"Chapter 130: The Abduction of Jimmy"

While Alex enjoyed his rest with Gloria, waiting for the other girls to finish changing so they could go outside where the rest of the team was waiting, he almost drifted off to sleep. Even if the girls had been quicker, he knew he could've dozed off until the evening. Some days, he just wanted to lie on the couch and stay inside, savoring the calm and comfort of four walls.

Just as Alex was about to fully fall asleep, the girls finally finished getting ready and started coming down the stairs. He opened one eye, noticed them, and gently tapped Gloria on the shoulder, signaling that it was time for him to get up. Gloria lifted her head and gave him a gentle kiss before they broke their embrace. Alex stood up, looked at the girls now ready to go, and noticed that Kiwi wasn't wearing her mask.

"Hey, Kiwi, you're without your mask? Want me to make you a new one?" he asked, watching her reaction.

Kiwi thought for a moment. She was used to wearing a mask, which served as both a filter and protection. It felt strange without it, so she nodded, «I think I wouldn't mind a new mask.»

Alex nodded and quickly created a mask for her, similar to her last one but with a better fit and no unnecessary effects. Kiwi immediately put it on and nodded in thanks. Alex, smiling, decided to tease her a bit.

"Oh, right, Kiwi, I forgot to tell you something."

She looked at him suspiciously, sensing that his words might hold a catch.

"Congratulations, you're now an official member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster," he said, giving her a thumbs-up.

Kiwi froze, staring at Alex as if he was crazy. Gloria sighed, looking at her sympathetically, while Lucy just shook her head, watching Alex with a slight smirk. Rebecca gave Kiwi a thumbs-up in approval, clearly supporting this strange "cult." Kiwi, snapping out of her shock, shook her head in disbelief.

«No thanks, I'm definitely not joining your weird cult.»

Alex stepped forward with a smile, moving toward her as Kiwi backed up until she hit the wall. Their eyes met.

"You don't have a choice," he said with light humor, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Everyone at Arasaka already thinks you're part of my cult. So, just accept it and join our wild adventures. We'll be causing chaos across thousands of worlds!"

Kiwi cast a pleading look at Gloria, then at Lucy, hoping for support, but Lucy simply raised her hands, indicating she wouldn't intervene. Her last hope was Rebecca, but she gave Kiwi an approving nod, showing that she supported Alex's decision. Left without backup, Kiwi sighed, deciding not to argue and to keep the peace.

"Don't worry; you'll warm up to it," Alex winked. "Now, onward, ladies! We've got a couple of jerks to 'kidnap.'»

Lucy shook her head again, watching how Alex shifted his mood, and looked at Kiwi with a hint of sympathy, understanding that she wouldn't be able to escape his adventures. Before leaving, Alex gave Gloria one last kiss, then headed for the door. Outside, a van awaited, more like a motorhome, with Pilar waving at them from the window.

Once inside, Alex met Maine's gaze, who gave him a thumbs-up and gestured toward Kiwi. Alex just rolled his eyes and took his seat, watching as everyone else got settled. Falco started the engine, but drove slowly, uncertain of their destination.

«So, choom, what did you manage to find out?» Maine asked, drawing Alex's attention.

Alex nodded, picked up the G.I.R device, placed it on the table, and connected it to his phone, projecting their target dossiers onto the screen.

"So," he began, displaying a photo, "this is Jimmy Kurosaki. Tanaka is his VIP client, so we can lure Tanaka out through Jimmy."

He showed Jimmy's schedule and details of his reserved table at an upscale, hard-to-access restaurant. He also brought up a full profile on Jimmy for the team to review before discussing the abduction plan. While they read, Alex simply listened, thinking this mission should be straightforward.

«I think I've got an idea on how to make Jimmy drop his guard,» Maine said, capturing the team's attention.

Alex raised an intrigued eyebrow, curious about what Maine had in mind. Sensing his interest, Maine continued, "I noticed that Jimmy has an interest in cute guys. We could use that."

«Hate to break it to you, but we don't have any 'cute guys' among us,» Alex replied dryly.

