[b]Yantai City, Shandong Province, The Akitsukuni Mainland[/b]
[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d1SvX_Rc3b0/T05NckE3j7I/AAAAAAAABbc/glNjzLFveqY/s1600/diaojiaolou-8.jpg[/img]

	Sunset was swiftly approaching, over the coastal city. The air was mildly warm, but clear. A constant ocean breeze preserved the air's quality, blowing all the factory smog inland, toward Wodejing. The smell of salt water and spicy food (from all the street vendors) lingered in the nostrils of every citizen. As the sun began burrowing behind the distant eastern mountains, a low, distant chime rang through the air. The streets quickly began to empty, as everyone responded to the curfew. With tensions rising between Da Nanguo and Akitsukuni, local officials were afraid of a rebellion forming. In such an ancient city as this, they were right to be.

[i][b]*Rat*, *Tat*, *Click*.[/b][/i]

	Through a shuttered, second-story window, a shaggy young man readied his bolt-action rifle. Fast and accurate, it was most advanced weapon a sharpshooter could hope to get his hands on, in this part of the world. He was almost frightened, by how much more effective this device was against the, still commonly used, old-style flintlock. Peering through the plain wooden shutters, to the street below, he saw two imperial officers strolling by, ensuring that everyone was obeying the curfew. Turning away from the window, he closed his eyes and collected himself. Through his nostrils, he took a deep breath of musky apartment air, before turning back to the window. With his eyes locked firmly on the back of the officials' heads, and a tight grip on his rifle, he waited.

	The imitated whistle of a songbird pierced the air. [i]It was time.[/i]

	He carefully opened the window's shutters, and mounted his rifle on the windowsill. He lowered his head, lining up with the gun's sights, and prepared to take the shot. From the corner of his eye, he saw the glint of his comrade's barrel, protruding from a window across the street. Following his target, the young man trigger finger grew tight.

[i][b]
*BANG*[/b][/i]

	The two rifles went off nearly simultaneously, their noise echoing through the city, like a clap of thunder. As the two officials slumped forward, onto the stone street, crimson blood painted the ground around them. The two snipers exchanged excited looks. There was no turning back now. The rebels had made themselves known, and it was all-or-nothing from this point onward. Quickly, they reloaded their guns, keeping a frantic lookout for approaching soldiers, who would have heard the blast.

	Sure enough, the thumping of footsteps grew, as nearby city guards rushed through nearby alleys, arriving on the scene. There were three of them at first, before a second round of gunfire sent two more tumbling to the ground. Seeing his allies fall around him, the third guard span about-face, and began sprinting down the street. The young sniper rushed to load the next round into his rifle's chamber. Taking up aim again, and following the swiftly escaping target, he held his breath.

[i][b]*BANG*[/b][/i]

	He missed! The guard made a sharp turn around the corner, out of sight.

	"[i]Wo tsao"[/i](literally 'I fuck'), the youth swore to himself.

	He slumped back, away from the window, and caught his breath. Lowering his weapon, he gazed across the street at his fellow gunner, who was sneering quite ferociously at him.

	"[i]Ni tsao[/i]"(literally 'you fuck'), the gunner teased. 

	They both readied their guns again, and checked them once-over. Moments later, uniformed officials began popping their heads out from around various corners, soon followed by the ends of their rifles and pistols.

[i][b]*BANG*, *CRACK*, *BANG*.[/b][/i]

	The snipers ducked, as wood splinters fell over them. If this turned into a long shootout, the imperials were bound to win. They had the ammunition advantage.

	"[i]Eyyy! Dajia! Gei women kaoshan![/i]", the neighbouring gunner bellowed from behind his window's ledge.

	Just then, half a dozen shop windows swung open along the way, revealing additional armed rebels. With a thundering crackle, a fray of bullets flew toward the peeking imperials. A couple fell, but more arrived to take their place. Another series of rounds from the imperial side saw three rebels collapse, bullets in their heads. The young sniper hopped up to take another shot at one of the encamped soldiers, when a bullet flew through his left ear. The loud whiz startled him, and he shot wide, hitting nothing. Ducking down to reload, the sharp sting of the injury hit him. Hope of victory was fading fast. He had no idea how many guards were being dispatched as the standoff continued.

	"[i]Ahhh[/i]", he moaned to himself. "[i]Ta ma de![/i]"

	Shots continued to echo through the air, and the thick smell of gunpowder began to surround him. Sinking into a state of panic, the young man gripped his rifle, and began edging away from the window. Lead pellets swarmed through the open window, and struck the ceiling above him. Dust and wood chips rained down on his head. That was it. He decided to make a run for it.

	Still keeping his head low, he bolted toward the room's door. Slamming into it, and swinging it open, he stumbled out in the hall. Residents peered at him from partially-opened doors, fearfully wondering what was going on. He clamoured down the stairs, and out of the building's back door. Sprinting down the alley, the hope of escape, of life, filled his mind. The sound of gunfire grew more and more distant. He reached the end of the alleyway, reached the next street over, continued running with all his might when-

[b]*THUMP*[/b]

	"[i]Argh![/i]"

	A city guard, on his way to the scene, saw the young man round the corner. Reflexively, he raised the butt of his rifle and slammed it into the kid's head. The fearful rebel flipped backward, and landed flat on the hard ground. The guard, towering above him, took aim.

	"Who are you!", the guard shouted.
	
	"[i]F-Fei Ma L-Long[/i]", the sniper groaned.

	"Fei Ma Long, you're under arrest, for terrorism!"