Running Red Gladiators
Cheers.
All around zebras congratulated The Bushman success.
Zavimbi had weighted the wrestled Radigator. It weigh more than the previous record catch by a landslide. It was a blessing, a good omen that promises bottle caps injection into the village's economy. Until the Radigators are sold in Roam, it was just food supply. Zavimbi and Sniper walked to the back to the village's supply store. They hung the gators on a line and began skinning it. The process was tedious, bloody and smelly, but it was necessary. No one in Roam would barter for dead Radigators whole.
During the clearing of intestines, Spy visited his Australian friend. He explained that the village's chief had ask another favor. They were to be sent to Roam. The Jarman answer was a yes. Normally the Australian would asked the reason behind a request, this baffled the Frenchman. He concluded that the gangling Australian was in a good mood. A positive change for once in a while Spy thought.
After the skin was detached from both of their catch and internal organs were removed, they began cutting the meat. They left the smaller one to the village whilst the big one was going with them to Roam. Some of the meat were smoked to preserve and add value, while the rest were kept fresh. With the preparations finished, they were ready for a day of trading in Roam.
"Eh, Spooks," the Sniper called his French teammate, "We're ready to go I'm waitin' in the van."
The Bushman turned to leave and to occupy his beloved home. Spy enters the chief's home to be granted the permission to leave. He received the permission and more. The extra was Xeras.
"Monsieur," the spy asked, "you want me to bring you daughter along ?"
"No, she insisted to go along," explained Xeras' father.
Spy turned to the young zebra mare and asked, "Madame may I ask for what reason you may want to go to this Roam ?"
"I have to get medicine from Roam," answered the zebra mare.
"I'll bear that in mind," said the Spy, "and make sure you will receive your medicine."
"No not my medicine," explained the chieftain daughter, "the town's supply of medicine."
Her father explained, "She's the town's doctor she knows medicine not to mention chems also," he continued to tell, "usually Zavimbi would go fetch the medicines but she insisted."
By the time her father finished, Xeras was already out of the tent and heading towards the Rover. Spy reconsidered and rethought his situation. He told the village's head he'll accompany her daughter to and in Roam. He added there was no guarantee of safety. As he and his companions were not native to the land. His father countered by saying she knew how to take care of herself. Then it was Spy's turn to leave.
The last to board the camper was Pyro. The foals were reluctant to let the masked pyromaniac go. Pyro told them not to cry but to wait and have fun. With goodbyes said, the Land Rover's engine rumble to a start. The whole village waved goodbye as the camper pulled away and traverse towards Roam under the dusk orange sky.
--- --- ---
The miles to Roam was silent, and shrouded in nicotine. Spy was in front along with Sniper , who was the skipper of the vehicle. Both men were rivals in their line of work. Both of hated each others gut, thus silence replaced friendly chatter.
The Australian broke silence, "Mind tellin' me where we are ?"
"The Zebracan Wasteland," answered the balaclava cladded man.
"How ?" asked the Bushman, "Not just here, but the talkin' zebras included."
Spy explained how they ended up accepted by a village full of speech capable zebras. In the matter of how they arrived into the Wasteland, he had no answer.
"Pyro said anythin' ?" the Australian asked.
"Oui," the Frenchman answered, "Pyro said this isn't Pyroland."
"Any word from the others ?" Nick Mundy inquired.
"No," said the Frenchman, "I've yet to see them in the last twelve hours."
"Hold on," the Sniper asked, "how long was I out ?"
The French master of espionage answered, " from the time you woke up I say seven hours."
All went silent once more. The Australian never slept that long since the first week in the Badlands. He asked Spy how was he able to slumber over five hours. The Frenchman told him that he was knocked unconscious. And that his home had struck a tree when they arrived here. The Spy added that the Australium bars they retrieved is in the storage box on the van living quarter.
The Sniper gave a sigh of relieve. At least they had done something right he thought. With the bars of Australium secured they had bought their comrades time. And robbed Grey Mann of victory on their last battle.
--- --- ---
It was nightfall when they reached the outskirt. In the distance a large settlement was barely visible. A city on the foot of a mountain, with a large stadium like structure even farther from where they were. On the side of the mountain, in the background of the city, was a tower. A contrast to the clay roofed buildings that made most of the city. But the west side of the city was nothing but a widespread, irradiated, crater.
As they neared the city limit, the mercenaries were met by something out of a science fiction book. To the zebras, it was something all too familiar. The whoosh of a VTOL passed overhead. Both Sniper and Spy took a gander at it.
