Helm's eyes darted aimlessly around. At least he got his change of view even if it was for this detention cell they put him into three days ago. He couldn't believe he was going to miss the old hospital room.
This new ….. residence was very inhospitable, to say at least.
It was a square twelve feet cell with nothing but a half-meter-broad plank hung from the wall that served him as a bed. He never used it since it wasn't more comfortable than the cold metal floor he sat now. The walls were also from metal plates, not even padded.
Probably his captors considered he wasn't going to ram his head in them. He agreed with them although he sometimes felt like.
They gave him the customary orange detention uniform; the tunic and trousers were from a single piece of fabric with no buttons or seams. A safety measure to prevent an eventually attempt of escape.
This wasn't Helm's idea of Hell but it was worse enough.
The only way out from this place was through a grate-door locked. He rose, went to it and wrested hard against the thick titanium bars, as he did countless times before. The metal didn't move a milimeter.
Helm heard a distant snicker and pryed his head through the bars to see the sentinel posted few meters away from his cell. The soldier cast him a smug smirk, that further whet his anger. Helm threw him a hatefull glare and went back to sit down on the floor. He shivered at the contact between the chill metal and his thin detention clothes. ISO stuff didn't took in consideration that he might catch a cold either.
He stared at his reflexion in the polished metal floor. He had dark circles under his eyes and his hair was tousled and disheveled. He run his hand through it and removed a white strand from his face. His fingers trailed his old knife scar, then went down at to the chin. The skin felt sore where the lava had burned him in the pyramide, but it will heal with no marks.
He eyed the cell again. After three days in it, death sentence wasn't as scary as before. He got goose bumps only thinking he might spend the rest of his life inside it.
He drifted to his thoughts, since it was the only thing he could do, beside staring at the walls.
His memories came to dance in front of his eyes. Helm smirked at the contrast between the luxurious life he had as a Count and this miserable tin ISO had put him into. A life that wasn't even his. He supposed he deserved all this for what he had done.
What if he had listened to the last prayer of his mother? What if he hadn't stolen his half-brother's identity and power? He might have been today just a simple peasant in Egosville, one that nobody would have ever heard about. But surely a war would have been avoided, millions would have lived. Cassary was a dolt flop. The thought of ruling the world would have never crossed his mind. And most important he wouldn't be today in this god forgotten cell.
All his ambitions to conquer the world come from the desire to avenge his mother. He never considered then how many attrocities he would have to commit for this goal. Eight years ago, he would have shied away of what he had become now. But with every step his ambition grew, as his humanity left dwindled. He lose the count of the wasted lifes, and with each bloodshed for the Count life lost it's value until it was nothing but a bug to crush.
What would his mother think of him? Of what he had done? Helm squized his eyes shut and sighed.
xXx
Jinpei toyed absentmindedly the joystick in his hand. His play station had been a gift from Jun for his last birthday. Although the boys teased he outgrew the toys, the 13 year old never left his passion for computer games. As his eyes traced the faded marks from it's buttons his mind recalled memories of more happier times, all so fresh as if they happened yesterday
They doing the usual chores together at the Snack, her praises and advices during their training sessions, the irritated look after shouting for ages at him as she took off his headphones, her smile and the smell of pancakes that greeted him in the mornings… Jun wasn't the best cook in the world but she made the best jam pancakes he'd ever eaten.
Now all seemt ages ago.
He put down the cherished toy and went down the stairs to the Snack's restaurant hall.
The lights were off and the room was eerie silent. Cobwebs on the windows show that it wasn't resided in a long while. Confined in the new mountain base he missed so much the familiar athmosphere of the Snack, the days when the whole team would gather here after a mission, to celebrate another defeat of Gallactor.
He shivered. Without Jun, it seemt cold and foreign and no longer had the aura of comfort he was used to.
Beside the boys, she was the only family he ever had. He was alone now.
