Suit up! PKA Spin Off 1 (Jeran/Matt)

[Anatra]

"Shut up, Max. If anybody should be put on a leash it's the guy who punched me at his cousins party." I raise a brow at him. I don't say anything because I've had enough. The atmosphere is boiling and I want out, but I'm not going like a coward. "You know, I would normally be on your side, medic, but right now, It was my bullet that hit him. Whether he likes it or not, please do what you can?" I also then raise a brow at the other cadet. "I have done what I can. Or at least what he'll let me." I play the old trick, playing the victim. I make it look as though it is his fault that I can't help him.

"I'm alright." Is what comes out of him. At least he admits it and stops whining, like the dog he his. The cadet uncuffs Matthew and I feel an urge to defend myself but I retain a composure equal to that of a fighter, even though I am nothing in comparison to one. I mean sure, I have the weight, just not the experience. Plus, he's a bit taller than me, and wider. "Sorry, about that, Man. He's all bark and no bite. Don't worry about him. You sure he'll be alright, though?"

"He'll be fine." I say, reluctantly. I just stand there because I know that there are others to tend to than this mutt in front of me. There's the people who were being the criminals. They are scheduled to meet out at the back in order to go through assessment just in case things got too rough for them. "I've got other patients. Wrap something tight around that wound. Put some ice on that jaw." I go to begin walking, hoping slightly that Matthew doesn't try to stop me, not that I think he would want to.

W O R D. C O U N T : Many

N O T E S :

[Jack Lexington]

Now that the cuff has slipped from my wrist and I am no longer bound that a darn chair I could easily lash out but I won't with everybody watching. I know when to hold back even if it's hard.
Now it's Jeran who treats me like a dog...if only he knew that I'm not just all bark and no bite. Not today though.
Once again Jeran asks whether I fine when all I want is for Max to leave. Does he even know how hard it is to keep my anger contained.
"Just let him go." I growl at him.

"I've got other patients. Wrap something tight around that wound. Put some ice on that jaw." Max claims so I motion for the door. "Good luck to them."
The last thing I want is something 'tight' around a bruise but Jeran might really needs some ice.

So I wait for Max to leave and once he's actually gone I breath a sigh of relieve and with my hand on the back rest and my left leg stretched out carefully lower myself onto the chair.
I know Jeran will ask what this was all about so I simply state. "I know this guy from back home. We're not exactly friends as you can tell."
Then my eyes wander up to scan his face. I don't care much for the guy but today he's my partner and we worked as a team...not a very good one but we did.
"Are you alright?"
I get up again once the worst anger has subsided and I can be sure Max isn't around anymore and place my hand on his shoulder in a friendly manner and turn to leave.
"You are a terrible shoot, you know?"

[*]

"I have done what I can. Or at least what he'll let me." The medic tells me and I can only shrug now. If that's all Matthew will let him do, then there's no point in trying to force anymore care onto him. He has the right to refuse the medical treatment and even though, I want to make sure that Matthew will heal correctly due to the stupidity of the man who shoved him out in front of the bullet, I won't put the man at risk. Dunham is just stubborn as ever.

Matthew, though, tells us he's alright. So, it is what it is. There's not much I can do now nor would I want to. Dunham is released of his binding and I turn an apologize for his behavior. Why? I'll never know. I just felt as though it was necessary. With the medic's final say in his condition he mentions that he has other patients to see, being that of the men that we fought. I can't remember if I actually hurt one of them or not, but if so, I do hope they'll be alright. I think I got the worst of the damage, aside from the gunshot wound that Matthew incured.

"...Put some ice on that jaw." Comes his professional advice and I give him a stern nod, putting a hand up to my face and feeling the tender area that seems swollen.

"Yeah, if you see the guy who gave me the right hook, thank him for me. I'll be feeling this for a week." I say in my most sarcastic tone as the medic is given the notion to leave. Turning my attenion back to Matthew, I make this sort of harsh chuckle directed to him. Seeking him so pissed off because of the outcome of the exercise and to see if he'll say something based on the way he was acting toward the medic.

"I know this guy from back home. We're not exactly friends as you can tell."

"Yeah, well, seems you have a hard time making friends with the way you treat people. What did you do to him? Leave him out in the cold as well?" I push that fond memory out into the open to taunt him but also to put a bit of humor out there. However, he actually asks if I'm alright. I shrug.

"Why wouldn't I be? Got my guy and I also got your guy as well. I'm purely ecstatic." I know he's asking about my physical condition, but to tell him about how sore I'm feeling right now will be unheard of. Dunham stands and puts a hand on my shoulder.

"You are a terribe shoot, you know?"

I give him a solid nod. "Yeah, well, next time, don't step in front of a bullet meant for another man. And next time, don't get rid of your gear. At least you were smart enough to actually put the vest back on again." I bring my hand out, clapping him on the back and follow his lead to leave.

