Unbreakable Duty

In the Stillness of the Night 2

In that moment, time seemed to slow. Fahlada's mind raced, calculating her next moves. She knew she had to protect Earn, her life may be the cost. As she prepared to act, the intruder's finger tightened on the trigger. 

Fahlada didn't hesitate. With her superior reflexes, she lunged forward, shoving Earn to the floor just as the gunshot rang out. The bullet whizzed past her ear, hitting the wall behind her as she rolled to the side, her own gun coming up in a smooth, precise motion.

Thrown off by the captain's sudden movement, the intruder fired again, but this time Lada is ready. She narrowly avoided the bullet by twisting her body and returned the fire. Her shot was precise, hitting the intruder on the shoulder, sending him to the ground in pain.

Before he could recover, Fahlada was on him. Slamming the intruder with force of a battering ram, her elbow connecting with his jaw in a brutal strike that sent him crashing to the floor. His gun clanked away from his hands. LAda quickly kicked the gun further, out of the intruder's reach and spun around, scanning the room for any other threats.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a movement. A second figure emerged from the shadows, weapon raised. "Earn! Duck!", she shouted. Fahlada reacted instantly, ducking on time as a bullet sailed over her head. She pivoted on her heel, firing two quick shots towards the assailant's chest. He collapsed with a gasp, the gun slipping from his hands.

But Fahlada didn't have time to breathe. A third intruder appeared, charging at her with a knife. She met him head-on, sidestepping his side slash and grabbing his wrist, twisting it sharply until she heard the satisfying crack of bone. The knife dropped from his grip, and Fahlada followed up with a knee to his gut, sending him doubling in pain.

She could feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins, sharpening her senses as she plunges the knife into the assailant's abdomen. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

But even as she took him down, she felt a sharp, burning pain searing through her side. She glanced down to see blood spreading across her white undershirt. a dark stain blooming just below her ribs. One of the earlier gunshots had found its mark.

Gritting her teeth against the pain, Fahlada forced herself to stay focused. She couldn't afford to falterm not now. Not when Earn is still in danger.

She turned her back to the first intruder, who was struggling to his feet, clutching his injured shoulder. Despite the pain, Fahlada moved with the same deadly precision that made her one of the most feared soldiers in the Royal Thai Armed Forces. She closed the distance between them in two quick strides, delivering a powerful roundhouse kick that sent the man crashing to the wall.

He slumped to the ground, unconscious, just as the sounds of more footsteps echoed from down the hallway. Fahlada's heart pounded as she realized there were more of them. Reinforcements.

But she was out of time.

She looked for Earn. Fahlada staggered, her vision swimming as blood continued to pour from her wound. She pressed a hand to her side, trying to apply some pressure to her bleeding wound, as she stumbled back to where Earn was. Still crouched on the floor, eyes wide in fear.

"We need to move," Fahlada rasped, her voice strained as she fought to stay upright. She reached down, pulling Earn to her feet. "Now."

Earn's eyes widened as she saw the blood soaking through Fahlada's suit. "You're hurt!"

"Doesn't matter. We need to get out of here.", Fahlada said, her tone leaving Earn no room for argument. She pushed Earn towards the door, her senses on high alert for the approaching attackers. "I need you to get out of here, Earn."

They stumbled into the hallway, the sounds of the intruder's reinforcements growing louder behind them. Fahlada led the way, moving as quickly as she could despite the searing pain in her side. Every step was agony, but she forced herself to keep going, knowing that if she slowed down, they wouldn't make it out alive.

They reached the emergency staircase at the end of the hall, and Fahlada pushed Earn ahead of her, her grip tightening on her gun. "Go! I'll cover for you!"

Earn hesitated, her eyes filled with worry. "I'm not leaving you!"

"Earn," Fahlada said, her voice firm despite the pain radiating through her, "you have to go. I'll be right behind you, I promise."

Earn finally nodded, her expression was torn as she turned and hurried down the stairs. Fahlada watched her go, her heart pounding as the footsteps behind her grew closer. She turned, positioning herself at the top of the stairs, her gun aimed at the corridor.

The first of the enemy's reinforcements rounded the corner, and Captain Fahlada didn't hesitate. She fired off three shots, each one finding its mark. Three men dropped like stones, but more were coming. There are too many for her remaining bullets.hh

Lada could feel her strength fading, the blood loss taking its toll. Her vision blurred, and her hand shook as she reloaded her gun, knowing she couldn't hold them off much longer. but she didn't care. As long as Earn was safe, nothing else mattered. 

Just as the next wave of attackers came into view, a loud crash echoed from behind them. Fahlada's heart leaped as she recognized the sound of breaking glass. The signal she had been waiting for. Reinforcements of her own.

The black-clad figures of the Royal Thai Armed Forces burst into the corridor, weapons raised as they engaged the remaining intruders. Captain Fahlada slumped against the wall, her knees threatening to give out as she watched her comrades take down the last of the attackers with ruthless efficiency.

The hallway fell silent, save for the heavy breathing of the soldiers and faint crackle of radios. Fahlada finally allowed herself to sink to the ground, the adrenaline draining from her body as the pain hit her full force.

She looked up to her friend and colleague, Lieutenant Bow, as she knelt beside her, her face reflecting concern. "Cap, you're hit. This is my first time seeing you like shit. We need to get you to the medic."

Fahlada shook her head, wincing as the movement sent a fresh wave of pain through her body. "Earn...where is she? Is she safe?"

"She's safe, Cap. Don't worry," Lieutenant Bow assured her. "We've secured the area. Tan is with her."

Relief flooded through Fahlada, and she allowed herself to relax, just a little. She had done her job. Earn was safe.

But as Bow helped her to her feet, the world around her began to spin. She barely registered the commotion as the medics arrived. Field medic Rossami's hands were gentle but firm as she worked to stabilize her. Her thoughts were only of Earn, of the relief she had felt when she knew she had protected her, and the longing that still burned within her, even as darkness threatened to claim her.

As Fahlada was lifted onto a stretcher, she caught a glimpse of Earn rushing towards her, her face pale with fear. The young captain tried to smile, to reassure her that she was fine, but the effort was too much. Her vision dimmed, and the last thing she heard before darkness swallowed her was Earn calling her name, a desperate edge to her voice.

And then, everything went black.

A/N:

whew! That was long. What do you guys think? Should I continue or end this story as is? Although I think I opened a can of worms inside my head, as I am imagining how Captain Fahlada and Earn first met. Anyway, please feel free to comment on your thoughts. Ciao!