{A/N: I am real iffy on how I feel about this chapter. I would love to hear some thoughts on it after you read it}
February 3rd 2518
Training Area Foxtrot, Fleetcom Military Complex
Reach
Standing in the top spectator room high above the training area, two people took notes while watching the teams below move through an obstacle course. One, a woman dressed in laboratory fatigues, Dr. Catherine Halsey, and the other in military instructor garb, Franklin Mendez.
They both silently analyzed the team in front of them. Watching for any part of the performance out of place. One would make a comment, and the other would nod or reply with a short phrase, but both mostly kept to the task at hand.
Finally, the last member had reached the objective, making it to the goal after narrowly avoiding a small burst of paint rounds.
"Time… 8 minutes," Mendez stated, writing it with the stylus in his hand onto a datapad, "A class record, and a minute off the course record," no change in his unemotional face.
"An impressive display from Blue team," Halsey said with a prideful expression.
"You put the fastest, the best shot, the strongest, and the second best all-rounder on a team together with the luckiest individual I have seen in my entire life," Mendez felt like rolling his eyes from the audacity of the woman to have any pride in the victory, "It would be strange if they weren't capable of at least this much,"
Halsey simply shrugged at his words, "The teams were made with unit cohesion as well as capabilities in mind." She finished a note, turning to the man, "I simply know how to pick them," she remarked
"Speaking of unit cohesion, next up is Alpha team," Mendez said before turning to the doctor, "Our most dysfunctional team," Mendez warned as he got ready for the team to start.
Halsey was silent for a moment. Honestly, it was a bitter pill to swallow considering it was David's team, or rather, it should be. "I've read the prior reports," she noted in an even tone, her pride disappearing from her face.
"Then you should have accepted my request to disband it. Each individual member is capable, rivaling both Blue team and Gold, in ability, but is well below average when placed together," he recited a bit of his previous report.
"Just because they've failed in the past doesn't mean that they won't be able to pull it together in the future," she calmly tried to give a flimsy excuse, even though she knew the man would catch it.
Mendez raised an eyebrow before snorting and shaking his head, "At least make it less obvious that you are playing favorites," he said roughly.
Halsey glared at him, annoyed that she had been called out, but upon thinking further her face morphed more into a thoughtful expression. "Then, how about this, if they are able to pass this test then they will stay together. Otherwise, Alpha will be disbanded and each member moved to different teams," she offered
Franklin paused for a moment, "Fine," he exhaled sharply, "But I suggest you prepare your recommendations. This is the third time they're performing this test, and none of them besides cadet 003 have even reached the third section," he said grimly
Halsey remained silent as a red flare was shot into the sun setting sky, flickering as a strobe signalled the start of the test. She decided to stay quiet until the end, and inwardly hoped that there would be a significant change during this test.
======================================================================
(David Pov)
I stood stretching my arms at the starting position of training ground Foxtrot, ready to run the obstacle course again. I pulled and pushed on my limbs, making sure to loosen up my muscles as the Chief had said, but I couldn't help but feel a bit anxious.
"What's with that look, Dave?" Sheila, to my side, asked with her signature smirk, "You look like we're going to be doing a lot of push-ups at the end of this," she half-joked
I sighed, "Just hoping that this test goes well, Sheila," I clarified before I realized something and looked at her suspiciously, "What about you? Are you ready, Sheila?" I asked, but I already felt like I knew the answer.
Sheila shook her head, "I'm always ready," she said, jabbing her thumb at her chest while smiling.
Before I could respond, a sharp voice came from behind Sheila, grabbing both of our attention, "Can't you take anything seriously?" Daisy scowled with her arms crossed
Sheila turned, not losing her smile, but there seemed to be a hint of annoyance as her eyes narrowed, "And why can't you ever lighten up?" she countered, not backing down.
I face-palmed, 'Not this again,' I sighed again, 'Can't they have one positive interaction?' The arguments between the two were getting old. It was almost funny in a way, they both take the same stance in. every. single. fight. Daisy would say Sheila is a clown, and Sheila would call Daisy a killjoy or buzzkill, and they would go at each other, saying the same things every single time. It's exhausting.
"Never mind," I said before wandering over to my other two teammates, who luckily were doing what they were supposed to instead of bickering.
"Are you two ready?" I asked Benjamin, who was stretching his quads standing, and Cal, who was doing toe touches on the floor.
Ben gave me a resigned smile, "About as ready as I'll ever be, Captain," he said, giving a half-hearted salute with his free hand.
