A Rainbow No More- Chapter 8
A Guest in the reviews said, "Yayyy hungergames!" for chapter 7.
Well, no. Not exactly. It's war, not a game of death.
Unless you were seeing a connection with the training arena, that is.
The descriptions in this story are only minimal right now. When the squad goes into combat, it's not going to be all simple. Got it?
Well, enjoy!
Rainbow's eyes widened. Applejack made a concerned face. Flood looked at Sharp Stone. Sharp Stone said, "Dude, get over it."
The group of four was split up, each being directed to a station they excelled at, Rainbow's being aerial agility and stealth. Applejack was put in the melee and hoof-to-hoof combat area. Flying Flood occupied the firearm and ranged weapons section, and Sharp Stone was in computer science and technology section.
"You are about to begin a test, to measure your skill level in your highest areas," a voice sounded.
"Post test, you will begin squad classes, in order to obtain knowledge of the proper use of each skill you will learn or advance in." There was a pause. "Your test begins... now."
Rainbow took to the skies. She evaded mimic aircrafts, dodged obstacles, and shot to the finish line in less than ten seconds. The session was rather short. Her results were recorded, and she was sent back to the waiting room. She was alone, just waiting.
Applejack wielded her knife, and charged a training pony, the ballistic gel of its artificial flesh gave a soft luster. She jabbed the knife into the back of the dummy's neck, then bucked its head clean off. It was quick, and boring, but it was also very important. She was ordered to go to the waiting room, where she found Rainbow.
"Oh, no shit. You, first one to be waiting."
"It was way to quick for me."
"It was a one-step evaluation, so that makes sense."
They sat there. Waiting.
Flood and Stone entered a little later. Flood was sweating, and Stone was pretty angry.
"I can't believe... I just wasted... thirty seconds of my life... to make a calendar with JavaScript."
"Well, I can't believe I just wasted a good hundred pounds of ammunition to make some holes in a lifeless dummy."
It was a boring exercise. It's even boring to read, I bet.
But, because the test was over, the intercom booted up.
"Classes will begin in an hour. Lunch will be served in the mess hall in five minutes. It's your only lunch break, so I'd get down there." It was Blue Blade.
"Thanks." Rainbow trudged off.
The rest followed her.
The Mess Hall was a large room. It was a little smaller than the Training Sector, but not bigger than a normal cafeteria.
There was a long line of other ponies, waiting for their food.
"Ok, no." Applejack was offended by the long wait ahead.
"Dude, it's food," Sharp Stone remarked.
"Dude, SHUT UP, it's a long ass line," replied Rainbow.
"It's our only lunch, and our only break. C'mon," said Flood.
The four waited in line.
The line became shorter by the minute, but it seemed like hours.
"It's gonna be a long day..."
They had finished their lunch, and were off to classes.
The first class was Commands and Authority. The pony at the front gave a monologue about who's who.
The speaker announced that if you are below rank 2, you address all other ranks as Sir or Miss. If you are below rank 2 and are addressing a rank 7 or higher, you will address them as such.
Very submissively.
As the class wore on, Rainbow started to get... drowsy...
"YOU. Top right. Name, please."
"Uh, um... Rainbow Dash."
"Get the fuck down here."
"O-Ok..."
"WHAT?"
"Yes, Sir."
"What do you do, if you are in combat, and a fellow soldier goes down?"
"You go back?"
Rainbow didn't even know they went over this.
"NO."
"You... keep going?"
"Yes. You save yourself."
"Really?"
"Yes. You save yourself because if you go back, we lose two soldiers, not one."
"But what if I save them? What if I survive?"
"That's too much of a risk."
She looked over at Applejack.
She remembered that vow.
Will Rainbow end up ...following directions?
Who knows?
Question: How many out of 32 do you think will survive?
Thanks for reading!
