"Hearts And Minds"
(Episode 6)
Production Notes
by Christopher Elam
© 2003-2010 Christopher Elam
These notes are based on material originally posted on May 19, 2003 on the now-defunct OWARI Message Board (formerly http://pub14.ezboard.com/bowari, currently http://owari.yuku.com/).
Episode 6 - "Hearts And Minds" wrapped principal writing on October 28, 2002. It is loosely based on the sixth and final "Return of Jetman" story written by Lewis Smith in 1996. That story, entitled simply "Hearts", never went through the editing process either. But there is more to the story than just that.
That sixth ROJ story came in a bit on the short side. Though he didn't know it at the time, Lewis had largely exhausted his interest in the series with Part 5. We made plans to rework the sixth installment, but they never happened because OWARI was effectively dead at that time and Lewis had gone on to other things. Based on my notes from that period, it was just as well.
When it came time to do my version of Part 6, I firmly intended to keep the basic elements that had formed Lewis' story, but filter them through my own ideas about the story as it had evolved. This led to a story that followed most of the same beats as Lewis', but in a radically different fashion. I only gave Lewis' story a casual re-read before I began. For good or ill, this installment displays more and more of my thinking than ever before as far as the overall series is concerned.
© Christopher Elam.
"Hearts And Minds"
(Episode 6)
by Christopher Elam
(based on the work of Lewis Smith)
© 2003 Christopher Elam
Green Wyvern felt her bruised cheeks burn as she slowly raised herself. "Kill...you..." she murmured as she hurled her Wyvern Boomerang at Toranza.
A simple blast from Toranza's power glove deflected the boomerang and sent it spinning wildly. Too bad. This wasn't even going to be a challenge.
"Kill you?" Toranza laughed as he generated his arm cannon and locked it into place. The weapon built up a huge ball of destructive energy.
"What a great idea!" he said as he fired.
The Wyvern Boomerang struck his cannon a glancing blow and sent Toranza's energy ball astray. Toranza cursed under his breath. He had thrown that thing away. How had she done that?
Green Wyvern looked up and Toranza followed her gaze. Oh. There was Jet Phoenix standing on the cliff holding some unwieldy looking cannon. He had retrieved the boomerang. Only why had he stopped him from killing Green Wyvern? That was why he was here, too.
Green Wyvern wondered that herself, but didn't waste any time on the question. She snarled as she leapt at Toranza. She didn't care that he had practically demolished her already. He had killed her father! If she was going to die, she was taking him with her.
Jet Phoenix surveyed the situation. Jetman was still gone. He had hoped they would've returned from wherever Toranza had teleported them. He had to have faith that they would return. Otherwise, all of this was in vain.
Jet Phoenix flew down, using all of his strength to carry the Fire Bazooka. He hadn't quite believed it when he'd found it intact in the smoking ruins of his Phoenix Fighter. It almost balanced out the fact that his Wing Gauntlet had been damaged, making control of Jet Icarus impossible. The robot stood beside God Wyvern, the powerful mecha silent watchers of the violent tableau unfolding.
Toranza drove his shoulder into Green Wyvern's midsection. She felt another rib crack. Green Wyvern jabbed her fist into Toranza's neck. He clutched his throat, trying to catch his breath.
Jet Phoenix took in the ferocious battle. He had come here to kill Green Wyvern. Why had he just saved her? And why didn't he just shoot both Green Wyvern and Toranza right now and end this?
Jet Phoenix levelled the Fire Bazooka. This wouldn't be easy. The weapon was designed for a team, not one man. The force might be too much even with his enhanced strength. He'd just have to chance it. He locked the two combatants in his sights and prepared to fire.
He hesitated. "Get out of the way, Wyvern!" he cried.
Green Wyvern was distracted and Toranza used that to his advantage. He touched a button on his power glove and the anti-gravity beam lifted her high in the air.
This was the chance Jet Phoenix needed. He activated the Fire Bazooka. The backlash knocked the cannon out of his hands and sent him hurtling backwards. His shot missed Toranza, obliterating a rock formation instead.