In response, Maine smirked and fixed his gaze on Alex. The rest of the group caught on, realizing their leader had something unusual in mind. Alex felt his eye twitch as he understood where this was going. He protested, «First of all, there's nothing 'cute' about me. Second, look at my eyes—I look like I haven't slept in years.»

The girls nodded in agreement: Alex indeed looked more tired than cute, especially with his unique iridescent eyes that gave him an aura of mystery, but definitely didn't fit the «pretty boy» image.

«Details, Alex. You're still the best-looking in the crew, so take one for the team,» Maine grinned.

Alex rolled his eyes, mentally calculating the simplest way to storm in and kidnap Jimmy outright. But he knew that wouldn't lure Tanaka. Relenting, he decided to go with Maine's plan but promised himself to come up with something different if inspiration struck before the mission.

"Fine, but just this once. And if that guy so much as lays a hand on me, I'll skin him,» Alex said, his tone calm but menacing.

Maine flinched slightly, realizing that after Jimmy, he might be next in line. Dorio, noticing his expression, laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. Alex's ruthlessness with his enemies was no secret to anyone.

As they arrived at the restaurant, Falco parked nearby, allowing the team time to prepare for the plan.

«We have a few hours before the target arrives. Let's be ready in case things go south,» Maine suggested.

Everyone nodded and got to work. Alex let them handle it, thinking G.I.R could've taken care of the task in minutes. But he decided not to deprive them of the thrill of preparation.

While the others were occupied, Alex decided to lie down, resting his head on Kiwi's lap as she hacked the surveillance cameras. Startled, she glanced down and, seeing him settle in comfortably, asked, «You comfortable?»

Alex rolled onto his back, meeting her red eyes, and smiled.

«Of course. And why are you so worried? We spent the entire night together, cuddling,» he teased.

Kiwi rolled her eyes, placing a hand over his face to stop his staring. It still irked her that, thanks to Alex, she was seen as part of the «cult.» Satisfied that Kiwi wasn't protesting, Alex rolled back onto his side and drifted off to a light nap.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team returned after completing their tasks. Maine and Dorio arrived first. Seeing Alex napping on Kiwi's lap, Maine smirked but was quickly stopped by a light tap from Dorio, who quietly reminded him that Alex was asleep. Huffing in mild protest, he took his seat.

When Rebecca, Lucy, and Pilar arrived, they just shook their heads, noticing how Alex had found himself a cozy resting spot. Rebecca almost joined him but stopped when Kiwi gave her a look, subtly hinting there wasn't enough space.

Rolling her eyes, Rebecca reluctantly let go of the idea and joined Lucy in discussing contingency plans if things went off-track. She knew relying solely on Alex's luck was risky, as his approach sometimes complicated matters, so she supported the idea of backup options. Still, she added an optimistic remark, saying everything should go smoothly. As the team discussed various scenarios, Alex peacefully dozed on Kiwi's lap, unconcerned. After all, if things went wrong, his plan was always simple: break through any obstacle and finish the mission by force.

A couple of hours later, Jimmy arrived at the restaurant, signaling it was time to start. The team exchanged silent glances, deciding who would wake Alex. This time, it came down to Lucy or Rebecca, and the two exchanged looks before playing rock-paper-scissors. Lucy won, grinning as she passed the «honor» to Rebecca.

Grumbling, Rebecca sat beside Alex and gave his nose a light poke, trying to wake him. After a few gentle nudges, Alex began to stir, sleepily rubbing his eyes as he noticed the team, who looked slightly tense. Now they understood why the girls said his «waking gaze» could be intimidating.

«What's going on?» he asked drowsily, looking around.

«Jimmy's here,» Lucy replied, stepping over to fix his tousled hair gently.

Alex nodded, letting her tidy him up before stretching to warm up for action. He was just about to head for the restaurant when Maine called out to him.

«Hey, choomba, do something about that look, or Jimmy won't come within a mile of you,» he joked.

