Part Eleven:
"What you did was very irresponsible. It has put the whole team in danger," Dr. Nambu said after he shook his head at Jinpei. The teenager looked down at the Snack J's bar, forlorn.
"Yes! I agree! Why didn't you tell us, 001?" Dr. Gilmore snapped at the cyborg sitting next to Jinpei. He had a blank look on his face and a bloodstain under his nose.
"Aren't you going to say anything, Manx?" Omi asked, looking up at the attractive redheaded woman. He looked just as forlorn as Jinpei.
"I think these gentlemen are doing a wonderful job without my help. Besides, I've already had words with you earlier about putting your teammates in danger by lying," Manx said, crossing her arms while she shifted on her barstool. "It looks as if my point hit home."
"001, you should have known to trust us. We would have kept these boys' secrets. After all we've been through? I'm very hurt," Dr. Gilmore said, shaking his head.
"Issac! Please! Can't you tell 001 feels bad enough? Let me look at you, my boy. This bleeding is probably created by pressure or heat when you use that part of your brain. We'll need to go back and reinforce your new head. It would seem you're functioning at a higher level than we thought you would," Dr. Kozumi said.
"Frances," Ivan murmured. It was the only word he would say the whole hour after they had left the ISO building and gathered at the Snack J.
"Is he in some sort of shock?" Omi asked.
"He has trouble processing emotions sometimes. It is why we sent him to school in the first place," Dr. Gilmore said. "I am sorry, 001. I shouldn't be so hard on you. I know you would be devastated if anything happened to 003."
"Dr. Nambu! We don't have time for all of this. We need to head to Cross Karakorum and get our teams out of there!" Jinpei shouted.
"You're right, but you can't just go and come back. There is only one of you and Donald Wade is now working with Egobossler. Don will know a lot of your tricks," Dr. Nambu said. "I don't want you to go by yourself."
"There are three of us. You said yourself that small numbers were better because we can slip in easier. Not only that, but all we really have to do is break in and free our teammates. Once we do that there will be eighteen of us. That's good odds to fight our way out," Jinpei said.
"I don't know about sending Omi in that kind of a meat grinder," Manx said. "Persia wouldn't approve."
"It's my choice! I need to get Aya, Ken, and Youji back! I won't listen to Persia tell me otherwise. You said for me to choose who I'm loyal to," Omi said, getting a hard look to his wide, innocent eyes.
"I'm with Omi. Besides, Dr. Nambu, I'm not technically a Science Ninja Team member anymore. You can't order me around. Don't you think I want Jun and Ryu back, too?"
"I don't know. You left them," Dr Nambu pointed out.
"You aren't going to make me feel bad about my decision. I had to get away from some of the hard things about being on the team, but it doesn't mean I wouldn't go to Cross Karakorum again and again to rescue them. I can't see Joe die again," Jinpei said through clenched teeth.
"I'm sorry, Jinpei. Ken told me how hard things have been on you. We'll talk about it later. If you're willing to go, you have my blessing, but wait until I have done some re-con," Dr. Nambu said.
"Persia has authorized me to assist you with that, Dr. Nambu," Manx offered. "It looks as if I can't stop Bombay."
"Thank you," Dr. Nambu said.
"Ivan, are you coming with us? We really need your help, but only if your feeling up to it. I mean... Omi and I can make due if your head isn't quite right. I didn't mean to say it that way, but you know what I mean," Jinpei said. Ivan nodded slowly still looking shell shocked.
"But, we need to make adjustments to the housing for your brain. It'll be too dangerous if we made a miscalculation," Dr. Gilmore said. "Keep in mind, your brain will get exhausted and shut down when it reaches its limit. We just don't know where your limit is right now because you haven't been pushed hard yet."
:It'll take you weeks to make the adjustments, Dr. Gilmore. Frances and the others can't wait that long. I feel the same way as Omi and Jinpei. They are the only family I've ever known. I need them or I will become a cold machine with no heart. I'm on borrowed time anyway, Dr. Gilmore. I've lived a long time. The thought of my impending immortality has been a bitter pill to me since I've met Omi and Jinpei. I want to live like them. They are going to risk their lives for their loved ones; how can I not do the same? Time is of the essence. If we can catch them before they have time to establish themselves at Cross Karakorum, we'll have an advantage.: Ivan projected to everyone since the secret was exposed.
"I agree. The boys will have a better chance the sooner they strike," Dr. Nambu said. "How risky is this for him?"
"If he doesn't try to teleport much of anything he should be fine. Also his telekinesis needs to be used judiciously. He uses the portion of his brain for telekinesis that's adjacent to the portion that he uses for teleportation. If it gets swollen and overheated, like we suspect is going on, then it could be dangerous," Dr. Gilmore said. "Other than that, 001 should be fine."
"Manx, if you'll come with me," Dr. Nambu said, standing. "You boys will have to figure out how to get there."
"They could use the Dolphin, but they're no pilots," Dr. Gilmore said.
"Pimer," Jinpei shouted. "Come on, Omi. I need your help to hook up their ship with an auto-piloting system." The bar was empty new except for Dr. Gilmore, Dr. Kozumi, and Ivan.
