Botched
My eyes painfully opened after a while, dizzy and hazy I felt terrible. The gunfire stopped and looking to the side was Alina kneeling next to me, opening something then attaching it to my abdomen. I used my arms to attempt sitting upright but I was unable to, all I can do was stare at the dark ceiling as Alina was still next to me getting something from her bag. My abdomen felt numb as i cannot feel anything from the chest down.
"Thank goodness you have healing powers as a virus trait. And sadly we had to return all of those stuff we brought, except the nv." Alina said with exhaustion in her voice, I tried another time to lift myself up. I struggled lifting myself with my arms but successfully sat upright with my back to a wall.
Breathing felt like a challenge as i was sitting upright trying to catch a full breath but to no avail.
"Damon, calm down you will only make it worse. Your wounds are deep but healed faster, you got lucky in the virus gamble." Alina expressed in a tiring sigh.
I realized my vest was removed and set on the side, riddled with holes, some went through while others merely grazed or slammed into it with no rips through the vest. My eyes slowly closed shut again, leaving me in the void of darkness.
Before i knew it i was conscious again, through my eyelids a bright white light pierced through. Opening my eyes i realized i was somewhere else.
I was in a small room, with white paint and a tv on the side.
"You are lucky Damon, your healing will take a couple of minutes to an hour, with our advanced medicine and your virus, you will be alright." A voice explained, looking to my right it was Alina, holding a piece of paper and setting it to the side.
"Where are the others?" I managed to ask feeling pain in my voice, accompanied with the struggle of mustering up some of my words.
"Next room, were back in the station or whatever. The mission was finished but we had to get a medical transport to get you, Thalia was injured as well but it was minor, Lennox and Sebastian saved both of your asses, luckily." Alina explained.
I tried to look down at my chest again, i still had my shirt but it was filled with stitches and dried blood.
"Did I fuck it up?" I asked in a frustrated.
"Of course not, we got what we needed, they just knew where you were that's all." Alina replied.
A voice of a person speaking got my attention, i looked to my right and it was the tv with news again. A man was speaking with the picture of the house.
"Last night a house was raided by mercenaries of the Parabellum Academy. Although there were no casualties, it was reported that 1 was critically wounded and was taken to medical care. On other news however more civilians are now taking up arms against the government," The picture switches to a close up of someone, "It is believed that some protesters in the crowd bear this symbol on their clothing, the meaning of the symbol however wasnt disclosed to the public, and police say they are still investigating."
"Burnwick." Alina muttered.
"So it is Burnwick." I sarcastically replied.
Alina looked at me with a slight smirk then went back to an emotionless face looking at the tv.
Alina handed folder to me, it was marked with the word "MERCENARY" in red. I took the paper and Alina stood up then left the room, not even a bye or anything?
Inside it were pieces of paper as well as a picture on the side, it showed the symbol and some picture of a outpost of sorts taken from above. One of the papers had the words "OPERATION BLOODBATH" at the top, the paper read:
"This is one of the first offensives we may have on the enemy, the base was found in 'Eraina' forest, a base near the border to the country of Huradesh. Huradesian troops will support us as well as our own for this mission, the base is said to cross a couple of kilometers but still unknown. The offensive will begin tomorrow morning, you are to provide supports against the enemy and find a means to flank them. Due to the density of the forest only armored trucks and personnel carriers can be brought. Ready your men and get food from the mess hall, extra mercenaries from Parabellum will join this battle, and hopefully your success will lead to the end of the terrorist force."
Looking at the pictures it showed multiple things, from men in a group photo with that same symbol and pictures of the base from different angles.
The door opened and when I looked to see who it was, it was Alina. Alina sat back down on her seat with a folder identical to mine, she sat on her seat with crossed legs looking at the folder.
"You holding up?" Alina asked, I nodded in return.
"You're strong, others I met either screamed or passed out while fighting. You are a rarity, someone that got shredded like you were should be dead or in a worse condition," Alina pulls out a flask and takes a sip from it, immediately after she placed it on her waist, "They made the right decision of making you a huntsman, but all this wasn't what you were expecting, wasn't it?" Alina chuckled a bit then regained composure again.
"So now we are gonna take part in our first skirmish." Alina muttered.
"You never went on one?" I asked.
"Never, only on small fights that's it. Never went on big battles before. And hey, you can be a good wound dummy," Alina laughs, "You looked fucked up when I was tending to you in the house, your vest was torn up and your abdomen is just soaked in blood with holes, but fortunately you have healing powers so the wounds healed faster." Alina explained. She stands up with her folder and other things.
"I have to go, the medics in this place are scarce, you can watch shows, news, or read that folder." With that Alina walked out of the room.
Silence filled the room as I was left alone with the wounds I got from the raid, wonder what my parents feel about me now? Fighting people that may or may not be good for the sake of just getting some money or fighting the good fight.
What happened to Thalia and the others? were they injured? I guess I'll see for myself. My mind wandered back to my time when I started out, from that one death I saw in front of my eyes to the first person I killed. A paper slipped out of the folder and fell on my chest, holding the paper, the words "PARABELLUM" were stamped in blue on the paper. The paper read:
"Due to constant fighting reported within the country as well as from neighboring countries and the apparent growth of multiple terrorist groups such as Burnwick and Coalition of Warmongers the League of Archons has summoned all schools inside the league to allocate their mercenaries and a portion of their soldiers to take up arms and fight against these hostile attacks against our country and our fellow brothers and sisters, there also has been an sudden spike in reported shootings in the area resulting in multiple deaths and hundreds of injuries. Due to this you will expect more cases from our country for a while as we have major issues with controlling the populace. For now prepare your soldiers and mercenaries for war in the future and always remember. Si vis Pacem, Para Bellum."
I put the paper to the side in shock, war? Coalition of Warmongers? League of Archons? how backwards have we gone? Maybe this mercenary idea was a mistake, no it can't be, these people were around during the war right? taking advantage on the weak.
The door opened again and this time it was Sebastian, this time he carried a duffle bag, probably with my stuff inside.
"Hey Damon, still holding up?" Sebastian asked while putting down my bag, i nod my head in return.
"Hey Sebastian, know anything about this war thing?" I handed the paper to Sebastian.
"Yeah, once were done with this battle we might stop doing mercenary work to prepare for this war. We might become war heroes if we survive this, the pay must be high or we can get a shit ton of things from this." Sebastian replied handing the paper back to me.
"For now just rest, tomorrow we start moving and here is your stuff, they fixed it and cleaned it for free," Sebastian explained, "Your strong Damon I'll give you that, even Alina was impressed which is rare, maybe you can become a Knight of the Archons." Sebastian added. With that he walked out of the room.
I rest in my bed viewing the tv, until now it still shows news but this time about other things like entertainment. Today ends and tomorrow begins.