> "That's it! Did I get them?" Lukas's mind is racing as he gazes in the Panzer erupting in flames. He aims his rifle onto the commander's hatch, ready to end whoever comes out of that wrecked vehicle. He really overestimated the strength of German tanks. Never did her think simply shooting into tank's suspension could knock it out.
> With a loud bang, the hatch was opened." This is it Nazi bastards! Come out!" His mind is racing. He could see a pair of hands, appearing out of the tank." Don't shoot! Please!" Said the voice inside the tank. "Come out you Nazi bastards! Put your hands where I can see!" Lukas replied with the commanding voice.
>
> The German tanker slowly stepped out of the hatch. Both men looked at each other in surprised widening eyes. "LUKAS! Is this you?" "Leon? You are Leon right? Leon Elderich!? " Lukas blinked, struggling to reconcile the boy he knew with the soldier before him. German soldier nods. Lukas was speechless. He knew that Leon was German. It was not unusual for foreigners to come study in Cambridge. But now, here they are, serving for their respective nations. He came to France expecting Nazis to kill. Now it felt like a field trip. He can't believe he is meeting his old classmate! "The hell are you doing here, Leon? Why are you in that god damn Nazi tank?"
>
> Leon laughs uncomfortably. "You can guess. But I have more important matters now Lukas. Can you help me?" Lukas was actually annoyed to hear that. Yes they were classmates. But it's not the same situation anymore. Asking for help from him seems like a stupid and bold move for Leon. "We just met and I nearly killed you! And you can ask is my help? And bro, do you even realize I'm British soldier now? We are not simple English and German boys back in university! Jeez." Leon is unamused. " I'm serious Lukas. My commander is hurt. Your shot hit us in sweet spot. I trust you brother. Even if we are on a different side, I believe you won't hurt already injured persons. I'm not asking your help as an enemy but as a friend. Can you at least do me this favor? At least considering all the funs we had back there?"
>
> Lukas rolls his eyes." He had heard countless stories of Nazis eliminating entire Jewish settlements in Poland. And he doesn't like the idea of helping the enemies. "What would others think if they found out that I helped the Nazis?" he thought. Yet, since Leon was his friend back in Cambridge, he decided to accept his plea. "God Damn it! Leon, only this time. Be sure to treat me back. Got it?!" Leon sighed in relief. Lukas jumps on the tank. He could feel the warmth of the tank engine and the damage it sustained from his shot. Luka looks inside it to see the injured ones, as soon as he reached the top, only to be welcomed by unexpected sight.
>
> Inside the tank, the girl was lying. Blood flowing from the wound on her arm. Her pearl white cloak, over her black uniform was stained in crimson blood. She seems hit by a shrapnel. Two Germans were trying desperately to stop her blood. Shocked by Lukas's sudden appearance, one aims his gun at him. But Leon quickly intervened and told them to put her outside the tank for better treatment. Lukas helps the Germans to carry the girl outside of the tank. His mind rumbling with questions. "What's the girl doing here? Who the heck is she? Why is she wearing a German uniform? Wait! Is that the commander Leon said?!" Four of them gently pull her out of the ruined tank. Leon then put her on the nearby soft grass, examining her condition.
>
> Two other soldiers were weary of Lukas. He understands. But even so, everything is so weird for him. He flew all the way from London to France, expecting a good fight. However, within days, France was one-sidedly defeated. Now, he was expecting to go home, just to meet his old friend and the girl in the Panzer! He approaches Leon, who was busy tending her wound. " Dude, care to explain me anything? Who the fuck is she? Why are you taking her to the frontline? Don't tell me she is your so called commander?"
>
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>
> Leon, tending the girl's wounds turns to Lukas. "You bet. Yes, she is the commander. Surprised?"
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> "SURPRISED? Dude! This is nonsense! Why would the girl be the tank commander under Nazi regime!? Don't fool me bro. Didn't you guys catch her?"
>
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> "Why would I lie to you Lukas? It's true. Well, you can say she was on the field trip actually, haha"
>
>
> "Why are you laughing? I'm serious man!
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> "Well, I am the commander of this tank, usually. She came along with us as the commander for only today. Field Trip you know?
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> Leon words just further confused Lukas. "Field Trip?"
>
>
> "YES, field trip." The girl lying beside Leon talked. Lukas eyes dropped on her. She seems surprisingly calm even in this situation, despite almost being killed. She was neither trembling or showing signs of panic. If not for the blood on her white cloak, one would not even notice that she was injured. "I wanna know more about this field trip!" ,he thinks. Lukas surveyed the surrounding. Yes, there were no one beside them. He was separated from his group and he wondered if they would reached here. British solider calmly talking with German soldiers and the girl would be weird for everyone.
>
>
> "You worry your men would see you?" The girl said in weak and low tone, wiping off the dusts on her uniform.
>
>
> "Of course I do! "Lukas replied her question in annoyance. "I was suppose to kill Germans! Not have a tea party with them!"
> Leon chuckles. He well do understand Lukas's position. He helped the girl to sit on the grass. Lukas noticed her fragile frame. She looked like even a weak breeze can make her collapse. Adding to that sense with her skin. Lukas unknowingly to himself contrasted his skin to her. Even for him, the English, her skin is extraordinary pale. Not in sense of white. But pale like a ghost.
>
>
> "She has a condition" Leon's voice disrupted his thoughts. "Like a disease?" Lukas got interested.
>
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> "Yes! She passed out in the tank twice!" One of the two Germans answered. "If I remembered its called 'Anemia',"
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> "True, except that its kinda congenital for me," the girl breaks her silence.
>
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> "You haven't answered my question yet Miss. What are you doing in tank? Did that jerk Leon kidnap you?"
>
>
> Leon and the girl looked at each other. "I'm afraid she can't tell......." "It's Arturia. Arturia Friederike" Arturia interrupts Leon. "I asked Leon to escort me. I wanted to know how the wars are fought. For who gave me permission for this, I can't tell. Hope this satisfy you." Arturia calmly explains Lukas. Lukas looks at her in disbelief. "So by field trip, you meant this!? Leon, I don't think I will even get a wife. I really can't understand women!" Leon laughs at his word.
>
>
> "Well, Arturia, nice to meet you." Lukas gives out his hand to her which she refused to shake. "Mr Lukas, I think we should part out ways here."Arturia, told Lukas, pointing at the smokes coming out from nearby tree lines. Lukas knew what she meant. "Panzers!" He quickly gets back on his feet. Leon and other soldiers helped Arturia stand. The blood from her arm is all but nearly stopped.
>
>
> "She is right Lukas. You should go. Thank for your help for real. I hope we can still meet after the war ends." Leon says giving Lukas his rifle.
> Lukas thinks about Leon's words. "After the war? Yeah, now that France had fallen, Britain will surely sue for peace." he thinks. But this is not the time to hesitate. Even if the war was about to end, he didn't want to become POW. He takes the rifle from Leon. "Well brother, after the war then." he said. Leon sighed in relief. He always knew Lukas. He knew that this mere war won't tear their friendship.
> Before he departed, Lukas looked back to the Germans as final. "HEY!!! Don't play hero in real wars again!! Just go get a good man!" He shouted to Arturia, who was then fully standing on her own. She looked at Lukas. And smiles.
>
>
> Just like that, they went on their ways. For Lukas, the encounter was just meeting a general wannabe girl and his old friend for him. But he would never know that he had just made a choice. The choice that would ultimately change his life. The choice that would reshape the history and the world as a whole.