"Jacob mind if I ask something personal?" Jacob looked at Cynthia as he slid on his brown overcoat.

Jacob nodded silently as he glanced out the window. Rain was falling and would be for some time. A dreary day. Jacob held back a sigh as the overcast seemed to stretch on for miles. It made Jacob want to crawl back in bed and sleep till tomorrow.

"Go ahead." he said, seeing Linna's vehicle pulling up. Sipping the last of his coffee he moved over to the small kitchen to place the mug in the sink.

Cynthia stood on the chair to make proper eye contact with him. "How does it feel to know you're going to die?" She asked softly.

Jacob looked at her perplexed. He really hadn't thought about that, even during his darkest hours. Why she was bringing this up was a mystery to him. He just shrugged.

"I don't know, but we've got to accept that we've got something to live for… it's up to the person to figure it out. That's how I think about it but I could be wrong" He explained with uncertainty.

"I see, it's depending on the person rather than universe," She processed the words. "I'll probably understand it later with time"

Jacob then heard the buzzer ring. Linna was waiting on him. More aerobics and hand to hand combat training today. He was still reeling from yesterday's pounding by a hologram and knew he would get no time to rest on the battlefield.

"I've gotta go, Mackie's just downstairs in the shop if you need anything" he was beginning to sound like his father.

Cynthia smiled and stepped down from the chair. "I'll be fine, I have an operational lifespan of 200 years on one power cell"

"I know that" Jacob shrugged, if only he could live that long.

Opening the door he said his goodbyes and left. Cynthia moved over to the window and after a minute and a half saw Jacob exited the building and entered Linna's van.

Cynthia smirked. "Finally some alone time" she sighed and smiled softly.

Turning on the sound system with the remote she relaxed. Her optics settled on the album with the storefront. Smile, she read. Isn't that the one that never came out where Jacob came from?. She mused. Picking out the album she played it.

With Linna.

Training Jacob was pretty much a challenge Linna was sure she could conquer. Jacob was a quick learner much to her luck and he mimicked her moves to the best of his ability. She was told about yesterday from Sylia and Linna hoped when she was done it would never happen again. If not then god help him or whoever did it.

"Alright now let's move onto something a bit more complicated," Linna said.

Jacob nodded, wiping the sweat from his head. Linna seemed to enjoy putting Jacob through his paces. Jacob didn't mind it. Stretching his arms over his head. God this training is rough but damn it feels good. He thought with a smile beginning to form. For the first time he felt like he was doing something that meant something. Becoming someone he couldn't have been back at home. Someone better than the Jacob Wilson of before.

"Jacob?" Linna called, snapping him from his musings.

He meekly smiled. "Sorry just thinking. My mind wandered away from me"

Linna didn't question it. It happened to her from time to time. She took a second to look him over. He must have been very lonely. Just a boomer, 4 girls and one guy, no family to speak of. "Ok, how about we take five" She suggested.

Jacob nodded. "If you insist," He then grabbed a water bottle. "Thank you, I know... I might be a bit..." he trailed off not knowing what to say next.

Taking a sip he sighed. Me and my big mouth. He thought in dismay.

"Odd?" Linna replied.

Jacob nodded. He grinned. "That's it. I'm just a shorter version of Gulliver"

Linna giggled at the idea. He wasn't all doom and gloom, nor was he pigheadedly stubborn like some of the guys she dated. Suddenly a pair of footsteps began approaching the door. Without warning it shot open and in walked a girl with shoulder length brown hair and brown eyes. She wore a red dress-shirt with gray jeans. Jacob suddenly knew that training was off the book till this mystery woman was gone.

"Irene?" Linna called.

Irene had an expression of worry which both Jacob and Linna picked up on. Irene saw Jacob and locked eyes with him. There was a unease behind them. It was as if she was going to burst like a dam. Jacob decided to take a sept back and only gave a wave.

"Linna I'm really in a pickle here and I I really don't know who I can turn to" Irene finally said.

Linna then quickly moved to the door of the door closing it and locking it. This can't be good. She thought. Jacob was beginning to feel very awkward and very much like he didn't belong here more then he already did. He parked him in a chair he pretended not to listen as Linna moved back over.

