Dark Weapon Book One: Time of Bombing

Chapter 4

The huge bell in the training center rang at 6:50 am. The girls had assumed it was for church services, but it was meant for waking those who liked to sleep in.

An announcement about the punishment for arriving last sent the dormitory into frenzy. To save time, Dana and the girls shared the bathroom simultaneously.

'Has anyone seen my lotion?' Cathy asked, searching frantically.

'Yeah,' Chelsea answered.

'Really, where?' Cathy asked.

'In my nostrils,' Chelsea said, laughing hard.

Cathy stared at her, wondering if the announcement hadn't even registered.

'Here it is,' Jasmine said, holding it up.

'Thanks. You're useful for something,' Cathy said.

They hurried to the field with other girls. Their uniforms displayed their names, country, and state on the back.

There were fewer girls than expected. Some people weren't cut out for the job.

As they walked together, they became the center of attention.

'We're the center of attraction,' Cathy sang happily. She loved being in the spotlight.

'I hate unnecessary attention,' Dana grumbled.

'Yeah, I agree with Dana,' Jasmine said, grabbing Dana's arm and smiling. Dana found the gesture appalling.

'Just act normal. Your character right now is unsettling,' Dana said.

The Instructor took the platform and began the orientation. 'Listen up. You're five to a room, and that's permanent. You wake at 5 am to run around this vicinity—yes, it will be monitored. After breakfast in the dining hall, you come out for training.'

His colleague stepped forward. 'Brace yourselves. We don't care if you're male, female, or anything else. If you can't handle this, leave now. If anyone tries to withdraw after today, there will be penalties. No one leaves these walls until training is complete. You can only move about within these grounds.'

The girls couldn't believe it. They'd come to a foreign country to get locked up.

Cathy had been preparing to ask about vacation days. Now—no sightseeing, no dating, no calls. It was a prison.

'I wonder how bad this training will be,' Izzy said quietly.

'Honestly, I'm scared,' Cathy admitted.

Dana turned to her sharply. 'Cathy, we left our families, our homes, our chance to study at university for this. So why are you scared?'

'I'm not scared scared,' Cathy said. 'It just feels different. You know me—I'm not afraid of anything.'

'Good. Come on, let's get breakfast before it runs out,' Dana said.

They turned to find other trainees nodding at them positively before walking into the dining hall one by one.

'Did they just steal our pep talk?' Jasmine said indignantly. 'Horki's kids are thieves.'

They got their food and found their spot. Dana couldn't eat well—everyone was staring at her. A man in uniform stood nearby, so she couldn't flip anyone off without getting penalty points. Not on her first day.

One of the onlookers approached—a boy with a smile. Jasmine had pulled an extra chair closer, and Dana wondered why there were six seats for five people.

'Hey, I'm Daniel,' he said, sitting beside Dana.

'I don't remember giving you permission to sit there,' she said flatly.

'True. But I liked what you did after Phillips's announcement. You boosted a lot of people's morale,' he said.

'Thanks,' Dana said.

'I'm from Horki. If you need anything about the country, just ask,' Daniel offered.

Dana leaned back. 'Here's my question: do people in Horki not understand when someone doesn't want to talk to them? It's obvious I don't want to spend another second with you, but here you are.'

'Oh. You want me to leave,' he said.

'From the moment you sat down,' Dana confirmed.

'That's actually cute. See you around,' Daniel said, walking away with a bewildered expression.

He'd never met a girl who'd asked him to leave.

'Babe, what was that about?' Cathy asked.

'He likes you,' Izzy said, smiling.

'I don't trust him,' Jasmine said.

'How would you know? Do you know him?' Chelsea asked.

'No, but handsome guys are always trouble,' Jasmine said.

'So a lot of guys have dumped you, huh?' Dana said as she drank water.

'Kind of,' Jasmine admitted.

'You done?' Cathy asked as Dana stood.

'Yeah. I don't want to gain weight and lose mobility during training,' Dana answered.

'We should do the same,' Izzy suggested.

'Some of us need the nutrients,' Cathy said, but threw her leftovers away with the others anyway.

They walked out together with all eyes on them.

*

Training officially began later that day. The trainees looked excited. Some did jumping jacks. Dana's group stayed attached to each other throughout—Dana's idea. The others would have welcomed new friends, but Dana's preference was clear.

Commander Swart ordered them into straight lines, girls facing boys. He walked down the middle, scrutinizing each face.

A trainee distributed printed papers with an oath. 'Repeat after me,' Swart commanded.

'I solemnly swear that I will support and defend the constitution of Horki against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and adherence to the same; I will obey the orders of the President of Horki and the Military Officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Country Code of Military Justice. So help me God.'

He closed his eyes and waited. Silence.

'Well? What are you waiting for?' he asked.

'Are we supposed to say it now?' a trainee asked.

'No. Wait for the sun to set,' Swart said sarcastically.

'Oh! Till the sun sets,' others said, taking him literally.

Swart stared at them, wondering how they didn't understand basic sarcasm. Dana seemed to get it. She raised her right hand and began reading from the printed paper. The others followed suit after a moment.

At least someone knew why they were here. The trainees finished the oath, but Dana and the others noticed there were no other officers present.

'Dana, where are those old military officers? Shouldn't they be here?' Chelsea asked.

