Appleseed Fan Fiction ❯ Untold History ❯ Ammo at Ten Paces ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: Appleseed is the brainchild of Shirow Masamune and belongs in part to Geneon, Manga Ent., TOHO, Seishinsha, Seinsha/TBM, and Appleseed Film Partners. Twiknham only retains intellectual rights for this unique story-line and the original characters introduced herein and receives no monetary gains from this work. Please enjoy.

Chapter 4: Ammo at Ten Paces

 

As they trooped up the hill to the range, Ryoma caught up with Shino. “The new boss look like he has something up his butt to you?”

 

Shino looked up at the tall man who was walking poker straight. “Either that or he's got a hard-on the size of Tokyo.”

 

“What do you think?” The shorter man turned to look at his dark-toned friend.

 

“I think it's going to be fun to watch the fireworks.” Pointing as the range came into view, he laughed. “Let's line up on either side of Deunan, see what happens.”

 

Deunan carried her M9 to a prep table. Once everyone was in position, all ten of them walked up to the boards, stapling their targets. They did this together to prevent anyone from accidentally shooting off a gun. It was the number three rule of handgun safety.

 

All targets up and all team-members back at their stations, Deunan took a second to prep her weapon. Breaking it down, checking to make sure everything was in working order, reassembling it, and putting a full clip in, she waited for instructions. Earmuffs properly covered both ears and she was listening for the fire command when a hard hand landed on her shoulder. Trying not to let the surprise cause her to instinctively pull the trigger, she let go and gently put the gun on the table. Turning to the shadow behind her, she glanced at him in question. “Something I can help you with, Sir?”

 

Briareos pointed at the prep table on the far end, everything past it was for long range ballistics. “I want you down there. Don't need you messing up the concentration of everyone.”

 

“Come on Commander, do you really think we'd risk each other's lives by letting one little slip of a girl distract us?” Ryuji scratched the back of his silver-blonde head and gave Briareos a dead-level look out of his eyes.

 

“Until you've proven otherwise, that's the way of it.” Pointing again, he was surprised to find she'd already packed her gear and was unpacking it at the new table. Waiting until she could get ready, he finally gave the directions. “Two clips, as fast as possible, including reload time.” He picked up his stopwatch and readied his pencil over the list in his hand. “Fire.”

 

The recoil of ten handguns going off at the same time brought good and bad memories to his mind. The first time he'd lined up with his team, the last time he'd seen most of them alive. Briareos had been raised to commander only seven months earlier. The last holdout soldier from a mission gone horribly awry. Actually, he had to amend that. His CO had also survived, at the cost of five men. Hades Uranus had a special spot in hell reserved for him, and Briareos hoped they never had to work together again.

 

It was the distinctive sound of a clip dropping to the ground that caused him to look up. Scanning the ranks quickly, he was shocked to find Deunan snapping a new clip into place. They were standard military, holding 16 when fully packed. He glanced at his watch, her time was even faster than his. He didn't put much credence to her reload time, what was speed if she lacked accuracy?

 

Caught up in writing down times as the majority of the others reloaded, he almost missed when she laid the gun down. She was quick. He just hoped she had even a smidgen of aim. As the rest of the squad finished up, he finished tallying times. Noticing that all were standing at attention, handguns resting on the tables with the chambers open, he cleared his throat. “Retrieve your targets. Each missed inner black shot is fifty full-military-press squats.” He heard several men groan, and looked up to find Deunan already pulling hers free.

 

Bringing the target up to him, she barely gave him time to get it before walking away. Since she was again the quickest, he started counting. There were sixteen holes almost precision drilled in the black section of the target. In fact, most of them were dead center. Scratching his head, wondering where the other half went, he looked for his gnat. “Where is Knute?” She owed him 800 squats.

 

“She went to get her other target.” Tohru didn't even look up from reloading his gun.

 

“What other target?” He looked out into the range. Suddenly a figure appeared from behind the twenty-meter ballistics mound.

 

“The hundred-meter target.” Tohru started whistling to keep from laughing at the consternation on his leader's face.

 

Walking up to the Commander, Deunan handed him her target. “I owe you a hundred.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because the wind whipped the staple free of the top right corner and the target shifted on the last two shots.” The tear where staples had once been attached was prevalent.

 

“No, why did you shoot the 100M range? Were my instructions not clear?”

 

“Your instructions said to unload two clips. Since I had two targets, it was better safe than sorry. You have a tendency to change the rules in the middle of the game.” Dropping to the ground, she started on her squats. They were especially uncomfortable since her stomach was still tied in knots from the two waves of laps she'd run that morning. Finishing 100, she sat on the ground to watch as her teammates finished theirs. Ryoma was a pitiful shot, he had to do 250. They'd worked on his accuracy for almost a year, but they couldn't overcome they way his hand moved as he tightened the trigger.

 

“Listen up team. We've done a full-day's work. I'm pleased with what you have accomplished. The rest of the day is R&R, but don't leave the base.” Turning he started back towards the main offices. “Knute, tomorrow you're on assault rifle. The rest of you kiddies are going to practice with your pop guns some more.”

 

As they reached the barrack, the squad went in to collapse until dinner. Briareos headed straight for Hanageta's office. Knocking on the door and waiting for permission to enter, he walked up to his commanding officer's desk and flung down two targets.

 

Hanageta so rarely got on one Briareos, he decided to wind the man a little. “Would you care to explain to explain what I'm looking at?”

 

“Two targets sir, with only two shots missing out of 32.” Briareos' ears were tipped with red, a sure sign his ire was rising.

 

“Uh huh. Not impressed. If that's all…” He knew exactly what the commander was thinking, news traveled fast in this camp.

