I couldn't help but wonder something as we crept across the halls. It was Aria's turn to scout ahead and eliminate any danger that was ahead, so I turned to Neco to ask the question that had been gnawing at me since I had met up with the two of them.

"Hey, Neco?" I started.

"Yeah?" He replied questioningly. 

"What exactly is going on? You never explained. I know Jacob is missing, but what's happening? Why are there so many enemies lurking about?" 

Neco frowned. "To explain that, I need to explain the government secret. The governments of every country are at war with each other. They're all fighting to learn each other's secrets, and claim control over them. But they don't want the public knowing, as that would end ultimately in a mass war, causing everyone casualties. No, the governments would rather do things in the shadows, hiring organizations like us to attack other systems and steal data and carry out special orders. It's been like this for a long time." 

"What? And the public doesn't know? How?" I asked incredulously. 

"Well, it's a secret, and the government knows how to keep secrets," Neco grumbled. 

"But...." I felt this was wrong in so many ways, but I couldn't quite place why it felt so wrong.

"And right now, someone's trying to land an cyber attack on us," Neco continued. "They divided half of their troops to distract us and possibly extract data physically with a USB, while they have hackers at their base trying to break into our systems. They're hoping our hackers will be called to fight, or something will happen to them and our hackers won't be able to fight off the cyber attack." 

"Oh god," I muttered, a bit blown away by our current predicament. 

"Yeah, it's pretty crazy," Neco agreed. 

Aria signaled clear and once again, we headed forward. It was Neco's turn now, and he was about to set off when we heard a loud bang, followed by a groan. Neco's head whipped around, trying to place the sound. It was coming from ahead, where a group of people had congregated by a doorway. 

"Step aside, kid. You've done your job well, but we outnumber you. Step aside if you want to live," A deep voice said. 

"N-no," A voice stuttered hoarsely, as if in pain. "I'm not gonna move an inch! If I die here, then I die. Give me your best shot!" 

"Kid, no," The voice said, a little disturbed. "We don't want to kill you, don't you understand? You're young, a good fighter. I admire you for being able to hold all of us off for so long, but you've reached your limit. So step aside, before we have to do what we have to." 

There was silence, but then, the pained voice spoke again, firm this time. "As I said, no. I won't move an inch!" 

That's when I realized something was wrong. I recognized that voice. The voice filled with determination, and tinge of arrogance. The voice that had spoken to me on the radio when I was trapped in my training room. The voice of Jacob. Aria must've realized it before me, because her face turned pale, her fists were clenched, and her eyes.... her eyes were filled with burning rage. Burning rage, and pain.

"Jacob," Aria whispered raggedly. "You're such a showoff." 

"What should we do?" Neco whispered. Desperation and anger clouded both of their eyes, making them unable to think clearly.

"Aria should sneak into another position and knock a guy out by throwing something like you did with the guy's gun before, because she's better at stealth. Then, while the guys are looking in Aria's direction trying to figure out what happened, you, Neco, should charge in since you have a better chance at taking more of them down. Then Aria and Jacob can join in to finish them off," I said.

They looked at me a bit weirdly, and I blushed. "What?" 

"That... was a good plan, Lucas," Aria said, a little surprised.

"Ah... sorry, I was just—" I said sheepishly. 

"No, you did good, Lucas," Neco said, grinning at me. "Sounds like it'll work." 

"Alright then, let's go," Aria said. 

I watched as they carried out my plan. I didn't know what had come over me, I just found myself analyzing Aria and Neco's strengths and how to use them to their fullest potential. I crouched there as Aria moved, and soon, Neco. What had caused me to do that? I asked myself. Aria and Neco are more experienced. They should've been the ones dishing out the orders, not me. 

Yet, something just clicked when I was going over the situation. Calmly, like I had done it before. I'm fact, I had done it before. I had spent years looking over people's shoulders, putting myself in their situations, analyzing the better route. Seeing what didn't work, and what should've worked. I was doing the same thing now, it was as if I wasn't involved in this life or death situation at all. It was as if I was watching from far away, analyzing the best route to take. 

I took a deep breath and turned my eyes back to the battle. It was going exactly as I had hoped, Aria being the distraction and the surprise attack from Neco. Then came the added reinforcement of Jacob. They really are amazing, I thought as I watched them knock down the intruders one by one. I was certain I could never do that. I could stand back and analyze the situation as long as I wanted, but they were the real stars of the show. I could never be as powerful and strong as they were. Finally, the enemies had been cleared out, and I felt it was safe to step out. 

"You guys!" I heard Jacob say happily. 

He ran over to Aria, tackling her in a hug. She hugged back. Then, Jacob fist bumped Neco, who was grinning. He didn't notice me yet. 

"That was close! I thought I was done for," Jacob huffed. 

"Why didn't you just let them past, you little showoff?" Aria demanded. "The end result would've been the same even if they had killed you!" 

"But it wasn't," Jacob protested. "You guys came." 

"Lay off him, Aria," Neco said, sighing. "What's done is done." 

"I know!" Aria growled. "But still, Jacob you little— do you know what it was like watching you? If it hadn't been for Lucas' quick thinking..." 

"Oh right! Lucas!" Neco said abruptly. I was still standing to the side, watching their reunion with a smile. 

"Uh, yeah?" I asked wearily. 

"That was awesome, dude. We were so panicked seeing Jacob, we couldn't think straight. But you came up with a plan instantly. That was pretty cool," Neco said.

"Oh, uh, thanks," I mumbled.

"Lucas is here? How?" Jacob said, his face breaking into a bigger grin. 

"He got out of the room," Aria explained. 

"Hey, Lucas?" Aria continued. "I think I know you're strength now. You might not be physically capable, but I do know now that doesn't have to be the case. Thanks for helping us back there when we didn't quite know what to do." 

I smiled again. Maybe, I thought, just maybe I don't have to be as powerful and strong as they are.