Rachael and Stefan flinched simultaneously as the sudden crack of gunfire echoed from the rooftop. Though they were too far away to see the chaos unfolding, their instincts told them something was terribly wrong.
Rachael's gaze locked onto the retreating Anthropters, their swift departure sparking concern. "Something's happening," she whispered, her eyes scanning the scene for any sign of Mike or Christina.
Then, her gaze caught sight of Christina's body plummeting toward the ground, only to be rescued by Djuma's swift intervention. Fear gripped Rachael's heart, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios.
"Oh my God, Mike!" Stefan shouted, terror widening his eyes as he took a step forward, as if to rush toward the rooftop.
Rachael's heartbeat spiked, her breathing heavy. "Stop! Leave my brother alone!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, her voice echoing through the air.
She swiftly strode toward Djuma and Christina's direction, determined to uncover what had transpired on the rooftop and how Djuma lost Mike to the Anthropters.
Djuma gently placed Christina on the ground, relief washing over him as he confirmed her safety.
Christina's face was etched with anguish. "He shot him! He fucking killed him!" she wailed, tears streaming down her face as she struggled to process the chaos. "What do I do now?"
Djuma's calm demeanor steadied her. "Pull yourself together, Christy. They would need more than a gun to kill the Jyuran," he reassured, his gaze locked on Christina.
His expression turned serious. "He passed out because of the shock. Obviously, he have never been shot before, it could take a while for him to adapt to his new identity."
Christina's sidelong stare pierced Djuma, skepticism etched on her face. "Are you feeding me empty lies to ease my pain?" she asked, her voice laced with disdain.
Djuma's expression remained resolute. "I'm telling you the truth, Christy. The Jyuran's abilities far surpass your understanding. His healing capabilities are unmatched; you don't need to worry about his safety," he assured.
He sighed and continued. "We should be thinking about how to stop the father and son's reunion."
Christina's gaze lingered, searching for reassurance. "You're certain he'll heal?" she pressed, her voice tinged with desperation.
Djuma nodded emphatically. "I'm positive. Not even his son, Dahra, possesses the power to harm him," he affirmed. "So rest assured, he's safe, no matter where he is."
A hint of relief softened Christina's features, she let out a shallow sigh. "Ughh! That's a good to hear, I thought something terrible had happened to him."
"If Dahra can't harm Mike, why are we stopping them from meeting?" Rachael's curious voice cut through the tension. Her brow furrowed, confusion etched on her face.
Djuma's expression turned grave. "It's not about physical harm, Rachael. Dahra's influence could corrupt the Jyuran's purpose, undermining his protector role. We can't risk that happening."
Stefan's eyes narrowed. "Mike's strong, do you think he would succumb to Dahra's influence?" he scoffed.
Djuma's gaze turned somber. "We can't be certain. The bond between the Jyuran and his son is complex. And as I mentioned earlier, the Jyuran's mind holds locked memories, and within those memories, Jran's soul lingers," he explained, his voice measured.
"Forcefully unlocking those memories risks Jran's soul gaining full control over the Jyuran's body, as you've witnessed earlier," Djuma cautioned, his eyes grave with concern, his steps slow and deliberate as he approached Rachael and Stefan.
"Your brother previously suppressed Jran, but meeting Dahra will catastrophically unlock the dark memories and unleash Jran's soul," he emphasized, determination etched on his face. "That's why we must keep them apart until we extract Jran's soul from the Krara."
Djuma's expression turned solemn. "I promise to do everything in my power to prevent your brother and friend from becoming a monster," he assured, his voice filled with conviction.
Rachael wiped away her tears, composing herself. "What were those gunshots we heard earlier?" she asked, her brow furrowed.
"Was it the NASA agents attacking the Anthropters?" she inquired further.
Christina remained silent, her gaze dropping. She couldn't bring herself to reveal the painful truth: her father was attacking Mike, instead of the aliens.
The weight of her secret hung heavy, a guilty burden she couldn't shake.
Djuma's head shook, his eyes locked onto Christina's. "They're attacking..." His voice faltered, trailing off as he read the mix of fear and guilt etched on her face.
Stefan's brows furrowed, curiosity sparking in his eyes. "Attacking... who?" he pressed, his voice low and urgent.
