*silence*
The gentle sound of silence hung in a modest sized bedroom. Having one of its owners still in bed.
Blankets thrown on top of them, it almost looked like a pile of laundry than a human being. As long as he was comfortable, the man didn't seem to care.
*Ring Ring*
*Ring Ring*
".... why?...."
Sadly his alarm disagrees.
Jake sat up and stretched his arms, throwing his legs off the bed before getting up to turn his phone alarm off.
After the usual morning run to get that blood pumping, a good cold shower lets all that tense muscle relax.
*click*
A good shave seemed good. Trim down the side burns and fluff up his hair- That curly hair doesn't get that fluffy in this hot weather.
Give them biceps a good flex and strike a pose.
"Alright Alright Alright~"
After changing into the simple cargo shorts and tank top, its time to make breakfast.
*thump thump thump*
*click- shhhh*
Once in the kitchen, its time to make breakfast before heading out for work. Simple sandwich and juice should hit the spot.
Jake made his meal while humming a little song to himself. Smiling at the verses where it says "gotta get home from war to get my girl from afar-" I mean, he already got Susten along time ago.
"Takara, I'm using that dye you put in the fridge last night." Jake spoke out as he sat down with his meal ready to be eaten.
"Finally~"
Jake held the sandwich and was ready to sink his teeth into his meal before halting dead in his tracks.
. . . . . . . . . .
Nothing.
Completely nothing.
Jake put down his sandwich silently as he furrowed his brows.
"Something ain't right.."
Jake stood up and got his spoon and stuffed it into his shorts pocket like a dagger. Sliding out from his seat and cautiously leaning aganist the wall before making it to the doorframe.
"Why.... why from all times...."
Hearing the dying sounds of another human being in the house was normal. But Jake hadn't seen any of the group at all, they all left to buy some groceries thanks to the cash they got last time... meaning that the house was locked...
So... who would be making that sound???
Jake crawled quickly out of the kitchen and slithered behind a shelf of books before going lower. Locking onto the target as his hand slid down into his pocket.
Getting low on all fours after putting the spoon in his mouth, Jake inched closer until he was right behind the couch. The very couch were the dying person was lying.
Once in range, Jake got onto his feet while staying crouched and held the spoon. Already getting into a crouched fighting stance.
Inhale
Exhale
Inhale
Exhale
Gotcha.
Jake then-
"What are you doing?"
Jake let out a breath upon hearing Takara's voice behind him. Though seeing the situation Jake stood up and turned to see his face, hoping it wasn't one of thos- and its the judging face.
Takara gave him a flat stare and a raised brow.
"…Checking the perimeter," Jake whispered back, dead serious.
Takara just stared at him for a long, flat moment, then pointed toward the living room.
Jake straightened, brushing imaginary dust from his pants. "Right. I knew that."
When he looked over at the couches, the "ambush" revealed itself. Susten and Melusine were sprawled across the larger couch, groaning like the undead. Toga sat upright with a blanket draped over her shoulders, clutching a steaming hot bottle against her stomach with the desperation of someone defending holy relics.
Jake blinked as he walked over to Toga. "What the hell happened here? Did we get attacked?"
Toga groaned. "We were attacked. By your cooking." She jabbed a finger at him weakly. "Susten and Melusine? Poisoned. Me? Paying my monthly rent to biology. And your secretary here—" she tilted her head toward Takara, "—is limping around like an old man because he busted his knee chasing that eel stunt you came up with."
Jake opened his mouth, shut it again. "…So… not good?"
"Not good," Takara said flatly. Then, without ceremony, he pulled a folded slip of paper from his pocket and held it out.
Jake hesitated. "…What's this?"
"A shopping list," Takara said. "You're on errands today."
Jake snatched the paper, eyes flicking over it. "Wait, why me? Shouldn't the secretary handle this?"
"Jake, I can't walk that far, with or without my stick." Takara leaned forward, his hazel eyes sharpening just enough to cut. "Besides, that dye wasn't meant to be eaten."
Jake gave a nervous chuckle. "Right... Good to know."
"Sure," Takara sighed, already turning away. "Now hurry up before someone dies and give a call if anything happens."
Jake nodded and turned to head for the door, gripping the piece of paper with determination as he stepped over to the door. Grabbed the door handle and-
"Jake... " Susten groaned as she slowly sat up while rubbing her abdomen. Not even having the energy to open her eyes or face him. "Put on a shirt."
"Right."
Jake raced back to his room,grabbed a button up shirt, his sneakers by the door and left the house.
