Macross Fan Fiction ❯ Jisedai Macross ❯ eps. 3 "The First Step into the Darkness" ( Chapter 3 )

Jisedai Macross eps. 3

"The First Step into the Darkness"

(Beta version)

All Characters used in this fan fiction are not licensed to me. The are owned by other companies. Since, I am not trying to earn money by using them there should be no problems. The only characters that belong to me are Jon Hester, Seif, Elly, the VF-99, the UNSS Laviathan, and the Universal Council. Opinions in this fan fiction are not representative of any company's opinions just mine.

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[If you are reading this...thank you so very much for sticking with the story and me. I know the story hasn't been great and I promise that will definitely pick up after this episode. This is gonna be a action and battle filled episode with a little transition at the end. I would like to remind the readers that I do not own any of the characters, titles, ect...used in this series. I am not out to make money off this fic so don't sue me. I would also like to remind that I would not tolerate hate mail or flaming. Thank you for reading thus far and I truly hope that you will continue to read. As you may remember in the last episode the battle for earth has just commenced and Jon and the 1st wave of fighters are streaking to join the battle. As for the little "Beta version" at the top that just means that this is probably the final version, but there may be changes made to suite the story later on. Sit back and relax and enjoy this episode...]

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Jon brings down the energy saber to a horizontal position pointing toward the battle somewhere behind the red planet. Immediately he transforms back into fighter mode and takes up his position in the very front the giant flying V. The group accelerates very quickly in accordance to the mission plan. Jon comes up on the com. with the entire 1st attack wave, "Everyone listen up. I got an idea that may get us there faster than our enemy is expecting. This might be slightly dangerous so follow the guy to you right or left determining on where you are in comparison to the center of this attack wave. I will lead us in just try to keep altitude and speed about the same as the guy you are following. We will stay in formation for this." Jon now brings up the link with Elly and moves it out of the way of his view. "Elly I and all of this wave are gonna descend to the edges of Mars' atmosphere and we might be out of radio contact for a short while. Just don't worry about us. Inform Seif and everyone who might need to know. Wish me luck." Elly just smile and replies, "Ok...good luck." The last part, coming out almost as a whisper.

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[It has now come to my attention that I have never described Seif and Danielle's mechs...so lets remedy that situation with this. Both of their mechs are large and very gundam like (more like GW and though I never did like GW I always loved the mech designs.). Seif's is painted white, black, and has gold trim. On the head is a very ornate golden flame design sitting where they usually have those cool spiky things...you know just above the eyes. The flame, I would like to add is sectioned into 4 prongs and is fairly slim for a flame. It biggest features and most obvious is the giant, angel like white wings. They are about the same size of the mech. Maybe a little shorter... and attach just between the shoulder blades. Inside each one is a huge amount of hidden small sized Flame Tech. driven rocket engines which produce invisible thrust making the illusion of the wings actually producing lift like a bird's wing. The wings don't move constantly they usually just site behind the mech and stretch out in flight. The only other time they move is when Seif wants to look menacing or if he uses them as a shield. The mech has 3 different weapons it can use. The ones it uses the most are its twin beam sabers. Which can be connected to look something like a twin lightsaber. (BTW they are colored a brilliant blue color). The mech can also use its main gun, which is rather small for what it can do. It is actually pretty much the same thing as Jon's main gattling gun on the 99...but about twice its size considering that gundams tend to be about twice as tall as a veritech fighter is. Even then the gun fits easily in a kind of holster on its right thigh. Think Robocop without having to open its leg. The last and most rarely used weapon in its arsenal is a huge beam cannon, even for the size of the mech. The cannon is very big and extremely cumbersome. It can fire 3 shots with each one being individual from the other two. The first shot if a mildly powerful shot though most anything the size of a gundam to a small military base would be wiped out instantly. The second shot is a powerful one. It can wipe out anything from a small town to a small mountain. I would also like to say the last two reload times for the cannon of the first two shots was 30 seconds. The third shot in an extremely powerful shot capable of being seen from space (if it took place on the ground) and is capable of taking out a small to medium sized moon. It take about a day to recharge (just for the sake of being fair to the enemy) from that last shot. Seif has yet to name his mech though. This whole mech is being controlled in a sort of stasis field in side the cockpit allowing total neural interface which make for more complex moves. It also stops the pilot from being thrown around the cockpit as his body is floating inside the cockpit in this stasis field. The mech itself, though totally mechanical is quite alive in the sense that it can operate and make decisions for itself but rarely does and like the 99 must ask permission to do anything from its pilot though this is a rare occurrence. On the subject of AI it has been discovered, quite some time ago, by the Universal Council that the machines that do revolt against their builders and controllers have a single line a code that is embedded very deeply into its coding. You see when someone tries to develop a computer code for something to think for itself they come upon a basic problem and solve it with a basic line of code. It is found that if that line is replaced with a more complex and multiple lines of code that the problem of the computers revolting is eliminated. Danielle's mech is very similar to Seif's only hers is painted red, black, and highlights of gold. Also, her wings are gold colored and shaped almost like fire but still retaining the same basic shape as Seif's wings. She has named her mech and it is Golden Phoenix. Ok, on with the story.]

