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Chapter 3
"Heart To Heart"
The following morning, members of B-squad were to report to commander Cruger and discuss furthermore on important guidelines that must be obeyed and followed during their absence in case of an emergency. As the four stood in front of the blue dog in uniform, listening to his every word, Jack suddenly walked in a few moments later, half asleep and still wearing his pajamas. Interrupted by his delayed appearance, everyone in the room turned around to look his way and fell silent. "Nice for you to join us, Cadet Landors." Commander Cruger groans. "You're late."
Jack stood between Bridge and Syd as he sends Sky an evil glare. "Yeah, I have you to thank for that." Z looks down and smiles. "And you." He turns to his long time best friend and noticed how different she looked. Z's hair was nicely done in a messy bun with strands of hair covering her eyes. Her attire consists of dark jeans and a simple yellow shirt and a black jacket over. "You look really nice..." Jack couldn't get pass of how beautiful she looked.
His female companion smiles. "Thanks, Jack."
He looks up and noticed that the others were also dressed casually for the day. "Well...I see you guys have plans."
Syd grins as she stares right at Sky and Z. "You guys look so cute! So where you two going?" Jack shot her a glance.
Commander Cruger nodded his head in dismay once they were off to a whole different subject. "Well, I'm done here." He begins heading out while motioning towards the beautiful Kat Manx. "Have fun and be safe, rangers."
"We will, sir."
They left the area, giving them the room to themselves. "Can I have a word with you?" Jack gently pulls Z to the side as Bridge randomly follows. "ALONE."
He frowns, knowing Jack was referring to him. "Right. I'll just stand on my head in the corner."
"You go do that."
Bridge let them be as Jack gradually turns to Z.
"So?" Syd walked towards Sky as she gives him a little nudge on the shoulder. "How'd you do it?"
"Do what?"
The blonde rolls her eyes. "I know you like Z. And...she knows it too."
"What?" His eyes grew larger in surprise. "What do you mean she knows?" He hissed silently. "And how do you know?"
Syd averts from his gaze. "Well..." She bit her lip. "I overheard you and Jack talking...and I kind of told her."
"You what!"
"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it." Sky rubs his neck out of frustration. "It doesn't matter anymore right? You asked her out and she said yes."
"Do you even know what this means? She knew I was going to ask her out."
"So?"
"So!" He scoffs. "She probably said yes because she felt sorry for me!"
"Don't be ridiculous." Syd argues back. "Z wouldn't do that."
Meanwhile...
"So you and Sky eh?" Jack smirks playfully. "Interesting." He thought. "Very interesting."
Z chuckles. "Jack."
"What?"
"You think the idea of me and Sky is funny?"
"No..." He plasters a mischievous smile. "I just didn't think you'd go out with a guy like him that's all."
She shrugged her shoulders. "Look, we're just going out as friends. Besides, there may be a soft side to him afterall."
"Yeah." He smirks. "It's probably in you."
Sky started the date off by taking Z out to lunch at a beautiful, famous restaurant in New Tech City. Once they entered the building, a waiter, dressed in a tuxedo, led them to their table for two. He situated them next to lovely fountain with a band playing nearby. Z stopped and looked around the room, noticing people in formal wear. The fanciness of it all suddenly made her uncomfortable. "Uh Sky...isn't this a bit too much for our first date?" She thought worriedly as the waiter placed their menus on the table and let them be to help other customers.
"Well, I wanted today to be special."
Z smiles in awed. "That's so sweet. But I should be honest with you." She leans forward to whisper. "I'm not into fancy restaurants."
He furrowed his eyebrows. "You're not?"
She suddenly felt bad. "Look, I'm sorry. I thought today was just gonna be fun. You know, eating at a fast food restaurant, and catching a flick afterwards, maybe hang out at the arcade or something for that matter."
Sky looks down. "Oh."
"I'm sorry." Z bit her lip, feeling rather guilty at the moment. "If only I knew where you were taking me..."
"No. Don't be sorry. I'm actually relieved you said that." He smiles as she returns him a puzzled look. "To be honest, I'm not into fancy restaurants myself. It's just that, I used to take Syd out here all the time and she just loves fancy restaurants, not to mention going to boring operas and shopping 24/7."
"You and Syd?" Z interrupts with a huge grin. "I'm not surprised."
Sky grunted, knowing it was coming sooner or later. "Yeah, we used to date."
"Uh huh." Z was fascinated to know more. "What happened?"
He rubs the back of his head. "Well...It obviously didn't work out between us, but we remain the best of friends." She nods her head sensitively. "Maybe that's why I have problems lightening up. I haven't really had the chance to go out, relax, and have fun. I'm busy caught up in a serious world, trying to be someone I'm not."