Toranza used his beam to toss Green Wyvern around. She tried futilely to break free of the field. Finally growing bored with his game, Toranza flung her several meters away.
Green Wyvern landed with a thud and was still. Jet Phoenix crawled toward her. He had the answer at last. He only hoped it wasn't too late.
Toranza walked calmly toward his two rivals. No sense in being in a hurry now. It would all be over soon enough.
Jet Phoenix put an arm around Green Wyvern and helped her up. The rise and fall of her chest meant that she was at least still alive. As she came to, she realized who was helping her and pulled away from him. She was too weak to do anything else.
"Wyvern - Kei - I need your help!" he pleaded. "Separately, he can beat us. Together, we might have a chance."
Green Wyvern had sworn to kill Jet Phoenix. He had tried to kill her. Now, he was trying to save her life and asking for her help. It didn't make any sense. Then again, a lot of things didn't make sense in Kei Mizuno's life.
Green Wyvern reached out and took Jet Phoenix's hand. Both of them dug down deep and found the strength to take to the air, each steadying the other as they flew. They landed on either side of Toranza and launched their attack. They punched and kicked him for all they were worth. They drew their Wing Swords and went to strike him simultaneously.
Toranza was unimpressed. He blocked their double strike and hurled both of them away. He admired their tenacity, but this was getting old.
Jet Phoenix and Green Wyvern tumbled to the ground right beside the Fire Bazooka. One look and they formulated their strategy. Maybe the force of the weapon was too much for one person alone to handle. But maybe both of them...
They hoisted the cannon on their shoulders and found Toranza in their sights. He stopped dead in his tracks. This could be a problem.
The Fire Bazooka discharged. Jet Phoenix and Green Wyvern held it tightly as the force pushed against them. Their aim was perfect as the blast screamed toward Toranza.
Toranza was paralyzed. He felt a tingling sensation course through his body. He vanished right as the blast arrived at his position and consumed the area in flames.
Jet Phoenix and Green Wyvern stood motionless for several moments, then let the Fire Bazooka slip from their grasp. They had beaten Toranza, but it had taken everything they had.
Green Wyvern collapsed into a heap, having reached the point of total exhaustion. Jet Phoenix fell to one knee involuntarily, but reached over to pick her up. He lifted her gently, cradling her unconscious form.
The air shimmered and a hole opened in reality. The Jetmen rushed through it right before it closed. They looked around them. They had done it! They had returned to exactly the spot they had left. They were home.
The team walked up to Jet Phoenix. They looked at him and then at Green Wyvern's limp body in his arms.
"What did we miss?" Red Hawk asked.
***
Toranza stood before Lord Xenotos, barely able to contain his fury. He had been so close to accomplishing his goal and it had been snatched from his grasp. Adding insult to injury was the way it had been taken from him.
"Why?" Toranza demanded angrily. "Why did you teleport me away?"
"You were doomed if I hadn't," Lord Xenotos answered icily. "They had you beaten and only your pride keeps you from seeing that fact."
"You mean that cannon?" Toranza scoffed. "I've survived worse than..."
"SILENCE!" Lord Xenotos exclaimed as he rose from his throne. "I will brook your insolence no longer! I brought you back to slay Green Wyvern and you failed! Miserably!"
Toranza's blood boiled as he stepped up to the commander of the Chaos Coalition. "Do you have any idea who I am? I single-handedly took control of the Byram!"
"And lost it," Lord Xenotos added. "That is all in the past. Now, you serve me. Kneel before your master."
"Kneel?!!? I will never..."
Toranza felt a burning sensation in his temples. His body began to kneel down and he struggled in vain to stop it. Nothing. He had lost all control.
"That visor you wear gives me absolute power over your body and mind," Lord Xenotos gloated as Toranza knelt before him. "With but a command, I can make you perform my bidding or reduce you to a drooling simpleton again. You are my puppet!"