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Seif is now floating outside the ship, in his mech, and notices a small change in the direction of the initial attack wave. Just as he is about to ask her Elly's com. link pops up. "Jon has decided to deviate slightly from the plan and try something that will put him out of contact for a little. I would love to stay and chat but I got work to do, Bye." Elly's link disappears as Seif goes into deep thought. What are you thinking Jon? Oh...I see. Well, good luck my friend. Danielle now floats up next to Seif and puts a hand on his shoulder. He turns to see her. A link with Danielle pops up "Did you get the message from Elly?" Seif nearly nods as he replies, "Yes I did and if Hester succeeds then we will probably do the same thing he is trying. Get the troops ready we launch as soon as Jon is clear of radio interference."

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After Jon closes the link with Elly he re-opens the one with the attack wing. "Alright guys follow my lead." Jon shuts the link and starts descending toward the planet Mars. The computer is indicating that he is right on target for what he is trying. Suddenly the 99 is engulfed in a red haze as he starts to enter the atmosphere. The 99 starts to shake and vibrate so violently that most would thing that is gonna fall apart. Hester slowly accelerates away. About 20 seconds after starting the decent he is thrown out of the planet's atmosphere heading right for his attack point. Jon looks back and breaths out a sigh of relief as he sees that he has lost no one. He glances at a ticking clock, which reads that he has gained ten minutes from that maneuver. Jon then radios in "UNSS Laviathan do you read, over." Elly's bright face pops up in the corner that Jon left it last. "Thank God you are alive. Is everyone alright?" Jon smiles at Elly, "Yes everyone made it and we are 10 minutes ahead of schedule. Inform Seif." Elly's face then disappears but the link is not cut. [I highly suggest that music for this part be "Rain" by Yoko Kanno from Cowboy Bebop.]Jon then quickly opens a link to the rest of his wing, "Alright we are going to engage in 1 minute break and head for your attack quadrants on my mark...(50 seconds later) alright wait for it...wait for it...wait for it...(an incoming fire indicator goes off in the cockpit)...NOW!" The entire wing breaks off just before being slammed by enemy fire. Jon continues on course and easily dodges the yellow lines of death while locking on and destroying the first enemy he can. Jon rolls back to level [now I know that the suggestion of using sound in this battle is a good idea, and I am quite aware that there is no sound in space so don't get on me for this fact...and if you disagree and say there is sound, talk to a physics guy or e-mail me and I will enlighten you] just as 3 missiles screech past him going the other direction. Jon deftly maneuvers into the center of a large group of enemies, while blowing up a few with gattling gunfire on the way. When he reaches the center he instantly locks onto about 50 enemies around him and fires off 2 waves of his energy missiles. He barely has time to react when Elly screams "Jon below you!" Jon dodges backwards while easily cleaving the would be assassin in half length wise. Without waiting Jon flies through the blinding explosion in fighter mode once again and firing at everything that is enemy.

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Soon after getting Jon's signal Seif does the same as Jon with the twin beamsabers and the 2nd wave takes off. The follow the exact same path as Jon's attack wing and have the same results. As Seif is about to commence the attack with the 2nd wave, a brilliant light is seen on the other side of the lines and is soon after replaced a ship rivaling the size of the Laviathan. This new ship appears to be nothing more than a giant cannon. So I was right they do have a trick up their sleeve.

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Back on the bridge of the Laviathan... "Sir large energy reaction occurring on the enemies side...it's a giant ship or cannon...sir it is charging to fire!" Rick being unfazed by the turn of events coolly states, "Are the main cannon and the fold engines charged and ready to go and is the main cannon fully open?" Two voices answer him with an "Affirmative!" Rick smirks and whispers, "Once again into the breach my friends...Ok fold to just behind the enemy cannon with our cannon facing it!"

The Laviathan then instantly disappears and reappears in a cloud of bright, green light. Inside the enemy's `secret' weapon, the crew of the ship is going insane trying to avoid the inevitable attack by the appearance of this new ship. The people in the ship are about 6 feet tall and have a reddish tint to their obviously thick and tough skin. Their race has obviously evolved though much hardship and pain.

Back onboard the Laviathan, Rick is sitting anxiously waiting for confirmation on lock on. "Sir we are locked onto the target." Rick gives a quick smirk as he notices the enemies engines start to power up for a FTL jump (Faster Than Light). "Fire the main cannon!" Rick states calmly to a young female officer to his right who was awaiting the order and she replies with a sharp, "Yes, sir!"

