Paramedic

I

Artillery shells exploded a couple of blocks from left and right from where Jung was. It's been three months of witnessing pains and deaths in Harut. Jung and Jon heard gunshots in every direction. Explosions in the ruins of buildings, and howling tracers lightened the darkness. There was not a single second in their life without the worries of death itself.

Jung thinks about it every day, every second. When will it claim his life or others in his group? He stood behind a building. His ears rang and almost couldn't hear anything besides the heat of the battle. The man's heart was pounding, skin sweating, feet trembling. He spoke to his cassette recorder, reporting each encounter he saw and experienced. Jung's voice was shaking, trying to keep speaking while under the pressure of death. Then his lips finally sealed.

Jung still has his mouth and the ability to speak with his tongue and lips. He raised his hand and saw his palm was full of dirt. The explosions and gunfights made his body paralyse. A soldier tapped his shoulder and pulled Jung back to reality.

He was calling the journalist's name, asking if he was okay. Jung parted his lips but couldn't deliver a single word to him. Jung could see the background of everything that was happening. Bullets whistled as they passed the group position. The Nagarian soldiers were shooting back at them.

Suddenly, he felt a big slap on his face. Then everything came back.

"Jung! Listen to me!" the soldier grabbed Jung's shoulders and shook them.

"W-What happened!?" Jung's voice was brash, with eyes wide open.

"Your friend happened!" the soldier looked to his right. The two of them saw Jon's right leg bleeding badly. "Your friend. Shrapnel hit him. We have nothing to spare except morphine to ease the pain!" he shouted beneath the thunders of bullets.

"Is he okay? What's going on?"

"Artillery shell fragments hit him. Now, listen closely. The comms are dead. The nearest outpost is four blocks from here. I need you to bring your friend here back to the outpost. Then tell the general that our forces are being pushed back by the Nagarians. Sector A twelve, A as in Alpha, the C company needs immediate backup. If there aren't..." The officer paused, he then continued after he felt the ground shake from an explosion. "Tell them that A twelve needs reinforcement ASAP. We cannot hold them much longer, five hours, tops. Now get, okay?"

A soldier walked to him with Jon's hand around his back, carrying him to Jung. Jonathan stood there, laughing while high on the drug they gave him.

"Damn. I'm a damsel in distress am I?" Jon's voice was weak.

The officer peered at Jung. He and the entire unit's lives are in the journalist's hands.

"Get some help, will you?" he gave Jung and Jonathan a salute with a determined face.

The two of them immediately travelled towards the Hellsum army outpost. Jung carried Jonathan, who was much larger, by his shoulder. Jon has a limp on one side, forcing Jung to walk much slower. While on the way, Jon talks pleasantly with his friend.

"Jung, are you tired?"

"No, I'm still strong. We can get there," Jung grunts.

"Hey, Jung. Back at the office, I met Marie. She said that you had her money."

"Not now, Jon. What I have to focus on now is getting you back home."

"Home," the half-conscious Jon paused. "You saw what happened back at the house, didn't you?"

"Yes, your mother and sister. I honestly feel sorry for them. Must be scary for her to see," Jung voice was a little out of breath.

"We should have left on the day the war started, not tomorrow. My family, you, and Ardan."

"What can we do? He's late, we're late. Now we are in this hellhole."

Without a warning, Jon fell from the grip, dragging Jung down as well. Jonathan's legs can no longer walk. Jung could see that the wound was still open. Red, red blood ran out of his legs. Jung crawled away when he saw Jon's wound was still open. It was filthy. He could see the flesh torn open.

Looking at the road they had passed, Jung saw Jon's blood dripping red on the asphalt.

"Jung, I-" the journalist's movements weakened.

Jon was losing blood fast. It concerned Jung. He saw the wound and wanted to cover it, but he didn't know how.

"No... no... NO!" Jung shouted. "Be strong, Jon," Jung held his friend's head.

Jung was looking for ideas about how he can get this guy back to the outpost. Jung tried to lift Jon to his feet. He tried to pull the enormous man with all his might. As he pulled Jon to his feet, he felt like his body was about to explode from the pressure. He choked from exhaustion pulling his friend. When Jon got to his feet, his frail body fell towards Jung. The man panicked and looked down.

He felt something heavy rest on his shoulders, but Jung didn't fall. Jon was now on Jung's shoulder, unconscious and bleeding.

Jung tried to lift his heavy comrade. He tried to carry Jon on his shoulders, even though his height was heavier than Jung's. Jung's body wasn't stout and strong, but he pressed on with his will to save a friend.

The man started walking with all his might. Carrying his floundering comrade towards the Hellsum army's outpost.

