Chapter 19: Escaping Naru |

The ship quickly reached Jake's home and heeding the advice of The Atlas, Jake parked the ship a distance away.

Jake quickly went through the ship's inventory for anything useful and found a small safe with a digital keypad.

He pressed his thumb into the digipad and the safe unlocked. Jake quickly went through the contents and found a P-227, a semi-automatic pistol that fired conventional ammunition. Next to the pistol was an old-school tactical combat knife.

Jake put the knife into his pocket, grabbed the pistol and closed the safe, the rest of its contents not being a priority.

'Hey Atlas, does this ship have any defensive weapons on it?' Jake asked the Atlas as he had to decide on whether Lyra would be safe on the ship.

(According to the schematics, it has 1 fixed pointed plasma turret at the front and one gimbal turret at the bottom of the ship.)

Jake breathed a sigh of relief before walking up to the door. He turned to Lyra who was standing right beside him before saying  "Lyra, I'm going to get my family so I need you to stay on the ship okay?"

"B-but Jake I want to come with you." Lyra who was worried for Jake's safety and did not want to be alone spoke.

"Lyra I need someone to watch over the ship so we can leave quickly for your parents when I come back." Jake tried to convince her.

"Okay Jake, I'll watch the ship." Lyra who had a sad expression spoke.

"Thank you Lyra, SHIP GIVE AUTHORISATION TO LYRA WINTERS AND SET ALL HARDPOINTS TO ACTIVE WHEN I LEAVE." Jake gave the orders to the ship.

'ORDERS CONFIRMED CAPTAIN, SETTING HARDPOINTS TO ACTIVE, SETTING THREAT ASSESSMENT TO NEUTRAL' The ship's computer responded.

The Door opened as Jake slowly walked out of the ship. He took a few steps before taking a deep breath and exhaled 'Hoooo'.

He turned around and saw Lyra waving to him as the ship's doors closed and its turrets slowly emerged, the exterior lights flashed red.

'Alright Atlas, what's the plan?' Jake asked The Atlas as he started running towards his home.

(We can't face them head-on Jake, Even if they sent a single squad to capture your family, that's 20 soldiers so we'll have to sneak our way to your family. Also, you don't know how to use a firearm correctly so brace your head) The Atlas spoke to Jake as they got closer to his home.

A sharp pain rang in Jake's head for a few seconds as he grabbed his head with both hands and fell to his knees. "AARGHH, what the hell was that Atlas." Jake angrily asked as he started to stand up.

(My apologies Jake, we don't have the time for you to learn how to use a weapon the normal way, so I forced the information into your brain. It's not everything, but more than enough for our situation right now) The Atlas explained to Jake.

Jake pulled the pistol from his pocket and quickly aimed the gun, his stance grip and aim were almost perfect and it felt completely natural to him.

Jake was excited but quickly changed his mood 'But Atlas, I don't know if I can kill someone, I don't want to be a murderer' Jake expressed his concern to the Atlas.

(I understand Jake, I don't want to put you in this position either, if all goes well, you won't have to hurt anybody but, if it comes down to your family Jake, will you pull the trigger?)

Jake who was now firm in his resolve spoke out loud "Absolutely."

(Then that is all you need)

As Jake got nearer to his house, he saw another transporter parked outside his home.

'No, they're already there' Jake felt like he was too late.

(Get closer Jake, if they had your family already they would have left, it looks like they're still searching) The Atlas gave Jake some hope back as he tried to get closer hiding behind a small hill next to the home.

Jake watched as a Nexus Corp soldier walked out to the front of the house and started speaking to another soldier. Since Jake was far away he couldn't hear what they said at all.

"Did you find the targets?" A soldier who seemed to be the squad leader spoke to the other armoured soldier as he walked out of the house.

"Negative sir, it seems they ran before we arrived." The other soldier answered.

"Command, this is Bravo Squad, targets are not at location do we keep searching or return, over" The squad leader spoke into his radio as he awaited further orders.

A few moments later a beep was heard as an order was issued "Bravo Squad, this is Command, higher-ups want you to continue searching until they are found, over."

"Bravo Squad reads you loud and clear over and out." The squad lead spoke before he started to shout "BRAVO SQUAD CONTINUE SEARCHING, I WANT HALF THE SQUAD TO DO A PERIMETER SWEEP. COMMAND WANTS THE TARGETS ALIVE."

When Jake heard the soldier shout, he sighed in relief as his family was not captured but now he had to find out where they were.

'Atlas I'm going to try contacting them agai-' Before Jake could finish his sentence someone grabbed his shoulder. Jake quickly turned his head and reached for the pistol.

His first reaction was shock and then relief as he recognised the faces in front of him. He spread his arms and hugged his mother as she started to tear up.

As they separated, Jake saw the tears pooling in his mother's eyes which Elizabeth quickly wiped with her sleeve.

He also saw his two sisters standing behind their mother and quickly hugged them as well with Iris and Aria sobbing on his shoulders.

Jake quickly explained what had happened in the mines and Victor's plan. "Your father left a message for us to immediately pack the essentials and important things and get out of the house, he also told us where to find you as well." Elizabeth explained her side of events.

(Lots of questions, I know Jake, but let's get out of here first.)

Jake grabbed his younger sister and put her on his back before telling his mother and sister to follow.

Although they were slower, they managed to evade the perimeter set up by the Nexus Corp Squad's just in time, with guidance from The Atlas of course.

"We made it." Jake who was out of breath managed to let out as he relaxed a little.

The ship, which identified all the individuals approaching it, recognised Jake and his family as its exterior lights flashed green and the door opened, the family rushing inside as Jake activated the security features again.

"Hah, we're here Lyra." Jake who was out of breath managed to say and made his way to the Captain's chair, the rest of his family sat on the beds, also catching their breaths. Lyra gave everyone water as they started to calm down.

When Elizabeth had made sure the kids were fine and strapped in she headed to the cockpit and sat next to Jake.

(Jake, although Clarence is the head of Security and should be able to hold off a few squads for a bit, we can't waste time getting there) The Atlas advised Jake.

'Got it Atlas' Jake agreed with the Atlas as he powered on the ship.

As Jake configured the controls and systems Elizabeth had wondered how her son became this capable and before she could ask it was like Jake could read her mind, turning to her before speaking "I'll explain everything when we get out of here, but please, trust me and trust dad's plan."

Elizabeth could only nod as she smirked at her son, even though a sense of uneasiness still enveloped her.

As the ship made its way to The Winters' residence, Jake spotted black smoke rising from near the Winters' home.

Lyra who also saw the smoke, started tearing up but Elizabeth was there to calm her restlessness.

(This is bad Jake, we might be too late. We can still escape, we have time. Nexus Corp has not managed to set up a no-fly zone yet. Or we could head to the Winters' home and stick to your father's plan, which so far has been working out. It's up to you Jake.) The Atlas revealed its thoughts to Jake imploring him to make the decision.

With Lyra right next to him, he wouldn't dare ask his mother out loud and thought of his father. After a few seconds, he responded in his mind 'Stick to the plan, I'll fly us over so we can get a better look too.'

The vicinity around the Winter's home was filled with scorch marks, and the home looked half destroyed with gun turrets on the roof, almost all destroyed, the garden in flames and no signs of life anywhere.