Survival Training - Day 3

The soft morning sunlight gently filtered through the trees as everyone slowly emerged from their tents, stretching and yawning as they shook off the remnants of sleep. Ethan and Kelly remained quietly seated by the fire, its soft embers still glowing warmly.

"Rise and shine, everyone!" Steph called cheerfully, smiling as she noticed Ethan and Kelly still huddled close by the dying fire. "You two look cozy. Ready to get moving?"

Ethan smiled sheepishly, quickly getting to his feet. Kelly stretched, stifling another yawn. "Guess so," she replied lightly, sharing a sleepy grin with Ethan.

Gabe chuckled softly, gently nudging Ethan's shoulder. "Come on, you two. Last day in the wild. Let's make it count."

With renewed energy, the group efficiently packed their gear, guided by their TapWatches. Gabe, gently teasing Ethan and Kelly, helped load their equipment. Soon, Gabe stood back, observing their surroundings carefully.

Steph clapped her hands together enthusiastically. "We good? Remember, let's leave no trace."

"All set," Ethan confirmed, adjusting his backpack. Kelly nodded beside him, giving a thumbs-up.

Gabe smiled warmly at the group. "Then let's head back to civilization!"

They set off toward the facility, chatting easily as they walked, their voices blending naturally with the peaceful sounds of the forest. Conversations flowed freely about their shared experiences, newfound skills, and strengthened bonds.

"I'm actually going to miss this place," Kelly admitted softly, eyes reflecting a gentle melancholy. "It's been such a great adventure."

The others nodded in agreement, faces filled with a mix of excitement to return and genuine reluctance to leave behind the simple yet powerful connections they had forged.

Shadows danced silently along the dark mahogany walls of Blackstone Rocker's expansive office, illuminated solely by the dim glow of holographic monitors projecting endless streams of data. Outside the large window, the city skyline remained quiet and subdued in the early hours of Thursday morning, neon lights casting an eerie, colorful reflection across the polished surface of his desk. Blackstone, deep in thought, barely registered the subtle drop in temperature or the whispered rustle of fabric emerging from the darkest corner of the room.

"Blackstone," a voice hissed softly, dripping with malice yet elegant, commanding immediate attention.

Startled but composed, Blackstone turned slowly, eyes narrowing as a shadowy figure stepped forward, revealing itself inch by sinister inch. Clad in flowing black garments, eyes glowing a sinister amber hue, Azazel's servant, Marbas, approached with a calculated, unnerving grace.

"Who are you, and how did you get past my security?" Blackstone demanded, masking his unease with steely confidence.

Marbas allowed himself a faint, sardonic smile, sharp teeth briefly glinting. "Security is an illusion for mortals, Blackstone. I am Marbas, servant to Azazel, Prince of the Fallen. We have urgent matters to discuss."

Blackstone's eyes hardened, though curiosity flickered behind his composed façade. "Azazel himself sent you? What could possibly concern the Prince of Darkness enough to invade my privacy?"

Marbas tilted his head slightly, his amber eyes flaring with intensity. "The halo," he whispered, voice chillingly smooth. "It has been found, and it adorns a mortal named Ethan Blade—a recruit who recently arrived at your EarthCorp training facility."

The powerful CEO leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled thoughtfully beneath his chin. "Ethan Blade," he repeated quietly, recalling the name from the security breach and recruit manifest. "And why exactly would this interest Azazel?"

"Blade is no ordinary mortal," Marbas purred, stepping closer, his shadow stretching ominously across the room. "He has formed an alliance with Gabriel, one of Heaven's own. Azazel seeks your assistance in eliminating Gabriel and securing Ethan alive. The halo must return to its rightful master."

A slow, sinister smile spread across Blackstone's lips. "An angel on EarthCorp grounds… fascinating. And Ethan Blade, endowed with such power, would indeed be an invaluable asset. But operations at EarthCorp are heavily monitored. Acting recklessly could raise suspicions."

Marbas's patience visibly waned, eyes blazing with subtle threat. "Azazel expects results, Blackstone. Your cooperation is not merely requested—it is required."

