The dunes of the south were harsh and unforgiving. A day could reach to scorching temperatures that dehydrate even the sturdiest Aneed. Meanwhile the nights could freeze the furriest of Ravage Bears. Tonight, traveling under the veil of night was one little yellow light, tired and poorly equipped. She stood at about 5 foot 4 inches tall, had long, wild blonde hair that flowed down to her wide waist. Her face was thin and malnourished with dry pillowy lips and gorgeous purple eyes. She had hardly anything in terms of protection, and although her Second Skin prevented sunburn, nothing could save her during the cold. Wrapped in her tattered orange gi, her high shorts, and sandals did very little for warmth. Even her bulky, metallic right arm with wires connected directly to her nervous system, nothing could help her here. In fact, the metal was just cold to the touch and freezing her chest.

‘I don’t know if this has been a blessing or curse… Nexus…’ she thought, her metallic right arm covering her forehead and trying to shield her eyes from the sand. She couldn’t imagine what her life would be life if she had gone with the others to the Frozen North Kingdom of Pulsaris. But right now, she was playing the line between life and death as the cold winds filled with sand blew all around her. She didn’t like sand… it was coarse, rough, and it got everywhere!

As she crested another dune she looked to the sky for answers. She hadn’t studied too much about how to use the stars to navigate. The wind was getting stronger and getting sand in her eyes. Even when she wasn’t trying see where she was going, she could feel the pain pulsing in her retinas. The sky was dark bluish purple with all sorts of sparkling stars strown about the sky in a tapestry weaved by the gods. She pulled her left arm up to cover her nose and better shield her eyes as she continued to examine the sky for answers. ‘One week, 3 days, 27 hours…’ she thought. She was unable to remember how to navigate, but she did know how to tell time from the sky at very least.

“Gavin…”she muttered, her voice cracking into a low-pitched squeal. She fell to her knees, her body growing colder and numb. She was at the end of her limit. The last town had been a while back and they told her the city was a long ways to the Southwest. She had bought plenty of rations and water, but it was all taken in her sleep by clever creatures that swam through the sand. Her hands fell to her side as her head fell limp and bobbed. She felt like she wasn’t even here anymore. ‘... I’m sorry.’ she thought, finishing the thought that her mouth couldn’t speak.

She stayed like this for what felt like an eternity before she heard a buzzing sound among the roaring winds. ‘Get up… keep looking,’ she heard in her head. It was not her own voice. It was an older woman, her voice coarse and sharp, but concerned. She began to feel her limbs twitching. She felt dead, but the voice’s tone seemed desperate and it inspired her, even if for just a second. She pulled her head up and began to examine where she had heard the buzzing. She couldn’t see anything miles. It was hard scouting in a sandstorm without goggles. She knew that a smart person would have stayed put and wait for the storm to pass before travel, but she was reckless and yet again she found herself being killed by it.

She sighed and began to resign herself when out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a light. A house, a camp, SOMETHING was over there. She felt a burst of warmth with the hope that filled her. “Please…” she called, her voice cracking into a loud shrill. She pushed onward pushing her voice, “Someone…” her voice cracking again. Trying to use her voice after days of silence and almost 36 hours of no water proved one her most challenging endeavors yet. She felt her legs come back and she pulled herself up and began running towards the light. Her arms swayed in front of her slightly hunched back. She continued to run towards the light trying as hard as she could to yell. “HELP!” she finally cracked out. It was hard to understand and far from her smooth and beautiful voice she was used to using.

The light seemed to start moving then. It turned toward her slightly then twisted around clockwise until was it was shining at her. It started coming closer. A vehicle. She could tell by the buzzing sound of an engine. It was letting out a familiar sound, but she couldn’t think of anything other than getting to it for help. It kept getting brighter and brighter as she felt the light blinding her. “I’m right he---” she started. Her vision went black as she felt something push her back in the shoulder as she twisted around and hit the ground with a thud.

When she opened her eyes, she could feel herself being dragged by the ankles through the sand. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling at all as her gi hung over her belly, secured only by the thin blue belt she had tied around her waist. She looked forward to see a man covered in brownish cloth and rags cackling at the vehicle as he dragged her back. He couldn’t have been taller than her and he looked rather scrawny, but the rags made telling that difficult. She felt cold and numb again. Moving was hard and she was losing will too. She tried moving her right arm, but it felt like deadweight now. ‘If only I had…’ she began to think, but she stopped herself. Now was not the time for a pity party.

“Looks like we caught a real beauty this time. Out all by herself. Nexus really is the best. The slavers in Corseus will take her for a high price!” the little man dragging her called out excitedly.

She let her head fall limp to the left side. They were at the vehicle now. She heard the gruff voice of an older man now. “Ha, with a face like that… I’m gonna use her a bit. Maybe until the cute wears off. Then I’ll toss her out.” He laughed. She could make him out. He was burly with scars covering his misshapen face. He didn’t have rags, but he was wearing some tough looking leather clothing as well as a tight suit over his skin. His gloves looked like they were in tatters from overuse and he had goggles pulled up on top of his bald head as he examined her.

Cold. Scum. All of them. She had never thought of such a practice. But this was it for them. As she began to fill with anger, she felt something in her chest ignite with life. She put all her force in her legs, using gravity to give her a little added boost. The ragged man went down, and with her legs free, she pulled back and lunged onto her feet in one flowing motion.

“Ah, you bitch…” the little ragged man screamed, still dazed from the sudden take down, but she could hear his still energetic and angry tone.

