Perfect School

I looked over Kyra before shrugging and nodding. "So be it. What range and what weapons?" I asked my eyes flicking over the walls full of guns.

Kyra:

“Short range.”  I said.  I was a decent shooter, but I usually trained with hand guns.  I went over to the weapons and selected one of my dad’s favorite pieces.

"So be it." I grabbed a gun nearly identical to her choice. I carried it to the table and dismantled it to check it out. Satisfied I rebuilt it, then grabbed a clip and began filling it with bullets.

Kyra:

I had gone straight to getting my clip and bullets. I felt slightly embarrassed when she got praised for her attentiveness by the teacher. But then I knew that all the guns here were regularly cleaned and maintained. We did so at the end of every class.

"I do not know you or the ones who last used this gun. So, I had to check it." I stated, as if the man were an idiot. "What are the terms of the duel?" I asked as I walked.

I followed along behind Kyra, as did a good portion of the class to watch. I could hear the whispers behind me as I walked. They wanted to see just who could get such a perfect score. "What is the challenge?" I asked as we arrived to the indoor range.

"I figured we could just do simple target practice. See who can get the most points on a target." Kyra offered with a smile.

I rolled my shoulders and looked down range. It was humanoid paper target, with the biggest scores being the center of the forehead and the heart. I nodded. "Agreed. You first." I set the gun on the ledge beside me as I folded my arms and watched her stance and accuracy while shooting. She fired all fifteen rounds into the target before setting down the gun and gesturing to me.

I nodded once, picked up the gun and aimed. I had my body facing her, one arm by my side, the other lifted straight at the shoulder to hold the pistol. My posture was relaxed as if this was no more different then stretching. The gun barked and bucked in my hand in rapid succession, much faster than she had fired. When every round was spent I lowered the gun down to hang by my waist.

The teacher hit the call buttons and the targets came close, right up the windows. Every shot of mine was grouped together, practically over lapping at the center of the heart and the center of the forehead. I didn't bother to look at her as I popped out the clip from the gun and carried both back into the main room. I set them down on a table with a sign marking it as where you placed used guns.

 
 

Kira:

I stood by the table, leaning my hip against it as I roamed my eyes over the others. Some were already heading off for their competitions. Others were mingling, trying to find friends or people they expected to beat.

Jonah:

Emily challenged me first. I beat her easily, but it didn't seem to ruffle her. She didn't mind me beating her or Dayo, who was the only other person above her before today. But she always dried to beat us, even if she knew she wouldn't be able to, which I admired.
I watched Kira studying the others. I wonder what she thought about us. If she was thinking it was too easy. "Mid-range?" I asked her by way of challenge after making my way over to her.

Kira:

I watched others compete and by all accounts I was unimpressed by all but a few. Some I knew were hiding their skill, others were struggling just with the basics. No one else challenged me, though a few gathered up the courage to approach me but could never cross the line into asking. I wondered if I was that intimidating as a challenger, but decided it didn't matter too terribly much. I finally got my chance to touch another gun when Jonah came up. "Fine, the test?" I asked as I approached the wall of guns that would perform best for mid-range combat.

Jonah:

I smiled and simply said, "follow me." I took her over to the mid range and went to the wall, the targets had to be activated, and the speed set. Most of the students didn't like doing this during class because it took extra time to set up. I set the speed and targets to the max then turned to face Kira. "Ladies first?" I offered.

I grabbed an M-4 rifle and cycled through dismantling it, checking it, and putting it back together with a new laser sight. I knelt and took aim at a stationary target, firing off three rounds and making a slight adjustment to the sight before declaring it good. I grabbed a fresh clip and slid it into place. I glanced at the controls for a moment before sliding a second clip into the waist band of my pants.

I drew a breath and stood at the gate, bouncing slightly on my toes to get a rhythm going. Once I established that beat I stopped the bouncing, tagged the start button and made my way through the course. As I moved across obstacles, through rooms, up and down stairs, even one zone in darkness. I hit each target in the heart, a double tap. Halfway through, I ejected the clip to switch it with the one in my waist band. I stepped over the exit line exactly six minutes after I had started. With every target going, the average time to complete was nine or so minutes.

Once again, my accuracy had been flawless, and each target bore the marks of my shots. A double tap to each heart.

