Ch. 2: Truth in Secrets

Isabella ate quietly as the adults at the table reconnected, happily listening to the memories from her grandfather youth.

"So there I was just playing my game trying to mind my own, and Miko here just, bursts through the door and run through the…" Raf stopped himself and shared a grin with the other two as if they were sharing a secret story. "Well. Miko ran through a lot of doors when she was younger."

Miko laughed and looked at him. "Now I just bust through them, no need to ask permission anymore."

Jack took a sip from his drink, a half and half water and juice, "Like you ever asked permission?"

"Hey, you know who's always came to my aid, and so did you guys. I made it fun"

Isa poked her head up. "What about the walking ambulance?"

Miko, Raf and Jack stopped breathing for a second. Raf hand shook a bit as he wiped his mouth. Slowly clearing his throat. "What…what are you talking about?"

Isa put her fork down. "The walking ambulance abuelo!"

Flora smiled at her daughter. "Oh papa… Isa here thinks she saw a walking ambulance in one of the old pictures from when you 3 were children. I told her she was just seeing things"

Miko side eyed Jack before she opened her mouth. "Yeah…maybe you need glasses sweet thing."

Isa smiled at the nick name, springing from an incident involving chocolate when she was 7. "Tia Miko, I know what I saw…!"

"No. You don't." Jacks stern response came as a surprise. "You don't know what you saw, okay?"

Isa raised her brow. "Uh yes I do!" She said stubbornly.

Flora raised her voice a bit as she directed towards her daughter. "Isabella! Do not be rude!"

"But mom! I know what I saw!"

"Enough Isa! You will upset your grandpa and his guests! If you can't behave then go wait in the room. You are 17…You should know better."

Isa slumped a bit at the reprimand. "Yes mama…." It was a weak and almost begrudging response, but she dares not challenge her mother. However, she looked at her grandpa once more, and took note of his expression. He knew something, knew she was right. Was it some government secret? Was it some conspiracy?

Raf looked at his daughter, "Flora, You and Isabella go to the room. I need to discuss work with Jack and Miko"

"As you wish papa. Goodnight." She gave him a kiss before waving to her Tia and Tio. "Come Isa..."

Isa slowly followed her mother, but not before leaving her phone on record by the charger. It was a risky choice, and she would surely be grounded; But something told her to do it, like a deep inner voice.

Raf sighed and looked at his friends.

"I told them nothing."

"We know Raf, she is probably to smart like you." Miko chimed at him playfully.

"Still, that brings us to the issue at hand. "Jack got serious; his eyes dark. "They have returned"

Raf stood up, forcefully hitting the ground with the bottom of his cane. "Damn it! We were promised that the earth was safe...! All our life, and for what? Just to have a false sense of hope."

Miko looked at him. "It's the bot's fault."

Raf looked at her in surprise. "Id never blame Bee or the others. I know they have no control over the rouges from the disbanded cons. I just, worry. If they are back. Did they bring an army? I will not let this world be dragged into a galactic war again. Not when Isabella is nearly enlistment age!"

Jack grabbed his shoulder reassuringly. "Raf, its only one signal. I doubt one Con can make an army. Thanks to us and the bots, our government is stronger now than it was during our time. Isabella won't be anywhere near the fight IF it comes to it."

Miko took a sip from her drink. "This is why I never had kids. That way if the Cons did come back, I have no strings attached. Let me at em I say!"

Jack gave her a glare. "Okay Miko we have been over this. Rafs 65, how old does that make you?"

Miko grumbled a bit. "68"

Jack nodded. "And I'm 69, So the only place we can meet a Con again is if they suddenly start selling vitamins."

Miko smirked. "I bet they charge a lot anyway"

Raf calmed down a bit and smiled at his friends. "Thank you two for bringing humor into this. However, I would like to be reassured."

Jack smiled. "Well…there's one bot that would love to get a late-night call."

Miko smirked happily. " let me make the call!"