Wills POV:
What have I done? Why did I have to blurt out those damn words? Now I have voluntarily permitted Super Boss to kill me. I should have just asked for a check. As it is, I can no longer go on. I'm exhausted and dying at each count. But the man standing over us, killing us with bare minimum words is the reason I'm desperately trying to hold on. I cannot disappoint him.
And father has to make it worse by asking if we want a check! Father, we do! But both of us can't say it. Please announce that it is over. I cannot go on anymore. And this giant right next to me, even though he looks every bit exhausted as me, seems to be in no mood to ask. The water break is doing nothing to my dead muscles and body.
When he said 'plank walks', I wanted to cry and beg him to just stop. But that would mean disappointing him. Father sure knows how to put me in a fix!
Half-way through the damn plank walks, I look at super boss and do not see him giving up while my body is exhausted. 10 more seems like a lifetime right now! Sorry, father, but I can't go on any longer. For his sake though, I try to finish this set before I ask.
-----
We rush out of there knowing that these 10 minutes are going to be a hell of their own. 4 people, 1 shower and 10 minutes to report. It would have been a cakewalk if our muscles weren't screaming and crying at all movements. But father does not do easy. And god save me now that I have disappointed him. Each of my muscles are going to die a few deaths and apologize a million times before he is satisfied. What was I thinking? I should have held on just a little bit longer!
We reached our room and I fell without caring about any mattress.
I needed rest, heck we needed it badly. But unlucky for us, we have to report to the bloody dinning hall. Well, atleast we would have food.
Boss has recovered the most and so he goes first with a look from super boss which is clear- hurry up or you will pay later. Nick goes next while we both catch our breaths and give our muscles some rest. When Nick comes out, Super Boss looks at me. Hey now, I do not want an early death, "Super Boss, you go first" I hope he does not take much time and that this will earn me some points. I have quite a huge debt to pay and I would like that to shrink as much as possible without the use of my muscles.
Lucky for me, he comes out within 1.5 minute leaving me with decent time. However, the moment I go in, I am greeted with the familiar feeling of cramps that I had not really experienced since my cadet days. God, each movement is a mammoth task. I'm just done with my shower when a loud bang is heard. "Get your ass moving. We do not have time" Fuck! I try to hurry as much as I can and come out to see an impatient giant waiting for my neck. And neither Boss nor Nick to save my ass.
Without saying a word, he yanks me by my collar towards the stairs, "We have 45 seconds to report. Run" Oh man, the hall is on that side of this freaking place. Sorry legs, you are going to have to do cramped runs.
We make it to the dining hall to see father standing there looking at his watch "You had about 3 seconds before..." Super boss just saved my ass. Good lord, how big is the debt going to be?
We stand straight silently, waiting for father to let us have some fuel. It is only when Jane joins us, father tells us to pick up food and our bodies can sag a little knowing we are safe. A fumes like that should pay our debts, except for the times we underperform. He would bring these sins up every time we drop down his level. But then again, with father's anger, you never know! He has not said anything about our departure and until that happens, assuming that our debt is paid would be a mistake! And I had to fall and ask for that 'check'! Stupid me! Even after we leave here, my neck is going to be on his chopping board for long.
Father and Jane chatter while eating, while we silently keep our heads down and stuff hot breakfast in our stomachs. The much needed fuel to keep going. I dare not look at Super Boss's plate. With such a work out and barely there food, his muscles are going to be screaming and begging for mercy. And even after we leave, he has Chief to face. Atleast he hasn't disappointed Chief!
Just then, Chief enters with a sweaty and breathless team. Chief sure seems like a trainer to be feared just as much as father!
He takes his plate and joins father with a 'good morning'. I hope it stays good after your arrival, Chief. I look at Super boss and his face tells me that it won't stay good.
Father returns it with a smile of his own. Are they not tired? They have been up all night. God, where do they find this energy to keep us on fire, see everything and smile and greet just after killing us moments ago.
