Ichika's body rocked at the slight bit of turbulence. "How high do you think we are?"
"Dunno, I'd say about twenty thousand feet," Finley, who sat to his left, guessed.
The eight trainees were flying well above the clouds in a plane that the instructor was currently piloting. All eight wore breathers connected to an oxygen bottle meant to flush out nitrogen and thus preventing decompression sickness.
Ichika turned to his right where Monika was squirming in her seat. "You nervous?"
Monika nodded her head hesitantly. "Well, maybe a little bit. But my sister used to say that hesitation leads to disaster. When the time comes, there won't be any other choice than to jump."
"I like that saying, I'll have to remember it," Ichika remarked, trying to banish the nervousness from his own system.
"Hey, if we're jumping out of planes, do you think we'll get an IS soon?" Ichika asked, switching topics.
Monika's eyes gleamed. "I sure hope so, it's gonna be so cool when we get to be pilots. Why are we even practicing this kind of stuff if we have an IS though?"
"The instructor said that on some missions we shouldn't use the IS for secrecy purposes. Even partial deployment of our IS is risky and should only be used as a last resort," Ichika recited.
"Pshh, stupid Alaska treaty. The IS are weapons used by soldiers, not some worthless sport like those IS Academy fools," Monika spat with a glower.
Ichika gave a grunt of agreement. The IS were not toys, they were weapons of mass destruction and should be respected as such. The instructor had said so and the instructor was never wrong. Even if the instructor was demanding and sometimes cruel, she was just preparing them for the cruel and demanding world. The instructor was never wrong.
"Line up for the jump, the door is opening in thirty seconds," the instructor's voice intoned over the intercom.
The eight recruits hurriedly obeyed the instructor's command, scrambling into a loose line. They watched as the side door slid open to reveal the open sky, peeking over one another at the clouds that faced them below with baited breath.
All was silent for a few seconds and a few reassuring nods were passed around the trainees.
"Jump."
York was the first to go, hurriedly walking to the edge and jumping out into the open air. Kane followed immediately after and Summers soon followed.
Monika turned to Ichika, giving a nervous thumbs up before throwing herself out of the plane as well.
"Hesitation leads to disaster," Ichika muttered to himself. He sucked in a deep breath and banished any and all emotions welling inside himself before diving out of the doorway imagining he was diving into the training pool the trainees used back home.
Time slowed as he felt the wind whip around his falling form. His eyes darted around. Seeing his friends in the distance gave him a sense of reassurance. However the further he plummeted, the more the discomforts began to fade. The weightless feeling in his gut, the whipping of wind, the vast blue sky, he supposed it felt sort of liberating
In the end, Ichika quite enjoyed the exercise.
"Focus Orimura, panic will only make it worse."
Ichika nodded rapidly.
"How many fingers am I holding up?" The instructor asked.
"F- *hack* fou- *hack* four instructor," Ichika gasped, rapidly blinking the tears from his eyes.
"Good, now tell me a joke and you're out of here."
A joke. What joke? When was the last time he'd told a joke? Ichika wheezed as he desperately racked his brain for something, anything. The immense strain on his system mounted to an all new height.
"The… *hack* th- *hack* the IS academy," Ichika choked, smirking at his own wit despite the great discomfort worming itself through his entire body.
The instructor's lip twitched ever so slightly.
"Clever, you're clear Orimura," the instructor snorted.
Ichika hastily shuffled his way out the door, barely managing to close it behind him before collapsing to his knees in the grass outside. Violent coughs racked his system as he tried to get at least one fresh breath of air.
Kane was next to him, also on her hands and knees, dry heaving. Summers, a brunette girl Ichika didn't interact with often, was crouching a few meters in front of him. She was staring blankly at the ground, mucus still dripping from her nose and mouth in long strands.
Ichika spit a glob of his own mucus onto the ground as a few minutes passed and his coughing began to subside. He remained on his hands and knees, trying and failing to subdue the rising nausea within him. However he turned his head when he heard a door open and footsteps behind him.
