Jason stepped into the gym and watched for a moment as Helen pounded the punching bag. It swung around a bit, making it harder for her to land a punch, but still she managed to catch it with every swing. Jason sighed and approached her and grabbed the bag, holding it steady for her. Helen hardly seemed to notice as she kicked the bag, causing Jason to stumble back for a second.
"Finished with that little redhead yet Jason?" She asked while swinging viscously at the punching bag.
"Not quite," Jason admitted as he braced himself for another one of her blows.
"Why not?"
Jason sighed, "She confuses me. There's a lot about her that you don't know."
"Oh really? Enlighten me."
"I don't think I can. It has to do with Seth as well..."
"Seth and Norris's daughter?"
"Adoptive daughter," He corrected her.
"Whatever,"
"She hates the Preventors because we killed her mother, or something like that. She's been with Norris since she was five. But I'm not sure if she really wants to destroy the Preventors, or if she's just doing it for Norris."
Helen snorted. "Whatever her problem is, I don't even care anymore. She's our key to getting to Norris."
"I don't think so."
"Hun? Why not?"
"Remember how Norris ran off on her like that? I don't think it would work to use her as bait."
"Hmm,"
"But she seems convinced that he'll come for her."
"You should stop worrying about her." Helen suggested. "She's Noin's problem now."
"I can't..."
"Why not?" Helen shot, "She's the enemy Jason, not one of your girlfriends. You don't need to think of her 24/7!"
At this, Jason smirked. "Did I detect a hint of jealousy, Helen?"
Helen stopped "And what would I have to be jealous about? You?" She snorted and turned on her heel and started to walk away.
"You're afraid she's stealing your man, aren't ya, Helen!" He called after her. Helen flipped him the finger as she left the gym. Jason grinned. At least they were back to normal now.
~~~
"So what exactly do you have planned?" Gary whispered fiercely as he spoke with Brittney.
"To get Jason back for you?"
"Of course, what else would I be talking about?"
"Well, the next time I speak to him, I'll talk to him about you. I already have him wrapped around my finger, so it shouldn't be too hard to get him thinking about all you've done for him."
Gary grinned, "Like taking candy from a baby."
"Exactly."
"Do you need me for anything else?"
Brittney paused. "Are you saying what I think you are?"
"Yes I am, I've been thinking about what you said. And I've decided that it'll be a good idea for me to join with these Neo Zion people."
"Excellent," Brittney grinned. "Come here," She waved Gary over to her.
He leaned in closely and listened carefully to her instructions.
~~~
"Is everyone here?" Noin asked as she closed the door to the conference room. There were a few murmurs of agreement and Noin nodded at them. The Gundam pilots were all gathered together to discuss their next move.
" As you all know," She began, "Our last attack on the enemy was disastrous. We were outsmarted and outnumbered by the enemy and it led to the loss of Helen and Jason for a while. We can't let that happen again. Next time we may not be as lucky. Even if this incident did lead us to one of the Neo Zion's members and provided us with an opportunity to catch its leader. We won't be this lucky all the time.
"Now, before we discuss our next assignment there are a few things that need to be cleared up. First there is the matter of Brittney Norris, the Neo Zion soldier that Helen and Jason brought back with them. I'm aware that Jason and Brittney were friends on Earth, but I hope, Jason, that this will not cloud your judgement from now on." She was incredibly serious as she looked Jason straight in the eyes.
"No ma'am," He muttered as he averted his eyes.
"Also, I think Seth has something he needs to say first." She looked over at Seth who stood nervously by the door, as if he was ready to run.
"Well uh..." Seth started. He glanced at Jasmine, who smiled encouragingly. It didn't help. "I too have a relationship with Brittney..." He looked at the shocked faces of the Gundam pilots. "Not like that!" He laughed, waving his arms in front of him. "I mean I've known her for a long time..."
"How?" Wufei snorted. "Noin, how could you know this and still let him remain at the Preventor headquarters. He could be a spy!"
"Relax Wufei."
"I'm not a spy," Seth insisted, "Brittney is my...half-sister."
The room's oxygen supply rapidly decreased as everyone gasped.
"How...what...when...?" Indigo stuttered. "What the heck is going on?"
