“Thank you.” I could tell they were watching me as I walked in, but I wasn’t planning on falling into the game they were playing.
And there was always a game.
There were at least a dozen other Zullies moving from one room to another. I noticed an open classroom and could just catch a glimpse of a weight room.
The facility was a hell of a lot nicer than the firehouse I’d worked out of. I’d tried to do some research on the Zullies before coming, heading into a library and using their computers. The group was impressive, the work they’d done over the years vital. They’d worked in several states alongside other groups.
They’d saved millions of acres and had even engineered aerial fire suppression, earning themselves dozens of accolades. They were a proud and tight group.
And I was a fucking rookie.
When I was just outside the captain’s office, I heard two voices.
I knocked on the door, taking a deep breath.
“Come in.”
The man’s voice was gruff and when I opened the door, I immediately recognized Landen. “We were just talking about you,” he said.
“I don’t think I’m late,” I answered.
“Not at all,” the captain said as he stood. “Isaac Daughtry. That’s captain or cap’n if you’d prefer.”
“Yes, sir.” His handshake was firm. So was Landen’s.
“You’ve done some impressive work, Rory. Or would you prefer Viper?”
“Only my mother and sister called me Rory.”
Both men laughed. “Understood,” the captain said. “Viper it is. I’m sure you’ve heard we are short staffed. Unfortunately, we had another man decide to use his limited time off to go rock climbing. He has a broken leg in three places to prove he’s not good at the sport. That means your on-the-job training will be hot and heavy. Can you handle that?”
“Yes, sir. Not a problem.”
“Good. How long has it been since you’ve made a jump?”
“A few years.”
The two men looked at each other and the captain nodded. “Are you up for making one today? Of course you’ll have a buddy and a slight refresher on rules.”
“Hell, yeah. I can do that.”
The captain sat on the edge of his desk, folding his hands together. “Let me make something clear. I love your enthusiasm and I can tell you’re damn capable of doing this job, but you’re intelligent enough to know it takes a full team to make this work. That means no hotdogging. I don’t give a shit that they call us hotshots. That’s a term I cannot stand. You’re only as good as the jumper next to you. Understood?”
“Yes, sir. I do.”
“Okay. After we introduce you to the crew who are on duty, you’ll need to fill out some paperwork, then we’ll assign you a locker and I’ll have one of the guys show you around. Early this afternoon, Landen is taking a crew up for some practice jumps. You’ll be joining them. Good enough?”
“Good enough.”
The captain smiled and handed me a folder full of paperwork.
“Alright, Viper. Let’s meet the crew. Just be warned. A few of the guys do bite.”
“That’s okay because my teeth have venom.”
Both men laughed. “I told you he’d fit in,” Landen said.
I followed behind them and the captain wasted no time getting the men together. They also didn’t waste any time adhering to his command to gather together.