Whitish blue electricity starts bouncing off of the four, three-dimensional triangles that make up the frontal portion of the Laviathan. Along the visible lines on the external sides of the ship, light races to a central point on the ship. The light seems to gather in at the center of the huge crater like inverted dome that makes up the cannon's muzzle. The light continues to do this for a few seconds until this crater is filled. All this time the electricity bouncing around the external portion of the ship's frontal parts has increased exponentially into a sort of lightning storm. The beam comes out of the area, between the ships large, separated front so fast it gives no time to react. The enemy's ship is vaporized in less than a second. The beam continues on through space destroying a large portion of the enemy's fleet in an area of the battle line. The ships on side of the Laviathan are purposely absent for this reason as being warned ahead of time of the path of the beam. [I would like to say that all of this occurs within the area of 10 seconds]

The Laviathan wastes little time and soon after firing its beam of death folds again to the extreme right flank of the line of scrimmage. Its four frontal triangles are slowly closing with all the gun turrets on the right side opening up. There are so many turrets that the side of the behemoth ship changes from its smooth, shiny texture to that of a very rough dark gray color. The ship is pointed down the line. As it starts moving forward it's turrets start spouting smaller beams and energy bullets, rockets, and rail gun shots. The effect on the enemy lines is devastating to say the least. The ship continues working up and down both ways on the line like this until the end of the battle.

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Jon, like the Laviathan is having an easy time with the enemy. There are a few exceptions to this rule though. Jon finds that there are a few enemy mechs with much some talent…though not enough to do anything serious to Jon. Jon is currently taking a short rest on the side of a slowly rotating panel of an enemy ship. He is standing and looking out over the battle. His current rest is mostly because he has managed to wipe two whole quadrants of ships out with some help from the Laviathan's blast. Jon then gets a wonderful idea of checking in with anyone. Knowing that Elly and the Laviathan are fine, since he has been connected with Elly the entire time, he decides to start with Isamu and Guld.

"Hey Isamu you still alive out there?" Jon doesn't have long to wait as a small window pops up with his answer. Isamu is looking very tired and currently stressed with his current match. "Yeah, could you hold on a sec…this guy is pretty good", after a short wait Isamu becomes his normal over confident self, "I'm alive. Man they sure know how to hide the good pilots with the rest of them. How you doin'?" "Actually I am done. Wiped out two whole quadrants so I am taking a short break. I know what you mean though the good ones look just like the rest of `em. I'll let you get back to work I was just check'n up on everyone. Lets grab a drink after this is all done", Isamu is obviously back in battle, "Lucky dog…done already. Yeah, I'll join you. See ya later." "Good luck". [Interesting note…pilots and other people who fight never like to say good bye before and during a battle. It is bad luck]

Jon then calls up Guld who is having a very tough time, "Hey man what's up?" Guld looks a Jon before reacting, "Hey Jon we got this guy over here. We are loosing lots of men to him. He has killed over 100 of our men…with just a sword. I would really appreciate it if you came over here and gave us a hand. I am calling up Isamu and getting him here as well since he is closer." A twinge of eagerness appears in Jon's eyes, "With a sword huh? He must be pretty good. I am on my way. Once I get there I want every one to back off. Hester out!" Guld's argument is cut off. He is rather astonished at Jon's eagerness to fight this guy one on one. This is because Guld has been fighting this guy for about an hour and he is still way out-classed by him.

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Jon wastes no time and turns into his fighter mode and starts flying for Guld's coordinates in Zeta sector. Elly is pleading with Jon to rethink his current choice. Jon merely ignores her until a point. "Elly…don't worry if it starts getting too tough I will get everyone to join back in. I'll be fine." Even though she is looking at a digital image of Jon she is still calmed by the look in his eyes. She doesn't like it but she agrees to let him do it.

Inside the mech in question the alien named Zaffra laughs as he thinks, how easy these humans are to defeat. Though two of them, the second one joining just recently, are quite hard to even hit. Though their skill in fight is much less then dodging, but they cant dodge every attack. He is about to slash through another small group of these weak human mechs when his radar alarm wails warning him of collision with another object. He looks down and sees another human mech moving very fast toward him. I'll finish off this group before destroying this newcomer. He slashes but before his sword impacts his current opponents an energy blade intercepts it. He quickly recognizes the mech in front of him as the one moving to attack him. No…it can't be him…there is no way he could have covered that distance that fast! It appears he can though. He looks like those other two…but he has more skill. This may be interesting.

