NOTICE: This blog is just an interesting idea and a fictional event. I do not mean to offend anyone. This is meant to be an experiment and a fun story for people to enjoy.

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The Diary of a Time-Traveling Soldier

Episode 3: The Turkish Heist

Written by Ethaboo444 and ChineseChen

İzmir, Turkey

Naatkenah 73 + 1, 2049

Jakub wakes up sitting in a chair in an old building. He goes outside and is met by a crowd. It is nighttime and it seems like there is some kind of wild celebration. Jakub takes a flier and reads it.

Jakub: Naatkenah Son? What is this?

As he reads it more closely, he finds out that this is a party to celebrate the end of the Turkish month, Naatkenah. Apparently, in 2032, the Turks created a new calendar. It is also a leap year (in the Turkish calendar) and leap days are added at the end of Naatkenah.

Diary Entry 5:

I have landed in Turkey and have read all my previous diary entries to try and catch up on what is happening. I do still remember what ???? told me that I would lose my memory, as I have also documented in a previous entry. For some reason, I am always being brought into a building with a map inside of it, maybe I should look around to see if anything on the maps are important. Still, there is this brownish-red patch in the bottom right of this map. I am maybe thinking that this is important to figure out. There is currently a huge celebration going on outside called Naatkenah Son. It seems that this party is celebrating the end of the month Naatkenah in the Turkish calendar going forth into the month of Sirbhekan. I see a tourist information desk and will ask more about what's going on.

Jakub (now known as Yusuf) walks over to the information desk to ask what is going on and more information about the huge party.

Guide: İngilizce?

Yusuf nods his head.

Guide: Ok, welcome to Naatkenah Son! There are many things to do while waiting for the next month to start! Many activities include some of our favorite Turkish games!

Yusuf: Thank you, but I am actually here to learn more about the celebration and month in general. Has there also been any problems before this celebration?

Guide: Never in 100 years. Naatkenah is the last of 5 months, so the celebration of Naatkenah Son is the largest in the year. People come to eat, drink, dance, and watch fireworks for the whole night. Many foreigners also visit.

Yusuf: Are there any other-

Yusuf is cut off by a scream coming from the crowd. The two turn around and are shocked. Someone has set off a bomb, injuring many. Yusuf rushes over to help them.

Yusuf (as he tends to injured person): Did you see who set off the bomb?

Man: Yes, I saw him wearing a large fur hat, like, like those Russian hats.

Yusuf: Hmm, a Russian. The guide did say that many foreigners visit.

Yusuf stands up and starts walking. He asks several people which way the bomber went.

Yusuf: Did you see which way the Russian went?

Boy: He went towards the İzmir Science Museum.

Woman: Yes, he went that way.

Man: He ran that way then hopped in a black van.

Yusuf runs towards the museum. He sees the black van but there is nobody inside. Suddenly, he hears a crash from the museum.

Yusuf runs around the back of the museum and sees a shattered glass door.

Yusuf: Thieves! I've got to notify the police.

Yusuf calls the police (with a phone that was in his pocket when he arrived in İzmir). He also takes out his pistol (also in his pocket) and enters the building.

Yusuf: I know you're in here somewhere! I've already called the police!

He walks around slowly with his pistol raised and loaded. Out of nowhere, he hears gunfire and bullets ping on the pillar behind him. He runs for cover behind a wide pedestal with an artifact on it.

Man (in heavy Russian accent): Heh, you'll never stop us. We've already finished our business here.

Yusuf suddenly makes a break for the door. More gunfire follows. Yusuf darts to the front of the museum where the thieves are loading the stolen objects into the van.

But as Yusuf just comes in reach of the van, it drives off, tires smoking. Yusuf sees a parked car nearby. He runs over and throws open the hood.

Yusuf: That with that… tuck that there… move that over… yes!

Yusuf follows the van with the hot-wired car. They weave in between lanes of parked cars and traffic. After a while, the chase ends up on Otoyol 5.

Yusuf: So we're going to Istanbul, huh. They've got to run out of gas before they get there.

Unsurprisingly, the van did start running low on gas halfway to Istanbul, but unfortunately so did Yusuf's car. As Yusuf stops at a gas station, the van turns back around. A man emerges with a gun and shoots out Yusuf's tires.

Yusuf: Dammit! I'll have to find another car then.

Yusuf finds another car and continues to chase, but by now the van is far ahead. Yusuf guns the engine and swerves through lanes of traffic swiftly. Eventually, he catches up and starts trying to cut off the van. In Gebze, the van takes the exit to Istanbul.

Man: Heh, you think that little puny car will stop us? Try again another time!

Yusuf: I need to cut off the van before they reach Istanbul, or else they can easily lose me in the streets.

The chase goes on for several more minutes. A sign saying Welcome to Istanbul in Turkish and English comes and goes.

Finally, after a long drive, the chase winds up in a dark alley near the strait. The black van is camouflaged in the darkness, making it hard for Yusuf to follow.

Back in Izmir

Police: Where are the Russians?!

Now back to Istanbul

Man: Drop your weapon, you can't stop us!

Yusuf: Make me.

The man shoots into the sky to intimidate Yusuf. He retreats behind a dumpster and loads his gun. He hastily writes in his diary then calls the Istanbul police and notifies them of the criminals.

Diary Entry 6:

A group of Russians set off a bomb during Naatkenah Son. It was a distraction for the police as they were robbing a museum. I do not know what they took, but it seems important and dangerous. I chased them all the way from İzmir to Istanbul. They are now loading the stolen objects onto a boat. I am calling the police and telling them to send a boat. This diary entry is much shorter because I am still currently chasing the criminals.

Yusuf: I have located the criminals. They appear to be loading stolen articles onto a boat.

The police dispatch a boat to follow the thieves. Yusuf hops on and the chase at sea begins.

Policeman: Drop your weapon now! You cannot steal valuable items and try to get away with it!

Man: Well maybe if you dropped yours and turned around it won’t be much of a problem anymore! Sevastopol ahoy!

The criminals' boat speeds off, quickly followed by the police. As the chase gets longer, the police seem more reluctant to follow, and Yusuf asks why.

Policeman: We are nearing international waters. It is a violation of international law for police to enter another country or international territory.

Right as the police are turning around to go back to Turkey, the criminals spin around at full speed and broadside them. During the first shock, Yusuf and the policemen fall into the water. The boat capsizes a few seconds later, trapping them underneath. Yusuf cannot find the surface and his air is running out.

Yusuf: I must reach air! This boat is dragging me down!

As he swims around under the boat, trying to find the surface, the button floats out from his pocket. Yusuf sees it and grabs it. Just as he inhales seawater, he presses it. There is a flash of bright light, then nothing.

To be continued...

We hope you enjoyed this blog!

Ethaboo444 and ChineseChen

We will be posting a new episode every/every other Tuesday at 12 PM EST/9 AM PST/4 PM GMT