Chapter 1 – Red Sands
The sun dipped low in the sky; the surrounding area concealed perfectly the two spies hiding in the craggy slopes as they watched the facility in the distance. Scorching hot winds still tore through the valley and its surrounding mountains, raising the loose sands on top and creating fierce gusts of blazing hot dust. Not a single moment of reprieve was ever granted in this wasteland, yet every able man, woman, and child would give their lives to protect it. The wind continued to whip the fabric the two wore around them, occasionally smacking them in the face, yet they never moved even a single muscle as they kept their eyes trained on their target.
One was an older man, with the face of someone who had earned his right to continue living amidst the formidable battles he had been subjected to. His skin was tanned and rough from age, and the constant beatings of harsh desert winds. His hair, once a vibrant shade of brown, was now as white as a fresh tunic, and nearly just as long. Held carefully back by nothing but a simple thread of string, some of the rebellious strands had broken free to whip wildly through the heated winds. Cold and focused eyes stared through his binoculars, and though they had seen far more death and suffering than most ever would, they were still able to radiate with a kindness that most other soldiers were forced to sacrifice while attempting to stay alive in their barren surroundings. As the sun finally disappeared behind the great mountain behind them, the old man removed his binoculars and turned to his subordinate.
Though only a young man in life, his abilities were that of a warrior far older than the face that bore them. Covered with innumerable scars, the man was, in reality, no more than a boy. Fated with a life of hardship, the young man had accepted his role without a moment's hesitation, knowing that if he did so, no one else would ever have to know such a life. Though once worn at a much shorter length, his wild chestnut locks ran rampant down his back and the sides of his face; only a few in front were shortened so that it wouldn't interfere with his duties. Also draped in long tunics and cloaks, his most distinguishing feature, a cross shaped scar, lay across his strong jaw line. Dropping his binoculars into his satchel, his steel-grey gaze met that of his superior as he nodded in acknowledgement. Carefully making their way back over the mountain, being cautious so that their figures would not be seen by any guards in the distance, the two men began their retreat back to the camp they temporarily called home.
The walk at the bottom of the ravine was long, and the air had begun to cool at an incredible rate. The once scorching winds from earlier had started beating on the travelers with an icy bite, and they pulled up their scarves a little higher, hoping to stave off the chill until reaching the encampment. The two traveled in silence, hoping that their trek might be shortened if their breath was not spent on words that could be spoken later. After taking a short-cut through a thin crevice in the tall stone, the sounds of the camp began to trickle toward them. Numerous tents dotted the bottom of the long dry river bed, and fire pits had been set up at nearly every available open space within the short radius. The men either reclined in their tents, or gathered at the fires, regaling stories of their youth and exaggerated tales of conquest. The few women and children that followed the large group were all busy playing, preparing food, and making sure there were fresh linens and bandages for their soldiers.
Making their way toward the back of the encampment, the two men were halted by the large guards stationed outside their leader's tent. Waiting for permission to enter, the young man put his hand in his pocket, reaching for his most prized possession, and gripping it tightly. Once granted entrance, the two entered the tent, pushing aside the heavy curtain as they passed its threshold. Sitting at the back of the tent, one hand holding the stem of his hookah sat their fearsome leader. Though mostly hardened from a lifetime of battles in both the scorching sun and the freezing moonlight, he had still found a soft spot for the young man with his steely grey eyes that had once been sent to ensure his death. Glancing over to his two visitors, he nodded to them, and in a great puff of smoke greeted his two most prized warriors. "I welcome you back Kalinin and you as well Kashim."
Lowering themselves to their knees, Kalinin and his young companion bowed low to their leader of the past nine years. "You honor us with your thoughts General, we are thankful to have returned from our post undetected." Hearing a brief grunt, they sat back up to meet their leader's gaze. Andrei spared a second to glance at his young companion, the boy so many knew as Kashim. With the boy's reputation, it wasn't surprising that he was mostly left alone when not engaged in battle, though Andrei had known him long enough to see the scarring loneliness behind the cold steel of his grey eyes. Focusing his attention back toward General Majid, both men awaited the brief questioning that was sure to come regarding their mission earlier that day.
"You have been watching the facility since dawn?"
