We now return to the present day, as the train piloted by Deacon came to a screeching halt into Fort Tuskegee's station. After a few minutes of final preparations from Deacon, the train was cleared to be vacated as the surviving recruits and passengers all poured out of the train.
"That was a much smoother ride than I expected." Dwayne admitted reluctantly.
"I told ya I knew how to drive a train." Deacon said. His face beaming with pride as he pulled behind him Smoker and Knick, who were tied up by the wrists with cowboy rope.
"Well forgive me for not trusting the illiterate guy to know how to handle heavy machinery." Dwayne snapped.
"There ya go again. Using big words." Deacon complained.
While the two argued, Dwayne noticed some soldiers that were assigned to the station off the corner of his eye. He turned his attention over to them and attempted to flag them down, but to his confusion the soldiers simply turned around and started running off.
"That's odd." Dwayne said. "There's nobody here to meet us. I know we're a little late but-"
It wasn't just Dwayne, the recruits were starting to get impatient as well. With their commanding officer killed during the train robbery, they all defaulted to following Dwayne's lead, a responsibility Dwayne was hoping to relinquish as soon as possible. With no other options, Dwayne led the recruits and Deacon through the streets of Fort Tuskegee, hoping to meet someone of higher rank.
"Hey Dwayne, I thought you said the Buffalo Soldiers were all freedmen." Deacon said. Pointing out the many Rangers they saw patrolling the area, but none of them had the signature dark skin of the Buffalo Soldiers.
"I thought so, too." Dwayne agreed. From what he understood, the recruits were to be the first 'regular' Unioners to be stationed here. But then again, he was just a guard for their train. It was likely that he didn't have all the details of the event.
As the group continued their march through the city, they were eventually stopped by Major Moss, who met them with a large group of his own. Dwayne immediately recognized his rank from the stars on his chest and threw up a salute. The other recruits followed while Deacon just stared blankly.
"Private Dwayne D. Eisenhammer, at your service. Sir!" Dwayne said as he stood at attention.
"Private, what's the meaning of this?" Moss asked with a commanding tone.
"Uh, apologies for the delay sir." Dwayne said with his head down. Getting nervous as Moss was an imposing figure. "Our train was overtaken by outlaws. If it wasn't for this boy's bravery we'd all be dead. We've managed to arrest two of the assailants and the recruits are here now for the historic integration. Sir." Dwayne finished his sentence completely out of breath. He just wanted to get this over with so he can be reassigned to another train.
Moss looked over at Deacon and seemed unimpressed by the whole ordeal. "Take them." he ordered two of his men as they approached Smokey and Knick. Deacon handed their rope bonds over and the thugs were led off meekly to Moss' side.
With that, Moss and his men just turned around to walk back into the Fort, much to Dwayne's confusion.
"Excuse me sir!" Dwayne blurted out. "What about the recruits? Shouldn't there be an orientation waiting for them?"
Moss audibly groaned and turned back around. Like Dwayne and company were just a big inconvenience to him. "See the problem is, there was a mix-up with the paperwork. You know how these things go."
"Right." Dwayne answered doubtfully.
"So right now we have nowhere to put them. We are in the middle of… personnel management. Here take these." Moss pulled out a stack of papers and handed them to Dwayne. "These are vouchers for the many inns here. It should cover your stays until we make more room in the fort. Sorry about this. The last protectors of the fort were very disorganized. We're still trying to clean up after those roughheads."
"Clean up?" Dwayne asked. Now even more confused. But his clarifying questions fell on deaf ears as Moss and his men turned back around and marched back to the fort.
"That guy is shady as hell." Deacon said plainly. Loud enough for the Major to hear.
"Shh!" Dwayne scolded. "Maybe, but he's a Major, we have no choice but to follow his orders." With seemingly no other option, Dwayne led the recruits through the inns to set up lodging for themselves.
Knick and Smokey let out sighs of relief as they got further and further from their captors, but they weren't out of the woods yet. They could feel the tension and rage building up inside Moss, and were prepared for hell to break loose once they got into the fort.
"Bandanawicz!" Moss yelled as the fort gates slammed behind him. "Your men have failed!"
"Is that so?"
Before Smokey and Knick could react, they felt something tighten around their neck and lift them off the ground. The two could only wiggle around helplessly as the dangled in the air. Around their necks was a rope of bandanas tied together by the corners, all leading to one man, who's arms seemed to have been replaced by this bandana rope. He wore a cowboy suit composed entirely of bandanas, including one with a skull design that obscured his face.
"Please, Boss. Have mercy!" Smokey wheezed.
"How the fuck did you screw up that train robbery?" Bandanawicz yelled. The skull design on his face seeming to move its mouth with his words. "We planned this for weeks!"
"We're sorry boss!" Knick cried. "There was this kid, some cowboy. He was really strong. Stronger than any normal man should be."
"He's right." Smokey added. "He played with us like ragdolls."
"I don't want to hear excuses!" Bandanwicz yelled, as he tightened his grip around their necks and watched their faces turn purple and their eyes begin to bulge out of their heads.
"We didn't stand a chance, he wasn't part of the plan! Please!"
"Ugh." Bandanawicz muttered as he let go of his men. His arms morphing from a rope of bandanas back to normal human arms.
"Thank you! Thank you!" both Knick and Smokey said, bowing their heads and kissing at their boss' feet.
"Get out of my sight. Idiots." he ordered as Knick and Smokey scampered away.
Moss said nothing as he marched over to his office, with Bandanawicz following behind.
"Well this sure complicates things." Bandanawicz said.
"I know."
"Those recruits were never supposed to make it out alive."
"I know." Moss repeated. Retreating to his desk.
"Well. What are we gonna do? Aren't they a problem?"
"Quit complaining. The plan could still go off." Moss said as he pulled a cigar from his desk and took a big drag. "Those recruits don't know a thing about what's going on. They are trained to follow orders from their commanding officer, and right now that's me."
"But won't they get suspicious about the sudden lack of roughheads?" Bandanwicz asked.
"We'll just have to expedite the executions." Moss replied. "Once there's room for them, I'll take them in under my command. They can ask all the questions they want after, it won't matter. The deed will be done, and they won't be able to change it."
"Heh. Alright. I see." Bandanawicz said. "And we still have the train."
"Which means everything is still on schedule." Moss finished as he handed a cigar to Bandanwicz. Bandanwicz's skull took a drag and puffed out a plume of smoke. "Get the nooses ready," Moss ordered.
Bandanawicz rushed off and grabbed Smokey and Knick to help him. Leaving Moss to plan their next move. Moss swiveled his chair around and faced the goldenwood rifle that was hanging on a plaque above him. He had heard the legends of these weapons and had always wanted one for himself, so he got up to grab it. As his hands wrapped around the wood, he felt a searing pain that forced him to snatch them away. Leaving the rifle unbothered.
"Damn, looks like it's already bonded to someone." Moss said disappointedly. "not a problem, that won't matter after today."