Kindertalia: Teacher's Past Part I

Colombia—Five Years Ago

News of their Captain’s retirement has spread through the camp. They were actually surprised. They’ve all been together for years now and they’ve lost many but thanks to her, they’ve managed to stay alive for more than three years in this war zone and now she was retiring? The news spread like wildfire and her small group couldn’t believe it. She was MADE for this.

“Captain, have you given thought about staying?” asked Tim

“Yes I have the answer is the same as ever, no. This will be our last mission together,” said ________________.

“But what will we do without you?!” she sighed.

“What do you think? You will all be dismissed and work alone. I’ve given you all enough skills to survive. It’s up to you to keep it up,” as most mercenaries, they were given jobs to fulfill but usually jobs worked on a mission basis. If someone completed five hundred missions in their life time and/or showed leadership in the time of complete anarchy they were legible for complete retirement. Not only did she manage, but she stayed on for another few years to clean up loose ends. Now she was ready to retire and enjoy a peaceful life, “Listen Tim, you know that another few years of and I won’t live that long. I even postponed it until we finish this here and people can live safely once again.

“Right,”

“How’s Vash taking it?”

“How do you think?”

“Of course. He’s going to be your new Captain when I’m gone,”

“I don’t think that’s what he’s thinking about at this moment,”

“Don’t make this harder. I have to leave after tonight,” Tim grinned.

“Still want to be a teacher?”

“Yeah, I’ve taught your dumb asses and a group of an elementary schoolers shouldn’t that tough,” he pulled her into an one armed hug. Inside their meeting room, three men were sitting around looking solemn and somber. They looked up at her. She looked at the sheepishly.

“You’re really gonna leave us Captain?” said Sadiq

“This isn’t really up to you all,” said Tim, “If she wants to retire, then she can,”

“Fuck off, we’re talking to ______________ not you,” said Andensen, “It doesn’t mean we’re not going to miss her any less,”

“You really have to retire now?” said Gupta.

“As much as I want to continue this, I know after tonight, I won’t be to able to live anywhere without being seen on site and immediately taken out by different officials. You know it and I know it and I don’t want to live the rest of my days looking over my shoulder and even worst start to think for a moment that any of you would kill me,”

“We’d never do that. We don’t come cheap,” said Andersen

“It’ll take more than what many are willing to pay for us to take you out,” said Sadiq chuckling.

“Assholes,” she shook her head laughing.

“And it’ll be no lightheartedness in this job anymore,” said Gupta, “Between Vash and Tim,”

“I can be fun but I have handicap of wanting to punch Andersen in the face,” said Tim.

“Feeling’s neutral,”

“Cut it out you two,” Vash walked in, “I doubt Captain wants to break up a fight on her final day with us,”

“I’ll leave that to you,”

“So is this how it’s supposed to end?” said Sadiq, “No going away party? No celebration of good fortune,”

“Too risky,” said Gupta, “Besides, she’ll end up like all those one day befre retirement police officers from those American movies,”

“Good point, so how does our profession give a send off?”

“We toast with a final drink, she fakes her death and years later if and when we meet again, we go from there,” said Andersen, “I’m buying the first drink!”

“I’ll hold you do it,” said ___________ grinning as they poured out drinks. They raised their glass. She grinned. She never really had been one for words, “Gentleman this is our last day together and it was a pleasure working with you. See you on the side,” ____________ made a toast before heading out into the battlefield. This was her final mission. She was so close to finishing it that she could smell the fresh air of home through the dust and death of Columbia. She couldn’t wait to see her home again, rather her grandma’s home. She retired to Palm Springs about seven years ago and she gave her the old house. That was another reason she knew she had to retire. Once someone got used to the blood, death, and decay, it would immediately become second nature to the point of it being all they knew. It especially happened with military captains or anyone in the military. They don’t know how to shut off and she didn’t want that to happen to her. The corruption, the smell of death, the screams of people…nothing was more intoxicating to her. She’s not going to lie, she loved what she did but it was time to get out of the game. Her final task was to take out the leader of the Corazón Negro, the terrorist group that was trying to take over the South American government. So far, they took out most of the inner sanctum of the members, however, Coyote, the leader, had something that would launch the entire world into WWIII, the launch code to Cuba and she was planning on attacking the US, who will not only attack back but will bring their allies and Cuba will bring in their including Russia, China, and North Korea and will be the end of civilization as they all will know it. Her objective was to take her out. It took her awhile but she managed to corner in her headquarters.

