C84 No Room For The Weak

Before they could exchange more words, a booming voice came from outside their room, sharp and cold.

"Room 314, line up! Now!"

It was Dracula's voice, commanding and full of authority. Every muscle in Yin's body tensed at the sound.

Yang shot her sister a nervous glance before they both scrambled to their feet, their movements clumsy and stiff from the lingering pain.

The other female recruits in the room followed suit, hurriedly lining up in the corridor just outside their quarters.

The air was thick with tension, and the metallic clanking of boots on steel echoed through the ship as they snapped into place, forming three perfect rows.

"Forward march!"

Dracula barked as he led them forward with long, purposeful strides.

The sound of their boots clanged against the metal floor as they moved in perfect sync, the sterile hallways of Invicta stretching out ahead of them.

Tension rippled through the group, every step a reminder that this was only the beginning.

Eventually, Dracula led them to a mission briefing room, the stark lighting casting long shadows on the walls.

The recruits filed in, taking their seats in rigid rows. Yin and Yang found themselves sitting toward the middle, side by side, their backs straight as they waited for the lesson to begin.

Dracula stood at the front of the room, arms crossed arms behind his back as he addressed the group. His voice was cold and methodical, each word dripping with authority.

"Today, you're going to learn one of the most important skills that will keep you and your battle brothers and sisters alive: first aid. This is not about basic bandages and splints. This is combat first aid. When you're out there, the medics aren't going to reach you in time. You either fix the problem yourself, or you bleed out. Simple as that."

He walked over to a table where several med kits were laid out, each one containing a range of tools that looked more like something out of a military R&D lab than a typical first aid kit.

"These are the med kits you will be Issued"

Dracula continued, picking one up and opening it to display its contents.

"Inside, you'll find anti-bleeding gel, combat stims, hemorrhage bandages, and more. You'll learn how to use every single one of these items, and by the end of this training, you'll be able to stop bleeding, stabilize wounds, and keep your battle buddies alive long enough for proper medical attention."

Dracula grabbed a tube of anti-bleeding gel and held it up for everyone to see.

"This gel stops blood loss within seconds. You apply it directly to the wound. It won't save a limb, but it'll buy you time."

He moved on to the next item, a small injector filled with a glowing substance.

"Combat stims. These will keep you on your feet when you're too far gone to keep moving. They force your heart to pump harder among other effects, giving you enough strength to make it to the med bay, or to finish the fight. Use them sparingly; too much and your heart will explode."

The recruits remained silent, their eyes locked on Dracula as he methodically explained each tool in the med kit.

The tension in the room was palpable. Every recruit knew that learning this wasn't optional it was the difference between life and death, at least Dracula thought they did but as his experience proved 90 percent of the time recruits didn't give a flying s*it about It until s*it hit the fan.

"Now, for the practical part,"

Dracula said after almost an hour of explaining, his voice gaining an edge of impatience.

"Pair up. One of you will simulate a wound, the other will treat it. When you're done, switch roles."

Yin and Yang paired off, Yin taking the role of the wounded first. Yang grabbed the med kit and fumbled with the contents, her hands shaking as she tried to apply what Dracula had just taught them. She pulled out a hemorrhage bandage, unfolding it as quickly as possible.

"Stuff it into the wound with youre fingers as deep as possible"

Dracula commanded from the front of the room.

"Ignore their screams, If you hesitate they will bleed out."

Yang nodded, trying to focus through the nerves. She stuffed the bandage into the simulated wound on Yin's leg, then wrapped it tightly with another bandage, securing it with as much precision as she could manage.

"Not bad,"

Dracula muttered as he walked past, briefly inspecting their work by trying to Insert his fingers under the bandage before moving on to the next pair.

Yin let out a small breath of relief, and the twins switched roles. This time, it was Yin's turn to treat the wound, her fingers fumbling with the anti-bleeding gel as she applied it to Yang's leg.

However, across the room, another recruit a green haired, her long loose hair tied Into a bun black eyed female recruit was having far more trouble. Dracula's eyes narrowed as he approached, watching the recruit aka Catherine struggle with the med kit.

"You've gotta be f*cking kidding me,"

Dracula muttered under his breath as Catherine fumbled with the tourniquet for what felt like the hundredth time.

He walked up to her and snatched the tourniquet from her hands.

"I've shown you this a dozen times,"

Dracula growled, his voice full of menace.

"How hard is it to follow basic instructions?"

The Catherines who was already on a breaking point face went pale, her hands trembling uncontrollably. She stammered, unable to form a coherent response.

Dracula's patience snapped. Without warning, he pulled out his sidearm and fired a round directly into Catherines thigh.

The sharp crack of the gun echoed through the room, and Catherine screamed in agony as she collapsed onto the floor, clutching her bleeding leg.

"Fifty seconds,"

Dracula said coldly, standing over her as he pressed his wrist watch timer.

"You've got fifty seconds to stop the bleeding, or you're dead."

The room froze in shock, the female recruits staring in horror as Dracula loomed over the bleeding Catherine, his gun still smoking in his holster.

Yin and Yang exchanged a wide-eyed look, their hearts pounding in their chests.

Catherine was shaking, blood pouring from her leg as she scrambled to apply the tourniquet, her hands slick with blood.

She fumbled with the tourniquete, trying to stop the bleeding as the seconds ticked by.

"Faster,"

Dracula snarled, his eyes never leaving her.

"If you don't get that wound under control, you're going to bleed out."

The recruit's breathing came in ragged gasps as she desperately tried to stem the blood flow. The other recruits stood by, terrified to even breathe as they watched the scene unfold.

Dracula's presence was suffocating, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Catherine managed to apply the tourniquet tightly around her leg, the blood flow slowing to a trickle.

She collapsed onto the floor, her body shaking from the pain and adrenaline.

Dracula glanced at his watch, barely looking impressed.

"Forty-eight seconds."

His voice was flat.

"Not bad. But do you think your battle brothers and sisters will know when you applied the tourniquet?"

The room was utterly silent. Not a single recruit dared answer. Everyone was too terrified to even move, let alone speak up.

Dracula's expression turned into a cold sneer, his eyes scanning the room, daring someone to respond. When no one did, he shrugged casually and looked back down at white as sheet Catherine.

"Oh well,"

He said with an air of finality, his voice unnervingly calm.

"I guess you don't need that leg of yours, then."

Hearing this Catherine blanched, her eyes widening in horror. Her breathing quickened, verging on hyperventilation, as Dracula's words sank in.