Everything was spinning for Cobra.

His breath was shallow and cold as his body was heating up. Like a tired child, his eyes were heavy but he didn't want to sleep.

Jade: Are you okay? Did your wounds get infected?

Cobra: I'm... Fine...

He clutched the briefcase filled with his reward from Hylda but that somehow was the most difficult thing to do. Even after all the fighting Cobra still tried to battle against his exhaustion.

It was the only battle he lost as his eyes would close for what felt like seconds before he realized it was much longer.

Opening them he would find a different environment and time of day as Jade worrisomely drove on in her truck with him and Mittens.

The monster cat was probably most aware of what Cobra was going through as he instinctively sat in the far corner of the truck.

Cobra:(mind) This isn't normal...

Cobra:(mind) Ever since my dip in monster blood, I've never gotten sick...

Cobra:(mind) This... This is... Is......

....

....

....

Cobra:!?

Cobra:(mind) What's going-

It happened again, his skip through consciousness.

He was now in the back seat of Jade's truck, as she had finally had enough and with great effort put him there so she could check his wounds.

Jade: Your wounds... They're practically gone-

Cobra: How long have I been out?

Jade: Little over two days... How do you feel?

Cobra:... Thirsty... Got any milk in those jugs?

Jade:...

Jade: I'd smack you if you didn't look like you were dying.

Cobra:(points at bottles) I was talking about those...

Jade: You know how it was phrased.

Cobra:... Maybe.

Jade: I don't have "milk" but I do have water.

Giving Cobra water, he chugs it all down. But that act seemed to backfire as he felt his whole body heat up as if it just received the coolant it was looking for.

Cobra: Uggh!

Jade: You have a high fever...

Cobra: This sickness... The timing is too perfect... It's gotta be some type of attack...

Jade: Attack?

Cobra: Maybe some kind of biological weapon meant to target me...

Mittens: Meow...

Cobra/Jade:?

Jade: Evolution?

Cobra: Just... Just...

He falls back into some type of hibernation state.

(Opening Theme)

Cobra awoke days later in the truck as it entered a small town in the middle of the night.

Cobra: Shit... Again...?

Cobra: Ugh... Where are we?

Jade: Home.

Cobra: Your place? Kind- wait...

Cobra: Nestvill?!

Jade: Like I said home. Taking you to your mother's place since I didn't know if a hospital could really do any-

(SLAM)

Jade: Jesus Christ!

With his suitcase of money, Cobra dove out of Jade's truck. Rolling to a stop, Cobra got up and "walked" back from where the truck came from.

Cobra:(muttering) Freaking Jade... Who'd she think she is...? Taking me back here-

Cobra: BLEH!

He vomits a black liquid on the side of the road.

Cobra:(squints)... That... Does not look natural...

(Vrrr...)

Backing up, Jade peeks out of the window.

Jade: What is wrong with you?!

Cobra: No clue. But if the result is death, then I rather die alone in the forest.

His legs give out, having no strength in them to keep Cobra standing.

Jade: Tch!

Getting out of the car, Jade throws Cobra back in before continuing to drive further into town before parking at a house.

Pulling Cobra out, Jade helped him walk over to the front door.

(Ding, dong)

Cobra: I'll never forgive you for this...

Jade: What's the big deal?

Cobra: The deal is... I have to eventually break her heart...

The door eventually opened, with an older woman answering the call.

(Hundreds of miles away)

The rest of the Zodiac was on the captured Cargo jet, each with a sickness.

Ox and Rabbit were the only ones with enough strength to stand, but if their hostages managed to escape a fight would surely end in a defeat for the Zodiac.

Ox: Goat, what's going on? What's happening with us?

Goat: It... It must be the work of the Doc... She's probably left some type of virus in the ventilation.

Goat: So if we got out, we'd become ill...

Rabbit: Are we going to die?

Goat:...(panting)... I don't know.

Goat: We'll see... Won't we...?

Ox:...We will. If one of us dies, then we should jettison Dragon, Tiger, and Rat.

Ox: They're probably safe from the "virus" if they're in the containers.

Goat: Should...make sure... Nothing in the pods...

Rabbit: Rest now, Goat. You are in no condition to move or do anything.

Goat: That's no excuse...

He forces himself up.

Goat: It is my actions that freed you all... If you die, I'm responsible.

Rabbit: You couldn't have known, Goat.

Goat: I was awake the whole time... Should have seen this coming...

Ox: If you can make yourself useful. Do so.

Rabbit: You want a pep talk?

Goat: No... Just water... Clean water.

Rabbit: Damn... And I wanted to offer you dirty water.

(Back with Cobra)

(Slam)

???: Foods ready! Eat up!

(Mama Snake: Julia M. Amba)

Jade: Thank you, Miss-

Julia: Please, call me Julia. I thought we'd been over this since you were just a little runt.

Jade:(chuckles) S-Sorry...

Cobra:(panting)

Cobra lay on the couch, sweating and panting with his high fever.

Cobra: Ugh... Smells nice-

Julia: If you even try to get up, I will suplex you so hard back into that couch young mister, that you'll lose that tough guy attitude like, (snap)

Cobra:... The room is spinning too fast for me to understand what you said...

Cobra: Just bring me milk...

Julia: I have lactose-free milk, will that do?

Cobra: I... Whatever... Ugh...

Julia:(sigh)

Putting a plate full of food on a tray with some soup, Mama Cobra gets some water and milk before taking it all to Baby Cobra.

Taking his temperature, Julia found Cobra with a blazing high fever.

