(Originally written Saturday, October 25, 2003)
Chapter V:

"Great," Cream said, watching the three men, "they're picking the lock... alright, I'm heading down there and don't argue with me."
"Hey man, they're all yours," Nougat told him.
"Huh?"
"I don't want to go down there - you're the quick footed one, remember?" Cream raised his eyebrow in slight disbelief. "I'll cover ya." Nodding again, Cream was about to go before looking at Nougat one last time.
"A times two scope?" he asked, surprised, "you sure that'll be enough?" Nougat stroked his rifle softly.
"You should know better than anyone that size doesn't count..." Before Cream could respond to the snide remark, Nougat continued. "Just go! 'Mel, remember?" Cream nodded a third time and tapped his ear.
"I'll keep in touch," he said before sliding down a ladder leading to the building's fire escape.

Cream stood trying to think of a way to get past the well-lit street. Hoping that the locked door would be enough of a distraction, he slowly walked forward, drawing his pistol - his efforts were for naught.

One of the Pi gangsters turned and saw the armed Cream walking towards him. He immediately shouted to his companions and the three of them opened up with a quick volley of bullets. Cream cursed out loud as he ran back to the first building and crouched behind its stoop. He hastily snapped off his own shots at the men, startling but not wounding them. Nevertheless, the Pi farthest to the left staggered and fell; he had been hit cleanly through the chest by Nougat from the roof. The lead Pi gave up on the assailants and fired two shots into the glass door. The remaining two gangsters quickly ran into the apartment complex and into the stairwell.

Cream, finally no longer pinned down by gunfire, charged towards the front door. Nougat lowered his sights and started for the fire escape to catch up. He barely had time to turn around before a shot ringed off the lip of the roof. Looking back down, he saw a black van pull up to the curb adjacent to 'Mel's building - out of the van poured three more men with large guns.
"Great..." Nougat muttered to himself as he returned fire vehemently...

(Now, I just wanna know how long of a post you guys can handle. Technically this is about half of what I planned out for today. So if this is fine, then cool - if you don't mind a REALLY long post, then I'll do so later.)