Episode 54
Jesse and Fireball's father (Hikari) arrived at a hideout. It was an underground place, where a family of old people were living.
"They saved you from the suspended animation chamber, I can only guess..." said Jesse.
"You are smart. Now let's go and meet them. They might be able to give you medicine for your virus."
The thought of getting rid of that disgusting bug was tempting for Jesse.
The door opened and and old man with the face of a wizard showed up from behind the door.
"I'm so glad you are back! I thought you wouldn't come anymore and I was afraid something bad happened to you... Oh, you brought company."
"Ahhh..." And the old man jumped a few steps back. He knew who Jesse was.
"Erkanos, I know..., but trust me, he needs our help. Please let us in" said Hikari.
(Erkanos, if you remember, is the old scientist that helped Commander Eagle hide from the outriders while he was on the run on their planet. He explained Eagle the history of the outrider people and how humans and outriders have common ancestry)
Hikari and Jesse went inside. Jesse was playing the tame cat this time. He knew it wasn't the time to get cocky. Plus he could benefit from them, if they knew of any medicine for his virus.
Erkanos was cautious. His wife looked at Jesse and sighed.
Jesse started talking:
"I know you guys don't trust me... And I know I'm not welcome here. But I mean no harm to you people. I actually knew that you sheltered commander Eagle here and I didn't retaliate."
Erkanos replied: "As long as you keep yourself in check, we have the best intentions as well. I have always been a person of peace. Come in. Would you like to eat something? There is not much left in our pantry, but we can share."
The dinner was quiet. Jesse couldn't stand that tension. He wanted to talk, just to animate the place. He always liked to talk.
J: "So..., should I tell you how I got here and our stories?" and he pointed towards Hikari.
Soon, Erkanos's eyes were shining. He could now see how it was all making sense. All these years of research were not in vain! He knew there was a virus out there, and he has been working on a medicine for it. He used it on a few outriders and it worked. Slowly, but it did work. It took about six months for one of his subjects. Another one stopped the treatment halfway through, though..., because he still had an allegiance to Nemisis written in his DNA, so he went back to him. But Erkanos never tested the medicine on a human. This would be something so different. And Jesse seems to have emotions, he is not just a stiff soldier. How could he have feelings when all the others infected didn't? He is human, that's why... Which means he can't risk giving him the same medicine or it could kill him. He would have to start new tests on Jesse, but that would take months... Meanwhile, Jesse wouldn't be a doll in a window, he could do so much damage. Erkanos needed to find a fast solution...
"So, this is where our lives meet," Jesse said, pointing towards Hikari. He managed to tell enough of the story but he omitted to say anything about Fireball. Hikari wasn't yet aware that his son, Fireball, was a member of the Star Sheriffs, although he heard Nemisis talking about him.
Erkanos decided to tread lightly around Jesse, he didn't want to brag too much about his success with his anti-viral med he used on his own people, so he presented him with a realistic situation: he needs to get some blood samples from him and start doing tests, because since he is human, the chemistry will be different.
Surprisingly, Jesse agreed to all of Erkanos's proposals. He was playing the good guy, definitely.
As the night settled in, they all eventually had to go to sleep. The hideout that Erkanos had was a sort of an underground home, with a lab chamber in an adjacent room. It was the same place where Commander Eagle stayed.
Hikari was not feeling safe around Jesse. He was not planning on falling asleep too soon. In the same time, Jesse was worried that Nemisis will come after him. Both of them were just pretending they were asleep.
In the silence of the night, Capt. Hikari heard Jesse tossing in the room where they were "sleeping" (or at least pretending to sleep). He figured he is awake, so he started talking:
"Jesse, I noticed you have not mentioned anything about Fireball. But you do seem to know him very well. At least you know I am his father. I want to know about him and what he is doing."
Jesse, gnashing his teeth on the inevitable question : "Hm! All you should know is that he is alive and he is 16 years older than how you knew him. You made a decision to put your life in danger, to defeat Nemisis, and leave a mourning family behind, so this is the answer you will get."
