Chapter 5

"Umm... Rio I think I can run on my own. I only injured my shoulder not my legs."

"No can do, we need to minimize blood loss. Just hang in there for a bit Sarge, at least until we patch the injuries."

No matter how much I ask, Rio seems adamant on not letting me walk by myself. She said that it will cause more blood loss, I don't know if it's true or not so I just resigned myself. We have been running for quite a while now. I can hold out for a bit more but it is still hurt to the point that I feel like losing my consciousness.

"I think we run far enough. Everyone sets up a perimeter, reports any suspicious movements. Tina takes out the medical kit, quickly!"

"Yes, ma'am! Sergeant turn your back towards me."

Tina, our squad's medic quickly took a look at my injuries.

"Well one saving grace is the fact that it did not hit any vital organs..."

She took out some surgical gloves and sprayed it with some antiseptic. Then she pulled out of her bag some kind of syringe.

"... But we still need to pull it out. Administering localized anesthesia."

I lay on my side for a few minutes when the pain on my shoulder gradually dissipates.

"Alright pulling out the icicle. Stitching the wound... Alright administering med-stims"

Suddenly I can feel something prick my outer thighs. That must be the med-stims.

"Okay surgery done. It's still going to take a couple of hours for it to fully heal."

"Thanks Tina."

"No problem just doing my job Sergeant."

"It looks like our command is playing right straight into the enemies trap and now not only we need to deal with a whole company of soldiers but also an unknown number of elite forces too."

I quickly grab my PCD.

"Strike team Alpha, this is Alpha 3. Does anyone copy?"

It was a complete silence from everyone.

"Strike team Alpha, this is Alpha 3. Can anyone hear me?"

After waiting for a few minutes, I don't receive any calls back from any squads. Even the Valkyries squad did not reply to any communication. This is I hope and really praying for the case that the Imperials already put some kind of jammer to block our communication or everyone has been...

Let's just hope it's the former. For now we need to regroup with the rest of the platoon and formulate some plans.

"We need to move towards the LZ, everyone must have realized that this is a trap and probably already heading there already. The Imperial soldiers main target are the Valkyries, so this will buy us some time. Regroup with others and organize a rescue for them."

"Yes sir!"

Whiskey then slowly raised her hand.

"Yes Whiskey?"

"Umm... What if... I mean what if there is nobody at the LZ?"

"... Then we just need to think of a new plan. For now we need to focus on getting to that LZ first, okay."

"Yes sir!"

***

We slowly traverse the thick jungle, checking for any possible traps. The subtle sound of leaves rustling as the calm wind blows throughout the area. Usually this calms my mind but when you can't even see more than 10 feet in front of you while possibly surrounded by enemies, it slightly unnerved me.

Ugh... I can still feel my shoulder sting a bit. At least it's not as painful as before but it still feels uncomfortable.

"Sergeant, are you okay?"

Tina looks at me with a concerned face. Looks like she saw my crumpled up face.

"Ah don't worry about it. I just feel a bit uncomfortable on my shoulder, nothing major."

Tina then quickly rummaged her first aid pack and pulled out a small white bottle. She takes out one pill from the bottle.

"Here some painkillers for you Sergeant. It should help you for a few hours. Should be enough until the wound fully heals."

I take the pill of her hand.

"Thanks Tina."

"I want to say that you can't do a lot of strenuous activities while healing but I don't think we have time for that."

"You always take care of me Tina. Really, thank you. I don't know how I can pay you back."

"Hehehe, just doing my job. But if you insist on paying me back, how about taking me out on a date when we are back."

Going out after this mission doesn't sound so bad.

"Sure, I don't see why I can't."

Tina looks back at me with a bright smile.

"That's a promise okay!"

A small smile forms on my lips looking Tina continues to walk happily. Suddenly the hairs on my neck began to stand up. I quickly look back.

"Sarge, is there something wrong?"

Rio who walks behind me asks with a smile.