Z frowns on his behalf. "Can I let you on a little secret?"
He adjusted his posture and leaned more towards the edge of his seat. "Sure."
"Well, it isn't really a big secret. But it's something that no one else knows, not even Jack."
Sky raises a brow. "Oh? What is it?"
"You're my first date." She finally admitted, leaving him speechless. "Whew, glad I got that out of the way."
"No way. Seriously?" His female companion nods. "Wow. Is that good news?"
Z shrugged. "Depends how today turns out." He smiles. "Come on, let's get out of here."
It was already midday as Jack remained at SPD Headquarters, consuming most of his time reading comic books and playing video games. After hours of doing nothing but sit and read, Syd was the first to arrive out of the four, carrying loads of shopping bags and wearing the latest trends. "Hello."
Jack looks up from his comic book and slowly places it down. "Well, hello." He greeted her while crossing his arms. "I see you went on a shopping spree."
Syd takes off her new flashy sunglasses and smiles. "Yup!"
"Got anything for me?"
"Nope!"
He frowns.
"So." She places her shopping bags on the ground and makes her way to the couch where Jack was sitting. "Don't tell me you were here all day long."
"I was."
The blonde tilts head. "Jack."
"What?"
"We don't have many days off you know."
He groans reluctantly. "I'm fine. Really, it's no big deal."
Moments later, Bridge entered the room. Jack and Syd look his way as he goes up on a handstand position.
"How was the library, man?" Cadet Landors curiously wonders.
"Nothing much. Except for the fact that it's so quiet in there."
Jack and Syd exchanged weird looks. "It's supposed to be nice and quiet, Bridge."
"Yeah, but does it have to be extremely quiet? I walk in there, found a book, sat down, and began reading aloud to myself when suddenly this kid told me to shush up. I personally thought it was rude. I mean, a library is supposed to be a nice reading environment right?"
"Bridge, have you heard of reading silently?" Syd smirks. "Keep in mind that you're not the only person in a public area."
"Great, I might as well go to a private library."
"And it'd still be the same thing."
Bridge grunted. "Fine! I'll make my own library." Frustrated with how things ended to ruin his day, Bridge simply got up from his handstand and marches off the room. Jack and Syd refused to say another word as they watch him leave in anger.
"Ouch. What's up with him?"
Syd pursed her lips. "Oh, that's just Bridge being...Bridge. Don't worry; he'll get over it. He's not exactly the angry type."
Jack turned away and scratches the top of his head. "Do you know what time it is?" He asks with a heavy yawn.
"Not sure." Syd looks out the window. "But it looks to me there's more time left to hit the mall and get a new watch." Jack rolls his eyes from behind. "What do you say to that huh? Want to come along?"
"To the mall? With you?" He questioned.
"Yeah. I'll get you something in return."
Jack furrowed his eyebrows. "Thanks for the offer, but I'll pass."
She places her hands on her hips. "I'll pay for dinner. My treat."
"Okay." The thought of food was making his stomach grumble as he realized he hadn't eaten much that day. Nonetheless, he was secretly bored out of his mind and wanted to get out. "So where we going?"
Their eyes slowly flutter as painful grunts escaped from their lips. The four have woken up from an exhausting, whirling trip to the future as they found themselves lying on cold ground. Unfamiliar with their surroundings, they immediately rise to their feet, and observed the area that was once a sacred forest of the academy. Instead, they were hidden behind bushes and stuck in a busy city.
"Are you okay, Ms?" An alien creature aided the blonde beauty from behind with a helping hand as she stares at it weirdly and accepted its kind offer with no further questions.
"Uh...yes." She steps back away from the alien, feeling rather freaked out at the moment. "I'm fine, thank you." She turns to the guys as the alien continue walking towards the opposite direction with another human being. She scratches the top of her head. "Where are we?"
"I don't know, but this is certainly not Blue Bay Harbor." Another observed.
"I'll find out right now." One of the guys volunteered to approach a nice looking couple nearby for answers. "Excuse me." They turned around and face him. "But what is this place?"
The tall blonde gentleman looks his way and smiles. "This is New Tech City." The four exchange worried looks.
"You must be new here." His female companion figures. "Welcome."
"Wait a minute. New Tech City? Do you know how I can get to Blue Bay Harbor?"
"Blue Bay Harbor?" She chuckles. "You are in the city that was once Blue Bay Harbor."
"What are you talking about?"
The couple looked at each other and laughed hysterically. "I'm sorry, but Blue Bay Harbor no longer exists."
A/N: Dun. Dun. Dun. Don't forget to review! Cheers.