Subj:	 [ffml] [MW]] The Longest Retreat
Date:	00-06-04 00:45:39 EDT
From:	tkaneshi@bobcat.bradley.edu (Tim K.)
Reply-to:	ffml@egroups.com
To:	ffml@egroups.com

When the tree root grabbed his ankle and his face landed in the mud, Curt
finally surrendered. At least it seemed that way to him. His wobbly legs
refused to move, no matter how much he strained to lift them. As footsteps
crashed through the brush, he tried to lift his sword arm, but it felt
impossibly heavy. So he shut his eyes and prayed his enemy would kill him
BEFORE raping his body.

As he expected, a hand grabbed him and lifted him up by the back of his
tattered, bloody uniform. He fully expected to open his eyes and see the
ugly, leering face of a moogleboar. When he finally did open them, all he
saw was the not so ugly, concerned face of his friend Magnus.

"Come on, lad, you know what happens to those who stop running," the big
man grunted.

"Ghhh," gasped Curt, "Weren't you the one who told me we all gotta die
some time?"

"Not like that, you aren't," Magnus muttered. "Not like that."

Curt groaned and stumbled to his feet. "Look, Magnus, forget me. You're
still strong. If I fall again...just leave me. One of us needs to get
away."

"Nay," rumbled the warrior, "If you fall again, I'll haul you up and carry
your fool ass all the way to Tzen."

"I'll just slow you down."

"Not much," Magnus chuckled, helping him up. "You're as skinny as a rail,
lad."

Curt smiled bitterly. "Some soldier, huh?"

Suddenly, Magnus whirled, ripping his huge axe from its sheath. Curt,
knowing what that meant, wearily drew his sword and snapped it into
striking position. Magnus held a finger to his lips, but Curt knew that
already. Too much sound would let their pursuers know that they were still
out there.

The brush rustled slightly. The two men raised their weapons higher. Then
a face peered out of the foliage. A human face. Wearing the battered
helmet of the Vector militia.

Both men lowered their weapons with a sigh of relief. They knew other
soldiers had fought their way out of Turan's destruction of the militia
and escaped into the wilderness. However, they didn't know how many were
still running. The soldier eagerly motioned for them to follow, and
wordlessly they obeyed.

Magnus caught up and began whispering questions. "Are there many of us
left?"

The man shrugged. "Not sure. I'm scouting for a group of no more than a
dozen, trying to answer that very question."

"Any officers?"

The man shook his head. "From what I hear, they were rounded up to make
sure every one was accounted for."

"Lucky me," grunted Magnus. "I'm a lieutenant. Not that that matters now."

"Well, whoever you are, we're glad to have ya. Both of ya," he affirmed
with a nod to Curt, who returned it tiredly.

"So where are you- we headed?"

Despite the situation, the man grinned. "That's the good news. See, some
of the officers anticipated a doublecross like this. So they told all
their troops that if such a thing happened to rendezvous and regroup at
Nikeah."

"Nikeah? Seems a little far for a rendezvous. Why there? And if so many
did, how come me and Curt here didn't hear of it?"

"Well, our commanders figured on Nikeah precisely because it was so far
away, though not far enough to be impossible. And if you didn't know, then
it didn't reach your regiment. At least one of the guys we picked up
didn't hear it either."

Now Curt chimed in. "So what's the plan when we get to Nikeah?"

The soldier shrugged. "All I know is we're headed there. Once we
regroup...we'll just have to see."

Magnus suggested, "We could take the ferry to Figaro. That's where the
Doman refugees are, right?"

Both the others looked at him. "Figaro? What makes you think they'll
welcome us," Curt muttered.

Magnus shrugged. "The moogles are OUR enemy now, ain't they? After the
beatings the Domans have been taking, they gotta realize they need all the
help they can get. Besides, even if they lock us up or put us to the
sword, it's still better than what's waiting for us back there," he
finished, jerking his thumb over his shoulder.

The unnamed soldier shrugged and sighed, "Well, that's the best idea I
heard so far. At any rate, we best find the others." With that he
gestured, leading them on.

Curt grumbled, "Not like a handful of battered militiamen will make much
difference. What makes you think the Domans will give us any slack?"

Magnus replied, "Well, my father used to say, 'Your closest allies make
your worst enemies.' Hopefully we'll get a chance to prove that to them."

"The moogles already proved that to US." Magnus only smiled bitterly.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also called "The Longest Post." ;D

- Xoth

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