"What's the problem?" Linna inquired warmly.

"Well… My boyfriend wants to quit his job, but I don't know what we'd do about the money."

"Really?" Linna said. "I thought you had money to spare."

"He does! He does! We do. But it's an expensive city, and we'd run out of money quickly, and I don't really want to go back to get more of my stipend-"

"Your what?"

"Nothing! Nevermind. It doesn't matter. The point is he wants to quit, and I can understand why, he's been under a lot of stress lately and other things are happening but I don't know what to do. I mean…"

Linna leaned back against the bar. "Irene. I can't help you if you don't tell me what's going on."

"I don't need your help!" Irene said suddenly. "I just need advice."

"She can't give you advice if she doesn't know what's going on," Jacob singsonged.

Irene stopped. "It's – it's a lot of trade secret stuff. Some of it he doesn't even tell me. I - I don't want to get in trouble."

Linna shrugged. "Your secret's safe with me, Irene. But like Jacob said, I can't give you advice from here except 'find a job somewhere' if you need money that badly."

Was it his imagination, or did Irene seem to sink into herself a little? What was so bad about getting a job? Sylia had said the unemployment rate was pretty high because of Boomers, but Irene didn't look like a physical-labor person anyway, so…

"Alright," Irene said. "My boyfriend is a vice-director in Special Projects for GENOM. And he's been working really long hours lately for a project whose ultimate details he's… not very clear on."

Silence. Genom... I should've know they'd enter the picture sooner or later. Jacob nodded. Irene took that as her cue to continue.

"And he's a vice-director, right? They have to tell him things or he can't, you know, exercise the leadership skills they hired him for. But his boss has kept him and the others in the Tower for, like, fourteen-hour days recently, and he's… starting to crack. He comes home, and he thinks I'm asleep, but I'm not, but I don't want to worry him, so… yeah." She stopped. Sucked in a breath. "I'm sure he's keeping something from me. He'll mutter stuff under his breath-"

"Like what?" Jacob cut in.

"Does it matter? I can't make sense of any of it, I don't think you would-"

"Humor me," Jacob ground out.

He had an idea of where this was going. He did not like where this was going.

"Well, he apparently was supposed to tie some sort of neural feedback to a GPS system, and he was all 'what good is that', because Boomers can access GPS anyway without as much – What?"

Shit. Had his facial expression given it away? "Oh. Um. Nothing. Nothing at all. Just… remembered something. It can wait, though."

Irene took a step back. "You don't know my boyfriend, do you?"

"Nope." Which was the truth, but why couldn't Jacob shake the sense that this was another one of those episodes that he hadn't seen? A girl in need of help, a tie-back to those killsats… It all made an annoying amount of sense. "Couldn't tell you who he was even if I tried."

"O-kayyyy," Irene said. "That's not the point. The point is he came to me last night saying he wanted to quit. That he'd checked with a friend of his in Internal Security, and whatever he was working on… Quincy hadn't authorized funding, it was coming from somewhere else. And he figured either he raised a protest to the Special Projects board, or he just left, but he can't do that, we had this huge fight and he just won't listen to me…"

"Irene," Linna said. "He has to quit."

The other girl stopped. "What?"

"If he knows that Special Projects is doing something it shouldn't, then…" she made a cutting motion over her neck. "He's a loose end. You heard the stories from Sachi, right? About how her husband worked for Macroscale Development. About how he raised a ruckus over bad piping in District Fifteen's reconstruction and was never seen again. You see where I'm going with this, don't you? He's at risk. The sooner he leaves the better."

Linna took a step forward. Irene was quiet. Jacob took a step back. He had the sense it was best if he was invisible for the time being.

"Look, Irene," Linna said. "It's going to be fine. There are… there are ways out of this. Don't worry about the money, I can… I can get you hired on here as an instructor, alright? It pays well, it…"

Irene started to cry. It was a trickle, then a flood. Her breath hitched. Her hands flew up to her face, tears bubbling through her fingers.

