"Captain, the terrorist camp is a bit ahead of us," Stanley informed Michael, who simply acknowledged with a nod.
Within the airplane, a palpable tension filled the air for the newly recruited soldiers. This was their first mission, and anxiety made them restless. Yet, the seasoned veterans were remarkably relaxed, chatting and even playing games as if they weren't hurtling towards a battlefield.
"Bella, do you notice the atmosphere in here?" Lisa whispered, her brow furrowed. "Why does it feel like we're not heading to a battle? It seems more like a team picnic. I thought we should all be tense about our lives and death in a war with terrorists."
"Yeah, you're not far from the truth," Bella conceded. "But it seems like, apart from us new recruits, everyone else feels more alive, like we're going on an adventure or something. Are they really this confident? I even heard the terrorists had the upper hand in our last confrontation. I was thinking that by now, Captain Michael would have told us about the battle plan."
"What battle plan do you mean?" a nearby soldier chimed in, overhearing their conversation. "Here, we don't know the battle plan until we're on the battlefield. We just do as the Captain says."
Lisa's eyes widened in disbelief. "You mean we don't have any strategy or battle plan? We just go there, running into a pack of wolves like a herd of sheep without a shepherd? Seriously?"
The soldier chuckled. "Not exactly, you know. It's just because we had a mission not long after you guys were recruited under our great Captain. Otherwise, you would have been taught our sign language and would be able to act accordingly."
"Oh, now I get it," Lisa said, a flicker of understanding. "But do you mean to say that only the Captain makes and knows the plan? Don't you think your blind faith in the Captain is risky? Because once he's targeted and killed, then we're like fish on a chopping board, left for slaughtering."
"Now that's a good question, but irrelevant as well," the soldier replied, his tone serious. "Because we have Edward, the Captain's right-hand man. He was the one who recruited you guys under the Captain's banner. He knows and understands the Captain best. In secret, we call him 'the Demon.' Also, I must warn you: it's said it's better to humiliate Edward, kill his parents, or even revolt against the General Commander than to talk back or disobey the Captain. That's instant death, no two ways about it. And do you know the worst part about this? Your family wouldn't get any part of your corpse to bury—not even your clothes or anything you've ever used in this army will be spared." Bella and Lisa took in a long, shaky breath, a shiver of fear running down their spines.
"Now you know not to mess with the Captain," the soldier continued, a wide smile spreading across his face. "In this camp, we watch each other's backs as if they were our own, and we live and die like brothers and sisters, or better still, lovers. We do things in unity, as a family. Just don't screw yourself up first." There was a deep reverence in his eyes, as if he worshipped the very unity of his team.
"I think I should leave you two to mingle with others and familiarize yourselves with the team because that would be for the best. By the way, I'm Edward, Captain Michael's right-hand man."
"Sir!" the two ladies exclaimed in unison, shocked but immediately composing themselves to salute. "We are sorry for audaciously not recognizing and saluting our superior, Sir. We seek your indulgence."
Edward laughed heartily. "At ease. It's no big deal since we're alone. Better go look up the board and get to know your superiors and their teams. By the way, what are your names?"
"Thank you, Sir. I'm Bella, and this is my friend Lisa," Bella stammered, fidgeting slightly.
"Okay," he answered simply, and then departed.
"Seriously, who describes and introduces himself as a monster and a demon?" Bella muttered, a horrified expression on her face. "It's like we've been chatting with a psychopath. I hope this place isn't full of such psychos! I was never told Captain Michael rears psychos into the battlefield. I didn't sign up for this!"
"Wait, are you for real?" Lisa shot back, rolling her eyes sarcastically. "You just shamelessly took my line! 'You didn't sign up for it?' Maybe I was the one who signed you up on your behalf!" She threw her hands up in exasperation. "Oh my God, what have I gotten myself into?"