LETHAL - E.UNWIN

8

"Be careful, Harry," Nathalia says and the man nods before climbing into the shuttle and the door closes.

"As some of you will have learned last night," Merlin says to the recruits. "Teamwork is paramount here at Kingsman. We're here to enhance your skills, test you to the limit"

"Which is why you're gonna pick a puppy," Nathalia says, gesturing to the crates behind her. "Wherever you go, your dog goes. You will care for it. You will teach it. And by the time it's fully trained, you will be too"

"Those of you who are still here, that is," Merlin says. "Do you understand?"

"Choose your puppy," Nathalia says, watching the recruits go forward and select a puppy.

"A poodle?" Eggsy asks Roxy who looks at him.

"They're gun dogs," Roxy says. "Oldest working breed. Easy to train"

"A pug?" Roxy asks, looking at Eggsy's puppy choice.

"It's a bulldog, innit?" Eggsy asks, glancing to Nathalia who shakes her head. "It'll get bigger, though, won't it?"

Nathalia shakes her head again, an amused smile on her face.

"Shit,"

"Last one to complete the course we have set out for you will have to do it again. Anyone who does something we do not approve of has to start from the beginning," Nathalia says. "Start!"

Nathalia watches as Eggsy yanks on his puppy's lead and it refuses to move before he reaches down and stuffs it in his top before breaking into a run, leaping over the obstacles.

Charlie was struggling as it was clear his puppy wanted to explore the vast area of grass. Nathalia watches as he smacks his dog on the muzzle.

"CHARLIE!" Nathalia shouts. "FROM THE BEGINNING"

The other candidates glance at Eggsy who was putting a large distance between himself and the other recruits.

Nathalia's glasses flash as a message dances across the lenses, her eyes widen before she turns on her heel and rushes towards the building.

She opens the door to the infirmary to find Harry lying on the bed, his eyes firmly closed. The young woman picks up his chart and begins to read over it as Merlin and Arthur join her.

"What does the report say Guinivere?" Arthur asks.

"His MRI shows no signs of concussion," Nathalia says. "No direct brain trauma at all which is strange"

"How much longer can he be out?" Arthur asks.

"Indeterminate," Nathalia says. "We have no way of knowing what he was exposed to in there, if they are working with the insurgents then it could be weeks, months or possibly never"

"What about Harry's footage?"

"It didn't stream to his home terminal. Encrypted and uncrackable,"

"If and when he comes around you might want to have a word with him about sharing his password,"

The door opens and the three conscious occupants turn to see Eggsy in the doorway, his puppy sitting at his feet.

"Is he gonna be all right?"

"We need to have patience, Eggsy," Merlin says.

"But there's hope," Nathalia says. "Harry can get through anything"

"If I were you, I'd concentrate on your training," Merlin says. "Make it through the tests. Make him proud"

Nathalia nods at Merlin before following Eggsy out, rubbing a hand over her face.

"Is it worth it?" Eggsy asks.

"What?"

"Is all of this worth it?" Eggsy asks, gesturing around.

"Yes and no," Nathalia says as she begins to walk down the corridor. "The worst part about this job is the secrecy. The anonymity of it all. No one knows who you are and the things you have done to save them all. You accomplish so much for what feels like nothing"

"What is worth it?"

"The pay," Nathalia says with a small grin. "It is a nice wage"

"How much?"

"Now, now, Eggsy," Nathalia says. "You never ask a lady how much money she earns"