Monika was standing behind him, tears pouring from her eyes and snot running down her face. Ichika didn't trust his voice so the two merely stared blankly at each other for a few seconds.
Monika cringed, her hand flying to her mouth. She bent over dry heaved once before violently vomiting directly on top of Ichika's back. Ichika immediately flinched, eyes widening at the revolting smell that assaulted his nostrils. It was far too disgusting for the boy to handle and he too emptied the contents of his stomach onto the grass below him.
He could hear a mix of painful wheezes and choked laughter coming from where Kane and Summers were still hunched over.
This was terrible, not even getting sucked under by harsh Atlantic waves and getting a lung full of salt water could top this. 'Gas proofing' the instructor had called it was officially, the worst.
First Operation
"This is more of a pseudo operation to get your boots wet before you become fully fledged operators. Take it seriously, pseudo operation or not, a well placed bullet can and will kill you," the instructor informed the eight trainees who were standing at attention. "This operation is a right of passage for trainees like you and will decide if you are eligible for pilot training."
This sparked excitement in Ichika and the seven girls. However they remained perfectly still at attention, discipline had been more than instilled in them by the instructor,
"It's a simple operation. You eight will be deployed to one of FOXHOUND's forwards bases in Southern Africa. You will launch an assault on a small and newly formed group of guerilla fighters that we have been monitoring."
The instructor paced in front of the trainees. "They are a threat to the local government that the U.S supports. Your target is an area we have identified they use for training new members for their cause. You will strike with speed and force and are to retreat before they launch a proper counter offensive. Your work will lay a foundation for other FOXHOUND elements to move in and annihilate the rest of them. Do you all understand the operation?"
"Yes instructor," eight voices replied.
"Very well, I'm assigning York to be stand in captain and will give her a further briefing later. You will be deployed in two days time. Until then, you are free to prepare as you see fit," the instructor informed.
The Next Day
The eight were huddled around one of the tables in the chow hall. Maps and pictures of the surrounding area were haphazardly spread across its surface.
"Remember, our objective is not total annihilation, their numbers are too much for the eight of us. As the instructor told us earlier, there will be additional forces shadowing us. When we complete our part of the operation they will begin theirs. We're pretty much the sucker punch in this fight," York briefed, looking around at her seven companions.
After a round of nods, York continued. "There's reliable intelligence that the group's leader along with the new members will gather in one particular location outside their camp around thirteen hundred hours. Whether it's some sort of religious thing or tradition, it doesn't matter. I've decided that is the best time to strike."
"Why don't we attack at night when they're all asleep?" West asked.
"Believe it or not, they're more alert at night, it's when they expect to get attacked," York stated.
"As you can see, their camp is beside these two mountain's ridgeline," York informed, pointing to said mountains on the map. "The plan is to split into two teams. Alpha team, or team A, consisting of myself, Wyler, Orimura, and Schaefer will scale the ridgeline overlooking the location they will be meeting at. I'm positive their first instinct will be to retreat back to their camp once team A has attacked."
York pointed to a point on the map. "Bravo team, or team B, will consist of everyone else and similarly scale the ridgeline but sit in the saddle. You will have overwatch on the retreating guerilla fighters alongside their camp. Try and corral them into their camp and then switch to incendiary rounds. They're a newly formed resistance group so their camp is cheap. A cheap camp is a very flammable camp, burning it down should cause enough chaos to cover our retreat."
"Wait wait wait, we have incendiary rounds?" Kane asked.
"The instructor said we'll have full access to the forward operating base we're being deployed to," York answered with a nod. "Anyways, after we have completed our objectives, team B will rendezvous with team A. Once we've regrouped we'll make a joint retreat and start another fire to cover us just in case. It's a dense jungle so why not make use of it?"
