Title: Falling Like This
Author: Neko TLC
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimers: This story is yaoi, meaning Male/Male pairings, don't like,
don't read. I also do not own Cyborg 009 or it's characters, sadly. So
don't ask, don't tell, and don't sue!
Summery: This story is loosely based off the magna, where 009 goes off to
that space station to battle Black Ghost, and 002 comes to his rescue.
It was the final battle between the cyborgs and Black Ghost. Determained to defeat Black Ghost once and for all, 009 had volunteered to go to the Black Ghost's space station, and defeat the evil villain. Despite the protests of Dr. Gilmore and the other cyborgs, he had made up his mind. He had to face Black Ghost on his own.
---
*Flashback inside the Dolphin*
---
"But 009, you must let us help you!" 003 cried, shocked that 009 would even think of going off on his own.
"Yeah, we're a team! If you're going to fight Black Ghost, then the rest of us are coming with you!"004 exclaimed getting up from his chair to emphasize his point.
"Right!" the other cyborgs agreed.
"Listen, I appreciate all of you for your willingness to help, but it's just too dangerous for all of you to come along."
At this 002 got up from his chair, more than just a little ticked off by the implications of what 009 was saying and not to mention slightly hurt. "Hey! What's the deal 009?" he asked, eyes glinting with anger 002 as he walked up to 009 and pulled him up by the front of his uniform. "So you really think out of everyone here that only you have what its got to take on Black Ghost?!"
"Hey! Put him down you big hothead!" 003 cried rushing up in an attempt to pull oo9 free from 002's grip.
009 blinked, shocked by 002's words. He hadn't meant that, no not at all. "Of course not, 002! It's just that I think it would be easier if I faced Black Ghost on my own and not put you and the others in danger." 009 smiled weakly at 002 hoping to have somehow alleviated the cyborg's unease, "Could you please put me down?'
002 gave a grunt in response but gently lowered the Cyborg and released 009's shirt. "Fine! If you want to be the big hero and get yourself killed then go ahead, but I still think at the very least I should go with you!"
009 put a hand on the tall redhead's shoulder as if to assure them both. "I appreciate your concern, but I think it's for the best if I confront Black Ghost on my own!"
Dr. Gilmore looked at 009 concern written all over his face. "Well, if you're sure you want to go through with this 009, then I can't stop you. We all know that the Black Ghost Organization must be destroyed and if you think this is the only way...then we trust you."
009 nodded in thanks. "Don't worry everyone, I'll defeat Black Ghost before you know it!"
003 rushed up and hugged 009 tightly in her arms, tears threatening to fall from the corners of her eyes. "Good luck 009! Please be careful!"
009 hugged 003 back smiling slightly at her, "Don't worry I'll be all right."
"It's not too late to have one of us come along with you, you know," commented 004 in a last attempt to get the Cyborg to see to reason.
"I know," 009 began, getting everyone's attention to see if he would be swayed, "but I'm the only one who can do this really."
"Great! just one question," 002 interjected, sounding skeptical as ever, "how do you expect to get off this thing?"
"Well," 009 began, figuring that once he explained his plan then his team would be more at ease with him leaving, "I thought it would be best if I infiltrate the space station, using the Dolphin's space capabilities fully to my advantage. After I make it onto the base then all of you in the Dolphin would leave the port as fast as you can. From there I'll find Black Ghost and finish him off once and for all. Then I'll just steal an enemy ship and then meet you at the Dolphin."
"All right then," Dr. Gilmore nodded, sounding twice as old as he looked, "008. please set a course to Black Ghost's space station at once."
"Roger that," 008 acknowledged as he punched in the coordinates and started steering the ship towards their new destination.
---
*End of Flashback*
---
It had been a half hour, nearly an hour, since 009 had been transported to Black Ghost's hideout. Everyone sat there in the Dolphin in suspense, praying that their comrade would come soon.
