Chapter 25—Busted
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"I'm sorry, Mom, but what you're doing is wrong," I told her.
Her eyes widened even further.
"When the time comes, just tell her this phrase and you will restore her memories," Gabe told me the day he released my mom. There is a way to make sure that a certain key phrase will restore a person's memories, as long as they are only suppressed, not taken. That was the phrase.
In the few seconds it took for Mom to register it all I sprinted inside the warehouse to hide long enough to make a plan.
Soon enough I had a plan, so I pulled out my phone and pressed a Light symbol in the contacts. A second later Sasha appeared in front of me.
Let me explain this. A week before this happened Sasha appeared before me, demanding if I was the one who updated the Stalker Sphere. I told her I was the person, and she requested I create a program to increase her citadel's computer security. It took me almost a week, and when I was done she promised me a favor. I didn't want to be using it so soon, but it was the only plan I could think of.
"What is the matter, Jacob?" Sasha asked me when she appeared. She appeared confused.
"I'm sorry it's so soon, but I need to call in that favor," I told her.
She nodded. "What is it you need me to do?" she asked.
"I need you to control the next Light Creature I summon," I requested.
"Of course," she said. Her Heart of Light allows her to control any Light creature.
"Cassiopeia Starborn!" I called. The dragon appeared in front of me.
"You must be a powerful duelist to summon a dragon this fearsome," she told me.
"Thank you," I added. I took as step back as she took over and shouted, "Dreadclaw, Dark Herald!"
"Why so you bring this creature into my presence?" she demanded.
"I'm sorry, but I need to make sure the enemy doesn't summon it against us. It feels weird for me to use a Darkness creature, too," I told her. "I need you to cover my back."
She nodded. Spending time with Gabe helps her understand human terminology. We went through the warehouse and destroyed the creature files, I recovered my weapons, and we tried to cause general havoc before leaving the warehouse, where five Flametropuses were waiting for us, one of them evolved.
"Oh, great," I muttered sarcastically as we dueled the creatures. Our dragons easily destroyed them and we took off.
When we got five blocks away I dismissed Dreadclaw.
"We need to get back to the Masters," I commented. Sasha nodded and gave control of Cassiopeia back to me so that I could dismiss it.
We hurried the rest of the way back to the Temple, where we ran past a very surprised Kimora and to the Masters' meeting room.
"What are you doing here?" Jameson demanded. Gabe was too busy talking with Sasha. "Why have you brought weapons here?"
"My cover was blown," I told them. "I was on my way home after training at the warehouse and a Snaptongue Lizard managed to grab me as it was banished, sending me to the Fire Civilization. I ran away from another creature and wandered through the Fire Civ for a while before I found Bob. Together, the two of us went to a point where I could cross over the Veil, but there were too many other creatures around. Instead, I asked Emma to see if she could summon Bob and get us out of there, but she was practically out of mana so I called Master Pierce so that he could summon Bob and rescue me."
"He's telling the truth," Emma said. She and John were walking up to us. She must have called John after I called her.
"Thanks," I told her. I turned to the Masters and continued. "When he summoned me it would've been best to return to my mother to keep up appearances, but when I got back they asked me how I was able to return to Earth. I told them I created a hole in the Veil, but they never taught me that, so I had to give up the act after that to avoid them capturing me, although I doubt my mother would let them do that."
"Did you at least discover anything about their plans during the time you had before being discovered?" Jameson demanded.
I lowered my head. "Other than the location of their warehouse, no," I told them.
"It's okay," Kimora assured me.
I nodded.
"We will need to find you a place to stay," Gabe said when he finished talking with Sasha and she left.
"Jake can stay with me again," John told the Masters.
"No," Jameson told us. "That is the first place they will look for Jacob. It is wisest if Jacob stays with one of the Masters so that he will be safe."
"Jake can stay with Allie and I," Ray suggested.
"Okay," Kimora said.
"Thank you, Master Pierce," I told them.
"No problem," he replied.
"We'll need to find you some new clothes, though," Allie commented, looking at my dirty clothes. My khaki shorts became practically black from crawling around in the Fire Civilization.
"We don't need to," I said, foolish plan forming in my head. "I've got an idea."
"I don't think this is a good idea," John commented after I explained my plan.
"Well, I want my stuff back," I replied. I still had my bag and skateboard, which managed to still survive without a scratch (don't ask me how).
We went up to the war room, where I activated my Stalker Sphere, which is in my room at home, and hooked up the feed to Panopter to view it so that I could remotely control the Sphere's mechanical arms so that I could remotely pack a suitcase with multiple pairs of clothes, all of my money and emergency cash, and anything else I might need.
Unfortunately the Sphere accidentally knocked over a lamp as it went around the room, so I made it rush to finish the packing.
As the Sphere left the room via the window my bedroom door was flung open to reveal my mother.
"Jake!" she screamed. She ran at the Sphere, but it sped up and went to where I was, going invisible when it reached town.
"Told you it would work," I said as I grabbed my bags from the Sphere.
"Yeah, yeah," John mumbled.
"Would you like to go now or later?" Ray asked me.
"Anytime's fine with me," I replied.
"Let's go now so that you have time to get settled," he told me.
I nodded and followed him out to his truck.
"Thanks for doing this for me," I said as the three of us went through the city.
"Anytime," he replied. "There are some base rules, though," he added.
"Okay.
"First, no dueling in the house. That rule's flexible, though, based on the circumstances. Second, lights out at ten, including creatures."
He went on with a basic set of rules similar to the ones at my house, like no shoes on the table, dirty shoes must be removed before entering the main part of the house unless you want to clean it up, and no loud music.
"Do you need me to repeat or explain anything?" he asked me when he finished.
"Nope. I think I've got it memorized," I replied.
"Kay," Ray replied. Allie was barely paying attention, looking out the window.
A couple minutes later we were at their house, a moderate-sized house with three bedrooms.