"Wait up, Berto!" I called out as I hurried after him, only to be stopped by Forge.
"Hang on a second." He said and I stopped in mid step, annoyed. Seeing the look on my face he rolled his eyes. "Before you fly off the handle we need your help."
Resolving to ask Berto later I asked the Commander what he needed me for and he motioned for me to follow me back to the cockpit. Once there I found Shock, Max and Steel waiting for me.
"So what can I do to help?" I asked Forge who responded by telling me that l would have to wait until we were back at N-Tek. Unable to believe it I stared at him as he took a seat and checked the onboard computer. Frustrated at being ignored, I silently fumed on the way back to N-Tek. As soon as we got back I stepped outside the Jump Jet and waited for Forge.
"What do you think Forge wants?" Shock asked me as he hovered beside me. I just shrugged and eventually Forge joined us and asked that Berto, Shock and I meet him in the Com Room. Confused I watched him walk away as I waited for Berto to appear. A moment later he stepped out and I noticed he had a frown on his face. I tried to ask what was wrong and he glanced at me for a moment.
"You'll find out soon." He replied with a sigh. A little puzzled I tried to ask what he meant only for the scientist to walk away.
"I wonder what his problem is." Shock said and I shook my head. By the time we entered the Com Room Forge and Berto were already waiting for us. Joining them by the computer I asked what they needed my help with.
"Actually I have something to tell you. I've been doing research to find out your identity and I've come across a problem. There's no record of any Jessie living in Copper Canyon so who are you really?" Forge asked me and I took a step back, shocked. Finding my voice I glared at him.
"My name is Jessie. I'm being truthful about that." I said. "If you really want to know the truth…I can only remember my name."
"Are you sure about that?" Forge asked me and I sighed.
"It's all true. The only thing I remember is waking up in Copper Canyon. Everything before that is a mystery to me. I've tried to figure out who I am and what happened to me ever since I was brought here. Occasionally I get an image that helps jog my memory but nothing important, like where I live or who my family are." I answered and that's when Berto cleared his throat.
"I have to tell you something too and it can't wait any longer." He said and when I looked over at him, he looked kind of sad. "It's about the date we went on." Confused I just stared back at him.
"He means that I asked him to keep you and Shock out of N-Tek. It was so I could find out everything about you without your knowledge. It wasn't his idea to take you out of N-Tek, it was mine." Forge explained. In shock I stood there in silence until Berto stepped forward and spoke. When I didn't respond he placed his hand on my shoulder and I shoved his hand away, furious.
"Don't touch me." I growled and spun around. Needing to get away from N-Tek I hurried into the corridor. Once there I took off running at a sprint. Racing to keep up Shock was soon flying beside me.
"Would you slow down?" Shock yelled and I slowed to a walk. When he caught up with me, he was about to ask why I'd stormed out. It wasn't until he saw the pain on my face that he softened and asked me what had happened. Trying to keep calm I told the Ultralink that Berto had only gone out on the date with me to keep me out of N-Tek. Feeling tears threaten I took a shuddering breath. That's when Berto caught up with me and I stared at him.
"I didn't go on a date with you because of Forge." Berto said as he stepped forward and I took a step back. "Would you just let me explain?" He said and Shock shot forward, coming between him and me.
"Leave my partner alone." He growled and sent a spark of energy at Berto, who yelped when it hit his hand. With a final glare at Berto, Shock linked up with me and changing into Flight mode we took off. Rubbing his hand, Berto sighed to himself as his two friends left. While Berto wondered what to do, I was flying back towards my apartment. Making sure no one was around I flew down and opened the window I used the previous day. Climbing inside I carefully closed the window and Shock changed me from Flight mode back to my hologram. Turning on the lights in the kitchen I stood in the middle of the room. The instant he detached Shock asked if I was okay.
"No I'm not." I sniffed, trying to hold back my tears. Lost for words Shock looked on as I wiped at my eyes. It was then I heard a knock at the door. I considered ignoring it for a moment then, deciding that whoever it was wasn't at fault, I chose to answer it. I was a little confused when I found that it was Max and Steel.
"Hey what's up?" Max asked me. When he got a good look at my red eyes, he asked what had happened. Stepping through the door I closed it and turned to my friends.
"I just found out that my date was all a trick." I told them and Max and Steel exchanged a look of confusion. Knowing how fragile I was at the moment Shock told them the entire story. While they listened I sat down at the kitchen table, feeling miserable. By the time Shock finished I was close to tears. If I hadn't been so angry at Forge and Berto I think I would have lost it. "I can't believe Berto would use me like that. I thought he actually cared about me. How dumb is that?" I said and Max shook his head at me.
"He does care about you." Max said and I gave him a sad smile.
"I thought he did once. Now I'm not so sure anymore." I sighed as I stood up.
"I'd better get back before my mum worries about me. In the meantime remember what I said. Oh and sorry for interrupting earlier." Max said as he and Steel headed for the door.
"That's okay. Good night." I said and Max waved goodbye before he and Steel left. Closing the door I leant against it and sighed. "I have no idea what I'm doing anymore." I said and Shock hovered in front of me.
"If that's true you're getting pretty good at it." Shock replied and I actually laughed. Worn out by everything that had happened to me today I decided to go to bed and start fresh in the morning. Turning off the lights in the kitchen I went to bed. Having no reason to wake up early I was able to sleep in. It was the ringing of my phone that woke me. I tried to ignore it but whoever was ringing me was persistent and I eventually reached over and answered it, still half asleep.
"Hello?" I mumbled, muffling a yawn. On the other end I heard someone laugh.
"Good morning. It's Max. Did I wake you?" He asked. Rubbing my eyes I asked if I said no would he believe me. "Nope."
"Yeah I was asleep. What's up?" I asked him, wondering why he was calling me.
"I was wondering if you and Shock wanted to have lunch with me, Steel and my mom." He asked me.
"Yeah of course. What time and where?" I asked and that's when I heard Steel in the background. "What did Steel just say?"
"He said that we'd meet you on the ground floor." Max explained. "In about 10 minutes." He added and I told him that was fine. As soon as he hung up, I climbed out of bed. As I hurried around the apartment, brushing my teeth and attempting to fix my hair (with mixed results) I woke Shock who asked where the fire was.
"Want to come to lunch with Max, Steel and Molly?" I asked him and he eyed me for a moment.
"If you recall we can't be separated for more than eight hours. So yes, I kind of have to go." Shock yawned and I smiled back at him. It was then my smile faded when I realized I'd left my backpack in the park.
"I can't believe this. I left my bag back in the park." I groaned and Shock floated over to me.
"It's back at N-Tek. I saw it in the jump jet lying on the floor." He told me and I raised an eyebrow at him.
"And you didn't tell me this before because?" I said and he shrugged.
"You never asked." He replied after linking up with me. "It doesn't matter anyway; with your hologram in place no one can see me."
"I keep forgetting that. Oh and by the way, thanks for shocking Berto. He deserved it." I told him and I heard him laugh in my head.
"That's why they call me 'Shock'." He answered as we headed out the door.