Jun was a caring nature and had an incredible strength to carry on. But he wasn't sure if he could manage without her. The responsabilities that awaited him seem overwhelming.
Well, he had an impressive training in martial arts, he knew to fly a helicopter, drive most types of vehicles and knew a great deal about explosibles and comunication devices. But had no knowledge in what concerned normal life. What was a 13 year old boy going to do now? He was too young to hire somewhere.
Jinpei feared ISO will send him to an orphanage, or will place him in the custody of an adoptive family. Science Ninja Team Gatchaman had a world-wide reputation and surely a lot of people would want to take the Swallow in their familly.
He imagined the life in an adoptive family, where everyone would gawk at him and ask him how was when he fought the goons. He mentally scowled at it. No, this wasn't the type of life he could stand.
Jinpei looked up with a surge of determination. If Jun managed to be a part of the Gatchaman team, run a bar and take care of herself and of him at the same time, then he will too. He looked around at the familiar walls of the Snack. This place held so many beautiful memories and meant so much to him. He would not give up to it.
A sound brought his attention and he turned to the door to see a figure rushing inside. He tensed and went instanly on guard but released as he recognised Ken's voice calling him.
" I'm here aniki!"
Ken peered though the darkness to find the switch and turned on the lights. He greeted the boy and placed a bag on the table.
" I thought to drop here and see how you are. Uhm….here, I brought you your favourite snacks ." He pointed to the bag.
Jinpei shot him a grateful look, than noticed Ken's disheveled appearance?
" What happened aniki? "
" My fans!" Ken scoffed as he remembered running three streets in a heartbeat with a herd of crazed teenagers on his tail. Luckily, the Snack was nearby and they lost him when he went the corner. Now that his identity was known he was starting to have people asking him for autographs. Every time he would go somewhere he prayed no one would recognise him. But his prayers were rarely listened and he would end up circled by people who wanted to talk to Gatchaman. Plus he got a lot of letters from wannabe girfriends in his mail box. He was begining to understand Joe now. It was harassing and very tiresome, to the point he considered to ask for a transfer in one of ISO's remote bases from Sahara where no one would pester him. He turned back to the boy. Jinpei needed him, he couldn't leave now. And his curent job as a mail deliverer was satisfying enough.
He took a look at the windows; the sky outside was reddish in evening glow, then at the watch from his left wrist. He missed the feeling of his old bracelet locket on his skin, and the watch concealed the untanned line he had. It's limbs show 7 p.m.
" Aniki, have you eaten yet?"
Ken shook his head as his stomach rumbled at the thought of eating.
" Would you… join me? "
He knew the boy was feeling alone and smiled down.
" Sure!" he nodded.
They headed for the Snack's kitchens and Ken removed some dusted boxes from the table as Jinpei pryied through the cupboard.
" How about some macaroni with cheese?" He asked as he pulled out the bags.
" Mmm, sounds good."
Jinpei set the tableware and sat down at the table with his head rested on his elbows as Ken lit up the gas cooker and started to prepare their meal.
He was feeling alone and he was glad Ken accepted to join him for the dinner. He was still feeling weird around this place without Jun. He took his fork and started to prick at the wooded surface. He looked at Ken who was backturned, stirring the noodles and muttering ocasionaly a curse in low voice as droplets of hot water landed on his hand. He wasn't a good cook either but at least he managed to prepare the noodles without burning them.
" Finaly! " Ken threw away the dishcloth glad that he succesfully finished boiling the noodles without three degrees burnings on his arms. He poured them in bowls for Jinpei and himself and the boy snickered as he put to bowl in front of him.
" Aniki, you should really use kitchen gloves next time." pointing the red dots on his forearms where the water had splashed him.
Ken made the mental notification and sat down himself.
Jinpei rolled the macaronies around his fork and took a bite. They didn't taste so bad as he thought, Ken even had the sense season them. He looked up the meet his friend's questioning stare.
" Mmm, they're good. Serious!"
