A bout of inertia hit me whilst the Armored Truck sailed through the air, scaling a small crevice. If I had time to be annoyed, I would’ve allowed myself to be. But no, I was in The Waste and nothing ever goes according to what you’d hope.

The Thundrum crashed into the ground, skidding and scrapping flakes of coral and bones from the surface. A cloud of dust puffed around us, seeping through the vents of the Thundrum and into my mouth.

It tasted as if it had been doused in acid rain. Perfect I thought, withdrawing the urge to spit it out because there simply was nowhere to send it.

My heart thumped with each bump and tug the vehicle made, making my chest feel like an anvil from a blacksmith forging some mystical blade from one of those fantasy books I read back in juvy. It would be nice if this was all a fantasy, I thought.

“This is Ophidian 1, reaching out to Settler Stone 6. Over.” Naedon spat, forcing himself to not bite his tongue. No response. “Are these bastards ignoring us?” Rynord hissed. Naedon raised his hands, silencing him in one, and allowed the static to play for a few seconds longer.

“This is Ophidian 1…reaching out to SETTLER STONE 6, do you copy? Over?” Naedon said, surprisingly calm.

” This is Settle Stone 6, over” The operator replied, finally.

“Good to hear you Settler Stone 6. I’m requesting assistance, You have bugs at your gate Settler Stone 6, Over.”

“I can see the bugs, Ophidian 1, but I’m sorry to say, we’ve already planted enough pesticide to keep these bugs out of our hair. You’re on your own. Over.”

“THAT’S BULLSHIT SETTLER STONE 6 AND YOU KNOW IT…OVER.” Naedon hissed.

“This. Is. Not. Bullshit. Ophidian 1. This was not part of the arrangement I have with The Nest, Over.”

“The arrangement you have with The Nest would be Null and Void if WE’RE DEAD. Over.”

“We understand that Ophidian 1, so does The Nest, but allow me to make this clear, you came to us for assistance. Not us. We are not dependent on your assistance, understood? Over?”

“Fuck You!” Naedon hissed. “I swear, if I get out of this, I’ll cut this SCAVENGER BASTARD’S WINDPIPE FROM HIS THROAT”

The rumbling from the truck was like an annoying whistle, each bump andor thump it made. The metal clanked, it was as if it were counting down the time to see what Naedon would do.

I, however, didn’t have that luxury to wait. So I shouldered the AR-BZ-459, clipped the safety off, and put the nozzle through the vent on the side door, crouching and training it on anything that was supposed to be there.

“TWO HEAVY-DUTY TRUCKS AT OUR 3 O’CLOCK,” Tryzer shouted.

“I SEE EM!” I answered.

“ANOTHER TRUCK BEHIND US,” Stelig added.

“Shit! Cap…this doesn’t look good.” Rynord said.

“I know!” Naedon growled.

“It would seem I selected the wrong team to retrieve my daughter,” Colvolt said snidely. “You could always make your exit here. That’ll increase our chances of survival.” Stelig snapped.

The billionaire didn’t respond but kept his haughty gaze trained on me, which I was familiar with at this point.

“Fine,” Naedon said. “Settler Stone 6, this is Ophidian 1, do you copy over?”

“Reading you loud and clear Ophidian 1, over.”

“Tell us where the minefield is at least. Over.”

“No can do Ophidian 1. This is an open channel. The Ravagers are listening in. If they figure out our pattern for planting mines, they would mount an assault on our settlement at any time. I’m not gonna risk the thousands of lives here. I know it’s minuscule to your millions, but these thousands mean more to us than the water that bleeds from the sky. You’re gonna have to deal with them on your own. I’m sorry. Over.”

Naedon jawline protruded like an exploding mushroom, no doubt filled from his anger. A vein stencilled itself from his templed and ran past his ear, adjoining to his jaw. “Understood. Over.” Naedon said, biting each word.

“Welcome to The Waste.” Settler Stone 6 said. “Settler Stone 6. Out.”

“BASTARD!” Naedon hissed.

I sighed to myself, and bit my bottom lip, then squeezed the trigger three times, watching as my bullets bounce off the Six-Wheeler as if it were a ball. “THEY GOT PRASTIN ALLOY TOO!” I snapped.

“WHAT?! What round did fire!”

“AP Round.”

The Gun-Seat cracked, then a spooling sound roiled above. I could hear the bullets of the machine gun spitfire, cracking the wind.

I watched as the bullets hit the side, wheels, and trailer at the back of it, but no damage could be seen. “SHIT! THEY HAVE PRASTIN ALLOY CAP…I’M WASTING TIME HERE!”

“Keep firing, there’s gotta be a kink in the armour somewhere, these Scavengers ain’t that smart!”

But they’re resilient though I thought bitterly.

I peered through my vent-like window watching as dust trailed behind two Six Wheeler trucks, swerving across the desert in a snake-like in motion. I fired another burst round, missing completely and began to feel my frustration swell.

