Kazimierz is rowdy. It was filled with rowdy, spirited bunch. And it never changes across all the places I’ve gone to. The market? Every vendor is shouting from the top of their lungs, their customers aren’t very different. The bar? Don’t mention it. Funerals? You can’t even go all gloomy and serious with them, they will do everything within their power to make sure that a single person can't be sad. This attitude is carried on across the country, from the west coast to the borders of Antakiyya, from the Rhine River that edged Leo to the mountain ranges of Altura. Even the government elites aren't really left out from this. All of the dinner parties that I came to always ended with high ranking military officers downing pints and getting utterly wasted. Their country would’ve fallen apart by now if this country didn’t run on stratocracy.
Zheng Ho, Records Across the Continent, 1758.
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Alma’s eyes opened slowly. She could barely see anything. Even the white, flat object in front of her was just a big blur to her. She was resting on a soft surface, almost swallowing her with how soft it was. The faint noise of wind, ticking clock, and water droplets slowly dripping down filled her ears. She felt a cool breeze of wind touching her skin, tickling her softly.
She blinked a few times, trying to clear her vision. Slowly, the blur went away and she could finally see her surroundings. A tidy hospital room, it’s walls painted light grey. An IV bag was hanging off a medical pole, connecting to her right arm. She wore nothing but her underwear and a green hospital gown. Now that she realized what she was wearing, that cool breeze of wind felt a little colder on her legs.
Her body felt tired, but she felt strong. Stronger, even. Maybe it was all that resting that she did. She could definitely walk, run, swing, and fight as well as she could do before. All she needed was a little bit of warm up time to fix herself, then she’ll be back in action. She sat up, checking at every part of her body. There was nothing wrong visually. No scars, no stitches, no bandages. She rubbed her head, the spot where she got shot. Strangely, nothing was there. Then, she moved every part of her body, little by little. Everything was moving correctly, without any extremities or body parts feeling off.
She looked beside her, seeing a small radio on her bedside. It was smaller than what she had seen in the past, it also looks simpler and sleeker too. It wasn’t like she didn’t know how to operate it, but previous versions of this device would require more than a few brain cells to figure out what to do with it. Grabbing the radio, she turned it on and changed the frequency to Kazimierz’ broadcast channel. The unmistakable tune of Eastern Kazimierz music that came from the speaker told her that she found the correct one.
She put the radio back down on her bedside, setting it to the volume where she could listen to it loud and clear. The music made her relax, reminded her of more comfortable times before she was dropped into the battlefield. Slowly, she moved her body towards the edge of the bed, her feet now touching the cold floor. She stood up, now fully putting her weight on her legs. It was somewhat surprising at how balanced she felt, expecting her body to be less reliable after her long rest. Maybe she didn’t rest for all too long.
Doing a few jumps and stretches, she disconnected the IV tube connected to her arm after deciding that her body needed a long overdue workout. Entering a boxing stance, she started throwing punches while bobbing and weaving to invisible punches. It wasn’t the most practical of martial arts, but it definitely protected her more than a few times. Steadily, she entered a flow of combinations. Jabs, straights, hooks, and weaves blend into one another. Her footwork complemented her movement, going to all different directions in a swift manner. Left jab, right straight, right hook, slip. Move forward. Left jab, right straight, right hook, slip. Step left.
Jab, straight, hook, slip. Step.
Jab, straight, hook, slip. Step.
Jab, straight, hook, slip. Step.
“Looking good, girly.”
Jab, straight, hook, slip. Step.
Jab, straight, hook, slip. Step.
“If you ever thought of retiring from the army, you could probably make quite a buck with technique as good as those.”
Jab, straight, hook, slip. Step.
Jab, straight, hook, slip. Step.
“Hell, you could probably become a champion if there’s a fighting tournament or-”
A straight landed on the wall in front of her, creating a huge crater on impact. It wasn’t enough to make a hole through the wall, but there was more than enough force from the punch to make it look like a meteor hitting land. Despite that, her hand was unscathed. There were no cracks on her bones and the only scratch on her hand was due to her nails accidentally cutting her skin.
