The Earth After Rebirth

"Do you think they'll agree?" Hiro pondered out loud.

"I don't see what other choice they have."

"Imagine if they found out about that."

"They won't..." He trailed off, "that makes me think, if that piece of information didn't get to Blakeson only means the traitor is between two people."

"Aeron and Viktor." Hiro said flatly.

Kiro nodded bitterly. It couldn't have been anything else that made one of them betray their group, it was money. One of them definitely sold the information to the Blakesons.

While he understood, he was utterly pissed off. They knew the whole story, they knew how the Blakesons were but still chose them of all people to sell the information.

"Probably for the best, maybe coming from someone else for a change it won't seem like I'm some master puppeteer."

Everything was revolving too much around him, while he could tell his family about travelling to the past, he didn't think the world deserved to know that.

If he could help it, he wanted to seem like a normal civilian, finding this out for the first time as everyone did. If he knew Blakeson well, he would try to spin this to his advantage. Make it seem like he was the chosen one.

"Who do you think it is between the two?" Hiro prodded.

"That idiot Viktor."

"Really? I'd have banked on Aeron. He's new and hasn't created that kind of a bond with us."

"I can't fault him either." Kiro continued ignoring Hiro. He poured himself a glass of cold juice. "He has a family you know, what would you do for yours? He has a daughter he needs to provide for."

Hiro almost grabbed the glass of juice and poured it down his back but he held himself back. "Are you seriously just gonna let him go?"

"Depends. Whether or not he told the Blakeson every detail." He shrugged. "If he told them about my involvement, he'll regret ever meeting me."

It was fine to him as long as he didn't mention anything about going back to the past. That was his story, not the worlds. They only needed to know the danger in which the world was in.

He smirked, thinking about Blakeson finding out that a Blakeson was responsible for almost ending humanity. It was a bittersweet thought, as he remembered that his own ancestor was part of the betrayal.

It hadn't even been ten minutes and they were called back in. The expressions the parents made were not pretty and welcoming. Making the two the more nervous.

Kiro knew those expressions — they were protective. He'd seen his face like that once too. He wished then that they didn't divulge the fact that the dangers of these things was still unknown.

'Could've totally said we were safe in the game, I'm real dumb sometimes.'

Sekani cleared his throat, "you can quit but there's a condition." He paused looking at both of them.

At that moment, they couldn't even breathe. Like criminals waiting, apprehensively to be judged.

"You'll both stay with us, you won't go buying your own houses. We want to know immediately if something happens. Good thing these pods can detect vitals..." His lips quivered into a little smile.

"Yeah, it's like you knew..." Kiro looked at his father funny.

"No, I didn't." He quickly dismissed his son's accusatory looks.

Even though he didn't show it, he was relieved that they were allowing him to do this. Not that he was asking for their permission, but their blessing meant more to him than they'll ever know.

"I'll call your Dean shortly and have your belongings brought here, you both have no need to go back."

They left their parents in high spirits. They called their friends to let them know of their decision to do this. Everyone else was unsure of what to do, until the dean himself told them to leave.

He cared little about the game and more about their little mission to find area 51 and he didn't think having school would do their mission any justice. But as an authoritative figure he couldn't very well suggest that to students.

But when they all on their own, decided to pull out from school. He didn't say no, he didn't even think about it.

"The adults sure are acting weird. Especially my dad."

"Yeah, I thought he'd fight me for sure."

Kiro knew why Jesús and Mahindra decided that Eden Academy was no longer safe. He knew but he couldn't tell them, they only needed to worry about the world ending events.

"Those pods are great, have you tried them?" Saanvi asked.

Kiro hadn't had the chance, with the newborns in the house, everyone had their chores to do. It had been a couple of days since they quit and this caused for them to hangout more.

Even though Kiro initially wanted Loki to start Asgard, he decided against it all on his own. The consequences were too dire, he didn't need to unnecessarily put his kid brother at risk.

"I'll go back to Asgard tonight, for the first time in a long while. We've been busy with this and that, choosing winners for the potion competition you know."

They were walking to Hiro's mall as they conversed.

There was resistance when a new owner appeared, a young one too but they soon succumbed not wanting to take their businesses elsewhere. Since they could overcharge the rich and get away with it.

Hiro let them, it wasn't his business. His business was rent, as long as they paid that, he was fine with almost anything.

But this time the mall was going to be used to announce the winners of the potion. They'd both chosen around ten people, it was very hard on their part. It was also the place they'd announce the tournaments.

Jorge and Lyle were of course amongst the top 10 winners. He trusted Chasing Madness but only a little. With Viktor's betrayal, disappointment could come from anywhere.

They'd yet to confront him but they were sure it was him.

The mall was packed, something they expected, more or less.

With their arrival there was an uproar, people cheering and screaming. It was no doubt a strange experience, usually, only public figures who were really liked enjoyed this kind of a welcome.