𝖘𝖊𝖙𝖚𝖕

—𝕷𝖔𝖘𝖙 𝕮𝖍𝖎𝖑𝖉—

𝕻𝖗𝖔𝖑𝖔𝖌𝖚𝖊 𝐈𝐕: 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖋𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 𝖙𝖔 𝖘𝖚𝖗𝖛𝖎𝖛𝖊

To trust or not to trust, that is the question— Medic

“A doctor does not take lives but saves them.”

Those were the words of my late father. I’ve always followed his advice and lived by his principles. Since I began practicing medicine, I swore by his grave that I’d follow in his footsteps. 

I’m proud to say that despite the times we live in, I’ve not taken a single life. I rely on my comrades to protect me, and they trust me that I will do the same. 

They perform my share in our missions, and I’ve always been grateful for it. Rather, my duty on the field is to ensure that they live to see another day.

Was I naive in thinking that a day would come when it’d have to be me that does the killing? I really can’t leave it to anyone else, can I? There’s no one else who knows what I know. 

What a troubling situation! 

As the medic hesitated for a few seconds, a thought suddenly occurred to him.

Is he even a man!? A man wouldn’t be capable of doing what he did.

The medic let out a weak smile, staring at the vice's remorseless face as the vice crouched.

There was no remorse in the vice’s eyes for his wrongdoings. Instead, the medic could only see a wild, possessed look on him, with a crude smile across the vice’s face.

He’s nothing more than a monster!

The medic flicked his wrist, sliding the scalpel into his palm from his right sleeve, all while maintaining his poker face and his steely-eyed gaze on vice.

| Beta-squad Vice |

“???”

Vice furrowed his brow, narrowing his gaze.

Had he noticed!?

The medic started panicking, but he didn't show it. The most important part was not showing a single sign of his intent. 

He would offer vice a quick, silent death before the vice realized his intent.

| Beta-squad Medic | B-011 |

“So, vice you really ar—”

The element of surprise is now!!!

The medic put power into his muscles and readied his attack by trying to raise his right arm for the strike.

*Thump*

Except, his hand refused to obey his command.

| Beta-squad Vice |

“Am I really what?”

 Vice asked casually. The vice had not taken his gaze off the medic for even an instant.

| Beta-squad Medic | B-011 |

“How rude of me to end mid-sentence. So you are th—”

The element of surprise is now!

Once again, the medic tensed his muscles, putting all of his strength into his arm, and in one smooth motion, he—failed to lift his arm again!

| Beta-squad Medic | B-011 |

“???”

What on earth was going on!?

| Beta-squad Vice |

“You sure you're alright, doc? I’m beginning to worry that falling shook your brain too hard. You keep stopping all your sentences halfway.”

 For the first time, the vice’s face showed some genuine concern for the medic’s condition. It was the worst feeling, being pitied by the man you were about to murder. 

This man is so dangerous that he’s killing my self-esteem!

What on earth is wrong with me!? My element of surprise has gone straight down the drain, and what sort of mental hypnosis has he done to me!? To bind even a trained surgeon like me from using my favorite tool! 

What a fearsome foe! This man absolutely cannot be allowed to live.

The element of surprise is—

The medic knew very well that under no circumstance should you take your eyes from the enemy. This basic rule for survival had been ingrained into him by his old combat instructor. 

Yet, the circumstance was so bizarre that it warranted a look to see why he could not move his arm.

His arm felt like it was made of solid lead. No matter what the medic did, it refused to obey his commands to attack vice. And so the medic broke his stare and looked to see what was wrong with his arm.

As the medic raised his head, he found three combat knives stabbed into the wooden planks to his right, pinning his sleeves at three different points. 

It was a perfect restraint, so precisely done that no part of his arm could move an inch.

What on earth!? When did vice do that!? He didn't even break eye contact with me, and how did he even know about the scalpel I was hiding!?

The scalpel of doom was now exposed as the medic let it go, resolving himself to his fate.

The medic’s nightmare had now become a reality. Vice was an absolute monster.  How could a mere medic beat such a formidable foe? 

It was silly even to think he could face vice in combat, so the medic got ready to spit on the vice's face. This would be his last sign of defiance. 

In the final moments of the medic, the vice continued to say something. But the medic closed his eyes, refusing to listen to a word. 

