May 21, 2032
The Crossroads, Freelands
The day of the standoff arrived and Billy was on the walkie-talkie making sure all the preparations were in order. A huge crowd was gathered behind him as well in front him in the other respawners' zones. His soldiers were hidden so well among them that even he didn't know who they were.
"Are the explosives all set?" "Yes, boss. They're all armed." "Everyone's in position?" "Yes, boss."
He clicked of the radio and a satisfied grin crept on his face. Everything was set.
He could already see it now. The explosions welcoming the new King of the West. King of the West, it had a nice ring to it.
Michael was standing at the front of the crowd with a machete hidden on him. He was terrified. He could feel his legs shaking and his palms were sweaty. His mind was stressed out from the anticipation of what was going to unfold. I'm gonna mess it up. I can't do it. Can't kill. Can't kill again.
"You ready?" said Billy approaching him. "You look you're gonna piss your pants at any moment."
"Oh yeah, I'm stoked," said Michael dryly. He wanted to punch the respawner in the face. "It's not like you're blackmailing me by keeping my friends hostage."
"Cut the sarcasm, partner," said Billy having to speak loudly among the noise as one of the other respawners took his place at the crossroads. "There's no need to be nervous. You've already killed and trust me, kid, you're in it now. Now stay alert, I'm countin' on you and so are your friends."
With that, he made his forward through the crowd and to his place in the standoff. What the respawner had said didn't make Michael feel better in the least. He was about to kill three people. Evil men they were but still. Killing was wrong.
The last respawner, Apache Kid, arrived at the standoff and the noises in the crowd slowly came to a hush.
Michael looked towards the clock tower of the church that was next to the standoff. There were only two minutes left until showdown… To him it felt like an eternity.
"I have a strong feeling that I'm gonna win today fellas," said Billy holding his head high.
"That is what you said last time," said Apache Kid grinning. "We all know what happened then."
"Yeah, he got his ass handed back to him."
"True, fellas. But today I just know I'm gonna win," remarked Billy again. A huge smile on his face.
"Oh, we'll see."
They waited until the clock bell finally began to ring. Michael's beating heart froze as he heard it.
One… two… three…
Each ring felt as if the clock bell was stricking against his heart. He breathed heavily. Nine… Ten… Eleven…
Twelve…
Michael's vision blurred. The war had begun
Billy took out his revolvers and aimed at the respawners' limbs instead of their heads. Bam. Bam. Bam. They were all on the floor writhing in pain. This was to make it easier for Michael to kill them. He heard roars from his army as they surged forward in attack. The sound brought music to his ears and he yeehawed along with their battle cries.
Michael's vision cleared and he rushed forward. He was in a panic and had no idea what he was doing. He unsheathed the machete that had been given to him and rushed forwards.
The sounds of gunfire, the war screams and the death cries of the people instilled even more fear inside him. His body was trembling and his teeth were clenched. He could barely hold onto the weapon in his hand.
Billy turned around trying to spot Michael but could not see him among the uproar. That's when a bullet hit him in the head and he respawned back in the same spot.
Apache Kid who was lying injured on the floor had a revolver aimed at him. "You're breaking the truce Billy!"
Billy smiled. "Are those going to be your last words?"
The respawners' armies had recovered from the shock and were battling Billy's armies who were being pushed back. Billy's Enforcers with their augmented horses were giving them a hard time but were being pushed back. Billy was shot multiple times and he respawned
around trying to find Michael. The other respawners too kept getting killed and respawned and their red lightning flashed along the warzone creating an awesomely horrifying spectacle.
Michael was pinned down by one of the opposition cowboys who was trying to stab him with a knife. Michael had his hands up doing everything he could to prevent the weapon from piercing him. He knew he could not die yet the idea of it still made him act as if he was fighting for his life.
His struggle failed and the knife was brought down hard onto his heart. He lay there writhing until he finally respawned.
Billy spotted the blue lightning streak. He grabbed one of the opposition cowboy's hand who still had his revolver in his hand. He directed the hand at his own head and the cowboy instinctively fired. He respawned where the blue lightning was and found Michael on the ground who looked at the respawner in bewilderment.
"You aren't even close to the action!" raged Billy grabbing Michael by the collar and shoving him towards the standoff. He shot at the opposition cowboys with the other hand as he did so.
"I can't do it," said Michael in a quivering voice.
"Then I'll kill your friends," said Billy as he pumped bullets into the heads of enemies. "Just like that."
Michael stared at the enemies whose brains and blood splattered across the dusty desert floors. No, he could not let that happen to them.
Billy saw the realization cross Michael's face and he pointed at the area of the standoff. The respawners were still standing there since that was the closest they could get to the battle. "They're right there. You can easily nail them. I'll help you."