We all entered the gym and distributed ourselves on the machines that each of us preferred. The place was huge, full of equipment to exercise every muscle imaginable, giving us endless possibilities to improve any area. Sergio and I headed to the cardio section, our usual choice. We were both strong enough to continue with the old strength routine, so we decided to focus on cardio, thinking it would come in handy for the times of the day when more physical exertion was required.
You're probably wondering why we can choose any machine, right? If so, I'll explain: every day we have different goals to meet at the gym, like doing two hundred push-ups with breaks every fifty repetitions, and so on. Today is the only day of the week when the general allows us to work on the area we are most interested in.
-Come on, guys, I don't have all day! said Ray, the sergeant-at-arms. I'm going to explain your objectives on the cardio machine, got it?
Sergio and I nodded, paying attention.
-I want you to do five kilometers without rest. When you finish, rest for five minutes and then repeat the same thing. Do you understand? -he asked.
We both nodded firmly again.
After that, Sergeant Ray went off to another group to assign them their targets, leaving us to our own pace.
-Well... Who's first? -Sergio asked.
-It would be best if I started. I see you still haven't fully recovered from this morning's run," I said, getting on the machine and adjusting the speed and duration.
-Yes, that's right, I can tell you know me better than anyone else.
-I know... What would you do without me?
-I would most likely die.
We both started laughing for a while until the machine started up.
-Okay, here we go, five kilometers ahead," I said, sighing. Well, tell me something interesting.
Sergio remained thoughtful for a few moments before answering.
-I'll tell you a funny story," he said.
-This is promising...
-Do you remember the chef at the canteen? -He asked with a smile as if he was going to reveal a great secret.
-Victoria? -I asked.
-No, I'm not talking about the old one, but the other one.
I looked ahead, trying to remember.
-I'm not sure who you're talking about? -I said.
-Come on, Lucas, don't fuck with me; you know perfectly well who I'm talking about.
The machine was picking up speed, and the noise of the other machines and the shouting of the fellows in their routines made it difficult to hold a conversation, but I still tried to keep up.
-I really don't know who you're talking about," I said.
Sergio sighed.
-I'm talking about Bianca, the new girl," he said.
It took me a while to realize who he was talking about. Bianca was one of the new chefs at the cantina, known for her bright blonde hair and sweet voice. Although no one talked about her much, it was clear that most of the fellows were somewhat dazzled by her presence.
-Oh, yes, I know who she is," I said.
-It turns out that Mario, one of her childhood friends, got me her number. Thanks to you helping him with the internship, I was able to blackmail him into introducing me to Bianca someday.
Although he didn't show it, I was amazed at Sergio's blackmailing skills (I say this from experience).
-You're such a hussy, you only think about women," I said, trying to keep my breathing steady to avoid flatus.
-Yes, yes, whatever you say. But you'll see, someday I'll catch you rolling around in bed with one of the Division 6 girls.
-Sure... I'd love to.
I said it in jest, just to give him hope that he might be right sometime, though I'd probably regret that line for the rest of the week, if not the year.
-I knew it! -I knew it!" exclaimed Sergio, "You've got a crush on Miyabi! I knew those fox ears... fox ears? I don't know... anyway, I knew those ears drove you crazy, with what you like semi-human girls.
That comment caught me completely off guard, causing me to get distracted for a moment and almost lose speed and concentration on the machine.
- Man, I think you're getting weirder and weirder, seriously- I said- But let's just say you get the point.
- Is that why you want to join the division," he asked, knowing that wasn't the point I wanted to get into.
- Of course not, love life and work are different things, we can't put both together, otherwise everything would be a disaster.
- Do you think so?
- Sure, so you'd better not check it out.
The smell of sweat from all over the gym was beginning to become quite noticeable and heavy in addition to the speed I had managed to reach with the treadmill, even though my legs were already used to this kind of jogging I noticed how they began to tremble in a way that prevented me from continuing much further so with the little strength I had left I made a last effort.
- By the way... - Sergio said
- Yes? - I asked
- Mario told me to tell you about the little card tournament that was going to take place tonight in the module, we are all going to participate, are you in?
A night of cards with the guys you know best from the whole camp? I couldn't refuse that.
- Sure, h-how... - My breath didn't reach my mouth enough to say the whole sentence, it was too hard for me, I needed to stop- I finally said when I managed to stop the machine.
- Great- Sergio looked at the scoreboard of the machine, being amazed at the mark I had achieved- Dude, you have exceeded the limit.
I got off the machine and looked at the scoreboard on the side, which showed all the details, from the distance covered to the average speed per hour you were going.
- 10 kilometers... double that," I murmured.
- Wow, you are more resistant than I thought- He congratulated me- Now it's my turn, God... I'm getting so lazy- Sergio gave a sigh, got on the machine and started the ride.
And so we went on for another hour until Sergio managed to finish the course with difficulty, staying one kilometer away from finishing the test. It was nothing special that Sergio was one of the least resistant of all our module because since he was very young he suffers from some breathing problems and, although it is true that he does not need any help to do it. Our time in the gym was over in the blink of an eye. The general asked us all to leave the gym.
Now it was time for the last interesting test of the day, the shooting range. I have been preparing for this test for over a month, going to the range day after day in my free time so I could perfect the one skill I managed to excel at.
