Taking Sydney Home

As Aaron recovered the shadowy figure watching unnoticed from the rooftop slowly faded into The Darkness and vanished as though it had never been there at all. Seconds later Aaron looked up to where The Disguised Figure had been watching from but he didn't see anything so he tiredly turned back to what he was doing and finished eating.

Once Aaron ate and drank his fill, and recovered enough he began maneuvering the surprisingly agile Limo around the dead bodies and damaged streets and headed toward the cordon the police and fire department had set up around the entire area to prevent anyone from entering or exiting. Pulling up to the checkpoint Aaron was stopped by a young looking Male Officer in his early 20s who motioned for Aaron to stop the car.

Aaron stopped and waited for the officer to approach then he pushed a button on a control panel located on the door's armrest and the window immediately lowered itself.

The young officer had his hand on his gun but he didn't pull it., "Can I See Some ID, Sir?," The Officer tried to sound authoritative but his voice cracked slightly.

"I Don't Like Relying On It But I Don't Want Get Held Up Here All Night Answering Questions.," Aaron thought, carefully taking out his wallet and removing a shiny black card with the portrait of a green octopus emblazoned on the surface and offered it to the officer who froze in his tracks when he realized what the card was he was reaching for and held up a hand., "That's alright sir you can go ahead."

Aaron smiled., "Thank You Officer and have a nice night... Oh, And Officer... It goes without saying but it would be best if you forgot I was here."

"Y-Yea-Yes Siiiir!," The Officer stuttered and snapped to attention.

Aaron pushed a button on the door panel and the window closed and he continued on his way.

After The Limo pulled away, Another Officer not much older than the one that stopped Aaron approached and asked., "Who was that Sarge?"

The other Officer turned with an almost anemic expression and stated in a serious tone., "I don't know and I don't wanna know, and... If you're smart you'll forget you even saw that car and leave any mention of anyone passing through the cordon from your report or they'll be Hell to pay."

The Officer looked at his normally By The Book Sargent with a strange expression but before he could question his superior any further, The Sargent looked from side to side nervously as if **** might suddenly appear and take him at any moment and spoke in a hushed whisper., "He Had a..."

The other Officer's eyes widened in shock and he couldn't believe his ears, The color drained from his face and he immediately understood why his Sargent was so pale and why he insisted that the two of them didn't see anyone or anything. Luckily, The other nearby Officers were busy with other tasks and hadn't noticed what had happened because the lower ranking Officer didn't want to have to repeat what his Sargent had just told him. Even the mere thought of it made his spine quiver with fear.

After all People who had such an item in their possession were among The Most Dangerous Beings in The World. Most People didn't know or understand why but the moment they saw said item they would be overcome by an almost overwhelming sense of Fear and Anxiety. They felt like a Rabbit in the presence of a Hungry Tiger and would do anything to avoid a Gruesome ****.

Aaron didn't waste anytime making his way home and as he drove along he occasionally looked back to check on Sydney who was still sleeping soundly in the back. Aaron absently grabbed a Vita-Bar while talking to Gog and began eating as he carried on a conversation via their Link., "Gog, Find A Company That Can Handle A Job of This Magnitude..."

"What Kind of Job Father?," Gog asked curiously.

"I Want All of The Damage Caused By This Incident Repaired By Noon Tomorrow."

"But Father That Will...," Gog Began.

"I Don't Care About The Man Hours or The Cost... Just Make Sure It Is Done By The Required Time."

"Yes Father.," Gog Relented and Aaron could feel her allocating the necessary resources and processing power to the assigned task.

"Good Girl.," Aaron spoke aloud, Finishing the rest of his Vita-Bar before rummaging around for something else to eat. The Nano-Machines still swarming through his body were in need of more resources to continue their repairs, making Aaron utterly ravenous for whatever he could get his hands on. Aaron gobbled down 50 tablets of Bio-Enzymatic Supplements, tossing the empty bottle to the side and then reached for a box containing a 150 Food Cubes, consuming them all in under a minute.

With his hunger finally beginning to recede, Aaron gulped down a Can of Glyco-Fizz and sighed in satisfaction.

"Looks Like I Made A Pig Out of Myself.," Aaron thought, glancing over to where what was left of the rations were stored and all the wrappers and cans were piled in a heap., "I'll Replace What I Used... That Should Be Good Enough...," Then Aaron thought., "... Hmm, The Weapons Too I Suppose."

Aaron liked the feeling of being behind the wheel for real as he was use to being driven and the only experience he had was in the simulator in Knowhere though the simulations were quite realistic it was still different from actually driving for real., "I Really Need My Own Car."

It was 11:35 when Aaron arrived at The Massive Gates leading to The Masters Estate, It was hard to believe that all the fighting had taken just little over an hour but then time was in essence a relative quantity to begin with and an entire lifetime could be lived in a single second.

Since Garrent changed the code every day and didn't bother to give him the new code Aaron used his knowledge of the detestable bastard to crack the twelve digit passkey within three attempts. Garrent was both cunning and conniving but to someone like Aaron he was also predictable and a tad simple minded though many creatures were considered simple minded but that didn't make them any less dangerous. Garrent was the same.

The Huge Gates opened without a sound and closed just as soundlessly behind the limo after Aaron entered.

"Of Course He's Here...," Aaron thought upon seeing The Head Butler of The Masters Estate waiting in front of The Door., "Does The Man Never Sleep?"

