grave digger

chapter 4

Ezekiel felt a push on his shoulder. He didn't move, thinking the hand would go away if it thought he was dead, but the hand had other plans. After a few more pushes, each one harder than the last, the hand went away for some time. Just when Ezekiel thought it was really gone and prepared to go back to sleep again, a wave of ice-cold liquid hit his face, making him jump out of the makeshift bed and gesticulate to try and protect his face from another splash of liquid.

«OK FINE I'M UP! he yelled, desperately trying to remove the water to open his eyes. Jesus man, you could've just said something!

-You wouldn't wake up, so i had to do something. Said a voice. Now pack up and get ready.

-For what?

-War, what else you idiot? »

Ezekiel finally managed to open his eyes and got greeted with the sight of an officer standing in front of him, waiting for him to do something.

« Are you just gonna stand there? she asked.

-just a sec please, I have to dry my uniform. Ezekiel walked to his now dead fire to grab his belongings. Goddamn crazy officers, he mumbled with his teeth's clenched.

-Huh? she said, pointing an accusing finger at him. did you say something about officers and crazy in the same sentence?

-No, your highness, never would I ever consider uttering such impolite things about a lady of your grandeur.

-Hmm, do you smell that? she sniffed the air a couple times, before exclaiming: It smells like a demotion doesn't it?

-Yeah yeah sure. Why are you even the one waking me up anyway?

-Your platoon is absolute garbage at searching it seems.

-Or maybe I'm just really good at hiding? suggested Ezekiel.

-No, it's your platoon. I asked that nerdy surgeon and didn't even know the general direction in which to head.

-I suggest not calling Pill nerdy, he's the one giving the drugs, and god knows how easy it is to overdose.

-Is that a threat soldier?

-In the defense of Pill. You'll punish him later if you want to.

-Jesus Christ why did i get assigned here? Said the woman, a face on her hand in a shame gesture. Anyway, get your stuff and let's join the rest. C'mon, faster.

Ezekiel joined her, his rifle i hand.

-good boooy, she said, tapping him on the head as if he was a dog.

-Jesus Christ why did she get assigned here? »

As they walked towards the area where the rest of the platoon was, Ezekiel asked what her name was. «Ava Lionheart» she said. «But for you it's ma'am.»

After arriving at the location, and waiting for some soldiers to join them, time which Ezekiel spent talking with Auzie who came back from his mission, Lionheart started her briefing.

«Alright guys, your previous officer got a smallpox bullet in the chest and died yesterday, so I'll be leading operations for your platoon. You don't need my name, just use officer or something. Anyway, our objective today is to cut a vital supply line the enemy uses to bring in food, and it goes without saying but we have to stop that. Your unit is the most complete one after yesterday's bloodbath at Acies, so that's why you're attacking the most heavily defended objective, just so you don't ask stupid questions after. M'kay?»

Her long brown hair flew around her face as she explained the positions they'd be adopting to ambush the next convoy, making Ezekiel think about the way the flames of the town's annual nation traitor stake moved.

After a long monologue, she finally turned from the map and asked:

«-does any one of you have a kill? Non blue-on-blue of course.

A few hands rose up in the air, including Ezekiel's one, lifted by Artyom on his right. They were very far and few though, and a killess soldier on his left seemed to be about to ask why this was necessary, before Lionheart responded:

-Yay! you guys get the frontline treatment!

-wait what? asked Ezekiel, confused.

-You guys, she said as she took the pointer and indicated a place on the map very close to the convoy's road, will be stationed here, since you guys are more likely to be competent in some capacity than your colleagues. Any questions? »

Before Ezekiel could object, she concluded with a resonant 'okay' and continued with the presentation.

After the lengthy monologue that would make the proudest, Lionheart rolled up the map and brought her platoon to a nearby tunnel that would lead them to the convoy route.