The Calamitous Bob

Viv had hoped the camp would be deserted since the patrol must have been most of the remaining guards. Unfortunately, she had underestimated the Sheem’s basic human needs.

“I’m an idiot,” she whispered to herself.

Of course most of their troops would still be out but it had been a day and they had chased after Viv’s convoy with little supply. Now, an entire squad was back, drinking water and resting. She surveyed the scene from behind a rock, other members of the convoy by her side. The camp arrayed before them was well ordered, but it wasn’t fortified. Hell, it wasn’t even hidden. Those people sure were confident. She also couldn’t understand how they could ignore the massive, half-blown up arch floating in the air above them with a background hiss like fingernails on a stone, its ever present noise grating on her nerves. She would go insane staying here for days, yet they didn’t seem to feel anything.

The space was ripped and kept open by the damn arch, though she would have to get closer to understand how. They really, really needed in.

Her side still had the element of surprise. She hoped Captain Sin would make it count.

“Ahem.”

She turned to Sin who was now pretty close. He was trying to get her attention.

“Lady Jaratalassi. The prisoners are over there,” he whispered, pointing away.

Viv took another quick, risky gander. They did have cages on the far end, rudimentary ones seemingly made on the fly from green wood and tent supports. She could see the bulky form of other aliens cooped up in there. She pulled back and seethed in annoyance. The Sheem were treating coil-gun equipped people like they were animals. She hoped to fuck the aliens weren’t the vengeful kind.

“What did you have in mind?” she asked Captain Shin.

“Could you please go around with Scout Tolek and free them once we start a commotion? I’m afraid the Sheem might decide to execute them if we are not careful.”

He gave her pistol a thoughtful look.

“If you agree, of course.”

“That will be fine. We’ll make sure nothing happens to them. I still have my gauntlets.”

“Then go around with Tolek. We will give you a moment to get in position, but no more. They will grow suspicious if the patrol doesn’t return.”

“On my way.”

She gave Tolek a nod as she moved from behind the boulder. The scout crawled away, and Viv followed, somewhat annoyed that her nice dress was always sweaty and now it was going to be dusty as well. The crawl along the edge of the camp was a slow and fastidious process not least because she had to take extra care not to be heard — lots of loose rocks around, but her patience and imitating Tolek helped. The cages were really close now. Viv counted three more aliens, but also a human woman tied much more tightly than the others. One of the visitors was clearly struggling, their chest rising quickly under the heavy suit. Another one had managed to grab their hand which Viv assumed was a universal show of support. Shit, if one of the aliens died here… really bad precedent. She had to move fast.

The first sign that something was going on was the wind rising. Viv wouldn’t have even noticed were it not for the abundance of wind mages in these parts. The sentries reacted immediately. There were four near the cage.

Tolek stood and drew at the same time. His arrow caught the first sentry on the neck. He went down without a cry.

Viv stood as well. She aimed at the nearest wild-eyed soldier. She felt amazingly calm, using a gun again. It was still such a zen and familiar activity, even years later.

The trigger snapped under her finger. The coil gun emitted a beep of dismay.