"Duck. Duck. DUCK!" I did as told and saved myself from a power punch that Kelly had packed for me. Phew. That was close. Thanks Killer.

"Stop cheating, officer!" Ah come on Kelly! You got my face thrice and still you want Killer to stay out and quiet.

Boom! Fuck! My head is spinning. Why did I not see his other hand coming towards me?

I barely got my balance back when I saw Kelly's fist flying towards my face again. Not this time, sir.

I ducked just in time and went for his foot instead. Stupid enough for me to think that I can catch hold of his foot - he who has trained people the same thing for almost a decade.

As obvious as it may sound, he slipped his foot back and quickly stomped on my hand that went to grab him. Fuck! I won't be able to pick up food with that hand for next few days.

My lungs were crying out loud and my body was exhausted. We've been fighting for what seems like an hour, while actually it must have been just ten minutes. Kelly hasn't given me a moment's break since we started. Punch after punch, kick after kick - I've spent whole of my energy in just protecting myself from his hits.

I really hope Killer's seven other instructors were lenient. This one man can kill you over and over again. I can't imagine facing another one like him, forget seven.

I got my attention back to my hand when he twisted his foot, creating a wave of pain from my hand to my brain.

Using my left hand I tried to remove his foot which is was still on my other hand. Entirely useless.

"Distract!" I heard Killer guiding me and immediately Kelly responded "You are cheating again, officer."

I wanted to both apologise and thank Killer for taking the rants of his trainer just to ensure that I'm doing well.

I used his momentary distraction and punched hard on his other shin. He lost his balance and I got my hand free. Getting up swiftly I took a turn and faked a kick. Before my leg would leave the ground as Kelly expected, my fist made contact with his cheek. I swear even with the back of my hand, I could feel his jaw. I hope I didn't break any bone. Who am I kidding? They're all made of steel.

But to my surprise, Kelly rubbed his lips with his thumb and I saw blood there. Fuck! I had a mixed feeling. I felt guilty for hurting him but I also felt so strong that I can hurt him.

"Oh my god." I heard Killer whisper to himself behind me.

"I think she is ready." Kelly said lifting his bloodied hands up, calling the sparring off.

"Ready for?" Killer asked as surprised as me.

"For the world." he mocked but I knew he wasn't entirely joking.

"And for Uncle?" I asked with a twist in my guts.

"You are ready to face the world, except him." He said seriously.

"Thanks Kelly, that really helped." I said sarcastically. The knot in my guts tightened.

"See. You can never be ready to fight him. He knows that too. What he wants to ensure is that you're good enough to fight and escape others, specially when your life is in danger. If he thinks you can, then heads up!"

He made some sense to me. Again.

I turned and looked at Killer. He shrugged his shoulders and agreed.

I nodded more to myself, getting ready to face the big old man tomorrow. Yep. The week's deadline finishes today and Colonel James agreed for a final evaluation tomorrow.

I'm equally worried for Nick and myself. If tomorrow he says I'm good for nothing, Nick stays in Hell and Killer will make my life worse than hell.

************************************

"If I hear any sound from you, you'll regret it." Uncle sounded intimidating as heck. How did Killer and Nick managed to survive for three years under him?

"Yes sir." Those were the last two words I heard from Killer till the end of the session. If there's one person he takes seriously, it's his father.

"Captain Renee." "Yes sir."

"Eyes and ears open. I want a detailed analysis of this session. You miss a move and you'll learn it from me." "Yes sir."

Is he doing this intentionally? Scaring me to my core by screwing everyone around me? Because it's working just fine.

"Jane?" "Ye- Yes?" my voice was trembling like a leaf about to fall off the branch.

"Good. Right where I wanted you to be. Let's begin." What did that mean?

I looked behind him at Killer who was warning me with his eyes to focus. Oh yeah. Distraction and panic. He told me Uncle would use this technique to get my nerves on fire.

I nodded at him and got my eyes and brain back to focus this one man standing in front of me.

He stood casually like a shepherd looking after his sheeps - carelessly - knowing he can not be harmed by them.

On the other end, I stood with my hands near my face ready to block any of his moves.

'Keep your focus on him. But keep your ears open to everything else around.' What exactly did Killer mean by that, I have no clue. But I've learnt one thing - he knows the best for me, and each of his words have proven true. So, instead of finding meaning, I just follow whatever he says. And I'm going to do exactly that.

We took a few circles. I could hear heartbeats of Killer and Ren rise. But I also had a momentary glance on Flynn who was excited and Kelly who stood very still and serious, unlike his usual nature.

I realised that Uncle is not going to make a move soon, and I'm not a fool to pounce first. So I tried using a third method. I started looking around, faking it to him that he has got my attention, but not completely.

As expected, within a few moments, he flew a punch towards my abs. Thanks to my stars, I had given my complete attention to him, and I sensed his move just before he could throw me on the ground within three milliseconds of the fight.

I moved a step back and he smirked with surprise clear on his face. He caught my fake move. I smiled back.

