Chapter 41. Search.
Octavia was sitting next to Poch, attempting to unlock the collar on him with a hairpin. Loona was on his other side dressing his wounds but nervously watching Octavia unlock the collar. They were in the waiting room in front of the studio room turned radio room with Dundy and Echo.
"You sure it's not gonna do anything if she messes up?" Loona asked.
"He only said throw it when it comes off so it shouldn't. He was way too eager to fight me again to lie about it." Poch said.
"I'm surprised a Crusader came to fight you." Dundy commented.
"You and me both, didn't expect to get collared again either."
"Those are the same collars that sealed your powers back at that Dhork place right?"
"Yeah, the one that Toket placed on me and Jack. I can't summon my Shadow Demons cause of it."
"That does make me wonder. Is Shivarna ok?" Octavia asked.
"I hope so," Poch felt his chest, "I can still feel him but it's…distant, like he's buried deep within."
"At Least he's still there right?" Loona looked at him sympathetically, also worried about Shivarna.
"He's still there, just can't call him for obvious reasons. Bet he'll pop out as soon as we get this collar off. How's that going by the way?"
"It's going. I'm not a pro at this yet so give me some time." Octavia answered, still fiddling.
"Pro? Why would you wanna be a pro lock picker?" Echo asked.
"Oh Elina taught me the basics, told me about the time she used it once to get to a match when some rivals locked her up back in her wrestling days, and thought to tell me how cause y'know, royal daughter and all."
"Well at least you got a bodyguard." Echo nudged Dundy.
"If only Stolas saw it that way." Dundy commented.
"What else would he see it as?"
"A date."
"...Is it?" Poch smirked.
"Shut it." He deadpanned.
"Oh I think I got it!" She gave it a turn, putting some force into it. It went halfway before it snapped. "Shit!"
"You almost had it." Loona said.
She huffed. "Why can't Dundy just break it off?"
"I tried. It's too strong to break." Dundy shook his head.
"Ok but what about Jack and Dust?"
"Stolas is examining him, which makes sense considering what happened."
"What happened? He ok?" She said concerned.
"Well during this Cleansing something happened to him. His scythe changed and he acted a bit rabid, but the weirdest part was how he summoned Dust." Echo answered.
"What was wrong?"
"The words appeared on the scythe and he didn't even write them."
"That is weird. How'd he do that?"
"How do you not remember?" Stolas asked Jack, sitting in front of him, moving his magic hands around the imps body. They were in the recording room.
"I just don't. There was a voice, then a surge and then…just gets…blurry after that." Jack answered.
"Do you remember summoning Dust, or what happened to your scythe?"
"Not…really. Everything is just…a blur….what happened to my scythe?" He looked to the side to see Blitzo and Moxxie examining it, Blitzo just using its normal functions trying to find some secret with Moxxie giving some suggestions.
"It…changed. It turned red but also got some other abilities."
"Like what?"
"I don't quite know but you created an ethereal mimic of your weapon, and it apparently followed your movements although delayed."
"That a spell or something?"
"I don't know. I haven't quite seen a spell like that. It was like Poch's ether daggers but different. More solid yet…a bit ghostly."
"That is weird. By the way how's Shred?"
"Ow!" Shred cringed to the tightening of his bandage.
"Hold still!" Millie chastised. She was in a changing room near the studio room tending to his broken hand.
"Stop pulling so hard!"
"I'm not!" She yanked, pulling on one of his fractured fingers.
"GERRRG!" He nearly screamed, holding it in, gritting his teeth, tearing up.
"Sorry." She smiled apologetically, being more gentle. "I'm almost done."
"I hope so…wonder what Tenya will think when he sees this."
"You'd know better than I would."
"You say that but…its…been a while."
"I'm sure he hasn't changed that much. It's only been like what? Two, three years? People dont change that much in just those years."
"Says the imp who cut her hair, changed how she dressed, and became less of a psycho in less than that." His bandage got pulled because of that. "OW!"
"That's cause of love and who you calling psycho?" She raised a brow, slightly offended.
"You denying it?" He smirked.
"Yes!"
"What if I called you a sexy psycho?"
"...Well…" That made her reconsider.
"An adorable fiery psycho?"
She snickered, playfully pushing him. "Oh stop it you."
"There she is." He chuckled. "I'm still nervous about that."
"It's not like you'll be alone. Moxxie and I will be there."
"I know…still Im sorried Ill fuck it up again."
