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section7mfuWell, Part I received such a good response last night, so here's part II! I'll post part III tomorrow, and part IV when I finish it.
The buildings were all made of wood, looking like they belonged in the 1870s. Live horses lined the streets, drinking from troughs.
“They’ve certainly gone all-out with this whole restoration thing,” Napoleon said. “But just in case there was trouble, we’d better find out the source of those gunshots…” He trailed off at the sound of a loud commotion.
A crowd was gathered outside a building labeled “Moonlit Gulch Saloon and Inn.” They seemed angry about something, and were trying to force their way in to the building. A man—the bartender, by the looks of it—was struggling to keep them out as a woman--a saloon girl, it seemed, in a green dress with a matching feather boa--yelled at them to back off.
“Napoleon…” Illya said. “I do not know if this is supposed to be part of the show, but these people look truly infuriated. We should intervene.”
Napoleon nodded and drew his ID.
“Ah, excuse me!” he called, causing the crowd to turn to him. He held up his ID. “I’m Napoleon Solo of the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement. What seems to be the trouble here?”
“It’s the law!” one of the crowd exclaimed.
Within minutes, the crowd had dissipated.
“Well, you two sure showed up at the right moment!” the saloon girl said. “Drinks on the house for these two lawmen, Clem!”
“Right away, Miss Ferris,” the bartender said. “Come on in, Boys.”
Napoleon cast Illya a baffled look.
“Perhaps it was an act?” the Russian offered.
Napoleon shrugged and followed the others inside the saloon. Oil lamps and candles illuminated the room.
“What’ll it be, Boys?” Clem asked.
“I’ll take a scotch,” Napoleon said.
“I don’t suppose you have vodka, do you?” Illya queried.
“What?” the saloon girl asked, as she looked back at Illya as he spoke. She then looked from him to Napoleon. “Clem…! Clem, look!”
She pushed an oil lamp closer to the two agents, who exchanged glances again.
“Well, I’ll be…” Clem mused.
“Kid!” the saloon girl exclaimed, suddenly throwing her arms around Illya. “Kid, you’re alive!?”
Napoleon stared with a baffled expression now as Illya looked almost shellshocked.
“Ah, Miss Ferris? Can you please release my partner?” Napoleon asked.
“Oh, come on now, Lionheart; for you and Kid, it was always Karen,” she said, tickling Napoleon’s face with the end of her feather boa. “But this solves all our problems now that you’re back!”
She let them both go as Clem offered them the scotch and vodka as Karen headed halfway up the stairs that led to the lodgings.
“Jim! Jim, it’s alright! Kid’s alive! He and Lionheart are back!”
“Napoleon, what is going on here?” Illya asked. “Is this what they do to all the tourists?”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Napoleon said.
“So…” Karen said, as she ran back to them. “You two are lawmen now? That’s a step up from vigilantes—must’ve been a wild three days. Still, good that you’re keeping innocents safe while on the side of the law now. You’ll be able to help Jim!” She gave them another look. “Can’t say I approve of the new duds; you look like city slickers now!”
“Ah, Miss Ferris—” Napoleon began.
“Karen!” she corrected him.
“Look, Karen, there seems to be a big misunderstanding here,” Napoleon said. “I told everyone out there that my name is Napoleon Solo.”
“And I am Illya Kuryakin.”
Karen looked to each of them.
“You appear to have us confused with others,” Illya continued. “I am sorry for this misunderstanding--”
“Kid! You’re alright!” a dark-haired man was now descending the staircase; he warmly gripped Illya’s hand. “You weren’t looking good when Lionheart rode outta town with you on that wagon. But you’re okay!” He looked to Napoleon. “And you’re looking good, too, Lionheart!”
“Jim…” Karen said, softly. “Jim, I’m sorry for getting your hopes up; I could have sworn it was them…”
Jim looked to Karen, his face falling.
“Then Kid is…?”
“I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head. “You’d better get back upstairs before that crowd comes back here.”
