Still curious Berto asked me what he had missed as he handed me the cup. I let go of Shock and took the cup, taking a sip of the clear liquid.
"Thanks. Shock was just saying that I was feeling better." I told him. When he raised his eyebrow I knew Berto didn't believe me.
"Come on, you know you can tell me anything." Berto said and after a moment's hesitation I finally spoke.
"Shock was…um...just saying that I have…um a crush on…somebody." I stammered as I tried to avoid his gaze. Unfortunately what I said was pretty interesting and Berto stood over me, grinning.
"A crush on who exactly? Come on, spill! Don't keep me in suspense!" Berto laughed and I looked back at him, sure my face was now bright red. "Max maybe?"
"Actually she said she likes you." Shock piped up and I glared at him.
"Shock!" I shouted as Berto stood back. Placing his hand under his chin he seemed to be considering what he had just learned. Glowering at Shock, I finally worked up the courage to ask Berto what he thought. "So…what do you…uh…think?" I asked only for Berto to smile at me.
"So he was telling the truth." He said and my jaw dropped in amazement. "I was talking to Max and Steel after your skateboarding lesson and Max told me everything." He explained as I closed my mouth.
"I told him that in confidence. He's so dead." I growled as Berto smiled back at me.
"Calm down. I was asking him what he thought about you and Max told me that you liked me." Berto explained as I put my head in my hands.
"Fine. I guess you would have figured it out eventually. You are a genius after all." I said.
" Gracias." He replied as I took another mouthful of the water. "So where do we go from here?" Seeing the confusion on my face, Berto asked where we were going on our date. Taken by surprise I almost choked on the water I had just swallowed. Coughing I felt Berto rub my back, concerned. When I could breathe properly again, Berto removed his hand and asked if I was alright.
"Yeah that question just took me by surprise." I said.
"Sorry about that. I was only joking around." Berto told me as I rubbed my throat.
"No its fine. I shouldn't have overreacted. So where should we go?" I asked him and it was his turn to look surprised.
"Um…I have no idea." He said, making me laugh.
"Seeing as I'm new to Copper Canyon, I think you should choose." I told him. After a few minutes he had an idea.
"How about a movie? I know its cliché and everything…" Berto suggested and I grinned at him.
"That sounds great to me. Tomorrow?" I replied and it was his turn to smile.
"In case you've forgotten I need to be there to stop you from overloading. By the way what's this 'date' thing?" Shock asked me so I gave him a brief summary. "I think I understand. Do humans do this date thing on a regular basis?"
"Pretty much." I answered as Shock looked from me to Berto.
"So what exactly is the purpose of dating someone?" He asked me. This time Berto answered the Ultralink.
"I guess to understand that person." He said.
"I believe Berto summed it up perfectly. That's pretty much it." I replied and Berto took a mock bow.
"Sorry to spoil the mood and all but I'm about ready to keel over." I said and he looked a little worried. "Don't worry I'm not gonna pass out, I'm just tired." I told him as I yawned.
"That's a relief. You had me worried for a moment." Berto said as I went to stand up. Before I could, he grabbed hold of the chair and turned it around to face the door.
"What are you doing?" I asked and he grinned down at me. To my amazement he suddenly rushed forwards, still holding the chair, and out the door. Not stopping he jumped onto the back of the chair and we shot forward, picking up speed as we were sent spinning down the corridor. Unable to help myself I cracked up laughing as we sped past several bystanders, who seemed stunned that we were travelling by desk chair. Eventually we reached the end of the corridor and at the last second Berto pulled the chair to the right. Off balance now, we went spinning through a door and the chair hit the wall inside. The chair fell over and we ended up falling to the floor.
"That was so cool!" I shouted, trying to stand up. The room spun and I fell over, giggling. Lying on his side Berto smiled at me.
"Glad you had fun." He said as he tried and failed to stand up too. Lying on the floor I continued to giggle as Shock caught up with us. Finding us lying on the floor, laughing, he asked what we were doing. Managing to sit up, Berto told him that we were just having fun.
"Not being able stand up doesn't look like fun to me." Shock said as I finally managed to stand, even though the room was still spinning.
"I guess you had to be there." I replied, stumbling across the room until I reached Berto. "Need a hand?" I said as I stretched my hand down to him.
Berto reached up and clutched my outstretched hand. As I attempted to pull him to his feet, I fell backwards. "Oops." I said.
"I'm sure that wasn't supposed to happen." Berto said as I realized that when I fell over, I accidently pulled Berto with me. Now he was currently lying across me. Both of our faces reddening, Berto was just about to stand up when Forge, Kat and Jefferson walked in. There was a moment of silence and then Forge coughed.
"Do I even want to know?" He said as Berto shot to his feet and helped me up.
"It's not what you think. Anyway what's going on?" Berto asked as I dusted myself off.
"We just came to check on you. After you were injured we wanted to make sure that you weren't suffering any aftereffects." Kat as I shook my head, trying to clear it.
"I feel pretty tired and a little dizzy, though that could be because of all the spinning. " I said as I waited for the room to stop moving all on its own.
