For a minute all i saw is darkness. But after a few moments, i get glimpses, of a place. A range with targets, it's the shooting range. Done with it's maintenance.
"Damon," Someone spoke. Snapping their fingers, opening my eyes. Thalia stood in front of me.
"You ok?" Thalia asked.
"Yeah sorry, i was trying something."
"Oh sorry to bother, but there's this new special project parabellum came up, it's a training course of sorts. Where 2 mercenary teams can join, with their armor and weapons, but the thing is that the ammo used are dummy rounds, only giving you a decent hit to the body instead of a piercing hit through the armor, they switch the environment from an open field with some cover to a small multiple floors house, they also have different game modes like stealth to just full on assault and defense. It's on the same floor as the shooting range, separated with a door. I was thinking if we can try it. Mainly because restrictions messed us up." Thalia explained. Guess i'll do it then, it would be boring to just sit here closing my eyes trying to see through my teammates, and it can be a good way to use my weapons on the field.
"Well let's do it."
"Ah good, just bring your guns, they'll give the dummy ammo. Also wear the old armor you have, if it's clean that is. If it isn't just put it in the cleaner of the armor stand. Wait for about 5 minutes and just press the wash button again, it's a trick i do when i have to use my armor after a bloodbath or getting it dirty in missions. If you're gonna ask why we can't use our new armor, well if everyone sees it they are gonna get jealous so when we go on a mission it's best we put our armor in the bag and then wear it once were in the clear" Thalia rushed to her room, maybe to get her own weapons. Did she tell the others and they also agreed? Or is it just me she asked. No matter, this can help me test my guns on the field. I did say i'll put the attachments some other time, but i suppose i'll buy the base attachments for stealth and loud. Something to attach on the muzzle, sights, and a grip.
Getting a bag like before for the range. I place the new weapons i bought, simultaneously browsing for the attachments i can put quickly.
Selecting suppressors, muzzle brakes, grips, and sights for the weapons i exit to retrieve the box.
Back in with the box of attachments i bought on short notice. Oh right my armor, i need to wash it, i open the drawer where i placed my old armor, well old armor. Guess i'll need your service again. Removing the new armor and resting it on the table. I put the old armor back, pressing the button to wash. The armor stand moved back to be cleaned for some time.
After the armor, it's time for the weapons. Hastily putting them on tightening each attachment to their weapons. The weapons took time to put on every single attachment bought.
After a quick time putting on the new devices for my new weapons, they were all finished. All inside the bag i zipped the bag shut, now to wear the old armor.
A press of the wash button, the noise of a fan or hair dryer from the inside quickly replaced any other sound. Emanating from it. In about 10 seconds, the armor came out. Most blood was removed with a some small patches still left but faint. Oh right my shirt, i forgot about washing it. Well the wound must have partly or almost completely, touching my shoulder i don't feel any pain, only the dry rough surface of my wound. With dried blood still glued onto my shirt, i suppose i'll wash it after this thing Nora talked about.
Donning the old armor, i rest the heavy bag of weapons on my shoulder, all stripped of their magazines, i wonder if they even have magazines for this lockbreaker.
Outside, Nora awaited me, also decked out in her old armor. Carrying a duffle bag like me.
"Let's go." Thalia walked out carrying her duffle bag.
Behind her we walked with our heavy bags, all the way to the elevator and to the shooting range.
"I asked the others, Sebastian, Luna, Mary, and Stephen agreed, the rest said they have stuff to do. This will be fun right?" Thalia asks, looking at me as we walk side by side.
Without any appropriate response i just nod my head at her, smiling.
"Great, i see you have issues carrying your bag, you bought new weapons?"
"Yeah how did you know?"
"I guessed."
In the elevator we wait till we get on the shooting range floor.
Back into the range we are, people shooting constantly. Bullet casings piling up on their sides as they shoot, someone must be cleaning these piles.
"Oh Damon and Thalia what's up?" Lennox greeted us, emerging from one of the small slots for shooting.
"Were trying that new project over there." Thalia points at a door, a door i didn't see before. Did they put that there after i last went to this place?
"Oh, well they are quickly making multiple rooms for 2 teams to fight against, some good stuff. I'm not gonna participate there though, i wanna empty my weapons here for the meantime. But you two and anyone else joining good luck." Lennox returns to his slot firing his guns again.
Thalia walks to the door, opening it. Inside the room was massive, just about the same size as the shooting range beside it. The entire place displayed just grass, with wooden barricades and farm equipment scattered around.
"Let's get our ammo." Thalia headed to a room with a sign above reading: "Ammunition room"
Inside, shelves of ammunition, displayed on all sides of the room. Another door stood in front.
"First we have to go to the locker room, follow me."
Through the other room, rows of lockers. Empty and open alike, With benches in between. People were already packing their stuff or putting weapons in the big lockers.
"The round now seems to be a loud round, so just bring the best weapons you got for this type of fight. We can use those 2 empty lockers there." Thalia walked to 2 lockers in the first row in front of us. Open and empty, i get the weapons i could carry with my armor now. The lockbreaker can be my main weapon for now. I bring the star-H along as a backup weapon and the ap-8 as my sidearm.
Thalia and i head to the ammo room. For a few minutes we searched for our magazines, sorting out where to place them. Inserting the last magazine we leave, to fight or play in this project.
"Thalia, Damon, were here!" A voice shouted while we exit the ammo room. Mary was waving in the distance, along with the rest of the team who agreed to join.
"ALRIGHT NEXT TEAM." 2 groups of mercs went out of the field, after them another group entered in 6 in total in their team.
"Well it's our turn now." Thalia walks into the field, we follow her.
"Alright teams, here are the ground rules. No physical fighting only shooting and make sure your weapons are the dummy rounds from the ammunition room. Lastly, only go back to your spawn points which are both ends of this field, when you sustain too much hits and need to rest to regain composure from the rounds, alright teams into your positions.
The enemy team walked to the opposite end of the field, behind us, a glass wall rose up to the ceiling, seperating the field from the waiting area or viewing area. We ready ourselves against the enemy, a loud buzz began the match. Rushing through into the middle of the field. Gunfire quickly erupted while we dashed into the fray, no sparks flying though but small dots passed at lightning speeds above me as i sit behind a metal sheet for barricade. Where are they hiding and shooting from, even if this is a game, and it is rather fun. I do want to win this. This feels like a real battle but safer, peeking out i see one person shooting while standing above cover. With my lockbreaker, i pulled the trigger. Holding it down while controlling the recoil, a hail of dummy rounds slammed into the person knocking them down. Wait is that person ok? Quickly after the barrage, the person raises an arm up and heads back to their end. The spawn.
Still peeking out of cover, dummy rounds hit my chest and head. Catching me off guard. They hurt like jabs but i'm still in the fight.
My team hid under barricades as well, exchanging shots against the opposing team, getting hit and hitting the enemy in the process.
The battle continued on, with our fighting getting more and more fierce with the amount of shooting getting more frequent.