At six o'clock in the morning, Ramrod took off. Colt was murmuring something about a better time to take off instead of the middle of the night. The others looked at him with a smile. It was just like in old times. Colt was always grumping when they had to go on a mission that early. Jesse's mood was quite good. He was whistling an old song tune when he stepped into the kitchen to take himself a cup of coffee.
"So happy today?" April asked. Jesse looked up. He didn't notice her before.
"Why not? It's a nice day, birds are singing. And we are going to loose our lifes."
"Very funny, Jesse."
"Do you really think that we will fly into the Vapour Zone and survive? It's dangerous there. And the Outriders would to anything to destroy Ramrod."
"Mh…"
"What?"
"I haven't talked to Trista before the take off."
"She's fine."
"Sure?"
"Sure."
"Will you hurt her? I mean, will you treat her the same way as the last time?"
Jesse looked at the blonde Star Sheriff. He was so tired from this kind of a conversation. Instead of answering, he only took a cup of coffee. April took a step towards him. Before she noticed it, she came nearer and nearer to the former commander of the Outriders. Only a few milimeters were between their lips. Jesse began to smile.
"April, it's too late. You had your chance." April stepped back and tried to slap him. But Jesse was fast. He grabbed her arm, but eased his grip and only his hands were lying on hers. His touch on Aprils skin caused a prickle deep inside her. April couldn't understand what was going on. She acquitted herself of him and crossed her arms. She blinked angrily at him.
"Do you really think that I wanted to kiss you because I adore you?" Jesse shrugged.
"I wanted to check out if your feelings for her are real."
"April, my feelings are none of your business."
"Trista is my friend."
"Ah. Your friend. Sure. And because she is your friend you wanted to seduce the man she loves?"
"You're a bastard." April stepped angry out of the kitchen. Jesse laughed.
Outside the kitchen, April leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. What happened there? She wanted to find an answer. She loved Fireball and why did she want to kiss Jesse? She never wanted him, that was why she rejected him. Though she never wanted him, it was a good feeling. There was an attractive man and this man loved her. Loved her that much. And now? She was only a passing fancy? She couldn't believe it. She closed her eyes and again she took a deep breath. This time he rejected her. Why did she feel sorry for that? Why was she jealous? Was she really worried about Trista?
"Calm down, April." She whispered to herself. 'You're a woman. It's normal to feel like this. Your're only a bit disappointed that you never was more than a passing fancy. And you have an adorable boyfriend. And Fireball loves you for real. It can't be better.'
Jesse went to the control room, still grinning.
"Just in time, Jesse. We're reaching for the coordinates for the dimensional jump in a few minutes." Said Saber.
"Great."
"I only hope that it will work." Hissed Colt between his teeth.
"I'm on this crap heap, too. Do you really think that I sabotaged the gear?" Jesse asked. The others looked at him. Jesse said loudly what they all thought. An evil grin was forming on Jesse's face. Then he shook his head.
"Silly Tin Stars." He murmured.
"We have the coordinates." Said Fireball.
"Time to check them out." Saber said. Jesse took some steps forward near to Saber's sattle unit.
"April, activate the dimensional gear; Fireball, start the engines on my sign." The Star Sheriffs took a deep breath.
"NOW!" Saber shouted. The next second Ramrod flew into a vortex of a pulsing light.
Jesse found himself lying on the ground. He stood up, shaking his head to clear his vision. He looked around. The Star Sheriffs seemed to be a bit confused, but this was normal for the first dimensional jump. Only Saber Rider, who made such a jump in the past checked his sensors to find out, if they were really in the Vapour Zone.
"What is our position, Tin Star?" Jesse asked. Saber looked up and gave him the coordinates. Jesse nodded. It wasn't exactly the point where he wanted to come out, but it was okay. The flight to the old scientist base would be a bit longer. But this would give them time to check the gear.
"What a ride… Yehaaaaaa!" Colt shouted.
"Glad you liked it." Replied Jesse absentmindedly while he was looking out of the big screen in front of him. The Vapour Zone. A long time ago, he thought this was his home. But now everything has changed. And he was glad about that, wasn't he? The Vapour Zone was not really a good place for a young man. Jesse went over to April's saddle unit and looked at the navigation computer. With a few handgrips, he extrapolated a course to the old base.
"What?" April asked confused.