"Here's some advice. Just take a deep breath," She simulated that, "and smile. Don't try to rush things and just…let it happen. Somethings need a pace."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Trust me. That helped me alot when I first went over to Moxxies to see his guns."
"Were you nervous?"
"Well…" She contemplated telling him.
"You can tell me Mils." He encouraged, smiling at her.
"...Heh…I was a wreck to be honest. I nearly didn't go."
"No way." He was slightly shocked.
"Yes way! I was sweating bullets and while I was at his door I just wanted to run!"
"You were that nervous?"
"Yes! You should've seen me when he first came over to my place, I was pacing like a jackrabbit and when he knocked I was hiding under my bed til my mom let him in the house. I Played it off like I was getting my knives."
"Wow. It's hard to imagine you that way."
"Is it really?"
"Yeah! Tough confident Millie running away and hiding? Sounds crazy."
"Heh…yeah I guess it does." She looked a little dejected by that.
Shred noticed this and felt guilty, thinking he did it. "...Y'know…I used to be afraid of cats."
"Huh?" She looked at him surprised.
"I had a fear of cats when I was younger."
"You're lying." She looked at him in disbelief.
"It's true! Whenever I saw a cat I'd jump back and hide like a turtle!"
"You ARE a cat, how were you afraid of them?"
"Got scratched by one when I was younger and the way it hissed at me just made me shiver. I tried to pet it again, big mistake, it nearly lunged at me, swiping at me like crazy."
"That was a mean cat."
"Right? My mom helped me get over it."
"How'd she do that?'
"She had one of her friends bring their cat over and while I was asleep she set it right next to me. I woke up to it purring on me and my fear just melted away. It was way too cute to be afraid of. He was warm and way too fluffy."
"Aww he sounds adorable!"
"He was. And now I'm a cute fluffy cat!"
"Eh."
"Oh you denying it."
"You don't look that cute, especially compared to Moxxie."
"I accept that challenge!" He got off his chair and on his knees.
"What are you-?"
He pressed his head against her, nuzzling against her neck, purring and wagging his tail.
Millie blushed but remained vigilant, smirking. "Not bad but…purring doesn't make you-"
He looked up at her, still nuzzling, his pupils growing wide, really showing the difference in his eye color which just made him look more appealing.
"Urk!" She stiffened up, trying not to be captivated by those eyes. "I'm not giving I-"
"Meow." He sounded like an actual cat with that meow.
She turned even redder, feeling her heart skip a beat. "...Damnit fine you win!" She huffed.
"Haha!" He raised back up, smiling triumphantly.
"For a human you sure know how to sound like a cat."
"Thank my dad. After I turned he convinced me to try to play a prank on my mom. It was hilarious when we did but she did get us back good."
"What she do?"
"She-"
A loud boom cut them off, startling them. They got up and rushed out and headed to the studio room. Once they entered the room they saw everyone with a panicky look on their face.
"What happened!?" Shred asked.
Poch came out from the Studio room with Shivarna following. "We're good." Poch calmed them.
"What was that?"
"The collar exploded."
"It what!?"
A few minutes earlier.
"Have you tried-?" Dundy was about to suggest an action.
"Don't you backseat picker me." Octavia replied, focused on the lock, on her third hair pin.
"I'm not just that you only got one left."
"And I nearly got it last time. Don't you trust me?"
"Of course I do. I just don't want you to run out of pins."
"That doesn't sound like trust."
"It's the pins I don't trust. They break way too easily."
"Guess that means those workouts are working."
"I thought your arms looked a bit thicker."
"Oh you noticed?" She smirked. "I'm hoping to one day suplex you, you know."
"I'd love to see that." Echo commented.
"Same." Loona agreed.
A click was heard from the collar, Octavia's eyes lighting up. "Oh I got it!" She turned it more, unlatching the brace.
"Sweet!" Poch said happily.
Shivarna wasted no time appearing, howling loudly. "FREEDOM!"
"Oh phew hes o-" The collar was then yanked off Poch by Shivarna and thrown down, "-k." He chuckled.
Shivarna began stomping on the device angrily. "Stupid. Sealing. Co-" A beeping sound emanated from the device, progressively getting higher.
"What's that?" Octavia thought to ask.
"I don't know…Alto did say to…" Realization hit Poch's face, Shivarna also realizing. "Oh shit." He jumped off his girlfriend's lap and rushed to the entrance of the recording room. "Come on!"
"Coming!" Shivarna grabbed the collar, rushing to him.
