Landing in an alley close to my apartment I immediately changed to my street clothes and practically dragged myself up the stairs.
"We need a lift." I groaned as I finally reached my floor and by the time I reached the door I was feeling a little light-headed. "Really...need one."
"Well I did tell you to go easy on using your Turbo energy but you never listen." Shock pointed out as I reached over and unlcoked the door. "Jessie are you even listening?"
"Huh...sorry I wasn't lisetning. Did you say something, Shock?" I mumbled as I shut the door behind us and made my way to the bedroom I missed the Ultralink's eyeroll. Giving up getting a coherant word out of me when I was this tired he followed me instead and as I fell onto the bed he sighed. Constantly wearing a Base suit made me a little happier as that meant I didn't have to change clothes and as I lay there, slowly closing my eyes he hovered overhead. Eventually I started to doze, way more worn out then I thought and soon we were both dead to the world. If I had been even the slightest bit concious I might have heard footsteps coming up the stairs but I was too tired to care though if I'd known who it was I would have been alert.
"So she lives here, huh? I thought she would have stayed at N-Tek." Jason muttered as he looked down at his watch. "This is her floor so I wonder which door?" As he wandered around the floor the beeping seemed to be coming from the door closest to him and after a few seconds a smirk appeared on his face. "Too easy." He whispered as he reached into his pocket and as he went to unlcok the door he found it already unlocked.
A little confused he stared at the door for a moment then he slipped the lockpick back into his jacket pocket, silently laughing at how stupid I was. But before he walked in he paused then frowned, wondering why was doing all the work and as he walked away he called someone on his phone. A short time later he was standing outside my building, impatiently waiting for Axel to arrive and as soon as he drove up he frowned.
"So what do you need me for? Stealing weapons? Hacking into N-Tek's files?" Axel asked and after hearing the plan he blinked. "Kidnapping? Hmmm okay then." He said as he stepped out of the van and headed upstairs, only for Jason to stop him.
"Do you even know what floor and apartment she's in?" Jason asked and getting a blank look he rolled his eyes. "I didn't think so." With a expasrated sigh Jason told his lackey where I was and as Axel slipped into the apartment Jason rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Why am I surronded by morons?" He muttered as he walked back to the van and sat inside.
"Let's see now...which door was it?" Axel muttered as he wandered around and after walking back and forth for several minutes he finally saw the right door. "Okay I'll make this nice and quiet." He said as he slipped inside my apartment and after he closed the door behind him he accidently stumbled on my bag that I'd just dumped in the middle of the room. Thankfully for him I just sighed in my sleep and turned over, completely unaware that he was heading my way. Of course Shock stirred awake and as he opened his eye he noticed that the door was slowly opening and he frowned, still half asleep.
"That's funny. I thought I closed the door." He mumbled and that's when someone walked in and he stared as Axel came face to face with him. "Who are you?" He asked and Axel blinked, not sure who or what he was looking at. After a few seconds Axel suddenly remembered why he was here and as he headed for me, lying still out cold he grinned and as Shock watched he crouched at my side. "Wait a second what are you...?" Shock asked shaking himself to wake up more and that's right when Axel struck, clamping a hand over my mouth.
That finally woke me and I tried to scream but I was still out of it and he grinned before he produced what looked like a taser. My eyes going wide I tried to bite him but he managed to avoid my teeth and as he pressed the taser against the side of my neck my back arched as I screamed, the noise muffled by his hand. His grip relaxing I slipped off the bed and hit the carpet, my vision grew dark and the last thing I heard was the sounds of a struggle.
"Who would have thought that J-Shock, one of two Turbo users, is only a teenage girl? And to think Dredd has had so much trouble beating you." Someone said and as I groaned, my whole body throbbing, I heard a chuckle and as my eyes slowly opened I saw a familar face.
"Hey she's awake." Axel said as he and Naught watched me focus on them and when I groaned again, Naught grinned back at me as I fixed him with a death glare. Or what I thought I was doing.
"If that supposed to be intimadating you're sadly mistaken. Your Ultralink's scarier than that." Jason mocked and I sighed, closing my eyes for a brief moment wishing this was just a bad dream. "Oh this isn't a dream so stay awake." He told me gripping my chin for a moment and my eyes shot open, trying to move away and finding it impossible.
"Where...am I?" I mumbled and he grinned at me before he released my chin, apparently enjoying my pain.