Hikari, visibly vexed: "Jesse, you don't need to twist the knife inside the wound. I'm sure that whatever differences are there between you and my son, they can be addressed. You obviously hate him, but I have hopes that this would change."
J: "Keep hoping, man. Me and Fireball will never get along. Plus, YOU started a chain of events that created this whole mess, including me having to deal with a damn vapor virus. If it weren't for your foolish battle actions, Nemisis wouldn't have lost his vapor body and I wouldn't have been exposed to the virus, let alone having to deal with a demented Nemisis that wants my body as a host! "
H: "You sure know how to twist things to your advantage. Just to let you know, my battle decisions were an ultimate measure! Nemisis was preparing to drop a mega atomic bomb on our planetary system!"
J: "Oh, what a hero! Guess what, he came back as a cyborg! Worse! Whaaa!...who's there?!"
Suddenly, their conversation got interrupted by loud sounds behind one of the walls. Instinctively, they both jumped on their feet. Hikari had a gun that Erkanos entrusted him to handle. Jesse, on the other hand, was unarmed. He quickly inspected the dark room and spotted a metal rod. He grabbed it and both of them flanked the door.
"Where are they, old man?" a voice from the other room spoke in a low tone. "Speak or I shoot!"
"Erkanos is captured!" whispered Hikari. We have to save him before they get to us."
Jesse, in his usual cool tone, said: "Let me take care of them and you cover me from here. They are all such a bunch of boneheads you would never even imagine".
Jesse cracked the door open. All the outriders, dressed in their usual brown-suits with the long helmets turned their weapons towards the door.
Jesse showed up with his hands up in the air.
A voice of an outrider in the back: "Remember Nemisis wants him alive. All weapons on stunt only!"
Outrider boss: "Well well, that was easy, Jesse. You got pretty scared by us lately, huh? Ha-ha! Where's your mighty friend, ay?"
Jesse: "I don't have friends, peanut-head! I killed him"
Outrider boss: "But you didn't kill your old friend and his lady here, ha?"
J: "I think they were cute, and he kinda' looks like my grandpa. Let them go and I'll go with you."
Outrider in the back of the room, with a silly hoarse voice: "What's that a "grandpa"...?"
Outrider boss: "Shut up, idiot. Let's get you back, Jesse. Release the old man and his lady."
Erkanos and his wife got released. They carefully stepped to the back of the room, while Jesse slowly advanced towards the outriders. His eyes were gazing straight at the opponent, like cutting swords, and he could hear the outrider's breath getting shallow and fast as he was approaching him. Everyone was afraid of Jesse. He was unpredictable and could outsmart a hundred of them at a time.
He arrived in front of their leader and slowly started putting his hands down so he can handcuff him.
Suddenly, Hikary bounced into the room shooting around at the outriders.
Hikari: "Erkanos, get down!"
Same second Hikari jumped, Jesse let the metal rod slip from his sleeve into his hand and with a quick move he punched the outrider under his chin. The guy fell down on the floor. Jesse jumped across the room as fires were being shot around. He pushed Erkanos and his wife out the door to protect them, then he proceeded into a ninja-fight with the few remaining soldiers that were closing in on Hikari. In a matter of seconds, the fight was over, Jesse took a gun from one of the wounded outriders and finished the job. All the outriders being shot turned into humans and ran away. Yes, shooting them in their own dimension made them humans...
Hikari looked at Jesse in amazement. He never saw any other Star Sheriff so agile and quick. And so masterful at the fight skills.
Jesse caught his look and smirked: "You haven't seen anything yet."
"You had a good teacher for sure", said Hikari.
"Yeah, but she likes your tin-star son, Fireball, instead of me", puffed Jesse in discontent.
"Ah, so that's the whole rivalry... A woman...", thought Hikari to himself.
"But I'm better than him!" continued Jesse in a painful groan.
Hikari decided to shut up. Now Jesse had a gun too, so he was definitely a dangerous loose cannon.
Jesse and Hikari left the room and gathered with Erkanos and his wife.
