The portal opens outside the road leading to Steamy Stacks and out jumps Midas, followed by Astra, Marigold and Orelia. While the girls talk for a brief moment Midas takes out his phone and dials Jones' number.

Strangely, instead of him picking up it goes straight to voicemail.

"Heyo! You've reached John Jones, ex member of I.O and certified savior of reality. I unfortunately can't come to the phone right now but leave a message after the beep and I'll get back to you.

...beep! Haha!"

Midas sighs with a snicker.

"Hey Jones, just wanted to see if you're okay. I'm just about done with Oro's mystery and wrapping things up with it. If we see each other out and about, whenever I can escape from Ares again, would you like to go out for a coffee? I'll see you soon... hopefully."

He then decides to call Jules to check on her as he and the girls begin to walk back to his place.

"Hello?"

"Hey Jules, it's Midas. How are things at home? Are you alright?"

"No. I've had enough. I'm gonna go live with Skye and Jones until this whole thing blows over."

Midas' heart drops as he's told this.

"I...I see.."

Jules sighs sadly through the phone.

"I'm sorry brother, I just can't live there with him around."

Midas hums.

"Very well. If that's what you're doing, I will not stop you." He says. "When you get there, tell Jones he missed a call from me and I've left a voicemail."

"Okay. See you soon."

Midas says his goodbye and hangs up the phone, putting it back in his pocket. He turns to the girls behind him.

"Alright. Let's go to my place. We can rest there for the night... hopefully..."

"Lead the way Oro- Uh! I mean, Midas." Astra nods, stuttering with her words a little.

-----

Jules sighs in relief, glad to be away from the madman she once called her father. As she approaches Skye's house in Holly Hedges she can't help but have a happy feeling deep within her gut. It would be nice to see the young adventurer again after so long, plus Jones would be there too.

She knocks on the door and waits for a response.

"Hello?" A sweet voice responds, opening the door a jar.

"Hey Skye, it's Jules. Mind if I come in?"

The door opens wide to reveal Skye dress up in a onesie decorated with pink, yellow and light blue polkadots.

"Hi Jules! Come in!"

Skye leads Jules inside and closes the door. Upon entering the living room it's easy to notice a game's console propped up on the coffee table and snacks scattered on the table.

"Having a slumber party are we?" Jules jokes with a smile.

"Kinda. It'll be more fun now you're here!"

Jules smiles a little, before it fades. Skye notices her mood change and goes over to ask about her.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Not really, no. It's been a rough few weeks for me and Midas."

"Why? What's been going on?"

The two girls sit on the couch and begin talking. Jules explains the situation regarding hers and Midas' father. She's obviously very upset about it.

"Jeez, you guys have one terrible dad."

"I know. He even threw Jonesy out the house and called Midas' attraction to him a phase." She sighs sadly. "But Jones said he'd come stay with you. Talking of which, where is he?"

Skye's face of pity turns to one of confusion.

"Uh, Jules... Jonesy's not here. It's just been me in this house. No one else has propped up to my doorstep."

Jules' heart drops in alarm at this news. Jones wasn't here? How come he hadn't informed her or Midas via phone call about it?

"Well where is he then?"

"I have no idea. I haven't heard from him in a while since we don't really talk to each other. We aren't as close unlike you and Midas."

Jules immediately gets up and goes to the front door again.

"I'm gonna go look for him. You can keep an eye on my stuff."

"Jules wait a sec!"

She opens the door and rushes out, only to be greeted by a tall being in silver clothing. Jules had only one guess as to who they were.

"...the Cube Queen I presume?"

"And you're one of Oro's little friends."

Jules takes a step back. The Cube Queen stretches out her hand and grabs her via telekinesis. The engineer strains and struggles to break free as the Queen stares menacingly at her.

"Now now, Oro's little pet. It only hurts for a moment."

Jules' strained groans to escape turn into screams of pain as the Cube Queen presses her hand against her chest and begins draining the life out of her. Her body goes a husky gray and limp. The Queen drops her on the ground as Skye comes rushing out.

"Jules what's going on out...here..."

She sees Jules on the floor drained of colour in skin and in clothing strangely enough. The Cube Queen's right eye flashes for a second and she suddenly stands up, mimicking her poses and voice.

"Oh don't worry human, everything's perfectly fine."

The two of them then teleport away, leaving a panicked and worried Skye behind.

-------

Meanwhile...

"So where the fuck have you been?!"

Midas gulps, hugging his arms as Ares yells at him.