"You're in a empty storage room. I couldn't bring you to my office since Dredd would have found you." Jason explained and I growled at him, trying again to break free from what was holding me back. "Oh and before you get any ideas about eascaping your Ultralink friend's back at your apartment. So you can't switch modes."
"Jokes on you, Naught. Without Shock my powers will eventually overload and then say goodbye to your base. " I muttered as I gave him a weak smile, still woozy from whatever the big lug standing next to Jason had used on me.
"Maybe I should have brought that thing with me." Axel said and that's when Naught frowned at me, apparently forgetting that key point. "I'll go back and..." And that's when Jason held up his hand.
"N-Tek would have already rescued him by now." Jason said and I giggled, enjoying myself and he glared at me before he ordered Axel to leave us. Once his lackey left the storage room I watched as Jason paced, clearly frustrated that he'd slipped up by not telling Axel to kidnap Shock as well.
"Heh not a very good plan, Naught. An epic fail on your part though I suppose that Dredd needs to do everything for you." I giggled my head still aching and he stopped pacing, folding his arms against his chest before he walked over to me. "What are you going to beat me up again? Like you did when I was helpless?"
"Why aren't you afraid? Without your Ultralink, you'll explode." He asked, raising an eyebrow at me and I shrugged. Or least I tried to but it was next to impossible tied to a chair with chains wrapped around me. Not that I was feeling up to escaping with my head all funny.
"If I have to take you with me...so be it. You and Dredd have caused me and my friends nothing but pain ever since I first fought you." I told him and he stared down at me for a few seconds, not speaking and then he suddenly transformed into his Mecha mode and I growled. "Going to attack me when I'm hurt? Very brave of you." I almost spat at him and he glared.
"Do you know what its like working for a man like Dredd? Being in constant fear for your life?" He asked me and the strangeness of that statement shocked me into silence. "At least you have people that won't destroy you if you screw up."
"You're...afraid of him?" I whispered and just for a split second I saw the fear in his orange eyes. For the few seconds I almost felt sorry for him then I gritted my teeth. "Yeah right. You wouldn't have said that as the CEO of THI. Oh right you're not anymore are you?"
"Shut up!" He yelled as he grabbed me by the scruff of my Base Suit and I just laughed in his face. "You have no idea what I could do to you." He growled and I rolled my eyes, feeling like I was going to pass out from the constant throbbing of a massive migrane making its precence known.
"Maybe I don't but at least I don't go around hurting innocent people. Kidnapping them and forcing them to...do whatever you have planned for me. And what is it? Turn me into a Turbo battery for your master? If so, that's already been done and it didn't work." I muttered wishing desperately for Shock or anyone to rescue me as I felt the first stirrings of my Turbo energy as it began to overflow. Just for a moment my eyes glowed green and I sighed, knowing my time was short. "Its starting. Soon I'll...go boom." I whispered and that's when the fear finally set in and I could fell hot tears running down my face.
"No I still need your help." Jason almost shouted and I let out a tired laugh as he let go off my collar. "I want to leave Dredd and you're the only one who can help me accomplish that." He told me and I gasped as the pain of my Turbo energy burned within me. "And you're going to help me."
"Why would...I do that?" I groaned as I shuddered from the pain and that's when he reached down and snapped the chains in two. "Huh...?"
"Because I have Shock and I'll only hand him over if you agree to help." Jason explained as he walked over and reaching inside a discarded box he brought Shock out. And that's when I realized just how desperate Jason Naught really was.
"What do you want?" Shock growled, trying to act tough despite him being tangled in a chain similar to my own and as he stared, Jason freed him and he instantly rushed to me. "Jessie hang on, okay?" He muttered as he slammed into my chest and I gasped before I took a shaky breath.
"Thanks...Shock." I mumbled before I started to feel dizzy and as he detached from he stared as I slumped forward, letting out a groan before I passed out.
"That's just perfect. Now how can she help if she's out cold." Jason grumbled before he reached down and shook my shoulder, only for Shock to fly into his face. "Hey I'm trying to help! I need her to protect me from Dredd."
That made Shock stare before he blinked and glared at Jason who rolled his eyes at the Ultralink. " What are you talking about?" He asked as Jason changed back to his human form, adjusting his tie and smoothing down his jacket.
