52 The Return to Normalcy
1754 Words
It was now the final night that everyone would be spending on the island before their eventual trip back to New York City. It was truly a bittersweet experience. For the last time, they all hit the beach and enjoyed the sun for the last time. They all went up the rock face and rappelled down one more time. They all took a swim on the beach. They all took advantage of eating as much as they could from the assortment of foods that Jules’ father had so graciously prepared for them. And finally, they all went out to enjoy lighting some small fireworks on the beach. They glowed for short moments when they were lit. Some shot into the air, probably 20 to 30 feet above them. And some just sparkled. However, it was all the same, as they all stopped firing and eventually fizzled out. It was the same for their night here on the island.
Max and Jules finally returned to their room after helping the others clean up the mess from the fireworks. Jules sat on the bed waiting for Max to finish washing his hands of all the soot that they had both accumulated from playing with all of those fireworks. Eventually, Max sat down next to Jules and rested her head on his shoulder. She snuggled against him as she hooked her arms around his arm, and closed her eyes.
“Ready to go back home?” Max asked as he kissed her on the forehead.
“I’m honestly not sure, Max,” she replied.
It was completely understandable. There have been two attempts at her life, and the second one cost her the safety of a friend. Anyone would be completely petrified, Max thought.
“That’s total, ok.”
“Is it really?” she asked, her eyes still closed, and her cheek still pressed against his shoulder.
Max nodded.
“Of course it is. Anyone would be afraid. Everyone would be shitting themselves if they had to come back to a place where they weren’t safe.”
She giggled.
“Was that supposed to make me feel better?” she said jokingly.
Max chuckled and wrapped both his arms around her.
“It was worth a shot, wasn’t it?” he said with a smile.
Lina tried to return his smile but was still worried about what fate would become of her when she returned. Would the Wolfpack try to capture her again? What if they had lost their patience and just wanted her dead? Would they just go for a drive-by? She couldn’t help but show worry on her face as these thoughts continued to hound her without any mercy. This didn’t slip by Max though, who clearly saw her distress.
“Hey, Jules?” he asked.
“Yeah?”
“What would make you feel better?”
“I… I’m not sure,” she replied.
“Well, you gotta tell me something. Because I can’t help you if you don’t tell me,” he said matter of factly.
She thought to herself for a moment, before pulling away from Max. She then turned toward him so that they could talk better. Face to face.
“I think that I wanna be able to take care of myself, somehow. Just so that no one has to step in the line of fire for me anymore. I want to be able to defend myself,” she said.
She didn’t look sure, but she knew that this was the best way forward for her to find her own answers. Max looked at her and smiled in relief.
“In that case. Help isn’t exactly a long way away is it?”
She looked at him and nodded.
“Mhmm. I’ll ask Evan about it tomorrow. I’m sure that he could teach me how to defend myself. At least if I do get kidnapped, I get to defend myself on my own terms,” she said.
Max gently lay his hand on her face.
“We won’t let that happen. Just because you’ll learn how to defend yourself doesn’t mean that any of us will stop defending you,” Max said, staring deep into her eyes.
She met his gaze.
“Even you?”
He kissed her on the forehead.
“Especially me.”
She pressed her lips against his for a moment, and pulled away quickly after.
“I like that,” she said with a teary eyed smile.
With that, the two went to bed and rested for the last time on the island that brought them so much laughter and fun. And so did the rest of the group of XMC. Before long, they were packing again for home.
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It was another brutal 18-hour flight coming home to New York City. The group spent the day after just recuperating from the jetlag. But before long, the group gathered again to have dinner so that they could plan out their return to normalcy, and how they could back the progress that they were making initially. It was at the normal restaurant that they met up so that they could get the official return meeting in order.
“Jules, how many pending clients do we have?” Max asked as he munched on some spicy chicken wings.
“Well, as of the moment, we have a few coming from companies under my dad’s own company. They are about three. We also have to update the software of both that of the school as well as Thompson Motors. So that’s five pending transactions,” she replied. “That’d mean that we need Charlie back on board for the updates.”
