THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM
Written by:
Jesse A Snider
Ó ArrowMoon Publications tm.
The Fight For
Freedom
PROLOUGE
It’s January 1st, 2021 and man has long since left the desolate plains of Earth and exiled the worst amongst them to live on a dessert planet called Voltorno 4 in the Alpha quadrant. Only the worst criminals that were accused of murder or manslaughter were dropped off on this empty planet. Eventually the criminals formed a society and a town on this planet that didn’t welcome new comers that easily. One day a drop-ship full of new exiles entered the atmosphere, and landed near the town close to the plains of the dead, where this planets only mode of transportation was located. This transportation was the wild horses that lived in these plains. To enter the plains of the dead and tame one of the beasts was unheard of by the settlers of Voltorno 4 because in order to do so one had to be pure of heart, mind, and soul, which these settlers were obviously not. As the drop-ship landed the settlers of the town formed a semi-circle around the landing zone seeing these newcomers trying to see if they knew the people or if there was any chance of them getting off of this planet. The door of the drop-ship opened and four heavily armed guards came out and stood on either side of the unloading ramp. As the prisoners were “escorted” off of the ship the crowd began to dissipate then finally the final three criminals began to step out. These new arrivals were convicted of murder and were fresh from their trial on Silvanesti in the Beta quadrant. They supposedly killed over four hundred people combined. As the three descended the ramp their shackles and chains were removed and they were zapped with tasers until they were fully off the ramp. After they touched ground the door of the drop-ship slammed shut and the ship left. The three companions immediately headed towards the plains of the dead not fully wanting to be with society right now. After walking for about an hour the three reached the boarders of the valley of the dead which was where the horses were located. In order to enter this valley and survive you had to be pure of mind and heart. As the three began to descend into the valley they felt as if a tremendous peace overcame them, like until now the weight of the world rested upon their shoulders alone, but was now lifted.
After walking for another hour or so, time had no real meaning to these three, the three companions decided to stop and rest.
“So Loco what do you think of Voltorno 4 thus far?” asked Lucifer.
“I think it’s a friggin’ hole man” replied Loco, “I mean just look at this place, it’s boring, there is absolutely nothing to do ‘cept walk.”
“Yeah I see what you mean,” said Diablos, “There aren’t even any women to get with.”
“Word” said Lucifer, “man and here I was hopin’ that I’d get some good lovin’ from these chicks”.
“At least we have our music,” said Loco pointing to the packs then withdrawing his Discman and speakers.
The companions’ music was playing so loud and they were so into their music that they didn’t notice the herd of wild horses until they were running but a few feet away from them.
“Holy crap!” exclaimed Diablos, “Check that out boyz, man I’m gonna catch me one of those.” At that Diablos was off.
“Hey wait up!” Yelled Loco and Lucifer in unison. And were then off in pursuit of Diablos and the horses, while putting the Discman and speakers away.
After running for about an hour and a half straight Loco and Lucifer finally caught up with Diablos and saw him sitting astride a beautiful black stallion.
“Man how the heck did you catch that thing?” questioned Loco in a slightly winded voice.
“I honestly don’t know” answered Diablos, “he just kinda stopped and let me on his back.”
“You probably tired the poor thing out.” A voice from behind them came. “Hi my name is Angela, but around here I’m called Angel.”
The three looked at this woman and their jaws dropped to their knees.
Diablos quickly got back his composure and said, “pick your jaws up off of the ground gentlemen.”
Loco and Lucifer blinked and shook their heads.
“Gentlemen” replied Angela sarcastically, “it’s almost as if I’m the first woman you boys have seen.”
“Well you’re the first beautiful woman we’ve seen since we landed earlier this morning,” said Diablos in his, and his friends, defense.
“Flattery won’t get you anywhere with me sir” said Angela, “besides I don’t date strangers.”
“Sorry ma’am” said Diablos shyly, “I, I mean we didn’t mean to be so rude. My name is Diablos.”
“Mine is Loco” inputted Loco.
“And my name madam is Lucifer” added Lucifer.
“Well now that we’re no longer strangers could you tell us how to get ourselves a horse?” questioned Loco and Lucifer in unison.
“Just walk up to one and hop on, if it want’s you on it’s back it will not fight you” replied Angela.
“That’s it, that’s all we have to do!” exclaimed Loco
“Why yes what did you think you had to do, surprise them?” laughed Angela.
“Well uh, well you see, uh I thought…” started Loco
“Stop your mumbling!” commanded Diablos.
“S-sorry D-Diablos” whimpered Loco.
“I’m the one that should be sorry Loco,” said Diablos, “I shouldn’t have yelled at you”.
“Apology accepted,” said Loco.
It was quickly getting dark so the three friends and their new companion decided to set up camp.
“I don’t have any bedding” said Angela.
“Here take mine,” offered Diablos.
“Are you sure?” asked Angela.
“Of course, I don’t say anything I don’t mean,” said Diablos handing his bed role to Angela.
“Well where are you going to sleep?” asked Angela.
“Right here” Diablos replied laying down on the grass.
Everybody feeling very tired fell instantly to sleep.
