All of Howls squad where in the infirmary: surrounding them were boys wounded on their beds groaning in pain. Nurses came in and out the room attending them, some boys would just pass out, some would just die.
Howl lied in the bed, eyes closed, bandages wrapped around his body, he barely moved.
"You think he dead." Of course it was Rollo that question. "Don't say things like that you idiot!" Stanley answered, his brows knitted. Brock was the only one that didn't bother to visit, he was a pretty asocial guy.
"Let's visit later," Bowin said eventually. They walked out of that room concerened and disappointed.
It had been 3 days since that battle, when they went back to find Howl they found him passed out and bleeding on the ground. When they brought him back on the ship it was almost too late. The doctor told the boys that if they had come a second later that their squad leader would've been dead.
Ever since then he was in a coma kept alive with life support. The boys would visit their leader daily but it would be the same sorry sight.
All of them were out of their armor and were now in uniform. Without helmets Bowin could finally see their faces more clearly, Howl had a buzz cut and black hair. He was a brown skinned boy like the Indians in Bowin's previous life.
Stanley was more pale, long blond hair that passed his ears, his glasses having a light blue hue. Rollo had short brown hair, red and piercing eyes like a lion.
Earlier that day when Bowin went to the shared bathroom he also got to take a look at himself. He was black, with green eyes and curly short hair.
It was strange cause in his previous life he was just your average white guy. He already had a suspicion about his skin color from looking at his past memories but now he was certain. Does it mean I can say it now.. he thought to himself. He would give himself a slap before telling himself that such things didn't matter in this futuristic world.
It was later in the day were they finally got news that Howl had woken up again and they rushed to see him. When they came in the infirmary he sat there in his bed sleepy eyed and as pale as a ghost. His eyes had bags and he looked very skinny.
He was talking with Sench, a conversation that Bowin couldn't hear. Howl seemed pretty upset though, his head low upon hearing something from Sench.
When the boys came closer the conversation came to the end.
Sench folded hands, he wore a tank top and some cargo pants. He was a pretty muscular guy, also black and having a buzz cut.
"Squad leader Howl, are you alright?" Stanley greeted. "Yeah man, I bet I can beat you in a fight now you stick!" Rollo added on, as blunt as ever still with that grin. It seemed to get a grin out of Howl, "I can take you even when I'm starved for food."
"Glad to see you awake again squad leader." Bowin said, Howl's eyes glided over to Bowin, he still had a smile but this one seemed defeated. "It's inevitable man, tell them." Sench said.
Howl was silent, looking at his boys one after another, then he took a deep breath, "I can't be your squad leader anymore, I'm being honorably discharged."
Nobody said nothing, Rollo's smile disappeared, for the first time ever he seemed serious outside of active combat. Stanley was stoic.
"Why?" Bowin asked, but somewhere deep down he knew the answer. The injuries he sustained in the last battle were to serious to just ignore.
"The doctor says that walking will be difficult for me," Howl continued, "even after serious training I will only be able to do the minimum. I have to quit. I'm sorry guys, I can't share the burden with you anymore."
"We understand, don't worry about it." Rollo said, "Looks like you can win a match when starved but not when disabled." He joked, Rollo forced a smile but the joke came out dry.
Howl chuckled still. "Who will take over your position?" Stanley asked, still focused on a larger mission.
Both Howl and Sench turned to Bowin. The boy felt the immense pressure as if he was naked on stage. "After considering it will be Bowin, he will take over squad '05be' leading Jace, Rollo and a newcomer named Vander."
"What!?" Stanley interjected, "This complete beginner wil lead his first squad!"
Bowin felt more pressure, but if this is what his superiors asked of him he would follow. "I will do it, I guess."
"Cool cool I guess we're done." Rollo said nodding his head satisfied.
"I'm not!" Stanley interrupted loudly, some of the patients in the infirmary seemed to follow the drama.
"Be quiet Stanley." Sench said at a calm tone, but for some reason it was still very intimidating. "I have decided that Bowin will lead his own squad so behave." Stanley bit his tongue clearly still frustrated.
"He has a point though and we have also considered that." Howl came in, his voice was weak, "The next battle will be on a far larger scale than the wine we had last time. Depending on your performance you will keep the position of squad leader."
"I will do my best." Bowin said with quiet acceptance.
"You," Sench then said, he looked at Stanley who had not yet cooled down. "You also have been promoted to lead your own squad consisting of Brock, Hadsle and Folter." Then Sench walked closer to be face to face, "Your behavior of earlier has me doubting my decision but it can be ignored if you shut your mouth and obey."
Stanley grunted, looking his ship leader deep in the eyes matching furiousity. "Yes sir." He said eventually.
"I expect the two of you later, there will be a briefing on our next mission on Santos." Sench notified. He left the room, and after a bit of conversing with Howl, the boys left the room too.
The ship they were on belonged to Captain Mikel, it was bigger than a breaching ship used to land on a planet. It was used to store all breaching ships, weapons and housed everything to keep soldiers alive.
The hallways of the ship were white, metallic and cold, it was wide enough for 6 people to walk side to side but not that tall. Bowin could jump and would hit his head on the roof.
Many corridors like this were on the ships that would lead to many rooms. Bowin himself had trouble finding his way when he first arrived on it but with a bit of help of the other people present he could find his way.
Stanley walked at the front of the group, despite the earlier clash he seemed happier. "Your happy because your finally a squad leader ain't ya." Rollo said walking with his hands behind his head.
Stanley turned around slightly, it was hard for him to hide his grin, "Progress is always a good thing ain't it Rollo."
"It didn't seem like that earlier when Bowin also got a promotion." Rollo responded.
"I was mad because that wasn't progress, more like regression." Stanley snapped back immediately, he seemed like snake ready to strike.
Bowin didn't really want to have to have this conversation but he was here now, "If the ship leader can believe in me, why can't you." He said softly.
"This is what I mean," like a snake he snapped at he first opportunity to bite back, "your too weak and don't have any willpower. When will you fight for something with your chest. If you can't do that for yourself how can you do that for the men under your protection."
Stanley turned around again and walked of, "Your smart I guess, so maybe you'll figure something out. But the way you are now, you won't make it long."
Bowin felt like he was slapped around and was left humiliated. "Don't mind him, he's just some rich, crazy brat." Rollo said, he slapped Bowin on the back, it actually knocked the wind out of him. He gasped for air.
"What do you mean by that, crazy, rich brat?" Bowin held his chest.
"He's from some rich family, he could've avoided the draft but didn't, instead choosing to be a soldier."
That sounded familiar to Bowin, even on his own planet there were similar stories of rich people and nobles that would not go to war. Stanley was one of those?
"Then why didn't he go to a higher position, why did he choose such a low position to start up from?"
"Like I said, he's crazy. He keeps saying that if he wants to be a great general has to experience death first hand. Something to do with that looney age of glory he keeps talking about."
Bowin watched as Stanley walked out of sight, it seemed that the two of them were complete opposites.