S.E.E.D.
Chapter 5: A walk in the woods
The rest of the night was hardly something she expected of military training. Dante had started singing camping songs soon joined by Irvine, Snake and the two techies. It was a living nightmare for the rest of the team that felt like dying after the fifth go at "It's a small world after all". Scarface had excused himself from the fire, claiming to be checking supplies. Why the hell didn't she think of that herself ?
The ironic part of her mind told her this was maybe some training in preparation of the horrors they would face. Surely after that, nothing could scare them, right ? Surely not her that was sure. She had been hunting demons for more than a year now. Ever since…
- Anyone know some good marching songs ?
She, Squall and Vergil simultaneously yelled : "NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!". Dante jumped from surprise at the hostile reaction he had had. It was morning and the group had started walking their way back to the base. Considering the trip was going to be long and exhausting, their was NO way she was going to go through that again. Squall and Vergil were of same opinion apparently.
- Ok ok, no need to be so short tempered.
The band simply went on with marching. Half an hour later, Hal simply asked what most were wondering.
- At the risk of sounding like a kid in the car on the way to the beach, how far do we still have?
- I'd have to say we have for the rest of the day, at best. That's if we don't meet obstacles. Knowing my luck..
She shared Snake's lack of optimism about the hike. There was bound to be trouble. At least, it would only last a day..
(One week, lots of hurts, 553 camping songs, and a rise to the ethereal skies of vulgarity later..)
They had made it. They were back at the base. They just walked in, awaited by Sergeant Johnson and the two other SOLDIERS. The grunts were trying very hard not to laugh out loud while the sergeant was asking them in a humorous tone:
- So, what took you so long soldiers?
Hadn't it been a direct superior, she could have killed him for this. The whole team was completely down, tired, wounded, ragtag, and very pissed off. Vergil simply grumbled:
- …cking shortcut…
- Go to the showers and then show up to the mess, we'll be telling you about your time table for the next months.
The team simply headed for their buildings, Squall saying:
- Lets promise never to speak of this again..
All of them answered: "Agreed".
xxxxxxx
30 minutes later, they were in the mess waiting for the sergeant's announcement. They were all in an abysmally bad mood. Even good hearted Irvine and Hal looked like wanting to get their hands on something to kill. No one else will ever know what happened during that week, EVER.
Best not to think about it, Gordon decided. What happened happened. Nothing short of time spells of electroshock therapy was going to erase that.
Johnson and the two other spiky haired SOLDIERS arrived in the room and posted themselves in front of the wall board.
- You have just beaten the record time in getting here! By that I mean no one has taken that much time to come back here.
The group was very tempted to kill him where he stood. Only sheer willpower (or the two gigantic swords the SOLDIERS carried) preserved them from doing so.
- But your case is not too desperate as you all made it here alive and without any limbs missing. There might still be hope for your lot.
He took a dry marker pen and started writing on the white board.
- So, this is how it's gonna be every day for the next months. Awaking at 06:00, showers, and dressing. Breakfast at 06:30 in the mess hall. Then it'll be fitness class for the whole morning. Running, push ups, weight lifting, if you're trying to lose weight, ladies, now's your chance. Then, at 13:00, lunch, followed at 13:45 by shooting practice and weapons drill until 15:30. After that, its close combat training : martial arts, brawl, swords, you name it, we're gonna teach you all that stuff. At 19:00 you get supper then you have the rest of the evening to yourselves. Sleep is at 22:00. That of course, is subject to modifications if I fell like doing some special training. You know the stuff, night fighting, combat simulation… Oh, and just so you know, we don't do weekends here.
Johnson briefly looked at his watch before going back to the squad.
- Seems it's supper time now. Enjoy your meal!
xxxxxxxx
So, for the next few months, their whole life consisted of:
Physical training:
- 57, 58, 59, 60.
He had finished his pushups. To that, Hal fell on the ground completely drained of all energy. He was soon joined by Sergeant Johnson who had his usual sadistic smile.
- Well well, looks like you finished your pushups. You made a valiant effort there soldier. Only a truly sadistic and evil being would ask you to do 200 more for the fun of it.
