"Should I take you home then?"
"Nah," Stryker said, leaning back in the padded seat of Jack's jet. "Uncle Chase probably doesn't even know I'm gone."
"You realize you are defying the most powerful man in this world," Wuya told him.
"Does she ever stop talking?" Stryker asked Jack.
"Only when...nope, never!" Jack retorted with a sneer.
Wuya zipped through his head and growled in his face.
"Hey hey! Don't distract the driver!" Jack shouted. "I may be Chase's nephew's accomplice but if you get him killed your penalty will be a heck of a lot worse than mine!"
"Insect…" Wuya snarled before she disappeared from view.
"Wow!" Stryker marveled as Jack sighed. "I think my respect for you just went up!" He sniffed the air. "And is it me, or does it smell better now that she's gone?"
Jack laughed and nodded as he turned the jet towards his house. Stryker stretched and looked at the control panel, then the back of the jet.
"Did you build this?" he asked.
"Uh, yeah," Jack answered hesitantly. "Why?"
"It's pretty good," Stryker said. "Although…"
"Although what?" Jack asked, preparing for the worst.
"Well, I'm 95% sure that gear isn't meant to be in a jet, and that shifter isn't screwed in properly and if we crash there's no way the seats will eject without─"
"What are you, a certified mechanic?" Jack interrupted with a shocked laugh. "I think that'd be the only thing preventing me from slugging you for ripping on my baby!"
"Uh, certified, no," Stryker laughed. "But my foster dad taught me a lot about mechanics and engineering, so I may know what I'm talking about."
"Foster dad?" Jack asked with a frown.
"Oh, uh, yeah," Stryker stammered, slumping in the seat. "My, uh...my real mom didn't want me, so…"
He fiddled awkwardly with the seat rest and bit his lip. Jack strongly regretted bringing the subject up, since his own dad hadn't exactly wanted him either. He looked out his window and saw his house come into view.
"So…" he started, tapping the wheel as he glanced at Stryker. "Ever play Goo Zombies 4?"
Stryker cocked an eyebrow and smirked.
"Do dogs eat cats?"
Jack smirked.
"I have to warn you, if you take this challenge, I will wipe the floor with you."
"Ha! Yeah, as soon as you can tell a mop apart from a wrench!"