[color=lightgray]Alexander was in his usual spot in the firing range, dressed in white t-shirt with the XCOM insigna on the chest and a pair of dark brown combat pants with shooting glasses and ear protection on. The sound of his Black Widow sniper rifle was enough to make one go deaf [color=ed145b]"Allen, begin training exercise 4, top-speed"[/color] The attendant at the range seemed unsure but went ahead anyway.

The pseudo-buildings and cover set-up in the view of his scope, his finger gently on the trigger waiting for the first target. A few tense seconds passed before his mark darted into view, and was immediately downed [color=ed145b]"One."[/color]

He had little time to adjust as one target appeared stationary on the top window of a structure and another moved along an upper walkway. The first shot ripped a hole through the head of the window target and quickly turned his rifle on the walkway[color=ed145b]"Two."[/color], a fraction of a moment passed before the target was missing a solid portion of its upper torso [color=ed145b]"Three."[/color] It had just been a warm-up.

A deep breath was sneaked in as the final round began, often regarded as the hardest shoot for XCOM snipers. Two targets in the windows of the structure, two moving along cover, and one moving towards him. He felt the same calm sensation he felt that night in Vancouver as his first shot burst through the charging's targets head and continued past hitting one of the moving targets behind it.[color=ed145b]"Four.
 Five."[/color] The second one he merely clipped in his second shot due to his rush, yet he kept a level head and hit on his second attempt [color=ed145b]"Six."[/color]. He did not make the same mistake with the two in the structure [color=ed145b]"That makes eight."[/color] he pulled back the slide on the rifle and released the clip before handing it over to the range attendant.

[color=f9ad81]"That is some of the best shooting I've seen. I have yet to see one of our snipers complete it so quickly."[/color] Allen spoke taking his rifle underneath the bullet-proof glass. Meanwhile, Alex was feeling frustrated he had not had a perfect run [color=ed145b]"I have to be better if I want to defeat the aliens."[/color] He spoke coldly. Allen sighed, the man had witnessed Alex come in everyday for hours on end practicing over and over.

Allen returned the rifle onto the rack with the other stock weaons, Alex's designated rifle was locked in the armory of course[color=f9ad81]"You spend a lot of time in here, Alex. I hardly ever see you in the rec center except for when you are lifting weights"[/color]. Alex had just begun to walk away [color=ed145b]"Being friendly won't save a life or guarantee success. My rifle can."[/color] He left the range immediately after that.
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[i]Two hours later[/i]

Alex slid on a pair of padded gloves facing a rubber human dummy, an ever-present look of seriousness in his face. His lifted his hands up in balled fists just underneath his eye level and thrusted forward a sharp right hook, the weight of the dummy colliding with the force of his punch. There were some in XCOM who were already saying that he: [i]Didn't know how to cut loose[/i] and [i]Never learned what 'fun' is.[/i] Alex wasn't bothered in the slightest and it had nothing to do with extra force he threw in his next punch. They weren't here to have a good time, they were here to save the world from the alien invaders. He could have saved Jensen if he had been just a bit stronger...

He was so focused on practicing on the dummy that he hadn't heard his squad-mate enter the room and slip into sparring gear. A fist from behind nearly struck the back of his head, the rubber material pulling his skin as it streaked across before reeling quickly back to its owner [color=39b54a]"If you stress yourself out, you end up clouding your judgement."[/color] He turned around to find his assailant was Kiana, a native Hawaiian, former navy seal, and the best hand-to-hand combat expert in their squad. 

A few beads of sweat came from his hair-line [color=ed145b]"Do I look stressed?"[/color] he thought he looked calm yet she nodded firmly [color=39b54a]"Yes,
 you can see it in your eyes. Now.."[/color]she walked into the sparing ring at the center of the room [color=39b54a]"I think practice against a live target is better than smacking a dummy around."[/color] The smirk on her face was something he would happily knock off, the stories couldn't be all true [color=ed145b]"I can't argue with that."[/color] Alex stepped on the ring starting with the stance he learned in his SAS training with one fist forward and the other close to the chest.

Kiana had both of her hands in open palms just under eye-level out in front of her, staring right at him clearly waiting for him to make the first move [color=39b54a]"Before we start, let's have a little bet. If I win, you'll come to bar with me and have a few drinks."[/color] she spoke with a smile. This seemed oddly suspicious to Alex but he was determined to win [color=ed145b]"What do I get if I win?"[/color] he asked [color=39b54a]"[i]whatever you want, sweetheart.[/i]"[/color] It would have been suggestive if it hadn't been for the menacing gaze she sent his way.