*click*
Jake jumped down the few steps, stuffing both the money and the list into his pocket before rushing out of their yard.
"Alright. Nunes can hit 60km/hr. So let's go!"
Racing off, Jake made the fact true. Running down side walks and using alleyways instead of the main roads because the officers prefer human beings moving atleast lower than 30km/hr.
Wow, imagine getting a speeding ticket because you ran too fast.
*smack*
Slapping his hands onto the ground Jake pushed himself off the ground and bounced off the wall of an alley to leap over a pile of trash. Landing with squat before getting up.
Infront of him? Across from the road was the pharmacy. Target located.
Jake walked out of the alley and crossed the road with a few others. Stepping right infront of the building before looking to his left.
Peaking from the line of two story buildings was the tall antennas of the multi story hospital in the distance.
"Well...." Jake hummed in thought. "The pharmacy is nearby... but..."
Jake. No. You have a phone.
"The hospital has more medicne.."
You have a phone Jake, give a call.
"But it's further away,"
Yes. So Get. The Medicine. From The Pharmacy.
"But I can run it back and forth
Jake!
'Hospital it is!'
Oh come on!
Jake turned to his left and started running again. Choosing the alleyways once again to make it quickly to the hospital.
He bolted left, skidding into corners like a race car. After getting lost twice, he stumbled through the hospital gates beaming.
*ding*
Gathering the medince from the large pharmacy at the hospital was easier. Just tell the guy over the counter what the problem is rather than search many shelves for it.
So with minutes to spare, Jake walked out of the hospital gates with a grin. Patting himself a job well done.
*sniff sniff*
Across from the road, there was a food stand where that good rich, salty scent of grilled meat was coming from.
Jake looked at the sun as she squinted his eyes. "Hmmmm, meh, I've got time to buy some. Plus, the girls would definitely want some."
Two thick burgers later, they sat in the same plastic bag as the medicine. Jake patted it proudly. "Perfect."
"Oh," Jake noticed the dog which was sitted close to the stand and gave it a wave. "Keep up the guarding duty."
[ A few minutes later ]
Meanwhile, down a few roads from the hospital was a police man. And yes, he is among those who are just slouching instead of watching the speedometer.
Parked near a road where the only thing moving was an empty bottle, the traffic officer had better things to do. I mean, who drives all the way down to Silvaren?
So he was laid back on his car seat, phone propped on the dashboard as a movie was playing.
Cold drink in his hand and with his car under the shade of a tree- perfect place to chill. Hands down.
*ssssssllllluuuurrrpppp- smack*
"Mmmm, that's the stuff..." The officer smiled after downing another cold can. Resting his hands under his head. Legs propped onto the dashboard. "This is why I choose this road to check up."
The officer let out a sigh as he slowly started dozing after a few minutes of watching some movie about car racing.
*beep-beep- TING*
The officer sat up after hearing very light footsteps which only lasted a few seconds. Checking to see it was a hare.
"Meh," The officer shrugged and slumped back to- "wait... hares don't run that fast unless... something is chasing them."
The officer sat up again slowly as he squinted to see three-
"Get Over Here!!"
*TING-TING*
A dog blurred past the car with something white in its mouth with a man literally trying to grab the dog with their bare hands.
"What the-?!"
*VRRRMMMM!!-TING- MMmmm*
A small truck roared past the car after the two, shrinking into the distance.
The officer failed to say anything and scrambled back to sit properly. The speedometer giving the result of all three blurs hitting above 50km/hr?!
*sccrk-* "whats the trouble officer?"
"I don't know!" The officer shouted back, starting his engine and stepping on the gas immediately after. "All I know is that there is a dog, a man and a truck over speeding towards Silvaren!"
*VVVRRMM- SCRRRKK*
The person on the other side of the line was just as confused. "... what?"
The officer drifted onto the road flooring it.- "Just tell the officers in Silvaren to expect them!"
The four streaked across the dry road with dust trails being the only evidence left behind.
Hands gripping the wheel as both organic and inorganic engines punched the accelerator.
The siren rang.
The officer's car hit 82km/hr.
The truck hit 70.
The man hit 55.
The dog hit 52.
And the funniest part?
The man was Jake.
.
. .
. . . .
[ 15 minutes later ]
*thump.. thump*
Making one more corner,
Jake finally came to a staggering stop. Lungs burning, his shirt sticking to his back.
The dog?
The dog was right there- half tangled in the crisscrossing wires of the drainage barrier.
".... Finally... got you..."