Lord Xenotos bent down to stare directly at Toranza. "Now then - who do you serve?"
"You...Lord Xenotos..." Toranza choked out, humiliated beyond all measure.
"Very good," Lord Xenotos said as he stood back up. "I think I'll let you live after all. You will be confined to special security chambers until I find a task that suits you."
Lord Xenotos motioned for the Garo to escort Toranza from his Imperial Chamber. As he exited, Toranza longed for revenge for his humiliation. All he needed was the opportunity and he would strike down Lord Xenotos himself.
***
Ow. That hurt.
Kei Mizuno's body was stiff and ached all over as she slowly began to move around. She groggily began to open her eyes. That light - so bright. It was hard to focus. What was that dark shape hovering over her?
"I see you're awake," Jet Phoenix noted as he stood over the bed in the Skywatch infirmary. "Glad to have you back with us,"
Despite her soreness, Kei sat up like a shot when she realized who was speaking. "What happened? Where am I?" she asked frantically as she pulled up the bedsheets, acutely aware of her vulnerability.
"You were in very bad shape after our battle with Toranza," Jet Phoenix calmly stated. "Not just injured - fatigue, dehydration - it was a wonder you were even alive. Had you stopped at all since you got those powers?"
Kei refused to answer, merely turning away from the man who had dogged her every moment since she had become Green Wyvern.
Jet Phoenix continued. "When Jetman came back, I had them pick us up in Jet Icarus."
Kei waved her hand. "Wait a minute! Are you trying to tell me Jetman's alive?"
"Hmmm, that's right," Jet Phoenix remembered, "you don't know the full story. Yes, they made it back."
"How?"
"There'll be time for that later," Jet Phoenix said. "All you need to know right now is that we brought you to Skywatch to give you the medical attention you needed."
Kei looked around in disbelief. "You mean I'm in your base?"
"I didn't have much choice," Jet Phoenix said as he walked to the closet. "This was one of the only places capable of caring for someone like you. Special IVs and things like that. Anyway, you weren't really a threat since you've been asleep since we brought you here three days ago."
Three days? Kei couldn't even fathom the concept that she had been asleep for so long. She had never slept more than four hours at a time in her entire life. But that shock had little time to sink in before a new one followed.
Jet Phoenix pulled her Green Wyvern uniform and Wyvern Boomerang from the closet and handed them to her. "I took the liberty of studying these while I was repairing them," he mentioned matter-of-factly. "Quite amazing. The suit uses integrated microcircuitry for things we have in these Wing Gauntlets. I'm hoping to reverse engineer some of what I've learned."
Kei looked down at her equipment and then back up at Jet Phoenix. "Why?" she asked. "We were trying to kill each other. Why did you let me live?"
"We have a common enemy now," Jet Phoenix replied. "I think you can help us bring down the Chaos aliens."
Jet Phoenix turned away. "And maybe...well, maybe I see a little of myself in Green Wyvern. At least the way I used to be."
Jet Phoenix sat down by the bed. "This was never about an alien invasion for you. It was about power. You wanted power to take out all your anger and frustration over your life. I mean, it hasn't been an easy life for you, has it?"
"No," Kei mumbled as her life flashed through her mind with crystal clarity. It wasn't a pleasant experience.
"Well, if it's any comfort to you, the one thing you have definitely gotten from this is a new lease on life - in more ways than one," Jet Phoenix said.
"What do you mean""
"I got some curious results from the tests I ran," Jet Phoenix explained. "Your Birdonic powers have already healed your injuries from the battle with Toranza, but that's to be expected. However, you show no evidence of any of the injuries or trauma listed in your medical history. It's as if they never happened. What's more, your physical age appears to be closer to 18 than 28. In essence, you've gotten ten years of your life back."
Kei put her head in her hands and rubbed her forehead. This was...a lot to comprehend.
Jet Phoenix leaned in closer. "Kei, you and I need to talk."