I then stimulated my SMB, switching my vision to Night Vision, laying my eyes on the Six Wheelers, and saw something protruding outwards at the front of the truck and side. Shit! We can’t let that shit hit us.

“THEY GOT SPIKES ON THE SIDE SKIRTS!” I roared, finally seeing them with my eyes.

“Spikes?” Tryzer asked.

“They're painted black, barely saw them when I switched to night vision!” I shouted.

“TRYZER keep these bastards off us, they mean to board us!”

“Not if I can help it.”

The Thundrum swerved right, going on two wheels. Then slammed as it fell back to the ground, as it made a hard left, circling in the direction it just came from.

The six wheelers swerved off, heading towards a butte in the distance, then swung around it like a boomerang, heading directly at us.

“THEY’RE GOING TO INTERCEPT US!” Tryzer roared.

“ONE ON THE LEFT IS CLOSING IN!” Stelig added.

“USE THE AFTERBURNERS FOR CHRIST SAKE!” Rynord spat.

“CAN’T. TOO CRAGGY!”

“IT’S NOT, HOP!” I roared.

“WHAT?

“HOP THE DAMN TRUCK.”

“JUST DO IT” Naedon spat.

Tryzer slammed the breaks, sending the Thundrum skidding across the surface. The Six wheelers to the front swerved, perfectly aligning themselves into our path.

We sat in the middle of the desert-like cheese to mice. I could feel the anticipation as these mice charged towards us. The six-wheeler from behind, was the closest and with barred teeth, I could tell he wanted one thing, and that was to drive his spikes throughout the truck.

The spooling sound of the afterburners roared beneath us, as they took us to the sky. The six-wheeler sped beneath us, barely missing us by a few centimetres of passing fury. The sound it made, sounded like a flying buzzing around your ear.

Tryzer cut the afterburners, then steered us south, sinking his foot into the accelerator, sending us on a path towards a mesa. We hooked a right, using the mesa as cover, whilst the remaining six wheelers charged at us.

A six-wheeler skidded, creating a puff of mist of grime and dust, as the driver counter steering, aiming towards us, but that was a fatal mistake.

“STELIG!” Naedon shouted. “On it.” He answered coldly. The doofing sound of the grenade launcher made echoed within the Thundrum. The seats rumbled with each shot.

Three loud explosions sang out into the air, then the sound of broken strained, ripped metal began to tumble five times before it eventually stopped.

“That’s one down!” Stelig shouted.

“Let’s make it two!” Naedon said. “Rynord aim for that bastard’s windscreen!”

“He won’t give me a chance boss!”

Tryzer swung us around, to face another six-wheeler. I fired a wave of bullets, which ricocheted off the hood and windscreen.

Two glowing orange lines of bullets rattled off towards the six-wheeler which struck it perfectly, but the bullets crumpled and deflected like paper upon impact.

“HOW THE FUCK CAN HE DRIVE WITH SUCH A SMALL VISAGE?” Rynord roared.

“THE OTHER SIX WHEELER IS ON US.” Tryzer cried

“SPIN!” Naedon snapped, firing his assault rifle.

The Thrundrum spun, viscerally, leaving me jaded for a half-second, before I fired the assault rifle in burst rounds as the trailer charged towards us.

The incendiary rounds melted on impact, leaving scorched marks on the hood and windscreen, making the truck swerve off. Got you, you piece of shit.

Another doof chimed off, then two more. This time, no explosions followed. Damn it! Stelig missed. “WE SENT HIM YOUR WAY STEL. IF YOU’RE GONNA MISS GIVE THE DAMN LAUNCHER TO RYNORD.” Naedon hissed.

“I DIDN’T MISS, THE BASTARD SWERVED IN ANOTHER DIRECTION, AND WENT DOWN A DUNE!”

“THAT’S CALLED MISSING.”

Tryzer sank his foot into the throttle, sending it backwards, then did a full 180°, barely dodging the other six-wheeler which shot right by us.

The sound of shattered glass cracked above us and the scent of oil fluttered into the truck. “What the hell was that?” Zanton said, hugging his invisible object tightly. “Molotov cocktail?”

“Mola-what?” He asked.

He doesn’t know what a Molotov cocktail is? This bastard’s no bodyguard.

Tryzer and the Six wheelers began a battle of wits, with a series of baiting, dodging, and perfectly executed swerves.

As uncomfortable as the ride was, I was getting annoyed, by not having an opportunity to put an end to this soon because if we don’t we’ll be in serious shit.

“I’m running low on Incendiary Rounds, Cap.” Rynord said, “Yeah cap, I only have three grenades left.”

“I know! I’ve been counting.”

“Tryzer, cant you try to get us closer to them? Stelig switch positions with me and give me one of those grenades, I have a plan.”

“What bullshit is this now Cypher?”

