《King's Anarchy》Chapter 3
Advertisement
“Midterms are right around the corner,” Julie sat Indian style on Dean’s bed, turning through a newspaper article about police officer’s assault on a suspect named Rodney King. “Are you prepared?”
“Yes,” Dean sniffed snot back up his nose. He leaned back in his office chair then sneezed. A polite gesundheit came from Julie’s mouth for the tenth time the past half-hour. “I swear I’m not contagious.” He pushed himself away from his desktop Macintosh subconsciously, thinking how their hour-long timer is almost up but actively ponders a certain midterm. He tightened the belt on his robe and exhaled. “I do, for the most part. My Algorithms’ midterm has too many question marks.”
“Are there too many numbers or something?”
“No,” he ignored at her joke. “Too much material. We’ve already gone through a textbook, and after midterms, we’ve got another to go through.”
“Well, a smarty like should have no problems with this midterm,” she said as her natural optimism flowed out. “What’s a Journalist doing taking Algorithms?”
“I like to challenge myself-”
The egg timer on the desk buzzed as Dean fumbled, turning it back to zero before he put it back down. Dean opened the desk drawer and reached in for his pen, paper, and clipboard. Julie’s hour-long grace period ended following her short study of the material. With only one minute to memorize, a photo for an hour seemed tougher than it should, but this isn’t her first exercise on this test. After four workouts on four separate photographs, Julie built up enough confidence in this particular test. He turned back to her. “How many is this for you? 42? 43?”
“Performance Exercise 46,” Julie said. “43 was on my 21st birthday.”
Julie is the newest member of a thieves group called: The Anti-Federalist. Mark coined the name due to an early heist where they allegedly searched and destroyed evidence of the Iran-Contra for over $1 million. Morgan never liked the name, but everyone else did. He disliked it because they weren’t anti-government, and names give birth to a symbol, making it easier to be caught. Despite not having political agendas, the name stuck, but in reality, they were a glorified group of thieves. By day, they enrolled in college; by night, the fun began. An average gig was robbing a bookie or loan shark, where something elaborate was targeting a foreign ambassador before wasting money in Vegas.
Advertisement
Julie is one year in and is doing more training and performance exercises than anyone. Mostly to catch up to all the others who perform at their physical and mental peaks. This memory exercised is just a pinch of powder on the donut. Just a simple exercise in memory building, remember it today and forget it tomorrow.
“Ready?” Dean asked in a matter-of-fact all-business tone. “Describe the picture to me.”
“A man and woman are jogging on the sidewalk,” she said. “On the couple’s right side are large bushes. A gray-” The gears turned in Julie’s head. “A silver car is passing them,” she paused, recalling the picture. “There’s a license plate.”
“Did it say anything?” he asked, marking something on his clipboard.
“R.6.P-” Julie stopped for a moment, recalling the picture and slowly continued spelling out the plate.
Dean marked on his clipboard, “Is there anything in particular that stands out?”
“Uh-” she closed her eyes and recalled the image. “A black box. With a red logo.” She opened her eyes with a cocky grin. “A Nike shoe box.”
“What time of day?” Dean ignored her and kept things as professional as possible.
“Undetermined,” Julie swallowed in hesitation.
“Time of day?” he asked again. Come on, Jules, you’ve got this.
“Um- Daytime?” she shrugged her shoulders.
“Time of day?” Dean’s all business tone made Julie change tactics. She coughed and covered her mouth with a closed fist. Now her face gave a neutral state.
“I don’t know,” she said. You don’t got this, Jules.
“Exercised over,” Dean said and showed her the picture. He pointed at the male jogger’s watch. The hands read 9:40.
“OK,” Julie’s eyebrows high shocked that she missed such a small detail. “Anything else I miss?”
“No,” Dean put the photo in a folder. “I didn’t expect you to be so hesitant. We need you to be sure of yourself, unwavering, confident. Next time recite the license place as you know it. The team needs you confident in giving details because the next time we’re prepping a heist, we can’t use uncertain information.”
“Thanks for the advice,” she said as Dean lead her to the living room.
Advertisement
“What’s your next training exercise?” he followed her to the couch. The two sat with a full couch cushion between them.
“Week three of rifle training with Curt.”
“Ah, no heist is complete without the Remington 700,” he said. “Jules, you’re a fast learner, so you’ll do fine.”
“Thanks,” Julie said and gingerly placed her feet on the couch, allowing her knees to press against her chest.
“Midterms got you down?” he tried Julie’s optimism but failed.
“No, not that.” She stared into the abyss of used napkins full of Dean’s snot. “I’m starting to feel- Dean; this is getting heavy.”
“Heavy? Heavy, how?” Dean asked.
