Outland, Part 3
#16 of CASINO NIGHTS
Wow, I can't believe how long it's been since I updated one of these stories! I'm sorry to keep you all waiting such a long time. I'm hoping to get some more updates out, as well as some totally new stories and other content. So please enjoy this finale chapter. I'd also like to give a shout-out to Crazy One!
.o.o.o.
CASINO NIGHTS
" Outland, Part 3"
.o.o.o.
Orson took a step forward, his gun still trained squarely on Regina. The red fox regarded the dark-haired woman for a moment with a serious expression. "I'm afraid this is the end of the line... for both you and Mr. Emerson."
The Ichthillian's muscles tensed as she became totally still. "Damn you- what the hell have you done with Xander?!" Her yellow serpentine eyes seemed to almost glow in the dimness of the corridor.
Orson smiled slightly as he looked down the barrel of the gun. "Nothing you need to worry about..." He began. "In just a moment, none of it will matter." He added. "In less than an hour, all the loose ends will be taken of care of... including you."
"DON'T MOVE!"
Regina covertly glanced to the side while Orson whirled around to see Mercer appear. The wolf had his gun drawn. The fox fired a shot at him, taking him down- only to have Regina tackle him up against the wall just as he turned away from her. The deputy suddenly felt the wind get knocked out of him as he impacted against the hard metal surface of the corridor.
He swung his hand wildly, connecting with her jaw and knocking her back slightly. Before he could do any more, Regina swiped left hand across his face- drawing dark red blood as he her claws cut into the flesh. He reached up to cover the right side of his face with his free hand while holding up his gun with the other. Blood trickled down between his fingers as he looked at her. "Bitch!"
Regina closed her eyes just in time to hear a gun firing, but felt nothing. She opened her eyes and saw Orson lying on the floor in a puddle of blood. The green-skinned woman turned to see Mercer leaning against the wall, gripping his side and holding a smoking gun in his hand. She rushed over to him as he gasped and slid onto the floor.
.o.o.o.
Logan and Turk turned as the sound of gunfire reached them. The older male Hyena turned to the younger maned-wolf as he drew his gun. "Keep an eye on him while I go check things out." He instructed him calmly.
Turk nodded. "Sure thing, no problem." He replied, keeping his gun trained on Xander as he watched his colleague head off, down the metal catwalk. "Besides, it's not like our friend here is going anywhere..." He remarked with a faint chuckle.
"Something's definitely up- but what the hell's going on down there?" Xander silently mused to himself as he sat. He spared a brief glance towards Turk, then looked back down at the dull metallic surface of the walkway they were situated on.
.o.o.o.
Regina knealed down beside the wolf. "You, you saved my life..." She spoke softly as she helped steady him against the wall. She looked down at his left side and observed that the gray material of his shirt was stained crimson.
He cringed and looked at her. "I'm a Constable, it's my job..." Mercer replied in what normally might have been a humorous tone. He looked down at his wound, then back up at her. "Don't worry about me right now... You're in danger, they'll have heard the commotion- someone will definitely come to investigate." He added, reaching up to place a hand on her shoulder as he spoke.
Regina glanced down the hall when she heard something. "Someone's coming..." She spoke under her breath, before turning back to Mercer. "Just wait here and keep quiet." She instructed him as she got to her feet. She then ran over and picked up Orson's discarded pistol. The Ichthillian then quietly made her way into the core room...
...Logan reached the bottom of the metal staircase and began walking down along the corridors that were formed by the clusters of tall machinery and equipment. As he turned a corner, Regina emerged behind him from the shadows and aimed her gun at him.
"Getting the drop on me like this... You must have some good instincts." Logan remarked with a smile as he turned around to face Regina. "Of course, it makes sense now... You are an Ichthillian after all, so I shouldn't be all that surprised- you're kind have a knack for survival." He added.
Regina narrowed her eyes. "Drop the gun right now or else."
Logan looked at her incredulously. "Or what, you're going to shoot me?" He asked her in a mocking tone. "Really, you're not very at making threats... You won't shoot me, we both know that."
The Ichthillian glared at him. "Don't be so sure... Now drop that gun." She ordered, never taking her eyes of the Hyena the whole time.
Logan smiled in response and started to kneel down, as if to set the gun on the floor- but suddenly bolted upright! Regina fired- the shot hit him in the chest at point-blank range... Logan slumped back and fell to the floor, dead on the spot.
Regina looked down at him. "I told you not to be so sure about me..."
.o.o.o.
Turk looked over his shoulder the moment he heard gunfire. Distracted, Xander leapt forward and tackled the maned wolf to the ground- causing his gun to go skidding across the floor of the walkway. The two men struggled for moment, until Turk kicked Xander away from him. He then got back onto his feet and rushed the gray wolf.