"There are others outside," sobbed the old lady. "Let's go this way, there is a pathway through here."
"Oh yeah, the same way Eagle escaped..." said Jesse to himself. "Well, the wheel is turning, now I'm a fugitive".
All four were running along a tunnel. The end of the tunnel led to a runway that was underground, with a big sky opening at the end, where shuttles were taking off from. Just around the corner, Erkanos said, breathing heavily after the intense running:
"You two can go from here, take the large ship on the right, it has been active in the past few days so I know it's working."
Hikari: "Erkanos, you can't stay here, it's dangerous. We'll take you to a safer place."
Erkanos: "Oh, no, I have my lab and my work... I can't go anywhere."
Hikari: "But you both are at risk! Nemisis knows about your lab work now, so he can exterminate you."
Jesse: "All three of you, move along."
He was pointing the gun at at them, from behind.
H: "Well, you had to get feisty! You couldn't keep it friendly..."
J: "Shut up and move. No more time to play nice guy. You are all slowing me down. Move or I shoot."
The ship he picked was blue.
"Well, just my color", said Jesse to himself. "These outriders really have a plan B prepared. They have extra weapons and ships underground. Hmmm. I wonder when they'll be ready for other attacks on humans. They seem to recover fast. What's their energy source now?"
The place looked deserted though. No sign of outriders. They were all probably focusing on chasing for them around Erkanos's house.
Taking the ship was a piece of cake. They took off fast and furious. Jesse was piloting. Hikari and the two others were his prisoners now.
Just as he distanced himself from the planet, a squadron of vigilantes attacked. Jesse didn't have much ammunition, so all he could do is go into avoidance mode. At which Jesse was a master. He hid the ship behind some asteroids and lost all the vigilantes in there.
"Let's see if this puppy can jump dimensions..." Jesse inspected the board looking for the fuel level. "Yesss! We are at a safe level, let's do it!"
"He is taking us into the human dimension..." Hikari felt relieved. Although he wasn't sure about Jesse's plans, the idea of going to his own dimension, no matter where in the galaxy, was just a step forward, towards getting back home.
"Where are you taking us...?" dared to say Erkanos, while his wife was holding dear to his arm.
"To a better sunnier place", said Jesse, rubbing his palms. "April, ready or not, here I cooome!"...
On Yuma. A few days after the Victory Grand Prix.
Fireball, in his room. Looking at the phone number scribbled on the paper from Claudia.
He gets up from his bed. Looks at his cell-phone..., then dials.
Fireball: "Claudia, hi!"
Claudia: "Hello, who is this?"
F: "Um, it's me, Fireball. How are you doing?"
C: "Oh, Fireball, sorry I didn't recognize your voice. I'm doing OK, I guess. My dad has a cold though... I stayed and took care of him for the past few days."
F: "Oh, he must have the virus that's going around these days. April has a cold too, she is coughing. She says she wants to be alone though, she doesn't want to get me infected."
C: "So... are you by yourself now?"
F: "Well, yeah... So..., did you still want to get together...? Sorry it will be just me... My friends bailed out on me too, apparently they all have important things to do. Saber Rider is on vacation with Sincia... Colt is with Robin..."
C: "Uh... well, I'll only be able to see you later around 7 tonight..., my dad wants me to pick up a car from the garage..."
F: "Yeah, of course."
C: "I mean, I hope April will not be upset on you..."
F: "Hey, we're all friends, right, why would she be upset?"
C: "Right..."
F: "See you at 7 then, at the "Reno's"
C: "Sounds good, see you, bye!"
Whew... It's hard to lie, especially when you have never done it before... Claudia exhaled and got out of the room... Her dad was in the garage fixing a tire. Obviously NOT having any cold.
Mario: "Claudia, would you pass me that wrench over there?"
Claudia: "Sure daddy!" After a short pause...: "Dad, can I ask you a favor?"
M: "Claudia, you can ask me anything my dear, you are a silver medalist now."
C: "I'm going out with the girls tonight, is it OK?"