Two blocks he passed, and three more he forced his way. Exhausted, Jung stops for a few minutes, still carrying Jon on his back. When the strength returned, Jung immediately walked back to the outpost.

Jon was on his back half alive. Jung carried his friend to safety. Jung passed the last building block; the post was in sight. Jung forced his body strength until he was bleeding from his nose. He screamed with all his power to keep pushing himself so he could get Jon to safety.

While walking, Jung saw an object ricochet close to his feet on the asphalt; creating small dust as it hit. Still walking towards the post, Jung's thought was only on Jon's well-being. Then the man felt as if his body was being squashed by Jon's weight. From the direction of the outpost, came the sound of arguing between people. Jung's eyes darken, his body weakened and collapsed onto the empty road.

His gaze was facing the outpost. There he could see a group of people running towards him. A blurred vision made it difficult for Jung to see who they were. For a moment, he could feel his body floating, then he felt he was flying on air.

II

"His blood pressure was high after lifting the person up," said a medic.

"Holy crap. He's from the press!" confusion and shock mingled on the soldier's face. "Where is the company who was with him? Why is he alone!?"

Jung raised his hand, grasping the arm of the soldier. The journalist desperately tried to get the words out of the tip of his lips.

"A twelve," he said hoarsely. "They need help..."

Jung immediately lay down, exhausted. The soldier understood it very well. He immediately ran into a tent. Jung could hear the soldier's voice.

"General. General!" shouted the soldier. "Sector A twelve needs help. They sent that journalist to call for help."

"A twelve is still alive? I thought they were gone since the comms died," the general paused. "Paramedic, do we have a report from A twelve?"

"No communication with 'A twelve'," another bass voice answered.

Jung heard the pause in the tent.

"Paramedic, bring those soldiers back. We are leaving the frontline."

Someone gasped.

"Lost? They only arrived in central Harut one day ago, and now we lost Harut?" it devastated him.

"Do your job, paramedic. This is an order," the general commanded him. "I don't want my soldiers to die in vain. Harut is not yet lost. We can take it back. Now you go out there and help them all get back here! And I believe you don't have questions for me."

It was pure silence when people in the camp heard the talk. Jung saw a man with a red cross armband bolt out of the tent and gather his men to march away.

"Pull all of them back," said the general as he watched his soldiers march away.

The general exited the tent and approached a radio operator below an open tent.

"We're leaving Harut. Send the order to all divisions," the general ordered.

"General, are you sure?" asked the radio officer for reassurance.

"Pull everything back. Save what we can save. This is not the end of Harut or Polny."

He radioed orders to all divisions to regroup and retreat from central Harut. The radio operator assistant wrote the orders when it issued.

III

Jung was being treated by the medical team when the sun was about to set. Not long after the sunset, the whole outpost heard a soldier give an alarm of an upcoming group. Every soldier took up arms and pressed their own body to the sand barricade they created.

On top of a watchtower, a soldier told his friend to shine the lights. At the same time, they shined the lights on the darkness. The soldiers, who were ready to shoot, immediately stood up and looked around. But they didn't pull the trigger.

The people behind the outpost defence heard shouts from the guard wall. It shocked them, everyone tried to find out what had happened. They ran to the entrance of the post and saw the soldiers led by a paramedic coming back with C Company.

In the line of soldiers, there were several wounded, bleeding, and some with limping legs. Everyone immediately ran to help the soldiers as they enter. They took the wounded to medical tents and others rested at the outpost. Many were injured, but there were also many survivors that he saw.

All the while, Jung sat on a bench waiting for a doctor who has performed surgery on Jonathan.

He sat there doing nothing. Frantic with his friend's condition, who he had never heard from since the start of the surgery. Jung moved the bottom of his foot up and down while waiting to hear news about Jon. A doctor came out of the tent and bolted to the bakery.

"Doctor! What happened to-"

Before Jung could finish, the doctor entered the bakery. Jung follows, and he slammed the door in the journalist's face. He peeked through the window and saw the doctor talking to the general. His heart was pounding fast, panicked about what happened to his friend.

The general and the doctor exited the shop and walked toward the tent.

"You, come with me," the general ordered the journalist.

Jung, the general and the doctor entered the tent where Jonathan was being operated on. Inside the tent, Jon was unconscious. Cloth covered his body. Except for his legs, which were exposed during the surgery by two other doctors.

The doctor who performed the surgery lifted an aluminium tray. It contained a small object covered in blood. Jung assumed it was Jon's blood.

"A bullet?" it surprises Jung to see the object on the tray.

The general used a medical glove and held the bullet for a clearer view. He twirled the bullet, looking for something the journalist didn't know.

"And this bullet is not our standard calibre. Do you know what that means?" the general turned to Jung who shrugged. "This means this bullet belongs to the Nagarian soldiers. A violation of international law," the general smiled.

