Earth Warriors (Undergoing Revision)

Chapter 183 - After the Bloodbath

March 23rd, 2019. Police training camp. Richmond, Virginia. 11:34. 

In a wide shooting range outside the building, with the clouds and mist shrouding most of the sky and even around the buildings, a common sight in the freezing grounds of the north of the US during the early months of the year, a prelude for the soothing winds of spring about to come. For many, it's a sign to stay hidden, stay inside their homes to protect themselves from the freezing blizzards of the outskirts. But for others, it's an obstacle to surpass in whatever duty one may have when going outdoors. 

A training camp near some grass fields, the building behind the field that is a long shooting range. One that stretches a few miles from side to side, covering many grounds that can fill many people in many ways. One side is split between barriers separating the individuals and the shooting targets that were placed far away from their position. Many of them fired their Glock pistols at varying rates of firepower, all while they wore special coats for the weather, all wearing headphones to sustain the noise too. Most of them grunted or winced, yet still kept going at it. 

Other officers watched from the sidelines, some sitting and observing how each trainee operated, and others walking on each side, either observing how each trainee in the shooting range performed or barking at them based on how they performed. Some are more colorful than others in their words, even more restrained than the usual bunch. Most of them being fair-skinned men. 

"Stop shooting like you're using a NERF gun!" 

"Why does your pinky twitch?" 

"Did your grandfather teach you to shoot when he was seventy years old?!" 

"Shoot slower than a tortoise, and you'll get it comin'!" 

And so forth do these words came by. 

One officer in particular, a balding man with graying hair, and some stubble in the beard, he narrowed his eyes while inspecting each of the trainees. Some with their shoulders hanging down, missing their shots, or some of them keeping a steady aim, their bodies composed and focused by all means necessary. Sharp as the most precise fingers could be, others were barely about to contain the recoil of the gunfire. He shook his head every time that happened. 

Until a swift glance in the further right side of the barrier caught something else. 

A blonde woman who held her gun tight and firm, a bobcut haircut to the mix, her eyes were wide yet steel-focused on the target ahead, with each pull of the trigger feeling faster than the last, and with one eagle-eyed glance from the middle-aged man, something he spotted on the far side was enough for him to get wide-eyed at it, even nodding slowly at what he saw from the woman's shooting, one that was likely not seen for so long. 

At least for someone like Eddie Wolfen in those times. Back when there was nothing much worth noticing in his job for the police, in his way at least. 

For that, he approached the woman from behind, stopping at a relatively close distance yet still within her personal space. She took off the headphones and glanced at both sides before a sight of the jacket had her salute Eddie firmly. 

"Ain't that afraid to shoot it all up, huh?" Eddie asked, slightly smiling. 

"Just doing what my training had to offer me, sir," the woman answered firmly, still saluting Eddie. 

"And so educated too, I'll be damned." Eddie shook his head, glancing back at the shooting dummy that was full of holes. 

Most were in perfect circles around the chest area and the head too. 

Eddie whistled at that. "As sharp as a duck on a barrel." 

"Was it enough to ensure I'll be well defended at all costs, sir?" the woman asked again.