Ok, recently I've had Darkwatch on the brain and I've talked and had discussions on how the game could be better. And also how the overall story could be improved.

So thusly, I give you this. "DARKWATCH: Legend of Jericho" chapter 1. This is based on the sotry line from the game so for once I'm ACTUALLY writing a fan fiction!

BUT! This is MY vision of the Darkwatch, this story reflects my views and how I thing the game should have been. It opens with a scene involving a train and I'm sure allot of you wil like that!

So I'll be working on this off and on and will post the next chapters whene I finish them. I will warn you though, this story will contain some offensive language but I'll keep it to a minimum. Not to mention a whole lot of blood and guts, well it kinda obvious, they are fighting vampires and zombies!!! But I'm trying to keep the story more like an Action Adventure with horror elements mixed in. Kinda like "Underworld" in that respect.

Anyways, I hope you all enjoy for I will enjoy writing it!

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“Evil, as old as time. Spreads like a plague corrupting the hearts of men. For millennia there have been those who have stood against it. A secret organization to protect man kind. They are the front line in an Unholy War. They are the Darkwatch.” Unknown quote.

DARKWATCH: Legend of Jericho

The year was 1876 in the Arizona territory. It was the dead of night, the full moon was high and partially obstructed by the slowly drifting clouds. The mighty sandstone Monuments towered high above the sandy parched ground. The dirt of the rocky desert floor was cool but the wind was eerily still. Winding its way across the desert was a remote stretch of railroad track. There was a point where the track passed through a cut bordered on each side by sandstone. Sitting high on the embankment above the cut was a lone figure. He rolled a cigarette and placed it in his lips. Then he lit a match and brought the flame to the cigarette’s end. Breathing in the figure brightened the end and produced a puff of smoke.

The figure was tall and lean, very lean and very tall. Standing at over Seven Feet he had an intimidating demeanor. His hair black and coming down just above his shoulders. His face was weathered and boney, the empty socket of his left eye covered with a black patch. But the cloth could not conceal the scar left by the blade that had taken his eye. His vest a dark burgundy red, his slacks brown and his boots black. His hat was just a shade darker than his dark tan duster. Over his hands were tan Calvary gloves. Around his waist were two brown leather gun belts with twin “Peacemakers” in their holsters. The figure was Jericho Cross. Gunslinger, Renegade, and Outlaw. Behind him he left a bloody trail of robbery and revenge. Tonight was his last and final score before retiring from his occupation. On last train to rob before disappearing into the endless wasteland that was the American West. On this night his life shall end, but on this night his legend will begin.

The solitary outlaw sat on the sand and rock covered desert ground. His thoughts drifting to a few days prior on his last job. Jericho as well as a few others had attempted to rob a bank. There were seven members of their gang that day and they left with three. The next day the outlaws met with each other in one of the many Cantinas in the territory. Jericho couldn’t help but recollect the conversation. He sat at a table in the corner of the room facing the entrance. On the table a deck of cards, a shot glass, and a bottle of “Red Eye”. The waiting outlaw was expecting at least three others to join him but only one came. This member came with a reluctant gate about him as he pulled out a chair and took a seat.

“So how did we manage?” Jericho asked hi partner. He sighed and pulled out a small money pouch and flopped it onto the table. Underneath he passed Jericho a stack of paper bank notes.

“We managed to get $2,167 in total. This was a lousy heist Jericho, we lost four good men to them guards! We haven’t had a decent score in months.” the Partner replied. Jericho discretely counted the paper bills under the table before folding them and slipping them into his inside duster pocket. He then pushed the money pouch back to his partner.

“I know James, but I’ve found another opportunity that’s sure to bring us around.” Jericho replied in his deep raspy voice. He looked over to James to tell of the information he acquired.

“Jericho! This bank job was supposed to be the last! And the train before that! When is the last job Jericho? We can’t go on like this.” James expressed. Jericho raised his hand to stop James from speaking further and glared at him.

“When we pull this on off we’ll all be set for the rest of our lives. Its too good of an opportunity to be missed.” Jericho replied. James just shook his head and sighed.

“Well what is this one? A bank? A Stage Coach hold up? What?” He said sarcastically. Jericho leaned in closer to James but didn’t make eye contact.

“Tomorrow night there will be a special train carrying gold and silver. Its meant to be distributed throughout the territory to back the Bank’s paper money and notes.” Jericho would have continued if James hadn’t interrupted.

“Are you serious? Don’t you realized that a train like that is going to be heavily guarded!? C’mon, there’s only three of us left now! And…” James was cut off by Jericho, again holding up his hand.

