"Damn Galaxy didn't realize this girl is even smarter than you! Hah!"

10:15 am 23/08/2019

As we arrive at my factory in Thomastown, making sure to avoid the route Nova would likely take, I turn off the alarm and drive inside, seeing Nova's car sitting in its usual spot. 'It's too bad she'll likely never get to drive it again, I know it means a lot to her…'

I walk into the front room with Naomi following close behind as I turn on one of the computers. I bring up my friend's business in Google Maps as I notice that the phone number has changed since I last called him. 'It has been a few years since I called him, but I'll try the old number just in case.'

I dial his mobile number and wait, him taking a bit longer to answer but still picking up.

"Well well well, if it isn't Galaxy, long time no hear buddy! So, what can I do for ya?"

"Still as lively as ever I hear, and also still Human, that's great to know."

"Heheh… Yeah, well too bad I can't say the same for my son, he became this little grey fox thing, an Iivii or something like that?"

"Oh, an Eevee you mean? They are normally a little brown fox that has a few splotches of white, including one on its tail, but it sounds like he is… Umm, actually-" Naomi taps on my shoulder and whispers something in my ear. "Ah yes, a shiny, thanks, Naomi! They have the same white spots, just a little purer, and their fur is a greyish color."

"Yep, that's the one!" He gives a hearty laugh. "Even though he was fourteen when he changed, I haven't seen him this energetic in years, it's good to see that he's at least taking to this new change like a champ! Anyway, how's your family doing? You still with that bitch of a wife?" He gives another hearty laugh as I give a nervous chuckle.

"Sadly, yes I am, I wish I could leave, but you know how well she knows the officers in my area, she'd have them breathing down my neck the moment I'm in my car, and I haven't even done anything wrong!" I get another tap on my shoulder as I remember that Naomi is still listening in. I put the phone on speaker for a moment as I signal for her to wait a moment. "Hey Henry, you wanna explain it to Naomi here? I know how much you like telling stories like an old sailor."

He gives yet another hearty laugh, something I've gotten quite used to over the years, as he clears his throat.

"Let me see, well, I guess I'll start with how your father and I met. It was around seven years ago, when his club was still fairly small, well, compared to nowadays anyway. He brought your mother with him while you and your sister were at school, your sis was still a guy back then of course!" While he explains the story to Naomi, I log onto one of the computers nearby.

"When he arrived, I told him we'd be here for a while since I had around thirty cars that needed to be inspected, and he was ready for the challenge! So we got our wives to go inside and talk while we worked. Several hours had passed with the occasional gasps and giggles of typical girls back then, but I did notice my wife, or ex, looking a bit peeved. Didn't know why back then but I did have a suspicion."

I decide to try contacting Shade's family to see if they have Splinter's contact details other than phone call.

"So my ex, see? She's your typical "city girl" wannabe, born down here but has always aspired to go to the city and become big and famous. I still don't get her obsession with it 'till this day," He then picks up a jug of water and proceeds to knock it to his heart's content, loudly enough for them to hear.

He sighs. "Well, let's get back to the story, shall we? So, my little old brain didn't know back then, but she had a plan, and oh was that not a nice plan. My ex was and has been jealous of your 'ma ever since that day, even nowadays. Nice husband, nice house, nice car, two kids, and a hell ton of power in the council. But, she did have one flaw, one which my wife successfully preyed on. Your dad over there? He's never not been obsessed with work, which left your mother in a very sad place, one without the presence of her luv', and with a heck ton of insecurities. So much that the first thing my ex caught from your mom was that exact thing."

"Gee, thanks for reminding me of how bad a husband I was Henry," I admit that I should have been there more, and I do take partial responsibility for how easily she was manipulated, but what Henry's ex did was unforgivable.

"But, how does that relate to any of this.. mess?" Naomi asks.

"Ah, that's where things get real interesting. You see, in the middle of their convo, one of the cops in the neighborhood visited our lovely shop, with his son. Now, this son, he's an interesting fella' as well. He has this big dream yea? Of joining the police force just like his pops. Problem is, he's a real wonker! Skinny body, no police skill, a huge ego that needs to be brought down a few notches, and a seriously fucked up mind if I've ever seen one. That is why he became my ex's number one victim. She'd gotten him totally under her control! Without him even noticing! So after hearing your ma's sob story yea? It was like a lightbulb went off above her head!" Henry exclaims in passionate story-telling mode, making Naomi sweatdrop a bit.

"So, what happened next? Doesn't seem to be anything good, is it?"

"No, no, it wasn't at all. I don't know what she'd been feeding herself but she had the brightest idea to go hook your ma' up with that kid! Age gap aside, that's still wrong as all hell! I don't know how she managed to do that, especially when Milan already has this hunk of a man to herself!" I cough a bit in embarrassment, which Naomi hears, but I grunt for Henry to continue, "Eyy what you sayin' man? You know that's true!" Naomi giggles as I get even redder.

"Just get on with it already!"

"Alright alright, sheesh. Be patient, will ya'? Alright so, at that point, I and your dad were still busy in the workshop knowing nothin' about what was happenin' outside. Of course, my ex checked to see if we were still working, then went up to the kid, and somehow persuaded him to get a hit on Milan. So, being the stupid naive kid he was, he complied and went up to your ma' to strike a convo. And yadda yadda, they agreed on a date, behind me and Galaxy's backs." Naomi showed just how shocked she was with an audible gasp as he continued.