"I...kidnapped her to get her help. Look I don't have time tp explain why so just get me out of here. Right now." Jason said, unable to hide the hint of panic in his voice and Shock crossed his arms. "I brought you back with us so she wouldn't fry herself so you owe me." He hissed, glancing towards the door as if he expected Dredd to walk through it at any moment.
"Look we'll help you escape and the you're on your own. This way Dredd will think we kidnapped you and not the other way around." Shock said as he linked with me and when I stood Jason just stared at us. "She's still out cold but I can control her anyway. Let's rock, Flight Mode." Shock called out and after a quick change he picked Naught up. Despite his usual calm demenor, except when Dredd was around, he gave a yelp of surprise before he glared at the Ultralink. "Just sit back and leave the driving to me." A few seconds later we shot out of the storage room and as we raced to the surface several Dredd Naughts attacked, apparently not knowing Jason's part in the fake 'kidnapping'
"Before you say anything I can't call them off, otherwise it'll look suspiious. You can beat them anyway." Jason said keeping his eyes on the path ahead of them. With a sigh Shock flew even faster and dodged every one of the robots' shots until Jason saw the entrance, or exit in this case, and told Shock to head straight for it.
Seconds later they emerged right near what looked like a large pool of water. Letting the villian down for a moment Shock stared at it.
"That's the way out?" Shock asked and Jason nodded before he changed to his Mech suit. "Okay how are you going to escape? We have Scuba Mode but...well can you swim?"
"Yes so move it, Ultralink!" Jason hissed before he leapt into the water and started swimming, leaving Shock to roll his eyes before he changed to Scuba Mode. Almost instantly he leapt into the water and as he followed Jason, he wondered just what the former CEO had planned. A few minutes later they broke the surface, only to almost instantly cringe as several Jump Jets aimed their guns at them. "Why are they here?" Jason muttered wanting to throw his arms up only to almost instantansily sink and he thought better of it.
"Its okay, he's not going to attack!" Shock called out as he leapt from the water and changed to Flight Mode in mid-air. "He's my prisoner." He added and Jason frowned at him, eyes wide before he dragged him from the water.
A short time later Jason stood before Commander Forge, back in his human form and now handcuffed. A bit miffed at his treatment he decided that anything was better than being brought before Dredd.
"Dredd'll do whatever we want now that we have you." Jefferson said as he and Commander Forge stood in front of Jason. "Why did you kidnap J-Shock?" He asked looking over at me as I lay still very much out cold on a bench and after spending a few minutes examining me Kat stood.
"She's been struck by some sort of electrical device. There's a burn on her neck." Kat told them, gently lifting my hair and exposing a mark just below my hairline that looked angry and red.
"What did you do to her?" Forge roared, momentarily losing control and grabbing Jason around the neck. "You broke into her own apartment and attacked her." He growled calming a little as everyone stared at him.
"I only did it...could you loosen your grip?" Jason coughed and when Forge did he glared right back. "I did it so I would have a bargaining chip and besides Axel zapped her with the taser, not me. I needed her to help me escape from...Dredd."
"What are you talking about?" Kat asked as she walked over for a moment and after Forge set him down, Jason gritted his teeth.
"Dredd's getting more and more unstable and I...was worried that he'd take his anger out on me." Jason explained and as everyone stared at him, Jason coughed again. "Its the truth. I do want to stay intact and that's why I kidnapped...Jessie."
"He's telling the truth. I know because he brought me to Jessie and let me save her from overloading." Shock explained and that actually made Jason grin...right until Forge ordered his agents to throw Jason in the Stasis cells and he cringed.
Lying almost motionless on an empty bed in the Medical Bay, Shock watched as I began to groan and as my head moved from one side to another he flew over.
"Jessie? Can you hear me?" He asked, keeping his voice low and as my eyes slowly opened he grinned. "Thank goodness you're awake. How do you feel?"
"Hurts all over." I answered as I tried to sit up, only to cringe as the side of my neck began to throb. "Why does...my neck sting?" I asked giving up on sitting up when my head spun.
"Axel...Jason's lackey hit you with a taser and knocked you out. You've been out cold for most of the day." Shock answered as I lay there and that's when I remembered something.
"Jason...needed my help? Why?" I whispered and Shock told me something about Jason wanting my help against Dredd but I don't really remember what as I began to fall asleep. Once Shock trailed off, realizing I was fast asleep, he sighed and giving up he left me to rest. Instead he decided to speak to Jason and as he snuck towards the Stasis Cells he began to wonder just why the villain had chosen me to help him.