"There, finished!" Berto said to Shock, holding up Jessie's green phone with a grin. "Now no one can hack into it again. Thanks for your help."
"No problem, Berto. If it's to help my partner or her friends, count me in." Shock answered. Setting the phone down on the table nearby Berto turned to the Ultralink.
"I wonder how Jessie is." He said and Shock shrugged. "Want to find out?" He added and with a nod from his friend they decided to head to the Medical Bay. When they arrived Berto was relieved to find that Jessie was still fast asleep. With a grin he readjusted the blanket so that it covered her, looking down at his girlfriend's sleeping face.
"She looks pretty peaceful. No thanks to Dredd and Toxzon." Shock said as he hovered overhead.
"Not to mention Naught. I have a score to settle with him myself." Berto added, glancing down at his left hand.
"I know how you feel. After all the fights Jessie's been through in the past few days, I'm impressed that she's only suffering from a few bruises and exhaustion." Shock replied. Wanting to make completely sure that his friend and partner wasn't suffering from any unseen injuries, he brought up a visual scan. After studying it for a few moments he looked from his friend to the scan. "Hmm." He muttered and Berto's eyes went wide.
"Is she okay?" He asked and Shock rolled his eye at Berto.
"She's fine." Shock replied as the visual vanished. "I was just making sure that she doesn't have any more injuries and that's she recovering."
"I was worried that…never mind. Should we leave her to get some rest?" Berto suggested and when the Ultralink gave him a nod, they left the room. Several hours later I heard someone's footsteps and when I opened my eyes I found Berto standing next to me.
"Oh hey. I didn't wake you did I?' He asked me as I sat up, rubbing my eyes with one hand.
"No its fine. What have I missed?" I asked him and with a smile, he handed me my phone.
"Shock and I upgraded your phone. Now no one can hack it ever again." He told me as I looked it over.
"Thanks Berto." I said as I slipped the phone into my pocket.
"How are you feeling?" He asked me as I climbed to my feet and stretched.
"My side aches a little but other that I feel pretty good." I answered and he seemed relieved. "Hey where is everyone?" I asked as I noticed how quiet it was.
"Max and Steel went home earlier and Commander Ferrus, Kat and Jefferson are searching for any sign of Dredd, Naught or Toxzon." Berto explained and I nodded. "Unfortunately so far they haven't had any luck finding them."
"So what happens in the meantime?" I asked him and a short time later I found myself in the training room.
"I've been working on a new Turbo mode and if you're up to it, you can test in out." Berto told me as Shock entered the room. "Ready to go?" He asked Shock, who nodded and flew over to the computer. As I watched Berto typed something into the keyboard and within moments an image of a Turbo mode I had never seen before appeared. Shock scanned the image and when he was finished, he linked with me. Seconds later I was wearing a new suit and Berto explained the basics of the mode.
"I call this Stasis Mode." Berto said as C.Y.T.R.O appeared in front of me. "When you charge it with Turbo energy…well I'll let you try it out. Try and take down C.Y.T.R.O, if you can."
Bringing my hands up in front of me in a fighter's stance I grinned at him. "Bring it on, babe." Grinning back he pressed a button on his wrist computer and almost instantly C.Y.T.R.O shot forward, taking a swing at my head. Dodging I leapt upwards and landed on the robot's head, kicking out with my left foot. To my surprise C.Y.T.R.O grabbed my foot and spun me around before letting go and I only just managed to avoid hitting the far wall. Deciding to test my new mode out I began to charge it with Turbo energy, only for C.Y.T.R.O to rush at me. "Oh man!" I yelled as I dodged and ran towards the wall a few feet in front of me. Apparently not figuring out what I had planned Berto sent his robot after me. At the last possible second I leapt at the wall and flipped backwards, causing C.Y.T.R.O to slam into the wall instead. Taken my surprise Berto watched on as I landed and began to charge up my new mode. By the time he sent C.Y.T.R.O after me, Stasis mode was fully charged.
"Take this!" I yelled as I unleashed a blast of Turbo energy that caught the robot square in the chest. Sparking C.Y.T.R.O just stood there while Berto looked from me to his robot. Then he laughed.
"That was amazing! You've never used that mode before and you already mastered it after one fight." Berto said as C.Y.T.R.O returned to his side. Changing back to Base mode I removed my helmet and smiled.
"I don't know about mastered but we did pretty well. Is C.Y.T.R.O okay?" I said and he nodded.
"I'll run a few tests on him later but I'm sure he's fine. " Berto replied as Shock detached.
"That was pretty entertaining. I have to say I'm looking forward to using that new mode in our next battle." Shock said and that's when Berto sighed.
"Is something wrong?" I asked him and when he fiddled with the wrist computer I knew that something was bothering him.
"I wanted to ask you something and I know it's a lot to ask but if Toxzon, Dredd and even Naught show up later…would you promise me that you'll let Max and Steel handle it?" He asked and I stared at him. "I shouldn't have asked." He added and I shook my head.
"I guess I can promise that. Though Shock does have a say in this as well." I said and Shock rolled his eye.
"You know that I'll go along with whatever you want, Jessie. So I agree too." Shock replied and I smiled.
"Thanks Shock. I appreciate it." I told my friend as I held out my fist and, after a moment, he bumped his hand against mine. "Though the next fight after that's all ours." He added, making Berto and I laugh.
"So are you looking forward to meeting Sydney and Kirby tomorrow?" I asked Berto who nodded.
"Sure. Outside the school at 1pm right?" He asked and I smiled at him.
"Yep. Just cross your fingers that no one shows up and wrecks our day. Of course Max and Steel will have to deal with it." I quickly added as Berto raised an eyebrow at me. "For the time being what should I do next?" I asked. Seconds later I got my answer when I yawned, surprising myself.
"Maybe you should rest for a while. I don't think you've fully recovered from your last battle." Berto suggested and I gave a slight nod. As I started for the Medical Bay again I felt Berto take hold of my arm. Sighing I still let him lead me back and by the time we got there, I have to admit that I was feeling pretty worn-out. Now sitting on the couch, a blanket wrapped around my shoulders, I listened as Shock asked why I had promised Berto that I wouldn't become J-Shock if a villain showed up tomorrow.
"He worries that I'll get hurt again. I do want to fight but…" I started when Shock finished for me.
"You don't want him to worry about you. You really care a lot about him, don't you?" He asked and I smiled.
"Yeah." I replied and noticing the silly grin on my face, he rolled his eye at me. "Heh sorry. I'm not usually like this."
"No problem. So where did Berto go?" He asked me and I shrugged. "That's helpful."
"I actually wasn't paying enough attention when he told me. Guess I am pretty tired after all." I replied as I yawned again. When I could barely keep my eyes open I lied down and made myself comfortable. By the time Berto returned he found Jessie lying on her side, out like a light. Setting down the glass of water he'd brought her, he moved the blanket over her and gently touched her forehead.
"Sleep well." He whispered before he left.