Chapter 1: One Shot

Argh!

It hurts. It hurts.

Argh!

Stein's left hand dug into the dirt packing it into a fist. His right hand coursed through his sides up through his torn vest. His fingers passed through his chest, his jagged chest. The metal brushed his already blistered finger tips drawing blood from the forming bruises. 

He passed them up and down, across the jagged outline that stretched diagonally through his chest.

Ouch it hurts.

It burns.

What did I get myself into?

Stein's chest was torn, the breastplate shattered. Little could he do against the eight-shaped blade of his enemy. 

It happened as fast as the blinking of the eye.

What was that?

Am I still Alive?

The earth was like a warm cushion on which his body sank into. The soft droplets of dew and the blades of grass welcomed his head to rest on their laps, and the wind stroked his forehead gently.

Gradually the pains were gone, the burnt was no more, the air that wasn't now was. Behind him the grass was adorned, and dressed with beautiful white roses. 

Stein smiled. 

Tears fell off Stein's face. 

He turned to the right where the camp of his lord was. The old king had given the order not to approach yet his friend, Andrew, the prince stood beyond the safe line. He was stomping his feet to the ground. His arms tensed, his jaws clenched. Stein could see the veins coursing through his face; his short brown beard was drenched. His hair was damped.

Andrew. 

Is he shouting?

Why are they all wet?

BOOM

The thunder fell and he jolted up.

“ARGH!”

His chest bled, his hand pressed hard on it. 

Cough, cough, cough.

Lord have mercy.

His eyes focused, the blurred images cleared up little by little. His eyelids blinked and shook away the droplets of rain mixed with blood. His blood. And the clearest pond reflected his face. 

Messy hair, tanned skin, scars left by the duel and by years of slavery. Since birth actually. Born a slave, always a slave. But right now the olive complexion had turned greyish, as though it had been dipped in ashen. 

His eyes were of silver onyx. Under the eyes were three and four dark spots.

DROP DROP DROP SPLASH

“How long will you remain there, dog?”

“Fight me!!! Fight me like a man – HAHAHAHA-H–HA!!! – Come on dog bark for me, come on!”

Stein's fingers twitched for a second.

I am not a dog.

The champion of the Karma family stretched his hands toward his forces. Spinning around rocking his head. At each rocking back and forth the soldiers cried out.

Balltar Karma - Balltar Karma - Balltar Karma

“HOORAH!!!”

“HOORAH!!”

“HOORAH!”

Balltar beckoned with his left hand and they stopped. He pointed his eight-shaped sword at Stein's neck and raised his head to the heavens. 

The sky was grey and thunder and lightning were lighting the clouds. Stein's face turned to Baltar. The man grinned at the heavens and after sticking out his tongue he said.

“Shush! I want to hear the dog speak in human language…”

But they didn't.

Stein dragged his knees across the muddy ground. The pangs of pain hammered his bust. He bit his lower lip hard, and slowly, little by little he turned. 

He coughed, and when he inclined his chest to fully face Baltar, three and four drops of blood dropped on the pond in front of him.

Stein's breath ragged, it oozed a metallic scent.

Balltar pressed his nostrils shut, “what are you, a hound?” he shouted.

Somewhere amongst his soldiers someone said: “A skunk!”

-Laughter - undignified sounds.

Stein's face was coursed by something other than rain and sweat and blood. Tears. 

He opened his mouth slightly, but his teeth protested and gnashed together. Through his teeth, words ground out of him…

“J-st one shot…”

Balltar inclined his ear, “Ehh? Did you say something?!”

“J-sh…t–”

Balltar’s face twisted, “I said, SPEAK UP DOG!!!”

His armour clad boots were in themselves a weapon. The toecap’s point pierced the air, its tip parted the muddy ground and it crashed on the maimed chest of Stein.

BANG

His eyes bulged forward, the last bit of air that kept him together escaped. His body flew backwards, his eyes whitened. His body went numb, except for his hands that could feel the cold of the day.

It's over, uh?

What if I hadn't come out? 

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid. 

You only live once, and I blew it. 

“STEIN!!!”

The voice rippled through the plane, the heavens quietened and the pitch dark clouds gave space to the brightness of the day. 

Lady Rose was running towards him. Behind her, her brother Andrew raced hard after her. 

She shouted again, “STEIN!!!”

She had an object, a short bow in her arms. Her castagne hair caught the sun. Balltar licked his lips. 

“What a wonderful prize…”

Andrew pulled her back.

The bow fell in a pond.

SPLASH 

Stein landed on the ground.

THUD. 

Balter walked towards them, the mud squelching under his foot. He smiled wildly, widely, wickedly.

Stein's hand reached for it. His elbows worked hard to drag him, he forced himself crawling, his mouth opened for air and muddy water alike.

The more he reached for it, the farther his consciousness slipped. 

Balltar passed by and spat on his head. He then looked at the royal siblings and said. 

“Your hero lost, your domain now belongs to the Karma family.”

Behind Balltar the stalwart, Stein the slave crawled. Andrew's eyes twitched and his face contorted in desperation, his jaw muscle tensed. And his chest rose and fell. 

He shouted “AAAAAH!!!”

KICK

GRAB

Balltar raised a brow, “what was that for Andrew, just–”

Andrew pointed backwards.

Balltar peeked.

The bow was drawn.

Its nocks bent along Stein's arms. 

Just one shot. 

He released it.

SNAP

CRACK

The arrow passed through Balltar's skull, up to the sky and then down to the safety line. Balltar fell lifeless. 

Andrew shouted.

“VICTORY!!! 

CHARGE!

KILL THEM ALL!!!”