The Sahara
Africa
THE MOON CASTS ITS EERIE GLOW across the cool sand of the vast empty desert plains of the Sahara as the wind steadily sweeps across and over the many already windswept dunes. A desert viper prepares to strike out at a shrew as it munches on a beetle. It coils and is about to strike when suddenly it is interrupted as the ground begins to shake. The shrew drops its meal, totally oblivious to the viper, and looks off toward the direction of the giant facility in the distance and runs off in the opposite direction. The viper frightened by the sudden tremors slithers away looking for a hiding place.
The shaking lasts for a few more minutes before settling down to a low tremor then dying out completely. A few minutes later the desert returns to a normalcy, showing no signs that life was ever interrupted.
The viper slowly slithers out from under the safety of a rock outcropping and quickly slithers back when a large light shines down on it. The light plays across the desert floor as it is carried on the underside of an Apache AH-64A as it flies over toward the facility.
It glides effortlessly and nearly silently through the air landing only a minute later on a specially designed platform, high on one of the facility's dual towers. When the rotors finally die down and come to a stop, the cockpit pops open and the two figures inside are quickly greeted by the facility's security director.
"Welcome to
True Energy's
Sahara Facility," Rolan Brish says as Errios drops down onto the platform.
"Is everything ready for tomorrow's attack?"
"We have just run the final test just before your arrival. We have the satellites ready and the batteries are fully charged. We are ready for full lockdown when we begin," Rolan explains.
"Good." Errios waves a hand and a much larger female in a body suit, crawls out of the cockpit and drops to the platform.
Rolan looks past Errios at the woman and though see is a full head taller than he is, she is very striking in beauty with large breasts and long, dark hair.
"We weren't expecting anyone," he says smiling.
"A small change of plans," Errios says with brushing off tone. "Tancheres is afraid this place will get hit and doesn't think you or I are up to the challenge so he has sent a horseman, Ehiel," she says walking past the man.
Rolan chuckles at a thought and says, "After that beating Ratmmas gave you I hope anything less than a horseman would be a problem."
Errios spins around and grabs the human by the throat lifting him high into the air. "You dare mock me human? If not for fear of retribution of Tancheres I would drop you over the edge right now."
"Don't you mean Natalya?" he asks defiantly.
Errios' lips curl up into a smile. "Of course." She releases her grip and spins around. "I'll find my way around."
Rolan stands up and rubs his neck. "Thanks for the help," he says mockingly at the horseman once Errios has disappeared from view.
She glares at him for a moment, sending a chill down his spine. "I would have stopped her if she were to attempt to terminate you," she says with a sweet and unexpected voice.
"Excuse me?" Rolan asks, not sure he heard right.
"I said I would have stopped her if—"
"I heard you," he says holding up his hand. "Why would you do that? I doubt Tancheres would care
that
