A Town Called Mercy

Schnee Mansion…

"I haven't been gone that long, Master Whitley. I believe I can find it." Klein said, entering the mansion.

"You called Klein?" Weiss asked.

"That girl needs a doctor. I didn't do it for you." Whitley said.

"I know. That's why it means so much to me." Weiss said, hugging Whitley, who, after some hesitation, hugs her back. "Did you call anyone else?"

Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Jared run out to see Penny, covered with neon green goop lying in front of the doors.

"I'm…I'm sorry." Penny said, collapsing to the ground.

Jared Shay, Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, and Blake Belladonna looked down at the injured Penny Polendina.

"I don't know how to take care of Penny. I was scared to have lost her again." Jared said, sadly. "Like, I don't know what to do now."

Jared then started to hear the TARDIS materialize and he didn't know what to do during this point in time.

(Jared's POV)

Mercy…

The Old West of the USA. The Doctor and I stand just outside the entrance to Main Street, in front of a wooden frame with a cattle skull on it, a Keep Out sign and the residents count recently changed from 80 to 81.

"Mercy. Eighty one residents." I said, holding Ruby's hand.

The Doctor and I are not alone and we have the Ponds, Ruby, Weiss, and Blake with us.

"Look at this." Ruby said, sadly. "It looks like a lot of stones and lumps of wood. What is it?"

"A lot of stones and lumps of wood." Blake said.

The Gunslinger is watching from a distance.

"The sign does say Keep Out." Weiss said.

"I see Keep Out signs as suggestions more than actual orders, like Dry Clean only." The Doctor said.

They step over the load of stones and lumps of wood that circle the town and head down the street, towards the Grand Central Bank.

"It's like doing missions we're not supposed to." I said, squeezing Ruby's hand. "On a status board or something like that."

The residents watch silently. An electric street lamp outside the Post Office sparks.

"That's not right." The Doctor said, scanning the street lamp.

"It's a street lamp." Weiss said.

"An electric street lamp about ten years too early." The Doctor said, looking at Weiss.

"It's only a few years out." Rory said.

"That's what you said when you left your phone charger in Henry the Eighth's en-suite."

"Doctor, Jared, er…" Amy said.

"Anachronistic electricity, Keep Out signs, aggressive stares. Has someone been peeking at my Christmas list?" The Doctor asked.

"Doctor." Amy said.

The Doctor starts chewing on a toothpick and walks on.

Saloon…

The piano playing and the conversations stop dead when me, the Doctor, the Ponds, Ruby, Weiss, and Blake walk in.

The Doctor goes to the bar, "Tea. But the strong stuff. Leave the bag in."

"What're you doing here, son?" Sadie asked.

"Son? You can stay." The Doctor said.

"This is not gonna end well." I said, letting out a sigh.

An African American in a natty black suit speaks.

"Sir, might I enquire who you is?" The preacher asked.

"Of course. I'm the Doctor. This is…" The Doctor said, while everyone stands up. "No need to stand. You see that? Manners. Oh, thank you." A man in a top hat starts measuring the Doctor. "But I don't need a new suit."

"I'm the undertaker, sir." Abraham said.

A younger man in a brown suit and bowler hat steps forward.

"I don't like this." Weiss said, looking at me. "It looks like the Old West films you showed us."

"I got a question. Is you an alien?" Walter asked.

"Well, er, bit personal. It's all relative, isn't it? I mean, I think you're the aliens, but in this context, yes. Yes, I suppose I am." The Doctor said.

Mercy…

The Doctor is hoisted up and carried out shoulder high, "Guys!"

Amy, Rory, Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and I are dragged along too.

"Doctor! Put him down!" I said, angrily.

"Don't think we won't kill you." Sadie said, looking at me.

"Leave him alone! Don't bother him! He's under enough shit already!"

"Jared, everything is completely under control. Guys, guys, guys." The Doctor said.

They throw the Doctor out of town.

"Did they just…" Blake said.

Literally.

"Yeah…" Weiss said, frowning.

"Ow." The Doctor said, and when he turns around, they all point their revolvers at him.

"What is that?" Ruby asked.

The Gunslinger suddenly appears in the distance.

"He's coming. Oh God, he's coming." The preacher said.

"Preacher, say something." Walter said.

"Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." The preacher said, while the Doctor turned around to see the Cyborg approaching by dimension jumps. He is scared. "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done."

A mustachioed man fires a shot in the air.

