Alex hit send on another report, handling the final case on his mental to-do list of the day and felt it was a good time to stretch his legs. He slipped on some shoes and left his rooms trailed by security. Taking a stroll across the training facilities, he observed the new students and thought back that younger version of himself among them those few years ago.
Not much had changed in Malagosto since their takeover and they could be training up to a dozen operatives at a time. Though recently, that large group had dwindled with recent graduations, a couple of failed RTIs, and an unfortunate failed graduation assignment. Still six had graduated so far and, based on d'Arc's latest report, the school operated according to its typical graduation rate.
Strolling through the school made him feel at home. A light spattering of people were up and about as well.
Ross caught his eye walking to the range.
"Orion, a few students could use a humbling lesson on the range. You game?"
Alex grinned at the chance to chance to practice some shooting before shipped off on yet another diplomatic job. "Sure, should I get on my jeans, tshirt, and backpack on to drive that point home?"
"Ha! The lesson starts in less than five so I think you'll do as is."
Together, they walked into the shooting range where the class of four were already waiting.
"I've brought a guest." Ross motioned over to him by the entrance and he muted his expression—channeling Yassen. "Meet Orion, the youngest Malagosto graduate and second to Mr. Gregorovich."
The students' expressions went from disbelief to curiosity to fear. Perhaps the name Orion had only appeared in closed circles by Yassen was known worldwide. Anyone who had Yassen's favor would certainly be someone to fear.
As Ross taught the basics of instinctive shooting, he set out twelve weapons on a table at a station.
"Orion, if you will..." Ross motioned to the table before stepping back and picking up the stopwatch.
They put on the protective equipment and Alex glanced over at his selection of firearms; it was a rather eclectic variety but he was there to impress.
He took a calming breath and began.
Disassembling. Cleaning. Reassembling. Firing. The first few of the lot were performed slower than he would've liked—barely acceptable by Yassen's standards—but quickly finding a calming rhythm to the exercise, his speed increased as well.
Twelve weapons finished and Ross marked the time with the stopwatch.
Thickly coated in the smell of gunpowder and gawked at by the latest students—3 women and 1 man—he set down the still-smoking hand cannon.
Ross then walked them through the handling of each weapon, letting Alex do the demonstration, albeit at a slower pace, while he discussed the steps for disassembling and cleaning.
Enjoying himself, Alex even followed the trainees to their next and final lesson of the day: combat.
Any respect he garnered from the male trainee—the one Ross must've been referring to when he said a few needed humbling—was lost for some odd reason when entering the pavilion. The instructor paired the man and Alex for combat.
Considering the man stood almost a foot above Alex and was thick with dense muscle where Alex was lean, the man must thought he'd prevail. Though Alex being well-training well by Yassen for such an occasion swiftly used speed to his advantage and while the man didn't tire easily, Alex knew his landed kicks and punches would leave its mark.
A hit to disorient, another to enrage, and Alex used the man's momentum to flip him onto his back and pinned his arm.
Infuriated at the loss, the man refused to yield until the instructor called off Alex. "Good show!"
Alex brushed off his clothes and stood.
"Yaxley, you are dismissed."
Standing stiffly and without further look at Alex, he left.
A small crowd had formed in the pavilion, including Crux and surprisingly, Dr. Three.
Alex nodded in greeting and went over to them. "Gave up on retirement already?"
Dr. Three, likely smirking as it seems no one ever beat the mouthiness out of Alex, answered drily "Merely checking up on my protégée."
While Alex knew Crux was his favorite student and likely who he was referring to, Dr. Three didn't seem to take his eyes off Alex which was always a little unnerving.
"It's nice to see all the diplomacy hasn't rusted your other...talents. Though from what I hear, you still hold strong to those values of yours."
Not one to argue with the doctor (again) he kept the mood light with a formal, "Yes, sir."
They all walked to dinner together and Alex sat politely and listened as Crux and Dr. Three chatted away.
After the meal, Alex took his leave to prep for his departure.
Alex stopped by the infirmary for a last minute check up.
"Oh Alex," Dr. Javarti acknowledged kindly. "I was just about to send my assistant to collect you. Anything to note lately? Chest pains, changes in eating habits, allergies?"
"No, ma'am."
"Okay, the the basics then." She continued her triage of his condition including drawing blood.
"Mrs. Starbright is truly a marvel. We've been working on an injectable health monitoring unit. The prototype is ready. Mr. Gregorovich has allowed the choice to be yours if you would like to test it out."
"A tracker?"
"Not quite. It is still in its infancy stage and tracks only blood pressure and heart rate. There is a limited range on it though: 5 kilometers. Though if your concerned about tracking it uses far more advanced security technology to the one used for your graduation."
" Fun ," Alex said with a grimace. "Where would you put it in?"
"It's best that it goes in your lower back. We can reuse that old incision of yours. Try not to get hit there but if it happens, it will cease to function."
"Not blow up?" Alex intoned with some lightness.
"Not blow up," she assured.
"Eh, alright then. Tell Jack she owes me one."
Dr. Javarti smiled lightly. "Of course."
Alex returned to his rooms in an hour later with a needle mark in his arm and a centimeter incision in the small of his back just in time for Marcus to stop holding a gourmet salad.
"Courtesy of Yassen. Enjoy." Marcus said flatly.
Alex grimly looked at the mockingly healthy high-calorie meal.
"Gee, thanks. You really shouldn't have," he said, grimacing.
They settled in chairs beside the coffee table in his room looking over intel and Marcus worked through his plan for security as Alex munched absentmindedly on picked out chucks of lettuce and vegetables.
"There is little room for ground support and rooftop access and surface area presents a problem."
"Stagger support along the roof and I'll behave. I promise. They'll expect me to have a support team anyway. The meeting itself will have its own safety precautions. There are bounties out on two of the generals in attendance as well."
Discussions continued until late in the day, digressing to finalized reports of other ongoing assignments, until Marcus took his leave.