***
"Will you listen to me Ken?" Gai Tendo protested as he followed his brother into his quarters
"Why should I?" Ken answered as he plopped down in the chair in front of his computer. "So you can tell me again what a huge mistake I'm making, DAD?"
"No Ken, that's not what I meant."
"Isn't it? You tell me how everyone knows what's going on with Etsuko and me, then you go into lecture mode about the good of the team, being smart, blah, blah, blah!"
The computer screen flickered to life and Ken turned his attention to it. "Well, forget it. It's our business what we do in private. We're not hurting anyone."
"No? Not even Jun?" Gai asked. "Just because we've been given a waiver on school until this is over doesn't mean she ceased to exist."
Ken Tendo looked down at his keyboard. "Jun and I broke it off, man. That's all."
"Really?" Gai said. "Is that why she called me crying, asking me why you dumped her over the phone?"
Ken hung his head. There was no use trying to weasel his way out of it now. He was busted.
"Etsuko doesn't know about Jun. I...never got around to telling her," he admitted.
"Ken, how can you do this?"
"Look, I'm sorry! I didn't mean for it to go this way. I couldn't face Jun in person. I care a lot about her and I didn't want her to get hurt."
"Well, you definitely blew that one," Gai sighed as he picked up a framed picture of Etsuko that had only recently turned up on Ken's nightstand. "So, is this serious?"
Ken turned to face his brother and Gai noticed immediately a different look in his eyes. Gone was the annoyance and the guilt.
"I think so," Ken said. "When I'm with her, she makes me feel ways I've never felt before. It sounds so stupid, but I think she might be the one."
Gai could hardly believe his ears. Was this really his brother talking about love?
"I just want both of you to be careful," Gai cautioned.
"Oh, we are!" Ken joked with a silly grin.
"That's not what I meant!" Gai responded. "I want you both to make sure you can keep your personal business separate from Jetman. We don't want anything to happen that might compromise our mission."
Ken Tendo slapped a hand on his brother's shoulder. "It'll be fine, Gai. You'll see."
I hope so, Gai thought. For all our sakes.
***
Tachibana gently placed Anna's body on the ground. He stared up at Dorado with eyes that burned for vengeance.
"My days of working for Ordyne are over!" Tachibana shouted angrily as the buckle on his henshin belt glowed with power that demanded release. "Tiger Omega!"
With those words, the transformation was activated. Intense light flooded the room, so much that even the superhuman Dorado had to shield his eyes. When it was over, it was no longer Saigo Tachibana that stood before Ordyne's top agent.
"I am the villain who fights for justice!" the being proclaimed to his foe. "Dengeki Senshi Tiger Burai!"
Reiko had to stop for a moment. When she had told Gohan she would read his story, she had figured it would be something cute and clever. She hadn't bargained on it being so intense. She looked over at Gohan as he absently thumbed through Michiru Oshima's latest SUPER MYSTERY MAGAZINE Jetman article in his usual spot - a chair in her room.
"This is, ah, really something," Reiko marvelled as she examined a few of the accompanying pictures for the story. "Are you seriously telling me you did all this in the last couple of days?"
"Yeah," Gohan confirmed. "After we got back from that parallel Earth, I felt like it was really important to get the stuff in my head down on paper."
Reiko took a deep breath as she tried to lose herself in the story again. "Oh. That place."
Dorado sneered in contempt. "Is that the best you can do? Tachibana, you're a bigger fool than I thought!"
Tiger Burai leapt at Dorado with catlike agility. His fingertips sprouted steel-tipped claws and he slashed at the monster who had killed his love. Each swipe across Dorado's flesh only made the rage within him grow. He would only be satisfied when he had sent his foe back to the hell that had spawned him.
Dorado pried the vengeance-crazed Tiger Burai from his body and hurled him to the corner. He took a moment to examine the gashes on his body. He concentrated his being within himself and seemed to grow even bigger than he had been before.
"Now I kill you," he promised.
"Oh God, I'm so sorry Reiko," Gohan apologized. "I can be so dumb."