003 paced across the tiny space of the control room ringing her hands together voicing her worries to the crew, "It's been nearly an hour and 009's still not back!"
"Calm down 003! He'll be here soon, it's probably taking him longer then expected." 004 replied from his position next to the control panel. At this 003 just shook her head.
"No! I'm sure that's not it! 009 should have been here by now!" 03 exclaimed.
"Will you just calm down 003? I'm sure he's alright," 007 muttered in frustration, the girl's constant pessimism finally get to him.
002 just sat quietly in his chair, arms crossed over his chest seeming to be the most calm out of the group but in actuality his thoughts were running a mile a minute. 'I can't believe I'm actually thinking this but I have to agree with 003! Something's not right'
"Hmm. Had it ever occurred to anyone that maybe 009 left on a suicide mission?" 002 asked suddenly. Everyone gasped at the notion, 003's eyes widen in shock.
"W-w-what do you mean?!? S-s-surely 009 wouldn't sacrifice his own life just to save the world? Would he?" 003 asked nervously looking around the Dolphin hoping for an agreement from her friends, who all just either looked down, or shook their heads in despair. For all they knew, 009 probably had left on a suicide mission.
Dr. Gilmore stood up. "Everyone take heart, I'm sure 009's perfectly all right. You're all getting ahead of yourselves; we don't know that he's gone off to sacrifice himself to defeat Black Ghost."
"But what if he did?" cried 003. "He maybe hurt, or worse! We must go back and help him right away!"
006 stood up and voiced his agreement. "Well, then what are all just standing around here for?"
005 nodded his agreement. "006 is right, we must go and help our companion before it's too late!" "Right!" exclaimed 007 before suddenly lowering his head in a dejected manor, "I just thought of something. What if 009's already dead?"
003 walked up to 007 and smacked him across the cheek and replied angrily "Don't talk like that! 009's alive I know it! He must be!"
"Everyone calm down, panicking will get us no where!" Dr. Gilmore said trying to put an end to the tension between the crew.
"003, is right though, we have to go back and help 009!"said 004.
"You're right 004, but do you think we'll make it back there in time?" inquired 008.
"We have to! We just can't sit here and let 009 die!" cried 003 now close to tears.
"Don't worry, 003, we'll get there," Dr. Gilmore assured her, "the question is, 'who should we send out to there to help him?"
002 sat there in deep thought before he came to a stand and declared, "I'll do it."
003 went over to 002. "I'm going with you!"
002 looked up suddenly and stopped her. "No! I'm going alone!"
"What? Why can't I go with you?"
002 took a deep breath and looked her right in the eyes when he answered, "Look, its no use trying to fly the Dolphin all the way back to the space station. It is too slow. I'm the only one who has space flight capabilities and the speed to reach 009 before it's too late!"
"002 are you sure? You might not be enough to help 009 on your own!" Dr. Gilmore exclaimed clearly worried at the idea of losing another comrade to that god awful Black Ghost.
"Don't worry. I'll get in there, find 009, and bring him back before you even know it! You have to let me do this! It's the only way!"
From the look of determination on 002's face it was easy for the others to see that he would not back down. 002 was known for his stubbornness, and once he set his mind to do something, he wouldn't stop until it was done.
Dr. Gilmore sighed, there was no use trying to talk 002 out of going out there on his own now. "Very well, 002 just be careful out there. Are you sure you have enough fuel in your jets to make it there and back calculating in all the additional factors?"
002 gave a quick nod in self-assurance. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure," he confirmed, "everyone just sit tight and keep the home fires going, if I'm not back here with 009 in 10 minutes, call the president." With that, 002 took off, his mind set on one goal, and one goal alone, to protect 009.
002 cut through space as fast as he could, trying to reach the space station before worse came to worse. As he was flying a million thoughts were racing through his head. 'Aww man! How could I have been so stupid?!' 02 mentally berated, 'I should have known 009 would try to pull a stunt like this.'
