Ready for tumbling down the Cliff?
Here we go!

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

"With all due respect sir, it was completely my fault. He has always been nothing but a great father." said Roshesh, entering without permission with a scared Wills still standing at the threshold with eyes wide, waiting to hear 'Enter'.

Anger, with fear for him, simmered throughout my body.
"How dare you, Roshesh. How dare you interrupt him and talk to him in that tone! I will-"

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

"Calm down, Kadner."
I looked away from Roshesh and took a few breaths to calm myself down.
If we weren't at Colonel's office, and if I had the permission, I'd shed the remaining skin off his body in no
time!

"Nice to meet you, Officer Roshesh. Thank you for dropping him, Wills. You can go and arrange the dinner."
Colonel greeted him softly.

"Good evening, sir. I apologise to-"
"We'll see to it later, boy. First, tell me, is it true that Kadner has been treating you differently since the drunk-talk incidence came up?"

Rosh stood silently. He couldn't say yes, and he couldn't also lie.

"He asked you something. Use your tongue when you're told to."
I said harshly, giving him a reason to speak the truth.

"Yes, yes sir."
Roshesh answered hesitantly.

"It is true that you were very drunk that day?"
"Yes sir."

"Why? What did Kadner do to you?"
"I don't remember, sir." Rosh said looking at the floor.
He was clearly lying.

Colonel looked at me with one eyebrow raised, as if mocking me with 'Here you don't want to see his face. And there he is saving your ass.'

"Would you do it again, my boy?"
"Never ever, sir."
Rosh said with his head held up, his eyes looking into Colonel's.

Damn. All these years and I never had the courage to look upto this man the way my son is doing right now.

"What about tonight?"
"Never. Ever. Sir."
He repeated his words confidently.

"I request you to kindly hand over the authority of this boy to me, Kadner." His glare fixed at Rosh told me he is about to pay hell for that.

"It won't be required, sir. He will do everything-"

"Please?"

Oh God! He means it seriously. I turn towards Roshesh and say it in the low tone I reserve for him when his stupidity kicks in, "You do everything he says, you answer all his questions, you follow all his commands. His orders come before mine till we leave this place. Got it?"

"Yes, sir"
Son, you have no clue, how big of a yes you are saying.

Without wasting a single second, Colonel gets into the mode he's famous for.

"So you think it is acceptable to eavesdrop on conversations, enter without permission and interrupt, officer?"
Exactly sir. He should have never done it.

Roshesh shudders but has atleast not lost his ability to answer, "No, sir. It won't happen again, sir."
Good for him. He needs to realise that the man in front of him is his father's trainer.

"What is your favorite calorie burning method?" And the games begin.

"Push-ups, sir"
Shit! The man before him is a master in that department. Never ever choose that as your mode of regret. The variations are unending and progressively worse.

"Are you waiting for an invitation then? 25 counts. Let me tell you, I only accept the crisp ones."

Roshesh immediately drops and starts pushing.

Meanwhile I need to go and drown in shame. Both my children failed to keep their mouths shut. What will he think about my parenting. I'm gonna have your necks, my dear kids.

But for once, I'm sure they are mine. God knows I have spoken million times without his permission and paid for it! But I have never dared interrupt him.

Sir, let me go. Standing here with you glaring at me makes me feel like I'm on fire.

"Done, sir."

"One legged"
Told you! This man has a million variations to it.

"Kadner, how is Darcy? Does she know about this?"

"She loves that she is with us now and hates some of what we do. No, sir, I could not dare tell her any of this. I can't see her disappointed in me." I tell him like the love-sick puppy I am. I know she would never be angry at Roshesh. She has always been against training him.

"Kadner, truths have a way of coming out. I suggest you get ahead of it by telling her yourself."

"Sir" I try to convey my fears to him. That woman has stood by me before there ever existed a cadet. I don't think I know how to live without her.

"I am not telling you that it will be easy, my boy. But she would appreciate your honesty. She is a very smart woman. Trust her instead of your insecurities" Damnit! How does this man get to the bottom of everything?

