"Wha....what happened? Where am I?"
"It's okay. Without much sleep, you collapsed.
Hey, take that Coffe away. Only water for you."
"Thanks.
*Sipppp*
Aaaaaaah.
Did you find anything?"
"Same tradesmarked guns, but no Portal. We did save all the people, and Jordan is meeting with Alexa now. Could use you though. As the SB, you're the only…."
"I know. I know."
"Not every Clam hides a Pearl, Jacklyn."
"Pearl?"
"What is it?"
"If Ruby can look towards the future, then so can I."
"But you didn't break anything."
"Yes I did, and I am sorry. The hot tip I received was too good to pass up.
Too hot, it blinded me. Even from you. My friends I have right now; I thought I could do better. So, I pushed you before the lead could go cold. Guess it wasn't a lead at all. Can you forgive me?"
"Before one can forgive you, you must forgive yourself."
"Using my only tactics against me. Clever.
"Can you....forgive yourself?
........….Then I too, forgive you."
"As do I."
"Darius, what are you doing here? You should be….."
"Family comes first. Always."
"Yeah. What he said.
At least now we know you're not a big softy. Sometimes it takes a strong voice."
"And we need a kicking every once in a while."
*Oof*
"What's this for?"
"Nothing.
....Now, let's go see how Jordan is coming along."
"You're…..you're not coming?"
"I'll be there in a sec."
"Just forget about your Lead. Probably got it mixed up."
"Maybe.
...…Lolli, get me Theo?"
"Sup, Babygirl. Thanks for sparing my men. In return, I hope you liked your one Portal. Was it all you envisioned it would be? I hope it has helped you gain trust in me...…like the old days."
"There was no Portal here."
"Huh?
Well that's odd. Do you have any reason why that might be?"
"I don't know. After investigation...…I fell asleep."
"You fell aslepp?"
"I fell asleep."
"How?"
"I don't know. On one hand I am up to my neck doing my very best to find your Wife, and on the other; you are breathing down it.
...Call off your men."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. You gave me the location of all Portals, and did a very good job of holding them down. I thank you. Now step back while me and my team take over."
"You promise to leave me out of it?"
"Between you and me, I tried making everybody happy with my Soulles army, but they didn't approve. I feel Scarlett is about to strangle me if we don't make an acutal 'Rescue.' It's all save and let go. Thanks to you."
"Sorry. I can't be in hundreds of places at once. You understand. And there's no way they would help me on their own. I needed a trade.
"Then trade all for one. When she comes home, I want your face to lightup, just like the day you first met. You want to go to the past, go to that. Leave us with the future.
"Ah, jacklyn. That's an old wise tail. Stress doesn't cause wrinkles."
"Prove me wrong.
You said you didn't want to be like Tai. Then don't. Trust is one hundred. Not fifty."
".......You really suck at keeping secrets, you know?"
"As Natysh said. I am not in the family, so don't expect any of them to rub off on me."
"Done."
"Just like that?"
"Don't make a grieving father beg."
"I promise the next time you see me, I won't be the one walking down the aisle."
"That's a big promise. You can't do it on your own. You need my team.
"I'm never on my own. And Theo...."
"Jacklyn, come on. Come on. The shows starting. Frostwing is about to drop the snow."
"......I got better than a team. I have a family."