Chapter 2

Same Tuesday morning, Murk Territory, Brownbag's POV…

I was ready to put my friend's plan into action and had found out from eavesdropping on a conversation with Sergeant Cast Iron and one of the generals that they would be in a meeting for about an hour this morning.

Which gave me plenty of time to get everything set up.

I knew it wouldn't be easy to fool Sergeant Cast Iron, but then remembered that the medic had special berths for restraining patients that were very injured so they didn't accidently undo the work the medics had done to help them recover, and also for when patients suffered from severe trauma.

"But he'll know something's up if I try to restrain him," I said to myself and then it hit me. Maybe if I asked the medic to help me with my plan…

Then again, I might get demoted in the end.

But, if it would make Cast Iron call off the war with the Perk army, it would be worth it.

I now headed towards sick bay where the doctor was getting out syringes. "Ah, Private, you're just in time," he said. "I've had a few of the men sick in here and don't want the sickness to spread to anyone else."

He held up a syringe. "Magister Tennyson was kind enough to supply these immune booster shots to us and I've been trying to give them to everyone who comes in," he explained.

While I wasn't exactly fond of shots, I decided that if I allowed Doc to give me the shot, he might be willing to help me out.

After he administered the shot, I glanced around and gently grabbed his arm. "Doc, just between us, has Sergeant Cast Iron gotten his booster shot yet?" I asked.

Doc gave me an odd look, but shook his head. "No, and he canceled his appointment to come see me this morning," he said. "He must have found out that I was administering these shots."

I must have had a stunned look on my face because Doc looked amused. "He insists he doesn't need some silly shot to not get sick and that he's healthy without it."

Seeing as Doc needed help with Sergeant Cast Iron as I did, I took a chance. "Doc, I have an idea, but I need your help," I said.

He gave me his full attention. "I don't know about you, but I'm honestly tired of fighting against the Perks. The Queen has treated both armies very fairly, but it seems that Sergeant Cast Iron is locked in a bitter duel with the Perk Sergeant, Cookmeister, to try and prove who's better."

Doc sighed. "Yes, and it's depleting my stock of medical supplies rapidly," he said. "I just had to order more supplies today."

I was stunned. "With all due respect, sir, didn't we get a shipment of medical supplies just last week on Friday?" I asked.

He nodded. "And they got used up because several of our men came in badly wounded from some skirmishes," he said.

"When did these happen?"

I had been on patrol for the weekend and hadn't been told of any skirmishes. "Over the weekend, on the other side of the planet," Doc now said.

Well, that explained it. I had been patrolling on our side, so I hadn't heard of the skirmishes. "Well, what if we could convince Sergeant Cast Iron that this fighting needs to stop and that he needs to be friends with Sergeant Cookmeister?" I asked.

Doc huffed. "That'll happen the day when we find something to use against him," he said.

I smiled. "What about…tickling?" I asked.

He turned to me, looking intrigued. "Go on, Private," he said.

"We might be able to change Cast Iron's mind if we tickle him," I said. "I could bring him to the sick bay by pretending to be hurt and then we can restrain him to the restraining berth."

Doc's face lit up. "I could give him the booster shot he needs," he said.

I nodded. "And you're more than welcome to help me tickle him," I offered.

He nodded. "Brownbag, the Sergeant should make you a general," he said. "You're very smart."

I shrugged. "Thanks, but a friend of mine came up with the idea," I admitted.

"Max, correct?" Doc said.

I nodded again. Doc was the only one who knew that Max was my best friend from the Perk army because when we had both been injured sometime back, Max had used the medical supplies with him to bandage my wounds and he didn't have enough to take care of his wounds. I brought him to Doc, who helped him and swore to keep it a secret.

Doc now nodded. "Alright, you get Cast Iron in here and we'll get to work," he said.

One hour later, third person POV…

Brownbag walked down the hallway and saw Sergeant Cast Iron in his office and was about to knock when suddenly Cast Iron cried out sharply. "Oh! Blast it! I forgot I just cut up a hot pepper," he groaned out.