***
The shooting range was not in a wasteland with metal targets as many people think but they are set up in safe and soundproof places to make sure we don't make too much noise and also that we don't kill each other, you have to be very careful when handling a gun in this place because the slightest suspicious movement you make on the site would be the safest thing to be shot with a taser and then take you to a psychological test. I have never supported that kind of action but if it is for the safety of everyone it would be better not to interfere when that kind of thing happens.
When we arrived at the gate the guards assigned us our weapons at the entrance, each one adjusting to the capacity and strength of each one, this is done to control that each person with more or less measure of strength can adjust to the recoil of the weapon. I was assigned an M4A1 assault rifle with silencer and X3 laser sight. This weapon for me was one of the best in terms of recoil control and rate of fire. We entered the compound, each of us with a guard keeping a close eye on our every little move. They took us to our assigned place to start the test, in my case I was assigned to the 12th place, almost next to the wall. On the floor there were foot marks to indicate where you should stand even though that was optional once you passed the first test we did a couple of months ago. Unlike the previous tests, the shooting technique is practiced more frequently than the others due to the importance of this skill in combat.
- Please prepare the weapon," said the officer.
I raised the weapon upwards to get a better view of it. I adjusted the sight and checked that the silencer was securely attached to the muzzle. I reached my hand to the magazine, pulled it out and checked that everything was in order, reattached it and pulled the bolt back to enable the weapon. With my little finger, I pressed the small button on the gun to avoid unexpected shots, making the gun ready to fire.
- Weapon ready," I said, aiming at the target.
- Target at 50 meters distance, it needs a minimum of 80% accuracy to pass the test- The officer wrote down all the data in a notebook he had in his hands.
Even if it seemed like a piece of cake, it was not really a piece of cake, when the targets are more than 3 meters away, things start to get complicated and force you to commit yourself to improve your aim if you want to hit the target. In the last test I got a 94% accuracy, but even if I did that well I missed the best of the test by 2%, that made me commit to compete and practice until I reached the highest possible figure.
- We will divide the 5 hoops in numbers, from the center being 1 to the farthest being 5- Said the officer- Whenever you say, soldier.
I put my left foot in front and my right foot behind to keep a better balance and control the recoil better.
- In position," I said.
- On three," said the officer.
Perhaps the longest and most tedious three seconds of tension I have ever experienced so far, but I still did not lose my concentration.
- Fire," he said calmly.
I quickly placed the helmets in my ears, stopping to listen to almost everything around me. I took a breath and pulled the trigger as hard as I could. For better accuracy I opted to use the single-shot cadence, plus it was much easier to control the recoil. Each bullet that came out of the muzzle resounded absurdly in my ears, as if I was shooting in a huge open field, the echo made me think that I was alone, with no one else who could compete against me.
The bullets were right on target, each and every one of them in the center of the bull's eye. My confidence was sky high, I couldn't stop, I felt like a complete expert at everything I was doing right now. "Bang" 'Bang' was ringing in the room every second, a sound that unsettles many and relaxes others. Bullet after bullet the magazine was running down to zero. I only had one bullet left in the magazine, out of 20 bullets in the 18 went to the center, leaving me again at the mark that I could not overcome the previous year, it was at that very moment that my hands began to sweat, we had not been given military gloves for handling the weapon causing my hand to slip from the coupling that was to hold the gun better.
I took a deep breath trying not to deviate too much the sight of the target, I did not want to screw it up, it was not the time to do it. I could no longer hear anything, not even the shots of the rest of my companions were audible at this precise moment, I could only hear the sound of my sighs and the stiffening of my stomach. I began to notice a small drop of sweat falling down my forehead, running down my nose and finally falling to the ground. Finally, I decided to shoot.
That last shot echoed in my head as if I had just fired a shell from a military plane.
- Impressive," said a familiar voice that I could not decipher.
I left the gun on the small table next to it and turned around, managing to see who it was.
- Asaba haramusa," I asked in surprise.
Asaba nodded, approaching me at a slow pace.
- I knew that if I came here today I would find gold," he said.
- What do you mean," I asked, showing the utmost manners and respect I had.
- I don't usually stop by for any test but... I think I got it right this time.
- A-ah, yes?
- Yes.
Asaba stood in front of me, but his gaze was not directed at me but at the paper he had just riddled with bullets.
- I've never seen accuracy like that before," he said, "Even the division's assets don't get that far, buddy.
- I've been practicing as much as I could since....
- You lost to Alex- He answered without letting me finish the sentence.
My eyes opened wide, I was petrified, but not of fear but of surprise.
- How do you know that?" I asked with deep anger for the event I had just mentioned.
- It's not my first year here, nor yours, I know what has been going on here for many years and, of course, I heard that last year the place in division 6 was quite disputed between you two, in the end, Alex beat you by one point, forcing you to stay another year in the camp.
He was right about everything, I didn't know what to answer.
- What I'm getting at is that... - He took a deep breath - It's the first time in years that someone like you has caught my attention - He said.
- I still don't quite understand what you mean.
- I know what and how you value each person to introduce them to the division. If you are interested in it... I can help you.
- H-help me? - I asked still not believing anything - Well... it would be great - I mean, it would be really good.
Asaba laughed and looked away.
- I'm a busy man but, if you want, I can make room in my schedule for you tomorrow.
- Yes, please," I said with a lot of enthusiasm.
Asaba slowly walked away before disappearing without even saying goodbye, just waving his hand goodbye.