Disclaimer: I don't have to say it.
Bridge's Secret Friend
Chapter Two: Secrets Revealed
Sky and Bridge woke up the next morning at their usual time, and Sky took his time in watching Bridge get out of bed. Bridge looked as tired as he did for most of last week. This worry only lasted for a few seconds as he realized that he had to get ready as well.
Ten minutes later, they were walking out of their room, dressed and ready to report to Command Center. Grum had been quiet for two weeks now, so Doggie Cruger gave them the day off. They saluted, then walked out.
"What should we do today?" asked Syd.
"Let's play lightball," Jack suggested. Everyone agreed to this, expect Bridge, who went to walk away before Z stepped in front of him.
"Oh, no, young man. You're going to play; we're not giving you a choice in the matter."
Jack then said, "That's right, Bridge. We're giving you no choice."
Bridge thought about it for a moment. "Okay, since I have no way of getting out of this…. Let the games begin."
Jake clapped Bridge on the back and they walked off to the Ready Room.
The game lightball is like another version of dodgeball, and most if us already know how to play that. Well, it's kind of like that, but you use a ball of energy and specially made gloves that can catch the energy and hold it.
The teams were soon chosen. Bridge and Sky versus Z and Jack; Syd would referee. Jack and Z would start things off.
He held the energy ball in his hand and gave a wicked smile. "Ready to be creamed, ladies?"
Sky returned the smile and said, "Bring it on."
Syd threw her hand down, signaling the game had begun, and Jack threw the ball first. Sky jumped to one side, causing it bounce off the wall and straight toward Bridge. He turned around quickly and caught the ball, then threw it at Z. She dodged the ball by doing a back flip, and it bounced off the wall just before she caught it. Giving a wicked smile, she threw it to Jack and he threw it back. They did this three more times until Jack threw the ball to back to Z. She gave a little nod, and Jack did likewise just before she threw the ball back to him. Before it reached him, however, Jack jumped, caught the ball in mid-air, and threw it. The ball hit the floor and then Sky in the chest.
"You're out!" shouted Syd. Sky walked to a chair, leaving Bridge to be alone.
"We got this is in the bag, Z! And now it's time for the Jack's super-drive special combo!" he shouted.
Bridge didn't look worried. Instead, he gave a slight smile and said, "Bring it on, Jack. And just to let you both know, I will take the two of you down in one in throw."
Z and Jack looked at each other, then laughed. "Yeah, right!" With that, Jack threw the ball at Bridge.
At that moment, Bridge closed his eyes. Sky watched with and intense curiosity; the super-drive is Jack's favorite lightball throw, and it has yet to be beaten.
The ball hit the floor and bounced off the wall, then another wall. The force of the ball bouncing off the walls sped it up little by little until it gathered enough speed so it would be hard to dodge. Then something happened that no expected….
It took less than 30 seconds, but it all seemed to go in slow motion. As the ball came toward him, he leaned back a little and it missed him. After doing this five times, he reached out with his right hand, and out of nowhere managed to grab the ball. Before shock could set in, Bridge threw it at Z. It hit her leg, and then hit Jack in the shoulder. It hit the ceiling and Bridge caught it again. Syd was too shocked to call out the winner.
Sky stared at him. So did Jack and Z. Bridge opened his eyes, smiled, and threw the ball to Jack. He then removed his lightball gloves and put on his regular ones.
"It's lunchtime, so I think I'll go and get something to eat," said Bridge out of nowhere. He then turned to walk away.
Sky stood up and yelled at him, "Wait a second! You just stopped Jack's best throw, and all you can say is that it's lunchtime?"
Bridge smiled, responded, "Yes," and walked out of the room.
There was silence for moment when everyone stared at Sky, and Sky knew what they were thinking.
"No, I don't know how he did that."
"It's weird that Bridge did that…" commented Z as they walked out of the room.
"Yeah. It's like he had a power boost on his sixth sense," Jack said.
Sid then replied, "What if his powers are growing beyond psychic, or something like that…?"
Sky didn't join in on the conversation. Bridge was up to something and he had changed a lot over this past week. His fun-loving friend was rarely seen anymore, instead being replaced by a serious and secretive person he didn't recognize. Tonight, no matter what he had to do, he was going to know what Bridge is up to.
-----
The rest of the afternoon was slow and dull. The only odd thing about it was that Bridge had 12 sandwiches and a bag of chips for lunch, then went to his room and took a nap, not waking up 'til about five.
He ran out of his room and into the dinning room, then jumped into a seat. He grabbed a few of the Swiss meatballs and dumped them on his plate, having done it within seconds.