Seth sighed and then began to explain. "Brittney's mother was married to my father for a while, but it wasn't legal since he was already married to my mother. Brittney and her mother left our father and were never seen again, at least, not together. I didn't even learn of them until she came looking for us a couple years ago. We were friends but...she hated the Preventors, and I wanted to join. So after I told her that she just...disappeared. I never really took her hatred of the Preventors seriously before now. I guess I thought she didn't have the guts. But then again, the Preventors killed her mother and she was very angry all the time. Especially after my father..." He trailed off.
"Why would the Preventors kill her mother?" Jasmine asked breathlessly.
"She was a rebel spy, very high up, possibly even their leader."
"Hun, so you think that after telling us this its supposed to be easier to trust you?"
"Joel!" Indigo whacked her boyfriend in the shoulder, telling him to shut up.
"Not at all," Seth laughed, "I just thought you might like to know the whole story, or what I know of it."
"Wait a second," Duo spoke up, "I thought this Brittney girl was Norris's daughter, would that make you..."
Seth shook his head. "Nope, Armand Norris took her in after her mother was killed."
"Ah,"
"Now that that's all cleared up," Noin interrupted; "I hope everyone is more enlightened so we can continue with the plans..." She was cut off by the sound of the phone ringing. She glared at it and pondered whether she should answer it. Finally, she sighed and excused herself to pick up the telephone. As soon as the disgruntled face popped up, she knew something was wrong.
"What is it?" She snapped.
"Lieutenant Noin! It's the prisoner! She's escaped!"
~~~
The entire group immediately scrambled through the base to look for Brittney. People dashed through the halls and the Preventors were put on full alert.
Jason instantly headed for the hanger. It was the best way to get out of the base. He turned down a corridor on his way to the hanger and stopped dead in his tracks. He had came face-to-face with the barrel of a gun. Jason froze and the gun slowly lowered. He looked at the person holding it and nearly fell over in shock.
"Dad...?" He looked at Gary sternly. His father had never been a violent man. At least, as non-violent as a high school football coach can be. What was he dong with a gun, and pointing it at his own son?
"What are you doing?"
"J-Jason..." Gary stuttered. "Get out of here or you'll get hurt."
"Dad? What are you talking about? You should get outta here before you get hurt!"
"No Jason! I will not be treated like a weak little civilian by my own son!"
Jason was about to say something when someone else joined them in the corridor.
"Jason!" It was Helen. "What are you doing? We're supposed to be looking for that..."
Gary's hand shot up and he fired at Helen as if on instinct. His aim was incredibly accurate, and the bullet pieced her through her shoulder.
"Helen!" Jason gasped. "Dad, what the hell do you think you're doing?"
"These people are dangerous, Jason." Gary hissed. He showed no remorse for what he was doing. "Brittney was right about them. They're just using you...come with me..."
"What the...when did you talk to Brittney?" Jason snapped.
"It doesn't matter anymore." Gary shook his head. "Come with me or die with the rest of them!"
Jason was hardly aware of anything at the moment. Not even Helen lying on the floor and clutching her arm in pain. All he could see was his adoptive father's angry, insane eyes. He had gone completely nuts!
"Dad just put the gun down..." Jason snarled quietly.
Gary shook his head. "I can't do that Jason. You have to decide which side you're on. If your with me, or with the Preventors."
"Dad, I can't choose between my family and my ideals."
He stopped and looked behind Gary at a certain redhead who had suddenly appeared.
"Gary just leave him!"
Gary didn't look back. "No Brittney, I can't. Tell him Brittney, tell him what a great father I was!"
"There's no time!" She snapped.
"But you said..."
"Our plans have changed Gary."
"No! You promised you'd help me."
"Well, I have news for you Gary. Never trust the enemy!"
Gary's eyes grew wide and he finally looked at Brittney.
"You lying little..." He broke off and fired three shots at her. Two missed, but one grazed her temple, sending the blood gushing out.
Brittney cried out and her hand flew to her head to stop the bleeding. "Fine then Gary, If that's how it is..." She slowly raised her gun in the other hand and aimed it at Gary.
