Red Knight

The night was almost disappointingly uneventful. My body was surging with adrenaline and I couldn’t sleep at all. Even as comfortable as I was, I ended up staring at the briefcase all night. Something about the Black Phoenix logo was so clearly important. I had to be important to have been entrusted with whatever was inside of the briefcase. As soon as it gets bright enough I leave the cave and scan the woods in front of the cave with my eyes. I can tell I’m getting hungry, but I begin to walk south again.
There isn’t much I can do about the lost soul on the plane I was in yesterday, but to say a prayer that his sacrifice would not be in vain. That whatever cause he was transporting me for was the right one.
As I walk, I hear radio chatter to my left, and I lower into an instinctive crouch, moving with near military precision.
“As we understand it, the government found the plane yesterday, but they couldn’t find her. Neither could Black Phoenix, its why we got out here as quickly as we could once day came…
“I understand that she is dangerous, but she is one of ours, and if there is even a chance she is alive we need to recover her before Black Phoenix finds her, because if he finds her it’s all over.”
My eyes widen and I feel my heart pounding. I accidently step on a fallen branch and I hear a loud crack.
“Shit. There’s someone is close quarters.” I hear as I begin sprinting.
I am weaving in and out of trees, as I hear the fall of boots behind me. They were clearly an organized lot, probably even a military organization, but I can’t take any chances, not when it comes to my safety. As I run, I can tell I know how to fight, but it is just beyond the veil, beyond the wall that is holding back the flood of knowledge, I just need to break it down. I hear one or two of them trip while chasing me, probably on a root I dodged. I manage to get to a meadow, and that’s when my escape falls apart.
I feel something hit my right shoulder blade, and I can feel myself getting drowsy. Tranquilizer. I stumble and try to keep running, but one of the men catches up with me and grabs me before I can fall.
“It’s okay, you’re safe. You actually made it. We got her before Black Phoenix could get to her. I repeat, the Red Knight is safe, with precious cargo. Transporting her back to base now.” I hear as I feel myself being lifted onto this man’s shoulders.
I look around in a daze as I feel the tranquilizer flowing through my system, and I see soldiers in plain clothing lining up in an escort pattern. I am being carried across the meadow, through the dandelions and lilacs, and through the sweet aroma… a paradise inside what I vaguely remember is a hell hole. Something out of a nightmare.
“How is she not unconscious? That’s a strong tranq, isn’t it?” I hear someone ask.
“The Red Knight is tough as nails; if I wanted her out I would have used two. What I’m worried about is that she ran from us. She at least should know me well enough.” The man who has me on his shoulders says.
As he says that, I can see that we crossed the meadow and have re-entered a heavily wooded area.
“Well, I don’t.” I groan through the haze.
“Haha… See Tough as nails, Corporal.”
“Put… me down...”
“No can do ma’am. It’s for your safety. You’ll be debriefed when we get back to the campsite. The general wants to talk to you.”
“Maybe I don’t want to talk to him right now.”
“Alright, then. The only other place at camp I am taking you is the Docs tent.”
“You have been making it sound like I am important to whatever is going on. I order you to put me down and let me walk on my own.”
“Okay, the meeting with the General is definitely on hold now. What the Hell do you mean ‘Whatever is going on?’” He stops and sets me down on a log staring into my eyes.
I hold the gaze of his intense eyes with as sharp fierceness as I can muster through the tranquilizer. “You aren’t too quick are you? I can’t remember anything. I am, as far as I care, a civilian.”
This is the first time I even saw his face. He is a darker skinned man, but he seems friendly. Short hair, buzz cut, military style. He even has a decent bit of muscle on him.  But I can’t remember him from anywhere.
“I don’t take orders from civilians.” He smiles and picks me back up. “I’m taking you to the Doc. He might be able to help.”
I hear the others laugh.
“Shut up, I bet I could still kick your asses…  all of ‘em… at the same time.”
They snap to attention. “Yes Ma’am, sorry Ma’am.”
“They’re well trained dogs aren’t they?” I ask the man who is carrying me.
“Just house broke them last week.”
I laugh loudly. I can’t remember the last time I laughed like this… then I keep laughing.
“Can’t you try to fill me in on what I can’t remember?” I ask the man as we come to a clearing.
“I would, but we just got to the camp. I have work to do.” He says tensely.
He sets me down and we stare at the wreckage. Burnt husks of tents, bodies everywhere. A few survivors are gathering at the edge of the clearing, and heading back in to hunt for more every few minutes.
“What the hell happened?” I hear the man yell.
“Captain, it was Black Phoenix and his men. They attacked while you were gone. They expanded their detail by a lot. It’s a good thing you had a platoon out with you.
The captain passes from my view, and asks almost too quietly for me to hear, “What happened to General Dawson?”
“He is the first one they went after. He didn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell.”
“Dammit, I’ll get my men to help with the rescue efforts. Then I’ll talk to the Red Knight.”
“You actually found her?”
“She doesn’t remember a thing. Its… I just can’t describe it, beyond this. It’s too painful.”
I watch as I see the captain call his men into the wreck to help with the rescue and recovery effort. He walks over to me and sits down next to me. He takes my right hand into his.
“You really don’t remember anything?”
I pull my hand away, and set it back down next to me. My head was clearing up, the next time I had the chance I was running for it. I had no idea what was going on and I didn’t like it.
“How many times do I have to tell you that I don’t.”
“Okay then, I’m going to find the doctor. Stay here.”
In my head I laugh as he turns and jogs into the camp to look for the doctor, which was when I first realized that he took the briefcase. I know it is important, but I don’t know how, and I lost it. Regardless, I stand and begin to walk in a small circle, before bolting into the forest, trying to escape the kidnappers. I knew that I couldn’t go and get the briefcase because I probably couldn’t take on an entire platoon of soldiers, not with no memories, most likely including how to fight, and not get killed. Dammit why?
I feel two thumps on my chest, and I stop and look down. More tranquilizers.
“Fuck me.”
“Maybe later, Back at HQ.” A tall olive skinned man snorts, before he smacks me across the face.
As I go tumbling to the ground, I see on his uniform a red patch with a Black Phoenix on it. As I fall unconscious I hear the sound of gunfire all around me.