“Wha…” She looked at her hand, surprised.
“Right, I forgot to tell you there’s some minor differences when you wake up. Don’t worry about it though, you’ll figure out how to deal with it in no time.”
She turned her head towards the couch to her right. It was Jan, the same old man she saw in the forest. All of his features were now clearly visible, the grey hair, the wrinkled face, and two soul piercing blue eyes. He was sitting lazily on the couch, absentmindedly watching her train. He was now wearing a leather overcoat and a dress shirt. There was something particular about him though: he created no shadow. Even with the noon sky beaming straight at him, the light seemed as if it passed through him effortlessly.
“The hell is your problem?”
“Chill a little, girly. You’re the one who punched the wall.”
“It wouldn’t have happened if you told me in the first place!”
“Yeah, because every other person in the world would definitely go back to training straight after waking up from a coma. Not that I expect anything less from you, though.”
“There’s something wrong with that? Also, why are you here?”
“Yeah, I’m not gonna just watch. It’s not fun. Plus, I think you're gonna need some help.”
She rubbed her nose, exasperated. “So what, I’m an undead? Then how the hell am I in a hospital instead of a grave?”
“Check your pulse.”
She put two fingers on her forearm, her veins pulsing as normal.
“Check it again.”
This time, there was nothing. Not weak, not faint. It was gone.
“The hell?”
“You should thank me for that. I disguised it for you. If I didn't, then you’d have to dig yourself from your own grave.”
She glared at him, letting out a huge sigh. The hospital staff will definitely come to the room in just a few minutes.
“Explain everything. Now.”
He pointed a finger at the radio, “I would do that, but y’know, you would probably listen to that… noisy wooden box of yours. It’ll probably interest you more.”
“...And next up in the news is something that most young boys and men alike have been waiting for: The reopening of the Kazimierz Football League. Yesterday marks the day where the highly anticipated competition has been opened for the first time since the first alien attacks in 1897. The match meets two old teams with very young talents, Olsztyn FC and Makarska United. While the match ended with a 1-1 draw, the event was a massive success with thousands flooding in the stadium and more tuning in from the radio. The excitement from the…”
A wave of confusion crashed into her as she tuned out of the broadcast. Sporting events? Those haven’t been around since the invasion started. Was there a reason to do so? Was it morale? No, that couldn’t be it. Kazimierz soldiers love being in battle, she saw how happy the soldiers are, after all. Even if they started to lose ground again, there’s plenty of charismatic leaders in the army to boost them back up. Was it a diploma-
The sound of a door opening cut off her train of thought. A bald doctor followed by a nurse came into the room. Their faces held an expression of shock and fear as they looked at both the destroyed wall and their previously unconscious patient waking up and standing.
“C-Captain,” started the doctor, “can you understand me clearly?”
Alma replied with a nod. “If you’re going to ask me how I feel, doctor, then I feel fine. Great, perhaps,” she gestured at the removed IV tube, “I’ll follow any procedures you’ll have me do, just get me back up there as fast as you can. I’d rather not waste my time in a hospital.”
She saw the doctor hesitating. It was either he was scared of her or there was something off about her.
“Very well, captain. Please sit down on your bed.”
Alma walked to her bed and sat down. The doctor approached her and started doing some check ups.
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“Did something happen, doctor?”
What was the last thing you remembered, captain?”
“Destroying the flying fortress, walking through the wreckage,” The puppet commander's face flashed, “and some few things that I’d rather tell The General before anyone else.”
“Do you remember anything when you were unconscious? Some comatose patients remember the things that happened in their immediate surroundings, even if it’s just a blur.”
“Nothing. All I know is waking up after a really long sleep.”
“What happened to the wall, captain? Your documents said that you’re a de-”
“It’s just a mishap during training. Let’s just leave it at that.”
“But something clearly happened, captain. How would-”
“Doctor.” She interrupted again, “You can perform any check up on me after you finish this. But unless this is something that would hinder my performance, then keep it sealed within my documents.”
