Chapter 2 - THE CHALLENGE ON THE LINE
At the nearest weapon rack, three junior enlisted soldiers and a range safety NCO paused their work, chuckling quietly at the Major’s jab. Visitors were a rarity on Range 19, especially elderly women in pastel jackets.
Nathan turned to the stainless-steel inspection table behind him. Resting on green foam inserts were six black M4A1 carbines, freshly pulled from the battalion armory for ballistics verification. He picked up the center rifle by its handguard, holding it horizontally toward Margaret with a casual, theatrical flourish.
"Ever handled one of these outside television, ma'am?" Nathan asked, his voice dripping with amused sarcasm.
Margaret didn't look offended. She didn't flush with embarrassment or step backward. She looked down at the rifle in his hands—taking in the lower receiver, the selector switch set to SAFE, the custom optics mount, and the subtle sheen of lubricant around the ejection port cover. Then, she raised her eyes to look directly into Nathan’s face.
"You really don’t need to worry about me, Major," she said evenly.
Nathan’s smile tightened slightly. The old woman's utter lack of deference caught him off guard. He pushed the heavy carbine another inch toward her chest.
"Go ahead," Nathan taunted, glancing back at his soldiers to make sure they were watching. "Show us."
Captain Daniel Reeves stepped forward, his clipboard held tight against his side. "Major, range protocol requires—"
"It's fine, Captain," Nathan interrupted without turning around. "Let the lady touch military hardware."
Margaret looked at Nathan for two long seconds. Then, without a word, she extended her hands.
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The moment her fingers contacted the weapon, the atmosphere on Range 19 began to shift. She didn't grab the rifle awkwardly like an amateur. Her right hand swept under the trigger guard, her index finger resting extended along the side of the receiver, while her left hand wrapped around the magazine well with practiced, muscular efficiency. The rifle didn't drop a fraction of an inch; it rested in her hands with perfect, natural balance.
The chuckling among the nearby soldiers abruptly stopped.
