Thread:Parzival12/@comment-27495139-20160210023157

It was hot. And I don’t mean fanning yourself with your shirt hot. I mean about to drop from dehydration if I don’t get water right now hot.This was my third day trekking through this forsaken desert. Each step I take just adds to the regret I feel on my decision to come here.Looking back, I really should have just said no.

wiggle*~FLASHBACK~*wiggle

“Ah! Franklin my dear boy. Come on in!” He waved me into his private study as he was putting a book back on the shelf. It was a nice place, he had built a rather large sum thanks to contributions to the academy. He was a well respected professor, historian and archaeologist. He would often show me artifacts he had collected on his many journeys. A part of me was really excited to know how he traveled all over the world searching for adventure. Another part of me was disappointed he didn’t wear a hat and carry a whip with him.

I had gotten a call from my uncle saying he needed to talk to me urgently. I asked if he could just tell me over the phone but apparently he thought it was to important. The truth is probably because he’s old and lonely. It’s been awhile since anyone has visited  him. I think I’m the only family member that talks to him anymore. Not that he isn’t a nice person mind you. It’s just that in his earlier years when he was just starting out and make a name of his own, he often pushed his family away to focus on his research. After a while people can get a bit tired of it. So when you come back looking for attention, the first thing that comes to their minds is how you turned your back on them to focus on your precious research.

But I digress. “Hey Uncle Tony. You said on the phone you needed my help with something?” He seemed to slump a bit at my response.

“Hmm. I haven't seen you in a while, the first thing you say to your uncle is ‘what do you want old man?!’ I thought our relationship was better than that.” He seemed to pout a bit after he said it. It’s not that I wasn’t happy to see him, but after being called and told to get on the next plane New Orleans I wasn’t in a very big talking mood. In fact if this didn’t turn out to be an emergency of some sort it will end up being a while till I start taking his calls again.

“I never said. It’s just I thought this would be some sort of emergency the way you told me to get down here asap. You know I’m always glad to see you. Now tell me, what is the problem?” I try using a slightly gentler tone. When I get that old I would probably get upset if my relatives only came when there was a problem too.

“Ah yes!” He sure brightens up quickly… “I have an urgent project that I am working on that requires your immediate attention!”At this point he was walking behind his desk, presumably to get whatever the files were on the “special project”. “I need someone to go on an expedition to the desert region.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">He said it so casually I almost didn’t realize he meant me. “Ummm. NO?....”I loved my uncle, he was like a second father to me. Always telling em adventure stories and sometimes even taking me with him on his trips. But come on. I figured I would be here two or three days tops. And now he hits me with this? I don’t know what he thinks it is I do, but I have a life back home. Granted I don’t have much of a love life. But I do have an up and coming career! Along with a goldfish name Mr.Swiggles who must be fed only the finest of flakes.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Of course I will assign you a small team along with an provisions you might need.” He lifted a rather thick file onto his desk. Completely ignoring my rejection.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">I was incredulous. My mouth doing it’s best imitation of Mr.Swiggles. “wat…..What?....WHAT!?! Hello! Didn’t you hear what I just said?! NOOOO! I refuse to go on some wild goose chase and end up being picked by buzzards in the middle of nowhere! You can’t just expect me to go on some journey! I HAVE A LIFE! Why can’t you go yourself?!”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">He was flipping through the file now, completely calm in the face of my outburst. “Why, I’m old. I can’t go galavanting off to certain doom! Now my hope is that you bee out of here early tomorrow morning. This will give you plenty of time to get situated before you head off. I know you don’t have any real experience with dangerous expedition like this. But you have keen instincts and a sharp mind that is crucial to surviving out there. Not to mention your knowledge of the field. Why, you remind me of a younger version of myself in fact. Back then all the ladies couldn’t get enough of this chocolate temptation.Ohhh Mardi gras...”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">I still couldn’t believe what I was hearing. He acted like had already agreed to do it! Not that I was thinking to! Even though I’ve never been on a real adventure before… “Who would be the leader of the team?” I don’t know why I let that slip out of my mouth. I had already decided I was taking the first plane back home.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Ah! Good question! Although you be in charge of the research and the main focus of the expedition, I have assigned leadership to the head of the group that I hired to aid you. None of them are very big thinking mind you, but they will get you where you need to be safely. Believe it or not I do care about your safety Andre. I wouldn’t have picked you if I didn’t think you were the best qualified and could handle this assignment.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">
 * Sigh* “I concede. Who’s going to be joining me?” He gets the widest grin on his wrinkled face at my defeat.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“I have selected a small task force who will aid and protect you through your mission.There are five of them in total. I have a file for each so you can go over them when you’re on the plane. But now onto the meat and potatoes of your assignment. Over these past few months I have been researching strange occurrences going on in the desert region.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">I raised an eyebrow. “Not surprising, that place is packed with monsters. Weird things happening is kinda their M.O.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“This is different, there have been reports of a large number of monsters gathering towards a location in the desert. Mainly Anubi, Sphinxes, who have often been spotted in the desert before, but never in these numbers By mapping out patterns in their movements I have an estimation on where they are headed. There is rumored to be an ancient pyramid in the midst of a desert storm. There have been past expeditions, but due to the monsters that inhabit that area and frequent sandstorms, all have been unsuccessful. Or have never returned..” His face turned grim after he was done. It was the most serious I had ever seen him.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Then how do you expect us to get in?” He smirked upon my question.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Ah, that is where many nights of research comes in handy. You see, the sandstorms seem to be sporadic. When in fact, one will notice a pattern to them if you pay close enough attention.” He placed a map on the desk. “You see the storms come in surges. Usually they are a day or two apart, and can even last up to a week in some cases. However, some good does come from this. You see, even though the monster that reside in that area are used to the climate, even they run for cover during storms. If I’m correct, if you time it just right, you should be able to get to your destination just as a sandstorm is starting up. This way, the monsters will be heading for cover, and you will be able to get there safely before  the storm comes in full force. But of course you will have to hurry, lest you get caught in the middle of it.Once there you will find the source of these disturbances” He sat down with a groan. “So there you have it my dear boy. Your mission in it’s entirety. You can spend today gathering anything you might think you need. Though as I said I will provide as much as I can. Just make sure you are well rested for your journey. I’ll even pay for your plane ticket and lodgings.” He handed me a small envelope. <span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Wow, that sure is generous of you.” He already bought the plane tickets… I should delay a few days just to spite him. Oh well. “Guess I’ll be going now.” I turn towards the door. If the time on these tickets said anything, I would need my sleep.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“And Andre.” I turn back when he calls my name. “Do be careful.” The way he said it was all business.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“I will Uncle.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">_____________________________________________________

