Disclaimer:  The characters like Joanna, Jonathan, Velvet, Elvis, Carrington and Foster from Perfect Dark all belong to Rareware. But characters like Susan or Nathaniel belong to me.

Chapter two: An unexpected mission

It was the morning sun that wakes Joanna up from her dreamless sleep. It takes her a minute to realize where she really was: in the Carrington Institute's infirmary. The doctor seemed to notice and approached her. Joanna had never seen this guy before. He was a handsome young man that reminds Joanna of someone she has already seen but could not tell who exactly.

" Good morning miss Dark, did you sleep well?"

"Huh, yes…I think so."

The young man smiled, he seems to have notice the strange behavior of Joanna. He also seems to know why she looked at him so strangely.

"Do you think I look like someone you already know?"

"Yes, but I'm not sure who exactly"

"My name is Nathaniel, and I'm Jonathan's little brother"

"Yes you look like him, but in younger and prettier."

Joanna couldn't believe what she had just said. But it was true! This young man seemed to care about what he looked like. Jonathan, well, it wasn't rare to see him with dirty hair that were too long for the taste of Joanna and…his clothes were so disgusting! But Nathaniel didn't seem embarrassed by the compliment, he only laugh and was preparing to explain her what was so funny with her compliment.

"You know, your sister said to me the same compliment that you have just said, with the same comparative with my brother. Poor Jon!

Both of them laugh for a minute before Joanna said something else.

"But, I mean, you seem a little old for my sister. She's only 21!"

"I'm not that old"

"But every doctor are going out from university at almost 30! It's almost ten years of difference!"

"Actually, I'm not a doctor yet, I'm only beginning my studies in medicine"

"But you're at least 25…or something like that?"

"It seems that Velvet is alright, you're too old for me. I'm the same age as her!"

Joanna was very surprised and was very disappointed. She tried to not show it. She decided it was better to change of subject.

"If you're a doctor, what are you doing here and where is the REAL doctor?"

"Doctor Sarah Taylor isn't at the institute in the week end. I replaced her to help me to learn my future job. Don't worry, if I have any problems, I can call her and she'll come."

"Alright. Can I leave now, I'm starving and I don't want you to give me food. Hospital food is always disgusting"

"Let me check your injury before and I will free you from your prison" he said with a smirk

Joanna was stupid to not recognize him before. He had the same very annoying kind of humour as Jonathan.

"So let's see. You seem to have been bitten on the foot. It's not that terrible. The Skedars don't have poisonous fangs. You'll have to use crutches for a few days and after you'll be in perfect health. You were very week yesterday because you lost a lot of blood. But now you seem alright so I will let you leave. Now take these and go tell Velvet how you're disappointed of what she had done."

"What do you mean? What did she do?"

"She stole your future boyfriend," said Nathaniel that though it would be funny to play with Joanna's nerves.

"Go to hell fucking bastard" calmly murmured Joanna

She took his "fucking crutches" and left the infirmary. She joined some employees who were all drinking a coffee. This is what she needed right now, a good coffee. She recognized Foster, her sister and Jonathan who apparently had clean hair this morning. Foster looked at her with a big smile and asked her the last thing she had expected of him.

"Hi Jo! So, when will you and Jonathan begin to practice your kisses!

Jon and Jo asked the same question at the same time.

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

"Huh nothing, see you later guys!" and he left without any explanations.

Velvet looked at them with a very confused look. Before she had the chance to say something, Carrington spoke to the interphone.

"Will Joanna and Jonathan come to my office? I repeat. Will Joanna and Jonathan come to my office?"

"I think Jonathan and me should leave now, see you around sis."

"Yeah, goodbye"

"What was Foster talking about?" asked furiously Joanna

"I…I don't know" simply replied a very confused Jonathan.

They entered Carrington's office. He seemed very busy by what he was working at and it takes him thirty seconds to realize that Jo and Jon were already in his office. He seemed surprised to see them so soon.

"Good morning young people. Please, take a seat."

Jo and Jon exchanged glances. When Carrington was asking them to take a seat, it was never a good sign.

"Elvis explained everything that happened since you suddenly disappeared. You did a great job miss Dark. I bring both of you here this morning to explain you your next assignment. It must warn you it'll begin in a week.