Blackstone met Marbas's gaze unflinchingly, asserting his own power. "Tell Azazel he has my cooperation, but caution is paramount. I'll need time to position the right operatives without raising red flags. This task demands subtlety and precision."

Marbas nodded slowly, the tension easing ever so slightly from his posture. "Azazel anticipated your prudence. But do not mistake patience for leniency. He will be watching closely."

"Understood," Blackstone said firmly, maintaining his authoritative demeanor. "Inform Azazel he shall have Ethan Blade—and the angel Gabriel will trouble him no further."

With a satisfied nod, Marbas stepped backward, dissolving into the darkness from which he'd emerged, leaving Blackstone alone once again. Blackstone exhaled deeply, quickly summoning files on his holographic display, setting the wheels of his intricate plan into motion.

"Ethan Blade," he murmured thoughtfully. "You have no idea what's coming."

Blackstone tapped a display on his desk, and his secretary appeared on the holographic screen in front of him. "Yes, Mr. Rocker?"

"Set up an in-person meeting with Admiral Levine."

Later that day, the sun had just begun its descent when the group returned to the EarthCorp facility. Guided by their TapWatches, they navigated winding corridors back to their dorms. Gabe, Ethan, and Tim stepped into their dorm room, greeted by familiar surroundings that now felt oddly comforting. On the desk awaited fresh sheets, clean towels, a laundry bag for their used bedding, and neatly stacked books and notebooks prepared for their upcoming classes.

"Guys?" Ethan suddenly paused, sniffing suspiciously. "What is that awful smell?"

Gabe and Tim exchanged a glance, quickly dissolving into laughter. Ethan, oblivious to their amusement, continued searching frantically. "Seriously, it's terrible! Where's it coming from?" he insisted.

Barely able to speak through his laughter, Gabe finally managed, "It's us, you dummy!"

Realization dawning, Ethan grimaced, quickly pulling his shirt over his head and throwing it onto the floor. He glanced down and recoiled in horror as tiny forest bugs crawled across his skin. Panic immediately set in, and Ethan bolted toward the bathroom, tearing off his clothes along the way.

As Ethan rounded the corner into the shower area, he slipped on the wet floor, tumbling forward. Tim, already mid-shower and covered head-to-toe in soap, froze in shock, eyes wide and mouth agape as Ethan barreled toward him, completely naked.

Hearing the commotion, Gabe rushed in to investigate and immediately collapsed onto the bathroom floor in uncontrollable laughter. Tim, now sprawled on his back, dripping wet and still covered in soap, stared up at Ethan, who was desperately trying—and failing—to regain his footing. Ethan's face turned beet-red with embarrassment, but soon his own laughter burst forth, joining Gabe's infectious giggles.

Seeing an opportunity for playful revenge, Ethan grabbed the shower wand from the wall and turned it on Gabe, who was still laughing hysterically on the floor. Tim finally relaxed into the absurdity of the moment, joining their laughter as the three friends surrendered fully to the humor of their predicament.

Ten minutes later, they emerged from the bathroom, freshly cleaned and still laughing, as they changed their sheets, cleaned the dorm up, and got ready to meet the girls for their first real meal in days.

"Hurry up, Kelly! We have to meet the guys for dinner!" Steph shouted impatiently, peeking through the slightly cracked bathroom door. "You've been in there twenty minutes!"

The atmosphere in the ladies' dorm was starkly different from the guys'. Kelly and Steph constantly competed for bathroom time, each determined to outdo the other in primping and preparation. Eliza, the effortless hometown beauty, shook her head and smiled quietly to herself. With her quick showers, fresh clothes, and ponytail, she was always ready long before her friends. "Maybe they'll eventually figure out a routine," she murmured with amused resignation.

Ethan, Gabe, and Tim finished readying themselves for dinner, their TapWatches vibrating with timely reminders. They headed to the mess hall, eyes scanning the bustling room for familiar faces. Tim spotted Eliza, Kelly, and Steph already seated at their usual table, the girls' faces lighting up as they noticed the approaching trio.

"There they are!" Steph waved excitedly, beckoning them over.

The group settled comfortably, eagerly filling their trays with cafeteria-style food. After recent days spent in the wilderness, the simple meal felt like gourmet cuisine. Their conversation flowed effortlessly, filled with laughter and shared experiences from their survival training.

