Zeke just nodded in response.

"...all... all right." he managed to get out.

Some time later, Zeke had composed himself, and was in the waiting area at the hospital where Angela and Liv were. Sharp had left, citing that he needed to get things done at the Unit, but he wasn't going to leave them without someone there. Hence, why Zeke was so important here.

He bit his lip and looked around, anxiously waiting to be told he could see them.

And he wasn't leaving until he DID see them.

'....well, at least she seems to have improved' Zeke thought, sighing internally.

"Uh... hey." he said, fully stepping inside and closing the door behind him.

"You're looking all right, Liv." he commented.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, as he started to make his way closer towards her.

Zeke bit his bottom lip, and sat down in the chair beside the bed she was in.

"...." he was silent, not really knowing what to say, before sighing again.

"Sorry." he apologized.

"I know you were trying to contact me regarding your mother, but my phone didn't work where I was." he told her.

"There are just some places where technology won't work." he muttered.

"And I apologize for being unreachable."

"........" again, Zeke was silent.

He could see that Liv was being strong, but inside, this was tearing her up.

And he couldn't blame her.

He felt the exact same way.

"....your mother's strong." he then said.

"I'm sure she'll make it through this."

"............" again, Zeke was silent.

Liv knew more than he expected her to, which was probably a heavy burden on her alone.

"I see." he said.

"Yeah... I was told about the book and pen as well." he told her.

"And... I wish I knew the answer." he said. "But I don't." he admitted. "Those artefacts are... powerful beyond what most can imagine..." he mumbled.

"But... well... we need to have faith." he told her, pausing for another moment.

"And I realize how strange that sounds, coming from one such as myself." he added with a small smile.

Meanwhile, at the Unit, Jake sat at his security desk, sighing to himself.

"....this has been eventful." he muttered to himself.

"First all this crap happens with that Levi kid, and then I hear about what's happened with Angela and Liv." he went on.

"Wonder if we're done with the excitement yet..." he then mumbled further, shaking his head.

Jake was silent for a moment, and then froze.

He froze out of sheer terror and fear.

His pupils shrank, he felt himself grow sweaty, and in an instant, he leapt back from where he was.

He then readied a defensive stance, but something emerged from his mouth that hadn't in a VERY long time.

He hissed. A reptilian hiss akin to a snake's.

"What are YOU doing here!?" he demanded.

"............." Jake was silent as she said what she did.

"You are not getting into this building, unless it's under TWO conditions." he told her.

"One: The boss himself will personally come and escort you through the building." he listed. "Two: You are to wear mana-inhibitor and suppressing cuffs." he continued.

"These, specifically." he finished, taking the pair out of his pocket.

They looked like a pair of chunky bracelets, but bracelets. No chain tying them together.

"....." again, Jake was silent, but he did as she stated.

Once they were on her, securely, he buzzed Sharp.

"Sharp, get down here." he told him. "Vanessa Encrae is here." he said.

".....I will be there in a few seconds." was all Sharp said, before hanging up.

Vanessa just smirked when she heard that.

"1... 2... 3...-" she started to audibly count, but before she could say 'four', the door opened, and Sharp stepped into the security area.

"...hmph. So it's true." he muttered upon seeing the dark elf.

Jake just looked away when she said that.

"Mm." he mumbled.

Sharp did NOT look impressed.

"You have a LOT of nerve showing up here." he told her. "For various reasons." he added, glaring at her, before noticing the bracelets that Jake had put on her.

"...and yet, I see that you have the cuffs on." he then said.

"All right, I am intrigued, to put it VERY lightly." he commented.

"Why have you come here?"

"........." Sharp was silent as he heard that.

"That was about as vague as it gets." he said.

"And ominous at the end." he told her, crossing his hands over his chest.

"Tell me," he muttered.

"Care to clarify?" he asked.

"Or do we need somewhere more... private?"