"*a maniacal laugh* You think you're good newbie? Let's see what you got!" Zaffra states with an air of superiority. "Shut up and fight!" Jon responds quickly. Zaffra quickly shoves Jon's smaller mech backwards and attempts to attack Jon as he is flying backwards. Jon deftly dodges the larger mech's sword and attempts his own slash at Zaffra's midsection. Zaffra spins out of the way and to Jon's left side bringing his sword down at Jon's exposed back of his neck. Jon just recovering from his last attack attempt uses his right handed saber to block Zaffra's attack while slashing with his left had at Zaffra again. Just before Jon's sword cleaves Zaffra in half Zaffra does a back flip kick, knocking Jon back once again. Jon, not to be out done, uses his momentum to do his own back flip kick stunning the larger mech just long enough to grab Zaffra by his wrist and throw him into the distance. After flying quite a distance Zaffra stabilizes himself and is just quick enough to bring his sword up to block Jon's left handed saber and immediately uses a short term energy barrier on his left hand to block Jon's right saber. The two are locked in a fight to over power the other.

Damn he is good! Jon thinks how can I…wait a sec…it is obvious. Ok bring it on buddy! Jon is violently shoved back once again. Zaffra takes this chance to land an especially powerful attack with a double-handed sword slash. Jon recovers quicker than expected though and follows his plan. Zaffra is caught with his hands high above his head and Jon holding his swords crossed in front of his head. Jon has his swords set up to do a quick scissors move to make a clean decapitation.

…Shit…I should have seen it coming. Heh…oh well at least I died honorably to an obviously good pilot. Maybe these humans are better than we estimated. Quite resourceful little creatures…but are they a ruling race as the Council labels them? Either way I wish you…young pilot...all the luck in the universe…I have a feeling that you will need it in the future. "You were an honorable fighter young human. I must compliment you on you style. It has been an honor to fight you." Zaffra states with a tone of humility. "And the same to you. If this war never occurred we might have been comrades. Good bye." Jon replies calmly. [Alright I have to get this said. `How can they understand each other?' It is quite simple. Everyone is injected with a type of nano-machine that translates most anything that is a spoken language instantly to your own. Can anyone say' "Farscape rip off?" I know it just was a really good way to solve such a complex problem.]

With one swift move Jon slides the swords apart instantly slicing off Zaffra's mech's head and arms, which are still raised, without stopping. Jon then continues in a downward curve with his sword and cuts the mech in half at the midsection. There is a brilliant bounce of electricity when the mech explodes in a large orange-ish fireball. Jon just floats in place and lets his beam sabers extinguish. It is finally obvious of the many hits that the mech has taken during the battle.

"Jon are you ok. Jon? JON?!" Elly screams as she sees Jon un-conscience in his seat. She the quickly send out a recovery team to pick him up. With in minutes Jon's mech is back aboard the Laviathan and he is stumbling down the ladder of his aircraft holding his left side. Seif strolls up to him, "I thought you got rid of the pain and injury connections to you through the mech. Oh and by the way it's over…we won." When Jon finally regains his strength enough to laugh he replies, "I did but…that doesn't mean…damn that hurts…that you don't get thrown around the cockpit when you get hit by a beam cannon or the like." Doctors rush up to Jon and coax him down on the stretcher that they brought with. While three nurses push Jon up the hallways of the hospital two other doctors are checking his injuries. Jon looks up when he hears "Can I see him?"

"I am sorry ma'am but…" Jon cuts the nurse off by placing a reassuring hand on her arm. "It's ok. Hold on here for a second." Elly come around to his right side and looks him over with teary eyes. Jon starts lifting his arm to his breast pocket and disregards the doctors pleading with him not to move. He opens the pocket and with draws Elly's necklace, "I told you I would get it back to you." Just as Jon places the necklace in her hands he falls un-conscience once again. The doctors and nurses swiftly move Jon onward to his destination leaving Elly behind in a little daze. Seif walks up behind her and places a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry that was mostly from exhaustion. The doctors think he will be fine once he rests a couple of days. Too bad…he is gonna miss the party." Seif warmly smiles at Elly and she lets out a quivering laugh between her sniffles. "Like he needs to deplete the universe of more beer anyway, right." They both laugh and walk back towards the entrance where Danielle joins them.

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The bright sun streams through the shut blinds of the hospital room. The room gives off a sense of tranquility as Jon wakes slowly letting his eyes adjust to the light. As he pushes himself up into a sitting position a nurse steps in and greets him. "And how are we feeling today Mr. Hester?" Jon finally notices her. She is wearing the, now easily recognized, white clothing. She is a fairly tall woman of Zentradi decent and has long green hair tied up in a bun.

"A little tired but nothing more." She gives him a warm smile and replies, "Well that is good to hear. We want to keep you one more night just to make sure everything is fine. You can go home tomorrow morning."

A thought pops into Jon's head, "Has anyone come to see me?" The nurse is obviously puzzled. "Well no actually. Were you expecting someone?" Jon is shocked "Yeah but I guess they'll drop by later. Thanks" "Alright, I'll be by later to check on you and if you need anything just hit the call button. Goodbye." The nurse turns and walks out of the room going about her duties. Why haven't any of them visited? I can see that Seif and Danielle would have work to do but why hasn't Elly visited. Oh well I am sure she has her reasons.