“Yes, it will be heavily guarded. But I there’s a perfect boarding location along the route. And if we….” This time James interrupted the fellow outlaw.

“Damn’it Jericho! Don’t you get it! We want out! The rest of use aren’t doin’ this no more! We’re tired of runin’ from the law. We don’t want this life anymore, we’re tired of not knowing what will the next big score will be or when our next meal is.” James replied sternly. Frustration grew on Jericho’s face. James clearly didn’t see how great the opportunity is.

“James listen to me. This is our last shot and we can pull this one off!” James wouldn’t listen. He stood up from his chair and looked down at his friend.

“Jericho, if this were still the war I might listen. But the war is over. Our guns aren’t needed anymore and its time to hang them up now. If you want to rob that train then you’ll have to do it on your own, but it’d be your death Jericho. I’m sorry but this is where we part ways.” replied James. He then reached down and poured a round of whiskey. “I’m glad to have known you Jericho. But this is the end, I’ll pay for the whiskey an then I’m off.” Jericho didn’t reply and just stared angrily at his former partner. James quickly downed his shot and put the glass on the table. “I hope you find your place my friend. Goodbye.” James turned away and walked toward the exit. Jericho then lifted his glass and held it in the palm of his hand. His gaze drifted slightly and he watched as James walked out of the Cantina. Stopping only briefly to look back at Jericho, then walked out and he never saw James again. With anger fuming within himself Jericho gritted his teeth and squeezed the shot glass until it shattered in his hands.

The outlaw’s thoughts were disrupted by the sound of an echoing steam whistle in the distance. He looked up and to his left to see the glow of the locomotive’s headlight, though it seemed unusually bright. Jericho then stood up and took a long drag on his cigarette. As he exhaled he flicked the cigarette away with his fingers. Then lowering his head he pulled a red bandana over his face. Now he was ready for his final score. The train was pulled by a large locomotive, a “Ten Wheeler” speeding rapidly across the iron rails. Smoke and fire erupted from its stack and steam hissed from its pistons. The flanges of the wheels squealed as the ran against the insides of the iron road. Again the locomotive’s whistle wailed out as it crossed over a dry stream bed a number of yards just before the sandstone cut.

Jericho then quickly made his way down the embankment. At first sliding atop the sand and gravel of the desert ground. Then started running as the embankment leveled out toward the cut. The train then entered the cut at high speed, faster than what Jericho had thought it would. As he came to the edge, about four feet above the roof of the train he leaped from the edge of the cut. As he landed on the roof his feel slipped on the iron clad roof and fell off the other side of the train! He slipped off of the raised clerestory of the railroad car but grabbed a raised edge on the side of the car. His body thudded against the car side between two small windows. The train raced through the cut and the walls nearly clipped Jericho a number of times from the sandstone! He was finally able to bring his other hand up to the raised edge and pulled himself back on the railroad car’s roof. After taking a few moments to catch his breath he pulled out one of his revolvers and proceeded forward on the top of the train.

Coal dust and ash started to accumulate on the outlaw’s clothing. With his right hand he tried to keep the particles out of his good eye as he pressed onward. Beneath his feet he could feel the cars sway to and fro and the wheels clacking across the rail joints. Then Jericho paused, he was crouched down abut he started looking side to side. He thought he heard a woman laughing but it wasn’t from inside the train but it seemed to be floating around him. He pushed the though aside thinking it was the adrenalin. After traversing over a few cars he stopped at the end of one of them. He climbed between the two cars, he noted his surprise as he found the entirety of the train cars to be clad in iron plate! This train must be carrying something extremely valuable due to its security. To his surprise the car ends had no platforms. It was a tight fit and was careful to not loose his grip. Below Jericho could see the track speeding underneath the train. Above that were the couplers. He was just about to drop on top of them when one of the car end doors opened! Swiftly he climbed back up toward the roof. The door hissed and clanked as it slid side ways, as if opened by steam pressure or mechanical means. The figure who stepped out was clearly a guard. His uniform was blatantly military but his colors were not recognized by Jericho and his previous military experience with the Union. It looked like a Union uniform but was made of black leather. Its trim was either a weathered light grey or weathered white. In his hands was lever action rifle, it looked very much like a Winchester but was different. The paused and stretched his arms and yawned. Then proceeded into the next car. Once the guard was gone Jericho again climbed down and supported himself by stepping on the couplers.