"Now that's what I call a leader." I said, grabbing Ruby's hand. "Does he beat you and Jaune? No way. But he's on the level of Clover."

"You, bow tie. Get back across that line." Issac said, pulling back his coat to reveal a six pointed metal star with the word Marshal on it. "Now."

The Doctor steps over the rocks and wood, and the Cyborg stops then vanishes.

"Isaac, he said he was a doctor. An alien doctor." Walter said.

"That a reason to hand him to his death?" Issac asked.

"Isaac, it could be him."

"You know it ain't." Issac said, walking back down the street, nodding to Amy and Weiss. "Ladies."

"Just letting him go like that? Be seeing you, boy."

Marshal's Office…

"What's going on?" Ruby asked.

"The Gunslinger. Showed up three weeks back. We've been prisoners ever since. See that border line stretching round the town? Woke up one morning, there it was. Nothing gets past it, in or out. No supply wagons, no reinforcements. Pretty soon the whole town's going to starve to death." Issac said.

"But you let us in." Rory said.

"You ain't carrying any food. Just seven more mouths to feed. We'll all die even sooner now."

"What happens if someone crosses the line?" The Doctor asked, while Isaac threw him a Stetson with a neat hole in it. "Ah, well, he wasn't a very good shot, then."

"I think he was aiming for the hat." Blake said, looking at the hat.

"He shoots people's hats?" Ruby asked.

"It was a warning shot." Weiss said.

"Oh yeah, I forgot about this adventure. A Town Called Mercy. Finally, an Old West adventure." I said, laughing a lot. "Hmm, but why did it take that long for me to get to this adventure?"

"What does he want? Has he issued some kind of demand?" Amy asked.

"Says he wants us to give him the alien doctor." Issac said.

"But that's you. Why would he want to kill you? Unless he's met you." Amy said, looking at the Doctor.

"And how could he know that we'd be here?" Rory asked. "We didn't even know we'd be here."

"We were aiming for Mexico. The Doctor and Jared were taking us to see the Day of the Dead Festival." Amy said, looking at the three Huntresses. "Jared also wanted to take his mind along with Ruby's, Weiss', and Blake's off of worrying about the Grimm, the crater, Nora, and Penny for now."

"Mexico's two hundred miles due south." Issac said.

"Well, that's what happens when people get toast and chocolate chip cookie crumbs on the console. Anyway, I think it's about time I met him, don't you?" The Doctor asked.

"Who?"

"The chap outside said I could be the alien doctor, but you said I wasn't, so you already know who it is. Two alien doctors. We're like buses. Resident eighty one, I presume, so beloved by the townsfolk he warranted an alteration to the sign. Probably because he rigged up these electrics, and I'm guessing he's in here, because if half the town suddenly wanted to throw me to my death, this is where I'd want to be." The Doctor said.

"I don't know what you…" Issac said.

The man in the cell throws back his blanket.

"Talk about an epic reveal." Blake said.

The man has a curved mark down the left side of his face, similar but not the same as Mas had.

"Yeah…" I said, looking at Blake. "I've been to the 50s with Sarah Jane, the 80s with Big Ears, Arkos, and Rose Tyler, and now the Old West with you guys. All I'm missing is visiting 2015. And then I would have all the eras of Back to the Future covered."

"Isaac, I think the time for subterfuge has passed. Good afternoon. My name is Kahler-Jex. I'm the doctor." Jex said.

The Gunslinger watches the town from a distant ridge.

"The Kahler. I love the Kahler. They're one of the most ingenious races in the galaxy. Seriously, they could build a spaceship out of Tupperware and moss." The Doctor said.

"All right. How did you get here?" Amy asked.

"My craft crashed about a mile or so out of town. I would have died if Isaac and the others hadn't pulled me from the wreckage." Jex said.

"And you stayed, as their doctor." The Doctor said.

"On my world, I was a surgeon, so it seemed logical. And it gave me an opportunity to repay my debt to them."

"Listen to him. Talking like it was nothing. Tell them about the cholera." Issac said.

"Now, Isaac, I'm sure our guests are…" Jex said.

"Two years after he arrived, there was an outbreak of cholera. Thanks to the doc here, not a single person died."

"A minor infection we'd found a treatment for centuries ago."

"No, no, what, what do you call them? The electrics?"

"Using my ship as a generator, I was able to rig up some rudimentary heating and lighting for the town."

"So why does the Gunslinger want you?" Ruby asked.

