Ryan was relieved. Turns out the tests were just normal tests. After the tests were done, Rebecca came into the room with new clothes. She told Ryan to clean himself up and meet her outside of the clinic. Ryan looked at the clothes.
A tuxedo. There was also a bag under the clothes. In the bag was the watch and a belt with a pouch attached. A hilt was sticking out of the pouch and Ryan pulled it out. It was the knife that Cassidy threw him. The knife had a dragon pattern on.
Ryan shoved it back in the pouch and went to take a quick shower. The tuxedo felt like it was custom made but there was no mirror at hand so he had to trust his gut.
He put the watch on his wrist, the belt around his waist before walking out of the clinic.
"Took you long enough. Follow me," Rebecca said before walking off. Ryan walked behind her and looked around him. There were tents everywhere and there were barely any space between them. The clinic was one of the few actual buildings Ryan could see.
"Where are we going?" Ryan asked Rebecca but she seemed rather quiet. A bigger tent entered Ryan's sight and there were even guards outside. As soon as they spotted Rebecca, they placed their hands against their foreheads.
"At ease soldiers," Rebecca said as she entered the tent. Ryan went in too and saw an old man sitting at a huge table. The man seemed to be in deep thought since he didn't even realize that they entered. Rebecca cleared her throat and the man looked up.
"I have brought him like you asked, grandfather," Rebecca's voice sounded far more mature and ladylike than before. The man looked at Ryan with eyes that pierced right through him. The man stood up and walked up to Ryan.
"Thank you for saving my grandson," the old man bowed at a 90 degree angle in front of Ryan. Ryan felt weirded out seeing an old man bowing in front of him. "You don't need to bow to me. Your granddaughter saved my life."
Ryan thought about how that lion almost crushed his chest and shuddered. The old man stood up straight and asked Ryan to follow him. Ryan and Rebecca followed behind the old man as he passed tent after tent.
They finally entered a small building. There was a door leading to an underground room. Ryan was surprised to find that the room was far bigger than he thought. Rebecca didn't look surprised at all and Ryan wondered who Rebecca and the old man really are.
There was a huge computer screen at the end of the room. There were also a lot of different gadgets that he has never seen before. The old man stopped next to a guy that had wild hair. His face was a bit pale and he looked like he didn't sleep in months.
"How does it look, August. Did you find the cause of the weird signals?" the old man asked the guy called August. "General. It seems like the signals are coming from Mars. If I am right, the aliens are using Mars as a beacon for something. What that something is, I don't know."
"How about the PPA? I know that they have been gathering those that have contributed in stopping the aliens." Ryan could barely understand the conversation but now he was completely lost. "The other countries already gave them their consent," August answered.
"Looks like we will have to cooperate too," the old general said. The general handed Ryan a phone. "You will be transported to the nearest PPA branch immediately. Use this chance to contact your family, it might just be the last time you contact them."
Ryan slowly dialed his mother's number. The phone rang once before someone picked up. "H-Hello…" the tired voice of a woman passed through the speakers. Ryan could barely recognize his mother's voice. It felt 'aged'.
"M-mother…," Ryan could feel his voice disappearing. "R-Ryan! Is that you!" A sniffling sound could be heard coming from the phone. A huge burst of tears could be heard coming from Ryan's mother. "W-wh-when they t-talked about V-Vaughan. And you were in critical condition. I…"
It was really hard to talk to her when she's in this state. It's quite hard to tell her that this might be the last time they will speak to each other. He waited for her to calm down and gave his final words.
"Mother. I am going to be over here for a little while longer. There is still some stuff that needs to be done here so I will come home a bit later," Ryan stopped talking and he could here his mother's breathing get heavy.
"Goodbye…" Ryan hang up and his body began shaking. His mother was a really troublesome person. She would try to take everything on herself so he hopes nothing bad happens but luckily he knows his aunt will look after her
His mother and aunt has been inseparable since they were children. Siblings that won't leave each other's sides so he can focus on this and finally go back home. He handed the phone over to the old general and stood back.
"Quick and efficient. Not many kids out there like you," the general said before turning back to August. "Let's gather our stuff and head out. We need to get to the PPA base as quick as possible. If anyone knows what our next step will be, it's them."
The general walked out of the basement and Rebecca beckoned Ryan and followed behind the general. Ryan walked behind them wondering if he even has anything to pack. He looked on as they packed a bunch of stuff that was in the general's big tent before heading to a huge black SUV van.
Everyone got in. The general and August in front and Rebecca and Ryan at the back. "Are we just going to leave like this?" Ryan asked Rebecca. She replied, "The guy under grandpa is still left behind and he is a monster which can achieve anything.
Ryan replied with one word, "Oh…"