6. Flux: Ilovniza village

Waking up at around sunrise Strider, Bishop and Hazard began cleaning their pistols and equipment out of habit while I sharpened my knife after yesterday's rigorous usage. Sharing the last of the water Noah had given us he clomped up the stairs and greeted us all with a lazy yawn falling into a seat next to the bunks.

“Right now you’re in Ilovniza village. This building houses a trader, bar, doctor, mechanic, lockers and sleeping area with a bunch of mattresses thrown in that you enjoyed last night. It’s the place we all call home regardless of our standings with each other.”

He continuing to watch us, particularly Bishop, making sure he wasn’t too scrambled from his experience in the storm imaginably. Hazard and I continued our repair routine as Bishop waited patiently for him to continue while Strider made sure his rifle was still sighted properly.

“Military. From the looks of it well trained too.”

For a moment we all stopped to look at Noah then to what we were doing and everybody else in the barracks. No one else woke up and got straight into cleaning their weapons while they had a free moment. The concern must’ve been visible as Noah let out a chuckle and continued on.

“Relax. Wild guess. From your reaction I must’ve been right. Would keep it to yourselves. People aren’t too fond of army here. You know how to fight though that’s important. Perfect job has come up for you talk to the barman for details. See you round pioneers. Survive it and I’ll make an effort to educate you about the land.”

With that he stood and left without a second glance back leaving us to our weapon maintenance and checks. Confident everything was in working order we proceeded out to the front room with the bulkhead entrance filled with tables to talk to the barman. Myself and Strider approached him being able to speak the language. I’d get the information while Strider translated for Hazard and Bishop.

The man behind the bar wore a shemagh like a poncho around his neck mostly concealing a vest without the armor plate in it. His face cleaner than most people in the room, well shaven even, complemented by his moderately maintained hair as well. Spotting our approach his eyes shot over towards us off the old makeshift benchtop he was cleaning. Twitching his nose he threw the cloth over his back onto another bench carelessly.

“(New blood, what can I do you for.)” He gazed curious to see what we required and whether it’d intrigue him or prove to be a waste of his time.

“(We heard you have a job offer that you need fighters.)” The barman scoffed, turned and reclaimed his cloth to continue cleaning the bench behind him.

“(Yeah, I need fighters, not rookies. Too important to send fresh meat into the grinder. How’d you hear about that anyway you’ve only been here a day.)”

“(Noah recommended we take it up.)” The barman finished cleaning his bench turning to face us again now intrigued.

“(Noah. The old bastard can pick out characters I’ll give him that. So no one can vouch for your experience and your gear leaves a lot to be desired.)” With a sigh he continued tapping the bench for a moment and brought out a PDA.

“(Look, there is some work I have, not what Noah was talking about but if you’re looking for a fight head to this area.)”

The barman continued to explain the job. A small group of outlaws had been stealing artifacts and funding dangerous men getting the wrong kind of attention in the area. It was bad enough that even the group of outlaws they previously worked with agreed that their actions couldn’t continue.

“(So the package you’ll be retrieving is quite expensive. Some very valuable things inside it, consider this your rite of passage. Get that back and I’ll have more for you.)”

Without another word we ventured out into the wilderness. The sky overcast and miserable with empty stomachs we marched onwards to give ourselves a chance in this hostile land. All we had to do was put a few people in the ground, outlaws as well, it shouldn’t be difficult. Halting at the sighting of any wildlife after witnessing what was once a simple deer could do we ventured cautiously through the woodland.

It didn’t take long until we sighted the river ahead with a small pier going across the water and breaking off to the right obscured by crates with a decaying trawler docked next to it supposedly containing the the stash we’d been sent to retrieve. Three outlaws stood guard at the trawler while another was two hundred meters down the river bed.

Strider shouldered his rifle. Peering down the scope he began to inspect every man and their equipment. Two stood at the back of the trawler while another looked towards our direction from the cabin. The two towards the back of the trawler furthest away held their shotguns up to their chests looking for something on the other side of the river while the outlaw in the cabin held an STG 44 in his hands keeping a lazy vigil out over the sixty meters of open sandy ground between us and them.

Developing a quick plan Strider prepared to take out the guard in the cabin as Bishop, Hazard and myself prepared to advance over the sandy river bed with only our pistols taking advantage of the plant life that had developed to avoid detection. Advancing onto the pier I managing to get behind some crates next to the men on the back of the trawler. Waiting to give Strider a signal an outlaw began to approach my position as I unsheathed my knife. Once I engaged the outlaw Strider would open fire take out the sentry in the cabin above and Hazard with Bishop’s help would eliminate the last man, it would all be over in a moment.

Spotting my sudden movement in his overwatch Strider fired at the sentry just as the alert went up after my lunge. Hazard and Bishop began suppressing and moving on the final man behind the trawler flawlessly. Lunging forward disarming him of his shotgun I went for the kill. He was quick to react however and threw me around almost into the sickly water pulling a knife himself while charging towards me hoping to end the threat I posed quickly. His bravery admirable but carelessness comical.

