Fortnite's Revenge and Rebirth: Book 2

Chapter 4

After the announcement, training commenced immediately, with veterans pairing up with newcomers to offer guidance and support. As Kevin walked around taking notes, he focused on assembling the best team for the rescue mission. He spotted Jessie, who was the same age as him, her long red wavy hair catching the light. He remembered her as the top of their class—an exceptional hacker. Kevin felt a flutter of nerves; he even had a bit of a crush on her. He approached her with determination.

"Hey, Jessie, you're still good at hacking, right? My sister and I would love for you to join us on the rescue mission," he asked.

Her face lit up with a kind smile. "Count me in. I can get us into the location," she replied eagerly.

After securing Jessie's commitment, Kevin also recruited Brian, an original bus driver who had experience navigating the city. Together with Alexandra, they prepared to head out, leaving the others to continue training in their absence.

They silently navigated through the remnants of the city, finally reaching the head of operations. Jessie wasted no time, immediately getting to work on disabling the security system, while Kevin opened the vents, following the map closely. After what felt like a long journey, they arrived at an eerie door. Jessie quickly bypassed the keypad, unlocking it with skill. As Kevin and Alexandra stepped inside, they were unprepared for the sight that awaited them.

On two tables lay their parents, intravenous lines running through their arms and legs, and one even connecting to their hearts. Their gazes followed the lines to a computer that fed into a power bank embedded in the wall. Kevin's heart raced as he inspected the setup and called Jessie over. She worked diligently, finally locating the shutdown command. With a nod of confirmation from Kevin, she deactivated the system, and the tubes began to detach.

Next to each table was a lock, and Alexandra quickly pulled out her key while Kevin followed suit. They unlocked their parents from the machines that had held them captive for far too long. As Brian rushed in and carefully lifted William, Kevin felt a rush of emotion as he picked up Jen, his mother. He never imagined he would be carrying her, especially considering how young she looked, but he knew he had to get her to safety.

They managed to sneak back into the base, bringing Jen and William to the medbay where the medics worked diligently to repair their wounds and administer IV bags. With the first part of the plan complete, Kevin felt a weight lift off his shoulders. Without his parents, the robots couldn't multiply, and their AI would shut down. Later, as he sat in the dining hall next to Jessie, they began to bond over shared stories and laughter. When nighttime fell, Kevin returned to his room, relief flooding through him that his parents were back and alive.

The next morning, Kevin awoke with a start, realizing he was late. He jumped out of bed and rushed to the mess hall. Upon entering, he was met with the sight of two familiar faces at the leadership table—his parents were awake. Overcome with emotion, he dashed over and enveloped them in a tight hug.

"Kevin, we are so proud of you. You stepped up and managed to rescue us," William said, his voice warm and filled with admiration. Kevin felt tears well up in his eyes at his father's words. Jen nodded in agreement; her expression fierce. "I knew you understood what those keys were for. We were told we were a life source for robots? And Tyson's betrayal? That's terrible!" she finished with a growl of frustration. William gently rubbed her thigh, placing his hand over her clenched one, and slowly, her tension eased. Kevin took note of how William treated Jen; it was a reminder of how he wanted to treat his future partner.

Taking a seat next to William, Jen looked at her children with pride. "I'm proud of both you and your sister. We would love to help out, and we'll take your lead. You are a born leader, Kevin." Her words struck a chord within him, but he felt a deep well of uncertainty rising to the surface.

"I'm not sure I'm fit to run this," he confessed, breaking slightly as tears threatened to spill. "I mean, I'm the son of the crazed man who started this whole thing. Why do you think I'm the best person for this? Alexandra is too young, and you, Mom, are the real true leader."

To his surprise, William spoke in a sympathetic, warm tone. "Kevin, you may not be biologically ours, but you are an Afton, and we are proud to have you. Your mom chose you. We raised you as our own—blood doesn't matter. People have been telling us how well you took charge and planned our rescue. Don't ever doubt yourself, okay?" William's soothing words washed over Kevin like a balm, quieting his inner turmoil and filling him with renewed determination.