Episode 2 : Regeneration

Inside a green tent serving as a makeshift experiment site, Lavi jumped several times. His head nearly touched the high tent ceiling, and he was surprised by his leap.

"What?" Lavi exclaimed, astonished by his two pairs of legs.Lavi had jumped twice, surpassing the height of everyone beneath the tent ceiling.

Alen nodded, thrilled with his experiment's outcome. He patted Zawaq's left shoulder with his right hand as a gesture of congratulations and excitement.

"Alen," said the Sergeant, who stood proudly at the tent entrance, his chest adorned with medals.

"Sergeant!" Alen replied.

All the soldiers saluted the Sergeant, except Alen. Zawaq also saluted.

"Lavi, jump again!" Alen instructed Lavi.Lavi jumped, hitting his head on the tent ceiling, nearly striking the fan. The Sergeant was shocked by Lavi's extraordinary action.

"Alen, come outside for a moment. I need to talk to you," the Sergeant said to Alen.

"Alright," Alen replied.

The Sergeant walked out of the tent, followed by Alen. Lavi and Zawaq watched them leave and then looked at each other.

"Please sit and continue resting. It will take a month for your two pairs of legs to recover from paralysis. Amazing," Zawaq told Lavi.

"What's up, Sergeant?" Alen asked the Sergeant in the middle of the desert field under the scorching sun.

"Congratulations. The R&D Super Soldier Project has received 10 billion in funding from American and British millionaires. Unfortunately, by government order, 7 billion is allocated to the military. The Super Soldier Project only gets the remaining 3 billion," the Sergeant explained.

"Three billion? Better than nothing," Alen responded.

"Don't worry. I'll work to secure an additional 2 billion as a military contribution because you are enhancing the military strength of Israhell with the Super Soldier project," the Sergeant said.

"Thank you very much, Sergeant," Alen replied.

"You're welcome, Alen. In return, may I ask for something?" the Sergeant inquired.

"What is it? Let me hear it first," Alen replied.

"Can you treat my son? He's paralyzed, aged 15, a male, injured in a rocket explosion. The surgery costs are too high for me. Can you help?" the Sergeant asked.

"Yes, but there must be an agreement. The Sergeant needs to provide everything for his son's care, including food and medical treatment. I'll handle it," Alen explained.

"Thank you, Alen. Thank you," the Sergeant expressed his gratitude."Leave it to me," Alen said confidently.

Nine months later, on a beautiful morning, many soldiers lined up in formation. Several important military figures sat on a stage facing the soldiers, who held their unloaded weapons.Alen and Zawaq were called up to the stage.

The soldiers gave them a thunderous applause. Alen and Zawaq received medals for their contributions to modern medicine in helping heal hundreds of soldiers from physical disabilities.

On another day, Alen and Zawaq were at a stadium. Zawaq held a stopwatch. Alen fired a pistol at a wall designed for target practice.

Zawaq pressed the watch button. Seven soldiers started running around the stadium.Their feet kicked the ground, propelling themselves to increase their running speed. Their arms pumped through the air.Zawaq's eyes widened at their speed.

In five seconds, they had run halfway around the track. The seven soldiers passed in front of Zawaq and Alen, generating a gust like a speeding military truck.

The seven soldiers stopped running, astonished by their abilities. Zawaq fixed his hair with a comb. It was hard to believe. Alen and Zawaq were making real progress in their experimental research.

At another time, Alen and Zawaq were in a lab. The Sergeant's son lay on a bed. Alen and Zawaq monitored his progress.

"How are you today, Jaron?" Zawaq asked the Sergeant's son.

"Who?" Jaron asked from the bed."Jaron?! Jaron can speak?! Jaron!!!" the Sergeant was shocked to hear his son's voice.

"It took a long time for Jaron to speak after being completely paralyzed and only able to blink," Alen told Zawaq.

"This is a breakthrough, Alen!" Zawaq said joyfully.

"Jaron!!!" the Sergeant rushed in from the lab door and hugged his son lying on the bed.

"Dad?" Jaron asked his father.

"Yes, Jaron! It's Dad! You can speak!" the Sergeant cried with joy.

Zawaq smiled, sharing the Sergeant's joy. Then Jaron rose from lying down to sitting on the bed. Zawaq, Alen, and the Sergeant were astonished, seeing Jaron able to sit up after being paralyzed for three years.

"Eh." Jaron looked at his body and then at his two pairs of hands.

In the Sergeant's office, pictures of the Sergeant decorated the walls. Alen and Zawaq sat in chairs in front of the Sergeant's desk, waiting silently.

"Alen. Our Super Soldier project is successful!" Zawaq said to Alen.

"Zawaq, what we've been doing all this time is merely healing incurable diseases, making them disappear as if they never existed. It's not a super soldier project," Alen replied.

"Alen, Lavi can jump six meters! Nearly all the soldiers we've healed from permanent disabilities can run 500 meters in under ten seconds! This is a tremendous achievement!" Zawaq insisted.

"It's too little. I don't deny our progress, but I don't think the evidence of our successful experiments will convince the investors to continue funding our project," Alen explained.

"But..." Zawaq started to say."Alen. Zawaq."

The Sergeant addressed them from his office door.

"Sergeant," Alen acknowledged."Thank you for waiting," the Sergeant said, sitting in his chair.

"How is Jaron?" Zawaq asked the Sergeant."Amazing and I'm very happy. He got out of bed and walked around it. It feels like a dream," the Sergeant replied joyfully.

"Incredible. Anyway, Jaron needs to undergo physical therapy to ensure he's really strong and can perform physical activities like a normal person," Zawaq advised.

"No need. The Sergeant can take Jaron home," Alen stated.

"What?! Alen!" Zawaq disagreed and was shocked by Alen's statement.

"It's alright. Soon, he'll be able to run across a soccer field in ten seconds," Alen said calmly.

"Really? I can take him home?" the Sergeant asked."Yes, Sergeant. Yes. You can take him home today," Alen permitted.

"Thank you, Alen. Okay, I have news to share," the Sergeant said.Zawaq and Alen listened closely.

"The investors are not happy with the results of your research. They don't believe in your achievements. They may not invest next year. Some investors will withdraw," the Sergeant explained.

"But we're almost done with the project!" Alen insisted.

"What if we invite the investors for a visit here?" Zawaq suggested to the Sergeant.

"Impossible. They're afraid of Palestine," the Sergeant replied.

"Palestine doesn't concern us. Our military is far superior to theirs. What do the investors have to worry about?" Alen wondered.

Zawaq was also puzzled by Alen's statement. The Sergeant sighed. Alen wiped his forehead with his right palm.

"Sorry. The funding will be reduced and focused on the military. I will try my best to channel part of the military funds to the super soldier project," the Sergeant said.

"Thank you very much, Sergeant. You have greatly supported our research," Zawaq said to Alen.

"Experimental science projects are not easy. They take years," Alen emphasized.

"Investors only know how to invest large sums of money and expect quick returns. They want short-term investments," the Sergeant explained.