"Bloody 'ell," the Sniper cursed, "we ain't in a Star Wars set aren't we ?"
The question reached Spy's ears. But only unspoken words of amazement left his hanging jaws. The vehicle that had pass by them was a design of the extraordinary. But it just added one more to list of strange things and beings they had encounter so far.
When they entered Roam all shops already locked their doors. But they weren't unfortunate. Zavimbi explained that it was best to arrive late. The zebra clerk said arriving at the hours of darkness was an advantage. Although it may cost them a room or two, to sell first to the market is always been more fruitful.
With the hope of bottle caps regained, Sniper set to find a space for his Rover. Founding an alley that barely fit the jeep, he maneuvered into it and put his home into park. The wait for sunrise had start.
The street of Roam was quiet, lifeless and dark. A habit of the city when the scorching sun sets, and the moonless sky rise. Only the wind and the occasional clanging of fallen trashcan replaced the air. Those and the squabble of mates in the building left of them. Nonetheless slumber was undisturbed.
In the van, Sniper laid in his bed above the front driver and passenger seat. While Pyro slept on a sleeping bag on the floor, generously surrendering the position of a much cleaner dinner seat to their zebras companion. The Frenchman took the front passenger seat to lay his head on. Avoiding the Australian living quarter as much as possible.
The night went by almost without any disturbance for those who reside in the van. Almost, until bladder started its routine. Xeras woke up with the urge to relieve. She swiftly looked around searching for a place where she can release her dammed liquid waste. There was none in the van. She carefully climbed to Mundy's bed and poked him.
In an instant she received a reaction. Sniper turn his body to face the mare and said, "Hmm?"
"I....have to go," Xeras said.
Sniper asked, "Where ?"
Blushing over embarrassment she said, "You know.... the...."
Sniper got the hint. Seeing the mare other hoof was placed somewhere below her belly. He jumped out of bed and walked pass Pyro in the cramped space of the van. Opening the storage box, he grabbed a jar beside the bars of Australium. The jar was half way full with yellow liquid. It was his lavatory.
Taking a look at the jar. She decided not to ask what the transparent yellow liquid was. Both man and mare walked out of the van and into the alley. The Australian was a little baffled when the zebra asked for a place to relieved her self, then again they talked and trade he thought. He put down the jar beside the van.
"In that ?" Xeras asked.
Sniper nodded.
The chieftain daughter thought it was better than to spray it all over the alley. She opened the the lid. Before she does her 'business' she gave a look to the Australian just beside her that meant "do you mind ?". Sniper was out of her sight in a matter of seconds.
While waiting, only the sound of trickling of liquid can be heard by the Bushman's ear. He light up a cigarette and blew nicotine haze. Looking up to the moonless sky he thought of his other teammates. Although considered a loner he had people he care about. Another batch of lung murdering smoke exhaled. His mind then took a turn to thought of tomorrow. About the trading and the Roaman city life which was completely alien to him, Spy and Pyro. A village full was something, a whole city of talking, thinking, trading zebra was on another level.
The man from the Outback felt a tug on his pants. He looked down and was met by Xeras, with the portable lavatory. After giving the toilet back she went back into the camper. Sniper took the jar from the ground. It was three-fourth full. He decided to made it whole.
After filling the jar, he placed it in the open glove compartment. He went back into the living quarter. Finding that the zebra mare had light some candles and was holding a wet rag. He ignored what she was doing and came back to his bed. Shortly after he laid, Xeras sat beside him. Sniper stared at the mare's green eyes. Xeras stared back at those pale blue eyes.
Xeras then removed the Australian hat. Under it and around Snipers head was bandage wrapped around. The marksman hadn't realize he was wearing a bandage. The zebra then removed the dirty and old bandage from Nick Mundy's head. The wound on his head had heal, a remarkable recovery. Xeras then proceed to clean the rifleman head of the adhesive substance holding the bandage.
Sniper said, "Thanks."
"It's what mother would have done," Xeras replied.
"Wha' happen to your mum sheila ?" the Sniper asked.
She didn't answer. Sniper got the hint.
Before he had the chance to apologize, the zebra explained, "It's not your fault, you didn't know."
"Still I'm sorry for bringing that up though," Mr. Mundy apologized.
"Apology accepted," the zebra asked, "so how about your mother ?"
"She's home," the Sniper answered plainly.
"How is she ?" the zebra inquired once more.
"Fine I guess," the slender Australian continued, "ain't expectin' me to be home soon."
Xeras gave a confused expression at the statement. He explained why his mother wasn't expecting him. The idea of being shunned due to a job that doesn't suit his parents expectation squeezed the heart of the zebra.
