Having written a mostly coherent report, Marcus has successfully completed the basic test. After finishing he looked around to find that about a third of the trainnies failed this test, leaving roughly 200 people left.
All New Bloods were given a week of rest time before classes started up again. Marcus spent a whole day just relaxing in his bunk, and got food from the cafeteria. He formed a whole nother level of appreciation for cafeteria food. The following few days Porter dragged him around hitting the bars, and restaurants of Devil Maw's Merchant district. After settling down, Marcus sat in the library to think about which classes to take.
The name 'Intermediate Test' doesn't give a lot of hints. That being said it shouldn't be that huge of a jump from the basic test, so Marcus disregards classes like Team Drills, or Social Skills. He eventually decided to focus on Melee Combat, Wildlife Studies, and Science/Mechanics.
In Melee Class, Marcus decided to focus on hand to hand combat, as well as short bladed weapons, like knives, machetes, ect. Marcus has grown a lot in the past six months, and is still growing. That being said the trainer told him weapons like greatswords/hammers won't be a good fit for him due to having a naturally small build. Marcus focused on techniques centered around fighting people, like throws, takedowns, joint locks, and stabbing vital parts of the body. He figured that if he got into a melee fight with a mutant beast or abomination, then he was doing something wrong.
Wildlife Studies focused on the deadly creatures one can find in the wasteland, and how to avoid/combat them. There are giant ant-lions that make traps in the sands, large plants with mouths that can eat a child whole, and a wide variety of mutated animals, like the Hound from the last test. The amount of different mutants and abominations in the wasteland is staggering to Marcus, finding Micks comment of the wasteland being a 'Hellscape' more accurate as time goes by.
The most dangerous threat being the Kaiju. This reptile abomination is 9 foot tall, 600 pounds of terror. Kaiju can sprint at a staggering 75 mph for half an hour straight. They have long armor piercing claws, razor sharp teeth, and gnarled horns to eviscerate anything in their path. They often stay in their own territory, so avoiding them is generally the better option.
Night class was Marcus's favorite. While learning basic sciences was boring to him, Marcus did quite enjoy learning about mechanics. How to handle various tools and what they are used for. Figuring out how to upkeep and make basic repairs on various vehicles and equipment the Red Scarfs use. Finally learning how to maintain and fix various weapons he might find in the wasteland was a skill he knew would prove beneficial in the future.
During his two days off a week, he went to the library to study about various past mission's the Red Scarfs had undertaken, specifically missions they failed. He begged the librarian for a week before they allowed him access to the documents. Even then Marcus had to sign a waiver to not spread any information he learned since he wasn't a real Red Scarf yet.
From a single squad failing to protect a traveling merchant, to a whole company almost being wiped out after an ambush from a local kingpin they were tasked to eliminate. Even simple wildlife exterminations gone wrong were interesting to him. Marcus studied each incident, thought about what he would have done in their shoes, then asked about his trainers perspective. By doing all this Marcus believed he could prepare himself for similar situations in the future.
Six more months flew by and Marcus was standing at attention in a well decorated office, across from him is a woman dressed in a black suit with a ominous gaze that look like they can pierce a persons soul. The trainer standing next to the woman spoke.
"Trainee A-84, this here is Callsign Scenario, she will be overseeing your intermediate test."
Scenario gives Marcus a calm smile.
"Hello A-84 your test today is quite simple. I have the ability to pull an individual into an illusion. This illusion will be based on a predicament a Red Scarf faced in the past, but has been slightly altered to match a New Bloods level. Your test is to hold out in the building you find yourself in until sunrise. You will not be hurt in reality if you are hurt in the illusion, but it will still be painful, so keep that in mind. Please take a seat when you are ready."
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Marcus looks at her with a face of bewilderment. 'Illusions? Won't get hurt in reality? What kinda stuff are you smoking and where can I get some?!'
Marcus looks at his trainer for confirmation who gives him a nod. He reluctantly sits down on the chair. He looks back into the eyes of Scenario and his vision starts to get blurry, before fading entirely.
...
When Marcus snaps to he finds himself in an unfamiliar place. He's in a large room filled with dirt, and debris. There has obviously been fighting here recently as bloodstains and bullet holes coat the walls and broken furniture. Marcus pinches himself, it hurts. Even though she said it was illusion, it seems pretty real to him. Marcus knows he won't have much time to get his bearing's so he moves quickly.