"Colonel, I was thinking of joining class" Oh God, no! We are done, Chief! There is no class to join. Each of us gulp at his words and hold in our breaths. But nobody dares to utter a word of protest. Whatever they say will be done. Our muscles can only groan and grunt.
Sorry super boss, you warned us well in time, about this special phenomenon. I'm sorry, we have no say in this.
Father seems to contemplate something. Thank you, father! Please say we are done. I would rather face you in KMA than here. But he answers sinking my heart, "I wouldn't mind it, Chief but please excuse us for the first 10 minutes. I and Wills would join you then" What? Where are we going for 10 minutes?
"Sure, Colonel. I'll see you on the beach"
Father gets up and I sigh internally but get up too leaving my breakfast half uneaten. Before we step out though, Super Boss joins us. Father would kill him! What is he doing?
"Sir, please.."
"Kadner, is begging your job now?" Already paying for that it seems! What is he pleading for now?
"Sir.." And the tongue is tied again! Super Boss, start running.
"Kadner, join or get back in?" Where are we going?
Super Boss sighs and says "I'll join, sir" with such pain in his voice, like he is signing up for self torture. Wait? I did not mean for that comment to be true. Why do you have to take things quite literally only when I'm sarcastic, dear God!
"Wills, regular morning run. Kadner will lead" Oh boy! Super boss fails at trying to save my ass. He should have known. It will only result in both of us getting an ass whooping.
My legs are loudly protesting but we start the long run with the giant grinding his teeth but pushing at a punishing pace, father peacefully enjoying right beside him while I run a step behind dying and contemplating a thousand ways to avoid both these men in future.
We make it till the halfway and Super Boss falls to his knees. I do too. Father just looks at us with digust.
"I am never late. They must be done with their breakfast by now, which means you have 10 minutes to reach there." He must be joking! Because there is no way we can cover the entire distance in this time, in this state!
Super Boss, still breathless, gets up and I have no option but to follow suit. This time, we both are running behind father who seems to be going faster and faster by the minute. Anytime he does not hear us a step behind him, he turns with a glare. Somehow, that glare burns away the cramps in our bodies and we are pushing to cover the distance before he has to use his words.
Lucky for us, the beach is nearer than the damn dining hall. Once we make it there, I don't care how I look right now! I just sprawl on the beach right besides Nick, who is doing some boat push-ups with no energy left to go on.
Super Boss must have done so too because I hear Chief say, "Prescott, you have 10 to get up. 10..9.." I ignore the count down and focus on gulping huge breaths to bring my heart rate to normal and not pass out.
The count is over before I barely lift myself up. My thighs and knees are shaking and I know for sure I am not standing in the correct posture. Super boss, on the other hand, is still on his knees trying to recover from the torturous run. We are both going to die if the glares from Chief and father are anything to go by.
"How many minutes?" Chief asks Super Boss. What minutes?
"30 minutes, Chief" Oh! I hope it is recovery time and not additional screwing time for not following his commands. There is no way I can do an additional 30 after whatever they have planned and the lovely training we went through.
"20 Prescott. But you better bring in your best" I hate that line! It is the perfect trap. There is no way we can go on right now and later on, after saying a yes here, there is no way we can stop. These people know how to play with our minds. This is a clear payment for the break we get. Right now though, I'm thankful for getting a break. Payment be damned!
Super Boss just rolls over and lies on his back there while I join him on the floor. The others, however, enjoy a mild-pace run. Poor Nick! I hope Boss survives. Otherwise, father will kill us both.
---
Once I'm sure I'll not die, I start to get up.
I look around to see Father and Chief talking with a devil smile on both their faces. I turn towards Kadner sir who is also looking at both men, with a neck nodding 'no'.
I see, from my angle and his, we're screwed.
They laugh and shake hands and our hearts sink deeper.