Later that day Jon is sitting flipping through the limited channels on the TV when a knock comes at the door. Jon, almost un-consciecly, answers with a "Come in.". He doesn't even notice that it is Elly that has come in until he hears her voice. "So…how are you feeling."

Jon smirks and replies, "Not so good…did you know that there isn't anything but stupid Jerry Springer reruns on right now." Jon clicks the TV off and turns to look at Elly. Anyone who doesn't know Jon would have missed it but Elly didn't. Jon's eyebrow cocked just slightly in surprise to what he sees before his bed. Elly in wearing a pair of close fitting jeans and a white T-shirt. This isn't the surprise though. It is the man standing next to her with his arm around her shoulders.

"Jon this is Bret my new boyfriend. We met at the party last night and well…we hit it off. I'll pick you up tomorrow ok?" Jon just sits there with his eyes just a little smaller as the study the man in anger. Bret appears to be a mechanic. He is about half a foot taller than Jon and very well built. His hair is cut military style, crew cut, and he has a wide smile on his face. "Yeah that's fine. You…Bret or whatever…I hear that you are mistreating her…you will pray to God that Seif himself was after you…for you will have no mercy from me. Understood?"

Elly is disturbed and slightly ticked off by Jon's attitude. Bret gains a little courage as he would have expected the `great Lt. Hester' to be something more than the broken man…no boy before him. "What ever. Look you don't have to worry about Elly any more. I'll keep an eye on her…got it. Come on honey lets get out of here." Elly gives a strange look, that later Jon would swear carried some anger in it, to Jon and allows herself to be lead out of the room by her new boyfriend leaving Jon to his thoughts. Alone…once again…alone.

Some time later Jon is lying in bed reading a magazine he had gotten from a nurse. It is dusk now, and the lights had to be turned on now. Seif strolls in hoping to surprise Jon. Danielle follows behind him smiling knowing what Seif is going to do. Seif sees that Jon is buried in his magazine and slips stealthily in front of Jon's bed. "I was wondering when you were gonna drop by Seif." Jon states with complete calm. He had an almost sixth sense when it came to telling weather Seif or Danielle was doing.

"Damn…we can't surprise you anymore Hester." Seif states with a smirk. Danielle takes a seat on a chair to Jon's left while Seif stays at his feet. "How are feeling Jon?" When Jon doesn't respond to Danielle's query "So…you met him huh?"

"They dropped by earlier today." Jon lets out a long sigh and tosses the magazine on the small desk to his right. "It is not that I am worried that she'll stay with him. He isn't someone to stay with a woman for long. It is that after this and what has happened to her in the past with men that she will never open her heart again…that I have lost my chance. I don't understand…I don't pretend to understand women. I just wish I had some clue." Jon's depressing mood almost chills the room.

Seif perks up though, "Hang in there Jon. Just a little longer." This brings the other two back to reality. Danielle puts a comforting hand on Jon's shoulder, "We would have dropped by earlier but we were in conference with the Council all day. They wanted a complete and extremely detailed analysis of the battle."

Jon laughs, mostly to poke fun at Seif, at the thought of Seif trying to keep his temper with the Council who beret him for everything he says. "I figured as much. I mean there has to be a LOT of paperwork for you." Seif obviously shudders at the thought of paperwork. That is one reason Seif loved working in the field as the only member of the Supreme Council who has ever been seen by anyone from the outside world. [I'll cover this a little more later on.] Working in the field usually only resulted in a debriefing by the Council and little of the paper work. [Though paperwork wasn't the technically correct thing to say. Paper has long since been replaced by everything computer still they were forms that had to be filled out by hand since any type of AI usage can easily be detected…leading to a quite uncomfortable punishment for breaking regulations.] Suddenly Seif remembers something and glances at his watch when a look of pure terror covers his face.

"Oh…shit…sorry Jon but we have to go. We only came to see you on an intermission…we got about 2 min. to get back to the office and be in Council again." Before either Jon or Danielle can react Seif grabs her by the hand and disappears leaving a dispersing after-image behind.

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In the main lobby of the hospital it is morning and a few people are around. It is a fairly easy day for the hospital. Jon is speaking with one of the nurses at the desk as he checks out. Seif had dropped off some cloths for him the night before and now Jon finally gets to leave. He never liked hospitals anyway…too many bad memories and the smell…well you get the idea. "Ok you are free to go Mr. Hester." With that Jon spins on his heels and strides to the doors. Jon walks outside and sits on a bench as he waits for his ride with Elly. He goes over in his head on how to deal with his current situation with her. He hopes that they already broke up. Jon waits for about a half-hour and decides that Elly isn't coming. So he stands up and starts walking. Seif and Elly would be in meeting with the council all day and Ismau, Guld, and Myung are currently at a health spa back on Mars relaxing. It looks as if Jon will have to walk the long distance home alone. He feels a sharp pang of sorrow in his heart as his mind comes to the alone part. Out of nowhere a brand new Ford Thunderbird pulls up. It is a yellow convertible with the top down.

