Disclaimer: I don't own perfect dark. The game and its characters all belong to Rareware, except for Nathaniel and Susan that are mine.
Chapter four: The Buckingtons, the savior of Datadyne
Jonathan was the first one to wake up. He was very surprised by the location of where Jo was sleeping…but it makes him sad too. He knew this was certainly the last time he'll be so near of her. He also knew that the only kind of love that she will ever show him would only be a lie. He sighs. I'm better keep this a secret, he thought to himself. If someday he had the courage to tell her…well…he doubt that she will ever want to talk to him again. She began to move a little bit. She was waking up. At least…he'll be able to annoy her with this.
"Good morning, honey, did you sleep well", asked Jonathan with his very annoying british accent.
It takes her a few seconds to realize where she was and to begin to panic…
"You bastards! Get off of me!", shouted a furious Joanna.
"I can't get off you. You're on me darling"
It takes another few seconds before Joanna realized it wasn't his fault. It was hers. She turned to crimson red and abruptly gets off him. Apparently…too abruptly. She fell on the floor with a big boom
"Owww…damn…"
"Are you alright my love…»
"Stop calling me like this, Jonathan", answered angrily Joanna
"What are you talking about? My name's James and you like it when I call you with cute names." innocently answered Jonathan.
His reply was answered with a big slap
"Ouch, what are you doing? Are you in your period or what?", with a none-british accent.
This other reply cost him another slap in the face…bigger this time.
"Alright, I understood. I will shut up until we go to datadyne even if you're beating me.", answered Jonathan desperately.
Joanna looked at him and sighed. He didn't deserve this. He couldn't hold himself of always doing these kinds of jokes. She felt very guilty.
"I'm sorry. This is my entire fault. When I slept, I always have this problem. I give you the authorization to punish me. What do you choose for punishment?"
"Let me think about it.", said Jonathan with a mischievous smile on his face.
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20 minutes later
Jo was eating her breakfast. She looked at the instruction that Carrington had given her. The mission seemed very simple. They patiently negotiate with the new boss of Datadyne and if he refuses, they only have to show him the wallet full of money an agent of the institute gave her a few days after the crash. The Skedars won't hesitate to collaborate, they'll just be happy to get rid of their two weakest Skedars. When Joanna stopped reading the folder and looked at Jonathan that was apparently waiting for her to see him, she just froze. She didn't know what to say.
"It seems that you slept very…very well last night. Aren't you" asked Jonathan with a mischievous smile on his face.
"I'm sorry. I didn't wanted to do this, I woke up in this position."
"So let's see what you're accused for. You reach my part of the bed and you beat me for…"
Joanna looked at him with a puzzled look.
" I'm sure you were enjoying it"
"Yes, I enjoyed it a lot, my love, but not the part with the beating", answered Jonathan with a bristish accent.
"It was only two slaps, Jon", answered Joanna, rolling her eyes at the same time.
"The psychological violence hurts me a lot in my feelings"
"And what will be the price", asked Joanna with a tone that means 'what do you want idiot'
"Maybe…maybe some practice…"
She looked at him with a very surprised look. She never 'practiced' with him. She had completely forgot this …detail. Every young couple are kissing each other at every two minutes. They mustn't be hesitant when they'll have to do it in front of all these people.
"Yeah…you're right…maybe we should get ready. We'll begin the mission in a few hours after all", answered hesitantly Joanna.
"Don't be afraid darling, it's gonna be alright. It's not like it was the first time in your life you're doing this, aren't you", answered a very excited (not in that way, you perverts) Jonathan.
"Of course not, it'll be less pleasant", answered Joanna with a disgusted look.
She was totally caught off guard by the unexpected moment when Jon kissed her. He wasn't very shy…he was apparently enjoying it. At least, Joanna thought to herself, he's not a bad kisser…looked like more like a good one…
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A few hours and 'practice' later
Two young people entered the office of Datadyne. It was smaller that the last one, the blond woman thought to herself. She looked at her pink outfit and sighed. Pathetic…she thought to herself. They asked the secretary to see the boss of this 'wonderful company'. They said they wanted to talk business with him. It was very easy to talk to him. He came 10 minutes later. He wore a red and black outfit, had short black hair and was in the forties. Joanna had already seen him in the past, he was Trent Easton. (A/N: I know Mr Blonde had killed him in the game but…let just say that he only fell unconscious when he beats him…alright?)