"I…told you not to call me that," I sighed, annoyed that I had to repeat myself once again.
Benjamin was at a loss for words for a moment, "I-er-I'm sorry. I just thought that since you were-I mean are the team leader, I'd-" he stumbled over his words awkwardly, barely making a coherent sentence, but before I could respond, Daisy beat me to it.
"It's because he doesn't want to be the leader, Ben," she said somewhat spitefully. It seems the argument behind him ended quickly this time.
I wanted to say something to retort, but I couldn't help but stop myself. After all, what she said was true, I didn't want to be the leader of the team.
I exhaled deeply, "Right, don't worry about it, Ben. And I am guessing you are fine, Daisy?" I asked as more of a formality than anything.
Instead of answering, she gave me a strange look, "And why do you care whether I'm ready or not?" she asked with a vindictive tone.
"Alright, sounds like you're good," I said, nodding, not intending to waste any more time on someone who obviously doesn't want to talk with me.
"But what's the plan, Dave?" Benjamin asked, unsurely. As soon as he asked the question, the arguing behind me ceased. Glancing out of the corner of my eye, I saw that both Sheila and Cal had turned to look at me, and Daisy beside Benjamin was also paying attention, though she tried to hide it.
I had a wry smile, "Well you're putting me on the spot, I don't exactly have a plan, but I do have a couple of ideas," I said before pausing a moment to remember our previous runs through the course, "Overall to pass we need to stick together, as being a team helps on every section. For part one, we need to stick to the middle like last time. I think Cal was right when she said that there were most likely an equal number of instructors on both sides." I nodded towards Cal, to which she smiled at being acknowledged.
"The second is pretty self-explanatory, and there isn't much else to say about the third leg. But I will say that it is crucial that all of us reach the third part if we want the highest chances of passing. Besides that, Daisy stay in the back and help Ben, and I'll be in the front with Sheila behind me. Cal stick to the middle and assist anyone who needs it," I said, finishing my thoughts, and thankfully, no one argued against them. The one thing they never argued with me on was strategy.
But when it came to actually enacting said strategy, that was a different story altogether.
BOOM
Hearing a loud boom, I turned and in the sky in a bright flash of light, a red flare ignited, flickering in a strobe pattern as it slowly flew through the air, "That's the signal to start!" I called out
FSSSSSS
The five of us started with a sprint into the first scene. All around us were moc ruined buildings, where only walls still stood. We would use the walls as cover as we sprinted up a particularly nasty hill.
The knoll was so steep that not even a third of the way to the top, my calves started to burn, but I couldn't let my guard down. Because-
SNAP
Glancing to my left while running from cover to cover, I saw what looked like a splash of red paint, a sign that the real test had begun.
The course was laid out into three different parts, all testing teamwork as well as physical ability. The exercise wasn't the issue, nor was the emphasis on group work; no, the real challenge came from the fact that we were constantly being shot at by instructors from both the east and west.
'I really hate those paint rounds, too.' Getting shot by one felt like being stung by a hornet. The bullets themselves were meant to simulate live rounds and would burst in the air a couple of inches away from the target, drenching them in an anesthetic.
As the first volleys came in, none of us flinched. We stayed focused, hopping from cover to cover, never slowing down or stopping. We reached halfway up the hill in what I felt was a good time. No one was hit and we were doing better than the times before.
I was beginning to believe that we might be able to do this.
"Oof!"
Just as I reached the next piece of cover, I heard the sound of something hitting the dirt behind me hard. I stepped to the side out of line to get a good look at what happened, and my heart sank as I saw that Benjamin had fallen right in the line of sight of both shooting teams.
'Damn it,' I was too far away, I wouldn't make it in time. Even so, I pushed both Sheila and Cal against the wall as I started to run to grab him. But I stopped dead in my tracks the next second.
"Get up, dumb ass!" Daisy had been the first to notice that our teammate had fallen. She promptly turned and picked him up like a duffel bag before throwing him behind cover by the back of his shirt and pants.
The two of them barely managed to evade being lit up like a light. A moment later in the same spot, tens of round splashed blotching the green grass red. Looking like someone had spilled a bucket of paint all over the ground.
"Can you please not trip over your feet?!" Daisy pulled Ben up by his arm, "You're going to make us fail," she spat out, her face filled with anger and annoyance.
"Man, Ben, I didn't know you liked eating dirt that much," Sheila quipped, "Then again, you have done the most push-ups out of everyone," she mentioned with a nostalgic expression.
