The Program [COMPLETED]

Chapter Sixty-One

"Easy does it, now. I'm looking for a good, clean fight," Aiden ordered.

Roman and Virgil stood on opposite ends of the mat, poised for their long awaited duel. The Second Unit training centre was alive with recruits training in their spare time, but it was Roman and Virgil who were the real focus of the room.

Zariah, Kerian, Farley and Theo stood by Aiden, placing their bets. The shiny metal from Virgil's prosthetic arm glinted in the light, and he cracked his neck, waiting for Aiden's cue. It had been three months since the attack on Eskium, and things were livelier than ever both in the Units and in the country. Roman had taken a break from his ever-busy schedule to visit Aiden and the others in Second Unit for the ceremony that many of the people in the Units had been anticipating for months. It was time that Aiden acknowledge the events of the Eskium battle, and give credit where credit was due,

"What's taking so long? Just call it already," Virgil snorted.

"Alright, alright. Bets have been placed?" Aiden turned to Zariah, who nodded.

"I put twenty on you, Virgil, you better not let me or your fiancée down!" Theo hollered. "I have a baby to feed!"

"Shut up, Theo, you degenerate," Virgil rolled his eyes.

"Hurry it up," Roman insisted. "We've been waiting a long time for this."

"Three, two, one... fight!" Aiden shouted.

Virgil and Roman circled around each other, keeping track of their every move. Roman struck first, lunging for Virgil's legs, which Virgil blocked and twisted Roman's dominant arm. The rebel managed to wriggle free, striking Virgil's back, and toppling both of them onto the mat. They grappled, both of them struggling to pin one another onto the padded floor below. Just when it looked like Virgil was about to win, Roman would gain the upper hand, and vice versa.

Meanwhile, Zariah, Theo, Kerian and Farley were having a great time observing the match.

"Get him, Virgil!"

"Go for the legs! Yeah! That's it, Roman, you got him!"

"Watch it! Watch it!"

"He's yours, Virgil, he's yours!"

"Watch your peripherals, Roman!"

Eventually, a buzzing sound indicated the end of the fight.

"Back to your sides, back to your sides!" Aiden yelled. Roman and Virgil separated, breathing heavily, their hair messy and clothes roughed up.

"Well, who won?" Virgil panted.

"You can't lie to me and say this infer beat me," Roman breathed. "Aiden, please."

Aiden glanced at his friends, who nodded in agreement. Aiden turned back to Virgil and Roman, his face solemn. "I'm afraid it's a tie, gentlemen."

"What?!" Virgil and Roman both exclaimed in unison.

"You're fucking with me," Virgil scoffed. He looked at Roman, pointing and Aiden discontentedly. "He's fucking with me."

"I want a rematch," Roman demanded. He returned to his end of the mat, holding his position. "Well? Come on then, a rematch."

"We haven't got any time for a rematch," Zariah reminded them. "The ceremony's in a few minutes. You took an awfully long time for a rebel and a super soldier, and only to tie it too. It was like watching two sad trainees have a go at each other."

"Think you could do better?" Roman raised an eyebrow.

"Actually, I've fought her before, and it's not an experience I'd like to replicate," Virgil winced, scratching his head at the memory. "I'll take the tie, man. But next time, definitely, we'll have a rematch."