Planet Yuma. Yuma City.
What now, Jesse? What are you going to do now? You can't life with the humans neither with the Outrider.
"Shut up!" whispered Jesse to himself. He was wandering around an alleyway in the capitol city of Yuma. He needed a place to hide. He needed a chance to get to his Badlander. He looked at the people crosing his way. He hated them so much. Normal people, normals lives. How boring. Then he stopped. He couldn't believe his luck. There she was, Trista Derringer. An evil grin was forming on his face. She walked up to an appartment house and went in. He looked at the storefront. Nearly all windows were dark. It was late at night, nearly 11 o'clock p.m., so most people would sleep now. Then he saw, that in one window the light was turned on.
'Got you.' He thought. After twenty minutes Tristas window was dark again. She stepped out of the frontdoor and went to her car. He waited untill she was gone and walked slowly towards the house. Her window was in the fourth floor. He grabbed the eaves gutter which was near to her balkony and climbed up. With a fast move he swung himself over the ballustrade. He stepped up to the french window and studied it fast. He took out a little lock pick and opened the french window without damaging it. He looked around. This was surely her appartment. Her scent was all around. He discovered room for room. He was sure, that she lived here alone. No male clothes, no second tooth brush, no after shave. Then he went back to the living room. He took up a little picture frame which was lying on the carpet. He looked at it. It was the picture whch she used to have in ther office at the outrider base in New Wichita. He smiled at this memory. It was so easy to manipulate her. He layd the picture frame on the little table and went to the kitchen. He made some coffee and was wating for Trista.
Planet Yuma. Yuma City. A little restaurant.The three girls had their weekly meeting. They spent every Friday evening together. For Trista it was the best day of the week. Beeing together with April and Robin was so canny. But today, it was different. April was silent, something seemed to depress her.
"Is something wrong, April?" Trista asked worried. April looked up.
"No, all is fine…. No, nothing is fine. Trista, I have to tell you something. But you must promise, that you'll never tell anyone else. I'm going to break a strict order, when I tell you." Trista rose an eyebrow.
"Okay, you have my word. I will never tell anyone about it."
"Fine. Jesse is alive. For a short time, he was at Cavalry Command headquarters. They wanted to give him a chance, wanted to amnesty him. But he escaped. I don't know where he is now…." Trista froze.
Alive? Jesse is alive? He is here?
Robin looked at Trista worried. She rememered the conversation with April a few hours ago.
"I have to tell her, Robin!"
"No. You can't. She has to get over him. You can't say that he is here at this time. It's too early. It takes time to forget a man. You know that."
"But it's my duty to tell her. I'm her friend."
"When you're really her friend, you don't say a word to her. It's much better for her, when she thinks that he is dead. It's easier for her this way."
"And when she founds out on her own? Don't you think, that she would be angry with us, when we don't tell her?"
"Okay, do as you want, April. But I have warned you."
Trista stood up, murmering that she had to go. She left the restaurant as fast as possible without running. She leant against her car and took a deep breath. Then she began to weep silently. During her way home, Aprils words swirled around in her head.
'Only home' she thought.
With trembling fingers she tried to open the door to her apartment. Finally in, she leant against it, her eyes closed. After a few moments she went towards the kitchen. She turned on the light and froze again. There he was, sitting in HER kitchen, drinking HER coffee. He smiled at her.
"Hello Trista. I missed you."
"Go away! Now. I don't want you to be here. GO!" she screamed the last word with tears in her eyes. Jesse stood up and started walking up to her. Trista went back. The wall stopped her fallback. Jesse came nearer, touched her face gently with one hand, His hand went under her chin and pushed softly her face up, so that he was able to look at her eyes. He lowered his head for a kiss.
"No." Trista whispered, but it was not strong. His lips were touching hers gently. Trista felt like melting away. She threw all her resolutions away and pressed herself against him, her arms wrapped around his neck. The soft kiss became deeper. Jesse's tongue exploring her mouth. He unzipped her dress and pulled her towards the bedroom.
Trista woke up early next morning. She heard Jesses heart beating. She unwrapped his arms from her and stood up. She felt dirty. She worked hard to get him out of her mind, her heart. And now he was lying in her bed after they spent the night together. After she took a shower and got dressed she started to make breakfast.