"It don't matter." Issac said.

"I'm just saying, if we knew that…"

"America's the land of second chances. We called this town Mercy for a reason. Others, some round here, don't feel that way."

"Now, Isaac, we've discussed this." Jex said.

"People whose lives you've saved are suddenly saying we should hand you over." Issac said.

"They're scared, that's all. You can hardly blame them."

"Them being scared scares me. War only ended five years back. That old violence is still under the surface. We give up Doc Jex, then we hand the keys of the town over to chaos."

"Have you tried repairing your ship? Surely you can…" I said, looking at Jex.

"It really was very badly damaged." Jex said.

"So, we can evacuate the town. Simple as that. Our ship is over the hill. There's room for everyone. The Doctor, Ruby, and I can leave for a bit. Then bring the ship back here." I said, happily.

"Really? It's that simple? After sending that message out to Remnant and here. No crazy schemes and no negotiations?" Amy asked.

"I've matured a little bit since then. We're lucky that we were able to send out that message. And that Klein is taking care of Nora and Penny. Plus, we have to get back to them after all this."

"Don't you want to know what's going on? See what's changed with us being here?" Ruby asked.

"No, of course not. It's just a mysterious space cowboy assassin. Why would I want to investigate that? Little Red." I said, looking at Ruby.

"Son? You've still got to get past the Gunslinger. How you going to do that?" Issac asked.

"With a bit of help. Raggedy Man, Little Red. I have a plan." I said, while the Doctor puts on the Stetson.

"Does it involve a little sleight of hand?" The Doctor asked.

(Open POV)

Desert…

Isaac and Rory run across the parched waste.

"You okay?" Issac asked.

"I'm fine, yes." Rory said.

"Keep moving. Next time, you get to wear Jex's clothes."

The Gunslinger spots them, but his computer tells him there is an 87% chance of injury to innocent, disengage, so he does.

Mercy…

"Can I borrow your horse, please? It's official Marshal business." The Doctor said.

"He's called Joshua. It's from the Bible. It means the Deliverer." The preacher said.

"No, he isn't. I speak horse. He's called Susan, and he wants you to respect his life choices."

Jared took out his electric scooter and placed it on the ground. He pressed a button on it for another handlebar to come out of it. Ruby got onto the back of the electric scooter and Jared went to the front of it. The Doctor galloped and Jared drove out of town.

Cliff face…

Isaac is leading Rory in front of a cliff when the rock explodes between them.

"Er, I think he's seen us." Rory said.

"This way." Issac said.

Marshal's Office…

"When this is all done. Us helping with the Gunslinger. Do you want us to take you home?" Blake asked.

"Thank you, but I've already given everything I have to the Kahler. My skills, energy, all that was good in me. Here, I could start afresh. I could remember myself and help people. That's all I ever wanted to do, end suffering." Jex said.

"Here." Amy said, putting Isaac's coat over Jex's shoulders.

"That's nice. Keeping him warm." Weiss said, smiling.

"You're a mother, aren't you." Jex said, looking at Amy.

"How did you know?" Amy asked.

"There's kindness in your eyes. And sadness, but a ferocity too."

"Life's not exactly straight forward."

"It seldom is."

"What about you? Are you a father?" Weiss asked.

"Yes. In a way, I suppose I am." Jex said.

Ridge…

"So, we're waiting till the Doctor and Jared come to pick us up in your ship." Issac said.

"Yes, I know. I was there when we agreed it." Rory said.

"Yeah, I said that more for my benefit than yours."

Desert…

The Doctor is galloping and Jared is driving down the road with Ruby down when they slow up.

"Sorry, you guys. I know we're in a hurry." Jared said, putting the kickstand up on the electric scooter. "We have to check something out. Give us two minutes. Come on, Spaceman!"

The Doctor dismounts.

"There's something niggling us." The Doctor said.

"Maybe it can be important." Ruby said, using her Semblance to catch up to the Doctor and Jared.

"Yes, yes, it could be important." The Doctor said, looking back at Ruby.

"Don't swear, Susan!" Jared said, angrily.

Jared rummages in the dust and finds the shiny power cable that connects Jex's ship to the town.

"Where does that lead?" Ruby asked.

Jex notices the light in the office flickering.

"I don't know, Little Red." Jared said, running back to the electric scooter. "We have to find the source."

The Doctor and Jared ride on with Ruby until they reach the source of the power covered in a tarpaulin.

