The Paladin

Genesis - Chapter Six

Wind blowing sand into his face stirred his from his slumber.  He got up, his body still sore from the fight, whenever it was.  He looked around and only saw sand again.  He could not believe it, was he back in the same village from the very beginning?  He then had a thought, he could not find the village, only sand. He started to walk in no real direction, not knowing what else to do.

After walking for two hours, the armor was too much, so he took it off and it disappeared.  Matt was now wearing nothing but his black pants and tan under shirt. He almost considered leaving Oath Keeper behind too, but he knew Tiffany would be even madder at him then she was now.  He sighed and kept it on his back, wishing it was a canteen instead.

Five hours of sand, sun and no water, he was fading. He was thinking about how could he have beaten Solas. The Goddess had said that he wasn't ready. She knew he wasn't ready, but let him fight anyway. What else was she hiding? He tried to think on this for a few more minutes until he could not stay awake any longer.

Coolness met his lips, then he went into a coughing fit.  Too much water too fast.  As he calmed down, he saw many faces looking at him. The sky dark and moving back and forth.  Then he heard a Val-lor call, and realized he was in a wagon.  Once again, he escaped death. Once again, he was alive to fight.  He slowly rose and looked at the people.  They clearly were desert dwellers, wearing cool clothing, while he was not. "Where am I?"

"In the Sa-Tra, just outside of the safe zone my friend." One answered. "Drink some more, you look like death."

Matt took the flask. "Thank you." The Sa-Tra sounded familiar, but nothing came to mind. "How far outside of Xen are we?"

The man looked confused "Where did you ask?"

"Xen, that is...was where I was about five hours ago."

"I don't what happened to you, but Xen has not been around for five hundred years. It was destroyed after the Paladin failed to kill Solas Dorcha. As an example to any who would challenge his rule, he led that continent to ruin before coming here."

Matt almost spat out the water. Five hundred years? A different continent? He could not think straight now. The man put a hand on his shoulder. "We can take you to the capitol and see if anyone knows you, but I think you need to rest friend." Matt nodded and sat quietly for the rest of the trip.

*

But not all was quiet for the night.  Not far from where Matt was found, a small group of people watched a desert base.  They knew the patterns of the search lights and the coming and going of all the troops.  They knew that this base held an imported person, one who kept the Empire running. "Remember, we are here to take my sister alive." Samantha, one of the last in a Royal Blood line, reminded everyone. "Destroy the ammo and vehicle dept. if you can, but Eve is the real target."

Colin looked at her and sighed. "Of course my lady." His southern land accent was deep, but always told her that he was there for her. "We know what this means for our cause, but do you really think she will come without a fight?"

Sam didn't answer, only ran to the base signaling the attack had begun. All the others ran after her. Colin stayed back, pulling his sand blanket over his body to hide himself and got his rifle ready to pick off any enemy soldiers on the base.  As Sam reached the door, she threw a block of C4 at it and blew the door wide open.  Everyone inside was surprised and were cut down quickly. The group then split up to different directions to the goals. Sam was going alone and Colin was yelling at her not to do, but it was too late when she entered the main building. Colin swore but held his spot.

Sam ran through the empty halls, she knew that there should troopers all over the place, but she was focused on only one thing.  She reached the target door and gathered her breath.  Then kicked the door open and saw... nothing.  The room was empty, she knew that Eve was going to be here to inspect the place, but this was too easy to get in and...then it hit her too late.