third exam impossible you say

When I wake from my sleep, I see the start of the sun coming up, "crap I'm already a little late." After throwing all of my gear on I head down for breakfast, then off to the training ground from there. Once I do arrive there, no one is there, "well I guess they don't learn very well do they." However before I go off to the barracks they are all staying in, I see them all come from the direction of the firing range.

"Good morning sir Daniel, sorry about not standing here and waiting for you, we decided to already get off to the range to practice our distance skills." This is a first, however I also feel a bit cheated that I wasn't gonna be able to wake them up again, since waking them last time was a bit fun if I have to admit. "Alright then let's head back to the range, I shall instruct all of you on what you all need to do for the final exam."

When I arrive at the range I can see all of them with a rifle not the one I practiced with, but it's still a rifle nonetheless, " everyone to attention!" After saying that everyone gets up, and salutes me, "alright today is the final test for my sniper training exam, I expect it to be hard, everyone here will have two full days from morning till sun down the next day to complete this task."

All of them look nervous, and they should be, "every single one of you, will hit a target four hundred yards out from where we stand right now, and hit a bullseye, failure to complete this will result in your expulsion, any questions!"

The moment I finish they all start talking amongst themselves, however one does walk forward, "yeah one question, why four hundred yards, why not closer like two hundred since we are just trainees?" Why he says, "it's because as a sniper you can't afford to be close to the enemies, if you are caught, you will be killed, so that's why I choose four hundred, it is a safe distance for a sniper to be at."

Sure maybe it is a bit far for them, but it's what my grandfather started me on, and it only took me two days to complete. Thinking about it that way that was me, so maybe I should take it easy on them since they probably don't have experience with a rifle of a high caliber. "Then how about this you will get three days instead, it is up to you how you decide to spend this time, weather it is here all the time, or some of the time, success or failure is up to you."

Every single one of them are still hesitant as to what they should be doing, that was until a shot rings out from behind them all, Along with the sound of the target being hit. When we all look, I see that it was Siler who had shot off that shot, "well if we only have three days, I'm not standing around waiting to get a failure." The words he said motivated the rest of the trainees to get down to taking shots.

After an hour or so had passed, no one had managed to hit a bullseye on their targets four hundred yards out-, "HIT I hit the target!" When I take a look at the target with my binoculars, I do infact see that he hit a bullseye. "Alright nice work, you are free to do normal training for the next three days, also I do wish to know how you got it so quick?"

" When I was a kid my parents had a hunting equipment shop, they also sold some rifles there, not as powerful, but they still could go a distance, I figured if I only aim a bit higher from where the marker is I would eventually hit." Thoughts go through my head as to if I should make him a team leader or not, "what's the name trainee?" His answer is quick, "Stevenson sir Daniel."

After I wave him off, everyone else gets back to firing, it takes more time but eventually more and more start hitting the target. Becoming clear to me that the ones with previous experience with a rifle, started to weed themselves out from those who had no rifle experience at all. Then once it became sunset, there were still roughly about fourty or so trainees left who couldn't get it on the first day.

"Alright everyone, time to go to sleep, pack it up for the day and head in." Everyone followed the order, except one of them, who was still looking down range, " hey pack it up time to go!" Even after basically yelling at them, they still didn't move, I begin to feel insulted, "with all do respect sir, tonight is almost a full moon, I respectfully ask that you let me continue."

The idea of letting the trainee continue into the night is a crazy one, but if she wants to, I did say do what you wish, but I wasn't expecting it to be taken literally, however I won't stop her. "Then do as you wish, everyone else is also free to do as they wish as well then."

After saying that, she was the only one that still remained on the firing range. After the sun had completely set, and the moon was up I decided to walk back out to see if she was still there, to my surprise she still was. Deciding to stay quiet I watch for a little bit of time. Once I had seen all I wanted to I decide to retire to my room, I'm also hoping that she will do the same as well too.

When I arrive back to my room I see a letter on my desk waiting for me, once I open it, I see it's from James, "to Daniel, sorry I wasn't able to get permission from my research team leader, however they have agreed to let you test them in another five days from now once we work out more malfunctioning parts, I hope you can understand, and God speed to you, and your trainees." Sighed James."

That's good news that I have permission, the bad news is that it won't be for another five days, "owell I can't make things go faster." After saying that I lay my head down, quickly drifting off to sleep, at the same time I'm finding myself hoping that all my trainees have gotten off to sleep as well.

Once night had fully passed by and morning had come, I head down to the mess hall to grab something quickly, then head off to the training grounds range. Since the sun had just started to come up, I remember I had told all my trainees that they were free to do normal training for the next few days, if they had completed the training early. That doesn't suprise me, sure I'm a little disappointed, but they earned it.

After I arrive at the range I only see one trainee there, it's the same girl from yesterday still practicing her shooting skills, "at attention trainee, then answer my question, we're you out here all night!?" After she gets up, I can see the black underline from lack of sleep, "no sir I wasn't out here all night, I was just got out here three hours ago."

The fact she is lying to me makes me unhappy, however I let it slide, since she is trying her hardest to hit that target, "fine get back to it then, the others will be joining you soon."

Another few hours pass, finally the other half of the trainees show up, then they all get to firing on the range. While the time continues to tick on only another two out of the remaining trainees had hit the bullseye, "alright that will end it here again, everyone head to the mess hall for food, then hit your beds, I'm looking forward to seeing who else passes."

They all follow orders again, but one, she continues to aim and fire shooting down range, even as the sun sets. Thinking to myself I'll just check up later tonight to see if she is still here or not, if she is I will both question and lecture her heavily.

After all the trainees had made it back to their barracks halls, I decide to step out during the night, to check if she is still there at the range. The idea of staying out in the weather, along with no sleep, doesn't sit right with me, sure there will be sleepless night in the future, however right now we can afford to sleep and relax some.

Once I get down to the range, thanks to the moon light tonight I can see everything, that includes the one trainee. "Why do you lie to me in the morning, that you weren't out here all night." When she hears me she jumps a little then turns to look at me, "because I have to pass this no matter the cost."

While I stand there watching, I remember her paper, "Lily, age twenty, reson for enlisting, doesn't matter, well seems you even lied on the paper then." After hearing this I can see she gets a little bit more then angry. "The reason for enlistment isn't your business," she begins to get aggressive with her words, so I decide to use the ace up my sleeve, " if you don't answer me I'll have you expelled from the test for health problems, seeing as you aren't taking care of yourself."

When I finish saying what I had said, I don't hear any more shots going off, "fine sir I will head to bed like you have ordered." Agter she gets up from her spot, she stumbles a little, but seems to be able to walk her way to the barracks. Once she is out of sight, I take a look at the rifle itself, the moment I pick it up to inspect it, I see that it is only a few more rounds away from malfunctioning.

"That could have ended badly." Telling myself in a hushed voice, after setting it aside for cleaning, I get another one out from the ranges closed test weapon lock area, I stumble upon a rifle that looks similar to my grandfather's. "This must have been the first proto type to that," looking at it, I notice it is in perfect condition still, then I get an idea, it might fail, but at the same time it might just work.