"Right." Ruby said, sadly.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Yes, I wear a Stetson now." The Doctor said.

The Doctor uncovers the gleaming white egg-shaped object.

"Where's the damage?" Ruby asked. "Jex said that his spaceship was a wreck."

"Yes, a good point, Ruby. Where is the damage?" The Doctor asked.

The Gunslinger stands on the ridge above Isaac and Rory. Target located. Terminate. Meanwhile, the Doctor and Jared are trying to get into Jex's ship. His sonic screwdriver sets off an alarm then a hatch opens. The Gunslinger hears it. Kahler Alarm Detected. It powers down its gun and goes to investigate.

Mercy…

"What are they doing?" Weiss asked.

The alarm can even be heard in town.

"I don't know." Blake said, her hands over her car ears. "The noise is too loud for my ears."

"That's the alarm on my ship." Jex said.

"Maybe the Doctor and Jared want to get it working again?" Weiss asked.

"But that wasn't the plan. They're not following the plan." Jex said.

"Welcome to our world. Why isn't Ruby stopping Jared?" Amy asked.

Jex's spaceship…

The Doctor drops straight down into the pilot seat. Jared dropped straight down to be on top of the Doctor.

"Security breach. You have ten seconds to enter the pass code." The computer said, while the hatch closes and the Doctor starts waving the sonic screwdriver around. "Or this vehicle will self-destruct. Thank you for choosing Abarakas Security software. Incinerating intruders for three centuries. Nine, eight, seven. Self-destruct overridden."

"There's a lot of security for a small spaceship." Jared said, frowning.

"Awaiting command." The computer said.

"How about you tell us everything about the Gunslinger?"

"File not found. Please choose from Technical Specifications, Flight Recorder, Personal Files, Maps and Charts."

"Personal files of Doctor Kahler-Jex." The Doctor said.

Experimental Cyborg Program Military Science Unit.

"Names of deceased subjects can be found on the drop down menu." Jex said, his voice over the speaker.

We hear the screams of the subjects but only see scrolling text reflected on the Doctor and Jared's faces.

Marshal's Office…

Amy, Weiss, and Blake enter to discover Jex pointing a revolver at the Schnee's head.

"I'm sorry, girls. They really should have followed the plan." Jex said.

Desert…

The Doctor and Jared pop out of the spaceship to find the Gunslinger is pointing his gun at Ruby Rose. They duck back inside briefly then out again.

"Don't shoot! Seriously, don't shoot my Little Red! We know who you are. And who Jex is too." Jared said, and the Gunslinger powers down his weapon. "We don't know why you haven't walked into town to kill him."

"People will get in the way." The Gunslinger said.

"You want justice, you deserve justice. It will be swift, painful, and delicious. This isn't the right way. We can put Kahler Jex on trial..."

"When he starts killing your people, you can use your justice."

Marshal's Office…

"Isaac says he doesn't care about my past, but things may have been uncovered that even he might struggle to forgive, so it's best we beat a hasty retreat." Jex said.

"We? We're coming with you?" Weiss asked.

"It's unlikely the Gunslinger will shoot if I'm with the three of you. As far as I can tell, he's programmed to take innocent lives only if absolutely necessary." Jex said.

"Oh, well, colour me reassured." Amy said, angrily.

Jex opens the door and gets a gun in the back of his neck.

"Doc? What are you doing?" Issac asked.

Desert…

"No more warning shots. I'll kill the next person to step over that line. Make sure it's Jex." The Gunslinger said.

(Jared's POV)

Marshal's Office…

"It was stupid of me, I realise that now. I just thought I'd put you all in enough danger. Perhaps if I left…" Jex said.

The Doctor enters with Ruby and I.

"The fuck? You're lying, Kahler Jex. Every single word he is saying are lies. This man right here is a murderer!" I said, walking up to Jex.

"I am a scientist." Jex said, looking at me.

"Yeah, right. Just sit down. And tell them what you are!"

"What am I? A war hero."

"Can someone tell us what's going on?" Blake asked.

"Um, the Gunslinger is a Cyborg." Ruby said, sadly.

"A what?" Issac asked.

"He's half man. And half machine. He's a weapon." Weiss said, looking at Issac. "I think Jex built him. By looking at how Jared is reacting."

