"So, mind telling us why you took down the Seahorse Motel without us?" Jen asked her father when he entered the Sanctum to find her and Anissa waiting for him.
"I can explain and the answer is not going to be that I was trying to keep you safe." Jefferson said.
"Okay, then what is the answer?" Anissa asked.
"It was strategy." Jefferson said.
"Really, what kind of strategy?" Jen asked.
"The kind that involves both of you being aces in the whole when Tobias comes calling." Jefferson said.
"Meaning what?" Jen asked, honestly more curious then angry now.
"What your father means is that right now, Tobias only knows that he's back. He has no reason to know that Thunder and Lightning even exist right now, so he can't prepare for you two." Gambi said.
"So what you're saying is that the two of us are your secret weapons." Anissa said.
"Exactly. So while that means that you two can't suit up very often right now, it also means that when Tobias makes his move for Freeland, you will turn the scales of the battle in our favor and so will Grace." Jefferson said and they both liked the sound of that.
"It will also give us more time to increase your combat training, since while you're both good, you're nowhere near your father or Tobias's combat level. This will give us more time to bring you up to that level." Gambi said.
"Alright then. I guess that makes sense." Anissa said.
"Just as long as you promise I will get to light his ass up for what he did to Khalil, I'm fine with it too." Jen said and she didn't fail to notice the way everyone else avoided looking at her.
"What aren't you guys telling me?" Jen asked.
"I guess we have to tell her now." Anissa said.
"Tell me what?" Jen asked.
"Jen, before the world was destroyed, Khalil was alive." Anissa said.
"What are you talking about?" Jen asked angrily.
"The ASA, they brought him back and turned him into a cyborg, completely under their control." Gambi said.
"And you all knew about this?" Jen asked.
"In my defense, I learned about it literally right before the end of the world." Jefferson said and Jen could tell that her father was telling the truth and decided to give him a pass, since it wasn't like he'd had a chance to tell her before the world ended.
"But why didn't you tell me since this new world was created?" Jen asked.
"I didn't see the point. In this new world, Khalil is alive and safe. I didn't see any point in telling you something that would only hurt you for no real reason." Jefferson said and Jen could still see truth in his eyes and she could understand his logic in that decision.
"Okay, you're off the hook dad. But what about you two?" Jen asked.
"I found out the night we took back Franklin Terrace from the ASA and the reason I didn't tell you is because I didn't think that was even Khalil, it was a monster wearing his skin, considering the things he'd done." Anissa said.
"What things?" Jen asked.
"He nearly killed me, he killed Tayvon, hell, he even killed his own mother." Anissa said and Jen was horrified at that.
"But you still didn't tell me? Maybe I could've gotten through to him." Jen said.
"Jen, there wasn't any him to get through to. I thought that it would be best to keep you in the dark about it." Anissa said and Jen just glared at her.
"And you?" Jen asked Gambi.
"Your mom and I found Khalil in the pit and we didn't want to tell you until we understood what was going on and figured out how to bring our Khalil back." Gambi said.
"Wait, mom knew too?" Jen asked.
"Jen." Jefferson said.
"Look dad, I can understand your reasoning for not telling me, even though I don't like it, since honestly, there wouldn't have been a point in it, but you two and mom, you should've been straight with me." Jen said angrily.
"Jen. It's all moot point anyway, since like your dad said, Khalil is just a normal teenager again. And he'll stay that way as long as we take out Tobias." Gambi said.
"I need some time to think." Jen said as she walked out of the Sanctum.
"Well, that could've gone better." Jefferson said.
"She just needs to cool off." Anissa said.
"I hope that's all she needs." Jefferson said.