[Jack Lexington]

Instead of accepting my ‘frinedly attitude’ Jeran has to bring up my one big mistake.

"Yeah, well, seems you have a hard time making friends with the way you treat people. What did you do to him? Leave him out in the cold as well?"
I try to ignore his accusation and bite back the explanation of what really happened between me and Max. Jeran surely wouldn’t understand. I do tell him one thing though.
“I had no idea she was out in the cold. I care for your sister, believe it or not.”


"Why wouldn't I be? Got my guy and I also got your guy as well. I'm purely ecstatic."
Why does he have to be such an ass and rub it in like this? My expression becomes a deep frown.
“You’re brilliant. If you hadn’t shot me I could have gotten him myself.”
In my book the game wasn’t over for me until Jeran pulled the trigger, no matter if he was aiming at me or not. I’m not even one hundred percent sure who exactly he was aiming at because I didn’t see it. Maybe it was his chance to take me out of the picture. While I start mulling that over he lectures me some more.
"Yeah, well, next time, don't step in front of a bullet meant for another man. And next time, don't get rid of your gear. At least you were smart enough to actually put the vest back on again.”
The clap on the back isn’t appreciated at all, especially not because it sends unwanted vibrations down to my bruise.
“Keep your advice to yourself, Jeran.” I snap at him. “Next time you pull your fat ass up in that vent then I won’t have to take my gear off.”
With that I march past him clearly pissed off about his attitude and the fact that he got all the cake that I was baking.

I walk slowly down the stairs minding my every step while I try to use my left leg as little as possible because every step pulls on the muscles that have been bruised so badly. That’ll surely hurt for a few days.
Once outside we are escorted back to the waiting area where some cadets are still waiting for us. From one of the other houses we hear shots. The next team must be inside already.
“Follow me, cadets.” One of our supervisors says and walks us to a military style green canvas tent that’s filled to the brim with monitors and computers.
On one of the screens we can see the two cadets working their way through the building.
The Captain greets us with a chart in his hands while we stand up straight, heel together with our arms behind our backs.
“At ease! Are you two alright?”
I nod in reply and ignore my partner.
We will give you your evaluation for your performance straight away.
Cadet Ruze. You’ve done very well. However there are two points we have to criticize. You never should have left your partner. Instead you should have searched for a way outside or he should have gone in through the basement with you. We liked your performance inside, however the firing of a weapon in a hostage situation is questionable. We’re assuming you didn’t target your partner.” He raises his brows in question. Was it that obvious we didn’t get along?

[*]

"I had no idea she was out in the cold. I care for your sister, believe it or not." He claims yet again. Could it be? In the recesses of my own mind and heart, I want to beleive him, but he has shown me nothing of the fact that he cares for her. I hear nothing from her to state it either, so my original accusations and feeling are pretty much ground in. Besides, I already told her what I thought about her relationship with Matthew. Her and I, are severed as long as she's with him. Kya, I'm sorry. Does that make me as bad as him?

Now, it's my turn to shake my tail feathers and gloat in front of Matthew's face. Throwing the scenario at him as if he didn't already know it. I'm still pretty psyched about getting them both, but shooting my partner in the exact same scenario is a little nerve racking, to say the least.

"Next time. Dodge the bullet." I joke with him and a moment later, clap him on the back as we start to head out to get rid of the gear and get the news on our arrest. I also need to see about getting some ice. My jaw is absolutely killing me.

"Keep your advice to yourself, Jeran. Next time you pull your fat ass up in that vent then I won't have to take my gear off." Someone's in a bad mood. Probably a little sour after doing so poorly, but maybe it was my fault? If I hadn't been so eager to shoot, but aren't peacekeepers suppose to show authority? To show dominance? What would have happened if I'd been too afraid to shoot? What then? I would be deemed unfit due to a caring heart. If I mull over shooting my own partner, then maybe they will consider me to be too soft?

"Har, Har... har. Matthew. Next time, I'll just let you fall twenty feet on broken boards, get whacked by a shovel and shoved to the ground and see how you are about climbing after that." I shout after him. Him and his little attitude is unsettling. Maybe they need to give a course in anger management?

I give off a solid laugh as I follow where he went out and down the stairs, while bringing my hand up to my shouder and feel the extreme tenderness in my shoulder. Damn shovel. That would actually be a better weapon than a gun. I'll improvise next time. I catch up to Dunham quickly as slow as he's walking so I mimic his every step until we are escorted back to the tent where the commanding officers are staying during the exercise. The moment we get asked to follow them, I get a sudden jolt in my stomach.

Are they going to expell me for shooting my partner accidently?

The captain inside holds the charts and I force myself to stand as tall and still as possible no matter how sore I am.

"At ease. Are you two alright?" He asks. Can he truely be concerned for our well being or just pretending to care to check to see if our weakness is to allow others to know our pain. In my side vision, I see Dunham nod, so I voice it out.

