“You wanted to see me?” Seth asked Jacks as he entered Jack’s office. Jacks was busy tapping away on his computer.

“Yeah, take a seat. Just give me a minute, almost done here.” Jacks said.

“Sure. Is it alright if I read one of the books you have here on the shelf?” Seth asked as he eyed the bookshelf, half filled with books while the other half was filled with miscellaneous items such as medals, folders and reports.

“Be my guest.” Jacks said not bothering to look up. Seth took a book titled Desert combat tactics off the shelf and began to dig in. He had left the two manuals that he was given earlier in the week at home, but he was mostly finish with them as he read them during his free time.

A few minutes later, Jacks yelled “Done! Whoa that took awhile! Hopefully that’ll be the last report for the week.” He leaned back on his chair and began stretching his arms. He ask Seth “I heard that Antonio was running some combat drills this morning. What did you think of them?”

“Who’s Antonio?” Seth put the book down and asked.

“Oh, that’s Captain Steward first name. I guess you just refer to him as Steward most of the time.”

“Oh got it. I thought it was amazing.” And he meant every word.

What impressed Seth was the silent communication between all the members on both teams. Orders were quickly given through hand signals or eye contact. That could only be done through years of training and coordination.

“Are you disappointed that you couldn’t join? I would think a teenager would be excited to try a match even if they are just practice guns.”

“No, I understand why I wasn’t allowed to join. I am not familiar with any of the weapons used on the field or the commands given. I’ll be a liability to whatever team I’m on.”

Jacks raised an eyebrow and grinned. “It’s good that you understand that much. I thought you would be more upset with being withheld from the combat drills Follow me.”

Jacks led Seth up to the second floor of the Federation building to a section was never introduced before. His usual nonchalant attitude was completely missing and replaced with a somber face. “ I didn’t want to introduce you so soon, since Antonio bought up the training exercises, now is a good time as any. “Jacks pushed back two doors and led Seth into a room. “Welcome to the shooting range.”

Seth was let into a large room. He could see several stations separated by walls. Each station would have distant targets on a piece of paper, ready to be shot.

“Wait here,” Jacks instructed as they stopped at one station. Jacks then proceeded to walk to a booth and talk to one of the members. He was given a few items and then returned to Seth. The items that he carried was two earmuffs, a handgun and a rifle and a few magazine rounds for both guns. “How far did you read the two books I given you?”

“I’m almost done with both of them.” The books Driving 101 and Using guns for dummies flashed through Seths mind. The books were very informative and excellent learning material. He would make time to read the two book before falling asleep for the night.

“Good, show me how to reload a gun. This magazine round here is filled with blanks. This handgun here is a standard Glock handgun that the Federation issues. If you read the manual, then you should know how to reload the gun.”

Seth took the handgun and blank magazine round. The book had taught him how to reload a gun but feeling the cold metal object in his hand. Even though the handgun should not have weighed more than a few pounds, there was a strange heaviness to it. Seth cocked the gun and inserted the blank magazine. He then handed it back to Jacks for inspection.

Jacks nodded then gave him a different magazine and said “Not bad. A bit slow, but since this is your first time, it’s fine. Try this magazine with live rounds and then empty it by shooting the target at this station. Wear this.” Jacks handed one of the earmuffs to Seth and also the Glock back to him.

Seth first put the earmuff on. He then switched the blank magazine to a live one for the handgun. Holding with both hands, he aimed the gun at a circle target.

BANG!

Seth had prepared himself for the noise, but the first shot still startled him. The recoil felt as if someone punched his arm and the noise could still be heard despite the earmuffs. His first shot had completely missed the target as a bullet hole could be seen right outside the boundaries of the target.

Seth took a breath, mentally preparing himself for the next shot. This time, he knew what was coming and was prepared. He took the second shot, and then the next. He didn’t stop until the Glock produced only clicking noises and no bullets. This time’s attempt was much better as his bullets were inside the target. None of them hit bullseye, but they were much closer.

Jacks observed Seth and motion him to take off the earmuffs He ask “How did it feel to shoot a gun for the first time?”

“Like someone punched my arm.” Seth answered.

“Yeah, that’s a feeling you will need to get use to if you use a gun. This is a bit out of the blue, but what do you think of guns?”

Seth blinked. Jacks was right as the question came out of nowhere, but he answered anyways. “They’re weapons. Everyone knows that. I haven’t thought much else about it.”

“Right. Right,” Jacks nodded his head in agreement. “Then lets changed the question. Why do you think people created guns in the first place?”

“Uh...to kill things more efficiently?”

“Why would they want to kill more efficiently?”

“So that the shooter can live?”

“Right, guns were invented so that the person using it can quickly kill their enemy. It so that the shooter can protect themselves from the threat. That what it all stems down to. Weapons were all created to protect the user from any threat. How they protect the user it based on the weapon design. Sure, the gun can kill much more effectively, but in the end, it protects the user much more quickly.”

Jacks took a glance at the Glock and continued. “I want you to remember every time you wield a gun, every bullet you shoot is used to protect. Your family. Your friends and most importantly, yourself. Never shoot a bullet unless your resolve is absolute Whoever you are pointing your gun at has as much right to protect their own lives as much as you do. When you try to kill something, they can try to kill you. Never point a gun at an ally even as a joke. Even if you don’t learn much from the Federation, I want you to remember this lesson today. Every time you use a gun; you shoot not to kill, but to protect. Understood?”

Seth nodded. The gun in Seth’s hand suddenly felt much heavier than when Jacks had just handed it to him. Now it felt like a burden was added to the piece of metal. Jack’s serious demeanor was completely new to Seth and it only seem to add to the weight.

“Good. Here lets practice with the rifle here. Once you know how to handle them, then you can handle most guns as they follow similar designs.”

Seth silently followed Jacks instructions with his words in mind. When he found out he was going to learn how to handle guns, it had felt new and exciting to Seth. Now learning to handle the weapon only felt like a burden to him.