NBA Dramatique: Ubuntu

He thought he had certainly lost some teeth. It would make for strange symmetry with this enemy. Rajon checked for gaps with his tongue and was surprised to find everything still in place. His opponent's skull had struck Rajon's mouth hard and caused enough pain for tiny stars to blink about his vision. Rajon stumbled away from the fight and found a place to collect himself.

*****

The Legend's Legion had attacked the Bastion. The Legion was hopeful and haughty after an unexpected victory against the Western Banner, and had brought war with them all the way back east. Rajon and Old Man Sam watched the approaching army earlier in the day from the upper turrets of the fortress.

"Should we worry?" Rajon asked.

"Never." said Sam. "Never worry. They bested us on their ground at the beginning of this war. It doesn't mean anything. They're coming to this fight very proud because of beating the Banner and because we couldn't beat them last time. But it's empty pride."

"You think they're weak?"

Sam waited a moment then answered. "No. They're not weak." He turned his eyes to the young saboteur. "But they're not us."

Rajon smiled and nodded at the old guy. "Yeah. Yeah, they're not us."

*****

Rajon's elbows rested on his knees and his head hung low. He spit, and made a red splatter on the ground between his feet. The shouts of his friend House broke through the rest of the noise and flew to his ears. Rajon shook his head to dismiss the pain, returned to his feet, and stepped back into the thick of the battle. Kevin, seeing Rajon's return, yelled and tossed a large staff to the young fighter. Rajon swung the staff viciously as he caught it and knocked a Legion trooper unconscious. From a distance, the man who had driven his head into Rondo's mouth fired a shot which missed Rondo but hit the wall behind him. Concrete fragments sprayed the back of his head, causing him to find cover. He pulled a grenade from his belt and tossed it back towards his attacker, but also missed the mark. He darted across the field of battle, ducking fire, to get closer to the rest of the Bastion fighters.

"We lost you for a few minutes there." Ray's rifle was still strapped to his back, but Rajon knew that would soon change. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah." Rajon answered, "Everything's cool. I was seeing stars, but I hid away for a minute."

"Alright, guys." said Kevin as he reloaded an Uzi. "We need to take it to 'em. They are running off of ego and adrenaline, so let's humiliate them."

The gathered Bastion troops nodded in unison and spoke a single word in chorus.

"Ubuntu."

*****

Rajon put his stealth to use right away, sneaking behind the enemy and stealing weapons. Ray fired at will as Legion troops moved across the field and wounded a few instantly. Kevin caught a buzz bomb that Rajon tossed at him and didn't let it rest in his hands for a second before sending it in a high arc back at the enemy. Next, when Kevin threw a knife at one of the Legend's troops, it missed and bounced harmlessly to the ground. Rajon used his speed to race out and grab that knife, picking it up and sending it back through the air in one fluid motion. The knife sank deep into the throat of the target soldier, who bled, fell, and died. He then spotted an opponent trying to take cover, and shouted the hider's location to Ray. Ray sighted the soldier and sniped, ending the soldier's attempts of self-preservation.

Rajon was with the spirit of war, and felt the blessing of the Prize was within him as well. The Bastion knew when luck was with them, and saw Rajon's surging offensive as a strong indicator that they had it in droves. Kevin and Ray continued to shred the Legion mercilessly, and Perk, Leon, and House fed off of the blood thirst of their brothers. The Bastion was not going to allow this upstart insurgency to gain any more confidence. Rajon would send them home, their confidence broken, their delusions of grandeur erased.

*****

Tired and battle-weary, Rajon stood at the top of the Bastion's west turret and watched the Legend's Legion retreat. Old Man Sam stood beside him again, and Kevin climbed the stairs to join them.

"You showed your heart today, Rajon. You were everywhere. That was awesome." said Kevin.

"I told him early today that those guys weren't his equal." said Sam. "He's faster than they can manage."

Rajon was happy to hear the praise of these fighters that he respected so much. "Thanks a lot guys. I did all I could. I'm not your hero, though. I am who I am because of those around me."