"So…you want to talk business with me huh. My name's Trent Easton and I'm happy to meet anyone who wants to talk business with me. So, now that you know who I am, may I know who you are" asked Trent with a very friendly tone.
"Nice to meet you, mister Easton. I'm James Buckington and here's my wife, Becky Buckington. We're scientists that are fascinated by the life from other space. There were rumors that were saying that you have contacts with these living beings. We'd like to talk about this with you. May we go in a more private place to talk about this", asked Jonathan with his incredibly realistic british accent.
"Sure, we'll go to my office. Follow me", answered Trent.
Joanna couldn't believe whom she had just seen. Trent Easton? Carrington had told her he was apparently killed by Mr Blonde. How did survived. He was beaten, and alone in Alaska.
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Joanna was very bored. It's been a few hours since the beginning of the negotiations. Trent didn't seem to agree, until he saw Jon's wallet. Now she understand why Carrington wasn't worried she failed the mission even if infiltration wasn't her style. She had nothing to do in this mission. She only needed to be the pretty and smiling wife of her 'husband'. After a few other hours, she was literally sleeping on her armchair.
"Becky, darling, wake up. The negotiations are finished for today. We'll go eat dinner with Mr Easton to do some friendly talk, you come with me?"
"Uh…yeah…yeah I'm coming", lazily answered Joanna
The dinning room of Datadyne was very luxurious and the food to Joanna's taste was delicious. The company seemed more peaceful than the last time Jo came. Everyone were smiling and were apparently loving their job. Trent seemed a less tyrannic boss than Cassandra after all. The people who were doing mistakes didn't deserve to die with him. To the opposite of what Joanna was thinking; Trent Easton wasn't a bad guy…well…for now…he wasn't. After they finished eating, Jonathan put his arm around her shoulder and kissed her on the cheek.
"You seem tired honey, do you want to return to the hotel now"
Before she had the chance to answer, a loud noise disrupted them. The door of the dining room was destroyed and at least 30 Skedars entered the dinning room. Trent took out his golden magnum and began to shot at them. Some guards came to help them. They gave Jonathan a K7 Avenger and…they thought Joanna never hold a gun in her hands so they only gave her a CMP-150 saying that it was very easy to use. The Skedars were loosing the battle. Joanna shot at 5 Skedars at the same time but an other that she didn't see took the opportunity to shoot at her. Before she could do anything to defend herself, she felt at least 5 bullets enter her body. Some in her right arm, the other on her shoulders and in her abdomen. She never felt so much pain at the same time before. She hardly fell on the ground, and desperately tries to hold her abdomen that was bleeding a lot. A secretary in a red outfit (the one who is with Cassandra in mission one) came to help her.
Jonathan was shooting everywhere. It seems to him that there were thousands of them. The same Skedar that injured Joanna tried to bite his neck, but Jon saw it and hold the neck of the creature so its fangs won't be able to reach for him. Another came from behind him and bite hard in his shoulder. Jonathan shouts in pain. When he thought that everything was finished, someone behind him shots the two Skedars that died instantly. He turned to see his savior and saw Joanna, lying on the floor, a mauler in hands.
"J…huh Becky! What happened?! You're bleeding!"
Jonathan came next to the scared looking secretary and helps her holding the bleeding part of Joanna's body.
"Leave this place and save you life, James. I'm dying…please flee", murmured Joanna lazily.
"No…no…you're gonna be alright…you'll survive.
"Third thing you need to know about me… I'm not like Velvet think…I'm not perfect…neither invincible, I'm a human like you…I can die like you.
Jonathan looked at her with a desperate look in his eyes. He never thought he'd have to live this. He couldn't see her die…this was impossible. She couldn't die now, she didn't even know who she really was to his eyes.
"You can't die now…not like this…"
"Tell…m-me wh…why I-I shoul..d not ."
"Because Velvet is waiting for you and…I l-love you…
Joanna never heard the last part of his sentence. She had fallen unconscious. The battle was finished. All the Skedars were dead but Jonathan didn't see it. He was looking at Joanna, his eyes filled with tears. Trent saw him and came to see what he was doing. When he saw a tear falls on Jon's cheek, and Joanna's bloody body on the floor, he called for the Datadyne doctors. They had to be quick.
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Joanna woke up a few hours after the events. Jon was sitting on a chair next to her bed. A small smile formed on his lips when he saw her eyes that were opening.
"How are you feeling …huh…Becky", asked Jon with a very soft voice.
