Republic of Tactics

Republic of Tactics: Chapter 9

Chapter 9

So Olden is my half-brother? I am endeavoring the shocking dossier that I have just been informed.

How is this possible? I can't believe this drama. I am also disappointed in my mother for not telling me this earlier. I think I'm mature enough to comprehend this type of family crisis.

"I don't know what to say." I admit.

"I'm sorry. I loved you. I would always be playing outside with you when you were just a toddler." Says Olden. I can see the hint of tears wanting to slide down his face.

"Please. It's okay." I say.

"You were my little brother, and all those years I was away, I missed you so much. I missed chasing you around the house and picking you up to embrace you." Olden tells.

I can feel my own tears start to build up in the edge of my eyelid and I'm staring at my brother, Olden. The appalling part is that I don't remember those memories he's talking about. I can't. And I feel awful. Why can't I though?

"I couldn't keep it from you Bo. I would call you Bo for short." He says, throwing the remaining ice cubes from his cup from the balcony. Something clicks in me. Bo. Bo. Bo. I'm hearing it in a little boy's voice inside my head.

"I remember. Bo... yeah." I whisper to myself. Although Olden succeeds to hear me.

"You do?" Olden asks.

"Yes. I do. Well, you'll see mom and Derlie soon." I try to console.

"I hope mother likes me now." Olden's voice is shaky.

"Why?" I ask him.

"She said I was a pain in the ass." Olden jokes and we begin to chuckle.

"Come on. You have gun training today." Olden tells me.

We take another route to a large field distant from any buildings. There is row after row of shooting posts. At the end, lies different types of targets. People pause and salute me. I see all sorts of guns and explosives on the ground, in people's hands, in hooks on trailers parked out back. I am startled by a drill bomb going off behind me. The sound reminiscences in my memory mocking the explosions like back in the hospital in Dertus. I nearly stumble on a machine gun under me which I was blind to see while walking. I can't name one fifths of the guns here. I was never a gun person.

"Here you go, Bovise." Olden says my name with irony. He places a big rifle in my arms. I study the details and curves and I feel the barrel.

"This is an assault riffle, an AK-eighty." Olden shifts the gun in my arms so I'm holding it properly. I place earbuds in my ears after Olden instructs me to shoot the dummy I'm aiming at. I position my hands right, lining up my aim. And then I squeeze the trigger. My entire body vibrated after the bullet hits the shoulder and the ribs of the dummy. I've used a hunting shotgun before but not something as powerful as this.

"Try to aim at the chest." Olden's muffled voice drilled the earbuds, which are pressing on my ears. I aim the gun again, and shoot. I got the upper neck and right in the chest.

I continue shooting and switching between guns. I stick with the AK-eighty, which became my battle gun. I was instructed how to reload it. I was also given a pistol and some explosives which I will carry during the battle. I've been going to training for several days now and I can assemble a gun without help.

"You'll be getting a special uniform for battle." Olden tells me as I play with the pistol's safety.

"Where is it?" I ask curiously.

"It's in safe storage in headquarters." Olden replies.

One day, Olden took me to a room. More of a corridor with plastic glass windows on the side. The room illuminated in neon blue lights from the roof. Inside, is more hand held weapons, not guns though. Pocketknives and swords. I look around searching for my match. I thought about the sword but ended up choosing a black handle dagger. It is smaller and more compact than any swords here.

"Great choice." Olden comments. Right then, the alarm went off. The alternating two rhythm sound wailing ear-splittingly.

"Lets go!" Olden commands. I return the dagger back to its carved demo box, then run out with Olden in front of me.