Okay, sorry this one's a bit late (next one is going to be too) but I have a ton of school work to do so... yeah.

At any rate... Read and enjoy ^^

Chapter 11

"C'mon you batch of nannies! My old grandmother could move faster than you!" Mortimer growled from above as he watched the cadets climb up the rocky surface of the training wall. It was about 70 meters high, so there could always be four men climbing.

"Is he always so supportive?" Jezdec grumbled under his breath, lining up to be next.

"Yeah, usually. Depends if he had his morning caf," Jewels chuckled, looking up and seeing he was next to climb.

"Cody! Rex! What are you doing? You're supposed to get to the top in one piece! Go under one line for long and you'll be dead in seconds!" the two said clones muttered something before moving to the different lane then up and then back and so on and so on.

"This is… Bantha fodder…" Bishop panted, lying flat on his back at the top.

"Be glad… you didn't eat anything," Jet laughed, sitting down and catching his breath.

"Who did?" the sniper managed to sit up and look at the clone.

"Bull and Lander," at that the two started snickering.

"You two – you having a tea party? Get your behinds down from there!" Laquin almost hissed as the two scurried to the other side and prepared their ascension cables.

"I hate heights…" Turm muttered, looking up as Jezdec and Jewels started climbing.

"You and me both…" Bull nodded, swallowing a lump in his throat.

"C'mon don't be a bunch of wimps," Lander teased from behind.

"The worst that can happen is that you fall and break something," Pion chipped in with a shrug.

"Not helping," the two turned around, sending glares at their friends.

"What are you doing standing around for? Move it!" Bull and Turm were snapped back as they rushed to the wall and started climbing.

"I think that should be enough," Mortimer seemed to have calmed down. After about two and a half hours anyway. He must have gotten his caf.

The cadets who were on the ground let out deep breaths of relief, glad they can still feel their limbs. Pion and Lander just decided to wait on top of the wall while Cody and Rex cursed again, being stuck in the middle and debating which way to go.

"I'm just gonna drop," Rex said, looking down and swallowing.

"You sure that's a good idea?" Cody followed his gaze.

"Nope…" the blonde waited a second, before releasing his hold on the wall and letting himself drop.

"Cadet are you-!" Laquin yelled, eyes wide.

"Turm!" at the call of his name, the bald clone looked up. When he saw his brother falling, panic rose in his chest as his eyes opened wide. But still, he opened his arms to try and catch him.

In seconds, Rex crashed into his brother, knocking them both to the ground with a loud thud as they both let out groans of pain.

"Don't even think about it!" Bull called to Cody who seemed to be debating the idea.

"I think I'll just go around…" he said and continued his climb up.

"You crazy-!" Turm hissed, getting to his feet, but unable to let his rage out.

"Ouch… that could have gone better…" the 'king' proclaimed.

"Could have gone worse!" Pion shouted, already checking the two for injuries.

"Hey, if you plan to get yourself killed, wait 'till Ciel gets back!" Mortimer growled; frustrated by the action the cadet took.

"Copy that sir!" Rex smiled back before wincing in pain. He's been trying to be less 'by-the-book' at times and wasn't sure if it was a good or bad idea.

"Alright – you'll get a short break before we move to a group exercise. All I'll tell you now is, that you better choose wisely," Mortimer spoke, set the timer and allowed the cadets some time.

"Wonder what we'll have to do next," Bishop sighed and moved his joins.

"Probably something that'll make my legs fall off," Jet rubbed his knee, getting some feeling back.

"I hope it's something nice. I need let my frustration out!" Turm almost shook with energy.

"I hear you brother! Nothing better than blasting your troubles away," Bull smirked and laughed.

"Looks like we'll have to keep Bull from caf – again," Lander sighed, a small smile on his face.

"Agreed. Turm gets way too hyper when he has it," Pion chuckled, stretching his arms.

"It seems our squads are more alike than I thought," Jezdec said, looking at the eight cadets.

"Aren't we all?" Jewels added as the two laughed.

"How do you like 'commander' training?" Cody asked casually.

"Well, it's different, that's for sure," Rex admitted. "But it's nothing we can't handle."

"So I've noticed. Your squad could easily rise to the higher ranks."

"Maybe. But that would mean more responsibility and I don't think any of us really wants that," the blonde looked at his squad.

"You'd make a good batch. You really have everyone specialized," the older clone sighed. "Unlike us," he added, seeing how Bull and Lander managed to start an argument again.

"Well, they have you as their leader – I'm sure you'll make it."

"Don't cut yourself short Rex. We've had this kind of training since the beginning – we were made to be better and in higher command. You are the ones who work hard for it, and earn everything that comes with it. Not all cadets, even in my years, have your talent."

"Alright nannies, time to make your pick," Mortimer walked along the two rows of cadets.

"Chose a brother from the opposite squad you think will be the best for this challenge," the smirk on his face indicated something more, but the clones weren't sure. They just shared a look.

"Well? Pair up!" at his order, they moved, not really thinking about it, and ended up in pairs.

"Hmm…" Laquin studied them. Jet and Bishop, Turm and Bull, Pion and Lander, Jewels and Jezdec and Rex and Cody. How predictable… but it meant they already knew each other.

