"Shock, leave me alone. Trying to sleep." I mumbled, feeling someone poking my shoulder. "Ugh...I'm not feeling too great right now."
"It's me, Jess." A different voice answered and I cracked open my eyes to find Berto standing next to me, a blanket wrapped around his body. "I'm freezing and I was wondering if...I could maybe share with you?" He asked, a faint blush on his cheeks. Whether that was from embarassment or his fever I didn't know.
"You know I have a better idea." I replied and Berto tilted his head to one side, looking slightly confused. "Trust me."
"Okay this is way better. Nice one." Berto said, head against one of my pillows and I giggled. Until he sneezed and I turned my head slightly. "Heh...sorry."
"Don't worry...'bout it." I sighed, feeling my eyes droop. "Just get some sleep." I told him, hearing a yawn behind me. Resting my head on one of my two pillows, the other being used by Berto, I closed my eyes ignoring my itchy nose.
It felt like I'd only just closed my eyes wehn I heard a voice, Shock's this time, telling me to wake up. "Ugh...I'm sick. Can't I sleep?" I groaned, opening my eyes when he poked my cheek.
"Sorry, Forge's orders not mine. He needs everyone in the Com Room." Shock answered, crossing his arms as Berto sat up. Rubbing at his eyes, Berto stumbled from the bed as he headed for the door of my dorm room.
"Come on, let's see what he wants." Berto muttered, yawning as he opened the door. With a sigh I rose from the bed following close behind. It wasn't until we reached the Com Rom that I sneezed, wiping my eyes as Berto stood beside me.
"God, my nose itches. Plus my head feels funny." I complained as Forge raised an eyebrow at us. "What do you need...Commander Forge?" I asked, swaying a little.
"Shouldn't you two be...never mind. Max needs backup right now." Forge answered, pointing to the computer in front of us. "It's the Elementors who we failed to capture."
"Thanks for reminding me." I grumbled, focusing on the computer and not my aching head. Or itchy nose and watery eyes. "What do you want us to do?"
"Go after Max and back them up. Berto, I need you to send C.Y.T.R.O after them." Forge ordered and I nodded, heading at a sprint towards the hangar.
"On it, Chief." Berto said, coughing a little before he rushed towards his lab.
"Maybe they shouldn't be running around." Forge muttered as he stared at the screen.
"Jessie, are you sure you should be up? I know catching the Elementors is important but so is your health." Shock said as we flew towards the canyon and I sighed, fighting back a sneeze. "Well I tried."
"Jessie, can you hear me?" Berto said and I turned my head to see C.Y.T.R.O flying beside us. "It's a little surprising that we're being called to help."
"Yeah I know but what can you do?" I replied, wobbling a little. "Huh what's that down there?"
"Looks like Max Steel and a weird looking monster...no, wait it's Water and Air." Shock pointed out and I sighed, heading towards the ground. Right at that moment I couldn't stop a sneeze and without meaning to I lost control over Flight Mode. "Jessie, look out!"
It didn't help and I smacked into the ground, leaving me with a worse headache. "Oww...like I needed that." I groaned, climbing to my feet as C.Y.T.R.O landed beside me. "Still let's ro..ock." I mumbled, weaving on the spot. "Don't feel...so good. Can't see...straight."
"Jessie, your temperature's through the roof. You okay?" Shock said, not expecting me to fall backwards. "Jessie!" He yelled, detaching from my collarbone. "Hey speak to me." He said as I transformed back to my Base suit, a groan escaping.
"Hang on, Jessie! I'll...whoa...suddenly I don't feel...so good." Berto mumbled and with a crash C.Y.T.R.O fell backwards. "Head...feels like it's on fire." He groaned, pressing a gloved hand against his forehead.
"Guys, what's going on?" Forge asked, stepping to Berto's lab to find the scientist gripping the keyboard. "Berto, are you okay?" He said and Berto raised his head to stare at the Commander. Vision blurred, Berto wiped his forehead of the sweat build up.
"Not...really, chief." Berto groaned, falling to his knees. Just as Forge raced over he collapsed, body slumping against the cold floor.
"Oh crud. Berto, wake up!" He shouted and Berto mumbled something.
"Don't wanna...no school today." He mumbled and Forge rolled his eyes, lifting the semi-conscious scientist into his chair.
"Jessie, come on. What's the situation?" Forge said only to see Shock hovering beside his best friend. "Shock, what's going on?"
"Well Max's fighting against a merged Air and Water Elementor and Jessie's out cold. Any other bright ideas, Commander?" Shock muttered, grabbing Jessie by the shoulders.
