The air was filled with the roaring of motorbikes reverberating throughout the mountains. Steward could see a giant figure, black in color waving an axe above its head while racing towards the convoy. Anger surged throughout Steward like a pack of wild dogs tearing away at the essence of his heart, “Rabbaddon” said Lewis, voice filled with cruelness. Without any hesitation he grabbed his gun and dived out of the truck, rolling as he hit the snow, crouching on his knee he began rattling rounds after rounds towards the beast of a man, a shot had struck Rabbaddon in the shoulder knocking him clean to the ground. The man roared with rage, rising from the ground he stared directly at Steward, a smile crossed his face “I GANNA MAKE YA PAY FER DAT!!” He charged straight for Lewis, Who carried on firing. Suddenly his gun had jammed ‘Sh*’t’ he thought to himself and flung the weapon back into the truck. He began charging towards the black beast who had taken his parents lives. Both men could be seen clashing together with immense force like two blood thirsty demons. A huge fist hurled towards Stewards face barely missing him, Ceasing the opportunity he dug his fingers deep into Rabbaddons gaping wound who released a gurgled cry “I’M GOING TO TEAR YOU PIECE BY PIECE” screamed Steward a demented smile had risen on Stewards face. Before he could gain any advantage Rabbaddon’s hand had came from behind him grabbing his head and snapping him to the ground, Lewis screamed in pain. Rabbaddon leapt on top of the screaming man; landing 3 precise blows to the face. Steward’s lip burst open, the blood had splattered rabbaddon’s face, he began licking the blood of his face “Yummy” he said savoring the drops. Lunging for stewards face. Before he could make contact Stewards hands gripped at the mans face, both wrestling to overpower the other. Steward Head butted the man, but to no effect. Suddenly he plunged his fingers into the eyes causing Rabbaddon to release his grip. Steward applied more force and dug his fingers pushing with as much force as he could muster. one of the eyes exploded. Rabbaddon staggered backwards roaring in pain, clenching where the eye once was. Suddenly he stopped and stared at Steward, pulling out an axe he charged straight for Lewis going on a frenzy lashing at every part he could. Steward dodged and ducked, but he soon lost his balance and in that split second his chest had been gashed open, blood splattering the perfect white snow. Falling to the ground roaring in shear pain. He felt he could no longer go on. Sounds of his grandfathers voice began to fill his head slowly giving him the strenght and will to carry on. Steward lifted himself off the ground, only to feel the impact of the blade crunch and lodge itself into his leg. This time he felt pain no longer. He looked down to his leg to see the axe protruding from it. Taking a hand, he ripped the axe out of his leg, staring directly at the black beast named rabbaddon, saliva drippled down his chin giving him a demented look. Lewis swung so rapidly at rabbaddon the man had not expected it, the blade struck into the mans neck. Steward repeated and repeated till the head had severed from the body. Grabbing the dead mans head he lifted above his head and roaring like wild beast, spit flying from his mouth, eyes bulging
Sadie couldn’t hide her relief at rejoining the convoy. She threw a grin at Gask and leant back into her seat, relaxed for the first time since they’d almost gone over that cliff. It took a few minutes for her to realise that they’d pulled up right being the main truck, rather than ending up at the back of convoy. Sitting up a little straighter, she twisted round to see if her suspicions were unfounded. They weren’t. The two other trucks were gone. “Looks like we weren’t the only ones to go missing,” Sadie said to Gask, turning back round. She looked at the scene outside the window; it was the same endless stretch of white as ever. I hope they’re all right.
“Looks like we weren’t the only ones to go missing,” Gask heard Sadie say as he plowed on through the same endless stretch of white that had become far too much of a common sight. Gask raised his eyes to the sky overhead; it was cloudy, as usual. The land before them was a featureless white. Somehow, the fact that they had caught up with the lead truck was of little consequence to Gask. He despondently switched around the gears on the truck. "Sadie...do you think we will ever have it back? I've heard stories of a long time ago when the Earth was green and the water wasn't frozen. I wonder if there is anywhere left."
The tunnel was dark and silent save for the grumbling of the mechanical beast beneath him. The headlights pierced the darkness in cones of white light. The cold was bitter, but far more tolerable without the wind and snow lashing at his face along with it. From below, Spencer heard the voices of his comrades. Those who had lost their families and those close to them. Spencer had nobody to mourn, for he had known no parent. He had known only a teacher; a man who was hard and uncaring. Or so it seemed. The man had never been a father figure; fathers loved their sons, or at least they were supposed to. This man was a role model, and Spencer had grown into his image, but he was never a father to him. If the old man died, Spencer wouldn't shed a tear. And that was what the old man had stolen from him. Humanity; compassion. He had become a machine; cold and hard without emotion. But deep within him those things still lay, begging to resurface. Up there, manning that gun, he felt more alone than he ever had before. It was a paradox, he knew, because he had spent his life alone and had never cared. But now, realizing that he truly had nothing to lose except his life... A single tear fell from his eye.
