章 23: Really Kowalski?
The sun hasn't risen yet, but the base is already buzzing with activity. Supplies are being loaded, vehicles prepped, and squads gearing up for the next wave of operations. It's never quiet for long out here. Not with the URF still hitting back as hard as they are. The past few days since my return have been a blur of firefights, ambushes, and strategic retreats.
And through it all, I can't shake the thoughts of Emily.
I lean against the side of the barracks, checking my gear for the third time this morning. The motions are automatic—rifle, grenades, armor—but my mind isn't really on it. It's back at the hospital. Back in that quiet room with her.
"Earth to Kowalski," Santiago's voice cuts through my thoughts, and I snap back to reality. He's grinning at me, shaking his head. "You're zoned out again, man. What's going on?"
"Nothing," I say quickly, adjusting my helmet and trying to sound more focused than I feel. "Just… thinking."
Santiago raises an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Thinking about that nurse, huh?"
I give him a sharp look, but he's not wrong. "It's not like that," I mutter, though even as I say it, I know it's a lie. It is like that. At least, it's starting to be.
"Well, whatever it is, don't let it mess with your head," Santiago says, his tone shifting to something more serious. "We've got a tough mission ahead. You've been solid so far, but you need to stay sharp."
He's right, and I know it. I nod, trying to shake off the distractions. "I'm good," I say, but the words feel hollow. The truth is, I'm not good. I haven't been since I left that hospital.
We're scheduled to move out in an hour. Another operation—this time, pushing deeper into URF territory to secure a key transport route. It's critical for the UNSC's supply lines, but it's also heavily contested. We're expecting resistance, and the mission's high risk.
As we gather for the briefing, Lieutenant Kane—our platoon commander—lays out the details, but I'm only half-listening. My mind keeps drifting back to Emily, wondering if she's still thinking about me, too. Wondering if she's okay.
I catch myself, snapping back to attention just as Lieutenant Kane finishes his briefing. "You ready for this, Kowalski?" he asks, his eyes locking onto mine.
"Yes, sir," I reply, forcing the confidence back into my voice. I can't let anyone see that I'm distracted. Not now. Not when lives are on the line.
Location: Rebel-Controlled Outskirts, Virek
Date and Time: April 9, 2553 – 1200 Hours
The transport rattles as it carries us toward the target. I sit in the back with Bravo Fireteam, the familiar hum of the vehicle doing little to calm my nerves. The squad is quiet, focused, ready for what's coming. But my thoughts are elsewhere.
I should be focused on the mission, on the squad. But every time I close my eyes, I see Emily. Her smile, the way she looked at me when I left. The way she made me feel like there was something more to life than just this war.
I shake my head, trying to push the thoughts away. But they keep coming back.
The transport halts, and the back hatch opens. We spill out into the rocky terrain, weapons ready, eyes scanning for movement. The air is thick with tension, the quiet before the storm.
We advance in a tight formation, moving toward the transport route we need to secure. The terrain is rough—broken ground, jagged rocks, and cliffs on either side. It's the perfect place for an ambush.
"Eyes sharp," I mutter into the comms, echoing the same words I've said a hundred times before. But even as I say it, my mind isn't fully here.
We move up a narrow path, the squad spaced out for better coverage. Santiago takes point, as usual, his eyes scanning the cliffs above.
And then it happens.
The first shot rings out, snapping through the air just as Santiago ducks behind a rock. The next one hits the ground near my feet, kicking up dirt and dust.
"Contact!" O'Neill shouts, diving for cover as bullets rain down from above.
I hit the ground hard, my heart pounding as I scramble for cover behind a boulder. The URF forces are dug in on the cliffs, firing down on us from above.
"We're pinned!" Dash yells, firing back toward the ridgeline.
My mind races, trying to focus on the fight, but I'm struggling to stay sharp. I feel the weight of command, the responsibility of keeping my squad alive. But I also feel the weight of something else—something pulling at me from the inside.
"Flank right!" I shout, forcing myself to focus. "We need to get behind them!"
The squad moves into action, but the enemy has us pinned down. The bullets are coming too fast, too precise. I need to get us out of this, but the pressure is crushing.
I pop up from cover, firing a few rounds toward the enemy's position. My aim is off, my hands shaking as I try to control the rifle.
I can't focus.
In that moment, all I can think about is Emily. About the way she told me to be careful. About how she told me there's more to life than this war.
And because of that distraction, I don't see the grenade until it's too late.
It lands just a few feet away, bouncing off the rocks before coming to a stop.
"Grenade!" I shout, diving away as the blast tears through the air.
The explosion throws me against the rocks, my body slamming into the ground as the world spins. My ears ring, the noise deafening as dust and debris fill the air.
Pain shoots through my side, but I force myself to move. I can't stay down. Not now. Not here.
But as I try to stand, the pain intensifies, sharp and burning. I collapse back to the ground, gasping for breath as the world tilts around me.
Santiago is there, pulling me behind cover as gunfire rages around us. His voice is muffled, the sound drowned out by the ringing in my ears.
"Kowalski! Stay with me!" he shouts, his face tight with concern as he looks at my side. There's blood, but I can't tell how bad it is.
I try to speak, but the words won't come. All I can think about is Emily. Her voice, her face. Her words.
"Don't forget that you're more than just a soldier."
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