Benjamin was pale and looking down at the ground, not daring to look either of them in the face. If I had to guess what he was thinking, it would probably be along the lines of how he had let everyone down and that we were now going to fail because of him.
Before either one of them could continue, I cut it, "Zip it, both of you," I said, grabbing their attention, "He didn't do it on purpose, and in case you haven't forgotten, we are in the middle of a test," I motioned to our surroundings.
"If you have a problem, work it out after we pass," I finished, leaving no room for discussion
I moved back to the front to assess the situation.
Sporadic bursts of training rounds impacted the area just beyond the wall in our path from both lines. I was thankful that our positioning gave us cover on one side and concealment on the opposite; otherwise, we would be getting hosed from one team while the other lay in wait for us to make a run for it.
"Based on the timing of the shots no matter when we go at least 2 of us will be hit, and that's not including the fact that the instructors are waiting on us, " Cal voiced behind me, "We should just surrender and try again," she offered and I couldn't help but be a bit annoyed by her suggestion.
Instead of listening to her, I thought up a plan that might allow us to have our cake and eat it too. "Cal, don't be so pessimistic. This situation just requires a little… creativity," I said, looking around on the ground beneath us. I scanned the grass until I found the object I was looking for.
"A rock?" Cal tilted her head, asking curiously as I picked up a piece of the ruined wall from the ground.
"A piece of concrete*, but close enough," I corrected, getting back to the front of the line. I tossed the piece a couple of times, testing until I was ready, "Get ready and run as soon as I do, we can't stop again." I got some nods in understanding.
I took a deep breath and then tossed the chunk of rock into the air down the path. In an instant, the shots that had been pacing around the cover flicked over and pounded the projectile like a shooting clay. And by the time the instructors noticed the difference, we were already sprinting past my little decoy.
"I can't believe that worked," I muttered to myself, smirking as we proceeded up the hill. The rest of the first section went off without a hitch, and before long, we had reached the top of the hill. And there in front of me stood the first hurdle of the second phase, a 12-foot-tall wooden wall, a literal hurdle.
The second phase was focused on a series of different-sized wooden walls. Some we would be forced to dive under and swim through mud to get to the other side. Others we would have to individually climb, while taking fire. And even better, there were a few where we would be forced to work together and boost someone on top to help the others get over.
I, being the one in the front taking point, was first, and so I dove into the mud of the first wall, sliding before I clawed my way out of the mud on the other side. Beside me, Sheila did the same, and once the two of us were out, we turned around and helped the rest of our teammates through.
Then we repeated the process and even did a few individual climbs. Eventually, we reached the highest individual climb wall, which stood a good fifteen feet tall. Cargo netting was draped down it for climbing instead of traditional grips and holds. It made things… more difficult.
I didn't slow my sprint from the previous wall, continuing to duck and dodge any oncoming fire. I kept my speed and transferred all my energy into a leap that allowed me to skip the first couple of feet of netting. I clutched the fraying rope tightly and climbed quickly, allowing my teammates behind me to follow my lead and also gaining some distance with a jump.
I got up and over it quickly. Jumping off the other side's rope onto the ground to skip ahead, and I picked myself up, sprinting to the next wall, which thankfully had some cover at the bottom. Being so far ahead, I allowed myself a small break, taking the time to catch my breath as I waited for the others.
Sheila was able to descend fairly quickly, and so was Daisy, who'd passed Cal, leaving just Benjamin and Cal to get down, "Hurry up, you two!" I called out. If we picked up the pace a bit, even with our mishap earlier, we would be able to finish with one of the top times.
Benjamin immediately started his climb down, and Cal seemed to lock eyes with me and nod as she pulled herself on top of the wall. My eyes slightly widened as she unknowingly stood up too much, "Cal, get down!" I urgently yelled, but it was too late. The moment she stood up, she entered the line of sight of the team on the west side.
A single shot came splattering into her shoulder, spinning her around just as she was about to start moving down. Her foot snagged a portion of the rope, but it didn't hold her, causing her to plummet onto the ground.
"Whistle That looked like it hurt," Sheila beside me said with a pitying voice.
I noticed that Cal wasn't moving and sprang into action, running back to the base of the previous wall.
"What are you doing? She's already out!" I heard Daisy behind me say in exasperation.
I didn't respond, 'I won't leave her behind,' I told myself, 'I already lost my parents, even in a training scenario, I won't lose anyone else.'