Alex didn't know what he wanted but he wasn't going to lose [color=ed145b]"That works for me."[/color] he spoke confidently, the smile grew on Kiana's lips [color=39b54a]"[i]Excellent[/i]. Your move, hotshot."[/color] the challenge was clear. His eyes quickly scanned her for any openings and he believed he had found one.

Alex took a few steps forward before launched a fist towards lower stomach which she managed to catch effortlessly, but he had been expecting it. His other fist went hurtling towards her center chest but it never got to hit its mark. Kiana had read his tactic and sent her palm firmly into his chest knocking the wind out of him. After that her grip on his arm tightened like a crocodile and knocked his legs out from underneath him before he could react, twisting his arm and placing a knee firmly into his back. There was nothing he could do.

Kiana kept twisting and putting pressure on his back that he had to tap the ring, how did she take him down so quickly? [color=00a651]"Be at the bar in half an hour!"[/color] she happily exclaimed like she had won some big prize and practically skipped off the ring towards the shower. Alex gritted his teeth at this humiliating loss [color=ed145b]"I suppose I could use a drink."[/color] he tried justifying though he really did not want to.
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[i]thirty minutes later[/i]

A miserable look filled up his features as he headed unwillingly to the base's bar, only going there when it was least crowded on his own. He was still a rookie compared to some of the more older soldiers of XCOM and naturally at a disadvantage. When he finally reached the bar, Kiana was already waiting for him but so were the rest of the Steel Tigers who turned their gaze towards him as he entered [color=39b54a]"Over here, Alex!"[/color] she shouted waving excitedly although he could already see her. A soft sigh escaped from him as he walked over and sat at the bar with them.

Kiana placed her hands with a proud smile on her face [color=39b54a]"I told you I would get him to come!"[/color] The bald Jamaican man, Jarmerro, with a medium-length goatee slipped a red-headed comparatively short girl, Haylee Greer, a ten-dollar bill with a soft groan.

Alex scoffed at Kiana's pride [color=ed145b]"After she tricked me into a sparring match."[/color] A sad look filled Haylee's face as the ten-dollar bill slid down the bar-top again to the squad leader, Xu Feng. He put his hand onto the paper money and slid over in front of him as he finished a drink.

Alex was a little irritated, did they seriously take bets as to whether or not he'd come? [color=ed145b]Is that why you dragged me here?
For a bet?"[/color] he didn't like the idea of being used for such a petty game.

Kiana's happiness was cut down by his statement [color=39b54a]"That's not it all. We-"[/color] Feng's hand tapped her shoulder [color=ed1c24]"There is nothing wrong with placing a little bet now and again. We just want to spend some time as a team, that is all."[/color] he calmly spoke

They were all startled by Haylee when she suddenly spoke loudly [color=f49ac2]"I got it! We'll call you Ghost 'cause you're always around but we never see you!"[/color] Alex couldn't tell if he should be happy with the nickname or insulted.

Something didn't add up though, why wait until now [color=ed145b]"So what's the occasion?"[/color] Alex asked trying to make the most of it. That's when he noticed Jensen's name on the wall, looking up at the list of solider who have lost their lives for the fight.

[color=0072bc]"Honoring a fallen comrade."[/color] Marcus spoke, a danish man with a long scar a inch from his left eye. Everyone except for Alex held up their glasses [color=bc8dbf]"Cheers."[/color] No one seemed to be showing the weight of his loss.

Jamerro stood up with a smile on his face [color=00a99d]"That is why we are going to party in his honor."[/color] He pressed a button on a remote he got from the bartender and music began to fill the room. 
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[i]one hour later[/i]

[color=00a99d]"...and she had been vegan ever since."[/color] Jamerro had just finished telling his story in his strong accent, the rest of the squad laughing perhaps a bit too much as they sat in the lounge area of the bar. Alex hadn't realized how much Jensen's Death had actually hit him.

Haylee squirmed in her seat [color=f49ac2]"That has to be one of the grossest things I've heard. I won't be able to eat beef for months."[/color] It was clear that the Steel Tigers were a bit tipsy at the moment all except for Xu Feng.

Kiana leaned her head on Alex's shoulder [color=39b54a]"You should carry me back to the barracks, my legs won't work."[/color] she tried to ask sweetly and Alex rolled his eyes [color=ed145b]"Your a navy seal, walk yourself."[/color]

This was apparently really funny to Kiana as she burst out laughing [color=00a651]"Seals don't walk, they swim silly."[/color] That caused a chain reaction of laughter and it seemed some might be more tipsy than others.

Feng looked at the watch on his hand before speaking, standing up from his chair [color=ed1c24]"I believe it's time to wrap things up. A final toast to Major Jensen, a great leader and a greater friend."[/color] Feng raised his glass and even Alex raised his to meet him [color=a187be]"Here! Here!"[/color]

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