"He taught you that, too?" Uncle nodded towards Killer. I stayed shut with my lips pressed hiding another smile. Though it was an answer in itself, I never officially said that Killer taught me how to distract Colonel James.

Seven blessings to you, Killer. Stay alive tonight.

I expected Uncle to make another smart move, but he just walked to me, unguarded. I knew he's going to punch my face - it was that obvious. This doesn't match my theory. Something is wrong.

While I blocked his back to back three punches, I sensed some movement behind me. I felt something move right behind me. Shit. That's someone else coming to me. Those punches were a trap.

I ducked just in time and rolled on the floor. Using all my strength, I rolled again and manged to reach behind the second person. Using my momentum, I got up and placed a hard kick on his back.

Before I could realise who the second person was, Uncle was on ground, with Kelly on top of him.

Damn you Kelly! You teamed up with him!

"Your spine intact?" Flynn asked him, controlling his laughter.

"I'm fine." came an embarrassed reply.

I was still looking at him bewildered. "What?"

"You teamed up!" I nearly shouted at him.

"Nobody said its going to be fair, Jane." Uncle said and I shut my mouth. He is right. It wasn't told. And it never will be.

"She passed." He said turning around and walking away with his hands at his back. She what?

"Meet me in fifteen." He said to God knows who.

"Yes sir." Oh, that was for Killer. Wait. Is he going to talk to Dan for Nick, now? Great!

"You did it girl!" Ren rushed towards me. And so did Flynn. "You were great, mademoiselle!"

Killer walked towards me with his lips stretched from the corners. Was he trying to hide a smile? Was it because of me?

"Good." he just said one word and left the same way his father left.

I think I can die now. It took me months and billion swears to go from 'pathetic' to 'good' with this man. I still can't believe my ears. Did he actually say that? Or was I dreaming? Just like I was dreaming everything else.

"It was his plan. Don't get angry at me." Kelly said joining the team.

"Then it's okay. But hey! The fight got over before it even started!"

"It was planned that way. Colonel knows that you can fight well. He just wanted to see your presence of mind and performance under panic. That's why the two-person attack. You passed his test and he didn't waste a single moment after that."

************************************

Though there was Pasta kept in front of me and considering that I haven't eaten much yesterday because I was having butterflies doing kung-fu in my stomach, I still had my focus on Killer instead of the delicious food Flynn had made specially for me.

"Did you know he'll get Kelly in too?" My curiosity was eating my brains and I couldn't stop myself from asking him.

"No." He said writing something on a paper, with his ever serious expression.

"Then why did you tell me to be attentive to everything else, that too right before the fight?"

My eyes were bright and I could feel the light air around us. Maybe that's the reason I was questioning him so casually. I can't imagine talking to him like this otherwise. I can shit in my pants than talk to him when he isn't interested. He's a dangerous man. I still have no clue how Nick managed to convince me to challenge him about his training method that day. I sure as hell can't do it today - even if Uncle ensures me that he won't do anything to me afterwards.

"I was expecting him to do something of that sort. He has seen you fighting. He has sparred with you once. He knows your reflexes. There was nothing left to test - except courage and presence of mind in case of multiple attackers. You did good there. He was happy." He answered looking down, still writing.

"And you?" Damnit. You can't keep your mouth shut, Jane?

Without moving his face, his eyes looked up and stayed at me for a few seconds. Those scary seconds.

"Sor-" I raised my hands quickly as soon as his eyebrows went up before my word was even half over.

I just nodded my head, still haven't found a better alternative to 'sorry'.

"So.. Nick?" I tried to distract him.

"Father is going to HQ tomorrow to meet General Reese. I'm hoping he gets Nick back here. Or atleast make them send him for that Goddamn mission so that he gets back here fast."

"Mmm. I hope so too." I mumbled.

"Pasta?" Flynn called from the platform. "It's delicious, Flynn! I owe you one for this. I'll have more!"

I started getting up and as a reflex, I asked Killer something I shouldn't. "You want some?"

He looked at me with fire this time. I literally ran away from him and stood next to Flynn while finishing next two servings of my delicious delicious Pasta.

"He likes it too." Flynn whispered. "No way! There's so much cheese in it! He'll die sweating those calories out." I whispered back.

"That's why he is not permitted to have it. And you -" "Damn it! I screwed up again."

************************************ So here we are. Let's all take a moment and say "Go Jane!" because she did it! She made Killer win the deal and she's getting Nick back, fingers crossed.

************************************

If you've noticed, the media of this chapter shows two gloved hands shaking. It's my sincere request to all my readers to follow the necessary precautions to avoid Corona Virus spread. I'm sure there's no country in this world that is not affected by it, or not taking any precautions for it. Please PLEASE listen to your health advisors and stay indoors if your Govt has requested you to. If not, then keep minimum contact with any other person outside, and for Nick's sake, DO NOT VISIT ANY CROWDED PLACE.

Like the whole world is saying, I'd repeat - Stay indoors, stay safe.