//------------------------------// // Part 2 A Dazzling Beginning: Chapter 6 It's Just One of Those Days // Story: The Destroyer and Her Doctor // by Justice3442 //------------------------------// The Destroyer and Her Doctor Part 2 A Dazzling Beginning Chapter 6 It's Just One of Those Days Adventure and danger are often two sides to the same coin. Perhaps this is why human beings have a tendency to seek out activities that, while controlled, do come with a certain degree of risk. A risk that those participating could meet injury or even death. People indulge in mountain climbing, parachuting, SCUBA diving, and any number of other things that could invite disaster if proper care isn’t taken. Risk adds an element of excitement to any outing and even simply traveling to new places always carries a certain degree of understood risk. While usually this isn’t expected to be dangerous outright, the very act of going to a new environment full of unknown qualities leaves open the possibility for any number of unexpected outcomes. In Debra’s case, these unexpected outcomes happened to take the form of bullets and projectiles that flew past her as she and the Doctor took shelter in an alley. The cross alley they had occupied just moments before had suddenly exploded into a melee of violence and dust as bullets and pellets tore through wood, slammed into brick, and kicked dirt into the air. Seeking cover behind the staircase and its box-like supports, Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp peeked out to exchange gunfire with the three unexpected combatants a ways down. Holliday peeked out from around the stairs, fired a round each from his six shooters then quickly ducked back behind cover as a hail of pellets ate into the wooden planks that made up the stairs. “The hell did that girl get a street sweeper from?!” he exclaimed as he cocked back the hammers on his guns. Wyatt quickly stood up above the stairs, and fired a shot from his revolver before ducking again as bullets flew overhead. “I’d like to know why all three of those girls are packing.” Holliday raised an eyebrow. “These are dangerous times when the multitude of armed people has encouraged the fairer sex to seek protection of a reliable firearm.” He made a quick peek around the stairs, then pulled his head back as a few bullets slammed into the wooden planks before he quickly returned fire while keeping his head out of sight. His forehead tightened as if he mulled over his own statement. “I suppose this is something of a chicken and egg dilemma that warrants further exploration.” “Forget that!” Wyatt shouted as he stuck his gun up above the stairs and fired a couple rounds. “I’m more concerned with the three women who are trying to kill us right now.” A few rounds slammed into the top platform of the stairs as Wyatt retracted his hand. Holliday gave Wyatt a scrutinizing look. “Perhaps if you took at least the bare minimum of time to see where you were shooting, we’d be faring better.” Wyatt’s bushy brows framed a scowl as he stared at Holliday. “I’m a little torn over the idea of gunning down a woman!” “They did fire on us,” Holliday pointed out. “You shot first!” “Only so they’d cease their retreat,” Holliday retorted. He wiped at the blood on his face. “And they drew first blood.” He peeked around the corner before pulling back and letting a couple more bullets fly. “So you’d really be okay with putting a bullet in a woman?” Holliday dwelled on this for just a moment. “Depends on the woman, I suppose. I already have acquired quite the list of Hell-worthy transgressions. I’m not sure one more would—” Another loud boom roared out and the top platform of the stairs exploded into a rain of splinters that fell on Holliday and Wyatt. Holliday coughed and wiped wood fragments off of his clothing. “Perhaps now is not the best time for a nuanced discussion on morality,” he mused. A few buildings down the way, two of the three women were engaged in their own discussion. “This is not subtle, Aria!” the woman with the orange hair cried as she held a small double-barreled pistol in her right hand and stood with her back against a brick wall. Aria crouched low by the edge of the wall and flung a tuft of her purple hair behind her. She quickly peeked out and fired off a round each from both her black-handled six shooters. “Those two are marshals, Adagio, and they were way more interested in questioning us than dealing with that huge fight we caused! Do you have any ideas that didn’t involve me beating the snot out of them?”  “Oh, I don’t know,” Adagio began in a sarcastic tone. “Maybe we could have controlled them into leaving us alone or even doing our bidding instead of you lashing out and forcing us all to improvise!” Across the alley, the blue-haired woman peeked out with her shotgun, exclaimed an excited “Wheeeeeeee!” and let loose another blast of pellets in the direction of Holliday and Wyatt. Aria nodded at the blue-haired woman. “Well Sonata is having fun!” “Sonata has just as much fun on a rocking horse!” Adagio countered.  “Don’t change the subject!” Aria glanced around the corner and fired a couple more rounds before turning to glare at Adagio. “If you wanted subtle, why’d you set us up as dancers, anyway?” “I’m sorry,” Adagio replied in a disingenuous tone. “Where you not just complaining the other day about a lack of getting a decent amount of energy?!” “Ugh… whatever!” Aria replied. “Just help us shoot at these guys!” Adagio frowned. “I’m down to my last derringer.” “Well maybe if you carried guns that held more than two rounds instead of strapping those midget pistols to yourself, you wouldn’t have that problem.” Adagio sneered at Aria. “Oh? And how much ammo do you have left?” Aria narrowed her eyes, peeked out, pointed her pistols, and pulled the triggers. Her hammers hit empty chambers. “Hah!” Adagio cried out derisively. Aria tossed a glare up at Adagio and looked across the alley. “Sonata!” “WHEEEEEEEEE!” ‘BLAM!’ “SONATA!” “What?!” Sonata asked as she ducked for cover behind her adobe wall. “Toss me some more ammo!” Aria called out. Sonata looked at Aria as if she had just asked what year it was. “Wow, you’re stupid! My big shells aren’t going to fit in your guns! Besides! I only have one left, and it’s mine!” she said as she reloaded her shotgun. “Not a shotgun shell, you idiot! Toss me ammo for my guns! Adagio’s too!” “Why the heck would I have ammo for your guns?!” Adagio scowled out at Sonata. “Because we talked about this and filled all your pouches with extra bullets!” “OOOOOOoooooh!” Sonata said. “So that’s why there were bullets in my pouches!” “Yes! So…” Adagio thought for a moment. “Wait, ‘were’?!” Aria sighed. “Here we go.” Sonata nodded, crouched, and opened one of her boot pouches. “I filled them all with penny candy!” she said with a smile as she took out a piece of candy. Adagio smacked a hand against her face. Aria glared daggers at Sonata. “Hey Sonata, you remember that one shell you have left? I thought of the perfect way you can use it!” In the cross alley, the Doctor and Debra continued to wait things out. “Is it always like this?!” Debra exclaimed. “Naw, naw,” the Doctor replied. “Often times its laser fire or there’s something counting down to when me and everyone around me might die! Or you know… an alien or aliens that might kill everyone.” “Grrrrreeeeeaaaat…” Debra uttered. “Oh cheer up,” The Doctor said. “The nice thing about guns of this time is—” “How’s yer ammo count lookin’, Doc?” Wyatt asked. Holliday frowned. “I’m about to start hitting empty chambers here.” Wyatt nodded. “Same. I wasn’t packing for a shootout.” Holliday tilted an ear upward. “On that note, it’s gotten awfully quiet over there.”  “You don’t think…” Holliday holstered one of his pistols, took off his hat with his free hand, and placed it over his other pistol. He dangled the hat past the staircase. ‘BLAM!’ His hat hit the ground full of tiny holes. “No Wyatt, I do not,” Holliday answered dryly. “Awww!” Sonata called out. “That was my last shell and I only killed a hat!” “Sonata!” Adagio screamed. “Don’t just tell people who are shooting at you when out you’re out of ammo!” Holliday raised his eyebrows. “But I do now.” “Oye! You lot done shooting at each other?!” “NEVER!” Aria and Sonata cried in unison. “SHUT IT YOU TWO!” Adagio cried. “YES!” she replied to the Doctor. Wyatt peeked out to see the Doctor standing in the middle of the alley as the dust settled. “What’s that damn fool think he’s doing?” Holliday also took a look. “Oh, I believe that’s an old British tradition of standing out in the open during a battle. You’d think they’d have learned a thing or two since the revolution…” The Doctor continued, “Why don’t you all just come out here and we can talk this over without trying to kill each other?” “NO DEAL!”  