“Ah, you’ve finally made it muchacha,” said Coyote looking at her from her window. She was a tall woman with a youthful face, mischievous smirk, wearing large glasses, and in a blue military uniform, “You’re just in time to see the absolute destruction of the free world as we know it. Can you imagine it? The world in total war where no life will be spared? The only ones who will profit from it all would be people like us?”

“Don’t group me in with the likes of you,” said _____________, “As much as the thought of never being out of work would be fun, I’m not going to sacrifice the innocent for this stupid shit,”

“You’re no better than I am, perra,” she barked

“Better than you think, bitch,”

“It doesn’t matter now anyway, I guess we’ll meet again, after the new world order,” Coyote heard a click. She smirked, “You would shoot a man in the back?”

“It’s for the greater good. I’m not working overtime because of you especially I have to clean up your petty little mess,”

“Petty this,” Coyote went to press the button, only for the remote to be shot out of her hands and it was shot into pieces.

“Not a bad shot but let’s see if you well you really are,” Coyote turned around just ____________ shot her in the chest. She went back. She went to fire only to be shot again, and again, and again. She staggered and held herself against the window. She looked up to see _____________’s rifle pointed at her face.

“You said it yourself, I really shouldn’t shoot anyone in the back. I’m tired of this shit,”

“You think you won perra? I’m not going to die this easily?”

“Really? I guess it won’t be the blood lost then. Anyway, see you in hell,” ____________ grabbed her and threw her out the window and shot her on her way a few more time. She then went to the computer and deleted all of the launch code to the missiles and then close out any evidence that anyone had or ever had them. Now to clean up the rest of this mess and go back to HQ for her immediate release.


Present Day

___________ woke up. She stretched in bed for a few moments and started on her day. She shook herself out a bit. She been having those strange dreams lately and lately they’ve become more and more realistic. Then again they really weren’t dreams, more like flashbacks. The Columbia incident was her last job. It was the most brutal and it was literally an Underground WW3 with Columbia as the battle ground. Everyone involve were just happy to get out alive, including mercenaries. She put in her retirement two weeks before she left and never thought about it again. However, old habits die hard. She always kept a gun strapped to her back when she went out and she always wore a bulletproof blouse under her clothing, just in case. Living in town like this however, made her slowly start to relax.

“It’s natural dear,” said Grandma over the phone, “Especially when we retire from our work. Just give into it, I’m sure there’s nothing in that town that’ll hurt you or anyone,”

She thought that too until she started her job with the toughest kindergartners known to man. She smiled at the thought of them. Basic training was nothing compared to those boys. Since she came to town, she used most of her mercenary skills in an everyday setting and she was happy.  She couldn’t let her guard down with them around. It was fun she had to admit. She looked at herself once more in the mirror before heading outside. She looked up and saw that the weather didn’t look so good and decided to take her car instead. Soon she was at school, ready to start her day.

“Morning boys,”

“Morning Miss _____________!” the boys greeted her as usual. Today literately was a normal day. She smiled and collected dynamite and other contraband from the boys, who now considered it a game.

“How was your weekend, Bella?” said Lovi grinning.

“Not bad, nothing interesting happened. You guys?”

“I went out with Franny!” said Artie, “We went to the petting zoo!”

“That’s great Artie!”

“No it wasn’t! The goats chased me,” said Francis

“I told you to give him the pellets!” the class laughed.

“Okay, who else have another one?”

“Toni was my dress dummy!” said Lovi, “We have a fab dress for Artie!”

“You said you wouldn’t tell!”

“But it looked gorgeous!”

“You made me dress?!” said Artie, “What color?!”

“Pink and blue!”

“STOP MAKING DRESSES FOR HIM!” said Francis, “HE’S A BOY!”

“You have to admit, they look awesome on him, da,” said Ivan, “Dad and I went out with my sisters and we found this for Artie,” he took out a sailor dress. Artie beamed.

“It’s beautiful!” she settled them down and started on their lesson. Soon, it was free time and boys were doing free play before recess. She was catching up on some art project planning when Edgar snaked his arm over her and placed a picture on her desk.

“What’s this sweetie?”

“Vati took a picture of all of us together awhile ago…and here it is,”

“Aww!” the boys gathered around and looked at the picture.

“Hey! It’s us!” said Feli grinning.