"NO!" Jason cried, he tried to push Gary out of the way, but Gary was faster. He fired at Brittney again and hit her arm this time so she dropped the gun. Cursing, Brittney finally dashed off. Jason tried to go after her, but Gary was in the way. He would have to deal with his adoptive, psycho father first.
~
After searching through the prisoners' cells for clues, David and Joel decided to head for the hanger.
"She's probably trying to get off the base from the main hanger."
Joel remarked. "We'll try there first."
David nodded in agreement and the two hurried through the twisted hallways of the base.
As they neared the hanger, they heard voices from down one of the corridors. They stopped and went that way instead. As they got closer to the voices they saw blood seeping form around the corner.
"What the..." Joel ran around the corner first and stopped when he saw Helen.
"Helen! Are you OK?" He knelt down beside her to help her to her feet.
"Getting shot hurts like hell..." She growled, still looking ahead at the other two figures there. Joel looked up and saw Jason and his adoptive father, Gary.
"What's going on?" David gasped.
"Gary's gone psycho on us, he joined Brittney, but she just ran off on him."
"So Brittney was down here." Joel seethed.
"Yeah, but she's probably long gone by now. Let security at the hanger deal with it. We have more immediate problems to be worried about."
"What's wrong with him?"
"I dunno, but he shot me, and got Brittney twice. I don't think he's all there, if you know what I mean."
Joel nodded, "David, go around and try to get him from behind."
David nodded and jumped up, but the movement attracted Gary's attention and he fired in their direction. David quickly fell to the ground to avoid getting shot.
"Are you trying to keep me from my son too?" Gary screamed. "Well I won't let that happen! Even if that little girl did betray me, I will not lose!"
He raised the gun again and fired a few more rounds.
"We have to get out of here!" Joel cried. He pulled out his own gun and returned fire, aiming at Gary's legs. Jason would be upset if he killed his foster father. Jason had ducked around a corner, so he had a clear shot. David also provided cover fire. "Joel, you get Helen out of here! I'll hold them off!"
Joel nodded and Helen mumbled something about not being able to have a piece of the fun as she allowed Joel to help her around the corner to safety.
Gary ran out of bullets and expertly loaded another clip. Jason wondered where he learned to handle a gun so well. David was not as lucky as to have an extra clip ready, so when he ran out he had to duck behind the corner and hide.
David cursed under his breath as he searched for another clip. But Gary lowered his gun and started to go after him. David started to stand up, ready to knock him with the gun or take off if he needed to. He had to keep Gary away from Joel and Helen until they were a safe distance away. But just as Gary got closer and started to fire, the incredible happened. Pluto jumped at Gary from behind and attacked his gun arm. Gary screamed and fired a few wild shots as he struggled to get the heavy dog off of him.
Jason and David both took their chance to get at Gary and cuff him. However, with the gun flailing around it was hard to get close without risking getting shot.
Gary gave a finally shove at the dog and fired a bullet straight through Pluto's stomach. Pluto yelped and let out a terrifying wail as he quickly scampered off.
Jason then lunged for Gary as the man stood up. But Gary was quick to raise his gun. But it was not aimed at his son's head; it was aimed at his own.
Jason's eyes grew wide and he stared helplessly at his father.
"Can't you see that I just wanted you to look up to me the way you did Heero?" He whimpered.
"Dad I..."
"Don't Jason!" Gary cut him off. "Don't try and stop me. There's nothing you can do. I've lost everything now, can't you see?"
Gary was crying as he raised the gun all the way to his temple and closed his eyes.
"NO DAD!" Jason screamed and moved towards his father. But everything seemed to be moving in slow motion, and David stopped him just as Gary's brains exploded against the wall.
Jason froze in horror and then went limp. David helped him to the floor and stared at Gary's lifeless body lying on the ground. David had to look away, but Jason's eyes were stuck.
Upon hearing the commotion, Helen and Joel had returned to the small corridor only to be greeted by a pool of blood and scattered tissue.
Helen looked at Gary and then at Jason. Jason had tears building in his eyes and it pained her to see him that way. She couldn't imagine...
Helen pushed down her dizziness and broke away from Joel's support to go to Jason. Like it or not, she did consider Jason a friend. She winced as she passed Gary's body and dropped to her knees next to Jason.
"Let it out," She whispered and she pulled him into a hug with her one good arm. Jason gladly leaned into her arms and started to cry.
