The first thing that Marina heard when she came downstairs was, "You look terrible Frosty."
"I just couldn't sleep last night," Marina yawned to the redhead.
"Adamus wants us all in the kitchen," Emily told her, before heading there herself. Marina followed and immediately went to make herself a cup of coffee.
"Good, we're all here," Adamus remarked. "Thinking about everything that David told us, I think that we're in way over our heads. We need to tell everyone at the school what we learned and have them send in people better suited for this."
"What?!" Tor yelled. "That's the biggest load of bullshit I've ever heard. We were entrusted with this mission, but you want to back down because of something unexpected?"
"We didn't expect this. We probably wouldn't have been chosen for this mission if it was known what we would be dealing with."
"So? That doesn't mean that we should run away."
"It gives the best chance of success."
"So you think that running away like a coward is the best idea?!"
Marina was about to slap Tor for calling her brother a coward, but Alice had beaten her to the punch, slamming Tor against the wall. "Don't call him a coward ever again," she snarled. She let him go before turning to Adamus. "But he's right. We were given a mission to find Tracker Jacker. The mission only got harder. Not impossible."
"I just think that there's a higher chance of success if we have back up," Adamus explained.
"Exactly Ad," Marina remarked. "You think that it is a higher chance of success. You don't know that it is." She gestured to everyone else. "Look at this group and our powers. Emily is a flying Flash."
"Quicksilver," Emily corrected.
"Whatever," Marina responded. "David is a master swordsman who can use ice magic. I can create ice constructs and can figure out most things given the time. You are an excellent leader who can absorb matter and can control the Earth to some degree. And we might still have more powers to unlock. Tor, to use Emily's nickname for him, is a discount Thor. And look at your girlfriend-"
"We're not dating," Aurélie protested. "Yet," she quietly added.
"Oh, well then when you two are, let me know so that I can actually call you boyfriend and girlfriend," Marina responded with a smirk. "Anyway, look at Aurélie and her sisters. Her sisters are made of hard light and invincible-"
"Actually darkness can hurt them. Like weapons made of shadows," Aurélie explained.
"Okay. So they are virtually invincible and each of them have something that they bring to the table in their personality. I don't think that a better group could be assembled."
"But what if something else crops up?" Adamus asked, giving Marina a look that said, 'Like your secret being revealed.' "We can't even work together as a cohesive team. How are we supposed to do our job effectively?"
"By talking to each other and making compromises," David remarked. "To quote Ali Harris, 'Compromise is what binds people together. Compromise is sharing and conciliatory, it is loving and kind and unselfish.'"
"Eyyyy. I knew Philosophy Boy was going to have a quote for this situation," Marina remarked.
"I guess," Adamus responded, running a hand through his hair.
"You know what, it's obvious that you aren't ready for a mission today," Aurélie remarked. "So you are going on the first date."
"Oooooh. A date," Marina teased. "I thought you said you weren't dating."
"We aren't. We had an agreement that if he could survive going on a date with me and all of my sisters individually, then we'll be dating."
"Sounds difficult," Marina remarked.
"So who do you choose first?" Aurélie asked Adamus.
"Adeline," he responded, expecting their date to just be them brawling.
"Bring your wallet along Adamus," Adeline told him. "We're going shopping."
Marina snickered a bit. She knew Adamus didn't like to go shopping.
"Is there anything else you are going to get?" Adamus asked. The two of them had gone to a mall in the town over from Wilkson's Garden. Adeline had gone a little far in her shopping. He was holding about 20 bags from just as many stores.
"Just one more store," she replied, heading towards a tech store where a large crowd seemed to be gathered outside. The pair of them were able to hear a conversation from a pair of nearby girls.
"Why do you think he's here?"
"I heard that he was looking for up and coming inventors that he could help get patents for their inventions."
"Do you think that he's also looking for models for his new clothing line?"
Adeline froze when she heard that. There's no way. "You know Adamus, I think that I actually have enough stuff," she lied. She was a bit upset that she wouldn't be able to get some more bits of tech, but it was better than the alternative.
Adamus raised an eyebrow, but decided it was best to listen. They began to walk away when a new voice was heard. "Excuse me. Sorry everyone, but I must go. I'd love to stay and chat with all you wonderful people," a man remarked as he made his way through the crowd. His eyes landed on Adeline and Adamus and they widened a bit. "Adeline?" he called out.
The yellow haired girl turned around with a smile. "Hey Papa."
AN: Hello everyone. I hope that you enjoyed today's chapter. We'll elaborate more on the ending in the next chapter. See you next time.