"Do you want to fly blind? It's better to have an exact course. The Vapour Zone is a dangerous place." He said.
"What exactly do you mean?" asked Colt.
"It's a big territory. The Outriders built many bases to protect themselves. My course will lead us through a kind of corridor. If you follow this course exactly, we won't meet anyone of them."
"Are you sure? I mean, the Outriders could have built more bases." Said Fireball.
"With what ressources? They have nothing. They aren't able to build anything." Said Jesse.
Saber nodded.
"I agree. I think this course is safe. But I will be scanning the 'corridor' all the time."
The flight to the scientist's base would take three hours, so April went to the machine room to check the dimensional gear. Jesse and Saber followed her.
"Well, I think the gear is okay." Said April. The check took nearly two hours and she wasn't sure that the dimensional gear was really okay. She checked the gear for three times, to be sure. After all, it was foreign technology and there was no time to test it.
"Are you sure?" Saber asked her in a worried tone. April only looked at him, then she looked to Jesse. He only gave a one-shoulder shrug.
"Don't ask me. You rebuilt the technology, so I'm not longer able to help you with this gear."
"And why haven't you told us that earlier?" Saber asked him.
"You never asked."
"Great. We're deep inside the Vapour Zone with a dimensional gear which is possibly not able to bring us back home."
"Hey, Tin Star. Where is your optimism? Jesse said with a grin on his face.
"Are you never worried?" asked April.
"No."
Saber shook his head. April looked at Jesse and then she left the room.
"Do you really think that this outrider scientist will help us?" Saber asked.
"Don't worry. He's an outrider. Give him what he wants
and he will do anything for you."
"Just like you."
Jesse looked at Saber as if he wanted to kill him the next second.
"What do you mean, Tin Star?" he asked hissing.
"Think of it, Jesse. We gave you amnesty and you gave us outrider technology. It's just the same."
"It's not the same. My case is different."
"Ahh. Of course."
"You don't trust me."
"Would you do it if you were me?"
Jesse thought about this for a moment. Then he shook his head.
"No. But you need to trust me. It's the only chance to survive this nonsense here."
"It's not nonsense, Jesse. There are people going to die, if we fail."
"It wasn't me who vested these people with the microchips. I even didn't know anything about them."
Saber nodded.
"I know. But people died when you were in charge."
"Oh yes, and I'm so proud of it." Replied Jesse in an ironic tone. "What the hell do you think of me, Tin Star?"
"I think that you are a traitor. You manipulate people only to reach your own goals. You would do anything to stay alive. You know exactly that here in the Vapour Zone you would be killed if you ever came back. So, you came to the New Frontier, where people, who will give you a chance, are living. You will betray us again. That's what I think." Said Saber in a calm tone. And it worked. He wanted to bring Jesse to rage. And there it was. Jesse eyes were only a thin line, just like the eyes of a cat. His lips pressed into a narrow split. It seemed that he would attack Saber the very next moment. But then, Jesse's brain began to work. His gaze became friendly again. Then he smiled.
"You're good, Tin Star. Really good." He said.
"I must be. I'm the leader of this team."
"Sure. What was your intention?"
"I simply wanted to check your reaction. if you were a
real traitor, you would not give a damn on my words."
"Perhaps I do."
"No. You nearly attacked me for this."
"Pride."
"This has nothing to do with pride, Jesse Blue. You are a human and finally you grew up."
"Oh yes. I forgot. I was only a little boy who failed because he didn't get his favorite toy." The usual ironic tone came back with these words.
"What would you call it?"
"Don't know. It happened. I'm not able to turn back time."
Saber went over to Jesse and sat down on the floor, his back leaning against the wall. Jesse sat down, too.
"Why?"
"Mh?"
"Why did you fail?"
"Do you really want to hear about my bad childhood? That there was never anyone who loved me?"
"No, not really. We all have our problems and we all have to deal with them."
"Yes, and I had to join the outriders to deal with it?"
"Perhaps. But you came back. This shows, you are human."
"I wanted to blow up Cavalry Command Headquarters."
"What? When?" asked Saber surprised.
"After I fled from my so called amnesty."
"But you didn't."
"Thanks to Trista."
"Why?"
