StarGaze

Let's Get Out

The officers were really impressed by my performance in the testing and as Vicky said, volunteers were given higher posts. I was made in charge of Via Veneto, Campo de Fiori, and the Trevi fountain region of Rome until they found me a suitable mission. I now have seven hundred super soldiers under my direct command. Our job was to look for any distress signals from these parts and bring in bonies to fill the training centers when told to do so. Big and strong ones were sent to be killed by subjects who wanted to be officers and thin ones for the ones who were to be soldiers. That explains why I had to fight the beasts. In short, I was the boss of these regions and there was no one to question my authority. The purpose of giving me this useless job was to ease a little pressure from the superiors who would have to look out for these regions. Anyway, I was really happy to be in a position which I totally didn’t deserve.

It turns out that all my other friends also survived the program and were given similar posts in other parts. Yash was posted in Naples, while Himanshu and Mandeep were placed in Florence and Bari, respectively. Rishabh was sent back to India as a special assignment. Yash was the closest to me and our units often joined forces for co-op missions. We had many adventures together, but one of them was the most memorable. It even earned us the patriot medal. It goes a little something like this-

One night, we were returning after a recon in the outskirts of Florence. Satellite images showed rebel mobility in these areas. Many people were not prepared to risk their lives in the patriot program, and the government takes every one of the youth that they can get their hands on. This led to the rise of rebel groups around every part of the world. And the worst part is that all countries are united for this ‘cause’, so even the UN doesn't have the power to stop this m******e. It is amazing how humans can even in situations like this. I mean, seventy percent of the world’s population is lost and all we are trying to do is eradicate the rest too.

Anyway, we had seventeen soldiers in our squad, including me and Yash. We were returning to the checkpoint at the Rome-Florence border, where we would board a helicopter for our respective bases.

“Where did you think they go? They can’t just vanish into thin air.” I say, lighting a smoke. I only smoke when I’m nervous. And I am getting a really bad feeling from this one. My instincts sense a trap in this one, but my logic denies the possibility. After all, the rebels are too smart to attack a squad of super-soldiers with a handful of men. Even if they have to surprise us, it would have to be a big one because we are no fools either.

“Relax man, they must have seen us coming and are probably hiding in their burrows like a bunch of bunnies,” Yash replies carelessly.

“Yeah, you're probably right.” I feel a little comfort now. I throw down the burnt-out cigarette and light another one.

Just then, the comms carrier runs up to us. His salute startles me and breaks my trail of thoughts.

“Sir, no one is responding at the check post.” He says in a hurry.

“It is because of those goddamn jammers that the rebels put up from time to time. Relax, they don’t have the guts to attack a government checkpoint. It’s too big of a risk for chickens like them. Take it easy.” Yash pats the soldier’s shoulder.

“What do you think?” He says after the soldier goes back to his post. He is serious now.

“Even if they attack the checkpoint, they don’t have the resources to take it. And even if they take it, both the government and the rebels know that they can’t hold it.” I say what my logic has been telling me all along.

“Yes, that’s right. But we should just lookout. They may try to pull off something crazy.” Yash says, still worried.

“Hey listen, you freaks. Move like a ghost and keep your eyes open on the way. If you see something odd, don’t shout. Stop immediately and pass the word for us. You understand?” I speak loudly so that everyone hears me.

“Yes, sir.” The sound comes from every direction.

“We’ll be alright.” I smile at Yash and he smiles back.

We reach the checkpost in about forty minutes. Oddly, no one seems to be on the gates. We reach inside and discover something big, covered by a huge cloth, lying in the middle of the property. I order my squad to spread out and slowly approach the cloth. I stand right before it and look at Yash, who nods after lifting and pointing his rifle at anything that may be under the rag. I pull the rag and uncover a heap. It’s a heap of dead bodies. Their uniforms tell that they were the soldiers appointed at the checkpoint. And the wounds show that it wasn’t the bonies who did it.

Stupefied by this show of barbarism, I almost forget to respond when a rocket hits our squad.

“Take cover. Now.” Yash screams at the top of his voice. We dodge behind a broken wall as two more rockets blaze up the ground on our left.

The check post is a square-shaped territory, with one watchtower on each corner. It had forty quarters and an office building, located opposite to our side. On our side, there were broken walls spread all over. In the middle of this, there is a tower station. In short, the rebels had the perfect hideout whereas we didn’t have a hideout at all. But this wasn’t the time to cry about life not being fair. Our men were waiting for guidance from us. Their life depended on us.

“We have been in situations worse than this one. All we need do is to analyze the situation. We have more strength, experience, and better training than they can ever have. Come on, our men are depending on us.” I try to calm down Yash, who is starting to panic.  Machine gun bullets rattle against the wall behind which we are hiding. So they got heavy guns too. Could this day get any better?

“Hey Rock, where are the rockets coming from?” I ask my only sniper alive.

“The watchtower on the left sir.” He replies instantly.

“So are you waiting for them to blow you up? Get him.” I am angry now.

“I can’t sir. He just comes up for a second and then goes back to cover.” He says.

“Well then, the next time he comes up, you make sure it’s the last. Come on, put that hyper sense to use.” I wink at him, hoping to ease a little pressure. It works.

“You can forget about the rockets, sir.” He’s smiling now.

The next thing we do is count our men. I remember Heath and Harley caught by the rocket, but we are missing one more man.

“Where is Keith?” I shout. The answer comes from Keith’s brother’s wet eyes.

“So, now we have fourteen men, including us. Now, there are at least fifty of them out there, locked and loaded with rockets and machine guns. We can’t take them on our own. We need more men.” I say, trying hard not to succumb to my fear.

“How do you suggest we do that?” Yash inquires. I try to think of something quick, but the continuous gunfire makes it pretty hard to do so. Suddenly, it strikes me.

“I know exactly what to do. Listen up boys, we are going to WAR.” I say and throw my best smile at my people. They look relieved now. There is nothing better in the world than a team that trusts you and loves you with all its heart.

"Yeah, we remember what happens next. You f**k everyone up and still survive. Time to get out." Thomas said and punched his hand through the fragment of mind time.