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"We all fall once in a while."
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"This isn't working, he isn't getting tired," Ant said frustrated.

Michael nodded a bit, he was getting tired from dodging and running. Luckily, they were able to lead Jerome away from Everville. Only a few people have gotten hurt, but no one was killed so that's the news that Michael decided to focus mostly on.

His eyes looked at Ant for a moment before looking back at Jerome who is shifted into a giant beast. Michael's tried a lot of different things, talking to Jerome and such but as he expected, nothing works. So he has just been trying to keep Jerome's attention on him until backup came. But even with the plan that Ant told him, it is taking way longer than the two would like.

The two are exhausted from running and blocking blows that are too close for comfort. Michael let out a shaky breath, he dodged another attack. Michael decided to toss formalities at the moment, Jerome is unlikely to care anyway. "Jerome, come on. We need you, snap out of it," Michael said. Jerome slashed at Michael, Michael ducking, looking Jerome's claws strike at the tree and taking a chunk out of the trunk. Michael stood up, stumbling backward as Jerome focused on him.

Michael's hands balled into fists, staring at Jerome. Of course, he is scared, Jerome's beast form is terrifying, especially when that aggression is directed at you. But fear isn't really something Michael is choosing to dwell on. Michael flinched hearing Jerome growling at him. "Jerome, get a hold of yourself," Michael said. Michael stepped back until a thought crossed his mind. "Don't you want to see Mitch?" he asked making Jerome stop growling.

Ant nods. "Yeah, Mitch was hurt but he was saved by you. Don't you care, Jerome?!" Ant asked the hybrid. Jerome turned his attention towards Ant, growling before attacking Ant.

Michael bit his bottom lip. 'If Lieutenant General Hughes was here, this might be easier. I bet he could reach through to him,' he thought. He knew Ant said that Jason would send Mitch to them once Mitch returned from the Sky Army Ruins. But it's been...a long time. He isn't exactly keeping count of the time and how long he has been here and when Ant arrived. So he doesn't know if there is backup coming or what, but he does need to think of a plan. Michael bit back his bottom lip, thinking. 'What would Commander Skylen do?' Michael thought.

During the Sky Army days, Michael worked closely with Adam. He was the Commander's top spy and Michael was proud of that title. After all, he loved working with Commander Skylen. Adam taught Michael a lot over the years, Adam taught him fighting techniques and skills that he uses almost every day. The Commander basically took Michael under his wing and he learned a lot from Adam. He greatly respected the commander...but to lose him, it cut Michael deep when he heard that Sky was killed in battle. And now he's been finding himself in this fog, questioning what he should do...and what the right thing to do is.

Staring at Jerome, Michael can't figure out what he should do and/or what the right thing to do is. He's stuck. It's moments like these where he relies on others for help...but asking Ant for help...he's not comfortable with that. As much as he knows thee Captain is capable, Michael just never really liked Ant that much.

Michael gritted his teeth together, watching Jerome go after Ant. Michael followed behind, watching Ant run. "I'm sorry, General...but you're giving me no choice..." Michael mumbled before he drew his sword. He ran up beside Jerome, pushing off the ground, Michael pushed himself towards Jerome and slashed his sword to cut into Jerome's side. Jerome roared, snapping his teeth at Michael who narrowly escaped Jerome's jaws. Jerome stopped himself, turning towards Michael. Michael swiped his sword towards Jerome, cutting into Jerome's muzzle when Jerome tried to bit him. Jerome growled slightly before he attacked, he knocked Michael off his feet. Michael gritted his teeth, he kicked off the ground, flipping up and out of the way of Jerome's jaws. Michael landed on his feet, quickly standing up to avoid another attack. He jumped back, detaching his sword sheath off his belt. 'I put any part of my body near his muzzle and the bite I would receive could be fatal,' Michael thought to himself before holding the sword sheath in his left hand while his sword was held in his right.

