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Afraid. He was afraid.

It was so unnatural to see Jacob afraid. He always seemed to be the level-headed one. The unshakeable boy who could take on anyone and anything, while Addy was there cowering in fear and hoping she wouldn't be targeted next.

It just furthered that awful, forboding feeling within her chest.

If Jacob was scared...what hope did she have? Did any of them have?

"Oh, Jacob! Jacob!"

She throws her arms around his neck and pulls him into a tight embrace.

It doesn't matter that he can't offer much more comfort other than an "Im sorry". She'd do the comforting for both of them. And she'd start just by holding him close and sobbing her heart out.

She could barely make out his words over her own sobs. But when she did, she pulled back to look at him with wide, terrified eyes. Eyes devoid of the hope that normally shone in them.

She hiccupped and wheezed in between her sobs.

"H-How? It, its just us. Its just us."

At least, thats what she assumed. Reasonably so with the majority of the KND force seemingly being turn into senior-citizombies.

Even Sector z wasn't immune. She'd caught brief glimpses of each member, save for Nigel.

Oh god. Kuki. Hoagie. Abby. Wally. All of their normally friendly faces, contorted with this...this hatred and rage.

And where was Nigel? Where was he?

Had even the strong and bravest of them gotten turned by Grandfather?

He'd slipped. He'd acted weak, like some dumb little toddler. He wanted to sob, to collapse in his friend's arms, but he couldn't. Not when she was already hanging by a thread. He couldn't even bring himself to hug her back; just let her arms wind tight around him. He closed his eyes, let his own tears fall, but silently. He pulled his panic back into a little ball in his chest.

I, not we. He couldn't ask Addy to come with him, what chance would she have?

"Something took him out, in one go. Something big. And he's searching for the Book of K N D. Losing his mind over it. If we find it...then maybe..."

✦ ☾ 🎂 ☽ ✦ → " We're not slow! We just take pride in doing a job... thoughtfully. " The rich kids sneer dully, trying to spare their hurt pride. With what lingers of their bratty indignance aside, a part of them, the part no-longer childish, tells them there's more pressing matters than their personal aggravation.

" Nevermind it now... We agree there's no point in butting heads from now on... The enemy of my enemy and all that. " The machine leans closer as the group steps forward in their cockpit, placing their hands against the glass. They look into their strange blue eyes, their pitch black silhouette. " ... This is what you were hiding, isn't it? It must be a weight off your mind, no longer pretending... Even if everybody must think you look just like... Father. " That glimpse of an all black hand they swore they caught, that ordeal may be no longer relevant but this IS a far more entertaining outcome than mere blackmail. Even if... they have a lot of questions. Starting with...

And he snorts. Gang, you don't know the half of it! He still's got secrets to his name. But the Father comment doesn't make him flinch. He's leaning into it all. It's so easy. Villainy is so easy. But they've decided on the whole 'enemy of my enemy' thing have they? Well, he needs villainous comradery. Didn't expect it so quick.

"I was leavin'. They were going to take my memories." He leans his chin on a hand, same old story. A little more bite comes through, though - the best lies have truths peppered in.

"Even before they found out about this, they were turning on me. I just hit them before they could hit me. Fair's fair."

He leaned back, kicking out a leg; a blue spark travelled down his heel and jumped off his foot. Like water-droplets.