The door to the car was like nothing he had ever seen before. It looked more like a vault door than anything! It took him a moment but then found a latch. It only moved a little but it tripped the mechanism to open the door. He quickly stepped inside and took cover behind one of the seats. The inside was like a passenger car but only with the bare necessities. It was now apparent that the train cars were not clad in iron but entirely built with it! Only the floor and seats were made of wood. Very hefty support beams ran across the ceiling from one side of the car to the other. Everything was either, bolted, riveted, or welded together. A canon couldn’t even breach the car’s exterior! The guard that Jericho just avoided then turned around and looked back from where he came from. The door had just opened and closed again without anyone entering, or so it seemed.

“What the hell?” the guard said to himself aloud. The inside of the car was lit but it was very dim. Jericho’s hiding spot was dark and the guard walked right on by him. As the guard went to inspect the door Jericho quietly crept up behind him and with the but of his pistol whacked him in the back of the head knocking out the guard. He dropped to his knees and fell to the floor. To the outlaw’s left was the latrine. He opened the door and placed the unconscious guard inside and bound him with the cordage from the guar’s rifle. Jericho then took a good look at the weapon and took great surprise from its features. On the bottom edge of the stock was a very well used blade! The hammer was shaped like a cross and was bored for a very high caliber. At least for a rifle that’s a lever action!

With the guard bound and in a safe place that’s out of the way he shut the latrine door and moved on, taking the strange rifle with him. Again there was a small latch built into the vault like door and he pressed it. And like before the door hissed and slid to one side on a geared track. Jericho then proceeded to the next car opening the door like before. This car was different from the last, very different. On either side of the car were turrets and on each one were two Gatling guns. From what the outlaw could see each Gatling was synchronized with the other on each turret. Who ever was shipping the bullion was dead serious on it getting to its destination. As Jericho walked through the dark car he began to have second thoughts. But desire to have enough money to “Retire” with was a greater influence and he carefully kept moving forward. Then the outlaw paused as he heard movement. His head turned to the right and on a bench was another guard. This one a little large around the middle but still quite built muscle wise. As Jericho stood still he watched the guard as he grumbled, he was asleep. Laying next to him was another strange weapon, it looked like a four barreled shotgun with an ax blade attached to the hilt! Jericho then remembered he still had his spurs on. Very slowly and with great care the outlaw moved forward, one step at a time. It seemed like an eternity and clutched his revolver in his hands tightly with his thumb on the hammer. Ready to pull the pistol’s trigger if need be.

Jericho reached the door on the other end of the car, opened it and passed through to the next car. Once the door shut he let out a sigh of relief. But returned to focus on his goal, the safe. This care was just like the last but instead of Gatlings there were canons! But there were only two, one facing each side of the car. Outside Jericho could hear the locomotive’s whistle bellow again and the sound of the train rapidly rolling over the iron road. This time the outlaw paid careful attention to see if there was anyone else in the care. This time and thankfully he was alone. He did not stress but made haste to the other end of the car.

A few cars back a female was in a rather lousy mood. Like all the other guards she wore a uniform, only her’s was different. It was tailored to suit her and like all the other uniforms was made of black leather with either weathered white or light grey highlights. On the left side of her chest was a badge similar to that of a US Marshal or Sheriff, but on its front was a rather sinister looking skull with fangs coming down from its upper jaw. On her right hip was a huge and wicked looking revolver with an intimidating looking blade attached to the but of the grip.

“Where the hell is Jude!? And why hasn’t he checked in yet!?” The young woman shouted! The guard to her side tried to explain that he didn’t know the reasons as to their fellow guard’s disappearance. The blonde haired woman walked into the next car, her mood had not improved any.

“Ma’am, he is a new recruit and is still learning some of the ropes.” the guard said to try and appease the woman. She then stopped and turned around, looking directly into his eyes and her finder in his face.

“I don’t give a damn if he’s a greenhorn! One slip up from ANY of us and we all could end up dead!” she shouted sternly. It was in that brief pause that they heard some rustling inside the lavatory. The woman then quickly opened the door and out flopped the missing guard! “What the hell?” the woman asked as the untied the guard.

“Jude! Jude, you alright? What happened?” one of the other guards shouted and went to aid his comrade. After they pulled the gag from his mouth he coughed a few times but then looked up at the other guards.

“I… I don’t know. I head the door open behind me and I went to check to see if it was a malfunction. But something hit my head and that’s all I remember.” the woman then looked up at one of the other guards.

“S#IT, THE VAULT!!!” she shouted! Then she stood up and stormed down towards the front of the train. One of the guards followed behind. The woman then drew out her revolver and cocked the hammer as she rushed to the vault car.