"Sir."
"And? Is there yet any evidence that it does not belong to our enemies?"
"No. However, it would be too soon to judge the situation based on mere observation sir."
"Oh? Please, elaborate for me Kashim."
"Sir. If we were to judge that the facility did not house our enemies and were proven wrong, we could be caught unaware and suffer enormous casualties. However, if we are correct in assuming they are not our enemies, it is a very real possibility that eventually, the facility may be overrun by them, considering the facility's advantageous position within the valley." Majid took another few puffs on his hookah, contemplating the directions their group could take regarding the mysterious facility they had discovered.
It had only been recently that their nomadic lifestyle had lead them this far to the south, and when they had begun to search the area for any caves or other high cliff sides that could be used should they come under attack, one of them men had spotted the building at the bottom of the valley. Indeed it was sitting in a very advantageous position, though every advantage could be a man's death sentence as well. The facility sat in the middle of a small valley, its only surroundings being a small river, a few random bushes, and hardened dry dirt. The walls of the valley were somewhat high, though not impossible for novices to scale should a non-combatant be attempting escape. The dirt surrounding the facility was roughly a three mile radius, providing no cover for any invading forces, and no safety for anyone trying to flee. Deciding whether or not to make a move on such a position was risky, but if met with success, could easily turn the tide in the victors favor.
"What would your suggestions be gentleman? I would like to take all viewpoints into consideration before deciding on a plan of action. I would prefer to reduce the possibility of casualties if at all possible." Andrei cleared his throat, glancing down at Kashim in acknowledgement before offering his opinion regarding the facility.
"General, if I were to make a plan of action, I would plan an approach with a small platoon of men on the next moonless night. Taking cover in the shadows, we would have less worry for being spotted. The platoon could then infiltrate the facility, and investigate its occupants and their motives. Should they prove to be the enemy, we can use Morse code with a small flash light to alert the remaining soldiers."
"And if they should prove to not be aligned with the enemy?"
"Then the squad will pull out and leave without detection. We can always have a soldier keep watch on the facility and report any suspicious activity." Without missing a beat, Majid countered the response.
"And suppose the enemy does take notice of the facility and we are unable to beat them to the prize?" Both men were left at an impasse. Though their plan to infiltrate such a place would undoubtedly work, if just left alone, the enemy would eventually have the upper hand. Their path was clear; the facility would need to be under their control as soon as possible. Nodding to their leader in agreement, they spent some time discussing which soldiers would make up the infiltration platoon, and who would be left just beyond the hills to operate the two RK-92's they had acquired a few years back. It was a difficult decision deciding where to place Kashim within the operation, but if the infiltrators were successful, the RK-92s would likely not be needed. Kashim would accompany Kalinin on the initial raid with the platoon.
Once a plan of action had agreed upon, Kalinin and Kashim were dismissed from their leader's tent. Upon entering the tent Kashim had claimed for himself, he removed his scarf and sat on the cloth covered dirt, beginning the long and arduous task of cleaning the dirt and sand from the firearms he had taken with him that day. Even when his entire attention seemed focused on his task, he was able to catch the faint sounds of fluttering fabric outside his tent curtains. Turning quickly while taking hold of his favorite knife from the side of his dusty boot, he lunged toward the curtain, barely stopping in time to just miss the young woman's throat. Her black eyes were surprisingly calm from behind her charadi as she stood stock still; awaiting for the moment the young warrior would recognize her. Focusing in time to stop the blade from hurting her, he carefully pulled back, keeping his gaze locked on her as he slowly brought his knife down to rest against the heavy fabric of his pants. Placing the sharpened blade back into its sheath, he turned to face her as he quietly spoke. "You may speak, Fatin."
Bowing her head in acknowledgement, she brought her hands from behind her back, holding out a medium sized covered bowl to him, kneeling as she did so. "I have brought a tired warrior some palau," she responded quietly. Daring to glance up at him and make brief eye contact, she quickly looked back down at the bowl she held in her outstretched hands. Kashim was taken back at the bold gesture, knowing that daring even that much could be enough to have both of them beaten for their insolence against the ways of their society. "Does this not please you?" Fatin had always been kind to him, despite what her father preferred, so turning her away was not a favorable option. Still, Kashim was not particularly interested in having more scars than necessary added to his body, most especially at the hands of her father, Haidar. The man had an almost unnatural feel for using his whip for disciplinary actions, as if he had practiced his entire life for just such a task. One the other side of the coin however, he considered what might happen if Haidar discovered that she had not only been speaking to him alone, but had also prepared food for him as well. With a barely audible sigh at the complexities of his situation, he made his decision. Being careful to stay at least the appropriate arms length away, he knelt and took the offered bowl from her.