"Poch wha-" Loona was about to ask him.
"No time!" Poch went into the room. "Stolas!"
"Hm?" Stolas looked at Poch confused. "Yes?"
"Oh hey Shiv. Octavia got th-" Jack was about to say something in regards to the collar being off.
"Open a gate, Quick!" Poch shouted.
"Huh? Wh-?" Stolas was about to ask.
"This thing's about to blow!" He and Shivarna shouted at the same time, panicking as the beeps got higher and the device got hotter.
"Oh dear!" Stolas was quick to raise up, realizing the situation. "Uh um eh!" He was trying to think of where to open, his magics aura surrounding his hands. "Where do I-!?"
"Throw it in the sky, something, just open a place man!" Jack yelled.
"Quick!" Shivarna rushed.
"R-right!" Stolas quickly opened up a portal, leading directly outside, moving out the way. "Go!"
"Yeet!" He threw it right out the gate.
Stolas quickly closed it and just in time considering there was a loud boom two seconds after an explosion. "Phew."
"Um…where did you throw it?" Moxxie asked.
"Right outside the place."
"Like…right right outside?" Blitzo questioned.
"I panicked." He said defensively.
"At Least you had time to get rid of it." Shred mentioned.
"How's Jack by the way?" Millie asked.
"I'm good." Jack said coming out of the recording room along with the others.
"Stolas find anything on ya?" Shred asked.
"Notta. Don't remember much anyway. Also my scythe's back to normal."
"We couldn't find anything on the scythe either, it just does what it normally does." Moxxie said.
"Yeah, we pressed, twisted, jacked, and nothing but the usual happened." Blitzo added, looking at the weapon before compacting it and giving it back to Jack.
"Its concerning to say the least." Stolas said, pondering. "...Jack? I know you're not going to like this but until a royal hound can track what's happening to you, I believe it best that you…sit things out."
"What!?" Jack looked at the prince shocked. "You're kidding!"
"Its for the best. If you fall like that or go out of control you'll not only be a danger to everyone else but also yourself." Stolas tried to reason.
"I didn't attack anyone except the angels! You told me yourself, I was wrecking that boss!"
"But you don't remember any of it, besides you collapsed right afterwards."
"Yeah but-"
"What if you were to fall on your own the next time it happens? You'll be an easy target!"
"I'll just stick with Poch or Shred!"
"Then you'll be dead weight!"
"You did NOT just go there!" Jack glared angrily.
"Jack," Stolas softened, not meaning to offend him, "the last thing we need is you dying out there cause you're too stubborn to sit things out."
"I'm not just going to sit by and have the others pick up my slack!"
"There are other ways you can help. You could help Loona and me in the radio room."
"That doesn't suit me! I'm not some watcher! I'm a guy of action, you all know that, right!?" He looked amongst the others, hoping for some sort of confirming nods or something of the like, but what he saw was them concerningly looking among themselves, unsure of what to say, hoping another would say it. "...You can't be serious." He noticed their looks and felt a little defeated.
Shred stepped forward. "It's not like we don't want you fighting with us, and yeah you're a fighter but…maybe you should sit it out for a while dude."
"We can handle things a man short for a while. We did when Poch was out." Dundy added.
"Yeah but that was before the Crusaders and the improved bosses. You remember what Toket told us, there's eleven of them and eight are at stage two." Jack argued.
"That's more of a reason we need you to sit things out till we find out about this."
"If you were to get your flashes or get into a fight and go crazy like that, who knows what would happen." Shred told him.
"Then I won't go alone then!" Jack retorted.
"You'll just be a liability in that case."
Jack was taken aback by what he said, his jaw nearly dropping and his face scowling in hurt by that statement.
Shred noticed this and was immediately regretting his choice of words. "Oh, Jack I didnt me-"
"I am not a liability!" He shouted. He walked over to Stolas and snatched his book, going to the wall, conjuring the spell.
"Where are you-?" Stolas was going to ask.
"To my sisters!" He made the portal and tossed the book back, walking through, closing the gate behind him.
"...Should…Should we-?" Octavia was gonna say something.
"He needs some space…let's try talking to him afterwards." Poch said, concerned but knowing they should leave him be.
Shelly and Solis were heading to Gen's workshop, Shelly on the phone with Millie.
"Anyone try to call Nala?" Shelly asked.
"Nah, we decided not to, best to let him be." Millie replied.
"Yeah, probably for the best. He can be a bit hot headed at times."
