“KEEP ON PUSHING, YOU STILL HAVE HALF A MILE TO GO!”

Every single muscle in Joy’s body throbbed and burned. Throughout the day Simon’s “training” almost classified as abuse, ranging from pushups with one-ton blocks of steel on her back, swimming with large weights strapped to her, to now working to push an APC uphill. For the entire push up-hill, Simon constantly barked at her over and over, having her blood boil along with the rest of her body. Half a mile later and she gave the APC one final shove, panting and soaked in sweat. She flexed her arm and smiled at it, at the very least something could provide her with good exercise. Her smile faded as Simon began walking over towards her. If only this exercise didn’t nearly kill her. She sat down onto the ground.

“Why are you taking a break? That thing has no fuel and it needs to get back to base, stat!”

“Hey, give me a break! Seriously, I’m already overqualified as it is! Send me after some of those demon-selling bastards or something already!”

“And what gave you that impression?”

“I already met the other oddjobs! I’m way out of their league!”

He paused for a few moments. “If you really feel that way, would you like me to move you to advanced combat training?”

Her eyes lit up. “YES! Yes please, just anything that can end with this mundane workout crap!”

Simon began marching away. “That APC still needs to get back to the base. Get pushing!”

Her body still burning from the earlier training, Joy could still barely contain herself as Simon lead her to a training arena. It was a large city-block sized room filled with small city buildings, roads, and even broken down cars scattered across them. Simon lead her through a door entering into the end of the arena.

“So this one is simple enough for even you to understand. Paint rounds will be used for this, and if you’re hit, you’re dead.” He pointed to a tall building off at the other end. “Over there in that building is your target. There’s civilians trapped in the basement guarded by a few cartel members. You need to get in there, kill every last cartel member and demon, and get the civilians out of there. You got it?”

“You got it. It’ll be a cinch, trust me!”

“I haven’t gotten that far with you yet Joy. Show me what you’ve got.”

The moment he left the arena, he yelled over the intercom: “START”.

She immediately bolted forward towards the building, bounding over the rubble and scrap that blocked the streets. She felt something peck at her forehead and a loud buzzer went off.

“You’re dead Joy.”

She skidded to a halt. She felt her head, and felt paint on it. “What? Where was he? How did he-”

She glanced around and looked up, and saw an all too familiar figure. Rex was standing atop one of the buildings with a rifle in hand. The intercom spoke up.

“Your enemy isn’t going to face you head on. You have to think and be resourceful Joy!’

“Fine, now I know! Give me a re-match!”

All day, Joy tried over and over to best Rex to no avail. Every single time she tried to get close to that building, he was always one step ahead of her. She tried taking cover, weaving through buildings, everything she could to get closer and closer. Each and every time, the moment she made it close to the building, she always got struck from where she least expected it. She was gasping for breath by the last attempt, and Simon spoke over the loudspeaker once more. “That’s enough training for today Joy. You need to get something to eat before you crash and burn.” She slogged her way back to the entrance of the arena, met by Simon. She glared daggers at him as he crossed his arms.

“So do you still think you’re overqualified Joy?”

She angrily shook her head.

“I will at least admit, your persistence is definitely a positive quality. Not sure if it’s because of stupidity or will, but it’s admirable. After dinner, meet me back here, I think I have a better way of training you with this."