"There is no chance you not only found your father by chance but also joined in a tournament and you haven't lit the same peaks like you have from here?" Dante looked at the two of them. "Maybe now that you came back it will refresh your souls?"
"Wait, out of all of this that's the only thing you think of, is us hitting our peaks again?" Angel was caught off guard as her tone was shallow. "Taking on aliens and mass amounts of war we are used to, and you just want us to become stronger? You haven't changed at all."
"Angel, remember, what was only a few days for us was years for you two, if not longer." Willow smiled as she looked over her two friends. James just leaned back in his chair.
"I mean, it's like how I said, I should never have slowed down in the fight versus the five of them in the tournament. Astral didn't pull me because I needed a break, I fell apart. When have I passed out after fighting three people?" James took a sip of water. "It could get better, Dante, and if it does, then it's a good thing."
"Why is it better?" Finnick really didn't pay attention during all of the conversation.
"Astral and the forces we are facing are currently more powerful than anything we have faced here. We trained nonstop for days against a hologram of the enemy Astral faced at the end of the tournament." Angel dropped her head.
"We couldn't even take it off the bottom setting the entire time. Despite us adapting ourselves each and every time. We didn't get a single hit on Titan." James scratched his ears.
"That must be something powerful. The hologram part is where it's getting you. You can't use your ability on it even if you wanted to." Dante stood a little bit taller. "I am going out to get your favorite food! To celebrate your return." Dante zipped up his jacket as he walked out the door.
The four of them waved as he walked out the door. "Want to play brawl brothers?" Finnick jumped up and held up the controllers for the two of them sitting in chairs as they watched the tv. It was showing a replay of the two of them being captured. Willow motioned with her fingers for him to shush for a second.
"The two murderous terrorists are assumed to still be at large, if either of these two are found, contact the local authorities." The reporter spoke as the CCTV recording of when they were cornered was playing. The two of them were exhausted and on the brink of being killed. Then the flash of light, it looked different through the TV than Astral's.
"Wait, Astral never brought us to the future did he?" James looked over at Angel.
"I don't think from the story of when you met him that he knew you existed." Willow leaned down and wrapped her arms around them. "He loves and cares for you, don't let that be taken from you due to this video."
"No, I'm just unsettled, if it wasn't him, then who?" James' voice was soft as Finnick changed it over to the game system. The three got a soft chuckle out of it and were happy.
"I have the same feeling you do, what if the person who brought us to the future wanted to have this happen to Astral?" Angel whispered as Finnick was setting up the console.
"But why help him at the same time and save lives?" James questioned back to the two as Willow hopped over the couch and sat down with Finnick as they played Brawl Bro's.
"Ay, whatcu two richices doin down here in da slumz?" A guard was standing by the door as Astral and Jaimie walked by. "Dontcha know das how you get robbed by us?"
"Sir, my husband and I aren't normal people." Jaimie turned and faced him. Her pupils turned into hearts as she looked over at the guard. "Whatcha guarding love?"
The guard grabbed the collar of his shirt as he felt flustered. "The secret hideout." He chortled out as Jaimie closed her eyes and smiled.
Opening them they were normal again "Can you let us in and take us to your boss?" Astral watched from afar and did a quick scan of the area. They didn't have many people in the building.
"Sure, you two richies can back us in more ways than one." The guard opened the door as he started walking through the building. Astral closed the door behind them. Their footsteps were quiet as they heard whispers. It became hot as Astral saw hybrids resting on heat rocks.
"Ask him what type of place this is." Astral poked Jaimie in the ribs with his finger.
"Sir, we ain't doing anything morally wrong. It's quite the opposite. Our boss will tell more." He knocked in a very unique rhythm on the door as it popped open with a buzzing sound. "Soz to interrupt you if ya was buzy." The guard opened the door. "I gots some guests to help."
"Really Omalliy, you can't just let anyone walk in here and say they want to help." The man was dressed in a black leather jacket with black hair, gray creeping in, and two toned jeans. "Ah, I am sorry if I come off as not wanting your help. There is something weird about you two."
Astral and Jaimie looked at each other confused. He thought back to when he was here the first time, this type of sanctuary wasn't a thing. Jaimie felt troubled by it, if he knew them it could mean trouble. "Omalliy, go back to your post."
"Yessir." the guard turned around in the doorway as he waltzed down the hallway back to the door he was guarding.
"Sorry about him. My name is Mario Lark, you two can call me Mr. Lark." He extended his hand as Astral and Jaimie shook it. "Thats why you two feel familiar. My son aspires to be like me, when he was younger he rescued two young hybrids with white features and you two radiate that same energy, but much more."
"I think those would be my son and daughter." Astral sat down in the free chair next to his desk. "I don't want to get into the full story, but I was busy for the last few years, I've been meaning to find them and make it up to them."
"That's sad to hear, they vanished a few days ago." Lark held his head low. "But, not to force you to atone for your actions, there is a bigger issue here." Astral nodded as Jaimie relaxed and sat down. Finally feeling like he won't do anything bad.
"You are quite apparent of our current situation. The hybrids are currently being hunted in the city, your son and daughter were symbols of hope and purity fighting for righteousness. The central government is corrupt and everyone from the countryside knows it." Lark lit up a cigarette as he smoked it down in one puff.
"After the mass amounts of hybrids freed themselves from the plantation sixteen years ago the masses realized the rich just buy what they want. And the standard citizen actually enjoys the hybrids themselves. There will always be purists that live. But we hope to push the message that we all can cooperate."
"We can help with that. No matter what people would want to keep themselves pure. It is the greed of man. As for the freeing of hybrids, if there are more plantations or slave houses. Show them on a map and we will work on freeing them." Astral handed over a piece of paper.