Jet mentally slapped himself for not backing 009 up and insisting that he come along anyways. 'I should have gone with him in the first place! If anything happens to him... No! I can't think like that I will save him! Joe just hold on, I'm coming! Help is on the way buddy! I'll get you out of this mess 009! I swear it!' With this last thought in mind he kick up his speed a notch flying with purpose as he closed in on the space station.
---
Mean while, on the space station, 009 was busy fighting with Black Ghost. The battle had been long and difficult, but it seemed as if 009 had the upper hand.
"Give it up Black Ghost! There's no way you can beat me."
Black Ghost looked up at 009 glaring at him with the utmost hatred through his skull like helmet. "You fool!" Black Ghost hissed at him, "do you think that a pathetic little cyborg like you can defeat ME?"
Black Ghost got up and lunged at 009. 009 dodged him easily and with a final punch, the young teen had finally knocked the evil tyrant unconscious.
09 sighed in relief, "It's finally over, now to commandeer a ship and get back to the Dolphin!"
009 ran towards the door, not noticing Black Ghost slowly sit up. Black Ghost pulled out a small remote control from his uniform pocket and chuckled evilly as he pressed the button on its smooth surface. An explosion boomed through the space station and it's bulk shook from the blast.
09 cried out in surprise, "What did you do?!"
"You FOOL! Did you really think that I'd let you escape so easily?" Black Ghost drawled as he crawled over to a nearby control panel and pressed a button, soon an alarm sounded. "If I'm going to die than you're going with me!"
009 gaped in shock as the alarm sounded. "Why would you be so insane as to kill yourself? Don't you realize that if you die your evil organization goes with you?".
Black Ghost looked up at 009. "You fool! The Black Ghost organization is far more complex than you or those stupid cyborgs could ever fathom! The Black Ghost organization will never die, and there is nothing anyone can do to stop it!" Black Ghost cried in triumph laughing maniacally.
009 just looked at Black Ghost, anger etched into his face, and in a cry of anger he raised his blaster and shot Black Ghost right in the heart, ceasing the villain's insane laughter.
009 lowered his blaster taking in a deep, if unneeded, breath trying to calm his thoughts. 'I have to find a way out of here before this place blows up!' With this thought in mind he quickly holstered his gun and fled the control room in search of the ship docks.
---
Out in outer space, 002 was just approaching the space station, when the port exploded knocking him back a few feet causing him to let out a pained cry.
The 00 team witnessed the explosion with looks of terror and concern etched onto their faces. {002, are you all right?} 00 3 asked him through their internal transmitters.
{Yeah, I'm all right I just got the wind knocked out of me!}. 'Looks like this will be a little harder then I thought' 002 thought.
---
Back inside, 009 was running through the halls trying to find another dock with a ship so that he could take it but to no avail. 'It's no use! I'll never make it out of here!' 009 thought in despair.
All of a sudden he heard a voice calling, "009 where are?!"
009 looked up in surprise. "002? Is that you?! Where are you?"
002 ran through the hall quickly, adrenaline surging at the sound of 009's voice until he finally spotted the boy. "009!There you are! Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm all right, but you've got to get out of here! Black Ghost has activated the self destruct sequence and this place is liable to blow any minute!"
002 looked at 009 oddly. "Aren't you coming along too?"
009 shook his head in a negative. "No! I can't I'll just slow you down 002. Just go on without me!"
002 looked at him as if the boy was crazy. 'Leave him behind after I came all this way worried for his very life? Is he insane!? There is no way I am leaving his side again. Not ever.' he thought as he grabbed 009 by the arm and started pulling them towards the exit. "I'm not leaving you behind!"
009 was silent for a moment, shocked by 002's determination and concern of his welfare, it was almost to good to believe. "All right then if we're going to leave we better move quickly!" he called to 002 as he activated his acceleration mode reaching the exit within seconds of normal time.
