Jayden adjusted his grip on the tab and accepted the call.
"Fred." he began
"Jayden." Fred’s voice was tired but satisfied. "Hell of a night. We raided that facility you tipped us about. Found Scorched, thirty-seven of his operatives, and evidence of over fifty kidnappings spanning the last five years."
"Good." Jayden said.
"More than good," Fred chuckled. "This is a major blow to the Black Cobra Syndicate. Their entire trafficking division is essentially dismantled. And one of their most dangerous Pioneer is dead." He paused. "Of course, officially, this was all thanks to an anonymous tip and excellent EVA work. Your na won’t appear anywhere in the reports."
Jayden chuckled. "I appreciate that."
"Don’t thank yet," Fred said, his tone shifting. "Jayden, you need to understand—the syndicate isn’t going to let this go. You took down their operations, cost them millions, and humiliated them. They’re going to co after you."
"Let them try." Jayden said flatly.
"I’m serious," Fred said, his voice sounding urgent. "These people are vindictive. They’ll target you, and if they can’t get to you directly, they’ll go after your family. Your friends. Anyone you care about."
Jayden’s expression went cold. "Not if I go after them first."
There was a pause. Then Fred laughed—short and sharp. "I had a feeling you weren’t done. You got a taste of this, didn’t you? Taking down the bad guys. Making a difference."
Jayden snorted. "Maybe."
"The Black Cobra Syndicate has operations all over the world, Jayden," Fred explained. "What you did in Jade City is just the beginning. There are more divisions, more Pioneers, more facilities."
Jayden exhaled. "Then I guess I have my work cut out for ."
Fred was quiet for a mont. "Be careful, kid. This path you’re walking... it changes people. Makes them into things they never thought they’d beco."
"I know," Jayden said. "But soone has to do it. Might as well be ."
"Alright, I won’t stop you," Fred sighed in defeat. "But Jayden? If you need anything—intel, resources, backup—you call . Understood?"
"Understood," Jayden said. "And Fred? Thank you. For everything."
"Just... stay alive, kid," Fred said. "Bye for now, and stay safe."
The call ended with that.
Jayden pocketed his holo-tab and continued toward the gate. He was almost there when he heard footsteps behind him.
"Jayden, wait!"
He turned to find Cassandra hurrying toward him, still wrapped in her blanket. She looked small, vulnerable, but her eyes were determined.
Jayden smiled. "Shouldn’t you be resting?"
"I needed to talk to you," Cassandra said, stopping a few feet away.
Jayden nodded. "Okay."
Cassandra let out a deep breath. She looked down at her feet, clearly struggling with sothing. When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet.
"I’ve been thinking. About... us."
Jayden’s heart tightened. "Cassie—"
"Let finish," she interrupted gently. "I love you, Jayden, I love you so much it hurts. And I want to be with you more than anything. But..." Her voice broke slightly. "I can’t. I can’t do that to my mom."
Jayden’s brow furrowed. "What do you an?"
"I know about you and her," Cassandra said, her cheeks flushing. "I know how she feels about you. And I can’t be the reason she gets hurt." Tears started streaming down her face. "You have to understand, she’s been depressed almost my entire life. She acts jovial and puts on this high-society smile, but she was hurting inside. Every single day."
"But that stopped since she t you," Cassandra added, trying to hold back from crying. "Everything changed when you ca into her life. She’s genuinely happy now. She smiles more. Laughs more. The depression that’s haunted her for years—it’s been fading."
Jayden sighed. He reached out to her. "Cassie—"
"I can’t take that away from her," Cassandra continued, sobbing now. "I can’t take you away from her. It wouldn’t be fair. She’s been through so much, suffered so much, and if being with you makes her happy..." She wiped her eyes. "Then I can’t be selfish. I can’t hurt her like that. Even if it ans I can’t be with you."
She let out a soft sob, covering her mouth with her hand. "I love you, Jayden. But I can’t be with you. I can’t be the reason my mother gets hurt."
She squeezed her eyes shut, preparing to say goodbye, but she never got the chance.
Jayden closed the distance between them in two strides, cupped her face in his hands, and kissed her.
Cassandra froze in absolute shock, her eyes flying open. For a second, her mind short-circuited. Then, slowly, she lted into it, her hands tentatively resting on his chest. They remained like that for a while, enjoying each other’s warmth.
