Like that?

Unger clasped at his ruined knee, blood gushing over the ground. He was surrounded by a half dozen cigar butts, the ones he'd smoked that day. Fuck you, Nate! I should never have taken you on. Shoulda slit your throat myself!

Yeah, Nate said. You really shoulda, Unger. He shot his boss in the face.

Oh, God! Morse said, looking down at Unger. His hands were still in the air. You're crazy! Why did you do this? This isn't how shit gets done!

Nate racked another round and pulled open his shirt to reveal a flat metal slug nestled in his bullet proof vest. Why did I do this? That's a good question, Morse.

His gaze went over the darkening horizon. Two more columns of smoke had joined the first. Far in the distance he heard rapid gunplay. Someone else must have been settling scores, too.

There is opportunity in chaos.

I'll tell you why. Because I believe this is the start of a new era. He leveled the shotgun at Morse and smiled. And I'm going to be the one leading the way.

Then he fired.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

Wyatt Brass knuckles in hand and an angry fire blazing in his chest, Wyatt stood up. His ankle hurt like a son of a bitch, but he didn't care. All he wanted right now was to make Casket hurt. And hurt bad.

Across the waiting room, both Casket and Scarface noticed his change in demeanor. Casket slowly reached around his back and kept his hand there. He made a motion at Wyatt with his free hand. Come on.

But before Wyatt could move the doctor suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his view of the Feral Kids.

This is your friend that was stabbed, yes? the doctor said looking down at Ethan.

Wyatt blinked in surprise, trying to push aside his anger. Yeah, he's been cut bad. Been bleeding out for a while now. Was he babbling? After so long it seemed a dream that an actual doctor was right here, looking to help.

The doctor knelt down next to Ethan. He put his fingers against Ethan's neck. How long ago was it?

Casket was still motioning at Wyatt, come on. What? Oh, uh, this morning around eight-thirty I think.

The doctor looked up at Wyatt in alarm. He's been bleeding this entire time?

Yeah, I couldn't get him to the hospital, you know. No ambulances or phones. Was the doctor mad at him?

The doctor motioned for some orderlies to bring over a rolling bed. Gently, they eased Ethan onto it. Ethan was completely limp. Wyatt couldn't tell if he was breathing anymore.

The doctor used a stethoscope on Ethan's chest. Then he quickly barked an order at a nurse and she placed a hand pump rebreather over Ethan's mouth and started squeezing. The doctor stood over Ethan and placed his hands over the middle of his chest and pushed down, hard. CPR.

Oh, God! Wyatt thought staring at what was happening in total disbelief. He can't die! Not now! Not after I brought him all this way!

The doctor pressed down over and over on Ethan's chest so hard that Wyatt feared he'd break some ribs.

The surrounding people went quiet, watching.

A movement tore Wyatt's eyes away from his dying friend. Casket and Scarface were pointing at Ethan and pantomiming laughter, enjoying the scene.

Wyatt stood frozen. He looked to Ethan's face, covered by the rebreather. The doctor worked frantically.

He didn't know how long it was, but after a while Wyatt realized the doctor had stopped. The doctor shook his head, reached to Ethan's face at his vacant open eyes and gently closed them.

No, no, no, this can't be happening, Wyatt thought. A rush of emotion surged through his body. This can't be happening! He got him here to the clinic! He can't die now!

The doctor turned to Wyatt with a somber expression. Over his shoulder Casket and Scarface were guffawing silently, slapping each other on the back.

I'm sorry, the doctor said. Your friend has passed away. If he'd had gotten here sooner, or if we had electricity we might have-, but the doctor didn't get to finish before Wyatt suddenly lunged forward.

Wyatt knocked the doctor aside as he charged at Casket.

Casket, expecting some sort of reaction, suddenly whipped out his large knife.

People screamed.

In an instant, Wyatt crossed the distance between them and collided with Casket. Casket tried to stab at Wyatt, but the old hobo caught his arm with a vice-like grip.

Wyatt's momentum pushed them back against a wall where people leapt out of the way. As they hit the wall Casket head-butted Wyatt in the cheek causing him to see stars, but the hobo kept on fighting. He smashed the Feral Kid in the face with the knuckles.

Casket suddenly collapsed to his knees, the knife wielding hand going limp.

Scarface punched at Wyatt's back like it was a punching bag. Wyatt grunted with each hit. Calmly, he reached down and took the knife from Casket's hand. Then he slashed backward with it and a red line appeared across Scarface's throat.

Wide-eyed, Scarface stumbled back, clutching at his neck where blood geysered from the wound. With shock he locked eyes with Wyatt, who watched him coolly, and tumbled to the ground, gasping.

Wyatt spun around to face Casket. This is for Ethan, you shit. He jabbed the large knife straight into Casket's face right to the hilt.

Casket fell to the ground, dead.

Wyatt stood, gasping, a strange calm washing over him.

The massive guard ran in from outside and took in the scene. Quickly, he unholstered his pistol and pointed it at Wyatt with both hands. Drop the knife!

Wyatt looked about in a daze. Casket dead at his feet with the knife sticking out of his head. Scarface convulsing on the ground in a widening pool of blood.

Drop the knife, now!

You better do as he says, Wyatt heard someone say. He looked over at Ethan on the roll-away bed.

Ethan was looking at him, alive as ever.

Ethan? Wyatt said in confusion. But you're dead! I saw you die!

Ethan shrugged. Yeah, well shit happens. Least I died wearing nice shoes. Better than most can say. No one seemed to notice that he was speaking, all eyes on Wyatt. But what good would all of this have been for if you joined me now?

