Raze 2

Md. Sage- New recruits

I sit on the bench overlooking the training dome, clutching my notepad. Treem gave me hell for bringing it, but I'm sure we're going to need to write some things down. I look around at the other recruits. We're all here to begin training for killing aliens, and only a handful of us are going to make it to the Raze Task Force. Only the best of the best of the extermination forces are here so I'm a bit intimidated, but Treem doesn't seem worried at all. He's what I would describe as confident, and what other people might describe as an asshole- he thinks he's really good at everything he does. But the annoying thing is, he actually is really good at everything he does. So his attitude has never bothered me much.

"When is this thing going to start?" Treem asks me, annoyed. "The email said 'promptly at 11:00' and it's 11:13."

"I don't know, the suspense is killing me," I reply, just as a woman in a ponytail walks into the room.

"Hello, recruits," she says, surveying the small crowd in front of her. "As you know, we're looking for new members for the Raze Task Force. You'll be here for a few weeks, but first, we're going to have one of our existing soldiers show you how it's done."

"Seriously?" Treem says beside me, his voice dripping with attitude. I motion angrily for him to shut up, but it's pointless- after years of being his best friend, I know by now that he won't listen.

"I'm sorry, is there a problem?" the woman- her name tag says Dani- says in a tone that implies that if there is a problem, he'd better shut up about it.

"Yeah. I'm pretty sure all of us know how to kill an alien. Do we really need some guy to remind us?" Treem shoots back.

Dani steps forward. "What is your name?"

"Ex. Treem," Treem says, with wavering confidence.

"Well, Treem, two things. First of all, this isn't  just 'some guy' who's teaching you. It's the best and only remaining member of the original Raze Task Force."

All of the recruits collectively let out a little gasp, even Treem. The original Raze Task Force single-handedly defeated the aliens during the first invasion nine years ago. I, and I'm sure the majority of the recruits here, joined the cause in hopes of one day being anywhere near their level of excellence. I was beside myself when I saw that they were looking for new members and I nearly passed out when Treem and I were selected to be recruits. Treem, for once, has the decency to look embarrassed. He's idolized the Raze Task Force for as long as I've known him.

"Second," continues Dani, "I recommend that you learn to follow orders. Failing to do so will probably result in your death."

A few people snicker. Treem just nods. I don't think he'll be saying anything else until Dani finishes talking.

"As I was saying," says Dani, "Raze here is our top soldier, so take notes." I smirk as I wave my notepad at Treem, who proceeds to punch me in the shoulder.

All of us recruits look with anticipation down at the training dome below us. The dome is filled with jungle life- domes like this are common in the few remaining cities left on Earth, as they're the only conditions in which plant life can survive now. Inside the dome, the Raze soldier walks into view. I crane my neck to try to get a better view- I can't believe I'm looking at a member of the original Raze Task Force!

"Raze here is going to fight twenty armed robots," Dani says.

"Twenty? Sheesh!" Treem exclaims. "This guy must be the real deal if he agreed to fight that many bots with just a rocket launcher." I nod, excited to see how this will play out.

The match starts, but it's really confusing. "What's going on, why does everyone keep switching teams?" I ask.

"This," Dani says, pointing at a screen she's just finished configuring so we can see the action down below better, "is the juggernaut. Everyone is teamed up against the juggernaut. If you kill the juggernaut, you become the juggernaut." We all nod, anxious to see what the Raze soldier will do. So far, the robots have just been killing each other and Raze has been waiting for the right moment to strike.

When Raze finally moves to kill the juggernaut, it's all over. Before the robots can even process that he's the new juggernaut, he's fired three missiles in quick succession into the enemies around him and all of the robots in his range go down. I notice that he's purposefully hitting spots on the wall behind where several are grouped up so they're all affected by the explosion, rather than just using the missiles to directly kill one at a time.

"Oh, nicely done. Did everyone see that?" says Dani as I furiously scribble down notes. Internally, I'm panicking a bit. The speed of that attack was almost inhuman. We have to be this good to join the Raze Task Force??

I barely have time to think before the Raze solider smashes open a nearby crate, presumably having run out of ammo in his rocket launcher. He pulls out a weapon that Treem excitedly tells me is a laser minigun- he says he's tried using one before but they're so heavy that they're really hard to control. I have a feeling that this won't be a problem for the Raze soldier and sure enough, he kills most of the robots that have come to attack him with ease. Treem's jaw is practically on the floor.

But for the first time, it seems like the Raze soldier is in trouble. He has to reload, and it seems like the remaining robots have him cornered. Just when I think the Raze solider might actually die, he gets down on one knee and crosses his arms in front of his head as an electric blue substance flickers in a dome around him. The robots fire at the dome, but the bullets reflect back off of it and kill them. As the Raze solider stands back up, everyone bursts into applause. Those were the last of the robots- the Raze solider just won.

"Man, this guy is good," Treem mumbles.

"No kidding," replies one of the recruits.

I just clap. I'm too stunned to speak. I don't know how we're supposed to get as good as that guy. But I do know one thing- the next few weeks are not going to be fun.