Young Offender, Part 53:
"Pay dirt. This looks just like Dressler's picture," Jet said, lofting the small plastic case with ten computer chips inside. Albert glanced around the office. It was a little too disorganized. Something about it struck him as being recently used. The coffee rings on the desk were damp; that made Albert nervous, along with the oder of a pipe.
"Let's go," Albert said impatiently as Jet tucked the box under his belt.
"Hey! Stop, you two!" a balding man shouted from the doorway. "Unhand those, or I'll unleash security."
"You better let us go," Jet said, lofting his ray gun at the man.
"Security!"
Jet shot the man with the stun setting and swore when a red light started flashing in the corridor. Albert gabbed Jet's arm and dragged him out of the office and to where the robot waited.
"Get us out of here," Albert order the robot. The robot trudged down one end of the corridor, but halted when several larger robots showed up. They were armed. Albert turned to see more at the other end of the corridor.
"This ain't good," Jet said, thumbing his gun to the kill setting. Albert flexed his right hand and then took aim with it.
"Let's give them a fight."
"You're turning out to be quite a good nurse, 003," Gilmore said, wiping his hands with a white rag. Francoise looked down at what appeared to be a metallic skeleton.
"Well, you're a good teacher." She checked Jean-Paul's watch and tucked it away. "Albert hasn't called yet."
"No, but I'm sure any minute now. He would never let 001 down."
"You right," she said absently, now regretting she hadn't gone with them.
Albert looked over at Jet. The New Yorker was leaning over, hands on his knees, panting and sweaty. Albert gave him a smirk and slap on his shoulder. "Good job, junior."
"You didn't do so bad for an old man," Jet teased, waving at the smoldering debris that was once a set of battle robots.
Albert chuckled. "You sure are winded, for a young pup."
"Let's beat it, hun? I'm not in the mood for round two, or that guy waking up."
Albert was about step forward around some debris when Jet shouted, "Albert!"
Jet lunged at him and shoved him to the ground. Albert saw Jet jerk backwards and collapse. He brought his gun hand up and fired at another set of three robot that had suddenly appeared. After he blew them into scrap metal he scrambled over to Jet; dread filled Albert's heart.
Relief hit when he saw Jet was unconscious, but breathing. Albert picked him up and gently draped Jet across his back, making sure the computer chips were stilled tucked in Jet's belt. He watched the thin, non-threating robot walk towards the elevator. He did likewise, hoping the thing was still leading him outside.
It wasn't long before Albert had them secured in a cave near the tarped airplane. He estimated it was about midnight when they got there. Albert quickly got blankets, a flashlight, and a kit Gilmore had put together for emergency cyborg repairs out of the plane. Once set up, he laid Jet on the blankets and took off the New Yorker's red scarf.
"Jet, wake up." Jet took a deep breath and then choked. His eyes fluttered open, but were drooping. Albert clenched his shoulders and gave him slight shake. "Come on, you're not allowed to leave me now!"
"I'm fine," Jet answered between coughs. "Lay off, will ya?"
"Not until I know you're fine," Albert answered. "Where were you hit?"
"The gut. Man, that was some stun gun," Jet said, weekly.
"Let's see," Albert insisted. Jet capitulated and undid the over sized buttons on his emerald green uniform coat.
Albert pushed back the jacket and lifted his gray undershirt. "Well, your stomach looks red, but I don't think anything is broken." He got a can to patch damaged, synthesized skin from the kit and sprayed it across Jet's belly.
Albert lowered Jet's undershirt when he noticed the round, gold pendant still hung from Jet's neck. He was furious at Jet and he was going to chastise him for putting himself in danger. All of that slipped away seeing Jet valued that gift. He sat on the cave floor beside Jet and reached out for Jet's hand. He clutched it tightly.
Jet looked over at him, inquisitive, and then harsh. "Don't chew on me. You would have done the same."
"I know," he said softly. "Can you fly?"
"By myself cyborg-wise? No, too dizzy for that. With a plane? Yeah, I can manage with help. I want to get out of here before anything else comes after us. I hope Kozumi is going to let me crash when we get back."
Albert helped Jet stand and got him into the pilot's seat. He packed the equipment away and got in. He avoided striking up a conversation with Jet the whole way back to Japan. His mind was in a whirl, along with his emotions. His feelings towards Jet were something he'd kept cool for the last ten years because time had seemed to come to a stand still. Albert had forgotten time's movements, and he'd forgotten in a mere moment a great loss could strike.
His mind kept playing a scenario where the robots could have carried more deadly force. Albert had thought they had, and Jet had no way of knowing he wasn't stepping into death. That thought, of Jet laying down his life with no hesitation for him, nagged at Albert up a great deal.
His relationship over the decade with Jet had indeed changed from that of an authority figure to more of equals, but it was in a confused limbo right now. Albert had to straighten out what was between them before it got even more convoluted. Especially, if Jet was going to be reckless on his behalf.