'That only happens in movies,' Jasmine said.

'That's why it's a movie and this is reality,' Dana said.

She was bothered by it too. She'd sworn to protect Horki, but she was from Bunya. It was disturbing, but she decided to brush it off. Training would start soon.

'Now the main training starts!' Commander Swart screamed.

'Can't he just talk?' Cathy complained.

Swart had the boys punch the girls' stomachs, then the girls retaliated. It wasn't fun when he ordered them behind the dorms to a small stream and made them bury their heads underwater, stepping on anyone who tried to surface.

They ran around the field, did press-ups, and completed a full workout routine. They were breathless, sweaty, sticky, and angry. But they wanted to become Military Officers.

Swart assigned Dana to clean the toilets, and her partner was Daniel—the boy who couldn't take a hint.

'Hey, so no guys came from Bunya with you girls?' Daniel asked.

'Just us. All girls,' Dana replied, not looking up.

'So when we finish cleaning this week, when do we start getting to know each other?' he asked.

'Just do your part and don't wait for me,' Dana said, walking away with the trash can.

She hadn't traveled to another country to befriend attractive boys. Not that she'd noticed he was attractive. That moment on the field when his uniform got sweaty and clung to him—that didn't count.

By evening, Swart let them return to their dorms. They came back with complaints about various aches in various places.

Dana had something close to seasickness from having her head repeatedly forced underwater. She ran to the bathroom and threw up salt water.

'My belly hurts,' Chelsea complained.

'Tell me about it,' Jasmine said.

'My partner acted possessed when it was his turn to hit me,' Izzy said.

'Dana, what's up?' Cathy asked.

'Nothing,' Dana replied.

'You've been quiet all evening. What's wrong?' Izzy asked.

'I said nothing already!' Dana snapped.

'We just got back and you're already making noise. What do you expect?' she asked sharply.

'It was just a simple question,' Izzy said.

'There's nothing simple about it,' Dana said, getting up and walking out of the room.

'You're not supposed to leave!' Jasmine called after her.

'That's just how Dana is,' Chelsea said. 'She could wake up mad at everyone for no reason.'

'Yeah,' Cathy agreed.

Later, Dana returned and went straight to the bathroom. She turned on the tap and stared at her reflection.

Had she misheard? Was it a heat stroke affecting her hearing?

The words echoed in her mind. 'Did I hear that right? Did he say "kill them"?'

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. 'Are you alive in there? I need the bathroom,' Cathy said.

'You can come in,' Dana said.

Cathy sat on the toilet. 'What's up? You've been acting strange lately.'

'It's just... never mind,' Dana said.

'It's just what? Why'd you stop?' Cathy asked.

Dana left the bathroom quickly. 'You're disgusting.'

'Yeah, and so are you,' Cathy called after her.

*

Training continued for days, weeks, and then a month. The workout routine became normal. The trainees were proud—what once exhausted them now felt easy. When Swart asked for a hundred sit-ups, they did it like it was nothing.

Swart moved on to the next training level and a new instructor. He was just the drill sergeant, the punisher.

'Identify the gun on the table,' Phillips said. He was the new instructor, and he knew how to make them work.

They'd attended classes and read ahead, so the test was easy.

'Beretta M9 pistol,' Jasmine answered correctly.

'What bullet is this?' Phillips held it up to Dana's face.

'M48 spotter and tracer,' she answered.

'Moving on...'

Training continued, and the instructors pushed them on speed and agility. Performance was poor. Some trainees moved like they had no bones.

Izzy was struggling through every run. A hundred meters left her exhausted, so Phillips had her do sit-ups.

'Izzy, get over here and do a hundred sit-ups!' Phillips instructed.

'Yes, sir!'

'Dana, slow down before you hit that barricade!' Swart said.

'Yes, sir!'

'Chelsea, jump over that wall again—swiftly this time!'

'Yes, sir!'

'Cathy, finish your press-ups! Don't be lazy!'

'No, sir!'

Horror. That's what the month of training had become. Shouting, flogging, punishment, threats. It was relentless.

'Now it's time to test your shooting accuracy,' Swart announced. 'You've trained for over a month. Let's see what you can do.'

'Everyone in batch B, pick up a gun. Three stances only—no improvisation!' Swart barked.

'For the Isosceles stance, face the target squarely. Feet shoulder-width apart, toes toward the target. Lean forward from the waist. Arms extended, forming an Isosceles triangle!' Swart yelled.

'For the Weaver stance, place your firing-side foot back and turn your support side toward the target. Firing arm extended, supporting arm bent,' Phillips said more calmly. His voice was like a bird song compared to Swart's thundering.

The trainees tried to catch every word, but Phillips was too quiet. They all wanted to try the Weaver stance anyway—it seemed most popular.

'Commander, we couldn't hear you. Can you repeat that?' Cathy asked.

'You have internet,' he replied.

'The last is the Fighting stance. Face the target squarely. Feet shoulder-width apart, firing foot behind the support side. Lean forward and extend your arm,' Swart continued.

Dana was the only one attempting the Fighting stance. The others were trying to perfect the Weaver.

'Once you've chosen, practice muscle memory,' Swart said. 'That way, you won't even need to look at your attackers when you shoot.'

'My throat is sore,' Swart said after, drinking water.

'You're taking this too seriously. I'll take over,' Phillips said.