Chapter 16.2

"When can I get one of those?" Alina asked while gazing at Jason's new armour.

"Oh, hmm, I dunno. Let me think," Jason answered as he took his helmet off. "Hmm … how 'bout never?"

Alina grumbled while kicking the box case and Selena smiled at their antics before turning to Jason.

"So, is there anything else you need or ...?" Selena asked Jason.

Jason opened his mouth to speak when A.V.A notified him of three new messages. His holo-lens glowed a wolfish blue as he checked his inbox.

"Be right back. Alle, don't touch anything. I mean it, kid," Jason said before walking away to create some distance.

"Hey, were you and him … ?" Alina asked Selena when Jason was out of hearing range.

"What do you think?" Selena asked back, amused at Alina's question.

"I'm just really confused," Alina said with her eyebrows adorably scrunched together. "You seem to like but not like him at the same time."

"It's an adult thing. You'll know when you're old enough," Selena laughed and shrugged Alina's pout away while patting her shoulder.

Jason first checked the subject of each message. One message was from Raphael which Jason, quite frankly, ignored. He focused on the other two messages; one was from Melanie, and the other was an official notice from the Department of Civil Affairs.

It noted that despite being authenticated by an ordained minister, the marriage certificate that he submitted could not be notarized due to Elizabeth's missing signature and her rejection in signing it.

Jason resubmitted the certificate then impassively checked the next message which was Melanie asking for help in a Council sanctioned mission. After considering for a moment, Jason texted her back asking where to meet. Almost immediately, Melanie replied back, telling him to meet at midnight on the roof of Feng Shui apartments, an older building that overlooked the western docks.

Jason closed his holo-watch and returned to Selena and Alina, both of whom were gossiping about his love life.

"Ahem," Jason cleared his throat to get their attention before turning to Alina. "Hey kid, wanna try sitting in the AKEERA?"

"Really?" Alina looked at Jason with excited hope. "You'd let me pilot it?"

"Nope, not pilot, the thing is a prototype, it's not ready for piloting," Jason shook his head and clarified. "You can still enter it but it won't move."

"Aw," Alina's enthusiasm deflated quickly. "Fine, I'll try it. I know better than to be the third wheel here."

"Alle, it's not like-" Jason began but Alina stuck her tongue out and jogged to the AKEERA, stopping right in front of it only to admire it.

AKEERA exo-mechs were originally created for as air-tight mechanized suits that were created to aid miners digging for helium-3 on the moon. However, they were eventually overhauled and reconstructed for war purposes during WWIII. These destructive mechs were a deadly force that many countries deployed against each other until Espers emerged after the Meteor Incident. Since then, upgraded AKEERA's were used to deal with stronger Espers and Practitioners, the latter being sold as Espers to the public who were unaware of their existence. [2]

"What do you need?" asked Selena again as she and Jason watched Alina scurry up the 11ft mech and enter the chest entrance.

"I need this made," Jason transferred a holo-document that were the schematics of a robotic arm. Selena skimmed through it and raised an eyebrow.

"The dimensions for this schematic are for a girl," Selena stated, unamused.

"A … it's an apology," Jason said sheepishly while ruffling his hair. His face changed as he became serious. "Also, I need to know what your boss is planning."

"Kat? She's planning nothing," Selena stated calmly.

"We both know that's a lie," Jason said. "Looking for artifacts, myths, gods? That'll only invite trouble, especially from seekers, and you know how troublesome Practitioners are."

"She's not looking for anything like that, Jason," Selena said, her acting was quite convincing but Jason didn't buy it. "You know how the rich are, she's just bored so she's looking for some thrills, that's all."

"Whatever it is, I hope you can keep an eye on her," Jason said. Selena whipped her head and glared at him.

"Screw you, Jason," Selena hissed. "I refuse to spy on someone I see as a best friend, a sister, even for you, especially because it's you. And no matter what you say, I won't change my mind."