"A week?" asked curiously Jonathan. " But why are you talking about this mission so soon when you always prevent us in average two days before we're beginning it?" Jonathan was proud of himself. He had said all those words without the need to breath.

"Because you'll need to get prepared. Before you ask why Jonathan, I'll explain what are my intentions. When Joanna killed the Skedar King, she weakened their race. But they are not totally destroyed. This race is very vengeful. When they'll regain their forces, I'm almost sure they'll try to annihilate the entire human race. So, we have to destroy them as quick as we can. But we cannot be impulsive, we'll use a strategy very different from just attack them.(we can hear Joanna's sigh) We must take 2 Skedar specimens, we'll study them and find a weak point. After we'll find this week point, Foster's gonna do a special  weapon done to kill them in the most easy way. But to be able to accomplish this, you must infiltrate Datadyne Corp in a friendly way. Since Cassandra's death, this company is in great trouble. They need money and it is what you're going to give them. You will have fictive identities so they won't recognize you. You will be Mr and Mrs Budkington, a couple of young british scientists that dream to do research on species like the Skedars. You're supposed to be a just married couple and Jonathan is supposed to be millionaire.

" I WILL NEVER AGREE TO DO A MISSION LIKE THIS ONE" shouted furiously Joanna.

"Miss Dark, I'm your boss and you'll do what I'll tell you to do. It's not because they won't be bloodbath in this mission that you will refuse it. This mission will be well more difficult that you can imagine, you and Jonathan are the only one I can trust. A couple seem more inoffensive than two coworkers, don't you think? If you refuse, you put your life and the lives of your comrades in danger."

"I would have preferred to kill a thousand skedars than to be Jonathan's wife" murmured Joanna

"Hey, am I that disgusting?"

"Actually YES!"

"Stop your childish arguments, the only thing left I have to say is that you MUST look like a real couple in the most realistic way. I hope you understand what I mean".

"I think I began to understand Foster's strange comment," murmured Jonathan with an unreadable look on his face.

"Can I leave now", asked angrily Joanna.

"So you agreed Joanna" asked Carrington

"It seems that I have no other choice" ,answered Joanna before leaving.

Jonathan watched Joanna leave. He know he's supposed to be as angry as her. For a reason he already knew but refused to accept, he wasn't able to. At least, he was able to guess what is the 2nd thing he don't know about Joanna. She dislikes to be forced to do things she doesn't want to. He saluted politely Carrington. Before he could reach to the doorknob, his boss told him something that displeased him a lot.

"And Jonathan, you're supposed to be rich. So, you have one week to find…well…more suitable clothes. Here, take this money, I don't want you to pay."

"Are my clothes that ugly" he asked with a depressive tone as he take the money.

"I'm sad to tell you yes" said Carrington with a mocking tone in his voice.

Jonathan didn't say anything else and leave. Maybe this is why every woman flee when  they saw him coming. It was because he was a disgusting man…in disgusting clothes. For the first time in his life, he was going to ask his little brother some help.

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"What a good resolution before the party" said Nathaniel with an enthusiastic tone.

"What are you talking about " asked Jonathan

" Velvet and some other employees organized a party for Joanna's return"

" Yeah…I remember now, now can you tell me what is so disgusting about me?"

"Sure! I'll tell ya some advices. First of all, wash your hair, you disgust all the girls from the institute with your greasy, dirty and…

"Alright, alright. Next advice"

" Cut your hair. They're too long…

"ALRIGHT! CAN WE TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE THAN MY HAIR!"

"Sure! Let's talk about your clothes. Well, because you seem very depressed by the pathetic person you've become with the time, I will only tell ya to borrow mine and tomorrow, find a girl to go shop with."

"Fine! After dinner, I'll leave to go find a hairdresser."

"No. Not find a hairdresser. Go to this hairdresser.( he gives him a card ) They do miracle with pathetic men like you."

Jonathan leave the infirmary as quickly as he can. He feel so humiliated!

"Hey Johnny,  I didn't heard any thanks!"

