Tegan Quin stood at attention, shoulder to shoulder with at least forty other Army recruits. They were standing outside of their barracks, and Tegan was squinting to keep the sun out of her eyes. A lieutenant was standing in front of their line, yelling something that Tegan wasn't paying attention to. He'd been yelling for almost ten minutes now, something about honor and hard work and commitment and how they'd be lucky if they made it through the next three weeks of training. All Tegan could think about, though, was when she was going to be able to actually do something besides talk to recruiters, sign papers, and get yelled at.

When Tegan decided to join the army, it was because she thought she was going to actually be doing something to help make a difference. She hadn't realized how long it would take to get to that point. Hell, it had taken six months to get to where she stood now, the first day of recruit training.

"Quin!" Hearing her name practically screamed jolted Tegan's thoughts to the present. It was the lieutenant that he shouted at her. He walked up to her, stopping about two inches from her face.

"Is there a problem, recruit?" he shouted, spraying spit onto her face.

Tegan blinked, try to maintain her composure. "No, sir!" she shouted back.

"Well, you damn well didn't seem to be paying much attention to anything I was just saying!" The lieutenant stood at least six inches taller than Tegan, and she had to try her very best not to cower under him.

"I'm sorry, sir!" she replied with a less vigor than the last time she spoke.

"How do you expect to succeed here if you can't pay attention, recruit?" Tegan wasn't sure if that was a question, so she remained silent.

"Drop and give me fifty, now!" he shouted. Tegan was in push up position before she had time to process it. She counted in her head, feeling herself tire faster than she normal would have thanks to the hot sun.

When she go to 30, she heard the shrill blow of a whistle and the lieutenant stopped shouting. By the time she got to 45, she heard a distinctly female voice above her.

"On your feet, recruit," the voice said firmly, not shouting like the lieutenant, but with an edge that was even more intimidating. Tegan jumped up and stood at attention, finding herself at eye level with the speaker. Tegan was shocked to find herself with one of the most beautiful, and yet most intimidating people that she had ever. Her hazel eyes bored into Tegan's, and her mouth was set in a firm line, showing her disapproval. Her chocolate brown hair was short with bangs swept far to the side. Tegan had to hide a smirk, her natural cockiness making her want to lay on the flirting. She knew she'd be kicked out faster than she could wink her eye if she tried anything, though.

"If you're already in trouble this early in the game, you better pull yourself together if you want to make it through these next three weeks, Quin," the woman hissed, her mouth just inches away from Tegan's ear.

"Yes, ma'am!" was the only response that seemed fitting to Tegan, so it was the one she went with.

"That's 'Yes, sir,' to you, recruit," she shouted, backing away from Tegan's face. The woman turned to the rest of the recruits, shouting loud enough for them all to hear. "I am Captain Sara Clement, and I am in charging of getting as many of you as possible through the next three weeks. While you are here, you may address me as Captain Clement or Sir, and my word is law." She paused momentarily to let her words sink in.

"Lieutenant Gowans will be your drill supervisor," she went on, motioning to the man who'd been shouting at them a few minutes ago. "You are to treat him the same way you would treat me, with the utmost respect and obedience."

Tegan could barely focus on her words because her eyes were on Sara's eyes. She mentally kicked herself thinking of her as Sara and not Captain, knowing she'd better not make a habit of it. She couldn't think about anything except how beautiful her eyes were.

"Now," Sara shouted. "Lieutenant, run them hard." On those last words, she locked eyes momentarily with Tegan, then turned and marched out.

As Lieutenant Gowans started ordering them into formation, Tegan couldn't help but think that crushing your commanding officer on the first day of boot camp was not the way to start out.