"You guys won't believe what happened earlier," Gabe began, chuckling as he glanced mischievously at Ethan and Tim.

Ethan groaned, covering his face dramatically. "Do we really have to tell this story?"

"Absolutely," Gabe insisted, grinning widely. "Ethan freaked out about some bugs crawling on him and ran into the bathroom—completely naked."

Steph burst out laughing. "Wait, seriously?"

"Oh, it gets better," Gabe continued, barely suppressing laughter. "He slipped on the wet floor and crashed straight into Tim, who was mid-shower. They ended up sprawled out together like some kind of soap-covered wrestling match."

Tim's face flushed deep crimson, and he stared down at his tray, embarrassed but smiling.

Steph raised an eyebrow, smirking playfully at Tim. "Oh, I bet you enjoyed that, didn't you, Timmy?"

Tim's blush intensified, and he fumbled awkwardly with his fork, making everyone laugh even harder.

"Okay, okay," Ethan interrupted, his face still red but grinning. "Can we move past the traumatic shower experience now?"

The group continued laughing, their camaraderie evident. Steph dramatically raised her canteen of water, making a mock toast. "To new adventures—and fewer bathroom accidents!"

"And to surviving the wilderness!" Kelly added with mock seriousness, eyes glinting with humor. "May we never have to eat bugs again!"

The group erupted in laughter, their voices blending harmoniously with the lively atmosphere of the bustling mess hall.

Rumors of Jimmy's so-called angelic encounter had quickly spread throughout the mess hall, generating a whirlwind of speculation and skepticism. In a society that viewed angels and the Bible as mere myths and fictional tales, the incident became immediate fodder for jokes and whispers. "He probably ate some bad mushrooms and hallucinated the whole thing," a girl at the neighboring table theorized loudly to her friends.

Steph, ever curious, overheard the ongoing chatter and immediately perked up, leaning toward the table beside her. "Hey, Kayla!" Steph called, causing Ethan and his friends to glance her way.

"Does she literally know everyone?" Tim whispered to Ethan, who simply nodded knowingly.

"Oh, hey, Steph!" Kayla replied enthusiastically. "What's the tea?" She quickly got up and squeezed herself between Steph and Kelly at their table, eyes glittering with excitement.

"So, what's the deal with this angel thing?" Steph asked, her tone conspiratorial.

Kayla smirked, clearly entertained. "Jimmy claims he saw some kind of angel out in the woods," she explained sarcastically. "But honestly, he probably ate some weird plant and hallucinated the whole thing. He was wandering around out there for hours." She laughed, clearly amused by the absurdity of it all.

Ethan tensed slightly, a sinking feeling developing in his stomach as Kayla detailed Jimmy's wild claims. Gabe leaned closer, whispering softly into Ethan's ear, "Interesting how Jimmy conveniently left out the part where he bullied Tim and almost killed him."

Tim, overhearing, turned toward Ethan, his voice barely a whisper and noticeably shaky. "Ethan… was that you?"

A guilty expression flashed across Ethan's face, betraying his inner turmoil. He hadn't expected Jimmy to actually spread the story—and certainly not for it to gain this much attention. Who could have imagined that anyone would actually believe it?

Ethan glanced over at Tim and nodded subtly. Tim blushed slightly, quickly dropping his gaze to the food on his tray. He tried to rejoin the conversation, but his mind kept drifting. "I can't believe someone would do that for me," he whispered softly to himself, stealing another quick glance at Ethan. Tim's stomach churned with a growing sense of guilt over the secret he was still keeping from Ethan and Gabe.

Suddenly, the mess hall fell eerily silent as Admiral Levine appeared in the doorway, quietly speaking with an instructor. Ethan turned cautiously, noticing Major Green scanning the crowded room carefully. Major Green pointed purposefully toward a table several rows behind Ethan's, where Jimmy Dorsey sat quietly. Admiral Levine was a familiar figure—his image adorned numerous walls throughout the facility—but his actual presence was a rare and significant event. As the admiral approached Jimmy, it became increasingly obvious to Ethan and Gabe that he was there specifically for Jimmy.