“No, raise it up a bit more… Yeah, there you go. Try now.”

I stood behind Pavo, watching him take a deep breath before firing and smacking the target in the arm. Better than last time where he somehow managed to take the foot off the target. I honestly don’t know how he did that, we were using stunners. He shouldn’t have been able to do any damage.

“I did it! I hit the target for real! Like, I actually aimed for it and I hit it!” He dropped the weapon on the table and turned to me, grinning wildly.

“Good job, Pavo! Now, next time focus on not closing your eyes when you shoot.”

I smiled at him and moved along the line to Anti. I’d flagged her earlier in the week. She was naturally good, she’d only missed once and had already started using moving targets.

Cory looked up as she shot and smiled at me. He was starting to be more comfortable with the weapons again too. It had been a struggle for that first week. He’d been ashamed of his injury. I’d tried to get him to demonstrate holding the weapons for the class but I could tell he was hating it. I’d always ask him silently if he minding doing it before asking him to show everyone the correct techniques. He’d never refuse but I could tell he was uncomfortable. We had a couple of kids from extra care orphanages who had malformed hands though and I think they really appreciated seeing Cory work out how to use them again.

I was starting to enjoy teaching more now too. I still found it uncomfortable being the centre of attention but it was getting easier. Or, at least it was getting less horrible. It was still intimidating at times but we were starting to actually get to know our trainees better and that helped. It had only been just over a week but I could already see some of them start to progress. They were getting more confident, asking questions more and talking amongst themselves. I even had to shush some of them last week.

We hadn’t been able to go out in Frida yet, we’d been too busy with teaching and our own lessons, but we would soon. Most of our free time was spent meeting with our tutors and discussing teaching plans. There was something strangely fun in that. My flashbacks and nightmares had started to get a little better too. I think I was just so busy that my brain didn’t have a spare second to think. I’d still get them, obviously, but they weren’t as bad. I think the medication from Doctor Suel was really helping too.

“Okay! Make sure your guns are empty and get to the back of the queue. Next lot, grab your cartridges and line up!” I called, watching the kids scamper into pace excitedly.

“Does everyone remember how to load this model?” Cory asked, scanning the line.

The smooth clunk of the stunner cartridges being loaded into the guns answered Cory’s question.

“Okay, great! Send your targets back two meters further than last time. Check your screens if you don’t remember your distances.” I ordered, watching Hyd check his screen quickly before bringing his target closer.

A smile played on my face as I watched. He’d managed to hit his target in the thigh last time but he was still apprehensive about using the weapons. He’d told us last time that he’d been removed from his home by Guardians after a pretty nasty experience with his dad so it made sense he was nervous around weapons. He was improving though. His hands had stopped shaking as he held the guns now. I was impressed, it had taken Peggy way longer to get used to them.

They’re doing good. I thought to Cory.

Definitely. Watch Sagitta take this next shot.

I studied her as subtly as I could as she lifted the weapon and fumbled with the trigger. Any attention made her nervous. She was one of the extra care kids. She’d stayed behind class earlier in the week to ask Cory for some tips on holding the weapons with only two fingers but his guidance seemed to be really helping.

“Nicely done, Sagitta!” I called as she hit the target square in the stomach.

She turned around with wide, scared eyes and dropped the gun on the partition.

“See, I told you there was nothing wrong with your aim. You’re just lacking a little self-confidence.” Cory smiled at her.

Sagitta smiled at him gratefully and picked up her gun carefully again to take another shot.

I watched as Hyd hit the target once more and moved it back another meter before lining up his sight again.

“Yes! Did you see that?” Tucs demanded, spinning around to look at him.

I leapt forwards, moving his gun so that it was no longer pointed at the crowd of kids.

“Hey, hey hey! What did we say about making sure your guns are empty before you point them at anyone?”

Tucs put the gun down careful and chewed his lip worriedly.

“Sorry.” He muttered quietly, not meeting my eyes.

“Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. Just ideally you won’t shoot anyone before that.” I joked.

He smiled at me, his cheeks a little red.

“Bring your target in. Let’s see how you’ve done.”

He held the button to bring his target closer, his eyes fixed on the red splotches decorating it.

“Okay, okay, not bad! One in the shoulder, two in the stomach and one in the leg. Great job, Tucs! I knew I was right to flag you. Empty out your gun and line up again.”

His grin grew again as he pulled the lightly smoking cartridges from the weapon and lined up at the back of the crew, whispering to another kid.

“Okay, last lot! Line up and take aim.” I commanded, watching as the last four kids picked up the stun grapples we’d been practising with today.

My eyes met Cory’s briefly to check he was ready before I called out the next order.

“Fire!”

The hiss of the grapples rushed through the room as the kids fired.

I leant back against the table, watching Cory correct Lib’s aim before she fired again. He was a good teacher. If he wasn’t so good at being a doctor, I would have recommended a career change.

“Um… Aries? Can you give me a hand? I keep missing the target and I don’t know why.”

