The Battle of N'Djamena, a pivotal confrontation in the Chadian civil war, erupted on March 21, 1980. The fierce fighting reduced much of the city to a barren wasteland.
In this grueling conflict, the French forces deployed in Chad under Operation Tacaud were caught between the warring factions and suffered dead and wounded of their own, while the Chadian factions lost fighters by the thousands.
Amid the battle, Sergeant Leon of the French Foreign Legion displayed extraordinary courage, reportedly taking down over a dozen enemy fighters. Leading his squad in a crucial assault, he was shot in the chest. When he awoke, he found himself in a military field hospital, receiving medical care. Unbeknownst to anyone, Leon's body had become the new host for a soul from a different time.
Born in 1956, Leon was 24 years old during the battle. Orphaned and with only a high school education, he had spent five years in the military, fighting in numerous battles that hardened his character. Now, his body housed two souls from different eras, mysteriously merged as one.
After some initial confusion, Leon eventually accepted his new reality.
At the field hospital, he was tended to by a nurse named Catherine. She helped him change his bandages, clean his wounds with iodine, apply antibiotic ointment, and wrap them carefully in gauze.
"Sergeant Leon, I'm sure you'll be back on your feet in no time," Catherine reassured him with a warm smile.
"Thank you, Miss Catherine," Leon replied gratefully.
A few days later, the field hospital, crowded with wounded soldiers, began preparing for evacuation to France.
The fusion of two identities in his mind led to bouts of mental confusion and dizziness. Seeking help, Leon spoke to the field hospital's medical staff, though he couldn't exactly explain his unique situation. He described his symptoms vaguely, hoping for some relief.
The medical team, primarily focused on surgery and physical injuries, suggested Leon might be suffering from war-related stress or trauma, common among soldiers returning from intense combat. The doctor provided some sedatives and recommended further evaluation at a psychiatric facility once they reached France.
After about two weeks, the medical flight finally landed in Toulon. The wounded disembarked, including the medical staff. At the Sainte-Anne military hospital, Leon underwent a medical examination, and the doctor noted that his wound was healing well.
With a note from the field hospital's doctor, Leon proceeded to the psychiatric department. After a brief assessment, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress and recommended for a month of rest and psychological treatment.
One morning during his stay, he walked to the bathroom and stared at his reflection in the mirror. A muscular man with six-pack abs, a strong jawline, and piercing eyes stared back at him. His rugged appearance and natural charm had always drawn attention, and now he understood why women found him so appealing.
One day, a lieutenant sought Leon out. "Sergeant Leon, your physical condition has improved, and command is ready to reassign you to active duty."
Leon immediately declined. With a soul from the future now part of him, he had no desire to return to the front lines. War was unpredictable and dangerous, and he knew he wasn't invincible. He decided it was time to retire from the military.
He visited the psychiatrist, claiming his mental state remained unstable. The doctor, noting his symptoms, diagnosed him with post-traumatic stress disorder, allowing Leon to officially leave the service.
A few days later, Leon received a modest pension and a commendation for his service. He boarded a train bound for Marseille, uncertain about what lay ahead.
During his journey, Leon noticed several discrepancies between this world and the one he remembered. Some things were familiar, yet many were oddly different. For instance, he recalled that Valéry Giscard d'Estaing should have been the French president, but in this version of history, an elderly man named Marchand held office. The world around him was a mix of familiar landmarks and strange new developments.
He decided to take his time understanding this new world and figuring out his next steps.
Upon arriving in Marseille, Leon took a bus to L'Estaque, where he rented a modest apartment. A few days later, he found a job as a restaurant cook. His shift started in the early morning, leaving his evening free.
He maintained a disciplined routine, waking early for a morning jog. Nearby, there was a boxing gym where Leon enrolled to hone his physical condition. He practiced regularly, working on his strength and endurance.
While he had hoped for some sort of special abilities, as depicted in many of the stories he remembered, it seems he only got future knowledge as his only advantage.
The Opera quarter is one of the most bustling areas in the Old Port district. Every night, bars and nightclubs come alive with activity.
The bustling crowd exuded an air of extravagance, decadence, and dissolute behavior.
But tonight, the entire Opera quarter felt unusually different, even somewhat chilly.
Two or three hundred gangsters walked out from each end of the street.
They were all menacing-looking, carrying machetes, clubs, and other weapons, creating a very tense atmosphere.
Leon, holding a half-meter-long steel pipe, stood behind a group of people, watching quietly and calmly.
He was here to make money!
Right now, it was a standoff between gangsters, though whether they would actually fight was still uncertain.
Of these hundreds of people, there weren't many actual gang members; most were peripheral members, and others were 'mercenaries' like Leon.
One person's appearance fee was fifty francs, and if a fight broke out, it was another fifty francs.
This was Leon's third time participating. It seemed like easy money; you could get paid just by standing in the back for a while.
Because both sides were just making a lot of noise, the chances of them actually fighting were very small.
The first two times didn't escalate into fighting; both sides just talked nonsense. In the end, a peaceful agreement was reached.