"There's no way," she blubbered. "There just isn't any way. I'm going to die, he's going to die, they won't let us escape, there's no way… It's not fair, it's not fair, it's not fair, it's not fair… oh God…"

Linna started to say something. Jacob waved her off, mouthed 'let her be for a minute'. She nodded.

"And I can't go back. I can't ever go back. Not there. It's not fair…"

"Um…" Linna started to say. "Where is there? Do you have someplace where you could go? Irene? Irene, I just want to help keep you safe…"

"NO! NO! I won't go back to Grandfather! You don't know what he's like! He's evil!"

"More evil than GENOM?" Linna said. "That's a high bar to clear, isn't it?" She was trying to move in, just to hold Irene.

But then Irene sucked in a breath. Laughed through her tears. "You know who he is? He runs the Hou Bang. The Chang Group. He — all of California and Cascadia's his. So much power, and after Mom and Dad died he got mean. Reika and I, my older sister, we did everything to please him and it wasn't enough. He wanted an heir. He still does. He has others but Dad was always his favorite, so now it's either Reika or me, and I ran away but he sent me money, and if I go back to him now… Don't you understand Linna? If I go back to him with some nihonjin begging for protection he'll take things from me! He'll hurt me and Hikaru just to prove a point!"

"No he won't," Jacob said.

The other two girls turned to look at him. "Excuse me," Linna said, "I don't think…"

"Not if your boyfriend goes to Grandaddy Chang with GENOM trade secrets on a datadisc. Like, say, the subject of whatever project he's working on right now, or something. He'll be proud of you then, won't he?"

Linna started to say something, but then Irene stopped crying. Just choked. "That's insane," she said. "What am I supposed to do, withhold something like that from Grandfather in exchange for protection? Protection without obligations? It's like trying to negotiate with a tiger, you don't…" she trailed off. "I don't have a choice. I don't have a choice, do I?"

Linna tried to smile. "It's better than nothing, right?"

"I guess it is… I'm not even sure how we could get out of the city without GENOM noticing, though…"

Linna smiled. "Oh, don't worry about that. I know some people who do extractions, and I think they'd be more than willing to foot the bill if it came to that."

For his part, Jacob just shuddered. Was this actually happening? Did Linna just offer Saber services to a girl with ties to this… Chang Group? If they risked the identity of Linna to a guy even his own granddaughter said was pure evil… but then again, if this meant a chance to wipe whatever Mason was up to…

Then it was worth it.

And Irene smiling, and saying, through so many fewer tears, "Thank you, Linna. I won't forget this,"… that made what they were about to do worth it, too.

After Irene left Jacob felt a shiver down the spine. I'm gonna have to get used to that feeling. It brought him some ease to help Irene and Hikaru but slowly sinking feeling that began to form in his gut. Shaking it away he looked to Linna.

"Well let's see how Sylia react to the whole we dug ourselves into" He said jokingly. Deep down Linna knew Sylia would do the job with convincing of course. "Dibs on driving" He called as he marched for the door.

Grabbing her jacket she followed Jacob out the door. "I've got a bad feeling about this" She muttered to her at the thought of him behind the wheel. Then a shiver went down her spine as well. Hopefully we don't end up jumping worlds if we crash.

At Sylia's place.

With a cigarette firmly planted between her lips Sylia processed the story she just heard. Compared to Jacob's tale of being an interdimensional traveller, it was nothing too out of reach. It was the equivalent of hearing about someone's day.

"This is an interesting development," Sylia said sitting in the 'seat of power' with legs crossed. "I knew Mason was bold but not this bold"

"He's a slimy corporate kiss ass. Risks and people like him mix as well as nitro and glycerine," he pushed for a breath. "But that definition no longer applies to that bloodsucker... if only he became a lawyer instead of a corporate stooge"

Priss laughed. Linna felt some of her tension boil away. Sylia clasped both hands together and looked over to Jacob who leaned in the kitchen doorway.

"Mason is anything but a stooge," She shook her head in disagreement. "Now back to the main subject. We've got to protect both Irene and Hikaru from Mason's assassins, once he finds out the datas gone we'll be on the defence"

Linna agreed. "Just whose gonna be the driver?"

"I can" Jacob cut in.