"All right, just hang on tight!" 02 instructed 009 as he picked him up and held him in his arms. 002 then activated his jets and they took off out of the space station. A minute later, the space station exploded.
002 and 009 were making great time towards the Dolphin. They got closer and closer until all of a sudden 002's jets spluttered and died. 002 and 009 then began to plummet downwards.
"Oh, no! My jets are out of fuel!" 002 cried in horror.
"What?! 002 what are we going to do?" 009 asked a slight hint of fear straining his voice.
002's grip tightened around 009's waist as he pulled the young teen body closer to his. "I don't know, I just don't know.. just hang in there..."
009 rested his head against 002's chest and closed his eyes as they fell towards the earth 'Oh no! This does not look good! I don't think we're going to make it!' he thought frantically. "002 I'm scared! We're not going make it!"
"It's going to be all right 009! Just hang in there! It looks like we're gonna hit the earth, we might live if we don't burn up in the earth's atmosphere," he stated grimly, but paused as he felt the boy tense in his arms before continuing in a softer note, "so, Where do you want to fall?"
009 put his arms around 002's neck and buried his head deeper into 002's chest. 'I don't I care as long as I'm with you' he replied silently in his mind.
On the Dolphin everyone was in shock.
"008 give me a status report on 002 and 009."
008 checked the equipment and stated, "It appears they are descending towards Earth at an alarming rate, if we don't get them out of there know, there's a good chance they'll burn up in the Earth's atmosphere!"
003 gasped in horror. "Oh no! Can't we get to them before that happens?!?"
"No, we are to far away we'll never make it in time," replied 008 gravely.
Dr. Gilmore hung his head down in defeat. "So, there is nothing we can do?" he muttered.
"We have to do something!" 03 cried.
004 hit the console letting out a growl of frustration. "She's right! We just can't let them die!"
"We know that, but what can we do?" asked Dr. Gilmore.
/Everybody relax, I have a plan it's a long shot, but it might work! / said 001 telepathically.
As 002 and 009 got closer to Earth they were soon enveloped in searing red heat and bright orange flames licked at their bodies. 009 was in pain as small pieces of space rock and debris hit their bodies.
'Looks like this is it! It's over! We're going to die!' 009 let out a belated sigh, 'and to think that I never got to tell Jet how I feel... Never got to tell him... I suppose it could not hurt to tell him know' 009 took a quavering breath with extreme difficulty. "J-Jet.." he gasped out.
002 looked at him in slight surprise, it was one of the rare times where 009 ever referred to him by his real name. Jet looked down at Joe and asked, "what is it, Joe?"
Joe looked up at him with a sort of emotion Jet could not register in his ruby colored eyes. "T-there's something I have to tell you."
"Yes?" Jet asked curiously as he felt something rising in his chest.
"Jet, I love you.." Joe said with a gasp, falling unconscious.
Jet gasped in shock. 'Can it be? Did he say what I hoped he'd say?'
All of a sudden a flash of light enveloped 009 and 002 and 002 found himself on the Dolphin.
"You did it 001!"
002 looked at his surroundings in disbelief. "Huh? How did we get here?"
"You two are very lucky. 001 used his telepathy to transport you here before you two perished," replied Dr. Gilmore.
"Are you all right 002?" asked 004.
002 smiled up at him. "Yeah, I guess I have been better, but you better check on 009, I don't think he's doing too well." 002 said looking down at 009 in concern.
003 ran over and placed 009's head in her lap. 002 watched her do so, slightly jealous and angry as she took 009 away from him.
"009! Is he.." 003 trailed off fearing to finish the sentence.
Dr. Gilmore leaned over and checked 009's pulse. "No, he's alive, but just barely. We'd better get these two to sick bay straight away!"
