I kept my hand on my knees to stop my legs from its constant nervous bouncing. Keeping my breathing under control was something that I was used to as well as controlling my heart beat, but this situation was out of my own control. I wasn’t the one in charge here and that was unnerving to me.

“Come in, Chávez.” Yuck. That’s unnerving Winch is using my last name to call for me. Now, I knew this was all business. I had to forget once I walked into this room that Winch was my oldest friend. No, for the next half an hour he was my Sargent.

“Yes sir!” I announced loud and got up from my seat.

I adjusted my beret and straightened my clothes, glad that I chose to wear my grey trousers with my uniform instead of the skirt. I wasn’t comfortable in it and I think I am going to need every ounce of support when I speak to these two. What happened in the court yard hadn’t felt normal, in fact it felt like I had witnessed something I wasn’t supposed to.

I entered the room with all the confidence I had in me. I didn’t falter or shake when I saluted Winch and the two men who were standing by the chalk board.

“Corporal Ainsley Chávez!” I stand to attention and the US Sargent saluted me and told me I could relax.

“Corporal, I am Sargent Gerald Snider and this is my bodyguard.” He didn’t bother to give me his name and I didn’t ask for it. If I am not supposed to know something than there was a reason for it. If I was a naïve new recruit and asked for his name then I would have failed me on the spot. Sort of like taking your driving test and forgetting to check your rearview mirror before driving off. Big mistake.

“Pleasure to meet you sirs.”

Gerald gestures at a nearby chair and instructs me to sit. Second mistake would have been to take a sit without him telling me too. I walk slowly to the chair and my eyes move over to Winch for some silent emotional support, but he looked out of it. Like he was lost somewhere day dreaming. That wasn’t normal for him, not even a little.

I open my mouth to ask him if he was ok, but a cough distracts me and Gerald point at the chair again. “Briskly now Ms. Chávez.” Did this asshole just refer to me as a Miss and not as a soldier? Not letting that one slide.

“That’s Corporal Chávez, Sir.” I snap and his dark companion snickers. Gerald pulls back him hand and purses his lips.

“For the next few minutes you can prove if you really deserve to be call a soldier.”

“No sir, for the next few minutes you get to explain why you had the audacity to demand I attend this interview.” When he stutters his friends snickers again, I simply smile and take my seat.

“Look at that. She’s got you by the balls.” His companion’s deep and smooth voice filters in. “Don’t insult a soldier, Gerald. You know better.” The emo looking one was the one with manners, good to know.

While seated I took my time to take both of these men in. Gerald was first and his age was well hidden, but I think he was well into his late thirties. He was fidgeting with his uniform again like he had in the yard and his hat was thrown with no care on the desk by his thighs. His short brown hair, definitely looked long for the army and his eyes were also brown. Your typical average Joe. His body is tall, but toned. He stood proud and the scowl he was giving me right now ruined his sweet features. He didn’t look sweet though.

On the other hand, his still nameless bodyguard was the opposite. He was comfortable leaning on the wall by the window. When he walked towards me it wasn’t rushed. He had all the time in the world. He didn’t carry himself like a soldier, but at the same time he didn’t appear to be helpless either. I didn’t see any sort of weapons on him. Nothing hard looking under any of his clothes, well except his physique. It was hard in all the right places.

My eyes moved upwards to his face and I caught him giving me the exact same examination I had been giving him. His eyes were a hard-grey colour, not exactly black, but not blue either. His features were hard and roguish. His nose was slightly crooked at the bridge from a long-ago previous break. His black hair was longer that I had expected it to be. It was hanging off his shoulder in a thick messy braid. It matched his oddly pale skin. I thought American’s all got fake tans.

His clenched his gloved hands and took a step closer to me his heavy steps pounding onto the wooden floor. When, I didn’t even flinch, but instead raise my eyebrow in question he looked a bit surprised.

Then… he took a deep inhale. “Did you just sniff me?” I ask folding my arms and giving him the most disgusted gut grunt I could muster. He leans down a few centimeters and his face is disturbingly close to mine. He was staring at me intently like he was looking for something on my face. Maybe he is looking to see if I was nervous. He was concentrating so hard it was becoming funny. He was leaning in closer and I couldn’t help it, I snapped my teeth at him and to my amusement he flinched moving back a few centimeters. What surprised me was the megawatt delighted smile that eclipsed his face.

“You got an attitude problem.” He announces with a perfect pearly white smile.

“No, I have an attitude problem and you just sniffed me how is one supposed to react to that?” I ask.