"Since you're bound to go, I have something for you. I was going to give it to you next week, but I think you'll need it," Dr. Gilmore said, leading Ivan and Dr. Kozumi out of the bar. The elderly scientist opened his trunk and handed Ivan a box. The Russian cyborg opened and smiled.
:This is wonderful, doctor. I appreciate it.: Ivan thought. He took out a new scarlet and gold uniform in his size along with the same type of multi-functional pistol all of the other cyborgs had.
"Just be careful, 001," Dr. Gilmore said.
:I promise I won't push myself too far unless I have too.: Ivan thought. :Jinpei wants me to meet him. I'll see you later, doctor.:
"We're a five person team sent to stop a secret alien invasion. This is the third wave in the last six years. It's an alien intelligence that mutates every time we've defeated it before. It takes normal humans and genetically alters them to serve as the overlord. It has fused fraternal twins and it has taken a small child and advanced her age. We think its getting desperate because he picked a rich count to lead his invasions this time. Jinpei is our youngest member and our resident computer hacker," Ken Washio said to Aya. "What about you?"
"We're a covert group of assassins sent in to kill off crime lords that the police either can't or won't touch. We all have vendettas against the crime lord family called the Takatoris. We've worked hard to get at him, but we're starting to see that there maybe a larger organization behind the Takatoris. We only work out of Japan," Ken Hidaka interrupted to Aya's annoyance. "Omi is our resident computer hacker, too. I see why they became good friends all of the sudden. What about Ivan?"
"He's with us," the redhead beside Washio said, sitting up. He grimaced in pain and looked over at Hidaka. "Not you again! I can't seem to get a break."
"Well who are you guys anyway? I know you're a lousy driver, but who is Ivan?" the ex-soccer player said with a vicious smirk. "Come clean like the rest of us. Why are you people here?"
"Jet is my name, in case you don't remember, soccer mom. We're here because some twisted men kidnapped us off the streets and forced us into cybernization surgeries. They were going to sell us like a bunch of animals, but nine of us escaped. We've been on the run from them for a few years. Ivan has the poor luck of being the kid of one of the sick people that turned us into what we are. He cybernized Ivan's brain so he could get in with the Black Ghost. Nice people, hun?" Jet asked Hidaka with a sour look.
"That's pretty nasty," Washio said, looking carefully at his cell mate. "What kinds of changes did they make?"
"I can fly," Jet said with a sly smile.
"So can I. You don't need cybernization to be a pilot," Washio said with an aggravated look. Aya could tell the Japanese ninja was still groggy from the drugs that they had all been given or he would have caught on with ease at what the sassy Jet was implying.
"Can you fly without an airplane?" Jet asked. Eagle Ken shook his head while Aya studied Jet closer. "Didn't think so. You won't notice my changes on the outside. Albert's you can," Jet said to Aya.
Aya looked to the cage Joe Asakura was in. The man Condor Joe was chained too was the German Youji had told him about from the police station. He could now see why the man kept so covered. His right hand was made of dull metal.
"So you're telling us you all were changed and going to be sold? For what purpose?" Aya asked.
"Weapons. We are all living weapons," Jet said. "They were going to sell us to countries who wanted to start up wars with their neighbors."
"That's right, Cyborg 002, but you had to go and ruin my plans!"
"Scar! I knew you were behind this," Jet shouted as he turned to an elevator door across the room. Standing in the bright light from the elevator were five men. Two of which, Aya recognized: Reiji Takatori and and the customer who attacked Youji.
"Don't try anything foolish. All of your abilities are being neutralized by the collars around your neck. An igneous device invented by young Mr. Wade," Scar said.
"It's transmitting a silent pulse into your brain at irregular intervals that scramble the signals to your cyborg enhancements. Cyborg 0012 gave me the idea from what she threatened. A very adroit machine you have, highness," Donald Wade said, addressing Scar with deference. "A nice feature is that the signal also blocks the electronics in bird-style bracelets. I piggy-backed the signal with the neutralizing frequency just to ensure you don't get any uppity ideas, Washio."
"We should have killed you when we had the chance," Ken said, bolting up to his feet. The small three feet of chain between he and Jet drew tight and knocked Jet into the Eagle's back.
"Also, they'll detonate if removed so don't tamper with them. I was thinking about Juni too. Wonder if she's still good at defusing explosives," Donald Wade added while waving an index finger over at the still sleeping Jun.
"Hey! You're that moron who screwed with us," Ken Hidaka shouted clenching the bars of his cage tightly. His cell mate, the tall African, started to wake up. Ken helped him up and turned his attention back to Donald.
"I thought I would give you a good laugh by setting large woman-eating flowers on you. Didn't like my joke, florist?" Donald Wade asked with a crooked smile. "I just trained them to seek out your specific genetic patterns, rather than estrogen. That's why we drew your blood. Just for kicks I infected you at the same time with a little bacteria I developed in jail. Just enough to dehydrate you and make you weak while my flowers kidnapped you, but the three of you should be over it by now. I found the whole thing quite amusing."
"Enough! What do you want with us?" Aya asked calmly, looking at Takatori who was smoking a cigar.