"You're heading to see Gen right?"
"Yeah, papa asked us to drop by to pick up something he ordered."
"It's a good thing his workshops so close to your place huh?" Solis stated.
"Right? Convenient he's only thirty minutes away."
"What'd your dad order?" Millie asked.
"I don't, he didn't tell me, but he did say Gen's new assistant made it."
"New assistant?"
"Yeah he apparently hired one."
"It's not like he's a loner, but he prefers making things on his own so whoever this assistant is must be really something to be his assistant." Solis added.
"Wonder what he's like." Millie asked.
"I'll tell you when we get back." Shelly said, approaching the door. "Were here."
"Alright. Seeya!"
"Seeya!" She hung up.
Solis pressed the bell and the two waited.
"Hello?" Gen's voice called out from the intercom.
"Hey Gen, It's Solis and Shelly." Solis responded.
"Oh hey, I'll get the door!" The door unlocked and opened, allowing the two entry. They came in and went down the usual hallway to the usual work area. Gen was waiting for them at the doorway. "Was expecting ya. Here for that thing your dad asked?"
"That'd be the reason." Shelly smiled. She noticed a glimpse of someone at his work desk, someone wearing black boots, gray khaki cargo pants with a belt, a white long sleeve shirt, a light brown canvas apron, black gloves, and a welding mask. They were writing something at the desk. They looked human but she found that to be off considering his line of work. "That your new helper?"
"Yeah, and he's helped with that new piece you're dad asked for."
"He…kinda looks human?" Solis commented on what the two were thinking.
"Heh," He grined, "That's cause he is."
They were shocked by that.
"Wait, hol up, you hired a human assistant!?" Shelly said, wide eyed.
"Yep!"
"How the hell'd you do that? He an Exterminator to be?" Solis questioned.
"Nah he's not gonna be one. He just applied to be my assistant."
"How'd he apply for that? Wait, you were hiring?"
"No I wasn't hiring, he just convinced me."
"What'd he do to convince you?"
"Even then, how'd he find you?" Shelly wanted to know.
"Why don't you ask him." Gen smirked, facing back at his assistant. "Hey, come over here, assistant."
The assistant placed down his pencil, rose up, and came over to them. He unlocked his mask and opened up the face plate. Once Solis and Shelly's eyes hit that face their mouths fell open and they were dumbfounded.
Stolas, Loona, and Poch entered the house of Nure, the demon having given them a call about Poch's daggers being finished, meeting them in his workshop.
"Good to see you all." Nure bowed.
"Pleasure to visit you." Stolas returned the gesture, Loona and Poch remembering to do the same, feeling a bit awkward. Stolas glanced at them when rising back up. "Y'know you two don't have to bow right?"
"We don't?" The two hounds said in unison.
The prince chuckled. "What made you think you did?"
"Well you were so we just assumed we did." Poch said.
"He's just being a royal and respecting an elder. You don't really have to do the same." Nure assured.
"Oh, really?"
"You didn't bow the last time you saw me, remember?"
"Oh yeah."
"Uh, what'd he say?" Loona asked.
"Oh, right. Uh he said Stolas is just doing it as some royal elder respect thing when he bows and we don't really have to do that."
"Oh. Think it's cause we're commoners?"
"Maybe."
"Oh please." Nure rolled his eyes, handing Loona a candy that helps her hear her. "Here."
"Thanks." She placed the treat in her mouth.
"So, first of all, congratulations on your relationship."
The two hounds blushed and shyly smiled.
"Uh, thanks." Poch said, scratching the back of his head.
"Secondly, your upgrades are finished."
"Sweet! Wish they finished earlier though, could've used them during today's Cleansing."
"Sorry, they just finished a few minutes ago, bit earlier than I expected"
"It's fine. They on the table?"
"No."
"Where are they then?"
"That's what you have to figure out?"
"I'm sorry, what?" Poch raised his brow.
"It's time you learned how to sense your daggers, you and your shadow demon."
Shivarna appeared, pointing at himself, confused. "Me?"
"Yes, both of you. Now close your eyes."
Shivarna and Poch looked at each other, the shadow demon shrugging, Poch looking to his girlfriend only for her to do the same, unsure of what to do. The Exterminator looked forward and closed his eyes, Shivarna doing the same.
"Now. Focus."
"On what?" Poch asked.
"On you daggers. Visualize them and try to pick up on their energy."
"Ok." He tried to do that, squeezing his eyes and trying to sense them out. "Hmmmm."
