Chapter 9: A Distant Cry from the Stars

Jason's immense Super Stardestroyer speeds across the cosmos, followed closely by 2 other standard GSF Stardestroyer battlecruisers. Jason just sits in his chair in the bridge alongside Crystal.

"Jason, do you really think two Destroyers are an adequate escort?" asks Crystal, looking out the thick armored glass at the white dagger-shaped Star Destroyers. "I mean, you ARE the Supreme Commander"

Jason chuckles, "You know very well the capabilities of the Galactic Special Forces' Destroyers. They have 10 times the power of the old Empire's model and The Argo has far more power than most standard System's fleets! You could call this the safest place in the Galaxy." Jason then stops himself from continuing to glorify his fleets and changes the subject. "So, this place you're taking us"

"Oh Jason, you'll absolutely love this restaurant! I swear! It has a dance floor, soothing classical music, and to top it all off, they speak French! Isn't that so cool? The intergalactic language of love..." Crystal had been going on like this ever since they boarded the ship... "You know Jason, being the romantic that I am, I know the French language very well! Watch: Je aime regarder le telephone, tres bien! Je dois manger le restaurant."

Jason raises an eyebrow. "Crystal...you just said you love to watch your telephone very much and that you have to eat the restaurant..."

Crystal's face glows red. "Jason...I had no idea you knew French...that's so romantic..."

"Right...well, I am not perfect in the language bu-" Jason is interrupted by a

"Sir!" from a Coyotebot in charge of monitoring the frequency sensors. "Sir! We are receiving a transmission from our forces on the planet Ordonicor. Shall I bring them up on the main monitor?" says the Coyotebot, ready for his orders.

Jason stands up. "Do so immediately!" With the command given, the metallic warrior brings up the transmission. The main screen comes to life and on it is another Coyotebot.

Coyotebot on monitor: "Master Jason, we are under attack! They took us by surprise, a-and we've lost all of our front line! (looks back as screen fills with static) Our reserve forces are down to 40% (long static)-re around the base! Our planetary coordinates are latitude 57ยบ north and longitu-(transmission is cut)"

"Who is attacking you? Report! (To Coyotebot working on the communications) Try to reestablish contact!" Jason clenches his fists as the soldier tries in vain to reinstate contact with their comrade in peril. The Coyotebot retries several more times, but cannot make contact. Closing his eyes, Jason forces himself to qualm his anger. "All right, we'll have to find out ourselves who the enemy is. These destroyers are the closest things to that location, so we'll have to do. Coyotebot, keep trying to re-contact the planet while (motions to the Coyotebot sitting next to the main communicator bot) call for back-up to send to that area. We have no idea what we are up against, and we best not take chances. The rest of you set course, and lets hope we can get there in time!"

-

Jay, Jake, and Jack sit under a tree in the temple as the stars begin to appear.

"So, how was your day?" asks Jake lazily while laying on the ground.

Jack lays back too and says, "Meh, sokay. I feel out of a tree. How was your day, Jay? (snickers) that rhymes..."

"My day was fine. I carried some bags for Rei. Jake, you?"

"Mina tricked me into paying the bill, but I didn't mind. Heh, you'd think she took lessons from me! (after a pause, he takes a deep breath) Life is-a good."

They all let out a big sigh and stared at the stars. Jay was looking for planets, Jake was trying to follow the stars moving across the sky, and Jack was making his own constellations.

Jack turned on his side to face his companions. "Hey guys, where's Jacob?"

"Do you guys think love is more than just emotion?" utters a detached Jake under his breath.

"What the blazes does that have to do with Jacob?" asks Jay, blatantly showing his annoyance with Jake's distant consciousness.

Jake stretches while continuing to look up. "Huh? Oh, I was just wondering. I think Jacob went to Lita's. I wonder why he hasn't come back yet..."

Jay sits up. "You guys don't think he's..." (Remember kids, they mean playing Melee)

After a short silence, Jake decides to cover for his brother. "Nah, Jacob follows Jason's example. Heh, Jacob is too shy for his own good sometimes. Why, I bet when he gets married he'd ask his wife's permission so he could kiss her goodnight!"

They all snicker to themselves at that thought. The wind blows through the trees, making a gentle ruffle in the leaves. It was getting cold, but our trio didn't mind. Time seemed to slow down, as if allowing them a few minutes more than the rest of the world for some relaxation.

"You know...Jason wasn't so bad..." says Jack, as if admitting to a lie.

"Yeah, he did do a good job of raising us. I mean he took care of us while raising himself too. I feel kinda bad that we abandoned him." Jake sighs and stares at the ground.

Jay stands up. "What are you two talking about?! Ok, so Jason did teach us what we know, but we also know what he did. He's destroyed entire planets on a whim; he's blown up whole STAR SYSTEMS because they had nothing to offer him! I'm glad we got away...he was just using us a tools for his conquest."

Jake props himself onto his elbows and looks at Jay and replies in a calm, thoughtful voice. "Jay, you know that he never destroyed anything under the GSF. He only did that because those planets and systems were a threat to people. In fact, we were no better than he. It was you and me who stole the plans to the Death Stars and Sun Crusher. We even helped Jason in constructing the versions of those stations that were used."

