As soon as we were through the door Berto let go of my waist and I walked over to the bed, slumping down onto it before I fixed Berto with a glare. When he saw me cross my arms, Berto sighed and walked over, sitting down and I instantly moved over.
"Look I was just trying to help Commander Forge." Berto told me as he reached over and tried to stroke my cheek, only to have me shift over a little more. "Jess I didn't mean to upset you but it just slipped out."
" I know I'm nowhere near as brillant as you and I can live with that. To have you constantly pointing that out..." I trailed off as I felt my eyes welling up and I turned my head though not before he saw a single tear slip down my cheek.
"Jess I didn't mean to hurt you." He sighed as he moved closer and when I didn't move away, my head still turned so I was facing the wall, I didn't see Berto reach up. Though when I felt his hand gently stroke my cheek I turned my head back only for his mouth to close over mine and kiss me. I didn't react, still upset over being called stupid and when Berto noticed this the kiss ended. Silently he stared at me as I hung my head, feeling hot tears run down my cheeks. "Don't cry I didn't mean to insult you." Berto whispered and I finally looked up, tears staining my face and when he pulled me into a hug I tensed up for a moment. When he felt me relax and return the hug he held me tight and after a while I snuggled into his chest.
"I'm sorry I slapped you." I whispered and he lent over, kissing the top of my head.
"I know you didn't mean to. Besides at least you didn't use your full strength or I wouldn't have a head." Berto joked and I raised my head, frowning a little at him. "Just kidding, babe."
"Whatever." I replied before I lent forward and kissed him, lightly at first then it became a much more passionate kiss when I drapped my arms around his neck and pulled his face against mine. That did shock Berto...for about three seconds than he pushed me down onto my back, knowing exactly what I wanted. Soon all I could do was gasp as he nibbled and kissed my neck and throat, his fingers stroking my stomach and thighs. We were so caught up in making out that I didn't even hear my phone ringing. Of course then I heard Shock's voice in my head and that brought an instant halt to our fun.
"Jessie, Forge needs you and Berto to meet in the Com Room." Shock told me and when I gave a frustrated growl, Berto looked up from kissing my stomach.
"Huh what did I miss?" He asked and I sighed, repeating what I'd just found out. "But you need me more." He said, a cheeky grin on his face and I grinned back more interested in what we both wanted than Commander Forge. But before we could start kissing again, I heard a loud siren in my head and I flinched. "You okay?" He asked, worry in his eyes and I growled.
"Shock! That's not funny!" I yelled and once Berto figured it out he burst out laughing. With a shake of my head I climbed off the bed and headed for the door, only for Berto to wrap his arms around me and kiss my neck.
"Five more minutes?" He asked and I turned my head slightly giving him a slight smile. Ten minutes later we arrived at the Com Room to find our friends already waiting. Along with a very angry looking Commander Forge.
"Where were you two?!" He yelled and I grinned as Berto took my hand in his. "On second thought I don't want to know." He added and I giggled before he spoke. As he explained that Mega Elementor had been spotted in Copper Canyon, not too far from our old base, Shock flew over and started to stare at me. I ignored him for the time being only to realize later that he'd been staring at the bite mark on the right side of my neck. Of course I was too focused on a battle with Mega Elementor to worry about what my best friend and brother thought.
"Ready to kick some Elemental butt?" I asked Shock who rolled his eye at me then linked with me. "Okay what's the problem?" I sighed and he was silent for the next minute, making me believe he didn't care what Berto and I did. Well right until Berto gave me a quick kiss, that turned into a much longer kiss and Shock growled into my head. Ignorning him for the next minute I waved goodbye to Berto before I rushed towards the hangar, watching as Kat and Jefferson launched their Jump Jets. But before I could change to Flight Mode I heard Shock's voice in my mind and I gritted my teeth as he finally voiced his mind.
"Jess why do you and Berto have to keep making out in public?" He asked and that threw me for a moment before I shook my head.
"Shock I know you're just watching out for me but why don't you like me kissing Berto?" I asked as I stood there and after a moment he detached, arms crossed as he stared at the ceiling.
"Its not that I just...I don't want you getting hurt." He answered and I froze, confused by what he'd just told me. "I mean if Berto accidently hurts you when you're...you know."
"Shock!" I yelled forgetting for a moment that we weren't alone and I winced feeling pretty stupid as two N-Tek agents stared at me. "Look he's the one more at risk and can we have this conversation elsewhere and not right now?" I begged, my cheeks turning bright red as I realzied what he was talking about and I did not want to have this conversation with him.
"Fine then after the mission. But if he hurts you don't come crying to me." Shock muttered and I shook my head as he linked with me, muttering something I didn't catch under his breath.