"I want the four of you pests out of the way. Count Egobossler helped me catch you, and now Scar is going to find a new purpose for your lives," Takatori said. The Japanese crime lord snapped his fingers. A tall man appeared from the shadows and took his place at Takatori's side. "Finish waking all these people up, Schuldig, so we don't have to repeat ourselves."
The tall, redheaded German sent out a telepathic jolt to everyone in their cells. All around the room they all shook, murmured, and slowly stood on shaky legs. Schuldig took out a gun from his suit jacket. He fired three shots in the air with a wicked grin; the loud bangs caught everyone's attention.
"For those of you who don't know, my name is Reiji Takatori. My two new associates and I have decided to assist each other in removing the obstacles to our goals: all of you people. As you see, we had fantastic results."
"What now, Takatori?" Aya asked.
"Fujimiya brat. Looks like I'll have the last word after all. Just to let you know, we're not going to kill the Weiss Kreuz members or the Science Ninja Team members. I agreed to sell you Weiss assassins to the Black Ghost organization for a tidy little sum. Count Egobossler sold the Science Ninja Team to the Black Ghost as well. I guess you're wondering what the Black Ghost does."
"We know they mutilate people," Aya replied.
"They enhance people. Make them better than before. You should be grateful that you'll be following in this fine, sixty year old tradition," Takatori said. "Scar doesn't want to use these old, rebellious cyborgs any more, but he still wants a set of prototypes. That's where you seven will come in. You're each chained to a cyborg with the abilities you will soon have. The only twist is that all of you will receive lobotomies. Scar learned from his mistake the first time. After that, he'll destroy all the old cyborgs and start fresh. I've already considered buying you, Fujimiya. I've seen the plans for you. You'll be the ultimate assassin."
Aya looked over to Joe Shimamura who's eyes were blazing in fury at Takatori. He couldn't tell what Joe's cybernization involved, but he knew he didn't want any part of it by the cold hatred in his eyes. The Weiss assassin turned back to Takatori.
"I'll die before you make me some sort of monster," Aya said softly. He turned at a sharp intake of breath. Shimamura was now looking at him with that same deep anger. Takatori's laughter rang through the empty cavern.
"You're already a monster! You're a killer of men! You think you're a righteous avenger, but you're nothing more than my brother's filthy flunky. I don't see why you're resisting. I like your new name. Cyborg 0022. Has a nicer ring to it than Ran Fujimiya," Takatori said. "Don't worry, you'll be the last to get your surgery. They'll start with this dolt, the future Cyborg 0014, tomorrow morning." Aya looked over to where Takatori pointed with the butt of his cigar. It was at Ken Washio. "When those three kids get here, they'll be put on the schedule too. I really wanted to just kill the Tsukiyono brat, and almost did, but I'm enjoying this solution much better. I'm glad Scar talked me into this."
"It's time we leave. There are still some preparations to be made," Count Egobossler said. "Have sweet dreams, Science Ninja Team. They'll be your last." The five men went to the elevator and left their prisoners chained together in the dim light.
Aya turned to Joe Shimamura. He crossed his arms and leaned his back against the bars. "I didn't mean to offend you," Aya started. "He's right, I am a killer. I have no right to judge anything you've become."
"Thank you, but I understand being pushed into corners like you've been. It'll take more than that to offend me," Joe said. He shook his head. "Trust me, you don't want to be changed like me. It's an awful half-life."
"You're the first person I've met who actually has a right to bitch about life," Aya said. "What did they do to you anyway?"
"I have an acceleration device. My body can move up to Mach five. No one can see me and I can't hear anything when I move that fast. Everything just looks as if it moves in slow motion to me," Joe answered.
"So that's why he said I would be the ultimate assassin," Aya said.
"Nothing could stop you if you had an acceleration device," Joe agreed. "This existence is not something to crave. It's painful to watch your loved ones grow old and die while you remain the same. It happened to my girlfriend."
"I wouldn't want to be as you are. I want to live like I am," Aya said. He turned to everyone else and said, "We're all getting out of here! Not one of us is going to be touched."
"This is crazy! Are they really serious?" Youji asked, rubbing the back of his head.
"Very serious," the rotund Chinese man who he was chained to said. "They'll do it quickly and not give you a chance to speak. They even took me when I was attempting suicide. They're no respecters of a person's body."
"That's horrible! I'm the only one I want disrespecting my body... that or some hot brunette chick," Youji said, attempting a joke. "So any good ideas? I'm not going to end up some zombie that does... whatever he does." Youji flung his hand towards the Chinese man.
"The boys are still out there. We have some hope," Aya said. "Omi will be coming for us. I know him and have faith in him. He's a smart kid."
"Ivan has tremendous psychic abilities, but he can't live without us. I believe he'll try to rescue us too. He helped mastermind our first escape. He can do it again," Joe said.
"How about Jinpei?" Aya asked the Eagle Leader.
"I believe he'll come for us," Ken said. "He has a good heart even thought we're at odds with him. I'm worried about their chances, though. We're very deep inside the earth. We should try to escape before they get here."
"Agreed," Joe said. Aya nodded.
To be continued.