Nerd Paladin, Level Up! | File 011: Recognition

This is something the world has never seen before. At least not on camera.

For the first time, the Sears siblings are together at the same place at the same time. They’re on one of the biggest attractions in London, England, the famous London Eye. The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. The structure is 443 feet tall and the wheel has a diameter of 394 feet. With Jessica standing in between Zachary and Everalda, the three of them are awestruck over the beautiful city.

“This is my first time in London.” Everalda gazes over the sight in the late morning of Saturday, March 31st.

Astounded, Zachary turns towards her and raises an eyebrow. “Really? Is this also your first time in ze London Eye?”

“Second, actually. Yesterday, I was here with Klaus and Adrien.” Everalda smiles.

“Ze little man is quite taken to your boyfriend, ja?” Zachary asks with a chuckle. “It’s cute.”

Everalda can’t help but giggle. “It is. Klaus has become quite fond of Adrien, and Adrien’s very happy to reciprocate these feelings. I love exploring new cities with both of them.”

Jessica leans with her arms draped along the safety rails and surveys the city. Unlike her siblings, who are dressed casually for the promo, she’s cosplaying the BBC version of Sherlock Holmes. The long black coat, the purple scarf, the slightly disorganized white dress shirt with the top three buttons unbuttoned, the black slacks, and the black dress shoes.

To the dismay of one of her opponents and one-third of Radicalliance 2.0., Ronnie North, the coat does cover her bubbly ass.

“I feel bad for Dean. He’s still sick with the flu, so all he’s had to enjoy of London so far is the hotel room.” Jessica sighs softly.

“I know ze feeling. Gael just got over the flu himself.” Zachary nods in understanding. “I am sure Dean vill both be one hundred percent by your birthday.”

“That’s right! Your birthday is this Monday.” Everalda clasps her hands together.

“The day after Legacy…” Jessica nods slowly. “Easter Sunday, April Fool’s Day, and Legacy: Battle for London, they’re all happening tomorrow.”

“Is strange how zat vorks,” Zachary raises an eyebrow. “But fate vorks in mysterious vays. It brought the three of us together.”

Jessica tilts her head and realization slowly comes over her face. “Wow… the three of us have known each other for almost three months now.”

“That’s correct,” Everalda nods and looks to her younger siblings with a smile. “I still remember our first meeting… It wasn’t the most pleasant, but there’s no such thing as a perfect beginning.”

“I am my mother’s son. Very stubborn.” Zachary playfully smirks before he takes a moment. “But at the time, I vas too stubborn to accept that you vere related to us, that you vere older zan me.”

“I think that was mostly because you were shocked.” Everalda nods, reflecting on that fateful day. “It was the fourth anniversary of your father’s passing. All of a sudden, you see a woman in a raincoat at his resting place, praying to him and leaving him flowers, who soon announced herself as his daughter… It must have been a little frightening.”

Jessica shakes her head slowly. “I wasn’t afraid… but I was definitely shocked. I saw our father through you.”

“As did I,” Zachary admits with a sigh. “I could have responded better, but… I vasn’t sure vhat to think. The shock overwhelmed logic und emotion just fired from mein heart. I vas wrong to reject you ze vay I did und I’m sorry.”

Everalda quickly shakes her head and offers a gentle smile to her brother. “It’s alright, Zach. I’ve already forgiven you. I was really happy when you flew your mother in from Toronto and joined us for dinner in Manhattan when our baby sister won the Spirit and Pride X championship.”

“That was one of the best nights of my life.” Jessica smiles brightly. “Not just because I won the title, but because for the first time, we were all united, enjoying each other’s company over dinner and drinks. I hadn’t been that happy in a long time.”

“Since my son’s birth.” Everalda places her right hand over her heart and smiles.

Zachary places his left hand over his heart and nods. “Since Gael asked me to be his boyfriend…”

“It took you over a year before you started dating again!” Jessica grins. “I was worried you were going to be single forever. Thank Gott Gael rolled a nat-twenty on his persuasion check.”

“After being abandoned twice in a row, I needed more time to recover. I can’t be as bold as you. You started dating Dean a few days after your fallout with Victor.” Zachary arches an eyebrow and stares knowingly at his younger sister.