Jay's anger was rising all the while Jake was talking. "So, you think because the planets and systems Jason had destroyed were considered a threat that it wasn't a sin to wipe them out? Jake, at least we realized how wrong it was. Besides, you know damn well that Jason doesn't use the Death Stars and Sun Crusher all the time, only when he doesn't 'Feel a power of his stature is needed for such a low assignment.' He's bloodied his own hands without those wretched machines!"

Jake stands up as well. "I'm not defending Jason's actions, but you also know that I too have blown apart planets without the use of any infernal machine! Does that mean I should have been in your gunsights when we betrayed our own family member?"

"And why did you reduce planets to ashes? Because Jason ordered you to, or at least trained you to do so. For anotha point, you and Jason are the only ones in our family that CAN destroy planets with an attack because you imitated the late Vegita's Galit gun and Jason copied Freeza's Deathball! God damn it Jake! This is just like before we decided on our liberation! Get it into your head that Jason is evil!"

"He's my brother!!"

"Shut it you Goku rip off! Didn't Jason also tell us that you must be prepared to kill even your own brother if the need arises?" answers Jay with a sneer across his face.

"Goku rip off?! Where the hell do you get that from?" yells Jake.

Jay folds his arms and says in a matter-of-fact tone of voice, "Well, you have his hairstyle, you use ki for your specialty, and you even do the Kamehameha... "

Jake was close to exploding. "Yeah, and you'll see one light up your face if you keep talkin'!"

Jack had silently been watching as he normally does when Jay and Jake get into a fight. If he were luckier he'd be treated to a nice battle, but under present circumstances, with the girls and them being in hiding and all, it wasn't the best thing on the menu. However, it was always funny to see these two go from mature to juvenile so quickly.

-

While all of the above events were happening, Storm and Tron had taken a seat at one of the eating areas of the base. After eating a quick snack (courtesy of the fine Coyotebot cook) they resort to conversation. The empty room resounded any noise made, so they talked quietly.

"Well, tonight I'll scout the area for them. I'll take a team of Coyotebots with me just in case of any misfortune, but you needn't worry." Storm takes another sip from his drink after finishing the sentence.

Tron sighs into her cup. "Well, I hope you don't run into all four of them. One would be tough enough."

"Don't worry, I'm not foolish. If I find the rebels I shall call for backup. However, I will destroy any opposition that comes my way."

Tron looks at the clock. She is about to say something when she is interrupted by a klaxon blaring. A message comes on the P.A.

Voice: "Attention! Backup request issued. All on-duty backup forces of the 11th Destroyer division report to South docking bays Eight, Nine, and Ten. Prepare to deploy immediately. Set coordinates to planet Ordonicor. That is all."

Storm stands up, his chair making a loud squeaking noise as it rubs against the floor. He leans forward, putting his hands on the table. "Planet Ordonicor? Isn't that near Master Jason's route?"

Tron gasps as she realizes it. "Storm, you're right! There aren't any bases in that far off area besides the one on that planet... knowing Jason, he's gone there to help with his Battlecrusiers!"

"I'm sorry Miss Bonne, but I have to go. If Master Jason ordered that backup he may be in serious danger!" Storm stands up straight and rushes towards the door.

Tron stands up too and shouts, stopping Storm at the door. "Storm! I'm sure Jason will be fine. You don't have to get so worked up about it."

Storm turns to face Tron and says in his deep, knightly voice, "Miss Bonne, you don't understand. Commander Jason is my master, and I owe him my very existence. He rebuilt and upgraded me from the parts he found remaining after I had been blasted into wreckage by Megaman X during the first Maverick uprising. It is in my personality to be loyal to my superior."

"Storm...Ohhhhh, be careful then! Hey, I got a repair team to help me finish the repairs on your Star Destroyer, you can take that for your mission. Sorry I didn't finish the repairs to your Super Stardestroyerbut I hope what I did was enough to help you." Tron had to let the noble reploid do what he had to.

Storm bows to Tron. "Thank you Miss Bonne, I shall return to you as soon as possible. With such a lady as yourself to return to, I would be willing to survive anything to see you again. Till then, my Lady." With that Storm bolts out the door and towards the nearest teleporter to the docking bay with his Stardestroyer.

Tron's face lights up with a smile as Storm leaves. "I didn't know Jason taught him some smooth talk. (She traces the rim of her cup with her finger and lets out a quiet sigh) If only he would call me Tron..."

-

Lights flicker on and off on the control board in the bridge of an unknown Starship. A robotic voice reads the newly gathered information to the Captain of the ship.

"Distress signal coming in. Request backup. Sources confirm message sent from Supreme Galactic Commander Jason Simmons of the Galactic Special Forces." says the machine in its cold voice.

A figure sitting in the Captain's seat sits up, his fox-like ears stand upright at the mention of Jason's name. Unfortunately, we can only see the back of the chair. (Oh isn't the suspense killing you?)

The one sitting in the chair speaks to himself. "Jason...well, isn't that a pleasant surprise. So he needs help? Oh, we'll help him alright. Set course to the planet Ordonicor!"

The order given, the Dreadnought-class Starship speeds to the target planet.