FOUR

Jet moving on to the next segment points at Patu's image, "This man, was kicked out of White Lotus, because he has achieved what I am talking about. Behind my father's back, he was collecting Luminous Pearls and opening breaches to other realms, drawing essence and infusing it with his technology, and thus introducing the greatest breakthrough in technological development and evolution," he projects the various awards Patu has won in the past 2 years, "His creations can do magical things, because his technology is magical."

Jet puts a robust device that looks like multiple towers attached to each other. It is black, with marble texture, flawlessly asymmetrical, engraved with Patu's symbol, "Patu built this device that uses frequency to reopen portals to other realms now that he has exhausted his supply of luminous Pearls. We have siezed all of them. Which is why he is fighting us tooth and nail." Jet projects his idea for the kind of technology he wants to create.

Luna raises her hand.

"Yes Luna." Jet smiles at her, the confusion on her face is hard to miss.

"Are weapons the best idea? I am failing to see your goal." She crosses her arms, "Is the point of the revolutionary technology to spark wars?" All she is hearing is war and all she's seeing is weapons. Is everyone gearing up for a battle she doesn't know about?

Jet chuckles, "No, war is not my goal. I am simply telling you what Patu used the essence for. I'm sure if it was you, you would have created technology to keep the water clean, and kept the environment safe, but Patu didn't." He looks at the weapons and moves on to another side, he thought it was a cool idea, "I already told you Luna, I want you to incorporate this into your fashion at Prism Academy of Arts. We are going to dominate all industries by changing everything people thought they knew about technology and what it can and can't do."

Luna sits back in her chair, "Okay. Continue."

Jet moves on to the next slide, "All I had to say about Patu is that he went behind our backs, betrayed my father, and created problems for us, that we now have to answer too. People are asking how he made his technology, so I already have a genius plan to give a logical explanation to the magical aspects to the technology," he projects the place where Patu is suspected to be opening portals without anyone noticing.

"In the Shark Well Mine, I found these Essence Crystals. They are the residue of essence left over after a portal closes. When Patu opened portals to other realms, the left over essence crystallized into these crystals. We need to give it a scientific name and blah blah. We will be asked questions too."

Akira raises his hand.

"Father?" Jet gets nervous, usually his father listens and asks questions in the end, being interrupted is a bad sign.

"The information about Patu, where did you get it?" Akira is curious how his son has all this information he needed 2 years ago, that would have prevented things from dragging out for so long.

"I hired some of Patu's guards as staff. Do you have any idea the knowledge Guards have?" Jet points at the single guard in the room, "He's here to make my point." Jet looks at everyone including his father, just noticing the man, "This guard is now an outsider with knowledge on things only Alpha's should know. Did anyone think he shouldn't be here?"

Akira is shocked by the revelation. He has grown accustomed to it, the guard just looks like part of the room now, he would think something in the room was wrong if a guard was not there.

Jet smirks, "Patu was the one who suggested guards should stand in the room with us to protect us, but where do you think he got his information from?"

"If that's true, it could mean none of the Alpha's betrayed your father." Rex looks at the Guard wondering what to do with him.

"Do we kill him?" Helia asks

Jet shakes his head, "Luckily, this person is not a real guard. It is the 5th Alpha of my team." He looks at the 6 people at the table counting and wondering how it is 5, but it is general knowledge. In White Lotus, females cannot be Alpha's.

Akira looks at Milton taking the mask off, "Oh." That is all he can say, embarrassed, and surprised at the same time, with a flood of more emotions hitting him all at once, mixing into a pitch black ball of anger. He hated Miso Patu before, he loathes the man as of this moment.

He trusted Patu more than anything, and was betrayed, "I will admit I let that man manipulate me and control my actions. I was a puppet to him." Akira finally confesses out loud something he has not been able to say in the past 2 years.

"Maybe not." Helia yawns bored, he already knows all of this, he is the one who gathered Intel on Patu through the guards.

"What do you mean?" Akira who is morbidly crushed on the inside asks Helia confused. He sees no way that there'd be a silver lining in this situation.

His pride is shattered.

Helia decides to give a list of reasons, "One, If Patu didn't find a way to infuse essence into technology we would not be having this conversation right now. Two, Patu is old and at deaths door. Three, He has no children and wishes to have none. When he dies his hard work will be for nothing. Four, Miso Patu thinks he's immortal and he is not."

Helia expresses calmness in his posture and relaxed position in his seat, "I say he did us a favor, maybe the way things unfolded are negative, but here's a list of the positives," he lifts his pink finger, "One Jet learned from your biggest mistake, he knows now that he can't bypass Alpha's and talk to Govenors about things discussed in these rooms. Two, We'd never betrayed him because we are seeing first hand the consequences of betrayal, we might be kids sure but it is affecting us too. Three, respect for our Alpha titles, seeing the lengths Patu was willing to go to, for a seat at the Alpha's table, and the way he reacted when he realized it wouldn't happen, it is a fresh perspective that we have people out there working hard to take our place."

