out how to defeat the Outlaw. Outfitted as Rangergirl and her sidekick, they find the painter Garamond Ray in a saloon, along with Jonathan's unconscious body. Ray captured the god in 1989, causing the Loma Prieta quake, but was trapped inside with it. An oracle appears and tells them to find her temple in the desert, where she can answer one question. The Outlaw rounds up Beej, Denis, and Jane into a posse. He compels Beej and Denis to construct a hideous iron door, which contains a pocket dimension of its own. They place it in front of the door inside Genius Loci, forming a trap. Beej remains within the door, while the Outlaw's posse causes havoc throughout Santa Cruz. Marzi and Lindsey ask the oracle for information about saving Jonathan instead of defeating the Outlaw. They enter Jonathan's soul to revive him, then return to the real world to pursue the Outlaw. Marzi believes that the Outlaw will surrender when she challenges him, expecting her to refuse to shoot an unarmed opponent. Marzi plans to subvert the narrative and kill him anyway. Marzi and her friends leave the alternate dimension but find themselves trapped inside Genius Loci, where the murals come to life and threaten them. Marzi persuades Beej to let them go, and they escape into the real world. The group finds the Outlaw. Marzi prepares to duel him, but realizes that if she goes outside the traditional Western narrative by killing the Outlaw instead of capturing him alive, he will no longer be constrained by the Outlaw trope and will be free to destroy Santa Cruz. Denis sees an opportunity to escape and stabs the Outlaw in the back. Since betrayal by henchmen is a typical Western convention, the Outlaw remains constrained within the narrative and is destroyed for good. Setting Tim Pratt had lived in Santa Cruz for a few years and derived much appreciation for the town and, therefore was able to deliver the backdrop for Rangergirl. Points of Interest Genius Loci: inspired from Caffe Pergolesi, a popular coffee shop located behind the downtown area. The Red Room: nearby bar that Marzi, Lindesy, and Jonathan attend. This is where Marzi first sees the Outlaw. The bar is a hotspot for college students and the locals. Neptune's Kingdom: in Marzi's dream, she encounters the oracle at this location. It is found at the Boardwalk. UC Santa