"I just felt like something... No, maybe it's nothing."

Was that just my imagination?

After walking for about a few hours we arrived at the forest clearing. The designated LZ for us. Looks like we are the first to arrive. The skies already began to become cloudy. Looks like it will start to rain.

"For the time being set up a perimeter. We will camp up here for a few hours until the other squad arri..."

—SHHH....

I quickly ready my rifle. My squad also started to pick up their weapons, waiting for my order. I signal them to aim towards the area where the sound can be heard.

—BSHH!!!

Some small animals jump out from the bush.

"... It's just some forest critter. Hah— I have been on edge since we fought against that witch. Everyone at ea..."

"Well all you seem frightened~"

All of us quickly turn around and take aim with our rifles. A mature beautiful lady with long light blue hair stands right behind our squad. She wears a long black hooded robe and is holding some crystal-like staff. She calmly smiled at me with a hint of madness in her eyes.

"Oh do not be so alarmed. I'm not here to kill you. I'm here to provide you with information."

"And why do you think that I will trust a witch? You could be lying and send us into an ambush."

The witch just continues to smile without any fear.

"If I want to kill you..."

Suddenly before I can even respond, I can feel something cold press onto my neck. Multiple large steel swords appear and point to everyone's neck.

"... You would not even realize it."

I can feel chills run down my spine as sweat flows down from the back of my neck down to my back. I slowly swallow my fear and steel my heart.

"Very well what kind of information do you want to share?"

"Hmm~ try to put a brave front I see... I like that."

The witch then suddenly tears open a small portal in front of her and pulls out a piece of paper. She then slowly waved it in front of me as she slowly walked towards me.

"This is the map and all of the patrol information and possible detention facilities that I got for this operation of capturing some Valkyries."

"Wait... Capturing?"

"Yes, the Witch of Destruction is attempting to learn and replicate the technique behind creating the Valkyries. She has been unable to find live Valkyries to further her research. But now she managed to capture the Valkyries that she wanted and planned on smuggling them off the planet in a few more days."

The witch seemed quite happy as she explained in detail their plans to me, which makes me quite confused for a moment.

"Wait, wait, wait, why do you tell me all of this?"

"What do you mean?"

The witch was equally confused as she continuously provided information to me, and asked me back.

"I mean why do you give all of this information to me, your enemies?"

The witch then thinks for a moment when suddenly she flashes me back with her smile filled with madness.

"Because I hate that bitch."

I can see the witch trembling as she begins to ramble.

"A newbie son of a bitch who got too big for her own good. Just because she got lucky once and was promoted to be a Tower Witch, she thinks she can do anything..."

I feel a bit unsettled seeing her insane rambling of her dissatisfaction toward the Witch of Destruction. But as long as her madness is not directed to me, I can feel relieved... Maybe?

"So... Miss witch, you provide me with this information just so you can humiliate the Witch of Destruction?"

"Yes that's correct."

"But why us?"

The witch quickly turns from an unhinged rambling sociopath to a refine calm lady in just a beat.

"Well you just humiliate one of the top disciples of the Witch of Destruction. So I think you have what it takes to take down her whole operation."

I looked back at my squad mates. They looked back at me and nod one by one.

"Very well I'll accept your information."

The witch stared at me for a moment and held her hands out towards me.

"We will work together a lot from this day onwards. Let's pray for a fruitful cooperation."

But I don't take her hands.

"I'm sorry but I don't shake hands with witches. I don't know what kind of binding spells you can put on me, so better safe than sorry."

She then chuckled for a moment and put her hand down.

"You are quite clever for a foot soldier."

She then slowly walked away and turned one last time towards me.

"We will meet again, Sergeant."

Her body then suddenly turned gray and a sudden gust of wind blew her gray body into ashes flying to the skies. As the witch is gone, I can feel all the strength on my legs vanished and quickly drop to the ground.

"I feel like I just lost 20 years of my life."