Everyone looked at him. "We want to get them to the airport not to another damn planet" Priss said eyeing him.

Jacob crossed his arms. "I've done some street racing in collage. Besides what are the odds of that happening again?"

"Next to getting hit by a asteroid" Sylia interjected.

Jacob figured as much. What surprised him was she was unopposed to the idea of him driving.

"What will he even drive. I barely trust him with my own car," Linna said.

Jacob frowned. "I can use Mackie's, after swapping the plates"

"Why the mustang?" Sylia inquired.

"She's though, fast and modified by your brother so guess."

Sylia could Imagine her younger brother installing parts to make the car go faster. Mackie probably also added a flipping license plate as well. I've been watching too many bond movies. Sylia took a drag from her cigarette.

"I see but you'll have to talk to Mackie about that" Sylia told him.

Jacob nodded. It wasn't gonna be an easy sell. Hopefully Mackie was in a good mood today.

"Wish me luck"

Linna watched Jacob leave the room to find Mackie. Her stomach turned and knotted as she turned to look out the window. Why would he be willing to drive the two of them?. The odds of a boomer intercepting we're high and without a hardsuit he wouldn't last too long. Was he crazy or suicidal?. Probably both. She shuddered at the idea. It was his choice and the only one who could override it was Sylia. Sylia however agreed with him and he was a better option than sending her own brother. Linna then saw Priss looking at her. She was practically looking through her.

Linna turned her attention to Priss. "What is it?" Linna asked.

Priss leaned back in the seat a small smirk on her face. "You like him don't ya" Priss said.

Linna's eyes narrowed. He was a good guy that she had gotten to know better over the past week but she was that interested.

"No, it's not like that at all. I'm just a bit worried that he's planning on getting himself killed" Linna explained.

Priss bit her lower lip. "You sure about that?" She asked.

Linna shook her head. "No, not really"

Priss sighed. "I'll pick his brain but if your wrong i'm gonna tell you so" Priss said.

Linna nodded just wanting to know the truth. "Go ahead, just see if he's ready to plunge of the bridge" she responded.

Priss nodded. "He's a decent guy, then again even good guys can crack" She said.

Priss had seen it happen once before. A guy she knew had lost it and blew his brains out with a 12 gage and painted the wall he was sitting against with his own blood. The image of private pile from full metal jacket came to mind. Priss shivered. Christ please don't be another Pile. She hoped.

In the garage.

Jacob kept it simple. "Mackie I'd like to use the Mustang for the next job" he said calmly.

Mackie who was sitting in a chair Just in front of a workbench looked at him as he if he had completely utterly lost his mind. Jacob expected this and kept his cool. There was no need to getting into an argument about it. He wanted to use the car, something he was somewhat familiar with rather than a car with more buttons than were necessary. Even Linna's van was pushing it into overkill territory on buttons and knobs.

Mackie then shook his head. "I've put too many hours into that car and knowing your luck it would end up off a bridge or slammed into a fuel truck" He responded.

Jacob grimaced. "I see your point," He said dryly. "But then what else do I drive that isn't like flying an F-14?"

Mackie looked at him hearing the seriousness in this tone. They could always get a car from a used car lot but those were usually not in great repair and the job is tomorrow making the window very small. Why an F-14?. Mackie thought. Jacob then pinched the bridge of his nose. This wasn't going well.

Mackie then cleared his throat. "Don't worry I'm sure Sylia can lend ya something. Just fast and not overly complicated" He said.

Jacob nodded. "Yeah, either way it was worth a shot" He optimistically said.

Mackie nodded in agreement. "Either way I'm pretty sure a modified Mustang can't out run what ever Mason sends after ya"

"I see," Jacob said. "Now I gotta ask Sylia for a car. Oh joy"

With a heavy sarcastic tone he turned towards the door. Mackie watched him leave feeling a sense of relief coming over him. The fear of his pride and joy being driven and destroyed in a mission finally vanished. Thank god. He thought. Grabbing a water bottle he took a sip.

With Priss.

"You think Jacob's doing the job just to get himself killed?" Cynthia said looking genuinely confused by the statement.