“Sadie...” Gask’s voice was melancholy, “do you think we will ever have it back? I've heard stories of a long time ago when the Earth was green and the water wasn't frozen. I wonder if there is anywhere left.” Looking out at the frozen, featureless white landscape Sadie understood the combination of frustration, hope and despair in the question. The world around them never changed. For as long as anyone could remember it had been the same harsh, unforgiving desert of snow that would kill you if you went unprotected. It wasn’t a place to inspire optimism or hope; rather, the longer you looked at the endless white plain the more you were filled with desolation. “I don’t know,” she answered. “One day, maybe the snow will melt. But who’s to say we’d treat it any better? From what I’ve heard we didn’t exactly appreciate what we had – wars, pollution, destruction were already killing the planet before the Drekk came. But … yeah, I hope that we’ll have it back one day.”
Omar was horrified, watching through the porthole. "Eve, turn this tin can around, Steward's in some pretty serious shape!" The formerly pristine snow was stained red with the blood of friend and foe alike. The doctor had seen Steward take an axe to the chest, and he wasn't a fan of the odds of surviving something like that. Still, the man had transformed in the fight. He had become mad, almost feral. Omar suspected he'd calm down when the adrenaline evened out in his blood and the combat high died away, but still, it was a strange sight. "Hurry, Eve, he's hemorrhaging all over the bloody ground!"
"Hurry, Eve, he's hemridging all over the bloody ground!" Something about the voice sounded a thousand miles away. Even the predatory monsters were a thousand miles away. Eve’s breath had slowed at the sight of blood spilt like pant across a perfect white canvas. The Veridians were closing in and a thick metalic scent was on the air, Eve’s stomach turned. She tried to start the truck it roared to life then stalled, on trying again it stalled, then simply the engine wouldn't turn over. More of the Veridians clambered onto the hood, like bees pouring out of a hive angry and ready to sting. they came then a shot would have them carefully move away only to return. Human flesh was to wonderful a meal to refuse. A large male grabbed Eves arm and began dragging her through the broken windscreen, the jagged pieces of glass clawed at her back. Eve threw the shotgun into the front of the truck praying it wouldn’t misfire. On her back being dragged Eve could see the sky, it was as bleak and empty as the dunes. She removed the revolver and popped a cap into the Veridian’s head as it’s blood spattered upon her an inhuman giggle escaped her lips. She managed to kick the body away from her and crawled over the hood back into the safety of the truck. Her laughter continued as she watched the Veridians slowly creep across towards Lewis like vultures unsure if their prey was on its last legs. She lifted the shot gun and fired into the back of another of the cannibals before turning to the cal her laughter making it almost to hard to walk. Her body shook with howls of laughter.
The cab suddenly felt claustrophobic. Mika squeezed back between the seats and began making hot drinks. When they were done she distributed them to anyone in the cab who wanted one and climbed up to where Spencer was, outside, to offer him a warmer-upper as well. "Hey," she said into the whipping wind when she saw his silent, hunched figure at the gun, "I brought up some coffee if you want it. Hope you like it black."
Spencer was surprised to hear Mika's voice near him. Excellent timing. Even if it was a simple gesture that she had made, it lightened his mood slightly. He even allowed himself to smile at her as he took the cup. "Perfect. Thank you." A smile. Hell, how long had it been since he had last smiled? "How are things down below?" He asked her.
I shook outta my wide eyed sleep and could see Pontain Peak a bit in the distance of the dark clouds. Mika handed me a nice cup of coffee. Caffeine a truckers true lover. "Thanks a bunch," I said to her with a big smile. I cracked my neck and began to drink the coffee. I looked over at Hawke and Artie who both seemed to be dead silent. I looked up as Mika went up to greet Spencer. "Yo Spence, do you see Pontain Peak in the distance, if you do how far away does it look up there," I yelled up hoping he heard me.
Spencer heard David's voice call up to him. They had emerged from the caves a while back, and the snow had thinned out slightly. The Dunes of Calafair spread out before him, and though he couldn't quite see it, he knew where it was. "Three days 'till the Peak. If we're lucky."
Mika sipped her drink, trying not to drop it with gloved hands. She was wrapped tightly in her parka and hood and wore the snowshades to protect her eyes from the wind. She could feel her nose beginning to get cold almost immediately. "Have you seen anything worth seeing up here?" She asked Spencer as she sucked in the icy air and looked all around at the frozen landscape.
"Hm." Spencer grunted slightly as he sipped the hot coffee. Funny how small pleasures meant so much when one had so little. "Nothing but snow and ice...as always." He took another sip. "Anything could happen out here. The dunes won't offer much cover for the truck; but they will for Veridians on foot..." "We'll have to keep our eyes open."
"I found some tracks. I figure we are an hour behind. Shall we risk a little speed?" Helena didn't wait for Drake to respond. She slowly applied pressure to the gas and the massive truck picked up speed. She was pushing the limits of safety, but wasn't outright speeding. Being isolated from the convey was wearing on her, and she was anxious to catch up.