Aria and Sonata cried. “SHUT! IT!” Adagio commanded. “We don’t want any trouble-and-don’t-you-two-say-anything! We just want to go in peace!” “The hell you do!” Wyatt yelled from behind his cover. “We just tried to talk to you three and that wildcat with the purple hair sucker punched us!” “Hehe… yeah…” Aria uttered in a pleased tone. “Technically she kicked one of you!” Sonata added. “OH MY GOD!” Adagio cried. “I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU TWO WON’T SHUT UP!” Debra peeked out into the alley at the Doctor. “Is it safe?” The Doctor nodded. “Yes. They’re done shooting and are now forced to use the far less dangerous tactic of shouting.” Debra ran out from the cross alley and threw her arms around the Doctor as she tossed a glance at the marshals and then another at the girls that had embattled them. Looking up at the Doctor, she said, “You seem remarkably calm about the situation.” The Doctor nodded. “I’ve gotten used to being shot at.” He looked back and forth between the two groups still peeking out from behind their hiding places. “Alright! Why don’t we all start by coming out without pointing guns at each other? Come on! Don’t be shy…” Cautiously, both parties left the safety of their cover and stepped out into the alleyway. “Right, right,” the Doctor said. “There you go! Now if you all could come just a little bit closer.” Adagio narrowed her eyes. “Why? So we’re easier to shoot?!” “You wound me, ma’am!” Holliday called out. “Slandering such outstanding gentlemen such as ourselves by suggesting we’d gun down women in the street!” Adagio pointed to a bit of her hair that was slightly singed. “The only thing wounded here is my hair!” Holliday whipped at the dried blood on his face. “I beg to differ!” Aria grinned. “I’m fine with getting closer.” Sonata undid the bottom clasp of her dress exposing a knife handle that she drummed her fingers against. “Ohhhh, yes…” she purred. “Doctor, I think we’re all close enough!” Wyatt shouted. The Doctor sighed and shook his head. “Right, so we’ll all just yell at eachother…” Debra cupped her hands around her mouth. “What is this all about!? Why’d you all start shooting?!” “We just wanted to talk things over!” Wyatt insisted. “And then that one with the purple ponytails lashed out at us as soon as we were in range!” “You two invaded my personal space!” Aria called out. “Yeah!” Sonata called out. “Only I’m allowed to do that!” Aria turned to shot a glare at Sonata. “Oh! And Adagio!” Aria pursed her lips and tightened her forehead as she stared out in front of her with an irate expression. “Especially Adagio!” Sonata added cheerfully. The Doctor spoke up, “Why’d you go up to the girls in the first place?!” “You didn’t see what we did, Doctor!” Wyatt called out. “Those three were just singin’ and dancin’ while the entire saloon was in a violent uproar.” Holliday chimed in, “And they had a look about them like they were doing the devil’s work! And believe me, I know that look!” The Doctor lowered his eyes thoughtfully and turned towards the girls, paying close attention to the gems around their necks. “I see…” Aria recoiled slightly, “I don’t think this is going well, Dagi…” Adagio grinned wickedly. “Don’t worry. Looks like the cavalry is here.” “HEY!” a masculine voice called out. ‘BANG!’ Debra let out a startled yelp and buried her head in the Doctor’s chest. Everyone else turned as Jayne Cobb strolled into the alley. One gun pointed in the air and the other drawn on Holliday. The Doctor rose his right hand up and pressed his fingertips against his forehead. “Just what we need, more guns.” “Ya’ll leave those three alone!” Jayne ordered he advanced on Holliday and Wyatt. He cocked the gun he had pointed at the sky and pointed it at Wyatt. “And keep those hands where I can see ‘em.” Holliday sighed and raised his hands up to his chest, palms forward. “Oh hell, it’s going to be one of those days.” “Jayne?!” Wyatt called out as he too raised his hands. “You don’t want to do this.” Jayne smiled wildly. “Oh, I reckon I do!” The Doctor tilted an ear up. “There it is again…” Debra pulled her head out from the Doctor’s chest just enough to look up. “There what is?” “That psychic mind control music…” His forehead tightened he reached into his pocket to pull out his sonic screwdriver. “There’s a lot more to those girls than exotic hair and pretty faces.” Debra pursed her lips and let out a jealous growl. “Stay here!” The Doctor said as he detached himself from Debra and began walking up to the three men. “I better do something before someone gets killed.” Debra frowned heavily. “Killed?! Well, what about you?!” The Doctor kept walking