{"sf1_id":147020,"sf2_id":"Rm0905Qn","title":"Aftermath - Intermission","author":"SrA havenofimage","words":1428,"posted_at":"2010-05-18T12:12:00.000Z","tags":["Hare","Rifle","Snow Leopard","flashback","memory","shoot"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/147020-aftermath-intermission","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/Rm0905Qn","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/3d/76/3d76f360-7ed0-4614-a8df-56f610a6e989","description":"#2 of Aftermath","content":"\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;I was crouched behind a rock, bullets flying past my position and chipping the stone.\u0026nbsp; I spun out and opened fire on blurry figures below me, taking single shots from a long barreled rifle.\u0026nbsp; I watched as the dark shadows fell.\u0026nbsp; I was running.\u0026nbsp; My leg tore open and I collapsed to the ground, searing pain filling my body...\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I awoke with a start, panting and sweaty.\u0026nbsp; I had had similar dreams before of being in firefights.\u0026nbsp; This particular one tended to come back to me often, where I was shot and fell to the ground to die.\u0026nbsp; I rubbed my right leg where I had felt the pain in my dream.\u0026nbsp; There were five black spots where the fur had grown over scar tissue.\u0026nbsp; I had always assumed the injuries were from the crash.\u0026nbsp; It was one of the few dark spots over my nearly completely white body.\u0026nbsp; I ran my fingers through my fur again, wondering at the injury.\u0026nbsp; Somehow it didn't quite add up.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I decided to get up since my alarm was set to go off in ten minutes anyway.\u0026nbsp; After breakfast I went downstairs to my gun safe.\u0026nbsp; I had taken the day off and planned on doing some shooting in my free time.\u0026nbsp; The safe door opened to revile my prized gun collection.\u0026nbsp; I had a few handguns and shotguns, but it mostly contained rifles of every shape and size.\u0026nbsp; In the center rack sat the most valuable of these, and my personal favorite, a working Deterrent sniper rifle.\u0026nbsp; I had procured the weapon as well as the military grade ammunition for it, through a strong business relationship with the manufacturer three years earlier.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I returned upstairs and wheeled myself out to the concrete pad and table I had set up for shooting.\u0026nbsp; 1,750 yards away, on the opposite side of my property across a ravine, I had built an electronic target system which resembled an enlarged biathlon target.\u0026nbsp; I set up the rifle and was about to load the first round when my cell phone alerted me that someone had rang the doorbell.\u0026nbsp; I linked to my house's intercom and keyed the door speaker.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Who is it?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"It's Ryan.\u0026nbsp; I had a question about one of the problems on your homework assignment that I was wondering if I could talk to you about.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Sure, I'll be right there.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I removed the bolt from the rifle, pocketed it and rolled back into my house.\u0026nbsp; I opened the front door to let Ryan in.\u0026nbsp; He was a hare and his tall ears brushed the top of my door frame as he entered the house.\u0026nbsp; Though slightly out of shape, his excellent bone structure and incredible concentration and patients combined to take him to the top of the shooting team.\u0026nbsp; He was also a great student, but was so devoted to the team and his school work, he didn't have much of a social life as far as I knew.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Even though it was the weekend, I had never turned away a student who needed help with class work.\u0026nbsp; I wheeled about and moved slowly through the house, leading Ryan behind me to the dining room.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"What's your question?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"It was on problem twelve, where we had to calculate the angle of the initial force vector for a projectile to hit a given target.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"That shouldn't be a problem for you, you do it mentally every practice.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I know, but I did all the calculations correctly, but my answer is less than one MOA even with the provided drag coefficient.\u0026nbsp; It doesn't seem possible for a non vacuum environment.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Doesn't seem possible because you trying to over analyze it with incomplete data.\u0026nbsp; You are in luck though.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I turned away from the table and moved towards the back door.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"That question is based on data for a special bullet shot from a special rifle.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I opened the back door and led him outside.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"This rifle in fact... and this bullet.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Wow, where did you get this?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Long story.\u0026nbsp; Anyway, like I was saying, the projected problem is for the rounds I'm shooting for this rifle, so why don't we test your theory.