Chapter 16

"Anyone know why we're going to New Jork?" Jinpei asked stealing glances at his sister.

Ken could see her trying to act normal, but Jun was never good at faking it when it came to openly showing her feelings. Her body language betrayed her.

Jun licked her lips before answering- Ken knew she did this when something else weighed heavily on her mind.

"Jinpei I'm sure will fill us in when we get there." She said evenly.

Ken stayed silent- Joe had been right he should have taken her aside from the others when he had the chance and offer her some kind of comfort. He'd acted like a self centred jerk walking away from her like that. He promised her silently he'd make up for it.

Jun stood up from her console and walked out of the main doors of the bridge. Taking a deep breath Ken knew this to be his ideal opportunity to talk with her about the events earlier that day.

Jun slumped against a wall with her head hanging and arms folded tightly ton her breast. Ken saw his opportunity and walked over to stand in front of her, letting her know of his presence by the way he lightly grasped her shoulders, and he gently put a finger under her chin and lifted her face so she he could see her eyes. The evident pain in her eyes- fuelled his own inner pain.

Her bottom lip trembled. "It's all my fault…" She said hoarsely, and then she began to ramble. "I should have kept him with me…found a way to raise him…the ISO has security inside its walls-"

Ken put a blue gloved finger over her lips to silence her and he slowly shook his head. "You did the right thing Jun in the end Jun, what kind of life would it have been for him locked behind walls in an ISO building with secretaries being his nanny every time we were called into action because of Galactor. We have no idea how long this war could go on for."

"I know…" Ken could see the conflict in her as she tried to look away from him. He felt total hatred towards Galactor and all it stood for in that moment. Not even the death of his father had fuelled these emotions so strongly.

"Ken, Jun get up here we go company." Joe called them through the ships intercom.

Ken pressed the communications button to the bridge."Whats happening up there Joe?"

"We have a mecha bearing down on us fast…" Joe informed him.

Ken quickly looked at Jun to convey his commands. "Go to the bridge; tell Joe I'm using the hypershoot to get rid of that mecha."

Jun's jaw dropped in surprise. "You haven't even seen what we're up against yet, that may not be necessary."

Ken pursed his lips he felt like he was about to explode from the amount of hate he felt flowing through his veins, he needed to release it and the hypershoot weapon was the only way that happen. "Do as I say…get to the bridge Jun."

Ken ran up to the top of the ship, the blast of the roaring wind hit him first causing his mantle to flap wildly. He didn't even hesitate at the massive metal mecha looming in front of him.

The sound of the hypershoot powering up made his heart pound even faster. "Do you want me Galactor…then come and get me you bunch of assholes. This is for Dyami…"

Ken drew back the powerful laser- controlling it at full power took all of his strength he could feel Ryu steadying the ship to give him a better aim.

The familiar sound of melting metal only sated his appetite for Galactor blood by only a fraction. The sound of death heighted his need to keep slicing through the mecha as hundreds of goons fell to their death. Trembling Ken could feel the hot tears streaming down his cheeks, the image of Dyami one day as a young man questioning his birth fathers actions in a time of war haunted him during that battle. A face that mirrored his turned to look of disgust. Ken knew he had just crossed a line within himself, his love of life had began to fade with years of being surrounded by death and losing the people he valued the most along the way.

An anguished cry left his lips as he powered down the laser…his muscles turned to jelly as struggled to keep his balance on top of the ship. He began to tumble from his once secure place at the tail end of the rectangular shaped ship.

"Ken… no…" He heard Jun's cry but it was too late, the strong wind caught his mantle and began to glide listlessly towards the earth below then once again he felt darkness grip him.

"Dr. Nambu we'll be landing in five minutes, so ya want him brought to the lab…gotcha." Ryu's voice drifted past him.

"…Joe…he just lost it. It's like when this happens I'm looking at a stranger not Ken." He focused in on Jun's hushed whisper.

"He's had a rough twenty four hours and so have you, unlike me you guys need rest…this new battery gives me so much more energy." Joe said.

Ken could feel a hard cold metal surface beneath him, the familiar sounds of chairs moving and tapping on a keyboard, and the sound of the engine told Ken he was on board the Gatchasparten.

He didn't move as he worked to recall why he was feeling so weak and why they were flying to a destination he couldn't recall. His mind drew a total blank.

He must have moved because he could feel a hand on his shoulder.

