Thanks again for all the reviews and for everyone that has read this—I hope you've enjoyed it

SNATCHED!

The next day, Francoise was stepping out of her private bathroom, fresh from an early morning shower, clad in a pink terry bathrobe into her bedroom. Because she was the lone female in a household full of males, she garnered the only private bath much to her preference, for she craved privacy for her morning toilette. Also, she could take as long as she wanted without the menfolk complaining about the bathroom being occupied too long.

Francoise stretched daintily as she shook her golden hair out of the towel. She dried then combed the wavy, silky mass as she tamed the snarls and then arranged the tresses into two buns, Asian style. She then sat at the mirrored vanity and began to apply her makeup. As she began to groom herself, her ultra sensitive hearing picked up the sound of a car approaching from the distance.

"Hmmm," she said aloud, immediately recognizing the car's sound. "Sounds like Jet and Albert have arrived. I wonder why Dr. Gilmore called them back here." She went back to her toilette.

Out in the living room, Great Britain, Chang, Dr. Gilmore holding Ivan and Joe were all sitting around discussing what Dr. Gilmore and Kezumi had discovered from their data search.

"Shouldn't we wait for the others to join us?" GB asked with a puzzled frown.

Dr. Gilmore shook his head. "I think the sooner all of you are briefed on this, the better for the entire team in general. You can fill them in and bring them up to speed."

"Sounds serious," Chang commented.

Dr Gilmore nodded grimly as the sliding door flew open and Albert and Jet, 004 and 002, joined them. Jet strode in and leaned against a far wall in a bored manner and Albert took a seat near Joe.

"Pyunma and Geronimo will be here this afternoon so you can fill them in when they get here."

"I'm sorry I've been so long. I had to get ready for later at the restaurant," a soft voice interrupted as the trim yet shapely form of 003 entered the room clad in the red silk Chinese dress.

Conversation came to a standstill as all the male eyes in the room feasted themselves on the beautiful blonde French girl. She leaned in and greeted 001 in his basket.

002 whistled in appreciation as 006 beamed, "My dear, you will again dazzle my customers with your matchless beauty."

007 protested, "That was my line 006, but luckily I always have another. 003, you are the absolute epitome of feminine pulchritude." He rose and gave her a courtier's bow that would have paled Shakespeare in comparison. He glanced at the cyborg leader. ""Wouldn't you say so, 009?"

To say he was effected would be an understatement, 009 was absolutely captivated by the view of her. It was like the first time he saw her in that particular dress, he was so mesmerized that the picture of 003 so garbed was indelibly etched in his mind. He felt the telltale heat of a blush stain his cheeks. "Uh-huh."

Albert jumped to his feet and offered his seat beside Joe. "003, allow me to offer you my seat." Blushing herself, Francoise took the offer and seated herself next to Joe, who was immediately assailed with the soft scent of her perfume which surrounded her like an invisible aura yet penetrated his senses to the point that he was overwhelmed. He found it difficult to concentrate on the meeting, but he did manage while occasionally glancing surreptitiously at 003 beside him.

"Ah, 003, you indeed look utterly charming," Dr. Gilmore added with a fatherly smile. He held a certain fondness for the girl cyborg who he referred to as his "little ballerina." He cleared his throat gruffly and continued, "Now that most of you are here, I will share with you all the information Dr. Kezumi and I collected concerning Scarl and Black Ghost. We have ascertained that Scarl is about to begin a new offensive and been working to build up an attack force."

**Yes** 001 said telepathically to the group. **I've been feeling some extremely strong negative vibrations that indicate a Black Ghost offensive is in the works.**

"Where do you feel this coming from, 001?" asked 009.

**I've felt the vibrations quite strong for the last few days. They seem to be emanating from somewhere offshore.**

"Maybe we should do a sweep of the area," Jet suggested. "If Scarl's about to show his ugly puss again we can pull the rug out from under him if we surprise him. So let's go!"

Dr. Gilmore held up his hand, "Not so fast, 002. We need to be sure that he's absolutely lurking about before we do anything. We don't want to tip him off if he is so I want to wait until 008 gets here. He can do an underwater patrol and report back anything that appears suspicious. Until then, I want you all to stay here and stay close together."

"That won't be a problem for 003 and 009," 007 said smirking. Both parties blushed profusely and 009 glared at 007.