"You're not wrong there, Ice Queen. Jex and his team took volunteers. It's like what General Ironwood is doing, but worse. Jex and his team took in volunteers. They told the volunteers they'd been selected for special training. Not like Huntsmen or as Huntresses but as murderers." I said, looking at Ruby, Weiss, and Blake. "The volunteers' bodies were fused with weapons and programmed to kill. Basically they became the equivalent of Grimm."

"Okay. Why? Why would you do that, Doc?" Issac asked, looking at Jex.

"We'd been at war for nine years. A war that had already decimated half of our planet. Our task was to bring peace, and we did. We built an army that routed the enemy and ended the war in less than a week. Do you want me to repent, to beg forgiveness for saving millions of lives?" Jex asked.

"So, how many people died screaming on your operating table before you found the advantage?"

"War is another world. You cannot apply the politics of peace to what I did. To what any of us did." Jex said.

"What happened then? How come you're here?" Rory asked.

"When the war ended we had the Cyborgs decommissioned, but one of them must have got its circuitry damaged in battle. It went offline and began hunting down the team that created it until just two of us were left. We fled, and our ships crashed here."

"So, what do we do with Jex?" Blake asked.

"What do we do with him?" Issac asked.

"Yeah. I mean, he's a war criminal."

"No, he's the guy that saved the town from cholera, the guy that gave us heat and light."

"Look, Jex may be a criminal and yeah, kind of creepy…" Amy said.

"...and still in the room." Jex said.

"But I think we should put aside what he did and find another solution."

"Another solution? It's him or us." Rory said.

"When did we start letting people get executed? Um, did I miss something? Doctor, Jared, tell him." Ruby said, looking between the Doctor and I.

"Yeah. I don't know. Whatever Amy and Ruby said." I said, crossing my arms.

"Looking at you, Doctor, Jared, is like looking into a mirror, almost. There's rage there, like me. Guilt, like me. Solitude. Everything but the nerve to do what needs to be done. Thank the gods my people weren't relying on the both of you to save them." Jex said, looking between the Doctor and I.

"Oh, fuck no! These people are relying on you, Jex! Get the hell out of this place!" I said, with me and the Doctor pushing Jex out of the room.

Rory, Blake, and Yang stop Amy and Ruby at the door.

"Oh, you're really letting them do this?" Amy asked.

"Ruby, after everything we've been through." Weiss said.

"We agreed to help you get the message out." Blake said.

"But what about this?" Ruby asked.

"Save us all? Yeah, we really are." Rory said.

Mercy…

"No!" Jex said.

The Doctor and I push Jex along the street.

"Get the hell across that border." I said, looking down at the floor.

The townsfolk follow Isaac to see the Doctor and I push Jex over the boundary.

"Go over that border. And don't come back!" I said, angrily. "I don't want you here, okay?"

I took a gun from a man's holster and pointed it at Jex as he tried to return.

"You wouldn't." Jex said.

"I don't know at this point. After what happened with Penny and Nora." I said, frowning.

"Jared. Jared." Issac said.

Ruby took out Crescent Rose and put it into scythe form and she fired a bullet into the air, "Please. Um, let him come back, Jared."

"Or what? You won't shoot me, Ruby." I said, looking at Ruby.

"How do you know that? Maybe we've all changed since we have to do something impossible." Weiss said, aiming her Myrtenaster at me. "Which was evacuating Mantle and getting Amity up and running. I mean, you've been doing stupid stuff away from us."

"So?" I asked, looking at Weiss.

"This isn't you." Blake said, holdin her Gambol Shroud out towards me.

So Isaac fires to get everyone's attention.

"Everyone who isn't an American, drop your gun." Issac said.

"Ruby, Weiss, Blake, we can end this right now. We can save everyone. This is more possible than what we have to do back at Remnant!" I said, happily.

"Jared, this, this isn't how we do things. And you know it. What happened to you? When did you become General Ironwood?" Ruby asked. "When did killing someone become an option?"

"Jex has to answer for his crimes."

"And then what are you gonna do afterwards? Are you gonna hunt down everyone who we've encountered? During our travels of trying to save Remnant? Weiss asked.

"But they kept coming back, don't you see? Every time I do things Ruby's way, I try to understand them. Not today, girls. Today, I honor the victims who suffered from people like Salem and General Ironwood. His, Cinder Fall, Roman Torchwick, all the people who died like Penny and Pyrrha because of my mercy!" I said, angrily.

"Don't you see what happened to you? This is what happens when you try to become like General Ironwood. Listen to us. To me, Ruby, and Weiss. We can't be like them. Like Kahler Jex or General Ironwood. We have to be better than them." Blake said, sadly.