When Jayden finally pulled back, Cassandra was flushed red, staring up at him in utter bewildernt.
"What makes you think being with would hurt your mother?" Jayden asked softly, his thumbs gently wiping away her tears.
Cassandra blinked, confused. "Because... because you’re together. You and her. And if I—if we—" She couldn’t even finish the sentence, her face flushing deeper.
"Cassie," Jayden said gently. "Yes, Penelope and I have... a relationship. I’m not going to lie about that. But that doesn’t an we can’t be together too."
Cassandra stared at him. "What are you saying?"
"I’m saying you can both be with . You and your mother. If that’s what you want." Jayden replied.
Cassandra’s eyes widened in shock The confusion on her face would have been comical if the mont wasn’t so serious. "W-What do you an by that? Are you... are you asking to be your side chick or sothing?!"
Jayden nearly slapped his forehead. He couldn’t help but laugh at her absolute, unadulterated innocence.
"No, Cassie. Not a side chick," he said, his tone softening with genuine affection. "As my lover. Alongside Penelope."
Cassandra stared at him, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. She was completely shocked. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
But then, the gears in her mind started turning. She thought about Tasha. She thought about Jessica. She had always noticed that they didn’t exactly act like normal siblings around him. The lingering touches, the looks, the fierce, possessive loyalty. She had always been confused by their dynamic, amazed by how harmonious their household seed despite the obvious undercurrents.
And now, with her mother in the picture too... everything clicked.
It all made sense now.
Cassandra’s face turned the color of a ripe tomato. She abruptly spun around, hiding her flushed face in her hands. "Wow, this is—"
"Complicated," Jayden finished. "I know. Believe , I know."
"How does it even work?" Cassandra asked, still not looking at him.
"Honestly? I’m still figuring that out myself," Jayden admitted. "But it does work. For us. Everyone knows about everyone else. There’s no lying, no hiding, no jealousy. Just... honesty. And care. And choosing to make it work because we all want to."
Cassandra was quiet for a long mont, processing. Finally, she looked back at him, her expression torn between disbelief and sothing that might have been hope.
"And you’re saying that I could... that we could...?"
"If you want to," Jayden said. "But only if you want to, Cassie. Not because you feel obligated, or because I saved you, or anything else. Only if this is sothing you truly want for yourself."
Cassandra stared at him, her eyes searching his face. "I need to think about this," she finally said. "This is... a lot. More than I expected. I need ti to process."
"Take all the ti you need," Jayden said, and he ant it. "There’s no rush. No pressure. Okay?"
Cassandra smiled. "Okay."
Jayden leaned forward and kissed her forehead gently. "Get so rest, Cassie. You’ve been through a lot. Let yourself heal."
"Okay, I will," Cassandra muttered.
They stood there for another mont, then Cassandra turned and walked back toward the house. At the door, she paused and looked back at him.
"Jayden?" She called out.
Jayden looked up at her. "Yeah?"
"Thank you," she said. "For coming for . For saving . For... everything."
"Always," Jayden replied. Then he gave a small wave.
Cassandra smiled, waved back, then disappeared inside.
Jayden turned back toward the gate, feeling lighter than he had in days. Cassandra was safe. She was ho. And they’d figure out the rest as they went.
He reached the gate and walked toward his hoverbike. He swung his leg over the sleek machine, his hands resting on the grips. He was about to engage the thrusters when a familiar, translucent blue screen suddenly materialized in his line of sight.
[Random Quest Available:
The Black Cobra Syndicate has lost a Pioneer and a major facility by your hand. They will inevitably discover your identity, placing you and your loved ones in mortal danger. The best defense is a devastating offense.
*Objective: Take down the Black Cobra Syndicate and dismantle all their operations on Planet Alpha.
*Reward: ???
*Note: Quest is optional. You can choose to accept or decline without any penalties.
[Do you accept this Quest?]
[ Yes / No ]
Jayden read the glowing silver text hovering in the morning air. He thought about the bruised faces in the holding cells. He thought about Scorched’s dying threat. He thought about the peace his family finally had, and what he was willing to do to protect it.
His eyes darkened, the quiet teenager vanishing, replaced by the apex predator the underworld was about to beco intimately familiar with. He smirked, the engine of the hoverbike roaring to life beneath him.
"This should be fun."
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