The dog whined and kicked. Its tail wagging in distress. Though Jake only noticed one thing... No bag in its mouth.
Jake's smile faultered, "Wait. Where's..."
Jake's head snapped to the drainage below.
There—the bag. Snagged on a wire, sagging with the weight. The plastic stretched, about to give.
"No, no, no—stay still!" Jake scrambled forward, freeing the dog as quickly as he could. The animal stilled just long enough for him to reach—
Plop.
The bag tore. Medicine and burgers tumbled into the black water, envelopes soaking through, patties bobbing like sad little rafts.
Jake froze, then slumped onto the ground.
".... Takara is going to kill me."
Beside him, the dog sat down and let out a small whine.
Both watching the little rafts follow the current as the dog's ears drooped as low as Jake's smile.
What a sad little soldier boy,
Glancing around or rubbing the back of their neck. Two police officers and the three dog pound workers didn't even know what to say. I mean for the man to run as fast as a car for his meal and just to lose it? That's gotta hurt.
The officer who working on the speedometer sighed and assured that he would handle the situation. So the pound got their dog after a moment of silence, them and the other officer leaving the two alone.
The officer cleared his throat, "Ahem, uh... you good? You really wanted that meal huh,"
Jake nodded before getting up. "Yeah..."
"Ah, now it makes sense."
The two men turned to the voice of an older woman.
An older woman walked over wearing a simple pastel blue dress and black pants. "Only Jake can cause such a noise."
Jake glanced away. "Hey doc,"
"Hurry up, the officer wants an explanation." The old woman chuckled.
Jake went on to the tell the officer what went down, and it made him laugh so hard he was about to cry. I mean, come on. That insane high-speed chase happened all because Jake failed to tie his shoelaces.
Butterfly effect in the making.
After getting a ticket for speeding and a small lecture, Jake was let off the hook. The officer leaving the two by the roadside as he headed back to his station.
"Putting food in the medicine bag?" The lady giggled looking down at Jake. "You wanted your food to taste like a painkiller?"
Jake rubbed the back of his neck. "Dont touch that sore."
"Alright, I will keep that between us."
*bzzz*
*bzzz*
Jake pulled out his phone and saw that he had missed calls from Toga and Takara, with a couple of messages to back it up.
"Susten?" The lady asked as she spotted a bench down the road.
"Nah, its nothing important. Just spam messages."
The old woman raised a brow looking back at him. Jake, the veteran who brings chaos, is buying medicine.
"Come." She started to walk down the road. "Its been a while since we talked. Maybe a few minutes of catching up before you head home."
Jake glanced at his phone screen in thought before stuffing it back into his pocket. Making his way to the bench where the doc was waiting.
"So, what did you do?" The doc started.
Jake squinted his eyes. "I didn't do anything...." He then rubbed his neck before looking away. "well, apart from the poisoning part."
"Poisoning?"
"Wait! Let me explain before you scold me."
The doc let Jake explain the situation. The whole situation.
Of course, the random adventures and stories kept coming up, but the main topic was still there. The doc nodding slowly to the new information she had missed, glancing back at the drainage as the new view of the scene set in.
"So that's why you were sitted next to the dog." The doc turned her head towards Jake. "Are you going to get more medicine then?"
"Dont have any money on me." Jake shook his head. "Wish there we some weird herb around which helps. But I'd fail to even tell the difference between it and moss."
"You are not wrong, though you always tend to mess up your missions." The doc chuckled. Standig up from the bench and letting her gaze follow the drainage. "Maybe I can spare a few minutes to help you search for it."
"Really?" Jake beamed with hope.
"This is the last time I'm making a loop for you." The doc grumbled. "You'll slow me down, so just sit here a-"
"With how old you are?" Jake snickered before getting up. "Best I follow so that I carry you back."
The doc rolled her eyes and smacked his arm lightly. "Come on. Don't make me wait long."
Before Jake could finish stretching the doc bolted with streak of dust following her.
"Seriously?!" Jake waved his arms in disbelief before running after her. "You move at 70!"
Ah, Silvaren.
As much as officers try to work, they aren't really alot of places for them to be stationed. I mean, come on. Who would stay in an abandoned city?.... okay, maybe a few- but you get the point.
Thus, it becomes a massive shortcut or in this case a large garden of untamed land. Letting the races really let loose, e.g, without a speed limit.
The doc streaked down the highways as Jake used the various objects to bounce or launch in hopes to catch up. Almost like the good old days.
Glancing to her left, the doc saw a cocky smile off a curly haired kid running close to her. The kid panting as their soldier uniform was so baggy it was dragging them back like a parachute. So she decided to teach them how its done.
