In the vast desert, one would be forgiven if they saw only the harshness of the sand and the torment of the sun. But, if provided with an adequate tracker and geographer, one could potentially and most likely find a little piece of Heaven, located somewhere deep in this hellscape.

An oasis where life did not just survive, but lived and matured and prospered. Where the bounty of the earth numerous, the sight was calming and the weather slightly more tolerable.

The sandrail roared rushing passed the trees, raising sand and smoke in a warlike display and drifted into a clearing in the middle of the oasis. Alex jumped out of the vehicle and breathed in deep. It smelled like freedom and lead-based gasoline fumes.

-Breathe in, Vinnie… - the wolf said, a tinge of nostalgia in her eye. - …we are home.

Vincent looked around. He lit his cigar, disregarding the scenic view.

-This ain’t the place.

-What? – the wolf snapped back at him. – Of course it is.

-It ain’t.

Alex huffed and looked around. Trees, rocks, sand, lake.

-It’s the place.

With a heavy sigh, Vincent pointed towards one of the rocks surrounding the lake.

-See that?

Alex squinted her eyes.

-That wasn’t there before.

-…you’re bullshitting me.

-I ain’t.

-You can’t just…remember rocks, Vinnie. That’s crazy.

-The desert madness lashes out differently at each person.

-Fuck off.

-Besides. – Vincent took a long drag from his cigarette. – These are mango trees. Our oasis had coconut trees.

Alex looked at one of the trees. He was right.

-Ah. I see.

-There sure are a lot of oasises here…- Vincent said and finished up his cigarette.

-…I think it’s oasai…

-I think you might be getting a heat stroke.

-I think you might be right… - Alex said, wiping sweat from her brow.

A light breeze blew throw the leaves, reaching the wolf’s neck, ruffling up her fur and even managing to send shivers down her spine. Odd. She could not remember the last time she experienced the sensation. The prickling of her hairs, the bumps on her skin, the tensing of her muscles. It was like a long forgotten dreams suddenly springing up to mind.

-Race you to the lake! – Vincent yelled out and blasted off.

It took Alex a moment to snap back to reality, but she didn’t have to think twice. She grinned and dashed off behind her partner as the both jumped into the pool. And, with a dampened thud, they both hit the shallow bottom.

Vincent burst out clenching his nose, followed by Alex, who held her chest tightly.

-Different oasis for sure… - the wolf said as she rubbed her ribs.

-You should trust me more often. – the rat answered with a nasally voice.

After a minute of light massages and painful groans, they finally managed to relax. They threw their clothes onto what the affectionately called a beach and went deeper in the lake, finding the deepest part, which reached just under Alex’s solar plexus. Vincent on the other hand was just casually floating around on his back.

-What do you plan on doing with your share of the loot? – Vinnie asked, gently gliding around the wolf.

-Probably invest in something.

-Invest?

-Yeah…heard it was a good thing to do. I heard that growing cereal was getting big.

-Growing cereal? – Vincent perked up.

-Yes.

-In the desert?

-Well… - it took a moment to click for the wolf. - …when you say it like that…

-I think someone is trying to scam you.

-Fuck you, Vinnie! What do you plan on doing with your share?

Vincent thoughtfully scratched his chin.

-I think I’ll spend my money on salt.

-Salt. Really?

-Mhm. – he murmured and laid back in the water. – Salt is useful. Some people pay big money for salt.

-Now that sounds like a scam.

-Not really. I’ll buy up…I don’t know…a ton of salt. I’ll salt your cereal fields and resell the rest at a higher price.

-Salt my… - Alex furrowed her brow. – Why?

-So you won’t have any money and we can continue our adventures. Naturally.

Alex clicked her tongue and splashed a handful of water at Vincent’s face. The rat started spitting and tossing.

-You could have drowned me, woman! – he yelled out jokingly. – I save your life and this is how you repay me?! I…yo…Alex? You in there?

-Shush!

-Huh!

-I said shush!

Alex had her neck slightly bent and her ears perked, slowly scanning.