and waved a dismissive hand in the air. “I’ll be fine! All things considered, I have a pretty good track record of not being shot when guns are pointed at me!” He reached into his coat and pulled out his sonic screwdriver. “Hey!” Jayne called out as the Doctor came closer. “Whatchya think yer doin’? What’s that in your hand?!” “Oh this?” The Doctor asked as he held up his sonic screwdriver. “It’s harmless! Just a little tool I always keep handy. Don’t worry about it! I just want to talk!” the Doctor insisted as he walked past Holliday and Wyatt. “Stop right there!” Jayne commanded as he pointed a gun at the Doctor and kept the other trained on Holliday. “You make any sudden movements or take one more step closer and I’ll gun ya down like a dog, ya hear?” The Doctor stopped. “Now, there’s no need for—” “RUN GIRLS!” Adagio shouted. The Doctor turned as Adagio and Aria made a run for it. Sonata made a quick dash for Debra, gathered her into her arms, and began running after the other two girls. “HEY!” Debra shouted. “Doctor! HEEEEEEELP!” “Debra!” The Doctor took a step back down the alley. “HEY! YOU THREE—” ‘BANG!’ A bullet impacted the ground at the Doctor’s feet. He stopped dead in his tracks. “I said, hold it!” Holliday glanced at the Doctor. “This all part of your strategy, Doctor?” The Doctor shook his head. “Not the part where those women absconded with my companion, but I can get us out of this. You two just have to promise not to kill that man.” Jayne chuckled darkly. “I don’t think they’ll have a problem keeping that promise.” Holliday looked at the Doctor once more. “He does have us at something of an disadvantage here.” “Just promise me you won’t kill this man!” Holliday frowned. “I don’t make it a habit of making promises I don’t—” “Doooooc!” Wyatt uttered in an irritated tone. “Fine then,” Holliday said. “If you can somehow defuse this situation, I suppose I can keep my pistols holstered.” Jayne shook his head. “How do ya figure yer gonna get me to put my pistols down before there’s a smokin’ hole in all of you?” “There’s three of us, Jayne,” Wyatt said in a warning tone. “You really think you’re fast enough to gun us all down before one of us draws a bead on you?” “That’s why the two Doctors go first,” Jayne said. “I know Holliday has a bit of a rep for being quick on the draw.” Holliday sighed. “Well it must have slipped my mind that it’s my birthday today,” he said sarcastically. “No need for that,” The Doctor said to Jayne. “I just need you to keep an eye on the tool in my hand.” Jayne narrowed his eyes. “Hasn’t left my sight since you stepped up. You try something funny with you’ll have to figure out how to keep flabbin’ that smart mouth with one less heart.” The Doctor chuckled. “Wouldn’t be the first time. Oh and funny like this?” The Doctor said as he pressed his thumb against the sonic screwdriver. The tip of the sonic screwdriver glowed blue as the whole thing came alive with a ‘bzzzzzzzzzzz’ ‘Click. Click.’ Before Jayne could pull the triggers on his pistols, the hammers suddenly uncocked— “Now Doc!” Wyatt shouted. — and before Jayne could cock his pistols, Wyatt and the Holliday where on top of him wrestling him to the ground. The Doctor turned and ran back down the alley, running all the way until he was once again in an open, busy street. “DOCTOR!” The Doctor turned and peered past the people walking about the street. He spotted the three women each mount a horse with their legs pointed over one side, Debra draped across the back of the horse Sonata had gotten onto. “DEBRA! I’M COMING!” The three girls quickly pointed their horses towards another alley. Debra let out a surprised yelp and held on for dear life as the horse she was on started galloping. The Doctor broke into a sprint after them, weaving past people and dodging carriages as he went. Soon he was running down another alley following a trail of dust and Debra’s frantic screams. ‘THUD!’ Something big and heavy suddenly landed in front of the Doctor, stopping his pursuit. The Doctor frowned as he looked over the unexpected obstacle. A tall figure glared at him with fiery red eyes set in a face with pointed features. He wore a chrome horned helmet, or perhaps a helmet build to fit around horns, a dark cloak over a smooth, black body suit and brandished metallic claws as he looked over the Doctor. Whatever it was grinned, exposing sharp teeth as it let out an animalistic chuckle. The Doctor sighed. “I take it it’s going to be one of those days?”