The Doctor looked puzzled and fearful, but slowly came to realize what she was implying. Jan was somehow gone again. She was now alone with the doctor, the nurse was gone to find someone who is able to fix the wall. Her interruption has left the two of them in an awkward silence as the doctor continues his physical check up.
“Did you find anything strange when I was in coma, doctor?”
“Physically, there was nothing abnormal with your body while you’re in a coma. All of your bodily functions work normally. It was very unusual because of how long you were in your vegetative state. As for your soul, there was nothing very different from what a coma patient should be, dormant.”
“How many days?”
The doctor gulped audibly. “Ten,” he paused, taking a small breath, “ten months, captain.”
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“When you were gone…”
It was a half moon that night. The skies were clear, but only a few stars could be seen. The streets were empty, but both the streetlights and the lamps inside of the buildings were still shining brightly. Most of the stores were closed, but some bars and similar establishments were still jam packed with all kinds of people. It was a stark contrast to months ago, where streets were either empty or filled with tired soldiers.
“...The puppets--They retreated. They’re gone, without any trace whatsoever.”
Her footsteps echoed as she ran along the streets. Her hair was tied in a short ponytail, swaying back and forth. Her hospital gown was now changed trousers and a black shirt. How long has it been? two hours? Three? Maybe four, even? She didn’t know, she didn’t care. She needed this. She will drag her body as far as she can. She didn’t plan any routes, any destinations. She just ran. Maybe she’ll go back to the hospital again. Maybe she won’t. She didn’t care. She just needed to run.
“...From what I’ve been told, the army is still looking into the situation. We know nothing of it.”
Her body felt good. Better than ever. But it’s not normal. Not one bit. When Jan drops the illusion, her body looks pale and dead. She can taste, feel, smell like she used to, but everything felt numb and flat. Her body was strong, but she knows that she cannot gain this strength from natural means. She barely felt any fatigue after running for hours on end.
She arrived at a rocky beach. The cold, strong sea wind grazed her skin as she ran along its edges, looking towards the watery expanse. The water was a deep, dark blue, reflecting the dark night sky. The soft noise of ocean waves filled her ears with a calming ambience. Then, she stopped running, simply looking at the endless horizon.
Jan was walking behind her. He was holding the same waterskin and drinking the same smelling liquid as he did before. It appears that it could appear at a whim, just like him showing up out of nowhere.
“That was quite a run, girly. Pretty sure nobody could do it better than you right now.” He said between his sips.
Alma glared at him, “You owe me an explanation. A big one.”
“Ah, yeah. That.” He sighed, “honestly, I’m not too fond of giving away too many clues. There’s plenty of fun to be had if we let ourselves enjoy the feeling of discovery.”
She gave him a deadpan look.
“Alright, girly. Fine. Where do you wanna start?”
“What the hell happened to my body?”
“Haven’t I told you? You’re an undead. How hard is it to understand? That... man? alien? shot you in the head. Pretty sure I saw your head explode into a thousand cute pieces.” He pointed at her head, “I sewed it up, made sure it works, then put your soul back in your body! It’s pretty basic, really.”
Alma looked at him with an incredulous expression.
“What, no thanks? Damn, I died for a few thousand years then all notion of gratitude died out, huh? Kinda thankful I don’t have to live in this day and age.”
“You are insufferable.”
“Considering how many worse things have been said about me, I take that as a compliment.”
Alma took a deep sigh, willing herself to continue the conversation. “Then, that explains all of the abnormalities? The inhuman strength, the infinite stamina, the numbness, everything?”
“Yep. Everything I said was real. You’re an undead. That’s just some of the things you gotta deal with.”
Alma gulped. Knowing that she was born with a massive weakness was enough, but being reborn into an abomination?
“Alright, then. Where do I go now?”
“Ah, that. That’s none of my business.”
“Wait, what?”
“Look, I’m not some goodie two-shoes guiding spirit here, helping you save the world and shit. I’ve told you before, I’m just here to watch you kick some ass. That’s it.”