“Dean, I’ve got a lot going on. With all this training and-”
“It’s the mental training, right?” Dean asked.
Part of each member's first eight weeks is physical, mental, and muscle memory training before they could even earn money. It was a laid-back version of boot camp; the only difference was they were enrolled in classes.
Mental training almost breaks everyone. Once a week, members were tasked to learn commands via sign language from a different member. Rudimentary signs such as “cover me” or “watch my six” are given. Each week there was an exam, and once passed, they would get another member to train in sign language; only this time, the same signs translated to something different. Again, this task is done for eight weeks, and the reason for the changes is to get them comfortable with an ever-changing environment.
“No,” Julie shook her head, “It’s not.”
“Oh,” he coughed wheezing mucus out his respiratory system. “Excuse me.” He paused and caught his breath. “I suppose that just leaves physical training.”
Physical training combined: ju-jitsu, Krav Maga, weightlifting, cardio every day, shoot wrestling, etc. All of which caused a mile-long list of injuries, including many sprained ligaments, a dozen rolled ankles, quite a bit of cracked ribs, and a partially torn MCL.
“So, it’s the physical stuff that kills you,” Dean said as Julie nodded her head. “Not Ninja Training?”
Ninja training is actually muscle memory, which lasted eight weeks. Members would re-learn walking up steps only this time quietly to avoid a creaking board. The trainers would make a flight of stairs and get new members to go up and down without making a sound. They are built purposely with rotted boards and rusty nails for louder squeaks.
Anther part of muscle memory is working with handguns. New members are taught how to assemble and disassemble their secondary firearm in a time limit. With enough practice, they can achieve the task blindfolded.
“I kinda enjoy the Ninja stuff,” Julie said. “Although I still suck at knife throwing.”
“That is a tricky one. But I’ve heard it’s all in the wrist,” Dean said. “How many surgeries have you had on your right one? Was it three?”
“Just two,” Julie rose her right arm revealing a surgery scar. “Summer camp ’83. Fell off the top bunk.”
“Fell off the bunk?” Dean covered his mouth and nearly coughed out a lung. “Jules, your cat-like reflexes didn’t save you?”
“A girl with a hockey mask woke me up,” she said as Dean attempted to laugh. “At the time, Jason was the scariest character ever. Besides, we were at camp.”
“So that was the first,” Dean said. “What was the second?”
“Senior year, cheerleading nationals. The girls tossed me up, I did a toe touch, and the catch was subpar. Maybe it was the throw, but I landed on one girl’s head and my wrist. I went home with a concussion and a fractured wrist. And she was knocked out. Held overnight at the ER.”
“That’s why you had on a cast when we first met,” he said. “Hard to believe you can still use a firearm after all that.”
“I get by,” she said. “Sometimes gargling bottles of Aleve. Anyway, I should let you study.” Julie got up, and he walked her to the door. “Get well, Dean.”
He opened the front door, “Thanks, Jules.” She left Dean to study for midterms.
Advertisement
- In Serial6 Chapters
Dark Wizard's Case. LitRPG series
Alexander Dumsky, or Alex Doom, was a dark wizard. At the age of seventeen, he was convicted of a litany of crimes so long that even the seasoned investigators, judges, and prosecutors involved in the case could only shudder.Not a single attorney could be found to defend him in court.But four years later, Alex was released from prison to become the Professor of Dark Magic. They'd thrown him into the deepest hole they could find, one built for the sole purpose of holding wizards, and then they let him back out again...Why him? Why then?Oh, you're not surprised to hear talk of wizardry? Well, then you probably know that the Magic Lens, which was invented in 2032, let humans see and use magic again.Or do you know? Glad to introduce you one more of my top series "Dark Wizard's case". The book is just started translating from Russian into English. Active publishing of the chapters will begin in March. Now you can add the book to your marks to get the new chapters on time.
