Five days, ten hours, thirteen minutes, and twenty-five seconds. That’s how long it took to prepare for this mission. It was the last piece, the final blow that could end the war with Calcia, but why didn’t he show up as usual? 

Jacques peered through his magic launcher, but didn’t see his target. In frustration, he flexed his lean body, adjusted his black, gold trimmed vest, then sat down on the oak shingled roof. Then he proceeded to check the cobblestoned surroundings, making sure that he was in the clear. As he did, his dull red eyes swept past a toy store, and inside its window was a doll of a cat. Its fur was all black, with the exception of its white paws and chest, and it had a red bow tied to its neck. Jacq tried to ignore the sight and went back to his perch, but his trauma wouldn’t leave him alone. 

*************************************************************************************************

“Here you go Ms. Scaredy cat.” 

Jacq handed the little girl a worn black and white cat doll. 

“This is Terr, he’ll be your little Terror and scare away all the bad dreams.” 

Jacq patted the little girl’s head and slowly walked out the dark bedroom, careful to not step on any toys. He went out the door, closing it behind him, but left a slight crack so a faint light could pass in. He turned into the wooden hallway and headed down the dimly lit stairwell. As he got to the bottom, he looked to his right. Joshuah motioned for him to join him at the rounded dining table, where a bottle and glasses were already set alongside a platter of cheese. A glow was cast by the techtalium lamp above, which softly lit the area. Jacq pulled out a wooden chair and sat down. 

“You didn’t have to do this.” 

Jacq motioned at the expensive wine and cheese set at the table. Their red eyes met and Josh ran his hand through his golden hair. 

“No, it’s the least I can do if it’s what I think it is.”

“Well… Not exactly, but yeah, I don’t mind as long as Cassie likes it. She seemed to gravitate towards it when she saw it at my place.” 

“Well, she does have an eye for objects with significance- Just the last day, she asked if she could have a pin from my collection. You know, the one you gave me.”

“Yeah, I remember. Maybe it’s her path manifesting?” 

“Who knows, we’ll find out in a few years anyway.” 

They paused to uncork the wine and eat some of the cheese. Suddenly, Josh had an excited realization. 

“You’re one hell of an actor Jacq.”

“Hmm?” 

“I just realized, you played me that first night in the barracks didn’t you? You know, with your fake tears and all. You were trying to hide that cat doll that night!” 

Jacq almost spit out the wine and looked at Josh, his instincts kicked in, leaving his face blank. However, Josh knew him all too well, and he soon had his signature grin plastered on his face. 

“Jacq, don’t look at me with that face. I don’t hold it against you or anything. I’m just saying: If you ever quit the intelligence branch, you can be a street performer.” 

Jacq kept looking at Josh with a serious face, trying to come up with a response. 

“Really?”

“Yes really. That’s why you’re such a good spy, if you leave aside your path skill.” 

“Ok then, Mr. Head of the patrol division.” 

Jacq broke into a smile and they both chuckled quietly to avoid waking Cassie up. 

“Yeah, yeah. You’re right. Maybe we should both be street performers once we quit.” 

“Agreed, you should see yourself giving speeches. You’re like a different person up there, and Cassie was questioning if you were really her uncle. You had such a serious look, it reminds me of myself sometimes.” 

“Well, I learn from the best.” 

Josh gave Jacq a wink and took another sip of the wine. However, Jacq was still stuck on that line. Something about it stirred up a hidden emotion, but he ignored it and they continued to talk throughout the night.

***********************************************************************

After being awoken by Cassie, the three of them had decided to go shop for Cassie’s school supplies and explored the cobblestoned streets until they found a proper place. It was a store dedicated to academic supplies and its marble interior was filled with uniforms, pens, books, and anything you might need when learning at the Consortium de Guiles.

“Hey Jacq, thanks for coming along. I know you stayed up with me last night, but Cassie’s taken quite a liking to you, so it helps a lot.”  

“Anytime. Here Cass, look at that over there.”

Jacq pointed to a row of pens powered by a bit of techtalium and Cass ran over to it in excitement. After some thought, Josh turned suspiciously towards Jacq.

“I just wish she would call me dad though. Why am I still Uncle Joss to her?” 

Josh’s eyes held a desperate glow. 

“At least you’re an Uncle. Be glad that she doesn’t just ignore you after all that’s happened to her.” 

“Yeah, I know, but why do I have to be on the same level as you ‘Uncle Jacq’.”

