A hunter's apprentice (Discontinued)

Simulation Training

At the entrance to the simulation, Lincoln and Piper stood side by side before going in, adjusting their gear. Their weapons were loaded with rubber bullets, and both wore a simple light body armor that was on the table from earlier for protection. The goal was simple: make it to the end of the hallway, past multiple armed guards. The catch? Every guard was waiting for them, and each room held surprises they couldn't predict. Katrina stood off to the side, observing them from the shadows and from a monitor that displayed live feeds from cameras scattered throughout the simulation, her voice echoed throughout the training room.

"You've got one objective, reach the end of the hallway. Use your weapons wisely. Watch each other's backs and remember, this is about tactics, not brute force. Move fast, but don't rush. Clear your rooms carefully, the guards are armed and won't hesitate to take you down if you make a mistake."

"... Ready?" Lincoln said.

"Let's do it."

The two apprentices then entered the simulation and the door slid open, revealing the dimly lit hallway. The walls were close, giving just enough room for them to maneuver, but leaving little space for error. Lincoln followed just behind Piper with his MK18 raised, while she led the way with her M500, her eyes scanning the doorways for signs of movement. The first room was on the left, Piper paused and signaling to Lincoln get behind her with a hand gesture. He nodded, taking a position behind her, ready to cover her six. Piper crept forward, shotgun leveled at the door. In one smooth motion, she kicked the door open, sweeping the room with the barrel of her M500. A figure popped up from behind a table, an armed guard, aiming directly at Piper with an M4. Instinct took over and Piper squeezed the trigger, and the shotgun roared, sending rubber pellets flying into the guard's chest. The guard dropped with a grunt, eliminated from the simulation.

"Clear!"

"Good shot. Let's keep moving."

They flowed together, each step coordinated as they left the room and continued down the hallway. The next door was further down, but before they reached it, a second guard appeared at the end of the hall, opening fire. Rubber bullets whizzed past them, slamming into the walls.

"Get down!" Piper shouted.

They both dove for cover, Piper crouching behind a metal cabinet while Lincoln flattened himself against the wall next to her. The guard had the advantage of distance, and he kept firing, forcing them to stay pinned. Piper narrowed her eyes, calculating their next move. 

"You draw his fire. I'll move up and take him down."

Lincoln hesitated for a split second, then nodded. "Got it."

Without waiting for a reply, Lincoln leaned out from behind the wall, firing several bursts from his MK18. The rounds slammed into the guard's cover, forcing him to duck and fire blindly. Piper used the distraction to sprint forward, keeping low as she moved to a closer position. Once she was in range, he raised the shotgun and fired. The guard dropped, clutching his chest where the rubber pellets had struck. Piper exhaled, her heart racing as she glanced back at Lincoln.

"Nice work." She said, her voice steady but her breathing heavy.

They reached the second door, this one cracked open slightly. Piper motioned for Lincoln to stay back, then crept forward silently. She pressed her ear against the door, listening. There was movement inside—more than one person. Piper raised two fingers, signaling that there were multiple guards inside, Lincoln readied himself, gripping his MK18 tighter.

"I'll flash it." Piper whispered, pulling a flashbang from her belt. "On my signal, go in fast."

Lincoln nodded, tensing for the move. Piper pulled the pin on the flashbang and tossed it through the crack in the door. A second later, there was a blinding flash and a deafening bang.