A Series.
“What are we going to do?”
Riggs looked up from his nap at Valeria, a worried look on her face. “What do you mean?”
“When we get off the caravan train, what are we going to do?” Valeria looked him in the eyes fearfully.
“I’ll find work somewhere. We’ll figure it out when we get there.”
“You don’t have a plan?”
“Look, I didn’t even know about this caravan until yesterday but I do know this. Wherever we end up, we’ll be fine.”
“You’re sure?”
“I am.” Valeria sat back in her chair, watching the desert pass by, her eyes less fearful. Riggs, not returning to sleep, sat up. “I’m going to have a look around,” he said, standing up.
“Knock yourself out. There is not much to see,” replied Valeria, still staring out the window. Riggs laughed and opened the door, stepping into the hallway. Another guest on the train squeezed by Riggs and to another housing car towards the rear. Riggs made his way to the front. He passed through a couple more housing cars, most of their window shades drawn. Stepping onto another car he was greeted by one of the security force. Riggs returned the greeting. He continued into the trading cars and finally towards the front to the defense cars. Security was thicker up here.
“Is this where they keep all the muscle?” he asked of a nearby security personal.
The man laughed. “Yeah, these cars up here are made for fighting. Only place more secure is the rearmost car. Things go south, that’s where we send the women and children.”
Riggs nodded, looking around at the defense car. He looked out the window at the endless dunes in the distance. “Be happy when we get out of this desert” said Riggs.
“Still got a while for that,” replied the security guard. Riggs nodded and returned to his space.
“Well, you were right,” said Riggs, closing the door behind him.
“I know… about what?”
“Not much to see.”
“Not much out there either,” said Valeria, looking out at the dunes.
Riggs sat back down and leaned against the window looking at the dunes. “No, no there’s not.”
After a few minutes of silence, Valeria turned her gaze to Riggs. “Are you excited about the future?”
A siren screeched through the car, causing both of them to cover their ears, dropping to the floor. A security guard banged on the door, then threw it open. “We’re under attack. All able-bodied men are to report to the defense cars.”
“What about her?” said Riggs. The security guard had already raced to the next room.
“I’ll be safe,” replied Valeria. Riggs nodded, readying his rifle as he raced to the front of the car.
He looked out from the top of the defense car. The defense cars were two-leveled and armored, providing cover for the engine car they guarded. Riggs looked towards the rear of the caravan train, where two smoking cars were all that was left of an early attack. “Just scouts,” warned a security guard, walking up and down the line of civilians. Most of the men had been given extra weapons from the security force. Riggs was one of the few who had his own. He heard the familiar sound of the desert bandit’s buggies just over the dune to the right of the caravan train.
“Remember, I’ll give the order to fire,” reminded the security guard. Riggs clutched his rifle tighter, weary of bandits. The first buggy crested the dune and neared the first defense car. A few bandits in the back were preparing some concoction. The driver swerved in as one of the rear bandits raised his arm to throw whatever it was they had been making. The security guard snapped his rifle up and fired. The canister in the bandit’s hand burst, sending flame all over the car and its occupants. The car swerved, smashing into the side of the caravan train and was ground up. “Fools,” muttered the security guard.
More buggies crested the dunes, this time more aggressively. “Fire at will, aim for the drivers,” ordered the security guard. Riggs raised his rifle, training it on a nearing buggy.
A shot rang out next to him. The man he was stationed next to stared at his rifle as if holding a live snake. “Get this man the hell away from me before he kills me,” said Riggs.
The security guard laughed, grabbing the man and placing him further down the line. Riggs returned to his work. The bandits in the rear had their concoction ready. Riggs fired, striking the driver in the chest. The car careened back up the hill and over it. Some bandits had better luck and were able to toss their concoctions up at the defenders in other cars. Riggs saw flames spread across the car, catching some men up in them. The men who didn’t panic were saved by the security forces putting out the fires, but others who panicked leaped off the side of the caravan train and to their deaths.
“Other side,” Riggs heard the security guard say. The guard walked over, grabbing every other man and sending him to the other side. “Same rules apply. Get the drivers, and don’t let them get too close.” The assault picked up in intensity, as more and more buggies flew over the dunes down towards the train. Some were working on the less-guarded cars but were put back by the security forces in place. The raiders fired at the defenders. Most of the bullets either passed way over their heads or clattered against the armor of the car doing nothing, but some struck true, sending defenders sprawling out against the roof or down onto the road. Riggs ducked as a volley struck across the roof he was on. A man to his right was hit. He fell back against the roof, blood pouring from his wounds.
