Chapter 17

Walking into the ISO building back in civilian uniform Jun kept stealing side long glances at Ken. She was worried about him- and for a fleeting moment when he fell from the Gatchasparten she thought she'd lost him forever. Without a thought she jumped off the top of the ship after him…something happened to him his usual composure of maintain control in all situations.

"Ken, its good to see you could make it." Dr Nambu addressed him with his usual sober expression.

"We had a little detour compliments of Galactor." Ken said shaking his old mentor's hand.

"So I heard," The good doctor made brief eye contact with her. A shiver went down her spine from the guilty expression in his eyes for the brief moment they met. Why would he look at me like he wanted to apologise for something. She mused.

"Follow me," Dr Nambu indicated, walking beside Ken he continued his conversation so all of them could hear him. "We have some concerns about the hypershoot and its effects on the user."

"What effects are you talking about?" Ken said evenly.

Nambu raised a quizzical brow. "From the report I received from Joe on your way in I thought maybe you could shed some more light on it yourself…"

"It was one incident doctor- I was just tired since we haven't had a proper rest in the last twenty four hours." Ken said defensively.

Dr Nambu disagreed from the way he shook his head as they reached a lab door. "No Ken, something showed up in a medical, and I have to know if the two are related…"

A loud bang caused them all to turn around. A red alert sounded.

Before Ken could move doctor Nambu grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the lab. "We're doing this test now Ken, you're not going into action until I'm satisfied you're up to it."

"Alright, be quick because you're wasting time doctor, this test is a waste of time really. Joe team go check out why we have a read alert." Ken said curtly.

"Roger," They responded in unison.

"Jun…" Dr Nambu's gentle tone stopped her in her tracks. "Take care."

Again he looked like he wanted to say more to her- instead he escorted the Eagle into the lab.

Jun ran after Joe and the rest of the team to be met a few minutes later with a battle taking place between them and hoard of Galactor goons. Quickly she changed into birdstyle deflecting a poorly aimed punch without any effort- the she began to make her way towards Joe along the wide corridor.

Feather shurkien stuck out from several goons who had already fallen under the Condors wrath.

Ryu had just bunched a group of them together and one mighty heave threw them across the hallway.

Jinpei had taken several down using his laser gun.

"Ken where are you the building is under attack." Joe grimaced as spoke into his bracelet began killing more goons.

"He's still in lab?" Jun questioned.

"Dr Nambu's insisting he stays so they can finish the tests they're running on him. Ken's itching to get out of there and I don't blame him." Joe said fighting along side of her.

"How did they get in?" Jun asked baffled that a high security building had been breached so easily.

In one swift move she kicked another goon in the face sending his mask flying the goon shuddered and folded over in pain. Gritting her teeth she looked at the Condor. "I know where the security breech came from."

He followed her gaze to the man whimpering on the floor. The same security guard that threw Matt out of the ISO building in Utoland. Jun strode over to him and gripped a handful of his green uniform in her gloved hand and snarled. "I know who you are traitor… you worked for the ISO up until yesterday."

"H…hh…how do da do you…know me?" He drew away from her terrified." So that's the bastard…" Joe flared his teeth and wreathed him out of Jun's grip and threw him against the far wall knocking the man dizzy. Joe deliberate took his time walking over to the snivelling former ISO security guard.

"I...I'll tell you what you want to know just stop hurting me." He whimpered.

Joe's face filled with disappointment and he snorted in disgust. "How weak is that, he's not even going to try to be loyal to his new boss."

"I bet you will." Jun smiled slyly at her captive. "Or there's a worse fate than the Condor's wrath, you haven't met the Eagle yet and he might take your betray far more personally."

That comment brought a feral grin to Joe's face. "May be I should just hand you over to him for questioning… "

"Didn't I just say I'd co-operate?" The goon began to panic.

"You're no fun. I was looking forward to beating it out of you." Joe confessed.

"Hey Joe…Jun what gives… your just going to leave us to finish up here?" Ryu called out to them as the Swallow and the Owl continued to fight the remaining goons.

Joe casually glanced at the two of them. "It looks like you're doing fine from here…"

"And where are you going?" Jun smirked and grabbed a hold of the traitor and dragged him up the corridor towards the lab.

"Stop, stop." He cowered. "I saw the man assigned to destroying that lab go in our mission was to distract you…and I'm way too young to die…"

"Ken Dr Nambu get outta there!" Jun called urgently into her bracelet.

Jun's eyes went wide in horror. "No," she cried as the metal door of the lab flew off followed by a blast of searing hot flames Ken and Dr Nambu entered moments before.

"Stay here," Joe ran towards the lab before Jun could say anything else, she watched him disappear into the destroyed part of the building.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. "I'm right here…Dr Nambu is helping evacuate some of the office workers from this level." Ken said.

Relief washed over her Ken and Dr Nambu weren't in there, and before she could stop herself she threw her arms around him and cried. Ken tried to lighten the moment by saying. "I said I'm okay, I managed to get Dr Nambu to stop running those tests, it's not likely they'll have any results since the lab was just destroyed." He returned her embrace warmly. "Besides it was likely a waste of time, I feel fine."

Catching a glimpse of Joe emerging from the lab she was surprised that he'd changed back into civilian. His face looked solemn, and was holding a charred piece of paper.

Silently he walked over to them and thrusted the charred paper into the Eagles blue gloved hand.

Ken's face turned to stone- she pulled on the corner so she could see what had shocked them into silence.

"That can't be right." Jun gasped. "No…it can't be."

"I believe it is Jun," Ken admitted in a broken voice and he glared daggers at the Condor. "I didn't want to break it to you like this."

"I had to find out sometime…I'm going to see Dr Nambu, there has to be cure." She declared fighting back her tears she walked ahead of them down the hallway, stopping long enough to cuff the former security guard to a drink machine. "I haven't finished with you yet, so stay right here got it."

Shaking in his boots and it looked like he had wet himself she turned her back on him. She had more to deal with now than she bargained for. Ken was dying… Dyami and his family captured by Galactor.

What more can happen today? She thought miserably.