So the world was finally safe from Makino and Earth had won. But something was missing and as I woke beside Berto who was still fast asleep I looked up at the ceiling. As I sighed Shock woke and shaking himself he looked at me only to notice me looking unhappy.

"Jessie is something wrong?" He asked and I shook my head at him trying to ignore the tears welling in my eyes. Knowing I was upset about something he hovered in front of me and after being stared at by his one green eye I narrowed mine.

"I'm fine. Just tired after...well everything." I answered climbling to my feet and as I walked towards the bathroom I wiped at my eyes. Worried about me Shock flew over to Berto and poked him in the shoulder but all that did was make the scientist roll over and he rolled his eye. He tried again and this time Berto muttered something as he buried his face in the blanket.

"Berto wake up. Something's wrong with Jessie." Shock said and after a few seconds of silence Berto rolled onto his side and opened his eyes, staring up at the Ultralink with a confused look on hs face. "When I woke up she was staring at the ceiling."

"And?" Berto said sitting and rubbing at his eyes. Rolling his eye Shock explained that before I walked away I was wiping my eyes and that got his attention. "Maybe what happened on Makino's ship upset her. I wonder if I should..." He started to say just as I walked back into the bedroom looking better and Berto raised an eyebrow as he tried to figure out just what was going on.

"Morning." I said sitting on the edge of the bed and noticing the stares I was getting I rolled my eyes. "In case you're wondering I'm fine. Anyway I should be getting back to N-Tek and checking how everyone else is."

"If you're sure you're alright." Shock asked and I gave them a nod, a smile on my face. But the moment we reached N-Tek Forge called everyone to the Com Rom and as I walked inside I saw Max, Molly and Jim standing side by side and just for a split second I let out a sigh.

"Jessie?" Berto said as he looked at me and I gave him a grin but something was really bothering me and he knew it.

"I called you all here to congratulate everyone. Earth's finally safe from Makino." Forge said and I leant against the wall trying not to let anyone see just how miserable I really was and when I started chewing on my lip even Max noticed.

"Heh what's with the long face? We beat Makino and now we're heroes." He said and I narrowed my eyes at him which made him blink. "I thought you'd be happy."

"Why should I be?" I shot back unable to control my anger and that's when the room went silent as everyone stared at me.

"Is something wrong?" Forge asked confused as to why I wasn't happy that the greatest threat to the universe had been destroyed. "Are you okay?"

"No I'm seriously not okay. Makino's gone and I still don't have what I want...my parents back. So no, I'm not as happy as everyone else. Max gets his parents and what do I have? I'm still an orphan and my memories are shot to hell!" I found myself yelling and that shocked everyone. "I'm no hero. Back on Makino's ship I almost wiped out two people who mean the world to me and I only just made it thanks to those same people who saved me even after I was a horrible person to them. So sorry that I'm not happy but I've lost so much and when I see Max with his family I just..." And that's right when I felt tears welling in my eyes and without a second glance I ran.

As I sprinted along the corridor I wiped at the tears that ran down my face and as I ran I subconsiously made my way towards my mom's old office. Then I slowed and as I stood there I realized that that was in the old N-Tek that Makino blew up and fresh tears began to flow. Pretty soon I leant against the wall before I slowly slid down until I was sitting on the cold floor. As I let out a sob of frustration and pain I buried my face in my hands unaware that someone had finally caught up with me. As they sat beside me I felt someone run a hand through my hair and I looked up to find Berto sitting beside me. Without speaking he wrapped his arms around my waist and when he pulled me into a hug I started to sob, tears streaming down my face.

"I know you're upset about losing your parents." Berto said and I glanced up for a moment, eyes red. "And what happened back in Makino's ship but its not your fault." Reaching up he stroked my cheek and as I stared at him he gave me a smile. "I want you to know that okay?"

"I...know that. I just saw Max's family together and I...lost it." I sniffed as I hug my head and he cupped my chin. In seconds he was kissing me, one arm wrapped around my waist as he held me and as the kissed deepened I gripped his lab coat. When we could breathe again I sighed and rested my head against his shoulder as I sniffed still feeling pretty miserable.

"You don't have to keep everything to yourself." Berto said as he held me in his arms and as I sniffed I knew he was right. When I started to cry again he hugged me tightly and as I sobbed I rested my head against his chest wanting so badly to just run away from everything.

But I knew that wasn't possible because like it or not I was a part of Copper Canyon and I knew in my heart that my parents wouldn't want me to just turn my back on the people I cared about. After getting all the pain and anger out of my system I finally lifted my head rubbing at my red and watery eyes and when Berto saw the smallest of smiles appear on my face he returned it with one of his own, resting his forehead against mine.

"I think I'm okay. Well maybe not okay but I know I have to move on. Besides I'm not alone and I'm sure there'll be other fights." I finally told him and he gave me another hug.

"You never cease to amaze me, bello." Berto said and I grinned back before I leant in just as he did. Then Shock had to ruin it when he flew over and I sighed pretending to be annoyed with the Ultralink.

"Go ahead." Shock said rolling his eye and I smiled before I grabbed Berto's chin and pulled him into a kiss that left us breathless. Makino might have been destroyed but that didn't mean that our battles were over, not by a long shot. Though right now I didn't care as I kissed my boyfriend ignoring the eye roll that Shock was giving us. And as we held each other we didn't know that some of the worse villains we'd faced so far had escaped during the battle for Earth and were now loose in Copper Canyon. And I also had my midterms coming up and I was so not ready despite everyone telling me otherwise.