“You Vati got my good side,” said Lovi.

“And Sensei’s chest,” said Kuro grinning

“Should have taken a back shot,” said Lutz as ________ ruffled him and Kuro.

“Stop staying such things. Now’s let’s see…” she rummaged through her des and took out a frame and placed the picture inside. They grinned, “Now I can keep it on my desk so I can always remember my favorite students,” they beamed at her as the recess bell rung. She guided them outside. Everything was as normal as normal could be. They boys laughed and played and terrorized as usual. She watched on since she had recess duty. However something felt wrong, more like off. There were more cars on the street, than usual, there were more people on the street than usual, and there was a very odd aura about. She immediately ushered everyone back into their classrooms. The boys looked alarmed.

“Teach is everything okay?” said Matthew

“Yeah, but I want you boys to stay put while—,” but it was too late. Without earning, guard stormed the school and took it over. The Principal went to call the police but the phone lines were cut and all wireless communications were also severed. Before she could do anything, a soldier bursts into her classroom; He pointed the gun at ___________ and the kids. The kids glared at him.

“Get in the corner you little shits!” the man barked. The kids look at their teacher. She nodded.

“Do what the man says, kids,” they nodded and get into the corner. He closed the door and locked it. He then pointed his weapon at her again. She looked calm at him and sat in a chair and waited.

“You look familiar, sweetheart, have we met?”

“No,” she kept her head down. He smirked and circled her. The boys glared at him as he finally stopped in front of her.

“You’re kind of cute from where I’m standing,”

“Oh?”

“Come on…you know you want it bitch,” she glared and stood up. She smiled at him.

“Come here big boy, let’s do this the right way first,” he smirked and lowered his barrel. She cupped his face in one hand. He closed his eyes and went to kiss her, only to have the barrel of a gun in his mouth. He immediately froze, “Awww what’s the matter? I thought we were about to have fun?” she grabbed his shirt and pulled him further into the gun, “And unless you want to have your brains splattered all over this classroom you’re going to drop your weapon,” he dropped it, “Good. Now let’s see, Edgar, Lutz tie his arms back for me,” they nodded and ran to get some rope. Soon the man was bound and gagged in the middle of the floor. The soldier tried to free himself but was shocked that the ropes were so tight. __________ sighed and picked up her handgun and puts her gun back in its holster on her back. She held his AK-47 for a few moments. It was a Russian made beauty. It’s been a very long time since she’s held one. She could already hear the gunshots from it, the feel of the recoil she used to get from it…she immediately snapped herself out of it, “Boys, listen to me very carefully, stay here and if the guard tries anything funny, have fun with him, okay but please stay in the classroom and don’t leave,”

“Will you be okay?” said Edgar

“We can help!” said Artie.

“Yeah! Let us come, aru!” said Yao. She shook her head.

“No, you guys need to stay put for me, these guys won’t hesitate in harming a group of kids. Be my little helpers and take care of the classroom for me,”

“Yes Teacher,”

“And make sure that soldier doesn’t move until I get back,”

“Yes Miss!” as she walked out the door she heard a muffled scream.

“She said not to move fucker!” said Alfred whacking the man’s knees as Ivan smacked him with a lead pipe.  

“You don’t have proper listening skills, da,” ______________ walked down the halls. The first thing she had to do was secure the safety of the other children and staff. She crept down the halls until she was at the door. Of course there was a guard there. She crept up behind him, grabbed, and subdued him using a sleeper hold. She smirked and dragged him behind the steps and changed clothing with him. She then went out the door and went to the auditorium. Awhile ago, she hid a few things there just in case she would need them in an old locker. Inside was a tiny arsenal of weapons. She took out her sniper rifle, a few smoke grenades, a Soviet made AK 47 that served her well on countless of missions, a couple of throwing knives, and of course, her bandana, face mask, and gloves. She puts them all on and looked out the window. First things first, keep them from upstairs and get downstairs. From what she saw, there were about twenty of them inside and five of them outside, covering the exits so that means there were five on the other side and one at the main entrance. So that meant she had to take them out without detection, perfect. She climbed up the auditorium’s stairs and crawled to the ledge. From there, she positioned herself took aim using her scope. She aimed for the head and took out the first man, then the second, the third one noticed it and was about to radio it in, she took him out and then his radio. The fourth looked around to see where it was coming from only to be shot and then finished the last one. Okay, that’s done.

