Disclaimers:
I don't make money with this; I only do this because I love writing. These characters aren't mine; I just love them like they were. And I love feedback. :-)
Summary:
We all know agents have to be trained somewhere, to learn their job, right? So, let's assume that classes of recruits eventually graduate to become field agents. What if that last training day included some sort of tradition? For that purpose, the recruits will go through their final training day not only under the watchful eye of their instructor, who brought them this far, but they will also meet some people that can show them a thing or two about what it takes to be a field agent.
Three guesses as to who those special instructors will be… ;)
Field Day
a.k.a
The "Hell Week" Special
"Welcome to your final training day, ladies and gentlemen!"
The group of recruits standing on the edge of the exercise field was nervous. They stood in a perfect formation of three rows, with 5 recruits per line. Their backs were straight, their eyes sharp.
"We are here at a place that holds great history for many of our agents that are out in the field today. All of them, and I do mean all of them, have come through here. So you can rest assured that if you do a good job, you too can become the best out there."
The instructor was aware that every recruit's ears and eyes were on him. He had seen many classes come through here, but still he remembered every one of them. And he had seen recruits rise above what they thought was already their best, becoming even better agents. He knew every aspect of their training by heart. But even after so many years, there was still something special about this day, this final day of training. Relishing the moment, he spared a look across the training field, alongside which they were standing today.
"This is where we decide whether you are ready. I know you all have been through weeks of training already; making you strong, making you fast and – most of all – giving you a taste of what your life as an agent will be like."
The instructor's gaze came to rest on the first row, looking each of them square in the eye.
"You have been taught to keep a clear head."
He paused a moment. It let everyone's attention rise even higher.
"Today we will teach you how to react in real pressure situations."
The clipboard at his side tapped against his knee. One time. Two times. Then a halt. Everyone's eyes immediately refocused on his face.
"You already know how to protect yourself out in the field – now we will show you how to think as a team. If you think you already know, think again. Whatever you have learned so far – today, we will make or break you."
One of the recruits happened to glance in the direction of the exercise field, and saw a single man come walking across the empty field, casually headed in their direction but still some distance away. He appeared to be dressed in a pair of light blue jeans and a 'Springsteen' t-shirt, the outfit completed with a nice pair of shades. Some of the other recruits noticed him as well, but since their instructor was obviously ignoring him, they quickly did as well, returning their attention where it was needed, their eyes straight ahead.
"Today's exercises will include mat training, evasive driving and the disarming of a suspect. And at the end, a special presentation by one of our field agents. Consider it a graduation gift – if you make it through this final test."
The group looked in a state between excitement and tension. Glad to finally get to prove themselves, but also afraid that they might fail this final exercise and not get their field agent status.
Unnoticed to the entire cluster of recruits, another man, this one wearing a suit and tie to match his well-built stature, was quietly approaching them from behind. By the time the instructor finished his words, the man at their backs had made his way to a spot right behind the last row, unnoticed, and was nonchalantly taking a stand right behind one of the recruits.
As the instructor didn't continue his speech, and instead kept his eyes on the back row, some of the recruits standing there were beginning to wonder what they had done wrong. Then, one of the recruit's eyes widened as he suddenly noticed the new man standing less than five inches behind him – a man none of them had even noticed approach in the first place.
Seeing his recruits sufficiently rattled, the instructor gave the new man in the back a nod, which was returned. With a grin.
"Recruits," the whole assembly straightened as they were addressed by the instructor once more, "Please welcome your special instructor for today."
The four recruits standing in the middle of the second and first row were about to make a hole so the man from the back could step through to the front. But when they noticed that the man wasn't even trying to step forward, they were surprised once more as one recruit right out of their midst suddenly broke formation and simply stepped forward.
Moving out from the far end of the second row, this 'recruit' ignored all the surprised looks around her, taking her recruit cap off her head in the process. She then smiled self-confidently as more than one recruit's jaw went slack as they realized they had just found another perfect stranger standing in their midst – again, completely unbeknownst to them.
"Agent Carter," the instructor spoke in greeting, and handed his clipboard to the woman who now took her place right next to him, turning around to face the entire group of recruits.
"Good morning, class."
The whole class of recruits reacted as one by shouting:
"Good morning, Ma'am!"
The shout was accepted with a chuckle.
"Is it? I think we'll see about that."
And at that, a loud explosion suddenly ripped through the air, followed by several smaller charges going off all around them, making several of the recruits hit the deck instantly. Others attempted to merely duck and see how their instructor was reacting, to find out if they were under attack or what the hell was going on. When the confusion slowly cleared, one of the recruits from (formerly) third row was the first to see something through the smoke.
It was the man who had casually been walking across the exercise field just a minute ago. That very same exercise field that now had a decent-sized area just off its left hand side resemble a war zone. Like somebody had put a truckload full of fire- crackers underneath it and blown it sky-high, with feeling.
Several of the recruits were now carefully watching the man with the Springsteen shirt close the remaining few meters between, and on all of their faces was one obvious question:
One man couldn't have done all that… could he?
They got their answer when the jeans-clad man – juggling something in his hand that they couldn't fully see yet – stepped off the edge of the field he had just crossed and threw a small detonator at one of the recruits to catch.
The recruit caught it, totally surprised.
A second recruit was thrown something else. He, too, caught it. And – with eyes going wide in shock – he immediately threw the grenade that had landed in his hand as far away as he could.
"Don't worry, that one wasn't live," the man quipped apologetically at the trembling recruit before slowly taking off his shades.
And when the man finally turned around to face the entire class, coming to a halt next Agent Carter, they all saw the immeasurably large smile on his face.
"Hey, Jane."
"Hello, Agent Hunt," Jane greeted him charmingly, "Glad you could make it."
"Didn't I tell you?" Ethan was surprised that she didn't think he'd be here today, "I couldn't say no to getting this opportunity just once," he finished with a grin.
"To graduate a class of new recruits?" Jane asked perplexed.
"No. To blow up their school yard," the dry comment came from the one man who was still standing at the back of the recruits, and who was now stepping forward as well.
"Oh." With an understanding frown Jane watched the man from the back coming forward, until he stopped right in front of Ethan, and began pulling out what appeared to be a fifty dollar bill from his pants pocket.
Handing it to Ethan, the man then patted the senior agent on the shoulder and quipped:
"Okay, you won, Ethan."
Ethan took the bill, and returned the shoulder pat.
"Thanks Brandt, it is always a pleasure doing betting business with you."
Then they all faced the scattered cluster of recruits, some still on the ground, others already up again but clearly still shaken.
The old instructor took this as his cue to address his class of recruits once more.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, you have just been shown what a Team can do. And now…," the instructor glanced at the three agents standing with him, before facing his class once more, "let's see if we can make some agents out of you all. Start rrrrunnNING!"
Completely terrified and still shaken by what they had just seen, the entire class of recruits broke off as one, hurrying to get out onto the field to start running laps as their warm-up program.
The three agents and the instructor, who stayed behind at the edge of the field, eventually turned to each other.
"Shall we go and find out how many are gonna make it this time?" the instructor asked with a good-natured chuckle.
They all nodded, their faces eventually becoming serious once more, but never completely losing the touch of joy at the thought of what they were here for. They had been given the task of graduating the next line of field agents. And that's what they would do, to the best of their ability.
"Alright, this should be fun." Brandt summed it up perfectly as they all headed over to the first training station.
-o-
-o-
To be continued…. (After all, that instructor promised mat training, evasive driving and disarming a suspect. I don't have to tell you who will lead what exercise, do I? LOL)
By the way, I didn't forget Benji. You'll see what I mean, soon. *g*