Father comes to us with a straight face "Don't you dare disappoint me" he almost whispers to us, while Chief goes to his team and says something in a very low tone, which I'm assuming is the same warning.
The very next moment, Chief is standing in front of us after Father abandoned us saying "Boys are all yours, Chief." taking Kadner sir with him.
No! Don't leave us father!
"Officers. I've been told by your trainer that you can face anything. Is that true? Does he actually teach that good?"
"Yes sir!" me, Nick and Boss are well aware as to how and where will he lead this to. Good start, Chief.
"Better than US Navy seals, Major?" he moved close to me, asking me individually.
"If not more, it's no less, sir." I said confidently. Atleast for me, its true. I'm not scared to go for Navy Seals after what I went through at KMA.
"Prove it, then. I want to see for myself." he moves a step back and wait for us to try and talk a way out.
"As you wish, sir!"
He wasn't expecting this reply.
"Drop. Diamond Pushups."
Damnit. I thought only father's routines begin with Pushups.
Diamonds. Damn you! That was the only muscle group that was left uncrushed in my body during last night's fumes. I'm sorry, Triceps.
-----
"Burpees"
"Major Nick, what drills did you do last night?"
"We did fumes, sir" You could hear the pain in his voice from remembering how he failed to complete that! I hope father or Super boss doesn't expect payback for that. I'm already going to die paying for that check as it is. I need people to get me to the med bay.
He walks to Boss and I can see Nick release a breath.
A simple question, "What is fumes, Major Louis?" Oh hell! Boss is going to be feeling it.
"A fumes session consists of different exercises done in 25 reps till the glass is foggy with sweat. The only words spoken are the next exercise to be done by the trainer and either 'Next, sir' or 'Check, sir' on our part. If glass is not foggy when we ask for a check, exercises go one level up."
"And who asked for a check, Major?" Oh hell!
"Major Wills did, sir"
"So, you gave up Major Wills?"
The word should have my photo in the dictionary. "No, sir" What am I to answer?
"Then why the check, Major?"
"The glass was foggy, sir" and I could no longer go on, sir!
"Log lift. Pick this up over your heads." He says pointing to a huge log of wood. Is he crazy? This must weigh like a hundred ton telephone pole.
Boss and I take the ends while Nick holds at the centre. It takes great efforts to lift it up to our waists. Positioning our hands around the ropes tied for grip, we lift the damn thing up to our shoulders and then above our heads. My back is going to die today. That is, if I don't get hit in the head for dropping this.
Chief joyfully speaks, "Majors, meet old Misery. A batch of students decided to drown a log of wood in the ocean to avoid Log PT. Lo and behold, the log washes ashore the next afternoon, heavier and with worse grip. Now, whenever a team or crew needs to prove their worth or pay for their sins, Old Misery here helps them." He says patting the wood affectionately. Is he crazy?
"Hello, Old Misery" we grudgingly and in pain shout because every introduction deserves a greeting. Even inanimate ones.
He laughs at our tone. The damn log is going to be the death of me.
"Log down. Bicycle crunches."
"Then why did the others not ask for it, Major Wills?" Oh no!
"Umm... Because only me and Kadner sir were the ones remaining by then and Kadner sir could not ask for one since he promised to bring his best" I'm dead after this!
"So, you accept that you didn't bring your best?"
Uh-oh! "I did my best, sir"
"And your best failed in comparison to Prescott's even after his last few days of training?"
How dare he! Kadner sir was not the only one who had some pretty terrible days recently! Heck, my ass made contact with bed after every 2 nights.
"Circumstances, sir. It won't happen again, sir" Because I would have been either dead or well 'trained' by father in everlasting fumes session.
He turned towards Nick and Boss
"Majors, is this what your trainer considers best?" No, no, no! Father will kill us if he complains!
"No, sir! It won't happen again, sir" That father will ensure. I smile knowing the days they would have now! Walking on eggshells around father!
"Ab chopper. Major Louis, who gave up first?"