Soon their conversation expanded. To topics about occupation, locations, hobbies and home. While they chat, Sniper mind again wandered somewhere else, home. But he was pulled back into their talk with a nudge from the zebra hoof. Throughout the remaining hours of darkness. Australian and zebra exchanged information about who they were, what they did, and what they had done. Only little was exposed, but it was enough.
--- --- ---
Morning came to the city of Roam. Those who slumbered through the night woke up.The two that didn't had already preparing for the day ahead. Sniper and the zebra clerk was sorting Radigator meat. The zebra doctor was preparing her saddlebag and studied the list of medicine needed. Pyro cooked and Spy helped with coffee.
Their breakfast includes eggs, hash browns, sunny side ups with coffee. Before the sun peeked over the horizon, they were finished and on their way to the market. Spy and Pyro decided to go with Zavimbi in selling their surplus of Radigator meat. While Sniper was with the chieftain daughter.
At first they were together on the way to the market. As they entered the market, pairs went separate ways. The zebra mare and the Australian walked towards a less crowded route into their destination. A route to the pharmacy told by the zebra clerk. Lesser crowd it maybe, the pair were bestowed with heads turning to look at them by almost every zebra they passed by.
Two hours had pass. They arrived at the pharmacy. To the Australian it wasn't the ordinary pharmacy like the ones around New Mexico. It was closer to a place where Medic can buy an internal organ or two. Like most of the buildings that made Roam, it was two story in height. Clay roofed and brown in hue.
Nick Mundy opened the door. Accompanied by an ominous creak. But ended in a chime of a bell.The chime caught someone inside the store.
The pharmacist inside told them, "Come in, come in."
A zebra mare donning a sweater and glasses ran down the flight of stairs to greet her visitor. From behind the the counter she met two figure. One was a zebra mare with an unorthodox mane cut, traditional cut at the front but long and unkempt on the back. The other one was an odd looking hellhound with a hat she thought.
Less than coherent speech, she asked to the zebra mare, "Uh....uhm how can I help you."
Xeras gave the pharmacist her shopping list. Studying the list, the zebra pharmacist then move about her store, picking items stated on the piece of paper. Sniper and Xeras followed in silent.
After jars, syringes, bandages, tubings, and tins Mint-als were displaced from the many shelf that made the interior of the pharmacy it was time to close the trade. From her saddlebag, Xeras pulled out a bag of bottle caps. She gave the pharmacist the whole bag. Then the pharmacist turn to count them. It was more than needed. Receiving surplus of caps, the zebra mare gave it to the tall man from down under.
Sniper gave her a quizzical expression and asked, "What do you want me to do with these ?"
"Well you can spend it if you like," she gave him another option, "or you can keep it."
"Sheila, I can't take this after wha' you've done to me," he continued, "it's should be me to give you somethin'."
She rejected Mundy's offer and said, "It's a way to get you started here."
Sniper gave what she said a thought. Mundy thought she was right. If he was going to be here for a while he might learn a thing or two about it.
"Alright I'll look around," said the Australian.
Xeras approached the door and told him she'll be waiting outside.
--- --- ---
Sniper left the pharmacy with merchandises from the Wasteland. With a few bottle caps left, he bought several jars, syringes, numerous chem and herbs that the pharmacist doesn't know what would it make if mixed. Exiting the door, the Australian found his zebra companion missing.
He recalled her name from last night conversation and yelled, "Xeras! Where are ya sheila ?!"
Nothing but the afternoon air answered him. He then caught a sound of struggle in an alley made by the pharmacist and the building beside it. He walked to confirm what it was. What he find was an repulsive and disgusting act being done by two zebras. An attempt to defile their victim, Xeras. Sniper quickly denied their doing with a throw of an empty jar. It struck the zebra stallion on top, causing him to back from Xeras in pain. The one below received a jaw shattering blow from the Bushman's rifle stock. The one dazed by Sniper's new jar swiftly recovered.
BANG !
The assailant dropped dead on to alley floor. Sniper kneeled to aid the zebra mare getting back on her hooves.
Sniper asked, "You all right, sheila ?"
With gasp in between she answered, "Yes....I'm fine.....thank you."
Sniper said, "Nothing to-"
Before the gangling Australian finished, he was enveloped with a hug from the mare. A mare who began to cry on his shoulder.
"The-they tried to...*sniff*" cried the mare.
"Tried and failed," the Australian reassured her, "it's all right now but we've gotta get out of here."