“How about one doesn’t refer to themselves as one?” He says bending low while smiling at me. He turns to Gerald and speaks. “Never had someone snap their teeth at me before.” That was a strange way to phrase that sentence. Gerald snickers into his closed fist.

“I could get myself a drink and watch you both for a few more minutes since this is amusing but I don’t have the time for that.” Gerald said. “Step away.” He ordered the man staring down at me, but he didn’t move. “Fine. Corporal Chávez, this is Zeek. Our job offer directly involves him.”

“Am I supposed to be his bodyguard?” I ask and Zeek smiles.

“That would be cute to see.” I return his smile with a sardonic one of my own.

“You’re not far off. In our operation –.”

“Which I am assuming is illegal.” I interrupt not breaking my intimidation staring contest.

“We don’t like that word. To not confuse you too much we deploy a team of two on missions at all times. Zeek here would be your Alpha on the Squad and you would be his beta. Being an excellent sniper and with your accuracy we decided you would be a good fit for him.”

“Why don’t you already have a partner?” I ask Zeek.

“He retired.” He said smoothly.

I look at Zeek with confusion. “If it was due to injury, I’m sorry, if it was due to age, which seeing how young you are is unlikely, good for him.”

“It was due to his age. Popeye was at the 58. Decided he had enough of being away from home.” Gerald said increasing my confusion.

“Why the hell did you scout him so old? That doesn’t make sense.”

“We didn’t.” Zeek said with a rumble in his voice. “Pops was 29 when we started working together.”

“Yeah, your math is off there chap.”

“It isn’t, Love.” He taunts.

“Why only two people per mission? That seems ridiculous and dangerous.” I ask to change the subject because Zeek was starting to annoy me.

“Zeek doesn’t need an entire platoon slowing him down.” I snort and look away from Zeek, towards Gerald.

“Yeah, sure.” I drawl. “Listen I don’t know what super hero project you have him in, but I am not dying in the field so you guys can test drive him. His fragile ego isn’t my problem.” I get up trying to push passed him, but I couldn’t budge him. It was like I was pushing against a brick wall.

“I assure you his ego has nothing to do with it. He is very dangerous.” Gerald declares.

“I was aware of that when I saw all the guns pointed at him.”

“It was adorable that they thought guns would stop me.” He whispers sinisterly flashing me his teeth again. Why does he keep doing that?

“I am sure it’s going to be super adorbs when you’re twitching on the ground.” I turn to Winch to speak to him, but he still hasn’t moved. Instead he is looking out of the window now. It wasn’t like him to not speak. Even to him this must sound questionable.

“I assure you, unless you’re a complete idiot you’ll walk out of this with a lovely retirement plan and hopefully all your limbs.”

“Lovely, but no thank you.” I answer not paying attention to anything other than my friend.

“Winch are you ok?” I try to walk to him, but Zeek stops me from approaching.

“We know you’re worried about him, but we only need your attention for a few more minutes.”

I look at Gerald and something felt off. “You see Zeek here is capable of many things. He once stormed a building, through hostile territory and with almost one hundred armed soldiers. He came out of it with a few smudges and left everyone dead.”

My body went cold. What kind of game where these two even playing? Unless he walked into a building with a bomb strapped to him that is the only way I could see him taking out over a hundred soldiers solo, but the only way he was walking out of that situation was in many pieces not one.

“I don’t know where you both came from, but I am done with this bullshit. Pack up your one man army and get the hell out.” I warn.

“I know it sounds far-fetched, but it’s true. He is somewhat unkillable.”

I sneer at both of them and I look at Winch again. “I can’t believe you are sitting there letting this crap go on.”

I move away from the brute and lightly touch Winch’s shoulder. He doesn’t acknowledge my presence in any way. This catatonic behavior was worrying. I need to call the medic.

“Winch, talk to me.” I say gently. When he doesn’t answer alarm bells go off in my head. Alarm bells that had been playing since the moment these two had arrived. I couldn’t ignore them anymore. “Why does it always come to this?” Zeek scratches his smooth chin and squares his shoulders.

“Sorry, Edge. The faster we show her the faster we get out of here.”

“Fuck you too.”

“Who is Edge?” I ask dumbly as if that was important information right now.

Gerald reaches for the gun that was clipped onto his belt and points in at Zeek’s head.

“What are you doing?” I ask sharply.

“Shooting him.” Gerald announces calmly.

“Move!” I shout, but I wasn’t fast enough. Gerald had pulled the trigger and aimed the bullet right between Zeek’s eyes.