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I positioned myself back behind the shooting stand and re inserted the bolt and loaded a round.\u0026nbsp; I aimed at the target, the cross hairs sitting slightly above the center of the target.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Alright Ryan, check my angle here, is it what you calculated?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Using a laser protractor, he measured the angle of the barrel.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Yes.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Okay then, if you are right, with the muzzle velocity being the given initial velocity in the equation, and with our know acceleration vectors; if your calculations are correct, this should hit that target.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Assuming you can shoot that accurately.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I turned and looked at him, almost glaring.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Trust me, you haven't seen anything.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I turned back to the scope and lined up my shot again.\u0026nbsp; The air was still and clear providing perfect shooting conditions.\u0026nbsp; Ryan had no idea just how accurately I could shoot.\u0026nbsp; I exhaled slowly and squeezed the trigger.\u0026nbsp; The recoil of the rifle pushed my shoulder back.\u0026nbsp; A heartbeat later the bullet struck the target, an electronic sensor closing the opening to indicate a hit.\u0026nbsp; I turned back to Ryan.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"It seems that your answer was right.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; He was still staring down range with a dumbfounded expression on his face.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Where did you learn to shoot like that coach?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I don't know, probably something with the National Guard, but I can't imagine them teaching helicopter pilots to shoot that well with a rifle.\u0026nbsp; I've always been a natural shot.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Can you teach me to do that?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; We spent the rest of the morning and into the afternoon shooting.\u0026nbsp; Not everyone could just pick up a rifle like this and hit a target.\u0026nbsp; Ryan was a good shot though and by the end he was landing one out of three.\u0026nbsp; Pretty good for his first day on anything bigger than a .223.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; After he left, I sat in my study cleaning the rifle, thinking about events of my past.\u0026nbsp; Nothing served to clear my mind better than working on my firearms.\u0026nbsp; The fine, loving, work I showed my rifles gave me time to speculate and ponder, usually my unknown past.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I was running a swab through the barrel.\u0026nbsp; I was in the back of a truck, bouncing along a street.\u0026nbsp; I flung the door open and took cover as a hail of bullets was fired at me.\u0026nbsp; I bent out and killed a pair of soldiers.\u0026nbsp; I pulled the dirty cloth out of the rod and inserted a new one.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Damn!\u0026nbsp; Another one of those stupid visions.\u0026nbsp; Always when my thoughts were unfocused, I tended to have flashes of memory.\u0026nbsp; They never seemed to add up to what my life had been though.\u0026nbsp; It was all very strange.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; There were many strange things about my life.\u0026nbsp; I noticed details and minute facts that other's missed or passed off.\u0026nbsp; I could analyze any location as well as a strategy for moving through it or fighting in it.\u0026nbsp; I could also find a weapon just about anywhere without much searching.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; These were all irrelevant though.\u0026nbsp; Right now I had more important things to worry about than my countless oddities.\u0026nbsp; I had a business to run, tests to grade, and a team to coach.\u0026nbsp; Time to focus.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The school year moved on and was soon nearing its end.\u0026nbsp; The season continued with our team's longest ever winning streak ever.\u0026nbsp; As I had predicted, we were invited to nationals.\u0026nbsp; The school board even paid for the transportation and lodging for the five team members and myself.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; We did exceptionally well at nationals.\u0026nbsp; The team took second overall.\u0026nbsp; Ryan won in the individual completion and we clenched two of the other top slots.\u0026nbsp; All in all it couldn't have been a better end of the season.\u0026nbsp; We returned to Leavenworth as champions.\u0026nbsp; Now I had a break from the classroom and could relax a little for the summer.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; For the first time in five years, life was really starting to look up.\u0026nbsp; I was finally truly settled down; I had a secure job, a house and car of my own, and a successful business.\u0026nbsp; Nothing could possible ruin this.\n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"Aftermath","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/145622-aftermath-the-quiet-life.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/147503-aftermath-opportunity.json"}}