Something Different

Part 2

After thirty minutes, the helicopter lands and Sylov fires a round into the air.

I wake up calmly and sit up straight, fully awake. "You're triggerhappy, aren't you?"

"No, its only the best way to wake people up. Now get moving," he said, as Sylov and his two partners got off.

I stand up and promptly march out, ready for action. I took a few deep breaths, slightly nervous, but mostly just excited.

"Arthur, Drew, you know what to do," he said, as the two people split up. Sylov went up to a gun box that had a 44 Browning in it.

"Nice..." I tilt my head, examining the weapon. I look over at Sylov for a moment before directing my attention back at the Browning.

He cocked the gun, getting ready. "Cadet, Arthur is gonna be firing Mortar shells at you while I lay fire on you with this here M.G. You are to complete this course in under a minute and thirty seconds while taking down all enemy pop-ups. Drew will be activating the pop ups. No civilian casualties."

"Yes sir!" I stand straight and tall with my hands at my sides.

"These are actual rounds, Cadet. Don't get hit," he said, signaling to Drew that she was ready.

I take a deep breath and laugh softly. "Would you put me down if I did get hit?"

"No. You'd be knocked unconscious then healed up to go again. You decided to come along, you can't be returned. Unless its in a body bag."

I nod and get prepared. I decided to not think too hard, to act like it was real life, to make them somehow run out of bullets before I got hit. A horn sounds, as Arthur begins firing mortar shells and Sylov opens fire. I bolt, careful to not trip or get hit by a bullet. I glance over at Arthur and Sylov to make sure they're still there, and I wait for the pop-ups. Wooden slabs pop up everywhere, with targets painted on them. Explosions happen all around me. I hiss under my breath and I just barely stop myself from hitting a civilian pop-up, so I dodge it and hit the enemy one behind it. More explosions, as the bullets concentrate on me.

Shit... I run faster and knock down a few more enemy pop-ups, careful to miss the civilians. I'm not going to fail, I'm not going to fail, I'm not going to fail...

A few seconds later, everything stops and a horn sounds. "Time! That's the end of the one minute and thirty seconds, you only got halfway," Sylov yelled, getting out of the pillbox.

I stop and mutter to myself. Damn... I walk back. "I'll do better next time, sir."

"Don't say stuff, just do. We're gonna do it again, positions everyone!"

I get back to the start and go into a crouch. I'm determined to get through it as fast as I can with no mistakes. I wanted to prove that I was worthy of joining Sylov and his buddies. The horn sounded again, and bullets flew everywhere. I ran as fast as I could, a bullet grazing my cheek. I race through dodging the civilians and taking out the enemies. I could see the finish line ahead of me, but I focus on the task at hand. A mortar lands right in front of me, exploding furiously. I fall back and instantly jump back up, bolting for the end. Damn it!

The horn sounds. "Time!"

I stop just before the finish line and I curse under my breath. I jog back to the start and I crouch again. "Let's get this over with."

"Your time was one thirty one. We're throwing a new thing in. Only bullseyes," Sylov said, changing the magazine on the Browning.

"Only bullseyes?" I tilt my head and look at Sylov, a bit curious.

"The center of the targets painted on these next targets. Any other space hit counts as a living enemy."

I nod and go back to facing the course. I take a deep breath, ready to go. The horn blares, and the grind starts again. I run as fast as I can, following Sylov's rules to the mark. I was counting in my head. 29, 30, 31.... Then I stopped counting. I needed to focus on the task at hand. To pretend its real.

"Drew, phase two!" Sylov shouts over the Browning's fire and the mortar's explosions.

Damn...what does he mean by that? I knock down a few more enemy pop-ups and I see the finish line. Its so close!

I hear a motor, and a jeep with a .50 Cal machine gun drives by, with both Drew and Arthur inside. Arthur is on the Gun, and he opens fire.

I roll and just barely dodge the bullets. I sprint to wards the end, and I finally cross it. The horn blares two seconds after I hit the finish. All bullets stop flying.

I lay on the ground, spreadeagle, and laugh. "Finally! Heh heh heh..."

"Oh, it ain't over yet. You have thirteen more trials on this course, then you gotta go through twenty six other entire courses!"

I look at Sylov with a raised eyebrow before I shake my head. "I'll do what it takes, sir." I stand up and smile.

"Also, you do know you can't sleep inside of your cabin until you complete every course flawlessly, right? So that means until you complete all twenty six courses, you'll have to sleep outside."

"Fine by me, sir. I don't think I'll have too many problems." I smile softer and stretch. I'm aiming to do two a day, depending on the difficulty.

"Oh, and watch out for the centipedes."

.............................................................................................

Two months of sweat, hard work, blood, and poisonous centipedes pass by, as I finish the final trial. I sweat and pant as I bend over taking a breather. I flick away a centipede and I straighten up, turning to Sylov with a slight smile. I laugh softly and salute him from the finish line. Sylov, Drew, and Arthur looks at each other and begin chatting. I drop the salute and look at the three men curiously. My heart begins racing. Was I not good enough? I definitely made mistakes, more than I usually do, so I wasn't going to be surprised if I was dropped. I was going to be hurt though. all that hard work for nothing. Sylov glances at me, then returns his gaze to the other two. They continue chatting for a minute, then look at each other in agreement. I stand at attention, waiting for the men to speak. I was a little red in the cheeks because of the way Sylov looked at me. His eyes seemed to make me obey very order like some low dog. Who knew what his smile might do?

"Kid, you don't need to stand at attention." Arthur said, his deep-ish voice booming.

I nod and relax, but my heart is racing. What are they going to say? They nod slightly, and then the three turn to face me.

I take a deep breath and bite my lip, nervous. "Sirs?"

"We have decided. You are worthy, but you must not try to be a hero under any circumstances. Listen to us, and us only. Not one other person should tell you what to do."

"Yes sirs!" I nod and stand tall. I fight back a smile, and I look to Sylov out of the corner of my eye. When I make eye contact, I look back to Arthur and Drew, nodding to the men. "Thank you for this opportunity, sirs."

"Look, you don't need to keep saying 'sirs' or saluting." Drew throws a key at me as they disperse.