Bodhi seemed to read his surprise. You've never seen technology of this sort created by us before. It is a new thing of the last few years. We wanted to create synthetic guardians for protection, but the nature of such creations still eludes us. This simple automaton is the culmination of years of work and learning. Yet it is simple, only able to perform the most basic tasks.
Gunner grunted, wincing from the pain in his throat. His voice was a gravelly rasp. "It's…far beyond anything I've…seen from the Mahinarah." He coughed into his hand, grimacing. "Your skills are increasing."
As you know, we share a collective memory that grows stronger over time, healing minds damaged by hereditary disorders that have afflicted us since we were shattered in the madness of the Cataclysm. As our minds heal, we recover much of what was lost. In time we will further adapt, losing our collectiveness to individuality. In time, we will again be like you.
"Seems…like a loss…more than an advantage."
It is what will be. We must adapt or perish. That is the way of things.
He picked up a handful of loose wires, frayed at the ends. "This looks familiar. Like the wires in the power plant. They say someone has been pulling these out and pulling levers, creating blackouts. But it's not the Baron or the Judge. It's been you this whole time."
We were trying without success to free the captives in the mines. Trying to learn their technology to save our people.
"That's too great of a risk. The Baron already wants to wipe you out."
We are always in danger. There are always those who want to massacre us. You understand because you were once one of those men. It does not matter whether we leave or stay. So we stay.
He massaged his neck, where the scarring was still tender and sore. "Well, I reckon I can do something about that."
You have done enough. You set our captive brothers and sisters free. We are in your debt. You owe us nothing.
He looked her in the eye. "There's nothing in this whole world I can do to take back what I did to you, and you know it. At least let me do what I do best to make sure no one else does the same."
The decision is yours, Agni Chaya. Whatever we have is at your disposal.
The rain finally faded to a steady drizzle that afternoon, falling from a sky the color of gun smoke. The Baron's boots clomped on wooden boards lain across the thick mud, grateful she had maintained the drainage system. Some of the streets still flooded, but the water receded quickly, funneled to the treatment center for recycling.
Bane followed on her heels like a protective guard dog, splintering the wood under his boots. She joined Marshal Wiley in the town square, where a group of men and women were lined up on their knees, hands on their heads. Their faces ranged from surly to terrified as they faced off against her newly appointed deputies, all who aimed rifles at them.
"This all of them?"
Wiley adjusted the gun belt he confiscated from Gunner's belongings; the Reaper revolvers holstered at his hips. "Most of 'em. Fools still fighting for the Judge, and some who didn't want to surrender their guns."
"Any sign of Janey?"
"Haven't seen her yet. Couldn't have gone far in that storm. My guess is she's holed up somewhere waiting for a good chance to sneak out."
"I want her and anyone else who might be a threat rounded up and shot. Especially Gunner. I want to see his body even if he drowned. Search building to building."
"Already being done."
"Good." She glanced at the line of prisoners. "Get rid of them."
He grinned, motioning to his lieutenant. The order was shouted out, followed by the explosion of gunfire. The bodies jerked back and forth, spurting blood as they toppled into the mud. The Baron had already turned away, glancing at a young deputy headed her direction, dragging a mud-spattered resident by the arm. The man had a dazed expression on his face, looking as if he'd been pulled from a battlefield.
"Who's this?"
"This here's Barney Fields. Says he was caught out in the storm last night. Got washed away and would've drowned if he hadn't held tight to the lamppost by the Mercantile."
Her foot tapped impatiently. "What does that have to do with me?"
The deputy smacked Barney Fields in the back of his head. "Go on, now. Tell her."
Barney blinked as if awakening from a dream, staring at the Baron with his mouth agape like an imbecile. "I done seen 'im, I did. Seen 'im with my own eyes."
"Seen who?"
"The man that got hanged. Him and the preacher. Seen 'em when they escaped."
Her eyes narrowed. "You saw Gunner and Pablo escape? What happened?"
His face reddened. "You'll think I'm making it up, but I know what I seen."
She took a deep breath, trying to keep from throttling the man. "Tell me."
"Was a demon, it was. A yellow-eyed demon birthed from that unholy storm. Cut the outlaw down with its razor teeth, then tore the door right off the cage with its bare hands. They walked right on top of the water like it was dry ground, then lightning struck them all, and they disappeared like ghosts. Scariest thing I ever seen."
She dug into her vest pocket and flipped him a gold bull. "Thanks for reporting it. You run along and clean up. Stay inside if you don't want to get shot by mistake."
"Yes, ma'am. I will, ma'am." Clutching the gold to his chest, he trotted off.
The deputy laughed. "Yellow-eyed demon? He must have been hallucinating."
She smiled. "Must have been. You did good bringing him to me. Keep looking around. See if anyone else saw anything."
He saluted her and sauntered off; chest puffed out. She motioned to Wiley, who walked toward her.
"The Ferals helped Gunner and the preacher escape. Get a posse together and head for the mesa summit. It's time we put those filthy animals down for good. I want them all wiped out."
He glanced at the holoband on his wrist. "Much as I'd like to blow Gunner's brains out with his own revolvers, I got bad news. The storm circled around and is heading back at us. Won't be at full strength like before, but it'll still be pretty bad. Gonna have to call everyone back to take shelter until it's over. Should be able to head out there after it passes through."
She shook her head. "That's not good enough. I don't like not knowing what they're doing up there. Those creatures are savage killers. And they seem to be able to slip in and out the Town without being seen. The trapper was right — the one with the red eyes. He said they were cunning in their own way. For all we know, they're planning to kill us all in our sleep."
"Then send Bane. I'll go with him. The two of us should make good time. And he's worth a whole posse all to himself."
"Then I'll send him alone. No need for you to take the risk."
"I'll let him take the lead and just follow as backup. I'll be the cleanup man."
"Fine." She turned around and looked up at Bane. "Climb the mesa. Find where they're hiding Gunner. Kill him and everything else up there. If it's alive, I want it dead. Understand?"