"Hey Hester, this is my car. What do you think?" Elly almost squeals with delight. Jon turns and studies the car and quickly comes to a decision. "I like my 'vett better. The newer style birds are ok but after the year 2005…I just never really liked them. Not a bad car, don't get me wrong, it just isn't my taste…plus it is a Ford…and I have always been a Chevy and Dodge kind'a guy. So you giving me a ride home or what?"

Elly has a look of amusement on her face. "I don't know. You are diss'n my car. I think I will anyway…just because you gave me my necklace back. After that then we are even. Besides…you are going to the wrong house. Don't you know they finished you real house?" Jon is genuinely surprised, "No…I didn't."

Jon walks up and is about to get in the passenger seat when he sees, for the first time, that Bret is there with a dumb grin on his face. It takes everything Jon's got to not break this guy's nose. Jon tosses his things in the back and vaults into the back without fault. "Oh and don't turn into an Asuka figure with all your demanding and superior attitude. I won't stand for it. I'm not as patient as Shinji was." Elly starts driving down the road as she and Jon laugh at their little inside joke as they had spoken of what they had hated about Neon Genesis Evangelion.

About an hour later they pulled into the driveway of a large house with lots of flat land around it. Jon had found that since Bret didn't talk much his anger had a chance to die down but he still hated the guy. There was something about him Jon didn't trust. Jon has always been good at sizing people up and this guy left and indelible feeling of bad things in his mind. "Here we are." Elly said with joy. The house was large and impressive. From the outside it looked like a real big two story family house. But Jon had designed the inside specifically for him. The outside gave the false impression of a normal house but the inside made you think of a modern mansion. It had large vaulted ceilings in the main living room. There was a large entertainment center with all the latest stuff that would make most tech freaks pee their pants. There was a large fireplace against another wall with Italian marble rock. The room had small speakers everywhere along with multi-sensors to create a truly state of the art entertainment experience. The furniture was of soft leather and so cushy that you would melt into it. The walls and carpet were all white. Jon led the dazzled couple into the dining room where there was a large hardwood table with high-backed wood seat placed around it. In the next room, the kitchen, the floor was of black marble and there was oak cabinets all around. The main highlight of the room was the huge stainless steel refrigerator. Jon then leads them to see a couple very nicely furnished guestrooms. The master bedroom was breath taking to say the least. The basement had been turned into a entertainment center along with an office. The office was as high tech as the 99 was. To say the house was cool, great, or awe-inspiring would be an understatement. Jon then led them outside and showed them his `workshop' which was like a smaller version of the hangers back at base. Currently there were two vehicles in the `workshop' a red bike that seems to be being built from scratch and a modified P-51D Mustang. As they headed back to the car Jon introduced them to a large strip of grass that, even up close would be mistaken for normal ground but infact was modified astro-turf style ground only much harder. This acted as a runway and a test bed for all of Jon's machines to run on at high speeds. When they finally got to the car and gathered their jaws off the ground Elly asked, "Where did you get the money for all this?" Jon smiled replying, "I don't just get paid by the UN Spacey. The Universal Council, anyone who contracts me to build things for them also pays me. The bulk of it also comes from Seif himself. Let's just say he has an urge for me to live a good life. Someday I might explain it to you. Now drive carefully and have fun."

Jon watches as they drive away. When he is sure that no one is in earshot he screams, "Booya! This place kicks ass!" Jon walks back into his new house and for a bit just takes it all in. He then goes about seeing what little things are cool about his house. After a while he starts feeling very lonely. He loves the house but he has a lot on his mind right now…too much to have any real fun. He has got to come up with a way to fix things with Elly. He grabs some work cloths and heads out to the 99's hangar back on the ship. [Are you getting the idea of how people live in the dimension connected to the inside of the ship and then go back to the ship to work…well those who work for the military. Also on the ship it is eternally bright out seeing as turning off all the lights on the ship and back on in the morning is time consuming and troublesome for the night shift who wouldn't be able to see anything. In the dimension a day passes just like one here on Earth].

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It is about 5 p.m. when Elly goes to visit Seif with Bret tagging along with her. She knows that Jon, Seif, and Dannielle don't like him but she hopes that if she can convince Seif it might be easier to get Jon to accept him. Seif and Dannielle just got out of the last session with the Council and are relaxing at their desks in their office. The office has a feeling of coldness emanating from the blue steel look of the fairly small room. Their desks sit adjacent from each other and as they relax they just stare at each other…the feeling of true love being obvious. Elly knocks then enters when she gets the go ahead from Seif and Bret follows her in. Seif was smiling at Elly and then his grin quickly faded to a calm and quiet look when he sees Bret. "We need to talk Seif…now." Her voice is seething with anger. Seif glances at Dannielle who gets the idea and stands up and pulls Bret out of the room with her saying, "Come on Romeo we need to take a walk." Bret smiles his big dumb smile as he sees a chance to hit on a woman but waits until they are far from Seif.