"Oh, girls. Fine. You're right. We'll think of something else. But I'm placing all of my bets on the Gunslinger." I said, giving my gun back and holding out my hand. "Jex, move over the line. Now."

Because the Gunslinger is right behind him. Jex turns around.

"Make peace with your gods." The Gunslinger said.

"Kahler-Tek, isn't it? I remember all your names, even now. I'll never hurt anyone again. I'm even helping people here." Jex said.

"Last chance. Make peace with your gods."

"No!" Issac said, pushing Jex out of the way and taking the Gunslinger's shot instead.

"Isaac. Isaac. Isaac. It's okay, it's okay. We can get you to Jex's surgery. He can save you." The Doctor said.

"It's okay, Issac." I said, smiling. "I know some Magical Girls that can save you too. Some of them are healers. We can get you to Kamihama City. It's in Japan."

Life Signs Deteriorating.

"Listen to me, Doctor. You and Jared have got to stay. The two of you have got to look after everyone." Issac said.

"Issac, it won't come to that. I have this friend named Iroha Tamaki. She can help you." I said, happily.

"Protect Jex. Protect my town. You're both good men. You two just forget it sometimes." Issac said, dying and handing on his Marshal's badge.

The Doctor stands up and pins it on his jacket.

"Take Jex to his cell. If anything happens to him, you'll have me to answer to." The Doctor said.

Jex is escorted away.

The Doctor speaks to the Gunslinger, "This has gone on long enough."

"You are right. You and Jared have got until noon tomorrow. Give him to me or I'll kill you all." The Gunslinger said, vanishing.

"Oh, my god. You're the Marshal." Amy said, looking at the Doctor.

"Yeah. And Jared's the Deputy. He has been through a lot recently. Going off of his outburst towards Jex. I want the burden to be lessened for him." The Doctor said.

Marshal's Office…

Night. Someone hammers on the door.

"Come in." I said, sipping on some bubble tea.

"Marshal. Deputy. Ladies. Fella. You need to come outside." The preacher said.

"Why, what's wrong?" The Doctor asked.

"Just come outside. And you should put that on."

The gun belt.

Outside the Marshal's Office…

The townsfolk have gathered.

"What's going on?" I asked, grabbing Ruby's hand.

"He in there? Leave the keys and take a walk. By the time you get back, this'll all be done." Walter said.

"The Doctor and I promised that we would protect Jex." I said, looking at Walter.

"Protecting him got Isaac dead. Tomorrow, it's going to be us all, dead."

"We thought Issac was right to fight, fighting to be a hero and a leader. But this is different now. We have to know that it's okay that we lost. And we need to give the Gunslinger what he wants." I said, smiling.

"What it wants is to kill our friend." Sadie said.

"We don't got any ill feeling towards the Doc. We just thinking about our families. Hand him over and we all safe again." Walter said.

"You know we can't do that." I said, looking at Walter.

"We got us a problem."

"Please don't do this."

"Why, reckon you're quicker than me?"

"Oh, hell no. But public executions? A town turning against itself? Me, Ruby, Weiss, and Blake are up against a threat at Remnant who's trying to turn us against each other. This is everything Issac didn't want." I said, grabbing Ruby's hand.

Walter draws his gun and cocks it.

"Um, how old are you?" Ruby asked.

"Nearly nineteen." Walter said.

Blake is slowly walking forward, "So, you're eighteen. You're too young to have fought in the Great War. I guess you haven't shot anyone."

"First time for everything."

"Even though this is how it all started. Jex turned someone into a weapon. That same story will turn you into a killer too." Weiss said.

"Don't you see? Violence isn't the answer to everything. It doesn't end it and it's not the answer to everything. It only extends it." Ruby said.

"I know you don't want to do this. I know you don't want to become like me, the Doctor, or Kahler Jex." I said, squeezing Ruby's hand.

"There's kids here." Walter said.

"I know. We can save those kids if you let us."

"He really worth the risk?"

"Kahler Jex? Or the Gunslinger? I don't know. But you are. Like how it is with Team RWBY." I said, smirking.

Walter lowers his gun and walks away. The crowd disperses.

"Frightened people. Give me a Dalek and Jared some Grimm any day." The Doctor said, looking at me.

Marshal's Office…

The Doctor removes the gun belt.