The security guard raced over, checking the man. Seeing he was dead he pushed the body forward off the side of the car. He caught eyes with Riggs. “Can’t have him bloodying up the place, making it slippery for us.” Riggs nodded. The attack picked up intensity as more bandits found their marks. Two of the seven defense cars had their entire roofs on fire. “You,” the security guard pointed at Riggs, “report to the end car. We need good men next to the engine.” Riggs nodded and descended the stairs. He heard the whoosh of flame as the roof above him was hit. Riggs looked up but the flame kept him back. He continued on to the defense car nearest the engine.
“Here.” A security guard pulled Riggs up the stairs and placed him along the line. Riggs saw that there were four security guards along the roof, unlike the guards on all the other cars. Riggs saw five buggies moving in a tight formation. Riggs took aim at them but was met by fire from all five buggies simultaneously. He hugged the ground. Men around him were torn up, their bodies smacking violently against the railing and roof. One of the security guards was caught in the fire and tumbled off the side. Riggs tried rising, but another volley kept him pinned. He looked over at the roof next to him where men were desperately trying to provide covering fire but were doing a haphazard job of it. Their security guard lay dead along the left side of the train.
At a lull in the fire, Riggs peeked over and saw to his horror a car laden with explosives driving straight towards them. Riggs aimed and fired, but the car was heavily armored in the front. “Get off the roof,” shouted Riggs, jumping off the side to the floor of the adjacent car. A few men followed him as the car exploded in a ball of flame. Riggs, racing down the hallway, was thrown to the floor from the explosion. He heard screams from the roof above him as fire descended onto the roof.
The caravan’s train engine had been stopped, as a small power supply kept it moving. Riggs heard explosions down the line as more suicide cars made their impact. Riggs looked back down the hallway as a few blank faces stared at him. “What do we do?” asked one.
Riggs looked back towards the rear. “The concentration of security forces is in the rear car. That is where we should make it to.” Riggs looked back at the men. “Follow me.” Riggs rose to a crouch and started towards the rear. Walking between the cars, one man was shot by a bandit boarding. The man fell off. The rest turned and opened fire on the bandit sending him back off the train. “They’ve begun boarding. Be on the lookout” said Riggs. He made his way forward, increasing his speed as he went, worried about Valeria.
A group of four bandits burst through the door in front of them. Riggs raised his rifle as he hit the floor firing. The bandits were made short work of between Riggs and his men. They made their way through the rest of the defense cars without much incident, passing the bodies of dead security personnel on the bottom floors. Riggs stopped, peering into the first trading car. The car was filled with bandits looting. A security guard stood next to Riggs. “They are concentrated in the trade cars, and we are cut off from the rear car.”
“We’ll have to fight our way through. Let’s hope they are more caught up with looting than ready for a fight.” The men aimed their rifles through the windows and fired in. The bandits, most of them weaponless and laden with loot, were cut down before they knew what was happening. The few who had kept their wits about them returned fire but were also cut down. “Move,” ordered Riggs. The car cleared. The men moved from car to car, clearing them. Making it to the housing cars, Riggs burst through, shooting down bandits as he passed by ignoring those he could. He broke off from the group and made his way to his cabin. He saw the doors broken open and rushed in, expecting the worst. He saw no sign of Valeria.
He turned to leave when he heard “Riggs.” Spinning around, he tried to locate the source of the sound. “Down here.” He looked down to see Valeria’s arm protruding from deep under the seat. He helped Valeria’s shaking form out. “Riggs,” she whispered drawing close to him.
“Come, we’re not safe here. We must make it to the last car.” Valeria nodded reluctantly. Riggs retrieved a rifle from a corpse and handed it to Valeria. “Protect yourself, and don’t shoot me.” Valeria nodded.
Riggs entered the hallway, and his group caught up with him. “See why you were in such a hurry,” remarked the security guard. They continued down the hallway. “We must get to the car fast, before it is locked up or worse, overrun,” said the security guard.
“We may already be too late,” replied Riggs, peeking into the car ahead of them.
“Don’t underestimate that car or its forces. They’ll put up a fight.” Riggs lurched forward as the caravan train’s speed decreased rapidly. “They got to the brakes,” said the security guard. Bandits now poured onto the cars.
“We’re better off making a defense here,” said Riggs watching the car ahead of him swell with bandits.
The security guard looked around. “We can make do but this isn’t much.”
“No, it’s not. We’ll have to make up for it by hurting them so bad that looting on a housing car isn’t worth it to them. Pile the bodies by the doorways.”