"Good morning." She heard Jesse say. He walked up to her and kissed her forehead. He took a cup of coffee and sat down at the table.
"Can you go now?" she asked soundless.
"And when I don't want to go, Trista?"
"You can't stay here, Jesse. I don't want to hide an outlaw."
"And I decided to stay."
"Why do you always have to screw up my live?"
"I don't want to screw up your live, Trista. Can't you imagine, why I want to stay?"
"Because you need a place to hide.."
"No. That is not the cause. I want to stay, because I love you."
Trista shook her head and began to laugh.
"We both know that is a lie, Jesse. You didn't love me, you don't love and you never will!" Jesse went over to her and hugged her. He stroke her hair.
"Oh, Trista. What have I done to you? Why are you so embittered?" Trista began to cry.
"I'm so sorry, Trista. I wish I could turn back time. It was a mistake. I've hurt you only because I was too proud to realize that April was only a passing fancy."
"No, don't say that. I don't want to hear that. Please."
"But I want to tell you. I love you, I missed you. That is the truth. I hope you can forgive me one day, what I have done to you."
"Jesse, you have done more to me than you can know."
"What do you mean?"
"I was pregnant, Jesse." She looked up at him, her eyes full of tears.
"Pregnant? Then I have a child?"
"No," she whispered "I lost it" She hid her face at his chest, silently weeping. Jesse looked with empty eyes out of the window, stroking her hair absently.
So easy…….. I thought it would be so easy.
'Life is never easy, Jesse.' 'Why can't you be silent?' 'Because I'm you conscience, Jesse'
Planet Yuma. Yuma City. Aprils Appartment.April was sitting on the sofa, holding a cup of tea with both hands. She felt sorry for Trista. The whole night she asked herself, if it was right to tell her. Fireball sat down near his girlfriend.
"April. Don't worry about Trista. As you said, she ist strong enough."
"Yes, but she was so…. Sad… She nearly ran out of the restaurant. I hope she is fine."
"She was shocked. I guess, she drank a hot chocolate and went to bed. Don't worry, sweetheart."
"How can you say that? Can't you imagine how difficult it is for Trista? She felt in love with the wrong man and she knows it! He never loved her, he used her, hurt her. And you are saying, that she only drank a cup of hot chocolate and went to bed?"
"I'm sorry, April." He said and looked at her.
"It's okay, Fire. Let us change the topic. I will call Robin later. So, what are we doing today?"
"Don't know. How about a picknick?"
"Good idea." April and Fire prepared the picknick and walked up to the park.
Planet Yuma. Yuma City. Tristas Apartment.Trista was sitting at the table, her eyes red of crying. Jesse sat down in front of her.
"Does anyone know?" he asked. Trista looked up.
"No, it happened on Planet Far. I thought it was better to tell no one." She said bitterly.
Jesse nodded. He only wanted a place to hide, a warm bed and a warm body beside him. And now?
She said, I would screw up her life. And now she screwed up mine.. I could have a child now, be a father. This thoughts didn't scare me. Why? And why do I feel sorry for a child, which was dead before it was alive?
"What are you thinking about, Jesse?"
"I'm trying to find out, why the imagination of beeing a father doesn't scare me away."
"Perhaps you were wrong. Perhaps you are hating the small people only because you can never live such a life. A normal one." Jesse looked at her.
"Don't be silly, Trista."
"Why are you here, Jesse? I mean, here with me. You could have seduced every other woman on Yuma. Why me?"
"I told you." He said absently.
"Yes, but I want to know the truth."
"For one day, I was honest enough.. I'm going to take a shower." He went out of the kitchen.
Planet Yuma. Yuma City. Cavalry Command Headquarters.Saber was in his office. It was Saturday, but he has decided to spent the day here in his office, working. For him, the duty came first.
"You should not be here, Captain Rider."
"Commander Eagle. There is so much to do left."
"It's weekend. Go home. That's an order." The commander said smiling. Saber looked at him.
"I think there is no chance for a discussion." Saber took his jacket and went out. It was a beautiful, warm day. He went to Steed.
"Old Boy, what about a ride?" He sat up on Steeds back. Steed trotted along the roads. It was nearly midday, when he finally arrived at his apartment. He made himself a cup of tea and sat down on his sofa and began to read a book. He looked up, when he heard a knock on his door. He went towards it and opened.