"I'm…I'm tired…am I not supposed to be dead?"
"No, you're not. Trent explained me that you were shot by a reaper. These kind of Skedar guns are not very powerful, so they were able to help you even if this things shot you 5 times.
"Why…why did they attacked us"
"Trent Easton explained me that after the Skedar's king death, they had split in two clans. One clan thinks that humans must be annihilated. The other thinks that only Joanna Dark, the woman who killed the king, must be assassinated. Datadyne kept contact with the 2nd clan so we'll be able to have our two specimens even if we were attacked."
"When w…will the negotiations be finished?"
"We'll finish them tomorrow. Now take rest…you need it."
After Joanna heard these words, she closed her eyes in search of rest. Jonathan kissed he forehead, she heard his footsteps, and a door being closed. After she instantly fell asleep.
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When she awoken, she felt someone near her. When she opened her eyes, she saw that it was Jonathan. It seems that they brought her to the hotel. She looked at the clock, it was 5 am. She wasn't weak anymore and knew that she won't be able to rest a minute more. She went on the balcony. The wind blow in her artificial long blond hair. The sun was going to rise very soon.
"What are you doing up at such an hour", asked a sleepy Jonathan.
"I'm not tired anymore"
"Not surprising. You slept for two days. You know, the negotiations are finished. We'll have the two specimen tomorrow."
"It seems that I wasn't very useful to this mission"
"Certainly not, you just saved my life two times in a row. I agreed with you, you weren't of any use", sarcastically replied Jonathan.
Joanna didn't respond. Jonathan's was right. Maybe the only reason why Joanna was sent on this mission was to protect Jonathan. Without her, he would have died two times. But, on the other hand, Jon made this mission entirely alone. The first ray of sunlight appeared in the dark, cold night sky.
"It's wonderful", murmured Jonathan
The wind blew more strongly, and Joanna shivers. She only wore a short pink nightgown, to match with her 'personality'. Jonathan gave her his expensive looking bathrobe. Joanna looked at him. She remembered something before she had fallen unconscious. She had to ask him.
"Jon…when I fell unconscious…you told me something about Velvet. But you also told me something else that I didn't have the chance to hear…"
Jonathan's face turned into crimson red…was he supposed to answer this? It was a chance Joanna didn't saw the colour of his face at this moment…she would have understood…and he didn't want her to understand. What will he do? Change the subject maybe? No…she would see the tactic and she would have understood the so-secret-thing-he-didn't-want-her-to-know. A big fat lie was the only way to get out of this mess.
"I've said that the institute would be lost without you. No one is able to run and shot everywhere like you do," answered Jon with a very strange tone.
"You didn't seemed to be that bad to shoot everywhere when we were attacked. I didn't know you were able to deal with automatics…"
"Yes I am…but I'm certainly not as good as you…I think I'll return in the bed now…
Jonathan left he balcony. He was proud of himself. She didn't know anything…
********************************
The specimen arrived a few hours ago. The arrival of these two young people had saved the company. Trent Easton thought that they couldn't arrive at a better time to help him and the company. He was looking forward to possess the wonderful wallet and what was inside. He suddenly heard a knock to his office door. A spy from his own company entered.
"Mister Easton…I think you should want to hear this…"
The agent took out a strange radio and press the play button. They heard Jo and Jon talking to each other in their hotel chamber. They never thought that they would be spied. They were talking about the mission.
"As you can see, mister, they are not young fascinated scientists. Our records confirmed us that they are two agents from the Carrington Institute. The young woman is very known of us. She is Joanna Dark, the one who infiltrated our company a few months ago. She was also the Skedar King's assassin. The other one seems to be less known by our company…but it's seem that he is the most qualified undercover from this institute."
"This explains why he seems so natural. The blond woman didn't seem very clever for a scientist. This explain all…"
"What will you do sir"
"We'll do like we didn't know anything. Before they had the chance to leave with the two specimen, we're gonna capture them and make them talk…"
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Jonathan woke up a few hours after. Nothing special happened in the hotel. They didn't even argue! The two were too in a good mood to harass each other. The time to go one last time to Datadyne corp. came quickly. Joanna brought her CI communicator with her. It can be useful in emergencies after all she thought to herself.
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One hour later
"Welcome back my friends. Come with me, I'll show you the two specimen", told Trent Easton with a sinister smile.
They went into a room without window. It was a very small room with a lot of guards. Jonathan began to suspect something. He exchanged a glance with Joanna, but she didn't seem to understand the anxious look in his eyes.
