Chapter 4: Target Practice

Pierre cringed as he cupped his hands around his nose to realign it. Madison had broken his nose right along the bridge, leaving a nasty little cut that would eventually turn into a scar. She would eventually pay for that, she could bet on that. She couldn't go unpunished for making a mockery out of him in front of the instructors. No, she would pay dearly for that.

The sun was already high in the sky by the time that Pierre's squad got out onto the rifle-training course. The course consisted of a dirt line that sat back exactly 50 yards from the dart sheets, along with a few practice "dummies" that were tied to posts about 75 yards back from the dirt line. Most of the "dummies" were former Umbrella employees that hadn't completed their tasks to Lord Spencer's satisfactory. The former employees were completely bound to the posts to make sure that they didn't try to run, except for the occasional one that was let lose for a moving target.

"Today students, we are going to learn how to hit pain points on a target," a young man dressed in the issued fatigues announced. Pierre had never seen this instructor before; he was a young man who couldn't have been over 26 years old with light brown hair and green eyes.

"Wonder what happened to the old rifle instructor," Marius whispered beside Pierre.

As if on cue, the young instructor called for one of the bound men at the end of the course to be brought to him. As the newly freed man who was flanked on either side my instructors neared them, Pierre immediately recognized who it was.

"Many of you may recognize this man as your former instructor, but to Umbrella he is a traitor. This man was selling combat information on you soldiers to the highest bidder, but luckily he trusted the wrong people and now he is going to be dealt with. Pierre will you please step forward," the young instructor asked.

Pierre, angered at the fact that his former instructor had been selling him out, briskly stepped forward to where the young instructor and his former instructor stood. The older instructor was noticeably flustered as sweat that had beaded at his brow freely ran down the length of his face. It was only right that this man should suffer for his betrayal of him and of the very company that he had worked for.

"Pierre, I want you to show this man why you are in the best of your class," the young instructor said as he motioned for their previous instructor to be tied back up.

Pierre, without questioning the man at why he had chosen him, quickly strode over to the table and picked up one of the pistols that were laid on the table. He hated to have to use a sniper rifle and preferred to use one of the many pistols that were scattered about the facility. He could easily hit a target at any specific point on the body from 100 yards away, and with his target being only 75 yards away it would be unfair to him.

Even as they attempted to tie the fidgeting man up Pierre fired a bullet that met its mark on the former instructor's left knee causing the man to scream in pain. Giving the old instructor just enough time to be able to feel the pain of the last shot, he immediately shot another time; this one landing just above the man's right ankle.

"Pierre is hitting the exact pain points that will be the subject of our lesson today. A shot out kneecap can cause an excruciating amount of pain as well as the elbow and ankle. These specific points are great tools when trying to interrogate someone," the young instructor explained even as Pierre continued to shoot the man at the other end of the field.

As Pierre hit the last of the points that he had targeted he laid the gun on the table and left his former instructor begging for someone to help him. Pierre had already taken his place back in the rows as his new instructor signaled for the man to be taken back to the labs for experimentation. Pierre faded into the back as the other students picked up their gun and attempted to hit the targets on the field. One after another each student took their turn usually hitting within three inches of their target before relinquishing their spot to another.

Madison had hung in the back so that she would be able to show the instructors that she was more than just a simple girl. As the last boy filed back into his position in the lines Madison took up her pistol and carefully took aim. The first shot splintering the bound man's wrist as the second and third shots found their mark at the man's elbow and shoulder, causing red stains to immediately appear on the man's uniform. Quite an impressive round if she did say so herself.

"Quite a good job, Madison. I think you will give Pierre a good run for his money for valedictorian of the class. Let's see who the better marksman is," the instructor said as he handed Pierre his pistol.

This little girl might have made the best of his over confidence at the battle arena, but he wouldn't let her get the best of him now that he knew what to expect. His marksmanship was second to none; there was no way that she could beat him this time.

"Now, you will need to hit all ten pain points within a quarter of an inch to qualify, the one who does it the fastest with the best accuracy wins," the instructor explained.