Rachael's eyes widened, realization dawning like a stormy sky. "Don't tell me those people were attacking my brother instead of the Anthropters, or..." she whispered, her voice trembling.
Christina summoned courage, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, that's right." She took a deep breath, steeling herself. "The NASA organization, led by my father, tried to kill your brother to protect me."
Stefan's eyes bulged in shock. "Your father is in NASA?!" he exclaimed, incredulity echoing through his tone.
Christina nodded, her voice shrinking, barely audible. "Yes, I'm sorry I should've told you sooner." Her gaze dropped, shame coloring her cheeks.
Rachael's expression turned contemplative, her mind racing. "I'm not angry about that, but..." Her voice trailed off, lost in thought.
Christina's concern deepened, her eyes narrowing. "Is there something I'm unaware of?" she asked, her tone serious.
Stefan attempted to deflect, his smile forced. "Nothing, you don't have to worry."
But Christina's curiosity persisted, her gaze piercing. "Come on, guys, it's written all over your faces. Something's bothering you. Tell me, what's wrong?" she insisted.
Rachael evaded her gaze, her eyes darting away. "It's really nothing. Never mind."
Christina's curiosity refused to waver, her eyes shooting darts of questions. "Are you really not going to tell me?" she asked, her voice laced with determination.
Rachael sighed and turned to Christina. "Remember when Mike first discovered his powers? He was rushed to the hospital, unable to see due to the intense energy coursing through his veins. Your father tried to hold him hostage with intention to exploit him as a lab rat," she narrated.
Just then, a familiar voice cut through the tension. "Thank God! There you are, Christina!" Dr. Idris exclaimed.
Everyone turned to see Dr. Idris and his armed men approaching, their guns trained on Djuma.
Christina's eyes blazed. "What have you done, Dad?" she demanded.
With tears welling up in her eyes, she continued. "How could you shoot my friend?"
Dr. Idris's expression remained resolute, his voice cold and detached. "Mike's powers make him a monster, a threat to humanity. If I hadn't taken action, he would've put us all in danger and..."
"That's not true! He's not a monster! He's still my brother, no matter what," Rachael fiercely countered.
Dr. Idris's tone turned condescending. "He 'was' your brother, but his transformation has changed him. I made the difficult decision to protect us all, and I'll take full responsibility."
Christina's face contorted in anguish, her voice shaking. "You're the real monster, Father! You're willing to harm innocent people to achieve your goals."
"I won't let you get away with this. You'll face consequences for what you've done," she vowed, tears streaming down her face.
Composing herself, she turned to Djuma, her eyes pleading. "Please save Mike, no matter what it takes."
Djuma's determined gaze met Christina's, his resolve clear.
Djuma nodded vigorously, his eyes burning with determination. "I'll utilize every resource at my disposal to guarantee his safety," he vowed, his voice firm and resolute. With a swift motion, he levitated into the air, preparing to depart. "Goodbye, guys," he said.
However, Dr. Idris's voice halted Djuma's escape. "Not yet, 'bat man.' We still require your presence here."
Before Djuma could react, a massive net plummeted from above, ensnaring him. Rachael's anger erupted anew, her voice trembling with terror. "Why are you doing this? Why do you need him?" she demanded.
Stefan's retort was laced with disdain. "Isn't it obvious? Why else would he need him if not for his ridiculous experiments!"
"Release him immediately!" Rachael ordered, her voice trembling. "He's the only one that can save my brother from those monsters, let him go!"
Djuma struggled to break free, his fingers clawing at the net's mesh. But before he could make progress, two darts pierced his back, rendering him immobile for some seconds.
Christina's face contorted in outrage. "Let him go, dad!" she shouted, glowering contemptuously at him, but Dr. Idris avoided her gaze, his expression unyielding.
Rachael and Christina rushed toward Djuma, desperate to free him. However, the NPS force swiftly Intercepted, forming a barrier between them.
"Take them home," Dr. Idris instructed and folded his arms, his eyes locked on Djuma who has regained his strength.
Stefan was seized and dragged toward the building's garage, struggling against his captors, followed by Rachael and Christina.
"Let go of me, you son of a bitch!" Christina cursed through gritted teeth, wrestling against the agent's grip.
The trio was forcefully bundled into a black Coupe, which sped away into the night.