Author's Note:Hey readers 👋 This chapter dives into Jake's quiet morning encounter with Elena... and ends with him running from turret fire with a cat in his arms 😼Oh—and Mad Max enters the chat. You're not ready. Let's go!
Morning Jog, Familiar Eyes
The Academy's upper district still slept when Jake broke into a sprint across the northern courtyard. His eyes were sharp, his hoodie pulled back, and Slim's holographic feed pulsed faintly beside him.
He didn't expect anyone to see him.
"Jake?"
He turned.
Elena stood near the garden path, arms folded, robe loose around her shoulders. "You run early."
Jake slowed. "I don't sleep much."
They walked in silence for a beat.
Then Elena's tone softened. "What have you been doing... since we last met?"
Jake hesitated. "Keeping low. Working part-time."
"Doing what?"
He looked away. "Just jobs. Patrols. Courier routes. Enough to survive."
"You have no family?"
"Mrs. Tyla passed last year. She was the last real one I had. Laz... doesn't count anymore."
Elena was quiet.
"Then do something smarter," she offered. "Drive me to school. I'll pay 15,000 dillira a week."
Jake blinked. "Why?"
"Because I hate being driven by strangers," she said simply. "And you need money."
He sighed.
"…Fine."
6:00 AM – The Garage
Jake arrived first—already behind the wheel of the hover-car he had tuned earlier that night. White exterior, quiet engine, nothing flashy.
Elena slipped into the back seat with barely a word.
They didn't talk the entire drive.
The Encounter
The garage near Building 9 was already active with students and attendants.
As Jake parked, two figures leaned on a wall nearby—Kai and Yulo Hollande. Elena's brothers.
Kai raised a brow. "Elena… who's this guy? The discount chauffeur?"
Elena shot him a glare. "You can walk next time if you've got time to run your mouth."
The boys snickered and walked off.
Jake didn't react.
He rarely did.
Department Hours
By mid-morning, Jake and Elena had disappeared into their individual programs. Jake handled his AI security module evaluations with clinical precision. Elena immersed herself in her first live bio-med sim.
When Jake returned to wait for her at the exit, he leaned against the pillar like a statue.
She emerged.
But before she could speak—
⚽ Announcement:"The Inter-Level Football Tournament begins tomorrow! Department heads, register your teams before midnight!"
Elena turned, curious. "You playing?"
"No."
From nowhere, Mary's hologram flickered above Jake's shoulder. "Oh, come on. Just once?"
Jake smirked.
A real smile.
Elena caught it.
"You smiled."
"Did not."
That Evening – Steps and Surprises
Jake's hover-bike purred as it pulled up at the dorm building just after sunset. He wore a black jacket, face unreadable.
Elena sat on the stone steps, arms resting on her knees.
"You're late."
He shrugged. "Long shift."
They stood together for a second before she asked, "Why are you really here, Jake?"
He paused.
Then simply walked past her.
She followed... and blinked in surprise.
His room was on the same floor as hers.
Same block.
One door down.
She smiled quietly to herself.
Jake's POV – A Midnight Job
That night, the screen glowed blue as Jake accepted his latest contract.
"Target: President's personal vault. Location: Government Core, Erold. Objective: Drain safe. Exit unseen. Reward: 12.5M dillira."
He suited up. Slim optimized the path.
No alarms.
No guards.
He made it in.
The vault opened with a hiss.
He was nearly done when—
Mew.
A small black cat walked in. Stepped onto a pressure plate.
Jake froze.
Red lights blared.
Turrets dropped.
He grabbed the cat and sprinted.
Blades fired behind him. Sirens screamed.
Then the air cracked—
And a 9-foot cybernetic hunter drone landed in front of him.
MAD MAX.
Government assassin unit.
Jake held the cat tighter, stepping back slowly.
"…Didn't think you'd be on shift tonight."
Author's Note (End):If you liked this chapter, hit that ⭐ Favorite and leave a comment!What's your take on Mad Max vs Jake?Also—yes, Jake saved the cat. Jake always saves the cat.