Ant looked at him, shocked for a moment. 'Wait, I recognize that fighting style! That's one of Sky's fighting techniques! He uses the sword sheath as a controller to move the enemy in the path of the sword and to throw off the enemy's balance and sense of coordination. The sword sheath acts as almost a shield and as a weapon at the same time. It takes a lot of coordination and speed to pull that off which is why Sky was such a master at it since he was light on his feet..' Ant thought before he smiled a bit. 'Well, Michael was trained by Sky himself in swordsmanship and in close combat. So they are going to have similar fighting styles...' Ant thought.

Michael whacked the side of Jerome's muzzle with the sheath when the beast came at him. The hit threw Jerome off making him almost crash head first into a tree. Michael knew this wasn't a fight he could win, after all, Jerome has a massive upper hand. But that doesn't mean he is just gonna throw in the towel. Michael smirked a bit seeing a dense part of the jungle. 'The more Jerome has to climb and maneuver, the more energy he uses,' Michael thought before he jumped over Jerome's neck, hitting the beast again to grab Jerome's attention. Jerome snapped his jaws at Michael, watching the spy run. Jerome growled and ran after Michael, Ant tailing behind the two.

Michael reattached his sheath to his belt, putting his sword away as well. He thrives in an environment like this, climbing and maneuvering on high surfaces are his favorite. He knows the further away he becomes from Everville the less likely backup will come, but he can't just keep outmaneuvering Jerome forever. Michael's eyes look around for something he could use, anything that might help. His eyes stop to his right when he sees a river. He hadn't realized that had gotten so into the jungle until now. 'Water...that's it...' Michael thought before he turned on his heels, taking a sharp right turn. The sudden change in direction catching Jerome off, making the giant beast slide before hitting a tree. The beast growled as Michael slowed down to a stop, turning halfway to look at Jerome.

Michael smirked a bit at him. "Oh come on, Jerome. You can't handle a turn? That's quite pathetic," he said to the beast.

Ant looked at Michael, about to shout at him but kept his mouth shut. 'Michael is like Sky is a lot of ways. He doesn't do things without reason. He almost has as much of a death wish as Adam had back in the day,' Ant thought to himself. Michael jumped back when Jerome launched at him, Michael turning around, running towards the river. Jerome chasing after the spy and Ant following close behind them. Ant gritted his teeth. He felt conflicted. As a captain, he shouldn't be allowing Michael to do such dangerous activities as he is right now. But he knows that convincing Michael to not do something dangerous when he has already set his mind to it is nearly impossible. 'The most I can do is make sure Michael doesn't get himself killed! Man, I hate how much Michael is like Sky. They both share the same sense of not caring for their own safety,' Ant thought.

Michael jumped down onto the riverbank, feeling his shoes sink into the sand. Michael let out a breath, seeing the calm water making him smile a bit. But he lost his smile when he felt the ground shake violently underneath him and looked over his shoulder to see Jerome striking at him.

"Hey now!" Michael shouted before he drops to the sand. "That's too close for comfort, General!" Michael planted his hands on the ground before he used his leg to hit the side of Jerome's head, making the beast get thrown off allowing Michael to get up onto his feet and out of danger.

Michael rushed into the water, turning around to face Jerome with the water up to his knees. Jerome stopped on the edge, standing there. Michael smiled.

Ant jumped down onto the bank, looking at them.  "Michael! What are you--"

Michael looked at Ant. "Don't you remember, Captain Venom? Swimming isn't Lieutenant General Aceti's strong suit. His fur weights him down, making it difficult for him to stay afloat. I would suggest getting in the water as well, Captain, before the General sees you," Michael said before looking back at Jerome. Jerome paced by the water's edge, growling every now and then. Michael's eyes soften. "Now we can have a conversation without you trying to kill someone, Lieutenant General," he said. Michael tilted his head a bit at Jerome. "I know it is hard to reach to you when you are feral, trust me, I remember the last time you went feral. You were beyond reason and we had to resort to General Azdel knocking you unconscious. But with General Azdel in the hands of the enemy...we don't really have much to help you. I may not be Lieutenant General Hughes...but I know that I remind a lot of people of someone. Don't you agree, Jerome?" Michael asked as Ant went into the water a few feet away from Michael. Ant watched Michael, curious as to what he was doing because he was lost.