"I was wandering around the streets, when I saw her. Guess it was fate." Jesse gave a short laugh. "I wanted to hide in her apartment and after a time I wanted to blow up the damned CavComm. She loved me and I hoped that this feeling was still there. I was right. Only a few words were enough to bring her back into my arms. So easy." The last words said Jesse silently.
"What happened?" asked Saber.
He had the feeling that Jesse wanted to talk about something special, but he couldn't bring it over him to do it. Jesse was silent, lost in his thoughts. Saber wanted to ask him again, but it seemed better to let the speed of this conversation left to Jesse. Nearly ten minutes passed in silence.
"She lost our child." Said Jesse. Saber looked up. He expected everything but not this.
"I'm sorry, Jesse."
"Yeah." Said Jesse bitterly.
"You're sad about this, arent you?"
"Yes, but I don't know why. I never wanted to be a father. I never wanted to live a normal life. Why the hell am I sorry for a child who died before began to live?"
"Perhaps you were wrong. Perhaps you ever dreamed of a normal life. But you were too proud to realize it."
"Trista said nearly the same."
"What do you think?"
"I don't know."
"Jesse?"
"Mh?"
"May I ask you something?"
"As if I could resist."
"Are you with Trista because you feel sorry for her?"
Now Jesse looked up.
"No." he shook his head, "no."
"You lost much, Jesse. But you won the love of a woman. And perhaps you will be a father one day. And perhaps me too."
"Oh yeah. Then we meet at the kindergarten to talk about our brats. Isn't it a wonderful vision of the future?"
Both broke out in laugher. April reached the machine room and looked in disbelief at the two men.
"Sorry for disturbing you, but we nearly arrived at the outrider base." Jesse and Saber stood up and they went to the main control room. Saber sat into his saddle unit and checked the sensors.
"Only a little outrider science base? It's heavy armoured." Said Fireball.
"Damnit, they expected us. I guess they brought nearly every outrider and every weapon here." Said Jesse.
"It's too late. We are here and we will complete this mission." Ordered Saber.
"Saber, I have two mechas on my sensors. Both will reach our position in less than two minutes." Said April.
"Okay. Fireball, press the red button, it' time for the challenge phase. Jesse come over here while Ramrod transforms."
One of the mechas fired at Ramrod and tried to catch all attention of the Star Sheriffs. Ramrod pulled the arms in front of his face to save the humans inside him. Then the mecha flew towards Ramrod and kicked it hard. Ramrod falled back and the other mecha grabbed it from behind. The first mecha kicked once again, while a kind of arms came out of the second mecha and seemed to embrace Ramrod. The first mecha fired again while the other mecha was sending eletric impulses through the arms straight to Ramrod. These impulses caused pain to the humans. Fireball turned on the engines and Ramrod gave a fast fly, which caused the second mecha to ease his grip. Rarmod seized this chance and freed itself from this evil grip. With a fast move, he grabbed the mecha's arms and threw it against the other mecha. Colt was firing with the blaster while the whole armour was aiming at the enemy mecha's. In a fantastic blow, the two mecha's exploded. But there was no time to take a breath. The two mechas belonged to the past, but there were an armada of outrider battleships with direct course to Ramrod. Colt was shooting at every outrider ship in his near. In the short calm moment which follwed, Ramrod transformed back to his usual form. The outriders attacked again in anger. The space was lighten up by explosions of outrider ships and weapon fire. Ramrod fired again, but there were too much of this ships and Ramrod was all alone. The ramp under Ramrod opened and Steed and Bronco Buster came out of Ramrod. Jesse took a seat in Colt's saddle unit and continued firing at the outrider battleships. Both Saber and Colt caused as much damage as they could. It seemed that the humans were going to loose this fight, but as usual they were fighting with a pressure only humans can feel. So, they destroyed nearly half of the armada before the rest of the outriders fled.
Back inside Ramrod, Saber hurried to his saddle unit. Colt went over to his unit and saw Jesse sitting there. With an evil grin, Jesse left the place.
"They will come back for sure." Jesse said.
"I know. We have to go inside this base and catch this scientist. Then we have to leave this dimension. We have not much time."
Fireball landed Ramrod on the top of the base and men came out of Ramrod to sneak into the base. April staid back in Ramrod. Inside the outrider base, there weren't much outriders. Nearly all were fighting in the battle a few minutes ago and died or fled. So, it was easy to go around along the corridors and search for the scientist. They reached the big laboratory and went in, the weapons aimed. Inside this lab they only saw one outrider, the one they were searching for. Exactly this second, all doors were closed.