-I think…I heard something.

Vincent perked his ears.

-I don’t hear anything.

-I definitely heard something…it was like…off in the very distance. It sounded like…- she trailed off.

-Liiiike?... – he motioned her to continue.

-I…I don’t know. It was like…um…a slide guitar? And a bluesy mouth harp, I guess?

Vincent took a long hard look at the wolf.

-Cool off a bit, Alex. And stay in the shade. I’m going to get myself a mango.

-Yeah…go do that…

As the rat returned to shore, Alex stood in silence, trying to figure out what she heard. Did she really hear anything? Or was the heat getting to her?

She tried to shake away the thought and settled upon the idea that it was just her imagination. She dove in the water, letting her wash over her fully and she rose up, her fur flattened against her. It felt nice. Maybe a little cooling off was really all she needed. And then there was the sound again – somewhere off in the far distance. But it wasn’t real. It was in the back of her head. The more she tried to hear it, the more it vanished. Something wasn’t right.

As she tried to figure out what was really happening, she was violently spun around. The next thing she knew, she was hunched over, her entire air supply completely gone and a blunt, tremendous pain right in her stomach.

-I take it you’re Alex.

She looked up. Her vision was going black, but she could see him. A mouse. About two heads shorter than her. His face that of a stoic and his hair flowing gracefully in the wind. And for one more moment, before everything went even darker, she heard the sounds of a mouth harp

-You alright there, Alex? – Vincent yelled out from the sandrail, peeling himself a mango. – You having trouble bathing again?

Alex couldn’t answer. She grabbed her assailant’s arm, trying to push herself up and she felt a buring sensation. The arm was metallic, heated up by the sun. The mouse didn’t seem phased at all.

-Take it that’s your partner there. – he said in a gravelly voice. – A mister…Rince Steng. Odd name really.

Alex tried to push herself away, but she just found herself dangling as the mouse lifted her up in the air as she was impaled on his fist.

-Name’s Lahmazhe. Lance Lahmazhe. Bounty hunter.

He retracted his fist back and for a moment Alex inhaled as much air as she could. It felt like Heaven. And then with two quick blows, she let out everything, Lance making sure that he had her in the same position as earlier. Her oxygen shooting straight out of her gaping mouth, she let out a continuous groan. Followed by a belch.

-You doing fine? – Vincent yelled once again, not looking over.

-Odd guy that Steng fellow. – Lance said in a low tone. – I was sent here to get you and your partner for running off with all that money a few days ago. Simple job. Go in. Kick the living daylights out of you. Get out. But these jobs are rarely simple. The life of a bounty hunter is a lone one, especially if you are a dissident, running from your past, blackened and bloodied by your once best friend. With nothing to your name but a motorcycle, a rifle and a burning desire for revenge, trying to clear your name is a tough job. And tough job, requires tough money. I was left with an ultimatum. Survive or suffer for someone else’s mistakes. I am the desert hawk swooping down on criminal scum and writing wrongs. I am the ghost in the camp stories which bandits tell each other around the fire. I am the dissident.

The sound of a slide guitar echoed through Alex’s ears. It was either that or the blood rushing to her head. With a weak and unsteady voice, she gathered all her strength and murmured:

-…What…

-Dissident. – her growls softly and lets out a barrage of punches.

Each hit placed exactly where the last one left, effectively caving in the wolf’s belly. Without being able to do anything else but squirm and belch, Alex found herself in a bit of a predicament. Lance burrowed his fist deep in her stomach once again, at which point she froze up, the air in her lungs non-existent.

-People like you make me sick. – Lance hissed through his yellow teeth. – Praying upon the innocent. Holding money up as the highest virtue and violence as its patron saint. But I am the judgment that lands your ilk. A dissident who’s tasted his fair share of evil, and unfortunately, got served double servings. My quest for justice slowly bending and twisting turning into one of revenge. The life I lead, now a hazy dream, with every waking moment spent running and hiding. But it was a better alternative to a life of lies.

Lance took out his fist and Alex curled up, her knees hitting the bottom of the lake.