"WAR!" the instructor yelled.

Pierre quickly took out the bound women's ankles within seconds as he heard the quick mirroring of bullets from Madison's gun. Without thinking of what he was doing he shot the women's knees out from under her along with both of her wrists. Pierre knew by the sound of gunfire that Madison was close to him, so he did what set him apart from the rest.

"Go back and play with your Barbie Dolls," Pierre hissed at her as he shot both of the women's elbows out. Pierre could easily talk to his opponent while still concentrating on the task at hand. It had been what set him out from the rest.

What the hell is he doing, Madison thought as she tried to concentrate on the task at hand. Who the hell does he think he is, I kicked his ass at the arena. He has no reason to think that I won't do it now, and I have never had a doll in my life. Suddenly feeling enraged with anger she jerked her gun down level with Pierre's head.

"Madison, finish your task!" The instructor yelled.

Pierre saw that he had hit a nerve with Madison as he noticed her change position with her gun out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't pay attention to her as he was taught to finish the task before taking on a personal vendetta. As he nailed the last shot at the women's right shoulder Pierre quickly turned his body around to acknowledge that he had seen Madison's change of task.

"PEACE!" The instructor yelled acknowledging Pierre's victory.

Pierre's title safely in place, his squad and he began their way up to the barracks to get their team assignments. Making sure that he was out of earshot of any of the instructors, Pierre got close enough so that only Madison would be able to hear what he muttered.

"Better luck next time, Doll," Pierre muttered under his breath as he increased his pace to leave Madison behind him.

As Pierre neared the barracks he could already hear the low conversations begin about who was on whose team. Why worry who was on his team, it was already a given that he would be squad leader just like he always was. He would make his team as strong as possible, but he wouldn't get attached to them, all that led to was failed missions. Not to mention that getting personally attached to a team member was strictly prohibited by Umbrella.

Pierre had never liked the barracks much; they were all modeled in a hunter green tile, along with having several windows that left him feeling vulnerable. He quickly pushed people out of his way as he made his way to the form, which held the team assignments. All of the soldiers seemed to be in the small commons area to find out how well their team measured up to the others. As Pierre reached the form he saw Marius to the right scrolling down the form with his eyes.

"Pierre, looks like me and you will be working together," Marius said as he saw Pierre approach.

"You'll make a good addition with your strength Marius, so who's the other person?" Pierre asked already seeing himself as Lord Spencer's right hand after he finished as number one in the team rankings as well as individual.

Marius's face seemed to fall as he realized what the answer to Pierre's question was. He didn't want to have to tell his new captain that his competition had been assigned to their team, but what other choice did he have.

"The third member of our team, the weak link, would be Madison Roberts," Marius informed him.

"No problem, in fact it's probably the best thing that could have happened. This will give me a chance to teach the girl that I am her superior in every way. Besides we can always slip up, put her on point and kill her if things don't go as we want them," Pierre said with what could have been a smile.

Everything seemed to be turning out in his favor. He was team leader for what seemed to be the strongest team, he could easily dispose of Madison if she became problematic, and if things kept this pace he would be Lord Spencer's right hand man before he was eighteen.

"Why hasn't Pierre been started with the BOWs?" a shadowed man asked in the direction of Lord Spencer.

"I wanted to make sure that his skills were tested by Madison first. Instead of testing Pierre as an individual though, I have decided to make it official combat training for all of the teams," Lord Spencer answered to the board of directors.

"Speaking of Madison, do you not think that aside from testing his skills that she will not become a distraction to him?" another shadowed man asked.

"That was my exact intention. Pierre, as loyal as he seems at this time, may waver as he grows older and to insure his allegiance to the company I have arranged another tragic betrayal to befall Pierre," Lord Spencer answered as he slowly rose from his feet.

"Just make sure that you have everything in control this time Spencer, we don't need another Wesker in our midst," the shadowed man at the end of the table said dismissing Lord Spencer from the meeting.