Alex chuckled, massaging his face a little to relax. He then turned to the team, awaiting their verdict.

«Better, but still intimidating,» Pilar remarked with a laugh.

Flashing a middle finger at her, Alex exited the van. Lighting a cigarette, he headed for the parking lot to intercept Jimmy. Finding cover behind a column, he smoothed his hair and waited. The parking area was almost empty, reducing the chance of unexpected witnesses. Half an hour later, he heard Maine's signal.

«Alex, the target is finishing dinner and heading to the parking lot. Be ready.»

Taking a deep breath, Alex readied himself. At that moment, the elevator doors opened, and Jimmy stepped out. Seeing him, Alex grimaced slightly—Jimmy looked like the type he'd usually rather avoid. But he didn't have a choice, so after a deep breath, he stepped out and approached Jimmy, who was just about to get into his car.

«Hey, buddy, got a light? I forgot mine,» Alex called out, catching his attention.

Jimmy turned around at the sound of the voice and saw Alex approaching him. His face lit up with a smile as he took in the young man.

«Of course, here you go,» Jimmy said, pulling out a lighter.

Alex lit his cigarette, then looked at Jimmy thoughtfully, as if trying to place him.

«You look familiar. Have we met before?» he asked, pretending to ponder.

Jimmy chuckled, taking it as a friendly pickup line.

«Oh, I get that a lot,» he replied with a cheerful grin.

«That's it!» Alex "remembered." «You're Jimmy Kurosaki! My friend's a big fan. Could I get an autograph for him?»

Unable to hide his pleasure, Jimmy agreed enthusiastically, signing a note for Alex's «friend.» Alex accepted it gratefully, then added with an innocent smile,

«Mind if I shake your hand?»

«Of course,» Jimmy replied readily, extending his hand to his «fan.»

Alex shook it, already anticipating the next steps of his plan. Inwardly, he grimaced, though he didn't show it as he took Jimmy's hand. Jimmy noted the surprising contrast — Alex's grip was strong yet remarkably soft and smooth. Just as he was about to let go, he felt the grip tighten. Glancing up, Jimmy noticed the shift in Alex's expression — the friendly fan was gone, replaced by a blank, unreadable stare. Alex offered a faint smirk.

«Sorry, Jimmy, but you're a bit too important to my plan,» he said, tightening his hold, preventing Jimmy from pulling away.

Jimmy reached back with his free hand to activate a device that had saved his life more than once. A sharp pulse rippled through the parking lot as an EMP wave shut down all electronics in range. Thinking he'd escaped, Jimmy was shocked to find that Alex's grip hadn't weakened at all. Looking up, he saw Alex smiling, almost amused, as if the EMP had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

«An EMP's a handy tool... if your opponent relies on tech,» Alex remarked, gazing down at Jimmy.

Confused by what Alex meant, Jimmy watched him reach into his pocket. His heart raced as his intuition screamed that this would not end well. Alex pulled out a taser, pressed it against Jimmy's body, and looked him in the eyes.

«Sweet dreams, Jimmy.»

Before Jimmy could respond, a powerful jolt coursed through his body, causing his muscles to spasm violently. Jimmy trembled, still clutching Alex's hand, as foam started forming at his mouth and faint smoke rose from his body. After a few seconds, he lost consciousness. Alex smirked, looking down at the fallen Jimmy.

«I'm done here. Bring in the package,» he said through the comms.

Soon, a van rolled into the parking lot, and Maine and Pilar stepped out, curiously examining Jimmy.

«What did you do to him, choomba?» Pilar asked, eyeing Jimmy's still-smoking body with surprise.

«Oh, just a little boost of energy and positivity. Want to try?» Alex replied calmly, taking a drag from his cigarette.

Pilar stepped back, clearly not eager to experience Alex's methods firsthand. Maine chuckled, hoisted Jimmy, and dragged him into the van. Alex followed, taunting Pilar with a grin, hinting at his cowardice. Pilar muttered something about brotherly bonds and added that Alex was starting to resemble Rebecca more, as she gradually fell under his influence.

