The night was brief and pleasant, and the day passed by in a blur on the train, with the scenery forever flowing by.

It certainly was a fascinating way to travel.

Look out the window one minute, and you saw endless forest. Look out another minute, and you saw a lake or several ponds. Look out again, and it was rolling plains or even some farm fields.

They had done in hours what would have taken me weeks.

The wave of the future. I thought, enjoying my lunch in the dining car as the scenery continued to fly on by. Or it would’ve been, if the wild frontier and the Shattering hadn’t stopped it all cold. Both out here and pretty much everywhere else. Now the world is as screwed up as the worst drug induced nightmare I’ve ever heard of.

I thought back to Halona, and some of the other crazy beings I’d met, and sights I’d seen, and chuckled to myself as I enjoyed my delicious omelet. It sure as shit ain’t boring though!

“Pardon me sir,” a conductor came up to me. “But we’ll be stopping in the local town of Bakers Acres to resupply and refuel. We ask that everyone simply stay on the train as we do.”

“Is there trouble?” I asked, curious and instantly wary.

“There shouldn’t be, but we are simply being cautious.” The conductor explained. “This town is one of the towns that was recently destroyed and abandoned. The train station is still in good repair, with the supplies we need for the train, so we are stopping there, getting the supplies we need, and continuing on. It should be a quick stop over.”

“Is anyone looking into what’s going on with these destroyed towns?” I asked, feeling slightly apprehensive despite the conductors assurances.

“I understand that several Federal Marshals and Army Investigative units have been dispatched. All heavily armed and supplied.” The Conductor shrugged. “It’s just a big area of an issue to look into.”

“So it is.” I replied, thinking for a moment before I looked back to him. “After this, how long to New York?”

“After this stop, we should arrive at New York’s Grand Union Station in about a day and half.” He replied immediately.

I blinked at the sheer amount of speed and ground we had covered, and then chuckled a little bit. A brave new world indeed! I thought as I nodded to him in thanks.

He nodded back and then turned to head through more train cars to speak with the other passengers.

I found myself uneasy about us pulling into a town hammered so bad that it was abandoned. Especially one that should’ve been prosperous, connected to the railroad and deep in so called civilized Union territory. I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach that something foul had taken up residence in the town, and we were steaming right into its territory.

I quickly finished my breakfast, and then got up and headed to my room.

Once there I put on my belts with my pistols, sword and knife, then got my rifle loaded and ready. I debated my obvious paranoia for a moment, before shrugging and getting my bandolier out of my saddle bag. I hadn’t had much use for the thing, thankfully, but now I wanted every advantage.

So I took the time to load every single sheath with a bullet, belted it on, and then put on my new duster coat. Satisfied I was ready as I was going to get, I then turned and headed back towards where Halona’s train car was at. I wanted her ready as well.

I headed through several cars to reach hers.

In my mind I was already running through possibilities of what had happened, but most would require more time than a quick train stop and resupply to really cause us any trouble. Furwraiths were typically pretty damn rare, so I doubted it would be those nightmares again. Giants could be it, however they were generally hard to miss, and easy to describe.

We’re being attacked by a giant human! I chuckled darkly as I walked with focused determination. Yeah, anyone would know a giant when they saw one.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw several other passengers do double takes when they saw me. Many of them who had been milling around quickly got out of my way as I passed by them. I nodded to them in thanks as I kept going, hoping the feeling in my guts was just me being paranoid.

It had happened before.

However, the reverse of that was also true. I’d been right before as well, many times, when I wished I hadn’t been.

Finally, I reached the door to Halona’s modified cattle car, and after knocking, I walked in.

I blinked in surprise, then sighed in annoyance as I saw Lillianne Lancaster sitting in the easy chair they’d set up in the large car, across from Halona.

Of course she’s here. I sighed as I focused on Halona, who looked as surprised as Lillianne by my entrance.

“Is there something wrong?” She asked, looking concerned. “You are ready for battle. Even more ready than when you fought the Furwraiths.”

