All he could remember was metal scraping against metal, roars and gun fire. There were explosions and even a moment of being weightless. Then plunging into a liquid he could only guess was the ocean. He remembered a pair of hands grabbing him by the shirt and pulling him upwards. Now he laid on an empty bed. It was comfy and he didn't want to wake up. He was completely happy like this, in a dream like state where nobody could harm him any longer. Wishing it could go on forever wouldn't fix his current situation. He would have to wake up eventuallyI and it was a voice which woke him from his dream.

"Some of these injuries go back years Sylia," Nene paused. "15 or so years if scans are correct"

Jacob sighed upon hearing this and opened his eyes. The lighting was dull and didn't effect his eyes in the slightest. However it didn't stop the dull pain of his cracked rip from edging him on. He saw both Sylia and Nene in his peripheral vision on either side of the bed. He was beginning to feel like it a test subject. Lucky him it was then instead of Genom scientist's.

"Who pulled me out of the water?" He asked weakly surprising the two.

Sylia stepped closer looking him in the eyes. She had made the critical mistake on leaving him where she had left him, it nearly costed his life after he bought Priss only a few minutes of time. She did owe him an answer. She began to study him more closely monitoring his reactions.

"Linna did. She saw you and dove after" Sylia explained to him.

"I see...it's not your fault I should have warned you but I don't know what that would do the timeline and so remained quiet" Jacob replied rubbing his forehead.

Sylia nodded seeing his calm demeanour and controlled tone. Nene grabbed a small bottle and opened it. Grabbing a small red pill she handed it too him along with a glass of water.

"It'll dull the pain" She said.

"Thanks" He replied kindly.

Nene smiled and nodded. Jacob took it and drank the whole glass in a matter of a few gulps. Setting the glass down he patted Nene on the shoulder in thanks.

"God why couldn't my mother be more like you" He remarked softly.

Nene and Sylia guessed that wasn't good in the slightest. His past must've been troubled. Sylia thought. The pain slowly receded before disappearing entirely. Sylia leaned in looking Jacob square in the eyes as Nene blushed.

"You've been abused haven't you?" She guessed as his face went pale.

The cat was out of the bag. Her guesswork was on spot. Not bad. Jacob mused as he responded quietly.

"Yes, from 6 to 16... i'd rather not talk about it" He replied his tone going quiet.

Sylia respected his wishes and dropped it entirely. She nodded and looked to Nene who was shocked upon hearing it. Oh my god who could do that!?. Nene thought in shock. Was it just the father or was it both?. She added wishing she had more answers. Sylia was calm but Internally wanting to beat the snot out of the parents. What dose he have to even return too?. Sylia thought.

"I would like to speak with him alone" She said more like an order.

"Ok, good luck" Nene replied before walking out of the room and closing the door behind her.

He guessed it was a spare bedroom in Sylia's place and was easily retrofitted to have medical supplies when ready. And it took no genius to guess Nene was spilling the beans about what happened in here. He got out a low sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I am a loss for what happened yesterday. I can barely believe it" She said taking a seat on the bed on his right.

He nodded in agreement. Everything has been so surreal and it's the first time he truly had to process it all. But it wasn't a nightmare. He had already lived a nightmare for 10 years. Thank you Gene. Jacob thought. A coldness quickly came over him however as his mind drifted the bastard which had brought him here. The man who wanted him dead.

"I don't have the answer and the only one is Mason" He replied with a sense of venom.

"I wouldn't doubt that. I take it you know everything about yesterday and the days to come?" she said.

"Mostly, not every detail was covered but I've got a pretty picture. Sorry for being so cryptic back in the store but with regular people around I couldn't risk just outright saying it. Plus I was fairly certain no one would believe me" He replied sweeping his legs off the bed.

Sylia watched him stand and he saw he was wearing A new set of clothes of pajamas just red bottoms and a grey shirt. Nice. He mused as he looked in the mirror.

"I always liked red" Jacob muttered to himself.

Sylia stood and moved to the door.

"Shall we?" She said.

Jacob nodded and followed her out into the living area where everyone waited. From the pitying looks he received he knew Nene spilled the beans. Priss smiled when she saw him walking. She had feared his tumble into the water caused more damage to his body. Luckily her fears were never realized. Jacob saw Linna and approached her before bending over and hugging her much to her surprise. She felt his warmth as he held her softly.

"Thank you" He whispered gratefully.

Letting go he stood and stepped away. Linna smiled in appreciation.

"I think we can skip the introductions given I know who all of you already are" Jacob suggested.

Priss was supporting of the idea.

"No crap. I'm down" Priss agreed.

"No problem here" Linna added.

"It's good for me" Nene said.

"Lucky us" Mackie finished with a smile.

Jacob chuckled and sat on the floor.

"If anyone wants to get a drink go ahead it's gonna be a long story" Jacob advised before beginning.

A boomer with long brown hair and red eyes walked down a isolated street alone. It's mind fixed on hunting it's target hardwired into its harddrive. It's sender figure attracted looks from on goers as it paid no mind to any of them. It was a cold killing machine. It's mind center on one target and one target only. It did not feel petty, it couldn't be reasoned with, it would not stop until its target was dead. Slipping into an alleyway it vanished from sight as if it never even existed.

Back at Sylia's place Jacob had finished his story exactly how he told it too Priss but with extra details this time. It was early morning when he stared and was getting closer to the afternoon. Jacob had gone though 3 glasses of water before he finished the story. His hair was erratic after many brushes with his own hands. He felt closer to a mad scientist in that moment.

"I'm fully sure you will prove just as valuable as the rest of us even without telling us our immediate future" Sylia said, understandingly.

Jacob sighed in relief. He had been sitting on pins the entire time and felt even more uncomfortable when telling the whole story again. His confidence has taken a nose dive but now it was beginning to rise again.

"I'll try" He replied softly.

There was one question on everyone's mind. Mackie was surprisingly the one to say it.

"Who's he gonna stay with?" It was an honest question and held no malice behind it.

Jacob shrugged. He honestly didn't know who. It was their choice and not his.

"That's up to them not me" He replied leaving it all up to them.

Sylia's eyes swept across her comrades who had differing ideals. Priss didn't have much room which was understandable. Nene was 18 so she was off the table regardless. Linna was The only one who had the room aside from Sylia who would take him if Linna or Priss said nothing. But Linna was usually one to surprise.

"I can take him. Nene can you craft an ID for him" She said and Sylia smirked.

"Of course I'll get right too it" Nene said immediately walking to the computer terminal.

"Thank you" Jacob said gratefully.

Jacob looked to Linna and nodded in appreciation. Hopefully this goes well...but what about Irene?. He mused as he stood. Priss noticed his troubled look almost immediately but figured it was something too do with Genom or being stolen from home...how wrong she was. Linna looked to the clock and sighed.

"I've got classes to teach...Wanna join Jacob?" She asked and he quickly agreed.

"I need some fresh air anyway" He said. "And clothes" He added.

"Don't worry and lost and found bin's loaded" Linna replied earning a smile.

"I can work with that" He mused aloud.

This little manoeuvre would get him closer to the events which will occur. Now he had to contemplate whether to save Irene or keep her fate sealed. Either way I'm not gonna like this. He mused following Linna out. Sylia found it surprisingly how he didn't even hesitate and jumped on it in a matter of nanoseconds. Something was up. He went with her for a reason. She mused. Hopefully it'll become clearerin the future. Sylia said deciding to take the gamble once again. Priss unspoken lead trusted his ability and Sylia decided to finally give it a try. Hopefully she was right.

End of chapter