8 152 - In Serial31 Chapters
Reality Grants One Chance
Some people are lucky, some aren't, some - have terrible luck. Our "hero" is of the latter kind. During young age he got into an accident, which allowed him to learn the fact that he belongs to a rare group of people.. People diagnosed with lung cancer, which he, however survived. Can't say he's lucky, as his life went downhill from that point... Our story happens years later, when his fate decides to make a loop and throw him in the same kind of accident. He gets hit by a truck. Surviving the crash, suffering just a few scratches, he is ultimately "lucky" to find himself out of the hospital in no time.. however every bit of good luck always brings him terrible luck afterwards. This time pushing him maybe a bit too far.. How far? Making him vanish without a trace and find himself in the middle of an unknown forrest. Doesn't sound bad? He can consider himself lucky? Just wait and see...It can always get worse.. always.. .... Congratulations, you've made it through the intro and into the author note! If you by any chance missed the tags and didn't read the warning, please do that now. I really recommend you to. Before you jump to reading, and unintentionally scar yourself, do mind that the story is about a dark, unforgiving world, a world in which you have more opportunities to die a horrible death, than take a piss. Hero doesn't have great luck, he has dumb persistance, he doesn't go through any trial with a breeze, he pays the price of blood, flesh and tears to live..and will be paying for every mistake.. No one outright explains anything to him, just as us for the most part - he is not sure what the hell is going on.. Some real survival tactics are used as a base of the descriptions, they are as important to the world and character as any other element.. Mind that the story starts really slow, but as the stone starts rolling downhill - the pace gets faster.. Every tag for this novel has a reason to be there, so if you don't see the particular element there, don't panic.. it's either well camoufalged, subtle or simply not encountered as of yet. Big thanks to Hobbo, Enyhrye and Hveth! ...not only pointing that the description could be better, but providing invaluable input.. and being patient enough to give fleshed out advice.
8 114 - In Serial8 Chapters
Fratres Per Noctem
Strangers by daylight, brothers by the night... Witness three masterminds coming up with a code that only themselves would dare to follow, and with that being strictly working within the dawn. Don Dino Manzo, the leader of a revisioned crime family from Italy who deems to bring the old glory back that New York had in almost a century ago. And to pull it off, he hires two fellow criminals who are striving to make a name for themselves. First, Vicente Campana. A Mexican gangbanger who uses his wisdom to escape the ghetto, deciding to leave everything and everyone behind to pursue being a professional criminal. And lastly, Grant Wallace. A conventional young adult who has psychotic tendencies, disregarding his sanity for his own sake of pleasure by committing such heinous and socially-unacceptable felony.
8 177 - In Serial10 Chapters
The God Cheese Chase
“It was the race of the century. Millions upon millions of participants lined up at the thousand miles long starting line. The tension and excitement permeated the air like a thick miasma. Even I was affected. Who am I you say?Why I am the world’s greatest adventurer. I have slain demons and gods, conquered the hardest dungeons, scaled the tallest mountains, and braved even the hottest deserts. They call me the devourer of the hidden, discoverer of secrets, and the destroyer of the unknown. For my name is Charles Brie, the only man who shall win this race!”After my grand monolog, my crew looked at me with awe.“Captain,” My first mate sighed. “We truly pity you and your delusions of grandeur.”And with that, the race that would decide the fate of all began. (Cover art by DanP)
8 148 - In Serial19 Chapters
Ducosym - My Dungeon Core System
In the world of magic, ‘Cores’ emerge. They are powerful entities with power over the very fabric of reality. They can alter the world through their mind, enslaving other creatures to build powerful structures only known as “Dungeons”. But what happens when a core isn’t born into the heart of lava or cold of ice, but the dirty mud? What happens when a core doesn’t start out as a tyrant over trolls or the leader of a nation, but the prey of spiders and bugs? “Huh?” Sunny wakes up in the prison of a gemstone, missing all his memories. And what appears to be just another fever dream soon becomes a challenge for survival. – – – Hi! This is a novel I’m very excited about. If you have any suggestions on what creatures and monsters to include in the next chapter, feel free to leave a comment on the latest issue! I love listening to your creative ideas! I have the best readers ever! ^w^ Don’t forget to join our Discord server if you like fantasy and memes!!! Discord: https://discord.gg/keXHAYP5
8 243 - In Serial32 Chapters
HxH: Walking The Path Of Evolution
This is hunter x hunter fanfiction. The MC is born 88 years before the start of the story. Don't worry, he won’t be an old fart when the plot starts. The power will not be gifted. Only earned through hard work and thought out decisions. The MC tries to be rational and calm. Killing when necessary, not afraid of staining hands with blood. The law of the jungle is ever present in the new and mysterious world and only a fool would not adapt. Taking full advantage of opportunities given and carefully preparing for everything that is to come. The future is filled with trials and tribulations, all sorts of challenges and obstacles to overcome. Will he be able to reach his dreams and do what has never been done before? Is his conviction strong enough to withstand the pressure? To stay strong and move forward, to earn the power so desperately desired? To stay in control, even in the face of adversity? Yet some lines are not to be crossed. Without restraint, one achieves nothing. All the power in the universe is useless if you cannot control yourself to use it. “I am no hero. Just myself. Forever am and forever will be. Titles are but words and words are not actions. Why care about what others think? Why hold on to the values of the society I have yet to change. I will bring a new era. The era of truth.” — As of now, I only plan to post this on royalroad and have no plans to change that. Chapters will be --- Harsh critique is more than welcome. Any suggestion will be appreciated.
8 184