“I’m simply being a bit paranoid.” I replied, trying to calm everyone down with a shrug. “It’s probably nothing. But on the off chance it’s not, I want to be ready. That includes you as well.”

“Are you expecting some kind of trouble?” Lillianne asked, her reporter mask slipping away, being replaced with the tough, unyielding woman who’d faced down giants. I sometimes forgot that fact about her, in my anger over the whole phony hero dreck she’d dumped on me.

“Hopefully not,” I replied, shoving my distaste of her aside and focusing on being a professional. “This town was wrecked, its inhabitants mostly killed. The rest fled, and its been abandoned. I gather the train is going through here because it simply has no choice but to do so. On the off chance that whatever wrecked this place is still lingering, I want to be ready. That’s all.”

“Wise.” Halona said, standing up and going over to a coat rack that held her own weapons belts.

“I agree.” Lillianne said, putting away her note book and standing up. “They did tell us to simply remain on the train, and that this would be over quickly.”

“I certainly hope that’s the case.” I replied with a shrug. “I am really hoping that all that happens is that I got all dressed up for nothing. That would be a very happy outcome. I have no great sense like some men I’ve known, or one that is popular in stories about approaching danger. I’m simply being paranoid and planning accordingly. Perhaps it’s all just a waste of time in the end. So what?”

“So what indeed.” Lillianne answered back with a rueful smile. “Let us hope that it is just paranoia. If it’s not, well, at least we’ll be armed. Excuse me.”

I nodded and moved aside as she quickly left the train car.

“Where is she going?” Halona asked, clomping over to me with her own weapons now strapped to her human waist.

“If I recall correctly, she was good with a rifle, but damn fine with a pistol.” I answered as I looked her over, making sure her new gun belts, which also doubled as bandoliers full of ammunition as well, were belted correctly. “I would imagine that she is going to her room to change into something more sensible for moving around in a hurry in, and to retrieve her own weapon, or weapons. Just in case.”

“I did not know so many Unioners were so heavily armed.” Halona chuckled. “Or that your women were allowed to own weapons as well.”

“Our Constitution, upon which all our laws are based, expressly gave citizens of the Union the right to be as heavily armed as they pleased. I once met a couple of fellas during the war that owned and operated full on battleships off the coasts.”

“Truly?” She asked, stunned, but also fascinated.

“Truly.” I replied with a shrug. “As I understand it, they sold the services of their ships as mercenary escorts for trade vessels.”

“Why allow, even encourage, your population to be so heavily armed?” She asked, a bit confused. “Battle is mostly reserved for the warriors. Why arm everyone else?”

“To keep powerful people, and other governments and tribes at bay and peaceful with us.” I answered with a chuckle. “To best ensure our self defense, no matter what, for in this life, you are always responsible for yourself and your own safety. And most important of all; to keep our government and its leaders honest and obedient to us, the people of this nation.”

“You fear your own leaders?” She asked, confused and a little surprised by the concept. Or at least, upon brief reflection, our answer to such a fear.

“All governments, throughout all of human history, whether they be tribes, clans, city-states, or full on nations, all have turned against their own people. All of them, and they became terrible tyrannical states at one point or another in their history.” I told her soberly, thinking back to my expensive education and later personal hobby on the subject of human history. “There are no exceptions. Human nature is a dark and twisted thing, and does not change. All that keeps leaders of any caliber in check, doing only what they are supposed to be doing, is an armed and invested population.”

“Is that not dangerous on a local level for the population?” She asked as she adjusted her pistols, pulling them out and carefully aiming them before putting them back, only to repeat the process several times.

“If everyone you meet is armed, including you yourself, then it behooves you, and everyone else, to be most courteous and polite to one another.” I told her, chuckling as she strapped her pistols back into place. “Hence why no one much cares if you are armed or not, since they all are as well, or most of them, and no one really cares.”

“Truly fascinating.” She replied, smiling. “I think I like it. And I think I want to learn more about your union.”

