Gunshots were ringing everywhere as all of my soldiers took shelter under the barracks. It was a sudden attack, no one was prepared, but my team will get deal with those bastards with everything we got and we will win.

"Scooby? In position? Over" I waited a minute for the response as the wavered signal of the microphone rang. " Yes Alpha" I smirked. "Perfect! As soon as he comes onto the mark I want you to shoot, got me? Over"

"Yes sir! Over" I rolled on the ground between the firing and hid behind the rocks which were all scattered around. They were beneficial not only to us but to our enemies as well.

Not a wonder why they choose this position to try a conquest on us as these rocks can not only be used as a cover but they are magnetic in nature. Due to the magnetic fields around the current equipment we had was not of that high technology to establish any sort of contact with the outside world.

My ear piece rang in my ears " Alpha? Delta here. I have a bad news. They have a 'Black box'. And unfortunately we don't have a deteorator.

Shit! My fist curled around my gun tightly till my Knuckles turned white. "We need a plan! They have a black box, Charlie, Rambo, Delta any suggestions".

The unpleasant but the most familiar frequently chimed in a minute as I was having a one on one with one of those bastards. "Alpha! Charlie here, we can launch a short range missile but we don't know how strong there black box is. Plus we would be need to get close to them which is not possible at the rate they are firing gun shots."

"Rambo here Alpha! I am trying to establish contact with the cantonment zone of Rajori". We would have a chance if somehow we can take the black box further from them. But that's almost equivalent to suicide.

"No! I can't permit that."

All of a sudden, a blast was heard.

It was so powerful that made all of my team which was at a reasonable 100m away, fell backwards.

What was that? My mind as if went blank for a second and then it hitted me.

"Alpha here! Who did THIS? Answer me! Charlie, Rambo, can you hear me? Over" I was barking on the walkie Talkie like a lunatic as I knew what caused the blast. "JJ and team to right, Charlie and team to left and Rambo and rest follow me upfront" I barked as we hurriedly walked with heavy steps all armed.

"Snooby? Be ready at position!Over"

"Sir, we are here!" I woke up with a jolt. A soldier from my regimen was staring at me with curious eyes. I straighten up, cleared my throat to say something but nothing came out. I barely nodded to which he saluted.

As I got off the car, my feet felt heavy and I was unable to move. I gulped and with all of my strength walked into the place. I simply stood at the back and was looking at the scene in front of me.

No matter the numerous encounters I had which includes death, blood and if I simply state then just pain and grief, I am still not used to it. It still gives me the nostalgia and the survivor guilt.

But that's the con of my work. But still after 3 years of service and medals of unbaffled courage, not good at goodbyes.

Never good at goodbyes.

Specially when the person was your buddy since the very beginning. Specially since maybe you could have saved him if just a better decision could be made that day.

Specially since you knew if you would have been into his place, he would have saved you and died instead.

I closed my eyes, wishing to numb my thoughts but instead fatal cries and chantings was all I could hear. I didn't had the gut to face his family neither the shame to pay my last tribute.

Like a coward, for the first time in my life, my feet went in the opposite direction and soon I was inside the car.

"Shall we go, sir?" The officer asked and the engine started. Maybe I nodded, can't be sure as my mind was wandering around that unfateful day.
My hands reached for my backpack, I clutched on the white envelope as if my life dependent on it and took it out.

SrLt(N). Shourya Singh Rajput.

My fingers followed the messy handwriting reminiscing the last bit of physical touch left from my dear Friend for me. Finally gathering the strength I tried to muster since I received this letter, I ripped it open.

The letter smoothly slipped onto my hand along with a pendrive. Now I was confused. Usually, there are just letters from officers not anything else.

What's more Asad wanted to tell me that couldn't fit into the letter?

I quickly read the letter and it was nothing unexpected. But I guess I spoke too soon. The last paragraph asked me to not decline whats in the pendrive.

Shourya, you might think what kind of a person I was? How can I ask you such a big thing? But my friend you are the only person I could think off who I trust completely with this. This is my last wish, please fulfil this.

Your mate,
Asad Ibrahim[Lt(N)]

[P.S: Plug the pendrive ASAP!]

I smiled at the P.s he wrote. He and his  hastily language. But soon the smile was gone as I held the pendrive tightly in my hand.

I promise you Asad, I will do whatever you asked, till my last breath.

"It's a Promise made!"