"Yes, sir." I give a solid head nod just once to follow the word. Just as soon as I do, he automatically goes into the the evaluations for each of us, but he starts with me. I hold my breath for a long minute as he explains what happened inside and ends it with a question.

"No sir. I didn't target my partner. I targeted the man opposite of the one holding, Cadet Dunham. The man shoved Dunham into the line of fire at the last moment when I pulled the trigger. It was purely accidental. No intended harm was suppose to come of Dunham. Quite the contrary. It was suppose to act in his favor." I explain the situation. Was there video? Were they even watching? Couldn't they clearly see that the 'criminal' shoved him?

What if that was part of the exercise. How I would react in that kind of situation?

"It won't happen again, sir. It won't happen a second time." I state, letting my gaze flash to Matthew for a moment. This time I'm being truthful. It won't happen again. Not as long as I can do anything about it. Now that my evaluation is overwith, it's Matthew's I assume. I'm curious what scores they will give us. At least Matthew didn't shoot his partner.

[Anatra]

The captain deals them their due, and whilst that occurs the Sergeant Major stands with the notepad in his hand which he has calculated the scores upon. His little brain has tinkered on with all of the statistics, from every step to every heartbeat. Poor soul. Though there is a smile on his face that may tell them that he enjoys it.
His little pair of smart-ass glasses and his shortness would tell anybody that he is clearly there for his brain, not his strength or lack thereof.

"Cadet Ruze - I found your performance statistically engaging. I found faults but so could any man in any test. I am issuing you an overall four."

Four, there it is. Jeran has his score. A four is exceptional, and was likely given due to the success of the mission resting on his performance.

"Cadet Dunham... -" He begins, looking over his glasses at him. "Injuries are a statistic too. However, due to the questionable nature of the shot, which was in a hostage situation no less, I am issuing you an equal four."

The captain looks round at the little Sergeant Major with a questioning glare. "S-Simply because you resisted to deviate from the rulebook. You yourself performed exceptionally as well." He pauses, the captain clearly appearing needy in a response, but he continues - "Cadet Ruze caught both candidates, but Cadet Dunham was injured due to a clear mishap that would otherwise have been avoided if not for the deviation from th-"

"That's enough, Sergeant Major. They have their scores." The captain speaks. The captain then salutes to the two cadets. "Dismissed. Unless, you have further queries?"

[Jack Lexington]

The evaluation tent has an icy air about it even though we’re asked whether we’re alright. I doubt that the question is meant sincerely. But maybe the poor medical treatment is being evaluated, too. I want to stress how unprofessionally I’ve been treated but hold back for now because now is hardly the right time.

Jeran claims that he is alright and I don’t see why not other than his complaint about dropping a level and being hit with a shovel…when did he get hit with a shovel? In the basement?

The commanding officer asks exactly what’s on my mind as well. Did he intentionally shoot me?
He winds his way out with words and promises that it won’t happen again but I have my doubts on both claims. I’m not convinced that this wasn’t an act of revenge for leaving his sister high and dry. After all I was wearing a vest. He probably didn’t think he’d hit below it.
Through the questions I keep looking straight ahead and don’t say a word. I won’t , not until later.
My gaze wanders over and briefly meets with him as I catch his head turning out of the corner of my eye. My expression doesn’t give anything away though.

Then we get straight to the points, which this stubby, short sighted guy reads to us.
"Cadet Ruze - I found your performance statistically engaging. I found faults but so could any man in any test. I am issuing you an overall four."
Four! Fucking four just cause he gotme out of the way and took my guy out as well. Ridiculous. My gaze darkens but I bite back every comment.

"Cadet Dunham... -" He begins, looking over his glasses at him. "Injuries are a statistic too."
Here we go. I shift my weight from one foot to the next and sigh a little.
"However, due to the questionable nature of the shot, which was in a hostage situation no less, I am issuing you an equal four."
"Excuse me?" Did I just hear that? I thought I'm screwed but they're giving me a four.
A huge rock drops from my heart and I can't help but cheer menatlly and grin.

The seargant major suddenly raises his voice and makes me think the man made a mustake.
"S-Simply because you resisted to deviate from the rulebook. You yourself performed exceptionally as well."
I'll take whatever I can get.
"Cadet Ruze caught both candidates, but Cadet Dunham was injured due to a clear mishap that would otherwise have been avoided if not for the deviation from th-"
"That's enough, Sergeant Major. They have their scores."
What's going on here? I keep standing at attention because I'm worried they'll take away points if I move.

"Dismissed. Unless, you have further queries?"
As quickly as I can I shake my head. "No, sir." and turn away to walk outside before they rethink their situation.

Only outside I'm starting to realize that despite what happened I got high scores so far. I might actually make it through the test and get accepted into the academy.
Once Jeran joins me I can't even be mad at him. I just shake my head. "Can you believe this?" Overwhelmed be relief I pull him into a brotherly hug when I realize what the hell I'm doing and very quickly let go.