Following the military profile of the paratroopers, they were made to run for four hours while the five-man army team maintained an abusively fast pace. Billy ran alongside Jack Saud Kate, and to his surprise, Kate was ier shape than the smoker Jack Sauce, who was exhausted after just two kilometers. He gave up and decided to wait. The ps were one kilometer each around the Air Force base, which had been invaded in 1941. It was iing to see how it had been renovated.

  What’s four hours of running? That's at least 20 kilometers at a slow pace. The military cart carried a pletely pale Jack, drained by the physical exertion. Though he wasn’t disqualified, he lost fa front of Kate, who seemed eager and in much better dition.

  Billy had never dohis kind of exercise before, and after two hours of tinuous jogging, he was pletely exhausted, just like Kate. Her flushed and sweaty face gave her a certaiy, though it also stripped away some of her charm—at least to most people. To Billy, she looked like a woman after sex, like someone who had spent a long afternoon in passion.

  They finished uhe shade of the military base, drinking water and watg the elite soldiers, who seemed to be in the same state. Exhausted, they began jump exercises from oer high, practig falls, how to nd, and how to position themselves when the parachute deploys. Leg strength and teique were crucial, as mastering a parachute nding isn’t easy.

  The jump had already been pnned with hey would use five professionals who would jump with Billy—one a sed before him, and another a sed after—depending on the shot. They would sweep the sky to support Billy in case of any issues. It was almost like a chraphed routine. Many cameras were set up, and all the footage would be captured live, with rge cameras attached to their faces. However, the main shots would be staged in a studio using wind maes and CGI.

  The makeup team appeared. They o record at least three takes. This time, they would capture some of the military training. Acc to Billy’s pn, they needed a three-minute shot at most for a small MVA, one minute for anment, and three 30-sed parts. This was the crucial key to the entire operation.

  -The camera will arrive shortly, - one of Kate Bosworth’s team members murmured, overheard by both Billy and Jack, who were also with their respective makeup artists.

  -You run more than you look. That was a brutal workout, - Billy murmured to Jabsp; Sauce was still pale after the run, coughing too much to respond. Smoking and exercise clearly don’t mix. Kate tried to step back to look Billy in the face, but the makeup artist wouldn’t let her.

  -The rock star life isn’t patible with exercise, - Jack Sauce muttered. Even in his military uniform, he looked rough—or at least that’s what Kate thought, though she hid it well.

  -Yeah, yeah, just give me a breather, - mumbled the young man as they begaoug his makeup. For that and other reasons, he o look good for the cameras.

  Major Walce stood in front of the three of them. - Based on the results, we’ll see if you’re capable of tinuing the training. Without my approval, you won’t have the ce to participate in the reme sports ercial. -

  It was a lie. Nike had only asked for basic training and ditioning, and they had enerous sponsorships to make everything possible and reizable. But this art of a scheme by Jerry, a false arm of sorts, punishing Billy for defying corporate agendas. However, Jack Sauotig the blonde beauty sitting nearby, didn’t mind. Even in hell, he wasn’t going to give up that bombshell.

  -Well, thank you, Captain. We’ll follow your instrus, - Jack Sauce replied, the worst of the three. His only foow was getting closer to the blonde. One look was all it took for Billy to uand that leaving Kate alone was the best option.

  -We’ll proceed to the raining session. Later, you’ll meet the recruits who, even though their course has been accelerated by five months, have the necessary skills. For now, you should learn some basicepts, - said Walce. As a captain, his voiever ged—her too loud nor too soft, just enough to silehers and be heard.

  The expnation was simple.

  The practices they would follow were brief and stant, small jumps, and falls from metal harnesses... The harnesses were structures held by a special in a web-like shape. With a hook, it resembled the design of a parachute, and the pulley system went up and down, up and down... in such a way that many practice exercises could be performed. It was almost like a swing going up and dowwo mieag the soldiers how to nd, and managing the tension of the jump and movement. A fairly reliable imitation of the jolt from parachuting, it was excessive. Billy would jump from 3,000 feet, while the soldiers jumped from 1,200 feet to minimize the time in the air. With enough time and pnning, the impact could be reduced. It was an excessive training.

  ...