Ben had made it to safety, but it seemed that the instructors were ready for me as the moment I came back out from behind cover, they started firing at me, and this time I didn't have anyone else to take some of the focus off.
Reaching Cal, I spent no time checking her condition and instead hefted her up into my arms before turning back to the cover I'd just left. I moved as quickly as I could, but with the extra weight, I was slowed, and two steps in, I felt a sharp pain sear into my leg, causing me to stumble.
I clenched my fists and grunted, but stayed strong, carrying Cal to cover before setting her down and bending over to check my thigh. Looking down, my lips formed a frown as I spotted a red splotch on the back of my quad. It stung, and my leg felt a bit heavier than usual.
"I *huff* have no idea how you can walk after being hit by one of those," Benjamin said, looking at the wound while sucking in air.
"Practice," I answered grimly, shaking my leg to make sure it was still usable, "Are you good?" I asked, looking down at Cal.
A quick glance showed that staying on the ground had allowed for more shots to be landed as dots were painted sporadically on her clothing. The anesthetics were kicking in as she seemed to struggle to keep her eyes open, "Negative…sprained ankle….tired….leave me," she barely managed to get out with her voice a whisper.
I sighed, "Ok.. let's move," I said, gritting my teeth, 'She's safe here behind cover, and it's just a small setback,' I told myself, 'So what if this won't be a perfect run, but the four of us can still pass the test,'
The rest of us carried on, and the next few walls, though difficult, didn't prove to be much trouble. We got to the last wall, finding it to be another tall wall about 8-9 feet tall (2.4-2.7 meters).
"Sheila, get ready, I'll boost you," I said over my shoulder, "Benjamin, you'll boost Dai-" I began ordering Ben, only to be interrupted.
"He's too weak to boost anyone. I'll boost him," Daisy said, cutting in.
"Wait-he won't be able to-," this time I stopped myself. Daisy had run ahead of Benjamin, and neither was paying any attention to me, so I decided not to waste my breath.
"So much for being the leader," I heard Sheila say from behind me, to which I just shook my head.
Without any words from me, we got into position, both me and Daisy crouched down forming a cradle with our hands. I boosted Sheila, who climbed up quickly and turned around, lowering her hand for me.
I stepped up into the only foothold in the wall and grasped her hand. Looking over, I took a moment to watch and see how the other two were doing. Benjamin struggled to pull himself over, and Daisy looked as if she would drop any second based on the annoyance in her expression.
Eventually, he made it, gasping and stuttering for air at around the time I was grabbing the edge of the wall. He made sure to stay low, being sure not to make the same mistake as Cal. He lay down on his stomach, like he was supposed to, and reached down, grabbing Daisy's hand. He slowly began to lift her to him, but in one sudden motion, he almost fell forward off the wall.
He quickly tried to stop himself, posting the hand not holding Daisy's palm, and arching his back with every muscle in his body. And that was enough for the instructors, he raised up just enough for the instructors to see him, and Daisy dangling. This time, I was unable to warn him; the instructors were prepared, and in an instant, not just one shot but a water hose of red fell on him, causing him to let go. Daisy took an unlucky potshot to the throat before falling.
It was obvious that Benjamin was out of commission, but I briefly considered going down to grab Daisy. Looking down, I saw that she seemed to be sleeping soundly. 'The training rounds must be more effective around vitals,' I made a mental note before pulling myself up, not making the same mistake as Ben, who I moved to the side so that he was safely draped on top of the wall.
'This has been a disaster.' I acknowledged internally
Sheila looked at me apologetically as I paused for a moment to think, "We did better than last time," she said, reading my mind
"You aren't helping," I said with a wry smile. I thought for a moment more, attempting to come up with a plan to get us passed the last part, but drew a blank. With a sigh, I quickly descended the wall, Sheila on my heels.
"So what's the plan team leader?" she asked mockingly.
I shot her a glare as we began to run, noticing her phrasing, "Run, and don't stop," I said matter-of-factly
She looked dumb founded, "Are you joking?" she asked as with the crunching of our boots on the downward slope of grass in the background.
I shook my head, "I wish," and wish I did. The end of the course was a couple of football fields long sprint to the finish, a small mound with a flagpole sticking out of it.
The most prominent feature was that there were no features, no obstacles, nothing. It was a nearly completely flat field of thick green grass with forests running parallel beside it, a perfect spot for a soldier to spray and pray at any enemy that fell into his sights.