"Let's rock, Flight!" I called out, my Turbo energy engulfing me and as I changed to Flight Mode I felt pretty grateful that no one could see my red cheeks. A few minutes later I caught up with the two Jump Jets and as I shot forward, moving faster I almost didn't see Mega Elementor as he rose up to meet me. "Whoa!" I yelped almost slamming into him and he growled as he lunged for us, his claws outstretched. I dodged then shot toward the ground as he gave chase, more interested in attacking me than my friends.
"You have a plan right?" Shock asked as I sped up and getting no answer he sighed. "Aren't we sepaking or something?" He sighed but I was too busy concentrating on my plan that I didn't even hear him. "Ground's getting closer!" He yelled and just as we would have smacked into the canyon I pulled up and Mega Elementor just missed me. Though not the ground and he roared as he hit, letting out a groan as the dust swirled around him.
"Hah hah take that!" I yelled as I hovered nearby and Shock chuckled, liking my plan. For about two seconds until a wave of water struck me and sent the pair of us into the ground. "Okay...that wasn't a smart move." I groaned as Mega Elementor growled, launching himself our way and I leapt up just missing him. "Let's rock, Strength!" I called out before I lunged towards him, grabbing him by the tail and spinning him around and around. As he gave a yell of surprise I let go, watching as he slamming into the ground several feet away and I giggled.
"Jessie maybe you should go after him." Shock suggested as I grinned at Mega Elementor, who lay motionless on the ground. Before everyone's eyes I rushed towards him, fully intending to knock him into the ground right until the Alphalink, who was really awake, grabbed my leg. "Or not." Shock added, letting out a yell like me as we were sent crashing into the ground, before the Alphalink jumped on top of me and drove me into the ground. Suddenly unable to move, though I did struggle, I heard laughter and he gave me a grin raising his foot. And that's exactly when Chomp smashed into his former comrade, knocking him backwards.
"Traitor!" Mega Elementor yelled as Chomp reached down and grasped my arm, yanking me out of the hole. "You will pay!"
"Cash or check?" I replied launching myself towards our enemy, knocking him even further back before Chomp threw his vines at the monster wrapping his tightly. "Tag team!" I called out and Chomp grinned as he spun his former ally around and around, making me a little dizzy before he threw him. "Let's rock, Flight!" I yelled as I leapt high into the air during my mode switch, taking off and flying right at Mega Elementor. Striking his jaw with my fist I watched with a huge smile as he went flying, only to realise too late that that gave him an oppotunity to escape as he burrowed his way underground. Shaking my head at my own stupidity, not that I'd even admit it, I flew after him only for Commander Forge to call me back.
"Jessie why did you let him escape?" He sighed into my headset and I opened my mouth, hurriedly thinking of an apology. "Never mind. Jefferson, Kat see if you can track him."
"Understood, Commander." Kat and Jefferson both said before their Jump Jets flew off into the distance. Unable to beleieve I'd let one of our most dangerous enemies escape I tried to follow them, only to be called back by Forge and I sighed knowing I was in trouble. But as I flew back to the entrance I heard Berto in my headset this time and what he said next brought a smile to my face.
"Don't let it get to you. Besides he really needs your help with his date." Berto told me, right now standing in his lab and I giggled. "Thought you'd like that so he can't get mad. Meet me in my lab because I have a fun idea." He added as I flew inside the hangar, changing back to Base Mode before I hurried towards his lab. As it turns out Berto's idea was for us to go out as well just without our Commander and Blair knowing that we were there.
"It'll be fun watching Commander Forge struggle on his first date. And besides you could use a night out." Berto explained and I grinned, his arms wrapped around my waist as Shock looked on slightly annoyed. "So is it a deal?" He asked and I nodded, any excuse to hang out with my boyfriend was a great plan as far as I was considered. "Okay well I'll just get changed and we'll head to the restarunt. Be back soon." He said, letting go off me and after he walked away I watched Shock hover beside the computer.
"Okay now that he's gone, what's wrong?" I asked Shock as I lent against the keyboard, keeping my hands clear so I didn't blow his computer up again. "You've been acting a little strange lately and I want to lnow why. You know I respect your ideas and I consider you my brother."
"Yeah I know that Jess, its just...you two seem so close and I guess I get a little jealous when we're not spending time together. Sorry." Shock said and I gave him a grin, lunging forward and pulling him into a tight hug. "Hey!" He yelled not that he really minded when he hugged me back and I let him go.
