Mason's death was headline news and the killers were "at large" so they say. Alexa was paid even though Sylia docked Jacob's pay for a week to compensate for it which he didn't care as long it meant they were able to get outta the city. Priss had already said her goodbyes and everything so the world returned to normal once more. Twice he had altered the flow of time. Was he scared?, yes most definitely. Nothing was certain and there was the face he was very much a mortal. Now he was with Linna shopping for food, he was helping pay despite not having a check for this weeks work. What ever he had on him before then would do for now. He pushed the cart as Linna grabbed what was needed. They didn't speak of last night.

"How about some popcorn?" Jacob asked.

Linna looked and checked the price.

"Let's grab 2 packs" She replied grabbing two boxes.

They continued down the row and exited out. After more of the same they paid and exited out the front towards Linna's van parked in the 3rd row. Linna opened the rear as Jacob started loading the back.

"Jacob can I ask something personal?" Linna said as she helped him.

"Go ahead and shoot" Jacob replied.

Linna and he kept working as she quickly found what she was going to say. Clearing her throat she began.

"Why didn't you come yesterday?" She asked him.

"Lack of experience mostly" Jacob said. "I'd rather take a lower risk job. Besides Sylia needed to do it"

"I see" Linna muttered in understanding.

"I highly doubt she would let me go anyway. I can't imagine her being so reckless" Jacob added as they finished loading the van.

"Sometimes she can be a bit too rigid" Linna commented.

"There's that, but I have all the context I need" Jacob replied before entering into the driver seat.

Linna took the passenger side and closed her door. Backing the van up Jacob straightened it before driving it out of the parking lot. Moving onto the main road the high towers made for a dim mood.

"If only I had your context" Linna said longingly.

"Trust me you don't, not because of what lies ahead but of what you want to change" Jacob replied thoughtfully.

Linna thought it over for a long moment. She quickly realised he was right and she hadn't even thought of it before he pointed it out.

"Ok I see your point. You've already radically altered time already so now what?" She decided to ask him.

"I don't know. But I know what you and the others would do" He mused aloud.

"And what is that?" She asked leaning in closer to him.

Jacob gave her a knowing look and smirked.

"Save me from my parents, kinda hard not to see it" He replied softly.

"Your god damn right on that" Linna responded without once of hesitation behind her voice. "If I had to I would do it five hundred times over"

Jacob smiled resting a hand on her shoulder.

"Thank you" He said thankfully.

She leaned in as close as she could kissing him on the cheek. Jacob blushed as he kept his eyes firmly on the road.

"My pleasure" was all she said.

Later in the day Jacob and Priss were in the sparing room, Jacob was far from enjoying himself as he peeled his sweat drenched body from the mat. His muscles protested as he overrode every ounce of pain he felt from them. Such a thing wasn't easy but after many years he had some experience in doing so. Priss smirked With both hands on her hip as she watched him rise back to his feet. Both wore the flexible undersuits as they're durability was close to second to none. Weakly gasping Jacob shook his head with a grunt.

"Could do better" Jacob said mostly to himself.

"Sometimes you can be a bit too rough on yourself you know that" Priss replied but he ignored her words.

"I'm a realist" He retorted.

Priss readied to strike once more as Jacob found his scattered bearings. Taking a stance Jacob waited. His breathing becoming deep and long with his breath. Priss charged him coming from the front. Jacob ducked to the left avoiding her fist. Extending his leg he swept it out from under her taking her legs out and causing her to fall forward. Jacob back stepped as she caught herself and sprung back up right. She looked a bit impressed.

"Sometimes the simplest tricks of the best tricks" Jacob said with a lopsided grin.

Priss rolled her eyes having heard the same from Sylia before she'd offered her the chance to become a Knight Saber.

"Keep telling yourself that, after I kick your ass" She retorted.

"We'll see about that" Jacob flatly responded.

He regretted saying that, even 2 hours after he was still feeling the kick to his stomach. It felt like a wrecking ball hit him right in the stomach making him sick for a few minutes before he evened out. Now he sat alone at a desk going over the design of his hardsuit. Sylia's Constant low-key encouragement to add to it had finally broken him. He was already beginning to see the faults in his original design. The limited boosters meant he wouldn't be getting anywhere quick not without wings that is. Delving into his minds eye he could see the back rockets being more like the usual boomers they fought.