The men set to work piling the raider bodies against each entrance to the car, along with the bodies of the passengers. A few raiders walked into the car, not expecting any resistance, and were cut down, adding to the pile. The security guard set up the men to cover the doorways and all prepared to hold off as long as they could.
The bandits finished their looting of the housing cars and made their way towards Riggs’ car. The bandits, not expecting resistance, walked right into the defenders’ line of fire. A whole group of bandits were cut down, piling up against the floor of the housing car adjacent Riggs. Riggs and the security guard prowled the windows, shooting down any bandits who attempted to lob in one of their fire bombs. The raiders came to Riggs in groups, disjointed from the rest, making them easy prey.
“We’re running low on ammo,” called out one of the men.
“Gather it from the next car. Over there should be more than enough,” returned the security guard. The man raced over, gathering up all he could, tossing it back over the pile of bodies at the door. The ammunition was run down to the other side by Riggs. Satisfied, the man rushed back over but was shot in between the cars. He slumped forward against the pile of bodies, his jaw ajar. “They’ll be zeroing in on us soon enough,” whispered the security guard to Riggs. “Once the rear car falls, they’ll notice this one,” he continued.
“All we can do is fight as hard as we can,” replied Riggs. More bandits concentrated on Riggs’ car, wearing away at their defenses. Riggs watched outside as a heavily armored car pulled up to the side of Riggs’ car. “Something’s up,” said Riggs.
The security guard crouched next to Riggs, looking out the window at the car. Two bandits jumped out, immediately firing on their position. Riggs and the guard hit the ground and crawled out of the enclosed room back into the hallway. ‘Riggs” Valeria screamed, pointing out of the window. Riggs crawled to Valeria’s position and looked out. A large figure had a rocket propelled grenade trained on the car. Riggs cursed under his breath, grabbed Valeria, and fell to the floor.
The explosion rocked the entire car and was met with a surge by the bandits. Riggs’ head spun. He faintly heard the sound of gunfire but couldn’t get his vision focused. He felt Valeria underneath him but little else. He felt himself turned over and a rifle shoved in his face. He tried reacting but couldn’t. He waited for the shot that would end his life but it never came. He felt himself lifted and placed on a chair that was blown from one of rooms. He eyes began to focus. A large figure stood in front of him. Riggs shook his head, his vision finally clearing. He looked up and his blood froze.
Gorganas looked down upon him, a smile across the giant’s cruel lips. “Friend,” began Gorganas, “I feared we may never meet again.” Gorganas looked over at Valeria’s prostrate form across the floor of the car. “I see you have acquired a friend since our last visit.”
Riggs mouthed words but felt nothing come out.
“You are not an easy man to kill… and neither am I.” Gorganas smiled again. “Fate has plans for us, Riggs.” The last thing Riggs saw was Gorganas’ hand descending towards his face.
Riggs awoke with a start. He did not recognize where he was. He was in chains in what appeared to be a cell. There was blood all around him and a few other men chained to other sections of the wall. Riggs shook his head, trying to recall what had happened. He had been in the car with Valeria and they were heading toward who knows where, when bandits attacked… or had that been a dream? And… and Gorganas? Riggs tried standing up, a shot of adrenaline coursing through him, but was restrained by his chains. “Good news, Riggs, you made it to the security car.” Gorganas stepped through the door, staring at Riggs. Gorganas took a seat on a pile of dead passengers next to Riggs. “I have a confession. Before I met you Riggs, I was a bit bored with my life. Sure, I had carved out an empire among the tribes… an empire that you destroyed. And I had power and wealth, but there was an essential ingredient missing from my life. Do you know what that ingredient was, Riggs?” asked Gorganas sincerely.
“Go to hell,” replied Riggs, his voice hoarse.
Gorganas smiled. “No. Challenge. Challenge is what I was missing in my life. When I found you, Riggs, there was something that I thought was special about you, but little did I know the effect you would have on my life. Riggs… we are good for each other.” Gorganas stood up from his makeshift chair. “I should have known it was you, turning a housing car into a deathtrap for my men.” Gorganas sighed happily. “I should have known,” repeated the giant. “You make me stronger, Riggs, stronger than I ever thought possible, and I… I do the same for you. Truly, we were made for each other.”
“You are delusional,” spat Riggs.
Gorganas shook his head. “I am about to give you the opportunity of a lifetime,” said Gorganas, waving his hand at the door. Two raiders came in, bearing Valeria between them.