"Me, sir"
"Up and centre, You." Goodbye, boss!
"Sit-ups, crunches and squats -sixty in sixty, Major"
"Major Nick, who was next?"
Brother, brace yourself! "Me, sir"
He glares at both of them but says nothing for almost a minute. Boy, your breaths are stuck in!
"How long did you last, Majors?" I can feel my head pounding.
"2 hours, sir" Boss answers breathless. Those counts are going to be killing him.
"3.5 hours, sir"
He looks at us with disgust and a glare at Boss after checking his watch. Boss, you better not fail!
"Well atleast one of you had some stamina" That tone! It is cutting you to pieces. How does Super Boss not feel like a cadet here?
"Join Major Louis for the next one. Burpees. 150 in 2 minutes" No way Boss can do that!
By 70, Boss is lagging behind. Nick is breathless and I'm dying from the never ending ab choppers.
"Is this your best, Major Wills? No wonder Prescott lasted the longest."
I pick up my pace knowing that just father's anger is enough for my death. I don't need him to be disappointed by Chief's comments too.
"Bi-cycle crunches" Why does he hate my abs so much? "All of you" Damn you, Super Boss! Why did you have to find Chief?
"Spot jog, Majors. Hands behind your head." Oh boy! My legs are killing me.
Boss is breathless within a minute "Major Louis, you better be the last man standing here if you want to go home in your convey. Otherwise, a nice weighted march/ run back to KMA will be the next session" Those knees are up and sharp in a second.
"Another minute, boys." Not anymore, Chief! Please!
"Suicides" My feet!
"How many shall it be, Major Nick?"
"Umm- as you see fit, sir" Nice one, Nick!
"And I asked for a number, Major!"
"Sir -I"
"Oh so not even your tongues are trained?" Nick, kill us already!
"25 sir?"
"Not enough, Major. But let's start for now" Please kill me, Chief!
Each suicide was followed with a comment from Chief which pumped us up. Our asses were on fire every minute of it and this seemed like just a start.
Father walks towards us and I never knew I would be happy to see father coming towards us.
My only fear right now is Chief's feedback.
"Boys, dismissed"
-------
KYRA's POV:
"Do better than your best ever."
What?
What does he mean? I've been doing more than I ever could, and he wants me to do more?
And later who will do the entry and exit and all that extra workout Chief has laid out nicely for me?
Ofcourse this will result in nothing but a series of failures and worse punishments.
No, I'm sorry dad, but I won't.
This is your meeting with some of your teachers, I have no business here.
"But-" I start to explain, but I stop breathing when he gave me the deadliest look ever. He has never looked at me so angrily and dangerously till date.
I understood he means what he just said, otherwise I can book my tickets to hell.
"Yes sir"
Only when I say this, he takes his heated glare off me.
Oh goodness, I couldn't take it for a second more. His glare was more scary than Chief's threats!
What's up with this old man? Dad is behaving like his whole life depends on pleasing him.
Few hours ago he greeted me like his own daughter. Now dad tells me to take his screwing.
Why don't these men clear the situation in advance?
First chief, now this colonel. I wonder how many Hitlers dad has met in his life, and how many of them I'll have to face.
After having me at his sword's end for a moment, Dad walks away and comes back with his Dear Colonel. Both these men look at me like I'm in deep trouble.
Dad gives me that 'you better behave' look.
He stands next to me and I take a breath of relief. Any other day this would horrify me, but after meeting Chief, I really feel safe when Dad is around.
"No need Kadner. You have proved yourself. It's your team's turn now."
"Yes sir"
No! Dad!
Pity I can't shout these words out. He goes back to his previous position, one step behind Colonel.
"So, all of you have your roots in UI?"
"Yes, sir."
"And you two have trained these kids?"
Kids? Well, Ofcourse, at his age, we will look like kids. I wish Chief thought way too.
"Yes sir!"
