Akihiro held his hands together, nervous about the upgrade. He had grown attached to his eye, and he worried that the change might hurt him or, even worse, change him. He always was afraid of losing himself. He didn't hate change, in fact he recommended it, but not to such a point where you become a completely different person. Sure, it's romantic to become different for one you love, and it can help you get over a recent break up, but otherwise, it's not needed unless you're trying to grow.

Akihiro did not need to grow, he was perfectly fine. Luke was trying to reassure him that only thing that would change would be his eye, but he was still afraid that all of this would change everything he's ever been. He decides to just let his body rest for the ride, instead of staying awake, worrying the whole trip. As soon as he falls into the land of dreams he immediately regrets it.

In his dream, Ralem stands there, laughing, as Jessica falls, crossbow bolt through her heart. Akihiro rushes at Ralem, only for Jace to stop him. For some reason, Jace started to kiss him. Akihiro took control, pushed her away, and then attacked Ralem, only for him to explode, and Akihiro's body to burn.

He woke up with a start, nearly jumping out of his seat, had he not been in his seat belt. Dylan was right next to him, his head on his shoulder. Akihiro caught him, got back into his previous position, and lay Dylan's head back on his shoulder. 'Nothing's going to change. I am Akihiko Wheeler, always have been, always will be.' he smiles.

"Aki, honey, are you alright?" Jessica walks over and gently grabs his hand.

"I'm alright, just a little nightmare that kind of spooked me. But..." He grabs her hand with both of his.

"Hm? What is it?" She looks into his eyes.

"Promise me…" He returns her gaze. "Promise me that, once the final battle starts, you'll be as careful as you can."

"Honey, I love you, but you know that no matter how careful I get, it might be too dangerous." She puts her other hand behind her back.

"Then promise me you'll do the best you can to survive." He turns his body towards her.

"I promise you, and" Jessica smiles at Dylan, then towards a curled up Jordan "I promise them. I will live through this battle."

"Thank you, Jess." He kisses her. "I love you."

"I love you too, Aki-kun." She kisses him back.

Akihiro smiles and then goes back to sleep, no nightmares this time. Dylan, still laying on his shoulder, smiles, and whispers "I'm never... leaving this family again…"

Jordan wakes up, yawns, and then walks to the back portion, where Luke is working on his laptop. "What you working on back here?"

"I have an idea that'll make infiltration of their base easier. I cannot tell you what I'm working on in case you accidentally spread the word, or in case you tell your parents and the pilot is a spy." He barrages the keyboard quickly, clicks something, a bar goes across the screen as if something was loading or saving, and then Luke closes the laptop, and turns towards Jordan. "I know I sound paranoid, but I try to work in every possibility. Considering the influence of John Reese over this area, and how my personal pilot had to be replaced for a short while, I had to pay for another pilot from this area. I don't trust the people here."

"You just plain don't seem to trust people." Jordan points out.

Luke laughs. "A debate could be made to prove that point, but there are some people I trust."

"Like who? Us?" Jordan asks.

"Yes, you. And, of course, my father. Then again, considering my position, I have to trust you, or else our little arrangement won't work as efficiently as it can." He states.

"You don't have much fun, do you?" Jordan raises an eyebrow.

"I create things that help people, or save them. I get more than enough content from that." He smiles.

"But do you ever just stop working and hang out with friends?" Jordan asks.

"Of course, I used to talk with your father everyday until he left. And I made sure to 'hang out' with him whenever he made the trip back to Ireland." He explains.

"Well, at least you have some social skills." Jordan looks around. "You've done quite a lot with this place. Ever made plans to make this your main, mobile laboratory?"

"Yes, but I'd rather have my normal base nearby my home where my father and I would usually be. A stationary lab works better than one on the move. Plus, I'd rather not have the added payment of plane fuel." He turns to Jordan.

"Well, what do you use this for?" Jordan asks.

"I just like the electronic setting. Plus, I can do all my computer work, and other things on the computer all from here." He leans back on his computer table.

"Well, should I leave you to it?" sighs.

"If you would please, I have work to do. Sorry if I come across as cold, I really would like to help." Luke turns back towards his table.

"See ya' mastermind." Jordan grins.

"hah, just like your mother." He shakes his head, smiling. As soon as Jordan leaves the room, he opens up his computer. "Back to work." A screen pops up, showing a picture of Ralem, and, up above, a title.

PROJECT INFILTRATION

Chapter 8.5

Ireland

The plane touched down on the landing strip, and a gentleman waits outside the door. "Young master Luke, where is your father?"

"He's still in the base, don't worry, we already have plans in order to get him out of there." Luke explains.

"Ah, that's good to hear, young master." The butler says.

"You have a butler now? When did you guys get rich?" Akihiro crosses his arms.

"I did make the first artificial eye to grant telekinesis. Everyone wanted one after that. Once it was made public that I could make prosthetics that could enhance brain functionality, my creations were in high demand. We could barely keep up." Luke answers.

"So you guys are living the high life now?" Jessica asks.

"Hah, anything but. We have to go through government every creation and it's a huge hassle. Yes, we have it a lot better than most, but it's still a struggle to get our creations to the public." Luke states.

"Well, at least you have us to keep you sane, right?" Akihiro pats Luke's back.

"Sane? Are you kidding me? My work keeps me sane, you guys remind me that it's healthy to go insane every once in a while." Luke smiles.

"Ha, you got that right." Jessica grins.

"So, now that we're here, it's time to get you that upgrade, isn't it." Luke pulls out a cellphone and dials in a few numbers. He speaks with the other person on the phone, and a helicopter arrives. "Alright guys, we're on our way there." He says, and then turns off the phone.

They take off, and, soon, the laboratory is in sight. Akihiro looks out the door and grins, thinking about the possibilities of his new eye. He talks with Luke about what he'll be capable of after the upgrade. He starts slightly jumping in anticipation. Soon, he'll be able to protect everyone and everything around him. Jordan watched his father with a smile. 'Well, there goes my dad, acting like a kid again.' Jordan rolls his eyes, happy to see his father's true self again. He acts so mature, but he can sometimes be such a child.

"I thought I had forgotten all of this…" Dylan smiles.

"Did you?" Jordan turns towards his brother.

"Not one bit. I missed all of us being together so much…" Dylan looks over, eyes starting to water.

"As do I. I wish we could have been together so much more than what really happened. Oh well, that's a different story for a different time. Possibly. Don't think it would get that far though." Jordan shrugs.

They all talk to each other for a while, Dylan gets caught up even more, everyone talking and having great family time.

Until a noble purple laser hits the helicopters engines.