It was just me and this outlaw, this scavenger. Feinting with the knife bringing him to defend my phantom attack opened him up to a jab into his ribs. Spinning using my velocity to deliver a savage spin kick into the same area I struck and using whatever momentum was left drove my right elbow into the side of his neck. All in a second, a second was all it took to put him on the ground. I moved in for an easy kill lunging at the defeated man.

He wasn’t just a scavenger though and was hardly defeated just yet. He survived this place killing arrogant fools like me daily. He’d taken heavier hits before and he was ready for my act of stupidity. As if some otherworldly force favored him his foot flew at my hip redirecting my lunge as I dived on him. His knife slashed across my chest while tossing me down the pier in one fluid moment. Bouncing down the wooden planks the outlaw was already on his feet charging down to finish the job. A shot cracked past as Strider attempted to halt his advance as he passed by a gap in the crates. He brought his knife down as he reached me barely managing to roll away in time narrowly avoiding a fatal strike.

Quickly maneuvering to my feet with blood dripping from my chest everything apart from the small arena of the pier and my opponent seemed to fall out of existence. We even failed to properly notice the strike of lightning throughout the clouds. The outlaw was the first to strike and went for a deep stab aimed for my torso. This time I was prepared and clear minded, like all the arrogance had been bled from me. A sidestep later and I was on the offensive wearing him down.

He made his counter-attack. A backhand followed by a wild slash meant for my neck. The backhand made contact but rather than fight its influence I used the impact to spin me round something the outlaw didn’t expect as I ducked the slash, then buried my blade deep in his chest. As the life left the outlaw my senses returned to the world and I noticed two gunshots and a voice.

“Flux! Where are you?! That storms back get your ass in cover!” I couldn’t tell who it was with the rumbling now getting louder but the warming sensation in my skull told me not to screw around. Dashing to cover Strider took another shot as I entered the ship door keeping the last outlaw who was previously off gazing into the zone suppressed. If he had a grenade and got close enough he’d be able to take all of us out at once.

The outlaw stopped trying to move towards us though. Instead we could hear his terrified screams in the short distance from the trawler begging not to be flayed alive. He continued as the storm picked up. His voice carrying itself through the door even though the storm was becoming deafening once more. That outlaw knew something surely and capturing him would give us some information. If he didn’t no one deserved to die like this at least. Thinking back to the previous storm and the screams of the last pioneer caught out in the deathly psionic wave it sounded like he still had time to be saved and wasn’t too far away. With one final look towards the door as the screaming intensified I made a decision.

“Fuck it.”

“Wha- GET BACK!”

Bishop threw himself towards me in an attempt to restrain me but I was already at the door taking the brunt of the forces the storm emitted almost stopping me completely in my tracks. The pain was like nothing else I’d ever felt before. I was so ill prepared to put it up to endurance to last long enough to retrieve the outlaw but I was sure I had time there was some slight hope at least that I could reach him.

Charging through the storm eventually reaching the source of the screaming seeing him clutching his head in pain and shock there wasn’t time to snap him out of it. Throwing the outlaw over my shoulders with a surge of adrenaline the outlaw was still unaware as to what was happening amongst all the chaos. Turning round and beginning the charge back towards the trawler the air began to become filled with an impenetrable red field of dust closing in around me.

Soft voices began to pierce the storms deafening frenzy calling for control becoming overwhelming in almost an instant. As soon as my mind was about to give way to the storm as well as the demands of the now angelic voice a hand was outstretched into the field that contained me as the world began to go dark. With one final effort launching myself and the outlaw into the arms of the interloper I felt myself get dragged back into the trawler by Strider who was being pulled back by Hazard and Bishop. Twitching on the ground trying to hold onto consciousness I slipped away with the outlaw after the ordeal.

Unlike the road coming back to my senses wasn’t met by horrific system shock, in fact getting up slowly I was feeling well rested, refreshed even. Looking about in confusion Hazard stood guard next to the outlaw cable tied to the bench who was still sobbing out of shock while Strider and Bishop were nowhere to be seen in the trawler’s crew quarters. Helping myself to my feet Hazard immediately reacted to my rustling, tracking my movements for any sign of weakness that I might collapse.

Giving him a nod Hazard left the room, the metal clanking with his steps continuing up the side and top of the cabin where Strider or Bishop held an overwatch of the area. Approaching the outlaw slowly he looked up with bloodshot eyes and tears streaming his face, the shock still present, quickly replaced with relief as he noticed who I was as I began to question him.

“(What is your name?)

“(Artur…) The silence continued for awhile with my back turned to him before Artur spoke up again.

“(You saved my life… Why?)”

“(Why were you so far away from your friends.)” Looking to the ground sheepishly he eventually spoke up.

“(... I was collecting bugs… I send them out in packages to the same address every time I find something. Do you know the address? Is that why you saved me? Are you taking me to the address?)”

