[ The WAR ]

The Beginning of the End

Ch: 8

- -

Husker was finally able to evade the overly zealous officers who were always following behind him. He had found a nice, quiet spot behind the make-shift cook house, nicked a cup of pudding from the kitchens and lay down on the cool grassy field, enjoying his dessert.

After experiencing the desert conditions, he appreciated the green environment better. Unfortunately, this meant that he reverted back to his laid back attitude and further justified it with being in sync with the environment. Nevertheless, Husker needed his peace to recharge from the stressful events which occurred.

(Erhem…)

Professor Regina cleared her throat to catch Husker’s attention.

“Anything I can assist you with, Roch?” Husker asked lazily.

“You can assist me by appearing to have at least the slightest interest in talking to me, Harrold. This is war. It’s no time to be so carefree at this point in time,” Regina replied as she shook her head disapprovingly.

“We humans move too fast. Sometimes, we neglect to live our lives.”

Husker remained in the same position and continued to savour his pudding.

Professor Regina impatiently kicked Husker’s leg.

“Ouch!” Husker yelped.

“Slow reflexes, as usual.”

“Hey, be nice! I’m your commanding officer at the very least.”

“At the very most, Sir,” Regina corrected Husker sarcastically.

“Fine, fine, fine… I give up… What is it that you wish to tell me, professor?” Husker said with a sigh.

“Your man is awake and sober.”

“Ah… Okay… Give me two hours,” Husker replied.

“Husker!” Regina spat sternly.

“Okay! Fifteen minutes to finish my pudding!”

“Five!”

“But.”

“Or not at all!”

Husker sighed again. Why did he even make friends with a tyrant back in primary school…? He gobbled down his pudding and pushed the emptied container into Regina’s hand.

“Let’s go, Rochelle,” he beckoned as he strolled to the infirmary.

- - -

Husker closed the sliding door behind him.

“Hello? My name is Harrold, nice to meet you, Ezerka,” Husker introduced himself to Ezerka and smiled awkwardly.

Ezerka attempted to sit up. Husker rushed over to assist him.

“Thanks,” Ezra mumbled.

“We’re from the 5th Battalion. We were activated to conduct a search and rescue immediately when the laboratory sounded the alarm. We found your body buried in the sand near a facility. Do you remember anything?”

Ezra stared at Husker’s epaulette.

A phoenix insignia. He doesn’t behave like one.

“No… Please… I beg you… No more interrogation. Just kill me,” Ezra begged.

“Hey, hey, hey… No… Don’t get me wrong. We mean no harm!” Husker frantically waved his hands.

They might be using a different tactic for interrogation. I may still be held captive by that mad scientist.

Ezra trusted no one anymore. He was dying to reunite with his comrades in the other world. He hoped that the secret the professor entrusted him would die with him. He desired to be free from the shackles of the living.

Professor Regina finally interjected the panicky commanding officer.

“Sir, I guess Ezerka is still not in the state to talk. Let’s just give him more time.”

She nudged Husker, hinting for him to leave her patient alone.

She followed Husker out of the air-conditioned room and closed the sliding door behind her.

“He’s still not ready, I think,” Regina said.

“I don’t understand…”

“Look at him. He’s been unconscious for days. He has been thrashing in his sleep for the past few nights. The first question he asks is if he is dead. Look at his wounds. They’re not normal cuts. He has been inflicted with wounds which could kill him more than once. He might have already lost his sanity. The only way to get anything out from him is to send him back to the capital.”

Husker looked at her blankly. He understood that it was the only way. It was better, in fact, for him to return to the capital. He has already done his part for the war, even before the war began.

“Permission granted,” he said with a melancholic tone, “take the fastest copter we have. Make sure you get him to the capital safely.”

- - -

Husker stared at his cup of pudding wistfully. He was sitting on a bench at the cook house. Pike approached the bench and saluted his superior.

“Sir, the return team has embarked on their journey back to the capital. We have made communication with HQ Command. They are expecting them and Ezerka Nyx.”

“Mmm… Any other orders from HQ?” he uninterestedly asked.

“Yes sir. We are to rendezvous with the 8th and 12th Battalion to form the Main Outpost Command in the city of Odina. Colonel Urbs and Lieutenant Colonel Footes have been activated.”

Husker nodded. Arnold Urbs was the man for the job if they were settling for an urban base and one could count on Fernando Footes to fill up the entire city with elite infantry soldiers. The government and HQ Command were serious when they decided to get into this shit.

“Tell the rest that we’ll break camp and set off tomorrow at twelve hundred hours,” Husker said.

“But sir, we’re expecting heavy downpours in the evening. If we set off at twelve, we might not be able to reach the next point before the rain hits.”

Husker sighed, “fine… six hundred hours.”

When would his subordinates stop telling him what to do?

(I guess I would have to wake up earlier tomorrow then…)

Husker gazed at the crimson sky as the sun lowered into the horizon.

The government of Oclia was getting serious and preparing for war. In fact, they were already at war with the unknown enemy force with advanced technology. As two more of “Husker’s kind” had been activated and deployed to the front-lines, it was declaration that Oclia was ready for a higher form of war. The secret the professor entrusted to the last of the Nebula Company was lost along with his sanity. All hopes would be pinned on Ezerka Nyx as he returned to the capital to receive treatment. However, it would not be the end for him. The capital had other plans for a Berserker. Returning to the capital was only the beginning…

As what the scientist so willingly granted the soldier, “your suffering will not end with death…