Keira and the rest continued undergoing physical and tactical training. Most commonly was the Physical Endurance Course."Today, we will do 16 different obstacles, including rope climbing, rope swinging over trenches, crawling through mud pits, horizontal bars crossing, cross-swaying rope bridges, tunnels, and even leaping various sized walls," explained Sergeant Park to Keira"s platoon.
Keira sighed as she listened to Sergeant Park while he was doing the usual what"s right and wrong instructions to overcome the obstacles.
She knew that Zach was back so she waited for him last night but he did not come.
"This will test your physical and mental capabilities." Sergeant Cole interrupted.
Then she added, "By the way, I have good news. Once you complete all the obstacles, I will select representatives to compete against other platoons. These representatives will challenge each other for the fastest time of completing the course."
Keira"s face light up when she heard what Sergeant Cole said next.
"The platoon with the fastest time will earn a phase banner streamer. You do know that these streamers serve as incentives, rites of pa.s.sage, and of course, bet you will all agree that it provides a sense of pride to the platoon with the most streamers at the end of the week training. By the way, the platoon with most streamers can also join the party with our officers," Sergeant Cole explained further.
"Why are you looking so excited. You don"t need those incentives anyway… You can even give us all the incentives yourself," said Trish in a jest when she noticed how excited Keira was as she encouraged everyone from their platoon to win the said compet.i.tion.."
Because she"s too caught up with the idea of winning, Keira hastily said, "It"s not the streamers that are important but the celebration night with the officers. I want it."
Then she winked, Lana was too late to stop Keira from saying those words so she quickly pulled the latter away from Trish"s spot. Meanwhile, May distracted Trish on the other side as Lana sighed.
"Why?" asked Keira with a creased forehead.
"Shh… I just got this hunch about Trish. I feel like she is intently observing your every move, so don"t be too trustful with her. I mean, it"s just a hunch but it"s better to be careful," said Lana as she explained her thoughts to Keira.
Keira understood what Lana was conveying. She suddenly felt sad about Trish approaching her only because of an ulterior motive.
"Anyway, let her be. She may have her own reasons. Let"s focus on the obstacle, I need you and May… Let"s have a night party with the officers. I"m sure it"s fun," said Keira with twinkling eyes.
May"s nostrils flared, as she complained, "Yeah, right, you and Lana will surely enjoy it with Wolf and a Falcon."
Keira laughed and murmured, "You will eat a feast there, May. Aren"t you tired of military food at the canteen."
May straightened up as she led the way tor the obstacles.
She stopped walking and turned around. "What are you two waiting for? Let"s go and kick some a.s.s!" May energetically shouted.
Lana looked at Keira while Keira shrugged her shoulders and commented, "Food is her life..."
Zach arrived some later to watch the obstacle compet.i.tion with Torin.
"Wow, look at those girls, all fired up?!" Torin commented as he watched Keira and the rest moving fast pa.s.sing the obstacles.
Sergeant Cole laughed and said, "I guess they want that banner streamer."
"Nah… Maybe, they want to have a party with me-the handsome Lieutenant," Torin commented arrogantly.
"Is that even a joke, Lieutenant?" murmured Sergeant Cole mockingly.
"What the heck, Sergeant… Are you blind? I"m stating a fact here." Continued Torin defensively.
Sergeant Cole laughed and shook her head as she said, "If I heard that from General Lim… that would be what you call stating a fact, I guess. But from you, I consider it a joke."
Before Torin could debate, Sergeant Cole bid her farewell and ran to the soldiers.
"Look at that old maid! No wonder she"s an old maid. She has very bad eyesight," Torin leered with a crumpled face.
Then he turned around, looked at Zach and asked, "You"re too quiet there. Since yesterday you look so worn out. But Grandpa is doing well already."
"Torin, we are a bit loose with new recruits," murmured Zach.
"What?!" Torin asked with a confused look.
"The training- we have a responsibility to train them as hard as we can," muttered Zach with conviction as he walked towards the training grounds.
Torin followed a bit confused. He felt that something was wrong with how Zach was acting.
Keira and her group won the obstacle compet.i.tion against another platoon that made her shout and jump as she hugged her team members.
She saw Zach and smiled widely at him. But Zach answered her with a frown.
Then he looked at Sergeant Cole and Sergeant Park.
"Sergeants, make sure that the soldiers know their places," Zach said in his serious tone.
Then he looked intently at the soldiers in front of him and said, "Military courtesy is very important. You should only smile if it"s needed but you must keep your formal face in front of all Superiors inside the Military Academy. If you think that you can go into the military and just defy orders given to you, I don"t want you in my military! GET SERIOUS! Serving in the military isn"t a game, it"s is not a joke! There are time and place for joking around but not in the middle of the training! Understand?"
"Yes, Sir!" answered the soldiers in chorus.
"What is wrong with him? Is he having his period?" Keira mused as she stared at Zach intently who look straight at her as he said his final words.
"Why do I feel like he is only talking to me?" Keira thought inwardly as she pouted her lips as soon as Zach turned his back and left.
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