"Roger that sir. I'll tell her"

"Good. One-armed, boy" He says looking at Roshesh even before he open his mouth. I smile remembering how he always kept one eye on us.

"And how is Chief?"

"The same, sir." I don't think I have seen him any different.

"Hmm"

His phone rang again and I dared looked down to see Rosh going as fast as he could. Come on boy, he is going to ask you right after this call. This is your chance to wait on him and show him you will not interrupt again.

Before the call was over, Rosh had completed it but dared not to put his other hand down. Good boy!

"Diamond" Colonel says in the middle of the call. He must be damn pissed to be doing that!

I keep my eyes up again and hope I'm kicked out of here soon before it turns on me.

He completes it breathless and before he can say 'Done', Colonel is up his seat and right on his head, "Wide grip"

No more words are said but the pressure of him standing is enough to get Roshesh pushing fast despite his heavy breathing.

"Typewriter"

"Done, sir"

"Up. So are you ready to tell me what he did that night?"

"Umm.. sir?"

"You have three more seconds before I make you dig your grave. I suggest you open your mouth fast."

"I don't remember, sir."
Roshesh said and I felt pity for the poor boy. He knows I'll be in trouble if he speaks up. And he also knows that lying is an unforgiving crime.

"Heck you don't. Knuckles. Be glad that I have carpet here in my office. You'll never be more grateful for a carpet ever."
Beast mode was on and usually in this mode, collateral damage is too much.

Rosh dropped again and started knuckle Pushups.
Don't spoil his carpet, son. His office is like those temples. One wrong thing and they shut it down, clean it for months and do all prayers to make the place pure again.

I knew Rosh is screwed and whatever I do, I can't help it. I may even worsen it. Though my guilt was eating me up, I still wanted to run away from that place at the first permission. It's dangerous to stay in his office if he's making someone sweat over his carpet.

"Kadner, he won't tell me what happened. Tell him that I'll dig it out of him - whether he remembers it or not. I just hope it isn't something that I'll need to replace him with you."
He and his mind games were unbearable and unbeatable. He would screw up your mind so much that you'll have no other option but to choose the worst.

Secretly, I want to see if Rosh will stay up and keep defending me from similar suffering that he'll go through. Also, a part of my heart wants to tell him - speak up you duffer. He's going to make you miserable otherwise.

It's totally his call. And somewhere I know that Colonel is doing this to prove that he's still worthy for me. I've already begun to accept that. Alas, Rosh will have to pay the price for my anger.
That's okay isn't it? I've taken him through bad times. And after all he is my son. Can't he -

Afterall he's my son.
It just hit me like a hailstorm.
What am I doing? He's my child. I've pushed him into hell! And stupid boy will go to heights to keep my respect intact. Oh boy what have I done.

"Sir..."
"You have anything to say other than - leave my officer? If yes, speak up. If no, then you know where the door is."

I tried last time to argue.
"Sir.. I understood what you were trying to tell me. Roshesh need not go through all this. I can only request you..."

He raised his eyebrow and said "Go ahead. I'm listening."
His face said it all. One more word and he'd kill my boy.
'Do not go ahead.' was ringing in my ears on repeat.

"Sir.. Umm.. Permission to break off, sir?"
I asked him standing straight.
I understood you don't want me to speak another word in his defense, and that's exactly what I'm going to do.

"Out."
He said without wasting a moment.

I looked down at Roshesh feeling the guilt in me rise up. Saluting Colonel finally, I turned on my heels and left his office.

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

I came out and directly sprinted to Mess. There's someone I waited for so many years to meet. I feel like a kid going to meet his favourite Uncle with chocolates.

"Flynn!"
I called him at the top of my voice.

"I'm not giving you any sugar, you fat kid!" Flynn's voice came from kitchen.
The smile on my face widened and without thinking once, I rushed inside.

He was standing with his back towards me but I could feel his smile grow too.
I ran and hugged him tight from behind. My body size is almost double of his. I crushed him intentionally, immediately earning a groan from him. He cursed me "You fatty, leave me."

"Ah comeon! It's been more than ten years! Let me shower my love for atleast ten minutes Flynn."
"If you don't leave me now, you'll shower all your love on my dead body! Now get off."