Michael smiled at Jerome. "Didn't you recognize anything? Those battle techniques? Those moves? They are the same ones that Commander Skylen taught me so long ago and are unique to him," he said to Jerome. Jerome stopped pacing. Michael stepped towards Jerome, hopeful. "I don't think you are as far gone as you or anyone thinks you are. I think you are very conscious right now and this little episode of yours...I can tell you have regained control of yourself. But like most of the Commanding Officers...you blame yourself for what happened five years ago...what happened to the Sky Army and what happened to Commander Skylen. You had plenty of opportunities to kill me, plenty of them but I saw the hesitation. You may have taken the strikes at me but you always came up short...and I know that's on purpose. The General I know wouldn't have ever come up short. I should have died...you should have killed me already at Everville. You did lose your control for a while there, hence the attack on Everville...but I never lead you away from the town...you did that. Why? Do you want to be left alone? Is that it?" Michael asked him. Jerome didn't answer.

Ant looked at Jerome. "W-What? What are you saying, Michael? He's been--"

Michael looked at Ant. "He went feral for an hour or two, yes, but he regained control of himself ever since we left Everville. He's figured out how to control himself and just want us to leave him alone," he said.

Jerome looked towards Michael and Ant. "Wrong," he said before Jerome shifted back to his human form. Jerome crossed his arms. "I'll admit that yes, I did go feral. But for your assumptions about me regaining control...that only happened recently. I have been gaining more and more control over it but it isn't much. And by the way, Michael, this is such a coward's move by going into the water!" Jerome shouted.

Michael smiled as Ant chuckled. Ant nods. "Yep, that's Jerome, alright," he said.

Jerome smiled a bit before he lost it and looked at Michael. "For a second, I thought you were Adam. You and he are so much alike that I forget you are two completely different people. That's what pulled me out of the feral episode...I thought Adam was back and I wanted to give him a piece of my mind for dying on us as he did!" Jerome exclaimed at the end before calming himself down. He looked at Ant, his paws balling into fists for a moment before calming. 'Nothing good will come from that...' Jerome thought before looking back at Michael. Jerome smiled a bit. "You know, I think this is why Sky liked having you around so much. Why he was so willing to teach you everything he knew..." he said confusing Michael.

Michael loses his smile. "What do you mean?" he asked.

Jerome crossed his arms. "People like Adam are...hard to come by. He was a great friend and an amazing leader. You aren't as good as a leader as he was...but you have the same heart as he did," Jerome said. Jerome gave Michael another smile. "You give hope to people who have none, Michael. That's what Sky did. You fight for your friends and do what's right. That's probably why Sky took you in. He saw you as someone who could keep everyone fighting in the event something ever happened to him. That does sound like something Sky would do...to look out for his friends when he can't do it himself anymore," Jerome said.

Michael smiled and nodded, agreeing with him. "Yeah, it does sound like him," he said. Jerome's eyes sadden, looking down at the water. He stared at it, looking at his reflection. 'We can't fight anyone without Adam leading us. Michael may be like Adam, but he isn't Adam. Michael isn't a good leader, he is more of a good motivator. He isn't even half of the man Adam was...none of are,' Jerome thought to himself.

The hybrid let out a shaky breath before his eyes flickered up to look at Michael and Ant. "And no...I'm not rejoining the Sky Army," he said which instantly ticked Ant off.

Ant stepped towards Jerome. "OH! I see! You give this big speech and instantly throw in the towel! Do you have any idea what is actually going on right now because I highly doubt you do?!" Ant shouted.

Michael looked at Ant. "Uhh, Captain--"

Ant stepped towards Jerome again, ignoring Michael. "You're a coward! A damn coward! You--"

Jerome gritted his teeth together as his eyes shifted to Ant. "Will you shut up for once, Taylor!" Jerome shouted at Ant shutting Ant up for a moment.