M: "Well, yeah, go ahead. Where are you going?"
C: "Ummm, we'll meet downtown and we'll see where we'll go from there."
M: "Sure, just don't stay late, OK?"
C: "Okay. Thanks daddy!"
Fireball was fidgeting. He was alone in his room. His heart was beating fast... He lied too... about April. She was not sick, but nevertheless she was not around. Because she decided to go for a tennis game with a bunch of friends. Just to get away from him a little bit. She got too mad at him because of Claudia and she wanted to clear up her head. And this way, if he doesn't see her, he might start missing her again and come running after her.
Planet Yuma...! Hikari couldn't believe it. Jesse was heading straight to planet Yuma!
After a bumpy ride through the wormhole between dimensions, Jesse found his way around the planetary systems and quickly got to planet Yuma.
This ship was fast!
Hikari: "How are you going to evade the interception systems? You are going to get caught very fast!"
Jesse: "You are outdated, Hikari! Just watch me do it! I've done it lots of times, because I AM Jesse Blue." And he laughed sarcastically.
And indeed, they landed somewhere near the Dome city. Yes, near the Cavalry Command central, could you believe it? And nobody intercepted the ship. Don't ask me how... Hikari was again amazed. He thought to himself: "If we could bring this guy around to work for us, he could be a tremendous asset!" He looked at Erkanos, who somehow was thinking about something similar... They exchanged meaningful looks.
Jesse caught their looks and intervened:
"If you guys are planning an escape, just watch me blast you!"
Their ship landed in a desert area, a few miles away from the city.
Rocks..., lots of sand dunes..., a dusty atmosphere..., an orange dusk horizon , and this blue ship, parked behind a huge boulder.
As Jesse was preparing to call Cavalry Command...and start his cocky speech to impose his demands..., a trail of dust was forming in the distance. He didn't notice it until it was too late...
"So we are going to visit this awesome waterfall, as soon as we cross this small desert. It's a really beautiful sight at sunset." began Fireball as he was speeding up in his Red Fury racer car.
"Cant't wait! You know, this was a much better idea than going to that bar! I like adventures!" said Claudia.
Actually, Fireball's idea was to avoid being seen downtown with Claudia. Many people knew who they were and the word could have gotten to April. Claudia herself couldn't agree more, at least for now.
"What is that in the distance?...Maybe it's just an illusion. Let's check it out anyway." Something shiny caught his eye... Fireball steered the wheel towards it.
After a few minutes of driving, Fireball got really freaked out. He had Claudia with him and he knew exactly what kind of ship that was...
It was an outrider ship!
Claudia recognized the type of ship too.
"Outrider ship, Fireball! Let's get closer and see what is going on!"
"It's dangerous, Claudia, I'll turn back and alert my team."
"What if it's just an old abandoned ship from previous battles?", said Claudia.
"It looks like new to me", said a suspicious Fireball. "We are pretty close to it, though; let's check it out. But you stay in the car, I don't want you to get hurt."
By this time, Jesse noticed the movement and jumped from his seat. He magnified the view on his screen and... there it is...: a familiar view! The Red Fury coming towards him. Aaargh! He had other plans, but now he has to be inventive and turn this to his advantage. How in the world did Fireball spot him? Did he pick him on a radar? Impossible, he knows what he is doing, he never got caught. He immediately grabbed Erkanos and his wife and tied them together and locked them in a locker room inside the ship, while pointing a gun at Hikari.
He then rushed Hikari out of the ship and waited patiently for the car to approach.
"Do you think you are going to obtain anything out of your silly plan, Jesse?" said Hikari.
"I will obtain actually more than I initially planned!" smirked Jesse. "Now move, keep quiet, do what I say and I'll spare you."
Hikari, sarcastically: "You have to spare me anyway, I'm your negotiation currency obviously."
Jesse: "Shut up!"
The car stopped about 30 feet away.
The sun was going down slowly, casting long shadows. There was an orange-red twilight, while the shadows were turning blue. A perfect hideaway for Jesse and his blue hair. He pushed Hikari against the boulder as they were hiding from view.
