Chapter 32
Jun began to wonder when was the last time the team had any time to rest in the last week. She figured they had been on constant high alert for months on end now. They managed to overcome Galactor's attempts to overthrow the city, but the damage Galactor left in its path was immense.
Figuring that was the reason she felt out of breath along with the humid hot day Jun halted in her search for more orphans that had refused to leave the city in the huge abandoned building.
"They aren't in here." She reported to Ken, as the words left her lips Jun caught sight of a small boy with thick dark who could only be about two years old run and trip falling down a few short stairs to another level, and then he bolted upright and kept running towards the door that lead out onto the street.
Her heart began race, from the way he ran and the dark thick hair he reminded her of Dyami… Could he be him? Forcing her legs to move Jun ran towards the open ignoring Ken's order to return to her G-3 vehicle.
"Jun, respond…where are you?" She could feel his annoyance through her bracelet. "Egobossler's turning his attack back onto the city again-"
"Ken…it's a small boy…he looks like Dyami. I have to find him." She quickly informed him as she raced out the door to see if she could spot him again.
Ken became silent…Then in a calm voice he began to try and talk to her. "Why would he be here…if Count Egobossler knows about us Jun….no way would he let him go so easily."
"I don't know…he could have done it out of revenge…a little toddler lost in a big city anything could happen to him…or Dyami escaped." She desperately told him running up the deserted street to try and find the lost little boy again.
How could he have vanished so quickly…Jun you allowed fatigue to make you slow… She scolded herself.
Then she spotted him again, running up an alleyway…she quickly began to pursue him.
"Thomas…" A young girl shouted at the end of the alley.
Jun halted watching a girl of about ten years old scoop him up into her arms and frowning. "Running away isn't fun for either of us silly."
"Sissy." Thomas screamed. "Let go…wanna run…I'm hungry…"
Jun's heart sank to floor- tears flooded into her eyes a she struggle regain her composure.
"Wow…it's the Swan from the Science Ninja Team!" The young girl shouted gleefully dragging her brother back down the alley eagerly towards her.
"You have to leave…its not safe here." Jun managed crouching down to his level. "If you go with your sister there will be someone who can give you food with the other kids we evacuated earlier."
"Pretty girl…" He smiled touching her tinted visor and his dark brown eyes widened in delight. "Just like mommy…pretty."
His sister's face fell in deep sadness. "He still doesn't believe they're gone forever… He just thinks they're away for a while but they'll be coming back anytime soon for us…they won't cause they're dead…it's only been two months….feels like forever." Jun knew the heartache she spoke about, she had to deal with Jinpei not long after his own mother died. He didn't believe for a long time that she wasn't coming back. He used to say to Jun that she's on holidays. When they finally came that he realized the truth it shattered him…and he turned to her for comfort. "We're a family now…you and me…you can be my little brother…" She told him. Jinpei smiled briefly through his tears and hugged her even tighter and said. "You bet sis…"
The sound of roaring jet engine compelled her to look up into the sky, Ken hovered over her.
"Ken…it's not him…but these two kids need our help to get out of here." Jun said looking back at little Thomas.
"We'll clear a path Jun, just bring them a few blocks and the military has some transports waiting for more people…its mainly a few strays causing trouble, it looks like it's the last we'll see of Count Egobossler today after all." Ken's flat tone echoed his weakness after using the hypershoot to destroy the water sprout mecha a few hours earlier. He had refused to go back to base since there were so many people needing direction until the authorities arrived in the city to help with the clean up operation. Some buildings had caught fire creating more havoc after the battle had long ended.
"Going there now Ken." Jun said walking the kids as fast as she could in the direction of the transports. Eventually she hoped they would be able to leave so Ken could get a few hours rest before Galactor stuck again.
"We'll leave as soon as you have gotten those kids to safety." Ken's heavily fatigued voice made her worry about him more.
"Okay Ken." She responded and gently directed the two kids down the safe path the team had prepared for them.
* * * *
The journey back to base seemed to take forever, the ship moved to slow for Jun. Gently she laid a hand on Ken's shoulder- he sat in at his console with his head resting in his arms. Chocolate brown hair falling softly around the nap of his neck.
