"He's a good shot, a smart tactician and he's quick."
The glaring sun melted the beaten initiates, they were on their eighth circuit of the bailey. Sweat leaked out of every pore, many looked on the verge of collapsing. Paladin Gunny sure knew how to mold them in to soldiers.
"Aren't they always." Knight Sergeant Jameson responded. Jameson hated the fact that she was the third smallest in the squad, a testament to her personality. If she found a weakness that could be improved on, you wouldn't find it in the morning. Jameson was every inch the perfect soldier, devoted to the cause. She oozed professionalism, only one of the few people Reinhardt could trust solely upon.
Knight Captain Reinhardt was the tallest of the squad, he carried an aura of wisdom around him, most of it bearing from experience. He was forty two years old, he looked young for his age though, even if a few grey hairs showed sporadically. He had a short nine til five cut, dusty black. A very trimmed beard bordering on stubble graced his defined jaw, a beard he dutifully trimmed day after day for twenty two years and counting.
Reinhardt had been a squire when they declared the Citadel as the headquarters for the East Coast Chapter. Well the main chapter anyway. The year was 2287, Knight Captain Reinhardt was here in the bailey for a specific reason. A recommendation in fact. Paladin Gunny has been churning out recruits for over thirty years, 99.9 percent of those have served with honour to the Codex. The point one percent was why Reinhardt was within Gunnys presence.
"Listen, I know this mission you are going on is high maintenance but the kid has no other future that I can see. We can not waste his kind of potential." The very fact that Gunny was using this tone swayed heavily Reinhardt's view on the matter. He crossed his arms.
"So there is no other alternative?" Reinhardt's deep voice was so soft it could make children sleep. In fact it had on many occasion, in his spare time off active duty he helped mentor squires with many things, studies, parent loss, disobedience, advice, you name it. Many of the initiates in this very bailey had been helped by Reinhardt in some way. This gained Reinhardt the respect and admiration of many. He was a role model for many young squires. Reinhardt was a natural problem solver, hence Gunnys request.
"The kid reminds me of you Reinhardt, just with a lot of flaws. I was hoping you could show him the way."
Jameson smirked besides him at the mention of Reinhardt's youth. Not many saw past the image of wisdom but Jameson did, she teased him relentlessly on many of his old mishaps.
"Ok, I'll take him in, but if I don't deem him mission ready he will not be joining us. I do not want a liability in the band."
The band was his squad, there was six of them now but it looked like there would be seven.
Paladin Gunny grinned, Reinhardt knew what that meant.
Gunny swiveled and stamped.
"INITIATE BUDDY, YOU GET YOUR MEASLE RIDDEN ASS OVER HERE THIS INSTANT!"
Reinhardt grimaced while Jameson hid a grin.
A blonde initiate ran towards them, absolutely caked in filth, looking more than worse for wear. The initiate skid to a stop in front of the trio before bending forward to heave air.
"Ya gotta shout all the damn time, Jack?"
Jameson tensed at the jaw and Reinhardt sighed. Gunny looked like a pissed off behemoth.
"YOU MOUTH OFF IN FRONT OF YOUR SUPERIORS AGAIN AND YOU WILL BE WIPING EVERY OTHER INITIATES ASS WITH YOUR BARE HANDS, SHOW THE PROPER RESPECT THAT THESE LOVELY PEOPLE DESERVE YOU SACK OF SHIT!"
Initiate Buddy stood straight and stared at the two Knights with a somewhat hostile regard.
"Initiate Buddy, reporting as ordered." He laced his sentence with mock boredom.
Reinhardt could have sworn he could see steam venting from Gunnys ears.
"Paladin, I'm sure the other recruits miss your caring guidance." Gunny understood, he nodded to Reinhardt and Jameson, glaring at Buddy as he walked towards the other initiates, already formulating some insult to push their limits.
"So, you are quite the troublemaker we've heard." The initiates gaze roamed the Knight Sergeant's body.
"Trouble can be good, baby doll."
Jameson raised an eyebrow and gave Reinhardt a side glance. Reinhardt tensed.
"Treat my Sergeant with respect young man and you will gain mine. From what I've heard your inflated ego and "cool" behaviour is getting you no where but out of the Citadel. You better watch your attitude or I will recommend you to be given the boot. I was told that I could help you integrate and become a soldier with potential to become a high ranking member of the Brotherhood. So far you are showing me you are not fit to clean my boots. Do you understand me Initiate?"
Buddy had a flash of uncertainty within his eyes as he responded with a loud yes sir.
"Now get your shit together, wash and meet us in the D wing. You will be meeting the band. Questions? No? Then move it!"
The initiate hurriedly made his way to the showers, leaving the two Knights with nothing but a bad impression. Jameson locked eyes with Reinhardt.
"Possible?" Reinhardt contemplated the question briefly.
"I hope so."
God knows what lied ahead, but would the initiate be part of it? Time could only tell.
A/N. Tell me what you think, this will be a short story I have a plot I'm sticking to, hopefully I can complete this story. If you don't like it please leave me feedback on how I can improve or just to tell me it's crap. I hope the text isn't blocky as I've had that complaint before, comes from writing on your phone. Anyway, thanks for reading. We will meet the rest of the band in the next episode. I'll give you a tease. Two Knights and Two Field scribes. Not much for excitement but hey ho.