"Just perfect. I'll call Kat and Jefferson back to help. Just sit tight." Forge answered, calling his two best agents.
"This is just great. Jessie and Berto are both sick and Forge wants you two to fight. What was he thinking?" Shock grumbled, dragging Jessie by her shoulders across the ground. Every so often she groaned, her head bumping a rock and Shock cringed. "Oops, sorry."
"Mm...wanna go...back to bed." I mumbled and he rolled his eye, propping me against a rock.
"You can soon. Just as soon as Kat and Jefferson get here...oh boy." Shock muttered as Max Steel used Speed Mode to outrun the merged Elementors. Only to realize he was leading them towards his friends and Max stopped.
"When did you two get...here?" Max said, staring at Jessie who had passed out again.
"Stay still so I can smash you!" Water growled, raising a fist over Max's head.
"Go Turbo, Cannon!" Max yelled and the merged creature took a step back as he transformed. In a heartbeat, Max charged up the mode launching it at the creature. Who roared as they were flung backwards to crash into the ground, kicking up dirt and rocks.
"Thanks, guys. I could use a hand here." Shock said and that's when they all heard something fly past them. "Nice timing."
"Those Elementors are going down, curtisy of some well placed missiles." Jefferson laughed, sending another barrage their way. Roaring, Elementor shielded the orbs on its head.
"Puny humans. You won't take us." Earth and Fire roared from the one form, embers shooting from his head and arms. "Take this!" He growled, rushing towards us but Kat intervened.
"Heads up!" Kat called and Max Steel shielded us as the missiles blasted the Elementor, causing it to step backwards. With a grin, Max Steel leapt forward transforming into Strength Mode in midair. With a grin, he raised his fists slamming them directly on top of the orbs. Crying out the Elementors flew backwards, stunned and that gave Kat and Jefferson the chance to capture them.
"That was a blast. Okay now that that's done. Go Turbo, Flight!" Max said and within a few seconds he had transformed.
"Better get you back to N-Tek." Max Steel said and Shock rolled his eyes as the Turbo user lifted Jessie into his arms. "Come on, I had four Elementors to take care of. Give me a break."
"Wait, four? Where's Metal?" Shock asked, linking with Jessie and Max shrugged. "Look we'd better get her back first."
"You think?" Steel muttered as they took to the air. As they hurried back, several agents arrived in ROCC vehicles to help bring the Elementors aboard.
When they arrived back at N-Tek, Max rushed towards the Medical Bay. Hurrying inside he found Berto lying on one of the beds, Agent Blair standing beside the bed.
"Jessie passed out just after we arrived. Nice to see you again by the way."Shock told Agent Blair who produced a stethoscope. Pulling up Berto's shirt she listened closely to his heartbeat. "How's Berto?"
"Heart rate is slower than normal but he'll be alright as long as he rests." She said, glancing at Forge with a frown. "Now to check Jessie." She added, moving to Jessie's side as Max set her down on the next nearest bed. After spending a few minutes checking her heartbeat, Blair straightened.
"Well?" Shock said, not liking the silence but she nodded.
"Jessie's heart is a little sluggish but that's probably due to stress. They both need to take some medicine and get a lot of rest. No fighting for them for at least a few days." Blair said just as Berto stirred awake, a low groan escaping as he opened his eyes.
"Where...what's going on?" He asked, struggling to sit. Flying over, Shock pressed a hand against his shoulder.
"You passed out about the same time as Jessie. Now you need to take some medicine and get rest." Shock replied as Blair moved towards the cupboard, taking a small bottle from it. Shaking out two pills she returned the bottle back to the cupboard.
"Here, take one of these." Blair said and Berto nodded, taking one of the two tablets in Blair's hand. Swallowing he grimaced as Blair stepped towards Jessie. "Jessie?"
"Here, let me. Hey, Jessie." Shock said and I groaned, eyelids flickering to find my best friend hovering beside my head.
"What...happened? And why does my head feel like something stomped on it?" I whispered, sitting to find Agent Blair standing there. "Hey, long time no see."
"Hello again, Jessie. Here, this should make you feel better." She said and I sighed, taking the offered tablet. Swallowing it I coughed, mainly due to the bitter taste before I lay back.
"Hope...so." I mumbled, closing my eyes.
"That's better. Now I'll just get them some blankets." Blair said, helped by Max and Forge. "Now I'll check on them every few hours but they should make a full recovery."
"I shouldn't have let them fight." Forge said a short time later in the Com Room and Blair sighed, tapping him on one shoulder.
"You meant well but they both have high temperatures. At the very least they need to keep warm and rest." Blair said and Forge nodded, still looking a little guilty. "Don't worry about it, Commander. They're both going to be fine, stop looking so worried."
