The Eden Projects (EDITING)

Chapter 44 // Pt. 2

- Ace - 

"Take his legs-" Ace motioned to Kasper. "Look at that you can listen."

Kasper only glared with his tired, amber eyes.

Together they slid Zak from his resting spot. Ace's mind was elsewhere. He had been seen and shot at within shouting distance of the group. Fog said nothing, but was clearly in a state of disbelief. The implications weren't good. He could think of nothing to explain away his closeness. He would have to meet with Maliver again and head it all off.

The group had already settled into their new homes by the time they had arrived. Toph and Rook stood at the top of the centermost guard tower. 

"That happened fast." Toph jumped, landing nearby before shoving Kasper away to more adequately help him move Zak.

"Where are you going?" Ace saw Kasper linger, looking back towards the entrance.

"I have to find them."

"No, you need to stay here." Rook to his position so he could follow after the fleeing Kasper. "If I have to make sure you stay here myself then I will."

"Zak's in good hands, I have to go for Zero, I have to get him back."

Ace scoffed. "Get him back?" He questioned. Seeing the determination Kasper held. "You don't even know if he wants to be with you. Besides that, you can barely walk."

Kasper didn't say a thing. He was going, whether he liked it or not.

Ace sighed. "Look. I understand alright? But you can't do this right now. Fog and I will go find him. You need to be here. With your group." He took a step forward. "With Zak."

"It has to be me. I have to fix this." A complex mottling of sadness, anger, fear, and despair cloaked Kasper where he stood. "It has to be me or he won't listen."

"Kasper you are being selfish." Ace shook his head. "I'm going to level with you here. You aren't stable."

Kasper blinked. "I'm fine."

"No you're not. Look at you. You're shaking, you need to rest." Ace reached for him. He knew a break when he saw one. "You need to stay in reality. Let us help you."

"No." He looked at the ground. His normally clenched hands were limp at his sides. "I don't need your help." Kasper looked up. His eyes were glassy and his complexion was paler than it ever had been. He was more ghost than person now. "You've done enough."

"I'm not asking you. I'm telling you."

Kasper closed the space between them, the entirety of him tensing. He looked down into Ace and his lip quivered. For a moment, it seemed he was mustering a way to argue. 

"I'm not trying to help you. I want to help Zero, I misspoke." Ace tried. Re-arranging the way his words formed. "I'm not offering to do you a favor." 

Kasper let out a breath, and pushed past, heading in the direction Zak had been taken.

Ace let out a huff before rubbing his forehead. "God."

"This is bad." Fog muttered joining him where he stood. 

The two watched Kasper slink away.

"No really." He crossed his arms. "I was wrong in thinking I could control him. If Zak doesn't pan out we are up shits creek with our mouth's wide open."

"How did the mission? Did he shift? Or was the base is in better shape than you thought."

"You weren't there to see it, it's like it exploded out of him. In all my days I have never seen something like that. I'd give him a couple more months until this all ends. I can't watch someone else go through what my father did. I just can't."

"You've come this far with him. If he slips, what makes you think he won't get back up."

Ace sighed, and the door Kasper disappeared through slammed. "No one gets back up this many times without repercussions. I'm beginning to think my debt has been adequately paid. I'm thinking about cutting ties with it all."

"What about Maliver?"

Ace stretched. "Well... I have some explaining to do."