"You say anything and I blow you up! I mean it, so shut up!"
Fireball parked the car backwards, so that his car wouldn't open facing the ship. He jumped out first and had Claudia hide inside the car until he can figure out the area. From where he was, Jesse had a pretty good spot, his hair was masked by the blue shadows of the rocks. He saw Fireball jumping out. Claudia couldn't resist her curiosity, and she suddenly got out of the car and started following Fireball.
Jesse saw her jumping. What?! When did April change her hair color? Hmmm... Even if it's getting dark outside, her hair is so blonde that it should be glowing, especially because she is against the sun. Or..., wait, that's not April's silhouette. Who could she be?
"Stay behind, Claudia, please! I don't want anything to happen to you! Go back!", Fireball whispered.
"Hey tin-star! Ready for a surprise?" Jesse showed his face from behind the rock.
Fireball immediately jumped at his gun.
F:"Claudia, stay behind me!"
J: "Ohhh, Claudia..., nice to meet you! You don't want to show your face?"
F: "Get away from the rock and raise your hands up" He had his gun pointed at Jesse.
J: "Now let's have a little conversation, Fireball!" He pulled Hikari suddenly in front of him. "Let's have a little family reunion!"
Hikari's heart was beating to break his chest. He was seeing his son. No matter what the circumstance was, he was seeing his son, after 16 years! He didn't care if Jesse would kill him or not, but he was so excited to see his son. Nothing else mattered. His shoulders were shaking and Jesse felt it as he was pointing a gun at him.
Hikari: "Fireball!"
Fireball: "Father?!" He recognized his face, from his mother's pictures.
H: "My son! Fireball!"
F: " Father, you are alive! You are alive!"
Jesse: "Oh now, shall I hand you two some tissue paper? No tears, please..."
F: "I cannot believe this! You did you survive!"
H: "I... I am alive Fireball, right now it doesn't matter how."
F: "You miserable traitor, get your hands off of him!"
J: "Don't make me call you names Fireball. Let's stay polite to each other. This is the best gift of your life, bringing your father back. Is this how you thank me...? I saved his life and you still hate me?"
F: "I said to leave him alone!" Fireball's voice was getting desperate and emotional.
Jesse, in a firm tone, speaking slowly: "No, you put your gun down, Fireball. I call the shots here. One more move and I shoot him, and you will regret this for the rest of your life." Jesse was calmer than ever. He felt he had full control.
Fireball was desperate. He could not do anything, Jesse had the upper hand. He had to lower his gun.
J: "That's it... Smart move, tin star. Now put the gun down slowly and step away from it. Yep, that's it. Good job. Let me see your lady friend, too! Hands up, Claudia, step next to him. Now... who are you Claudia, again?"
Claudia: "I... I'm a friend..."
J: "Oh, a lady friend... Now Fireball, are you playing at two rope ends? What about April...?"
F: "Spare your conversation for later. What do you want?"
J: "Oh, but this is fun! Would you like me to contact April and tell her about your little sunset adventure with... hm hm, Claudia?"
F: "Keep your assumptions to yourself, Jesse! I said: what do you want?"
J: "Okay, let's talk business. But since I caught you red handed here, the stakes are getting even higher now! My demands are going to be even bigger! Haha! This is fun!"
Fireball was shaking in anger and desperation: "What are your requests, Jesse?"
J: "Well, bud, no offense, but I'm only talking to high rank commanders. What about running a quick errand to Mr Eagle and crying a little bit on his shoulder before telling him the big news? Oh, and send my love to April!"
Fireball was astonished. Jesse managed to insult him, humiliate him in front of his father, whom he had just seen after so many years... and in front of Claudia. AND he intercepted his little adventure with Claudia. What an unfortunate night for him. All his joy of seeing his father alive was crushed!
F: "Jesse, you will pay for this! I promise you!"
J: "Keep dreaming, Fireball! You have one hour! Otherwise you'll be sorry you knew your dad existed and your little mistress adventure will be revealed!"