When they arrived at Kozumi's beach house, it was high noon. Kozumi had packed and was ready to leave for Sicily, but Albert explained they need a brife rest for Jet's well being. The Japanese scientist generously fed Albert and Jet. They agreed to not leave until the next morning, so Kozumi gave them use of a guest room again.
Jet handed over the computer chips to Albert, and then he let the Japanese man examine his burned stomach thoroughly. Jet didn't protest, as he normally would. Albert's staring at him from a corner of the guest room, chain smoking, had unnerved Jet into silence.
He'd give anything to know what was on Albert's mind. He thought back over last night's events. He hadn't expected to live, putting himself in the way of a blast meant for Albert. He'd do it again and again, though, without question or thought.
He had never been so close to a person in his life, and the last ten years had been wonderful, lazy summers spent hiking, swimming, and occasionally thieving from the Merchants of Death. They hadn't been in real danger in years, and this moment reminded Jet of his acute attraction and affection towards Albert he'd kept secret.
"You'll be fine. I'll let you get settled," Kozumi said, interrupting the fluttering in Jet's chest at Albert's scrutiny. "I'll call Gilmore and let him know our plans. Please get some rest."
"Thanks, Doctor," Albert mumbled and Kozumi left the room with a soft click of the door latch. Jet noticed Albert's icy blue eyes hadn't left him. Jet grabbed a plaid, button-down shirt beside him on the bed and threw it over his shoulders. He fiddled nervously with the necklace he'd gotten in the habit of wearing.
"You're giving me a funny look," Jet snapped, drumming up hostility.
Albert took a seat beside him on the guest room's bed. He leaned over and pressed an intense kiss on Jet. He was too shocked to return it initially. Seconds later, Jet warmed and reciprocated awkwardly. The situation was too bizarre and unexpected, but he couldn't resist the tingling in the pit of his stomach any longer. Albert pulled back and studied Jet's eyes.
"You look utterly chagrined or nervous, I'm not pleased with that reaction," Albert said. "It's been ten long years that I wanted to do that. I didn't want to wait any longer. I've lost someone before. I don't want things to go on between us without clarity on how I feel about you. One day, we'll be fighting the Black Ghost directly and our lives will be on the line all the time."
"Why didn't you do that before?"
"Because when I first wanted to touch you it was the night your parents were murdered, and you were too emotional. I didn't want any possibility of manipulating or confusing you. This type of relationship can be... problematic on its own without the complication of loosing your parents.
"I let time go by because... well... I wanted to be more certain that you would be receptive to the idea. Just last night, when you went to protect me... something snapped. I didn't want any more time to go by. We've been close friends for a long time, but my feelings are deeper and more complicated than friendship."
"You mean you wanted to see if I... you know... am a..." Jet asked, but couldn't finish the question without using a very nasty word. It was the only language he'd used around his gang, he knew no other words to describe the relationship Albert was suggesting. His icy tone seem to give Albert some pause, so he pressed, "But you were married and everything."
"It doesn't mean Hilda was the only person I was with."
"You mean... you've been..."
Albert chuckled slightly. "With lots of women and a few men. It's okay to say it."
"You've been lying to me!"
Albert's eyebrows furrowed. "How so?"
"You could have told me before now! I just... wow!"
"Jet, just tell me how you feel. I think you feel the same towards me. Yes, I admit I've kept it from you, but I had three good reasons. I told you, I didn't want to influence you too soon after your parents' deaths. You still had some maturing to do, as well, with a job and discovering yourself. Also, I wanted to make sure my feelings, even though they're born out of loneliness, would develop into something worthy of your trust and loyalty. I wanted to know what I feel towards you isn't because you are one of two choices for a relationship. I can honestly say, now, I'd pick you even if the situation with the Black Ghost was different, if we would have met as normal people. I needed to know that."
Jet's indignation deflated, admitting to himself that he wouldn't have been ready for this until now. Albert's instincts and judgment were correct, once again, and that irritated Jet. He let out a breath and shot Albert a harsh look.
"You know, I've never... done this sort of thing before."
"You've been with girls, right?"
"Yeah," Jet answered slowly, blushing.
"Well, some things are the same, but I think you'll like discovering some of the differences," Albert said. He gradually draped his left arm around Jet's shoulder. "If you'd like to, I'd be more than happy to oblige."
Jet felt himself shiver uncontrollably. This time, when Albert pressed a kiss, Jet didn't hesitate.
Hitomi Kitagawa impassively took the news over the phone and hung up the receiver. She looked over to Ryu, who stood by the door waiting for her. This would be the first time Ryu would accompany her to a Merchants of Death meeting. Unfortunately, she would have bad news to report.
She looked over to her son and said, "It would seem two of the Double Zero Cyborgs raided one of our island manufacturing plants."
"One day, I'll make sure I'm the one to help bring them down," Ryu vowed, coolly. She gave an approving nod of her head.
"No matter what you have to sacrifice, our own blood and flesh even, you must avenge your father and uncle. Make them pay for this."
She stood, and they left by way of limousine to their chartered flight to Ghost Island.
To be continued.