A/N: Thanks again for the reviews! Enjoy.


Chapter 6

"Opportunity & Suspicion"

Z went out in the city that night wearing a pair of light jeans that went up below her knees and a light black sweater that went over her yellow shirt. The night was beginning to get cool as the wind picked up more speed. Z shivered in the cold as she shoved her hands inside the pockets of her sweater. It's been a few weeks now and Z hasn't spoken nor seen Jack ever since their last heated argument. She finds herself contemplating deeply at the thought of Jack and how much fun they used to have together. It's a shame their friendship is over, although Z didn't want it to be. She thought about how to approach Jack several times but could never have the heart to face him. Nonetheless, it is that deep seated fear of being pushed away again that stops her from doing so.

Z continues walking around the track of New Tech High's football field, the school she graduated from last year. Her eyes wandered down on the sandy track, focusing on putting one foot in front of the pother as she walks. With her mind set elsewhere, a figure stood out from the distance as it slowly walks up the steps of the bleachers. "I've been looking all over for you." Z looks up from where the familiar voice was coming from. She pursed her lips and sighs at the sight of him.

"I didn't want to be found."

Sky begins descending down the steps. He took his eyes off her for a moment and looks around the area. "I was a student here once—class of 2017." He walks up and stops in front of her. There was a moment of uncomfortable silence. "I wanted to see you."

She stares at his serious blue eyes and sighs. "Look, these couple of weeks have been really great, Sky. But I feel--"

"You feel what?" He looks at her worriedly. "What is it?"

Z looks down away from his gaze. "I really miss Jack and it kills me that I'm not with him."

"Jack?" Sky bit his bottom lip. "Your best friend right?" She nods her head. "So you don't want us to be friends anymore is that it?" He felt hurt as his face expressed utter bewilderment. It's been a few days since they last hung out with each other and it hurts to know that she's been avoiding him all this time.

"No, of course not." She retorts. "I want us to be friends. It's just that--" Z trails off and sighs, struggling to find the right words. "A lot of people walked away in my life, Sky. My parents and Jack are all I have. Till of course my Mom and Dad found a new job somewhere far away where they could raise money to take me to college. But I was so upset that they would even consider leaving me…that I just ran away from home." Sky looks at her with genuine concern and sympathy. "Then I found Jack who is willing to let me stay with him at some college guy's apartment."

"Do you still live in that apartment?" Sky questions curiously.

"Yeah, but Jack is never around anymore. He always stays at the garage."

"What garage?"

Z eyes him suspiciously due to all his questioning. "It's at some alley, but you know that's really none of your business, Sky."

He looks down shamefully. "I'm sorry. I'm just overwhelmed with your story." He explains to her. "I can't imagine having to go through all that. No one deserves to go through that.

She smiles warmly. "It's nice to know that someone cares."

There was a small pause.

"Listen, I want you to know that you should not blame your parents for leaving you. They care about you, Z and they want what's best for you. Heck, they're desperate. They want to send you to college. You should consider yourself lucky. At least you have both of your parents." She furrowed her eyebrows and listens intently. Sky looks down and sighs. "My father passed away when I was pretty young."

"Oh I'm so sorry to hear that, Sky."

The image of Sky's father appeared in his head. Just the thought of him and remembering the special times they had as father and son suddenly made him feel weak and vulnerable. "Yeah…well, I should go."

"No, we can talk about it." She grabbed his hand and turned him around so that he could face her. "You don't have to go through it alone."


Sky Tate arrived at the academy late that night. He yawned while ascending up the steps in fatigue. Before he could even reach his room, he was approached by Commander Cruger down the hallway. "Cadet, may I speak with you for a moment?" His voice sounded serious and yet dreadful in Sky's ears.

He turns around and faces him. "Sir?"

"You're late." He grunted in a rather disappointed tone.

"I know and I'm sorry." He sighs. "It won't happen again."

"That's what you said last night and the night before." Command Cruger reminded him, followed by a deep groan. Cadet Tate averts from his gaze. "What is going on, Sky? What is taking you so long?"

