As the night fell–the pitch black kept us comfortable as the winds of sand grind their teeth against the wood and cracked cement. With the squeaking of the olden floorboards; its fumblement flashed me awake.

The glowing of the lantern light singed my eyes as I flinched them closed-before pitifully opening them, with the response of my body laying off the hardened floor–my presence was noticed.

DAX: Oh, you're up?

DAX: Sorry to wake you so early, but..

DAX: Something popped up on my radar.

With the familiar voice adhering to my actions–I didn’t get a say before the sudden beeps of his radar paid his attention once more.

Picking up the device with an unshakable hold–he soon furrowed the lids of his eyebrows, 

LINDEN: W-What is it?

I questionably asked.

With a moment's pause his expression grew more warry.

DAX: It looks like we’ll have some company..

Confused–I then quickly realized what he meant. Getting up from my position–I grabbed my gear which laid beside me,

DAX: Hey, make sure you’re stocked up on ammo.

Nodding my head; our faces were only seen by the still light of the illuminated lantern–conveying our expressions. Waiting in the dark–the adjustment of my eyes poked out the figure of my colleague and the edges of my rifle. For hours we waited–and waited; but nothing showed itself. In the long minutes of what I presume was dusk–light slowly appeared through the cracks of the boarded doorways and windows before fully integrating vision into the hall.

~GURGLE~

The pits of our stomachs wailed.

DAX: We need to find those cache boxes–fast..

I nodded my head in agreement. Getting up on our feet we collected our extra gear and prepared a patrol.

LINDEN: Hey–should we wake Alaine up?

Dax just looked at me for a second before quickly stating.

DAX: Well–the last time I woke them up..

DAX: I got kicked in the ribs

Then the sound of movement rose into a straightened pout.

ALAINE: That’s because you already knew that the girls didn’t like waking up at three in the morning-

ALAINE: But gee–thanks for making a girl feel special

ALAINE: Oh and Linden, here’s your hairband.

Reaching out–I simply replied.

LINDEN: Ah..thanks.

Tying the ends of my longing hair into a more tactical tail–Dax quickly took his position

DAX: Everyone ready? Good–now be on your guard.

Carrying her rifle around her right shoulder Alaine glanced with worry.

ALAINE: Don’t you think you're being a little too firm? I mean what kind of enemy are we facing if-

DAX: SSHhhh.

Snipping her off with the compressed click of his breath–he frowned at the boarded window down the left side of the hall before collecting his rifle. Standing in position, Alaine turned to me and whispered.

ALAINE: Hey, don’t you think Dax is-

But before she got to expressing her worries, a loud noise came from the left hall of the boarded window.

KRACK!

Out came a man wearing a dull pink shirt with rounded red shorts; with his braided ponytail he cockishly spoke.

MAN: Well, well–it's been a while since I’ve seen a wild woman out here.

But before he could make a single move–Dax butted the gun towards the man's face from behind; landing a scurrying.

POOM!

DAX: HURRY AND GET OUT OF HERE!

Standing still for a bit–Alaine boldly broke the shock which held me in place.

ALAINE: D-DAX!-

Reaching out and grabbing her hand, she looked at me with full contemplation while I looked back with an anxious anomaly. We sprinted towards the battered window–with all due haste.

ALAINE: Wait, what about Dax..!

Trying to reassure her I said.

LINDEN: Don’t worry–he’s second to best behind the number one remember?

As we hopped out of the building we heard a striking.

THUD!

Before everything went silent. Unable to relinquish our past action; we turned to continue our path. It was then we spotted some figures atop a sand dune–we were cornered. From the sands–an aggressive voice spoke out in irritation

VOICE: Huh? The hell you two lookin’ at?