A doctor took a small plastic bag and gave it to the general. He placed the bullet in airtight plastic. The three of them could see evidence of war crimes committed by the Nagarian.

"Journalist, does that camera work?" asked the general.

"It does."

"Take a picture," the general patted the journalist on the back. "If we can't beat them on the battlefield, then our words will."

Jung took the picture, then the general brought the journalist outside.

"This has been a disastrous day for us, journalist. Can I ask you to do something for me?" he put his hand on Jung's shoulder.

"What are we talking about?"

"I need you to take the photo and the bullet back to the government in Red Coast. This is an immense piece of evidence for us. That picture could give him justice," the general handed the bullet as well to the journalist. "You will be escorted by someone I trust," the two walked into the parking lot.

There stood a man with a medical sign on his helmet standing in front of a sedan. Jung felt a bit intimidated by the man's posture, not to mention he must be knowledgeable.

"Meet paramedic," the general introduced.

"Nice to meet you," his handshake was very firm.

"Ignatius Jung. From Hueyyad."

"From the heart of Polny, huh?" the paramedic chatted.

"Lovely. You and the paramedic will go to the capital tonight by car. We don't have time to hold the news," explained the general.

"And what happened to Jonathan?" Jung asked with his worried face. "I don't want to leave him. That man has a mother waiting for him to come back home! He was drawn here only to be hit by a Nagarian bullet. I need him back. I beg of you!"

"Aren't we all?" the general sighed. "Please listen to what I want to talk about for a moment. We will send your friend back as fast as we can, but he will leave in an ambulance coming from Hueyyad. That means the ambulance will be here in about four or five hours. So, for your safety. AND, for your friend's sake, you need to go back now."

Jung looked frazzled. For the last time, the general confirmed what he had said to the journalist.

"Please do this for your friend's sake," the general grabbed him by the shoulder and patted him.

Jung, who validated and knew what his friend needed, accepted with his lips sucked in and left Jon at the outpost.

"Alright, if this is the best thing for Jon, then I'll-"

Before he could finish the sentence, a gigantic explosion occurred somewhere near them. The earth shook, and the siren turned on. A gunfight ensues, and a startled Jung falls to the ground. Loud gunfires, small calibres round flying from every direction.

While trying to figure out what was going on, they could hear a scream from a Hellsum soldier.

"They're here!"

IV

The explosion was audible. The explosion shook Jung and the Paramedic. It alarmed the general. He looked at the paramedic and both eyes looked. They checked at each other, making sure they felt the same thing.

"Go, now! Secure the evidence and the journalist!" the general yelled.

Jung put his head down on the ground and wished the bullets didn't hit him. But the paramedic did the exact opposite. He immediately grabbed him by the collar and pulled him into the sedan.

"Get in, journalist!"

When the paramedic picked him up, his body immediately stopped shaking. He gathered his thoughts and cleared his mind from worries.

From the direction of the battlefield came two soldiers carrying a large suitcase. The paramedic stopped those who came running from the crossfire.

"What are you doing!? Go back into the fight!" The paramedic kept long eye contact.

The soldier held up the suitcase for the paramedic to see.

"The general told us to bring the queen!" said the soldier who was holding the enormous suitcase.

Paramedic who saw it immediately ordered the two soldiers to get in the back of the car. When everyone was in the car, the paramedic immediately skirted away.

Jung looked back at the outpost. The buildings were on fire, and the centre of army leadership in Harut was burning down. The burning buildings made Jung remembers.

"Stop the car!" shouted Jung.

"What do you want?" the paramedic kept speeding away.

"My friend is still there! He needs help!"

"Do you want to go back there and die? Didn't you see what happened there?" the paramedic screamed at the top of his lungs. "They caught us off guard! If I go back there, would you even go through the storm of bullets so you can save him!? What if they shot you?"

It made Jung speechless.

"My men are there too, just like your friend."

Hearing that, Jung immediately went crazy in the car. He hit the car drawer with anger and regret. The soldiers sat back as Jung cursed. He ended up curled in his seat. His eyes were watery and couldn't think straight anymore.

"Damn it!" Jung kicked the car in disappointment.

"Hey-hey-hey... It will be alright," the paramedic tried to ease the man. "This is a difficult time for us. So, I want you to think and listen the words that I will say."

Jung wiped his tears and took a deep breath to stop his sobbing. He looked at the paramedic, who seemed the least bit concerned about all this.

"From now onwards, there will be difficult times. You, Jung, have many people you care about. Am I right?" paramedic looked at Jung, who gave no response. "Everyone you love can break into tears easily, and if you break just like them, then everything you love... can't be saved. You had been on the battlefield for a few months, you saw the battle from the border all the way to Harut. You know what is the hardships and other damned things in war. Be the strongest of your loved ones, and you will bring them out of the ruins of the world."