Julia: Oh dear... How are you still conscious?

Cobra: Pure willpower...

Julia: Let's get you fed, and off to bed.

Julia begins to help Cobra eat and drink despite his arguments to let him do it himself.

Julia: I never imagine you two would cross paths again... Should I expect something?

Jade: Expect what?

Cobra: Just say no...

Julia: Sush, you!

Julia:(mumbles) Trying to help you out here...

Cobra:(rolls eyes)

Cobra:(gets dizzy)

Mittens: Meow!

Julia: The cat! I forgot! Give him whatever won't kill him.

Jade: Sure thing.

Julia: Where was I again... Oh. How'd it happen?

Cobra: What?

Julia: How'd you two meet back up? And how did you get so sick?

Cobra: Job...

Julia: Job?

Jade: I was... Taking nature photos while he was hunting nature.

Julia: Monster nature?

Jade: Yep.

Julia: I see... I guess I can put the pieces together knowing his job.

Jade: You... Know?

Julia: He's at least sent me letters, telling me what's he been up to.

Julia: Never stays in one place for me to tell him to come to visit.

Jade: "Cobra" here didn't even want to come. He got so hissy with me.

Julia: Ugh! "Cobra"!

Julia: I can't believe he changed his name to that. And after I gave him such a handsome name!

Cobra: Cobra is cool!

Julia: Yeah, yeah, here comes the airplane or whatever...

Cobra:(gets mouth full of food)

Julia: When you're done, you can sleep in "Cobra's" old room.

Julia: I don't want to move him if at all possible.

Jade: Thank you.

Julia: Of course. I know it's hard after what happened with your folks. So stay as long as you need.

Jade:(nods)

After the food, Julia put Cobra to rest, as Mittens and Jade went to sleep in Cobra's childhood room.

(The next morning....)

Jade came downstairs, in a T-shirt and underpants to find Cobra standing and stretching.

Julia was asleep on the couch after watching Cobra all night.

Jade:...

Cobra was shirtless, letting Jade see that there were patches of dead skin where she knew Cobra received wounds from the Babylon incident.

Jade:...

Cobra: What is it?

Jade:?

Jade: How'd you know I was here?

Cobra: My senses are so enhanced that I could hear you get out of bed.

Jade: They're that sensitive?

Cobra: They are now...

Picking up his mother, Cobra placed her on the couch before grabbing his shirt.

Cobra: I see you made yourself at home...

Jade: What? Too much for your virgin eyes?

Cobra: You think I'm a virgin?

Jade: Heh... I see you're all good now.

Cobra: Just going to skip over that? Fine...

Cobra: Yeah... I'm better. Not good. But better.

Cobra: My body is still groggy... Stiff as a brick... And I can feel my temperature high as can be.

Cobra: But I think I'm becoming stable.

Jade: You should rest then.

Cobra: Nah.

He approaches the fridge with Jade.

Cobra: Right now, I either want to kill something or fuck someone.

Cobra: It's like an animalistic urge.

Jade: Okay....? What does that mean?

Cobra: It means I'm going hunting. Since picking up ladies whilst sick is too hard and long.

Jade: Hunting what? Monsters?

Getting a bottle of water, Cobra chugs it.

Cobra: Ah~

Cobra: Of course. What else?

Cobra: If you want to get all "Beast" activists on me, just know I can still knock you on your ass.

Jade: You don't have to kill innocent monsters.

Cobra: Yes I do.

Jade: No you don't.

Cobra: Says who?

Jade: You.

Cobra: Hm?

Jade: "Right now, I either want to kill something or fuck someone."

Jade:(gestures to self) Well...

Cobra:...

Cobra: You want me to kill you instead? Jeez, I didn't know you were that hardcore for the "Beast" cause.

Jade: I meant the second thing.

Cobra:(chuckles)

Jade: What?

Cobra: What I said still stands...

Cobra:(clears throat)... Jeez, I didn't know you were that hardcore for the "Beast" cause.

Jade: Do you, or not?

Cobra: Why?

Jade: Every word you say turns me more off. Still, want to talk?

Cobra: Yeah. Now talk. Why the sudden interest?

Jade:...

Jade: Like you said. I'm that hardcore.

Jade: And I like you enough to take the bullet.

Cobra: Take the bullet?

Jade: Ugh! Just think of it as the action hero getting the girl. Kay?

Cobra:...

Peeking over to see if his mother was still asleep, Cobra picks up Jade.

Cobra: Guess you'll do...

Cobra: Let's take a shower.

Jade: Finally.

Heading to the bathroom to "shower" together. The two quickly begin smooching.

(Last night)

Jade and Mittens entered and locked Cobra's childhood room.

Stripping off her sweaty clothes before sleep, Jade prepared to immediately hop into bed but stopped before she realized she could snoop around.

Mittens went straight to sleep.

Jade: Hmmm...

Opening his closet, she found old clothes, whips, and movies.

Heading over to his bed, she looked under to find a box. Pulling it out, she discovered it to be full of familiar objects along with a journal.

Jade: Hehe-Hm?

She finds a birthday card. On the front, there was a sticky note saying "Mom, give this to Jade".

Under that note was another saying "Do it yourself, I'm not your maid."

Ignoring the other six sticky notes, Jade opened the card to discover, Cobra planned to have her read this during the time he joined the military.

Jade:.....

Jade:... Too little too late, idiot...

Mittens: Meow, meow?

Jade: Yes it is.

Mittens: Meow. Meow, meow meow.

Jade:... Maybe...

To be continued......