"Fresh coffee, Marshal, Deputy. For what it's worth, I know the two of you are going to save us. Doctor, Isaac made you Marshal, and you made Jared Deputy for a reason, and if both of you are good enough for him, you're good enough for me. Reckon you should know that." Abraham said.

"Thank you." The Doctor said.

"Thanks. We really appreciate it." I said, happily.

Abraham continues to take the Doctor's measurements.

"Oi. Get out of it." The Doctor said, angrily.

Abraham leaves.

"Let me guess. The good folk of Mercy wanted me to take a little stroll into the desert. You could turn a blind eye. No one would blame you and Jared. Both of you would be heroes." Jex said.

"We can't be heroes. I want to be an ally of justice. But not like this." I said, leaning against the wall. "Because then Issac's death would mean nothing."

"Jared's right, and he is a Huntsman. We don't want another casualty in your endless bloody war. Do you want me to hand you over? Is that what you want? Do you even know?" The Doctor asked.

"You think I'm unaffected by what I did? That I don't hear them screaming every time I close my eyes? It would be so much simpler if I was just one thing, wouldn't it? The mad scientist who made that killing machine, or the physician who's dedicated his life to serving this town. The fact that I'm both bewilders the two of you." Jex said, and he looked over at me. "And that's the main reason why you want to keep Ruby, Weiss, and Blake away from me. It's so they won't have to see you make another outburst. And see your guilt ridden face."

"Oh, we know exactly what you are, and we see this reformation for what it really is." The Doctor said.

"You committed an atrocity, something Ruby Rose, Hibiki Tachibana, and Sayaka Miki wouldn't approve of. I don't approve of it either. And you chose this as your punishment. I'm not lying when I'm saying that this is a good choice. Civilized hours, a lot of praise, nice weather. But justice doesn't work like that, y'know." I said, crossing my arms. "You don't get to decide when and how your debt is paid. I spent years with Team RWBY, Symphogear, and the Puella Magi Holy Quintet to know that."

"In my culture, we believe that when you die your spirit has to climb a mountain carrying the souls of everyone you wronged in your lifetime. Imagine the weight I will have to lift. The monsters I created, the people they killed. Isaac, he was my friend. Now his soul will be in my arms, too. Can you and the Doctor see now why I fear death? You two want to hand me over. There's no shame in that. But you won't. Neither of you would. We all carry our prisons with us. Mine is my past. Doctor, Jared, yours is your morality." Jex said.

"We all carry our prisons with us. Ha! Let's go, Jared." The Doctor said.

I walked out of the room with the Doctor.

(Open POV)

Chapel...

Getting close to high noon. Marshal Doctor and Deputy Jared are out on the street in front of the Bank. The townsfolk have gathered together to pray.

"Help me. Help me to…" The preacher said.

Inside the Marshal's office, Amy and Jex hear the whoosh of the Gunslinger dimension-shifting towards town. The clock strikes 12 as he steps across the barrier. When it finishes striking, the Gunslinger raises his weapon.

"Now!" Jared said, angrily.

The Doctor brandishes the sonic screwdriver, disrupting his systems and ruining his aim. Several windows and the Bank clock suffer as the Doctor and Jared run away.

Marshal's Office…

"Ready?" Amy asked, unlocking the cell.

Mercy…

"Ready?" Rory asked.

Rory and Walter have replicas of Jex's identifying mark on their faces. So do several other men. They run, confusing the Gunslinger. Error: Invalid Visual Match.

"Disengage. It's a trick." The Gunslinger said.

Chapel…

The Gunslinger stomps past.

"Save us, O Lord." The preacher said.

A little girl gets up and knocks over some hymnals. Ruby, Weiss, and Blake are protecting the people in the chapel, their weapons out.

"Oh no…" Ruby said, frowning.

The Gunslinger hears it and blasts his way in.

"What do we do?" Weiss asked.

The people start screaming.

"I hope Jared had a backup plan." Blake said.

Mercy…

Jex hesitates at the sound.

"For fuck's sake! Go! Just go! We can't save them while you're here." Jared said, looking at Jex.

The Gunslinger looks into the little girl's eyes, then at the faces of Ruby, Weiss, and Blake, and leaves the Chapel. Jex runs out of town and back to his little spaceship.

Jex's spaceship…

"Nine, eight, seven. Self destruct overridden." The computer said.

Mercy…

"Deactivate automatic targeting. Switch to manual." The Gunslinger said.

He locates the Doctor and Jared hiding around the corner of a building. Both of them have got the Jex mark, too.