“Then why the hell are you here? Don’t you have things better to do than to bother me?”
“I’m just here to make sure we can get some action going, y’know? Not that I don’t trust you to not find them wherever you go.”
Alma exhaled loudly, looking back at the sea in front of her. The voices of laughing and shouting men in the distance were gone, only the sound of crashing waves permeated around them as they stopped speaking. The cold ocean wind breezed through her once again. The stars and the moon looked brighter now, after the city lights had been turned off.
“Who are you, Jan?”
“I’m not important. Just some man who died and was buried in that particular tomb.”
“Then-”
“Girly.”
“What?”
“You made the choice,” he started, the moonlight piercing his ethereal body, “stop asking meaningless questions.”
He turned, his blue eyes now gazing into her. “You don’t need any more answers. Coping with all of this bullshit is your problem, not mine.” an ethereal hand touched her shoulder, “You know what you want, you know what you need, Alma. I trust you enough to entertain me, so just go do whatever you want.”
“One last thing. If you choose to not do anything, enjoy slowly drifting into nothingness and insanity. Your will is the only thing keeping you here.”
“Good luck.”
She tightened her fists. The sea wind felt colder for some reason. The figure in front of her was now gone, but his voice still resonated inside her head. He was right, said a small voice inside her head. She hated to admit it, but she knew that he wouldn’t answer any specific questions and the things he answered were the things that she already knew. Especially knowing that he only saw her as a source of amusement.
She let out a huge sigh for the umpteenth time. Everything felt a little more numb, but even she could feel the headache brewing from making sense of her situation. Maybe she shouldn’t slow down.
“Weird seeing you here, captain.” A feminine voice called her out from behind her. She turned around, seeing a familiar black haired lady. She wore a simple brown dress that lets her move freely, but not to the point where it would attract unwanted attention. Her face was decorated with countless wrinkles and tiny scars, but it didn’t make her less beautiful. Rather, it shows her experience and dignity as a high ranking officer, emanating an aura that commands respect.
Alma was shocked at her presence, but saluted her regardless, “Colonel Kattar, ma’am.”
“It’s Brigadier General now, captain.”
She walked forward, now standing beside Alma. She gazed longingly at the ocean, still reflecting the bright light of the moon.
“Mind if I ask some questions?”
Alma nodded.
“How do you feel?”
“I’m good, ma’am. The diagnosis hasn't come out but the doctor said that there was nothing wrong during the preliminary inspections.”
“What does sleeping for ten months feels like?”
“It doesn’t feel like anything, ma’am. I don’t even know what happened. I just woke up and ten months have passed.”
Silence surrounded them as Nicole felt the breeze of the ocean, relishing in the cool wind that touched her skin. Alma could only wish she felt the same as her superior’s sudden presence only worried her more.
“If I may ask, ma’am. What are you doing here at this time?” Alma asked, trying to relieve some of the tension.
“I should be asking you that. Why are you here, captain? Sure you aren’t making the doctors and nurses worry?”
“I-I need it. I need something to refresh my mind.”
“60 Kilometers? A little bit far for someone who’s just woken up after basically being a vegetable for ten months, don’t you think?” Asked The General, chuckling.
“Well, I can't reject that line of reasoning. Everyone has their own way to deal with stress. But if you’re already here, then there should be nothing else that they should be worrying about, isn't it?” she showed her a faint smile, “besides, there’s someone else more important who has worried for a whole lot of months. Maybe years, even. Mind giving him a proper visit?”
Alma’s body stiffened. She knew who she was talking about as soon as she saw that tiny glint in her eyes.
“I… I don’t think it would be wise, general.”
“Why?”
“It would only cause trouble, ma’am. The last time we talked... It didn’t end well. I don’t see how it would end in anything other than that.”
The general let out a sigh, “You Gustafssons are the most unreasonable bunch. Both you and your dad.” She turned around, walking towards the black car parked at the nearest road. “Come with me, Alma. The war is over. For now, at least. You have a lot of unfinished business to deal with.”