Chapter 11
1702words
For those of us who survived this catastrophe, every inch of peaceful sunshine seems incredibly precious.
Eva's body recovered quickly under Mark's twenty-four-hour attentive care, while the relationship between Leo and me, after going through life and death challenges, settled from ambiguous push-pull dynamics into an unspoken sense of belonging.
One day, Mark somehow got hold of an old, beat-up jeep convertible and suggested we go on a "Hadram Wasteland-style couple's date."
And so, Daniel's garage, which was piled high with various mechanical parts and smelled of machine oil, became our temporary date spot.
Eva leaned against Mark's chest, watching Leo and me awkwardly trying to fix the ancient car radio, her face radiating with happiness.
"Hey, Leo, check this out." Mark pulled out a T-shirt printed with a cheerleader logo and a signed photo from a package, and tossed them to Leo with a mischievous grin, "You've gained a little fan back in mainland America. She said she saw your news and thought you were super hot."
The blonde girl in the photo wore a revealing cheerleading outfit, smiling brilliantly. Leo looked at the photo and smiled somewhat helplessly. Before he could say anything, I felt my blood pressure skyrocketing.
"Oh, the 'Apollo' captain is now a national hero," I crossed my arms, staring at him expressionlessly, my tone calm but each word like little ice picks, "With fans all over the country, I suppose you'll soon forget about ordinary doctors like us who ate dust with you in the desert?"
"Chloe..." Leo didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He immediately stuffed the T-shirt and photo back into Mark's hands, like dropping a hot potato. He leaned close to me and lowered his voice, speaking in an almost placating tone: "I only know one doctor named Chloe Sterling, who is ten thousand times more beautiful than anyone in those photos. And when she gets jealous, she's especially cute."
I couldn't help but let my lips curl up slightly, but I still stubbornly snorted and turned my head away, ignoring him.
Sunlight streamed through the garage window, casting dappled shadows upon us, while the air was filled with the scent of motor oil, dust, and the unique, sweet fragrance that ferments between lovers.
However, this moment of tranquility and sweetness was like a mirage in the desert, fragile and vulnerable.
During my work at the medical center, I formed a deep friendship with a local little girl named Patima.
Patima had lost her parents to the war, yet she still maintained a child's innocence and optimism; her clear eyes, like two pieces of obsidian, always looked at me dependently.
For me, this little girl was the only solace in this cruel land.
That afternoon, Patima came running to find me, saying she knew a place with very rare desert herbs that could help other patients recover. She held my hand, looking at me with eyes full of anticipation.
Without any doubt, I simply informed my colleague and followed Patima out of the heavily guarded base.
We walked through the dilapidated streets of the small town, and Patima, knowing her way around, led me to a remote abandoned building.
However, just as I bent down to examine the plants on the ground, I suddenly heard hurried footsteps behind me.
Before I could turn around, a cloth soaked in ether was pressed firmly against my mouth and nose.
In the last second before losing consciousness, I saw Patima's small face filled with terror and guilt, and standing behind the girl was a man as cold as a venomous snake—Argus.
---
(Leo's perspective)
At the base, Leo was discussing the route for the next supply transport with Mark and others when the walkie-talkie beside him suddenly crackled to life, transmitting the anxious voice of Chloe's colleague.
"Leo! Chloe is missing! She went out with Patima and there's been no word from her for over an hour!"
Leo's heart sank suddenly, an ominous premonition instantly seized him. He grabbed the walkie-talkie, rushing toward the command tent while switching to the emergency backup channel, calling Chloe's name over and over. "Chloe! Please respond if you receive this! Chloe!"
There was only static noise from the walkie-talkie. His heartbeat quickened, and cold sweat seeped from his forehead. Mark and Eva also realized the severity of the situation and followed closely behind.
Just as Leo was about to order a full search, a voice finally came through the walkie-talkie. But it wasn't Chloe's voice; it was a voice he both knew well and despised, tinged with a hint of mocking laughter.
"Don't waste your energy, 'Apollo'. Your little doctor is now my guest."
It was Argus.
Leo's pupils contracted sharply, he stopped in his tracks, his hand gripping the walkie-talkie so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His voice was filled with suppressed, about-to-explode fury: "Argus! What do you want? Let her go!"
