Love Remedy

Alias

One by one another soldier followed the trail of the crouched general anonymous along with the razor-sharp leaves reaching the height of an average person. With each step met with the ground, a soft crumple can be heard, even with slow steady thoughts can't stop the sound of the shadowing steps. That is until the cloud thundered in response to the clouded sky.

6:08 am

Noah crept behind the general along with the others, one small mistake of one can be one small mistake of a thousand. This thought resided within his head, anxiety, and sorrow paired like twins, dancing in his thoughts. The general raised his hand in a halt, palm open, signaling for the trail to stop, he listened in close. Noah looked behind him to see Kate ready for whatever will come her way, admiration comes along the way when Noah's eyes shifted back in front of him, what come's next is a sigh of relief? Or ailment? He then formed hand signals directed to James, translating that they need to find a building to take cover. Just as we can take another step forward. An unexpected terrorist blocked their way, with stealth to their advantage, the general swiftly knocked him out cold with the back of his rifle directed to the back of his neck. Just when they all thought of calming down, another terrorist immediately called back up at his radio with fear and anger in his eyes.

"Shit" The general cussed and swiftly ran to the crawling masked men and knocked him out cold. With one major step, the radio then turned to bits.

"We don't have much time, quickly! Go to the- "He was interrupted by gunfire in an unknown direction. The general took cover with the shield of the camp they just infiltrated, raised his rifle, and shot within the direction of the firing squad, with the backup of the remaining squad, his eyes trailed back to his men. The light in their eyes as each shot fired, fear, determination, courage, hate, remorse... the requested back-up call was one day ago, with the injured soldiers, they can barely last the moment, the general then gathered his thoughts, thinking, storming, until his eyes landed on the ruined building west of their direction. With one large breath, he commanded,

"Listen well! Go take cover on the ruined building on the west side. After my signal, Kate, I want you to throw your smoke and Officer Noah" his eyes then landed on the small figure beside him. Eyes meeting for a few seconds before continuing.

"Lead them to the building, if this is my last breath, you will take my position as the general of this team!" said the general, with stuttering breaths and heaves on his words. As the general raised his fist and then to Kate, with a nod, forwarded his palm which Kate took as a cue for executing the plan. Noah was a soldier forced into military services for two years, but due to the lack of men and need for immediate deployment, the government decided to make use of all available personnel on the roaster. Many thoughts rummaged his head, what if he isn't good enough to lead? What if he leads his team to an ambush?

What if he dies?

What if... he wants to save the general? Noah lowered his chin, his view no longer watching the back of the general but rather stuck on the floor with the looping thought of scare. Scared that at any moment, this may be his general's last breath.

"Officer Noah!" The general shouted, not batting an eye towards him but still stuck on giving cover towards the group. But still, Noah didn't raise his view. Scared

"Noah!" but at that moment he called out his name, Noah's eyes widened, then slowly raised his eyes, scared but then met the eyes of the general. The general then took a full turn, this time facing Noah whole. Two hands on his shoulders and with eye contact of 5 seconds.

And with the soft voice of the general...

"Noah..." the general repeated. The general then removed his dog tag and wore it to the small shivering figure in front of him.

"General..." Noah breathed.

"Say my name, Noah" With the softened voice of the general, with every mention of his name, gave him little goosebumps.

"Sir Bradley" and with a huge grin from the general, one that is rare to be seen even by one person, but within this moment, Noah felt something special, that he is the first time to see a smile as he did now to Noah. His eyes continued to be bewildered in shock.

"Make sure to bring me back my tag" at that moment, Noah fully understood what the general meant in an instant. Come back alive.

At that very moment, Noah knew what he had to do, with the new feeling of courage and determination from an unknown source. With a questioning look of the general coming from Noah reached out for his tag and suddenly reached for the general's neck. With the size difference, Noah had to tip-toe and the general had to slightly lean forward.

"Noah...?" puzzled look remained on the general's face.

"Now we're fair" with a smile, Noah faced the general, this time, returning the same genuine grin he showed Noah. The general then understood in an instant what it means. Come back alive.

With Noah's newfound courage he shouted,

"Defenders on the side, surround our men, armed forces take cover from the defenders but leave a sight for a potential fire. Return fire if needed. Protect the medics and the injured at all costs! For any moment will be our last breath, don't expect to be saved... and finally don't break formation, now move!" Noah said in one last heave of breath. The stares of the soldiers were meant to shock. Was it anger? Sadness? Hope? For what's best, they all followed suit.

"Directly head west, Kate leads the way to the ruined building and no matter what will happen, no one will die under my command" with another tired breath coming from the general. The soldiers all viewed each other which then nodded in agreement and respectfully followed.