Twins and Jesse Blue
Patr 12 .
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© Copyright 1999-2000 Stellar Spark Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs FanFic page by Stellar Spark https://www.angelfire.com/id/stellar Email: Stellar Spark (stellar@mailcity.com)
Twins and Jesse Blue. Part 1. |
Starting from the moment April and Stellar disappeared, the Star Sheriffs didn't have time to rest. They searched the city upside and inside down, called up caps to help them. But still, it was no use. They simply couldn't find them anywhere. At the beginning of their search, they had some witnesses who saw the girls in various places, but as the search progressed, the number of live witnesses diminished. They couldn't find any traces of them.
For a long time the boys were arguing among themselves on who was going to tell Commander Eagle about his missing daughters. Then, finally, a compromise was reached - who was the main de facto leader around here? Oh, Saber Rider! So, with much disagreement, he was the one who had to tell him in the end.
Commander Eagle received a call when he was back on Earth. It was his first day back in his office after a long period of absence. Instead of concentrating on his work that had amounted during his leave, he was pacing back and forth in the room, thinking about his past until he was interrupted. The communication officer came in and told him that the Star Sheriffs were waiting for him online. Smiling, he went to the screen and turned it on. The screen blinked for a moment as it changed channels. Finally, Saber's face came to screen, but by the look of his grim face, Commander Eagle instantly knew that something bad had happened. He felt a cold shiver ran down on his spine as he waited for him to break the bad news to him while silently praying that he was wrong after all.
"Commander... Sir... Something terrible has happened. We can't find April or Stellar. We are sure that they are somewhere in the city, but we don't know where..." Saber Rider told him while trying to avoid to have look into the terrified eyes of his Commander.
"Are the Outriders behind this?" asked Commander Eagle, doing his best not to show his true feelings.
"Maybe... We did, however, receive a message from April just before she disappeared. She said that she saw at least one Outrider, but we haven't found any around, not even the slightest gruesome thing they always leave behind when they vaporized." Saber sighed, and then added, "Could it be possible that she's wrong after all?"
"Hmm... I don't think so. Detecting Outriders is one of her specialties. She's good as any of you. But why aren't there any traces left?"
Saber didn’t have an answer to it. However, he could imagine what a father went through in loosing both of his daughters. At the same time, he knew that hope was not lost yet. Commander Eagle would not give up until he would either see his girls dead or alive again. The same way that April did when Commander himself was held captive by the Outriders.
"Keep on searching. But if the Outriders are indeed behind this, then I'm afraid that they are not on the planet anymore."
"Yes, Sir!" saluted Saber Rider.
Commander just looked at him with sad eyes and turned the screen off. He leaned back at his armchair. Only now, he allowed himself the icy clutches of fright to squeeze his heart
* * *
Three more agonizing days passed by in which during that time, every single spatial operation was looking for Eagle sisters. Many Outrider agents were discovered during that time. Those who didn’t manage to disappear in time were captured and then questioned. But still, there was no result.
As for the Star Sheriffs, they themselves couldn’t find anything new. Later on, a report came from one of the far frontier planets. It contained the message that Outriders had been spotted on Santa, who were for some unknown reason acting strange, such as causing no harm to the settlers. Instead, they focused their attention on building some kind of fortress in a short time of period, making it to a large production center. On top of that, a few days later, a direct transmission from Jesse Blue was cut into Commander Eagle’s office com-unit. With the usual fearsome, self-confidence and familiarity, Jesse said hello.
"Hi! Something is telling me that you haven’t forgotten about me."
"What do you want, Jesse?" annoyed, and at the same time hoping, asked Commander Eagle.
"I believe you are still curious of what happened to your daughters?" Jesse waited for an answer.
"Alright, Jesse. I should have known it. It was you, you dirty..."
"Easy!" Jesse grimaced like he was accused for having committed all the seven deadly sins, "I’ve caught only April, Stellar came to me by herself. And now both of them are working for me. April is my deputy now, oh and as for Stellar... She's a gold-mine of information! Their work really pleases me," now Jesse was proud as a punch.
"I’m asking you once more, what do you want?" said Commander Eagle, gritting his teeth.
"Nothing, Commander! Everything I ever wanted, I have now. It was just a social call." Laughing devilishly, Jesse then cut the transmission off.
Commander Eagle slid into a reverie. Could have Jesse told the truth about controlling twins. April and Stellar working for him?!?! It sounded absurd. It was just impossible! He knew his April too well than for her just to give in and work for the enemy. She would rather die before she did that. Nothing in the world would make her give up the secrets of the Cavalry Command to the enemy since she did have access to the top secret information. Even the best specialists of Cavalry Command tried to block her mind. However, it would work when she would be under some kind torture or drug. This whole situation as Jesse described it was just impossible! IMPOSSIBLE!
