congratulations you passed

When the next morning arrives I do my morning work, after all of that I had down to the firing range for day three of the training. When I get there, I see Lily hasn't touched the rifle yet, "good morning sir Daniel, may I ask what this is?" When she points to it, I chuckle a little, "that is your new rifle, your other one has become so abused that, won't fire anymore, so I switched it out for that one."

The horror that comes apron her face is a bit much, but at the same time reasonable, "this thing doesn't even look fit for service, what is it?" The simple answer is that it is a thirty year old gun, the long answer is that it is a RF1G1, compared to the RF3G1 it has a slower firing rate thanks to the the bolt action, but it has a slightly bigger round, which gives it more distance.

"Sir Daniel when will I get my other rifle back, I can't use this thing, it looks like it could fall apart more then the one I was using." Sure the wear and tear effects started to kick in on it, with some rust on the outside of it, but I had checked it's inside components, luckly it still looked fine inside. "That won't be happening, that rifle would have malfunctioned last night if you had used it probably only a dozen or so more times, this one right here is what you will have to use in it's leave."

The look of defeat that comes across her face is one to see, but thanks to that she did finally pick up the rifle. After another hour had passed, all the other trainees had shown up, and then finally the third and final day of training commenced.

The first few hours we slow, no progress was made on anyone's end, then I hear someone coming from behind. When I turn around I see James, "hey Daniel how's it going?" After I tell him everything that has been happening his face lights with shock, "wow that does seem like a ride, also giving her an old rifle, and one that is thirty plus years old, are you sure it's a good idea?"

Thinking about it I still felt it was a good idea, I know what it's capable of, along with what it's maximum distance is, "yes James I believe it is." When hearing this he simply shrugs, "ok, also just remember, if it malfunctions, that's on you." After saying that he walks off, probably back to his research team.

While time continues to pass, I see her struggling with the gun, sure it's old, but it shouldn't be that hard. Thinking about it maybe I did go to far, at the same time I feel she will eventually get it. Continuing to sit there starts to become tiring, however I see that she has finally gotten the hang of the bolt action system, which makes me feel a little bit better.

Unfortunately, the sun is setting on a long day, and only one other person had successfully passed the third test, "alright everyone pack it up, I shall see you all in the morning to send you back to the normal military training." The trainees get up, but again Lily hasn't gotten off the trigger yet, "time for all to retire for the night!" After saying that she continues to fire, "not yet the middle of the night is the end of the exam, I will pass this no matter what."

The determination in her burns very differently from anyone else, so I ignore her, telling everyone else to retire if they wish, and they followed through with the instructions. After they all left I look back to see her still firing away, I would think that in all those shots she took she would have hit one of them by now, but maybe I am a fool for thinking so highly of a new recruit.

After I get back to my room and chill out for a while, I hear that the firing has stopped, "hmm just maybe," eventually I get my stuff back on and head back out to the range. But just before I head out to the range I check the clock, it says only two hours before midnight, " if she lands a shot before midnight ill count it," I tell myself before heading down to the range.

When I get there, I still see her, but instead of firing, she is crying, "so giving up now I see?" She doesn't answer, I become a bit concerned, knowing that anything is possible. "Instructor Daniel, am I a failure?" The question throws me off a bit, while I think about it she sighs a bit.

"Thought so, the truth is I can't fail right now, failure is not an option, sure you might say that normal training will be fine you'll still be in the military."

"That isn't what I need, back home things were different, sure my brother was sick, but our mother was able to get us by with the job she was working."

Thats when the accident happened, it left my mother crippled with only one arm, eventually we couldn't afford a decent place, we had to cut back on spending, and all that."

"Then I saw a post, saying apply for the military, your country needs you, that was about four weeks ago, I went through a lot, I send everything I get in my pockets back to my mother and brother, just so they can live."

When I hear a sniper training course would be opening up, I though might as well try it, but then I hear that failure will result in being expelled from the sniper course, I want to live, to go home to see my mother and brother, that means passing this test no matter what, so I ask again, AM I A FAILURE!?"

The anger, the frustration, all of it directed at me, the tears rolling down her face, all of it screams that she feels worthless right now. " Then how about this, if you can hit that target in another two hours, I will pass you, but under one condition, you only get five shots."

Her face still full of tears, agrees to the conditions, but me being me I decide to give her a little help, " uh instructor Daniel, what are you getting?" What I'm getting is the secret weapon to the gun, sure the ammo she is using is smaller but it can be chambered into the gun, however the rounds I'm getting are a bit bigger, meaning more flight time. "These are five rounds that this gun chambers in, they are bigger but they go a farther distance, you get five rounds, and five shots, good luck."

After saying those words, she begins to load them into the gun, one by one, until I hear the bolt click into place for the first round to be fired off. However she hesitates, that isn't a bad thing, I see it as actually a good thing, because as a sniper you need to restrict yourself on every shot you take.

Then I hear it, the roar of the first round fire off, "aahh, why is it so loud instructor Daniel!?" I chuckle a little inside from her reaction, "these are super sonic rounds, different from the subsonic ones we've been firing aren't they." When I look down range I see the fresh spot only inches away from the bullseye of the target, "hey look alive, you bullseye is only two inches from your new shot."

The face she makes is one of surprise, but she soon chills out, then soon after she chambers the next round. When the clouds move away to reveal the full range again she fires again, this time she is a little closer to it but not on target just yet. "Stay calm you will do it, I know you will."

The vote of confidence, makes her stay calm for the next shot, as I hear it fire off, and head for the target, this time she missed it by only a few inches. "Your getting closer to the target, just a little more adjustments needed."

The third round is quickly chambered, but she is slightly hesitant on the fire, when I look up and look around I see all the other trainees. They are probably wondering who it is, I tell them to stay quiet, soon enough I hear the third shot ring off. The third is a little high above the target, "just a little more adjustments needed, then your on target."

After saying that she loads in the forth round, being a little hesitant on the trigger, knowing if she missed again she only has one more shot left. Only a few moments later however, the forth shot gets fired off, I see this time it's almost on the bullseye, but still a bit off center.

"Instructor Daniel, am I a failure?" The tone in her voice is one of pain, I can't imagine it, but I know what to say, "if you were a failure, you would have made it as far as you have." Those words made her click in the fifth and final round, now everything leaned on one bullet.

The moment we're long, the tension could be felt in the air, once the cloud passes over the range, letting the field be illuminated by moon light, the fifth and final round roars out, as it screams it way to the target at blinding speed.

After the final round had been shot, I check it, and without a second though it was a straight on bullseye. "Everyone congratulate this one on her hard work, and determination!" Once everyone there starts claping, I see tears rolling down her face again, but not out of sorrow, out of joy this time.

The sight infront of me is one to behold, everyone smiling, talking with one another, it brings me joy to see this sight. The problem is, I know that once this war start, it's these moments that will have to be in memory only, until wars end.