Episode 21 : Cordiality

"Base leader! They tied my hands and feet?! Isn't that barbaric?!" Captain Qusay angrily confronted the base leader.

"I'm sure they had their reasons. Besides, Captain Naseer and Captain Zahir agreed that you wouldn't join that operation," replied the calm base leader from his seat, while Captain Qusay stood angrily in front of his desk.

"They had reasons? They ignored me and tied me up in the truck as if I were their enemy. Captain Naseer himself lost his men! He's left alone! My squad has only two members left! One of my own squad members was on guard while I was being tied up! This is an insult to me! If I hadn't been ignored, many would have been saved from facing the Israeli elite soldiers!" Captain Qusay vented his anger.

"I understand. The actions of Captain Zahir and Captain Naseer are unacceptable," replied the base leader.

"I request your help, sir, to file a complaint to headquarters and also provide reports and supporting letters for the complaint I will submit to headquarters," said the base leader.

"Alright, thank you. It's a relief to hear. Curse Naseer and Zahir. Curse Yasser too, my squad member suddenly appointed as captain to replace me," Captain Qusay fumed.

"Captain Qusay needs to understand, Captain Zahir is the operation leader. Captain Qusay and Naseer are just assistants. Captain Yasser, on the other hand, was given the position of captain. Captain Qusay doesn't need to worry. His position as Captain remains unchanged. Qusay is still a captain," the base leader explained.

"It's still unacceptable. There's no reason why Yasser should be made the replacement captain for me!" Captain Qusay exclaimed.

"True, Captain Qusay. Absolutely true," replied the base leader.

Several hours later, Captain Naseer and Captain Yasser were brought to the last base. Six army doctors treated Yasser and Naseer. The base leader arrived at the medical tent.

"How are Naseer and Yasser?" the base leader asked Zaqwan, who was observing the situation.

"Naseer and Yasser are stable. Both are severely injured. It's a miracle despite being hit by many bullets and having many stab wounds," Zaqwan explained.

"Ensure Naseer and Yasser remain stable. We need to send both of them to the city. Get the best hospital for them. Zaqwan, you will accompany them. I will provide a supporting letter for you to deliver to the operating medical officer at the hospital and also to headquarters," said the base leader.

"Alright, sir," replied Zaqwan.The next morning, Naseer and Yasser were lifted into a military truck. Five elite Arab soldiers accompanied Zaqwan, Yasser, and Naseer.

"Zawaq, we'll meet again sometime. If fate allows," said Zaqwan.

"Okay," replied Zawaq as he shook Zaqwan's extended hand.

Zaqwan patted Zawaq's shoulder and then boarded the military truck. The truck moved away from the base area.

"Zawaq, we have something to discuss," said the base leader, walking towards Zawaq who was leaning against a tree in the middle of the base at night.

"Alright. Where?" asked Zawaq."In the meeting tent," said the base leader, and Zawaq followed the base leader to the meeting tent.

Once they were in the meeting tent with other Arab military officers, they began the meeting.

"Zawaq, we've learned that there are undead soldiers. They're not as invincible as you described. They can take up to three shots to their head and still live and continue attacking our soldiers. Not only do they move like undead, but they can also heal themselves quickly." explained one of the officers.

"That's the first time I've heard of it," replied Zawaq.

"Do you know anything about this?" another officer asked.

"Undead soldiers are indeed immune to bullets unless shot in their heads when in their normal human form. They can transform into black creatures, become invincible, and tens of times stronger than ordinary humans, to the extent that even rockets cannot harm them," Zawaq answered.

"Israeli undead soldiers? They can be injured by knives and bullets but feel no pain and can heal very quickly. We have interrogated Captain Naseer and Yasser," said another officer.

"I'm worried. Israel has a new project, and I have no idea what they're up to. I've only been involved in creating invincible humans," Zawaq explained.

"There must be a reason why they didn't produce invincible soldiers," the base leader said.

"We can only be cautious, and I will try my best to oppose them," Zawaq replied.

"You're not directly involved in the project of self-healing undead soldiers? Impossible," said one Arab military officer.

"I have no involvement in that project. I'm only responsible for creating invincible soldiers. Perhaps Israel has undertaken various new projects that I'm not aware of and have occurred after I was discharged from the Israeli military operation," Zawaq explained.

