Cherub: The Training Exercise

Chapter 1

James hated punishments, especially those that involved doing a marathon of laps round the athletics track. He had got 100 along with Bruce, Kyle and Gabrielle after playing an elaborate prank involving cold water in a freezing storage unit. They had all started at the same time and it had turned it to an unspoken but very competitive race. James being the strongest and Gabrielle being the fittest were in the lead coming up to the half waypoint, 50 laps in. It was at this point that they saw Zara standing by the shelter with Bruce and Kyle already there.

They jogged over there panting realizing they had over done it massively and were very grateful for the interruption. Bruce and Kyle were in hysterics for some reason and Gabrielle and James looked at each other wondering how they had made a fool of themselves. Zara smiled 'we've been trying to get your attention for about five laps but you were so focused on your race you didn't see us standing here. 'What' James and Gabrielle gasped together, and at this Bruce fell to the ground rolling in hysterics.

'Now that you are all here I've assemble you here for a massive training exercise, one of the largest that has ever taken place. It will cancel out any punishments and lessons for a while if you choose to accept. James was the first to accept and he did so without hesitation. The others, smiling at James' enthusiasm at getting off the long list of punishments he had acquired and all his lessons, agreed a few seconds after him.

After going back to his room showering and changing his clothes, putting on a fresh black shirt that had been sent up that morning, headed out to the newish mission control building, which had been upgraded even more quite recently. He met up with Kyle outside and then they went into Zara's office, which was the largest, and they soon found out that it was for a reason, there were over thirty kids already there. Zara pushed her way through the crowd of teenagers and called for quiet when she got to her desk.

'Now' she asked, ' can anyone tell me why we have chosen you to be here'. There was a moment's pause as they looked around the room. As always Kerry and Lauren's hands were up in the air first, competitively trying to be the best. James thought he knew the answer but was happy letting the others get credit and satisfaction. Kerry said it was because there were even numbers of shirts (black, grey and navy) and got told no. Lauren said even boys and girls. Zara again rejected the answer saying that there was a reason for each individual getting picked for the exercise. A few more tried their luck before James tried his answer. A few started to giggle expecting the witty answer James usually provided. Zara obviously had the same thought and said exasperatedly, 'yes James'. "Is it because none of us have been on missions for over a year for whatever reasons apart from Lauren' (punishment he thought to himself). Zara looked surprised, that's it exactly the reason, James, well done' she said.

All of a sudden he felt quite smug and he saw Kerry and Lauren's disappointed faces and he felt even smugger. Zara explained that because for whatever reasons they had not been on missions they had all been picked for this training exercise to keep them on the ball and because she felt they deserved it.