The Head Butler of The Masters Estate stood as still as a statue, dressed in the typical Butler Attire one would expect from a house servant. He was quite handsome and young-looking despite being nearly 70 Years Old. His name was Arthur Bradford Gregson or Sir as The Staff referred to him. If he weren't dressed like a servant he could easily be mistaken for a Noble or Foreign Diplomat... He stood at six feet tall and he was muscular but not overly so. He had the kind of chiseled good looks that made Women swoon and the only real hint to his age were his white hair and a hint of weariness in his stern and calculating gray eyes.

Aaron stopped in front of The Enormous Mansion and when he stepped out of the driver's seat, Gregson who hadn't moved an inch or even blinked for that matter raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Aaron paused at the bottom of the steps leading to the front door and gave a small but genuine bow to Gregson who smiled appreciatively. Since he began living at The Masters Estate, Gregson had become like a Second Father to Aaron and the older Man had treated him like a Son. Gregson had taken it upon himself to teach Aaron many things about love and life, the kinds of lessons that his Real Father should have taught him. Gregson had been instrumental in procuring the materials Aaron required for his inventions when he became sick and he had been a crucial source of encouragement in some of the darkest moments in his childhood. So Aaron really did think of him as a kind of Surrogate Father.

Walking up the steps of The Massive Mansion, Aaron regarded Gregson for a few moments., "If I Didn't Know Any Better I'd Think I Was Looking At A Stone Statue... How Long Has He Been Waiting Here?"

"Welcome Home Young Master.," Gregson, Head Butler of The Masters Estate greeted.

Aaron cleared his throat and apologized., "I hope I haven't kept you waiting unnecessarily Gregson."

"Nonsense Young Master.," Gregson smiled warmly and moved for the first time since Aaron had pulled up to The Masters Estate, Approaching his young charge with a steady and confident gait., "It seems you've had quite an eventful night.," Gregson continued to smile warmly but this time that genuine smile did not reach his hard gray eyes.

"Of Course He Noticed. I Used The Nanotech In My Suit To Repair and Clean It But... Damn His Eyes Are Sharp! Just What I Would Expect From A Head Butler and A Man of His Experience.," Aaron thought to himself, chiding himself for thinking he could fool Gregson when he already knew better. Even as a child he was never able to pull the wool over the Old Man's keen eyes.

Aaron sheepishly scratched the back of his head and then spoke., "I- Wa- I mean we... were attacked."

Gregson clenched his fist the moment Aaron said he had been attacked then immediately relaxed., "I suppose that explains the young Woman in the back asleep.," Gregson's eyes narrowed and his gaze hardened like steel., "I trust you haven't been up to anything improper?"

Aaron feigned shock and then anger., "How could you even think that? I've been nothing but a complete Gentleman... Besides she is my boss's personal driver... She was bringing me home when we came under attack."

Gregson looked over Aaron with a scrutinizing eye., "You haven't been injured?"

"As you can see I am fine but I would like to take The Young Lady up to my room to sleep."

Gregson's brow furrowed as he protested., "Absolutely Not Young Master."

Aaron held up his hands., "Don't worry so much Gregson... You know I'm already dating Zoey."

"Even So I...," Gregson began but Aaron stopped him., "I'd like to put her in one of the guest rooms but during the attack she was **** and she's ****."

As if he had heard something totally normal, Gregson merely nodded.

"I don't want her to wake up in a strange room alone. I have no plans to do anything untoward... I would simply like to remain close so that when she awakes she will have someone she knows there to explain things to her."

Gregson held up a finger., "That's all well and good but I'm not sure how I feel about a Woman sleeping in the same room as you."

Aaron chuckled softly.

"What?!," Gregson asked incredulously.

Aaron smiled., "Oh nothing. It's just that I forget how terribly old fashioned you are."

Gregson puffed up his chest in pride, obviously taking what Aaron had said as a compliment.

"Say what you want Young Master but the old ways are still the best if you ask me But...," Gregson paused for a moment then with a thoughtful expression added., "I do acknowledge your point... Just remember your manners while in the same room as a Lady."

Aaron put his hand on his chest as if to swear a solemn oath., "The fact that you feel the need to say that hurts Gregson."

The two Men shared a knowing smile then Aaron went to retrieve Sydney, draping his jacket over her and lifting her up in his arms. Aaron carried her up the steps and to the door which Gregson opened.

Aaron stopped before entering and regarded Gregson for a moment before speaking., "It goes without saying that I don't want My Mother or Sisters to know that I was attacked. They worry enough about me as it is."

Aaron didn't feel the need to ask Gregson to keep what he had told him from his step-father. In their many talks over the years, Aaron had learned that Gregson too wasn't particularly fond of Garrent. Aaron sometimes wondered why a Man like Arthur Gregson who reminded him of the tales of honorable nights of old would work for such a horrible person but whenever he asked, Gregson just smiled and patted him on top of the head saying., "You'll find out when you're older."

Gregson's stern expression softened., "I won't say a word Young Master but you know as well as I that keeping secrets from them is difficult."

Aaron sighed deeply., "Of that I am painfully aware."

Gregson smiled.

"Wait here Gregson and I will take Ms. Hoffer upstairs to my room and make her comfortable then I'll secure her belongings and park the car."

"No need Young Master... I can do that for you.," Gregson offered.

"There are few people I trust more than you Gregson but I've come this far so I might as well walk the last few feet myself as well."

Gregson bowed., "As you wish Young Master."