Reaching the Medical Bay both Berto and Shock were both disheartened to find Jessie in the same condition as before. Sitting beside her Berto reached over and took her hand in his and wondered how she was doing. Getting a brainwave, Shock hovered over her and, to Berto's surprise, seemed to scan her.
"What are you doing?" He asked as a computer screen appeared above Jessie.
"I'm checking her vitals. Since we're Ultralinked, I can make sure she doesn't have any internal injuries. Hmmm…" He said and Berto raised his eyebrows.
"Is she okay? Is there anything wrong with her?" Berto asked and Shock looked at him for a moment.
"Chill out dude, she only has a bruise on the back of her head." Shock told him and when Berto stared at him, he shrugged. "Sorry that's just something I picked up from Jessie. She's probably only suffering a headache and exhaustion." He told Berto, who finally found a reason to smile.
"Gracias. I wasn't sure if she was okay. That's a weight off my mind." Berto said as Shock finished scanning his friend. Once he had finished, the screen disappeared.
"I know that feeling. I'm really glad that she's fine." Shock agreed as he flew down and hovered over Berto's shoulder. Before long Berto's wrist computer beeped and he removed his hand from Jessie's to answer it.
"Hello?" He said and found it was Max and Steel, who were inside their apartment.
"How's Jessie doing?" Max asked as Steel hovered above his shoulder. With a smile on his face, Berto told them the good news. "Is she awake yet?"
"No, not yet. At least she doesn't have any internal injuries, just bruising. She's tougher than she looks." He said and saw Max nod, looking just as relieved.
"Thankfully. I mean look at all the battles she's had against Dredd, Naught and Toxzon." Max said.
"Not to mention the Ultimate Elementor. With her help, we finally caught him." Steel added and everyone laughed at that memory.
"That's my partner for you." Shock said as they laughed. Probably wondering why everyone was laughing, Molly appeared onscreen.
"Did I miss something?" She asked and Max stepped back. "Hi Berto." When he told her that Jessie was safe and would recover from her injuries, she smiled. "That's great to hear. I only just heard that she was badly hurt fighting Toxzon and I've crossed my fingers that she'd come back safe."
"Me too, Molly. When she told me her plan…I wasn't sure that she'd come back. I'm glad that it worked and she's here now. "Berto said as he glanced back at his friend for a moment. From her view-point Molly could see that he still seemed troubled by Jessie's condition and she silently hoped that their friend would wake up soon. Turning back to his friends, Berto asked what he'd missed since Jessie showed up hurt and unresponsive.
"Nothing much really. There's been no sighting of Toxzon if that's what you're asking. I'm sorry, Berto." Max said and Berto waved his hand.
"For the record I was worried about Jessie and Shock, I don't blame anyone but myself for not doing enough to help her. I mean, I could have sent C.Y.T.R.O to take the bomb and do what she did. At the time I didn't think of doing that, I wasn't even sure I could disarm the bomb in time and I let her go." Berto sighed. "Thankfully she and Shock came back in one piece."
"You need to stop blaming yourself. I know you feel terrible about what happened but you're not to blame. We know that and I'm sure Jessie knows it too." Molly said and Berto finally nodded. "Will you three be okay?" She asked and Shock looked over at Berto, who was looking at Jessie again.
"I think we're good. " Shock replied and with a nod Molly hung up. "How are you?" He asked Berto who looked up, startled.
"Huh? Yeah I'm okay. Maybe a little distracted at the moment." He answered. After one more look at Jessie he stood up. "I'd better finish upgrading C.Y.T.R.O if we need his help." Berto said and started walking back to the lab. With a last glance at his partner, Shock followed him.
Almost four hours later Berto was making some final adjustments to C.Y.T.R.O when Forge walked in.
"Commander Forge, is there something I can do for you?" He asked as he set down his wrench.
"No, actually I was actually wondering how you were. After Jessie got back you've worked almost nonstop." Forge said and Berto smiled at him.
"I'm fine. Shock found out that Jessie's only suffering from exhaustion and bruising." When Forge seemed confused by this, Shock repeated what he had found from the scan he did.
"I checked her vitals and she's going to be fine. Believe me." Shock said to their commander.
"I'm glad to hear that. By the way I have good news and bad news." He told them. "Which do you want first?"
"I guess the bad news first." Berto said and Shock gave him a look of disbelief. "Then the good news sounds better." With a shrug Shock asked for the bad news too.
"The bad news is we haven't had any luck finding Toxzon. " Forge told them and Berto rubbed his face.
"Then what's the good news?" He asked.
"The Ultimate Elementor still in custody." Forge told me and Berto groaned in disbelief.
"That's not really what you'd call good news but I'll take it." Shock answered and Forge shrugged.
"Anyway I'll tell you if we get any closer to finding Toxzon." Forge said and once he left, Berto looked over at the computer screen. Already positive he was thinking about Jessie, Shock flew over and asked if he wanted to go and see her.
"Yeah, I guess I'm a little distracted now. Let's go and see her." Berto agreed and they set out for the Medical Bay. When they got there Jessie was still lying unmoving on the table and Berto slumped into the seat beside her. Feeling completely useless he just sat there, staring down at the floor. Hovering overhead, Shock wondered if there was anything he could do to help. To his amazement he thought he saw Jessie's left hand twitch. He kept watching, in case he was seeing things, and it happened again.
