INT. VALLARIA
A few BANDITS are cleaning up an area as a HORSE rides by them, THE MAVERICK scoping the area as the BANDITS look at him and quickly converse before cutting him off. THE MAVERICK halts his horse as he looks at the numbers slowly beginning to surround.
BANDIT LEADER
I think you need to get off that horse, and help donate to the rebuilding project for VALLARIA and its peoples, which are us.
THE MAVERICK
I don't see why not...
THE MAVERICK steps off of his horse as the group of 8 slowly converge around him.
THE MAVERICK
...But I have one problem with donating...
THE MAVERICK whisks his poncho about as he suddenly draws his TWO REVOLVERS and takes aim, shooting the fist bullets from each gun into the BANDIT LEADERS EYES.
THE MAVERICK spins and opens fire a few times again, killing TWO MORE as a few BANDITS pull up their guns and begin to fire back, only for THE MAVERICK to holster the guns and run for cover, THE MAVERICK pulling his SHOTGUN around as he prepared to fire only to hear the remaining FIVE BANDITS scream, THE MAVERICK looking up to see the FIVE BANDITS falling over dead, their bodies sliding off from their top and lower torsos, as THE SHADOW stood between them.
THE MAVERICK aims at THE SHADOW as THE SHADOW looks at him and doesn't budge.
THE MAVERICK
Why have you been following me? Better yet, why did you let me go in the first place?
THE SHADOW
You're what I call an investment...a spur of the moment investment, but one that is proving to be quite fruitful to our plans...
THE MAVERICK
Who's plans...?
THE SHADOW
You haven't been able to come to that conclusion yet?
THE MAVERICK
The DESCENT...isn't it?
THE SHADOW
Clever boy.
THE MAVERICK fires at him, THE SHADOW easily dodging the bullets as he suddenly appears behind THE MAVERICK, THE MAVERICK turning to him as THE SHADOW smirks and places his hand against his chest.
THE MAVERICK shakes as suddenly his chest explodes open, THE MAVERICK looking down in horror as he fell over, his eyes wide open as he stares at the SHADOW as he falls all the way onto the ground, his chest squirting blood as THE SHADOW bends down at THE MAVERICK who shakes as he convulses and spits up blood.
THE SHADOW
Do not shoot at me please...I do not like being shot at by the likes of people like you.
THE SHADOW bends over and touches his THE MAVERICK'S CHEST, THE MAVERICK watching as his chest suddenly began to heal as dark veins and whips began to repair the damage.
THE SHADOW smirks as he taps THE MAVERICK across the legs.
THE SHADOW
I will be close by, monitoring, following until you lead me to those I seek, to those whom you seek...
THE SHADOW disappears as THE MAVERICK quickly sits up, feeling his chest as it was completely healed, THE SHADOW now long gone but THE MAVERICK looks about, still feeling as if someone was there.
End of Part 20