At least now he knew his daughters were alive. It was indeed the best news for the last few weeks. First of all, he had to check the information Jesse gave to him. Then, from there on, he would know that to do next. That was when two nosy reporters got their assignment to go and find further information on the Outrider's ‘Industry Center’.
* * *
Two loyal, well-trained agents were found by the Cavalry Command for that particular spatial mission. They had gotten all their equipment they needed such as the reporter’s IDs and particular instructions.
The mission was extremely dangerous, but the agents would do their best in trying to accomplish it.
While the reporters were talking to April, Ramrod itself was making its way to Santa. Shortly after their arrival, the Star Sheriffs received a live report where they saw April’s treachery themselves. Her behavior was simply impossible to explain. And what was Stellar was doing there?
Colt: "Looks like we shouldn’t count on April anymore."
Fireball: "I can’t believe she betrayed us! Stellar is another thing - we don’t know her well enough, but April…!"
Saber Rider: "I myself can't believe that this is happening. He must have forced her somehow to work for him. Maybe she didn’t have a choice."
They replayed the tape again.
"She could have given us a signal of some kind or something…"
Colt: "Yea... And look at this... She’s free in ordering Outriders and no one over watching her." he said it with a indignation in his voice.
SR: "It's quite shocking in the way she said it... That she has nothing to do with the Star Sheriffs. There's just something wrong about it!"
He thought for a little, "Hmm, yes... I must admit... Jesse secured his positions well. He knows we can’t do anything with the base as long the twins are on it."
FB: "We do have to get rid of it! Looks like April has done a terrific job in planing the base. But even so, I’m not going to surrender to the Outriders just because we can’t use heavy artillery!" Shouted out Fireball, hotheaded as always.
SR: "You don’t want to surrender, you said?... Perhaps it’s just the thing we need to do."
Colt and Fireball gazed at their leader in bewilderment.
Colt: "What did you just say, partner? We never surrender! Even in the most dangerous situations!"
FB: "It’s degrading! I never thought that you’ll be the one who will say it!"
SR: "Easy, mates! You have to admit this: Firstly, we don’t have full crew. Secondly, we can’t destroy the base even if we did have a chance while April and Stellar are inside. Third, April knows Ramrod better than any of us. If she really did betrayed us, then she’ll know a way to destroy the ship. And… in fourth… Well, a trio like April, Stellar and Jesse Blue... No doubt, they will think of a way to stop not only Ramrod, but a whole Cavalry Command fleet."
FB: "It doesn't matter! We are not worse than they are! We can think of something to stop them!"
SR: "Listen to me carefully, mates. We don’t have time now. Plus, April was the one... Oh well. We’ll surrender, they’ll take us into the base, and from there, I’m sure, we’ll have our chance. You know how Jesse is, he won’t kill as immediately."
FB: "We know Jesse all right. That’s why I’m worried about the twins, especially April."
Colt: "No," with all the authority said Colt, "He’s too ambitious to force her."
"I just hope you’re right, Colt" sighing heavily said Fireball. In reality, however, he already stopped believing in all kinds of forecasts concerning Jesse Blue.
SR: "Will you let me finish?" the guys returned their attention back on their leader, "So, what have we learn from our scout mission? Only to confirm what Jesse had already told us. We should go to the base and see ourselves of what happened to the twins."
"Maybe Jesse is blackmail her?" said Colt.
"Colt, please, don’t interrupt me. Fighting with them, we will surely enough loose our chance to change the situation, but... If we’ll pretend to go along with them, then it might be possible..."
"How?"
SR: "Should be easy enough. We’ll waltz into the star system like nothing is going on but the sky... Like we don’t know anything about the Outrider base that is there. Even with that, the Outriders will be able to surround us. The only thing is how are we going to get out of it later on. But I’m sure, while we're inside, we’ll find a way out."
"It looks too easy to me." Doubted Fireball.
Colt: "I think I'm beginning to like this idea. Do nothing - and the plan will work! Like taking a vacation."
Saber Rider: "I also need a rest. Surely we can play this out realistic enough to make Jesse believe." He tried to joke, but no one laughed.
Fireball: "And how do you plan on getting out of their?"
Colt: "I know one easy way. But like always you’ll prefer the hard way."
Fireball: "And what’s your easy way, Colt?"
Colt: "We’ll let Cavalry Command know what we are planning to do and if something will go wrong, then they’ll come and rescue us!"
Fireball: "I don’t like it!"
Saber Rider: "Are you with us or not?"
Fireball: "Of course I’m with you!" shouted Fireball with a resentment in his voice. "But I still don’t like it!"
The decision was made... Saber Rider called Commander Eagle and told him about the plan. During that time, Commander had remained silent as he listened to the options. Eventually, he agreed on the mission.
Commander Eagle: "Maybe this will work, but please, remember that Earth, without you, will lose it’s best defenders. From our side, we’ll try to do our best to take you out of there. It's still a great risk. Try to save my daughters and good luck to you all."
Twins and Jesse Blue. Part 1.