"So, since when did you work at the Carrington Institute…Jonathan…without any family name…very strange…"
"What…what are you talking about…we don't know anything about this Paddington guy…and this Jonathan without family name", answered a more than scared Jonathan.
"Don't try to fool me, traitors. We've spied you in your hotel room. We know all, and you're gonna tell us why you wanted those specimen or the little friend beside you is going to suffer"
Two guards approached Joanna. Jonathan couldn't accept this. He was nearly killed two times and he lost two of his toes. This wasn't going to be. If he could not complete his mission with simple words and lies, he's gonna complete it with fights and guns. His left eye narrowed. That means that he was very…extremely furious. Before Trent could do anything, Jonathan angrily jumped on him, took out his golden magnum and pointed it on his temple.
"LISTEN TO ME, YOU STUPID GUARDS! YOU'RE GONNA BRING US THE TWO SPECIMEN AND LET US GO, OR YOUR BELOVED BOSS IS GONNA DIE!"
Just after Jon's angry shouts, Trent took out a knife and cut through Jonathan injured shoulder. This only made Jon more furious. He stands up and kicks Trent in his ribs. He put a feet on his back, the other kicked Trent's knife out from his hand and he pointed the golden magnum on him.
"You know what, I could have killed you in one shot but Carrington told me not to or the mission will be failed. If you decide to not bring us the specimen…the mission will be failed…you know what that means?"
"Alright, bring them the specimen and let them leave…"
"If you DARE to try to hurt us after…well…I will return in your fucking company again and I'll kick your ass properly…UNDERSTOOD?"
"Jonathan, I've taken the opportunity to call Elvis. He'll come in a few minutes with a big spaceship"
"Very well Joanna. Now mister Easton is going to guide us to the specimen and show us the exit so everyone will be friendly with us."
Everything happened without any problems. Elvis arrived and he helped Joanna to bring the two Skedars that were in cages on the ship. Jonathan quickly followed them and they left from Datadyne's sight within 3 seconds. Jonathan let himself fall on a chair. Joanna looked at him anxiously. He rarely gets angry, but when he was, it was catastrophic. Now he was exhausted, it was the first time in his life one of his undercover mission transformed into an assault mission, and he just hoped it was the last one.
"Jonathan, let me treat your wound, your shoulder is bleeding."
Jon didn't answer. Joanna took his silence for a yes and she approached him. She looked at him with a confused look. She never saw him so angry before and didn't understand why.
"Jonathan, what's wrong?"
"Don't you understand Joanna? They know who we are. It's almost sure they'll try to attack us someday. We'll never be able to do mission in this company anymore. Unfortunately, every missions to this place are very important. Who's going to replace us", angrily answered Jonathan.
Joanna didn't respond. She never thought about this. Well, Velvet could do it but Jonathan wasn't wrong. Even if she's classed to the A rank, she was very inexperienced and she would never be able to take important decisions in emergencies. Jon had his reason to be angry, the only other time in his life he had been recognized, it was at the area 51. Joanna never cared about being recognized, almost everyone who had already saw her were now dead. This was one of the main advantages of running and shooting everywhere like she does.
"Hey Jon, if you have a problem with this, you can borrow my wig. I'm sure they won't recognize you, they'll be too scared by the sight you'll give them", said Joanna with a grin that she rarely shows.
"I never thought that you could be able to say such stupid jokes", said Jonathan as he receives her wig in his face.
He tried to repost but Jo showed him his injured shoulder and told him to not move. Joanna was proud, she had won the fight…for the first time. At least, there were good points of being with Jonathan. She laugh more often and she could use a lot of his tricks to annoy someone that plays with her nerves…like him…
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A/N: Another chapter finished. I hope you liked it. I must tell you this chapter was a lot of work because it was very long. I already know what will happen to the two next chapters. I must tell ya the next one will be like the 2nd(preparation to the next mission so…less action), but the 6th one risk to be one of the more bloody and shocking one…(evil smile).
Peachrocks: Thanks for you review. If you think that the crash was very unexpected…well…you risk to be surprised someday…Mwahahahaha! Someday you'll understand J…
Spider-bear: I hope the beginning of this chapter satisfied you…J. I didn't know I was able to make Jonathan sounds funny…I'm glad I was able to. Thanks for your support!
My next chapter will be available on fanfiction.net next Friday. Until there…you could let me a review…it would be nice… you know…click on that button below…