"An Endless Dream."

Disclaimer : Cyborg 009 is rightfully owned by the one and only Shotaro Ishinomori. The only thing I own in this story, are my fan made characters, which will be introduced as the story progresses.

Key Terms

"Speech."

"Thoughts."

"Telepathy."

XScene ChangeX

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Chapter Seven

Defeat or Death

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"0016? 0016, can you hear me?"

Kayla slightly groaned in pain as she began to awake from unconsciousness, squinting her eyes to adjust to the lighting around her, as well as her new surroundings.

She noticed that she was now and had somehow ended up in the infirmary of the Dolphin, and had been placed in one of the beds of the room while her shoulder wound was tended to, for bandages were wrapped around the outside of her uniform.

"Huh? How did I..."

"Whew, I thought you would never wake up."

Looking over her shoulder, the fox cyborg noticed 002 seated in a chair at her bedside, as Dr. Gilmore was standing next to him.

"002? Dr. Gilmore? What... What are you..."

"You don't remember, do you?" asked the flight cyborg as he looked over at the Irish girl.

"Remember what?"

"You were brought in here to have your wound tended to, after your encounter with 0014 my dear." Dr. Gilmore explained as he walked over to Kayla's bedside, and looked over the condition of her wound. "Which appears to be healing along just fine."

"Oh... That's right." spoke up the fox cyborg as she looked down at her bandaged shoulder. "0014 attacked me, and that's when 002 and 004..."

The Irish girl's eyes then suddenly widen in shock, as she quickly looked over at the two. "004! What... What happened to 004? Is he all right? I... I have to know!"

Sighing, 002 looked over at the cybernetic scientist, who nodded, then back over at Kayla.

"0016... You... You better come with me."

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"This... This can't be. Is... Is he really..."

"Yeah, I'm afraid so."

The fox cyborg swallowed her throat while holding back tears in her eyes as she stared at the sight of the unconscious 004, hearing him let out short and raspy breaths while being given oxygen through his mask, as the bangs of his hair had covered his eyes, but sweat could be seen around his forehead, running down the sides of his now paled face.

"Professor Kazumi is already working on the antidote for him." 002 stated to the Irish girl, noticing her eyes still on the arsenal cyborg. "Hey... It's not your fault you know."

"I... I know." Kayla replied, continuing to hold back her tears. "But I just can't help but feel a bit responsible for all of this. After all... I was the one that 0014 was after."

"0016..."

The flight cyborg's attention was then taken off of the fox cyborg, since he heard the door of the room open, noticing 009 step in.

"Sorry to barge in like this, but I think now would be a good time to discuss our situation."

Nodding, the New Yorker looked back over at the Irish girl. "Come on 0016."

"But... What if he..."

"Don't worry 0016. Dr. Gilmore will be looking over him, and Professor Kazumi is hard at work, preparing an antidote." assured the speed cyborg.

"... All... All right then. I guess it would be a good idea to figure out our plan."

Lightly smiling, 002 watched as Kayla was lead out of the room by the Japanese cyborg, as he too went to follow their lead, but stopped at the door, and looked back over his shoulder at the re-cooperating German cyborg.

"You better hang in there pal, or else we're going to be in some serious trouble."

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"Okay, so here's our situation." 009 began explaining to the cyborg team, who were all seated at their stations of the Dolphin's Cockpit. "Our newest enemy, 0014, recently attacked us, poisoning 004, and giving us two options, which must be decided tonight. We either surrender ourselves in to Black Ghost, or allow the poison to take 004's life."

"And which ever option we choose, we'll end up losing anyway." added in 008. "Looks like Black Ghost finally got us this time."

"But there has to be something we can do." 003 replied. "Professor Kazumi is already working on the antidote for 004, so we still have a chance to figure out some sort of plan."

"003 is right." agreed 007. "We may be down, but we're not out for the count."

"But what if Professor Kazumi can't find an antidote, and it's all over for 004?" 006 asked. "What will we do then?"

The cyborgs remained silent after this question was asked by the Chinese cyborg, unsure of what exactly they would do, until 002 pounded his fists on the arm rests of his chair and got up from his seat.

"Come on you guys, this is just stupid! It's obvious that we're gonna fight 0014 no matter what, so let's just get on with it already!"

"And what would happen if one of use were to share the same fate as 004?" spoke up the fox cyborg as she looked over at the flight cyborg. "You saw for yourself what he's capable of 002, so it would be pointless to just barge into a fight we can't win."

"0016 is right." responded a now awaken 001, causing the cyborg team to look over at the infant cyborg being held in 003's arms. "We're not fully aware of what 0014 can do, so we must come up with a good and sturdy plan."

"Do you have something in mind then 001?" the speed cyborg asked.

"Actually I do, so everyone listen up carefully."

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"How's the antidote coming along my friend? Any new progress?"

"I'm sorry Gilmore, but creating this antidote is more complicated then I thought."

Dr. Gilmore sighed as he rubbed the temples of his forehead, trying to fight off the frustration as well as the tiredness he was feeling, as he and Professor Kazumi were busy in the lab of the Dolphin, hard at work at creating an antidote for 004.

"Why don't you try and get some rest for now." Professor Kazumi suggested, continuing on with his work. "I'll be fine working on the antidote myself."

"As much as a good idea that sounds, I can't." replied the cybernetic scientist. "The team is working just as hard as we are, at coming up with a plan to deal with 0014, and it wouldn't feel right if I were to take a rest now. They may need our help."

The biochemist lightly smiled at his friend, but picked his head up though when he heard the doors of the room open, noticing Kayla step inside, just as the doors closed behind her.

"0016, what are you doing here?" Dr. Gilmore asked the fox cyborg, surprised to see her.

"I wanted to inform you two that we made our decision, and are going to meet 0014 now."

"I see. Well then, do be careful. This maybe your first battle, and if your not cautious..."

"I understand. I just hope that we're making the right choice."

Watching the Irish girl step out of the room, the cybernetic scientist sighed to himself while looking over at Professor Kazumi.

"I hope their making the right choice too."

"As do I Gilmore. As do I."

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"Uh, are we sure it was a good idea for all of us to come out here?" asked a slightly scared 007 while walking along with the rest of the cyborg team to where they'll meet 0014. "Maybe it would have been better if some of us stayed back on the Dolphin..."

"Nice try 007." 002 remarked back to the shape shifting cyborg. "Now quite being such a scardy cat, and pick up the pace."

003 shook her head at the two, as she then looked over her shoulder at Kayla, noticing that she had been quiet ever since the team left, and had kept her eyes down towards the ground. "0016, is everything all right?"

"Hmm? Oh, yeah." replied the fox cyborg, breaking out of her daze, and looking over at the French cyborg. "I'm just a little worried about 004 is all."

"As you should be." spoke up the voice of 0014, appearing out of the shadows in front of the cyborgs with a light smirk on his face. "So... Have you made your decision?"

"We have." 009 responded, taking his place as leader, as he stood in front of his team, eyes locked on the snake cyborg. "And our answer... Is no."

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Sorry if this chapter seemed a bit short, but I'll make up for it.

I promise!

So for now...

Please review, and until next time...

BBFN!

And remember... ANIME RULES FOR LIFE!