Chapter 30: The First Evaluation

Major Hunt was finishing writing his report on his computer. Looking at the time, he quickly signed it and put it on hold for review. As he stood up to go to lunch, the door to his office was opened and Captain Walker strode in.

“Ah, Teresa! Perfect. I was about to see if you were done.”

Walker laid a small stack of paper onto his desk. “I am, sir. For the day.”

Ethan blinked as he put on his vest and adjusted its collar. “For the day? What about—”

“He’s done, sir. All of it.” She stood firm, almost at attention when she spoke.

“All of it… Like… The whole…” He let the words hang in the air, not sure if he was believing what he was hearing but the nod of his trusted subordinate confirmed it. “And?”

“797, sir.”

The Major’s eyes widened comically at the results. “…” With his hands he grabbed the stack and began to read. Page after page, he saw correct answer after correct answer. Not a single mistake. Not a single error. When he reached the essay, he saw two thick pages, written small. Curious, he began to read. And read.

“Holy… He nitpicked everything.” He shook his head in amusement. “It really was a formality for him.”

“More than that, sir.” Teresa corrected him and gave an explanation when he invited her to do so with a look she knew well. “It only took him ten minutes for the math portions without a calculator. Fifteen for the other without a calculator too. He was barely done reading a question, he already knew the answer. The same for the science test. I believe he will score very high in any intelligence based test starting tomorrow.”

“Good.” The Major nodded, in satisfaction. “Very good. He doesn’t just have the brawn but he has the mind to go with it.” He put back down the essay on the pile.

“I led him to his room and adjusted the afternoon’s schedule. We’re starting drills early.”

“Good call, Teresa. I’ll send his results myself.” He began to walk out his office, his captain in tow.

“He manifested the wish to enroll either in UPenn or Princeton.”

The Major hummed in acknowledgment while walking down the corridor towards the mess. “Well, that’s out of our hands. Although enlisting and his childhood will play heavily in his favor regarding his character. The boards are always suckers for underdogs coming from nothing and working hard.”

“They are, sir.”

The conversation stopped there as they stepped inside the mess. Most candidates were already there, sitting at tables, tray of food in front of them. They were talking, some animatedly, some in a more subdued manner. Small groups had already formed and leaders appeared. Every word, every interaction was being watched by Hunt’s subordinates. The ones already part of the team. Assessing the candidates and determining who among the twenty will be the two who will become their brother or sister in arms.

Of course none of the men and women present now knew about it.

‘Except him, maybe?’

Rick was sitting alone, away from the others. His head was raised a bit and his eyes fixed on a point in the wall. It was as if he knew he was being watched and recorded through hidden cameras. To Major Hunt, he was certain Jill’s protegé knew. The question was: how? It was filled in a corner of his mind for later.

Lunch was spent in silence for Rick but wasn’t an enjoyable moment. The back of his neck felt like it was prickled constantly. Like he was being watched. Ever since his misadventures in Antarctica his senses had been enhanced a bit more and he was still getting used to the fact that he could feel when someone was looking at him like prey. He absolutely despised the feeling but it had saved his life and Claire a few times so he needed to get accustomed to it.

Following where the others put their empty tray, he did the same then waited outside the room for Captain Walker. The woman took her time and Rick got the impression she was the type of person to use everything fully. The kind that when they stayed in a hotel, stole the battery from the TV remote, the shampoo and body wash all because she had paid for it. She had sixty minutes, she’d use the whole sixty minutes and not a second less.

Rick could understand. He was himself a bit like this regarding materials things but time? Time he saved because it was actually important.

Finally the brunette finished her meal and joined him outside the cafeteria. She signaled him to follow, leading him back up to the surface. They went to get multiple sets of camouflage uniforms, boots, and clothes. Even underwear were provided.

Afterward, storing everything in his room and changing, they found themselves inside the conference room where Captain Walker proceeded to start teaching him everything he needed to know as a soldier. Salute your superior officers and when, was a given and quickly dealt with what came next was all the acronyms and their meanings and there were a lot. Official jargon and not. Thankfully he had been provided with a notebook and a pencil which were put to very good use.

When they were done for the day it was time for dinner and once again Rick ate alone. This time however he was reading his notes and learning. There was also another difference. Other candidates were paying more attention to him now. Whispers and murmurs while looking in his direction. To Rick however, he was hearing them as if they were talking normally and next to him.

Questions about who he was, why he was a candidate when it was clear he was a probie. His presence was due to nepotism as if none of them were here from someone else's recommendation. Talk about putting him in his place for ‘his own good’ and disagreement with it and instead leaving him alone since he was clearly no threat.

When it became too stupid for him, he finished his dinner and went back to his room to finish studying what he had learned today.

When the reveille rang at 0430, Rick woke up without any difficulty. He quickly went to take a shower and brush his teeth, then dress in his new uniform. He absolutely hated it. It was baggy and could get caught in anything which represented a danger when you were trying to survive. The camouflage was ill-suited for urban stealth and screamed against the concrete color of the basement.

PT didn’t even make him sweat. Quite the contrary he had to hold himself back a lot to not be first by a huge margin. Be it dead lifting, the plan of the two miles run, he was physically too far above the others for sweating.

After breakfast, Rick found himself spending time with Captain Walker again. The first thing he did was demonstrate that he had learned everything they had seen the previous day and got full marks.

“Are there books for everything I need to learn, ma’am?”

The woman gave him a silent, appraising look. “There are.”

“Can’t I just get them? No offense, you're a good teacher but I’m sure you have better things to do than holding my hand with the abc and I’ll definitely go faster.”

She simply nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thank you.” Rick replied politely. “I’ve noticed I am to go through the test last. I’m sure it was done on purpose but I’d like confirmation.”

“It was done on purpose, yes, so you can fully display your abilities. Major Hunt has specifically called for a trustworthy doctor to measure them.”

“What about the peeping Toms?”

Teresa froze for a split second as she was standing up. She wondered for a moment what to say to that. Rick wasn’t supposed to know about the Team observing through hidden cameras.

“I’ll check with the Major.”

Without any direct order from her superior to talk about anything regarding the team or the conduction of the tests, Captain Walker decided to keep quiet about it. If the Major greenlighted the information then she would share otherwise no. Within minutes she was in the man’s office.

“Sir, Private Wald had requested military books to study faster.” She spoke once she was told to be at ease.

The information surprised Ethan but only partially. He was well aware from Jill that Rick had been studying on his own in Raccoon City’s library. “Really?”

“Yes, sir. He argued it would also allow me more time to do more important tasks.”

“Efficient, huh. Guess he already knows how to not waste resources. Very well, give them to him.”

“He is also aware of the surveillance.” She finished her report.

Major Hunt sighed. “I had wondered yesterday in the cafeteria but it seems I was right. He’s wondering about any during his physical examination?” Teresa nodded. “Tell him the truth. Despite his circumstances, his medical file is still private to most but himself, you, me and the doctor. You can tell him that.”

The Captain was dismissed and went back to the surface to acquire the necessary books for Rick’s education. Along the way she wondered how much of what the Major told her about the young man was true.

When she came back, she found him where she had left him; in the conference room. It seemed to her that he had no intention of mingling with others. She could understand why. After four weeks he wouldn’t see any of them again but one, so there was no point in getting to know each other. Teresa respected and even agreed with that mentality. Especially when Rick was playing catch up.