"If it helps, try remembering that sensation you have whenever you open a gate or whenever you form your Chaos blade."
"Hm…the sensation." The sensation was all too familiar to the hound Exterminator, the feeling of cutting through the space to go somewhere else. When thinking about that he remembered times when he felt that same sensation but different, those times being when they first dealt with those orbs that trapped them, which led to a fight with a stone face, the time when he and Jack first talked to Toket, and most recently with Alto. He shrugged off those thoughts, planning to go back to them later. He felt something, a familiar vibe. He focused on that vibe and directed himself to it. "I think…i found it."
"Point to it."
"Hm…." He pointed out to the side, his finger going to one of the weapon shelves. "There."
"Well done." Nure smiled. "You can stop now."
"Wait…I haven't gotten it yet." Shivarna said.
"Really?" Poch opened his eyes, looking at him surprised.
"I don't use them as often as you."
"I know but still dont you sense things when inside me?"
"That's different. That's more so sensing motion and spacial stuff….I think I got it." He pointed outwards to the same way Poch did. "There."
"Correct." Nure stated.
"Sweet!" He opened his eyes. "Can we get them now?"
"Go ahead."
As Shivarna went to pick up the daggers, Poch decided to ask Nure something. "So how do I use these other forms? Do I just say it?"
Nure shook his head. "Not quite. From what I can simulate it's more so a process of thought that they should respond to."
"Should?" Loona questioned.
"While I can hold the daggers, I can't wield its combined form, so what I know from doing this to other weapons is pure speculation. Though I can guess its other forms can change up how the chaotic energy is released along with tearing space."
"Should be fine." Shivarna said, coming back with the daggers. "Here." He handed them to Poch before dismissing.
"Thanks." Poch took them and decided to try out the form changing now, forming his Chaos blade. "Process of thought." He held it out and thought about it transforming into a spear. It glowed in a red and blue hue before morphing, changing into a spear. The pole of it was twisted with two strands of blue and red, the end being an arrow tipped blade that shared the mixture of both weapons' edges. "Alright!" He spun it around, having it change again to its circular shuriken form. It had four large blades curved around its rim, having the same type of edge and coloring, the center having two handles crossed perpendicular together, having the same type of grip as his daggers. He gave it a twist, tossing it up and catching it, pulling it apart, changing it into its Kusarigama form, the chain being a mix of both colors while the handles on both ends were the same as their original form, the blade on the sickle arched like half a moon, its characteristics being the same, having the clean but razor sharp edge. He inspected it closely, smirking, checking the other handle, dangling it down. "The fundo's got some nice weight."
"Fundo?" Stolas questioned.
"The iron weight that's on the other end of the Kusari, the Kusari being the chain." Loona answered. She noticed Stolas's surprised look. "What? He nerds out sometimes."
"Not my fault you asked about it. You were interested though." Poch smirked, changing the weapon back to its katana form, separating them.
"Maybe." She smirked back. "You're still a nerd."
"You love this nerd." He stuck his tongue out at her, sheathing his weapons.
"Duh." She chuckled, leaning in to give him a quick kiss, her boyfriend returning the kiss.
"Wow…so weird to see you two not act bashful." Nure commented.
"Right?" Stolas shared, the two hounds rolling their eyes.
Jack sat on the couch, watching Criminal Minds with a sour grumpy look on his face, drinking a soda. Keenie and Collin were in the dining room, watching him.
"Should we say something?" Collin suggested.
"Like what? You already made him grumpier when you agreed with what the others said." Keenie said.
"Well you agree too!"
"Well yeah but I wasn't dumb enough to tell him that."
Collin sighed. "How long til Nala gets back?"
"She said she's like eight minutes away."
"Well at least he's not drinking any alcohol."
"Not like we had much anyways."
"Especially after last wednesday." He smirked.
Keenie leered at him. "Oh fuck off you got drunk too!"
"Yes but I wasn't as horny."
She blushed and was taken aback by that, looking bashfully away. "You weren't complaining."
"No I was not." He chuckled.
The front door opened and Nala came in. She huffed, walking up to the angel couple, setting a bag down on the table. "You two mind giving us a minute?"
"Yeah sure." Keenie floated up along with Collin, heading up stairs.
"And try not to get super frisky."
"It was one time!" Keenie flushed, feeling embarrassed while her boyfriend just chuckled.