"Is it that obvious?" Forge chuckled as they stood in the Com Room. "I guess I'd better check on the N-Tek agents bringing the Elementors to the Stasis Cells."
"Could you use some company?" Blair asked and he nodded, running a hand through his hair when she casually intertwined her arm in his.
"Huh, can't believe a cold brought you two down." Shock muttered and I cracked open an eye to stare at him. "Didn't realize you were awake, Jess."
"Yeah...for now anyway. What's up?" I muttered and he linked with me.
"Keeping an eye on you what else?" Shock replied and I grinned, eye closing.
Only to wake to coughing and I opened my eyes, finding Berto hunched over. With a blanket wrapped around him he coughed, a hand pressed to his chest. "You...okay?" I asked and he turned his head, still coughing. Sighing, I rose from my bed heading his way.
"Not...really. Sorry if I woke...you, bella." Berto muttered, coughing as I reached his side. "Not feeling so great."
"That's okay. You're as sick as me." I replied, sitting beside him and he gave me a weak smile. Touching his forehead I sighed, feeling the heat radiating there.
"Yeah...feels like a furnace in here. Or maybe that's just me." Berto replied as I wrapped my blanket around us both. "And you." He added as I touched my forehead to his.
"Feeling a little...sleepy. Mind if I stay here for...a while?" I asked, struggling to keep my eyes open and he nodded. Lying back, Berto shifted until he was lying face to face with me. "Thanks."
"No problema...Jess." Berto sighed, closing his eyes as I let out a yawn.
We must have fallen into a deep sleep because I woke to find two glasses of water and a pair of tablets perched on the table next to us. Groaning, I tried to sit only to find Berto's arms wrapped around me and I sighed. "Hey...Berto." I whispered and he groaned, snuggling into me. "Looks like Blair left some medicine for us." I told him and he finally opened his eyes.
"Can you get it?" He asked and I nodded, ruffling his hair. "Hah...hah."
Crossing the room I grabbed the medicine and the glasses, heading back to find Berto with his eyes closed. "Hey, wakey wakey." I grinned despite my fever and he sighed, opening his eyes to find me standing there. "Here you are." I said, giving him the tablet and his share of the water. Taking the tablet I grimaced, almost immediately drinking the water. "Man I hate tablets." I complained and Berto chuckled, handing me the empty glass.
"Quit complaining. At the very least...we get a break." Berto answered, adjusting the blanket and I rolled my eyes. Finishing my water, I returned to the glasses to their original spot before I returned to the bed. "Lo siento, bella."
"I..froze you so I should be apologizing. Get some rest...okay?" I whispered and Berto grinned, wrapping his arms around me. "I...should do the same."
"Yep...you should." Berto muttered as I snuggled into the blanket. Less than a minute later we both fell asleep and Shock chuckled, detaching from me.
"You two sure can sleep. Still this gives me a chance to look for our missing stray, namely Metal Elementor." Shock said, looking at his best friend and her boyfriend with a grin. "See you later." He added, leaning in to brush a lock of my hair away from my face.
Not even noticing, I sighed shifting my legs against my stomach. Flying into the corridor, Shock almost plowed into Max and Steel who took a step back as the Ultralink shook himself.
"Whoa, where's the fire?" Max asked getting a blank stare from Shock. "Never mind. Where's Jessie and Berto? Last I heard they fainted."
"They're both in the Medical Bay, hopefully recovering from the flu. Anyway did you two manage to find Metal Elementor?" Shock answered and Max shook his head. "Hope he's not up to something."
"What could one Elementor do?" Max said, grinning and Shock sighed. "Look we have to get home..some of us have school tomorrow."
"Hey it was an accident, Jessie freezing Berto. You know she didn't do that on purpose especially not to her boyfriend." Shock muttered and Max raised a hand.
"Yeah, sorry. Tell her I hope they both feel better. Gotta go or I'll be late for dinner." Max answered and Shock nodded, Steel linking with his best friend. As they raced away, Shock sighed to himself.
Now that you mention it that Elementor hasn't shown his face in a while, I hope he's not planning a sneak attack or something. Jessie's in no condition to defend herself right now.
"Kat, Jefferson any luck find Metal Elementor?" Forge asked from the Com Room as Blair stood beside him. "That bad huh?"
"Sorry, Commander but ever since we captured the other four it's like he's vanished." Kat answered, hovering over the canyon. "Should we keep looking?"
"No, you've done everything you can. Come back to base." Forge ordered, staring at the computer in front of him.
"Metal Elementor wouldn't attack the base, not on his own." Blair answered and Forge nodded, one eyebrow raised in surprise. "I just guessed what you were thinking." She said with a shrug.
