Bullets and sand everywhere. It wasn't quite a sandstorm but it was getting there. Squad B of the Crimson Squad was trapped between two sand dunes. To their right was Squad A. To their left was the Rebels: the gang of murderers and thieves the Crimson Squad candidates had been sent out to deal with.
Nooj looked from the bullets flying overhead to Paine. The girl was holding the sphere camera in one hand and holding Baralai against her with the other. The pool of blood under Baralai's thigh was growing. The poor kid had been shot by the Rebels not even ten minutes into the mission. They'd all be dead by now if Squad A hadn't shown up.
The wind was really starting to pick up. A bullet smacked into the sand near Gippal's head. The Al Bhed lost his temper and pulled two grenades from his carrier. He pulled the pins and tossed them up onto the Rebel's dune.
A violent explosion ripped through the air. Sand and burnt Shiva-knows-what rained down.
Squad A came running down into the valley.
The leader of Squad A saluted Nooj before speaking.
Nooj nodded and saluted. Squad A saluted back and ran off. The eldest member of Squad B turned to Baralai and Paine.
The blonde kneeled at his friend's feet. He leaned over and set his hands on Baralai's knees. Nooj kneeled beside Baralai, pulling a very long instrument from his carrier.
Paine nodded. Baralai whimpered softly as she put one hand over his eyes. Both Gippal and Paine looked away as Nooj sterilized the equipment. The man untied the make-shift bandage from around Baralai's thigh and tossed it over his shoulder. He took a deep breath and readied himself.
Nooj shoved the skinny instrument into Baralai's wound. The boy thrashed violently but didn't make a sound.
The end of the instrument hit something hard. Nooj pressed a button on the end of the instrument and two pinchers grabbed onto the bullet.
Gippal gave his friend's knees a reassuring squeeze. Nooj's brow furrowed as he slowly started to pull the instrument from Baralai's leg. The teen twitched again. His hands were digging into the sand.
Baralai let out a shaky breath. The older man finally pulled the device from Baralai's leg.
Gippal took his hands from Baralai's knees and sat back. Paine removed her hand from his eyes and gently stroked his sweaty hair.
Nooj opened the vial of medicinal paste and spread some onto Baralai's wound.
Gippal nodded and dug around in his carrier. He came up with a roll of gauze and handed it to Nooj. The man wrapped up Baralai's leg and secured it. Nooj stood and took a hold of Baralai's arm pulling the teen to his feet.
And so they set out over the desert and under the hot sun. Paine was in the lead, walking backwards and filming the trio. Nooj came next. He was looking over their map and grumbling. Gippal was in the middle, keeping an eye out for enemies. Baralai was limping along behind trying to distract himself from the pain in his leg.
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It was almost noon when the softest cry of pain came from Baralai.
Baralai cried out as a searing hot jab of pain ran up and down his leg. Blood was starting to seep through his bandage. Nooj grabbed the boy's arm.
The blonde crouched beside his sobbing friend. He gently rubbed one hand up and down the older teen's back.
Baralai nodded then clenched his teeth as another jolt of pain sizzled through his nerves.
Before Baralai could protest further Gippal had scooped him up.
Paine chuckled and cheerfully ignored Gippal.
And what a long way it was. Miles and miles of sun-baked sand dunes. Sweat dripped off the entire group in rivulets. Baralai watched as Gippal's swirled eyes scanned the desert. He moved his head a little closer to examine the color.
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The sun was just a small pink sliver on the horizon by the time Squad B reached the Oasis. The temperature was starting to drop and everyone was shivering.
Everyone laughed.
The blonde gently set his friend down. Baralai checked his ammo supply and nodded.
Baralai nodded and watched his friends crawl into the small cave by the water. He limped quite a ways away and sat down. He sat with his back against a rock and looked up at the dunes that hid the Rebels base camp.
Half an hour went by without incident. It was when it hit the hour mark that the trouble started. Baralai felt a slight twinge in his leg. He ignored it but it grew into a dull ache. The teen gently stretched his leg and that helped...but not much. It wasn't long before the ache turned into a throb.
