"We're having a race. He's just boasting." Neil said and I split my sides in laughter.

"24 hours with Instructor Charles." He spoke after thinking for a few moments.

"Done. Tomorrow morning 0600 hours." "Fine."

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

"You don't get tired or what?" Neil asked wheezing.

I just laughed and continued taking deep breaths. Within a minute I was ready to go again.

"Five more miles?" I challenged him getting up.

"Are you out of your mind?!" Neil's tone was incredulous.

I heard Kelly, Marks, Waldo and even Charles snigger.

"You placed the bet, sir. And you've lost three races. You want a fourth chance?" I continued teasing him while he stayed flat on the ground.

"No. I'm good. I lose alright? I quit." He said keeping a hand on his loud thumping heart about to burst right out of his chest.

"In that case, I have a bad news for you Captain Neil... " Charles said hopping off the platform he was sitting on.

"I know that you know that you own me for next 24 hours, Instructor Charles. I just hoped that you'll give me some time before you begin." Neil passed me a glare for telling his ass owner about our bet. He knew he was grandly fucked.

"That's not the bad news. The bad news is that I've cancelled all my sessions with the boys and CTOs for next 24 hours so that I can burn you whole." Charles said unimpressed.

While all of us hooted and whistled for 24 hours of freedom, Neil replied shocked. "Why would you do that to me?"

We were still snorting when Charles spoke "You can't just give up. Be it running or fighting or anything. That's one thing I don't expect from anyone of you. You need to pay."

"Haven't you seen yourself? He's not a human, he's a horse in the body of a human. He can run all day for weeks! He cheated!" Neil said pointing towards me and I winked.

Take it bitch. He said I was boasting. Guess who wasn't lying.

"Cheating or not, you gave up and not him. He eats the same as you, sleeps the same as much as you. The least I expect from you is give your best. Faint or die but don't give up." Charles spoke turning to me.

I went a few steps closer to him to handle the ongoing damage and whispered. "Instructor, it was just a joke. He was pulling my leg, so I pulled all of him. He didn't give up on the efforts, he gave up on teasing me. You need not go all hulk on him." I requested him gently. Afterall he saved my ass when I was about to have an outing without permission and one moment away from getting fucked by commander. But for the rest of his cockiness, he deserved more than just 24.

He passed a glare at Neil who stood up with much efforts. "Fine. But he's still in for 24 hours." He ordered me loudly.

"All yours! Make it 48 if you want." I said making everyone roar in laughter.

"I'll kill you!" Neil mouthed behind Charles and I hid a giggle.

"Sir, kindly report at the gym in thirty minutes." Charles turned towards him, passed the order and left.

Immediately I was on the floor with my face pushed into the mud, my arm pulled behind my back painfully and Neil's knee rooted deep in my spine.

"You cheater! You knew you're god gifted and can't be defeated. Still you challenged me to beat you. Made me place a deadly bet too! You... You... Ugh!" He lifted himself off while I shamelessly laughed despite a paining shoulder.

"I'll accept that I cheated if you say some bad words." I winked again.

"Don't you dare provoke me, James." His threatening tone was enough to shut me up. I raised my hands in surrender. Enough getting him riled up for the day.

"Alright then. All the best with Charles." Marks spoke on my behalf.

Then he turned to me. "Just curious to know - has anyone EVER beaten you in a race?"

"Never." I tipped my head towards Neil. Marks nodded with a light laugh and patted on Neil's back. That face was worth a million.

"What drink you want, sir? It's on me." Kelly walked up to me. There was no missing of relief in his tone.

I got Charles off his ass for twenty fucking four hours. He'll pay me with his soul!

"Backstabbers!" Neil cursed us jogging away.

**********

Neil and I were past the senior - junior stage. He let me in his circle as a friend and I gladly stepped in. He proved to be one ray of hope that pulled me out of possible failure and termination of my trial before fifty days were even up, forget convincing commander to let me appear for the test and everything beyond that.

The very first day, I had wished that I jump over all the hurdles and reach where Beta wanted to see me. But it would have been impossible without Neil.