004 helped 002 up and 005 carried 009 to the sickbay. 002 was hurting badly and his head was swimming. He felt like he could pass out at any minute. 'Joe please don't go! Try to stay alive for me, please! Please don't die on me before I get the courage to say how much I love you,' Jet thought as his vision blurred and everything faded to black.
TBC...
It was the final battle between the cyborgs and Black Ghost. Determained to defeat Black Ghost once and for all, 009 had volunteered to go to the Black Ghost's space station, and defeat the evil villain. Despite the protests of Dr. Gilmore and the other cyborgs, he had made up his mind. He had to face Black Ghost on his own.
---
*Flashback inside the Dolphin*
---
"But 009, you must let us help you!" 003 cried, shocked that 009 would even think of going off on his own.
"Yeah, we're a team! If you're going to fight Black Ghost, then the rest of us are coming with you!"004 exclaimed getting up from his chair to emphasize his point.
"Right!" the other cyborgs agreed.
"Listen, I appreciate all of you for your willingness to help, but it's just too dangerous for all of you to come along."
At this 002 got up from his chair, more than just a little ticked off by the implications of what 009 was saying and not to mention slightly hurt. "Hey! What's the deal 009?" he asked, eyes glinting with anger 002 as he walked up to 009 and pulled him up by the front of his uniform. "So you really think out of everyone here that only you have what its got to take on Black Ghost?!"
"Hey! Put him down you big hothead!" 003 cried rushing up in an attempt to pull oo9 free from 002's grip.
009 blinked, shocked by 002's words. He hadn't meant that, no not at all. "Of course not, 002! It's just that I think it would be easier if I faced Black Ghost on my own and not put you and the others in danger." 009 smiled weakly at 002 hoping to have somehow alleviated the cyborg's unease, "Could you please put me down?'
002 gave a grunt in response but gently lowered the Cyborg and released 009's shirt. "Fine! If you want to be the big hero and get yourself killed then go ahead, but I still think at the very least I should go with you!"
009 put a hand on the tall redhead's shoulder as if to assure them both. "I appreciate your concern, but I think it's for the best if I confront Black Ghost on my own!"
Dr. Gilmore looked at 009 concern written all over his face. "Well, if you're sure you want to go through with this 009, then I can't stop you. We all know that the Black Ghost Organization must be destroyed and if you think this is the only way...then we trust you."
009 nodded in thanks. "Don't worry everyone, I'll defeat Black Ghost before you know it!"
003 rushed up and hugged 009 tightly in her arms, tears threatening to fall from the corners of her eyes. "Good luck 009! Please be careful!"
009 hugged 003 back smiling slightly at her, "Don't worry I'll be all right."
"It's not too late to have one of us come along with you, you know," commented 004 in a last attempt to get the Cyborg to see to reason.
"I know," 009 began, getting everyone's attention to see if he would be swayed, "but I'm the only one who can do this really."
"Great! just one question," 002 interjected, sounding skeptical as ever, "how do you expect to get off this thing?"
"Well," 009 began, figuring that once he explained his plan then his team would be more at ease with him leaving, "I thought it would be best if I infiltrate the space station, using the Dolphin's space capabilities fully to my advantage. After I make it onto the base then all of you in the Dolphin would leave the port as fast as you can. From there I'll find Black Ghost and finish him off once and for all. Then I'll just steal an enemy ship and then meet you at the Dolphin."
"All right then," Dr. Gilmore nodded, sounding twice as old as he looked, "008. please set a course to Black Ghost's space station at once."
"Roger that," 008 acknowledged as he punched in the coordinates and started steering the ship towards their new destination.
---
*End of Flashback*
---
It had been a half hour, nearly an hour, since 009 had been transported to Black Ghost's hideout. Everyone sat there in the Dolphin in suspense, praying that their comrade would come soon.
003 paced across the tiny space of the control room ringing her hands together voicing her worries to the crew, "It's been nearly an hour and 009's still not back!"