Priss nodded. "I am"

Cynthia didn't know why this was brought about but was sure it was most likely someone else asking Priss. Cynthia had her fears about the mission and Jacob's part in it. Holding both arms across her chest she grimaced.

"I don't believe so. We had a talk about this morning about death, I asked and he answered with his personal opinion. He doesn't seem like a guy that'll just throw away is life for nothing" Cynthia responded stepping away from the window.

Priss wasn't sure about it. "Can you tell when someone's lying?"

"Course I can. I'll tell you this, he wasn't lying," Cynthia said. "He genuinely wants to help and wants to repay all of you for what you've done for him"

Priss placed both hands on her hips. She knew that much. Everyone knew it. Priss looked around for a moment. Jacob had been getting a few things to make the place more his own and saw a movie player along with a record player next to the TV. Under it in the shelf below was 3 albums. Smile, Let it be and Sir army suite. Not bad. Priss thought. Turning her attention to the small boomer she really didn't know what else to ask.

"So how've you been?" Cynthia asked.

Priss smiled. "Good, just keeping busy" she replied.

Cynthia nodded at the info. "Want some tea?" She inquired.

She was hesitant for a moment. Had never really put the best foot forward when it came to Cynthia. If anything it was always the worst foot forward. A little tea wouldn't hurt. Priss then nodded.

With Jacob.

Jacob looked at the car. It was a surprisingly decent condition 74 Camaro with a sky blue paint job. The seats were obviously replicas and some of the internals have been updated. Looking in though the open window he boyishly smiled. On the opposite side was Sylia who softly smiled.

"Will she do?" Sylia inquired.

He didn't expect her to refer it like a lady but rolled with it anyway. Jacob nodded and looked up at her. It would be enough for him. Nothing complicated like her red car or Priss's bike.

"Something like this I should be able to get used to easily. I've got a feeling I'm gonna have to squeeze as much speed out of her as possible" Jacob responded.

He was nervous and Sylia could obviously see it. Tossing him the keys Jacob caught them. "Take it for a spin. There's an abandoned warehouse on mercy street. You'll know what to do" She said.

More than you can imagine. Jacob mused as he opened the car door. "One of your properties?" he slyly responded.

Sylia smirked and nodded her head. Quicker than I originally thought. She stepped back to the garage door opener. Jacob started the engine and slowly drive out through the now open door waving goodbye as he drove. The rumble the Camaros engine fading as it turned onto the road.

Warehouse.

With the large door closed Jacob looked around. The floor was entirely empty aside from a few bits of paper and disposable coffee cups. Leaning against the side of the Camaro he folded his arms across his chest. He had a theory on what this place used to be when Sylia bought it outright. A testing ground or the original base for the early years. Whether this was true was unknown.

"I wonder what those years were like?" He muttered to himself.

Clambering into the car to the open window he slid into the diver seat. Strapping himself in he took a breath. Just don't crash. He thought pulling out a thin minidisc like case.

Opening it he inserted it into the player. Shifting in the first gear Jacob slammed the gas down. The car tires squealed like hell as the car shot forwards. Just as the needle hit the red Jacob shifted into second gear. The far wall which had been 200 feet away was now rapidly approaching as Jacob shifted up to third gear. Turning the steering wheel right and downshift into second gear he swung around avoiding the wall my mir inches. Shifting back into 3rd he increased the speed.

"Let's see what you can do" He said with a grin.

Later

Hikaru had a bad feeling about this. Stealing from Mason was enough to get him killed!. Then again if he did nothing he would most likely end up dead anyway. The only safety they could find was in Irene's grandfather who would take the info he was about to steal as payment for protection. Just keep calm and keep moving. He told himself. It was a dead simple. He was just transporting equipment and setting it up for Mason as he had been for the past three days. It was the perfect way to get the information out without triggering any alarms inside the psychopathic executives head.

"I can't believe Irene talked me into this" He muttered.

Walking down one of the many hallways of the Genom tower he stopped by a door. His personal office he had gotten over 5 years of working. Opening the door he strode inside. A desk laid at the east wall and two large filing cabinets on each side up right up against the wall. On the desk was a built in computer terminal hooked up to the mainframe which every computer was synced to. Moving behind the desk he stopped and pulled out his hair but didn't sit in it. Pulling a data disk out he inserted it into the computer.