However, this alerted the other guards. Now they were making this too easy for her. As each turned the corner, she took them out. She counted her usual, except one. That meant he alerted the ones inside. Damn. She decided to go in through the hidden side door. She stepped out into halls. She wanted them to see her. The guard pointed and yelled her crime. She turned and went upstairs into the stairwell. She closed the top door and waited until they scrambled in. She then straps on a gas mask and sets off a smoke grenade. It went off. The men scrambled to get up the stairs only to be shot like fish in a barrel. The more that moved in, the more were shot. Soon the stairs were littered with corpses. She smirked and went further upstairs and left locking the door behind her. She was met with more soldiers on the other side. She shot off a few extra rounds and finished the job. Now that that was over, she decided to back to her students.

***
“What are the specs of this school?” said Tim as Gupta rolled out the plans. They were making their plans in a van nearby the school.

“Your average elementary school layout,” said Gupta, “Lower grades below and upper grades above,”

“Good,”

“It’s not going to be simple,” said Andersen, “They beat up to the school,”

“Fuck! Have any of the kids been taken hostage yet?”

“No,”

“Any signs from Vash?”

“Negative,” said Gupta.

“I guess we have to get to the kids ourselves. Okay you three, move out,” Andersen went first. Oddly, all the guards were upstairs. He assumes because no one bothered to come to the first floor.  The school had a security system and it managed to lock all the doors, except the primary room that everyone wanted, the kindergarten class. This was because the majority of the kids in there were children of diplomats and other powerful people and just one would snatch up some political or profitable gain. They weren’t any different; they had to get a few themselves. Andersen opened the door. Surprisingly for a classroom, it was eerily quiet. Maybe they kids were hiding or in another classroom. As he stepped further, he saw another man bound and gagged in the middle of the classroom. When they locked eyes, he struggled and screamed through his gag. Andersen took it off.

“How did you—,”

“BEHIND YOU!” he turned only to be met with a baseball bat and then swarmed on by tiny children who took his fallen weapon, beat him with pipes, sticks, and he was even stabbed a few times before they tied him up to the other man then gagged him.  

“Do we kill them now, da?” said Ivan.

“Nah, Teacher didn’t say to,” said Artie.

“I hope she’s okay,” said Edgar.

“Of course she is!” said Lovi, “She’ll be back but we have to be her soldiers,”

“ANDERSEN! Where are you?! Come in?!” Sadiq said over the radio. Antonio picked up the radio.

“He’s a bit indisposed at the moment. He’ll call you back later…from an unmarked grave,” the radio clicked off.

“FUCK! Gupta did you hear that!”

“Yeah, come on!”

“Who was it?”

“Don’t know but it sounded like a kid,”

“It can’t be a kid, what kids can’t do shit like that!” they soon made it to the classroom. They took out their weapons. This could get hairy. Sadiq went in first and Gupta covered him. They looked around and found a small group of a kids looking at them wide eyed and scared. Sadiq lowered his gun.

“There are five of them here,” he said. Gupta walked in slowly. They were sniffling and looked at them

“Hey kids, what’s the matter?”

“T-There’s a mean old man in there!” said the little red head.

“Where is he?”

“He’s hiding in the coat room,” he pointed to the coatroom.

“Careful,” said an Asian boy, “They have guns, aru,”

“And the rest of us as hostages,” said white haired boy. They nodded. Sadiq went in one opening and Gupta went to the other. As soon as they stepped into the coatroom, they saw Andersen and another solider tied up and before they could react, they were shot point blank in the face with some kind of substance. They fell back screaming they were swarmed upon like Andersen, their weapons taken, tied, beaten and dragged into the center of the classroom.

“I wonder how many more going to come,” said Francis, “This is getting boring,”

“Maybe we can dissect them,” said Feli smirking, “That’s not killing,”

“But Teach said nothing that could lead to death,” said Matt.

“How about disembowelment?” said Edgar, “And just sew them up later,”

“That actually sounds like fun, aru,”  said Yao, “Lovi you have your sewing scissors?”

“Never leave home without them,”

“And I have the anesthesia!” said Artie

“Didn’t Teach say that when people go into surgery they have to be sleeping?” said Alfred.

“Papa said unless there’s nothing else around,” Andersen, Sadiq and Gupta exchanged glances. What the fuck kind of Kindergartners were these and more importantly, who was their teacher?!