Miles away, in a secluded corner of a portal room, Mrs. Hauston, who was huddled in a corner thinking about her son, jumped when she heard his voice. Tears threatened to fall. There it was. She was going insane too, like many others whom they were protecting while restraining.
"Jack? Where are you? Have I gone insane too? Talk to me, son, are you okay?" she said, sobbing.
"I'm well alive and kicking. I'm talking to you through the Kana network, that thing Grandpa always used to talk about," he said. Enak covered his body with the armour as he sensed Jack's will to be in the armour, not willing to show the tears of relief that were forming in his eyes.
"I'm so relieved. I can't believe what's happening. I'm glad you are okay, son. I... I was so worried. I thought I had gone insane too," she said, bursting into tears.
"No one can. They killed everyone. We are hiding in a forest right now," he said, barely managing to hold his voice steady.
"We? Who else is with you?"
"Me, Diana, Ethan, and about a hundred others whom I'm protecting."
"You're protecting people? I'm so proud of you, son. I want to see you so badly, to see that you are alright," she said.
"Put on your armour, Mom, then you will."
Mrs. Hauston put on her armour. A window appeared on the side of her visor, showing Jack's face, which she maximized out in front of her with her thoughts. There he was, her son for whom she was worried sick, for whom she spent all her day thinking and praying for. It was all real. She wasn't going insane, her son was alive and talking to her.
"Hey there, Mother... I'm here. See?" Jack said softly.
"Thank God. I'm so so so so relieved. Look at how thin your face looks. You've not been eating well, huh? You look so much stronger in just a few days. I'm so happy. I missed you so much. Where is everyone, can I see?" she said, smiling a little through her tear-streaked face.
"I'm with Ethan right now. Let's wipe those tears now shall we? Everyone is safe," Jack said, offering her a hopeful smile.
She withdrew her helmet and wiped away her tears. She was supposed to show her kids hope and maturity, give them strength, not the other way around. She shouldn't lose composure, she thought. And once she regained her composure, she joined the call again.
"Alright, let me see where the other kids are."
"Yup, one sec." With a gesture of his eyes, a holographic screen popped up on his left arm displaying Mrs. Hauston's face. Mrs. Hauston could also see around the room when she turned her head. It was like she was right there, standing on Jack's arm.
"Ethannnn, my child, how are you?" she greeted Ethan warmly. A smile tugged at his face on seeing her as well.
"Hello, Mrs. Hauston. It's been a while. I'm good. I'm relieved you are safe."
"Yes, I'm relieved all my kids are safe too."
She and Ethan continued to talk for a while, and after a bit, Jack found his emotional strength again. He built his walls again and removed his visor.
"This guy didn't want to come, Mom. When me and Diana went to fetch him while risking our lives, this idiot was unwilling to come and was saying he would stay there, waiting to be found or something."
"Eh? Ethan, that's not very great of you. Better prepare your ears. Once I get there, you will be getting a lesson. So Jack, how did you convince him to come?" she said, chuckling.
"I didn't. I stormed out after a talk with him because I had people to save. It was all Diana's doing. I dunno what pep talk she gave him," Jack said.
"She gave me quite the talk..." Ethan said, trailing off slightly, remembering the slap from her.
"I can guess that. So Jack? Playing hero are we?" his mom spoke again.
"Mrs. Hauston, he has been ris—" Ethan began, but Jack gave him a warning look.
"Hmm, what?" she asked.
"Jack, he has been saving people. A lot of them."
"I see," she said, eyeing them suspiciously. "So, son, where is my Daughter – In – Law?" she said, emphasizing the last three words quite much. She knew of course. She guessed it a year ago by the way Jack used to be all excited when it came to Diana.
"M... Mom," Jack stammered, flushing as both Ethan and his mom started laughing.
"Alright alright, lemme talk to her too," she said, gasping for breath.
Jack walked out of the room. He showed her and told her about the pocket tent and how they had been living in hiding as he walked to Diana's room.
"Diana, I've got something for you," he said, knocking at the door.
Diana was browsing through previous news articles about the terrorists. Their recent action was too big to be ignored. She speculated it was bound to create tension between humans and Kratians. A war could even break out, which they would most likely lose considering the Orthos had eliminated most of the Kratians on the planet.
At the sound of his voice, Diana rushed over to open the door, leaving a sweet smell of lavender in her trail.
"What is it?" she said, opening the door. She eyed Jack, who for some reason was dressed up in his battle suit. She looked down, and when her gaze rested on Jack's mother's face on the holographic display, looking at her with the same gentle eyes, she practically jumped from excitement.
"MRS. HAUSTON!" she squeaked. "Oh my god, I've been so worried. How are you?" she said happily as she grabbed Jack's arm and dragged him inside his room.
"Hello, sweetheart. I'm so glad you all are okay," his mother said with a warm smile.
Diana sat down on the bed and dragged Jack to sit beside her. She held his arm firmly as she and his mother talked.
Jack could feel his cheeks burning. He put his visor back on as he waited for them to finish talking, his own presence fading into nothingness.
"Enak, can I leave that arm plate here? I will fetch it later," he requested Enak mentally.
"Nope, unless you plan to cut your arm and leave it here," he said teasingly. "Just sit back and enjoy the peace, young master."
"I guess that's all I can do."
He looked at them talking. It's been a while since I've seen her so happy and carefree like this. It feels like nothing has happened, he thought. He felt at peace seeing the two people he cared the most for in the world talk so happily together.
He looked at Diana, her smile, her grin, the way her eyes softened at the corner when she smiled, committing every detail to memory. After they talked for about half an hour, Jack finally had his arm back to himself.
He looked at the time displayed in the visor, 8:45 A.M. As he walked out of her room, he removed his visor as he talked with her and climbed out of the tent.
In the forest, he selected a rock and sat on it, telling her how he would pass his days in hiding.
He stopped talking after a bit.
"Jack?" his mother spoke, realizing the look on his face.
"Mom, I unlocked my Ikanami... I've grown stronger."
"I know you have. I'm so proud of you. Which Ikanamis did you get?"
"Psychic from you, and Body Strengthening from Dad."
"Oh my god, that's such a nice combination. Way to go, son. I knew you could do it."
"Thanks, Mom," he said slowly, with a tone that suggested there was much left unsaid. His emotional walls wavered.
"C'mon, son, say it. You know you want to talk about it," she said, as she looked past the walls he had built without any trouble.
"Mom... I killed people. A lot of them. I became a murderer, Mom. I have been ruthlessly killing any Ortho Sapiens that came my way... I wanted my powers so I could become strong, so that I could protect everyone... all that I have become is a heartless murderer," he said slowly.
Would she be disgusted? Taken aback? Would she be so shocked that she would deny that her son could ever do something like this?