The morning started with hope and excitement .

Power Upgrade.

Adrenaline Rush.

And ended in pure suffering.

10x Gravity Training Challenge.

A living hell.

For sixty agonizing minutes, Samuel and Danny clawed through the jungle track, every step a war cry, every breath a prayer for mercy.

Their bodies trembled.

Their sweat poured like rivers.

Their telepathic curses flew like daggers:

"Hell Order is a sadist. I'm convinced."

"If we survive this, I'm deleting the word 'challenge' from my vocabulary forever."

And yet… they made it.

Track complete.

Timer hit with seconds to spare.

No words were exchanged.

Just a crawl back to the room where they collapsed like broken mannequins on the floor. The bed is had the lingering foul smell.

1:00 PM — D.O.P.E. Hostel Block

They didn't move until 12:58 PM. Zap by Hell Order alarm clock.

Damn!

Then, in unison:

"LUNCH. CAFETERIA. NOW."

They erupted from their room like wild animals released from containment.

Trays piled. Juice chugged. Noodles inhaled.

They ate like kings recovering from battle.

1:59 PM — X Store Level 1

Store Duty check-in.

Samuel and Danny arrived semi-revived, mentally prepped to survive whatever Agent Nick had planned.

Agent Nick stood by the counter, clipboard in hand. His smile?

Too practiced. Too smug.

"Ah, gentlemen," he purred. "Perfect timing. Store duty, yes?"

The boys nodded politely.

Telepathic stream:

"Brace for passive-aggressive sabotage."

"If he gives us toilet duty, I'm faking an allergy to bleach."

Nick smirked. "Today, you'll be handling deep cleaning. Back inventory section. Shelves. Floors. Crates. Every corner spotless. I don't want to see even a single speck of dust. Welcome to X-Store operations."

Danny blinked. "You mean mop-and-bucket kind of cleaning?"

"Exactly," Nick said smoothly. "Enjoy."

They gave restrained nods and turned away silently.

"He's the type who irons his sarcasm."

"I'm scrubbing floors with fury in my soul."

They grabbed gloves, buckets, and brooms—then marched into the store.

Nasty cockroach under shelfs. Dusty shelfs. Black color stain full floor.

A true rusty store.

3:03 PM — Mid-Cleaning Mayhem

They were mid-sweep.

Joking telepathically about prediction of Nick's reaction when they expose their new power level-

"SAMUEL!"

They froze.

The brooms dropped.

That voice. That tone.

Danny turned slowly.

Samuel stiffened.

Standing at the entrance, arms crossed, lips tight, rage flickering in her eyes—

Samuel's mom.

Trailing behind her? Footsteps.

"Mom?" Samuel croaked. "What are you..."

She wasn't here to chat.

"You promised me and Danny's parents that you two were working on a one-year media development initiative." Her voice trembled with disappointment. "Playing Janitor is not part of the deal!."

Danny mouthed silently: oh no.

"I'm heartbroken," she continued. "You broke your word. One year, we said. If it didn't work will look for stable jobs. Corporate kind. Benefits. Not mop-and-bucket nonsense. Is this what you're fighting for?"

Samuel tried. "Mom, it's not what—"

"No! You're wiping floors!" She turned to Danny. "And you...get ready. I'm calling your mom. They're going to hear everything. This ends today."

Danny looked helplessly at Samuel.

Samuel looked at the mop… then back at his mom.

She was already dialing.

He snapped telepathically:

"Danny...get to Vick. Now. If we don't fix this, we're going back to civilian life today."

Danny nodded and bolted toward the secret elevator.

Samuel's mom lowered the phone. "Where's he going? Danny's parents want to speak to him."

Samuel forced composure. "He went to inform our chief. He'll call them back once we have clearance."

She eyed him warily—but shared her location with Danny's parents anyway.

"I'm done talking. She is coming now. I expected better from you Sammy."

Her disappointment stung deeper than any training zap.

Samuel bowed his head. "Ma… this is bigger than it looks. I can't explain without clearance. Please wait for Danny's mom."

3:20 PM — Reinforcements Arrive

Danny returned—with Agent Vick.

And Vick looked... deeply uncomfortable.

"Why do I feel like a school teacher about to get chewed out by angry parents?"

Still, he stepped forward with professional grace.

"Good afternoon, madam," he greeted Samuel's mom. "How can I help?"

Her reply? Instant. Sharp. She snapped!

"Are you their boss? We're taking them home today. They're not working here anymore. What's the procedure?"

Silence.

Employees nearby winced. Some froze.

Agent Vick was a high-ranking officer.

No one spoke to him like that.

Samuel whispered, "Mom… please. Show respect."

Vick raised a hand. "It's alright."

Then, politely: "Madam, perhaps we should speak in my office. Confidentially."

Samuel's mom folded her arms. "We'll wait for Danny's mother. She'll be here in twenty minutes."

"Of course," Vick said. "Boys, escort your parents when they're ready."

He retreated. He did not want to linger.

Samuel gestured to the nearest chair. "Mom, please sit. We'll finish up and join you once Danny;s mom is here!"

She opened her mouth.

He fled before she could respond.

Back to the mop.

Danny joined him.

Neither looked up.

They wiped shelves with surgical precision just to avoid eye contact.

Samuel's mom sat silently.

Eyes glistening.

Watching her son clean like a janitor.

Her heart breaking quietly.

3:45 PM — Danny's mom arrived.

Furious.

She stepped into the store, spotted her son bent over a rack she then launched at him.

Ear twist. Full force.

"Mom—MOM! Wait!" Danny yelped. "No violence! We need to meet our boss..please!"

Samuel's mom jumped in. "Jenny—wait. I feel like something's off here. Look at the staff… look at our kids..."

Samuel joined them. "Come with us. No questions. Not yet."

They guided them to the hidden cabinet.

Pressed the glyph.

Stepped into the secret elevator.

The mothers duo stared in shock as the lift descended into a pristine underground base.

Just order.

Just secrets.

Samuel whispered: "Welcome to our real base. We can't speak until you've been briefed."

They walked past agents in suits, officers in uniform none of them ordinary.

The moms followed silent now. Questions multiplying within their heart. Pulse racing. Reaching the office door. Samuel knocked.

"Come in," Vick said.

They entered. The boys saluted.

"Good evening, Chief!"

Vick nodded. "At ease, Agents."

Both moms blinked Agents?

"Please sit, ladies," Vick said, his voice lower now. Calmer. He folded his hands.

"Before we speak further you must sign an NDA. What you're about to learn must remain confidential. Forever. No exceptions."

His stare deepened.

"The moment you sign there's no turning back."

The room went still.

Both mothers swallowed hard.

Their eyes met for a moment then, silently, both nodded.

Agent Vick reached into his desk drawer and placed two identical documents before them. At first glance, they resembled standard formal letters. But at the top embossed and unmistakable the letterhead of Walaysia's Ministry of Defense.

The seal alone made their hands tremble slightly.

Below, in the designated signature box, their names and national ID numbers were already printed.

No room for ambiguity. No room for refusal.

The mothers exchanged one last glance, then lowered their eyes to the page. Their hands moved slowly but deliberately as they reviewed every line.

And with steady hands, they signed.

To Be Continue