Jonathan let escape a sigh from his mouth and thanked him. He left the infirmary. He take a look at he card…at least he know what's his problem now. He decided that a good lunch was going to cheer him up and leave the institute to have peace. He didn't want to be questioned about the mission and didn't want to see Joanna. He was sure she was going to look at him with a disgusted look that he didn't want to see for now.

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A few hours passed without any other news of Jonathan. Everyone was there for the party except him but Nathaniel seemed sure that he will come. When some people asked him why, he only answers that his brother had to accomplish a special request for his next mission. Joanna was at her table, alone. Yay, she though to herself. Everyone came to a special party organized only for her and they all seemed to do something else than to talk to Joanna. She just wished she was home, eating ships on her couch in front of her TV. She never wanted to go to this party, but she didn't want to tell Velvet. She didn't want to disappoint her sister, with all the trouble she gave herself to organize this. She looked at Velvet and Nathaniel dancing. What a happy couple she though to herself. For the first time in her life, she wished she was her sister. A voice coming from behind her disrupted her from her though.

" Hi Jo. You seem to have fun", said sarcastically Jonathan

She prepared herself to looked at him with a glare. But it changed to a surprised look when she saw what Jonathan looked like. He seemed like a normal person. Did her comment in Carrington's office hurt him that much?

"No need to laugh. I already know what you think. I seem ridiculous am I?" 

"No. The last time I saw you , you seemed well more ridiculous than now. It just…you look like your brother."

"I see. Well, it's not surprising. He's the one who helped me to look like this."

"Hey Jo! You didn't practice yourself to kiss Johnny yet", asked a half drunk Foster.

"Foster, if you don't want me to kick your ass, you're better leave", answered a very annoyed Jonathan

"He's right Jonathan. Well…to look like a real couple…we're better practice some times."

Jonathan looked at her with a very confused look. He never though Joanna will say something like this. He though that maybe it was because of his "new look" that Joanna seem to accept the truth.

"Huh…when are we supposed to practice…"

"Not right now. I won't let this stupid Susan spread some weird rumours about us."

Then Joanna see something that she just hoped she had never seen. Nathaniel was kissing Velvet. She tried to hide her jealousy but Jonathan already seen the look she had on her face.

"Don't tell me you have a crush on this idiot!"

"Do you have a problem with this?"

"You don't have to be jealous. After they slept together, he won't hesitate to dump her as she was a piece of junk. He have different girlfriends each two weeks.

"Are you sure of what you're talking about?"

"He's my brother after all. I know who he really is. The prettiest men aren't always the perfect boyfriend."

Joanna didn't say anything else. Until now, she though that Jonathan was worse than  his brother. But now, she wasn't sure what to think. Maybe that behind his stupid jokes there were a good boy after all.

After a long conversation, they decided they were better leave. Joanna didn't understand why Jonathan only drank a glass of water during the party.

"The last time I was drunk, it seems that I was running everywhere, that I was singing some songs about a  blue boat and that I was always bumping against the wall. I don't want to look like an idiot anymore."

Joanna laugh for about 2 minutes as she imagine Jonathan in such a situation. She wasn't able to drive because of her injury so Jonathan dropped her home. Her sister wasn't there. It seems that she goes with Nathaniel. In a few days, she will have to try some wigs and clothes to change what she looked like. For the first time in her life, she wasn't looking forward her next mission. She didn't know at this moment that this mission will be very different from how Carrington described it, very, very different…

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(Sigh) I already know what you're thinking. This chapter was boring! But I promise on the head of my dog that next chapter will really contain more action and less fluffyness. Now that all the main idea are written, the real story will begin. I'll try to put less romance because I'm sure that a lot of you dislike it. If you found something nice to tell me even if I've done a boring chapter when I promised you action, you can review. Honestly, I don't think I deserve some but if you insist, well, you can. STUPID ME!

Spider-bear: Thanks for your review, it means a lot to me. My first language is French, but even in French I'm always doing punctuation mistakes ,lol.

Peachrocks: I would like to thank you for your review, it's always very appreciated. I liked your theory about perfect dark zero. I would have liked to see Jonathan as the main character but something says to me that Jonathan would not have been present in this game. The developers didn't seem to care about Jonathan at all.

I hope you'll forgive me for this boring chapter. I promise you won't regret to read the next one. I think the third chapter will be ready minimum a few days, maximum one week.