Milton interrupts Helia, "He always wanted to take your seat as King, that's why he was here in the first place," he looks at Akira, he disagrees with Helia's assessment that Patu was after the position of Alpha, "Patu didn't come here to be your employee, he came here to take your throne." Milton notices Akira react negatively to his statement and quickly shifts from his position, "He failed to do so, but he did leave with a large number of members," he notices his statement was not positive enough and tries again at bringing a Silver Lining to the Grimm assessment, "Now you know that everyone who stayed is loyal to you, and everyone who left is not."

Helia nods, "Exactly. I honestly see this set back as a win-win. Even if Patu wins the battle. I say we make him sign a contract that when he dies without an heir we take everything back. Remember that White Lotus even has it in its laws, that we do not vote people in or out. Roles of succession are inherited."

Milton nods, "I've also been gathering Intel through a friend Patu is trying to recruit for his team. I have a list of accomplices. The October's have met with him 3 times this year and there was an exchange of funds," he brings up the information casually and notices he should not have brought it up now, he should have talked to Akira in private first, "They are supposed to keep Patu Penniless, but he was wired 500 000 Stones. 3 times so far and covered it up by replacing the money quickly. We have exhausted Patu financially. Your strategy worked, the harsh truth is that we do have traitors in our ranks."

Akira nods, "I see, I will deal with the Alpha's, and I don't want you kids worrying about that, as for your plan. I like what I'm seeing and hearing so far," he does not want his son asking for trouble by taking on his battles, "Just leave Patu to me Jet. Focus on your group and you have my full support, but if you kids ever make the mistake of revealing your powers, even accidentally. This is over." Akira means that they will be hunted down and killed, he does not have the resources to fight his enemies, either wise he would have. Normal guns don't hold a candle to magically enhanced weapons. He could lose his son.

Jet nods, "I know dad. I didn't choose the reckless ones." He moves on to his last slide, "We are going to Moon Island in 6 days. It will be a full moon. Every Full moon we will be meeting there. Bridget, your Diamonds girl group stuff will have to take a break. If you can't commit to this, and your loyalties are to your friends instead of me. Just be truthful now."

Bridget shakes her head, "I was replaced by Andy Giovanna. They kicked me out of the group."

Luna snorts, "Welcome to the club."

Milton checks the time, "The one hour is over. Was that all you had to discuss?"

Jet nods, "Yes. This team will be official in 7 days. Don't be late. It's a time sensitive matter."

Akira stands up, "I'm proud of you son. This is great, but remember, the one you have to impress is your grand father. He is very old school. He might not understand all of this, so refine it a little more." He looks at the time, "By the way, your little group better be returning the money you stole from me. You do not have an official account of your own yet, meaning the money you've been spending Jet is mine. You are thieves. I thought the goal was to not be synonymous with illegal."

Jet laughs, "What's yours is mine."

"It should go both ways, and you have nothing. A bit inconvenient if you ask me." Akira walks towards the door, "You have my trust Son, but I am not throwing any money at this yet. I will be sending you an invoice, I want my money back."

Jet slouches, "Seriously dad? This plan needs money, I didn't charge you for the Intel on Patu."

"Be smart next time than. Don't just give away your valuables." Akira smiles at his son, "Oh, I'm kidnapping Smarts, I will return him for your island trip."

"He costs 50 grand a day." Jet blurts randomly.

Milton turns his head slowly looking at Jet. He's for sale?

"Fine." Akira walks out the door.

"You might have to pay 50 grand for your boyfriend." Bridget snickers.

Luna laughs, "I'd pay them 50 grand to keep him."

Milton flicks Luna a middle finger as he walks out the door.

Luna laughs at the gesture and looks at Bridget feeling sorry for her, "So, you were kicked out."

Bridget looks down, "Yeah."

"Perfect. I have a project we can work on." Luna is not going to fashion school for freedom, it is because she was the first to be kicked out of the Diamonds group and wants to be popular and seen just like the group, "Congratulations on spending your time studying. Just stop calling everyone because you're bored. It's annoying." Luna nudges her forward. She has a plan to work on music, since Diamonds are actors, she has decided to be a pop star.

Jet smiles at Luna being nice to Bridget, she has every reason to hate her, "Need help?" He asks.

"Uhm, can you get the beach before your dad makes it official to cut you off from his wallet." Luna walks out.

"Everyone has 24 hours to tell me what we will need. My dad will be visiting the bank in 3 days. I need to get everything we'll need before than." Jet says.

Axel nods, "I'll send you a list of chemicals."

"Get them from my dad he's cheap. I'll make sure we get double." Jack says.

Helia sighs, "I'll see if my dad won't pay off the debt."

"Perfect." Jet smiles, "Blake, you have a soccer game tomorrow. Don't miss practice we'll come watch you."

Axel nods, "Cool." He leaves the room anxiously. His father is siding with Patu. He looks at the ring, and exhales. He is staying with Lotus.

"Hey, got any ideas?" Bridget asks Axel passing by her.

"A place to stay when we can't see eye to eye with parents would be nice." Axel takes his soccer bag and runs. He is an hour late for practice.

"That's cool." Luna smiles brightly having a bright idea, "How do we make purchases official?" She asks.

"I'll text." Jet locks the meeting room door.

"Okay. See you at the game." Jack walks next to Helia going to his father's office.

The group go their different ways making plans for tomorrows game.