York looked around to her fellow trainees. "Listen, I know you guys are nervous and uneasy about going out and actually killing some people for the first time. Remember what the instructor has taught us, this is the enemy, there is no other option than to destroy them. Keep a level head and trust in yourself alongside your sisters… and Orimura."
Ichika grunted as he hefted his things over his shoulder and disembarked from the aircraft. All eight of them were equipped with full tactical gear since while the base had plentiful weapons and ammunition, lacked the protective gear that would fit their smaller and less developed physiques.
Ichika grimaced at the hot sun before he noticed a familiar woman standing on the airstrip.
"Emily? What are you doing here?" Ichika asked. "Wait nevermind, you're here to help us right?"
"It's Skunk while you're deployed kiddo, though I suppose it's ok since you're not technically operating yet. I'm the lucky one the organization sent to clean up the mess you brats are about to make," Skunk replied.
"They only sent you?" Ichika questioned.
"Yeah, this one's off the books so I get to use my IS, Pacifier Prime. It'll be more of a slaughter than an actual sortie though," Skunk sighed, showing Ichika her IS in the form of a black bracelet. "At least they'll be good test subjects for some of my newer chemical agents."
"Anyways, enough about me little man. It looks like you've grown a bit since I last saw you. How long has it been since you started training, a year? Look at you now, all geared up for battle, it's pretty cute actually," Emily teased. "Excited to finally get some action?"
"Yeah, we all are. To be honest with you though, I'm nervous about you know…"
"Killing?"
"Yeah."
"What about it?"
Ichika hesitated. "I mean, taking someone's life, that's a lot. What if I freeze up? What if I get my friends killed because I'm a coward?"
Emily snorted and ruffled Ichika's hair. "Psh, don't sweat it kiddo. Killing's honestly the best part. Your first kill is a literal once in a lifetime experience."
Emily sighed at the uncertain hum she got in response. "Listen, you're a good kid, I get it. But good people do bad things all the time, that's just how the world works. Everyone's got a role in life no matter if it's good or bad and ours is to kill our enemies. An eagle shouldn't feel bad about killing its prey because without the prey, the predator is nothing. So why should you feel bad about killing some nobodies fulfilling their role as your prey. You're just doing what you're supposed to do right?"
"I guess that makes sense…"
"And if you're still uncertain about it at the moment of truth, just think about your comrades. In a roundabout way, you're doing it for them just as they're doing it for you."
Ichika nodded at this. "Hey Em- Skunk?"
The woman cocked her head to the side.
"Err- thanks, I'll remember what you said," Ichika said with a grateful smile.
"Don't worry about it, I'm just doing my job and I know you'll do yours when the time comes," Emily affirmed with a nod.
The moment was soon shattered as York approached them. "I didn't know you knew the operator that would shadow us Orimura."
"Oh- uh, Skunk this is York, she's the captain of the team. York this is Skunk, I met her by circumstance before joining the organization," Ichika said, introducing the two. Skunk gave York a once over before shrugging.
"As much as I'd love to meet your mini girl scout platoon, I've got to bounce. Hell, I'm not even supposed to be here. Anyways, good luck and don't die," Emily said with a snort, activating her IS.
Ichika had to shield his eyes from the dust kicked up by Skunk's IS taking off. He barely saw the sleek form of her IS before she was just a speck in the sky.
"I guess FOXHOUND has tighter control on this area than I thought if an operator can just fly off in their IS," York remarked. "That woman though. No offense because she's your friend, but don't you think she was kind of rude?"
"Yeah, I guess. But she's a good person at heart though… maybe," Ichika replied.
"Anyways, we should settle in and organize our equipment. The operation begins tomorrow and I'm stupid hungry after that terribly long flight," York stated, brushing past her male comerade.
"Yes captain," Ichika said cheekily.
York snorted. "I know I'm the stand in captain and all that, but just call me York like you've always done you bastard."
"Ok, ok, I get it. But seriously, I think you're doing a really good job," Ichika remarked.