Leaping across drainages and zigzagging across large intersections the doc smiled with pride. Seeing the kid grow smaller each step she took.. that was until she saw the very kid fly above her and land ahead.
"I did it!" Jake rolled up after landing and continued running. "I just beat a Zeus in a race."
The doc rolled her eyes. "Oh please, you didn't even run."
"You sound just like Takara." Jake sighed. "Where are we heading to next?"
The doc caught up. "We have to find a water source. The herb grows alongside any water bodies during this time of the year-"
*skkkrrrrccchh*
The doc came to a skidding stop after seeing Jake suddenly stop running. Looking back to watch Jake walk over to the side of the highway and look down the alleyway. "What are you looking at?"
"You said that the plant grows anywhere where there is water." Jake pointed down the alley. "I remember finding a small creek down here."
"How sure are you? You don't live nearby?" The doc asked as she made her way over.
"Toga used to runaway to that spot some years back." Jake shrugged but got a glare from the doc to spill the truth. Or a half truth in this case. "But I forgot about it till Takara showed it to me again few weeks ago."
The doc sighed. "Typical."
"Come on." Jake headed down into the alley. "It won't take that long."
The doc looked back at the highway in thought.
She knew a river nearby, but a creek? What creek grows in the middle of a city of concrete?
"Jake let's-"
Jake had already disappeared.
The doc ran down the alleyway and made a few turns, grumbling at how the turns slowed her down each time she wanted to sprint. So much so that she ended up hitting dead-end after dead-end.
The doc raced down another intersection of alleyways in spite before hitting another dead-end. The dead-end having stacked parts of fridges and other appliances as the top was close to the top of the wall.
Tired from being lost, she started scaling up the pile. Hoping to atleast get onto the top of the wall.
"What are you doing?"
Hearing the brat's voice again made her blood boil.
"I don't know you brat!" The doc groaned as she started climbing down.
Jake waited for her to climb down and walk over. Pointing down the right alleyway. "I heard you struggling so just follow me down this way."
The doc raised her finger but just drop it because arguing didn't change the situation. Besides, speaking of new people, "Takara" is a new name in his life story.
As the two weaved down various paths Jake caught the doc up to speed. From all the way back from he got lost after a camp with the army, his wedding and down to recent events such as the fish funeral. Jake slowing down or choosing routes which were less elevated for her.
The doc was surprised, of course by the pure chaos this man brought to whoever was close to him... but there was something else about him which changed.
She knew it wasn't his appearance, he just looks like an older version. He's broke, that's normal. Clothes? The same style. So what was it?
"And thats how we taught Takara how to use a pencil." Jake nodded at himself with pride.
"Say what?" The doc snapped back to reality, only to get ignored by Jake as he stepped forward. "Serio.... seriously?"
Jake gestured for her to keep quiet as they reached an old school.
The two walked inside and made their way down the halls, Jake being dead silent as he moved along the walls. The doc following his lead as she wondered what got him to shut up.
Finding footprints, the two headed down another hallway before finding themselves outside the main structure. Reaching the pool which has now become a slow flowing creek.
"There's nothing here." The doc rolled her eyes after waiting for a few seconds of nothing.
*.....hhhhh.....*
Jake glanced upward.
When the doc took a few steps forward-
*thing*
Jake grabbed her by her blouse and pulled her back as an arrow shot down from above. Striking the ground right next to where the doc just stepped.
"Hey! No ambushes!" Jake called out and looked around, his fingers being stiff and ready.
From the shadows, out came a woman with a bow and arrow. Dressed in a beige brown cloak over a simple t-shirt and jean shorts. Arrow being already loaded with only a finger holding it back from firing.
The doc looked at the woman up and down and already knew where this is going to go. The woman had the face paint under her eyes, so that means-
"My names Jake." Jake gave a small wave and even stepped back. "Me and the woman at the back came to get some kind of herd around here. Hope we didn't barge in your turf."
"Thats all? No fish?" The woman asked while her bow was still held at the ready.
"No fish. I mean look at us, we don't even have any bags to carry fish with."
The woman squinted her eyes in suspicion, looking over at each of them from head to toe. The staring lasting for more than a minute... until she finally lowered her bow.
"Alright..... you can get the herb."
Jake smiled, lowered his head and still kept about a meter distance when walking past the woman. Quickly kneeling down by edge of the pool to look around-
"Oh, do you have fish?-"
The arrow was pointed at him again.
