CAUTION: BLOOD IN SMALL AMOUNTS.
Allow me to explain: I have noticed that throughout the series Hochstetter will hold his right hand over the right side of his stomach whenever he isn't doing anything with his right hand or with Hogan around. I wrote this story after noticing he has a black Wound Badge among his medals. It doesn't have swords on it so that means he incurred 1-2 injuries in non-combat service. This story is a rendition of how I believe he ended up with his Wound Badge.
Berlin 1942
Hochstetter was filing away some busy work he had been catching up on when the door of his office burst open. His head snapped up instantly having thought the door locked as it usually was. Three men in ill-fitting Gestapo uniforms marched in and drew their side arms before he could draw his own from his belt. He stood with his hands in front of him. Hochstetter knew better than to try and take on three trigger-happy American spies alone.
"Alright Major. You know what we want. We're going to get it whether you like it or not. Be it the easy way or the hard way? It's your choice." Stated the closest one with authority, obviously the leader.
Hochstetter sighed in annoyance. Now that they were all close enough he could spy the singular bullet holes in each of their coats. This group meant business if they were willing to hide three bodies in order to get inside to get at what they wanted. The Major contemplated what would be the best course of action to minimize both their rewards of this mission and the damage to his quickly growing reputation. Playing stupid to buy time it was.
"Was bist du.." Hochstetter began holding his hands up so as not to alarm them into shooting him quickly.
"In English if you don't mind." The tallest one pressed the barrel of the pistol he held to Hochstetter's head.
"What is it you want?" Hochstetter sighed. The tall one pressed harder with his gun.
"You already know what we're here for! They were delivered to you no more than three hours ago!"
Hochstetter knew exactly what papers they were referring to. Those airplane blueprints could be capable of turning Germany into one of the most powerful military forces on the planet. Letting Americans get their hands on them would be catastrophic. Luckily he already had plans in motion, all he had to do was make sure they went accordingly.
"The airplane schematics?" he asked trying to sound genuinely curious. The heavier set of the three grew visibly agitated.
"If the next words out of your mouth aren't the location and combination to your safe.." He drew a large hunting knife from his coat "I will cut out your tongue." Hochstetter attempted to look scared of the blade.
"The landscape, lift the frame." Hochstetter mumbled out feigning defeat. The tall one strode to the wooden framed painting and lifted it revealing a wall safe.
"The combination?"
" 8…" he paused to pretend to search for the English word " 52…13" The man rotated the dial to the appropriate numbers before opening the safe.
"That's more like it." the leader purred. The tall one pulled out the thick folder and peeled it open. The leader joined him in inspecting the papers.
" Are they genuine?" the shorter one asked taking his eyes off Hochstetter for just a moment.
"It appears so."
Hochstetter slowly let his left arm down to the edge of his desk. He slid his fingers along the edge feeling for the flip switch to start the flashing light in the guard room. In moments no less than twenty armed soldiers would storm into his office.
Hochstetter flipped the switch and brought his arm back up. Unfortunately, the shorter one chose to look back at him just then. The stout man's eyebrows got significantly closer to his hairline before the man lunged at him knife still in hand. Hochstetter took a fast step backward but found himself up against the wall.
The short American wasted no time driving the blade deep into the upper right side of Hochstetter's stomach. The impact drove the breath from his lungs as agony exploded in his abdomen. The many layers of his uniform had not done any good to protect him. The pain drove Hochstetter to his knees but he found the short American pinning him to the wall with the help of the leader. This had not been in his plans.
"What did you do?!" The leader demanded. The tall man holding the schematics leaned down and inspected under Hochstetter's desk
"There's a switch! He's called the guard!"
"That was a mistake, " the shorter man growled twisting the knife sharply "that will cost you your life."
Hochsetter's vision dimmed momentarily and he feared he would black out. The pain was unlike anything else he had ever encountered. Even the simple act of breathing set his torso on fire from within.
"We don't have time. He'll die anyway. Watching him writhe isn't worth losing these plans." The leader let go of Hochstetter. The shorter man only took a moment to decide before withdrawing his now bloody knife.
Hochstetter slid to the ground with what he would be ashamed to call a whimper. The resulting jolt caused yet another wave of agony. He lay on his side as blood began to spill from his mouth. He swallowed convulsively as his middle spasmed. Hochstetter watched the thieves flee from his office through dimming vision and labored breaths. His last thought before passing out was that the thieves were fleeing with fake schematics while the real ones safely resided in his desk…and it brought a small smile to his face.
I will continue this story sometime later this week so stick with me! Reviews are always appreciated!