This brought Ken a sense of satisfaction as he took a forkful from his bowl. The kid was right.
They ate in silence for a moment, before Jinpei's voice piped.
" Aniki, do you think they're gonna send me to an orphanage? I don't want to…."
Ken put down his fork and fixed him with his blue stare.
" I won't let them Jinpei!"
He nodded and smiled sadly at Ken's determined tone, as he stirred his needles with the fork. Ken knew well the boy and figured that there was something weighting on his mind.
" I miss her…." He puffed.
Ken cast down his eyes.
" I miss her too, Jinpei." He said slowly, on a comforting voice. He could see his little mate's lip quivering and tears gather in his eyes.
He rised from his chair and went beside him, crouching and resting a hand on boy's shoulder.
" Jinpei, you're not alone. You have me and Joe…… and Ryu will be fine. I promise you."
His reassuring voice heartened Jinpei a little. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and retained a sob. He didn't want to display weakness in front of his aniki and his leader, but the emotions overwhelmed him. Ken looked at him understandingly.
"Aniki,… uhm…. could you stay with me over night…. please?"
Ken narrowed his eyes at his request. Tomorrow he would have to be back at the garrison first thing in the morning.
But Jinpei's pleading stare softened him. The boy had just lost his closest person. He was about his age when his mother died and he knew the feeling. Like Jinpei, he longed to have someone who could talk to, someone who could comfort him.
" Alright."
The boy soft smile made the corner of his lips tug up.
After they finished their noodles, Jinpei remained in the kitchen to wash the dishes and he went up the stairs to the sleeping quarters. He knew around the Snack and he had stayed here over night before. He looked around the corner to see the half-opened door from Jun's bedroom. He took a step towards it, but changed his mind and went back to his own. Ken wasn't sure if he could keep back his tears if he wandered there.
xXx
The noise of footsteps outside made the prisonier to lift his head and look up. He rolled them in annoyance then turned his head to face the gloomy wall. It was still a better sight than the Condor's face.
Joe glanced down at the sitting figure. He looked so weak and…. humble and the detention uniform contrasted lucridious with his pale blue skin. His head was turned away and the hair blocked his sight from seeing his face. But despite his pose, curled against the wall with his knees under his chin, he still had an allura of arrogance from his good days.
" I see you've made yourself comfortable."
Helm scowled at the mocking voice.
" Your accommodations are indeed ………. captivating." He retorted on the same bitingly tone.
" Since you like prisons so much. Sides, I'm sure you have better conditions in yours!"
" Maybe one day I'll have the honor to lodge you in!"
Condor snorted at the wit and approached him. Helm became aware but didn't looked towards him. He stiffened his body, preparing himself to avoid an eventually blow. In other circumstances, he would have tried to hit and maybe to escape, but he knew Condor was a cyborg, and even as a human, his martial arts skills surpassed his.
Joe stopped few inches away towering him, and Helm hoped he wasn't showing the fear he felt. He fought himself to face him and finally looked up.
He had seen him detransmuted before but only in pictures; this was the first time he saw him in flesh. He was younger then he had expected, and Helm supposed he would surpass him with few inches if he stand up. But his hard glare told him to stay his place.
They faced in hatred for a moment then Helm turned away.
" What do you want from me?"
Joe took a casual stance.
" Oh, just came to see how you are… "
" You came to gloat! "
If the glares could kill Condor would have been dropped dead on instant.
" Can't blame me. I've waited for two years to see you locked-up. Too bad you won't stay too much in it."
Helm looked up questioningly. Joe gave him a smug face and turned to leave. He stoped in his tracks and turned to him once again.
" Your trial it's set over two days. I thought you'd like to know. "
Helm didn't answered.
" And I'll be the first who signs up for the firing squad." He shouted as the sentinel open the door for him to leave.
Helm's eyes followed the Condor's silhouette on the hallway then he went back to his thoughts.