Lieutenant Stone

"Lieutenant!" The harsh words feel like an anvil crushing down on my skull. "Lieutenant Stone!" I shake my head violently back and forth as the loud, raspy voice continues to make my brain throb. "Quiet the fuck down would you?" My voice is hoarse, with fire searing the back of my throat. "And get me some water..." the demand is weak, clearly showing just how bad of shape I'm in. Finally, I allow my eyelids to flutter open as the bright fluorescent lights flood my pupils. I pull myself up into a sitting position and gaze wearily around the room, unsure as to where I am. A canteen finds its way from my captains hand to mine "drink up Lieutenant, you're going to need it. I've put a new recruit in your hands to train. Unfortunately, that was prior to your injury..." the large man trails off as if caught up in deep thought "I'll still hand her over to you, I'll just need to let her know how the circumstances have changed. You think you'll be up for the task?" I wipe the excess water off my mouth and part my lips in a hearty but only half amused laugh. "She!? Sir, there is no damn way I heard that correctly. Half your men can't hang with me, you really thing a woman can?" I scoff and shake my head. "Absolutely fucking pathetic, she'll tuck tail and run within the day" my eyes roll as I finish up with my water, distain tainting the taste on my tongue. The man rolls his eyes at my snide comment, clearly unamused. "Haha, real funny Stone" his raspy voice growls "yes you heard me correctly, just give her a chance. She might just surprise you. She has a long history within the forces, marked as a stone cold killer. Fuck it, she might be better than you!" He gives a small smirk,possibly enough to be considered a smile before turning down his lips back to his usual scowl of a look. "If you aren't ready come morning, let me know and I'll set up arrangements to post pone training alright?" The beat of his boots against the concrete floor abruptly ended the conversation as he turned and marched away, not intending to get a response from me. Grudgingly, I push myself up off the bed, wincing at the pain shooting across my body. My bones scream in protest as I stretch, a groan leaving my throat before I trudge my aching body out of the med tent and over to my room to lie down for the duration of the night.

The morning sunlight pours onto my face,the pain in my body waking as I do. "Shit..." I mumble to myself, knowing the new recruit is due to meet with me in training today. My strides are long and pained as I make my way over to the bathroom. I gaze into my reflection before splashing cool water over my face. This week has been hell and I don't see today breaking that cycle. In all my years of working on the task force, training newbies will always be on the bottom of enjoyment list. Nobody seems to be able to keep pace with me and weakness gets you killed in this field, therefore I see no reason to take it easy. I gaze once more at my scarred face in the mirror and slip my baclava and signature mask over my head. After skimming over the few outfits in my closet, I settle on a simple black tee and my usual forest green tactical pants. I throw on my boots and let out a long sigh, swinging the door open to my room and head my way out to the field.

"This is fucking stupid, why should I have to train this woman if she's so good anyway..." the thoughts dance around in my mind as the smoke from my cigarette dances around in my lungs,preoccupying me as I await my new recruit.

"Lieutenant!" Her voice rings out,sounding like nails on a chalkboard as it reaches my ears. "I'm going to make the assumption that you're my new recruit" I retort, closing my eyes and taking a deep inhale off my cigarette. She gives me a nod of acknowledgement before looking me up and down, seeming to size me up, good for battle. "I'm anything but, I may be new to you but I've been around this block plenty of times. Name's Leah by the way" her face was confident,arrogant if you will, which enraged me all the more. This whole ordeal was a drag. My body was still searing with pain and If there's anything I hate more than new recruits, it's new recruits who think they're hot shit.

Reluctantly, I reach out to her hand and give her a firm handshake, taken a bit off guard by the little ladies strength. "So I've heard a bit about you, captain Ray said you're experienced. I'm holding you to high standards so do not expect me to go easy on you." The face I wore beneath the mask was painted was painted with a sadistic smi as I gave her hand a tight squeeze and dropped it from my grip. The smug look across her face challenged me to do my worst. "I'll blow your ass out of the water" she boasted confidently and without waiver in her voice. "Shall we begin then?" I barked back, the pain I felt just a second ago was quickly replaced as adrenaline coursed it's way through my body.