"Calm down 003! He'll be here soon, it's probably taking him longer then expected." 004 replied from his position next to the control panel. At this 003 just shook her head.
"No! I'm sure that's not it! 009 should have been here by now!" 03 exclaimed.
"Will you just calm down 003? I'm sure he's alright," 007 muttered in frustration, the girl's constant pessimism finally get to him.
002 just sat quietly in his chair, arms crossed over his chest seeming to be the most calm out of the group but in actuality his thoughts were running a mile a minute. 'I can't believe I'm actually thinking this but I have to agree with 003! Something's not right'
"Hmm. Had it ever occurred to anyone that maybe 009 left on a suicide mission?" 002 asked suddenly. Everyone gasped at the notion, 003's eyes widen in shock.
"W-w-what do you mean?!? S-s-surely 009 wouldn't sacrifice his own life just to save the world? Would he?" 003 asked nervously looking around the Dolphin hoping for an agreement from her friends, who all just either looked down, or shook their heads in despair. For all they knew, 009 probably had left on a suicide mission.
Dr. Gilmore stood up. "Everyone take heart, I'm sure 009's perfectly all right. You're all getting ahead of yourselves; we don't know that he's gone off to sacrifice himself to defeat Black Ghost."
"But what if he did?" cried 003. "He maybe hurt, or worse! We must go back and help him right away!"
006 stood up and voiced his agreement. "Well, then what are all just standing around here for?"
005 nodded his agreement. "006 is right, we must go and help our companion before it's too late!" "Right!" exclaimed 007 before suddenly lowering his head in a dejected manor, "I just thought of something. What if 009's already dead?"
003 walked up to 007 and smacked him across the cheek and replied angrily "Don't talk like that! 009's alive I know it! He must be!"
"Everyone calm down, panicking will get us no where!" Dr. Gilmore said trying to put an end to the tension between the crew.
"003, is right though, we have to go back and help 009!"said 004.
"You're right 004, but do you think we'll make it back there in time?" inquired 008.
"We have to! We just can't sit here and let 009 die!" cried 003 now close to tears.
"Don't worry, 003, we'll get there," Dr. Gilmore assured her, "the question is, 'who should we send out to there to help him?"
002 sat there in deep thought before he came to a stand and declared, "I'll do it."
003 went over to 002. "I'm going with you!"
002 looked up suddenly and stopped her. "No! I'm going alone!"
"What? Why can't I go with you?"
002 took a deep breath and looked her right in the eyes when he answered, "Look, its no use trying to fly the Dolphin all the way back to the space station. It is too slow. I'm the only one who has space flight capabilities and the speed to reach 009 before it's too late!"
"002 are you sure? You might not be enough to help 009 on your own!" Dr. Gilmore exclaimed clearly worried at the idea of losing another comrade to that god awful Black Ghost.
"Don't worry. I'll get in there, find 009, and bring him back before you even know it! You have to let me do this! It's the only way!"
From the look of determination on 002's face it was easy for the others to see that he would not back down. 002 was known for his stubbornness, and once he set his mind to do something, he wouldn't stop until it was done.
Dr. Gilmore sighed, there was no use trying to talk 002 out of going out there on his own now. "Very well, 002 just be careful out there. Are you sure you have enough fuel in your jets to make it there and back calculating in all the additional factors?"
002 gave a quick nod in self-assurance. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure," he confirmed, "everyone just sit tight and keep the home fires going, if I'm not back here with 009 in 10 minutes, call the president." With that, 002 took off, his mind set on one goal, and one goal alone, to protect 009.
002 cut through space as fast as he could, trying to reach the space station before worse came to worse. As he was flying a million thoughts were racing through his head. 'Aww man! How could I have been so stupid?!' 02 mentally berated, 'I should have known 009 would try to pull a stunt like this.'
