Chapter 1796 - The Next Stage Of The Competition (3)

Sarah and Aiden chatted about kids and aspirations for their family, and the time passed quickly.

After lunch, it was time for Aiden's next event: a shooting competition. Aiden's weapon of choice was a pistol.

They entered a spacious hangar-like structure that has seating on the left and the right side, and electronic targets opposite from the entry.

Sarah used the zoom feature on her Eve-lens to observe the mechanical arms in the distance. They reminded Sarah of a bowling alley, with a difference that instead of setting up pins, these hands swapped targets without the need for a human to go and do it manually (and risk being in the line of fire).

Scoreboards were suspended in the air, and on the right from the entry was a booth with computers, obviously to control the system.

To Sarah's frustration, all three remaining girls were competing in marksmanship and that gave them an opportunity to get close to Aiden. To make the situation worse, they found out that other than the competitors and relevant officials, no one else was allowed in the area on the right, in order not to be a distraction.

The silver lining was that out of the three, Vanya picked a riffle, and Sveta (another female) was with the shotgun. That left Mila (the third female) in the same group with Aiden: pistol.

Several long benches stretched next to the booth on the right from the main entry, and Aiden needed to go that way, while Sarah and Hong should observe from the spectator's area.

"Focus on shooting. I will watch your back with the drone.", Sarah told Aiden while patting her backpack. By now, she perfected getting the drone up in the air from the backpack, in front of witnesses and no one suspected a thing.

Sarah did her best to smile, but she could not conceal that she is uneasy. Other than three females that are undressing Aiden with their eyes being able to get close to him without Sarah's protection, all competitors will have a firearm in their hands. It only takes a second for someone to change their aim and shoot at Aiden instead of the target.

"That could expose us.", Aiden reminded Sarah. He knows that she is careful, but if anyone suspects that they have a way of taking down their opponents, they will be in trouble even if drones can't be found. "We can't rely on a drone in an enclosed space. They might have metal detectors or some other scanners that can expose drone that is invisible to the naked eye."

Sarah exhaled in frustration, but she knows that Aiden is right.

"I am more concerned about you.", Aiden continued with a gentle gaze that spoke more than a million words. "All eyes will be on me so they will not dare do something openly. However, we will be apart, and someone might use this opportunity to get to you. If a drone is an option, I would prefer that it's guarding you, and not me."

"I will be with Hong. Don't worry about me.", Sarah responded softly.

Hong was losing his patience. Aiden needs to go and join other competitors, and Sarah and Aiden are mushier as time goes by. They are in the open, with many eyes on them and he is stuck like an obvious third wheel.

"How about everyone watches his and her own back as a priority?", Hong half-whispered irritably. "And why do you need to tell each other to be careful? That is a given."

Sarah wanted to retort, but she kept her words to herself. She knows that Hong is used to his privacy and seclusion, and now he is forced to be in the middle of an enemy camp, which should be under his command to begin with, and he is stuck with the two of them. Sarah is confident that her lovey-dovey moments with Aiden are reminding Hong of his long-lost Tamara, especially because their stories are so similar. It must be hard on him. 

"We will do as you say." Sarah's obedient response surprised both Aiden and Hong.

Sarah glanced at the time and then spoke to Aiden. "The match will start in a bit. Rely on yourself, win, and most importantly, return to me uninjured. I hope that you will see the danger if anyone targets you. As for me and Hong, we will take care of ourselves. Your task is to go there and show them what my beloved Erebus can do."

Aiden's lips stretched into a smile. There is nothing better than when Sarah has confidence in his abilities. He will not disappoint her.

"It will be as you wish, my Goddess Nyx…", Aiden spoke only for Sarah to hear.

He kissed her lightly and went toward the spot where competitors gathered.

In this competition, they had three types of weapons: rifle, pistol, and a shotgun.

The rifle went first, pistol second, and the shotgun was last.

The ones using rifles listened to the rules and the competitors with pistol and shotgun waited on the side. Each competition should not take more than fifteen-to-twenty minutes, and with breaks included, it will be over within one hour (hopefully).

While waiting, the organizers told them rules for the pistol, because they will be next.

A tall man with blonde hair and gray eyes spoke in English with a heavy Eastern-European accent to the group that will be competing with a pistol of their choice: "You will have five series with five shots each. Each round will take no longer than one minute, and there will be a one-minute break between rounds for you to recharge the magazine and to get back into your position. You can choose between different pistols…" He gestured toward the table on the side that had a rich assortment of various pistols. "You are free to choose any… bullets will be provided when you take your spot…"

Aiden saw Sarah and Hong in the audience, and he was happy that his event should not take longer than twenty minutes. Considering that rifle is going first, and they have more elaborate settings, with a series of lying on the ground and standing up… he should be able to reunite with his wife within one hour.

Sarah is in his sight, but unless she is by his side, he can't be at ease. Their current situation made him extra-paranoid.

More than once, Aiden wondered if it's coincidental that things are going this smoothly. It's almost as it's too easy. He scolded himself internally, does he want to attract trouble? He should focus on his task and be confident in Sarah.

If any girl can take care of herself, that would be his wife. Even when people know that she is dynamite, they underestimate her, and here no one is aware of her awesomeness so if anyone dares to make a move against her, she will take them down easily. She is amazing.

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