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10:21 A.M. Rhodes Island Training Ground

This is it!

Too slow!

Shit!

But...!

That's enough for today.

Phew....

Not bad, Fang. You blocked it this time.

I'm glad to see you getting more flexible.

Yeah, it's what Instructor Dobermann taught me. Not just about footwork, but about adjusting my speed. I think I'm starting to get the hang of it!

Right. You have your natural Kuranta speed. It's good for quick attacks, but those aren't worth anything if the enemy blocks them and you have no counter.

Anyway, you passed this field exercise.

Thanks, Instructor Grace!

But the next one will be even harder.

I'll be ready!

That's the spirit.

Fang~

Beagle, did you finish your test? How did it go?

Aw, I didn't pass.... Instructor Fallon has some real sneaky tricks...

Don't get discouraged. You'll get 'em next time.

How about you? Did you pass?

Yeah.

Nice...

Aww, my butt...

Kroos, are you okay?

Instructor Tess shot my patootie...

Huh?

The test was a sniper war between me and Instructor Tess. We had to hide and find each other. I still don't know how she got behind me!

Hahahahahaha!

Don't laugh at me, Uncle Grace!

I'll tell you, you got really unlucky. The other sniping instructors just happen to be out for a few days and you got stuck with Tess.

Even I can't keep track of that phantom. My advice is you put the same effort into finding a sniper nest that you do into finding places to nap.

Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up.

I just checked on Hibiscus and Lava. Lava passed, but Hibiscus didn't. They went home already. How did you do?

Fang passed.

Aw, Fang, you traitor!

Why am I a traitor?

Ugh, I failed again. What is wrong with me...?

Don't be discouraged, Beagle, we still have plenty of chances.

Yeah, it's just a quiz. Nothing to be too upset about. And we still have hell this afternoon.

Haha, that's right. Dobermann let us do your individual tests this morning. But the afternoon group field test? That's all her.

*Sigh* Please. I can already imagine the look on Instructor Dobermann's face when she sees my test results.

Now you're sorry?

No. Instructor Dobermann said we could go at our own pace. I'm just a late bloomer!

Hah hah.

But I'm also worried she'll be disappointed in us...

Beagle, Kroos.....

Okay, seriously, don't be too hard on yourselves. We didn't make these tests so you could pass them. They're there to tell us what to work on.

Wow. It feels awful when a guy tells you straight to your face that he's better than you. And you can't even do anything about it!

It's the truth. There's a huge skill gap between you trainees and us instructors.

That's why we're your teachers. That's what we're here for.

And even if you haven't noticed it yourselves, you've made huge strides since you came to Rhodes Island.

...He's right.

Yeah... I guess he is.

And really, you girls are doing great. The instructors you went up against are all experts in your respective fields.

Do you have any idea how we got where we are? What we've been through?

No way...

Yes. Dobermann alone trained us.

Hard to believe as it may be, Dobermann today is a hundred times softer than she used to be.

Huh? Are we talking about the same Dobermann? She's soft?

That's not funny, Uncle Grace.

I'm not kidding.

Grace! My abuela runs up a mountain with a pack twice that size! You really can't handle some light jogging?

Fallon, you want the enemy to die laughing? Is that what you're going for with these clumsy slapstick attacks?

Tess, you falling asleep on me? Hold your gun straight! Don't let me out of your sights!

Viktor, the enemy doesn't give water breaks!

Leah, let's have you learn some basic first aid before you try healing Arts. This bandage work is as much of a mess as you are.

We're done for the day. Give me ten laps around the training room! You hear me?

Sir, yes, sir!

I can't hear you!

SIR, YES, SIR!

That bad, huh?

The point is still that Dobermann may not be the strongest fighter herself.... Hey, I'll toot my own horn and say I've got a 50/50 shot against her at this point.

Come on, cut the crap.

Hey, a little self-confidence is good for the soul.

Anyway, Dobermann may not be the strongest fighter around, but the tactics and strategies she pulled out of her time with the Bolívarian army are overpowering.

Bolívar....?

Yeah. Like the 'Bolívarian Civil War' you see on the news. That Bolívar. We all wonder exactly how Dobermann got to be as great as she is, but she never talks that much about her time in Bolívar.

Anyway, at the time, Rhodes Island was just getting going, and they really needed some talent. Then, how do I put this...

Dobermann was a real soldier back then.

What does that mean?

Like, we're all pretty awesome here at Rhodes Island, but our overall atmosphere is still really relaxed, right? We get to have our own lives.

Okay, let me put it this way. If you were with us back then, Kroos, you'd never end up napping in a utility closet. The thought wouldn't even cross your mind.

Huh? That sounds like hell.

You get what I'm saying? Dobermann's way different now.

Really. It's hard to imagine the person Instructor Grace is talking about is our Instructor Dobermann.

Yeah... Dobermann works us hard, and she's kind of scary, but once you get to know her, you can tell she really cares about us.

She always really cared about people. Even back then.

It's just, sometimes, what you do means more than why you do it.

All right, that's enough chatting for now. You girls pack up, go take a shower, have lunch, and get ready for the group training this afternoon.

What about you?

Me? I'm going to gather up the other teachers and we'll take your test results to Dobermann.

Oh, I can do that for you.

Really? You can?

Sure. We'll pass Instructor Dobermann's room on the way to the cafeteria.

Oh. I'll go too.

Um, I'll pass. I'm in no hurry to see Instructor Dobermann.

Thanks a lot, ladies.

Oh, and uh, don't tell Dobermann what I just told you. Ever.