Worried, Brownbag entered the office. "Sergeant, are you alright, sir?" He asked.

"Who is it?" Cast Iron asked, unable to see at the moment.

"Private Brownbag, sir."

"Oh, Private. Thank goodness it's only you," said Cast Iron. "I need to get to the bathroom to wash my eyes out. I forgot I still had hot pepper juice on my fingers from cutting some hot peppers up a moment ago."

Brownbag smiled to himself. "I'll guide you, sir," he offered, taking the Sergeant's arm and leading him to the sick bay. Doc was already there and motioned to one of the restrain berths and Brownbag led Cast Iron over to it. "We're in the lounge, sir, but it's empty right now. Why don't you lie down here?"

"Thank you, Private," said Cast Iron gratefully.

Brownbag's POV…

I grinned and gave Doc a nod and watched as he carefully put the restraints on the sergeant, who was in too much pain with his eyes stinging to notice, but I did get a wet washcloth and gently washed his eyes. "Please hold still, sir," I requested.

After I finished, Doc administered the booster shot, which surprised Cast Iron so much that he jumped and was even more surprised to find he couldn't move and he glanced around, finding himself in the sick bay with me and Doc grinning. He glared at me. "Private, you better have a good explanation for this prank or you'll be demoted to mail carrier," he said.

Doc gave me a reassuring smile which helped me gain my confidence again. "Well, sir, Doc asked for my help because you wouldn't let him give you the booster shot," I said truthfully.

"And he and I agreed to help each other, as there is something Private Brownbag needs my help with," said Doc.

Sergeant Cast Iron was looking more upset. "My patience is wearing out," he said warningly.

"Then, without further ado, Private, will you start?"

I grinned and wiggled my fingers right into Cast Iron's stomach.

Now, being Gourmands, our stomachs were usually our best means of defense, but as a result, our stomachs were also very sensitive and any light touches would send us into a fit of giggles.

Sergeant Cast Iron squealed, to both mine and Doc's surprise, but we both found it amusing as well and I sped up my fingers on the trapped sergeant's stomach while Doc tickled his underarms.

His laughter, which was a funny combination of squeals and pleas, only made us both chuckle in amusement, but we did give Cast Iron a breather and I decided to make my offer.

"Sir, Doc and I will gladly stop tickling you…if you agree to one small term," I said.

While he would have normally been chewing us out, Cast Iron knew he was in a tight spot because the others could see this happening if they walked in. And his reputation would go 'down the tubes', as I had once heard Magister Tennyson say.

"What term, Private?" He asked.

"The war with the Perks needs to stop and you become friends with Sergeant Cookmeister," said Doc.

Cast Iron sputtered in surprise before looking at both of us with a glare. "I'll have you both demoted for such talk!" He threatened.

I shrugged. "Guess we need to work a little more on the patient, Doc," I said, smiling.

"I agree, Brownbag," he said.

We wasted no time in continuing the tickle torture, much to the sergeant's horror as we absolutely tortured him with teasing words, feathers, and our fingers. Cast Iron's stomach and underarms were spared no mercy in our ticklish onslaught and his loud laughter that resulted shook the walls and only amused us as we kept tickling him.

Five hours later, Third person POV…

The Perks and Murks all gathered together in the queen's castle as Sergeants Cookmeister and Cast Iron signed a peace treaty and agreed to bring both armies together and work together. The two even agreed to be friends, which surprised many of their men, but it also led to everyone apologizing and also becoming friends.

The Queen smiled as she then motioned Max and Brownbag to come closer to her throne and both bowed in great respect to their queen. "You boys were certainly brave and thanks to your ingenious plan, the Gourmand armies have now been united as one," she said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," they said to her before joining their friends, but before they joined in the festivities that followed the peace treaty agreement, Brownbag and Max hugged each other.

The war was over and they didn't have to keep their friendship a secret anymore. And best of all, the Gourmands were now a stronger race now that Murks and Perks had joined together in the alliance.

It was peaceful at last.

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GoldGuardian2418