The next morning Diablos was awakened by a soft rustling sound, as he rolled over to see what it was he saw Angela rolling up his bedding. Diablos finally decided to get up. After Diablos got up he and Angela decided to take their horses for a ride. Half an hour later Diablos and Angela came across a hot spring and decided to take a dip, fully clothed of course. As Diablos and Angela eased into the sulphury water, Angela’s gaze met and held Diablos’, shortly after they found themselves kissing.
“W-what was that!” exclaimed Angela.
“I-I think it was a kiss,” replied Diablos.
“I know what it was but how did it happen?” asked Angela slightly confused.
“I don’t honestly know,” answered Diablos, “it just did”. Then Diablos remembered his two friends’ back at the camp.
“I think we should head back,” said Angela.
“I was thinking the same thing,” replied Diablos.
After riding back to camp Diablos and Angela decided not to tell Loco or Lucifer anything yet.
Upon arriving back at camp Diablos and Angela found Loco and Lucifer still asleep.
After re-tying the horses Angela and Diablos started to prepare breakfast for everyone. At the smell of freshly cooked bacon and eggs Loco and Lucifer finally woke up. When they woke up they saw four horses tied to the makeshift corral instead of just two.
“Where’d these other two horses come from?” Questioned Loco in a sleepy voice.
“I woke up and they were standing there so I decided to tie them up” answered Diablos, “now we can all ride together”.
“By we, what exactly do you mean,” said Lucifer.
“I mean you, Loco, Angela, and I.” Retorted Diablos, “and from now on please call me Stag”.
“Ok,” said Loco, “and you can call me Colt”.
“And I’ll be, umm, Lightning,” added Lucifer.
After eating their breakfast the group headed towards the town. Upon their arrival the settlers were awe struck and disgusted to see this small band of people ride into their town as opposed to walk in. After tying the horses up near the saloon the four friends decided to go in and have a drink. As the four friends entered the saloon they could see that this particular group of people were criminals. With their strong hands and unshaven faces these people looked downright dangerous and mean. As Stag and Angel sat down, Colt and Lightning walked up to the bar and ordered their drinks. The bar tender didn’t really like the fact that these four newcomers had come in on horses and were in his town for that matter. So as soon as the drinks were poured and paid for he went to the back and talked to a couple burly men and told them to do everything in their power to get the girl and get these three men out of his town.
Stag
could see that something was up and he didn’t like it at all. Then the two burly men headed for his table
with wide smiles on their faces. He
instinctively reached in his shirt vest pocket and withdrew a set of throwing
darts and readied himself to throw them at the advancing men. He then gave Angel a quick kiss and told her
to run. Not wanting to get hurt Angel
did as asked and ran. Colt and
Lightning saw Stag getting ready and withdrew their butterfly knives from their
shirt pockets. As soon as Angel was out
of the saloon Stag threw the darts hitting both men in the throat. Colt and Lightning were quickly standing at
his side, knives out and ready. Stag
then reached into his vest liner and pulled out a switchblade and extended the
blade. As soon as the bar keep was able
he pulled out his shotgun from in behind the bar and placed a box of ammo on
the back counter. As he took aim
Lightning threw a dart, which was concealed in his sleeve, and hit the bar keep
in the chest rendering him immediately unconscious. Colt then jumped behind the bar and acquired the shotgun and
ammo. As soon as he took aim at the
head of the next advancing group a scream was heard from outside which Stag
instantly recognized as belonging to Angel, he then quickly ran to the two dead
men and retrieved his darts and acquired their ammo belts and six
shooters. Lightning was then tossed a
revolver of his own and a belt of ammo for it, which Colt had found also hidden
behind the bar. The three then left the
saloon not being interfered with and headed straight for their horses and
headed in the direction of the screams.
After about an hour’s ride they came up to a large gate, which was the
entrance to a large Chateau. On the
gate was stamped a name, and the name read McGuire. The gate was large, black, and made of iron with an equally heavy
chain locking it.
Chapter One
“How the hell are we supposed to get in there?” asked Loco.
“I’m not sure,” replied Stag, “maybe there’s a way around?”
“Let’s check it out,” said Colt.
“I’m all for this searching thing but let’s stick together ok,” stated Loco, “This place kind of freaks me out”.
“Ok let’s head this way,” said Stag pointing left.
As the group went left in search of another way into the compound they heard screams from within although very muffled they were still screams.
“I don’t like the sound of that screamin’,” perked Loco.
“Me neither,” agreed Stag hurrying up his pace.
Colt was riding slightly ahead of the other two when all of a sudden he came to a stop.
“Hey guys I think I found a way in,” yelled Colt pointing at a slight imperfection in the fences structure, “I think we can open that up a bit and ride right in”.
Stag and Loco caught up quickly then took a look at the fence.
“What an obvious and stupid mistake,” puzzled Stag, “I don’t quite trust it, we got anyway to test it”?
“I think I have a way,” said Loco reaching into his pack and pulling out a very small and unsubstantial stick, “I can toss this at the opening and we’ll see if it’s trapped or not”.
“So there are some brains in that small head of yours after all,” joked Colt.