I believe surprises are good.
So here's one for all of you.

A big one in fact.
To make up for the long week ahead.

I hope you guys make it till Saturday when I'll update next.

Till then, enjoy this 4.5k update!

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

0600 hours

I ran and knocked on his door.
He didn't reply. I have to wake him up before he thinks that I got late and screw me for extra hours.

I knocked a little harder. Each hit making my heart beats go up.
"Stop ruining my sleep!" I heard him shout from inside.
His voice was irritated as heck.

What happened this morning? Why is he still sleeping?
Usually he is up by 0600 hours.

Did anything happen last night?
Jane and Sir Martins had a date yesterday, right? I hope it went well.

Darn! If anything has happened last night which made him sleep so late, then he will wake up annoyed.
Could this get any worse?

But I have to wake him up. Or report atleast.

"Major Wills reporting, Sir-"
"I know your voice. And stop using your brain right outside my door. Cycle run and swim for 3 miles each. If you finish this earlier, go and clean the weapons. Don't disturb me for next two hours."
"Yes sir."

Shit he is pissed.
This has to be related to that date.

Jane, if you've screwed up again, I'll kill you.

I proceeded to choose a light weight cycle, because I have to keep it in air till I finish three miles. He couldn't have chosen any part of my body except my upper limbs. My elbows are almost dead, and so is my spine. This will dig the final nail.

That run nearly killed me. I hit my head several times with the overhead cycle.

I was waiting for the upcoming part- swim in ice cold water. God, I needed it now more than ever!
I need to wake up, and simultaneously numb the pain in my body. Thanks Father.

As soon as my body made contact with the water, all my receptors woke up. I felt my eyes opening up the maximum. A loud hiss left my lips against my control.
Suddenly I was alive.
A thousand needles pricked me over and over. As a reflex, my body started curling.

Before I give in to the comfort, I started off with the task given - swim.
Dragging my numb body, I completed maximum laps with minimum breaks.

At 0800 hours when I climbed out of the pool, thinking about the weapons I'm going to clean next, I saw him entering.
Shit. I should have atleast made it to the guard room.
Now he'll think I was too slow.

"six miles completed?"
"Yes sir."

"Mmm. Follow me."
I did as told, drenched in cold water.

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

It was past 1100 hours, may be, because I have no means to know what time it is, except for the watch on his hand which I occasionally passed my eye over. And I felt drained.

I know I'm far from done, but the lack of sleep and food was pulling me down, and he knew that very well.

He was taking his sweet time to push me. Making me do sets after sets of same workout, he has barely covered 25% of his usual list, the unusual and creative ones excluded.

"Spot jog. I think we have a few things to talk."
I felt relieved and horrified at the same time. What is left to talk?
But thank god, he didn't think of talking while I was in plank.

I got up and started, looking at his feet, my ears alert as hell, waiting to hear what he has to say.

"What is it?"
I heard his annoyed tone.

That didn't make any sense.
Exactly.

I looked up to see his orderly walking towards us.
Freak.
My ears were in full attention, yet I didn't hear his footsteps. But he was about to speak, focused on the matter that was about to come out of his mouth, still he heard the sound without turning, and guessing who it was. I knew he was a magician.

The magician soon turned into a devil when the orderly said "Sir, there was a call from the HQ. It is regarding the SIT officer."

I cringed at those three letters. He hates that sequence.

"Class?" he asked annoyed further.
"Priority One, sir."

"Goddammit! Come." he ordered me to follow him to his office.

HQ calls are classified based on priority 1, 2 and 3.
1 means an upcoming mission, a war-like-scenario or something equally important. Such calls are supposed to be strictly attended.

2 means an upcoming important event requiring planning. Not an emergency, but not a feather either.

3 means bull shit. Not officially though. HQ uses this class to formally cover for unnecessary unavoidable scenarios, like visits, social gatherings etc. But people at academies, neck deep in training absolutely loath class 3 calls. We are preparing for class 1, and that's all that matters.

I knew why he asked the class.
If it was 2 or 3, he would have asked the orderly to fuck off and continue my screwing.
The 'dammit' was because he couldn't do it.

We entered and he went to his seat.
I stood in attention in front of him.
The orderly stood next to him.

He was about to pick up the phone to call the HQ back, when the third guy spoke up.
"Sir, they asked Major Wills to make the call."

