No one expected it coming.
It began as a simple drizzle. A light shower. Then it became a downpour. Suddenly, it morphed into hard and heavy. And then, the lightning started to show.
KRAKOOOM!!
"Ah shit! It hit another one! Get the men away from there, quick."
They were simply en route back to base after a successful engagement against a terrorist group controlling the region. Their trucks were shabby, but they had the electronics needed to get the job done. Which was exactly the perfect combination needed to create moving lightning rods. Pair that with large fuel tanks for long distance travel. Well...
KRAKOOOM!!!
"Major Grant! It hit the medtruck."
"Then get them out of there, sergeant. Get your unit over there while I get the other out."
"Yes sir!"
Major Sam Grant of the 21st Task Force. An anglicized version of his name. Fresh out of the Academy and as average of a student you could get and as brilliant as a commander you could ever wish for. He took care of himself and his men splendidly during their campaign against terrorists before all this. Now, he has the responsibility of getting his men out of this shitshow before things could get any worse.
KRAKOOM!!!
"Major, the ammo cache is on fire!"
It got worse.
"Lieutenant, get your men out of here and leave everything except for handguns behind. We can't afford to stay here without one us dying by lightning." said the Major as he looked towards another figure who was running towards them. This soldier held a map and a compass in his hands.
"Major, I found a cave not far from here. We can use that as shelter." the soldier said as he looked towards a couple of stragglers carrying the sick and wounded.
"Then lead the way, Captain Cruz." The Major said as he and the lieutenant wordlessly helped out the stragglers.
With the Captain's guidance and the Major's commanding presence, the Task Force had rallied and made a great effort in getting everyone into the cave that was nearby. Until,
"Wait, I forgot my bag!" Heard the Major as he turned around to see a lone private run towards one of the trucks that weren't destroyed by the lightning.
"Private la Paz, get your ass over here!" the Major heard from a corporal. The commanding officer of the private, it seems.
"Hold on, sir! I'm just gonna get my family photo album." Shouted the private as he hastened his running. Climbing onto the back of the jeep and yanking the bag from the seat. He was about to get out when.
KRAKOOOM!!!!
"Aghggh!!!!" Yelled the Private as the truck he was on got struck by lightning. He wasn't burnt to a crisp because the lightning went to the truck and not him. However, his hand was on the metal railing that helped troops get down from the truck. It shocked him into unconsciousness. A loud splat was heard by the Major before he acted.
"Corporal, follow Captain Cruz. I'll get the man." Major Grant said as he ran towards the man. The Corporal had nothing to say against it because the Major left no room for debate. He nodded in affirmation before yelling to his unit to go faster.
The Major ran towards the unconscious private. The contents of the man's bag were all sprawled about on the ground. Wet and stained by the rain and mud. Condoms, naked pics, a family album. All were there for the Major to see in mild disgust. The Major then wasted no time in getting the things, placed them all into the bag, and started carrying the man fireman style. He had to take a second to adjust to the private's weight. Boy, he was heavy.
"Let's get you out of here." Said the Major to himself. The rain above him started to intensify. Causing the mud below him to become slippery and more dangerous to walk on. The Major started slow. His pace increasing once he got used to the weight on his shoulders. A few meters away was the Lieutenant from before. He must've been tasked to wait for him, the Major guessed.
Boom.
A sharp turn towards his side allowed the Major to see the truck that stored the ammo cache. The ammo cache - despite the heavy rain fall - was still burning. And the Major heard a small explosion that originated near that area of the ammo cache. Which means...
"Major, we need to go!" the Lieutenant yelled as he ran towards the man. Because of the slippery mud, the Lieutenant fell rear first onto the ground. He quickly rebounded and rose up to assist in carrying the unconscious soldier.
"Just be careful, Lieutenant. The mud will slow us down if aren't." The Major warned as his feet slid on the slippery surface. They were making good progress. They've made it into the woods and a couple of meters away from the trucks. But their main worry is the incoming explosion. Which would be powerful enough to knock them out and kill them due to the resulting shrapnel.
The flames became brighter and brighter with every step the two take. Every step away from the ammo cache, the close the explosion will arrive. Fortunately, they haven't made any slip ups ye-
"Oh shit! Oof!" Shouted the Lieutenant as he slipped on a wet smooth stone. His head hit said stone. Causing a crack on his skull due to the resulting impact.
"Oh no." The Major helplessly said. He could see a few men rushing towards them to assist. But they would only get caught by the unsuspecting blast if they get closer to them. So, what the Major did was drag the two unconscious bodies towards a tree large enough to protect their bodies and placed them at the foot of said tree. He did not know if it would work, or if the tree was strong enough to withstand the incoming shrapnel. All he cared about was keeping those two safe.
BOOOOMMM! KRAKOOOM!!!
Came the sound of the ammo cache. The Major was thrown back by the blast. And in the middle of getting repulsed by the explosion. Another lightning bolt showed up. Instead of targeting the trucks, it aimed for the Major himself. The moment the Major landed on the ground, the lightning bolt struck his chest. Causing him to die then and there.
Once the men who ran to help the Major came around, they found the body burnt around the chest area. The Major's clothing literally stuck to the skin due to how how the lightning was. The Lieutenant and Private were taken care of to full health. But nothing could be done for the Major. He was long gone the moment the lightning touched his chest.
Or was he?