2 days later.
I found myself being checked by Doctor Herbert. He was testing the sensation in my newly restored arm, running various touches and asking if I could feel them. With each touch, I affirmed that I could indeed feel the sensation.
"It's a miracle, and you say you lost your arm, Hauptmann Nietzsche?" the doctor inquired, jotting down notes on his clipboard.
"Yes, doctor, lost it when I was fighting a French bastard," I replied with a smile, recalling the moment.
"Hmm," the doctor hummed thoughtfully, locking eyes with me for a moment before returning his attention to his clipboard, jotting down more notes.
"Nurse, could you please bring me a cold water?" he requested, turning to Regina, who stood nearby.
"Yes, doctor," Regina responded promptly, hurrying off to fulfill his request.
"Well, I couldn't explain it medically," Doctor Herbert remarked, placing the clipboard back into his brown medical bag and retrieving some tools.
"Alright, Hauptmann Nietzsche, I'm going to do some check-ups on your body," he informed me, placing a medical tool on the bedside table in preparation.
I nodded, readying myself for the examination as Doctor Herbert began his thorough check-up. With precision and care, he conducted various tests, assessing my overall health and wellbeing.
As he worked Regina returned with the cold water, placing it within the doctor's reach before stepping back to assist as needed.
"Let's test the sensation in your arm," Doctor Herbert suggested, pouring some of the cold water onto my newly restored limb.
"Can you feel that?"I nodded, feeling the chill of the water as it cascaded over my skin. "Yes, I can feel it," I affirmed, a sense of wonderment coursing through me at the realization of my restored sensation.
Doctor Herbert nodded in satisfaction, jotting down notes on his clipboard. "Excellent. Your progress is remarkable, Hauptmann Nietzsche," he praised, his tone filled with genuine admiration.
Throughout the process, Doctor Herbert maintained a professional demeanor, his focus unwavering as he meticulously examined me. Each test and observation added to the growing understanding of my condition and the remarkable events that had unfolded.
As the examination drew to a close, Doctor Herbert nodded in satisfaction, his expression one of reassurance. "Everything looks good, Hauptmann Nietzsche. You seem to be recovering quite well,"
After pouring the cold water on my arm and confirming my sensation, Doctor Herbert smiled at me, writing something on his clipboard. "You're in perfect condition, Hauptmann Nietzsche. Just take care of yourself," he said reassuringly, excusing himself from the examination.
I sighed, feeling a sense of relief at his words, and watched as Regina escorted him out of the tent.
Turning around, I was suddenly surprised by a face looming in front of me. Instinctively, I flinched, almost punching, until I realized it was Weiland. His eyes bore into mine with disturbing focus as he bombarded me with questions about my arm. Beside him, Felix echoed his inquiries, and even Wigbert stood silently, listening intently.
"What happened to your arm, Hauptmann?" Weiland asked eagerly, his tone tinged with a mix of fascination and concern.
"Yeah, yesterday you didn't have one, and now it's like nothing happened," Felix chimed in, his brow furrowed with confusion.
Wigbert remained silent, his expression unreadable, but his presence added really make it as if I'm facing the eyes of my father.
"I... I don't know," I replied, playing dumb, my heart pounding with unease under Weiland's suspicious gaze.
Felix shrugged, seeming to accept my vague response before returning to his bed, leaving me alone with Weiland and Wigbert.
Weiland continued to stare at me, his suspicion palpable in the air. "You don't know? Come on, Nietzsche, you can't expect us to believe that," he pressed, his voice laced with skepticism.
I shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny, feeling the weight of his suspicion bearing down on me. "I'm telling you, I really don't know," I insisted, my tone firm but tinged with uncertainty.
Wigbert's silent presence only added to the tension in the room, his gaze unwavering as he observed the exchange between Weiland and me.
Feeling the need to change the subject, I glanced around the tent, searching for a distraction. "So, uh, how have you guys been?" I asked, attempting to lighten the mood.
Weiland didn't answer my question and continued to pester me, his suspicion seemingly unrelenting. Meanwhile, Wigbert stood up and walked to his bed with a noticeable limp, giving off an air of authority reminiscent of a seasoned pirate.
As I observed him, a whimsical thought crossed my mind, 'I really need to stop letting them put drugs in me.'
Ignoring the distraction, Weiland persisted with his questions, his tone growing more insistent with each one.