“Look, if it’s not too much to ask, can you fill us in?” Napoleon asked. “And what was up with those shots we heard earlier?”
“Those shots were for me,” Jim said. “Name’s Jim Nation; I’m a traveling man, just looking to make my way. I got into an incident in Kansas—had to kill a man in self-defense. I was found innocent at the trial, but… the man’s friends and cronies didn’t like that. They’ve been after me ever since the trial, and saw to it that my name was slandered all over the state. That was when I met Lionheart and Kid—two well-meaning vigilantes.”
“And these two resemble us?” Illya asked.
“Uncannily,” Jim said. “They were a great couple of guys—set me up with money and provisions and even rode out here to Arizona with me. But my reputation still preceded me; it took a lot for me to make friends here—but the rousing endorsement from Lionheart and Kid helped.”
“Why the angry mob outside?” Napoleon asked.
“Someone killed the banker three nights ago,” Karen said. “And Old Man Winstrate and his son Jerry both swear it was Jim.”
“But it wasn’t me!” Jim insisted. “I was with Lionheart and Kid that night! They’re my alibi.”
“But something happened to Kid?” Illya finished.
“He wanted to do better than just clear my name,” Jim said, passing a hand over his eyes. “He wanted to find out who really killed the banker, so later that night, he went out to find out while Lionheart stayed here to protect me from the mob. I don’t know what Kid found out, if anything, but he staggered back in here with a bullet in his chest and collapsed.”
“Lionheart took it very badly,” Karen said, quietly. “We all loved that blond, but Lionheart… Well, Kid meant the world to him. And we had no doctor here; he knew the only chance he had at saving Kid was to get him to the next town. He borrowed a wagon and rode out of town with Kid that night; we haven’t seen them since, and we spent the last two days trying to keep that mob out of here for Jim’s sake—some shots were fire tonight, just before you showed up. …You know, you two could pass for Lionheart and Kid even in the middle of the day if you lost those duds; when we saw you, we thought you were back and that Kid was alright—especially after Mr. Kuryakin here asked for a vodka. That was Kid’s favorite drink.”
“Sorry to disappoint you,” Illya said. “Has the local lawman found out anything?”
“We don’t have a lawman here,” Clem said.
“No…?” Napoleon asked, with an arched eyebrow.
“That was another one of the things Lionheart and Kid wanted to change around here before this all happened,” Jim said.
“Aha…” Napoleon said. “Illya, could I speak to you for a moment, please?”
Illya shrugged and followed Napoleon to the entry of the saloon.
“What?” he asked.
“Illya, I have a suspicion that this is a line they give to all the tourists,” Napoleon said. “And we get to decide whether or not we play along.”
“I have no desire to play along with anything. I am tired from running from THRUSH all day, and I wish to sleep,” Illya stated.
“Fair enough,” Napoleon said. He headed back to the bar. “Ah, we were wondering if you had any vacancies?”
“Just the room that Lionheart and Kid were staying in,” Karen said. “You can stay there for the night.”
“How much?” Napoleon asked.
“For you? You can stay there free for a night,” she said, handing him the room key. “Think of it as a thank-you for helping get rid of that nasty crowd. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Oh… Well, thank you,” Napoleon said, with a nod.
Illya nodded a thanks, as well, and followed Napoleon up the stairs, the both of them carrying their gear.
The buildings were all made of wood, looking like they belonged in the 1870s. Live horses lined the streets, drinking from troughs.
“They’ve certainly gone all-out with this whole restoration thing,” Napoleon said. “But just in case there was trouble, we’d better find out the source of those gunshots…” He trailed off at the sound of a loud commotion.
A crowd was gathered outside a building labeled “Moonlit Gulch Saloon and Inn.” They seemed angry about something, and were trying to force their way in to the building. A man—the bartender, by the looks of it—was struggling to keep them out as a woman--a saloon girl, it seemed, in a green dress with a matching feather boa--yelled at them to back off.
