A/n: Huge thanks for your reviews yet again, everyone.

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Chapter 17: Falling.

When Sky was on his tenth circuit, the whistle was blown again. Surprised, he completed the course and lined up with the others as he had at the start. Usually it was about twenty five circuits before they were allowed to stop; he wondered what was different this time.

The instructor yelled out "Attention!" Automatically, the thirty five year olds assumed the position.

Then he stood aside, saluting Lydecker as he stepped up to address them.

"Good job, soldiers," the colonel said. The children's chests swelled with pride; Lydecker was notoriously scanty with praise. "You are the most advanced group of infantry in the world; but it's time for you to prove yourselves individually. After a series of assessments you will be divided into units of six for the rest of your training. The first assessment will be timing your completion of this course." Lydecker turned to the instructor. "Carry on, Sergeant."

White hot fear filled Sky as the first designation was called out. Without Mark behind him, would he even be able to climb the rope? And everyone would be watching him fail; he'd get two months in psy ops if he was lucky for being afraid of heights.

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Sky had been standing in line for over an hour, filled with dread, watching the other X8s tackle the demanding obstacle course. He was next in line, waiting for the girl just in front of him to return. She came into sight, blurring across the finish line.

Four minutes twenty six seconds, called out the instructor, so his assistant could note it down beside the small girl's designation. The assistant then called out the number of the next soldier to be tested.

"Three thirteen!" Sky could hardly breathe as mechanically, he made his way to the starting line.

"Go!" Called out the instructor, starting the stop clock he held.

Sky began to run towards the rope that haunted his nightmares, trying not to remember that this time, there would be no comforting presence behind him. He jumped up, catching it cleanly, and began to climb, focussing entirely on the task. Then he reached the top, scrambling up onto the precariously slippery rounded log platform. And then he made the mistake of looking down.

Through the gap in the logs, Sky could see the ground below, seeming to spin before his eyes as vertigo assailed him. He froze, not even noticing his combat boots start to slide on the surface.

Before he knew it, Sky's slender form had slipped through the gap in the logs and he was falling, falling…

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So what did you think? Evil enough for you? Cos if not, I can soon change that…