"Not till you stop calling me fat."
"Not till my last breath, fat kid."
He barked with his voice cracking.

I hugged him tighter and he exhaled the barely saved air in his lungs.

"You'll kill him!"
I heard Dog say from somewhere.

"Nah. He won't die too easily. He's been through -"
Goddammit. His elbow hit my face just in time. Thanks to that, I didn't complete my statement.

I left him completely, moving two steps back, pressing my lip where his elbow impacted.
God I really need to control my tongue.

Flynn turned around and looked at me with straight face. His eyes flickered on Wills for a moment and I got the message.
Nope, I'm not going back alive.

"What a welcome, Flynn."
I tried to deviate from the topic.

"You haven't got fatter. I need to tell Colonel to help you gain some."
His tone had that element of sarcasm that I missed so badly.

"Well you won't have to do anything. Apparently all my trainers think I'm capable of only gaining weight."
I said shrugging my shoulders.

He let out the smile he was controlling.

"Come here you fatso."
He waved a hand and we hugged like humans this time.

All throughout Dog looked at us like he was watching dinosaurs turn live.

I turned to him and didn't miss the chance "I'm his favourite Cadet."
Wills raised his eyebrows and looked at Flynn, challenging him to say that I'm wrong.

Flynn laughed loudly.
"Grow up you two! Wills, get the spices."

"What's up with him and Chinese? And where is your Apron, pretty Chef?"
I asked Wills.

He raised his eyebrows again. I raised mine in turn.
"It's kept for drying, Super boss." he said with a small smile, knowing he can't give me a smart ass answer.

"Nice save, boy."

"How long will it take to serve the dinner, my overfed Panda?" I ask reminding him of Colonel's words during his burpees.

Before he could answer, Flynn hit me on the face with a napkin,"Right now, he is on half diet, not overfed. And if you want to make fun, I have lots to tell Major Wills here. Shall I?"

I raise my hands and innocently speak, "Nope. This is no place for making fun. Gosh, since when did you get so violent? Or is this reserved for VIP guests cum favorite cadets only?"

"Kadner."

"Ok. Ok. I just asked because somebody is sweating on his carpet and it is in interest of all that Dinner is ready soon."

"5 more minutes, Super boss." Wills said before Flynn could launch an investigation on me.

"Why the half diet though?"
I ask him, somewhere concerned about this stupid dog of my dog.

"He wants him to be a Chinese meal expert."
Flynn answered while Wills rushed around.
"But why?"

Flynn looked at me with a blank face. Then taking a few moments, he said "God knows. And him. May be just him."

I lean a little and whisper low enough for him to hear.
"And may be you too."
I ask carefully, knowing that I'm getting on his nerves.

His serious face pushes me back and I swear I almost shit in my pants.
"Since when is your poor boy starving?"
Someone give me an award for so many missed shots in one day.

"Almost ten days. All started during an ordeal. He-"
"3 days?"
I didn't realise I interrupted him, till Wills snapped at me. I don't know why he did that - either he was surprised that I know about his ordeal, or he was surprised that I had the guts to cut in Flynn.

"I'm sorry. You were saying?"
Another one. Guess I'm definitely not going back in one piece based on how Flynn is looking at me right now.

"Yes. Three days. That's enough info for you." he said sternly and I knew I pissed him.

"Okay one last question. Then I'll leave."
I said with smile already creeping up my lips.

"Better not be as stupid as you."
Flynn insulted me right on my face and Dog smiled a little behind him.
That bitch. I'll have him.

"Not stupid. Rather tasty. Were you able to make a good tea for him? Like, ever?"
I said blowing over my fingernails.

"You know what. You stay here. And better start cooking for the cadets. I'm leaving."
He said as he started to keep the utensils on platform, irritated. Wills could also see the smoke coming out from his ears and his bottom. His wide smile was a proof.

"Okay okay. I'm out."
Damage done. Time to leave.

"You fat pants. Ask me that question again and I'll drown you in that tea of yours!"
I heard him cursing me behind me.

