It had been a year since N-Tek and yours truly had captured Metal Elementor. Even with constant attacks by Dredd, Extroyer and Toxzon I had somehow managed to finish my school year.
As well as helping N-Tek protect Copper Canyon when I didn't have school, I spent a lot of my time training with Max Steel. When I actually had free time (which wasn't often sadly) I helped my boyfriend, Berto work on a new secret project. Something called the 'Connect Tek' whatever that was. Though right now I was getting ready for school and Berto was helping the rest of N-Tek on the Daelalus platform, the very same platform used to fight back against Makino's invasion.
We'd been so busy lately that Berto and I hadn't had even a spare moment to spend together but after seeing my face fall for the third time after Berto had to cancel on one of our dates, he sighed.
"Sorry Jessie, how about you meet me here and we go from there?" Berto said and I nodded, chewing my lip. "I promise I'll be here no matter what." He added with a laugh and I hugged him so tight he coughed. "See you after school..bella." He grinned, waving goodbye as he headed for the Hangar.
Not getting my hopes up once again I changed to Jet Mode, flying towards Copper Canyon with a grin on my face.
Right now I was waiting for school to end during the first day back, which Shock found slightly amusing.
"You know it's only the first day back and you can't keep still." Shock laughed and I just shrugged, drawing in my notebook as Mr Thornhill talked. "Is it because you're having dinner with Berto tonight?"
"That's not it...okay maybe it is." I whispered, trying to concentrate. "But we haven't had a break, what with Berto working on the Daeldalus platform and us fighting bad guys."
"Don't I know it? Haven't had a day off since Dredd showed up. At least the Elementors are safely behind bars." Shock answered just as the school bell rang. "Perfect timing."
"Yeah. I wonder if Berto's still working on the platform." I asked as I climbed from my seat, grabbing my backpack. "Hope Commander Forge isn't working him too hard since he promised we'd meet after school."
"You know Commader Forge." Shock said as we hurried out of the classroom.
"Where's the fire, Jess?" Max laughed when I almost knocked him over. "A date?" He said as Kirby, Butch and Sydney joined us in the hallway near my locker.
"Yeah with Berto. Sorry but he's picking me up at N..at work and I don't want to be late." I quickly answered, cheeks red at almost telling them about N-Tek. As I raced outside, Shock laughed in my head at my little slip up.
"Way to go, Jess." Shock chuckled as I rushed outside, finding a spot in transform. "What part of 'secret organization' do you not get?"
"Whatever, Shock. Can we just go? Let's rock, Jet!" I called out, Turbo energy changing us from Camo Mode to Jet Mode before we took to the skies.
Taking to the skies I grinned, enjoying the sunshine as we made our way to the secret warehouse entrance replacing the original base destroyed by Dredd and Makino. We had just reached the lift when I paused, Shock changing us back to Base Mode before he detached from me.
"Something wrong, Jessie?" He asked and I shrugged after a moment, not sure why I'd stopped walking. In the silence that followed we used the lift, my mind on the date and not much else. It wasn't until we reached the base that I blinked, stunned by how quiet it was.
"That's weird. Usually there's someone working in the hallway. They couldn't all by on the platform could they?" I commented as Shock hovered at eye level.
"It's a big platform but not that big. Wonder where they all went?" Shock replied just we both heard an alarm sounding. "That's coming from the Com Room. Come on!"
"Wait up!" I called out, tapping into my speed and in less than a minute we were both standing in the Com Room.
"What's going on?" I called out as Shock typed at the computer's keyboard."I just came from school and now there's an alarm."
After a few seconds Berto's face appeared onscreen and I grinned, only to frown once I saw him looking tense. "Berto, is something wrong?'
"The Daelaus platform, it's being attacked!" Berto called out and I paled, staring at the Video Link. To my horror I saw someone trashing the platfrom, agents being thrown left and right as they tried to stop a tall pale man in a long black overcoat.
"Hang on, I'll be right there to...look out!" I cried out as that same man loomed behind him. Berto spun around at my warning but I didn't see what happened next before the video cut out, leaving me in the dark. "Berto!"
"Jessie, calm down! We need to get up there and help our friends." Shock said but I just kept staring at the screen, not even looking at my best friend. With a frustrated growl, Shock flew directly in front of me. "Jessie!" He shouted into my face and my head jerked back, eyes wide.
