C350 The Four Platoons

Angus the Hammer looked at Alicia for a moment before answering. “Madam, after everything we have just told you, do you really think we can simply tell everyone to wait?” Alicia remained quiet. Angus the Hammer turned his attention toward her and Sarah. “Miss, how many months along are you?” Alicia placed a hand gently over her belly. “I am about to finish my seventh month.” Angus the Hammer nodded before looking at Sarah. “And you?” Sarah smiled faintly. “I am in the middle of my eighth month.”

Angus the Hammer smiled. “Then that is not bad at all. In about twelve weeks, both of you should be ready to start properly. Until then, we can begin with lighter training.” Alicia nodded. “What kind of training can we do while pregnant?” “The safest option for now is long-distance shooting,” Angus The Hammer explained. “You will not be running around or engaging in close combat. Lewis the Sniper and Oliver the Viper will handle your training.”

Lewis the Sniper nodded. “I will teach you how to control your breathing, hold your position, judge distance, and remain patient before taking a shot.” Oliver the Viper added, “And I will make sure you learn how to handle the weapon properly. Accuracy comes before speed.” Alicia looked at Sarah, then at the rest of us. “We can do that.” Sarah nodded. “We're ready.” The coaches soon brought out the sniper rifles. The weapons were placed carefully in front of us. Alicia looked at them with curiosity. Angus the Hammer immediately raised a hand. “One important thing before you touch them.”

Everyone turned toward him. “These sniper rifles are not registered to any of you. If one of them is ever used in a killing, it will not immediately be traced back to the person training with it. However, that does not mean you can be careless. These are still dangerous weapons.” Everyone nodded seriously. Alicia looked around the training hall. “Well, now everyone knows which group they belong to, right?” There were several nods. Alicia smiled. “Then I think it is time to give every group a name.” The employees looked at one another with interest. “As your leader, I need to be able to organize everyone properly. My army cannot simply be one large group. We need platoons.”

Angus the Hammer smiled slightly at the word. Alicia continued. “The first group will be called the Highlanders. Whenever I call for the Highlanders, everyone in that group will know I am calling them.” Several employees smiled. “The second group will be the Wolves.” The members of the second line straightened proudly. “The third group will be the Ravens.” A few people exchanged excited looks. “And the fourth group will be the Falcons.” Alicia paused before pointing toward us. “Our group will be known as the Lions.”

Chris immediately grinned. “Lions? I like that.” Alicia laughed. “Everyone must train hard. You are not only learning to fight. You are learning to protect yourselves and the people beside you. Remember that every loss of life means one less person in your platoon.” The hall became quiet. Everyone understood what she meant. Fraser the Reaper smiled. “Madam, you are very smart.” Conner the Beast nodded. “She has to be. I cannot wait to see her leading her own army alongside ours and the other groups back home.”

Alicia laughed nervously. “It is far too early for me to lead an army that large. I still have to learn how to fight before Hanna kills me.” The coaches laughed. Chris shook his head. “You are already talking about leading an army while you are still learning how to shoot.” Alicia looked at him. “And whose fault is that?” Chris immediately pointed at himself. “Not mine.” Everyone laughed. After the laughter settled, Alicia turned toward the employees again. “I hope everyone saw the notice Faith posted.”

Several people nodded. “Training officially begins tomorrow. Today was only about organizing everyone, registering the weapons, and making sure we understand what we are doing.” She paused. “I also want to thank everyone for your hard work. I read the latest reports, and the errors we were dealing with have finally been cleared. Our clients are happy with the products again.” The employees smiled. I laughed and added, “Maybe we should thank Colen and Kayla as well. Their fight somehow solved the misunderstanding.” The entire hall erupted in laughter.

One employee from the production department shouted, “Kayla beat them and they surrendered immediately!” Everyone laughed even harder. Alicia shook her head, smiling. “Alright, everyone. You are dismissed. Tomorrow is going to be a big day.” Slowly, the employees began leaving the training hall. The coaches remained behind. Alicia looked toward the ten men. “Well, I think it is time for you all to meet my family.” She smiled. “I command you to come with me.” The coaches laughed. Angus the Hammer placed a hand over his chest. “As you command, Madam.”

Sarah, however, was already exhausted from standing for so long. She turned toward Chris. “I am tired. I'm going home.” Chris nodded and started walking with her. Before they reached the door, Sarah turned around. “Sam, are you leaving with us?” Samantha shook her head. “No. I'll come later.” Sarah looked confused. “Why?” Samantha pointed toward Faith. “I'm going to train with her.” Sarah looked at Faith, who immediately smiled. Alicia remembered something. “Sarah, you are forgetting your gun.” Sarah stopped. “You said you were followed this morning. Take it with you.”

Sarah nodded and walked back to her locker for her weapon. Chris took his as well. I took mine, and Alicia collected hers. Samantha did the same. Laura, however, hesitated. “If I take this home, they are going to ask me so many questions.” Alicia laughed. “But you said your family agreed.” Laura gave her an awkward smile. “They agreed, yes. But now that I'm actually holding a gun, everything suddenly feels much more real.” Chris looked at her. “So you would rather be attacked and killed because carrying a gun feels too real?”

Laura immediately looked at him. “I knew you were going to say something like that.” Chris laughed. “Then take it. And if you're too scared to carry it inside your house, leave it locked safely in your car.” Laura smiled. “That is probably the first sensible thing you ever said.” Chris frowned. “What do you mean the first?” Everyone laughed. Laura finally took her gun. Faith looked toward Alicia. “Director, should I take mine as well?” Alicia stared at her. “If you don't take it and I suddenly call for the Lions in the middle of the night, are you going to come all the way back here first to collect your gun before going to war?”

Chris laughed. “This is the Alicia I know!” Alicia shook her head while everyone laughed. Faith finally picked up her weapon. “Alright. I'll take it.” One by one, everyone left the training hall. Soon, only Samantha and Faith remained. They looked at each other. Faith smiled. “So, what do we start with?” Samantha pointed toward the training equipment. “Let's start with the basics.” They began slowly. First, they worked on their stance. Then they moved to the punching bags, practicing their punches and combinations. Neither of them was trying to show off. They were simply getting used to the movements.

After some time, Samantha looked toward the boxing ring. “What about a fight?” Faith immediately smiled. “You want another rematch?” Samantha nodded. “Why not?” Faith climbed into the ring. “Fine.” They started carefully. At first, neither woman attacked aggressively. They moved around each other, blocking and testing one another. Samantha threw the first serious punch. Faith stepped back. She smiled. “You're getting faster.” Samantha laughed. “You haven't seen anything yet.” They continued.

The fight became faster as both women became more comfortable. Samantha suddenly threw an unexpected punch. Faith barely avoided it. She stepped back again, but Samantha used the opening to close the distance. She grabbed Faith and locked her into a position. Faith struggled. Samantha tightened her hold. “Tap out.” Faith shook her head. “No.” She tried to break free. Samantha maintained the hold. “Faith, tap.” Faith continued struggling. For a moment, it seemed like neither woman wanted to give in.

Then Faith suddenly did something Samantha never expected. She leaned forward and kissed her. Samantha froze. Her grip loosened immediately. Faith used the opening to break free and stepped away laughing. She pointed at Samantha. “In a real battle, you do whatever you have to do to win.” Samantha stood completely still. Faith grinned. “You lost focus.” Samantha didn't answer. She slowly touched her lips, still trying to process what had just happened.