"I'm not asking you to spy on her," Jason answered coolly, disregarding her anger. "Just make sure she doesn't get in trouble. And if she does, you know who to call. I'll save her at a discount. Later, sweetheart."

Jason waved his arm arrogantly as he walked away, and behind him, several pieces of equipment including his new Fenrir armor were sucked into his spatial pocket. Selena huffed with disdainful eyes as Jason called Alina and left.

As the two sat in the Baron, Alina looked at Jason strangely. Jason, amused, looked back at her with the exact same expression she had given him, annoying her.

"Ungh," Alina rolled her eyes. "How do you know Selena?"

"Oh, you know. She travels here and there for business purposes and so we met at a fundraiser, had a nice dinner somewhere, then a warm bath at the hote-"

"Ah, stop, stop!" Alina interrupted him, horrified. "Just say you don't wanna talk."

"But I was telling the truth," Jason replied bemused. Alina sent him a distrustful gaze and he relented. "Oh alright. I found her and proposed a bunch of business plans with a 70-30 profit gain. Of course, I forgot to mention the tiny detail of her running the business alone, so she's still sore about that. That, and I sorta ran away when we broke up."

"Oh. Uh," Alina shuddered and changed the subject. "So what now? We heading home?"

"Nah, we'll settle in the Loft for now," Jason said. "I know you don't like the place, but it's heavily fortified and it has all the necessities for living a comfy life. Plus, sauna!"

"Oh alright," Alina said sulkily. "Ava will be there?"

"Play nice," Jason said. "She might be a robot but she has feelings too. Maybe. Possibly. I think."

"I am right here," A.V.A said through the Baron's speakers.

"That you are, A.V.A," Jason said out loud before mouthing 'She's listening right now' to Alina and pointing at the dashboard.

"And I can see you," A.V.A said again as the interior's camera zoomed in on Jason. "I can also detect your increased heart rate and palpitations. Is there something wrong, Alina Sage?"

"Ha! That's a … a good one A.V.A," Jason said awkwardly while Alina shifted uncomfortably. "You're getting better at jokes."

"That was not a joke," A.V.A replied coldly. "Also, please don't exceed the speed limits, I may have to override the controls should you do so."

Neither Jason or Alina replied as they both exchanged glances with each other, both trying to silently communicate on whether it was a good idea that he had built an AI that could Skynet on them at any given time.

"That was a joke," A.V.A clarified after a moment of silence.

"Oh. That's a … yeah, you need to work on those," Jason muttered while Alina looked away.

As they prepared to enter the main road, Jason braked abruptly when he noticed the way being blocked. Raphael and his team, fully armed and ready, were blocking the way forward.

"Aw, c'mon," Jason sighed and turned to Alina. "Listen, kid, A.V.A will take you to the loft. I've got to handle this dumbass here. Stay safe and don't even try to override the autopilot, that'll just kill the engine."

Jason finished instructing Alina and patted her head before exiting the Baron. Alina pouted and humphed as she turned her head away, annoyed at the fact that she couldn't drive.

"We need to talk," Raphael said grimly when Jason neared him.

"Uh-huh, yeah, you do that," Jason replied. "In the meantime, can you scoot over and let my car go? Also, who is this beauty?"

Jason's question was directed at Junco who he stared at unabashedly.

"Hey there," he said to her, his voice oozing with charm. "Name's Jason."

"Junco," the shorthaired woman said unamusedly as she moved away from the street, giving the Baron way to pass. "Codename."

"Cute," replied Jason. "Any chance I can get your real name and address?"

"No."

"Well, that's a shame," Jason said while shrugging, not looking sad at all.

"Hey," Raphael reminded Jason. "Can we focus on the task at hand?"

"Hmm? Oh, hey there, Raphy what's up?" Jason said in a mockingly shocked tone that resulted in Raphael gritting his teeth. "Sorry, you, uh, sorta blended into the background there, what was it you wanted again?"

"Oh wow," Junco muttered under her breath while Dhole, a big muscle guy scratched his head awkwardly and Suni tried to mask his grin by massaging his face.