Just like last night, he told them that he was going for a walk and left. Sky watched him walk out the door, then got up and told the others he was going to his room to read.
When Sky got into the hallway, he turned to the direction where Bridge was going. He was determined to find out what was going on.
Sky stayed a good distance behind Bridge, who had left the building and was heading to the park. Sky thought it was odd that Bridge would go there at this time, but nonetheless followed him for what became a long period of time.
Without warning, Bridge suddenly stopped, and Sky hid behind some bushes. They were in the middle of the park, although no one really hangs out here because of the park's rather large size.
'Why Bridge comes here should soon be answered,' thought Sky.
Bridge stood there for a second, reached down and removed a glove, then waved it.
Sky watch interestedly. Bridge waved his hand two more times before he put his glove back on. What happen next Sky never expected. A person walked out of some trees in front of Bridge, wearing a long black leather jacket. Sky looked closer and saw that he was wearing blue jean shorts, and his t-shirt was plain black, his eyes covered by sunglass. Bridge seemed to know him, for they shook hands courteously.
"Hello, Bridge. How are you doing?" he asked, and Bridge smiled.
"I've just been sleeping a lot and eating a lot more. Besides that, I'm doing fine."
He looked at Bridge for a moment, then said, "The training I've been giving you will be doing that for at least another week. But with all of that behind us, how are you really doing?"
Bridge smiled. "The others are getting worried about me."
Bridge's smile faded as he went over to a tree. He sighed and leaned his back against it. Sky watched Bridge for a moment. He look depressed; his friends must mean a lot to him.
"Why don't you tell them what's been happening to you?" the stranger asked.
Bridge lifted his head, looking him straight in the eyes, and took a deep breath. "No, I don't want to worry them with my problems." The man with the sunglasses looked at him with interest.
"What else has happened to you lately?"
Bridge realized what he said. As he thought about this, he slid further down the tree until he hit the ground, placing his head on his knees and hugged them.
"It's not just the fact that my friends are worried about me, Yoko. It's the fact that my powers are growing."
Yoko moved a few steps from where he was standing close to Bridge, and glanced downward at the crumpled figure on the ground.
"You mean beyond what people are feeling, or...?" Yoko paused, walked to the tree next to Bridge, and sat down next to him. Just as Sky did for him yesterday…. "Is it that you fear being alone because of your powers?"
Bridge said nothing, but released his legs and put his head against the tree. Yoko put his a hand on his shoulder, and Bridge didn't move. They were quiet for a few minutes.
Sky sat there in the bushes, taking in what he heard. Bridge's power is growing and it's killing him? But the fact that seemed to rip his heart out the most was that Bridge wasn't telling him about this. Instead, he was telling a person Sky didn't even know. Who the hell is this Yoko person, anyhow? He felt jealous of Yoko, who'd apparently stolen Bridge away from him. Then there was the training he talked about earlier….
What kind of training was it, and what for? Before Sky could dwell on this subject any further, Yoko began to speak and Sky quit thinking in order to listen.
"Did anything happen to you today that made these worries so real to you?"
Bridge didn't know what to say. The question was not unexpected, but still hard to answer.
Bridge turned his head toward the other trees. The sun was getting lower and the orange light made the trees glow. Yoko released Bridge and stood up.
"Bridge, you don't have to answer me. Just remember I'll all ways be here for you."
Bridge turned his head and looked at him, relief flooding him. Yoko reached out his hand and Bridge took it, allowing Yoko help him to his feet.
"Bridge, I have to leave tonight, so there will be no training." Bridge just nodded, words having failed him for the first time in his life. "I have two thing to tell you before I go. First, keep up your training at the base, okay? You know the basic stuff I taught you, and you know why it will help you in the future, alright?" Bridge nodded. "The last thing I have to tell you is this, and it is important." Bridge looked at him directly, not daring to let his mind wander. "I will be back in two weeks. I will send you a sign that you will recognize, okay?"
Yoko said the last part rather loudly, and Bridge nodded. Yoko smiled, waved his goodbyes, and ran off into the darkness. Bridge stood there for a second, then turned around and walked back to the base.
After Bridge left, Sky stood up and walked out of the bushes. Sky wasn't sure what to do with the information he just received. Should he Conner Bridge and force him to talk, or keep this to himself? For once in his life, he didn't have an answer. Sky took a deep, relaxing breath, and began to walk back to the SPD base as well.
Chapter 2 is done and the third chapter will explain the questions in this one. Please review, and please be gentle. Thanks to the people who've reviewed my story. You guys rule! Chapter 3 coming out soon -- I promise!