At the Twilight of Mankind

Part 21 - Chapter 5: (2/6) Advanced Society

THE COMPETITION

It has been almost two weeks since Jeremy joined Libra Justice as part of Sarah and Stephan's team. Malik's warnings about the organisation's personnel have proved true. The two young people are as distant and haughty as the other agents and Mr. Vaughen. Jeremy is so happy to be able to meet his best friend at the end of his long work days. The latter, who continues his studies at university, is equally delighted to meet Jeremy to hear his anecdotes as a new recruit. The young man tells him in detail about the training sessions, the training, the latest combat equipment and the rigour of the rules to follow on a daily basis.

Standing a few feet behind Jeremy, Sarah watches the slender figure of the young man, his broad shoulders, his muscular arms and the red scars on his bare back. This is the first time she has seen him topless. They don't normally need to practise together for swimming, but this week they have decided to go to the pool together.

"I'd never noticed the scars on your back," Sarah dares to say as she comes to stand next to Jeremy by the pool.

"My war medals with the sun," Jeremy replies seriously, then he turns his head towards Sarah to give her a big smile.

"Did the sun do this to you?" She asks sadly.

"Move," Stephan suddenly interrupts them, patting his sister on the shoulder to come between her and Jeremy. "Are we ready for the competition?" He exclaims.

"If you want," Jeremy retorts, staring straight ahead.

"Thirty?" Stephan suggests, rolling his shoulders.

"Okay," Jeremy replies.

"Forty!" Sarah exclaims seriously, looking straight ahead. Her brother and Jeremy immediately turn to her, frowning. Stephan waits a moment for Jeremy to talk Sarah out it first. The three young people are standing in front of an Olympic swimming pool that is 50 meters (164 feet) long. Jeremy remains silent, still gazing straight ahead, waiting for Stephan to decline or accept his sister's challenge.

"Okay," Stephan finally replies, taking a deep breath.

"Okay," Jeremy says, getting into position.

Stephan and Sarah do the same.

"3,..." Sarah starts counting down out loud. "2, 1."

The three young bodies throw themselves into the water with perfect synchronisation. With each breath taken, Jeremy takes the opportunity to look how far Stephan is from him. Until lap twenty, the two men are literally neck and neck, but soon Jeremy starts to get ahead of Stephan. On the last lap, Jeremy wonders where Sarah is at. He can't see the young woman on his side, but he can hear water splashing in front of him, a few meters away. Did I count wrong? Jeremy wonders as he speeds up to catch up with Sarah. At the specific moment when he touches the edge, he hears her come out of the water. Jeremy catches his breath a few minutes before getting out too.

"How can you swim so fast so long?" Jeremy asks Sarah without hiding his admiration as he is still catching his breath.

"Breathing! You're too busy kicking violently like crazy to think about breathing deeply." She replies calmly, handing him a towel. Then, when she sees Stephan coming out of the water, she throws another towel into the pool, saying:

"Catch!"

With a smooth, brisk movement, Stephan grabs the towel mid-flight, but not fast enough to prevent one end from getting wet. Stephan twists the end of the towel that has taken on the water before bringing it to his face to dry his head, torso, and arms vigorously.

"What game are you playing here?" he finally says to his sister who is glaring at him without saying a word.

"That'll teach you not to push me," she replies, crossing her arms under her breasts in a defensive posture.

"What? What are you on about? I didn't push you, did I?" Stephan retorts dismissively, opening his arms and looking at Jeremy for approval.

Jeremy looks down at his feet to avoid his teammate's gaze, but he can't help a giggle. He quickly follows Sarah who is already heading to the showers.