"Shock?" I whispered, biting my lower lip. "If something's happened to him I...don't know what I'll do."
"Jess, don't freak out okay? N-Tek needs our help and we can't do that standing around here. Now just take a deep breath and let's go!" Shock told me, his arms on my shoulders and I nodded. Taking a breath I let it out slowly, silently wondering if Berto was okay. Better to get up there and find out before I lose it, I thought.
"Let's rock, Jet Mode!" I called out, letting the familar burst of Turbo energy engulf us. A few minutes later we were in the air, Shock tracking the Daedalus' movements as I sped up. "Any updates?" I asked and Shock sighed not helping my nerves.
"Sorry, Jess but I can't get through. We're almost there anyway so just relax until we get there." Shock answered when I sighed this time, heart racing when the platform came into view. But just when I shot through the door I cried out, slamming into a barrier. Sprawling to the floor I groaned, changing back to Base Mode from the impact.
"Oohhh...that really hurt." I groaned, Shock detaching before he grabbed my hand helping me up. "Thanks...gonna feel that tomorrow." I muttered, stumbing to my feet. Rubbing my now aching head, I went in search of my friends. Moving quickly, I headed towards the main communications room, stumbling over something lying on the floor. The moment I looked down I gasped, kneeling beside the motionless body of my boyfriend. "Berto!"
"Jessie!" Jefferson called out, moving to my side. Not even sparing my fellow N-Tek agent a glance I lifted Berto off the ground, cradling his head against my chest.
"Mierda, mireda, mireda!" I snarled in Spanish, tears springing into my eyes before I could stop them.
"Jessie, he's not dead!" Shock shouted, flying into my face and I jerked back, just catching Berto's head before it could slam into the floor. "Get a hold of yourself, okay? He's just knocked out."
"Okay...okay. Deep breaths." I muttered only to hear a cough and I stared down at Berto just as his eyes slowly opened. "Don't give me a heart attack...idiota."
"Whoa, what's going on?" Berto muttered, taking my hand when I offered it. Helping him up he staggered towards the keyboard controlling the platform, frowning after a few seconds of frantic typing. "We've been hacked!"
"That's impossible! No one has access to the controls beside us." Forge growled and I jumped, heart beating wildly.
"Like Berto said we've been hacked. Thanks for the heart attack, Commander Forge." I growled, standing beside Berto. "The question is who did this and why?"
"That would be me, little girl." Someone chuckled and I growled as the same man in the overcoat stepped into my viewpoint. I raised a hand, Shock linking but before I could attack he slowly shook his head. "I wouldn't advise attacking me or you'll regret it."
"I'm 18 not a little girl and...oh forget it! Let's rock, Unite! Frost and Shock!" I yelled, ignoring the N-Tek agents who fired on our new foe. "You're going down...whoever you are!" I shouted taking aim with both my cannons. On either side of me I saw Jefferson, Kat, Forge, even Molly and Jim taking aim. Even with the help of several agents who fired seconds after us, our weapons rebounded off a shield. "Oh you have got to be kidding. He has a shield?!" I shouted, lowering my weapons.
"My name is Professor Mortum and to be honest that is the last name you'll hear." He laughed, not even flinching when Jim lunged with his Turbo Sword. I watched on sppechless as Professor Mostrum blocked the attack with his hands, grabbing the sword and Jim's eyes went wide. With a grin, Professor Mortum crushed the sword between his fingers the recoil sending Jim directly into the wall behind him. "That was amusing. Now...tell me what you know about the Connect-Tek." He growled, grabbing Jim around the throat.
"I'd rather die." Jim spat and the villain rolled his eyes. Throwing him to the floor, I glared at the villain. Tired of seeing my friends beaten I raced forward only to scream, slamming into the sparking keyboard. The wind knocked out of me I gasped, trying to stand but my legs buckled underneath me and I lay there unable to move.
"I still need you so instead...you'll come with me while N-Tek's only defense crashes to the ground." Professor Mortum said, his hands glowing and I struggled in vain as my body was lifted into the air along with everyone on board. Unable to escape I opened my mouth, a scream emerging before I vanished along with everyone else on the Daedalus Platform.