Nala glanced at her brother sulking at the couch, surmising he wasn't really paying attention to what was on. She walked up to the seat, sitting right across her sibling. "Hey."
"Hey." Jack grumpily responded.
"Whatcha watching?"
"Criminal Minds."
"Oh cool."
"...They already told you didnt they?"
"Yep."
Jack sighed, leaning back. "Alright…go ahead say I'm being a dumbass."
"Now why would I need to say that when you just agreed to it?" She said with a grin.
"Didn't agree to it." He scrunched.
"Jack," She glanced at him somberly, "do you really wanna fight THAT badly? I know you're a nut but come on."
"It's…Ugh," He groaned, "It's not like that…Nala you know me…I'm a fighter, up close and personal."
"I get that but do you always gotta fight? It's not like you're the only one fighting this battle."
"I know that. I know this isn't just my fight, I know the others are just as involved as me."
"Then what is it?"
"...Remember that time those assholes were bothering you that one day after we visited mom?" His expression softened a bit.
"Those wannabe gangsters? I remember."
"You beat the shit out those guys and I just…watched."
"Well you were across the street getting shakes. It's not like you could just throw it at them from that far, not like it'd do much." She chortled.
"Yeah but…you didn't need me."
"What? You feel like I needed protection from my strong brother?" She mocked.
"No that's….Nala…you can kick ass, especially with a bat, and not only that you're smart as hell as a programmer….Im not."
She looked at him dolefully. "Jack…"
"I'm not techy like you, not good with magic like Stolas, cant snipe for shit like Mox and Shell…Im just…the only thing I got for me is my scythe…this isn't just my fight, but I'm involved…the only way I can help is by fighting and if I can't do that then…" He slouched, "I'm useless."
Nala looked at her brother sympathetictically. "...Why'd you have mom teach you how to play the piano?"
"Huh?" He looked at her confused.
"Why?"
"Well…I wanted to play it with and…maybe impress her a bit. Wh-?"
"So you learned for her, right? Stuck through all those confusing lessons and stuff in no time too."
"Yeah. She said I had natural talent." He let out a small laugh.
"...You're…a dumbass."
"Huh!?" He was taken by surprise by her sudden insult.
"You're a klutz when it came to that flail, you're a childish nut, can't carry a tune, and there's more than enough times where you deserved to get hit."
He scowled. "Well fu-"
"Youre also great with a piano, a badass when it comes to using Dust, and you got good reflexes."
His expression softened. "Where are you going with this?"
"I'm saying yeah you can't do those things you said earlier, nor are you a smart programmer like you're adorable sister…but those things that you are good at…you learned how to be good at it, or how to be better…that more than makes up for what you can't do."
"Yeah but now I cant even help with those things now."
Nala shook her head. "Oh you stupid brother of mine. You learned how to fight so you can fight angels and help the others right?"
"Well duh."
"Then since you can't fight, just learn how to help in some way else. You don't have to be great at it as long as it helps, don't ya think?"
"I…well I guess I don't."
"You're not gonna be out forever, just for a bit, so it aint gonna kill ya to sit by and be the navigator, heck who knows, since you fight alot, you might be able to coach a bit."
"..." Jack smiled. "Guess I could…thanks sis."
"Anytime my not so useless brother." Nala smiled back.
Next day.
Stolas and Blitzo were waiting in the radio room, waiting for Jack to contact the prince for a gate.
"Think he's still mad?" Blitzo asked.
"I hope not." Stolas said nervously.
"Y'know since Poch got his daggers back he could just jump to him whenever."
"He won't always be able to do that plus then he'd just be protecting him and he won't be able to move remember?"
"Yeah I guess that would be a problem huh?"
Stolas's phone dinged, Jack had messaged him. "That's Jack." He opened up a portal to let Jack in.
"Hey guys." Jack waved.
"Jack. About yesterday, I-" Stolas attempted to apologize but Jack stopped him.
"Before we get into that, mind showing me how to work this shit?" He pointed to the dashboard for the equipment.
"You…want me to show you how it works?" Stolas said in surprise.
"Yeah, if I'm gonna be stuck here might as well know what I'm doing right?"
"Wait," Blitzo jumped in, "You're ok with this?"
"Eh, not like sitting back for a while is gonna kill me."
"What changed your mood all the sudden?"
"A good sister." Jack smiled.
Stolas returned that smile, thinking of gifting Nala something soon. "Alright then, let me show you how to work the cameras." He led him to the console, beginning to teach him.
End.
Next chapter: Unravel.