Episode 3 : Serious
"Starting today, we are serious. We do not want to lose investors," said Alen while putting on a green hazmat suit and an oxygen mask connected to an oxygen tank before entering the surgery room, which was a large tent.
Alen and Zawaq performed surgery on a patient on the operating table. The heart monitor kept beeping and measured the patient's blood pressure.
The Sergeant read the documents in his hand. The clock on the office wall kept ticking. He flipped through page after page. The documents were placed on the table. Alen and Zawaq sat in front of the office desk, waiting for the Sergeant's reaction.
The Sergeant thought of many words and arranged them into sentences before giving his opinion."So far, satisfactory for several months. The Super Soldier project is almost three years in," explained the Sergeant.
"Continue. Give us feedback on our progress,"
Alen asked."Or do you want to know about our investors?" the Sergeant asked.
"That too," said Alen.
"The investors are pleased with your progress. They are very interested in reading the experimental research report," said the Sergeant.
"Are they still willing to invest with us?" Zawaq asked the Sergeant.
"Certainly, but on the condition that they need video recordings and photographs," explained the Sergeant.
"Fine. High cost but we still have the remaining money from their previous investment," said Alen.
"Does that mean we need to continue the experiment?" asked Zawaq.
"Yes. The investors want more super soldiers from Israhell before they borrow our data," explained the Sergeant.
"No problem as long as they invest the money quickly. The Super Soldier 2.0 experiment will start soon, but this time with filming," said Alen enthusiastically.
Alen and Zawaq walked towards their science building from the Israhell military headquarters. Zawaq looked at Alen's shining face.
"Are we really going to continue the super soldier experiment to the second stage? The first stage is not even fully observed yet."
"Continue the observation. Don't worry. We will finish the first stage while focusing on the second stage," said Alen.
A week passed, and Alen and Zawaq awaited someone's arrival. A metallic car colored like the desert stopped in front of the Israhell border gate. The wind blew, lifting dust.
The surroundings of the Israhell border gate were desert. A man got out of the armored car with three Israhell soldiers. The three soldiers helped a bespectacled, thin, formally dressed man unload the filming equipment from the back of the armored truck.
"Luckily, there were no terrorist ambushes. Filming equipment is not cheap. Expensive," said the bespectacled man.
"I'm Alen, and this is Zawaq. Sorry, we are saving money. When you return home, we will send you by helicopter," explained Alen.
"It's just that the dust will damage the filming equipment. Filming equipment is very sensitive!" emphasized the bespectacled man.
"Sorry. My name is Sefton. If the equipment gets damaged, the client bears the cost. I'm just a cameraman," said Sefton, shaking hands with Alen and Zawaq.
"I apologize too. Mr. Sefton, you can come in and rest. Tomorrow we will start the experiment, and you can start filming with us in the morning," explained Alen.
"Have you checked our experimental soldiers?" Alen asked Zawaq while escorting Mr. Sefton to his temporary residence.
"Before Mr. Sefton arrived, I checked our soldiers. They are all ready. Healthy. No adverse side effects," explained Zawaq.
"Good. I can't wait for tomorrow," said Alen.
The next day, Alen and Zawaq inspected each soldier lying on the ground aiming at targets using M1 Garand rifles. Shots were fired one by one while the cameraman, Mr. Sefton, recorded the shooting practice with his large camera. The shots hit the target's face. The second shot hit the target's neck. "Our experiment so far is successful. The results show increased shooting accuracy. Focus is sharp. Even the weapons held have almost no recoil," explained Alen.
Lewis M1914 bullets were loaded into the metal disc and mounted on the M1914. All the soldiers shot at the target, maintaining their aim at the neck of the human-shaped target.
"Their shooting is very accurate. At various distances, all shots focus on the upper chest. Recoil is very minimal. Soldiers' strength has increased. Stamina has doubled along with focus and vision quality," explained Alen.
"Time for the next experiment. A match between Palestinian soldiers and Israhell soldiers," said the Sergeant to the soldiers.
A skinny male Palestinian soldier was released from his handcuffs and kicked into a barbed wire arena. One of the Israhell soldiers was put into the arena.
A knife was thrown by the Sergeant to the Palestinian detainee. The Palestinian detainee quickly picked up the knife and lunged at the Israhell soldier.
"The experiment begins," said Alen.
The Palestinian soldier sprinted and swung the knife at his opponent. The Israhell soldier calmly dodged the knife attack. The Palestinian detainee aimed the knife at the Israhell soldier's face. The Palestinian's right hand was caught, and his knife was taken away easily.
The Israhell soldier's right hand slashed at the Palestinian detainee's neck. Blood spurted from the neck. The Palestinian detainee knelt, holding his open neck with both hands. Blood gushed out, soaking his hands and staining the sand on the ground. The Palestinian detainee fell face down on the sand, lifeless.
"More impressive. The strength and speed of our soldiers surpass normal human abilities. As we can see from their sports activities," said Alen.
The recording showed the soldiers' movements were faster than world-class soccer players. The soldiers scrambled and scored goals in less than 30 seconds. The soccer ball was almost kicked into the goal from the other goal by the goalkeeper."Our soldiers can win the war in a short time," said Alen confidently.
The soldiers swarmed and quickly overcame all obstacles smoothly. No mistakes or unnecessary movements were made. The Sergeant was very proud and happy with the experiment results.
"Sergeant!" called a soldier running towards the Sergeant, while behind them, the body of the Palestinian soldier was lifted and dragged out of the arena. Blood still flowed and dripped from his open neck.
"What?" the Sergeant asked the soldier.
"Headquarters asked us to expand the area and surround the nearby city," explained the soldier.
"Alright. Everyone, get ready!" ordered the Sergeant to the soldiers.
All the soldiers carried and loaded their weapons into armored cars and trucks. Zawaq went to see the Sergeant. He handed a letter to the Sergeant.
"We also received a telegram from headquarters. They asked for a recording of our journey in conducting the siege and to see our super soldier experiment going well," Zawaq said to the Sergeant.
"Zawaq needs to come with us. We need Zawaq for analysis while Alen can continue the experiment here. Come with us, Zawaq," said the Sergeant.
"But Alen can join them for the recording. I don't need to go," said Zawaq.
"Come, Zawaq. Witness that your experimental soldiers will dominate Palestine in a short time. Don't worry, they will protect you. Your soldiers are all super. Super Soldiers," said the Sergeant.
"I'm sorry, I decline," replied Zawaq.
"In that case, I will halt your experiment and the investors will flee," replied the Sergeant.
"You can't do that, Sergeant," said Zawaq to the Sergeant.
"Your experiment is under the control of the Israhell government and under my supervision. You and Alen are just the experiment's executors. Your actions will be reported to the government and categorized as treason," said the Sergeant.
"Sergeant, we saved your son. Now your son is playing sports at school. Chosen to be an athlete. Sergeant, we have done a lot for you. Why force me to go?" asked Zawaq.
"Zawaq, you've never been outside Israhell. Alen has gone outside Israhell to witness the results of his experiment himself. You need to do the same. Prove you are a true citizen of Israhell," said the Sergeant to Zawaq.
"Alright," said Zawaq.