-That’s right, wolf. Beg. – Lance grunted. – Beg, just like all those lizard folk begged you not to rob them. And like them, your prayers will not be answered.

-W-what?

-Dissident!

Lance pulled her up the hair of her head and got ready for another punch. The moment he went for the strike, Alex lifted up her arms, trying to protect her abdomen. But he was quicker, quickly changing his target.

Alex let out a high yelp. Followed by a shriek of pain as Lance had managed to hit her genetalia, his fist managing to penetrate her.

-For God’s sake, Alex! The fuck is going on there! – Vincent yelled out and jumped up. – Oh.

-Ah…Rince Steng… - Lance casually turned. – The mastermind behind this operation. I am Lance Lahmazhe. Bounty hunter and dissident, riding the barren wastes of this desert, looking for justice, for myself and others who are…

-What?! – Vincent yelled out from the sand rail.

-I said! – Lance yelled back. – My name is Lance Lahmazhe! Bount hunter and dissident…

Lance’s speech was cut short as Alex managed to muster the strength to regain at least a part of her composure and land an impromptu piledriver onto Lance’s skull, in turn Lance pulling back and stepping a few paces aside.

-Vinnie…get the EMP…quick… - Alex huffed as she desperately tried to stabilize herself.

-What!?

-EMP! Get it! Now!

-Where is it? – Vinnie screamed as he rummaged through the luggage.

-In the back! Right by the…off! – Alex exhaled.

-It ain’t polite…to cut a man off as he is talking. – Lance said, managing to land a roundhouse kick on the wolf straight into her stomach.

The bounty hunter pulled his foot away, leaving Alex a moment to quickly inhale, the sound of a slide guitar ringing in her ears. The mouse made a quick step and punch the wolf once more, this time his entire fist getting engulfed by her abdomen. Her eyes widened and slowly crossed as every last spec of air exited her already empty lungs. Although it felt like an eternity, the hit lasted for barely a second and Lance carelessly managed to throw the wolf to one side. He stepped forward and passed her, while measured his sights on Vincent.

-I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, Steng. But I ain’t much for fooling around. It’s people like you, who truly make me sick. Relying on gadgets and knickknacks, not knowing how to really handle yourself without your gizmos. As a bounty hunter, I’ve been in situation you wouldn’t believe, having to fight for dear life with a knife and a rock for days on end. It’s not easy being a dissident…

Vincent peeked from behind the sandrail and noticed Lance’s slow walk towards him. He was muttering something, but the rat couldn’t really hear him, but by the looks of it, he had to hurry.

-So you see, Steng…- Lance continued, stepping on dry land. - …if you come in quietly…I can guarantee you a fair trial. I am a man of my word, for a dissident doesn’t really have much else to give. But we live in a world where truth is a commodity…and there is a hyperinflation on lies…

To the sound of a bluesy harmonica, Alex threw herself onto the bounty hunter, having managed to pick herself up.

-What the fuck are you talking about!? – she roared in the mouse’s ear.

-A life, you will never understand, wolf! – he growled back, managing to throw her over his shoulder and pin her down. – I live my life by a code. A code of honor. Some find it foolish. But I ain’t some. I am a diss…

Alex managed to slam her forehead into the mouse’s face, who in turn lost his balance and fell over.

-If you say “dissident” one more time, I am going to rip off your ears and eat them.

Lance narrowed his eyes.

-Dissident! – he yelled out.

To the tune of a slide guitar solo, Alex curled up, Lance sending a barrage of punches into her belly, each one taking a little bit of her breath away with it, until finally she curled up completely and fell over to one side.

Lance stood up and turned to Vincent. He raised an eyebrow. The black rat held a device in his hand, pointed up to the sky.

-Freeze, bounty hunter! – Vincent yelled out. – This little doohickey here is gonna fry up your entire system like it’s nothing. Just walk away and we will forget that this ever happened.

Lance sniffed.