“Napoleon…” Illya said. “I do not know if this is supposed to be part of the show, but these people look truly infuriated. We should intervene.”
Napoleon nodded and drew his ID.
“Ah, excuse me!” he called, causing the crowd to turn to him. He held up his ID. “I’m Napoleon Solo of the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement. What seems to be the trouble here?”
“It’s the law!” one of the crowd exclaimed.
Within minutes, the crowd had dissipated.
“Well, you two sure showed up at the right moment!” the saloon girl said. “Drinks on the house for these two lawmen, Clem!”
“Right away, Miss Ferris,” the bartender said. “Come on in, Boys.”
Napoleon cast Illya a baffled look.
“Perhaps it was an act?” the Russian offered.
Napoleon shrugged and followed the others inside the saloon. Oil lamps and candles illuminated the room.
“What’ll it be, Boys?” Clem asked.
“I’ll take a scotch,” Napoleon said.
“I don’t suppose you have vodka, do you?” Illya queried.
“What?” the saloon girl asked, as she looked back at Illya as he spoke. She then looked from him to Napoleon. “Clem…! Clem, look!”
She pushed an oil lamp closer to the two agents, who exchanged glances again.
“Well, I’ll be…” Clem mused.
“Kid!” the saloon girl exclaimed, suddenly throwing her arms around Illya. “Kid, you’re alive!?”
Napoleon stared with a baffled expression now as Illya looked almost shellshocked.
“Ah, Miss Ferris? Can you please release my partner?” Napoleon asked.
“Oh, come on now, Lionheart; for you and Kid, it was always Karen,” she said, tickling Napoleon’s face with the end of her feather boa. “But this solves all our problems now that you’re back!”
She let them both go as Clem offered them the scotch and vodka as Karen headed halfway up the stairs that led to the lodgings.
“Jim! Jim, it’s alright! Kid’s alive! He and Lionheart are back!”
“Napoleon, what is going on here?” Illya asked. “Is this what they do to all the tourists?”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” Napoleon said.
“So…” Karen said, as she ran back to them. “You two are lawmen now? That’s a step up from vigilantes—must’ve been a wild three days. Still, good that you’re keeping innocents safe while on the side of the law now. You’ll be able to help Jim!” She gave them another look. “Can’t say I approve of the new duds; you look like city slickers now!”
“Ah, Miss Ferris—” Napoleon began.
“Karen!” she corrected him.
“Look, Karen, there seems to be a big misunderstanding here,” Napoleon said. “I told everyone out there that my name is Napoleon Solo.”
“And I am Illya Kuryakin.”
Karen looked to each of them.
“You appear to have us confused with others,” Illya continued. “I am sorry for this misunderstanding--”
“Kid! You’re alright!” a dark-haired man was now descending the staircase; he warmly gripped Illya’s hand. “You weren’t looking good when Lionheart rode outta town with you on that wagon. But you’re okay!” He looked to Napoleon. “And you’re looking good, too, Lionheart!”
“Jim…” Karen said, softly. “Jim, I’m sorry for getting your hopes up; I could have sworn it was them…”
Jim looked to Karen, his face falling.
“Then Kid is…?”
“I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head. “You’d better get back upstairs before that crowd comes back here.”
“Look, if it’s not too much to ask, can you fill us in?” Napoleon asked. “And what was up with those shots we heard earlier?”
“Those shots were for me,” Jim said. “Name’s Jim Nation; I’m a traveling man, just looking to make my way. I got into an incident in Kansas—had to kill a man in self-defense. I was found innocent at the trial, but… the man’s friends and cronies didn’t like that. They’ve been after me ever since the trial, and saw to it that my name was slandered all over the state. That was when I met Lionheart and Kid—two well-meaning vigilantes.”
“And these two resemble us?” Illya asked.