"Im asking because I sell fish! Geez!" Jake raised his hands in surrender.
"Youre selling fish?" The woman lowered her bow and stepped over.
Jake nodded. "Yeah, vipe-"
"How much?!" the woman put her weapon down and squatted where he was.
Jake blinked at the speed but could hear the desperation. So he explained about the prices as the two started talking business.
The doc furrowed her brows and was speechless. So much so that she didn't even listen to the rest of their conversation.
"Hey doc! Dark green or light?"
The doc blinked at Jake's voice. "Oh, uh, Dark green. The herb is dark green with spiky leaves."
After terribly copying what Jake did to seem friendly to the woman, the doc walked over to help him look for the herb.
The two hoping that they could get the herb quickly before as Jake said earlier, before Takara kills him.
"Oh, know anything about physical therapy on the leg?"
The doc slowly looked at him with confusion. ".... what?"
.
. .
. . .
Early in the evening.
Someone who had passed out thanks to some painkillers finally woke up. Opening their eyes slowly to focus on the face of their man who was smiling.
"There we go." Jake smiled at his wife waking up with her head on his lap.
Susten blinked a few times before looking around.
Toga was playing video games on the other couch with Takara. Melusine had just sent the woman with a bow on her way, the customer leaving with a bag full of fish. The doc was drinking some tea as she watched the two play video games.
"Did I miss anything serious?" Susten asked as she sat up. Groaning a little at the remaining stings of pain from her gut.
"Nope." Jake shook his head, seeing Takara rub his knee once Toga had left to drink some water. "But I nearly forgot something."
Jake stood up and walked over behind the couch Takara was seated on. Grabbing him by the collar to follow him.
"Hey!" Takara stumbled a little and winches at the pain which shot through his knee. "What are-"
"Hey doc."
The doc looked up at him, seeing the one he held hostage have a walking stick before connecting the dots. "Is he the Takara you were scared of? Doesn't look all that terrifying."
"Trust me. He is." Jake deadpanned before handing Takara over to the doc. "Takara. Doc over here is a doc who worked in the army, so go ahead."
The doc explained to the confused Takara what he meant, thus making the doc's visit be a little demo of her old life. Working with a patient at a very odd place.
From a cocky brat who wanted to be a so called Lone Nune, the doc was surprised by all the changes. And though she'd like more changes to happen-
"You got a speeding ticket?!" Susten scolded
As long as the important changes have taken place, the rest seem to be alright.
Melusine walked over from the kitchen with a lollipop in her mouth. "Hey CEO, who was that woman?"
Jake who was laughing at Susten who was fuming over nothing, lowered his smile. "Oh, right. The woman. She's a Libra refugee. Though, her trying to fish in Silvaren is whats making the whole thing odd. Secretary?"
Takara groaned at the massage. "Libras are a fishing culture. So they'd prefer fish over any meat and since you mentioned that she is a refugeeee~.. thats good~ *ahem*- that means its that time of the year."
"What time of the year?" Toga looked over at Takara.
"Im not that updated on fishing business, but it works similar to herding businesses." Melusine shrugged. "Its the hot season. So the fish ban is already in place. And as much as refugees in rural cities are not affected by it, the number of fish wouldn't match the people who need it."
"So you're saying that they'd fight for it?" Toga raised a brow. "The woman did show up with a bow and arrow."
The doc shook her head. "Not really. But it does mean you guys may have a chance to sell. I'm living proof that we are in need of fish, and I live near a shopping district."
"So...." Susten started thinking. "If everyone is moving closer to sea to find fish. That means the inland cities wouldn't have any fish."
"And if we target the cities where the population has refugees who have fish dietary habits-" Melusine added.
*snap*
"That means we'd strike gold." Jake snapped his fingers with a grin. "Plus, with Bessie as transport. All we need are locations and fish."
The doc listened to the plan as Melusine brought her the fish she wanted buy. "So does that mean you'll be on some kind of tour."
"Yep." Toga nodded before looking at Jake. "So a road trip kind of tour?"
Jake nodded and folded his arms. "Yep. This is the chance we've been looking for to scale up our cash quickly. And with the fishermen we made that deal with- we're solid. Everybody in?"
The rest of the group nodded apart from Takara, who everyone else looked at for his final word on the matter.
"You can sit this one out bro." Toga assured.
"No. I can't. I am a refugee and has the most info on fishing." Takara glanced at his knee before looking at Jake. " You need me. So I'm going."
Jake nodded. "Alright then. Since everyone is on board with this, by the time the rainy season starts. It should be raining both water and cash."