"You didn't really think that this would be easy?" a familiar voice said. A humanlike man came out of the dark. Jesse looked at the man and made a few steps forward.
"Gaspar. So you learned how to deal with a human body?"
"I learned much more, Jesse. I figured out what feelings are. They can make a man strong."
"And they can cause your fall, Gaspar. This was what I had to learn. And you will figure it out soon."
Gaspar raised one hand and a troop of Ouriders came in, all aiming at the Star Sheriffs and Jesse Blue. A smile was forming on Jesse's face.
"Oh, I'm so scared." Said Jesse in an ironic tone. Then he looked at Gaspar with his cat like eyes.
"You are an idiot. We had this scenario many times before. And everytime the Star Sheriffs won. Why do you think this time would be different?"
"Because this time I have this here!" Gaspar said and once again he raised one hand. A door slid open and a young, dark haired woman came in.
"Sincia!" Saber called out. Sincia went straight over to Gaspar and took place in front of him. Her eyes were empty. Nothing reminded of the strong young lady she was. Fireball put his hand on Sabers shoulder.
"She is controlled by the chip. She lookes like her, but it isn't her."
"It's her body." Saber said, his eyes still widened in shock. Jesse looked back at Gaspar.
"So, she was the one who told you we were coming?"
"No, she didn't know. I only thought it would be nice to have her here."
"Who told you, that we would come?" saked Jesse.
"We vested many humans with these chips. And we caused the most of them to behave strangely. We're using one of them as a spy. Clever, mh?"
"Oh yes, really clever. Could be from me." Said Jesse still his icronic tone using.
"Arrest them and Canalos, too. We don't need him anymore. We will execute you soon."
The Outriders brought their prisoners to a chamber and locked the door. The scientist was standing near the wall, looking at the ground. Colt went over to him and pulled him against the wall. The Outrider looked scared.
"You developed these chips and you are responsible for the chaos caused by them," Colt hissed between his teeth.
"Colt! We have no time for that. And we need him." Said Fireball. Colt eased his grip and went back.
"We have to go out of here. As soon as possible." Said Saber.
"Good idea, Tin Star. And what did you plan?" Jesse asked.
Saber examined the room. It would be difficult to come out of here. At this moment, one of the walls broke and Ramrod's open front stood in the middle of the broken wall.
"Ahh, I see." Jesse said.
Colt took the Outrider scientist by his arm and dragged him towards Ramrod. The others went to the big ship, too. The alarm went on, but when the outriders finally arrived, the Star Sheriffs with the scientist were safe inside Ramrod. The ship rolled backwards and with a fast move it took off. Fireball navigated Ramrod into a near crowd of asteroids. Inside it, they would be safe for a time. Saber was standing in front of the main screen and looking at the passing asteroids.
"I have to go back." He said.
"Are you nuts? You can't….." started Colt but Saber Interruppted him.
"You're right. I can't leave Sincia here."
Colt became silent. He understood Saber's feelings. If it were Robin, who was here in the Vapour Zone, he would react just the same way as Saber. He only nodded.
"You can't do it alone, Tin Star."
"And you wanna come with me, Jesse?"
"I still have to proof my intentions. I guess it would be great, if I'll save your butt."
"Okay, I'll take Steed and you take Nova."
"Oh no. I will never take a pink mecha horse."
"It's your only chance to save my butt." Saber said. Before he left the room, he gave the order to leave the Vapour Zone in exactly half an hour. With or without them. Jesse followed Saber to the room, where the two mecha horses stood.
The giant ramp under Ramrod opened and the two mecha horses left the ship. A short time later, they arrived at the outrider base again. They decided to land at the backside. Slowly, they sneaked inside the base through a hidden door.
"It was good that I let you join me on. I guess I would have never found the door."
"Every base has such a door. Take this, Tin Star." with these words he gave Saber a little syringe. Saber looked at it confused.
"What is this?" he asked.
"It's calmative. Sincia won't come with us by her own. It's better this way."
Saber didn't feel well by this idea, but he knew that Jesse was right. They went towards the room where they suspected Gaspar was. They sneaked in and hid behind a computer terminal. Jesse examined the room.