"Forget it," Reiko said as she tossed the manuscript onto the bed. "No big deal."
"Reiko, please. That wasn't your fault," Gohan reassured. "None of it was."
"Maybe you're right," Reiko said as she pulled out a cigarette and lit up, "but that doesn't change the fact that I killed him. He wasn't a monster or some non-living thing. He was a human being and I killed him. I'm not sure I can deal with that."
Gohan eyed her curiously as he got up from the chair and put an arm around her. "He was going to kill us. We did what we had to do to survive."
Reiko frowned sadly as she held the cigarette between her fingers. "I know. It doesn't make it any easier."
"You know, Skyforce has counseling services," Gohan replied. "Maybe you can see about getting some help."
Gohan plucked the cigarette from Reiko's fingers. "And weren't you quitting these things?"
Reiko bent down to retrieve Gohan's story. "A lot of stuff is turning out to be harder than I thought it would be."
In the shadows, a lone figure watched the battle with interest. The red eyes of Tiger Seven glowed as he studied the two combatants locked in their fierce match. Tiger Burai turning on his masters was an unforeseen development, but hardly upsetting to his plans. On the contrary, he might be able to work it to his advantage.
Things were just starting to get interesting.
***
"I can't be hearing this!" Etsuko exclaimed. "You want WHAT?"
"I want Green Wyvern to join the team," Jet Phoenix reiterated to his charges as they sat around the conference table. "She would be a valuable asset in our war with Chaos."
Etsuko stood up indignantly. "That's the craziest idea I've ever heard! Are you sure you're feeling all right?"
Gai turned to Etsuko. "Don't you think you should have a seat and hear him out?"
Etsuko looked around the table, noting how everyone's eyes were trained on her. She reluctantly returned to her seat.
"Thank you," Jet Phoenix nodded to Gai. "Now then, I've discussed the matter with Skyforce at great length and they are going along with the plan based on my recommendation."
Gohan raised his hand to speak. "What about the space station? She did trash it and everything."
"Her actions on Earthship were the major sticking point," Jet Phoenix acknowledged. "I'm convinced they were influenced by a number of factors. Simply put, she wasn't in her right mind. Part of the agreement is that I will be taking personal responsibility that she won't go out of control again."
"Can you be sure that she won't?" Reiko queried nervously.
"Not really," Jet Phoenix admitted. "It's a calculated gamble I'm willing to take."
"She deserves a chance to redeem herself," Gai added. "If we believe in our ideals, we'll give it to her."
Ken rubbed his fingers together as he considered the debate. "Y'know, I'm thinking having her on the team is a smart idea no matter what."
Everyone focused their attention to Ken. He could feel Etsuko's frosty glare boring into him. Great, he would have a lot of explaining to do that evening.
"And why do you say that?" Jet Phoenix asked, as curious to know as the rest of the team.
"Well, I trust her about as far as I can throw her," Ken explained. "But, when you think about it, what better place to keep a threat than right in plain sight? At least we'll know where she is if she turns on us."
"We should put it to a vote," Jet Phoenix said. "All those in favor of adding her to the roster, raise your hands."
Four hands were raised. Only Etsuko, stubborn to the last, refused to go along with the plan. And so, Green Wyvern was voted a member of Jetman.
***
Gai laid his pen aside and closed his journal. A glance over at the clock revealed the late hour. He should really try to get some sleep. But somehow, he knew that would be impossible. His mind was too active - he just couldn't relax.
Practice in the training room. That would do the trick. He would run one of the simple programs and get a good workout. That would make him tired enough to sleep.
As Gai went to the door, he remembered the King Saber resting in the corner. He picked up the blade he'd brought from the parallel world and studied it yet again. It truly was a work of art. Now it was his job to make sure it was used for the good of mankind.
Gai stepped out the door, then quickly stepped back in. Voices! Who else was up now? As he listened, he recognized his brother and Etsuko. A furtive peek yielded a glimpse of Ken sneaking into Etsuko's room. Gai could only shake his head. Wouldn't those two ever get enough?