I pushed off the table and grabbed a few spare cartridges. Crux hadn’t managed to hit the target once since we’d started. His aim wasn’t bad but he’d jerk it about as the recoil hit and that threw it off every time.

“Alright, spread your legs a little wider and plant your feet. Take a deep breath and squeeze the trigger slowly as you exhale.” I instructed, handing him another few cartridges.

He did so and this time hit just over the target’s shoulder.

“Okay, better but you have to hold the gun more steady. So, try again and pay attention to the recoil. That’s what’s messing you up!”

Crux tried again, his gun slightly more steady this time so he clipped the target’s arm.

“Good job! You’re getting better, it just takes time.”

“Can you show us?”

My face scrunched up in confusion.

“Show you what?”

“What it’s like to be really good!”

I let out a laugh.

“I’m not really good! Gem’s the main gunner on our ship, not me.”

“Yeah but you’re the secondary gunner, aren’t you?” Pavo piped up from behind me.

I turned. The entire class were watching, eager excitement on their faces.

I met Cory’s eyes and he shrugged, a small smile on his face.

“Alright. Program me something fun.” I asked Cory.

“Yes!” Crux cheered.

“Finish up shooting you lot, then put your guns back and we’ll set up,” I ordered.

Hisses filled the room as the final group of kids finished shooting and unloaded their cartridges.

“Which guns would you all like me to use?” I asked, turning back to the group.

“The grappler!”

“No, the pulse rifle!”

“Whatever that one is!” Pyx pointed at the dart phaser on the wall.

I laughed as I collected the weapons the kids were pointing out and lay them on the partition before the shooting lanes. The walls in between the lanes dropped into the floor, giving me more area for the targets to appear. I walked to the ammo distributor and scanned the chip in my hand, choosing stun cartridges for each of the guns they’d picked. I carried them back to the weapons and quickly demonstrated how to load each of the five weapons and clipped the spare ammo to the waistband of my silvers so I could reload easily if needed.

I glanced at Cory who was smiling as he typed on the shooting lane screen.

What are you planning, Cory? I asked suspiciously.

He didn’t reply, his smile turning into more of a smirk.

“Alright kids, this is the kind of practice we do as a crew. It’s much more advanced and it’s aimed at getting you ready to fight in a war where the enemy will be unpredictable so you need to be prepared for anything. Normally, we’d have them shooting back but this time we won’t. Make sure you stay back out of the Captain’s way.” Cory warned them.

I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Ready?” He asked.

I nodded and flexed my fingers.

The lights over the lanes dimmed and I laughed slightly as the whispers behind me intensified. He’d taken this straight from Gem. She loved practising in the dark. She said it allowed her senses and her mods to really engage. I had to give it to her, it was pretty fun. Normally we’d turn the lights all the way off but I guess Cory didn’t want the kids to get scared or miss anything.

“Three, two, one.”

A target popped up from the ground on the left and I picked up the phaser, firing one round and hitting the target in the chest. It fell and was replaced by another two who feigned left and then charged at me. I put them down too, turning and catching another target who was sneaking along the right wall towards me. Four more popped up and I hit them without hesitation.

Eight. Next gun. I thought, dropping the phaser and picking up the grappler.

I loved this gun. It felt so comfortable in my hands. I fired off the rounds, downing targets and scanning the area for more dangers.

The lights flashed on suddenly, temporarily blinding me and I blinked hard to clear my vision before firing at the target that was running straight for me. My aim wasn’t great so it took three shots to down them. I cleared the lanes, waiting cautiously for more targets to appear. I glanced up at the light above the lanes. It was still red, indicating the simulation was still running.

I breathed deeply as I waited for more targets to appear.

“Is it over?” Came Lib’s voice just as another target popped up right in front of me.

I caught it in the head, glimpsing at the number on my clip. Three more rounds in there. I discarded it, grabbing my pistol and levelled it just in time to catch an armoured target. I aimed at it’s poorly protected neck, taking four shots to down it.

The green light above me came on suddenly and I dropped my gun, my heart racing. It had felt so good.

Good job. Cory thought as he began to clap.

I blushed as I turned towards the applauding class. I’d enjoyed the simulation but I hated the praise.

“That was so cool! When will we get to do stuff like that?” Crux cried over the claps.

I grinned at him.

“It shouldn’t be too much longer till you can try some little simulation.”

“Awesome!”

I glanced up at the clock. It was just past twelve, lunchtime.

“Alright, get to lunch you lot!” I called, collecting my guns and emptying them.

Cory came over to help as the kids trailed out of the room.

“They’re definitely getting better,” I said.

“Yeah, I’m glad Sagitta managed to hit the target today.” He smiled as I put the final gun back onto its hooks on the wall and we left the room.

“Big improvement.” I smiled, ducking into one of the hatches that would take us to the canteen.

Are you meeting us in the kitchen? I asked, my stomach grumbling.

Can you meet us in your room actually? Gem replied, her voice was subdued.

I looked at Cory who seemed equally baffled and concerned.

Yeah, coming now.