If I owe my victory to anyone, it's him. Beta led me till here but Neil took me from there.

And despite of making me fight all alone, he stood behind me every moment of my fight. Not just him, but all of his team. Everytime I got his boys fucked, I wasn't looked down upon. They suffered in silence, without a single word of hate or resistance. I wonder if any of them ever doubted the decision to take me in without any evaluation, like Kelly.

Spending more time with the team, I realised that my thinking was wrong all along. I used to think that my life was the most difficult amongst all. Turns out, mine was the easiest.

Charles had a fucked up past - went to innumerable missions, won many but lost a few too, been a prisoner of war thrice, has seen things worse than the interrogation session here, got emotionally scarred so bad that he decided not to marry and be emotionally available to no one. And the earth welcomed the most heartless bitch.

Kelly - lost his parents due to stubbornness and now he was trying to make up for his mistake. He lived in guilt every moment of every day and tried to wash it off by getting screwed by the heartless bitch zero to hundred daily. The hulk Charles had made him turned him cold to emotions too.

Blundell - father of two girls he hadn't seen for past two years. His wife suffered from Diabetes and needed frequent visits to hospital. He didn't show it on his face but the fear of losing his wife one day or the news of his daughters becoming diabetic and admitted to hospital would eat him morning till evening. He tried his best to talk to all three of them once daily. It pained to see how he kept their spirits high all the time while maintaining self control. Oh to be a father who can't tell his kids that he loves them, but can only show them - Blundell was a winner.

Richard Marks - a doctor by profession but an agent by passion - he had hard time convincing Charles that he was worthy to atleast get a chance. He applied for being a member of Class-I team after six years of his service when he learnt everything he could to pass the tests. He was allowed to appear for the test only because he didn't ask to become a Class-I himself, but pleaded to be a part of a team. That must have costed him gallons of sweat and tons of requests. When he landed here and swept everyone by their feet, Neil interviewed him. Doc was more than happy to work with a young team. But Charles wasn't. He wanted to ensure that Marks can sustain the harsh conditions of field. He faced endless humiliation, physical straining and hostility only to win Charles' approval and a position in Neil's building team.

Nelson lived with his twin brother Arthur till 16 in a Foster home where they somehow completed school. Arthur had enrolled himself in the navy despite Nelson being against his decision. He wanted both of them to have a life they couldn't have because of their poor childhood. Nelson didn't say bye to his dear brother who unknowingly left him for ever. Three days after his death Nelson came to know that he died as a hero saving five children drowning in high tide a few miles from his naval training school. Turned out one of the kids was Warren's grandson. General met Nelson and asked if he could do anything for him as a token of thanks for his brother's bravery. Nelson asked if he can join the forces too. Warren agreed to help and here Nelson was- living his brother's dream and hopefully enjoying every moment of it as one of Neil's important birds.

Waldo and Garry - next door neighbours, friends since diapers. Except that they played with knives instead of toy cars. The town was goon infested and all young boys were taught recklessness since childhood. They had two options - to work for the gang or die - family sufferings counted separately. W&G were in no mood to join the slaughter company so they used their wit and fooled them into allowing to join army. They'd not just learn their fighting and teach the gang boys, but also smuggle latest weapons. The trick worked and they landed here. Six months under Charles and they were called in by Neil. Hearing the complete story, he promised to help only if they work for him. Deal was made. Neil, along with his team, went and turned the whole town goon-free overnight. W&G's parents told them to come back. But they kept their promise and stuck with Neil like bodyguards.

Neil - the Fermin Prince, would have been the king and sit in his kingdom living a royal life. Instead, he was here, fucking all our minds and in turn his own, to keep all of us glued together. He trusted every single one of us blindly because he chose all of us himself. He left his own family behind, the one I call a fucked up family (I say that in my mind obviously, I don't want to die this young). He never called them, despite having a gadget all of us could only dream of - a cellphone. If I was a Fermin, I would have preferred to choke myself in their technologically arousing air, than come and join this army. On top of it, he took a shitty oath and hence, couldn't find himself a life partner even if he wanted - could anyone be more screwed up than him? I doubt.