The meeting continued without Zawaq's presence. The base leader and the other Arab officers discussed among themselves.

"We're in a dire situation. The elite Arab forces are down to five people, including Captain Zahir. The other five elite soldiers accompany Naseer and Yasser back to the city for treatment," said one Arab officer in the meeting.

"Headquarters also instructed us to operate again on the two bases that were taken back by our elite soldiers, but we don't have enough people," another Arab officer said.

"I proposed to headquarters to open two new bases instead of reoccupying the two bases previously taken by Israeli soldiers. Using the bases that were attacked by Israeli soldiers will only make them easy targets and will sacrifice more of our soldiers," the base leader suggested.

"It's better if Captain Zahir is sent to build two new bases with our soldiers," another Arab military officer suggested.

"Agreed. Captain Zahir and Captain Qusay will be sent to different bases to manage the movements of each base," the base leader agreed.

"Will Zawaq stay here?" asked another Arab military officer.

"Yes. Zawaq is not our soldier. He's just helping us. We need Zawaq to protect this base. Captain Zahir and Captain Qusay will handle the two new bases well. I have explained it to both of them. Now we just need to wait for the response to my proposal," the base leader explained at length.

"Luckily headquarters instructed Alpha, Beta, and Gamma squads to retrieve supplies from the old bases. At least we can avoid food, weapon, and medical shortages. Captain Qusay contributed the most in gathering resources from the twenty bases destroyed by Israeli soldiers," said an Arab military officer sitting across from the base leader at the meeting table.

"Yes, that's true. Captain Qusay contributed a lot, but I received a report from Captain Naseer and Yasser that Captain Qusay's actions did not provide enough rest for his own squad, almost causing them all to perish at the hands of the Israeli undead soldiers," replied the base leader.

"But sir, it should have been expected that Israeli undead soldiers would be difficult to kill. It's not Captain Qusay's fault that our soldiers were killed. The accusation is very heavy. The military should always be prepared and ready at all times," the officer denied.

"Explain to me why Captain Yasser from Beta squad managed to survive?" the base leader asked.

"Yasser was lucky; Naseer was with him. I know everything about what happened and what Naseer and Yasser did to Qusay," the officer denied.

"I doubt if Captain Qusay led the operation against the Israeli undead soldiers. I myself have heard explanations from Beta and Gamma squads. Soldiers also need rest like you. We shouldn't always deploy their energy while we just contribute lip service," replied the base leader.

"Sir, Naseer is an excellent soldier. Surely Yasser is one of the survivors from the three soldiers in Beta squad under Naseer's protection," the officer replied with a furrowed brow.

"Wrong, Yasser has helped Naseer a lot and also cooperated in fighting the Israeli undead soldiers. If Naseer had been alone facing the Israeli undead soldiers, Naseer would have died with Yasser long ago," the base leader corrected the officer's statement.

"What about you, Zawaq? Are you really an Israeli soldier helping us?" Captain Zahir approached Zawaq, who was eating leaning against a tree in the middle of the base at night.

"I'm not a soldier. I'm just a scientist and a doctor," Zawaq replied, then stood up to shake hands.

Captain Zahir accepted Zawaq's handshake. They bowed their heads as a sign of respect."Is there anything? What's your name?" asked Zawaq.

"Nothing. I've just heard a lot about you. My name is Zahir," Captain Zahir answered."Nice to meet you," Zawaq said.

"Nice to meet you too. Thank you for protecting this base. If this base is destroyed, no one can help us," Captain Zahir said.

"I'm doing my best, Zahir. Forgive me for not being able to save everyone. Many of your people died at the hands of my own people," Zawaq said.

"Don't worry. It's not your fault, Zawaq," Zahir replied.

"Zahir must have a reason to meet with me," Zawaq said.

"Yes. I want assurance from you. Besides, I'm proposing an investigation together with you," Zahir said.

"Investigation? How can I help in the investigation? What investigation?" Zawaq asked.

"A small part of our troops managed to defeat the Israeli undead soldiers. So, we want to bring you to the scene where our soldiers and the Israeli undead soldiers were killed." Captain Zahir said.