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">I was tired. With all the hustle and bustle of getting up early, the plane ride here, along with finding out where I would be staying drained me of my energy. I had finally tracked down my temporary residence in a rundown stone building that looked like it was built in medieval times. It had a wooden door clinging to the archway on hope and imagination. The place had NO windows.Apparently it did have some electricity. But that was mainly powered by a generator in the back. As I walked up to the door I heard no noise from the inside. I didn’t know when I was supposed to meet my compatriots, I assumed it would be when I got off the plane. I was a bit afraid that the door would fall over if I knocked, so I decided to just let myself in. It’s not like it had much of a lock on it anyway.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Umm...Is anyo-?!” I didn’t get a chance to finish. Right in front of my face was a man pointing a handgun in my face. I was standing in the entrance with my hand still on the door. He pulled me inside with his free hand, keeping his gun trained on me. He then moved around me to quietly close the door. He was an older man, probably in his early 60’s. He was white with an unkind face and three large claw marks going right across the side of his head. Stopping just short of his head. He had the stereotypical military cut. He was a very burly man, which didn’t help calm my nerves.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“You Andre?”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Uhm. I-Yes. That’s me. Sir. I am Andre. Um. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” I stick my hand out at the last part. Which in retrospect probably wasn’t the best of ideas. He had me pinned to the ground with my arm behind my back before I could blink. “AH!. Ow...Uhm..Listen, I’m sorry if scared you by just walking in like that.” He give my arm a hard twist.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Nothing scares me kid.” He leans into me, adding to the pressure and pain.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Yessir! I’ll remember that!” Right now I just want to move on from this situation without getting myself killed.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Make sure you do boy.” He got off me with a hard shove.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">I brush my suit off and straighten my glasses in an attempt to look respectable. “Ahem. Well, as you now know I’m Andre. It’s uh- a pleasure to me you mister…?”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Colonel.” He still had that same sneer plastered on his face. Like I just took his last candy bar.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Um.. Colonel?” I thought it was a bit unfair if he was to know my name and I didn’t know his.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“That’s right” After that he just walked away. Didn’t show me around or anything.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Now that I had a better chance to take in my surroundings, I saw a few laptops and an impressive amount of weapons around the room I was in. I suspected the laptops were to track the storm and any patterns within them. I leaned over and focused on one to see what I could discern from the information.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“What do you think you're doing?” I heard a voice that sounded like it came from someone who gargled gravel. I turn around startled to see another big and burly man. This one was much younger than the..”Colonel”. However he certainly didn’t look any friendlier. He was bald except for a small strip of hair going down the middle of his head, amounting to a short mohawk.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Oh. Uh-Hi there. I’m Andre.” I put my hand out a lot slower this time. Hoping to avoid the same outcome as last time.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“I know who you are.” He doesn’t move a muscle. He just stares at me incessantly.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Oh..Well then-” I slowly put my hand down.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“I asked what you think you’re doing.”  He looked like he was ready to tackle me at any minute.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Me? OH. Uhh… Nothing really...I was just checking the weather patterns. My uncle said that we should check the patterns to find out the best time to-.” He walks over and shuts the laptop, without taking his eyes off me.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“I know what he said. We’ve already have a time scheduled. We’ve been sitting here waiting on you to arrive.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">This was getting tiring. I came all the way here to help and they already treat me like this. If the freakin Terminator over here thinks he can do all the brainwork himself he’s free to do so. “Well I’m here now. When do we leave?