"So, Nietzsche, where did you really get that arm?" he demanded, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"I already told you, I don't know," I repeated, frustration creeping into my voice.
Weiland's skepticism only seemed to intensify. "Come on, don't play dumb with us. There's no way you just grew a new arm overnight," he insisted, leaning in closer.
"I swear, that's all I know," I replied, feeling exasperated by his persistence.
Wigbert, ever silent, watched the exchange with a steady gaze, his expression unreadable.
As the interrogation continued, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease creeping over me.
"So, Wieland, tell us more about your theory on lizard people living in the swamp across Europe," I interjected, hoping to divert his attention from the topic of my arm.
Wieland's eyes lit up with enthusiasm, glad to have the opportunity to expound upon his pet theory. "Ah, yes! It's quite fascinating, you see," he began, launching into a detailed explanation of his belief in the existence of reptilian humanoids inhabiting the marshlands.
As he delved into the intricacies of his theory, I glanced over at Felix, who rolled his eyes but seemed content to let Wieland ramble on. Even Regina, who had returned to the tent, appeared amused by the conversation.
However, just as Wieland was reaching the climax of his discourse, a sudden commotion outside the tent shattered the tranquility of the moment. Shouts and the sound of hurried footsteps filled the air, signaling the onset of chaos.
Felix jumped to his feet, his expression tense as he moved towards the entrance of the tent. "What's happening out there?" he demanded, his voice laced with urgency.
Regina's brow furrowed with concern as she joined him, peering outside to assess the situation. "I'm not sure," she replied, her voice barely audible over the din.
A sense of unease settled over me as I followed their lead, moving closer to the entrance to catch a glimpse of what was unfolding outside. Dread gnawed at my stomach.
"I just got my arm back; I don't want to lose it again," I murmured, my voice tinged with apprehension, as I watched the soldiers and nurses scrambling outside the tent.
Regina, her expression a mixture of concern and determination, grabbed one of her nurse friends, and urgently inquired about the situation.
"Sarah, What's happening?" she asked, her voice edged with worry.
Sarah's response was grim. "Regina, The French have broken through three of our defense lines. A full evacuation has been ordered by the head nurse and the Oberleutnant," she reported, her tone urgent.
Regina's eyes widened with alarm, and she turned to me, her expression grave. "We need to get all you out of here. It's not safe," she said, her voice firm but tinged with fear.
Felix, who had been listening intently, looked visibly concerned. "What do we do?" he asked, his voice with little concerned.
Before Regina could respond, a sudden burst of chaotic energy erupted from Weiland. "This is it! The moment we've been waiting for!" he exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
I exchanged a worried glance with Felix, unsure of how to react to Weiland's enthusiasm in the face of danger.
Regina then looked at us, her expression determined yet tinged with concern. "I'm going to help gather for the evacuation. You guys better stay away from danger," she said firmly, her voice carrying a sense of urgency.
Felix and I nodded in understanding, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. "Be careful," I called out to her as she hurried off to join the evacuation efforts.
Regina nodded, determination etched on her face as she swiftly left to gather some of our supplies.
I turned to Felix, our eyes meeting in silent understanding. Despite the chaos unfolding around us, we both knew we needed to act quickly. But as I glanced at Weiland, his missing eye a stark reminder of the dangers we faced, and Wigbert, his peg leg a testament to the sacrifices made in war, I knew we needed to prioritize their safety.
"We need to find a weapon," I said to Felix, urgency creeping into my voice. "Weiland, help Wigbert into one of the horse wagons," I ordered, my tone leaving no room for argument.
Weiland protested slightly, but a stern look from me silenced him. With a resigned nod, he moved to assist Wigbert, guiding him towards the waiting wagon.
Felix and I exchanged a brief nod before we sprinted towards the edge of the hill, the distant rumble of artillery fire serving as a grim reminder of the imminent danger.
As we reached the edge, I surveyed the chaos below, my expression serious. The French troops were advancing rapidly, their determined march a stark contrast to the panicked movements of our own forces.
"We need to move quickly," I said to Felix, my voice low but firm. "We'll try to find a weapon and then provide support and cover while Regina and the others load the wagons. Then we'll retreat with the rest of the unit."
Felix nodded, his expression grim as we prepared to assist in any way we could. As the chaos intensified and the urgency of the situation became all too apparent.