She nodded. Looking back at his prey. Sniper noticed both stallion were wearing some kind of uniform. And both had weapons. He had a feeling that what he did would attract only complication. Before exiting the alley Xeras made Sniper stop. Both peeked from the alley. Finding a squad of the Legion headed their way. Glancing at the other end of the alley for escape, they found another guard staring at them.
A dead body and another unconscious will justify an arrest for sure.
BANG !
Before the Legionnaire met with the ground, mare and man ran out of the alley. Along with the local authority hot on their trail. The chief daughter and the Australian sprint through the route they had taken. Hoping to outrun their pursuer before reaching the Rover.
They reached an intersection. The same where their other companions had separate. And there they were reunited.
The masked Pyromaniac asked, "Hmmmphh Hudda ?"
"Yes we heard gunshots," stated the Spy.
"What's going on ?" asked Zavimbi.
Before Sniper and Xeras could explain the situation, more Legionnaire arrived. They open fire upon visual contact. All of them dived for the nearest cover as deadly projectiles were launched. Ignoring civilian safety. The last thing the Legion expected was retaliation. The mercenaries respond to the attack by countering it.
Sniper pulled out his Cleaner's Carbine and sprayed a whole magazine to the pack of zebras. They scattered for cover, one of the opposition left his head from the safety of a nearby column. He received a bullet from an ivory handle snub-nose. Another caught a flare round, resulting in a burning, gaping, smoking hole on the Legionnaire neck. Two of them got holes carved to their heads, from one bullet.
Successfully reducing the numbers of their enemy. Men, Pyro and zebras ran again, heading toward the van. They ran on to a three-way intersection.
"Left !" Sniper shouted.
As the group turned left they were confronted by another group of armed zebras in the distance. Behind them was the same. With both end closed, Sniper made a run for the nearest door. It collapsed and the rest followed and so does hail of led. The Australian commanded both unarmed equines and the arsonist to ran up the stairs. Tearing through the windows and walls was bullets from two platoons of Roaman authorities. Outnumbered and outgunned, Sniper and Spy replied to the gunfire.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The nickel plated snub-nose launched led. Three guards met their bloody fate.
BANG ! Sh-clack
One shot ended the journey of one of the officers leading the platoon. With an officer down, the rest of the platoon kept firing. Sniper switch to his automatic carbine once more. His whole magazine didn't robbed any of the remaining guards lives. As intended it was enough to forced them into cover and stopped the assault for a brief moment. The French and the Australian used the chance to joined their companions.
"We're trapped !" exclaimed Zavimbi.
"No we're not," said the Australian.
He kicked another. The room he entered next was a bedroom. Complete with a cowering zebra family of four. Without a word, Sniper moved a shelf closer to the center of the room. He then told Pyro to break open the ceiling with the fire axe. After reducing the ceiling to a gaping hole all of them climbed through it. Sniper then made another hole on the roof. Providing access to the top exterior of the building.
They left the ground and ran on rooftops. As they ran, mercenaries and zebras could hear the shouts of order of Legionnaire officers. Accompanying those orders were beating of hooves on the pavement. A lot of hooves.
Their legs and hooves ran as fast as they could carry them, and so does another squad of the local cohort on the rooftops parallel to them. They opened fire. A round found their zebra medic, enough to make her stop and screamed in pain. Nick Mundy brought vengeance upon the attackers.
BANG! Sh-clack BANG! Sh-clack BANG! Sh-clack
Three out of the three bullets found its mark. Spilling head content and made holes on the shooter on to the roof. Enough to made the rest of the squad to take cover on the opposite slope of the roof.
Sniper switched to his Cleaner's Carbine and brought the injured mare with him. They caught up with the rest. A gust blowing dust mad them covered their eyes. Above them was a hovering VTOL. Packed with troops with an objective to apprehend or neutralize.
PSHEEEWWW
A flare round launched courtesy of their arsonist companion. It sailed through the air leaving a smoking trail. Penetrating the VTOL's windshield. Frying the pilot's brain and taking the vehicle out of the sky.
--- --- ---
They arrived on the edge of the rooftop where the camper should be. Spy told them to cease and made no noise.
"Hudda Hud Hmmph ?" the Pyro asked.
Spy explained, "Four armed zebras."
Sniper said, "Whatever you are plannin' to do. Do it fast."
Spy looked at his friend from down under. His pursue of haste was justified. Their four legged female companion was leaking red. And Sniper was soaked in it. Spy took out a circular timepiece. And jumped from the roof. His body reached the pavement with a snap indicating the snapping of bones.
With bulging eyes Zavimbi asked, "Why did he do that ?!"