{Maybe I've been sitting too long...}
Baralai went to get up but a stab of unbearable pain ran up his leg and spine. He fell onto his backside with a soft cry, hitting his back sharply against the rock. The teen tried to cry for help but his voice betrayed him. Black haze started to form before his eyes.
{No! I can't pass out!!}
Baralai tried to struggle to his feet again. Another sharp pain. Then total blackness.
The teen jolted awake to a hand clamped firmly over his mouth. Baralai shivered. The sun was starting to rise and he found himself staring up at a stranger.
Baralai tried to struggle as two other men came into his line of vision. The boy frowned. One of the men was a blindfolded Al Bhed.
Baralai's stomach turned as Liam lifted his blindfold up revealing two gaping holes where his eyes used to be. The teen managed to free his good leg and he kicked Liam in the groin. The man groaned and doubled over. Baralai kneed the man holding him down in the back of the head. Now free the boy struggled to his feet. He screamed in pain as man #2 grabbed onto his leg, thumb digging against his bullet wound.
Gippal, Nooj, and Paine were startled awake by Baralai's screams.
Gippal grabbed his rifle and started crawling out of the cave. Nooj grabbed onto his ankle.
He ran towards the sound of Baralai fighting off his attackers. And by the sounds of it he was giving them a run for their money.
Baralai punched Liam in the face and ducked under the arms of another attacker. A shot rang out and the man who'd pinned Baralai fell to the sand.
Suddenly the two Rebels had no interest in Baralai and they went after Gippal. Liam grabbed Baralai's rifle and aimed it at Gippal.
Gippal shot the second man and he crumpled to the ground. Liam finally shook Baralai off and hit the teen in the head with the butt of the rifle. The silver-haired teen cried out in pain and fell to the sand, out cold. Gippal and Liam aimed. Two shots rang out. Liam winced as the bullet grazed his arm. Gippal fell forward into the sand, unconscious from the shock of being shot in the shoulder. Without any trouble Liam walked over to the blonde, grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt, and dragged him off.
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Baralai's eyes snapped open.
The teen sat up slightly and looked around. He and Paine were by the water. Nooj was standing on a tall rock formation looking out at the desert through his binoculars.
Paine gasped as Baralai's fist shot out, hitting Nooj in the mouth. The man cried out in surprise and stumbled backwards.
Nooj grumbled but the corner of his mouth twitched in a pathetic smile. Paine stood and turned her sphere camera on.
Gippal struggled against his bonds. A woman smiled down at him.
The blonde struggled more. He was scared but relieved that at least Baralai hadn't been captured.
As soon as Squads A-N reached the Oasis Baralai was limping up the sand dune with his rifle in hand. Paine and the other recorders followed their Squads. The ambush went well. The Rebels never saw it coming.
The woman ignored the sound of gunfire and screaming. Gippal tried to scream but they'd gagged him tightly.
Baralai moved from tent to tent, searching for Gippal. He found lots of prisoners, but no Gippal. He escorted the prisoners to safety before continuing his search.
The blonde's heart skipped a beat. {Baralai!!}
The tent flap burst open and Baralai ran in. The teen's eyes widened and his dark skin actually seemed to pale.
Baralai couldn't believe the sight before his eyes. Gippal strapped down to a cot while some creepy lady gouged his eye out with a scalpel. The woman dropped the scalpel and stood up. With a cry of anguish Baralai pulled the trigger. The bullet ripped through the woman's heart and she fell to the ground.
The older teen dropped his gun and limped to Gippal's side. His stomach turned. Blood was running down the right side of his friend's face. The blonde's eye was lying on a tray beside the cot.
Baralai fell to his knees. He removed the gag from Gippal's mouth.
The older teen bit back his tears and he got some gauze out of his carrier. He made a make-shift eyepatch and gently fit it over Gippal's gaping wound. He untied the blonde and wrapped his shoulder up too. With Baralai's help the Al Bhed slowly sat up.
The older teen wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and stood, helping his friend to his feet.
Tada! And if you want to know how a blind guy can shoot...well...sight isn't the only sense. That's all I'm saying. Yah gotta figure it out for yourself. As for the eye gouging...I've been watching Once Upon a Time in Mexico way too much. That's what inspired this ficlet. Sad, I know... XD