"Ken…" Jun sounded concerned.

He sat up with a start and stared at her blankly while he collected his thoughts. "What happened?"

Her concerned pretty face turned to stone. "Do that again and I'll kill you myself I sware…or I'll just let you-"Her quivering lips betrayed her real feelings.

Joe crouched down next to him. "It looks like we have to get you checked out. Orders from the top. You last display of 'control' has raised a few eyebrows." Joe hinted. Ken knew he meant Jun above anyone else from her reaction.

Ken scanned the faces of his team- they all held a mixture of anger and concern. Jinpei cocked an eyebrow to send home the message.

"We did it right, we finished the mission." Ken drew his lips into a straight line; his memory of the last twenty four hours had become hazy. Something happened, something that drove him to the brink…

Jun interrupted his thoughts by tightening her grip on his arm. "Ryu, are coming into land?"

"Sure thing Jun…"Ryu responded cheerfully.

"Get up Ken…if you can." Jun looked angry with him, she rarely looked this angry with any of them.

Gradually he found his feet- standing upright helped clear the fogginess from his mind- the missing information hit him like a cannon ball. The images of Dyami and his missing family flashed through his mind. So did Jun gripping his weak body as they both plummeted towards the ground. The Gatchasparten caught them both just in time.

"Jun," Ken turned to face her.

"Later Ken, right now I could hurt you badly for what you did back there… acting like a head strong cadet after all these years…" Jun's words cut him, for a fighter pilot of his experience being called a rookie was the biggest insult she could deliver to him. He pursed his lips to contain the anger that remark drew out in him, folding his arms under his mantle Ken sat in his commander's seat to watch Ryu gracefully land the large ship at the airfield close to the ISO building. Jun's reaction left him with a sinking feeling that whatever had been going on with was more serious that he thought and she'd soon know. What then? He thought pushing it away he focused on why Dr. Nambu needed to see him.

* * * *

Natasha closed her eyes momentarily as she tried to ignore the dank smell of the cell they had ungraciously shoved her and her young son into. Dyami's soft cries brought her out of her misery. Gently she cradled the frightened child into her arms.

"Shhhh, Dyami, we're only going to he here a little while." She knew it was potentially a lie because she had no idea of where they were or how long Galactor intended to keep them in this isolated place. Anger rose up inside of as she looked at the old stone walls surrounding them with a small bared window high up to let in a few rays of moonlight. How could they put a small child in such a cold place, heartless bastards. She thought wildly. Will we ever see Matt alive again…

"Daddy…want daddy." Dyami broke into her thoughts, sobbing fearfully he threw his arms around her and he buried his frightened face into her shoulder. She pulled him close to her body to try and warm his cold limbs.

The sound of a door creaking made her look up sharply. Guarded she waited to see who was approaching. Her cell door creaked open and a young man stepped inside followed by two guards holding guns pointed towards her.

"What harm do you think a boy just under two and his mother could bring you…don't you think the guns are overkill." Natasha maintained a steady gaze at her visitors.

The man's lips twigged at the corners into a smile. "I have brought you some blankets food and water. My master wanted you secure, not ill treated." With a wave of his hand another two goons carried in the items. Despite her hunger she picked up a piece of bread and offered it to her son. He forgot his fear long enough to sit up and take from her and he began eating it fast.

"I'll be back tomorrow with some more supplies, is there anything you require?" He asked politely, then he frowned and breathed in. "What's that disgusting smell?"

"Pooh…" Natasha raised an eyebrow and worked to squash the nervous butterflies that threatened to undo her. "It's what happens when your men don't give me his nappy bag so I can change him."

"Oh, I'll rectify that immediately…" He turned his commanding gaze onto one of the men who acted without him uttering another word.

Whoever this man is he has an influence, or holds some kind of commanding position in this Galactor. She thought taking in their reactions to him. Interesting…

The young man turned to leave, swallowing her nerves Natasha found her voice again." What's your name…?"

He hesitated and smiled warmly. "Kempeler…Second in command to my Lord Count Egobossler." Then he left before she could respond or ask for extra nappies.

Kempeler, she thought fusing the name into her memory. Something told her he would someone worth getting to know.

She had to find a way out of this hell hole and find her husband. Unfolding a blanket she picked up Dyami and placed him on the little bed covered in straw and curled up beside him. "I'll find a way out of here I promise..." She whispered into his ear while he slept peacefully.