My chest rose as I tried to catch my breath, lights started to slow down again and I had to squint as my eyes adjusted to the new setup. Shadows loomed over me and it took me a while to finally recognize that it was Jack, his blonde hair sticky to his face from the spit on his face.
" Well look who is it." It is the incredible man, Mithun!" Jack chuckled and offered me his hand. I accepted his gesture and let him help me up. My head was spinning at the moment alone.
"Do you guys always do this? I questioned him as I rubbed my head.
"About once or twice a week since it is kind of exhausting "
I groaned as I looked at my bare hands. They were bruised and the skin was peeling off of my palm and knuckles. Jack grimaced as soon as he saw it.
"That has got to hurt," Jack commented.
What? Who's hurt? "William asked and just behind him he started assisting a very pale Gita. He bit his knuckles at the sight of it. You know I assume that your hand was full of callus the moment I saw how you took down those drones. But looking at your hands, your skin must still be soft and tender. Then he looked back at me. You must have overused it a lot. I can tell. "How on earth can you endure that kind of pain?" he questioned me.
Now that the Adrenaline was gone did, I actually feel the stinging pain on my hands and I winced? "May be frustration? Anger? Adrenaline? "I suggested. I really could not tell. I examined the mixture of bruises and peeled skin oozing with clear blood.
The platform suddenly descended, along with the other blocks that suddenly protruded from the floor. It mounted back and whatever was destroyed from the activity earlier was easily put together by the drones. That moment the platform, aka the safe zone, touched the ground. The place was back to its usual appearance as if nothing happened at all.
In front of us, Sheila Tarun Marian and few other commanders that I do not recognize and standing behind them were the people who were either caught or those who died during the drill.
Well done, everyone, Sheila says. It was certainly one of the most entertaining drills that we have seen in quite a while. Sheela glanced at her accomplices, and they were all nodding and smiling in approval.
Our group got down from the platform, and we were immediately congratulated by the commanders who were standing beside Sheila a while ago. They showered us with compliments and congratulatory words.
"You! A voice boomed from the other group, the group who were not able to make it to save Sloane. Among them emerged a familiar girl, her eyes directed at me with pure hatred and anger. "I cannot accept this. She should not be there!
"The gal of her", Israr, whispered beside me. She was holding my wrist as a medical drone started pitching up my hand, spraying some kind of numbing and antibacterial liquid. The drone was just starting to apply gush on hands when Isra stared her shoulders and was about to pick a fight with the girl when Sheila showed up.
"Why can't Mr. Mithun be in the group? "Sheila had no expression on her face as she challenged the girl in front of him. She clearly made it to the safe zone before the time ended. "
"He destroyed the drones!"
"I did not say that you cannot destroy the drones."
At that time, I leaned into whisper towards Israr. No one destroyed the drones. "Israr shook his head as an answer.!"
"She was caught!" The girl continued to press on. "Doesn't that make her out of the game? "
Sheila took slow-paced towards her, her hands on her hips, as she let out a sigh, Miss Leela said, "You are captured. Will you just stay still and allow them to take you away?"
"I-I-... She stuttered and looked away.
"Yes or no, Miss Leela? "It is a simple question.
"No, General. I wouldn't."
"If in a real life-or-death situation, will you also punch your camp rats just to save your own skin?"
"No sir. I wouldn't. Then she looked up and found my gaze and frowned, but she took and used me as the pedestal to cross the way for the safety zone. She accused me.
Sheela move just so she could block me from the gaze." From what I recall, you were the one who pushed her first. That alone is not how we should act as a team . By doing that thing thing are treated as a traitor. And Mr. Mithun has every rights to not treat you as a member at all Sheela started to head back towards us, but she paused one last time to cast her one final look. "And remember, I did say to get to the safe zone in any mean possible. It is up to all of you how you can interpret it. It seems that Mithun was able to understand me just fine.
"oh,burrn!" Jack snickered at my side that I had to hit him with my elbow to shut up. We watched and awaited as Sheela whispered something to commander Marian. As soon as they parted, they briefly nodded at each other before Marine headed to the other group.