"Sincia! What are you doing here?" The young woman looked confused.
"Should I come back later?"
"No. No, I was only surprised. Please, come in." Saber looked confused at the young woman, who stepped in his apartment. Lost in his thoughts he closed the door. Sincia looked around.
"It's nice here. It is much like you. " she smiled at Saber.
"Do you want something to drink?" he asked only to have something to do. Her presence made him a bit nervous. So he walked towards the kitchen and made her a cup of tea.
In the meanwhile Sincia sat down on the sofa and looked at the book, which Saber readed in previously.
"Good lecture. A bit exertive for my taste." She said and layed it back. She took the cup of tea which Saber offered her. He sat down besides her.
"Sincia. I'm glad to see you. But it's a bit surprising seeing you here."
"Yes, I know. I wanted to surprise you. It's long ago, since we met each other."
"I'm sorry. So much work. I hope you understand."
"Of course Saber" she touched his hand. "Don't worry. I know that your duty comes first." They talked a long time. In the afternoon, Saber decided to prepare a meal.
"I will help you, Saber." The two went to the kitchen.
"Heather missed you a lot." Saber looked up.
"Ah, Heather. Nice little girl. Could she forget Calibos attack?"
"No, she had nightmares the first weeks after you were gone. After a while the nightmares were gone, too. She never forgot it. It belongs to her life, Saber. It had formed her. But it's okay. She became more careful after the attack."
Saber looked angry at the tomatoe, which es wanted to slice.
"Signed for her life. I hate the Outrider for what they have done. So many childs, which have to grow up without parents, so many people hurt."
"It belongs to the past. War is over. You won!"
"This doesn't bring back the dead parents and this doesn't fight back the nightmares." He said bitterly. Sincia went over to him, hugging him. He burried his head in her hair, smelling her scent. Then he felt a pain in his stomach. Before he realized what happened, he passed out.
Planet Yuma. Yuma City. Tristas Apartment.Jesses behaviour confused Trista a lot. He changed. He was more mature now, thoughtfully. He seemed to put his whole life in questions without realizing. Perhaps there would be a chance for them.
No, never. There is no chance for me beeing together with him. He will hurt me again, as soon as he has the chance to do it
The phone rang. She went over looking around the corner to see, if Jesse was there. But he wasn't. She heard the sound of the shower and for a short moment, she imagined him standing under the shower, the water dropping on his body.. She shook her head. This thoughts wasn't good for her. She answered the phone.
Jesse stepped out of the shower. The dust of the hot water made the mirror steamy. With one hand, he wiped over it. He looked at his face. He was no longer the little boy. He knew exactly what he wants. But there was still the little voice in his head which told him that he was wrong, completely wrong.
As he stepped out of the bathromm, Trista ran into him.
"Sorry. Jesse, I have to go now."
"Wait. Why? What happened. You looks worried."
"It's Saber. He is injured. I have to go to the hospital." She gave him a short kiss and ran out of the appartment.
Jesse shook his head and looked around. Trista was gone. She gave him a kiss. As if they were a couple. Why did this please him?
Planet Yuma. Yuma City. A Hospital.Trista hurried down the corridor. She looked around and finally she saw the others. She went over to them.
"How is he? And what happened?" she asked. April wiped a tear away.
"He has a stab wound. The stab damaged one of his lungs. The doctor said, if he suvives this night, he is safe."
"A stab wound? Who did this?"
"We don't know. We found the knife, they peer-review it this time. Saber is still senseless. We will know what happened, when he awakes."
"I know what happened! I don't need Saber to find out! It was Jesse Blue, this damned bastard" Colt shouted. Robin looked at him furiosly.
"We don't really know, Colt. So shut up. Saber will tell us. Or the knife will tell us."
"Robin, I'm of the same opinion as Colt." Said
Fireball.
"No, he is not responsible for this!" Trista said loudly. April went over to her.
"You can't be sure, Trista. He is able to do such a thing." Trista felt a pain deep inside her. She knew that it was not Jesse. He was with her since the last evening. But she couldn't tell them.
"Let's wait and see. This time Saber needs us." Said Robin strictly.
The following hours were hard. Everytime a doctor or a nurse came around all of them looked hopefully up. But it was never positive news about Saber. It was depressing. They couldn't do anything.