Nothing a monster says will phase me, and if he thinks I’ll join him, he can go to hell! 

After all, I am a man of honor!

| Beta-squad Vice |

“...After all, you're a man of honor!”

Sure, others may see me as a little weird.

| Beta-squad Vice |

“...Sure, the rest may see you as a little weird at times.”

But I’m an honest man!

| Beta-squad Vice |

“...But, you're an honest man!“

I love my work and organization, and the last thing I would do is something so shameful as betray the trust my teammates have placed in me!

| Beta-squad Vice |

“...shameful as to betray the trust of others.”

Huh? What!?

The medic blinked a couple of times.

*Swish*

| Beta-squad Vice |

“...So, I need you to trust me.”

 The vice rose to his feet and got ready to leave as the medic raised his head to see that the knives were gone. 

I’m free!?

| Beta-squad Vice |

“Come quick! The captain isn't a patient man. Leave the investigation to the experts. Psycorp has many secrets which will get you killed. Stick your nose in too far, and it's bound to get cut off.”

 The vice climbed up the stairs, and just before exiting the basement, he looked one last time at the medic and let his threat linger in the air for a bit before heading to the ship.

The medic rose, stupefied from the whole ordeal. 

| Beta-squad Medic | B-011 |

“...so vice isn't the traitor?”

But the possibility that there is no traitor within our midst is close to zero. All the events that occurred today have proven that beyond a shadow of a doubt. 

Everything that can go wrong went wrong, and our worst possible outcomes came true. 

So, there definitely is a traitor within our group.

The medic dusted himself off and headed upstairs, forgetting his scalpel.

Assuming vice is that traitor, if he wanted me dead, he could easily arrange it at his leisure, and I wouldn’t be able to stop him. 

 The medic thought as he emerged outside the building into the sunlight.

If he is the traitor, would he expose himself like this, risk having his plans leaked, and watch as his goals just slipped him by? 

None of this makes sense. 

If vice isn’t the traitor, then who is?

The medic still didn't know. But, he did know that vice knew far too much to be an ordinary soldier.

Vice spoke as if he had been investigating this conspiracy for a long time. While I only just found out about it today. 

| Beta-squad Captain|

“What took you so long, doc? Had a bout of diarrhea?” 

The captain joked while addressing the medic who had just gotten on board the airship.

| Beta-squad Vice |

“You know it! Had to pull him from the shitter.”

The medic sighed with relief and put on a goofy smile.

Whatever the case, the vice has all the answers.

| Beta-squad Rear Guard | B-006 |

“Damn, man, that's nasty! Stay away from me!”

 One rear guard yelled as he scooted over to avoid having to sit anywhere close to the medic.

| Beta-squad Heavy Assault | B-008 |

“Hahaha, that's rich. Medic, you can use the toilet at the back of the ride. Better than holding it all the way to HQ, am I right?”

| Beta-squad Medic | B-011 |

“Yea, sorry, guys. I think I will do just that.”

 The medic apologized while holding his backside and rushing towards the toilet.

| Beta-squad Captain |

“Haha, we got a comedian on board!”

As the captain laughed, the men all joined in. 

Just letting out a hearty laugh was a great feeling. These simple pleasures meant everything to them.

The medic locked the door and got onto the seat, pulling down his pants.

He really did have to go, after all.

I still don't know whether to trust vice or not. But I owe him my life since he spared me, even though I was set on killing him. 

Regardless of my reasons, I had no concrete proof to justify my actions. Mutiny to kill your superior officer is a crime worthy of death, one that can only be pardoned by the leader and him alone.

If I had somehow managed to kill vice, I would still be unable to prove anything. If that happened, then there is no way I would escape that penalty.

However, if vice killed me, he would be justified, and the investigators could conclude that a struggle had occurred and his self-defense would be justified. Moreover, I am a new recruit to this team, and no one would bat an eye over my death.

On this day, vice gained a great deal of respect in the eyes of the medic. 

Later on, when the time is right, I can confront him. Ask him, what on earth is going on?

Also, why do I feel like I'm forgetting something important?

Ah, whatever it is, I'm sure I'll think of it later.

Right now, I just want to take a short nap.

So the medic fell fast asleep on his seat. He was utterly exhausted from the events of that morning. Meanwhile, his team forgot about him until they remembered and broke down the toilet door pulling him out.

To be continued…