“You are free to do so at your leisure.” I told her with a smile and nod. “Which this is not. When we pull into that station, simply be ready in case things go wrong. That is all. For the time being.”

“Understood, Master Ranger.” She replied with a wink, and a slight bow.

I just sighed, and turned to leave. I was going to a dining car, one with lots of windows, where I would take up a seat, order some coffee, and watch.

“I rather like Ms. Lancaster.” She said as I headed to the door.

“That’s the first mistake.” I told her as I opened the door.

“And the second?” She asked, looking suddenly amused about something.

“Talking to her.” I replied, and stepped out.

The door shut on what I would swear was a laugh, but I decided it was best not to dwell on what the wily, mischievous horse woman found so funny.

After that, I walked down into one of the nice dining cars, found a spot I liked, order some coffee and a new luxury I was now becoming familiar with; ice water.

Actual ice, on order for any drink, on a moving train. The world was indeed strange and crazy, and often a cruel and terrible place, but there were certainly some bright spots to it.

After a little while a conductor came by and asked me about my heavily armed attire, and I told him the same thing I’d told the girls; I was being paranoid and prepared should anything bad happen. Otherwise, I’d just sit here and enjoy some beverages.

He thanked me and walked off after that.

A few minutes later, we finally pulled into the station, stopped, and the crew got to work.

Best I could tell from my vantage, they worked quickly and efficiently, from the many conductors to the engineers and train hands. They set about filling the boiler with water, getting well preserved food stuffs to replenish the kitchen, walking along and inspecting the connections, wheels and gear. I think they were even preparing to switch to a new coal car at the front of the train, as soon as the boiler was refilled on the actual train.

Seems I was just being paranoid. I thought, breathing a sigh of relief. If so, since we’re not of the woods yet, but if so, thank God!

Of course God had other plans it turned out. As usual.

A surprisingly short conductor suddenly entered the dining car and hurriedly approached me, looking nervous.

Oh no. I inwardly groaned as he headed straight for me. What now? And why me?! Though I can probably guess on that last one, damn it!

Sure enough, he came up to my table and stopped right in front of me for moment, looking momentarily lost on how to proceed. Taking a look at him, I saw that he was in fact quite young for a conductor, so he probably was used to dealing with simple jobs. The fact that he was here, now, while looking very out of his depth, told me a lot.

If he’s older than twelve, I’m a damn beastkin! I thought as I put on a slightly curious face, even as I felt a sinking sensation in my stomach; the one I only really got right before someone asked me for help. Namely, to go face down some horrible villain and his goons, or to take on some horrific monster.

I had really started to hate helping people of late.

“We were wondering if we could ask for you help, Mister Ranger.” The young man half asked, half stated, looking at with a blend of fear, awe, and a lot of hope.

Yep. I thought darkly as I finished my coffee with a sigh. There it is!

“Help with what, young conductor?” I asked carefully, wanting to get a full sense of the situation. “I know nothing of trains, or how they work besides the obvious.”

“It’s not that!” He hastened to assure me, looking both apprehensive and eager. “There’s something wrong with the tracks that lead through the town. It’s like there’s something that’s grown up around them, or through them.”

I blinked, keeping my surprise and confusion off my face. That’s a new one. Mutant plants?

As quickly as the thought came, I dismissed it. I’d heard of some really horrific fights with mutant carnivorous plants from other towns and large plantations in the Frontier. But at the end of the day, simply torching them, or blowing them up had always seemed to work just fine.

This town could easily have done much the same. So….something that looks like a plant? I sighed as I eyed the nervous boy, who looked like he wanted to shift his weight, tap his foot, or something. This wasn’t going to end well. I just knew it.

God laugh at me for being a damn soft hearted idiot! I cursed to myself as I stood up.

“Well, I don’t promise anything, young conductor.” I stated calmly as I gathered up my hat, coat and rifle. “But let’s go take a look, shall we?”