Fireball left the desert in the most terrible rush. His nerves were brought to the limit... Jesse managed to touch not only one, but two weak spots... His father..., and Claudia...
Claudia herself was very disturbed. She got so scared of the whole situation, but most of all she was extremely worried for Fireball.
Claudia: "Fireball, don't give in! I will help you, anything I can do, I will do!" and she touched his hand gently.
He felt the need to hold her hand. She was a such warm presence next to him. April has always been frosty (he even told her once, when they went skiing - remember that episode?). Claudia was just the opposite...
He arrived at the Cavalry command center and rushed into the building as fast as he could. Claudia was running next to him. They didn't think anymore of being seen together... The news and the deadline were more important than anything.
He arrived at Eagle's office and didn't even think of knocking at the door. He burst in upon Eagle. He actually interrupted him, while he was talking with April. She was there to ask her father if he had seen Fireball.
"There you are, Fireball!", said April, calmly.
"Commander Eagle! I have news! Big news! Good and bad! And ugly news too!" He stopped and leaned forward, with his hands on his knees. He could barely breathe.
April: "Fireball, you are really scaring me! What is going on?!"
Fireball: "My... my... father... He... he's a...alive!"
Astonished April and Eagle: "Whaaaat?"
F: "Jesse has demands for his release and only wants to talk to you, commander Eagle...!"
Eagle: "Jesse, again? I can't believe it! Fireball, let's calm down. What other details do you have?"
In the meantime, Claudia remained outside. She didn't dare to go inside. Through the crack of the door, she heard April's voice. She didn't know what to do. She wanted to hide, but didn't want to leave Fireball in this sensitive moment. Just as she was trying to sneak by and go hide somewhere down the hallway, April spotted the move behind the door. She saw her hair and opened the door.
"Claudia!"
"April!"
A: "Hey Claudia, come in. What are you doing here?"
C: "Umm, Fireball let me in..." ("Hm, April doesn't seem to have any cold, like Fireball was saying..." she told herself.)
A: "Did you see his father? Where is he?"
C: "Well, yes, I..." She didn't want April to know where she went with Fireball, but she couldn't make up a lie. The situation was too tense.
C: "Fireball's father needs our help..."
A: "Claudia, this is a dangerous situation, you shouldn't be around us now, go home to your father and stay away from danger. We don't want you to get hurt."
Fireball intervened: "Maybe you should stay here for now, we'll figure out a way to get you out and safe. It's dark outside and you shouldn't be out there alone". He didn't care anymore about what April or others would say, he had too much adrenaline in his blood.
"Oh, so now he cares about her... We could send her home with one of our drivers here, no need to keep her with us," thought April.
Eagle noticed the situation too, but didn't intervene in any way. The urgency of getting Hikari back safe was much more important. He called all the high rank commanders into his office in an urgent meeting. He also called King Jarray to announce him. He was still on Yuma, as part of the joint victory celebrations. April called Saber Rider and Colt. The minutes were ticking away. The one hour deadline was approaching...
The Star Sheriffs, as always, had to wait outside the conference room. Eagle and his peers, accompanied by King Jarray, took their seats at the oval table in the room. And sure enough, at the right time, Jesse called up. His face lit up on the big screen in front of them.
J: "Hello Commander Eagle!"
Eagle: "Jesse Blue!"
J: "Well well, aren't you all ready, spit and polish? Here we are again, my friends, earlier than you would expect, right? I have dear memories from that room, when I was Nemisis's emissary."
E: "Enough of your bragging, Jesse. We want to see Hikari."
J: "Well, before you'll see any bit of Hikari, I want to see April too! Bring her in and then we'll discuss"
The four star sheriffs were waiting outside the room. Fireball was shaking in a mix of anger and despair. Nobody was sitting down. Colt was clenching his fists: "That weasel, Jesse... He is playing really hard!" Saber Rider was also astonished: "This guy has surpassed any limits. He's like a feline with nine lives and an enormous impertinence". April was feeling sort of guilty. Maybe if that embarrassing situation, when Jesse had hit at her many years ago, had been avoided, then this whole mess wouldn't have existed.