"But I have to open the restaurant today," protested 006. "I am debuting my new menu and I advertised in all the papers. Besides, 003 is helping me, right 003?"

Francoise nodded, "You can depend on me, 006." Joe smiled at her as she snuck a glance at him.

Chang smiled and he informed her, "Good, I'm leaving now. You don't have to be there until just before I open at noon." He got up to head out and get ready to leave.

The rest of the group began to disband when Dr. Gilmore reminded them, "Remember, stay alert and on guard. Scarl is ruthless and will stop at nothing to succeed at his evil machinations."

002 snorted in derision, "Yeah, we know. So I guess we gotta hang around here and twiddle our thumbs."

"Not necessarily 002. Dr. Kezumi and I have outfitted a few of the rooms with games, books, a pool table and other amusements," Dr. Gilmore stated matter-of-factly. He picked up 001 and headed to the study.

"Well you always could come and help me at my restaurant, 002," 006 suggested as he put his chef's hat on. "003 is coming later, perhaps you'd like to come too?"

"Uh, no thanks," Jet replied coolly. "I guess I'll just amuse myself by beating the pants off of 004 in pool. So whattya say?"

"Okay, you're on." 004 answered as they both made their way to the game room.

003 rose to her feet and so did 009. Before a word was exchanged 006 approached them and addressed 009, "You can come too, 009. I could always use another hand to help."

009 ran a hand through his hair and stammered, "Ah-hh 006, I don't know. I mean what could I do?"

006 laughed, "Oh don't worry I'd find something for you to do. Tell you what, you think about it and then come with 003 when she comes if you decide to help." He headed out the door.

The room was empty except for 003, 009, and 007. 007 was grinning at the two and he said, "Now I have to go, can I leave you two alone?"

Francoise eyes widened and Joe snapped, "007, don't you know when to quit?"

GB guffawed, "Certainly but I just enjoy seeing true love blossoming." He became sober as he added, "You have to admit after what we've been through, it's nice to see that." He bowed to the young couple and left them alone.

Francoise walked to the sliding door and looked out. "He certainly can be …blunt," she murmured.

Joe walked up and gently took her shoulders. "He didn't embarrass you did he?"

She shook her head. "Not really. He just isn't very subtle."

"Yeah, I guess discretion isn't one of his things. But GB is an actor so I guess it's to be expected," Joe said resignedly. "Especially with us all living in such close quarters."

"Yes, I suppose," Francoise agreed. She then perked up as her ultra sensitive hearing picked up a strange sound then she covered her ears as if in pain. "Ahhh!" she squealed, as she cringed.

"003, what's wrong?" 009 asked urgently as he pulled her to him. "Are you all right?" he said, cupping her face to study her.

"Y-yes, I'm fine, now. Just for a split second there was an awful piercing high frequency noise that was excruciatingly painful. But it's gone now." She smiled at his worried expression to reassure him.

"Okay, if you say so," 009 said doubtfully.

003 smiled again and extracting herself from his arms, turned to take a step but as she did, a sharp pain went through her head, her vision blurred and then she screamed and lost consciousness.

"003!" 009 cried as he went forward and cradled her in his arms. He scooped her up and laid her gently on the sofa. He then brushed her golden bangs back from her forehead as he tried to bring her around.

"003. 003! Francoise, can you hear me?" Joe said, truly frightened by her sudden pallor. Her scream of pain and his raised voice must have alarmed the others because Dr. Gilmore, Albert, Jet, and GB came running out.

"Hey what gives?" 002 asked as he spotted the unconscious girl stretched on the sofa.

Dr. Gilmore came to the sofa and knelt beside 009. He took her pulse and said, "She's still alive, thank goodness. 007, go into my study and get my bag, there's a bottle of smelling salts in there. It'll help bring her around."

007 did as he was bid. He returned and handed Dr. Gilmore's medical bag to him then stepped back to stand with 004 and 002. 009 remained kneeling beside 003, her cold hand in both of his.

Dr. Gilmore opened his bag and extracted a bottle, which he popped open and held under 003's upturned nose. She suddenly began to cough as her sooty lashes fluttered open and she scanned the room with wide aquamarine eyes at the worried faces of her teammates.

Joe found himself whispering a prayer of thanks as he asked her softly, "Are you all right, 003?" He gently brushed her hair out of her eyes and moved back as she struggled to sit up.