Powering up the computer he looked around. He was beginning to feel paranoid. "When this is over I'm getting married for sure" He muttered softly.

4 hours before.

Hikaru sat lonesomely at the bar table with a glass of ginger ale. He had work tomorrow and couldn't afford to get drunk, even though he really wanted to forget what he knew. Taking a small sip he sighed deeply. Besides he was supposed to be meeting someone that Irene met who would be there driver for tomorrow. A free job from the Knight sabers. He thought in a odd sense. A man approached him. 20 years of age with brown hair. He wore a dark grey shirt and blue jeans. Pulling out the chair the man smiled warmly before sitting down.

"Sorry I'm late. Traffic was hell" He apologized.

Hikaru nodded understandingly. "It's alright," So this was that Jacob Irene met the day before. He looked odd to Hikaru's eyes. "So you're the driver?. Not exactly what I expected"

Jacob chuckled. "I hear that a lot these days. Yea, I'm your wheel man" He responded.

Glancing down at the menu he picked out a Doctor pepper and called over a waiter who moved of to get the drink. He was so casual and relaxed compared to Hikaru who looked ready to have a nervous breakdown. After the drink was delivered they were left alone. Hikaru looked to Jacob and then around the room. People are either drinking or talking amongst themselves.

"So the sabers will intervene if anything goes wrong?" Hikaru said wanting reassurance.

Jacob nodded. "Yes, if they can't intervene immediately I should be able to keep us a good distance away from anybody on our tail" He replied.

Hikaru snorted. "Against boomers," He said. "Good friggin luck man. Out running one of them ain't easy"

Jacob looked at him with a tilt of the head. "Have a little faith. It's better than what that bastard Mason can do are you"

He was right. Masons ambition was only matched by his cruelty to those who betrayed him. He didn't dare imagine what Mason could do to him if he did get a caught. He shivered that some of the ideas his mind came up with.

Jacob then snapped his fingers getting Hikaru's attention. "Hey, just relax. Think about Irene and getting her out of this hell hole. Think about the life you'll have after this and leave the procrastination to me" Jacob told him.

Hikaru reluctantly nodded. "Ok. Alright. In case it all goes wrong and I end up killed tell Irene I love her" He said slowly standing up.

"Of course, just try to act inconspicuous and keep calm" Jacob told him.

"I'll try"

Back in Hikaru's office.

He copied all of the main files and whatever he could get his hands on regarding the super boomer project. He even included some other unrelated files he could nab. Two dozen files streamed onto the data disk as he waited nervously. He had clearance for backing up the information and transporting it. Masons name was right on the paper. He'll be real pissed when I'm gone. Hikaru mused nervously. Knowing the bastard would be hopping mad was a upside. The biggest upside was finally be able to get out of this job and marry Irene once the deal was completed.

The computer dinged and the disk ejected. "Finally, time i get outta here" He muttered sliding the disk in his left pocket.

Shutting down the computer he drew a deep breath. Now for the fun part. He thought hopefully. Marching to the door he opened it and stepped into the hallway. A few people populated in the hallway going either direction to their respective jobs. Hikaru gently patted his pocket for good luck. Moving down the hallway at a normal pace. The elevator on his right came into view as he slowed and stopped before it. Touching the button he waited. The door opened and he stepped inside.

Pressing the garage button the door slowly closed. "Thank god" Hikaru muttered under his breath.

With Jacob.

Loading Irene and Hikaru's bags into the trunk Jacob looked around cautiously. Now all he had to do was drive to the rendezvous point where he'd pick up Hikaru and that data. Shaking his head he tired to push his paranoia away. Just keep calm and smile and wave. He told himself. He could at least do it for Irene's sake. Closing the trunk he moved silently up to the driver seat. Irene was in the passenger seat looking at him. Hikaru and she believed him to be the middleman between them and the Knight Sabers. It was only half true given how he was going to become a member.

"You alright?" she asked him.