"I am honored you thought me worthy Fatin. I am deeply grateful." Fatin blushed from under her charadi as their fingertips faintly brushed together in the exchange. Nodding her head to acknowledge his response, she dared another quick glance into his steel grey eyes before retreating behind his tent curtain. Not a few seconds after she had left, Andrei had pulled back the curtain, glancing back as he noticed the young woman was still staring at his companion's tent from afar. "Sir?" Brought out of his thoughts, Andrei turned back to the young man he had come to visit.
"Fatin brought you some palau?"
"Yes sir." Andrei eyed him for a moment before sparing a look across the camp at the young woman who had just dared to bring the young man a specially made dinner. She and the rest of her family had been eating Qorma Lawand, meaning she had made the dish especially for Kashim. Andrei was unsure of whether or not her father was aware of this, but both of them would do their best to keep it from him. As sad as he felt it was, Kashim had always been one of the unfavored; a heretic of sorts, despite his constant dedicated service to a cause that was not his own. He was someone whom was undeserving for even the pleasure of the goats, and despite his many years of loyalty, none of the men in their encampment would sink low enough to introduce his daughter. Their honor was far too important to them to disgrace their daughters with the thought of being married off to someone like him.
"Make sure no one knows who brought you that. I would hate to have to watch Haidar beat you again. Honestly, I wish I could forget the last time it happened." A simple nod was the boy's only reply as he continued to eat his rice. Yes, the last time Kashim had been on the receiving end of Haidar's whip had been anything but pleasant. Not only had he been left with long bleeding gashes across his back, but he had also dislocated the boys shoulder and bruised his sternum. Andrei still had nightmares about helping him clean the blood and dirt from him once the man had been satisfied. Haidar had made sure that laying on either his stomach or back would be impossible. The heavy bruising on his sternum made it difficult to breathe, making it nearly unbearable for him to lie on his stomach when the time came to clean the long cuts on his back. The poor boy had been forced to hold himself up with his only good arm as Andrei had cleaned and bandaged the wounds. Though Haidar had then been questioned thoroughly about why the incident had occurred, it didn't change the fact that Kashim had needed an entire week just to make sure the cuts on his back wouldn't reopen whenever he bent over.
Andre stared at him as he ate his rice, still wishing beyond all measure that he could have adopted the boy and taken him away from all the blood and fighting. Even with his refusal, Kashim was still underage, and he could have been forced if Andrei had really tried. Unfortunately, all the wishing in the world would never bring back his long dead wife and child, so with Kashim he had remained. Over the past nine years they had been together in the heat of the desert, Andrei had taught him many things; both about surviving and how to interact with others, and he'd watched as the once despondent child had grown into the somber young man that stood before him. Watching as the young man finished his rice and took up his weapon once more, Andrei ran a hand through his long hair, Kashim's youth only serving to remind him of the once gentle heart that had resided within the boy. His companion's voice bringing him out of his thoughts, he asked Kashim to repeat what had just been said. "I was merely wondering if there was anything you needed sir. You normally enjoy keeping such restful evenings to yourself."
"So I can't break my routine for a night and visit an old friend?" Kashim's eyes widened at the statement; his blood running cold at the thought that he could have just insulted one of only two people on earth that gave his well being a second thought. Dropping his weapon immediately he dropped into a low bow on his knees, trying to not inhale any of the loose dirt as he spoke quickly.
"O-of course sir! I had no intention of insulting you! I-I beg your forgiveness please!" His heart skipped a beat for moment, but he soon felt relieved as a soft chuckle was heard from the older man. Turning his head so he could glance up at him through his long bangs, he waited patiently until Andrei had nodded for him to sit upright.
