Original X-roads-2003

    “What are you doing?” the commander barked at the soldier. “Stop this at once.”
    The soldier grabbed the dead female by the hair and tossed her onto a pile of fresh corpses. “Stay out of our affairs here, Commander.” he warned. “We are in charge of keeping the peace in this sector.” he scowled at Casandra. “Go back to your tower and guard your princess there.”
    “I’m no princess.” Casandra warned and took one of the guards rifles. She aimed it for the soldiers chest. She didn’t speak another word, she just shot a hole through him and watched him fall.
    The noise alerted the other soldiers and soon a small sea of twenty men dressed in black uniforms stood in front of them.
    “I’m liberating this camp, under authority of General Chasarue. Disband and return to the Toolay base immediately.” she warned.
    The soldiers scoffed her authority and turned around to go back to what they were doing.
    The small band of militia opened fire. In less than a second it was over, the dead men laid on the ground where they had stood just a moment before.
    Casandra looked at the young boy. His face was a strange mixture of horror and vindication. She knelt down near him. “What happened here?” she pulled his face to look at hers.
    “They came for the mine.” a thin male walked out from the shaft into the light. He shielded his eyes from the brightness. “They came for the mine, and then they took the women. When they grow tired of one, or she no longer is able to please them they bring her out here. They bash her head against the rock, so their husband might see how worthless his wife has become. Or daughter.” The man’s eye misted up as he looked at the pile of women.
    Casandra stood up and studied the scene with horror. “Is Mark aware this is happening?” she questioned the commander.
    “I do not know.” he said as if he was hollow. The commander couldn’t believe anyone would allow this go on, not even General Chasarue.