And then comes James - one who joined KMA when his dad was against it. Still, his family supported his decisions, was always financially stable and healthy. He who passed out from KMA as the best cadet because he was lucky that Beta's eyes fell on him. He was now training for Class-I agent with the most badass team who would protect his last hair with their life. Is there anything that sounded difficult in my story? None at all.

Nevertheless, the nine of us sticked together like blood bond. We've spent days and nights together and told about our families, our strengths, weaknesses, fears - everything. We knew each other thoroughly now, except Neil. That bugger didn't tell us everything about his Fermins. Just that he still was a prince who lost his right to sit on the throne and run his kingdom. But he swore that he'll protect each of us like a king should do - and we all know how seriously he takes his oath - so that was fine by us.

We were all different in more than one ways. Blundell and Nelson were serious punks, while Kelly and I were kind of reserved. Neil and Charles were straightforward fuckers, may be that's why they got along so well. Waldo and Garry's jokes kept us alive while we got screwed head to toe. Neil would get on Kelly's nerves oh so often, poor boy would swear and get punished for it. Their infantile pranks would never stop.

Commander had seen all nine of us performing beyond belief. So he didn't trouble us with training and testing.

Neil and I would handle all issues before they could waste time and energy of the whole team. For most of the matters, we would take Charles's help and his experience gave unimaginable solutions.

We had a social life nobody would believe. We stayed at the bar most hours of the day - courtesy Prince Neil. He just wanted to have a mug in his hand all day all night and who else was there to give him company like his personal bitch? Me. Result- I was a boozehound too. Few pegs and shots would do us no harm. That fucker made me good in every field including sopping up alcohol.

He tried to get others in the river too, but Charles never let the happen. He had made clear rules about the boys drinking. Marks, Neil and I, being officers, were excused. I know partiality at it's bugging peak. So while we drank, others got better in their hobbies, rather superpowers.

Nelson was a genius mathematician. Garry was great at picking pockets so smoothly even Charles wouldn't notice. Waldo was a talented mimicry artist, that son of a god could mimic any fucking human, animal or bird! Richard was a crazy guitarist on top of being a doctor-agent. Blundell was the father. He overlooked us as his kids and trusted his instincts courageously. Charles and Kelly were the backbone of this team with Neil as the head and me as the tail.

It's a fucking circus if you ask me. We were all different - but same in one aspect. Us.

We were like that cactus plant - growing in god knows what shape and direction, but prickly enough to let anyone dare touch us.

We had the freedom to call each other by just our names, except Charles - that bitch wanted us to remember that he was our grandpa instructor, not buddy. I used the freedom to my fullest and called everyone by their names. Being the only three officers in the team, everyone preferred to regard me, Neil and Marks with 'sir'. Amongst the five of them, nobody was senior or junior. There was no sir.

Me and Kelly were yet to complete the Class-I Training to be able to join the team for missions. Rest of them had been to three missions since Commander got a lip cut. Unbelievable right? But surprisingly they did so well Warren forgot all about the blood he lost that day. Thank our fucking stars.

I was impatiently waiting for my training to get over so that I could join these guys for the missions. Kelly had the same target. We were itching for some kills and our nerves were getting on fire. On our bad days, Charles left no strength in us by night but pump us with adrenaline the very next morning. Thick skinned honourable bastard. I hate to admit but my ass would get on fire if I ever disappointed him. His eyes would be enough to tell us that we were fucked and that there was no mercy coming. Thanks to that, all of us performed better than our best.

Excuse me. I've got to refill my beer mug. And where is that fucker Neil?

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

Is your jaw on the floor too? James was a tanker ? Are you fudging kidding me? He who *will* not tolerate his boys even smelling of alcohol spends his days in the bar? He definitely came a long long way!

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How did you guys like the backstory of all these men? All of you who helped me out on IG - thanks a lot. You guys have such inspiring stories!

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