Chapter 8
Racing along the desert sand and working to keep control of her vehicle as it slid on the unstable surface Jun couldn't get the picture his grey eyes she looking into hers became fixated in her mind.
"Dr.Nambu's not here." Ken said jumping out of the Eagle Sharp.
"I wonder where he could be," Ryu looked around scratching his helmet, just as he was about to say something the earth close to them gave way, and the Condor attacker emerged and rolled over to them.
Dr.Nambu jumped out of the driver's seat.
"I've found the source, of the earthquakes." He said approaching them. They all looked at the missile shaped object attached to the top of the car.
"This is going to be tricky." Dr Nambu informed them. Scanning each of their faces he continued. "This probe needs to place precisely in a location beneath the earth in place I have mapped out using data from the probe.
Ken stepped forward, he always assumes he's the right one for the mission Jun silently scolded him.
"I'll do it." He said walking towards the vehicle that hadn't been used by any of them.
"Ken, this needs someone who has the skill of a race car driver-"
"Doctor, I can do it." Ken insisted stepping up to get into the vehicle, he stopped at the sound of everyone gasping.
Jun watched the shadow grow into a person as he approached them, hope leapt into her heart for the first time in over a year. Removing his sunglasses she knew it had been him only an hour before in the mini copter.
Jinpei and Ryu could contain themselves, the pair of them running towards the familiar man tears openly streaming down their faces. They almost bowled him over.
Then he looked into her eyes, not even trying to mask what he felt when returned his gaze.
"Joe…" She breath loudly, she had become so overwhelmed with emotions Jun didn't even realize she had taken a few paces towards him.
Unshed tears stood in Joe's eyes, something about it struck her- and then it hit her snack in the face. She had never seen Joe cry in all the years she had known him.
Eventually her feet moved of their own accord and she found herself standing close enough to touch him. Dressed in a black tracksuit Joe looked at her as she embraced him, tears now freely falling down her face.
"Joe," she sobbed. At least one person she had lost- had now come back into her life, and she had something to cling to.
Then suddenly Joe was ripped from her arms as Ken flew over the top of her." You bastard." He snarled knocking the Condor to the ground, he stood there chest heaving and ready to punch him again.
She couldn't believe her eyes, why would Ken do that? She thought watching the scene in front of her unfolding.
Joe stroked his jaw thoughtfully. "Some things don't change…including the way you punch."
Ken went to help him up, only to have Joe flip him over the top of him, and pounce on the Eagle like a wild cat ready for a mock up fight. In the end they laughed and the embraced as brothers.
Casually the Condor walked over to new Condor attacker." It sounds like you need a driver." He drawled looking at Dr.Nambu.
Dr.Nambu smiled and shook his hand. "Welcome back Joe."
"Don't go saying that yet." He said looking at the car. "So fill me in."
Dr.Nambu began to outline the mission just as a Galactor mecha appeared on the horizon and began making its way snake like across the ground.
"Joe, it looks like you don't have much time." Jun said pointing at the approaching menace.
Cursing Joe jumped into the vehicle and gunned the engines. With more skill than he had ever shown before he raced towards the approaching mecha.
"Come back Joe, please we need you." She told the plumes of dust left behind from his spinning. That was when she felt Ken standing behind her, and he put a hand on her shoulder.
"I should have listened to you…I…" His soft voice choked up with emotion. Then he let go of her shoulder and walked away to watch Joe's pending victory over the mecha and then Joe's vehicle disappeared into the Earth.
"Lets just hope he makes it back." Jinpei said while they waited.
"He will," Jun's faith in him evident in her voice. Ken just continued to stare into the distance. She wondered what he could be thinking about.
The sound of an explosion brought them all out of their daze at Joe returning to them. Jun put her hands over her mouth frozen momentarily as the car Joe had just come back in turned into a molten wreck before their eyes.
They all ran towards the burning wreck when Joe emerged unscathed and walked to wards them.
"How-" Ken began to ask looking at him in amazement.
"I managed to get clear before it blew up." He said casually walking past them towards the ship.
They all exchanged confused glances. If he jumped out before it exploded why didn't we see him? Jun mused, as the reached the ship.
Joe spoke to doctor Nambu briefly as they all stood around anxious to find out what had happened to Joe over the past two years.
"Where have you been Joe?" Ken voiced the question they all had on their minds.
"It's complicated, but to give you an idea a man by the name of Dr.Raphael found me when you went into the base, he operated on me, and save my life…" In a fit of anger Joe balled his fists and hit the side of the ship." I hate Galactor and what they did to me…I hate them and I want revenge more than ever."
Jun's heard the bitterness laced in his words. He had always wanted revenge against them. Now his voice held a different tone to it. Studying his stance and face she saw he had changed, and yet he was still the same.
"It alright Joe, if you don't wish to talk about it now we understand in your own time, you can tell us what happened." Dr.Nambu reassured him.
Joe relaxed a little then. "I should be going." He said reluctantly. He looked away from them like he really didn't want to leave.
"Joe, we want you back on the team with us. It doesn't matter that you have been gone and you know we accept you-"Ken began to lecture.
"Ken I missed those lectures from you." Joe lightened up more and even chuckled.
Jun felt her heart lighten to with his response and Joe shook Ken's outstretched hand.
"Its time to head back, wanna check out the new ship?" Ken invited him. Joe briefly met her eyes, this time however his emotions were guarded as he glanced back at Ken.
"Sure," He said slapping Ken on the back as the five of them leapt into the ship followed by Dr.Nambu.