Jet mentally slapped himself for not backing 009 up and insisting that he come along anyways. 'I should have gone with him in the first place! If anything happens to him... No! I can't think like that I will save him! Joe just hold on, I'm coming! Help is on the way buddy! I'll get you out of this mess 009! I swear it!' With this last thought in mind he kick up his speed a notch flying with purpose as he closed in on the space station.
---
Mean while, on the space station, 009 was busy fighting with Black Ghost. The battle had been long and difficult, but it seemed as if 009 had the upper hand.
"Give it up Black Ghost! There's no way you can beat me."
Black Ghost looked up at 009 glaring at him with the utmost hatred through his skull like helmet. "You fool!" Black Ghost hissed at him, "do you think that a pathetic little cyborg like you can defeat ME?"
Black Ghost got up and lunged at 009. 009 dodged him easily and with a final punch, the young teen had finally knocked the evil tyrant unconscious.
09 sighed in relief, "It's finally over, now to commandeer a ship and get back to the Dolphin!"
009 ran towards the door, not noticing Black Ghost slowly sit up. Black Ghost pulled out a small remote control from his uniform pocket and chuckled evilly as he pressed the button on its smooth surface. An explosion boomed through the space station and it's bulk shook from the blast.
09 cried out in surprise, "What did you do?!"
"You FOOL! Did you really think that I'd let you escape so easily?" Black Ghost drawled as he crawled over to a nearby control panel and pressed a button, soon an alarm sounded. "If I'm going to die than you're going with me!"
009 gaped in shock as the alarm sounded. "Why would you be so insane as to kill yourself? Don't you realize that if you die your evil organization goes with you?".
Black Ghost looked up at 009. "You fool! The Black Ghost organization is far more complex than you or those stupid cyborgs could ever fathom! The Black Ghost organization will never die, and there is nothing anyone can do to stop it!" Black Ghost cried in triumph laughing maniacally.
009 just looked at Black Ghost, anger etched into his face, and in a cry of anger he raised his blaster and shot Black Ghost right in the heart, ceasing the villain's insane laughter.
009 lowered his blaster taking in a deep, if unneeded, breath trying to calm his thoughts. 'I have to find a way out of here before this place blows up!' With this thought in mind he quickly holstered his gun and fled the control room in search of the ship docks.
---
Out in outer space, 002 was just approaching the space station, when the port exploded knocking him back a few feet causing him to let out a pained cry.
The 00 team witnessed the explosion with looks of terror and concern etched onto their faces. {002, are you all right?} 00 3 asked him through their internal transmitters.
{Yeah, I'm all right I just got the wind knocked out of me!}. 'Looks like this will be a little harder then I thought' 002 thought.
---
Back inside, 009 was running through the halls trying to find another dock with a ship so that he could take it but to no avail. 'It's no use! I'll never make it out of here!' 009 thought in despair.
All of a sudden he heard a voice calling, "009 where are?!"
009 looked up in surprise. "002? Is that you?! Where are you?"
002 ran through the hall quickly, adrenaline surging at the sound of 009's voice until he finally spotted the boy. "009!There you are! Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm all right, but you've got to get out of here! Black Ghost has activated the self destruct sequence and this place is liable to blow any minute!"
002 looked at 009 oddly. "Aren't you coming along too?"
009 shook his head in a negative. "No! I can't I'll just slow you down 002. Just go on without me!"
002 looked at him as if the boy was crazy. 'Leave him behind after I came all this way worried for his very life? Is he insane!? There is no way I am leaving his side again. Not ever.' he thought as he grabbed 009 by the arm and started pulling them towards the exit. "I'm not leaving you behind!"
009 was silent for a moment, shocked by 002's determination and concern of his welfare, it was almost to good to believe. "All right then if we're going to leave we better move quickly!" he called to 002 as he activated his acceleration mode reaching the exit within seconds of normal time.
"All right, just hang on tight!" 02 instructed 009 as he picked him up and held him in his arms. 002 then activated his jets and they took off out of the space station. A minute later, the space station exploded.