"Two Outriders on the right, two on the left. Gaspar stands in front of the main monitor. Sincia is near him."
"Okay, you will shoot the outriders on the left, I'll take care of the other two." Jesse nodded and aimed at one of the Outriders. He waited for Saber giving the signal.
Gaspar was looking at the monitor that was showing the signals of the vested humans. He was able to activate or deactivate the chips whenever he wanted. Now he could cause chaos. A smile was forming on his face.
"You see, we don't need this little scientist any more. He is a weak point. If he tells anyone how to remove this chips, everything is gone. And the chips are working perfectly." He said to Sincia. She still looked with empty eyes to the ground.
"Soon, Nemesis will be here. Then we will execute these humans. No matter where they are. They might have fled, but they are inside my territory. I will find them and then I will get back Nemesis' trust."
Gaspar turned around when he heard shots. He looked at the two Outriders lying on the ground. The very next moment he saw Saber Rider attacking the others. Seconds later, the two were lying on the ground just as the other Outriders. Saber stood up and walked slowly towards Gaspar. Jesse held him back.
"Leave him to me, Tin Star." Saber nodded. Jesse was grinning evily as he stepped towards Gaspar.
"Deja-vu, Gaspar. We had this before. Isn't it ironic?" Jesse asked.
"I have thought of every possibilities, and even of this. So, don't feel sure ofyourself. Today your trashy life will end."
Jesse laughed.
"You have been waning to kill me for about… let's see… one year? But, I'm still alive. Why do you think you're able to kill me today?"
"Look at this." He kept up a little box with one button on it.
"Oh, a little box. I'm scared. Do you want to kid me?"
"This here is an emitter programmed on a single frequency. if I push this button, the person vested with the the chip familiar to the frequence will die from a painful death."
"And why should I care, Gaspar? I'm a bastard, you know it."
"Surely. But you won't do anything to cause pain and death to the woman you love."
"What do you mean?"
"You have a short memory, Jesse Blue. It's not long ago since I told you about the spy. So, think of it. Who else knew about this mission?"
"Trista." Jesse hissed through his teeth. Gaspar nodded smiling.
"This little beast will belong to the past soon. But I wish she knew that it was she, who betrayed you all!"
Saber watched the scene. He knew he had to do something. Gaspar was busy with Jesse and didn't look at Saber. The Highlander took this chance and sneaked towards the former Outrider. Jesse didn't move and Gaspars finger came nearer and nearer to the button. With a fast move, Saber injected Gaspar with the calmative. Jesse sprang towards and took the box before Gaspar was able to press the button. Gaspar himself slid slowly to the ground and passed out.
"This calmative was for Sincia, Tin Star."
"It worked or not?" was Sabers only answer. He took Sincia by her arm and pushed her gently towards the doors. They had to hurry. In less than five minutes, Ramrod would take off towards their own dimension. They ran through the corridors. There weren't many Outriders passing their way. They sneaked back to the hidden door and ran to the mecha horses.
"Less than three minutes." Said April.
"We won't leave Saber here. I don't give a damn how long it takes until he is back again." Said Colt.
"He gave us an order, Colt." Trounced Fireball.
"I have something on my censors." April shouted.
"What exactly, April? I don't want to open the ramp for Outriders." Said Fireball.
"Yes, it's Saber and Jesse. And it seemes that they have Sincia. Open the ramp, Fire."
A few minutes later, Saber and Jesse were back in the control room.
"Where is Sincia?" asked April.
"I gave her a calmative and lay her in your bed. As long as she is vested with this activated chip, she is a risk for us." Was Sabers answer. April nodded. Saber sat down in his sattle unit.
"Pals, we have to take off now. They are back. I have a great number of Outrider ships on my censors."
"Okay, ready for take off." Said Fireball.
Ramrod slid out of the crowd of asteroids.
"We have to jump now." Noticed Jesse.
The Outriders came nearer. Soon they would reach Ramrod.
"We have no time. They are too much. We can't fight them back. We have to jump. April, start the gear, Fireball start the engines. Now."
The sound of the starting gear was to hear. In front of Ramrod, a vortex of light appeared. Then it vanished. On borad of Ramrod, it was silent.
"What the hell?" asked Colt.
"A malfunction. The gear doesn't work." Was April's answer in the suddenly fallen silence.