Last One for a Minute- School...

Slamming his clenched fist hurt the commander. Commander Thomas glanced at everyone in the room; he motioned everyone to leave. Alone now, the commander radioed down to Valid and Perception.

“What happened to your pickup?” Yearning for an answer, he used the panel to zoom in on the crash site.

“Shot down, plasma cannon took it out.” Perception was lit up by the burning helicopter; it was almost contorted now. He wondered how rebels got a hold of the cannon. “When are we going to be picked up now,” Perception wondered and continued, “Valid is hurt and we need immediate EVAC.” Valid shot him a look but knew he was up to something. That he suspected something. “How do you suspect that the rebels obtained a federation grade plasma cannon?” Valid knew this trick; he was attempting to draw the general out.

“I suspect that they stole it,” a nervous touch filled General Thomas’s voice. The General reached across the control panel and tapped in the coordinates of Valid and Perception. The destroyer lurched towards the planet and began the descent to the surface. He knew that Perception had found him out; selling weapons for personal gain. He didn’t think luck would have it that a cannon he sold would be used against an aircraft he ordered to pick-up Valid and Perception. 20/20 hindsight said that it was circumstance; however, he wasn’t going to let Perception off the planet.

“Valid, we need to go. Where’s the closest aircraft to get us off this rock?” Perception looked up and saw clouds disperse; a sonic boom knocked Perception and Valid off of their feet. A destroyer appeared among the clouds and its spotlights lit up and hit the ground like lightning. They combed the ground searching for something.

“Oh, guess it’s time to go,” Valid started to walk forward as Perception grabbed her arm and spun her around.

“We can’t, we need to move now!” Perception ran pulling Valid along; she finally got the clue and started the usual tactical formation.

Valid stopped and demanded answers, “What the fuck is going on?”

“Well, Commander Thomas sold the cannon to the rebels. He knows that I found him out; therefore, he’s not going to let us leave this planet. Did you see the Federation stamp on that plasma cannon? No, well it’s there. We have to go right now!” Valid nodded and understood immediately. Just as the comprehension filled Valid the hull of the Destroyer started to light up.

“That ditch, lets go!” Both Perception and Valid dove into the ditch. Just as they landed the Destroyer fired. The ground erupted into the sky and the blast spread outward. The city that existed, evacuated three days ago, was destroyed. Everything within the five mile radius was gone. Fires spread to the buildings, and the ground was one fire as well. The ground, where Perception and Valid once laid, started to tremble. A hand erupted into the sky; then heads. They both looked at each other as they blew the dirt from their mouths.

“Close, too close.” Valid sat and garnered the situation. “Guess we need to find a way to the destroyer.”

“Got your rifle?”

Here We Go!!!

“Burka, what the hell are you doing,” Gin states, he’s proud of himself for calling out Burka.

“Going to use the restroom, ass,” Burka walks off into the darkness. Happy now that he’s alone, he ponders about his family; his wife. He remembers when they met, joyous days of love maki-hears a rustle, like leaves. He turns around. The boys are getting wild again, he thinks, but he was sure he heard a crunch. Turning around, Burka unzips his fly; feeling the new warm sensation that he’s all too familiar with, his mind wanders back to his wife. Something yanks at his neck and he’s out, he comes back dizzy. Light strikes his eyes and causes him to groan.

“Perception, he’s coming around.” Burka sees blobs moving towards him, he recognizes the shapes as human. Valid takes her pistol and throws it at Perception; he catches it and point it at Burka.

“Where am I,” confused now, Burka threatens Valid and Perception. They look at each other, Perception smirks.

“I would say you’re not in a position to threaten.”

“Who says I ca,” Perception cracks his weapon over Burka’s head. Dazed, Burka is quiet. “Good, you’re making me tired. I’ll do it again though.”

“Glad we have your attention. Now, why are you here?” Burka was about to lie but Valid had him. She tugged hard on his insides. He spewed it out.

“Ok, just got a call, reported to us that they found something, someone. We just needed to come secure the area from aircraft. That was your aircraft, wasn’t it? Too bad..” Valid quickly silenced him; she turned his brain to mush and scrambled. Burka, or what was left of him, lay on the ground. His eyes were glazed over now, Valid motioned Perception to hand her the pistol, and in doing so she screwed on the silencer to the weapon. In one swift motion a bullet left the chamber and penetrated his skull. It spun into Burka’s brain and the shell separated in halves. This tore into the grey matter and silenced all neural activity. Burka was dead. His arrogance resulted in his death. Perception crouched and started to sneak towards the rest of the group.

“Hey, be careful,” Valid asked him in kind for she didn’t want him dead. Perception turned and gave a nod and quickly hurried towards the truck. He had a sequence for each one of them. First, a fragmentation grenade will land next to them. That’ll take out three of them. Second, as the last two are scattered and confused about what just happened, bullets will fly. Hopefully he’ll just need two, but more can be fired as needed. The last step will be the best as it requires a knife.

“It’s done Valid, get ready to move in three,” Perception says this into the headset as he cleans his hands. It seems as if the blood won’t wash off. “I don’t get it, why do they beg?”