What?
That's never happened before.
HQ never talks to anyone except the commander to pass the orders.

"Watch your mouth, boy. Don't forget you are in my office."
I took a sharp breath and held it there.
Whatever he was about to speak out there, was fire. But this poor chap had to face the heat.

Father looked at me in anger and spoke "He learnt that from you?"
And my eyes were back on ground.

So he was going to talk about defiance.
I'm pretty sure.

He dialed the number, and answering through various exchanges, finally reached 'Colonel Ops' - Daniel - his batchmate, a terror on battleground, and thus, in the HQ.
What nobody knows is that the man on this end of the call doesn't give two shits to his terror.

Things got really hot between the two when Aarham's mission came up. He was clearly winning over Daniel before I stepped in and said 'I want to go for the mission.'
My father had to keep his lips pressed while Col Daniel had the audacity to pass him a smile, and I knew I was dead if I come back alive.

Getting back to present, I really don't want to know what this Class 1 call is about, specially when he asked me to call him directly.

"James here. What did you -"
.

"SIT officer -my foot, Dan. He is under my training. Whatever order has to be given to him, will be given by me. Come directly to why this class 1 call."
Shit has started already.

.

"He is not going on any mission for another month." he cut Dan.
Oh goodness, I'd love to go on any mission right now. I can't face these two men.

.

"Of all, you should know this- he needs time to get back to be mission-ready. Or have you forgotten your war days sitting on that chair, signing papers and making unnecessary calls?"
He is escalating things. This is not going good.

.
"I speak for my officers, Dan. I said no. And no, he will not speak to you."
Why on earth is Dan bugging him to let me talk to him?

Suddenly father stopped breathing, and clenched his jaw rightly. I think I know what he had to listen, because of me.
Something like- Wills once agreed for a mission you denied. I want to know if he would disagree with you again.
But I'm sure he chose sharper words.

Father moved the speaker away from him and said with a death glare. "I will kill you right after this call."
Doom- this is what is coming my way.

He pressed on the loud speaker button and kept the receiver down.
He turned to glare at the third man in the room, who took not more than one second to realise that his presence in that room was unwanted. He saluted and ran off in a hurry.

"He is here. Talk to him." father said never once breaking the glare off me.

Before I could regard him, I heard few words and mentally prepared to die.
"Give him the phone, Colonel. I want to talk to him in private, not on loud speaker with you listening to our conversation."

"Jog." Father said pissed off and I started spot jogging without a delay in his office.
If you know what it means to be punished inside his office, you will know that someone has to piss him to his last living cell to make you do it here.

"He is here. You want to talk, talk. You want privacy, go to that little room at the corner of your office."
Now we are cracking jokes? Asking him to go to his loo?

"Behave, James. This is a class-1 call-"
"Bull shit. This isn't even class 3."

Dan went quiet then continued.
"Wills are you there?"

Before this gets any worse, I quickly replied, trying my best not to sound breathless. "Major Wills reporting sir."
"You sound like you are about to die. What happened?"

Damnit.
"Nothing sir. I just came from jogging so -"
"He is facing an ordeal. And you are wasting time. Come to the point." father cut in.

"ORDEAL! What for? We didn't get any info on it. James what the-"
There you go.
"None of your business. His training is poor, he is paying up. Will you come to the point before I order him to go dig a few graves?"

"I swear, James, you hate the boy or what? Anyways, Wills there is a mission coming up in four days. We have got the info-"
"Apologies sir, I can not report for the mission." this time I cut him, with a heavy heart.

Did you just cut Colonel Daniel? The Colonel Ops? You know he is the one detailing you for class 1 missions? The ruthless training you underwent to become a class 1 agent - he is the one putting your training to work. Did you just say no to him?
Didn't you hear what Father said?
He said a fucking No.
And I'm never, NEVER EVER, going against him, again.

"Did you just say no? Wills are you mentally fine? Is he torturing you? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?"
Just the response I expected.

"Sincere apologies, Sir. My ordeal is due for another two days. I won't be able to perform physically upto the mark, considering my recent recovery. Better to choose another agent, than risk the whole mission for me, sir."

"Recovery my ass. Don't I know he pummeled you up long back and what type of ordeal is this? James, I order you to immediately stop this ordeal and send him to report at HQ tomorrow."
Uh-oh it didn't work.

