Robert
"You already aced the written exam. Today is gonna be a piece of cake." Maya told Andy.
"Today will be the hardest thing you've ever attempted. In your life." I gave my opinion.
"Morning." She greeted.
"This is for you." Andy told me, putting a plate down in front of me.
It had Pancakes, eggs, and Strawberries on it.
"Maya's gonna give you a ride."
"I am perfectly capable of feeding and driving myself."
Maya was amused.
"You know what this test is called, correct?"
Maya sighed.
"The Incinerator!"
I pointed at her.
"Because it can burn you alive. Literally. And figuratively. It's designed to test every single aspect it takes to be a Captain."
"I know, babe. I know."
"Do you know, the day I took the test, somebody died?"
Andy looked down.
"This is not a chaste little drill. It's a real fire in a real building. They call it a controlled burn, but fire isn't something that any of us can really control. The only way to get through this test is to show it who's boss."
"Luckily, I boss very well."
"Hm."
"Eat."
I drove to the place where it was taking place.
"Uh..." I commented when I saw a lot of candidates.
"Morning, Herrera." Frankel greeted.
"Are-- Are all these people testing for Captain too? I thought there'd be five or six tops."
"Grab a spot, Herrera."
I hung my bag up.
I sat with the group of candidates.
"You are the candidates with the highest written exam scores. And today, you'll put all that theory into practice by each of you leading a group of four through a call inside the warehouse."
McCallister was sitting at the front at a table.
"The goal is to extinguish a fire and rescue a 200 pound dummy as quickly as possible. And these rankings will follow you throughout your application process. If you are unable to retrieve the dummy at all, you forfeit. I'm sure Fire Chief McCallister here needs no introduction to this group, and I know he would like to say a few words."
He stood up.
"Listen, guys. Today is not about winning, so wash that out of your minds. Today and everyday moving forward if you're chosen as Captain-- Is about being a leader, so focus on that."
"If you're physically unable to continue, Aid Cars are standing by. Report into them. I am not in the mood to lose a Firefighter today, so, please, no heroics. Got it?"
"Do you think there's a day when she's ever in the mood to lose a Firefighter?" It was Dearborn.
"Charlotte Dearborn, Station 12."
"Hi."
"Hi."
"Do you have something to add, Lieutenant Dearborn?"
