Peace in Death

[coorash]

((Alright, while it may at first seem like I totally ninja'd Orom's idea, I had actually had this one for a while just sitting in my head. I figured, since I had writer's block, to take my normal approach to such petty problems and try to plow through it.

Another creativity dump for Paco, but I might finish this story.))

"Oomph!"

Zach doubled up as a fist slammed into his stomach, wheezing slightly before an elbow to the small of his back drove him to his knees. The pain distracted him from his chafing clothes, the sackcloth that wreathed his gaunt form. His eyes misted slightly from it, and he barely noticed as they slipped the handcuffs around his wrists.

The rebel of sorts staggered along, prodded carefully by nightsticks and small, electrically charged rods. His eyes were set on his path, never straying, never betraying his internal fear.

Finally, he sagged against the wall, eyes closed as he leaned his head back. Low clicks alerted him it was almost time. He took the moments to ponder the events that had lead to his death.

[coorash]

"Oh shit!"

Zach ducked behind a tree as bullets tore through the area he was just in. Two soldiers began to comb the trees, uneasy in the environment. The three survivors of Zach's makeshift fireteam tried make themselves smaller, less noticeable. Zach rolled his eyes at them and grinned. He poked his head from behind the tree.

Lead abruptly hissed so close to his face he felt it pass. The soldier swore as his reflex shot missed, Zach ducked back behind the tree. His enemy inched closer, rifle at the ready, waiting for an opportunity.

And so he was caught off guard when one of the rebels leapt from behind a log, screaming incoherently and blazing away with his gun. The other man danced forward, propelled less than a foot by the bullets, and collapsed in a mangled heap. His companion spun, already sighting down the barrel.

Zach burst from behind the tree. His target fired. The betrayed soldier fell back, eyes wide and disbelieving, clutching reflexively at the holes in his chest. Zach opened fire, downing his target in a frenzied burst of lead. Each soldier, betrayed by their allies, crept from cover. Zach looked around, eyes still jittery with adrenaline. Then, completely exhausted, he collapsed.

[coorash]

"Someone make some tea."

The betrayed sat around a fire, occasionally poking the coals with a stick. One of them, Josh, had recalled trips with his father. Make a fire and brew tea. Keep busy, keep your mind off being lost. Panic is bad.

Zach's eyes opened slowly, uncomfortably. He crawled, slightly sick, to the fire and his two remaining friends. Josh welcomed him with a nod, Kenneth was staring too deeply into the fire to notice.

"I don't think we were supposed to survive."

"A distraction. That's all we were. Something to draw fire from the vanguard." It was Josh, unsurprisingly, who spoke. Grateful for conversation, Zach nodded.

"I think you're right." He picked up the small tea kettle and poured a cup, then drank some, ignoring the heat. "You want any?"

Josh waved him off. "I'll be fine."

"I'll have some." Kenneth spoke for the first time, his voice solid, unwavering. Silently, Zach poured him some tea.

They sat in silence for a bit, brooding. Occasionally, one got up to do something, but it was a long time before Kenneth broke the silence.

"So... What now?"

And in answer, their radio crackled to life. "Attention all units, we have received word that fireteam four has turned on it's allies. Again, fireteam four has betrayed it's allies. Anyone from that team should be killed on sight."

Silence again. Then Zach spoke.

"Well, damn."

[coorash]

The three remaining soldiers on fireteam four dove into the dirt, bullets puckering the dirt around them. The fire flickered, then went out as they kicked dirt over it, spilling the hot water as well.

A sharp crack sounded right next to Josh's ear. He swore, automatically recoiling, searching in the darkness for his firearm. Kenneth had already found his and was blazing away at any noise, any other bursts of light. Zach clawed into the tent, found his sidearm, and began firing. Josh finally grabbed a weapon and loosed a hail of death.

They fired in controlled bursts, eyes jumping from target to target as they searched for an opening. Rather abruptly, Kenneth turned in their general direction and lobbed a flashlight. "Over there! They're over there!"

Josh swore loudly, realizing Kenneth had sold them out to save his own hide. He'd barely begun to swing his gun before six three shot bursts tore into his torso. Zach dropped to one knee, spraying bullets, and began to slowly backtrack. He paused momentarily to shoot Kenneth; The traitor's head exploded violently, mid-protest.

They surrounded him. Zach felt a cold metal push against the back of his head, he dropped his rifle and held up his hands.

[coorash]

A sudden noise brought him back to reality. The prisoner's head snapped forward, his eyes opening abruptly. The firing squad shouldered their weapons, and Zach raised his middle digit in one final salute.

He never heard the round that killed him.