Jacq looked away and raised his hands as Josh grabbed his collar, slightly shaking it. 

“I can’t help that. She’s just that way I guess.”

“But with the way she’s treating you, you're gonna be dad and I'll stay uncle. I’m gonna cry Jacq” 

Josh began to shake Jacq even more, as the oblivious Cassie was fascinated by the multitude of pens with shiny blue gems in them. 

“Hey, hey, careful… Jeez, and you say I’m the actor. You can’t replace your brother you know, it’ll be up to her.” 

“I know, I read so many books about it when I first got the news, but I’m just jealous. Where’s my love and affection, I have a heart too you know ....” 

Touched by Josh’s dramatics, Jacq gave him a smirk. 

“Well, guess you gotta learn from the best.” 

Josh paused for a second, and with nothing else to counter with, he started to pout. He mumbled something along the lines of “Freaking spy” as they started to walk over to Cass. 

“So which one do you like, Cass?” 

Cass was surprised and jumped a little, her simple dress fluttering as she did, and turned. Terr dangled in her arms, and pointed at a midnight blue pen with a small finger. 

“That one!” 

“Ok!”

Jacq gave his brightest smile to Cass as they walked further into the store. Though, in the back of his mind, he wondered how lucky he was to be here, to have met Josh, and something more stirred inside of him. 

**********************************************************************************

That night, as they got back to Josh’s house, they two guys closed the door and slowly sank to the ground. Jacq ran his hand through his black hair and Josh managed to rest enough to talk.

“Never again…. No, only once a year” 

“I agree, only once a year at the most.” 

Cassie was running around the dining room, excited about all the things she got from the store. She tried on her new uniform, a formal dress and skirt, then took out the numerous pens and trinkets, scattering them around the large living room and onto the wooden floor. 

“Cassandra!” 

Josh’s voice grew stern and he got up to chastise his niece. 

“You can’t make a mess like this, ok?”

Cassie looked down at the messy floor, her golden hair blocking her face, and apologized with her whole heart. Josh couldn’t take it anymore and just stooped down to hug her.

“I’m sorry too. Sorry for yelling, Cass.” 

Seeing the mood that was created, Jacq walked over in hopes to lighten it up and cracked a joke as he hugged the two of them. 

“Come here Mr. and Ms. Softie. It’s been a long day, how about we clean this up and have a meal?”

As he got back up, Josh glared at him with a “Says you” look and feigned a humph as he picked up Cassie and brought her through the swinging door and into the kitchen.

****************************************************************************************************

After having a meal, the three of them sat at the dining table. Cassie was thinking of something and finally spoke up. 

“Uncle Jacq, why is the plate so clean?” 

Josh quickly interjected so Jacq didn’t have to speak about his past. 

“Well, Uncle Jacq didn’t have too much food when he was your age, and he didn’t have any parents at that time.” 

“Did the bad men get them like mom and dad?” 

Seeing the sad look on Cassie’s face, Jacq interrupted the two and gave a little nod to Josh. 

“I don’t know Cass, maybe they did, but I'm used to how hard it is without mom and dad, so it’s ok.” 

Jacq patted the girl on her head and got up to put the dishes into the washer. As he did, Josh thanked him again and led Cassie up the stairs for a quick bath and bedtime. Tomorrow would be a busy day after all. 

As Josh came back down the stairs, Jacq was sitting in the living room, reading a book. 

“Its nice that the council gives us a break for the festival.” 

Jacq closed the book and leaned back. 

“Yeah, it is, but unlike you, they can call me anytime.” 

He took out a techtalium device from the interfolds of his gilded vest, and Josh slumped down into a chair next to Jacq, then started rambling. 

“I wish this wouldn’t end.” 

“Too bad you’re not in field ops. We only get called in for missions.”

Josh let out a long sigh. 

“Don’t remind me, well, at least you help take care of Cass for me. There’s no one I would trust more. Seems like you can do anything.” 

Jacq was at a lack of words. ‘What are you talking about, that’s you’ was what he thought. His mind went back to lonelier days, but he could still feel a fiery passion rising. To hide it, he opened up the book again and breathed in deeply. 

“So where should we go tomorrow.” 

Jacq looked up from the book and Josh was staring at him intently. 

“Well, if it’s a festival, it’s not a bad place to just set up on the field. I’ll bring some blankets with us tomorrow.” 