I knew he's just kidding around.
But phew! I almost said things out, twice. And then some more. It's him who ignores my goof ups so smoothly. Colonel would have killed me thrice by now.

"Ok. I'll freshen up and be back soon."
I shouted as I left.

Poor Wills. Three days of ordeal. He must have each second itched in his bones. All because he loves his hell of a father and stupid brother too much.

Reminding me of stupid, where the hell is he? Is he going to make a heroic entry later again?
More than Wills, I want to get my hands on him. Rascal.

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

WILLS' POV :

What is going on here?
Super boss and Flynn have been so affectionate all these years?

Oh! That's why Flynn was so happy while giving me hints about his arrival.

"You knew about him."
I stated while he helped me finalise the meal.

"Yep. Colonel called you too, didn't he?"
He answered casually.

"You knew before him."
I said looking into his eyes.

The smile on his face shrunk but widened again.
"You are very smart, Wills. Colonel would be proud."

"Boss knows more about you than all of us here. Should I be worried? Or should I just feel jealous because he is your favourite Cadet?"

He laughed loudly.
"You guys should have been together during academy days. It would have been real fun! Yes he knows a few things, but you need not be worried or jealous. All you boys are my favourite sons."
He said with a genuine smile.

"What have you been through, Flynn?"
He was trying to keep the smile intact.

"Ah he was just pulling my leg."
"Your breath was stuck. He had surrounded you completely. Your face was pale. Clearly you weren't in a state to get free and punch a man twice your size in that state - just because he was about to spill a few beans. If I were in your state, I could never have made that move. Flynn are you going to spar with me, or do I need to take official permission from Father?"

His face was red.

"That boy needs to learn how to control his mouth."
He cursed Superboss.

I looked at him waiting for an answer.

"If you think I'm going to tell anything, then forget it."
He challenged.

"My father made me smart enough to know what my limits are. Trying to know about the past of a man like you, is way out of my limits. I just know that you are a good fighter. And I need new people to practice with. How when and where is all upto you."

He smirked.
"Smart indeed. What if I say no?"

"Then I'll have to go ask father if he can request you."
"I want to see you doing that. He'll kill both you and Kadner." he said smiling.

"Thanks for taking my name before him, Flynn. Will you, or will you not?"

"Dammit boy. You're the first one ever to catch me red handed. EVER. Let all this get over, I'll think about it. But first, Kadner needs to learn a few basics all over again. Now you'd like to complete your task or are you ready to serve cold food and go to 1/4th?"
Comeon Flynn! You are harder to convince, than father!

Though he didn't sign my deal, but the fact that I know that he's a badass makes me want to spar with him right away!
I nodded in victory and got on the job.

SuperBoss, this one's for calling me Pretty and stealing the favourite cadet title.

"I'll go call everyone."

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

Kadner's POV :

You'll never see a trainee sharing a drink with his trainer. No, that's impossible. Specially a training officer.
That too with someone like Colonel James, you can't even dream about it in your dreams.

But that's only till you are his trainee. Once you pass out and become an officer, the tables turn. Now the young officer can invite the senior officer to the bar to have a drink or the senior can permit this junior to sit together.

My case is different. I'm neither a Cadet anymore, nor I'm an officer of his force.
So I really don't know what to expect when I reach the bar.

Being optimistic, I hoped that both of us will drink a mug of beer, or two. He'll curse me a bit, I'll give some smart remarks, he'll make me push right there, and we'll be back to our mugs.
Ah! The image looks so beautiful.

A few drinks down, and the Rambo disappears- that's what we have heard about him. If you want to discuss something with him, wait till he gets settled in the bar, which is rare in itself. But the day he goes there, he is super-chill. So you can talk freely to him, all the matters that were burning up your ass.

Pushing open the door of this heavenly bar that was out of bonds as a Cadet, I expected to see a chilled out Colonel.

That's what I had thought when I stepped in. But when my eyes fell on the scene in front of me, I was aghast.

This visit is turning into nothing but a series of shocks.

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

As promised, here's another chapter with another Cliffhanger.
Next one will take some time, so hold on to your horses 😉