6 – Year 5
This is the year everyone had been waiting for; the year of Combat Training …
Oh the thrill of battle was something that many took up in their years. Being in year 5 meant that they could choose some subjects and drop Medics, something; needless to say, Magnus had been dying to do since the first day.
And so it came to no surprise that at the end of year 4, a file was uploaded onto every PC the children had. It stated:
To all fourth years,
You may choose two of the following classes to be added to your subject to take next year. Another list has been composed of the two subjects you must drop. If you are happy with your classes, do not fill this form out.
Subjects to take:
Combat Training []
Energon Studies []
Advanced Medics []
Explorer Science []
Forestry []
CPU studies []
Music [] (Can be taken as an extra class)
Ancient Artefacts []
Subjects to drop:
Language []
Sports []
Medics []
History []
There is also one more selected study that you have been given as well as your regular seven classes, as Study Of Martial Arts will no longer continue.
Your subject is Leadership Training
"'Leadership Training?'" Optimus had mused out loud as he read his file. "Why would they do that?"
"I got it too!" Magnus had said happily. "I am soooo dropping Medics …"
And so the fifth year began. The last of Orioe's hot weather bathed all the young mechs as they made their way to the school. Once they arrived, they settled in for there first class – Maths.
"I hate maths, …" Springer grumbled. "It has to be the worst subject ever invented …"
"Nope, Medics was." Magnus replied, as they all proceeded to start the day's math problems. "One of the reasons I ditched it. So, what'd you choose?"
"Puh! Dropped Medics and History." Springer almost spat the last word. "If there is one thing I hate more than anything, its History …"
"I dropped Language." Optimus said, as Jetfire and Skyblast joined their table. "I feel as though I don't need it in the future."
"Everyone needs it." Ultrasound said, as he also sat down and powered up his laptop. "I'm surprised they put it on the List as one of the subjects you could ditch."
"Scavenger told me a while back that it was because of War needs." Said Skyblast. "Whatever that means …"
"War needs?" Optimus echoed, looking thoughtful. "Why would that be so? There hasn't been a war for a millennium now."
"Who said that?"
"History Jetfire, history …"
The white mech looked annoyed.
***
"Combaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat, Combaaaaaaaaaaat, oh how I love combaaaaaaaaaat …" Magnus sang as they walked to their next class later that day. Optimus glanced at him and said, "You need to calm down or you'll waste your energy." But he too was excited as any of them
"I can't help it if I'm excited!" Magnus said, grasping hold of his brother's arm and saying, "You can't say you're not."
"No," Optimus smirked, "I'm excited, but I'm not acting crazy because of it."
"Jerk." Magnus sniffed, and therefore continued walking without singing.
They entered the Classroom.
Unlike the other classrooms that had desks and computers in it, this one had armour, swords, and all kinds of guns; training simulation equipment … everything a warrior could want!
Magnus and Optimus ran over to the guns, along with everyone else in the class. While Optimus and the others admired the wicked looking weaponry, a curious looking object caught his attention. It looked like a handle of some kind for a sword, but it couldn't be … it had holes on either end, and two circles that looked like buttons on each end. They had a safe lock on them, so Magnus picked it up. He couldn't pinpoint what it was.
Their teacher, Darth, ordered everyone to sit on the mat near the front of the room. They did so, with the weapon they had chosen.
"Alright," He said. "Welcome to Combat Training! In this class this year, you will learn how to wield the weapon you have chosen just now to perfection, and then start with another. Most weapons are alike, but all need specific training in their own. Whether it is a slight tilt or bracing yourself for recoil. Each gun is unique in its own way, so it is not an option to borrow a friend's gun. The guns you have chosen are basic models, because you are only at the basic level. Once you get up in the levels, you will hopefully be able to wield more powerful weapons in time. And – What is it?"
For Magnus had just raised his hand. He then asked, "What is this weapon?" He held up the handle.
"Oh!" Darth smirked. "That is a light sabre. And quite a powerful one too! One of the higher-grade students must've left it here. You sure you want to keep that one? I don't want you slicing yourself with it."
"Yes sir!" Magnus said, and gazed at his weapon in awe. He had a higher grade weapon … oh he felt special …
"Okay!" Darth stood up from sitting on his chair, and motioned for everyone to do the same. "The first people to try will be those with guns. You will go over to the target practice area, where Dextorus will lead you in learning to load and fire your gun. For those with swords or non-projectile weaponry, you will be going over there – " He pointed, "to practice with Scrapper. Off you go!"
They parted. Optimus had chosen a gun also, and he moved away with Jetfire and the others. Magnus was about to go with Springer (who had a sword), but Darth called him back.
"Oh no, you will be staying with me." He said, and motioned for Magnus to follow him to a centre square in the middle of the room.
"Okay Magnus," He said, crossing his arms. "You've chosen that high grade weapon, now I want to tell you that you must've had a good reason to choose it. I'll tell you now, light sabres are hard to wield. And that particular one seems to have a life of its own. Sliced off the hands of 17 students to date. Your brother chose an interesting gun too …" He trailed off.
If Magnus were human, he would have gulped in nerves and fear, so instead he simply stared at his weapon, but no fear was in his optics.
Darth told him how to activate it, and suddenly, a blast of light shot up to just above Magnus's head. The red and black mech stated at the fiery sabre that glowed with energy. He felt elated by the power which he felt from the weapon curse right though his frame like magic. He swung it downwards in a smooth stroke, and found that this was easy … this was wonderful! He twirled the sabre in a 360-degree circle, mesmerised by the streaky red trail though the air it cut though. Suddenly, as though ordered, Magnus activated the other end and spun it in a continuos loop around himself. He jumped up, and brought the sabre down (deactivating one side in the process) in a slash that dinted the floor. Darth looked very impressed.
I knew it … he's a complete natural …
Optimus showed just as much skill in his area. He hit near or on the bullseye with his rifle, and Jetfire was also very skilled too. They continued to get better in the classes to come, Magnus having mastered his sabre in no less than 2 months. Optimus mastered his rifle in one and a half months, and watched Magnus for the rest of the second month practice. They both moved on to the bigger guns, and soon became the top of the class.
But Optimus was starting to feel scared too …
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I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO sorry about my lack of updates! I have been busy and a combo of loss of interest in writing for a while also worsened the case. I am going to add more to this chapter later on, but for now, that's chapter 6.
Thankyou for all sticking by me! I'll be on camp for the next 3 days, so hopefully I'll have the next chapter up by the weekend :)
Till then, Seeya!
ST