"You heard him. You heard me. I want this officer of my academy, at my academy, to work for my academy."
I suddenly felt three stamps hitting me on my face from somewhere, and marking me with 'Property of KMA'.

"James you are going against HQ."
"You are not HQ."

"Then you better talk to the HQ." without a second's delay, his voice was shut, a small beep was heard and another male voice came.

"James?"
"Colonel James reporting sir."

General Reese. That fucker transferred the call to the General!
"What's going on? Did Dan tell you about the next mission for your boy?"

"Apologies General, but he is not ready to go for next misson. I tried to explain this to Colonel Daniel, but he seemed too eager to send Major Wills."
Father tried to stay calm.

Afterall it is the General.
He practically owns father and his Academy.
If he says no food for us, we will all starve to death.
That's why that freak made the two men talk.

But he's a putty.
Impressed as heck by father, that he lets him run the Academy like he owns it.
Father never lets him down except this one time.

The verbal fight between father and Colonel Daniel over my mission was about to turn into physical. This man came and my father took a step back. I used the opportunity to calm everyone down and avoid bitterness between father and Reese, by accepting the deal rightaway.

He was the one who threatened father to shut down the academy if he reported the incidence, and we all knew the possibility of his threat turning true.

Reese, apologised to Father when I came back in near-death state. But I know that deep down, he hates Reese for doing what he did.

"Dan is not eager, James. I am."
Fudging hell.
"James, can I talk to the SIT.. I mean the IST officer?"
My eyes blew wide. Even General?

"Every order for a mission goes through the commander. Is there a change in the channel, or KMA is the only exception, sir?" Father was losing his calm, and it was a bad sign.

"Look James. We all saw what happened last time. He wanted to go, but you were pulling him back."
He was using the most formal and soothing tone.

That won't help, General Reese. You two have done enough damage for my lifetime, and I really don't think I'll be able to make it right.
And based on how he is glaring at me right now, his earlier warning of 'I'll kill you after this call' just got confirmed.

"So you are going to do this everytime, now onwards, General?" Dad didn't let him complete.

"Absolutely not. Just this one time. These group of hackers have become a pain in my ass. We just found their IDs, and will take hardly 3 weeks to trace them down with evidence. I want your boy to pick them up alive, for me."
Such trust in me, I'm touched.

"What is the class of this mission, sir?"
Father asked with a look that showed that he had already won the argument.

"You.. you need not know the class, Colonel."
Is he stammering?

"So you are sending my class 1 agent on a non-class-1 mission, at your whims and fancies. I see."
Dad moved back in his chair and crossed his hands over his chest.

I mentally laughed, breathless, still jogging.

"Are you trying to insult me, James?"
"A Colonel, my batchmate, sitting in a room one floor under you, can trick you into using my boy, and I don't have the right to state a truth? Is that the norm now, sir?"
I couldn't believe my ears.
Nobody talks like that to a General.

"How on earth did you come to know this?" surprise was clear in his tone.
"The crack of tone speaks louder than the hidden truths, General."
As if hiding his guilt, there was silence on his side.

Father took the lead "General, with utmost respect, I refuse to send Major Wills to this mission, or any one, till I find him fit to get back, which might take a few months, mind you."

Are you kidding me sir?

"But since you wanted to ask the boy yourself, he is here. You can talk to him. Wills-"
He nodded at me to continue.

"Major.. Major Wills.. reporting sir."
"What's up with him, James?"

"Stop."
I halted and took a few breaths while father answered.
"He is facing an ordeal."

"What? James when were you planning to inform us? What did he do?"
"Intra academy matters sir. Don't get worked up."

"You hate him or what?"
Why do they keep saying the same thing?
"I know you are pissed off at him because of what he did last time, and somewhere I know his present state is related to that act. I know now, what his answer will be. Still I'll give him a chance to show me who has the upper hand here. Wills-"

Why is everyone fucking my mind today.
"Yes General."

"You want to go for my class 2 mission or not? I want answer in three letters." intimidating as fuck.
Dad raised his eyebrows, challenging me to say yes.

"N-E-G, General."
I heard him laughing on the other end, bringing a small smile on father's lips too.

"How long is he in for, James?"
"Three days."