Seif turns back to Elly now and states emotionlessly, "I know why you are here and my answer is no. I will not help you, make Jon accept the circumstances. For I don't like them either." Seif then leans back in his chair and prepares for the ranting of the enraged woman. After about 30 minutes Elly has calmed down and is waiting for her boyfriend to return for Seif has informed her that when he returns their conversation will end with one last thing. Finally they return and as Seif escorts them outside he says only, "My answer is no and that is final you will have to convince Jon not me, good luck." Elly a little more than perturbed starts storming out of the building and is about to start the car when she notices a piece of paper under her collar where Seif had touched her last. It simply read `He is at the hangar.'

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About 20 minutes later Elly is passing through the check point outside the secure hangars. The guard had just assured her that Jon was currently in the hangar. She had thanked him and drove up to the hangar and parked next to Jon's Corvette. She had to drag him away from the car to get him inside. She storms inside and all Bret can do is stare at the 99's. Hester is well aware of her presence but not of Bret's. When Bret gives out a slight "Wow!" Jon instantly reacts pointing his gun to Bret's head. "This is a restricted area! You can't be here! Elly you know that! Damn, it now I will have to a memory wipe of everything you seen here having to do with the 99! What were you thinking, Elly!"

It is now that Jon notices the fires of hell in her eyes and chills his blood. "We need to talk." Jon is now the one who is pissed and he grabs them both by the arm and shoves them outside. "We can talk out here damn it! This is nothing worth getting yourselves Death of the Soul over! Now talk!"

"I don't know why you are so pissed at me being with Bret. It isn't like we were going…out…" She is suddenly hit by the answer to her own question and it stings Jon's hear and soul to hear it. "Someday, Elly, I may tell you the whole story but I will give you a very cut down version. I have fallen in love with 3 women in my life. They have all been a deep true love. Each one I was willing to spend my whole life with. The original two both left me with much pain and after the 2nd I swore that I would only fall in love once more and that it would be with my true love. Seif and I believe that there is some one out there for everyone. Seif has Dannielle for example. I don't see them breaking up…ever. The first two, though deep, were not true love."

"You…said…that there was 3 women." Jon merely smiled at her saying, "You were the 3rd. I think…no…I know that you are my true love. I don't know if I can take rejection from you. I almost committed suicide after the first two. I also realize that I cannot and I will not pressure you into a relationship you don't want to be in. If you are truly happy with him then so be it. I don't want you love if it would be pity love.

Elly is visibly shaken at what has been said. "I…need some time to think. Come on Bret I will take you home." Jon stops her. "Not yet." A confused look crosses her face and her memory comes back to her. Bret is standing looking nervous at the two and stupidly saying, "What?". Jon takes a small device and places what looks like a small, upside down triangle LCD screen in the palm of his hand and faces it toward Bret. "I have to wipe your memory clean of all the thing pertaining to the VF-99 from your mind. This may feel a little…weird."

The `mind wiper' activates and the `LCD screen' glows an eerie blue. Bret can feel something moving around in his head and then a quick sharp pain like a brief headache. "There…it's done. Now get out of here or else he'll see something else. I will have Seif put in a good word for you both that it was merely an accident since, I am sure the Council knows of this incident." With that they part ways. Elly takes Bret to her car and drives him off base and Jon goes back to work on the 99.

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Later that night Jon is back in his house and has cleaned himself up. He relaxes in bed and tries to fall asleep. Although the bed's comfortable feel is intoxicating, Jon cannot fall asleep for he has a deeply rooted bad feeling in his heart. After 2 hours of trying to fall asleep he senses Seif enter the room. Jon sits up covered in sweat. Seif has seated himself in a chair at the foot of the bed with a very serious look on his face. Suddenly, Jon realizes what it is that he has been feeling all night long. "No…NO! Say that it isn't true Seif!" All Seif can say is, "I'm sorry." Jon swiftly puts on a pair of jeans, a decent T-shirt, and his shoes. As he rushes out the door to his car Seif calls out with a smirk, "You know that while Dannielle was with him that he hit on her and she kicked him fairly hard in the base of his right side rib cage. Also, what rests in his left boot is not safe." Jon only nods understanding what he was saying. Jon starts the car and tears out of the driveway at breakneck speed.

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Jon is almost literally flying down the highway. He only has one thing on his mind as he drives and dials the phone in his hand. I hope I am not too late. There is an answer no answer on the other end. Jon quickly redials while deftly swerving through traffic. This time there is an answer. "Hello, this is 911. What is your emergency." Says the female operator with a slightly nasal voice.