"I suppose it is obvious. With Jessie and Berto recovering I need to make sure nothing gets into the base. I just hope none of our enemies find out about this." Forge told her and she smiled, giving his hand a squeeze. When his cheeks burning he coughed and Blair let out a giggle. "Yes...well, I'm going to check on the entrance. Care to join me?"
With a smile, Blair nodded unable to resist taking his offered hand. As they headed towards the entrance, I shifted in my sleep. I let out a low groan and that woke Berto, who opened his eyes to find me shivering.
"Huh...Jessie, you okay?" He yawned, stroking my cheek and I opened my eyes to find him staring at me.
"Did...I wake you?" I mumbled and he nodded. "Sorry...bad dream I guess." I sighed only to hear a gurgle and Berto let out a weak laugh. "Think I'm feeling better." I giggled just as we both heard a second gurgle.
"I...think I am too. Want to get something to eat?" Berto replied as I sat up and I nodded. Keeping our blankets wrapped around us, we walked hand in hand towards the cafeteria. "So what do you want? Cheeseburgers?"
"Yep you know me well." I answered with a tiny smile and he grinned back, walking away as I adjusted my blanket. "Still treating me nice after I gave him the flu. Man, am I lucky." I whispered, waiting patiently.
"Here you go, bella." Berto said and I smiled, taking two burgers from him plus a can of soda. Thanking him, I started to eat taking the occassional drink from my can. Berto must have been as hungry as I was because he ate two burgers by himself, drinking his soda in between bites.
"Much better." I sighed, pushing the empty tray to one side of the table. "Head's still a little fuzzy though. How 'bout you?" I asked Berto, trying not to giggle when I saw his head resting on the table.
"Talk later...sleep now." Berto sighed, slipping his hand under his head. With a yawn, I rubbed my eyes.
"Good idea...pretty sleepy all of a sudden." I muttered, copying him. We both fell asleep soon after, not even noticing the sounds of footsteps as they approached.
"They both look so peaceful." Blair said, looking down at Jessie who shifted her head. "But it can't be very comfortable using the table as a pillow."
"Maybe we should move them back to the Medical Bay...or maybe Berto's dorm. It is closer than Jessie's." Forge suggested, looking down at his chief scientist officer with a tiny smile. Said scientist had his mouth hanging opening and was openly drooling on the table and he bit back a laugh, reaching down.
I felt something, a tug on my arm before someone hoisted me into the air. I opened my eyes halfway to find someone carrying me and once I saw the metal arm I sighed, knowing exactly who it was. Could have...given me some warning, I thought as my eyes slowly closed.
"Are they still asleep?" Blair asked, trying not to laugh as Forge carried Jessie and Berto one in each arm. Hearing a snore she clamped a hand over her mouth, stifling a giggle.
"I believe so. I knew Jessie can sleep through anything but Berto?" Forge answered, a deep chuckle emerging when Jessie leant against his cybernetic arm.
"You learn something new everyday. They look pretty peaceful considering..." She trailed off when Forge frowned. "Sorry, I keep bringing that up don't I?"
"It's fine, Blair. I shouldn't have let them leave N-Tek when they were sick." Forge answered as they continued towards Berto's dorm.
"They're going to be fine, Commander. Now let's leave them in the dorm so they can get some rest." Blair said as they reached the row of dorms and he nodded. Blair opened the door before she stepped back, warning Forge about the doorway just before he bumped his head. This time Blair let out a giggle as he frowned at the door, carefully ducking before he set both Jessie and Berto down on the bed. "Sorry but that was pretty funny." Blair whispered, entering the dorm.
"Okay but it hurt." Forge replied, rubbing the top of his head as she covered Berto and Jessie with a blanket. Still wrapped up in theirs, neither moved an inch and she sighed.
"They look pretty sweet together. Never noticed that before. Just like Henry and Claire did." Blair whispered as they stepped back through the doorway, Forge closing the door behind them.
"Hmm...is someone...there?" I mumbled, opening my eyes to find Berto lying next to me. "Where...are we?"
"Jess, you in there?" Shock called, opening the door I'd only just noticed. "There you are. You kind of disappeared."
"Did I? Can't remember. I was eating in the cafeteria with Berto then...nothing." I answered, lifting my head and he sighed. Linking with me, Shock chuckled.
"Don't worry about it. Your temperature's gone down a bit but you still don't look very well. Get some rest, okay?" Shock whispered, keeping his voice low so he didn't wake Berto.
"Thanks, I'll do that." I replied with a yawn, resting my head on a pillow as my eyelids closed.