First he checks his environment for hostiles. Nothing in the room he's in. There's a basement, and a set of stairs leading to the roof. Checking the basement he finds an old generator with a body next to it. The body has a hole in its head with a toolbox lying toppled over next to its side. Grabbing a large wrench from the toolbox for a weapon, and finding nothing else he moves up to the roof.
On one side of the roof was an automated turret with three cases of ammo for it, checking the turret, Marcus finds its still operational, but is offline due to not having enough power. Four searchlights also adorn the four corners of the roof. Opposite of the turret is a corpse of a man who seemed to have been ripped apart. There is a homemade bolt action rifle beside him, made of scrap metal and old wood. Looting the corpse he also found 21 rounds for the rifle.
Peering over the edge he realized he was in a one building, fenced in compound surrounded by trees with two dirt roads leading outwards. Marcus could see three bodies around the compound, all seemingly died as gruesome deaths as the sniper on the roof. Going outside and checking the bodies he found another 53 rounds for his rifle, a flashlight, and a fire axe.
Noticing the sun is about to set Marcus quickly dashes to the basement and starts to work on the generator. After looking it over the generator just needed more coolant which Marcus finds nearby. Just as the generator came back on Marcus heard gunshots coming from above him.
"Turret must be shooting at something!"
Marcus turns around to head up when a figure that had just finished coming down the stairs lunges at him, arms outstretched.
Completely taken by surprise, and without time to think, Marcus's training kicks in. Sidestepping the lunge, Marcus hip checks the attacker, sending them sprawling on the floor. Grabbing the fire axe he lifts it over his head then sinks the edge into the assailants skull with a wet crunch. Yanking the axe out and taking a step back he realizes the attacker was a husk.
Husks are people whose minds and bodies were completely eroded by the radiation of the wasteland, turning into nothing more but shambling monsters. They do not need to eat, drink, or sleep being sustained by radiation alone. Moving in packs and surviving on base instinct, they are literal 'Husks' of their former selves, hence the name.
"Rookie mistake Marcus, at least close the damn door." Marcus admonishes.
Quickly making his way back to the main floor he spots three more husks making their way in. Being slow moving and having predictable attacks, Marcus makes short work of them before closing and barricading the doors with old furniture. After doing that he runs up to the roof and closes the door. Checking on the turret he finds that its already gone through a hundred rounds of ammo. After reloading the turret Marcus looks out and spots dozens of new corpses littering the area, with more husks coming from all directions. Setting up beside the corpse on the roof Marcus starts shooting at the approaching husks, only hitting two out of three shots he makes even with their slow movement.
"Dammit, should have gone to more shooting classes!"
Before he knew it Marcus was already out of ammo with husks swarming the building. Running back down Marcus finds that the husks have punched a couple of holes in the door. He runs over, and using the spike on the flipside of the fire axe, stabs holes into the brain of husks breaking in. Eventually Marcus hears the gunfire stop, he quickly runs up, reloads the turret, and runs back down to fight off more husks.
After awhile time begins to blur for Marcus, and a routine starts to form. Fight husks, run up, reload turret, run down, and repeat. Eventually the husks breakthrough the barricades forcing Marcus to retreat up to the roof, and slam the door shut. Marcus runs to the turret and moves it to face the door to the roof. Time passes and the door eventually falls apart. The second a husk walks onto the roof it gets blasted away by the turret. After a while a small hill forms at the door of the roof with husks having to climb over a the pile of bodies to get to Marcus.
Eventually the turret fires its last shot. Breathing deeply to try and calm his nerves Marcus walks up to the pile and starts swinging at any moving body. Nauseated by the smell of rotting irradiated corpses, and his muscles screaming at him from swing the axe for so long, Marcus starts to slow down. Over time the husks begin to overwhelm Marcus, pushing him back to the edge of the roof. Just as Marcus was wondering if he would break a leg if he jumped off the roof sunlight breaking over the trees hits him in the eyes, blinding him.
When Marcus shakes his head, he finds himself back in the office, seated in the chair opposite the smiling, ominous eyes of Scenario.
"Congratulations A-84, you passed with flying colors."