Chapter 4: A Brother to Gain, A Brother to Lose

There was actually another friend that I met during training. His name was Zack Mikapi. Out of all of us, he's the one who would rarely get into trouble. Tell him an order, expect him to do it without complaints. That's why we never told him about our failed prank. Nonetheless, he was a good kid. To me though, he was more like a brother. An older brother, he would protect me a lot during battles when we were recruits. Again I say I'm lucky, to have someone like Mikapi was a godsend. While it's mostly luck for me, Mikapi was one of those who was born to have that much skill. We would often talk about our family, and we had so much in common. That is why I felt as though he was a brother. Was it bad to have someone like Mikapi to depend on? Perhaps, perhaps not. I did not grow weak and soft, he helped me to become a strong and hardened soldier. For that, I owe him many thanks and gifts. But all of that help did not do much for me during that fateful day. We were lying in a hole trying to avoid gunfire. There were shells bombarding the area, and even if you are not a recruit, you must still be lucky. The shells can hit a hole, and limbs would fly off. Screams were constant, so unsettling were they that it was like a thousand banshees roaring around you. Mikapi heard a shell heading towards our hole. He warned me and we both had to get out as soon as possible. There might have been gunfire, but it's better to risk it than to face certain doom in a hole. We made it to a nearby hole, just in time as the shell hit and dirt flew around us. Fate would not have it easy for us as we soon were noted that there was gas coming. We put on our gas masks and tried to leave. The gas collects in the holes, and when it is that dense, no amount of protection could save anyone. Mikapi was nicked in one leg and arm and he could not move. I did my best to drag his body while trying not to hurt him. I could not patch him up yet, there was too much danger. Luckily, I was able to get him to the medics. Unfortunately, they were to be amputated. A leg lost is nothing too bad, but an arm lost is something different. Sure, there were prosthetics, but we have limited resources. Even then, Mikapi had an infection, and the doctors could do nothing. He knew nothing of the sort, the doctors did not say anything to him. He was laying in a bed, and I was right beside him.

"Hey Ed, do you think that this would mean I can leave?" Mikapi said.

I looked at him, "I'm pretty sure. You could go back to your family and they would be glad to see you again, even if you're missing some limbs, you are still alive!" Oh this poor fool! To not know that you will not live, how can I break this to you?

"Haha, that would be nice. It would be amazing to be able to taste my mother's cooking once more..." Mikapi replied.

Oh, how much longer can I keep on fooling him? This naive man, who thinks he can go back to his mother. You will not see her again...I shall not see you again.

"Ed...are you...really sure? You do not look confident, you look as though I will die."

I was taken aback by this, but my face showed nothing. "Nonsense. It is only because this is the first time I've seen one of my friends like this. I am only sad at how it turned out this way." Oh how I lie! Who is the fool? Surely both of us are fools.

"...That's not it, is it? I'm...going to die, aren't I?" Mikapi said, his face full of hope that I say otherwise.

I could not hide it anymore. I could feel my eyes getting watery. "...No" my voice started to crack. "..No you won't live. The doctors told me they can't do anything to save you."

Mikapi's eyes started to water too, and tears flowed from his face. He looked up towards the ceiling, "So it is time for me to die." I could tell he was starting to break down. The thought of him dying was too much for him. "...No...I can't die..."

"Stop Mikapi, you mustn't be like this." My voice still cracking. "You are a strong and hardened soldier, you helped me to be this way!"

He started to cough. He whispered to me, "Ed...you mustn't...be like this...either." He was taking heavy breaths. "My life...is coming...to an end. But yours...isn't ending. You must...survive and...go to...your mother. You...must keep...your promise. Promise me...that you will...do so."

These promises...I hate these promises. How do I know if I can keep these promises?

"...I promise, Mikapi."

Just then, he started to cough wildly, something was going on! He looked as though he was having a panic attack! I called for a doctor.

"Doctor! Doctor! Someone get me a doctor! NOW!" I ran and ran, searching for a doctor. I found one, and took him to Mikapi. When I got back to Mikapi, his face was wet, but the attack had stopped.

"Mikapi!" I yelled. He raised his hand, and I grabbed it.

"Ed...you are not a boy anymore. I have...done all that I can...to help you. You are a man...you must make yourself...much stronger...more hardened...and maybe someday...a recruit might...even learn from you. Good...bye...my...friend..."

I increased my grip, "Goodbye...my friend." The tears flowed down my face, and already I felt his grip lessen. I let go, and his hand fell onto his chest.

"We'll need to move him away, stat." the doctor said. He moved Mikapi's bed away.

I stood there. Good bye...my friend. Good bye...my brother.