"Err- thanks. I mean, I'm the oldest out of all of us right? Someone has to step up after all," York said with a hint of bashfulness.
The two continued into the base in a comfortable silence. Surprisingly, the small base was in pretty good condition considering how old it was. For once, Ichika had the luxury of his own room to sleep in. The gender awkwardness had smoothed itself out over time, but sometimes his bunkmates were the bane of his existence.
Monika was probably his best friend and he really did like her, but her snoring sounded like a chainsaw on the best of nights. It didn't help that she slept directly above him.
As if magically summoned from Ichika's thoughts, Monika came running down the hall with Finley and West close behind.
"Ichika, he Ichika! Come quick, West found Monopoly in one of the rooms. Let's all play together!" Monika babbled, holding out a box that had the word MONOPOLY brazenly printed on the side with big blocky letters.
"I'm only in if I can be the shoe piece," Finley stated.
"Eww, why would you want to be the shoe? The battleship is way cooler."
"You guys are both dumb, the dog is by far the best one."
Monika scowled, turning to Ichika. "Back me up Ichika, tell these idiots that the battleship is the coolest by far."
Ichika struggled to recall the one and only time he had played Monopoly. His sister had utterly trounced him as the car. What did he play again? Oh, right, the thimble.
"I actually like the thimble, it kind of looks like an upside down trash can," Ichika remarked with a straight face.
All three girls looked at him like he'd just grown a second head.
York just sighed. "I'm gonna find something to eat and look over the intelligence again Orimura. Come find me when you're done and we'll get the machine guns ready."
"Oh yeah, It's Monopoly time!" Monika cheered, bumping her fist in the air in excitement.
Ichika smiled at his friend's enthusiasm. "Alright, let's play."
The stress that had slowly been building up within Ichika subsided as Monika dragged him through the base's halls with the other girls. They really were like a family to him. When the time came, if nothing else, Ichika decided he'd pull the trigger for them.
The Next Day
Ichika's breathing was carefully measured in long heaves. The mountain was a tough climb and the elevation was beginning to make the air thinner. Not to mention he and York were each carrying a light machine gun plus ammunition which weighed a substantial amount.
Idle chatter had long since fizzled out as the four consisting of Alpha Team stoically marched to their objective. Each had mentally steeled themselves the previous night for their first official operation.
The group of four halted in their tracks as York signalled them to stop. The team leader pushed a few stray strands of dirty blonde hair out of her face before unfurling a map.
After a few moments, York nodded to herself in satisfaction and packed the map back into her assault pack. She pulled out a small portable radio. "Kane, we have arrived to overwatch one, have you reached overwatch two? Over"
A few seconds passed. "Negative, I'd estimate another five minutes until we reach overwatch two, over."
York nodded to herself once more before signalling her three companions to start digging in. As they did, she took stock of her teammates' emotional states.
Orimura was obviously winded, similar to her. The light machine guns were necessary to lay down suppressive fire but damn did they weigh a whole lot. York only trusted herself, who was the oldest in the group, alongside Ichika, who was a guy, to be capable of hauling the bigger guns up the mountain.
Other than that, Orimura seemed stoic. However York noticed his eyes bouncing around, looking for enemies, at a frantic rate. At least he was channelling his nerves into something productive. She didn't worry too much, Orimura was a reliable guy, he probably wouldn't break under the pressure.
York then looked to Schaefer, a German girl with black hair neatly tied into a ponytail. She was the one carrying the fire bombs they would be using to cover their tracks. Similar to Ichika, York saw the girl was putting on a stoic face. However the calming breaths she was taking every few seconds gave away her nerves. That was normal though. To York's relief, the girl seemed fine so far.
York's gaze finally laid on the third girl. Monika Wyler seemed in a trance like state, like a blissful calm before the storm. Her eyes didn't betray any apprehension and instead shone with intense focus. However York could just barely see it. She could see the gleam of cruel anticipation in the younger girl's sapphire eyes.