“Nothing, just trust me.”

The captain rattled off a series of bullets, reloading and firing another set. Stelig had switched over to an assault rifle, which helped bleed our ammunition, but as he continually missed with the grenade launcher, I would’ve done the same.

Rynord? The man’s aim was impeccable, the majority of the time I followed his rhythm with a series of burst shots, leaving scorched patches across the six wheelers, which, made them swerve off.

These ‘Ravagers’ strategy was simple, keep us off balance, and knock us on our asses. The grenade launcher kept them at bay, but I guess they figured which side Stelig was, so it was best to switch sides with him, but with the plan I had, it was something I hoped they wouldn’t expect.

“What’s your plan Cypher?” Naedon finally asked.

“Open the door.”

“WHAT, ARE YOU CRAZY?”

“Far from.”

“Cap, just do it…the most we’d get is death.”

“No,” Colvolt interjected. “I can’t die here, you all can, but not me, I have a business to run!”

“Cypher, you mind taking this piece of shit with you?” Rynord asked.

“Gladly, but he’ll only slow me down.”

The billionaire smiled, as if he’d accomplished something, then nudged his nose as if cleaning it with his thumb. The fake bodyguard, Zanton, closed his eyes as if he were scared. Yeah, I thought, he’s no bodyguard.

The side door of the Thundrum snapped open and the sound of crunching stones and churning gears rumbled in the air.

I took a quick whiff of the air, inhaling, smoke, sand and oil, feeling my tongue grow bitter from the scent in an instant. Then, I held my breath, whilst Stelig crouched beside me, firing a wave of bullets, covering me whilst I grabbed onto the roof. “JUST KEEP THEM OFF OF US, THEN BAIT THEM INTO CHARGING US:

“NO NEED TO BAIT” Tryzer added.

“WHAT THE HELL FOR?” Naedon said.

I gave the man a shrug because I truly didn’t know what I planned to do, but someone had to take action.

The six-wheeler swerved off to the right, avoiding the barrage of bullets from Rynord’s Machine Gun.

Stelig fired another grenade, and it exploded, sending shards of coral across the desert. “DAMN IT.” He said, missing. “DON’T MISS THE NEXT ONE.”

The wind flapped my ears back and I felt the cold steel bar of the roof, as I readied myself.

The six-wheeler on my left was 60 meters out and looking to flank us, based on the trajectory. The second six-wheeler on our right was 50 meters out and was charging towards us, at an obtuse angle. Good thing they didn’t have bullets I mused, but they drive so well, I’m not sure if I can get this done….wait a minute. Of course, I’m such a fool.

“TRY TO REACH THE MESA TO OUR RIGHT,” I shouted. “HANG ON!”

I latched my cybernetic arm onto the bar, feeling as the metal grafts attached to my side began to strain from the g-force, in which Tryzer swerved the truck.

Once relief came, I released my arm and began firing shots at their headlights.

The six-wheeler swerved immediately, noticing my plan. “Follow that bastard!” I growled, feeling a stone slash my cheek.

Tryzer gave chase, driving at an angle, hoping to anticipate the driver’s next move. It was hard, with such an open space, but it was worth the effort.

The six-wheeler behind us gave chase, but I snapped back, shouldering my assault rifle and firing at its headlights. They, too, trailed off after I missed. This damned surface! I spat, annoyed with its lack of smoothness.

The Thundrum hopped, sending me in the air for a second. I landed at the back of the track, barely grabbing hold of one of the bars. My assault rifle dangled from my flak-jacket as I strain to hold the bar with my right hand.

An assailant emerged from the roof of the six-wheeler trailing us. I zoomed in, as his hand rocked back. Shit…I thought. “SWERVE RIGHT” I snarled. “CAN’T” Tryzer answered. Great…

I yanked my pistol free from my holster, firing two shots. One missed, the other, buried right into my molatov friend’s left eye. The Molotov dropped to the side and an explosion of fiery glass and fire, sheared across the sand.

The six-wheeler driver sank his foot in his anger for his downed comrade, forcing me back up the back of the trailer.

As the roaring engine of our assailant gained on us. I realised that the velocity was too fast. I kicked myself off the back of Thundrum and sailed through the air, heart in my mouth and grenade in my hand

I spun in the air, watching as the six-wheeler passed beneath me, hatch open rocking back and forth. I twisted the crown of my grenade, picked an angle and loosed with venom feeling as it rolled out of my fingertips, hitting the centre of the hatch with a hard ding, then falling into the six-wheeler.

A large explosion followed of strained metal singing throughout the air. As beautiful as it sounded to my ears. I was still in the blast radius and felt the momentum from the blast throw me across the desert air.

A large mesa appeared out of nowhere to my left and I felt my body steer towards it as if I was a piece of metal, and it was a magnet.

I closed my eyes and braced myself for impact and hoped that I could survive to get back to my wife and daughter.