Officer Siddharth and Rosh reply crisply.
"Alright. Then let the kids lead. You two, move behind them."
Okay, I don't like this. It's like placing your soldiers in the front row to die first, in chess. And this man looks like he has played this game a hundred times everyday for centuries.
"Drop. Diamond Push-ups" We may be standing a few feet away from the guests but I swear I could hear Chief sync it with Colonel here. Are they going to be syncing for long? Because we do not have the years of training that the boys in Colonel's team do. If subjected to the same thing, except Officer Siddharth and Rosh, we would fail miserably.
We complete the damn 25 counts with Major Wills counting for Chief and I counting for my team. Sucks to be called to count when you can barely breath through the pain.
-----
Prescott's Pov-
"Burpees" I don't like this sync that they have somehow agreed on. How in the hell are they doing it right on dot together in one class and yet killing each other's team separately?
"So Officers, Kadner says you can take on Aarham. Is that true?" Come on sir, let it go, please!
"Yes sir." both of them reply quickly.
"Your burpees say something else, Officers. Even cadets do better"
"Log lift" Atleast it is two team logs compared to old misery. But sir, please don't copy this from Chief's training! Log PT sucks. Just let it be there for SEALs.
"And what made you decide to throw your very well recognised service and career to motherland and join a rogue vigilance group?" That tone! And the words are like knife! The logs came down just a bit from his words. Suck it up team! He is going to leave a lot of black and blue with his words!
"Officer Roshesh?"
"Sir, I- umm- I wanted to help capture Aarham" God, can you please dig me a grave right where I stand? Now he will think that Rosh is doing it forcefully for me.
"Excellent reason. Made total sense. Officer Siddharth, you have a good one or you too have not been taught proper use of tongue?"
You better have a good answer, Officer, if you want an easy life later. "Sir, Aarham's organisation runs on fear and bribes. Current ministers and people high up in command are either afraid to take action due to their family or bought. If we are rogue vigilants, we don't need permission. Better to ask forgiveness than permission, sir"
Oh no! There is no need for a grave now! Officer here has given an excellent reason and a very true one unfortunately. The one nerve that I just tried to sooth last night is now smashed upon.
"Log down. Bicycle crunches" Am I the only one noticing this? How can they do this without even looking at one another? Same routine, same time.
"Officers, how formdiable is Aarham's organisation?"
Both reply with "Biggest we have ever seen, sir" And I'm dead! I can see where this is going.
"Kids, answer in turns. Kyra, have you been in a firefight?"
"No, sir" Already breathless and in pain! We have a long way to go Kyra!
"Tortured anybody?"
"No, sir" Ashwin answers.
"Been tortured?"
"No, sir" Arjun answers
"Been undercover"
"No, sir" Kyra grunts out.
"And you expect to take down one of the most formdiable foe you have seen with a few months of conditioning sessions, which cannot even get you a few quick crisp bicycle crunches?"
They complete those like they are being burnt alive!
"Ab chopper. Kadner, up and centre. Sit-ups, crunches and Squats, sixty in sixty." Damn it! That shit hurts like hell!
Sixty in Sixty is a good way to wake up the murderer inside you. It's so fucking exhausting, you'd kill anyone to stop the godspeed torture. Doing sixty counts in sixty seconds in this state, is nothing less than a miracle.
Just counting out loud seems like a huge task when your body is already screaming for a break.
I can hear my pounding heart and my short breaths. The silence with Sir feels more uncomfortable than his questions and statements. I see, dog is also getting the same workout with Chief! Oh the joys!
"Officer Roshesh, Kyra - is that what you call ab chopper?"
Damn it! I told them to not fuck up! He will kill them in seconds!
I'm breathless and left with only 1 count when he says "Burpees. 150 in 2 minutes. Both of you, join Kadner" No way they can do this!
After a few, Kyra is lagging behind. Rosh is breathless but manages to keep up with the pace. I can see the others dying from the never ending ab choppers.