"Release her?" Argus on the other end of the intercom seemed to hear the biggest joke ever. "Don't rush, my old captain. I just want to invite her over to my territory as a guest, and... to catch up with you while we're at it.
You ruined my business, made me lose face, and we need to settle this score properly. Come to the oil refinery in the east district. Remember, just you alone. Otherwise, I can't guarantee your little lover won't be missing some parts."
The electric current cut off, and the intercom fell into dead silence. Leo stood there, his face ashen, his entire body rigid. He knew that Argus had been targeting him all along, and Chloe was just an innocent bait.
And this madman was absolutely capable of doing anything he threatened.
In the command center, the atmosphere was extremely oppressive. Leo, his eyes bloodshot, was facing several faces on the screen, using all his strength to control his emotions. On the other end of the screen was the White House situation room, where high-ranking officials including the Secretary of State wore serious expressions.
"……That's the situation, I request authorization to immediately launch an armed rescue operation!" Leo's voice was hoarse and urgent.
On the screen, a gray-haired general cleared his throat, his tone official and cold: "Captain Kane, we understand your feelings. However, Argus's stronghold is located in a sensitive border area, and any unauthorized military action could trigger serious diplomatic conflicts.
The President's order is to temporarily exercise restraint and prioritize negotiation through diplomatic channels."
"Negotiation?" Leo almost smashed the table, his anger rolling like magma in his chest, "What diplomacy are you going to discuss with a lawless arms dealer, a terrorist? By the time your negotiations are over, Chloe will already be dead! She is an American citizen, she's our doctor!"
"Precisely because she is an American citizen, we must proceed with caution!" The Secretary of State's tone brooked no argument, "This isn't your personal war, Captain Kane. You are a soldier, and you must obey orders.
"Until you receive new instructions, you and your troops must stay put. That's an order."
The communication was unilaterally cut off, and the screen went completely dark, only reflecting Leo's face filled with despair and anger. He seemed drained of all strength, stepping back dejectedly and bumping into the equipment behind him.
The official channels had been completely blocked. They were going to weigh Chloe's life against so-called geopolitical interests. He felt like a beast trapped in a cage, powerless, only able to watch helplessly as his lover was in danger.
Time ticked away second by second, each second feeling like a dull knife cutting back and forth across his heart. Three hours later, the base commander, an old veteran who understood and sympathized with Leo's situation, walked into the tent.
He looked at Leo's devastated appearance, remained silent for a long while, and finally said in a deep voice: "Leo, from now on, you have three hours to disappear from my sight.
Three hours later, I will report that Captain 'Apollo' needs temporary leave for rest due to excessive pressure. I didn't see anything, I don't know anything."
This was a silent acquiescence, a kind of camaraderie between men that transcended military regulations. Leo suddenly raised his head, with light rekindled in his eyes—the resolute determination of someone who had been pushed to the brink.
He stood up, gave the commander a standard military salute, without saying a word.
He turned and strode out of the command post, arriving at his own tent. Mark and the other members of the SEAL team were already waiting there, each face filled with worry and anger.
"Boss, we're going with you!" a young team member said, "We can't let you take the risk alone!"
"That's right! Let's turn that bastard's nest upside down!"
Leo raised his hand, stopping their requests to fight. He looked straight at Mark, then, under the shocked gazes of everyone, he made an astonishing gesture. He extended his right hand, grabbed the bright Stars and Stripes patch on his left arm, and pulled hard.
"Rip——"
The patch representing country, honor, and military identity was torn off without hesitation and thrown onto the sandy ground at his feet.
Following that were his rank insignia, unit badges... one by one, he removed all symbols representing the "U.S. Navy SEALs" from his body, leaving only the basic combat uniform and weapons.
He tucked his sidearm into its holster, picked up a rifle, and took one last look at his brothers. His gaze was terrifyingly calm, his voice low and clear, as if declaring a sacred oath.
"From now on, there is no Captain 'Apollo', and no Navy SEALs. Just a man called Leo."
He paused, his gaze piercing through the camp toward that distant land shrouded in darkness and fraught with danger.
"The person I'm going to save now isn't some American citizen, nor is it some doctor," he said deliberately, each word distinct. "It's just my woman."
After speaking, he no longer looked at anyone. He turned around, alone, like an unsheathed sword, and unhesitatingly stepped into the vast darkness of night, walking toward that inevitably tragic war that belonged to him alone.
