The Eden Projects (EDITING)

Chapter 50. Movement.

- Ace -

Ace exited the housing building in a flurry of feathers and anger. Jack stood waiting, zipping up his jacket. He would run the tracker around all night if he had to. They both knew a storm was coming. "What were you thinking taking Kasper there?" Ace kept his voice low. "If things went south... you could have died or worse. Kasper could have lost it. Again."

"I can handle him."

"No no no- you could handle him months ago. I could handle him then. Not as he stands. I couldn't even stop him if I wanted to. The only one who can stop Kasper is himself or a damn bullet to the head and even then we don't know." Ace glared. "You can't just go off half cocked on secret missions. Not like this. Not with him. You betrayed my trust, and you put us all in danger. Do you know that? They will come for Zero."

"Kasper is right. Do you think I would have brought him there if he wasn't? This had to happen. We need to start moving. Ark can't be allowed to have the upper hand and if Kasper is the way to make sure that doesn't happen then I'll side with him and use him as a battering ram."

Ace balled his fists. "That could be exactly what they want. Bring him to them, make it easy. You don't understand what's at risk here-"

"I DO. If Ark is even one step ahead it's over. I am not going to have our people die for him but I won't have them sitting in wait like fish in a barrel either." Jack bit back. "Waiting for a surprise attack isn't keeping anyone safe, it's delaying the inevitable. They're after him, not us, you said so yourself. They want him and if bringing him there ensures the group is safe I'll gladly lead him there."

"Im not waiting for them to-" Ace looked around at the confused onlookers, they were drawing attention. "Come with me." Ace grabbed Jack by the arm and walked him through the main gate, down the long road, and out into the trees. He didn't stop until their view of the camp was impaired by the distance and natural obstacles. There he let him go.

The two listened to the earthy sounds the woods made. Trees breathing, birds chirping tirelessly and when they were sure they were alone. Ace planted his hands on his hips and whipped around with gratuitous dramatas. "Something is going on with him, I've caught him talking to shadows more than a few times now and he's making wild decisions. Hunting mid-day, disregarding the sun..." He rubbed his face. "He's lost his routine. Zak can't control him anymore than we can. We're losing our grip on Kasper. Sending him anywhere alone with someone other than Zak or myself is a bad plan.." He looked back in the direction of the camp. "I don't know how much of him is still there or how much of him is jaded by the strain."

Jack muttered, seemingly bothered by Ace's assumption. "Things are getting out of hand. He's only complicated things and put us in danger. Why not send them away."

"It wouldn't matter. Ark will take out anyone who is close to Kasper just to prove their silly little point."

Jack pinched his brow. "Ace, listen. Really early on in development, we saw things like this. He's exhibiting attributes I've seen before."

Ace mentally switched gears and nodded before settling in on a stump worthy of holding him up. "From what you know about the strain, tell me why you felt safe enough to go somewhere alone with him. Do you think this is purely a mental thing or something else?"

Jack kicked at the melted snow. "We tested things. Looking for holes in the strain and one of the biggest things we had to combat was the chaotic nature of the mind and its effects on the body. This wasn't easily resolved." He lowered and sat on a fallen tree. "I think he's just struggling to keep up. Like his mind and body are rejecting each other. The whole Zero thing just pushed him over the edge."