“Uncannily,” Jim said. “They were a great couple of guys—set me up with money and provisions and even rode out here to Arizona with me. But my reputation still preceded me; it took a lot for me to make friends here—but the rousing endorsement from Lionheart and Kid helped.”
“Why the angry mob outside?” Napoleon asked.
“Someone killed the banker three nights ago,” Karen said. “And Old Man Winstrate and his son Jerry both swear it was Jim.”
“But it wasn’t me!” Jim insisted. “I was with Lionheart and Kid that night! They’re my alibi.”
“But something happened to Kid?” Illya finished.
“He wanted to do better than just clear my name,” Jim said, passing a hand over his eyes. “He wanted to find out who really killed the banker, so later that night, he went out to find out while Lionheart stayed here to protect me from the mob. I don’t know what Kid found out, if anything, but he staggered back in here with a bullet in his chest and collapsed.”
“Lionheart took it very badly,” Karen said, quietly. “We all loved that blond, but Lionheart… Well, Kid meant the world to him. And we had no doctor here; he knew the only chance he had at saving Kid was to get him to the next town. He borrowed a wagon and rode out of town with Kid that night; we haven’t seen them since, and we spent the last two days trying to keep that mob out of here for Jim’s sake—some shots were fire tonight, just before you showed up. …You know, you two could pass for Lionheart and Kid even in the middle of the day if you lost those duds; when we saw you, we thought you were back and that Kid was alright—especially after Mr. Kuryakin here asked for a vodka. That was Kid’s favorite drink.”
“Sorry to disappoint you,” Illya said. “Has the local lawman found out anything?”
“We don’t have a lawman here,” Clem said.
“No…?” Napoleon asked, with an arched eyebrow.
“That was another one of the things Lionheart and Kid wanted to change around here before this all happened,” Jim said.
“Aha…” Napoleon said. “Illya, could I speak to you for a moment, please?”
Illya shrugged and followed Napoleon to the entry of the saloon.
“What?” he asked.
“Illya, I have a suspicion that this is a line they give to all the tourists,” Napoleon said. “And we get to decide whether or not we play along.”
“I have no desire to play along with anything. I am tired from running from THRUSH all day, and I wish to sleep,” Illya stated.
“Fair enough,” Napoleon said. He headed back to the bar. “Ah, we were wondering if you had any vacancies?”
“Just the room that Lionheart and Kid were staying in,” Karen said. “You can stay there for the night.”
“How much?” Napoleon asked.
“For you? You can stay there free for a night,” she said, handing him the room key. “Think of it as a thank-you for helping get rid of that nasty crowd. We couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Oh… Well, thank you,” Napoleon said, with a nod.
Illya nodded a thanks, as well, and followed Napoleon up the stairs, the both of them carrying their gear.
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no subject
Date: 2016-04-07 03:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-04-07 04:20 am (UTC)It would be a popular episode in canon, except, possibly, there Karen wouldn't be so definitely an Illya girl.
no subject
Date: 2016-04-07 09:49 am (UTC)And oh brother, Napoleon and Illya have really wandered into a weird scene. It will definitely be interesting to watch this mystery get unraveled....
no subject
Date: 2016-04-07 01:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-04-07 03:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-04-07 05:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-04-07 07:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-04-07 07:04 pm (UTC)Yeah, looking back at that scene, I think I could have done that better. I think I'll edit it a bit for the FFN version when it comes time to post that.
no subject
Date: 2016-04-07 07:06 pm (UTC)Indeed, I wonder if this could fit with some of the weird season 3 scenarios, heh. Although I'm certainly not going for the campy route...
no subject
Date: 2016-04-07 07:07 pm (UTC)I should have part 3 up later in the evening!
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Date: 2016-04-07 07:09 pm (UTC)I should have the next chapter up later in the evening!
no subject
Date: 2016-04-07 07:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-04-07 07:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-04-07 10:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-04-08 10:45 pm (UTC)The ones you mentioned sound intriguing, though!
no subject
Date: 2016-04-09 11:10 am (UTC)