Ant shakes his head. "No! You are supposed to be a hero, Jerome! But you are leaving the fight before you even picked up a sword!" Ant exclaimed.

Jerome turned towards Ant. "I've been in this fight from the very beginning! I was at the Battle of Saneria Kingdom unlike the both of you! I was the last person Adam talked to before he was murdered!" Jerome said.

Ant's hands clenched into fists but before he spoke he saw a figure move from tree to tree, gaining cover. And the figure looked familiar. Ant smiled a bit before looking at Jerome. "Get over yourself! We can't change the past no matter how much we want too! But just so you are aware...Adam might still be alive," Ant said shocking the both of them.

"What?!" Michael exclaimed looking at Ant.

Jerome growled slightly under his breath. 'Figures he would know more then he tells. Ant never got along with Sky. I'm pretty sure Ant hated Sky or something. So why would I ever believe a word that comes out of his mouth?!' Jerome thought to himself. Jerome stepped towards the river. "And why should I believe you?! You like to lie about Adam all the time! So why should I trust you, Taylor?" Jerome snapped.

Ant's eyes soften at Jerome. "Because this time I'm actually telling you the truth. Jerome, I miss Adam just as much as the rest of you do. I never realized how much we needed him until he was gone. Look, I know I can be a pain in the ass, but I always trusted Sky because he always had my back no matter the situation or what I did to him. He was always there for me when I needed him the most...and all I ever did was insult and question him with everything. He withstood my abuse and I never realized that until now. I know you have no reason to trust my words, but I'm telling you...it's the truth. I recently found out that Sky is in the hands of the enemy and in a sleep state which is why he hasn't come to our aid! He needs us to save him before we lose him forever!" Ant shouted.

Jerome chuckled and shakes his head. "Yeah right, now I know you are lying to me--"

"He's telling the truth, Jerome," a voice spoke making Jerome's eyes widen.

"N-No," Jerome mumbled before he turned around and his eyes connected with Mitch's. Mitch gives Jerome a small smile before losing it.

Mitch stepped towards Jerome, but Jerome stepped back, almost walking back into the river. Mitch stepped back, not wanting to push Jerome. "I know it is hard to believe, but Ant is telling the truth. Sky might be alive and in deep trouble. He needs us to rescue him before we lose him forever. But if we are gonna do that...we need you," Mitch said.

Jerome shakes his head. "N-No, I can't be trusted!" he exclaimed.

Mitch's eyes soften. "What do you mean? You seem in control--"

Jerome shakes his head more. "T-That's a lie! I know myself! I'm in control only temporarily, Mitch! I lose my grip more and more and the episode gets more and more violent as the days go on! I'm gonna hurt you more than I almost did back at Zacan! I almost killed you because I lost it! I couldn't live with myself if I hurt any of my friends, especially you, Benja!" Jerome shouted. Jerome felt water soak his fur on his lower left leg making him look down seeing he stepped into the outer edge of the river which alarmed Mitch.

Mitch stepped towards Jerome. "Jerome, get away from the river!" Mitch said. 'Jerome's never been a good swimmer! And that current might not be strong but I don't trust it!' Mitch thought to himself.

Jerome stared at the river, his eyes following it for a moment. 'I know this river...it leads off to a...a lake...' Jerome thought as an idea crossed his mind. Jerome gritted his teeth together. 'If they won't give up on me...I'll have to give them a reason too...' Jerome thought before he shifted into his beast form.

Mitch stepped towards Jerome. "Jerome! What are you--No! Don't you dare!" Mitch shouted before he watched Jerome take off, running along the riverbank. Mitch ran after Jerome with Ant and Michael following him. Mitch looked at Michael. "Michael! What's at the end of the river--"

Michael looked at Mitch. "A lake!" he answered.

Mitch felt the fear strike him as he realized Jerome's plan. 'He's planning to drown himself! I have to stop him somehow! I can't lose Jerome! I have to save him from himself!'