LJ had meanwhile introduced himself to both Rick and April. He had been a bit worried about meeting two strangers who just had lost their mother and having to make conversation. However, both siblings had immediately accepted him after they had learned that his father was one of the people who had helped rescuing them. They also seemed to be thankful for the distraction. LJ liked them both. Looking around Rick's bedroom, he recognized many posters of movies he himself also enjoyed and he envied the other boy for his collection of video games and his high tech computer. He also learned that he and April both liked sports and some of the same bands. He talked with both of them for a while and was sure they would become friends soon.

„Is that your motorcycle outside?" Rick asked, standing at the window that overlooked the driveway.

LJ nodded. „Well, not mine, although I do own one as well. Or rather, I'll get to use my dad's old bike one day. I'm on my learner's permit right now."

„Well, it's cool," Rick admitted. „I am working on my license as well. We can take driver's ed at boarding school and I will probably finish my lessons next term."

„If we go back to boarding school at all," April said. „Somehow, I have the feeling like a lot of things are going to change now."

„Will you miss your schools if you're not going back?" LJ asked. He could not imagine going to boarding school himself. He always liked going to public school with his friends and then returning home to his mother or father in the afternoon. „Or would you rather stay there?"

„I don't mind either way," April said. „I will miss my friends, but... I feel like I'm old enough to stay home while Dad is working now, which was one of the reasons we were send to boarding school in the first place when we were young. Besides, I still hope I might get the chance to go to Space Academy now. It is here in Central City and it was always my dream to go there."

„That's the military academy that trains future space pilots from an early age, right?" LJ asked. He hadn't been living in Central City for long but he'd heard of it.

„Yes," Rick said, looking at his sister when he spoke. „But don't get your hopes up, sis. After what happened... do you really think Dad will let you train to become a space pilot now? He and Mom always told you they want you to have a normal school experience and then, if you still want to, you can enter Space Academy when you've finished High School."

„Maybe he'll change his mind," April stubbornly insisted. „After all, it can only help so I can learn to protect myself in dangerous situations. It's not like school means I'll go on missions immediately. But after what Ming did to our mother, I want to do my part to take him down some day."

„Let's not talk about that now," Rick said, turning his back on her. He looked back at LJ. „I guess I'll miss my friends a lot, and all the opportunities my school gave me with my inventions and all. But if I can chose, I'd like to stay here with Dad and April. After what happened, I feel like going away will only make it worse for our family. We need to stay together now."

„I can understand that," LJ said. „Well, if you do go to school here, maybe we'll have some classes together."

„I'd like that," Rick replied. He looked out of the window again. „Do you think we can have a closer look at the bike? It's quite the fancy model, I think."

„Sure," LJ said, his eye lightning up. He did really like motorcycles as well. „We could go a few rounds if you like."

„If that's okay with your dad, I'd love to!" Rick said with excitement.

„I'm sure that's fine – he does let me go in our driveway and near the mansion on his bike without supervision," LJ remarked. Sure, the driveway was private property and the area around Mandrake's home was pretty secure and had little to no traffic, but still, what could possibly happen?

„I'm not sure this is a good idea," April said but she followed them downstairs and out in the driveway anyway.

LJ got on the bike and drove a few rounds in the driveway, then came back to Rick and showed him what to do.

„Rick, you've never driven a motorcycle," April warned. „If you crash it and on top of everything else Dad has to pay for the damages, he's probably going to be really pissed."

„It looked easy enough when LJ was doing it," Rick said. „But I guess you're right... now of all times is not the time to have Dad worry about broken bones or a damaged bike." He looked disappointed.

„You could sit behind me," LJ offered. He looked around the driveway. Unlike Mandrake's seemingly endless driveway, this one was rather small. „We could go up and down your street if you want. There doesn't seem to be much traffic."

„Yeah, I'd like that!" Rick grinned.

„Are you sure you can drive?" April asked skeptically.

„Yeah, it will be fine," LJ assured her. „You can also have a go later if you want to."

Rick got on the bike behind LJ and both put on the helmets. Then LJ drove around the driveway a few times before going out in the streets. The Gordon's lived in the suburbs in a quiet street with little to no traffic and houses that all looked kinda the same and had the typical white fence out front.

„Hold on tight – let's take a drive around the block!" LJ cried and the motorcycle started to gain speed.

Suddenly, a huge shadow fell over them and LJ stopped the bike abruptly while nearly losing their balance. The bike fell over but thankfully, neither he or Rick got hurt. In a hurry, they removed their helmets.

„What's going on?!" LJ asked, looking up in confusion. A huge spaceship loomed right above them.

„Shit!" Rick shouted.

„What?!" LJ asked, suddenly feeling scared.

They could only see the underside of the giant ship hoovering right above them. But maybe it was the shape of it that had Rick realize what was going on.

„That's a Mingship! RUN!"

They turned back, leaving the bike behind since there was no time to get it up and running. They saw April running out of the driveway, towards them.

„STAY BACK, STAY BACK!" Rick screamed at his sister. „IT'S A MINGSHIP! GET DAD!"

„RICK!" she screamed in panic.

LJ and Rick were still running towards her when suddenly, a strange beam hit them. LJ stopped in his tracks. He wanted to continue running - he was so scared right now - but he couldn't. He couldn't move at all. Then he was lifted from the ground into the air.

„It's a transport beam," Rick next to him explained. „It happened to us before. We're getting beamed up to the ship."

Yes, they were. The houses, the street, April screaming, all of that got smaller and smaller, and then, suddenly, there was only darkness.

Note: They are a few years younger here but I still wanted them to be allowed to drive since they need to have some sort of transport now and then. But I guess since the show is set in the future, I can declare that they can have a learner's permit at 14 and are allowed to drive.