- Urrgll, thanks sir.
- So, do these other 200 now!
Weapons training:
Irvine and Dante were on the shooting range competing against each other. Despite the fact that the whole squad was trained to use them (even Vergil who absolutely hated them), Dante and Irvine were the definite experts in guns. While Irvine was into rifles and shotguns Dante was a wizard with handguns, especially dual handguns.
- Irvine, I bet you 15 gils you can't shoot a smiley on a target at 100 meters.
- You're about to lose 15 gils. I wasn't a sniper in the police for nothing.
Blam! blam! blam! blam! blam! blam!
The automatic target mover brought it back, showing a smiley made of bullet holes.
- DOH!!!
Tactics:
The sergeant was showing a tactical map in the briefing room. The squad were on chairs looking at the map.
- There's an enemy bunker full of five enemy soldiers holding it. What do you do?
- CHARGE!!!!!!
- FIRE AT WILL!!!!
- Aye aye aye aye aye…
More physical training:
- Come on you morons. We only have 20 miles left to run cross country!
More weapons training:
Cloud and Zack were standing in the centre of the ring. Around them were the whole future squad completely KO.
Occasionally some rest periods:
- Food, glorious food, wonderful food…
- Shut up Dante.
- You're a sourpuss, Squall.
But after a lot of efforts…
Sergeant Johnson was addressing to the now fully trained squad. They were standing like real soldiers, straight in their uniforms.
- OK, I'm real crap at good buy speeches, so I'll make it short. When you arrived, you were a real sorry bunch. 5 months later, thanks to my work, you are now something that vaguely looks like a SOLDIER. But I have to say, you're not full blooded SOLDIERS yet. Sure, you have all the training, the skills, the tactics and that stuff, but there's something you haven't got yet and that is experience. Sure, you've had a few kills before for some of you, but you haven't seen war yet. Survive your first battle and you'll be a soldier. So my last order is simple: kick ass to whatever the government had planned to have you kick ass, and come back alive to brag about it.
He saluted the squad that promptly saluted back. Big Boss then addressed everyone present in the room.
- Good work sergeant, I couldn't have hoped better results from anyone else. Now, troops, the first phase of your formation is finished and the second one will begin. But first, you have a one week permition to recover and prepare for the second phase. I highly suggest you take full benefit of it as the rest of the training will be even more demanding.
Part of the crowd gulped while Zacks and Cloud whistled in surprise at the announcement. Gordon wondered just how on Gaia the training could get any worse than what they just went through.
Saying their goodbuys to Cloud and Zacks (with whom they became pretty good pals), the squad moved towards the helicopter heading to Midgar.
xxxxxxx
The squad was in the helicopter, they were getting close enough to Midgar to see it from the windows. Dante looked at the window.
- Cool, will be the first time I'll get to go on the doughnut.
- For Hyne's sake Dante, it's the pizza.
Quistis asked the fatal question.
- Why do you call it doughnut?
Vergil groaned, Dante would give his dumb explanation.
- Was in a Simpson episode. The one where the family went to Midgar. Homer keeps calling it the doughnut. Bart keeps correcting him saying it's the pizza.
Hal laughed:
- Ah yes, that episode was excellent. Almost laughed myself a hernia.
Irvine redirected the conversation to a more short term subject.
- So guys, what you're planning to do with that week?
None of them seemed to know. Big Boss butted in the conversation.
- I just like to remind you that you were paid during the training period.
Dante looked interested.
- How much?
Meanwhile, in Wutai…
Yuffie was happily training with her shurikens, when all of a sudden…
- WOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
- What the … ?
Back over Midgar…
Everyone stared at Dante with big eyes and disbelief. Squall was the first to reprimand him.
- Are you out of your mind to shout so bloody loud ?
Mary went second.
- I think I'm deaf, thanks a lot.
- Sorry guys, I've simply never had that much money before. Do what you want, I'm going to Gold Saucer. Anyone want to tag along.
Big Boss smiled.
- Might be a good chance to know each other better.
Irvine took an announcement tone:
- SEED is going to the Gold Saucer.
And before anyone could protest, they were all going to Gold Saucer.