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Right now.” We both look over to see the Colonel carrying two bags with him. “Pack up the essentials, if all goes well we should have plenty of supplies. But in my experience nothing goes well. Start loading up the truck, I want to depart in 10 minutes. No more.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">I see two others come from the same room the Colonel just came from carrying bags out to the jeep. Of course they were also built like linebackers. I had a feeling I looked rather unimpressive with my suit and browline glasses. I didn’t bother trying to introduce myself to them. I’ve just taken to calling them Arnold 1 and 2.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“HEY! Malcolm X! You have two hands. Put’em to use.” The Colonel shoves a rather heavy duffel bag into my hands. I would probably be irked  at his rather racist remark if it wasn’t one of my heroes he was comparing me to.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">I load the last bag into the back. The Colonel yelling at my slow progress the entire way. Then I’m shoved in between Arnold 1 and 2 with the Terminator and Colonel sitting up front. <span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> <span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;"> This would be a fun ride.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">______________________

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“So how long do you think it will take us exactly?” It felt like we had been traveling for a good thirty minutes. We had long since left the more inhabited areas and were starting to get more and more into desert lands.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Why? You in a hurry to get somewhere? The site has been sitting there for the past few hundred years. I think it will last a few more days.” He acted like I had been asking over and over again. That was the first time I said anything the whole trip. Days? How long did he expect us to stay in this car.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">As if reading my mind, he stopped the car. “Out.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">We all exited the vehicle. It was extremely hot. He said we had plenty of supplies, but he also said things could go wrong.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Just then I noticed a man on a camel riding towards us with five other camels behind him. He handed the reins to the five off to Colonel. “We’ll be going on camel from here on. Load up the supplies.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Great, I went from being stuck between two grown men who clearly needed extra strength deodorant to sitting on a camel who had no qualms about relieving himself where he stood. I’m so glad I took this assignment.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">__________________________

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">We had been travelling for a few hours now. The sun held no mercy. Every Time I took the tiniest swig from my canteen the Colonel would whip his head around and give me the deadliest glare. I don’t know what he and his cronies were using to sustain themselves. Maybe their muscles absorbed energy from the sun and converted it into water somehow. I had long since stripped myself to my dress shirt, using my black jacket as a sunblocker.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“The sun's getting ready to go down. We’ll set up camp here and break just before dawn.Get ready to get a fire started, it’s gonna get cold.” That was the most beautiful thing I had heard in my entire life. Cold seemed like a total fantasy right now. “Stop standing there grinning like an idiot and help.”

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Yes sir!” I was happy to do whatever it took to get camp set up and take a rest. Soon enough it was twilight.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">I have never been so happy that the sun was going down in my entire life.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">_______________________________________________________

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">I have never been so incensed that the sun went down in my entire life.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">It was unbearably cold. I was wrapped in blankets in my small sleeping bag. Trying to get as close to the fire as  I could without tempting fate. Of course the commandos were all fast asleep. I had been chosen to take first watch, their excuse being that if I was woken in the middle of the night I would still be groggy. Unlike them apparently. I didn’t know how long my shift was supposed to be exactly.Until I got sleepy? I just decided to on an hour or so. Unless I felt myself nodding off. Then I would immediately pass of the duties to one of the others. If they wanted to yell at me  then so be it.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">All of a sudden I heard a noise in the darkness surrounding the camp. So far it had been dead silent, I had seen a lizard or two skirt on the outside of the camp. But whatever this was seemed too large to be a lizard. I heard it again. Like it was darting around the campsite. I swiveled my head back and forth. “Yeah. My shifts over.” I crawl over to Colonel. “Colonel!Colonel! Wake up! Something's circling the camp!” He sat up pulling out his handgun, now fully alert.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Everybody up!” He shouted to get the others attention. He kept looking back and forth, trying to track the sound of the movements.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">When everyone was awake,aware, and armed, they began forming a kill circle around the camp. I didn’t have much to do besides try to stay as far away from the edge as possible.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">~*SCHWIP*~

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">All of a sudden we heard a sharp noise near Arnold 2. He looked down at his chest and saw a small hole in his abdomen. He looked at us, bewildered. We just stood there in astonishment as  what appeared to be some sort of large scorpion stinger yank him into darkness. Arnold 1 and the Terminator began firing wildly into the night.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">“Hold your fire! You might hit him you idiots!” After that we all just kind of stood there not knowing what to do. No one went back to sleep that night. Now every little shift or noise sends my heart racing.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">I feel so disappointed in myself that I never bothered to learn his name.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">___________________________________________

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">The next morning we set out in silence. Today was only the second day of our journey and we already lost someone. I couldn’t help but ponder Arnold 2’s fate. He was probably having his bones picked by buzzards by now. That’s not taking into consideration that he may be nothing but bones at this point.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:14.666666666666666px;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">All of a sudden the earth started to shake slightly as we heard a rumbling noise. We all stopped in our tracks as the shaking got more and more violent. <ac_metadata title="My Pharaoh fanfic"> </ac_metadata>