Jonah:

I selected the very same gun she chose. Once I saw her results I knew I wouldn't be able to beat her. That wasn't a problem for me. It was very impressive what she was able to do, I didn't feel the need to show her up, however, I would do my best.
I went through the course doing it as quickly I could while maintaining accuracy. I hit every target, and I was finished in six minutes and 49 seconds. My accuracy wasn't near as good as hers, while they were all killing shots, most I only his once, and they weren't dead center.

I checked his score and I sighed and rubbed my face. Was everyone in this school like this? Jonah was supposed to be the best of the school and his score was good but none of the students were at my level. I moved over to the long range wall and I grabbed a fifty cal off the wall. I disassembled it, changed out the barrel for something a little shorter, switched out the scope to a broader and deeper one before I shouldered the rifle by the strap. I worked on loading a thick clip with large bullets when the teacher came by. "Are you sure you want to use something that big little lamb? You could hurt yourself if you don't handle the kick."

I ignored him and finished loading the clip before I slammed it into the rifle and drew back the bolt. "Sir. That symbol on your shoulder is what was known and used only by the sniper assassin. Your rules stated that we can pick anyone and challenge them. I pick you sir. Long range, target accuracy with snipers."

Jonah:

Myself and the few other students who were waiting to take their turn watched Kira and the teacher with interest. He looked mildly flustered but he accepted without protest. He chose his rifle and followed the girl who was two heads shorter than he was.
It was an interesting and bold move to challenge the teacher, something I surprisingly had never thought to do.

I took us to the outside range, where far off in the distance, ranging from many yards, up to 2 miles away. I moved one of the logs so I could lay across it. "You first sir." I called as I set up my rifle.

The teacher laid down in the dirt and took aim, firing down range at the targets way off in the distance. Ten shots he fired before he was done. In all, I had to give him credit. I used binoculars to check where he had hit on each target before I passed the binoculars off to someone close. I didn't care who, I just held them out till someone took them. I laid down on the log, one hand going to the trigger, the other arm laying permendicular under the rifle. It looked huge next to my small body, but I didn't care.

I pulled a part of my scarf up to cover my mouth and nose in soft red fabric before I laid my head down and closed one eye to look down the sights. I drew in a slow breath and on the release I fired. The big gun roared as the bullet left and hit the target right where I wanted it too. I changed targets, paused, breathed, and fired again. Each shot from the heavy caliber shuddered the log under me, each shot cracked out into the air and sped down range, each shot hit the middle of the target. I fired and hit every target, no matter the distance or the changing wind. And I did it in less time than the teacher. With every other gun I was good. With a sniper rifle. I was the best. After I was done I stood up, lifting the rifle with me. I walked over to the teacher and passed him the rifle before I walked back inside admists the silence of the students and the awed look on the teachers face.

Jonah:

I went back inside while the other students finished their challenges. I was deeply impressed. She had a perfect score on all three of hers. I went to clean the weapons I had used and place them back where they belonged.

Kira:

I was in the corner sitting down, rubbing my hands. I had been overly ambitious and was now paying the price. No matter how good you were at handling a gun, and I was one of the best. If your body couldn't handle it, then you needed to stop. I had been firing a fifty caliber sniper rifle. The amount of kickback was enormous. And my right hand was raw and bleeding across the palm. I stayed on the floor for a few seconds longer before I bounced to my feet and moved to leave for the infirmary.

Jonah:

The class ended soon after Kira left. I could guess where she went, I had seen the blood on her hand. And it hadn't surprised me, for all her skill, Kira was still small and not as strong as someone larger than her.

I left the infirmary ten minutes later, the palm of my hand wrapped up in a bandage. I flexed my hand and though it hurt like hell I didn't show it. I was sure I was going to have classes soon, or perhaps not. I didn't care. I needed to vent, so I went to the place Jonah had informed me was the gym.

Kyra:

I got quiet when someone entered the gym, usually people didn't come in here in between classes. Andrew looked up and over at the door, I twisted around to see who it was and gave a little wave when I saw it was Kira.

I lifted my bandaged hand in a small gesture of acknowledgement before I grabbed fighters gloves and approached a punching bag. The teacher came to approach me and ask what I was doing, but a look and a few short words and he left me alone. I had beaten one teacher today, I was more than happy to do it for a second time. I used my teeth to help me tighten the gloves on my hands before I approached the bag and settled into a moderate fighters stance. Three quick blows and the bag was quivering. but then a round house kick sent it wheeling away from me. My blood felt like it was roaring, a feeling I almost always started to feel after seeing blood I had caused.