CHAPTER 4

It didn't take long for his muscles to adopt a constant ache. His back, his shoulders, his stomach and his legs all protested each strenuous activity he was subjected to. After Alex beat Beaver, he went on to fight the rest of D and K unit. Alex beat everyone but the leader of D-unit, Kangaroo. When he beat his whole unit, they weren't mean and condescending like he expected them too. They weren't acting nice to him, but they were cordial. They never spoke to him unless they were giving instructions or orders, and they generally avoided him. The rest of the soldiers did the same, acknowledging that there was a kid in camp but that they couldn't care less about him.

After two weeks of the assault course and swimming activities, they had a gun assessment. They were told to take their guns apart then reassemble them, and shoot at the target. Alex stood to the side of K-unit as they all listened to the instructor explain what he wanted them to do. So far Alex had been cruising through the middle. Not doing amazingly but also not coming in last place. Other than in hand to hand, Alex was deemed average. He really didn't was to change that so he watched as each member of his team completed the task at hand. They weren't very fast at reassembling their guns but they were all good shots. Alex slowed his movements down when he reassembled his taken apart gun. When he finished, he lifted the gun up and aimed incorrectly at the cutout. He shot the full clip, emptying the gun around the circles in the cutouts chest and head. The unit seemed unimpressed with his results when they all compared scores, which was fine with Alex. But then the instructor called him out. "Ya know whats funny Alex? You had the perfect form and stance but the only thing off was your aim." All of a sudden, Alex felt a bunch of eyes on him. Alex smirked and said, "I guess thats what I should work on... Thanks for telling me." Alex hoped his answer was sufficient for everyones eyes to leave his. It was for everyone but the instructor.

Instructor pov

He knew what an experienced shooter looked like, he wasn't stupid, but what he couldn't figure out was why Cub didn't show his real abilities. Brushing it off, he assumed it was because his unit was bullying him.

Alex pov

Alex watched the instructor go through his thought process. For an experienced soldier, the SAS man wasn't very good at hiding his thoughts. As they all walked back to the dining hall for yet another meal of slop, the unit joked around with each other, teasing Eagle about his girl back home and Wolf because of his lack of a girl. Alex as usual wasn't included and only Fox looked a bit guilty about it. Alex really didn't mind. He didn't want to be friends with these men. When they got in the food line, the sergeant walked in. Everyone immediately came to attention and looked at the space above his head. Alex did the same but he also saw the paper in his hands. "K-unit. You all will be leaving one week earlier for your tour. Cub. You have a letter." He put the paper down at the table nearest him and left. Alex walked over and picked up the letter knowing only one person would be able to get a letter through to an SAS training camp. Without bothering to read it, Alex stuffed it in his pocket, walked back into line, got a tray of food and sat down. He started eating the unappetizing food, ignoring the unit. Bear, from C-unit walked over to K-units table and approached Alex. Alex didn't look up or react.

"What is that?" The man sneered at Alex, "A letter from mommy and daddy?" Alex didn't bother responding, knowing either way that the man was itching for a fight. Sure enough, Bear continued to pepper him with insults and degrading comments. Alex didn't respond to anything and eventually Bear went back to his table and sat down trying to protect his ego from his snickering unit.

The next week passed much faster than the previous two weeks. Maybe it was because Alex's muscles didn't hurt as much and he was getting used to the 5 am wake ups and brutal workouts. Or was it simply because his unit would leave at the end of it. Either way, when Friday came, all their belongings were packed up and Alex was left to an empty cabin. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Alex would miss them. He sighed and went to visit the sergeant as ordered. Knocking on the door Alex felt a flash of deja vu. Shaking it off as he entered, the sergeant got to the point quickly, "Have you read the letter?" He asked.

Alex wasn't surprised with the question.

"No" Alex replied.

The sergeant looked surprised. "Where is it?" He asked.

Alex suppressed a smirk, "I burnt it." He replied. I wasn't interested by its content. Alex in truth had read it, but he wanted to see how the sergeant would react.

Sergeant pov

The older man watched the boy. Cub had grown since the time he had arrived. He pitied the boy; having sons of his own had softened his heart and for any child to be left here, unwanted by everyone, was a sad fate.

"Good riddance" the sergeant said, "MI6 shouldn't be using kids anyway. K-unit will be gone for 3 months so you will be training with C-unit for the time being. Dismissed."

Alex left the room a bit frustrated. Why did he have to be with C-unit! Out of all the units, C is the only one that actively bothered him. Sucking it up, he trudged back to his empty cabin and got ready for a slightly worse month.