"A team is only as strong as its weakest link. Who is that, Kadner?"
I take it back! I like the silence even when it nearly makes me piss myself from fear! "Sir, we are still training" I say and try not to look anywhere in his direction. I know he is not going to like my answer!
We complete the damn counts just in time but Kyra is a little behind! She is about to get a taste of sir's training.
"Ding ding ding.. The winner title goes to Kyra. Not only has the time limit exceeded, you are so breathless, I can hear and see you from miles."
Kyra looks at me and I give her my best glare. Anything to get her adrenaline up and running.
She complete the damned counts within the next 10 seconds. Thank Lord!
"Bi-cycle crunches" Chief has already killed my abs in these days. Let us not touch them, sir "All of you" Damn it! That pet and duck! I told them to not let this session happen. I'll have to teach them a lot when we meet.
By the time those 25 are done, my stomach is screaming.
"Spot jog. Hands behind your head." The signature of yours sir! We are about to get an oral now!
Ashwin and Arjun are breathless within a minute "Kyra, you better be the last man standing here. Your father may not have told you about me being his first trainer, among other things, but if you ever want a chance to prove and get in on the mission, this is it. You fail here, I won't bother putting you to test. You keep going here and you can have your chance to prove that you have what it takes to get out of that mission alive. We clear?"
"Yes, sir" and she is going to hate me for this! After she is done shouting my ear off or killing me for it. Damn it! Having children is so damn hard. You want the best for them and sometimes, you become the worst guy for it. Rosh already has cursed me for his training. Kyra has always been angry since then about my behaviour with Rosh. And now this! And let's not forget her force diet and Chief's training. This session too. I sure give her a lot of reasons for a man who would go to hell and come back just to hold her in my arms!
After his speech, the boys lift up the knees higher in a second. I don't need to see to know that they gulped in fear.
"Another minute, kids." Like we can stop until you say, sir! Let's hope this is last though!
"Suicides" And I need to arrange a funeral for my legs!
It looks like we are pitted against one another. While the pets and that duck goes from Chief to Sir and back, we go in the opposite direction. If we gain direction on the other, the fire on our ass is lit!
After the damned count is over, Sir walks towards Chief. Finally, I can relax. Feels just like those cadet days!
"Everyone except Kyra and Officer Roshesh, leave."
I turned and looked at her, who stood clueless.
"I'm sorry girl. Tough life begins for you from now onwards."
Roshesh understood everything, being the smart lad he is. "It's her choice, dad. You shouldn't apologise."
I don't know why but this time, I didn't feel like punishing him for speaking without permission. Infact I felt a little better for a moment, but went back to being miserable when my sight went back to my girl.
Before more negative thoughts cloud my brain, I shake them all off "I'll see you both soon. Dismiss." They leave after a salute and I turn to Chief who has brought havoc on my dogs and that duck.
Chief and Colonel talk to each other while I stand a little far with my heart in a throat. Please let Chief speak good about the pets and that duck! They are already deep in trouble with Sir. Chief, let them live. Colonel, please let my team and my kids live! Oh God, one wrong word from either of them and we would have weeks of hell to pay!
When they turn to me with a serious face, I feel dizzy thinking of the possibilites of problems they can create for me.
"Prescott, do you need to talk to Colonel?"
"No, sir" We have said a lot. Anymore and I will end up doing another Fumes!
"Kadner, remember what I said and what you agreed." He turns to Chief, "Chief, it was nice meeting you and the team. Thank you for allowing me to use some of your training time and your facilities. I hope we shall keep in touch in the future too."
Chief smiles, "The pleasure is all mine, Colonel. You do not need to thank me for anything. All of these facilities are yours to use and we shall definitely keep in touch."
He turns to me and continues, "Prescott, inform the boys and arrange for the convoy to be brought up front. We will meet you there in a minute"
I run out of there for this one last task for Colonel.