York had seen eyes like those in sociopathic killers a long time ago, a time before FOXHOUND had taken her in. Despite everything though, she knew Wyler was a friend, she wouldn't do anything too stupid. And Orimura was here, he'd keep Wyler in check should the worst happen.
She checked her watch, it read 12:29. Shit, did she forget to switch her watch to military time? Whatever, converting it was easy enough. She got the attention of the others and signalled thirty minutes until the guerilla meeting.
Ichika nodded before going into a prone position and aimed his crosshair towards the small clearing that the guerillas would be gathering in. He let his body rest as seconds turned to minutes. His underdeveloped body wasn't meant to climb several thousand vertical feet while carrying a machine gun.
However as he let his body rest, his mind began to wander.
He was a naturally friendly guy, at least that's what he'd been told by others. It was a trait that had helped him earn the unconditional friendship of all seven girls who had somehow become his greatest friends in the span of a single year. Bonding through adversity, or something like that probably.
He doubted he'd be able to form bonds like these if he'd gone to middle school like he was supposed to. About this time of year, he bet he'd be getting a fresh school uniform for the start of his second year of middle school.
Look at him now, in a bulletproof vest, wearing a kevlar helmet, and thinking of the most efficient way to kill a man rather than finding whatever variable on whatever triangle.
What would Chifuyu-nee think of him?
He was distrubed from his thoughts however as he felt someone nudge him in the shoulder. Looking to his right, Ichika noticed Monika who was also in a prone position and giving him a reassuring thumbs up.
Monika gave Ichika a wide grin before holding her hand in a clenched fist out to Ichika.
The boy looked dumbly at the gesture for a few seconds before realizing what his friend was doing. Smiling in embarrassment, Ichika bumped the outstretched fist with his own.
He understood Monika's silent message. It was do or die, good luck.
The four children just budding into their teenage years lay in relative silence as time slothfully passed. However they began hawkishly staring down their sights as people began to populate the clearing below them.
Ichika's eyes narrowed. A dozen or so men, thrice as many kids, all boys. The men had guns, the boys did not. Some wore patches or buttons proudly across there tattered apparel. Perhaps it signified some sort of rank? Everyone wore what they could, no two outfits being exactly the same. It was a mess in Ichika's eyes who had worn the exact same things as his friends for the past year.
What caught his attention however was one man who seemed to command everybody's attention. A green beret decorated with two golden stars lay squarely on top of his head, the ringleader perhaps? The man was shouting something in Zulu, or was it Afrikaans? Ichika would never know.
The children rose to their feet in tandem. Ichika glanced over to York who shook her head. They began chanting something in their language, moving to the beat of their own voices. Some of the men joined in, waving their weapons in the air and banging their chests. It was almost enchanting to Ichika who witnessed this all through the sight of his firearm.
Ichika and Schaefer's eyes narrowed in concentration. Monika licked her lips.
"On my mark," York said quietly.
"Roger," three voices replied, Ichika's barely above a whisper.
"Three."
Ichika flicked his gun's safety off and rested his finger on the trigger, careful not to squeeze too hard. His heart rate raced a million miles per hour as he began to pick out the targets. The men were enemies. The boys were smaller enemies. They were America's enemies. They were his friends' enemies. They were Ichika's enemies.
"Two."
He wondered if the boys were like him. Were they taken away from their families and raised to be killers? He wondered if any of those boys down there had killed people, unlike him. Maybe they would all die to his bullets. Maybe he would die to theirs. He felt as if his whole life had been leading to this point. There was no turning back, he would never turn back from this point onwards.
*Inhale*
*Exhale*
"One."
Good people did bad things all the time.
"Mark."
Ichika closed his heart to his enemies and with the greatest care, gently pulled down the trigger.
One emotioned radiated within his chest as he began to smile, great relief.