Late in the night, a doctor came around and told them, that he is awake. He would survive, the doctor said. They breathed in relief.
"Can we go to him?" asked April
"Yes, but only one person. He is still weak. Be careful." April nodded.
"I will go." She decided and went to his sick room. She knocked carefully at the door and stepped in. Sabers face was pale, his torso bandaged.
"Saber?" she whispered. Saber slowly opened his eyes.
"Hey, April. How are you?" Saber answered with a croaky voice. April smiled.
"I'm fine and you?"
"Fine. A bit tired. Where is Sincia?"
"Sincia?" April asked confused.
"Yes, she was there. We talked. Then we made something to eat. And then.. The pain, I remember the pain. Is she fine?"
"Saber, Sincia is not there. My father found you. He said he wanted to check if you really enjoyed the weekend. You were lying on the ground in the kitchen. But Sincia wasn't there." Saber closed his eyes. The doctor came in.
"He is weak, Miss Eagle. I think it is enough. Please go now." He said.
Still confused, April went back to the others. Fireball was talking to a young officer. When she was finally there the officer was gone.
"What does he say?" asked April.
"The knife is peer reviewed. They found fingerprints all over it. Sincias fingerprints." Fireball said unbelievening. April shivered.
"Saber ask me only a few moments ago, where she is and if she is fine." Robin wrapped her arms around her torso. Suddenly it became very cold.
"What happened there?" she ask whispering.
April and Fireball decided to search for Sincia. She wasn't on Yuma anymore. So they flew to Sincias homeplanet. When they arrived there, it was like a fly back to the past. Nothing changed since they were here the last time. When the childs saw Ramrod they ran towards the big ship, expecting presents like the last time. Sincia came towards them, happily smiling. April and Fireball went up to her.
"April, Fireball. I'm so glad to see you. How are you? Is Saber with you?" Sincia asked. April was confused. This young woman knifed Saber and now she stands here, as if it never happened. Fireball looked at Sincia.
"Sincia, were you on Yuma on last Saturday?" he asked.
"Yes, I came there to visit Saber. It was a surprise. We talked, made us something to eat. It was a wonderful time. I had to fly back here in the evening."
"When did you fly back?"
"Mh. Let me think. It was about seven o'clock in the evening. Why? Is something wrong?" April took a deep breath.
"My father went to Sabers apartment at four o'clock. There he found Saber lying in his own blood, knifed. The knife were lying near him. All over it were your fingerprints, Sincia." Sincia appaled, she put one hand over her mouth, her eyes widend in shock.
"What?… Saber is… Is he alive?"
"Yes, he is fine. He will survive. Do you remember something of what I told you, Sincia?"
"No… No.. We made something to eat, we talked about the war.. Saber was so angry about what the outrider have done to so many people. I embraced him. Then, we ate our meal and I went home…." Sincia remembered the happenings. All memories until she hugged Saber were clear, but after this they became fogged. She couldn't understand it.
April looked at Fireball. They believed the young teacher.
"Sincia? Can you go with us? I want you to be examined by our doctors. There must be an explanation for this!" Sincia nodded.
"Here." said a young doctor and held up a radiograph from Sincias head.
"What is that?" asked Colt and pointed at it.
"This seemes to be a microship. I don't know how it came there. I didn't found any scars, which would attest a surgery. I am helpless. She doesn't remember a surgery or something like this. She only told me, that some of her memories seemes to be faked. She cannot explain it." Trista stood a few steps away, lost in her thoughts. She remembered her time at the outrider base on New Wichita. There she heard a conversation between Gaspar and another Outrider. They were talking about a technologie which could manipulate humans, they wanted to control them. Was this young woman controlled by Outrider? She wasn't sure. She had to talk to Jesse. He could help her.
"April? I hope you don't mind. I have to go. I didn't sleep much last night and I'm tired."
"It's okay, Trista. I'm glad you came here."
"After all, Saber is a firend of mine, too. I had to come. Please tell me, when anything changes his condition."
"Sure." April hugged her friend.
"I'm sorry, trista. I mean Friday evening."
"Don't mind, April. I'm fine. Really." Trista smiled at the blonde Star Sheriff and went home.
She found Jesse on her sofa, sleeping. She sat down near to him and shoop him up carefully. Jesse awaked.
