Chapter 3 Sarah and Susan Enter the Danger Zone

 Chapter 3 — Cha Ching!

Sarah and Susan Enter the Danger Zone

The following morning, Stg. Salty made one enormous mistake.

He asked Sarah and Susan if they fancied a training mission.

He should have known better.

Sarah looked at Susan.

Susan looked at Sarah.

Then they both smiled.

“Oh yes.”

McFinleyyy immediately became concerned.

“Why did you say that?”

Sarah picked up her training helmet.

“Because we're going on a mission.”

Susan grabbed her gear.

“And we're going to have some fun.”

Salty narrowed his eyes.

“Training mission.”

Sarah smiled innocently.

“Of course.”

Susan nodded.

“Completely controlled.”

Salty still wasn't convinced.

---

The Misfits arrived at the training ground shortly afterwards.

The Leopard 2 was parked nearby.

WhizzAir's DJI drone was already buzzing overhead.

McFinleyyy was checking the radios.

Govna had somehow found a sandwich.

Quags was doing absolutely nothing.

Quagmire was doing even less.

Finholio was polishing the Leopard 2.

And Ye Olde Large Lad was, naturally, pumping iron.

Sarah and Susan stood together at the edge of the training area.

They looked at the mock target structure.

Then at each other.

Sarah grinned.

“Ready?”

Susan grinned back.

“Ready.”

Finholio looked across.

“What are they doing?”

McFinleyyy shook his head.

“I don't know.”

Salty sighed.

“That's what worries me.”

---

Sarah and Susan moved towards the designated training area.

The exercise used clearly marked inert training charges and theatrical effects. Nothing dangerous. Nothing that could actually hurt anybody.

But Sarah and Susan were taking it extremely seriously.

They crouched beside the mock structure.

Sarah looked at Susan.

“You remember the plan?”

Susan nodded.

“Set the training charges.”

“Check the safety zone.”

“Clear everyone out.”

“Then press the big red button.”

Sarah smiled.

“Excellent.”

From behind them came Salty's voice.

“There isn't actually a big red button.”

Sarah turned around.

“There should be.”

Susan nodded.

“Every proper operation needs one.”

Salty shook his head.

“Just get on with it.”

---

WhizzAir's drone hovered above the training area.

“Area clear,” he announced.

Sarah gave a thumbs-up.

Susan checked the perimeter.

“All clear.”

Sarah looked towards the Misfits.

“Everybody ready?”

McFinleyyy shouted:

“Ready!”

Finholio shouted:

“READY!”

Ye Olde Large Lad shouted:

“READY!”

Govna shouted:

“Has anyone seen my sandwich?”

Nobody answered.

Sarah looked at Susan.

“Forget him.”

Susan nodded.

“Agreed.”

---

They moved back behind the safety barrier.

Sarah picked up the remote for the inert training effect.

Susan stood beside her.

They looked at the mock structure.

Then at each other.

A mischievous grin appeared on both faces.

Sarah raised her fist.

Susan raised hers.

And together they shouted:

“CHA CHING!!!!!”

WHOOOOM!

The training effects erupted across the mock target.

A huge cloud of smoke and dust rolled upwards.

Everyone stared.

Finholio's mouth dropped open.

McFinleyyy burst out laughing.

Quags simply nodded.

Quagmire shouted:

“NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL A TRAINING DAY!”

Sarah and Susan stood shoulder-to-shoulder, absolutely delighted.

Sarah looked at Susan.

“Again?”

Susan smiled.

“Definitely.”

Salty's voice came over the radio.

“NO!”

Sarah frowned.

Susan looked disappointed.

Salty continued:

“We've only got so much training budget!”

---

The smoke began to clear.

WhizzAir checked the drone feed.

“Target successfully demolished.”

Salty nodded.

“Good work.”

Sarah looked pleased.

Susan looked even more pleased.

Then Finholio appeared beside them.

“That was brilliant.”

Sarah smiled.

“Thank you.”

“Can we do the Leopard next?”

Salty immediately shouted:

“NO!”

Finholio looked disappointed.

“Worth asking.”

---

Ye Olde Large Lad wandered over, still carrying his dumbbells.

He looked at the remains of the mock target.

Then at Sarah and Susan.

“Impressive.”

Sarah nodded.

“Thank you.”

He lifted one dumbbell.

“Want to see something impressive?”

Susan looked suspicious.

“What?”

Ye Olde Large Lad performed a ridiculous bicep curl.

Everyone stared.

He performed another.

Then another.

Finholio began counting.

“Thirty-seven! Thirty-eight! Thirty-nine!”

McFinleyyy looked at Salty.

“Is this still a military exercise?”

Salty watched Ye Olde Large Lad pumping iron beside a smoking training structure.

“No.”

He paused.

“I don't think it ever was.”

---

Sarah and Susan walked back towards the Leopard 2.

Sarah looked at the rest of the Misfits.

“Mission successful.”

Susan nodded.

“Target neutralised.”

Finholio raised his fist.

“CHA CHING!”

Everyone laughed.

Salty shook his head.

But even he couldn't stop smiling.

The Misfits had officially discovered their newest training tradition.

Whenever something went according to plan...

Sarah and Susan would raise their fists...

Look at each other...

And shout:

“CHA CHING!!!!!”

The only problem was that Salty was beginning to suspect they were enjoying this far too much.

And tomorrow's mission was going to involve the Leopard 2, WhizzAir's drone and a very suspicious-looking abandoned training convoy.

Salty had a horrible feeling that this was about to get complicated.

TO BE CONTINUED…