“What about that list of updates, Charlie?” Max replied.
“Right. Well as of the moment, I fixed a good two-thirds of the bugs that came with the first model of our AI. That being said, the last third should come along within a week. As for the reports, our program hasn’t been breached by any outside parties. So minimal changes should suffice for the meantime.”
“Good. Trae, I think it’s about time we start working on a new project,” Max said, directing his attention to Trae.
“Aight. I’ve been doing a lot of research. And apparently sales of personal computers are skyrocketing, especially at the end of this year. I think it’s about time we think of an antivirus program just so that they can match the surge in computer sales. On top of that, with the recommendations from some of the biggest companies in the States, our product should have a strong shot,” he said with confidence.
“Surely that’d be a big project. Lina, you think you can pull off the design of that?”
“Of course! I think something a little bit more user friendly is necessary since we are talking about homeowners with private computers. I think I can do something about that,” she said.
“Alright, so we have a plan. Starting tomorrow, we get our company going again!” Max said as he raised his glass.
The rest of the group clanged their glasses with him as they downed their drinks. They just got back to regular chatting and banter, when suddenly, both Max and Trae’s phone rang. They both excused themselves in order to answer their calls, leaving the other three to enjoy talking together.
Outside, they opened their phones and immediately looked at each other. It was the same caller ID. 3D. They heard the voice of the detective as he started to speak.
“How was the vacation, boys?”
“It was ok,” Trae replied. “More food than anyone could have in a lifetime.”
“Oh! That’s good, that’s good.”
“I think we know you well enough to know that you’re not here for small talk, 3D,” Max said in a playful manner.
“Oh! You got me kid. Right. Anyway, I gave you your time off. But now is where we get serious.”
“Serious?” Trae asked.
“Yup! I’m gonna put you boys to work, especially after you ditched me on short notice.”
“I guess we had that coming, huh?” Max chuckled.
“Yes, you did indeed! But that’s actually not the full reason why I called.”
“Really? I was sure it was because you missed us,” Trae said jokingly.
“Ahaha! Of course, I would miss some of my best operatives! But no no, that’s not it.”
“What is it then?” Max asked.
“Well… We actually have some news about the Wolfpack. Big News.”
Suddenly, the boys went silent and looked at each other. Max took a big gulp from the nerves. Trae started to work up a sweat. Up until this moment, the Wolfpack was the group responsible for causing this entire group the most collective distress. Especially after the incident with Lina. Max brought his lips closes to the receiver so that 3D could hear him whisper.
“What news?”
3D went silent for a moment. The anticipation was eating the boys alive as every second made them even more nervous.
“We think we have an identity on the person that tortured Lina,”
Immediately, Max’s blood started to boil. And so did Trae’s. It was this man that inflicted unthinkable pain onto their precious coworker. And now, it was finally time for them to unveil who was behind that mask. Max grew impatient and probed the detective.
“So who is it?” Max asked.
“Yeah, we gotta know,” Trae added.
“Hold your horse's, boys. Some things just aren’t safe to talk about. Especially on the phone. You never know who can hear us.”
“Then where do we see you?” Max asked.
“You can both meet with me in the precinct. Make sure none of your friends know where you’re going. We wanna make sure that no more civilians get involved. Understood?”
The two nodded at each other.
“Yeah, we get it,” Trae said into the receiver.
“Same here,” added Max.
“Good boys. We will surely bring these people to justice if it’s the last thing that we do.”
With quick goodbyes, the two dropped their calls. Max let out a sigh before turning to Trae.
“I think that after everything, I won’t be able to sleep until the members of the Wolfpack are behind bars,” Max said.
“I’m with you there man. These guys… They’re not good guys. Let’s make sure we get it done,” Trae replied as he reached his fist over to Max.
With a light bump, the two walked back into the restaurant and prepared themselves for the most intensive research session that they would be subjected to, as well as some of the biggest news in relation to their search for revenge.
- Writer