When they got back into the van, Maine seated Jimmy in a chair and started tying him up to prevent any escape attempts. Meanwhile, Lucy disabled all of Jimmy's emergency implants to ensure he couldn't call for backup or activate a quick-response system.

But now a new issue arose: who would handle persuading Jimmy to cooperate? An argument broke out between Alex, Maine, and Dorio, each wanting to take on the task. Maine insisted on his interrogation experience, while Dorio suggested a simple «explanation» with a couple of punches.

«All right, leave this to me,» Alex said with a grin, gently pushing them aside. «Trust me, guys like Jimmy don't need threats or violence — just the right conversation.»

Maine gave Alex a skeptical look but decided to let him handle it, adding that he'd interrogate the next poor soul himself. Alex agreed readily and asked for some space to get ready.

Once the others stepped back, Alex called over G.I.R to assist with the interrogation. He seated Jimmy in a chair, then gently patted his cheek to wake him up.

«Wake up, sunshine, time for school,» he said, smirking down at Jimmy.

«No, mom, I don't wanna go to school,» Jimmy mumbled, still unaware of his surroundings.

A broad smile spread across Alex's face, one that would make anyone shiver. Hearing Jimmy's mutterings, the team struggled to hold in their laughter, not wanting to interrupt Alex. Covering their mouths, they barely contained their amusement — they hadn't expected Alex to wake Jimmy like this. But Alex's next move broke their composure entirely.

«Hey, idiot, I said wake up! Time for school!» Alex barked, slapping Jimmy hard across the face.

«Dad, don't hit me! I'm up, I'm going to school… I won't be late again!» Jimmy blurted, his eyes flying open wide.

The team couldn't hold back any longer, bursting into loud laughter, which forced Jimmy to recognize the situation he was in. He tried to piece together what had happened, recalling the strange guy he met in the parking lot and the moment he'd been knocked out.

«You…» Jimmy began angrily, but Alex quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.

«Shh, my dear friend Jimmy. We're just getting started with our conversation,» Alex smirked, holding him in place.

Meeting Alex's cold gaze, Jimmy flinched.

«Now listen carefully. I talk — you listen. Got it? Nod if you understand,» Alex said, keeping his hand firmly over Jimmy's face.

Jimmy nodded, realizing there was no chance of escape. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he understood he wouldn't be able to call for help or contact anyone.

«Here's what you're going to do: call Tanaka. That's it. If you understand, nod,» Alex said in a calm yet pressing tone, watching Jimmy closely.

Jimmy nodded, though he had no intention of cooperating.

«I know what you're thinking — how to say no as quickly as possible. But I have ways to convince you,» Alex continued, nodding subtly to the side.

He gestured toward G.I.R, who was perched on a stool, blinking with large, clueless eyes. Jimmy glanced at the strange creature, not fully understanding, but a hint of unease crept into his mind.

«You're probably wondering why I'm introducing you to my little assistant. Well, G.I.R is not just a master hacker; he's also an expert 'surgeon,' if you catch my drift. If you refuse to help, he'll give you a refresher like a pig,» Alex said with a grim smile.

With those words, G.I.R began pulling out various tools from his pockets, clearly not meant for friendly purposes. Jimmy watched as G.I.R methodically laid out the dangerously looking items in front of him.

«The human body is a fascinating thing, you know,» Alex continued in a cold voice. «It can survive even fatal injuries if you manage to get blood flowing to the right organs. I could marinate you for months while you endure unimaginable pain.»

The team, watching Alex pressure Jimmy, involuntarily flinched. Alex's words painted vivid images in their minds, and that was what scared them the most. Meanwhile, G.I.R started sharpening a knife to enhance the threat, sending an even greater wave of fear through Jimmy. Maine glanced at the girls and noticed them sighing, while Pilar saw his sister nodding at every word Alex said, as if memorizing the details, which filled him with even more dread.

Finally, after finishing his impressive monologue, Alex awaited Jimmy's response, eager to know if he was willing to help or not.

To be continued...