All the team members had decided to go all hulk on me - teaching me everything that I am supposed to know, to clear the tests. I won't call it cheating because it was next to impossible to keep up with it.

******

"Malta?"
Neil asked me.

"Valetta."
I answered the capital of the country he asked after three clap-knuckle-jump Pushups.
Yep, that's the maximum time I had to answer.
And fuck the sting!

"2nd Feb 1848?"
He asked without a care.

"Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Brought an end to Mexican-American War."
Damn it this viva is going to cost me my bones.

"Operation Eagle Claw."
He asked walking around me.

"24 April 1980."
I answered with clenched teeth.

Though my Knuckles had gotten used to such stings, thanks to Charles insulting and warning Neil, it still hurts like a bitch.

"Temporary residence of the President?"
"Charcoal."
The code language viva wasn't supposed to come up till tomorrow!
Rascal Neil!

"DBROCKSTARS?"
"Iraqi spy ring recruited by the CIA, 2003."
He flipped from one subject to another with a snap of a finger. I was impressed with myself how I managed to answer everything just in time despite the state my body was in.

Another fifty odd questions before I get to rest my ass on ground.

"That was good, sir."
Blundell, who left on my second question and returned on 47th only to find that I didn't give a single wrong answer to Neil's questions, said proudly.

"Surprising, right?"
I said as I massaged my aching shoulders.
Blundell stepped forward and helped me with my stretching.

"You're ready, sir?"
That was Nelson.

"I think so."
That was an honest answer.
Though I hate to say that my ass was deep in fire or the other way round, because my tests start day after tomorrow.

"Any inside info?"
I wink as I tease his 'I'm a bird' status.

Neil cleared his throat at some distance and Nelson chuckled.

Neil was so fucking possessive of his birds. He'd take their stand everytime. He'd not let anyone make a joke on them. And they had the first say in every matter. I'm glad he lets Charles speak first though. So no wonder, my joke offended him, at the very least.

I raised my hands in apology.
Neil turned around and left.

"His possessiveness for you guys makes me puke."
I fake a gag that made Nelson laugh.

"He just wants to give us due credit for our work. And honestly, that's a lot of credits."
He replied puffing his chest in pride.
I disgusted at his move making him laugh louder.

"Hey Lieutenant!"
Neil called me loudly from outside.

"Yes Sir?"
I fumbled with my shoelaces as I rushed to run out.

"You had a phone call an hour back. He'll call you again ten minutes from now."
Neil said climbing down the stairs looking at his watch.

"Did he say his name?"
"Tail. When I said I'm a senior officer that can cause some serious damage with his nick name, he blurted his real name."
Neil scoffed and walked away.

I laughed loudly and ran towards the main office. My tail rang me up.
He has some nerves!

I stood waiting for his call and he didn't disappoint me at all.
He rang three minutes before the time allotted to him. Neil would kick his ass for not following orders.
Well he never did, and he probably won't follow the orders even now. He's a rebellion for discipline. And sucker got me so much trouble, I should have strangulated him the day I had to lie to Beta for him - that big a sucker!

"Tail!"
"Asshole!"
Stuart replied more enthusiastically than me.

"There's a reason I started calling you Tail, Tally Stuart!"
I run my palm over my face hopelessly.

"I called you asshole first. You were just jealous you couldn't call me that back. So you chose the nearest possible thing you could imagine. You were sick! You still are! Sick Asshole."
He laughed at his own joke making me chuckle.

"Firstly, thanks for blessing me with rains of cuss words - I was getting used to a white draught. Secondly, what makes you so fucking happy?"
"The fact that you got your ass whooped from all directions."

"Jackass."
I muttered and he laughed even louder.

"Yes I got mine whooped real nice. But guess who lost two bets?"
It was my turn.

"No shit Asshole. They gave you a chance?"
He was shocked.

"Yep. So I survived here throughout my try out period AND I'm also giving the tests. Time for you to get on the jobs."
I reminded him.

"Well about that..."
He trailed off happily.

"You didn't!"
I screamed over the phone.

"I did..."
"What did Hannah say?"

"She said yes!"
I could hear Stuart from top of the world.
"You fucker! You knew you lost the bet! And yet you didn't call me first! Fucking shark!"
I was angry at him.
Hell I had all the right to be.

He would piss in his pants everytime we encouraged him to go and propose his dear friend. Based on their conversation that he told us, it was clear that Hannah was waiting for him to ask her out. But this guy had no balls to say it.
Finally I had to place my neck in a bet and forced him to keep his too. He would ask Hannah out if I survived my trial and he reluctantly agreed.

"I know! I know! I'm sorry. I should have called you, dear friend."
"Shut the fuck up, Stuart! Tell me details!"
I stopped him before he goes full on sarcastic.

"So I had come to the HQ for a TD and had three days to meet Hannah. I rang up Drake. He said you haven't reported back at KMA so I assumed that either you're dead or almost dead. Either way, I knew I had lost the bet and I was going to meet her soon, so.... "
"I'll fucking chop your neck if you don't mention my name in your love story you tell your kids."
I shouted and he laughed loudly at the other end.

"You spoke to dog? How's he?"
I asked having a warm feeling in my chest.

"He's doing great, said he feels relieved that you're no longer there."
Stuart started pulling my leg.

"He doesn't have the balls to say this to his lifesaver even in his nightmare! I made sure he won't."
"What's up with you and your breed, James? You guys don't stand listening a word against your dogs, but you'll ride them to fire yourselves. What sick mentality is this? Poor Drake lit up like a bulb when I asked him about you and the next moment he sounded so concerned as if you're standing next to death."
Stuart spoke just the words I wanted to hear.

Drake Rollins.
My dog.

"A mentality that needs brain to understand. Sad, you're the opposite end."
I replied feeling protective and proud of him.

"Fucker. Anyways, what about the second bet? Any chance I'll win?"
"You actually might. The commander hates me till his core and told me over thousand times that he wants me out. Beta and Neil are the only ones holding him back."

"Who's Neil?"
"The bugger you told your nickname to. You're nuts or what? He's a serious man!"

"Damn. It seems I only attract assholes. Alright then I've got to go meet my girlfriend."
He sang in a funny tone.

"Not even a thanks I see. You're going to regret when I'll throw wine on your shirt right before she walks the aisle."
"I know you won't, but still, I dare you. In your case, the wine will be on your bride."

"Long time I punched someone, Tail. Don't make me run away from here and find you!"
He laughed knowing he was on my nerves.

"Okay okay. Sorry. And hugeass thanks for making me bet against your survival. I lost still I won. And yes, if you make it through the tests, I'll name my son James though I'll puke everytime I'll see him."
"That's like a good boy."

We riled up each other for a few more minutes before we cut the call.

I was happy for him.
Hannah was the perfect girl for him.
I hope he doesn't do something stupid and hurt her. Knowing him, he won't be able to live with the regret.

I wonder how he must be feeling at the moment - complete? Happy? Smitten?
I hate to admit that I was a little jealous of him having his girl right by his side.
Will I ever get to feel what he was feeling?
Let's see what's in store for me.

Thanks to my cupid, I had an hour of sinning abs with Charles and that was definitely not lovely.

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

How are we in 2021?
Little hopeful and mostly skeptical?
Well, I am.

Pretty sure you caught a few familiar names up there, didn't you?

And another DOG! There are just too many of them!
God I don't even know Drake Rollins and I already love him!

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

So James is two days away from making history. What all you think it needs to become a Class-I? Comment or DM. Let me know what you think of them.

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Also, the next few updates might take more than the usual time. Sorry in advance. And thanks for your patience. 😜