"That could work" He mused. "Will take time though" Jacob realised the reality of it.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door and it opened leading in a flash of light. Jacob was disorientated for a few seconds when a hand rested on his shoulder. Soft, slim but firm. He could tell it was Sylia's just from the feel of it.

"Before you say anything I do my best thinking in the dark" Jacob said with a defensive tone.

Sylia looked over the the rough sketches, they weren't as wildly different as the original design but contained some elements she hadn't given much though to. The addition too slim antenna on each side of where the ears would echoed Priss's suit in a way. But these antennas were tipped with low wattage laser cannons which have been marked for close calls. Interesting. She mused as she saw a mock up of a back booster resembling a boomers. There was a question mark next to it however.

"I wasn't gonna say anything about that. We've got a job" Sylia replied as his vision cleared up.

He looked up at her and especially focused on that we've part. He nodded before standing.

"When?" Jacob asked.

"Now, boomers tearing though a mall" She quickly explained.

Jacob sudden moved to the door as she was quickly behind him. Reaching the door he exited out and began towards the stairs.

"Did this come in just a few minutes ago?" He asked moving to the stairs and beginning down them.

"Yes, the ohers are on their way" Sylia replied earning a nod. "13 minutes give or take"

"Good because I'm flying blind" Jacob told her flashing a weak smile.

Sylia and he reached the truck where they suited up. Mackie didn't watch thanks the inclusion of a guy and tapped his foot with impatience. Brushing his dark brown hair from his eyes he sighed deeply. At least I have those recordings. He thought longingly. In the back Jacob heard the latches of his suit connect and his breathing somewhat relaxed. First time in armoured combat...what a day huh?. Was he nervous?...yes. Sliding the almost featureless helmet on he found all systems were ready and green. A bit more of his tenseness faded as he performed another diagnostic check to see the same results. Instruments hummed as he did it again and again as the others entered. Turning he exited out of the door they entered from. Mackie saw him leave and smirked. Hallelujah!. He thought turning on the camera. The lovely image of Priss showed, stripping of her underwear exposing her soft breasts. Mackie watched her slim frame with a keen eye as he was completely taken by the nudity. Suddenly there was a knock at the window and Mackie looked only to see Jacob with an unamused look on his face. Mackie chuckled with unease and quickly turned off the monitor and camera. Standing there with a blank expression for a moment Jacob contemplating on whether they hit the ball over the head but refrained from doing so. I wouldn't hear the end of it from Sylia. He thought moving back into the back of the truck to find the others had changed.

"Where were you at?" Nene asked him.

He smirked and jutted his finger towards the front.

"Just taking care of a certain peeping Tom" Jacob casually responded before closing the door.

Sylia sighed deeply in disapproval at her younger brother. Sometimes she felt like shipping him off to boarding school just to get him out of her hair.

"Please tell me you didn't..." She began.

"No I didn't, just stared him down that's all" Jacob cleared up.

Priss wasn't to happy but didn't go rushing up to the front or anything stupid. Linna was blushing as Nene began getting into her hardsuit. Another day at the office. Nene thought. Linna did the same.

"You ready Jacob?" She said to him.

Jacob shrugged.

"We'll see when we get there..." Jacob paused cooking the comm channel between the back part and the trucks cabin. "Alright Mackie let's roll out"

The truck began to move, as the garage door slid upwards letting them out into the night air. Sylia moved up to Jacob leaning in close to whisper something into his ear.

"Just stay close and you'll do fine" She whispered bringing him much needed encouragement.

Jacob looked at her and smiled weakly once more. For a moment you got lost her beautiful brown eyes, It was a second later he shook himself back to reality and readied for the mission at hand. His first true combat experience, no longer accidental or in vain attempt to keep someone safe. He now had to put all his learned knowledge to the test, The experiences would prove most vital in his survival. Into the unknown I go. He thought.

End of chapter