Friendly Fire

(14) The First Steps to Trust

After being dismissed from the meeting, I left The Resistance guild hall a little too quickly. It was a relief to be out of that room and away from Dawn. I can't stand that woman. She's always trying to make me look like the bad guy. Well- I guess I kind of was the bad guy in all this at one point. But, that shouldn't matter. Leo has shown me the truth and I'm willing to right the wrongs that I helped cause. These grounds will be restored. People here will no longer have to live with the fear of dying from starvation or dehydration. The farmers can regrow their crops and welcome livestock back to the fields. And The Elite Strike Force will be torn apart first before we; The Resistance; tear apart the government for their stupidity.

But 'we'? Can I even call myself one of them despite the fact that they don't trust me? I understand that I worked with their enemy but with the task they gave me to do, surely that would be enough to prove myself to them that they can put their trust in me when it truly counts. Not only do I want this place to thrive once more but I want to see the look on Colonel Hitchen's face when he sees the monster that he has made of me face to face.

Felix was the one to follow after me surprisingly enough and pulled me to one side.

"I can tell you're a little frustrated with how things unraveled in the hall, why not come with me? I think I have something that can help with that."

I snort at the fact that he's offering to 'cure' my frustration and annoyance that I have for Dawn.

"The only thing that can help is seeing her head on a spike."

That was probably the wrong thing to say. Especially since I'm still walking a fine line of trust between The Resistance members. I'd hate to break bridges before they're even built. However, Felix doesn't seem to take any offence to it except to give me a slight eyebrow raise and once again eyes me up and down.

"Right- you. Fight Dawn? She'll gut you like the bitch that you are to her. But I won't tell you again. Come with me."

It's an order, he's no longer giving me the choice to return to my quarters or do anything else I so pleased. He wants me to go with him. Maybe so he can supervise me while the others prepare themselves for what's to come and doesn't want me snooping around to possibly sabotage them.

Felix may not have taken offence to me threatening Dawn but I am definitely taking offence to the fact that he thinks I am weaker than her. I can definitely take her down if I want to.

"Fine. But for the record. I can win a one-on-one with her."

He rolled his eyes at me and made one deep sigh as he trailed off on a path that wrapped around The Resistance guild hall and off into the distance. The path opened up onto a flat, exposed clearing that looked like a shitty version of the training fields back at The Elite Strike Force base. A running track looped around it, training dummies were set up waiting to be hit or shot at but they were made of old rags rather than the sturdier, thick, rubbery material that I'm used to, and a small arena fit for hand-to-hand combat with live opponents aka each other.

"We can start with laps, you could show me how you shoot, or you and I can brawl. Make your choice."

A sane person would start with laps to warm up and stretch the body then proceed to the firing range to cool down before sparring with one another. But this doesn't make sense, Felix wants to test my endurance, aim, and skills. He wants to tire me down, exhaust me, and show him everything that I have to offer.

"Why should I listen to you? I'm not stupid, I see what you're trying to do here"

"I'm not trying to do anything. 1) I'm giving you an outlet to your frustration in a healthy manner and 2) I want to see what you bring to the table. Leo leads, Raphael is learning to be a leader under Leo's wing, Dawn is our spymaster, and Sophia- well- she's still finding her place in our ranks- but it is my job as a weapons master to teach everyone to fight. In military terms, think of Leo as your Colonel, Raphael as your Sergeant, Dawn and myself as Lieutenants, and then you and Sophia as Privates. But I know you're so much better than that clueless moron. Show me you're more than some Private."

I shake my head at his explanation. Leo may lead, but he is no Colonel. Raphael may be a second in command, but he is no Sergeant. Dawn and Felix may be strong fighters, but they are no Lieutenants. Lastly Sophia, she may have a spirit and know the bare basics to fight this as part of their rebellion, but she is no Private, nor will she last a day in The Elite Strike Force or military forces in general. That girl still has so much to learn.

"In that case then Raphael should be here running the training session. Not you. And this place is no military base. But... you're right about one thing. I am so much more than just a Private."

He smirks at me and gestures to the sorry excuse of a training ground.

"Raphael has other matters to attend to, like getting everything prepared for dispatch. You only have me and I'm the weapon master. I have mastered different weapons and fighting techniques and I teach others. If you really are more than just some Private then show me what you got. We can train you and not restrict you to your role as a Private but as an equal. We are a team."

Okay, he's got me hooked. There is still so much that needs to be done before we are even ready to move out. If he really is a good fighter then maybe I can use this chance to learn something new rather than mope around all day until last light. I can have the chance to have my thoughts, opinions, and ideas validated and heard for once instead of shutting down in the blink of an eye. No matter how right I was, Colonel Hitchen never listened, and look at where that had wounded us because of his ignorance. With me working for their enemies and Private Riley dead. I will make Colonel Hitchen and Sergeant Collins pay for their poor judgement calls and test them until they fall. Save Lieutenant Willow and Lieutenant Davis from the corruption and bring them onto this side. My side. I know they'll have a change of heart. Along with any other recruits that they'll have lined up to replace me and Private Riley.

"We? We... are no team. Dawn hates my guts and will kill me if I dare breathe incorrectly. Raphael basically ignores me. Sophia bores me to death with irrelevant chatter and never gets to the fucking point. Leo just comes and goes as he pleases, leaving me to m own devices. And you-"

I think very carefully about my next words as his arms folded with that glare of his, non-verbally telling me to finish my sentence.

"You keep looking at me like I'm some fresh meat. But... I appreciate what you did back there in the guild hall..."

He chuffed and uncrossed his arms, shoving his hands deep into the side pockets of his combat pants.

"Well. You are fresh meat. We haven't seen outsiders in a long time. And you're welcome. You earned my trust by completing your first task. I apologise that you had to kill a friend rather than some newly recruited scout."

As true as that may be, I still don't like the way he looks at me. But if he trusts me then I can use that to my advantage to help get the rest of The Resistance to trust me too. It's just a matter of time and patience. Neither of us really have. I couldn't help but look down at the phantom blood on my hands, trickling down my wrists and splat onto the dirt beneath my feet. I balled my fists up tightly and started to dig my nails into my skin. Before I could break skin and cause myself to bleed, he tossed me a pair of fighting gloves that exposed my fingers and knuckles.

"Here... put these on, distract you mind from... whatever it is that you're thinking about.."

I barely managed to catch them and put them on, the white leather made from the same material as the fighting leather chest piece on their uniform along with gold trimmings around the wrist. Did he know that mentioning Private Riley's death awoke something? I never felt like right after I committed the act. Not even before I slept the previous night. Why now am I starting to spiral by a mere thought of what I had done?

"Right... I don't need a teacher for hand-to-hand combat... I can take and strike a couple blows"

"Then come at me"

He put his fists up, ready for my moves.