Both Hans and Hetzer were walking west. They chatted with each other throughout their journey.
"So commander, why are we walking west?"
"Isn't it obvious? To reach the German lines of course."
"Um, so how do we know we are going the right way?" Hetzer asked being curious.
"Look at the sun. It rises in the east and sets in the west. Since it's morning, the side opposite to the sun is the west." Hans explained.
They walked until it was noon and they were tired.
"Commander, Hetzer is tired from walking."
She cried closing her eyes and holding Hans's hand.
Hans was tired as well and wanted to rest.
"Alright let's look for a suitable place to rest."
However, Hans knew they couldn't possibly stop in the forest, because there might be wild animals.
"Let's rest once we are out of this forest." Hans suggested to Hetzer.
"As you say commander." Hetzer shook her head.
After walking for a while, they came out of the forest and saw open plain.
"Can Hetzer rest now, commander?" Hetzer said leaning on Hans.
Her eyes were closed. It seemed tiredness has taken over her. As she struggled to stand over her feet and held on to Hans.
"Sure let's sit down by that tree." Hans pointed to a lone standing tree on the plain land that was nearby.
"please carry Hetzer. My feets aren't moving in the slightest." She cried.
"Fine I'll hold you. Let's go by that tree."
Hans held Hetzer by her left hand and right shoulder as he walked to the tree.
"I knew commander would never abandon his beloved Hetzer." She laughed.
Hans felt a bit shy. He blushed.
"Don't be too cheeky or I'll really abandon you." He said looking away.
After coming to the tree, Hetzer sat down and Hans went to look for something to eat for both of them.
Looking nearby, he found some sweet strawberry fruits and brought as many as he could to Hetzer.
They sat down and chatted as they ate their lunch.
Hans was surprised that this girl knew everything that Hans went through in the eastern front from the day he was assigned as the commander of his Jagdpanzer 38t.
"How could this girl know so much about everything?!" He thought.
"What's the matter commander? Are you worried about something?" Hetzer asked.
She noticed that Hans was thinking deeply about something while talking to her. So she asked about it.
"Oh, I was just thinking about my home. I was supposed to be home for christmas."
He felt a bit sad remembering his home. Especially his mother and Emma must be waiting for him.
"Though Hetzer doesn't really has a family or home but she understands." She spoke trying to distract Hans.
She had her own feelings of jealousy. For cases like these.
"Why is commander not thinking more about me?" She thought.
She also didn't forget the girl named Emma Hans previously mentioned.
"Who might that girl be to commander?" She thought.
But before she could turn her thinking into spoken words, Hans interrupted.
He never believed that this girl was actually his Hetzer and suddenly hit upon a plan to test the authenticity of it.
"Hey, if you really are Hetzer, then why don't you turn into it again?" He said.
"This way we can have a safe journey to the German lines."
He also thought about attracting the soviets by moving in a vehicle but he was already wearing the panzerwaffe uniform and it's not like he actually believed that this girl could do that.
All he thought was being able to find her true identity. Though he also didn't want to hold it against her, since she saved his life.
"Oh, commander is a genius. Hetzer will try it right now." She stood up in excitement.
"EHHH, AHHhh," Hetzer made these sounds as she clenched her fists and bend her arms and knees a little.
She closed her eyes and clenched her teeths as well. It seemed she was trying her hardest to transform.
Hans couldn't help smiling. To him she looked like a six year old who has just been told stories about fairies and angels and started believing that he was an angel himself.
But then something happened.
A bright white light emitted from all over Hetzer's body. The light was so bright that Hans was almost blinded.
He closed his eyes and covered them involuntarily with his hands. It felt like this was still not enough.
"AHHHH..."
Hans could hear a scream from Hetzer.
After that the light vanished without a trace.
Hans slowly opened his eyes and looked towards Hetzer's direction.
He was worried about what happened. But the view surprised him.
He could see his beloved Jagdpanzer 38t tank destroyer standing in the place where the girl was.
He was sure it was his from the markings and the number the vehicle carried.
Hans couldn't believe his eyes.
"Is it really true? Are you really that girl?" He asked.
The vehicle turned towards Hans on its own.
"Do you trust Hetzer now commander?" It said in a metallic voice.
Hans was frozen to his spot his eyes were wide open as was his mouth. He didn't move even an inch.
"What's the matter commander? Why don't you say anything?" The metallic voice spoke again.
"Hey, commander are you alright?!" This time Hans heard the girl's voice again.
He saw that the vehicle in front of him turned into the girl again.
Hans didn't know what to believe or what to say anymore.
Hetzer rushed to him and shook him back into senses.
"Hey commander, say something. I can't take you inside by myself."
Back into his senses Hans noticed that the girl was tearing up.
"Oh, excuse me." Hans calmed himself down.
"I was just shocked to see you transform into the tank destroyer suddenly."
Hetzer sighed, "Hetzer's just glad that you are alright."
She said as she hugged Hans.
Hans also felt guilty about making her worry and not trusting her.
"Alright let's not stay here anymore. Who knows when the soviets will find us."
He said as he moved from Hetzer's grasp.
She again turned into the tank destroyer like before. This time Hans was more composed.
He got into the vehicle without thinking much.
"Well, at least it's clear that she doesn't mean me any harm." He thought.
Once Hans was inside, the vehicle moved at 'her' usual speed.
"Welcome inside commander. I hope you enjoy riding Hetzer." It was that same metallic voice again.
Though this time the words surprised Hans.
"Don't think anything unnecessary." He thought shaking his head at slapping lightly at his cheeks.
Hans sat in the commander's position and looked out using the commander's periscope.
In a few moments they found a muddy road.
Hetzer took the road and followed it.
In the meantime Hans looked out to see if there were any soviets nearby.
After following the country road for some more time they arrived at mid sized hill and could see a small village at the foot of the hill.
"Stop at the hilltop." Hans ordered.
After arriving at the top he took out a binocular and looked at the village.
The hill was full of grass and there was barely any tree there.
Hans was a little hesitant to stand at such a hill and bring out a binocular, in fear that the Soviets might notice.
However, he still decided to do it. Something in his mind said that the place was clear.
And even if the Soviets at noticed, he could just run away in the Tank destroyer.
The village was weird.
It was surrounded by a small bamboo fence, something that Hans never saw before.
At the entry gate stood two sentries wearing militia clothes and were armed with spears.
However, there was no sign of the Red Army nearby.
The village itself only had seven houses and very few people.
Even Hetzer changed into her girl form to see what was going on.
Finally Hans decided to explore the village.