"I think you should go and stay with him when we get back to base." Joe said softly in her ear. "He needs you…close."
Gob smacked she turned slightly to look into the Condor's intense tinted eyes through his visor, his facial expression unreadable. "Some things Jun you can't hide from no matter how much you try…even this…I know you very well."
"I won't say anything to Jin or Ryu…about you and Ken being together again." He promised her.
"Joe…it happened so fast…I…I will Joe…I will stay with him tonight..." She promised.
With this reassurance Joe walked slowly back to his console and began doing something at his controls…muttering about checking weather patterns.
How did he know…she thought glancing back at Ken watching for any changes in his breathing and colour.
It didn't really matter, Joe was someone she trusted totally, and it felt good that he knew. She had someone to share the painful burden of watching Ken slowly deteriorate before her eyes…and know her heart in the midst of it all.
* * * *
Ken felt a little better once he had a good nights sleep after the mission, the best part was waking up with Jun snuggled up next to him. Fully clothed and in a deep slumber with warm soft breathing soft into his neck sending pleasant shivers down his spine.
Running his fingers through her long glossy ebony locks he paused to admire her soft creamy skin with high cheekbones and long black lashes that lay neatly on the top of her pale crimson cheeks. And he ran his hand lightly over her graceful curves. She made him think of snow white…and he was the Prince who's heart was captivated by her beauty leaning into kiss her tenderly wake her from her slumber. It made a sweet fairytale…but he knew true love went much deeper than visual beauty and stolen kisses. Anything that lasted a lifetime did.
He didn't want to disturb her rest so he tenderly lifted her arm draped across him and slid off the bed. She stirred a little making him stop too watch her roll over black hair falling messily around her…muttering his name and then she continued to sleep soundly.
A slight warm smile curled his lips. She muttered his name sending warm pleasant sensations through his body and into his soul.
He had word when they arrived back to the Gatchaman base that he had to report to the ISO building first thing in the morning for tests. Looking at the bedside clock he began to move fast out the door. He'd slept longer than he anticipated and he was running late, with his stomach rumbling, as usual he had to miss breakfast to make it on time.
* * * *
Count Egobossler stood in a traditional military stance with his hands clasped behind his back as he waited for the update on his new spy in his war room. This pretty young woman with honey blond hair and deep big blue eyes was amazing from what had seen of her and experienced on a more intimate level in just the last few days, which made it even more intriguing to have her working for him. He just hoped she didn't flirt too much with her special patient at the ISO medical clinic so she could get in close with his special present. A few jealous hairs raised on the back of his neck at thought of her getting to comfortable with Gatchaman.
"Is everything in place for the diversion?" Count Egobossler began going through his mental check list.
"Yes my lord, we just have to wait now for the signal" A Goon responded from his post.
"Good…" Egobossler nodded his approval.
"Have you heard anything from our spy?" He asked walking slowly towards the huge map of central Europe that took up most of the wall on the far corner of the room.
"Nothing yet my Lord, I'm sure she'll give us the signal when it's done…a clever invention that tracking dust." Mekandor commented stroking his long course black beard.
"Very clever…" Count Egobossler's lips curled into a grin. "Today we'll have a victory over Gatchaman…all we need if for him to return to his base, how simple is it…and why didn't we have this magic dust sooner."
Mekandor's eyes intensified wildly. "Because that traitor Kempeler is good at keeping secrets- and that's just one more he hide from us. Wait until I get my hands on him I'll break his scrawny neck" Mekandor made the hand actions of breaking Kempeler's neck with a tight grimace on his bearded face.
"I have something more fitting in store for him, you'll just have to wait until I have in my grasp again- the hunt will be over soon." Egobossler reassured his second in command.
"While we're waiting I want an up date from Dr. Eville on his experiment with the implants. He was operating on the boys this week…I want to know if they survived, unlike the last two kids who were severely brain damaged afterwards to the extent we had to end their lives. I hope he managed to get it right this time. I want to know if those implants do what that manual said they would do." Count Egobossler ordered.
"I'm calling him now for you…" Mekandor said.
Another point for me Gatchaman, my last revenge against you…you'll never see that boy again. Egobossler thought. Today was going to be a good day in the history of Galactor.