Chapter 14, "Target Practice"

Glitch's personal VIP tour was done by mid-day. He took her everywhere; if one defined everywhere as "where" Cain stated in his letter that they were allowed to go. As they walked in to the same private dining hall that they had been in for breakfast, they saw DG and Azkadellia already sitting there eating. As Glitch and Jill sat down DG explained that she and Azkadellia were going to the main hospital in the afternoon to visit the victims of the attack. Even though they had been advised not to, they still had insisted on going.

Soon thereafter, Glitch and Jill were left alone to eat. They ate in silence as they read a few of the newspapers that were left behind. The headlines screamed, "TERROR ATTACKS! WHO'S TO BLAME?", "IS IT WAR?" and "ROYAL RESPONSE LACKING".

After they were done eating, Glitch leaned forward in his chair. "What would you like to get in to next?" he asked.

Jill finished her sip of water, "The palace has an armory, doesn't it?"

Glitch smugly replied, "Of course it does. This place is like a fort."

She took another sip of water and then folded her hands in her lap. "Will you take me there?"

"Excuse me?" responded Glitch in disbelief.

Jill's heart pounded in her chest. "Yes, Glitch. I would like for you to take me down to the armory. Certainly there's a shooting range there."

Glitch continued to shake his head in disbelief causing his unruly curls to bounce slightly. "Jill, I really don't think that that's a good idea." He paused and then it started, uncontrollably, "not a good idea…..not a good idea….." Jill rose from her chair and shook his arm slightly.

"Oh, sorry. I've gotten better but when I get upset sometimes my glitching still flares up." He smiled weakly.

Jill gently held his arm, "I'm sorry for upsetting you Glitch, but you need to understand that I need the practice," then she resumed her seat.

Without thinking Glitch replied, "Why? I would think that after what happened you wouldn't touch a gun again."

A look of hurt passed over Jill's face. She played with the edge of the tablecloth as took a deep breath and composed her thoughts. "That was different Glitch." She stopped. The memory of seeing Lieutenant Miller's bloodshot eyes roared to life but she pushed him out of her mind. Don't they always say that when you fall off the horse you got to get back up on it again? And yeah whoever said that probably never had to do it either. "I used to shoot targets when I was younger. So this would be just like old times." She paused again. "Besides, you know what's happened to me in my short time here. I need to be able to protect myself."

Glitch just looked at her for a moment. Then he said, "Jill, there's lots of people here that can protect you now."

Jill rolled her eyes at him. "Really? Every time I'm left alone something happens. I'm sorry if I sound cruel Glitch, but I can't depend on them. I need to go back and start taking care of myself again."

Glitch slowly shook his head, "I'm sorry Jill but I can't take you there." Friend or not, the very thought of Cain bellowing at him for what he had done by taking Jill somewhere out of bounds sent a shiver up his spine.

"Glitch. If you don't take me there, then I'm going to find it on my own." Jill replied decisively. "Besides, you've shown me practically everything and at least this will keep me occupied the rest of the afternoon."

For what seemed like an eternity neither one spoke. Then Glitch sighed. "Okay, let's go," he said dejectedly. As he followed Jill out of the dining hall he muttered under his breath, "This is going to be a bad idea."

A short time later they arrived in the armory. To reach it they had to go to in the lowest level of the palace. The stairs had seen better days and it was dimly lit. The Sergeant-At-Arms, Sergeant McCloskey, eyed them warily. He knew Glitch well enough but he did not know the lady that accompanied him.

Glitch was clearly uncomfortable as they approached the barred window. The smell of stale cigars hung heavily in the air. "Yeah, Ambrose. What is it?" growled Sergeant McCloskey as he put down his cigar. The sergeant was a short, heavy-set, balding man with bright hazel eyes that looked at them suspiciously.

Glitch gulped. "Sergeant." He paused, his head looking to and fro for a name tag or sign.

"It's Sergeant McCloskey.," responded the sergeant gruffly.

"Of course it is," gulped Glitch again. "Sergeant McCloskey, Miss Watkins here would like to do some target practice."

The sergeant eyed both of them. "Under who's authority?"

Before Glitch could say anything, Jill stepped in front of him, and said firmly, "Under Major Wyatt Cain's authority. He directed Ambrose to be my escort for the day."

Jill's eyes met Sergeant McCloskey's. "Sorry miss, but you don't appear that you know how to handle a firearm and I know that he doesn't." He glared at Glitch. "And I don't have time to play babysitter to a bunch of kids this afternoon." And with that he put his cigar back in to his mouth.

Jill put her hands down on the window-sill. "With all due respect Sergeant McCloskey I do know how to handle a firearm." Out of the corner of her eye she saw a counter in the back with a few rifles on it. "Look, there are some rifles back there on the counter. If I can't load one of them, then I'll go away. If I can though, then you'll let me out on the range. Agreed?"

"And if I don't agree?" growled Sergeant McCloskey.

Jill continued to stare at him, "I am sure that Major Cain will hear about it soon enough."