Wyatt blinked in confusion, then looked at the pistol pointed at him. He willed it to shoot.

Don't do that, admonished Ethan's corpse. Your time isn't now. You know that. There is still work to do.

Wyatt's mind reeled. This was all too familiar, but he couldn't remember where, or from when.

Drop the knife! I won't say it again! yelled the guard, a look of pleading was in his eyes. He didn't want to do it, but he would if that's what Wyatt wanted.

Is that what I want? He thought to himself. He looked to Ethan, again, for guidance.

Ethan's body lay still on the bed, eyes closed.

There is still work to do.

Wyatt dropped the knife, and it clattered to the floor. He placed his hands behind his head.

He had the sense he was being handcuffed, but it didn't fully register. Instead, he gazed at the bloody carnage at his feet. A realization dawning on him.

Oh, no, he thought. I've done it again.

END.

Book Two is forthcoming.

Until then, please enjoy your bonus books.

Shadow Gambit.

An impossible quest for a legendary item.

I love questing for loot.

And the more difficult the quest, the greater the reward.

So when I'm offered a chance to retrieve the ultimate treasure of all, I signed up.

Yet no one warned me the task would be impossible. Against overwhelming odds I'm also expected to defeat an ancient evil - one with the power of a god.

But you know what?

Some loot is worth risking it all.

CHAPTER ONE.

I clung to the cliff face for dear life as the angry dragon flew overhead.

Pressing my body hard against the rocky surface I did my best to keep from being noticed by the giant flying lizard. Rock climbing may have been a specialty for my Shadow class, but it didn't hurt to be cautious. One slip and I would plummet hundreds of feet into the molten lake below. An ignominious end to a rather stellar questing career.

Thankfully, the dragon did not look in my direction. Instead, it banked away, flapping its great leathery wings to disappear into the dark haze and smoke which spewed from the volcano. I breathed a sigh of relief and adjusted my hand and footholds. The giant lizard would be back that was for certain. Within my backpack was its egg I had just swiped from its nest, and the creature would do everything to get it back.

Craning my neck I looked upwards. The cliff ledge was still a fair distance away. Reaching it would be the only salvation I could hope for. Either that or be melted off the cliff wall.

Unconsciously, I wiped at a trickle of sweat on my temple being careful of my grip. The simulation suit I wore did a good job of making me feel like I was really perched above real lava. Too good. With a few sub-vocal commands I instructed the suit to tone down the climate controls, and instantly I felt cooler. My avatar would not benefit within this virtual reality. She would sweat like a pig, regardless. But for me as the player could be allowed some comfort. A message appeared at the corner of my vision, asking if the temperature was adequate. I dismissed it and looked around for the dragon.

Nothing but smoke and ash filled the sky. Delay would only bring failure and this quest I was on had been earmarked as 'Special'. If I failed my character would be heavily penalized. I resumed my ascent although it was slow going. Having climbed down this same cliff to get to the dragon's nest a short time ago, my avatar was feeling the strain. But I could not stop now and regenerate. Time for that after I reached the top.

Gripping an overhang, I attempted to pull myself over when my foot slipped. Panicked, I clasped at the rock face in desperation. The movement caused my pack to jostle open and the dragon egg within slipped out. I gasped and shot a hand out to grab it as the egg tumbled beneath me. Its slick golden surface did not help, but I barely snagged it with my fingers.

From across the volcano the dragon shrieked.

Uh-oh, I thought and risked a glance over my shoulder.

The reptilian image of the flying dragon emerged from the dark clouds. It was a fair distance away, but not for long. And it was heading straight at me.

I looked from the approaching dragon to the egg in my hand. The creature sensed it. My pack shielded the egg from detection but exposing it gave the dragon a beacon to home in on.

Not that I could do anything about it now. Placing the egg back in the pack wouldn't stop it from zeroing in on me and blasting me off the wall. I looked below me. The lava lake bubbled and hissed. Throwing it might be an option. The dragon would follow the egg downward until the treasure vanished into the lava. Then it would turn its rage on me. Tossing the egg would not give me enough time to reach the cliff top. And besides, I wanted to keep the egg considering all the trouble this quest had given me.

There was only one choice, and it wasn't the best.

I placed the egg back into my pack and then, with a cringe, selected the 'Summon Companion' icon from the bottom corner of my vision.

The next instant a ferret appeared on the edge of the overhang above me. He wore a pair of leather breeches over his fur, and a small blue jacket with the name 'Phlixx' embroidered across one breast pocket. Atop his head was a wide-brimmed hat with a white feather pinned to one side. His ears poked through a pair of holes in the brim.

His wide eyes latched onto me. My love! You have summoned me! he hollered.

I rolled my eyes and pulled myself up onto the overhang, my chest pressed against the wall. There was hardly any space to sit. Phlixx, I need your help.

You need me, my sweet? The little ferret crooned as he scampered up the rock to get eye level with me. Climbing was one of his innate abilities, far superior to mine. Which was exactly what I needed.

Yes, I said, and pulled my pack around to open it. The moment I did, and the egg was exposed, the dragon roared. This time much closer.

Phlixx looked from the egg to the dragon coasting through the air toward us over the volcano. His huge eyes got even wider. Dragon! A dragon! In one of his tiny fists a little crossbow appeared. I'll protect you, Honeybun! Even if it is with my last breath!

I was counting on that. Grabbing the egg, I turned Phlixx around so his back was to me. I then jammed the golden egg into his own little pack.

A gift? Asked Phlixx. Now, of all times? Shouldn't we be fleeing?

As if to emphasize the suggestion, the dragon roared, again.