Chapter Thirteen
When Atticus suggested they check out theSniper 1 Security Training Center, Archer wasn’t sure what to expect.He’d seen a number of facilities over the years used by operatives in one phase of their career or another.The only thing they had in common was that they usually had a gun range and some weight training equipment.Otherwise, the options varied.
But none of them looked like this one.
The large metal building housed what had to be the largest course he’d ever seen, not to mention a rather impressive simulation center, which, according to Atticus, was like a real-life experience.
“Let’s see what you’ve got, Marine,” Atticus joked as they stood in what could’ve passed as a warehouse with the stacks of metal box containers scattered throughout.
“I’m game if you are,” he told his partner with a smirk.
Atticus quirked an eyebrow and flashed a smile.“You’re on.Let’s get the equipment.”
He followed Atticus.“What equipment are we getting?”
“We’ll do the virtual reality scenario.Not quite as impressive as the simulation room, but pretty damn cool.The gear is set to measure body temp, heart rate, and whatnot while you’re in it.Plus, in the event you get shot, it’ll let you know.”
Interesting.
While they were getting set up with the gear—which included a dry-fit, long-sleeve shirt like the ones he wore to work out in and half a dozen sensors that were secured in strategic places to measure every move and every shot they took—RT and Z arrived.
“Good,” Z said by way of greeting.“I was hopin’ to get a demo of your skills.”
“If you really want to see his skills, you’ll have to put him in a perch a few thousand yards away,” RT said, looking impressed.
Archer had never been interested in bragging about his shooting skills.Although Uncle Sam had trained him and honed his natural abilities, it wasn’t something he was particularly proud of.While in the employ of the Marine Corps, he’d done the job they asked of him, and he’d done it well.Regardless of who had commanded him to take the shot, every kill was forever ingrained in his brain.And they weren’t moments he relived if he could avoid them.
“Let’s run the hostage drill,” Z said, looking at Atticus.“You’re in the lead on this one.”
Atticus nodded.
Archer had to admit, he was impressed with Atticus’s attitude.Didn’t seem to matter to him who held the control in the situation; he was good at acclimating.According to the few stories Atticus had shared with him, that hadn’t been the case until recently.
“Good luck,” Z said before disappearing into a glass-enclosed control room, RT right behind him.
A moment later, Z’s voice sounded through the earpiece Archer had inserted.
“The hostage is a twelve-year-old girl.Intel tells us she’s bein’ kept in a small room on the south side of the building, second floor.Heat signatures show three guards near the room, two making rounds on the exterior of the building, and five throughout.”
“Exterior?”Archer asked.
Atticus pointed toward the large shipping containers that split the building in half.“This side of the containers is considered the exterior for the sake of the exercise.”
“North, I presume?”
“Correct.”
“Okay, then, team leader, what’s your plan?”
Atticus walked over to a glass-topped table and tapped it.A blueprint of the “building” appeared, so he figured it wasn’t a table, but rather a computer.
“If she’s back here, I think our best bet is to move in from the east.As soon as this guard makes his next round, we’ll slip in through here.We’ll keep it quiet for as long as possible, so we don’t alert them all.”
Archer kept his attention on the screen as Atticus outlined exactly what they would do once inside.
“It’s all virtual reality,” Atticus explained, passing a pair of goggles that resembled the night vision ones he had at home.“And it’s high tech.They will see you.They will shoot you.”Atticus smirked.“And when they do, it hurts like a motherfucker.”
“Roger that.”