Jessica casually shrugs. “Considering Victor LITERALLY married some random girl a few days later? I think I made the right decision.”

“Victor’s actions are that of a little boy’s. Treat them as such.” Everalda clears her throat. “Although… I don’t have any room to speak. Adrien and I began dating after only a month of knowing each other. At least Jessica and Dean’s friendship blossomed in September.”

“I was fresh out of a divorce and he was married at the time. We were respectful.” Jessica casually shrugs again. “No one knew his wife, Danielle, was a two-faced lying wicked bitch when she was married to him, but…”

“Zat is one hell of a complexity. I vish you didn’t involve yourself in Dean’s var against ze Children of Nephilim... vhen you are already involved in your own var vith ze Destroyers... However, is too late to back out now, ja?” Zachary folds his arms.

“No matter…” Everalda takes a deep breath. “We’re family and we’re in this together. Zachary, it’s our responsibility to support Jessica every step of the way.”

“I know zat, Everalda.” He nods and unfolds his arms. He looks over at their younger sister and smirks. “Vhat vould she do vithout us? Hmm?”

“Hallo, I’m a former IPW Heavyweight Champion and the current SAP X Champion. I can take care of myself, thank you very much.” Jessica sticks her tongue out.

Zachary can’t help but laugh. He doesn’t do this to mock her, though. “You may be turning twenty-two on Monday, but you vill always be our baby sister.”

“He’s absolutely right.” Everalda smiles brightly.

Jessica simply decides to accept this before she turns around and faces the camera. “After losing the opportunity to become the new NGW Tag-Team Champions, it would be nice if Adrien and I could win against Ronnie and Kaylee… Lord, I still feel like I’m stepping into the Twilight Zone tomorrow night.”

“Vhy do you say that?” Zachary blinks and raises an eyebrow. He, too, turns around towards the camera’s view, but he regards his sister.

“Didn’t you see their promos? Through some miracle, Ronnie’s memories came back when he looked at pictures of me and my ass…” Saying this makes Jessica feel awkward.

‘I wonder how Adam is doing…?’

She mentally contemplates for a moment before she presses on. “And then… somehow, someway, Kaylee was actually being nice to me. She didn’t have one negative thing to say about me. Seriously, color me shocked.”

“That IS weird…” Zachary says aloud before he reconsiders this. “...Well, actually, both of those revelations are weird.”

“On Mrs. Cassandra Goldstein’s part, I think it’s the extension of an olive branch.” Everalda turns around and sits down next to their baby sister. “The two of you share a rivaled history, that is pure fact. But knowing her newlywed husband’s friendship with you, I honestly believe this is her way of making amends. A peaceful resolution, if you will. Her fairly recent defeat at your hands may have also awakened her respect for you.”

Zachary nods in agreement with his older sister’s explanation. “Insofar as Meister Ronald, vell… he has always had a fondness for your-- ahem-- backside. Visual aid can assist in the refreshment of memories. Thankfully, he is nowhere near as obsessed vith it as Shields, but…”

“We don’t speak of such an evil man.” Everalda shakes her head and folds her arms. “Matthew Shields is reprehensible and he is beyond help. I shouldn’t have even considered approaching him in the first place.”

Jessica takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. “I watched the replay of the last Dissension. I studied Shields and Tillman’s Forty Martyrs and the impact it made on Adrien’s body. If their double-team finisher hit me, that would have been the end of my career. I may have been living in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. Adrien saved me… I need to return the favor. I can’t let him fall like that again. I can’t let the Guardians down. We need to win this tag match.”

“I believe in you,” Everalda smiles and rests her hand on Jessica’s left shoulder. “I know that’s what Adrien says, but it’s the truth.”

Zachary extends his left hand and settles it on Jessica’s right shoulder. “Don’t feel like you are in debt to him und don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Do the best you can and you vill succeed.”

Jessica looks at her older siblings for a moment before she smiles. She recognizes the ongoing support she receives from her family. She also knows that her friends and fans feel the same way. As they reach the very top aboard the London Eye, they turn around and gaze upon the wondrous view of the city. The camera continues to record for a little while longer before Jessica finally answers Zachary and Everalda with a bright, methodical tone.

“Elementary, my dear family.”