When the coast was clear, Gai quickly made his way to the training room. He was startled to discover the lights were already on. Had Jet Phoenix made a mistake and forgotten to turn them off? This definitely warranted further investigation.
What Gai discovered was not what he'd been anticipating. The lights were on because a training program was already in progress. Kei Mizuno, clad only in a borrowed black sports bra and shorts, was using a Wing Sword to deflect a swarm of automated drones. Gai was transfixed as she jumped and dodged and swatted aside the drones as they zipped by her. Her movements were so fluid, so effortless - she was like poetry in motion.
Kei seemed not to notice her guest as she continued her workout. That is, until the last of the drones had been disabled and she looked over directly at Gai.
"So, you're a bit of a voyeur, huh?" she called to the surprised young man.
"No, it's not like that at all!" Gai hurriedly explained. "I couldn't sleep, that's all. I didn't think anyone would be here."
Gai looked down, ashamed of himself. "I'm sorry if you thought I was here to spy on you. I was just admiring your workout, I swear."
"Guess I'll believe you," Kei said as she wiped the sweat from her brow. "I've slept a lot in the last few days. I wanted to work out some of the kinks."
"You're very good," Gai complimented as he cautiously approached her. "How many years did you study?"
"Study?" Kei replied. "I've never studied this stuff. I just react."
"You're that good naturally?" Gai asked in surprise.
"If you say so," Kei said as she reached over and tapped the King Saber with her Wing Sword. "Care to find out?"
"What do you mean?"
"A friendly duel. The two of us, head to head. We both get the workout we wanted."
Gai was understandably reluctant. "I don't know, you were fighting me for real not too long ago."
Kei chuckled. "True. I guess you'll just have to trust me."
Gai thought for a few moments. "OK then. But we do it in costume."
"Whatever suits you."
Gai and Kei activated their Cross Changers and stood across from each other as Red Hawk and Green Wyvern. They stepped forward until they were only centimeters apart. Both of them raised their left arms and held them against each other, gripping their swords tightly in their right hands.
"Shôbu da." Green Wyvern issued her challenge.
"Kôi!" Red Hawk accepted it.
They broke their ritual stance and clashed swords. Sparks flew as metal met metal. Each of them blocked the other at just the right moment. Relying on both instinct and skill, it was quickly clear that swordplay alone would not decide the battle.
Green Wyvern threw a kick at Red Hawk's head with her left leg. Rolling with the impact, he used his right leg to kick her down as well. Both of them quickly rose to their feet and Green Wyvern swung at Red Hawk. He blocked her and took a swing of his own. He was blocked as well.
Red Hawk and Green Wyvern backed away, planning the next move. They were so evenly matched, it would be difficult. Then inspiration hit Kei as she backed further away. She jumped up and launched herself at Red Hawk.
Without thinking, Red Hawk leapt up at exactly the right moment and kicked aside Green Wyvern's legs. The disruption of her trajectory sent her crashing to the floor. However, the difficult maneuver caused Red Hawk to flip in the air and also fall - right on top of Green Wyvern.
As the two of them gasped for air, Green Wyvern looked up at Red Hawk as he lay on top of her. "So...who won?"
"I-I think we should call it a draw," Gai managed to say, so exhausted that the awkward situation had not even dawned on him.
"Are you going to get off of me?"
At that moment, Gai finally realized where he was and scrambled to his feet. "I didn't mean..."
Kei cut him off with a hand to his helmet's mouthplate as she got up. "I know you didn't. You're sort of refreshing, actually."
Gai was glad she couldn't see his face beneath the helmet. "You're really quite the fighter. I'm looking forward to you being part of the team."
Kei laughed as she powered down. "Sorry, but I'm not joining your team."
"What? But Jet Phoenix said..."
"Jet Phoenix offered me a spot. I'm declining it in the morning. I'll fight Chaos, but I'll do it on my own terms."