"Berto, look." Shock said and Berto lifted his head slightly, just as Jessie's hand clenched.
"Jessie?" Berto whispered and, as if she could hear him, her hand relaxed. Taking her hand, he asked her to squeeze his. Within moments she did so and they exchanged a glance, both encouraged by this. "Can you hear me?" He said and to their amazement Jessie's eyes fluttered open. Blinking she looked around and when her eyes settled on Berto and Shock she gave them a weak smile.
"Hi." I whispered and they both grinned.
"Glad you're back." Shock said and Berto just nodded. Hovering next to my head, Shock asked how I was feeling.
"My head hurts and I ache all over. Why am I lying here?" I asked as I moved my head slightly, only to gasp when a spark of pain flashed through my head and I almost passed out again. "That wasn't…the best…move." I groaned and Berto took my hand, concerned.
"You were knocked unconscious when the bomb went off. Shock brought you here and you've been out cold ever since. I'm glad you're alright." He said as I looked up at him.
"I'm…. still here and that's something. How did…. you get me here…. if I wasn't awake?" I asked Shock who didn't meet my eyes from a moment.
"I…took control of you. That's how I got you back to N-Tek. I hope you're not mad." Shock told me and was a little shocked when I pulled him into a hug.
"Of course I'm not mad. You saved my life and I'm grateful." I said and after I let him go, I realized Shock was actually blushing. "Wow, I didn't even know you could blush."
"Neither did I." Berto commented and we both laughed as Shock rolled his eyes at both of us. Turning back to me, Berto asked if I was really feeling alright. In response I yawned suddenly.
"Now that you mention it….I'm feeling…a little sleepy. My head stings too." I muttered and when they both looked alarmed I sighed. "Guys I'm fine…worn out maybe. Stop looking so worried." I yawned again and that's when I felt Berto squeeze my shoulder.
"As long as you're sure. Just tell me if you need anything and I'll be right back." Berto told me, removing his hand from my shoulder. Reluctant to move my head if it hurt, I told them that I'd be fine. With a nod Berto left. When he was gone, Shock told me that Berto had been seriously considering going after Toxzon on his own.
"He was really going to do that? I'm glad you stopped him in time. Thank you for that." I told him and he nodded. "That's pretty brave of him, foolish, but still brave."
"I have to agree. Now are you sure you're fine?" When I blinked at him, he shrugged.
"Sorry I've been hanging around Berto. Like I said he's been really worried ever since you showed up hurt. He really cares about you, you know." Shock said as I closed my eyes.
"Yeah I know he does. Maybe I should tell him that. Maybe." I whispered before I dozed off.
When Shock went looking for Berto he found the scientist in his lab. Flying through the door, Shock called out to him
"I knew I'd find you here." He said and Berto turned to him with a grin.
"I guess you know me too well. Yeah I came here to think. I know Jessie's better now and everything, I just can't help worrying about her." Berto told him. Hovering in front of him, Shock crossed his arms.
"You care about her a lot, don't you?" He said.
"I do. I know she has Turbo powers and you but she's still a teenage girl. A really stubborn one I have to admit." Berto said and Shock nodded in agreement. "Hey I just had a great idea. When she's well enough maybe she can hang out with Max and his friends." Berto suggested.
"After everything she's been through, taking a break sounds great. " Shock replied." The only problem is how do I go with her?" With a sudden grin Berto walked over to his desk and, bending down, produced Jessie's backpack.
"I found this in one of the Jump Jets, Jefferson's I think. In any case it turned up and that's the main thing. "Berto said as he stood and set it down on the desk. Flying over to it, Shock immediately noticed something different about the bag.
"There's something strange about it." He said and Berto explained that he'd altered it to make it roomier for the Ultralink. "Thanks for that. It wasn't very comfortable before." He commented and Berto gave a nod.
"By the way where is Max and Steel? I haven't seen them since they called." Shock asked. At that exact moment Max and Steel walked in, saving Berto the trouble of calling them.
"Hi guys. Has Jessie woken up yet?" Max asked and Berto told them everything that had happened since their phone call. "Hey that's great news!"
"I agree. Is there anything we can do to help?" Steel asked and Berto smiled.
"Actually there is something I wanted to ask." He said and told them his and Shock's idea. As soon as he was done Max and Steel smiled.
"That's an awesome idea. Just tell me when Jessie's feeling up to it and I'll introduce her to Sydney and Kirby." Max agreed. "She deserves a break after what happened. Oops, sorry Berto. I shouldn't keep bringing that up." He cringed and Berto just waved his hand.
"That's cool. As long as she's back I'm happy." Berto said.
Back in the Medical Bay I woke to silence. For a moment I wondered where I was until I remembered that I'd been injured after fighting Toxzon and that Shock had managed to get us both back to N-Tek in one piece. Thinking back I had to admit that taking a bomb into space wasn't the most brilliant plan I'd ever come up with, though I guess it worked. More or less. Still feeling the aftereffects of the blast I somehow managed to sit up. It was then that my head began to throb and I placed a hand on my forehead, hoping that I wouldn't pass out. Thankfully I stayed conscious and for that I was grateful. Wondering where everyone had gone, I called out. When no one answered I made up my mind to find them. Of course I didn't get far because as soon as I put my feet on the floor, the room spun. For once luck was on my side and I didn't hit the floor, instead I slid down and ended on sitting on the cold floor. Dazed I would have remained there for some time had Berto and Max not shown up when they did.