“(No. I think you owe me something first. Artifacts, where are they.)”

Turning and unsheathing my knife I held it to my side non-threateningly for the moment, the other hand on my hip. Staring into his eyes with cold focus the relief quickly bled from his facial expression returning to shock letting his head sink. Looking up to the side shaking his head while avoiding eye contact, opening his mouth for a moment as if to give away the stashes location then shaking his head again this time more vigorously.

“(You don’t know what you’re getting into. These people will hunt you down just leave it here for them and take me to the address. You won’t see me ever again.)”

Brandishing the knife in front of him made him aware what he suggested wasn’t an option. The outlaw began tugging at the cable tie restraining him to the bench while pushing himself into the wall in an attempt to escape the knife. Asking him questions about the address or of who he was trying to provide the artifacts for was met by further panic continuing on about how these men would find all of us.

After awhile of slowly giving away snippets of information he began to revert back to hopeless despair. A quick slash just scratching over his face brought him back to the moment as a droplet of blood ran down his check locking eyes with mine once more.

“(Why are you so persistent? We will all die if that case isn’t here.)”

Preparing for another slash he winced and turned away but rather than bring down the blade I mounted the bench straddling him. Shock and confusion took over as he tried to blurt something out prevented by pushing the blade against his lips hushing him. His eyes shot around to meet mine, the cold focus replaced by unsettling compassion.

“(Sounds like you die either way but don’t you want to feel safe just one time at least? I can make it stop, all of it, you just have to ask once you give me what I want.)”

Breathing heavily the fear amplified by confusion allowed for interest to spark within him. He had no exit but maybe I’d be able to shock him enough to think I could provide him with one. Bringing my forehead down onto his feeling the cold sweat that had formed over his face I began slowly pushing the blade into his mouth as he began to shriek. After substantial harm enough and what sounded like a borderline gargled plea to stop I eased up allowing him to collect himself enough to a whimper. Bringing the blade back into view forced a creaking voice from him.

“(... wall... plate.)”

Leaning back still on top of him on the bench looking over to where he’d indicated there was indeed a loose plate right beside us. Peeling it back revealed a lead lined container with a handle. Smiling I turned back to the outlaw before a voice came from the door.

“Dude…”

Strider stood looking over towards my position on the outlaw slightly unsettled at the sight of me mounting him while his mouth ran with blood. Standing up wiping the splatter from my face while walking towards him he cringed further at the sight of me attempting to wipe the blood away.

“You just smeared it all over yourself… doesn’t help that you already look like you got way too into that.”

“Got the job done didn’t?”

With a sigh Strider discontinued his concerned tangent instead calling down Bishop and Hazard who handed me one of the deaceased outlaws shotguns, Hazard holding the other and Bishop the STG44 from the first sentry to fall. Before leaving I walked back over to the outlaw knife still drawn.

With morbid acceptance his head fell once more preparing for the end. Looking down at the defeated man there was one last thing to do. Cutting through what little resistance there was his arms fell no longer bound. He looked up again confused as if his interrogation wasn’t over not sure what to do now wondering if he was free or if it was a trick.

“(They’re going to kill you if they find you. That’s what you said. Better start running for the border. Prison is better than being dead surely.)”

He stood. Wobbling slightly amidst all the shock his body was going through. Looking into my eyes one last time to find no deceit he stumbled past us cautiously and took off once out the door jogging in the direction of the border. Leaving the shelter of the trawler with the case of artifacts we headed back to Iloviniza village to return the case. Walking through the door of the camp the barman instantly called us over spotting the case in Hazard’s arms bringing a half smile to his face. With the agreed payment he also threw in a desperately needed meal. As meagre as it was it still provided intense relief to weary souls.

Looking over to my friends it was hard to believe how we got to this point. From an almost flawless entry to being cut down by heavy machine guns. To being seemingly in the clear and almost losing our lives now recovering with a quick payout. To say these first two days of being in the zone had been a rollercoaster would be an incredible understatement. Having no clue as to how we were still alive after so many close calls back to back even more so. We could fight and defend ourselves but we had no idea how this place worked. It was as if it were another world and from the little we saw it no doubt had so much more to try take our lives with.

I’d began to question why we came here. There was a reason searing in my mind but it seemed incomplete or artificial in some way. We came here willingly throwing away everything to do so for adventure, treasures and glory but that all seemed so childish now, not something we would have seriously considered. Noticing I’d stopped eating my food Noah came and sat down next to me thunking down onto a chair as he did before with a sympathetic smile.

“Everybody's like that when they first get here. You’ll remember why you came eventually once you get used to this place.”

“So… What did you come here for?”

“I’m looking for something. I know where it is but not how to get there. Simple as that. Wouldn’t you rather ask something about the area? This old man has alot he could teach you.”

Looking up properly his smile widened noticing the spark of hope in my eyes that we’d be able to make something of ourselves here and accomplish what we originally set out to achieve.