"Just remember we'll always be close." I told him and he grinned as we waited for Berto to return. When he did, Shock linked and transformed my Base suit. As we headed for Berto's car I grinned loving my dress and silently thanking my best friend for having a lot of fashion sense. By the time we arrived at the restarant and took our seats, Berto being the perfect gentleman by pulling my chair out and helping me into it. As Berto took his seat I heard Shock talking non-stop in my head as I tried to concentrate on what my boyfriend and not my brother was telling me.
"Jessie is something the matter? You're kind of zoning out." Berto asked as we waited patiently for a waiter and I sighed, fiddling with the tablecloth.
"Sorry its just Shock won't stop talking." I replied and Berto let out a chuckle, making me grin at him. "What was it you were saying, Berto?" I asked and he reached across, gently taking my hand in his and I blushed slightly.
"Well I was just poitning out that Forge and Blair are here, just two tables over." Berto repeated and I instantly looked, momentarily forgetting about keeping a low profile. Hiding the embarrassed look I had I watched as Forge coughed adjusting a tie I'd never seen him wear. "Wow wearing a tie? Not in this lifetime." Berto whispered and I fought the urge to giggle.
"So Agent Blair...uh...do I order for you or do you want to? I mean order for yourself or...oh crud." Forge muttered trying his best not to sweat in front of Blair, who gave him a slight smile.
"Relax, Commander Forge. The fact is this is my first date too." Blair replied feeling exactly as nervous. I still can't beleieve that the Commander and I are actually dating, she thought as Forge struggled to come up with something witty to talk about.
"First date? I find that a little hard to believe." Forge said and Blair smiled at him as he set his hands down on the table. "A smart and beautiful woman like you...I mean...I don;t know what I mean." Unable to help it, Blair started to laugh at Forge's failed attempts to complement her and after a few seconds he joined in, reaching across and taking her hand in his.
"They're actually not doing as badly as I thought." Shock commented as Berto and I watched Forge give Blair a smile which she returned, blushing a little once she realized that she and the commander were holding hands.
"Yeah I'm impressed. I wonder if I was that nervous." I said only for Berto to grin at me and I raised an eyebrow. "Okay what's with that look? I wasn't that bad."
"Actually you were...cute." Berto replied and got a blank stare for his trouble. Finally the waiter arrived and as Berto placed our order, I noticed that Forge was stumbling along as he tried to talk to Blair. But just as our food arrived the floor shook, just once and everyone stared downwards. "Okay...what was that?" Berto muttered and I shrugged, looking towards the window and seeing nothing I frowned.
"Did you guys feel that? Felt like an earthquake." I asked just as the ground shook again, several guests muttering amongst themselves and when the ground shook a third time I stood up from the table. "Maybe we should...duck!" I yelled just as something struck the window, not shattering it completely but leaving several spiderweb cracks.
"What's going on?" Blair asked as Forge stood next to her, both almost leaping from their seats as the rest of the restaurant guests immediately hurried towards the exits. I wanted to join them, though not to flee but to fight and that's when Berto grasped my arm.
"We should find out what all the noise is before we rush outside." Berto suggested and I gave him a slight nod, realising that that was the best plan. Not even realising we were there, I saw Forge gently led Blair outside and to a cab.
"But what about you? You're in danger if you stay here." Blair asked and Forge sighed, telling her to get as far away as possible. Giving him a nod she went to get inside then she stood, qucikly giving Forge a kiss on the cheek. Before she left, promising to get to safetly she waved and he returned it a silly grin on his face before the cab drove away. Intending to return to the resturant to make sure it had been evacuated, Forge thought he saw Berto and I just inside. But before he could check a loud bang knocked him to his knees and when he looked again part of the wall had collapsed.
Just seconds before I was standing beside Berto, who was watching with some relief as Blair left in a taxi. Good she's safe so all we need to do now is...
Before he could finish his thought he saw the wall to my left crack and as if in slow motion he dived towards me, knocking me down and covering my body with his own. Then the wall came down, burying us both as Forge watched on from just meters away.
"Jessie! Berto!" He yelled as he rushed towards the front door, only to find it jammed due to the debris and he growled, looking desperately for another way inside. Then he spotted the alleyway and he rushed towards it, hoping and praying it was clear.
"Berto?" I groaned as I lifted my head slighty, my head throbbing from where something had struck it. As I lay there, dizzy and confused, I wondered where my boyfriend had vanished to. Then I heard another groan and as I shifted he rolled off me, lying there beside me and I gasped when I saw the gash across the side of his head. "Oh crap." I whispered before I grased his shoulder and effortlessy turned him over. Now on his back Berto mumbled something and I lent in closer to hear him.
"Call...Forge." He whispered before he lay still and I gasped, instantly searching for his pulse which I couldn't find.