"I-I think so," she replied weakly as she sat up. 009 immediately sat on one side of her as Dr. Gilmore sat on the other.

"Can you tell us what happened, 003?" the doctor asked kindly.

003 shook her head to clear it. "I was talking to 009 one minute then I turned and all of a sudden I had this pain and my vision got blurry and I fainted."

"Before that she heard a high frequency sound that hurt her," 009 said briskly. He addressed Gilmore, "Doctor, what could have caused that kind of reaction in 003's capabilities?"

Gilmore frowned thoughtfully. "Sounds like someone is using a device that emits ultra-high frequency waves that affects 003's heightened capabilities."

"Black Ghost's slimy hand's all over this," Jet muttered, scowling. He stepped forward and continued. "What further proof do we need that he's making a reappearence?"

Gilmore shook his head. "That's all the more reason that we must lay low until we can do some investigating to make sure." He stood up and headed out but turned around and ordered, "Make sure you inform me the very minute 008 gets here."

003 also rose after consulting her watch. "Goodness, I need to get to the restaurant, 006 is waiting for me." She began to walk to the door to leave but 009 laid his hand on her shoulder to detain her.

"I think you should stay here and rest, Francoise," 009 said gently. "006 will understand."

Gilmore nodded, "I agree with 009. 003, you don't know what it was that caused your capabilities to react so and you to faint so I think that you should remain here."

"I have to go, I promised him and he'll be in a bind if I don't show. I can't do that to him," 003 insisted stubbornly, her sense of responsibility and compassionate heart standing firm.

004 and 002 both shook their heads. 002 said, "Sorry sweetie, but you should stay here. You don't look too good." 007 just nodded vigorously frowning in concern.

"You all are being ridiculous. I'm fine now, really," 003 insisted. "And I'm going to the restaurant now."

"Then I'm going with you," 009 said firmly. He took her elbow and with a determined glint in his gold flecked brown eyes he escorted her out the door.

002 and 004 exchanged smirks. "Looks like 009's got a major case of 003."

007 nodded, "Indeed, they're getting quite chummy. They've been spending a lot of time together."

"Really?" Jet asked, interested.

"Uh-huh. I've even caught them a few times," 007 said smugly. "But it was only a matter of time. There've always been something between those two."

"Uh-huh. Well, it'll be fun to watch 'em. And I think it's great," 002 stated.

004 grinned, "Yeah, ain't love grand?" They both headed back to the game room with GB bringing up the rear.

It was a crystal clear day, not a cloud in the sky as 009 walked 003 the short journey to Chang's restaurant. He had continued grasping her elbow as they walked silently along, each lost in their own thoughts. Joe was aware of the slender girl beside him and he rehashed in his mind when she fainted earlier. He was marveling at the feeling of utter despair that he had when he picked her up and carried her to the sofa as she was unconscious and so pale, he was afraid they were losing her. He could not for the life of him imagine not having her on the team. He remembered his first time he met them all as 001 helped him escape the clutches of Black Ghost and how it was 003's prodding that helped him make the decision to join the 00 cyborgs. Even in his distressed state at that time, finding out that he could no longer be considered human, 009 was drawn to those aqua orbs of hers that held such sweetness that he was entranced, he immediately proclaimed himself her protector. And so it was like that on all their missions.

003 was musing as she was aware of 009's holding her elbow with a gentle yet firm hand, the same hand that could crush cannons and attacking mechas with hardly any effort. Although she was tall for a woman, he still towered over her with his muscular torso and long legs. She admired his fine-featured face, his mahogany mane of hair, and those gold brown eyes that would gaze at her with shyness. She felt a warm glow at the gentle pressure of his hand guiding her as they walked down the street toward the restaurant.

They were about two blocks away from the restaurant when there was a bright flash, both startling the two cyborgs and blinding them. While being blinded, 009 heard a piercing scream and he became suddenly aware that he was no longer holding 003's elbow.

His vision returned and he realized that he was alone. "003!" 009 screamed looking around frantically for his companion. She had disappeared.

Meanwhile in his submarine off the coast Scarl sat at his monitor and laughed malevolently at the view of what had taken place. His assistant entered the chamber and greeted him with a salute.

"Mission accomplished sir. The subject has been sedated and is in captivity."

"Excellent. Phase one completed. Phase two to be implemented immediately." He dismissed the man and grinned evilly as he contemplated and plotted his next move.

TO BE CONTINUED