" If it's alright with you, would you accompany us to the Medical Bay? It's just as a precaution, in case you start to feel unwell." Kat asked me and I nodded. At least I think I did, it was difficult to tell with the room still in motion. As I was led back to the Medical Bay, I overheard Shock ask Berto why I was walking so funny.
Once we arrived back Kat motioned me to take a seat and once I was settled she took out her penlight again. "Follow the light for me." She said and I did as she asked. Once she put the light away, Kat took my arm and checked my pulse. "Hmm." She said and I raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"What does that mean?" I asked her and, seeing the worried look on my face, she smiled and gently let go of my arm.
"Your pulse is a little fast but other than that you seem fine." Kat explained and I tilted my head to one side.
"It's fast? Why's that?" I asked her as I climbed off the seat. "Should I be concerned?"
"Relax, you're fine. It's probably due to the shock you've had over the past day. Get some rest and you'll be fine." The agent told me and I smiled.
"That's a relief. I was beginning to worry for a second there. Is there anything else you need me for?" I asked her and she shook her head.
"So Jessie's fine?" Shock said as he hovered beside me. "I have to say I was a little worried myself."
"Aww I didn't know you cared so much." I said to the Ultralink who seemed a little embarrassed.
"Of course I do. If something happened to you, I would shut down permanently if case you've forgotten." He added and I rolled my eyes at him. "I'm kidding of course." With a giggle I grabbed him and gave him a hug.
"Do you need me for anything?" I asked as Shock struggled to break free from my arms.
"Not right now. In the meantime keep your phone on in case we need to contact you." Forge said and I nodded, letting go of Shock who shook himself and crossed his arms. Once they left I turned to Berto and asked where I was staying. He raised an eyebrow at me, apparently not sure what I meant by that.
"I mean that I can't stay in an empty office from now on. Sleeping in a desk chair gets kind of uncomfortable after a while, believe me." I said.
"Actually that's what I meant to tell you earlier but with everything that's happened I got kind of sidetracked. Forge pulled some strings and managed to get you a room at Vista View Apartments." Berto told me.
"Isn't there where Max, Steel and Molly live?" I asked and he looked surprised. "Max told me before he went home with Steel. So how do we get there? Flight mode or Jump Jet?" I asked him and he laughed.
"Jump Jet's a little less noticeable then your Flight mode though not by much. Both are pretty cool." Berto said as I stretched my back. "I'll call Forge and get him to give you a lift. Oh and by the way, I'll call you tomorrow." For a second I didn't know what he was talking about then it dawned on me; our date of course.
"Okay so I'll see you tomorrow. Thanks again." I said as Shock hovered beside me.
"Sure and goodnight." Berto said as I headed for the hangar. By the time Shock and I got there, Forge was already waiting.
"Ready to go?" Forge asked me and I nodded. Climbing aboard I took a seat as Forge sat down. As the Jet lifted off Shock turned to me.
"So what happens now?" He asked me and I took a moment to think.
"Meet Berto tomorrow and hang out I guess. Also keep in contact if case we're needed." I replied as Forge glanced over at us.
"It's rare for Berto to leave N-Tek except in an emergency. Usually he just sends C.Y.T.R.O. " Forge said, his eyes on the road ahead.
"I thought it might be nice for me, Shock and Berto to hang out for once." I said. "Don't worry I won't let anyone know about N-Tek, Shock or my Turbo powers, I promise." I added.
"That's a relief. Oh and before I forget, be careful around technology." Forge said and I raised an eyebrow, not sure what he meant. "You'll find out."
Unsure what he was talking about, but too worn out to care, I just nodded as the Jet flew through Copper Canyon. As soon as we arrived at the apartments the top of the Jet flipped open and I noticed that we were almost level with the roof.
"Your room's on this level." Forge told me by way of an explanation. With a shrug I opened the nearby window and followed Shock inside, waving goodbye to Forge. Once he was gone, I closed the window and searched for a light switch. As soon as I found it the room instantly lit up and I had to blink a couple of times before I could see properly. I then took a look around and found it fully furnished, which came as a complete surprise since I had nothing except the clothes on my back. Figuratively speaking of course.
"I have to say it's pretty impressive. So this is where we're staying from now on?" Shock asked me as I wandered around, opening each door that I could find. Eventually I found my bedroom and practically fell onto it. Lying on my back I stared up at the ceiling.
"I guess so. It's pretty nice of N-Tek to let us stay here. I wonder where we're going tomorrow." I said as Shock flew into the room and checked it out. " I can hardly believe everything that's happened so far."
"It's pretty surprising that we're partners now." Shock admitted.
"I know what you mean. How long were you in the containment chamber until you woke up?" I asked him, sitting up. Shock crossed his arms in front of him, which told me that he was considering my question so I went quiet and waited. After a short while he uncrossed his arms and shook his head.
"I really don't know. The first time I was aware of my surroundings had to be when I sensed your Turbo energy overloading. That's also when I heard you calling out for someone to help you and I responded to your cries for help." Shock explained as I lay back down.
"Interesting. Well I'm just glad you woke up or I wouldn't be here now. I appreciate it." I told him and he gave me the Ultralink equivalent of a smile. Yawning I bid him goodnight and closed my eyes.