Josh looked at him with a mischievous grin, and mimicked Jacq.

“Ohh, Mr. Strong man.” 

“Well, you’re carrying you own, I’m only carrying Cass’ then.” 

Josh suddenly got up and pointed at Jacq.

“Hey! Wait a sec. As Head of the patrol division, I order you to carry it for me.” 

“You know the intel division doesn’t have ranks for a reason right?” 

Jacq shifted his position and rested a head on his hand. 

“Yeah yeah, logic and all that. Something about high risk and policing.” 

“You really need to pay more attention Mr. Head.” 

Josh let out a longer sigh. His bright red eyes gleamed with recollected memories. 

“I had enough of all that. Formality isn’t really my thing anymore. I’m all burnt out,  but I’ll do it if I have to.” 

“I know. I had to listen to your relentless complaining about your family, remember?”

“Yeah, thanks, I’m guessing you know who did it then?” 

Jacq formed a confused look on his face. 

“Did what?” 

“You know, Cassie’s “bad men”. She hasn’t talked too much about it to me.”

A dangerous air immediately surrounded Jacq. He remembered the sight of a ruined mansion, shattered glass, burnt walls and didn’t want to expose Josh to the more gruesome elements of his missions. Sensing this, Josh withdrew. 

“Sorry, I know you don’t like to talk about the missions, I was just wondering.” 

Jacq realized that he accidentally went into a brooding mood and tried to quickly change it. 

“No no, it’s fine. Since your clearance level is high enough, Mr. Head, I can tell you.

He gave a quick smile and continued.

“You won’t be surprised though: it was the Aggregates. We’ve been keeping an eye out for them, but they launched a campaign they called “The Summation” against the Remnants. It was out of our reach at the time, so there was a lot of damage.” 

Josh began to grow somber. Thinking about the ways that Cassie could’ve escaped the summation. 

“And my brother?” 

“He got caught up in it and it's presumed that he was falsely accused of being a Remnant. It’s better if you didn’t know the rest. Leave that stuff up to me.” 

Josh’s eyes began to tear up. Jacq seemed worried and reached out to Josh, but was stopped.

“Don’t..... you know, it feels freeing in a way. They were a piece of trash family to me, so I’m glad Cassie is out of that.” 

“Yeah”

Jacq half agreed to the statement, mostly to help appease Josh. However, something about Josh’s helplessness seemed to open more of him. It was different to Jacq, and his love for Josh grew. 

****************************************************************

That morning, however, Jacq woke up to find Josh in the kitchen, drinking some tea. He had red rims around his eyes, so Jacq became worried. 

“You ok” 

“Yeah”

“You sure?” 

“Yes you worrywort, let's just enjoy the festival today. It’s Cass’ first time.” 

Jacq turned away sheepishly. 

“Well, it’s mine too.”

Josh looked back in surprise and he seemed back to his usual self.

“You haven’t! Well then we definitely have to have as much fun as we can!”

And that’s how Jacq’s day had been. Later that night, they walked through the crowd of festival goers and found a spot on the open field. 

“Ahhh, that was fun. Time to watch the show.” 

Cassie ran out then jumped back onto the blanket. 

“It’s Fun! Uncle Jacq. Come back next festival. Promise!” 

Josh looked at Jacq with envious eyes, and Jacq gave him a sheepish smile. 

“I promise.” 

*Boom, *Booom, *Crackle 

The festival of light and shadows had finally started. The sky lit up with bright fireworks powered by the mage corp. 

“So beautiful, you know”

Even though Josh had said that, Jacq wasn’t looking up, but at Josh. 

“You know, Cassie, life’s a firework.” 

He pointed to the sky. 

“Look at how it’s so short, but so bright. Feel it’s influence on-.” 

*Bang! *Bang! *Bang!

**************************************************************************************

It finally started. Jacq’s mind began to drift back into reality. He readied his skill and sent magic into the techtalium around the stock of his launcher. In his head, his voice rang out. 

[Path skill: Mind over Matter activated]

He lay on his stomach,  took aim at the panic in the streets, and honed in on his target. He was sure this was him: the man had a fancy white and silver suit with the emblem of the aggregates on it. It was silver suit all right. However, before shooting, he took a deep breath, exhaled it, then steadied his heart. 

“Josh…. Cass…. this is for you...” 

He pulled the trigger and a silent fwoosh sent the ball of brown magic towards the man next to silver suit.