"It was my fault," He muttered. "He did it because of me."
Helen shook her head gently. "It wasn't your fault Jason. He...he wasn't well."
"I should have paid more attention to him. Even if it wasn't blood relation, he was still my father..."
"I know," She rocked him back and forth slowly and whispered encouraging words to him.
Joel was still at the other end of the hallway staring. He was reminded of his own foster father. He knew exactly how Jason felt. To feel that it was his fault that his father did what did. But it wasn't, it would take a while for Jason to finally realize it, but he would; sooner or later he would come to terms with it. And yet it still brought back painful memories for Joel and he had to fight back his own tears as he approached his two friends.
"Are you both OK?" He choked.
Helen looked up and saw his tears; he knew she did, but she said nothing. She just nodded and turned back to Jason.
"We should uh...get a medic down here." David whispered.
Joel nodded and turned. He glanced back at Jason for a second before running off. He didn't want to face his emotions. He wanted to comfort his friend, but his pride kept him from doing anything. But even as he ran, he hated himself. Even Helen, who hated Jason's mere existence, managed to swallow her pride to help someone who, despite all their differences, she still considered a friend.
He wiped away a stray tear and ran to find his mother or the nearest medic.
~~~
Brittney dashed into the hanger and jumped into the nearest transport she could find. It was an armored shuttle. She climbed in with some difficulty due to her bleeding arm and temple, but she managed. The security was easy enough to get by, since everyone was in a panic after her escape. She eagerly tapped on the keys in the cockpit until a message came up asking for a password. She tried her pass codes, but they didn't work. She tried another one, but it just beeped at her. She was beginning to get frustrated, and her head was spinning from her wounds and loss of blood. The screen told her that if she failed again, the alarm would be sounded. She was almost in a panic now as she tried one last code. It was a no-go.
"NO! I can't have come this far to fail now!" She cried. The alarms sounded and the lights flashed. Within seconds, dozens of Preventors were swarming into the hanger to cut her off.
She angrily pounded her fists on the control board.
"System overload." The computers robotic voice chimed. Brittney blinked at the controls and then grinned. She was rewarding with a deep humming sound as the shuttle powered up.
"Alright! Thank you baby!" She cheered. She grabbed the gun controls and blew up the obstacles in her way. She turned to aim at the group of Preventors but paused. She shook her head; she wasn't getting soft, she just didn't want to waste bullets.
Armand would call her soft, or weak, or whatever word met his fancy at the time, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. She cursed loudly and grabbed the shuttle controls and steered it out of the base, shooting down as many mobile suits as she could on her way out. She wanted as little resistance as possible on her escape.
She was getting dizzier by the second and was finding it hard to keep control of the shuttle. She looked out and saw her brother among the people watching her go. The Chinese girl standing beside him quickly rushed to one of the Gundams, and Seth called after her but she didn't turn. Brittney recognized the girl as Jasmine Chang, daughter of the infamous pilot of Gundam 05.
Brittney glared at Seth. She couldn't stand him anymore. He was going to join the Preventors; he was going to come after her. He didn't have any respect for her ideals. Her own brother...she sighed; she was sorry she would have to do this to him, but she didn't have a choice. Too bad, she had liked Seth. He was one of the only people should could trust in this world.
Brittney quickly pushed all sentimental thoughts from her head as she noticed the Gundam coming to life, getting ready to come after her. She stepped on it and sped out of the base and away from it at top speed. She headed in the direction she knew Armand's closest base was. She just hoped she wouldn't end up leading them there.
Brittney used the controls to fire at the Gundam, when it unexpectedly turned around and headed back. Brittney blinked in confusion but she decided not to complain about a good thing. She set a course for the base and dropped down into her seat. It wasn't long before she had passed out and fell onto the floor.
~~~
Jasmine jumped into her Gundam and quickly fired it up. She wasn't about to let Brittney get away.
"Jasmine stop!" Seth cried after her. But Jasmine ignored him. She kept typing away and getting ready until Seth's face popped up on her screen.
"Jasmine hold on a second!" Seth cried.
"Why? Are you trying to help your sister get away?" She spat. Seth looked hurt but it didn't affect him. He sighed; "Just, please don't kill her..." He begged.
