Editor's note: this story contains scenes of non-consensual or reluctant sex.
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This is something I've been brewing for a while and I hope you enjoy it. It's a second world sci-fi story based on a world not unlike ours. One nation, the Union, dominates the continent this story takes place on, but the Republic holds out. Our story starts with our Republic characters. So here's chapter one. (All the female characters are based on porn stars and I'd be happy to share a "cast list" with you if you'd like.)
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Chapter One
LEXI
The marker loomed before them, an edifice of dark stone reaching into the gray sky like the lone finger of a long dead stone titan. The patrol huddled together, watching the dark form at the base, reading the marks. She looked back and nodded, but turned back to it one more time. Lexi didn't say anything. They were counting on her and she wasn't going to let them down. Brushing the snow away from the markings, she could make out the symbols, but to be sure she pulled the scanner from her belt. A green light popped on to the side of the symbols and a small screen sputtered to life. The scanner confirmed what she thought. Clicking it off, she slid the device back on to her belt and trotted back to the patrol.
"Found our way back," she said to Sergeant Foxx, the tall, straight backed squad leader. "That's Marker 37, we're just inside the no zone."
"Good," he said, pulling up the scarf around his face. "I want to get back to base. If we got caught in the no zone, we'd be in a world of trouble. Good job, Ellis."
"Thank you, sergeant," she said as she fell in line with the other soldiers in white and grey camos as they moved out.
"Nice job, hunter tracker," Corporal Scott said, his voice slowly drawling out the words. She smiled up at the handsome young man from the Western Reaches. He smiled back before he lifted his own scarf back into place.
Lexi adjusted her carbine and reached down to touch the sword-like knife at her hip. The knife of the elite hunter trackers. She worked hard to earn the weapon and it felt like she had to prove herself every day to men like Foxx. They walked in rows of two back the path they came, walking in the tracks of the person in front of them. They had been sent out to check on a downed listening post, but the storm settled in and they got turned around. She should have said something earlier, but she knew that Foxx wouldn't listen. He'd only been half serious when he suggested she take the lead and she got them back to the marker. From here it was less than a league to base. She couldn't wait for a hot tin of soup and a biscuit.
"Y'know, even one of Younger's biscuits is gonna be good," Scott said, his voice muffled by the scarf.. He'd moved close to her. The tall, rangy Reachman had the kind of voice you could listen to all night, especially when he played his huitar and sang one of those twangy ballads that were so popular on the wireless these days. She hoped she'd get to hear him sing tonight, maybe a little something else. "Where'd you learn to track like that?"
"My daddy used to take us hunting in the Uplands," she said, remembering times spent with her father and sister in the fall, watching the lophorns peacefully chewing and vegetation, hearing the crack of the rifle as she took down her first lophorn at twelve. It still filled her with exhilaration and excitement.
"You got that far away look again," he said. She could see his shoulders move and could tell he was laughing. Foxx held his hand up, looking back at them.
"A little goddess-damned discipline please," he hissed. "We are way too close to the border to be fucking around. I want to put as much ground between us and that marker."
They walked in silence for a long time. It was an impossibly quiet night and the air seemed to swallow all sound. Lexi cocked an ear, listening and heard nothing. They walked for what felt like an eternity. Two of the soldiers above started playing a whistling game and two more were mumbling jokes back and forth. The sergeant said nothing, he kept his eyes ahead on the trail. One of the men, Finney, finally said, "I can't wait to get back to base, I wanna hear the replay of the bunkers match. Capitol was playing Beren Nine-Six."
"That ain't gonna be close," Scott said. "Nine-Six is gonna own them."
"Didn't picture you for a Nine-Six man," Lexi said. His eyes twinkled.
"When all you have around you are three teams named the Riders and Ringle, you find another team," he drawled. "I'm guessing you're a Gainer."
Lexi shook her head.
"Capitol?"
"Ring the bell," she said. Scott chuckled.
"Belhower?" he shook his head. "I can't imagine a good girl like you rooting for those ruffians."
"That's what they are-wait, you hear that?" Lexi held up her arm and the back half of the column stopped. The sergeant held up the front half. Scott raised his rifle, as did the other soldiers. For long, tense moment no one said anything, each set of eyes scanning the treeline and rocks that surrounded them. After a few moments, Finney made a sound.
"Probably just your panties dr-"
Finney's head exploded, chunks of skull and skin splattering in the snow behind him. The heavy gunner stepped forward, warming up his machine gun, he started his howl he was peppered with bullets. The sergeant howled the order to take cover when a grenade turned him into a pile of meat. The rest of the soldiers darted behind rocks. Lexi felt something lance through her body armor and felt something hot burn through her shoulder. She cried out.
"You're not hit," Scott said as he dragged her behind a rock. They took no more fire but no one moved. They whispered out numbers down the line.
"There's no need to whisper," a voice called from the darkness. "Three of you are dead, one is fatally wounded. The remaining eight are still alive, seven men and one female, is that correct? You are surrounded. I have a full company. I would suggest throwing down your weapons and surrendering."
Lexi barely heard the last bit. Her vision had become blurry and she felt light headed. Her carbine was heavy in her arms. Scott looked at her and said, "Third Squad, stand down."
