Stonks

Vanessa had pinpointed Jira's location. She had requested a team of 10 WS soldiers to raid the base.

Alex has been on good terms with her recently. She no longer scans him if he's hiding something and removed the cameras from his room. Or she at least says she did.

Alex hangs out with her from time to time, gathering whatever information she would disclose about her investigations to him. But Vanessa wasn't one to lower her guard at any time. She was always careful around Alex.

'So, your mission is almost complete?'

'Yeah. I just have to wait for the reinforcement, and we will take over the building and nuclear missiles this Saturday.'

'Can I know where it will happen?'

'Alex, I'm not letting you join. Stay out of it.'

Such was the conversation between him and Vanessa on a rare day when she came to the cafeteria.

'Why not? I can be a huge assistant to your team.'

'Jason might have needed you, but not me.'

'So, that's a no.'

Vanessa wasn't taking any chances. She still had a few cameras near and in Alex's apartment. She knows about how Hikaru and Asuna came injured a few days ago but didn't say anything about it.

She has been monitoring them since then. If they tried to help Alex in any way, she would use the Japanese police to arrest them.

Lunch was over.

'Alex, if you try to do anything, I'll be the first to know so, give up.'

'I know.'

Vanessa stood up and walked away, giving an apparent smile. Saturday was two days away from now. In these three days, this will all be over.

'Guess I should get started.'

Vanessa had been keeping watch on Alex with cameras and sensors, which would sound the alarm if Alex did anything else other than his daily routine. The sensors were placed in all the windows and the door.

Morning came, and Vanessa got up. She Checked the cameras in his apartment as part of her daily routine. Seeing the live footage, Alex was nowhere to be found. On the wall was written: "Don't follow me. I do stupid Shit."

Vanessa broke the brush she was using to comb her hair. She reversed the footage to see how he got out unnoticed. She saw that at 1:17 am, Alex got up, opened the door, and went out.

She had placed three sensors on the door. Not one sounded the alarm. She went to his apartment to physically inspect the fault herself. Even if someone tries to hack, remove, or destroy them, the sensors will activate the alarm.

She furiously marched up and saw that among the sensors, there was something thin attached to them.

'So that's how.'

What was attached to them was a tiny EMP which fried the sensors from the inside. It also interfered with the signals.

'Alex!'

She ripped out the sensor, throwing it on the floor. She remembered about Asuna and Hikaru, she had placed cameras on them too. She took out her phone and sure enough they weren't there.

She reversed the footage to see when did they head out, and it turned out that they hadn't returned home last night.

'You've made a big mistake going against me.'

Vanessa sent out a full search order to find them. The Japanese police checked every camera, saw every footage, searched everywhere, but failed to find them.

The three had vanished into thin air for the next two days. Until on Saturday, before the sun rose, one of them came out of the water, breathless. He took a deep breath in an attempt to recover from the exhaustion.

He saw a pub that was still open and went there. The bartender saw him dripping water everywhere, sitting down on the stool as he placed his money, asking for anything to eat.

'Oye mate, bit early for a swim, isn't it?

'Aye.'

'What's your name, brother?'

'Alex.'

'Alex. You look like a foreigner. Did you just arrive here?'

'Yes.'

'Well, welcome to England, bruv.'

The dawn broke, and the birds were beginning to leave their nest in search of food. The streets of London were still asleep.

Jason was in his bed, fast asleep in his room. He had his first pleasant dream in a while. He was dreaming of Dr. Watson tied up, and he was handing him over to his father. Everyone was celebrating Jason's success, who took down Jira.

His father patted him on the back and smiled like no other. Vanessa was there, his uncle, Rei Rei, and even Alex.

Jason was feeling a bit embarrassed. Alex came to him and put his hand on his back.

'Jason, you're really amazing. Thank you for saving me. Please be my friend.'

'I will think about it.'

'Jason, one more thing.'

Alex's voice had changed. The cheers and smiles had disappeared.

'What is it, Alex?

'If you don't wake, I'm going up to put ice cubes in your underpants.'

'Eh- What?'

Jason faced Alex. He was smiling dangerously.

'Don't say I didn't warn you.'

Jason felt his crotch freezing. It was cold to the point that it was painful. Jason haphazardly woke up and stood on his feet. He stretched his pants, and there really were ice cubes in there.

'Oh good, you're awake.'

He saw Alex sitting on a chair, holding a tray of ice cubes in his hand.

'Alex? How are you here?'

'Me here? I'm not. This is a dream, silly.'

Alex smiled gently.

'Yes, you are right. This must be a dream.'

Jason was dazed, but hearing the explanation made him calmer. Fun fact, if you ever want to find out if you're in a dream or not, try finding a clock or count your fingers. Normally, you won't find a clock, or there will be an extra finger on your hand.

Jason saw the wall clock in front of him and counted his five fingers.

'This is not a dream!'

He screamed.

'Yeah, you got me. I really am here. Now come on, let's go.'

Alex stood up and pulled Jason to the door.

'Where?'

'To Japan, where else? Today is the day Vanessa is going to take down Jira, and we're going too.'

Jason stopped.

'Stop it. I decided to stay away from such foolishness. I am not going.'

Jason walked back to his bed.

'Jason-'

'Leave me be.'

'Oh, I see. That's alright.'

The tray was still in his hand. He walked to the bedside and placed it on the drawer.

'Jason.'

Alex calmly called him.

'What is it?'

Jason turned to face Alexa and felt a stinging sensation on his face. The feeling turned to hitting someone with a hammer causing his whole body to twist. Alex had slapped him on his face, Jason didn't even know what happened.

'I didn't travel 13000 kilometers to hear a f*cking No from you! We are going!!'

Alex yelled, pissed off.