"Hey, home again?" he said with a sleep voice.
"Yes. Jesse, we have to talk." She said strictly. She told him about Saber, about Sincia and about the small microship in Sincias brain.
"At the outrider base, I heard Gaspar talking about a technologie for controlling humans. Is it possible, that this little microship is made by the outrider to control Sincia?" Jesse thought it over for one moment. Then he nodded.
"When this is true, this lady is in danger."
"What do you mean, Jesse?"
"The Outrider tested this chip. Every humans, controled by this chip, got hard brain damages after a while."
"Oh no.. How much time?"
"This is different."
"Is there any chance to remove this chip?"
"Canalos is able to do it."
"Canalos? Who is he?"
"He is the scientist, who developed this chip. He is the only one, who could help." Trista looked at him hopefully. Jesse rose an eybrow.
"No, Trista. Forget it!"
"Jesse, it's Sincias only way out."
"Why should I help her? She means nothing to me. I don't even know her. And I'm a traitor."
"You said, you love me, Jesse. Proove it!"
Damnit. Why does so things always happen to me? And why the hell should I help? I don't want to be a good guy. I am no good guy.
'But you can be, Jesse. It's your chance to get out of this. Your life has to change. You are happy here. And this young girl stealed your heart. You know that this is true!'
'No, I only use her. One more time, I will betray her.'
'No, you won't. It's time for you to realize, that your decisions were wrong. You know, that all you reached wasn't what you dreamed of!'
'Shut up. I don't want to hear this shit.'
He looked at Trista. Her gaze still full of hope, but no naïve hope. He knew exactly that she expected him to betray her.
Fireball looked at the radiograph. He was confused. He ordered further esaminations. He wanted to know, what this chip was. And why was it inside Sincia's brain? Has it something to do with her attack on Saber Rider? He knew that he had to tell Saber that it was Sincia who knifed him, but he wasn't able to do it. As he visited Saber one hour ago, Saber asked him about Sincia. He was worried and sad. He expected her to visit him, to be near him.
Lost in his thoughts, he didn't hear the door was opened. A scientist came in and cleared his throat. Fireball turned to the scientist.
"Yes?"
"Hello, I'm Dr. Naguma Chan. I'm here to find out about this chip."
"Ah, yes. Have you found something?"
Dr. Chan nodded. "It is Outrider technologie. It seems that this chip can controll the actions of people."
"This explains her attack on Saber. But why can't she remember she did this?"
"This chip overlays her own memory. When it is activated, it controlls her. After deactivating, the memory is deleted and replaced by others."
"The perfect assasin."
"Yes."
He dismissed the scientist and went to Saber.
"Hello Top Sword. Feeling better?" Fireball asked. Saber looked at him. He was still pale and weak.
"Yes. What happened Fireball? I know exactly that you know! So, tell me!" he ordered.
"Sincia has a chip inside her brain, which controlls her, when it is activated. She knifed you."
"What? This can't be! Sincia would never be able to do so!"
"She was controlled by the outriders. It's the truth Saber. We found her fingerprints on the knife." Saber was silent, he stared outside the window.
"Is she fine?"
"Yes, she is here. We brought her here for further examinations. She wants to see you, but…."
"It's too dangerous, I know. When this chip is activated again, she can try to kill me one more time." Fireball nodded. Saber looked at him.
"Can you do me a favour, Fireball? Say her, that I don't mind. It wasn't her, who attacked me. I miss her. When this all is over, I take her for holidays to the highlands." Fireball left the room. Saber surprised him. He was able to draw a line between the attack and the real Sincia. Fireball tried to find out, how he would react in such a situation, but he was afraid of the result. He went to a room, where Colt and April waited for him. He opened the door and came in.
"Now, Fire. How did he react?" ask April worried.
"He reacted just like himselve. He isn't mad with Sincia. We have new informations about this chip." He told them all Dr. Chan told him. After he finished, Colt smashed his fist onto the table.
"Damned Outriders. Do they always have to screw up our lifes?"
"Calm down, Colt. We will find a solution!" A knock on the door disturbed them.
"Come in." said April, glad about the disturbing. Trista entered the room, followed by a teal haired man.
"Jesse Blue!" the three Star Sheriffs shouted the same time.