Chương 117: height.

His return to the series of activities he was used to was a long, multifaceted journey, filled with various challenges and conflicts. He went through countless jumps, learning how to fall and how not to fall. It's fair to say that physical activity of this magnitude now meant he had gained at least a minimal amount of experience in skydiving. Even Jack hadn't touched a cigarette or any form of tobacco or smoke for days now—it was a strange thing, trying to give his best.

-Well, scoundrels, you've completely surpassed my expectations. You've made a small step forward, but now comes a special exercise. This one can be questioned for its difficulty, and it will be different for each of you.- Major Wallace said, as they prepared for the drills. Once completed, they'd be considered graduated after their first jump, a difficult and controlled one.

It took some time to get to the right location and even more time to board the helicopter. The military accompanied them—there was no better teacher than practice itself. Alongside them, the soldiers looked a bit pale, as did Andrew, though he handled it with nerves of steel. They were all worthy soldiers, each possessing outstanding abilities in combat. Billy was already picking up some of these skills.

-The first to jump will be you—Andrew, Gray, David, Jack, and Thomas. Private Brighton will be the last to follow, as she already has experience compared to you.- Major Wallace instructed with certainty and authority, ensuring they all knew what had to be done. They boarded the helicopter, and before they knew it, they were ascending into the sky. The helicopter took them near the coast, free from any obstacles.

-Don't jump into the sea thinking it'll soften your fall. It's better to land on the grass. We've cleared the area of any rocks or uneven ground. Calculate the jump as I've explained before—let your body guide you, steer with your hands, and hold on to the ropes like we practiced. Be careful and make sure the parachute is secured before the jump.- Wallace shouted with force. The odds of the parachute not opening were practically nonexistent, thanks to the backup, so there was nothing to fear. The trick was not to get hurt during the landing. That's why they practiced the landing so much, from 3,000 feet in the air.

-Did you hear that, gentlemen? This is nothing compared to flying a plane. If we're afraid of something this simple, that would just be plain stupid.- Gray said as he jumped into the void, shouting something he really shouldn't have, but it was his first time. He felt the wind on his face, the ground so far below rushing up to meet him. The fall only took seconds. He spread his arms, feeling the wind hitting his face in full force. Then the parachute opened—a strong tug sent him soaring through the air, falling slowly, not fast, not easily. It was like a graceful descent, an arrogant flight that lifted him toward the sky.

In the helicopter, everyone watched Gray's fall with renewed courage. One by one, they jumped with their newfound strength, and Billy followed, laughing. Kate watched the descent with fear in her eyes. She had vertigo, which was normal—anyone would feel that way before such a task.

-You're up next.- Major Wallace ordered, standing tall and completely calm about what was happening. As they prepared to jump, Kate hesitated. That's why Private Brighton was by her side—he strapped their vests together, and they jumped together. Three weeks of training had not been in vain.

She jumped with the private, serious, and somewhat robust man, and the jump left her in shock. She could see the difference, but she made the jump without much trouble.

Billy was euphoric, filled with a reckless desire to leap, a desire that took him to the skies and made him feel alive. It was as if he were entering a state of emptiness, a place of peace and wildness. A place where he connected with nature itself. He opened his parachute and floated through the sky, a cloudy sky filled with mystery. It was a rapid journey of self-awareness, and in that moment, he felt the beauty of life—he felt alive, a being in harmony with existence.

He landed on the grass, just as he had practiced. He spun midair, walked in a quick circle, and found his balance after a big diagonal leap. He staggered a bit but managed to stick the landing. Even with the training, it was still far from easy.

***

He ran toward the soldiers, all of them having completed their jumps.

-That was intense. Don't you think? It was way more complicated than I expected.- Andrew said, breathing heavily, adrenaline still coursing through him after the jump.

-Well, now that we've completed the course, I don't see any more obstacles before we start flying. I can't wait to pilot a plane. - Gray murmured as he packed up his parachute, folding it neatly for the next use. The jump had been necessary, and worth it.

-The G-force on my face… - Thomas said with a grin, delighted at how fast he fell toward the ground, watching the earth's curvature, feeling like the stars were falling to meet him as he turned the plane.

-Their lives are something else. That sounds way more fun than just singing at a concert. - Billy chimed in.

-You shut up! It was fantastic how we danced in the clouds! The rest of your life is boring—dating supermodels, meeting the Rolling Stones, dining at the best restaurants—stop being so pretentious.- Andrew retorted, pointing at him.

-There you go again. Fun is fun, plain and simple.- Billy replied, taking in the unusualness of it all.

They began organizing the landscape around them—a beautiful scene that signaled the right moment, a majestic sight.

-A song that takes you wherever you want to go… Experiences like these require a lot of work. - Billy whispered to himself.

Stronger by Kanye West, with a piano over the vocals, could be a better song than just one full of autotune. A powerful voice, something clearer, maybe with a soft drum and an acoustic guitar, could bring the song to life.

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