"Sir, all I know is that Jack and Z live in the same apartment but I don't know where. And right now, Jack is staying in a garage at some alley."

Cruger thinks for a moment. "Hmmm…I see. I want you to find him, Sky. We don't have much time."

He furrowed his eyebrows. "Time? Much time for what?"

"I don't have any patience, Cadet." He retorts. "I need them turned in as soon as possible so don't question my order!"

Without questioning him any further, Sky just nods his head. "Yes, sir."

"Wait." Cadet Tate turns back around as Commander Cruger handed him a silver box with the SPD logo on it. Sky furrowed his eyebrows in bewilderment while staring at it closely. "You're gonna need this to turn them in." He slowly opens the box and suddenly his face lit. "It's an SPD morpher as well as judgement scanners. Bridge and Syd already have theirs. They've been dealing with some criminals while you were doing your undercover work."

A smile crept over his face. He felt overwhelmed for this is the moment he's been waiting for all his training years. "Thank you, sir. This means alot to me."

He nods. "I know. You deserved it." Cruger places a hand on his shoulder. "Now go on, cadet. You're dismissed."

Sky turns around and walks towards the direction of his room. As soon as they disappeared from the hallway, Bridge and Syd appeared from behind a wall, listening throughout their whole conversation.

"You know, Syd." Bridge scratches the back of his head and whispers. "I kind of feel bad eavesdropping like this."

She grunted. "It's been almost a month now since Sky is undercover. Aren't you a bit curious why it's taking him so long?"

"He hasn't gotten all the information yet."

"Knowing Sky, he should have gathered all the information he needed a long time ago." Syd proclaims. "Something is holding him back and we're going to find out."

Bridge shot her a look. "We?"

"Yes, we." She grabbed him by the arm. "First thing in the morning, as soon as Sky gets out, we are going to follow him."

"And spy on him?" He scoffs in disbelief. "You know, I feel really uncomfortable about this. Sky is our friend, Syd. He wouldn't do this to us."

The blonde rolls her eyes irritably. "We're only going to make his job easier."

"How?"

"By helping him," she answers with a smirk, "and turning them in for good."

"But that's his case. We can't just interfere."

"Says who?" Bridge drew in a few nervous gulps as he watches her walk off down the hallway. "Oh, I have a bad feeling about this…" He senses an uneasy feeling coming from his stomach as he follows his female companion from behind. "This is not good at all."


"Hey, Jack." Piggy enters the alley where he found Landors sleeping on the back of an open white van. He flutters his eyes open and struggles to sit up.

"What's up, Piggy?" Jack deeply yawns. "I got no more stuff, so you're gonna have to wait till tomorrow." He folds his arms urging to go back to sleep as he adjusted his posture, but finds that Piggy was still standing before him as he opens one eye.

"Oh, well that's a shame. But I'm here to tell you something." Jack raises an eyebrow, half-asleep. "The food and clothes can wait till later."

"What is it?"

"It's your partner in crime. Are you two not working together anymore?" Jack averts from his gaze and groans. "Hmmm, I guess not." Piggy thought.

"What about Z?"

"Well…since you don't have a partner anymore I thought maybe I could take her spot and help you out."

Jack looks at him and smirks. "Thanks. I could use the help, Piggy."

"There's something else." He added as Jack turns to him. "Is Z seeing anyone?"

Landors just shrugged his shoulders. "How should I know? I haven't seen her nor spoken to her for weeks."

"Well, I've been seeing her with the same guy every day."

Jack furrowed his eyebrows. "A guy eh?" He was disgusted by the thought of Z replacing him for someone else. But that tells him right off the bat that their friendship was officially over. "What's he like?" He curiously asks.

"I haven't gotten a good picture of him. But he's quite tall, has light brown hair, quite good looking--"

"Yeah, okay." He stops Piggy, his tone expressing annoyance. "I really don't care."

"I thought you should know," Piggy trails off and continues, "I think he's SPD."


A/N: Dun! Dun! Dun! Want more? Let me know by sending in your reviews!