"It's quite alright, we all make mistakes. Besides I was only joking with you." Seeing his shoulders finally relax, Andrei reached over and shook the boy's shoulder in a friendly gesture. "Will you be prepared to take the facility tomorrow?"
"Yes sir."
"Then I will take my leave and retire for the night. Make sure you get adequate rest until tomorrow, we will need everyone on their highest alert."
"Sir." With a quiet nod, Andrei exited the tent, once again leaving the young warrior by himself. Turning back to resume the maintenance on his weaponry, he felt a twinge in the back of his neck, as if a feeling of anticipation resided there. His routine lasted long into the night, as did the strange feeling that had settled in him. He was used to being on alert, but the feeling that now clung to him, as if it were a second skin, it made him feel as though things would change drastically after tomorrow night. 'It's almost like…' he thought, the weight of his firearm suddenly feeling heavier than it had before.
'…something's waiting for me.'
~~~~~~~***~~~~~~~
Turning behind a large stack of crates, Kashim successfully brought down another three guards, his carefully aimed shots flying through their skulls as easily as if they hadn't been there to begin with. He stopped a moment to reload, counting the scant minutes until their back up arrived. As it turned out, their intelligence scouting had only given them half of the bigger picture. The Russians were occupying the facility, but it seemed that they had merely been guests to the true owners. It was still unclear as to what had been taking place within the high walls of the facility, but the good news was that they had never planned for an attack. The guards all had weapons of course, but they had all been confident that the flattened area surrounding them would have given away an early warning if anyone had dared to approach. It was nothing more than simple carelessness.
Another string of bullets whizzed by the edge of the hallway he had taken refuge in, scratching his arm as they flew by. Thin streams of blood began to seep onto his sleeve, making the fabric heavy and wet as it stuck to his arm. Deciding to retreat into a more favorable position he dashed down the darkened hallway toward one of the inner chambers. He could hear the loud footfalls of the few men who had decided to try and chase him down, spurring him to run faster as the light from the overhead lights outside faded into the black of the hallway. Finally locating an open door, he rushed in and hastily closed the reinforced lock just as the men who had been chasing him crashed into it. Turning quickly, he surveyed the dimly lit room, making sure to look from behind the safety of the sights of his AK. Once satisfied that he was indeed alone, he slowly lowered his rifle and took a better look at his surroundings.
He seemed to have entered some kind of laboratory. Tall and long apparatuses made of glass flutes, beakers, and tubes covered nearly every tabletop, the colorful fluids inside bubbling with activity. Walking carefully through the room, he picked up a nearby clipboard, attempting to recall Kalinin's lessons on the Russian language to try and figure out what they had been doing. A small clink to his left had him dropping the clipboard and bringing up his rifle once more, his heartbeat increasing as adrenalin raced through his veins. Edging up to an open doorway, he spied another room, this one also filled to the brim with scientific experimentations. The many computer monitors glowed from their strategic places near the rapidly bubbling substances, and as Kashim moved silently through, he couldn't help but wonder just what they had been experimenting on.
A faint fluorescent glow came from under the door near the far wall. Taking precautions, Kashim lifted his rifle as he approached. Slowly reaching for the doorknob, he steadily turned it, listening as the tumblers unhinged themselves to allow him access. Cracking it open barely enough for him to see, he glanced inside. Except for the single fluorescent light shining down on the strange pod-like device in the middle of the room, it seemed to be empty. Quietly, he pushed the door open and walked forward. Once again he scanned the room with his rifle before lowering it and inspecting the strange laboratories he had stumbled upon.
More computer monitors lined the walls, attached to ceiling sized processors that had countless wires running this way and that along the floor. A few chairs were placed in front on the main screens, and the multitude of buttons continued to blink, regardless of the battle that raged onward just beyond the wall. Unable to fully understand the writing on the screens, he turned his attention back to the strange pod-like device that still lay in the center of the room. It seemed to be made of metal, but the top for some reason was made entirely out of glass. Slowly making his way over to get a better look, he felt his hand tighten around the trigger, his body already reacting as if he would encounter a threat. Once over, he felt his jaw fall open at what he found. 'A…a girl?'