“No,” gasped Riggs.
“I have created you, Riggs. Without me, you would not be who you are. Yet I am not done with you yet… no, you are too good for that. Riggs, I am the fire that shall refine you into steel.” Gorganas shook his head. “It is unfortunate that the best lessons are also the harshest.” Gorganas pulled out a knife from his side and dashed it across Valeria’s exposed throat.
Riggs cried out, straining against his chains. Valeria slumped forward, blood pouring from her wound. The thugs dropped her on the ground in front of Riggs but out of his reach. “You bastard,” screamed Riggs. “I’ll kill you, I swear on everything I’ll kill you.”
Gorganas walked over to Riggs and crouched. He caught Riggs’ head in his hand, holding him still. Gorganas, with his other hand, traced the scars on Riggs’ cheek. “I feel this scar may be even deeper,” said Gorganas, rising up and turning to leave. Walking out the door he paused and turned back towards Riggs. “And more permanent.”
“I will kill you, Gorganas,” said Riggs calmly.
Gorganas paused again, not turning around. “I hope so.” He departed with his thugs, leaving Riggs with Valeria’s body. Riggs’ screams filled the entire car and drifted up into the night air of the desert. Riggs continued to scream and fight his chains until he couldn’t bear to move. Staring at Valeria’s dead body across from him, he felt darkness overtake him.
Waking, Riggs looked around the room. The sun shone brightly outside, illuminating the car. Valeria’s body was still across from Riggs, her blood drying around her. The memories of the night before came flooding back to Riggs. Riggs screamed out in anger but then calmed himself, realizing it did him no good. He looked around the room at ways he might be able to escape. He examined the chains that bound him. They were rusty and old but he would not be breaking out of them any time soon. He looked around the room. He froze, staring at Valeria. Around her neck was a key drenched in her blood. He fell back against the wall of the car, feeling sick. He looked around for a hook of some sort. He was able to grab a piece of broken metal from one of the cars. Working his hands to the front of him he reached out, trying to reach the key. He was able to touch the thin string and pulled, cutting it from Valeria’s neck. The key fell free and sat in the blood. Riggs pushed the key to the ground with the metal shard and brought it closer and closer to him, until finally he grasped it and undid his bonds. He stood up, his chains falling to the floor.
He looked down at Valeria’s body, dirty, bruised, and covered in blood. Riggs sunk down to his knees next to her. He grabbed her body and turned her over. Her head lolled back, revealing the deep gash that had nearly decapitated her. Riggs turned away and puked. He stood up, able to bear the sight of Valeria any longer, and left her in the room with dead prisoners chained to the wall. He closed the door to the car behind him, trying to shut out everything that had transpired there. Riggs looked around him. The next car was littered with dead bodies, spent cartridges, blood, and guts. The smell hit Riggs for the first time, making him retch. He saw his revolver and knife placed on the seat in front of him. He grabbed the weapons and placed them around his waist. He grabbed a rifle from the floor and collected ammunition. Satisfied, he found a bandit lying dead with the concoction next to his body. Riggs found a lighter and threw it into the inside of the security car, shutting the door again. Then he went and rummaged for food setting out north, hoping the desert might take him.
Riggs looked behind him. He could barely make out the thin wisps of smoke that still burned from the caravan train in the distance. Walking forward, he heard the sound of buggies headed in his direction. “Already?” wondered Riggs out loud. In the distance three buggies made their way towards Riggs. Riggs raised his rifle but didn’t fire. He lowered his rifle and sighed, walking towards the buggies that were racing towards him. Two of the buggies pulled up on either side of him, the last stopping a few feet in front of him. The men all had their guns pointed at Riggs. “Go ahead and shoot, I won’t be taken as a slave” said Riggs.
The bandit in the driver seat in front of Riggs emerged from the car and walked towards him. Riggs raised his rifle halfway, causing the bandits to put their fingers on the trigger. “Kill me, but I won’t be a slave,” said Riggs.
The man held up his hand. “No use for slaves.” He stared at Riggs, their faces a few inches apart. “Name is Rin.” Rin backed up a few steps from Riggs studying him. “Yours?” inquired Rin.
“Riggs.”
“Where you headed, Riggs?”
“Nowhere.”
Rin laughed. “We need men. Would you like to join up with us?”
Riggs looked around at the bandits surrounding him. He nodded.
Rin smiled. “Come with us. We’ll get you squared away. If you’re as tough as you look, initiation shouldn’t be much of an issue. Welcome, Riggs, to your first day among the Black Suns.”