"Yes, I am Lt. Jonathan Hester. I would like to report a possible rape in progress. I need at least to squad cars to home in on my cell phone's beacon." There is a short pause at the other end, "Sir, we do not appreciate prank calls here. Do you or…" She is cut off. "Damn it! This is a serious call. I am Lt. Jonathan Hester of the U.N. Spacey division. My current authorization access number is 8475291. If you need any further assurance contact Gen. Seif. Now I am activating my beacon and I am going to hang up. I am coming upon the crime scene in progress. Send to units now! Otherwise the criminal might be dead by the time you get here!" With that Jon activates the beacon and hangs up. He soon comes screeching to a halt outside of a house in the middle of a neighborhood. As soon as the car is off he hears and crash from inside and a female scream. He races to the door.

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Bret had woken up just as she had gotten him home. He made a tempting offer for a cup of coffee. She had stupidly agreed. He apparently put something in her coffee. She tasted it immediately and recognized it as a date rape drug. Before the drug could take effect she tried to escape. He got ahead of her and locked the door. She was trapped. Bret now had evil glint in his eye and his stupid smile on again. He almost grabber her by the wrist once but Elly had easily dodged it. As she backed away from him she search with her hands for some weapon. She found it. An old vase, though it wasn't much, was better than nothing. Outside she heard the screech of tires coming to a stop. She though that it might be help. She through the vase but he had side stepped it and it crashed against the far wall. All she could do now was scream. She did that well. For a moment Bret even stopped to grimace at the short lived and fairly weak weapon of her scream. He continued toward her though with out stopping. Suddenly the door was kicked in and Jon strolled in barely in control of his fury.

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Jon had run to the door that would make most cars jealous. He kicked the door in with one swift move and strolled in with hatred in his heart. He had caught Bret just before he got her. Bret turned to Jon with a slight smirk, "You are not wanted here so get out! Oh I see. I will have to hurt you then." The look on Jon's face told Bret all he wanted to know. Bret dove to tackle Jon but Jon had let himself be pushed over and easily flipped Bret over his head like a martial artist. Bret slammed into the now destroyed door as it rested against the wall. Bret was a tough guy though. He got up just as quickly as Jon and made an attempt at a large, powerful right hook. Jon deftly ducked under it and elbowed Bret in his one main weak point. He hit Bret in the bottom of his right side rib cage where Dannielle had bruised him earlier. Bret fell over into a fetal position clenching his right side. He wasn't done though. Bret quickly pulled a small gun from his left boot. Jon was too slow to react in time. Suddenly a chair came slamming down on Bret and he fell un-conscience. Elly was holding a piece of the legs of the chair in each hand and tears streaming down her face. That is when the cops showed up with their sirens and lights going. Elly started to fall but Jon quickly caught her. He laid her down on the floor and rested her head in his lap. Soon the cops had entered the room and looked suspiciously at Jon. They had the details of what was going to happen and they were unsure which of the two males was Lt. Hester. Elly and Jon were questioned separate and it was quickly determined that Jon was who he said he was. Afterward Jon and Elly walked out of the apartment with one of those blankets the paramedics give you, like in those action movies, wrapped around each other. The cops had dragged the now bandaged body of Bret off to jail. Jon insisted on driving Elly home that night. Seif had showed up and it was decided that he would drive Elly's car home behind Jon and Elly in Jon's car.

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The only conversation that was shared between the two the whole ride home was "Jon…how did you know…?" He glanced at her and smiled. "Two ways. First, I just had a feeling. You can talk to Seif if you don't believe me. Next, Seif told me which just ensured that my feelings were correct." Elly seemed to accept it as the truth. Besides, for what purpose did Jon have to lie? When they finally got home she was asleep. So Jon did the first thing that came to him as he gazed upon her beauty. He picked her up, on hand under her back and on hand under her knees, and carried her into the house. Jon and Rick didn't say much at this point he just led Jon to her room. Jon laid her down on the bed and pulled the covers over her. Rick had left them alone. Jon was about to leave when she called his name softly.

"What is it Elly?" Jon was now kneeling next to her bed and they stared into each other's eyes. "I'm…sorry. I…I…I love you. Maybe someday I will tell you of my painful past. Thank you." With that she succumbed to sleep. Jon just merely smiled and kissed her on the forehead saying, "I love you too."

Jon and Rick spent the rest of the night talking about what had happened. As Jon was leaving Rick said one last thing to Jon, "I'll bet you had a long day so I will let you get to bed. Oh and Jon…thank you." The both smiled and shook hands. Jon got in his car and drove off. This time when he got in bed he was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

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The next day Jon, Seif, and Dannielle were having breakfast at Jon's house. Even Seif had been impressed by it. Not that Seif's house was much less…expensive. It was just the design that dazzled Seif and Dannielle. Seif was the first to speak, "Today the Council wants to see us. If you were thinking you could relax well…HAH! There is always something happening. Welcome to the Club." Jon just groaned in resentment and Dannielle tried her hardest to console him.

Not a "To Be Continued…" ,but it definitely isn't "The End".