Redemption (clinbarr and darkangel76)

An armed welcoming committee was never a good sign.

Deputy US Marshal Ken Jasper adjusted his Stetson to better shade out the sun. He had been walking down the rock-strewn road towards Redemption for the better part of an hour, having abandoned his vehicle some miles back. It simply couldn't take the pounding the route subjected it to. He stopped, let fall his overnight bag, then straightened up as he opened the flap on his belt holster, a tall dark-haired man in his mid-thirties.

"You're not wanted here, cowboy," called out a bald man fifty paces ahead holding a shotgun at high port. Two other men behind him carried handguns pointed at the ground. At least for the moment.

Jasper nodded evenly. "Any of you boys got a cell phone that gets service here?" he called back. His apparently didn't. He had already assumed a quick-draw stance. "Cause if you persist in hindering a deputy US marshal, all three of you'll be needing an ambulance soon."

The bald man grinned wolfishly. "One of you and three of us, marshal," he said. "I'll count to ten, and if you're not gone by then..."

Andromeda Wilson watched on from afar. Her crystal blue eyes fixed on the situation unfolding before them as she peered through a pair of binoculars. And she wasn’t liking what she was seeing. Pushing her dark hair behind her ear, she sneered and gave a sniff.

“Bastards think they run this fucking town,” Andromeda mumbled to herself as she continued to watch.

Andromeda was pissed off. She’d only just arrived in the town of Redemption a few days ago and she was slowly finding that she didn’t like many of its residents. For people who had issues with demons, she sure as hell didn’t understand why their greetings for those willing and able to help were so… rude. Couldn’t they see that this guy was a fucking marshal?

Her blood beginning to boil as the anger stirred deeply inside her, Andromeda felt the light prickling sensation run across her skin. ‘Ah shit…’ she thought to herself as a small shrub next to her suddenly caught on fire. With a quick stamp of her foot, she smothered the small flames. She’d have to watch that. Most of the time, as a fire starter, she could keep her abilities under her complete control. But every so often, her emotions got the better of her and her tight hold over them would slip. It seemed that this little incident she was witnessing was doing just that. And that only meant one thing. She’d have to intervene.

Andromeda made her way quickly and stealthily toward the scene. She unholstered a large hunting knife she kept on her thigh and a pistol she wore on her hip. The weapons weren’t much, but she didn’t really need them. Not really. As a fire starter, if she wished to unleash her true abilities in their rawest of forms, there was absolutely no need for any weapons at all.

Coming out from hiding, Andromeda made her way toward the marshal, her pale eyes fixed on the three assholes who felt the need to compensate for their small cocks.

“Hiya boys,” Andromeda said coolly, weapons in hand. She turned briefly to acknowledge the marshal. “So what do we have going on here?” she asked as she readied herself against the bastards who thought they ran the place… even if a demon was the one pulling the strings.

Ken let out a little sigh as he saw the armed woman come onto the seen. Why not? Why don't we get the whole town out here, armed to the teeth? He did see the men turn hesitantly towards the new arrival. Perhaps that meant she wasn't on their side. The first right thing that had happened today. Of course, if she was no good with her weapons he might have a civilian casualty to deal with... And was that smoke he saw over there from something?

"Ma'am, please stay out of this," he said in his best law enforcement voice. "This is official US Marshals business."

"Yeah, stay out of this, bitch," the bald guy growled at her. "Or you will be officially on our shit list as well."

This was getting out of hand. He didn't have a lot of time, and now he had a civilian to worry about in addition to his fugitive. Better take control if he could.

"Gentlemen, you need to move out of the way and drop your guns," he said, ignoring the new arrival and hoping she'd stay out of what could soon be an unhappy situation. "You have till the count of three. Now I don't want to kill you and you don't want to be dead..."

Andromeda scowled. It was clear that this marshal didn’t think she’d be of any help to him. In fact, if she was reading things correctly, she’d have sworn he found her a goddamned hindrance. The nerve. She felt her skin prickling as her blood began to boil. “Get a grip, Andy,” she mumbled to herself, the instinctual urge of her ability to make things burst into flames rolling over her body in waves. She had all she could do to tamp it down, so she ground her teeth together and gripped her weapons tightly, making her knuckles turn white.

And then there were those three. Andromeda’s eyes narrowed as the men insulted her. Again. They’d been just as asinine a few days ago when she’d first gotten to Redemption, hearing tales of the demon lord pulling the strings of the higher ups, instilling fear into its residents. They thought her some weak bitch, but she’d shown them a wee taste of what she could do and they were still somewhat sore. She was sure that the only reason they were acting so ‘big’ now was because others, by now, had been alerted of her presence. Others who’d be waiting in the shadows, others who’d no doubt be more powerful than what they thought her to be. Oh they were so naïve.

Andromeda looked over at the marshal again. He seemed to be ignoring her now and that pissed her off. His intentions might have been good, but she hated it when people made assumptions without knowing the facts or taking the time to really look at what was before them. Did he really think she’d ballsy enough to walk into the middle of an obvious ‘situation’ with her weapons out in the open like she did? Not to mention weapons that weren’t really all that special?

“Hmph!” Andromeda huffed. “Fuck this,” No more sitting back. It was time to act.

At that, Andromeda locked eyes with the bald guy, the worst of the bunch. She gave him a coy smile making his skin blanche a deathly shade of white. Licking her lips, she was happy to see him showing fear. He should be. Just then, her skin began to prickle and the man’s clothes burst into flames. Bright orange flames making the guy shriek in both terror and pain. All she could do was continue to smile as she watched him fall to his knees, trying to roll on the ground to smother the flames she’d created with a mere look. A thought.

As Andromeda watched the bald guy roll about the ground, she saw the marshal staring at her out of the corner of her eye. She couldn’t help but wonder if he’d take her more seriously now after this display. And she then suddenly wondered what the citizens would think now too. The thought made her bite down on her lip. Had she been too rash? But it was too late to take back the impulsive act. What was done, was done. All she could do now was hope that the marshal would work with her to take the demon down since she was pretty certain that those of Redemption who served the demon had her at the top of their extermination list. Because if she hadn’t been near the top before, she definitely was now.