Jacob very reluctantly nodded. "Yeah, just thinking too much again" He joked before sitting down.

"About what?" She asked again.

Nosy isn't she. Jacob mused as he closed the door and started the engine. "Trust me you don't wanna know" He replied.

Irene took that to heart. "Ok, got any music?" she quickly favourite subjects.

Jacob smiled only a little. "Right knob turns the tuner. Left knobs for volume" He told her Moving the car gently onto the road.

Shifting up into second gear he gripped the steering wheel just a bit tighter. Looking in the rearview he saw nothing on their tail. Hopefully that will last the entire ride. Please oh please let that be the case. He pleaded to the high heavens. Shifting into third gear they continued on towards the rendezvous point.

With Sylia.

His vitals were steady though slightly elevated. She leaned in closer to the computer screen as she watched the gps dot moving towards the rendezvous area. Everything seemed to be going well.

Nene zipping up her soft suit watched the gps dot moving across the map. "You sure he can do this?"

Sylia then looked towards Nene. "He wouldn't be out there if he couldn't" Sylia replied.

"I hope so," Linna chimed in. "Last thing Irene needs is to be taken god knows where"

"I doubt what ever brought him here would happen again," Sylia replied. "If it did then he wouldn't be here"

Linna shivered at the idea of ending up like Jacob. Nene was more open to the idea hoping for an exciting adventure unlike anything she'd ever seen. Sylia didn't give it too much thought as her mind was on the job at hand. Priss wasn't sure about it. She really couldn't imagine herself in Jacob's position. Someone trying to carry the weight but has to do so alone. Alone. She did have more respect for him than she had in the beginning. It probably helped him a little knowing that.

Sliding her arms into the sleeves of her soft-suit. "Hopefully it doesn't have anything to do with him," Priss said. "Besides what he's got return to isn't worth while"

That dampened the mood. Both of his parents were dead and he was a college dropout to boot. Nene and Linna sighed at the reminder.

"No need to remind us" Nene responded.

Linna just nodded. Sylia looked back to the computer as a buzzing sounded through the communicator. Grabbing a headset Sylia keyed him in.

"All's quite on the Mega-Tokyo front" Jacob said dryly.

Sylia smirked a little. "Copy that, has Hikaru arrived yet?"

"No," Jacob said. "Probably got caught up in traffic"

Clearly he was keeping his mind off the fact maybe Hikaru got caught. Clinging to hope that he didn't.

"How's our little princess?" Sylia inquired.

Jacob didn't respond immediately. Clearly he was outside of the car and looking in for a moment. "She's nervous but fine. How are you guys holding up?" he asked.

"Ready if the worse happens" Sylia said.

Jacob bit his lower lip. "I just checked the trunk. I feeling less naked now" he vaguely said.

Sylia kept her expression neutral despite her not being able to see him and viceVersa. If it ever came down to it he would have to use it.

"You've grown on me. Besides I wouldn't hear the end of it from Cynthia" Sylia responded.

"Thanks, it's nice to have either way" Jacob replied.

Sylia agreed. "Don't worry, just remember your exercises," she paused. "Let us know when he arrives. Over and out"

With the comm cut she took of the headset.

With Hikaru.

After checking the truck he quickly moved around to the front. Moving to the Driver door he opened it. It was a two seater. Stepping up inside he seated himself. Something just outside the door caught his attention through his peripheral vision and he looked. It was Mason who was now standing at the door with a document. Not good. Hikaru thought. His entire body went cold as he was handed the sealed documents. It didn't weight much from the feel of it.

"Change in route today," Mason told him. "Been to many hijacking's near the route and I'll be dammed if anyone gets a hand on my tech" he added.

Hikaru nodded. "I understand" He responded.

Mason handed him the document. Mason then eyed him unable to exactly place what was unnerving him. I'm just getting paranoid again. Mason told himself. Hikaru placed the changed route on the passenger seat Hikaru put on a fake smile. Mason then began walking away. Hikaru's heart was pounding within his chest as he breathed steadily. Closing the door he shivered.

"Fuck that was close," Starting the engine he shifted into drive. "Just two more hours and I'll be outta this city once and for all"

End chapter.