"Alright then. This challenge is for your trust," at that, two pairs shared a look of worry.

"One of the pair will be blinded, while the other leads him across the obstacle course. The roles are then switched and the course will change. You will repeat the same task as many times as it takes, for the blind cadet to reach the end unharmed. Should you fail more than five times or have a terrible time, a punishment is in store for both of you. Are we clear?"

"Sir, yes sir!" they hid their worry and relaxed, unsure of how it'll end, but feeling confidant.

"So… you want to be blind?" was the question each pair asked, looking rather scared now.

"No kriffing way I'm letting you lead me around!" Bull yelled, almost jumping away.

"You think I'd let you do it? Hell no!" Turm called back, shaking his head.

"I prefer my eyes, thanks," Bishop muttered, looking to the side.

"…You are a better sniper, so I'll take it," Jet sighed but shrugged, taking the blindfold Laquin set up.

"I'll do it," Lander nodded, already reaching for the blindfold, when it was snatched away.

"I will. I'm bad at leading others around – for now anyway," Pion smiled and set it around his head.

"Blaster, shield, grenade!" Jezdec and Jewels shook their fists and created the said object.

"Well, looks like you're it," the bearded one smiled, his shield stopping his blaster.

"I'm first," Rex said, blindfold already in his hand.

"If you want to. We switch later anyway," Cody knew it was pointless to argue.

"C'mon you two baby Biths!" Mortimer growled at the tattooed tough guys.

"Tch, fine!" Turm muttered, grabbing the blind fold, sending his 'guardian' a glare and put it on.

"Good! Now that everyone is set, get ready for the course," at that, the battle ground started shifting, creating different ways, obstacles and terrain for the cadets.

"You start… now!"

"Easy, over here," Cody spoke, guiding Rex across a pit. "Alright, you have three steps," he added, watching as the blonde walked down the steps.

"You scared?" he asked as they walked, careful of their surroundings. He just wanted to talk about something, and wanted to make sure Rex felt safe. They had grown close during the five months and Cody always tried to give him the best of advice.

"Not really," Rex answered, carefully stepping down and letting out a breath. Cody had become like a 'big brother' – which is strange saying, since they are brothers.

"That's good. Because, from what I see, the others are," the two chuckled and walked on.

"Alright, watch over there," Jezdec muttered, leading the clone between spikes.

"Where?" Jewels rolled his eyes and would have hit his head, had the 'knight' not pulled at him.

"There," the bearded one chuckled and turned, only to hit a spike himself.

"Did you just-," the second year clone could hear the smack.

"No, I did not. Now move it…" the younger one grumbled, too embarrassed to look back. The two had a lot of things in common – from being the 'normal average guy who jokes around' in the squad to being the 'annoying one who never forgets something someone messed up'.

"A bit more and we'll be there," Bishop said, looking over his shoulder.

"Is it me, or is this too easy?" Jet asked, a hit of worry in his voice. He trusted the sniper, as they've been chattering about their similarities. Even going as far as exchanging sniper tips, making contests about who can shot better and who can go furthest without blinking.

"Trust me, it's not easy. I'm just got at spotting the easiest way across," the sniper smirked.

"Well, let's hope I have the same luck," the Ghost member grinned as he walked.

"Alright, slow and easy does it," Lander mumbled, helping Pion the slippery terrain.

"Sorry if I'm a bother," the medic laughed, walking as slowly as he could.

"Nah, don't worry about it. It's kinda fun," the second cadet smiled. Pion was the most fragile and polite of all ten of them – that made Lander want to keep him safe at all costs. He was too precious for this war, always worrying about others before himself. Lander even got so far as trying to become a medic himself, seeing that saving lives made him feel better.

"I'm guessing we're the last aren't we…" Pion sighed, not hearing any of his brothers.

"No, don't walk there!" Bull growled, pulling the bald clone away from the hole.

"Well, tell me where I should then," Turm growled back, a frown on his face.

"Move faster! We're already behind," the older one muttered and jumped over some steps. Now these two were a combo. Always going at each other – be it with words, blasters or fists. They turned anything, eating, running, yelling even, into a competition. But the only ones who get to tease them about it were the Chess and Ghost Squads – anyone else would get a fist in the face.

"I would, if my leg didn't hurt since you didn't warn me-!" he was cut short as he fell down the steps.

"Caraya's soul!" Mortimer yelled in disbelieve at the two tattooed cadets.

"Those two, I already see will need extra rounds…" his eyes fell to the slowest of the bunch.

"And them – they'd be dead three times over by now…" Pion and Lander didn't seem to care much.

A blip in the control panel made him frown in confusion, before looking over, and seeing two clones safely on the other side.

"Well, that was fast…" he admitted, seeing Bishop and Jet laugh as they watched their brothers.

"They have a nice set up," he nodded to Rex and Cody as they were almost at the finish as well.

"And then the average ones," Jewels and Jezdec almost stumbled down the hill, but managed.

"All in all, they aren't bad… a few tweaks here, a faster pace there…" Laquin nodded to himself and started working on the second course.

And cut! So yeah, mixing it up a bit. What do you think? Leave a review or PM :P

I hope you enjoyed and if you did, feel free to review!
Till next time~