"All the best son."
That was utterly sarcastic.

"James, I promised Dan to get your boy to work. Let me save my ass and some respect in front of my staff officer, please."
Father bent his neck down in defeat.

"Where's your other boy- Nick?"
His head lifted up in a moment.

"He's the Instructor-I/C here, sir."
"Ah cut the crap. Your cadets are not coming back until next week, and the new batch doesn't join in next 6 months. I want him here. You heard me?"
And General was back to being the General.

"Permission to request, sir."
Father's tone had become serious again.

"Go ahead."
"He is a part of this ordeal, and a fair share of his own debt is due. Can you spare him for a week, so that I send a well mannered version of him?"
Brother, I really liked you.

"Don't worry about his manners, James. I'm sure Dan's desperate to ease some itch you gave him, and what better than to scratch it on your own son? Send him after the ordeal is over, we'll take care of him."
Father smirked "Fourth day from now, he'll report at HQ, General."

"That's more like it. I'm sorry to get between you two, James. But that doesn't mean you'll have my ass for it forever."

"Aye General. Apologies for the tone and words, sir. Won't happen again."
With this, things settled down between two mature men, but the worst part was coming.

General placed his receiver back, and the call went back to Dan.
"So when is your boy getting here?" he asked confidently.

"Four days from now."
Father said calmly.

"I told you to send Wills here, and stop bossing him. But you have to be after his life, right?"
Dan said, still thinking that he won.

"He's my son to kill and revive. Don't teach me how to treat him. Let me see how sweet you'll be with Nick."
This time I couldn't control my scoff and immediately got a glare from him. His index finger pointed at ground and I got on the job.

"Nick? But order was to send Wills here."
"Order was to send my boy. Your manipulation with Beta did nothing to insult my Class1 agent to go for a class 2 mission. Shame on you Dan."
Nick is gone- I laughed again, silently this time.

"I'll break this boy of yours. Just wait and watch." Daniel challenged.
"My sons don't break so easily, Dan. Give it your best shot."
With that, Dan cut the call and father followed soon after.

While my chest was bulging with proud, I was afraid of him- he just ensured that Nick gets worst possible treatment.

"Don't tell your brother about the ride he's about to get. Let his birthday present arrive early."
Sure, father.
Lovely present.

"Yes sir." I groaned while pulling my body up.

"So now they want to talk to you in private huh?"
Shit shit!

I said nothing, knowing that every word will fire against me.

"If I get another such order, I'll make you go through another IST and fail you in the last exam. They can talk to you in private or public, I don't give a damn. Understood?"
"Yes sir."

How am I supposed to ensure that nobody calls him and tells him to let me talk to them privately.
People like General Reese can't be stopped by you. They'll call him again and you'll be gone.

"Up."
I did as told.

He dialled another number on loudspeaker.
"Yes sir?" that's Flynn.

"What did he do yesterday?"
"Cut a few onions and wash a few utensils."

"I told you something else, Flynn."
"Rest everything was done, Sir."

I love you Flynn. I love you for selflessly saving my life every freaking time.

"Stop defending him!" his tone changed again.
"Sorry, Sir. But I'm stating the truth."

He is probably the only man I've seen on earth, who has survived after uttering the word 'sorry' and giving back curt answers to father.

"Washed utensils, you said?"
"Yes sir."

"You missed something?"
"No... No sir?"
What just went down there?

"Flynn?" ah that scary tone.

"We had to get a few of them washed again. But he was in a hurry, he had to report back on time, so he had no other option but to-"

"I think he had enough options, Flynn. Thanks for trying to save him." father said glaring at me.

"Colonel, he needs-"
"I'm sending him back. And I want not more than total 3 men there, including him."

So I'll be doing job of seven other people. Great.

"But Colonel.."
"Otherwise he stays with me."

"Alright. Send him over."
Dad cut the call.
"You get one more defence from anyone, and I'll extend this ordeal indefinitely."

What am I supposed to do? Is it my fault that despite knowing the risks, people are trying to save me?

Then suddenly a realisation hit me.
I don't talk to anyone properly, I stay away from everyone, hell I don't even open up to anyone. Still they defend me. The lesser sympathy I want, the more I get.
What's happening?
Are my walls too low? Or is everyone able to see through me?