Sergeant McCloskey said nothing more. There was a jingling of keys and the sergeant waddled over to the gate leading back behind the window.

Jill walked up to the counter with Glitch in tow. Sergeant McCloskey took one of the rifles and moved it in front of her. She nimbly picked it up, quickly dislodged the clip, and set it back down on the counter. She placed the clip in her left hand and with her right hand motioned for the box of shells. Sergeant McCloskey raised an eyebrow and then reached underneath the counter and placed the box in front of her. She loaded up the clip, placed it back down on the counter, and then picked the rifle back up. She opened the chamber and loaded the last shell. Then she inserted the clip with a satisfying click and handed the rifle to Sergeant McCloskey. "Did I do it right?"

Sergeant McCloskey opened the chamber and inspected it, then took out the clip and put it back in. He then gruffly replied, "Yeah, you did it right." He picked up another rifle and a box of shells and moved from behind the counter. "Follow me," was all that he said.

It was early evening when Cain returned to the palace. Most of the civilian workers were leaving for the day. He walked briskly around a corner and nearly ran into a group of young boys; they were very young military school cadets.

"Sorry Major!" they all said in near unison.

Cain yelled after them half-humorously, "Whoa?! What's the rush?"

One of the cadets turned and while still running backwards, yelled back, "There's a girl down on the shooting range beatin' the guys. We're gonna' go watch!" He then turned around and sprinted to catch up with his friends.

Cain's smile turned upside-down. As he ran after the boys, he thought to himself, I swear by the gods Jill, this stunt is worse than what DG ever pulled.

He arrived down at the armory amid a small commotion. Sergeant McCloskey was yelling at the young cadets to leave; telling them that the shooting range was closed for the day.

The young cadets ran through Cain, chatting excitedly. He heard bits of "That was cool!" and "She kicked Talin's butt!"

Then a young group of men passed him by. None spoke and none looked him in the eye. He turned and was going to call after them, but they were already too far from him.

Sergeant McCloskey saw him and waddled over to him. "Major Cain, sorry for all the fuss.," he said crustily. The sergeant motioned for Cain to follow him down the exterior hallway. The suns had begun to set and the air became damp and cold.

"A group of young academy men came down to practice. They didn't take too well to a lady shooting down here and she didn't take to well to them."

Cain said in a stern low whisper, "Why didn't you put a stop to it then?"

Without looking Sergeant McCloskey replied, "'Cause they deserved to have their asses handed to 'em."

When Cain and Sergeant McCloskey appeared Jill had just finished emptying the clip and boxing up the shells. He glared at Glitch, and then asked Jill harshly, "What the hell are you doing?"

Jill picked up the rifle and handed it and the shells to the sergeant. He started down the hallway, and it was then that Jill saw that Cain brought her blue blanket. She willed her guilt away and she started after Sergeant McCloskey with Cain in tow. Glitch took a couple of long strides to catch up with them.

Cain came up alongside her and asked harshly again, "I said, what the hell are you doing?"

"I was practicing," replied Jill matter-of-factly. She continued to walk down the hallway and refused to look at him.

Cain took one long stride and cut in front of her. It forced her to stop and look at him. His eyes were piercing and he said coarsely, "One. You weren't supposed to be down here to begin with. And two. You were doing more than practicing."

Jill's eyes narrowed in response. "I'll tell you the same thing that I told Glitch. I need to be able to protect myself."

Cain started to retort with, "I know that I haven't…" but he was interrupted by Sergeant McCloskey hoarsely calling out, "Major Cain! I need to lock up!"

Cain humphed and started quickly walking down the hallway. Both Jill and Glitch had to half run to keep up with him.

In no time they reached the gate where Sergeant McCloskey was waiting for them to exit. After they did he locked it behind him.

"Miss Wilkins!," Sergeant McCloskey huskily called out and then he took out his cigar. Cain, Glitch, and Jill stopped. "You forgot your winnings."

Jill walked over to the window and Sergeant McCloskey pushed a pile of coins towards her. "Thank you for holding them Sergeant McCloskey.," she said with a weak smile.

"Anytime miss," he replied as he stuck his cigar back in his mouth.

She turned and looked back at Cain and Glitch. Glitch just stood there looking so sad, and Cain's eyes pierced once again through her.

She walked up to them. She looked at Glitch and then looked at Cain. With a calmness that surprised even her she told him, "Cain, I don't regret what I did. There's always a reason for what I do; never forget that." She handed the coins out to Cain but he refused to take them. She sighed, closed her hand over them and let her arm down. "One of the cadets had the Wolfsangel symbol on his wallet. I figured that if we're going to have to check it out, I'd at least use his money to buy us a beer there." She stared at Cain for a moment more, trying to read him, but then gave up.

She walked past them and went up the stairs. Glitch had a quizzical look on his face and asked, "What's the Wolfsangel symbol?" But Cain just shook his head and hissed, "Not now Glitch," and looked away. As they followed her up the stairs, Cain thought to himself, damn it Jill.