Sam and her friends walked out onto the base and headed towards the group of tough looking students.

  Most were boys of around their age. They looked up as the group of four arrived and Sam could sense tension and unease as well as a fair bit of bravado amongst the main group of students.

  Sam looked to Edward. “Are they always like this?” Edward grimaced and nodded. “Yeah a bit, there's a couple of alpha's who think they're it and the rest seem to just follow along like sheep.”

  Sam frowned. “Well this is going to be fun.” she grumbled to herself.

  Sam could feel her inner rage become alert and start to simmer. She took in a deep breath and thought of ways to keep her mind calm.

  “OK everybody gather around.” announced Sergeant Tull.

  “Now that we have a full compliment for the first time, we need to see where the skill level of the members of the class are at so we can train you effectively.

  "This afternoon we are going to have a test session. These are no holds barred. Having said that, Anderson Stop groping the females.

  "Pretty much every single female here has reported you. It's only your second week, keep this up and by the end of the month you'll be out, not only from the defence force, but the academy. Got it?” growled Troll.

  Anderson grimaced and gave the slightest nod as he scanned the group. Giving the girls he had suspected of reporting him the evil eye.

  Sam noted that Rae was amongst those and saw her friend shy away from his stare.

  Sam's inner rage increased in it's intensity and she fought to keep it low.

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  Troll walked among the group separating them into two opposing sides facing each other.

  Sam found herself looking at a girl who she would have said a week ago was built similarly to herself.

  Her opponent was fairly tall for her age, slight of build, but with a tough glint in her eye. Sam felt herself firm up her stance, readying herself for the coming fight.

  What was this going to be? Like a cat fight or something? She knew how to fight, but that was street fighting. Kicking, punching, biting, hair pulling. Anything went.

  She shrugged to herself. Oh well, Troll did say it was no holds barred.

  Troll had set each member of the group facing one on one and Sam listened as he gave out his commands.

  “The task in front of you is to bring your opponent to the floor. Keep them there for 3 seconds. You don't have to beat them to a pulp Anderson. Just not be the one on the floor.

  "You have 3 minutes to achieve this task. If there is no apparent victor after this time the bout will be considered a draw. OK on the count of three.”

  “THREE”

  Sam blinked. “What?”

  She looked around to see opponents attacking each other just in time for her to look back and see her adversary strike her full in the face with a wild hay maker!

  She felt her head being knocked back and for a second. Her vision swam and she grimaced at what she considered an unfair start by Troll.

  Sam looked at her attacker who was stepping back, grimacing, holding her hand and shaking it as she tried to shake off the shock of punching Sam in the face.

  Sam felt her chin. She could feel where the other girl had made contact. It hurt, but not half as bad as she thought it would.

  She moved forward and growled. “OK bitch, my turn.”

  Sam saw the look of fear on the girls face as she struck her jaw. The girl seemed to move in slow motion as she flew back.

  She landed about a metre from where she was struck and Sam waited for the girl to get back up but she just lay there.

  Sam rushed over to check the girl was OK. she felt for a pulse and what she found seemed strong enough, but the girl was out cold and Sam thought her jaw looked... wrong. She put her hand up and called Troll over.

  “Erm.. Sergeant Tull? Do we have a medic available?”

  He looked down at the unconscious girl and back to Sam. He eyed her... for what..rage? OK that made sense Sam thought.

  She felt for her rage, it was there, but it wasn't rampaging around in her skull, she was in control.

  He nodded. His hand went up and a “Healer” came running over. Sergeant Tull looked back at Sam.

  “Good work. A bit slow to start, but you took her best shot and didn't even blink, well done.

  "Keep an eye on your foot work though. Now just stand back and wait for the first round to finish.”