"Alright! extra training for you all. I'll give you some pointers on why you are either caught or killed. "Line up in the other room!" She yelled. The people from the other group nodded and followed her instructions.
"Congratulations to all of you again," Sheela says, and our attention went back to her. Like the others, these will be keeping your individual comments and points out what you can improve. Since you all made it, it only means that you have the capability to handle yourself like two of our new recruits. You both impressed us again, though you both didn't exactly make it to the safe zone. Well, I guess-hope that we can fix that within a time."
There were a few chuckles in the group as a few eyes referred to Gita, who felt embarrassed after plucking earlier, - and me, the newbie, who was now labeled as the male incredible who simply ripped and smashed her way to the safe zone.
I will be giving the new recruiters this squadron first, if that is all right with everyone. I could hear the amusement in his voice as the other mirrored his expression with the shake of their head."Very well, Geeta, with your strong lips and cat-like feet, I believe that you are fit to be a squadron B commander. David will be handling you. Sheila gestured to the man with short brown hair and yellow eyes. He looks to be in his early 20s or 30s, but I can only assume that he is older because of the genes in all of our blood. Geeta made her way towards Commander David. The man offered her a smile and a handshake to welcome her in his rank.
"William and Israr", you are with Commander Zeus. Sheela continued to assign everyone their squadrons. I felt nervous and anxious that he kept calling out people and giving them their assigned squadrons.
Why haven't I been called out? Is my name not on the list? There was only Jack and me. I fiddled with my finger nervously as Sheila finally fixed her attention on us." Jack and Mr. Mithun, you two are with me. Come on. "She said and gestured for us to follow her to a vacant spot in the room. I exchanged glances with Jack, grinned widely, and placed a hand over my shoulder.
"So, she beamed and pulled me close towards her. As we followed Sheila, we stopped the moment Sheila turned to face us. She said and commanded to the system using words that I did not hear. Two humanoid robots suddenly emerged from the platform and stood beside Sheila.
"First of all, I would like to welcome you, two of you, to Squadron C. Our main focus is for combat.
I raised my hand. "Aren't there a few of us I guess to myself, Jack, and her?
"The others are not here yet and Jack was previously from Spider-Man B but he filed a request to transfer. "
"Combat is more exciting than stealth mission. "He Shrugged.
"And dangerous, she added.
" It gives us more perk and recognition." He grinned
she is a nodder, her eyes at me. If you are here to impress the wrong crowd, then maybe I should reconsider letting you join my squad.
"I'm kidding "Jack immediately said and let out a chuckle.
"As I was saying," Sheila continued on to discuss our squad's focus on fighting power, which Tarun obviously possesses. We are the stronger ones among the front, and it is our duty to be the tanks for our teammates. My eyes widened with fright. Sheila must have sensed my uneasiness because she quickly added, "Don't worry, Mr. Mithun, you may transfer to another squad If you wish.
So, you prefer David I see, what a humble person. Something about Jack's word caught my attention.
"Excuse me what do you mean? "David, I asked. But not totally, David, he says. For me if I am privileged enough to be in Squadron C, then I am taking it. Being in the Squadron has a higher chance of getting a rank up.
I looked at Sheila for confirmation. While there are truths in her words, we highly discourage comparing facts since it usually leads to conflict.
Jack leaned in close to whisper in my ear but squat still rules. Then he suddenly hissed when Sheila pulled her ear.
"Didn't I say not full ranking on each squadron? "
Yes ma'am. Yes sir, I totally understand.
"Good. "
This day I decided if being in Squadron C can help me rank up faster than let me in.
Sheila and Jack's harmonious grins. Excellent then. Before we have our lunch, how about a little spare with the 'bots? "
"Right now.?" I gulped and looked at the roots carefully as I watched it break apart as I raised my fist nervously.
"Mr. Mithun, I like that you are an aggressive fighter but for now I prefer that your practice on dodging begin! "
I got mentally distracted and I turned to look at Sheila. Wait how do I talk? The wind hit me hard enough on the side that I fell on the ground. I do not know if it was deep fatigue from earlier or the hard punch that I received from the pot but I lost consciousness after that.