Read Online Project Sparta (The Xander Whitt Series Book 1) by B.B. Gallagher - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: B.B. Gallagher
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for Duke to approach the gun before him at his shooting mat. Duke did so and took a pretty experienced stance. Xander noticed he was standing with his right foot back and his left foot forward to increase balance, stability, and cushion for the kick. He noticed his raised shoulders and firm grip. He zeroed in on the whites of his knuckles, his skin creases pulled tight. Duke’s eye down the sight of the pistol—he fired off a round, hitting the shoulder of the target sheet at the end of the range.
“Beat that, Oliver Twist!” he taunted, looking over at Xander. Xander had absorbed everything he could from observing Duke’s shot, his posture, form, and grip. His mind processed what he had seen, and in one fluid motion, Xander brought the barrel up to his eye and fired off a full magazine at the target down the range. Each bullet punctured the black silhouette’s chest and then with one quick aiming adjustment, Xander’s last round hit the target in the middle of the forehead. He ejected the clip and hit the ground, then he placed the empty pistol back on his mat. The hot gust of air rose from the end of the barrel and with it any doubt in Xander’s abilities. The Spartans started murmuring among themselves.
How did I do that?
The only one not impressed was Duke, who had just been outshot by the kid who didn’t even know what skeet shooting was.
“Have you shot a gun before today?” Axle asked. Xander shook his head. “How did you do that?”
Xander caught the lump in his throat and couldn’t find the words.
“I just learned it, I guess…” All eyes were steady on Xander, who was motionless in disbelief.
“All right, Spartans, all of you give it a go!” Most of the cadets looked overwhelmed and inexperienced, but over time they grew more confident with the firearms and their shooting techniques improved. The only other natural in the room was Ashton, who had the steadiest hand and the most precise aim. After a round of target practice, they covered the basics of assembly and disassembly, as well as the physics behind a shot.
«————————»
The Spartans had found their way over to the Mess Hall for lunch after Tactical training. Xander sat at a table with Fiona, Ezra, Jooles, and Mac. Seamus, Bronson, Ashton, and Tobias sat with Duke. They had gotten their food from the cafeteria line and were served a high-protein diet—a mushy mystery meat, kale and lentils.
“Where is the sugar?” Ezra exclaimed. His comment was met with general agreement and labored mastication.
“This food might be the hardest part of our training,” Seamus said, spitting out a half-chewed portion of mystery meat. He started coughing in disgust.
“Wrong pipe?” Fiona asked.
“Any pipe is the wrong pipe. Where are the chicken fingers for God’s sakes?” Seamus responded over his plate. The Spartans laughed collectively.
“Xander, that was some incredible shooting today!” Fiona said, as impressed as the rest.
A slight blush crept into his cheeks. Xander became reticent and bashful at the sound of her praise. He could only muster a short, breathy reply as his eyes fell to his shoes.
“Thanks…”
“You really showed Duke!” Jooles lowered her voice so the other table couldn’t hear.
“Yeah, I guess I did.”
“You should have seen his face!” Fiona whispered, beaming at him.
“Oh, I did, and I’m glad I have a photographic memory because that’s one face I never want to forget!” The table erupted in laughter. Xander looked over to the other table and met Duke’s vengeful expression. A shiver shot through Xander’s spine. He knew Duke’s hatred was entrenched and only growing, and Xander feared what that would make him capable of.
Chapter 10
The Compound
June 12 th 2010
“Welcome to Intelligence class. I am Damien Cusick,” the instructor said. He was dressed in casual clothes again—today it was a Rage Against the Machine
“Beat that, Oliver Twist!” he taunted, looking over at Xander. Xander had absorbed everything he could from observing Duke’s shot, his posture, form, and grip. His mind processed what he had seen, and in one fluid motion, Xander brought the barrel up to his eye and fired off a full magazine at the target down the range. Each bullet punctured the black silhouette’s chest and then with one quick aiming adjustment, Xander’s last round hit the target in the middle of the forehead. He ejected the clip and hit the ground, then he placed the empty pistol back on his mat. The hot gust of air rose from the end of the barrel and with it any doubt in Xander’s abilities. The Spartans started murmuring among themselves.
How did I do that?
The only one not impressed was Duke, who had just been outshot by the kid who didn’t even know what skeet shooting was.
“Have you shot a gun before today?” Axle asked. Xander shook his head. “How did you do that?”
Xander caught the lump in his throat and couldn’t find the words.
“I just learned it, I guess…” All eyes were steady on Xander, who was motionless in disbelief.
“All right, Spartans, all of you give it a go!” Most of the cadets looked overwhelmed and inexperienced, but over time they grew more confident with the firearms and their shooting techniques improved. The only other natural in the room was Ashton, who had the steadiest hand and the most precise aim. After a round of target practice, they covered the basics of assembly and disassembly, as well as the physics behind a shot.
«————————»
The Spartans had found their way over to the Mess Hall for lunch after Tactical training. Xander sat at a table with Fiona, Ezra, Jooles, and Mac. Seamus, Bronson, Ashton, and Tobias sat with Duke. They had gotten their food from the cafeteria line and were served a high-protein diet—a mushy mystery meat, kale and lentils.
“Where is the sugar?” Ezra exclaimed. His comment was met with general agreement and labored mastication.
“This food might be the hardest part of our training,” Seamus said, spitting out a half-chewed portion of mystery meat. He started coughing in disgust.
“Wrong pipe?” Fiona asked.
“Any pipe is the wrong pipe. Where are the chicken fingers for God’s sakes?” Seamus responded over his plate. The Spartans laughed collectively.
“Xander, that was some incredible shooting today!” Fiona said, as impressed as the rest.
A slight blush crept into his cheeks. Xander became reticent and bashful at the sound of her praise. He could only muster a short, breathy reply as his eyes fell to his shoes.
“Thanks…”
“You really showed Duke!” Jooles lowered her voice so the other table couldn’t hear.
“Yeah, I guess I did.”
“You should have seen his face!” Fiona whispered, beaming at him.
“Oh, I did, and I’m glad I have a photographic memory because that’s one face I never want to forget!” The table erupted in laughter. Xander looked over to the other table and met Duke’s vengeful expression. A shiver shot through Xander’s spine. He knew Duke’s hatred was entrenched and only growing, and Xander feared what that would make him capable of.
Chapter 10
The Compound
June 12 th 2010
“Welcome to Intelligence class. I am Damien Cusick,” the instructor said. He was dressed in casual clothes again—today it was a Rage Against the Machine
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