Part 3

by LJ

"At Nia's house, Orisha was sitting on her aunt's bed, watching television. She was wearing a blue nightshirt with the words 'Shut up and go to sleep!' in trendy style lettering on the front."

Nia walked into the room, carrying a cordless phone with her. "I called your family, letting them know you're staying with me tonight."

"Ok." Orisha nodded. She read the words 'Who are you looking at?' on the front of Nia's nightshirt and laughed. "Where did you find these? They're so funny!"

Nia chuckled at her. "A friend of mine gave them to me as a Christmas present. He said those humorous phrases reminded him of something I would say."

"Yeah, that's for sure!" said Orisha, taking the pillow from behind her and hugging it to her. A thought crossed her mind. "By chance, is he your.?"

"Don't even go there." Nia said, gently cutting her off. "He's just a friend, nothing more."

Orisha sighed to herself but her eyes took on a mischievous glint again. She couldn't help but say. "Is he military or civilian? Or." ponders. "Could it be, since you work with military types, Republic or.Imperial, maybe?"

"Orisha." Nia warned her.

"Okay.okay, I'm just curious." Orisha said, hearing the tone in her aunt's voice. "I don't mean to pry, its just that.well." shrugging her shoulders. "I was thinking you found someone in your life, that's all."

"Mmm, well." said Nia while putting the cordless phone in its cradle on the night stand. "Sorry to disappoint you but right now, I'm more concerned about my career than trying to find someone. I'm not interested in dating, right now."

Nia looked at the clock next to the phone. "He did say he would be off duty around 2300 hours."

"Ah, ha!" Orisha said excitedly. "So he is military!"

"Orisha, calm down!" Nia said, looking a bit peeved. "I swear, you're worse than those fans of his!"

Orisha's eyes widened when the realization to whom Nia was referring to came to mind. And being compared to fans was like having cold water splashed on her face. "Ah, crap.I'm sorry, Aunt Nia." Orisha sighed inwardly. "I guess I got a bit carried away." Her eyes quivered a bit as she muttered. "Can't make that same mistake, again." She glared intensively at the black and blue patterns on the bed comforter while she chewed on her lower lip in frustration.

Nia thought her niece was getting ready to cry again. She took the remote, turning off the television and came along side Orisha, putting her arms around her.

"Hey, its ok, don't fret about it. I'm not mad at you, hon. I don't want to see you behaving like some giddy teenager and getting upset over their antics. You have too much class to act like that. Understand?"

"I understand." Said Orisha. "Which is one of the main reasons why I'm mad at Jack. He cares more about his fans than his friends. Maybe Indy is right, I'm only wasting my time with the likes of him." She said sadly.

"Don't give up on him, yet." Said Nia. "No matter how bad a situation is, there is always hope. Besides isn't the Zoids Battle Commission hosting a New Year's party for you guys?"

"Yes." Orisha nodded. "All zoid pilots are required to attend and they can invite their friends to be a part of the festivities." Puzzled, she asked. "What exactly are you getting at, Aunt Nia?"

"What I'm getting at is this, its high time we treat o' Jackie boy a lesson he will never forget! Nia's eyes took on a predatory air. "I have a plan and I want your friends to be a part of it."

Jack Sisco was doing some star gazing of his own that night. He was lying on the house roof where the Lightning Team lived. The roof was within easy access by exiting his second floor bedroom window. Jack had his head tilted all the way back with his hands behind his head, one of his legs crossed over the other in a casual pose. He often did this sort of thing, especially when he wanted to be alone to think.

And especially when something was troubling him.

He didn't want to stay indoors and risk having Chris attacking him again. She was still mad at him. He thought it would be best to lay low for a while, to give her a chance to cool off. Besides, it was cool and peaceful where he was now, with a slight breeze ruffling his purple black hair. He tried to keep his mind focused but all he could think about was Orisha. It tore him up inside, seeing how devastated and disappointed she was in him. As long as he had known her, he had never made her cry. Other than the Tasker sisters, Orisha was the only true friend he had. He realized that but, like the selfish bastard he was known to be sometimes, had taken his friends for granted. But still, seeing the pain he caused her, with her running out of the house. He replayed the same scene over and over again.with Orisha's words echoing in his mind.

"When did you get to be such a jerk, Jack? And just so you know, I'm not impressed with you either! I don't know what ever made me think of you as a friend! You oughta look around at the real world and see how many people besides your stupid groupies actually give a care what you are and what you think! The sun doesn't rise and set by you, and your attitude toward people, especially women and emotions, stinks! I don't know you any more, Jack, maybe I never did!"

The painful reality of those words caused him to take notice of Orisha's view towards him for the first time. It was clear; she didn't like what she saw in him, anymore. And because of his behavior, there were her friends, who were just as disappointed in him, especially Indianna.

Jack sighed to himself. "This is another fine mess you have gotten yourself into, Sisco."

He thought about getting himself a cigarette or alcoholic drink to calm his nerves but Orisha, being the clean cut person that she is, got him away from all that. He couldn't help but smirk, only Orisha managed to do that after he had tried and failed to clean up on his own. He often asked Orisha why she would want to be associated with him, a mercenary who was considered an outlaw by most. It was a question many people would also ask her, as well.

"Why him of all people?"

Her reply was always the same. "Because I can."

Jack pondered over that statement in his mind. "Some friend I turned out to be." He muttered to himself.

Jack always hid his true feelings from the outside world, to mask his own inner demons. He often took on an aloof persona about himself so people wouldn't get close to him. The only people who truly knew him as a person were the Taskers and Orisha. His stubborn nature always had a tendency to get the best of him and this time was no exception. The best thing to do was to write a letter of apology to LJ's family and hopefully, Orisha and the others would forgive him. It wasn't going be easy but still, he had to give it a shot for the sake of not losing Orisha as a friend.

Now, if he could only get back inside without Chris beating the crap out of him again.