Jacob gets the van

Jacob scratched his chin, thinking. "You know what? I have an idea. My van—the one I remodeled for stealth camping—has a pretty comfortable back seat. I could drive you both to the Shopping Mall and get all the clothes you need. That way, we avoid any potential malfunctions with the teleporter and ensure you get there safely."

Walter considered this for a moment. "That's not a bad idea, Jacob."

Jacob waved a hand dismissively. "Indeed. Plus, the van has all the mods we need to ensure a smooth ride." He paused, then added with a wink, "And if anything goes wrong, at least you'll be comfortable."

Walter looked at Z-0-R-T-Y, who nodded slightly in agreement. "Very well, Jacob. Let's do it your way. But we need to leave immediately."

Jacob grinned and clapped his hands together. "Great! Let me just grab my keys and we can hit the road." He turned and hurried out of the workshop, leaving Walter and Z-0-R-T-Y to follow behind.

As they made their way to the van, Walter couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards his son. Despite his initial shock, Jacob had risen to the occasion and offered a practical solution. With any luck, they would make it to the mall unseen and complete their mission successfully.

As they walked out to Jacob's van, Walter fell into step beside his son. "Jacob," he began, his voice serious, "I appreciate your help with this. But I have to ask—what do you want in return?"

Jacob shrugged, avoiding Walter's gaze. "It's no big deal, Dad. I mean, you're my dad. I gotta help you out when you need it. You would do the same for me, right?"

Walter stopped walking and turned to face Jacob, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Jacob, I know you well enough to understand that there's always a catch with you. What is it that you want? Let me make this worth your while," Walter insisted gently.

Jacob shifted uncomfortably under Walter's gaze. "Really, it's fine. I don't need anything, right now at least" he mumbled, looking down at his feet.

Walter raised an eyebrow but pressed the issue no further. He could sense that Jacob was being evasive, and he decided to let it go—for now. "Alright, Jacob. If you change your mind, just let me know."

Jacob nodded, relieved that Walter had dropped the subject and even unwillingly gave consent to what he had in mind for them later. He led them to his van, a sleek black vehicle with tinted windows and custom modifications. The side door slid open smoothly as Jacob pressed a button on his key fob, revealing a comfortable interior with plenty of space for the two apparent women to rest during the ride.