As the paramedics spoke to Jung, the two soldiers in the back of the car heard the sound of an engine. The two immediately looked back and sensed that something was coming. They aimed their weapons. Paramedic who heard those guns cocked immediately looked back through the mirror.

"What is it?" paramedic looked through the car window.

"Contact, six o'clock," the soldiers had their weapons ready.

"Damn it," the paramedic immediately stepped on the gas to make the vehicle go faster.

The people in the cars held on and the soldiers got ready in case someone came after them. From the darkness of the night, they saw a shape at the end of sight. The vehicle was dark green and had a small cupola on the roof.

The vehicle was fast enough for such a large object. The paramedic tapped the steering wheel with his fingers while driving on the road. He immediately took a path to the toll road. The empty toll road enabled him to drive faster.

Yet, the bullets were already flying when the vehicle behind them fired. Bullets flew on either side of the car. Some of which penetrated the body of the car and disappeared without a trace. The soldiers started shooting back at those who chased them. A firefight broke out between cars on the highway.

When the chasing car came into view, it turned out that the vehicle was not just a car. It was an armoured vehicle with a mounted machine gun on top of it. Having low on firepower, the paramedic gave Jung an assault rifle.

The journalist does understand why he gave the rifle, but he doesn't know how to use it. Jung had never used a rifle before, and this alone was the first time he had ever handled it. Slightly heavy, Jung picked up the rifle and rolled down the side window. He let out a bit of his body until he could peek at the pursuing car.

First, he shoots by gently pulling the trigger. He felt the burst of recoil, then he shot again and again. By using it, the journalist felt what it was like to use a rifle even though he couldn't wield it properly.

A soldier in the back managed to hit the man wielding the machine gun embedded in the car's top. The gunfight stopped suddenly. The soldiers looked at each other, trying to figure out what had just happened. When they thought they finished the firefight, the pursuing car shoot back again. In the backseat, enemy machine gun bullets severed a soldier's arm. The soldier's comrade in the back helped him who was screaming in agonising pain.

Jung was mortified to see the man's hand severed; this was the first time he observed combat this close.

"God damn it! Stop the bleeding will you? And give the queen to Jung!" ordered the paramedic to the soldier.

The soldier pushed the suitcase to Jung's seat. It was large, making it a little difficult to open. When the Paramedic gave Jung a little more space, the journalist saw a huge weapon that was heavy to use. When checking the weapon, the paramedic opened the sunroof on top of their heads.

"Stand up!" he ordered the journalist.

When Jung was about to stand up, a bullet ricocheted from the car's roof.

"They're shooting at me!" Jung didn't dare to peek outside.

"They are already shooting at you in the beginning! Go up there and use the queen by your shoulder. Do it!"

Jung gathered his bravery and screamed when he stood up.

"Aim it. By the time it beeps, shoot it!"

Jung didn't understand how to operate it. There he was, pinned down by gunfire by the soldiers chasing him. Jung lifted the object and placed it on his shoulder. He saw that there was a clamp on it, and he heard a noise coming from his gun. When the noise flattened out, the paramedic below shouted at the journalist.

"Pull the trigger!"

"What? How?"

While asking how, he accidentally pulls the trigger. The portable missile launched. Everybody kept their mouth shut when they see the missile was airborne. Even the pursuing machine gunner.

The rocket exploded right beneath the vehicle, creating explosion in the car. The vehicle cupola launched into the sky, and flames erupt as the vehicle exploded. Paramedic screamed in joy whilst honking the car.

"YES! IT WORKED!" he laughed and honked the horn. "I had the feeling, boys. I knew it. I said that before, and I say it again. The queen is alive! The monarchs is about to take down many Nagarian's armoured divisions."

Jung sat on his chair with relief. He used his seatbelt and relaxed his cramping legs.

"Excuse me, sir. Not to disrupt your sheer joy of that explosion. We have to go to Hueyyad. The general said the thirty-sixth army is there, ready for the defence of Hueyyad."

"No, we are going straight to the Red Coast today!" said the paramedic.

"But the general said-"

While steering, the paramedic who was driving the car couldn't move the wheel. Then, the left front wheel feels a little odd. Something strange, the paramedic lost control of the car. He hit the brakes. For a few seconds, it felt safe. Then the brakes snapped.

Missing the brakes and unable to move the steering wheel, the car spun out of control and rolled to the ground. Jung and the paramedic who wore seatbelts were safe from the incident. The two soldiers in the back were thrown around and one of them launched out of the car.

Jung panicked, then his head hit something hard. He was then put to sleep.