Claudia was standing in a corner, scared and feeling hopeless. She was too afraid to say something. Tears started coming out of her eyes.
Fireball turned to her: "Claudia, I'm sorry you have to go through this... I'm so sorry..."
April's nerves were getting bent. Seeing Claudia around Fireball was already a reality she had to accept. Claudia's tears were just a bucket of salt on April's wounded pride. It was all over between her and Fireball. She wanted to go out and breathe some fresh air.
But suddenly the door to the room opened. Someone called for April. She jumped like a spring:
"Yes, I'm here!"
"Please, come in."
She stepped into the room. A blue hair on the big screen made her turn her face toward it.
"Hello April" said Jesse in a luring tone.
She didn't reply anything. Too much anger, pain and confusion inside her. She just looked at him and tried to stay calm.
"Well aren't you glad to see that I'm alive? Oh, I guess not... Our last battle was too intense, you probably want to see me dead. But I assure you that despite that, I'm still very fond of you... " and he threw his typical charming look at her.
Still no reply from her. Just a long look, filled with anger.
"Well now..., problems in your marriage...?" laughed Jesse.
She almost jumped out of her skin. What does he mean by that? He probably knows about... Claudia?...
"Enough of your chit-chat!" interrupted Eagle. He had a sense of where the conversation would steer. "You saw my daughter, now we want to see Hikari"
Jesse: "He is right next to me. Here you go, take a good look at him and convince yourselves!"
Hikari stepped into the camera. Everyone stood up in the room, in an uproar... King Jarray stepped forward:
"My friend! You are indeed alive!"
"Your Highness, I am indeed. Please don't let yourselves be fooled by Jesse, he is..."
"Shut up!" Jesse pushed him out of the sight. "Now do we have something to talk about?"
Eagle: "Jesse, we need to convince ourselves that he is who he says he is. No offense to you, Mr Hikari, but we would like to check your credentials. Please identify yourself and your service number."
Jesse: "Ha, what a formality! Please, Mr Hikari, suit yourself".
Hikari: "I would gladly do that. I'm captain Norio Hikari, first class pilot in division 1 of Cavalry Command, service number 445-23-79, ID number..."
Jesse: "Yeah, don't fool me with more numbers. Service number is enough. If you are trying to divulge our location through secret codes, this is not your lucky day."
Indeed Hikari was trying to send the location codes in the next phrase. Eagle was displeased that Jesse interrupted.
In the back of the conference room, one of the officers said out loud: "The numbers are a match, sirs! He is Capt. Hikari."
Jesse: "So now, gentlemen, we have a situation, right? You want him back, and I want my part of the deal."
Eagle: "What is you request, Jesse?"
Tension was floating in the room, people were all looking at Jesse.
He knew how stressful the situation was, so he wanted to tease them a bit and to extend the moment. He paused for a few seconds and looked straight at April. She was so beautiful... She was looking straight at him, just like first time when they met. What was she thinking now...?
He finally broke the silence:
"I want April."
She gasped. Her eyes got bigger as she continued to look at Jesse.
Eagle could not believe the kind of request Jesse had just made. Everything but his daughter.
Great uproar in the room. Everyone was baffled.
Eagle: "Jesse, your request is beyond anything imagined."
Jesse: "Come on, don't be so naive. Did you think I asked to see April just for fun? Wasn't it obvious to you?"
Eagle: "What if we say no?"
J: "Then you say bye-bye to your dear friend Norio Hikari. You know me... I keep my promises. So think about it, but don't think twice... You have 30 minutes to decide. Ha-ha-ha-ha!"
The screen went off. Everyone in the room was disturbed. Eagle hugged April.
E: "April, I would never let anything bad happen to you!"
Would Eagle let his daughter get into the hands of Jesse Blue? Would Saber Rider and his friends come up with any solutions? We'll find out in our next exciting adventure of Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs!