Lying quietly within the pods glass encasement was a young woman, her eyes closed as if she was dreaming peacefully. Leaning over to get a better look at the girl, Kashim was surprised at how beautiful she was. Even from outside the slightly fogged and dirtied glass, her pale skin glowed under the fluorescent lighting that hung from the ceiling. She was wearing nothing but a short paper gown, giving the young warrior a generous look at her long, creamy arms and legs. Despite his years of battle prowess, his cool exterior cracked as he found himself blushing at the sight of her exposed extremities. He'd never seen that much of a female since he had been nothing more than a small whelp of a boy, and even then everyone had initially looked basically the same, and he found himself unable to refrain from staring.
Trying to shake the warmth from his face, he moved to try and get a closer look at her face. Her swan like neck rose from out of the drab paper that covered her, leading his gaze up to stare at her lips. As soon as he reached them, he stopped again, noticing that they appeared soft with their slight pink color against her flawless alabaster skin. Long, thick black lashes covered her closed eyes, lying gently over her cheeks which held a slight rosy hue to them. Impossibly long azure hair ran down from her head to the tops of her thighs, reminding the young warrior of the times he had seen the dark blue of the rivers as they flowed down stream. His gaze suddenly stopped, his mind and body prompting the second blush of his life as he gulped loudly, his vision suddenly drawn to where the paper gown crossed over her ample chest, giving him a clear view of her generous cleavage.
Hearing movement behind him, he ducked quickly behind the open door, ready to take down anyone that dared to enter. Seeing the large shadow moving cautiously through the door, he leapt out to face the intruder. Mere seconds before pulling the trigger, recognition kicked in, and he lowered the rifle from Andrei's face. "The men from the hallway?"
"Dead. They were so focused on killing you that they never saw me coming." Watching as Andrei glanced about the room, Kashim felt a near violent jealous streak rise within him, as if only he should have the opportunity to gaze on the sleeping female within the strange pod-like device. Making their way around the room, Andrei picked up one of the clipboards that had been left in front of one of the screens.
"What does it say?"
"This is strange…"
"What is it sir?"
"It seems to be…well it looked like it would be technical specifics, but they've integrated biological reactions as well." Skimming through the papers on the board, Andrei's face grew more confused than it had started. "These look like brainwave measurements, and these are…"
"Sir?" Andrei glanced over to the pod beneath the only light in the room, his expression growing grim. Following his gaze, Kashim moved back over to the pod and lightly touched the glass, looking intently at the young woman inside. 'What in Allah's name were they doing to you?' Kashim turned as he heard the sound of Andrei typing at one of the terminals, his long hair falling over his shoulders as he moved back over to get a better look at the screen before questioning his superior's actions.
"I'm trying to find a way of opening that thing. She may be able to tell us what was going on here." Kashim's look grew concentrated as he watched the older man at the terminal.
"What happens after that Sir? What will happen to her?" Andrei's typing slowed for a moment before he returned to his task of roaming from file to file; searching for the correct order that would open the pod and awaken the young woman inside. Hearing a sound of satisfaction from the older man, Kashim rushed back over to the pod, the small lights near the side of the glass blinking in a sequence only they understood. He stepped back a few steps as the pod began to move, tilting upward until it stood at nearly a sixty degree angle. With a hiss of air, the glass rotated back into the side of the metal pod. The young woman seemed to be strapped in place by Velcro straps around her wrists and ankles, and as they both carefully worked to free her from her confines, her head lulled forward, landing softly on Kashim's shoulder.
A soft groan echoed in his ear and Andrei chuckled at the look of utter distress on the boy's features. Such a close proximity between genders was unheard of in their society, and having a girl so close to him for the first time in his very life was conflicting at the very least. It wasn't that her pale skin was especially soft, or that her hair felt like the finest silks against his neck, but the fact that more than just their fingertips were touching was enough to have the boy mumbling verses from the Qur'an in order to keep himself focused. Taking off one of his longer tunics, Andrei wrapped the girl up before handing her back to Kashim, making sure he had his rifle prepared in case any leftover enemies should decide to play the hero and attack them on their way out. Once they found their way back into the open courtyard, Andrei lead the way straight to Majid, hoping to inform him of their discovery, and determine what to do with the girl the young warrior now held in his arms.