Black Source #theWattys2016

Marshal II

Suppressed at the stronghold's flank, Marshal sensed their campaign would be short lived. He hadn't expected the Mod Army to have spread so far into Skull Crusher territory in such a short time. He peered into the brush and saw the Mod encampment glowing in the night like a castle of lanterns. Their army was positioning in a small town and their mounted guns and laser grids secured its perimeter. Nothing Smith had planned would prepare them for such a massive encampment. Erring on the side of retreat, Marshal stalled, watching the others trudge on. He felt they had the element of surprise, but he couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of danger, the uncomfortable twisting of his stomach. Smith looked back and saw the distress on Marshal's face. Before they went any farther, Smith halted the group.

"What is it now?" Ellis growled. His impatience was smothering.

"Something about this doesn't feel right," Marshal confessed, "I...I don't think we should do this. I mean, there's got to be a better way. "

"Where's your head? We've been at this for days now, but at the first sign of opposition you want to turn back?" Ellis tossed his bag to the ground. "You're useless!" Marshal's lack of contribution to their team was beginning to show, and Ellis had to pick up the slack. All Ellis had was a bad side, and Marshal managed to get on the bad side of that as well.

"This wasn't part of the plan," Marshal explained, pointing at the war camp. "Look at that...it's a military base. We can't just run through it. I mean, I know you're a mutant or whatever, but what do you think you're going to do in there, run around swinging your butter knife—they have guns...guns! And very effective ones at that!"

"Last I checked I was fixing to cut you open with this butter knife," Ellis flashed his machete. Anxious for opportunity, Smith drew his revolver.

"And last I checked, I killed you," Smith said. "So don't push your luck...dog."

"Killed me...DOG," Ellis yelled.

Palming Ellis's face, Chloe pushed him aside. "Marshal's right, you idiot."

"Yeah..." Marshal agreed.

"He's got a point." Chloe picked up Ellis's bag and tossed it back to him. "We need to come up with another plan." The war camp stood before them like a city of fire, impassable, roaring.

"Right then," Smith said, holstering his sidearm, "I say we find another way around, keep an eye on their movements, and make a better strategy. But we can't give up on this. We know it's a war camp, so it should provide transportation for us, and since it's such a large installation, they may be preparing for battle movements. That's the only reason a war camp of this magnitude would be positioned here." He turned to Marshal. "What do you think?" what he said sounded accurate. Marshal didn't feel very good about having to deviate even slightly from the course, but in light of their situation, he would rather live than take the risk.

"We should find another way." Marshal conceded.

"Where?" Smith asked. He was baiting Marshal for an answer, making him lead rather than follow.

Marshal surveyed the area. "If we go south, we'd be wasting our time, and we can't turn back. So I say we keep north, toward the conflict zone. There's bound to be another way around."

"Good choice." Smith affirmed. "Let's keep moving."

Marshal fell in line behind Chloe, passing by Ellis on his way. They shared a passing glance.