Steward spun around seeing Velidians heading towards him. Aloud gun shot filled the air, while one of the attackers collapsed to icy ground. They came in swarms ready for an easy piece of meat, Steward threw rabbaddons head at their feet, they looked down eyes in shock and fear the leader of the swarm jumped for Steward who just lodged the axe into the mans head the spectator fled in fear. Steward tried walking a few yards his leg screamed with pain his vision went black as he hit the cold ice.
"Damnit, he's KO'd, Eve. You need to get closer so I..." suddenly Omar realised something. He realised that Steward's life was in his hands. But more importantly, he realised that no matter how much the man had terrified him in the last hour, he couldn't let him bleed to death in the ice. A few seconds later, Omar was outside of the carrier, running towards Steward, hoping his act of valor wasn't in vain. "Somebody cover our arses!" he shouted back.
"Somebody cover our arses!" Almost as if on cue, Chris finished unjamming the 50 and lit up the night with the crackling of gunfire. He did a commendable job of not letting his line of fire get too close to Louie or the Doc, while at the same time taking out the unsuspecting Veridians. He killed a few Veridians oppourtunists that were heading for Omar as he exited the truck. As the rounds stuck, the men exploded, covering the doc in blood. Chris sighed in the back of his mind. He knew he'd get an ear full about it later. Omar reached Steward as the few remaining Veridians wisely retreated, or tried to anyway. Chris continued shooting at their backs. No mercy. If any of them were allowed to escape then they'd most probably return in greater numbers.
Steward came concious for a split second. Seeing blazes of lights firing; a companied by the sounds of pops and crackles. Screams could be heard coming from the distance. Turning his head he could see a figure rushing towards him, a sudden panic flooded through his body, was this figure friend or foe, his mind was to clouded to think - The pain was unbearable. He took a feeble swipe at the figure, before plunging into the abyss of his mind.
The loud blasts from the fifty Cal made Eve jump. It was as if she had passed out Steward was down Doc running towards him Chris up on fifty Cal she was at the hatch. Eve couldn’t remember why. A distant cloud of dust showed the Velidians. Eve tried the trucks key it still wouldn’t turn over. Eve helped Omar lift Steward. “Carefully Eve we can‘t risk moving him the wrong way,” Omar said for some reason he wouldn’t look her in the eye. Eve frowned then nodded her head. She followed the Doc’s instruction and carefully laid him in the truck next to Gaston. It seemed this truck was fast become a emergency room. Eve stared at Steward swallowing at the thought that lifted in her mind. Shaking her head and dismissing it she hurried over to the hood of the truck and lifted it. They had to get this truck moving, they were probably hours behind the other trucks.
"He's in shock," the doctor said, ripping off Steward's parka to reveal the weeping gash across his chest. There was also a wound to his calf, which had ripped away a lot of the muscle. Omar grabbed a syringe of epinephrine, pulled the cap off with his teeth and plunged it directly into the man's heart. That should keep it pumping. "****, this is bad," the doctor explained, "fragments of his rib-cage have shredded his thoracic muscles like shrapnel from a grenade. He's bleeding into his lungs. He'll drown in it if we don't get it out of there and stitch him up right now. Eve, I need you to take this," he held up a bag with a pump attached, "and pump the blood out of his pleural cavity while I perform surgery. Just keep squeezing, okay?" There was so much blood everywhere, Omar thought he'd gone colourblind for a second. Everything was screaming scarlet. He tried to concentrate on repairing the damage.
“Eve, I need you to take this," he held up a bag with a pump attached, "and pump the blood out of his pleural cavity while I perform surgery. Just keep squeezing, okay?" Eve hurried back over to Omar and frowned looking at Steward, “I don‘t think I‘m the best person for the job Doc,” as she was saying it she took the bag anyway swallowing hard. Sweat glistened on her face and she gave the Doctor fleeting looks of plea. She really shouldn’t be right here. She looked down at Lewis and couldn’t help but grin a little he was so helpless. She shook her head, he was one of the team she shouldn’t be thinking that way. She pumped the bag and looked away desperate for restraint.
Chris watched from his position behind the 50. He figured Louie must be seriously injured since he couldn't even be moved to the truck to be worked on. Crazy bastard waded alone through a sea of manics and somehow managed to off the Big Boss. Truck 3 owed their lives to him. Chris looked to Gaston, still unconscious, wrapped in his blankets, oblivious to what was going on. It seemed that all of the combat specialists were going to be in wheelchairs before the team could make it to the Drekk....
He told Helena, "If you didn't wait for my answer why did you ask at all. Anyway, I was going to say yes". Drake then looked out of the window. "I am sure we would return safely. If we are attacked then try to frighten off them. I will creep up behind them while you catch their attention. Then I will open fire on them or a good rocket would finish them all for good", said Drake. He then went to his seat, took out his bag. He searched the bag and took out a photograph. It was his parents' picture. They were killed by the Reavers. His eyes were filled with rage.
