubted we'd make it out alive. Thanks, a deserved thanks to you both."