Jasmine snorted, although her face softened. "I'll try."
Seth breathed an audible sigh of relief. "Thanks,"
Jasmine nodded and blasted out of the hanger after Brittney. Brittney fired at her and Jasmine was about to retaliate when another face popped up.
"Jasmine! Pull back!" Noin cried.
"What! Why?" Jasmine cried.
"Don't jump into anything stupid like your brother does."
"But...she's going to get away..."
"No, there's a tracer in that shuttle. She's probably heading for a base. Leave her and she'll lead us right too them."
Jasmine groaned but complied; thinking of better battles ahead. What chance did an armored shuttle have against a Gundam anyway? She docked back into the hanger and jumped out of her Gundam.
"Jazz!" Seth cried. She didn't answer him. She just pulled off her helmet and shook her hair out. She could feel him watching her and couldn't help but smirk. That guy couldn't keep his eyes to himself.
"What's going on here?" She asked.
Seth sighed, "A lot, apparently. We should go help out at the infirmary. A bunch of people were injured during Brittney's escape."
Jasmine sighed and kicked her spacesuit aside and it was quickly picked up a by a lower rank Preventor. She headed for the infirmary while she combed through her hair with her fingers. She was fuming mad at letting Brittney get away, but Noin's reasons made sense. Seth followed her closely.
They ran into Sally in the hallway.
"Jasmine!" Sally cried out in relief. "We have a huge mess. I need you and Seth to get down to ward 3 and get it ready for a patient."
"What kind of injuries?" Jasmine asked. She knew the drill. She had helped her mother countless times in the infirmary before.
"Burns and a concussion, as far as I know. We'll need a bed. Oh, and if you see a clean-up crew, tell them to get their buts down to the hall between the hanger and the prisoners' cells. And while you're at it, you might want to go check in on Jason for me and maybe give him a sedative."
Jasmine rose her eyebrows in surprise. "What's wrong with him?"
Sally's eyebrows came together in a deep frown and worry washed over her face. "Nothing physically, he's just very upset. I think rest will be the best thing for him right now. But I don't have time to explain any further. Did you get everything?"
Jasmine nodded.
"Good, I've got to go see to Helen right now, and we all know she's the patient from hell."
Jasmine nodded again and grabbed Seth as she dragged him down the hall.
"This is crazy!" Seth remarked as he tried to keep up with her.
"I don't want to know," She sighed. "We'll find out later. I guess the best thing to do right now is help get everything sorted out."
Seth agreed but was shocked. Jasmine was usually more compulsive than that. He understood her to be the type who likes to know what's going on when it's happening. She probably realized the seriousness of the situation. He shrugged it off and helped her with a gurney and some heavy equipment to take down to ward 3.
~~
"Can I go yet?" Helen hissed as she watched Sally fiddle with a needle.
"Not yet, I haven't even taken that bullet from your arm yet..."
"I've been sitting here for twenty minutes! How long does it take to get a bullet out?"
"About ten seconds, but there's a lot of prep work. I needed to find it first."
"Oh please," Helen rolled her eyes. "Just stick the tweezers in and grab it."
"Trust me, you don't want me to..."
"Trust me, I've gotten fifteen stitches without any drugs, I can handle it."
Sally gave the girl an inquisitive look.
"Hockey injury, long story."
Sally shook her head and approached Helen with the needle. "This will only take a minute." She promised.
Helen sighed and watched as Sally pricked her with the needle and then attacked her with a large pair of tweezers. Helen winced and watched as Sally got squirted with blood.
Sally wiped it off her face and groaned. She then bandaged Helen's arm and put it in a sling. "Now don't move it or it'll start to bleed again." She warned her.
Helen nodded and jumped up. "Thanks, Sally."
"Hey! Stay close by, and tell me if there are any problems!"
"Yeah, yeah, I will." Helen said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "I'm just going down the hall anyway."
Sally grinned, she knew Helen was going down to check on Jason. She would never admit it of course, but Helen was worried about him. Whether they got along or not, Sally could tell that they were still good friends; no matter how many times Helen tried to beat him up. Sally laughed as she watched Helen's retreating form. They had the strangest relationship, those two.