-When you live a lonely life in the desert, you start trusting your guts, more than the words of people. For their words are filled with lies and venom. And you, Streng…you are a god damn cobra pit. A man like me does not easily sway…

-Fuck off already, will ya? – Vincent said annoyed and pressed the button.

Nothing happened. He pressed the button again. And again there was nothing.

-You see, Streng? What did I tell you? I know when someone is full of shit. And you stink to hive heaven. You can’t expect a bounty hunter like me to be so eas…

Vincent took a quick glance at the device.

A lamp shone “EMP charging. Please hold.”

-The hell is this fuckery… - Vincent swore under his breath.

-…oing down, Streng. You and your pet!

Lance had managed to clear the distance between himself and the rat. Without much thought Vincent jumped through the sandrail, grabbing the pealed mango in the process. Lance had followed suit.

-There’s nowhere to hide. And I should know. Justice always manages to find a way.

Vincent ran and Lance was closing in on him. The rat threw the mango, hoping it will slow the hunter down, but to no avail.

-Why isn’t this thing working yet!? – Vincent yelled out in frustration, Lance almost managing to grab his tail.

-You can’t rely on anything else, but your wits, Streng. That’s the first rule of being a dissi…

-Fuck you! You have a hunk of metal for an arm! – Vincent retorted.

-This arm is an extension of me. Of my soul. Is a part of me, the same way your tail is a part of you.

Lance jumped and tackled Vincent to the ground and got ready to strike him.

-It brings me great pleasure to bring scum like you to justice! There are few joys in the life of a dissident. This is priority number one.

-I think I hear a harmonica… - Vincent murmured as his life flashed before his eyes.

Just as he was about to hit the rat, Lance got tackled by a barely functioning Alex, who the bounty hunter simply managed to out wrestle, given her sorry state, and pinning her once again on her fist.

The fading sounds of bluesy slide guitars rang in her ears, accompanied by a high pitched drone, from the air exiting her mouth.

-You’ve got honor, kid. I’ll give ya that. But giving your honor to a scum like him, makes you even lower than him. If you lead a different life, I’m sure you would have made better decisions. But who knows…you might have happened upon the sad and lonely life of a dissident as well…and then who would be hunting who?

The last thing Alex heard, as the final notes rang in her ear and as her mouth dried out while she spat her air out and the world turned black was the disheveled voice of her partner cursing at the bounty hunter.

Alex opened her eyes to the view of Lance handcuffed to the sand rail, his mechanical arm taken off and apart by the rat.

-What happened? – Alex asked as she tried to get up and fell to the ground.

-EMP went off. Fried his arm. Sent a shock through his system I guess. He fell over. Cuffed him while he was out. – Vince said and took a drag from his cigarette. – You alright?

Alex rubbed her head.

-Yeah…I just…fuck…

-Have a ciggie…- Vince said and threw a cigarette at Alex without looking.

She lit it up and walked around their prisoner. He seemed quieter, which was fine by her.

-You think they’ll send more bounty hunters after us?

-Doesn’t matter really. This thing right here…it’s a god damn, honest to god miracle machine. It’s probably worth a lot. Combined that with what we stole and we can basically retire somewhere far away from here.

-Pft… Lance spat. – Typical bandits. Can’t live on your own. You’ve gotta leech from everyone, just so you can get by. I pity you, Steng…and that’s a lot coming from a dissident…

-Could you STOP IT WITH THE WHOLE DISSIDENT THING! – Vince yelled out and jumped, walking towards Lance. – Firstly! It’s Black! Vincent Black! Secondly! The fuck is wrong with you? Are you alright in the head!? Did you get a heat stroke? Or get hit in the head with a rock when you were younger? I swear, if I hear you say ANYTHING one more time, I’ll…

-Do you hear a harmonica… - Alex murmured.

-DISSIDENT! – Lance screamed and threw himself forward, kicking Vincent square in the stomach and sending him flying a few meters back.

Alex jumped and ran to her partner.

-You alright? – she asked.

-Fuck that guy! And fuck these harmonicas… - Vincent said in between inhales.

Lance smiled to himself and looked up at the sky.

A slide guitar played him off.