 

“This one is 20 meters, shot in…five point two.” He flung the second target at the XO, Hanageta expertly catching it showing reflexes that hadn't dulled much with age. “This one is 100 meters, shot in…five point seven. With an M9 handgun.”

 

Hanageta's eyebrows raised slightly, but he didn't act surprised. “Paieon, you said you wanted the best. You said that we could beat the enemy if you had the best.” He chewed on the end of his pencil, a habit of occupation instead of nerves. “What bothers you the most? That the time beats your record, or that it was broken by a woman?”

 

Briareos's nostrils flared. Leaning forward, slamming his hands on the desk, he growled. “You knew all along didn't you?”

 

“Yes. And I gave you full specs on each member of your team. If you'd bothered to read them, instead of waiting on your team to prove themselves, you'd know that this is not some rookie team straight out of basic. These ten individuals were picked out of pre-academy selection and put together into a squad from day one. They've had three months bonding during three months of training, followed by a six-week stint in Old Tokyo. Deunan Knute is their marksman, and before you ask, she's almost as accurate when running as when stationary.”

 

Hanageta stood and turned to look out the window. “Instead of testing their mettle, why don't you prove to them that you're worthy to lead them? They'd act a lot less like delinquents and more like the trained professionals they are.”

 

Briareos sighed. He hated when Hanageta got one on him. He was supposed to be the best, but yet his boss always saw right through any weakness. “Yes Sir.”

 

“Hey,” the old man flipped the targets back at Briareos. “Did you make her drop and do 50?”

 

“For each.”

 

Hanageta chuckled. “Good. Don't get soft on me. Carry-on.”

 

As Briareos walked out of the office, he was revising his game plan. Groaning as the stitch in his side decided that moment to flare up, he hobbled to his quarters to spend the afternoon reading personnel stats.

 

ssssss

 

A soft sweet voice filled Deunan's ears. “Deunan, time to get up. Come on dear, you're going to be late for dinner.”

 

Looking up to see long blonde hair framing eyes sky blue, she smiled. “Mommy!”

 

Suddenly masculine hands roughly shook her shoulders. “Deunan, you're going to miss dinner if you don't get your ASS out of this bed, right now. Come-on girl, you can't wimp out on your first day.” Peta always had such an obvious way of stating things.

 

Blinking blurry vision clear, she looked up into six concerned faces. “What do you guys want?”

 

A voice hidden by the faces responded. “Come on, it's dinner time. Can't show any weakness to the hard-ass that is our CO.”

 

“What…are all of you staring at me?”

 

The hidden voice replied. “No, us short ones are staring in your direction, but we're blocked by the giants.”

 

“Okay, I get the message.” As she curled to get up, her stomach violently cramped. “Oh Shit! Achi, Achi, Achi.”

 

Firm hands pressed on her stomach, pushing her back down. “Just lay there for a moment. We'll help you get up.” Akuma had earned his nick not because of his name, which could mean “Devil's Second Son;” but because he was devilishly good with a massage. His areas of expertise were armaments and front-line medical assistance. He grabbed the muscles of her stomach, squeezing tightly. Deunan bit her bottom lip, tears coming of her eyes. It hurt like hell, but she understood what he was doing. Lactic acid had built up, and he was squeezing the muscles to convert it back into glycolysis. A minute or two later, which everyone understood felt more like an hour, he let go. “Give me your hand, now sit up slowly.”

 

Deunan complied, and this time her stomach didn't cramp. “Damn Aku, if I didn't know better, I'd think you'd sold your soul for that skill.”

 

Daichi smile. “Nah, my soul's worth much more. I sold it to get you in bed; but the Devil didn't come through, so I got it back.”

 

Everyone laughed, and they headed for dinner. Just as they reached the mess hall, Briareos met up with them. The team looked at him, and no one said a word. Finally Seto spoke up. “So, we have night drills tonight?”

 

“No, I thought we could have a little fun instead.” He looked at the board. “Oden, good. I'm half-starved. He suddenly stopped and looked at his team. “Do you mind if I sit with you tonight?”

 

It was the most tense ten seconds of his life. Finally Eiji signed something to Tohru. “Yes, please join us for dinner, Sir.”

 

That settled, the team worked its way through the line and sat down. Not much was heard except the slurping of soup and the occasional clack of chopsticks against the bowls. Everyone was almost finished when Briareos again spoke. “So, anyone want to know what we're doing tonight?”

 

Ten faces looked up at him, tentatively curious; but also filled with dread. Seto finally spoke. “Okay, but I've got to tell you now, if it involves more laps… I'll lock you in the latrine myself and to hell with dishonorable conduct charges, Sir.”

 

Briareos smiled, the look lightening his darker complexion. “At ease. I was thinking…basketball.” The table because a living tomb, not a whisper. The only sound was a single bowed head, quietly fishing pieces of goodness out of her bowl. Nine other faces looked at him with dread. “You don't like basketball?”

 

“You making even teams?”

 

“Yes. Why?”

 

“That means one of us sits out, right?”

 

“If it's your wish. I was thinking Shunichi since his foot…”

 

“I'll play. I think Deunan should sit this one out.” He leaned over, sitting just one person from Briareos. Not even lowering his voice, he confided. “She's really bad at basketball.”

 

Briareos looked over to see Deunan trying to hide her face in the bowl as she finished the last of the liquid, her ears tipped red in either embarrassment or anger. “Is that true Knute? Is there something you don't excel at?”

 

The bowl clanked on the table. She stood, turning to face him with conviction. “But I'm a damned good scorekeeper, Sir.”

 

The team laughed and joked with her, letting Briareos peek into their tight-knit team. The stats on these guys were incredible. Hanageta had gone above and beyond, putting together a crack team that might have a chance in the war zone. All he had to do was find a way to become part of it.