"I- I had unfinished business to deal with. That's all."

"Sneaking out behind my back is unacceptable M! Especially when you've been punished already! Now your punishment will be twice as bad." Ares growls.

He suddenly notices Astra and Marigold behind Midas, watching on in horror.

"And who are these two freaks of nature?"

Astra puts her hands against her chest with a frown.

"My name is Astra. I was once Oro's personal servant. I'd say it's nice to make your acquaintance. But you sir are not treating this man with any kindness." She says.

Ares looks away from her in disgust of her missing eye and turns to Marigold. He immediately notices just how similar she is to his son.

"Hmph. Looks like you're not the only freak with cursed hands. But at least she only has it on one."

Marigold glares at Ares, clenching her fists.

"Ooh you and my mother would get along like two peas in a pod."

"Whatever. Why are they here M?"

"I was thinking they could help me against the Cube Queen."

"Oh please M, you're no match for that being. What makes you think the three of you are enough?"

"Because I have other friends that can help me, like Jones and Dark. And yes, I already know Jules isn't here anymore and that she's gone to live with Skye as well." Midas sighs, hugging his arms. "It's your fault this is happening. You drove her to the breaking point."

Ares simply glares at him.

"Ugh. Nevermind. I don't have time to deal with this. I'm too tired to care anyway." Midas yawns. "Marigold, you can have Jules' room."

"And what shall I do Midas?" Astra asks, awaiting her orders.

"Uh, you can stand guard in the living room near the front door. Just in case."

"Yes sir!"

The three of them head inside while Ares groans in annoyance and follows them.

-----

Many hours later...

Midas sighs sadly staring at his phone while lying on his stomach on his bed. He had been waiting for Jones to phone back for ages now, but nothing was coming through. And it was making him doubt a lot of things.

One of those fears being what if Jones didn't care for him anymore? Or love him? Had his dad left that bad of an impression that he didn't want anything to do with Midas anymore?

He scrolls through his contacts and presses his finger against Jones' one more time. Just like last time, it goes straight to voicemail. When Jones' voicemail greeting finishes Midas speaks up.

"Jones please pick up. If it's something I said or did or if it was my dad, just tell me. I miss talking to you."

He sniffles slightly as tears form in his eyes.

"I miss you... and I'm worried about you."

Midas takes his time to regain his composure, wiping his eyes.

"I'll...talk to you when you get back to me. I love you."

He sends the voicemail and turns over on to his back, arms sprawled across his bed. His weary eyes slowly begin to close, imagining the feeling of Jones' soft hand brushing against his cheek.

As his eyes close the sound of screaming wakes him up again. He sits up out of bed and dashes out of his room, as do Marigold and Ares.

"What the hell is going on?" Ares growls.

Midas rushes downstairs, followed by the others, to find the front door wide open, a grey looking Astra lying on the floor and someone tall standing in front of the building. His eyes widen when he recognises who it is.

"The Cube Queen..."

She looks down at Midas.

"Oro. There you are~"

--------

Elsewhere...

'I miss you, and I'm worried about you. I'll talk to you when you get back to me. I love you.'

Beep!

"Hmm, poor Midas. Sounds like he's really down about you not answer huh Jones?"

The blond glares at his kidnapper, hugging his knees while doing up the zip on his orange prison suit.

"How about you give me my fucking phone back and let me answer him then Slone!!" He yells.

The I.O leader laughs at Jones as he reaches through the cell bars to grab his phone to no avail.

"Ah Jones, you know I can't do that. Otherwise you'll tell Midas where you are." She chuckles. "Oh wait! You already don't know since the guards knocked unconscious on your way to this place."

She pops his phone back into his nearby bag filled with all his things. Tears stream down his face as he slides back on to the ground.

"How could you lie to me?! I thought you and I were on good terms when you wrote me that letter!!"

"It proves just how naive you are Jones. I still haven't forgotten about your betrayal and working with The Seven." Slone tells him, fixing her glasses.

"Please! Just let me go! Midas clearly needs me!"

"Sorry Jones. But I've let you live for far too long. In a few days I'm going to do something I've been waiting to do for a long time."

Jones gulps, tensing up and hugging his arms.

"W-What is it?"

Slone smirks cruelly at him.

"I'm going to execute you. But not before torturing you first. Now, go to sleep."

With that, the doctor exits the prison room and locks the door, leaving Jonesy all alone in his cell. He whimpers, curling up on the cold floor and sobbing into his hands.

"Midas... I'm sorry... I promise I still love you... and I miss you too..."

------