"Go and report at the mess now. Come back by 1730 and give me a sitrep. Leave."

5 hours of labor at mess. Let's see what awaits me.

"Major Wills reporting, Si-"
"Ah cut it, Wills. Hurry up." Before I could report, as ordered, Flynn got my ass on work.

I was told that I had one hour to prepare 3 Chinese dishes for 3 people.
I had never cooked a full meal alone, forget Chinese.

Taking help from Flynn at each step, I somehow managed to prepare decent looking food. I had no clue how it tasted, or who's going to eat it.
I was little worried about the amount of spices I added.

But it was a task, and I completed it within time.

After all that was done, I was ushered back to the washing area. This time I took care that all the utensils are clean enough to reflect my zombie face.

When I came out, Flynn called me.
"The food was tested by Colonel, Captain Renee and me."

"How was it?" I asked him with my own mouth watering.

"A little spicy." he said with raised eyebrows. I'm sure there were other things but he restricted himself.

"Is there any left? Can I have it?" I desperately asked him, hoping I'm allowed to eat the leftover. I really don't mind the spices right now.

He nodded a polite no, and I had a small talk with my stomach to hold on a little longer.

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

1730 hours

I knocked on his door and realised that Ren was in his office too.

"Sitrep, Sir."
"Chuck it, Officer. Your dishes were pathetic."
He said rudely.

"Apologies, sir. I will improve-"
"You have no other choice. You'll do it again in your own time, after this is over, till you become perfect. Till then, your diet gets half everytime you put it up for tasting.

What is this?
Am I being trained to become a chef?
Is there some mission coming up where I have to pretend to be a chef?
He would have told me if something of that sort is needed.
Moreover, he has banned me from any mission, for next few months atleast.
Then why?

Is he planning to keep me in mess till he feels that I'm ready for missions?
What a waste.

"Yes sir."

Sorry in advance, Flynn.
I can foresee myself waking you up at odd times to teach me these things and put up for tasting. I don't think I'll survive long with half or one fourth diet.

"You have 20 minutes to get yourself the shake before you proceed to the hall. And I shouldn't get the news that Flynn helped you."
Oh thank god!

"Yes sir. Thank you sir."
I almost cried at the last part.

I saluted him, turned on my heels and ran to the mess.
Flynn was still there- sitting on one of the chairs and sipping his coffee.

It was so tempting to snatch that mug from his hands and drink World's best coffee that he magically makes.

He understood the war going on in my mind and decided to make it worse.
"Want a sip?" teasingly he offered me the mug.

I went close, took a deep breath, and stood for a few seconds, letting the nerves in my nostrils carry the aroma to my brain.
"Just 24 hours more, and you're making this for me, thrice a day."
I said and rushed to gather the ingredients I needed to make my fuel.

I realised that milk and egg were missing.

"Where is it? The milk and the eggs? Where are they?"
I asked him horrified. I can't just stay hungry anymore.

"I thought you are not supposed to take my help?" he asked taking another sip.

Shit!
Yes.
I'm not supposed to.

"Darnit. Atleast tell me if it's there or finished?"
I asked him looking around like a wild animal.

"Keep your eyes open, and you might find it."
I swear the level of calmness on his face freaked me even more.

I looked everywhere but couldn't find it. My jug was ready, so was my stomach. But Flynn wasn't.

Only three minutes were left and my hopes were dying.

"Eyes, Wills. Eyes." I saw Flynn looking towards the platform I was standing next to.

I looked around and realised that I missed one drawer, where they usually keep the spices.
I opened it in a swing and saw two eggs and a packet of milk.

"Lesson learnt. Less spicy. Now may I, please?" I looked at Flynn with puppy eyes.

"Go ahead. You only have.."
By the time he raised his hand to look at his watch and complete his statement, I had emptied eggs and milk in my jar, closed the lid, shook it once with all my strength.

"....Five seconds more to-"
"I'm done." I said cleaning my lips with the back of my hand.

"How can you just drink that thing in one go?" he looked at me with disgust.

"Try staying hungry for two days and facing two evils. You'll drink any shit. This was still better." I answered while running out.
I have to face my brother for his last session of my ordeal, and I hope he hasn't gone back to Day 1 mood.

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

Hope you enjoyed this one.

And Nick is back to being unlucky!
Sympathies please.
😅😅

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