"Right." The Doctor said.

"You found us." Jared said, sadly.

"Where is he?" The Gunslinger asked.

"He's gone."

"Where? Answer me."

"He's gone. Away from her. Just look up. Okay." Jared said, smiling.

"Any second now you'll see the vapour trail of his ship. This is their home, not the backdrop for your revenge. Lookup, go after him, take this battle away from…" The Doctor said.

"Kahler-Tek." Jex said, over the speaker.

Jex's spaceship…

"Kahler-Tek." Jex said.

Mercy…

"Jex. Coward." The Gunslinger said.

Jex's spaceship…

"Where are you?" The Gunslinger asked, over the speaker.

"I'm in my ship." Jex said.

Mercy…

"The hell are you doing? Just go!" Jared said, grabbing the Doctor's hand.

"Where are you from?" Jex asked, over the speaker.

Jex's spaceship…

"Where on Kahler?" Jex asked.

Mercy…

"Now? You're asking him this now?" The Doctor asked.

"Gabriah." The Gunslinger said.

Jex's spaceship…

"I know it. It's beautiful there. When this is over, will you go back?" Jex asked.

"How can I?" The Gunslinger asked, over the speaker.

Mercy…

"I am a monster now." The Gunslinger said.

Jex's spaceship…

"So am I." Jex said.

Mercy…

"Just go! Finish this!" Jared said, squeezing the Doctor's hand.

"I'll find you. If I have to tear this universe apart, I will find you." The Gunslinger said.

Jex's spaceship…

"I don't doubt that." Jex said.

Mercy…

"You'll chase me to another planet…" Jex said, his voice over the speaker.

Jex's spaceship…

"...and another race will be caught in the cross-fire." Jex said.

Mercy…

"Face me!" The Gunslinger said, angrily.

Jex's spaceship…

"Count down to self-destruct resumed." The computer said.

Mercy…

"Face me!" The Gunslinger said.

"No. You've killed enough." Jex said, his voice over the speaker.

Jex's spaceship…

"I'm ending the war for you, too." Jex said.

"Count down to self-destruct…" The computer said.

Mercy…

"...resumed." The computer said, over the speaker.

"What's going on?" Jared asked. "Have things changed? I want to know!"

"Ten."

Jex's spaceship…

"The count down." Jared said, his voice over the speaker.

Mercy…

"What's going on? Jex!" The Doctor said.

"Thank you, Doctor, Jared. I have to face…" Jex said, his voice over the speaker.

Jex's spaceship…

"...the souls of those I've wronged." Jex said.

"Five…" The computer said.

"Perhaps they will be kind."

"Three, two, one, zero."

The white egg goes KaBOOM.

Mercy…

The black smoke rises above the roof tops.

The Gunslinger bows his head, "He behaved with honour at the end. Maybe more than me."

"We could take you back to your world. You could help with the reconstruction." The Doctor said.

"I will walk into the desert and self-destruct. I'm a creature of war. I have no role to play during peace." The Gunslinger said.

"Maybe you could protect it." Jared said, smiling. "Like, I love helping to protect Earth and Remnant. From war and to keep the peace whenever I can."

Later, the Doctor runs out of the Marshal's Office. The Tardis is parked in the middle of the street.

"Okay, so, our next trip. Oh! You know all the monkeys and dogs they sent into space in the fifties and sixties? You will never guess what really happened to them." The Doctor said.

"Could we leave it a while? Our friends are going to start noticing that we're aging faster than them." Amy said.

"Um, Jared, aren't we forgetting something?" Ruby asked.

"Right! Penny! Pyrrha! The crater. And the Grimm." Jared said, looking at Ruby, Weiss, and Blake.

"How could you forget that?" Weiss asked.

"Can we worry about those first?" Blake asked.

"Doctor, we should do this…" Jared said, walking over to the three Huntresses.

"Another time? No worry." The Doctor said.

Amy, Ruby, Weiss, and Blake wave farewell to Walter and the Preacher, then the four and Rory go into the Tardis. The Doctor and Walter do a mock quick draw, which the Doctor wins.

"How are you gonna do those four things with Ruby, Weiss, and Blake?" The Doctor asked.

"I don't know. We'll figure something out. We always do." Jared said, sadly.

The Doctor and Jared go inside and the Tardis dematerialises. The little girl goes out of town and looks up to a distant ridge where the Gunslinger is standing guard over the town.