She stood there about 10 feet off from the left side of the vehicle, looking around and eyeing the situation cautiously with her eyes fiery red. Her hair flowed in its own way, ignoring the wind and flaring like wisps of flame. The vehicle was very familiar to her now. It was almost the shape of a large 5’ x 8’ x 6’ box with thick steel bars lining it. There were no doors, walls, or windows keeping the top, sides, and back from exposure to the elements. It was suspended about 2.5’ off the ground on four big bulky tires, this vehicle wasn’t fast but good for the desert. It was a Dunerunner. ‘Perfect,’ she thought, allowing a slight smile to run over her face. Something was finally going in her favor. Now there were just a few things standing in her way.

She saw the big man in the driver seat with a bald head and scars. This must have been Mr. “Use and Toss” comment. Asshole. She already knew how his night was going to end. She also noticed there was a man in the back at about average size, dressed in a cloth face mask, goggles, and thin clothes that looked a little big for him. He also carried a holster with some form of firearm in it. She felt the light pain in her left shoulder. ‘This must be the asshole that shot me,’ she thought as he inched his hand over his holster nervously.

“Blondie… you’re gonna regret that later, when I’m tearing that ass apart,” the little man yelled again at her as he scrambled to his feet. The others began to chuckle stupidly.

She clenched her left fist with a scowl. She didn’t like that comment. Too crass with very little left to the imagination. She would usually have a quip of her own, but today was just not one of those days. She rushed him, closing the small window of space between them in almost a second. She pulled him by the collar off his feet with her right hand then brought her fist down on him really hard with her left. He went down to the ground with a loud squeal.

She looked over to the other two who were now alarmed and drawing their weapons. She raised her metallic right arm over her head just in time as a bullet ricocheted off. She swiftly moved left around the front of the dunerunner, ducking for cover as the sound of bullets flying trailed her closely. She couldn’t take those bullets. She was exhausted and weak.

She peeked around the right side of the vehicle to check the gunner’s attention when she heard a grunt from behind her. The big guy was circling around the left side now with a large hammer in hand. He swung down at with a powerful crushing blow, but she tumbled forward under his legs. Just as she finished rolling, another bullet flew by and almost grazed her nose. She cursed. This gunner was sharp and on her.

She stood and saw the big guy side-swing at her with a long arc. She changed stance, getting light on her feet and twirled toward his arm, circling around him with the motion of his arm. He seemed bewildered by her movement and she wasted no opportunity. She jumped onto his back and secured her right arm around his neck. She could feel the flesh being crushed by the metal as she put all her force into strangling him. It was clearly working as he immediately dropped the hammer and began twisting around, trying to grab for her. She grabbed one of his arms and twisted it, whirling him around. ‘Just in time,’ she thought, as another bang came in their direction.

She felt a light punch in her stomach, but it was definitely nothing she couldn’t take. She began to rock forward as the big guy started going limp. She climbed onto his shoulders and leaped towards the back of the dunerunner. The gunner was aimed right at her chest. He was fast, but unfortunately for him, she was his opponent today. Her right arm moved up and the bullet ricocheted upwards and she felt a sharp pain run over her forehead. ‘Damn it! That was too close,’ she thought, scowling as blood started running down her face. This arm was heavy and the delay was pissing her off.

She landed in front of the gunner and weaved lightly out of the way of another gunshot, whirling around his extended arm to his back. She breathed in deep before putting her full force into her left arm as she launched the back of her left fist into his temple. She felt the heat radiate off her fist as she sent him flying into a bar and off the left side of the dunerunner.

Exhausted and breathing heavily, she stared at all of them lying on the ground as she towered above them atop the back of the Dunerunner. These guys were toast. She started a smile but then she felt it. Electricity pulsing through her left arm. Her fingers started contorting and spasming in every direction they could as she was losing feeling in her arm. She noticed her breathing as she grasped her wrist with her metal hand to keep it steady. She started taking deep calming breaths and after a few seconds, she could feel her hand again.

“Damn…” she muttered, her voice raspy and strained. She hopped out of the back of the vehicle and rounded the left side. The little guy was still squirming on the ground, cursing. It was annoying. She walked over, kicked his head with a bit of force and he went limp. His style was lame with a mixture of browns and dirty yellows, but now wasn’t the time to worry about fashion. She stripped him and wrapped his rags around her arms and legs. The little man was practically skin and bones, as she had guessed with short, roughly cut jet black hair. This apparel was warmer, but it could be better.

She looked over to the big guy. ‘He isn’t going to be needing his shit ever again,’ she thought as he lie face down with a crimson hole in his back. She tore off his shirt and began ripping it into a makeshift scarf to protect her mouth from the sand. She pulled the goggles off the back of his head and fastened them on her forehead for quick use.

She moved over to the gunner. His gun was nice, but it looked like she broke it when she sent him flying into the metal bar of the Dunerunner. Nevertheless, she took the parts. Never know how useful those could be. She even found some Shins on him too. Jackpot!

As she got into the driver’s seat and revved up the engine, she heard a call from the little man. His face was bloody and ugly with big whelps, probably from her. “Wh-who are you?” he called at her.

She turned forward and pulled the goggles over her eyes. She slammed her foot on the gas as the vehicle propelled itself forward with a lurch. She didn’t mind though, she was used to these things. Making her way roughly down the dune and into the distance she replied, “No one special…” her voice cold and unshattered.