Xander caught hold of his wrists, but Turk still managed to push Xander up against the large section of pipe, right where the access hatch was located. With the wind knocked out of him, Turk struck Xander across the face and then reached over and pressed the button to open the hatch. The wolf almost fell through the gap, but caught himself on the edges just in time.
Turk grabbed hold of Xander and looked him in the eyes. "It's about time for you die... asshole!" He exclaimed as he tried to push him into the pipe. Xander then managed to knock him back a few feet, but Turk quickly charged him again. At the last moment, the wolf slid down under Turk's moving form and reached up- flipping him over him and into the pipe.
Xander stepped back and turned around in time to watch a massive jet-stream of fire shoot through the pipe. The wolf looked down at the pipe. "You first... asshole!" He remarked in a mocking tone. The wolf then turned around and picked up the discarded pistol before walking down the steps.
The wolf was certainly surprised when Regina ran up to him. "Oh god, Xander... You're okay..." She began, her eyes watering slightly as she held onto him.
Xander smiled down at her and gave her a quick kiss. "I'm not gotten rid of that easily." He said with a smile. He then looked over to where Logan's body was, then back to Regina. "You did what you to." He told her calmly, brushing her dark hair with his hand.
Regina nodded and started leading him back the way she'd come. "A hell of a lot's been going... Things have gotten pretty crazy." She began. "Deputy Orson- he was the informant... but he's dead now." She added grimly. "...And Mercer's here too."
Xander rushed over to the older man's side and looked at him. "Damn... You look like shit- what happened to you?"
Mercer looked at him, groaning slightly as he held his shoulder. "A parting gift from the late Deputy." He quipped. "He thought he killed me... He was gonna try kill Miss Al-Waqauri here next... but I killed the son of a bitch first!" He added.
Xander nodded and turned to Regina. "Quick, go take him to the infirmary... Doctor Vargas should be able to help." He instructed her, standing back up. He quickly check his gun, then turned around and headed down the corridor.
Regina looked at him. "W-wait, what about you- where are you going right now?" She exclaimed as she helped Mercer back onto his feet.
Xander paused and looked at her for a moment. "I've got a score to settle with an old friend." He replied simply as he made his way to the door.
.o.o.o.
The tough-looking Doorman spotted Xander and stepped in to block his path. Before he could put a hand on him, Xander hit him hard across the face with the butt of the gun. He then paused and looked down at the prone man. "Sorry, but I don't have time for this." He remarked as he made his way towards the observation platform.
Dillon had been watching the whole scene on a security feed. (By now, several people had taken notices of the commotion.) He drew his gun and started for the door- only to have it down on top of him when Xander burst into the first floor of the observation area. Xander kneeled down and punched him in the face. The wolf then stood up (tucking his gun into his belt) and turned to look at the elevator. He quickly made his way over to it...
...Rick turned around in time to see the elevator door slide open and Xander step out. "What the fuck are you doing he--" The coyote was abruptly cut off as Xander punched him square in the face. He staggered back, holding his now broken nose as blood oozed from it.
"Mother fucker!" He slurred through the blood. "You broke my fucking nose! Do you even know who you're screwing with?!" He exclaimed. "You won't get away with this, you--" Xander grabbed hold of him by the front of his jacket and headbutted him (resulting in a scream of pain from Rick), then let go him and shoved him up against the glass.
"You're finished Rick, you're whole goddamned operation is over!" Xander declared. "And one way or another, you're pay for Rex, Grace, and everyone else who you fucked over!" He added, advancing towards the injured coyote. Rick tried to draw a gun from out of his jacket, but Xander pulled his out and fired on Rick- hitting him five time and sending him crashing through the glass.
The entire casino was thrown in a panic as the bloody and beaten body of the Station Administrator, Rick Henderson, came crashing through the glass wall of the second level of the observation platform and hit the ground amidst a downpour of glass shards.
Xander throw his gun away and descended the stairs down the first level, where he then made his way out of the Casino amidst a crowd of onlookers.
Mercer arrived (now bandaged up), along with Ursa and Regina. As station security arrived, the battered Constable regarded the other wolf for a moment. "Well, it looks like it's all finally over now..." He commented, looking at Rick's body. "What about about you Xander, what are you gonna do now?" He asked with slightly smile.
Xander smiled and looked over at Regina and Ursa, then back at Mercer. "I don't know about you, but I've had enough of this place for a while..." He began, walking over to the two ladies and putting his arms around them. "Personally, I'm going on vacation."
_ The End...? _
.o.o.o.
And there you have it- the end of the story. Well, at least the end of this particular story. After all, there's a good chance you might see some of the characters again someday. Anyway, I just want to say thanks for reading this. I hope you enjoyed it.
-Seres North