  It was mid-afternoon, and the base, in principle, was a remote pce. With no nearby bar, restaurant, or social activity, the only option was to use the small puter to talk to their families, and on weekends, they had time off. Two hours away, there was a small town reserved for the team to take a break from the base, after all, they were not fully on duty.

  Jack Sauce was extremely tired and even vomited by the end, his pns to be with the woman he wanted shattered in plete failure.

  -I think you blew it pletely, mate, - ented Billy as he watched the soldiers talking to the beautiful blohey surrounded her without any ulterior motive, primarily aiming to proted help her, just a disied following.

  Jack Sauce smiled. The first round was a miss, but the sed round was his time. For the first time, it was good to have one of the most talented musis in history by his side. Billy was a genius with the guitar and piano, and his ret work on the violin; was fantastic.

  -e on! You know just as well as I do that we’re different. They may be athletid strong... but they ’t pete with me. I’m giving them an advantage, - said Jack.

  He almost touched on the subjearried women, but held bapletely, knowing Billy wouldn’t want to go there.

  -What do you think about practig some music? I’ve been wanting to do backup vocals for a while, but I haven’t gotten the ce, - Jack Sauce remarked, showing a strong desire to get bato musien couldn’t resist a well-sung song; the soul of a rocker was the only arrow a musi needed.

  -Ohhhh, I see. I hope it’s worth it! So much hassle. Don’t let my talent overshadow you; it’s not my fault if she chooses the best, - Billy sighed, tinuing to tease. The fact was that Jack could only sing simple songs.

  -Use Somebody by Kings of Leon seems like a good song, has some bass, and it’s not too demanding, - replied Billy.

  -I’ve got something in mind. I was thinking Inplete, or Vertigo. It has a more powerful guitar, and although it may not seem like it, I know the song. You back me up, - said Jack.

  It was incredible because Billy khat Jack had refused to do the backup vocals for Vertigo with him before, but now he couldn't help but ugh. He’d make Jack sing now, even if it was just shouting out the lyrics. Singing on stage was plicated and unique in many ways.

  -Women dominate you, Jack! You know, buddy, that’s not good. You’ve got to be more like your friend Billy, he just goes with the flow, - the blond remarked, hitting Ja the shoulder. A that was oip of Jack's tongue vanished. Some might say it was love at first sight.

  -We all have our weaknesses, Billy, - Jack said, as both of them tio the dining hall. Being ay base in principle... for that reason and others, the food acked, rations for the week. It was a slow meal, Jack was still exhausted, and hunger wasly what he had in mind... he handed his tray to Billy after seeing him eyeing the food, only keeping his drink and a tuna sandwich.

  ...

  ?????

  Empty spaces fill me up with holesDistant faces with no pce left to goWithout you, within me I find Where I'm going is anybody's guess

  I tried to go on like I never knew youI'm awake but my world is half asleepI pray for this heart to be unbrokenBut without you all I'm going to be is, inplete

  ?????

  …

  Jack Sauce’s voice was good, at least he didn’t make rookie mistakes. He pyed each string perfectly while the two guys performed at their own pace, without any hint of dire, a cappel, in a secluded er, but they surely attracted people around them. Even without meaning to, the soldiers knew who Billy Carson was. He was famous, very famous.

  ...

  ?????

  Voices tell me I should carry onBut I am swimming in an o all aloneBaby, my babyIt's written on your faceYou still wonder if we made a big mistake

  I tried to go on like I never knew youI'm awake but my world is half asleepI pray for this heart to be unbrokenBut without you all I'm going to be is, inplete

  ?????

  ...

  But Kate saw them pying, more than just pying; it was a way to have fun, two people deeply engrossed in what they were doing, without rushing. Long or short, the moment was ideal for such activities, but for Billy, it was therapeutic.

  Jack raised his head and gave a small wink to the woman on the side, with his expressed knowledge of how to charm. His fingers ran across the bass, and in a swift move, he followed the fast-paced lyrics.

  ...

  ?????

  I don't mean t it onBut I 't seem to let you goI don't wanna make you face this world aloneI wan you go (alone)

  I tried to go on like I never knew youI'm awake but my world is half asleepI pray for this heart to be unbrokenBut without you all I'm going to be is, inplete

  ?????

  ...