002 and 009 were making great time towards the Dolphin. They got closer and closer until all of a sudden 002's jets spluttered and died. 002 and 009 then began to plummet downwards.
"Oh, no! My jets are out of fuel!" 002 cried in horror.
"What?! 002 what are we going to do?" 009 asked a slight hint of fear straining his voice.
002's grip tightened around 009's waist as he pulled the young teen body closer to his. "I don't know, I just don't know.. just hang in there..."
009 rested his head against 002's chest and closed his eyes as they fell towards the earth 'Oh no! This does not look good! I don't think we're going to make it!' he thought frantically. "002 I'm scared! We're not going make it!"
"It's going to be all right 009! Just hang in there! It looks like we're gonna hit the earth, we might live if we don't burn up in the earth's atmosphere," he stated grimly, but paused as he felt the boy tense in his arms before continuing in a softer note, "so, Where do you want to fall?"
009 put his arms around 002's neck and buried his head deeper into 002's chest. 'I don't I care as long as I'm with you' he replied silently in his mind.
On the Dolphin everyone was in shock.
"008 give me a status report on 002 and 009."
008 checked the equipment and stated, "It appears they are descending towards Earth at an alarming rate, if we don't get them out of there know, there's a good chance they'll burn up in the Earth's atmosphere!"
003 gasped in horror. "Oh no! Can't we get to them before that happens?!?"
"No, we are to far away we'll never make it in time," replied 008 gravely.
Dr. Gilmore hung his head down in defeat. "So, there is nothing we can do?" he muttered.
"We have to do something!" 03 cried.
004 hit the console letting out a growl of frustration. "She's right! We just can't let them die!"
"We know that, but what can we do?" asked Dr. Gilmore.
/Everybody relax, I have a plan it's a long shot, but it might work! / said 001 telepathically.
As 002 and 009 got closer to Earth they were soon enveloped in searing red heat and bright orange flames licked at their bodies. 009 was in pain as small pieces of space rock and debris hit their bodies.
'Looks like this is it! It's over! We're going to die!' 009 let out a belated sigh, 'and to think that I never got to tell Jet how I feel... Never got to tell him... I suppose it could not hurt to tell him know' 009 took a quavering breath with extreme difficulty. "J-Jet.." he gasped out.
002 looked at him in slight surprise, it was one of the rare times where 009 ever referred to him by his real name. Jet looked down at Joe and asked, "what is it, Joe?"
Joe looked up at him with a sort of emotion Jet could not register in his ruby colored eyes. "T-there's something I have to tell you."
"Yes?" Jet asked curiously as he felt something rising in his chest.
"Jet, I love you.." Joe said with a gasp, falling unconscious.
Jet gasped in shock. 'Can it be? Did he say what I hoped he'd say?'
All of a sudden a flash of light enveloped 009 and 002 and 002 found himself on the Dolphin.
"You did it 001!"
002 looked at his surroundings in disbelief. "Huh? How did we get here?"
"You two are very lucky. 001 used his telepathy to transport you here before you two perished," replied Dr. Gilmore.
"Are you all right 002?" asked 004.
002 smiled up at him. "Yeah, I guess I have been better, but you better check on 009, I don't think he's doing too well." 002 said looking down at 009 in concern.
003 ran over and placed 009's head in her lap. 002 watched her do so, slightly jealous and angry as she took 009 away from him.
"009! Is he.." 003 trailed off fearing to finish the sentence.
Dr. Gilmore leaned over and checked 009's pulse. "No, he's alive, but just barely. We'd better get these two to sick bay straight away!"
004 helped 002 up and 005 carried 009 to the sickbay. 002 was hurting badly and his head was swimming. He felt like he could pass out at any minute. 'Joe please don't go! Try to stay alive for me, please! Please don't die on me before I get the courage to say how much I love you,' Jet thought as his vision blurred and everything faded to black.
TBC...