Milla blinked at the simplicity of the statement as Stephanos went on.

“To stand there, with crossed arms, and say to the universe, ‘You are not getting past me,’” Stephanos said. He stopped for another brief moment before continuing in a subdued manner. “The fighting happens when the universe decides to test his resolve. A soldier doesn’t seek conflict, Milla, even if he often seems to find it.”

Stephanos couldn’t tell if she had listened to him, or even heard him, but it didn’t matter much, anyway. It was a lesson she and her people would have to learn, one way or another. After a moment’s consideration, he made a decision. “Here, don’t knock something that you don’t understand.”

With that, he turned his attention back to the rifle and the range, this time taking care to include Milla in the exercise by describing as best he could what was happening and why. He half turned back to her, extending a hand that she took after a moment’s hesitation. He drew her closer, holding out the rifle as he explained its workings.

“This is an MX One-Twelve infantry support rifle. It has been standard issue for the NAC military and most of our allies for the past eight years. This one’s an MK A-Seven model, so it’s been refitted a few times since the original weapon was put into service,” Stephanos said as he thumbed a control on a spindly pedestal.

The computer’s voice startled Milla as the lights dimmed and something glowed at the far end of the room. “Active program will begin in thirty seconds.”

Stephanos pulled the rifle up to his shoulder and gazed down the long length of the room, looking for a target. “This one has been configured to fire ‘virtual ammo’ to give a realistic training experience without blowing holes through the hull. It’s what we call a hybrid model, designed to maximize both old and new technology into a single…”

The weapon roared, causing Milla to jump and swing her head away from Stephanos. For a moment, she saw nothing, and then an armored form materialized and swung a similar weapon in Stephanos’s direction.

“…seamless…”

The gun barked a second time, the armored form vanishing into the ether from whence it came.

“…design.”

This time, two soldiers appeared, their weapons already pointed at Stephanos. Milla heard a motion and watched Stephanos move, ducking under the enemies’ fire and returning fire in kind, the black rifle stuttering out a loud, steady beat as shots left it with a flash of blue-white light. In short order, the two soldiers had vanished and Stephanos straightened from his crouched position.

“Pause.”

“Simulation paused.” The computer’s drone was punctuated by the lights returning to their former level.

“It uses a hybrid chemical-electromagnetic propellant system. The result is a peculiar mix of technologies.”

Stephanos turned to Milla, offering the weapon to her.

Taking it gingerly, Milla almost dropped it as Stephanos let its entire weight fall into her hands. “It’s heavy.”