"When we came back outside the garage, the kid was already back with his dad and the girls were still talking "as normal". We didn't suspect a thing!" Naomi makes an ":O" shape with her mouth in shock, looking at me for confirmation, to which I just shrug.

"And.. given how my mom was and still is, influential within the Council, I'm... guessing that guy got the job?"

"Bingo! Damn Galaxy, didn't realize this girl is even smarter than you! Hah!" He quips, to which I grumble but not much else, to Henry's disappointment. He then composes himself and continues, "Yea, that's basically it. He and your mom dated, she persuaded the council to put him into the force, and he basically corrupted the whole thing. That's why your dad can't leave your bitch of a mom, since she'll simply call the cops on him for shitty reasons like 'Disorderly conduct' or similar shit." At this point, Naomi looks down, with her hands clasped together holding her chin, deep in thought.

"I still don't understand though, how about Nova, how does she fit into this?" I give Naomi a look to say 'I'll explain later' as Henry chuckles.

"I'm not sure child, all I know is that she didn't like that Nova decided to do what she did. About four years ago, your ma' came to my shop with that cop friend of hers and demanded that I change my number, and 'lose' Galaxy's. She even got my bitch of an ex to help make sure of that, but we were still together back then."

"So what happened to make her your ex? I didn't think my mum would allow you two to separate, what changed?"

"Simple, she was involved in an 'accident'. Apparently, she was doing similar stuff with other people in the area and pissed off the wrong guy. A biker gang came to my house a little over a year ago and inquired about it, asking if I knew what was going on."

"What did you say? Were they mad at you!? Did you have to persuade them to keep your life!?" Yet another hearty laugh comes through the speaker of the phone as I receive an email from Shade's sister, giving me an email that is regularly checked by Splinter. I get onto Gmail and begin typing as Henry continues.

"Woah Woah, calm your farm there lass, I can only answer one question at a time," He chuckles again as he takes another chug of his water… or at least I hope it's water. "Nah, they weren't mad once I told them I had no idea what she was doing. A couple of them wanted to push further, but the biggest advantage to being a mechanic for both cars and boats around here is that you have a few connections of your own! In fact, my best man was the leader of that very biker gang, so he knew I could be trusted. He asked if I could 'sleep on the couch tonight' since it was on the other end of the house, and, well we had a bit of an 'unexpected rideby'"

Naomi gasps in horror as she realizes what had happened, I just shrug. "Do you honestly think that she deserved that? I mean, I know she was doing bad things but a driveby basically!?"

"Would you say she deserved it if she had messed with some couples where one of them committed suicide because of her actions? And she felt no remorse, and simply laughed calling her mission a "success"?" I chuckle mentally as I never realized her jaw could reach the floor, but this almost did it.

"As much as I'd like to agree that she got what she deserved, I believe that an eye for an eye leaves the world blind, so…"

"Ah, so you believe in karma then? 'Cause it's usually one of the two unless you're a 'forgiver' which them I'm afraid to say that you won't survive long in the real world kiddo,"

"Yeah, karma would have hit her eventually, whether it be her being backed off a cliff, her being arrested, or-"

"Or an angry victim getting a bunch of friends and killing her overnight?" I watch as Naomi's mouth opens and closes several times before she speaks again.

"Good point, I guess it was just karma that struck her after all." One hearty laugh later and I receive a response to my email.

'Dear Galaxy, Yes, it is fine for your daughter to join us during our meetings going forth, so long as she sticks to the same rules you do of secrecy. We would have frowned upon you having told anyone about these meetings, however, we are willing to let it slide this once, assuming she already knew before your email. If she is still clueless, then well played. We hope to see you once again tonight ~ Splinter

P.S. Shade will likely need a lift tonight if you're able'

I knew that if my plan were to work, I'd need to get her to 100% believe that I'm not as mean as I seem and that I do really care, and what better way than to bring her to a meeting or two?

"Alright, well I best be off, I've been slacking too much as it is!" He gives a hearty laugh as I step over to the phone.

"Actually, before you go, I have a request," He hums curiously. "Nova, and also Troy, were also transformed during the event, and they are currently on the run from the authorities because we live in an exclusion zone, so I sent them your way, hoping you'd be able to help them get out of the country if Nova requests, or you can at least take care of them for me until either Naomi and I can get there too, or until things settle down here"

"You sound like you have a plan? I hope this plan of yours isn't as crazy as some of yours?"

"Depending on how things play out, it might be so crazy that it just might work, or it might just be crazy," I let out a nervous chuckle as Henry replies.

"Sure thing Galaxy, but I will try to persuade her into staying with me, at least until you arrive."

"Thanks, I owe you for this!"

"Think of it as repayment for you being quiet about what happened to my ex to your crazy wife!" He laughs one last time before we say goodbye to each other and we hang up.

I turn to Naomi and lean down to her level. "Naomi, do you mind coming with me tonight, I want to show you where I went last night at midnight, and I hope it'll help you see just how much I care about Nova's situation!" As I receive a nod, we head towards the car, leave, and head to her friend to see if she's ok.

Alright, and we have the end of another chapter. So now that Naomi is going to be seeing the farmhouse, how will she react? I hope you all enjoyed and I have to give a big thanks to my bf Dan who helped me write this chapter since I usually struggle to make backstories not drag on :P Anyways, I have also released a chapter of the main story along with the second chapter of Winds of Changed today, so please check them out if you haven't already! Also, leave a review to tell me you're enjoying the stories! Until next time, stay frosty I really need to change that :P