The moment we reached the bottom of the sloping hill was when we began to be fired upon again. The red traces of the round were enough for me to squeeze out every ounce of energy I had and put it into this sprint. I doubt I would ever run faster than at this moment. I bet I could even give Kelly a run for her money in a race.
I charged through the field, evading any shots that came my way, but couldn't help but notice that there weren't as many as I thought there would be. A quick glance out of the corner of my eye, behind me, I realized the reason why.
Sheila looked as if she had showered in red paint; she was stumbling ahead more than actually running. A moment later, she collapsed, her head crashing into the dirt behind me.
I slowed my pace for an instant, hesitating. Looking forward, I was so close to the finish, maybe 20 yards (18.3 meters) at max. Turning back, my eyes widened as I saw Sheila beginning to drag herself forward, grabbing the grass in front of her.
She noticed my gaze and looked up with a pained smile, "Don't worry, I'm fine. Complete the mission," she said, her voice barely audible from the sounds of training rounds being fired around us.
That tore it. I stopped in my tracks, wincing as I took another training round to my hip, before hauling over to Sheila and heaving her onto my shoulder in a fireman's carry. All the while, I was being pounded as the sole target of the instructors.
I moved as quickly as I could, grinding my teeth as I struggled to stay steady, "Why?…You…were…so…close," Sheila sputtered out.
"It wouldn't be a win if only I survived," I muttered as my eyes became unfocused, but my body remained moving.
"You…didn't…have…to," she said quietly. I didn't answer, I had no answer. Instead, I kept walking
I closed in on the flag pole waving in the wind. It seemed that I slowed down a bit with every step I took. I was tired, I struggled to keep my head up, and instead just looked down, watching my shadow in the setting sun.
I don't know when it was, but eventually I felt my boots climb up a slope, and that was enough to give my consciousness a second wind. I had slowed to a crawl, I put one foot in front of the other, and by now, I didn't even feel the rounds that slammed into me. I remained focused on the simple task of walking until-
BIIIIIINNNNNNGGGG
I heard the vibrations of a metal pole. Looking up I saw it. A dark green flag with a white eagle. It held a lightning bolt in one talon and a few arrows in it's other. Above its head was a gold star, its wings were spread.
I fell forward slowly passing out before I even hit the ground, but knowing that we had passed.
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Inside the observation room, all was quiet as the test for Alpha team concluded. Neither the doctor nor the instructor said a word, and there was no noise until Mendez grunted before leaning forward.
"Test over," Mendez pressed a button on the console beside him before speaking into a microphone, "Wake up the trainees and have them meet me at training ground Hotel for corrective measures," he said sternly before turning to the doctor.
"They passed," Halsey offered in a tone showing understanding of what he wanted to say.
Franklin begrudgingly nodded, "That they did," he said calmly, "Cadets 023, 065, 127, 141, and 003 will remain assigned to Alpha team… for now," he added at the end
He paused, "But even you must admit that this isn't much of a win," he said before pointing at David lying in the dirt, "And this all started with him,"
"You think he's unqualified?" Halsey asked interested in another perspective.
"I think he's holding himself back," the man replied firmly, "He's wading into the pool but won't allow himself to be fully submerged. Leading to this half-assed mess that we call 'his leadership'," he said, not mincing words
The man didn't say any more, but Catherine sighed, 'Perhaps I am excusing too much,' it wasn't like her to be so illogical and unpragmatic. The fact of the matter is, she was trying to make soldiers; everything else came second to that fact.
The petty officer turned and headed for the elevator, but was stopped. "After you are done, send cadet 003 to my office. I would like to have a little chat," Catherine said firmly getting a nod in affirmation from the man.
A moment later, he stepped into the elevator, leaving the doctor alone in the room. She replayed the events over and over, but was unable to fully understand the action taken by David. At times, he was a model leader, and at others, he seemed to stop himself from taking action, 'It's unlike him,' she thought. From the reports, while he was solo training and during her own time with him, she found David to be particularly steadfast in what he believed was right. It was out of character for him to be so…restrained.
"Why are you hesitating?" Halsey murmured the dull hum of machines filling the sound around her.
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That's all she wrote. Nearly 5000 words.
This is my second time editing the chapter after I accidentally closed out and reverted back to the rough draft.
Tell me if the chapter is good, if you like the characters, or what you aren't a fan of. Drop any questions you have.
I am going to go back and add some pictures to the previous chapters in the coming days and will try to going forward from this chapter.
My summer semester is almost over and I get a week before my final fall semester so hopefully I will get some good writing in then.
Anyway have a good day see you soonish.