"I wish you'd reconsider," Gai begged as he powered down himself. "Out there alone, you'd be an easy target."
"Maybe," Kei said she walked to the training room door, "but that's a chance I'm willing to take."
Her words echoed in Gai Tendo's ears as he watched her depart. As he retrieved his King Saber from the floor, he couldn't help but wonder what the morning might bring.
***
Lord Xenotos and Miira strode into the monster creation facility aboard Helldevil. Surrounding them on all sides were the vats and equipment used to create the Chaos Beasts that would serve as The Chaos Coalition's ground forces in the attack on mankind. They inspected the dozens of Chaos Beasts already sealed in tubes as Hedes greeted them, eager to show off the results of his diligent labor.
"Masters, as you can see, we are ahead of schedule!" Hedes reported as he used his Chaos Stick to point to the row of his creations lining the wall. "Creatures modeled after Earth animals await their chance to be unleashed. We are ready to begin the Chaos Beast operation as soon as the command is given!"
"Which do you think would be the best to send first?" Miira queried as she paced in front of the tubes. "Shishigone here? Or perhaps Saikong?"
"All of them," Lord Xenotos stated with a conviction indicating he had made his decision in advance.
"All, my lord?" Hedes reacted with surprise.
"All of them. We will make the necessary preparations and then we will land the entire army of Chaos Beasts on Earth."
Miira grinned evilly. "A magnificent plan. What will be our targets?"
"There will be only one target," Lord Xenotos corrected. "We will strike Jetman directly. Our target will be Tokyo."
***
The Jetman team stood in costume at the Skywatch entrance as Green Wyvern walked out into the courtyard. She activated the remote signal that would bring Dragon Wyvern to her. Jet Phoenix ran out to her, with his team trailing close behind him.
"Isn't there anything that'll change your mind?" he asked, knowing full well the answer.
"Afraid not," Green Wyvern replied. "I'm not a team player."
"Are we just going to let her leave?" Ken wondered. "I thought the deal was she'd be on our side?"
"Oh, I'm going to fight Chaos, don't worry about that," Kei answered as the Dragon Wyvern drew closer.
"She doesn't have to stay," Jet Phoenix agreed. "As long as she doesn't turn on us, she's in the clear."
"We'll be watching you," White Swan warned.
"I'm sure you will," Kei responded a bit slyly.
Dragon Wyvern came to a stop, suspended over Skywatch. Green Wyvern looked over to Jetman one last time.
"Thank you, Jet Phoenix," she said. "I was wrong about you."
Kei went to activate her teleportation signal, then added, "Oh, and Red Hawk? Last night was fun."
Green Wyvern disappeared in a flash and her ship flew away, but Jetman's attention was focused elsewhere. All of them pressed a sheepish Gai Tendo for details - details which failed to satisfy them.
An hour later, Gai, having powered down after Green Wyvern's departure, had finally managed to escape his teammates. He retreated to his room and locked the door behind him. Then he discovered something on his bed.
Gai picked up the object. It was a small metal disc wired with electronics. In the center was a single button and a green bird emblem.
Kei! How had she gotten in there undetected? As Gai searched for some method of entry, he noticed the note that had been laying on his bed.
Gai,
Call me if you ever need me.
Kei
Gai held the signal device in the palm of his hand and smiled. One thing was certain - things would never be the same again.
TO BE CONTINUED
Monsters are attacking Tokyo! The Chaos Coalition's fearsome Chaos Beasts wreak havoc on the nation of Japan! Can the newly-appointed leader of Jetman guide the team to victory? Questions are answered and secrets revealed in RETURN OF JETMAN Episode 7 - "Confrontation"!
Story © Christopher Elam, based on the TV series CHOJIN SENTAI JETMAN and the original "Return of Jetman" stories by Lewis Smith. JETMAN and all characters from the CHOJIN SENTAI JETMAN series © TV Asahi/Toei/Toei Agency. Original characters © Christopher Elam & Lewis Smith.
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