"Watch," Sniper told him.
The four troops below cautiously approached the seemingly lifeless body. They all surround the body with gun at the ready. Smoke appeared behind the group of zebras who were guarding the van. The figure of the Frenchman reappeared from the smoke. He brought down his Butterfly Knife to the zebra on the back of the group. Rendering the guard motionless.
"Gentlemen," he announced.
Three shot echoed in the alley. Three more Legion member dead.
Sniper and Pyro descend from the roof, by clinging to the edge then letting go. Zavimbi jumped and caught by Spy. Sniper made a beeline for the living quarter of his van. He laid Xeras on his bed, still leaking red. Quickly the Australian removed her saddlebag and took a roll of bandages.
As he put some on her mouth gagging her, Sniper said, "Alright, sheila I ain't got a tweezer near here so brace yer self."
Sniper took out a powdered morphine from his storage box and applied to her wounded leg. She shed tear at the burning pain. Sniper took a look at her tear flooded eyes. He nodded. She nodded. Sniper fingers then entered the damaged flesh, reaching for the lead embedded in it. It was agony to her, burning pain was paralyzing her whole body. But she had to endure it.
The led fell to the floor ignored. But the hooves outside didn't. Sniper face turn to a frown, an angry frown with teeth brandished. He took two guns from his closet. None of them were company issued. All of them retained unusual design. Both originated from the Outback.
An Owen and an Austen.
He gave Pyro the side magazine weapon, then told the Spy, "Start the engine."
Spy ran for the driver seat. Zavimbi watched the tall man and the masked one took cover behind a dumpster. A squad of ten zebras arrived at the mouth of the alley. The zebra watched them slowly making their way to the vehicle he's in. His breath became shallower and his heart beat faster. The Rover's engine started. Startling the squad. But it was a signal for sixty round to let loose on the Legionnaire. Resulting in a pool of blood from more than a dozen zebras carpeting the alley.
Sniper turned away from the scene to take the wheel. Zavimbi followed him to the front sitting between the Australian and Spy. Nick put his Land Rover in gear and sped through the Roaman streets.
Driving the camper successfully gave them attention they don't need. Minutes from exiting the alley, they were once more, pursued by the local cohort. Unfortunately for the Legionnaire, they were unable to compete with a Rover in fourth gear. The British made vehicle kept outrunning units. Doing so, they directed themselves uphill.
Still in fourth gear, the van went through a gate flanked by two guards. Both jumped out of the camper's way.
"STOP!" Zavimbi shouted.
Sniper brought his home to an abrupt stop. In front of them were two very different figure. One was a pegasus clad in Roman style armor. Another was a zebra in Roman like clothing.
"Why did ya want me to stop, Wanka' !" the Sniper cried.
With hoof pointed towards the two in front he said, "Th-that's the pontifex maximus."
"What ?" the Sniper asked.
"The Legate..." Zavimbi explained.
Spy translated Zavimbi's saying to the Bushman, "It means he is the highest priest. A leader."
Like on a hunt Sniper slowly put his palm on the gear stick. He saw that bladed guard had start an approach towards his van. Ignoring the subtle approach. He put the van into reverse. A Praetorian leapt on to the hood and blasted the driver's windshield with his Ballistic Hooves. Zavimbi pulled the guard's hoof in, restraining the ability to use the deadly hoof attached weapon. Spy then shot the guard. The shot struck the guard's belly, injuring him. The Frenchman fired five other shots. Turning the guard limp.
Still in reverse, the van exited the Forum's complex. Above and in front, the pegasus they met took to the air and went after them. Opening fire, the pegasus made holes all on the camper. With an aerial troop after them, it would be impossible to escape the Spy thought.
"We have to stop that thing from going after us," told the Spy.
"On it," said Sniper with a tone of confident.
He grabbed the fully loaded jar of yellow liquid from the glove compartment. Then loosen the lid.
"Bushman ! Get that thing away from me !" complaint Spy in disgust.
Also in disgust Zavimbi shouted, "What is that ?!"
"It'll be my pleasure," the Sniper told them.
With one hand on the wheel, and another outside, he took aim. Sniper held his attack. Waiting for his pursuer to descend. Then he threw the jar. A jar containing a liquid that have the ability to make a fully grown man scream like he was five.
Sniper shouted, "JARATE !"
The jar hit home. The content soaked the target. Pulling the airborne target down from the sky. Forcing the red pegasus to roll on the ground in attempt get rid of the liquid that soaked him.
Sniper spun his van. Driving forward out from Roam a wanted fugitive, along with four others.