Author's Note: Well I had no idea I'd be updating so soon, it appears this thing's writing itself—A huge thanks to all my new reviewers and a continued thanks to the faithful readers and reviewers who've stuck with me from the get go. Morbidity, thank you so much and if anyone hasn't read "I Owe You One" please do—it is a work of art.

RESCUE OF THE HEART

The Black Ghost submarine was shooting its laser cannon at the swiftly fleeing cyborgs, 009 and 008, following right in their wake. But the cyborgs were traveling too close to mach speed as they drew the craft out of deep waters and they were out of the reach of the laser rays.

The Black Ghost navigator informed Scarl, "Sir, we're trying to get close enough to capture the cyborgs but they're traveling at a high velocity, we can barely keep up."

Scarl waved his hand in impatience. "Don't bother me with trifles. Pursue with full speed!"

The navigator answered, "Aye, aye, sir." He opened the throttle and the craft shot forward.

Scarl went into the prison chamber and approached 003. "Are you ready, my sweet? We must destroy the 00 cyborgs. It's the only way or they will destroy us."

She nodded woodenly.

Outside in the water 008 and 009 continued to swim and periodically glanced at their pursuer. 008 communicated to 009, **Well it looks like we've hooked the big fish.**

**Yeah well we still gotta get them to the surface though,** 009 reminded him. Laser beams shot at them, flashing like lightning bolts under the sea. The two cyborgs continued at their breakneck pace with the sub not far behind.

As they reached the midpoint of the ocean depth, 009 communicated to 002. **002, we are approximately halfway to the surface. As soon as the Scarl's sub breaks the surface, fire the magnetic beam. I'll contact the Dolphin to alert the rest of the team.**

**Gotcha, chief. Just give the signal,** Jet responded. He continued hovering in the starry clime.

Using his brainwaves, 009 then contacted the Dolphin on the brainwave communicator that Dr. Gilmore equipped the bridge with for communicating with the cyborgs when subtlety was tantamount to the mission's success.

On board, the communication screen blinked and a picture of 009 came up. An electronic version of his soft tenor voice came over the speakers. "Attention, attention. 008, 007 and I are almost to the surface with Scarl on our tails. 002's been informed as is at the ready to fire for when we break the surface. We need the Dolphin to be in position for re-enforcement."

006 typed in a reply. "Will do, 009. Over and out."

"Well, we're off," 004 sounded as he activated the engines. The Dolphin shuddered to life and slipped under the waves to intercept the submarine.

The two 00 cyborgs were rapidly approaching the ocean's surface. As they saw the beginning of the reflected moonlight in the water, 009 communicated to Jet. **Okay, 002 as soon as we come to the surface, count to fifteen seconds and fire the magnetic ray. The sub's about fifteen seconds behind us.**

**Okay, 009. I'm at the ready.** Jet aimed the weapon at the waves below.

Within seconds Jet spotted 009 and 008 both break through the waves. They took off in a western direction and as 009 said, fifteen seconds later the sinister craft broke the waves. Jet aimed and fired at the black hatch of the submarine and the powerful magnetic rays caused the craft to shake as the magnet attracted the craft to the point of immobilizing it. Then the hatch lid popped open and Black Ghost soldiers came out firing their lasers as 009, 008, 007, and 002 did the same.

The rest of the team came to the deck of the Dolphin and joined the fracas, quickly dispatching the minions as they approached the craft. They all landed on the deck of the sub and began to make their way to the hatch when a black garbed figure climbed out to confront them. But the team all made a sharp inhaled breath as they saw it was not Scarl, it was….

003.

All the 00 cyborgs were momentarily stunned as they saw their teammate regarding them malevolently as she threatened them all with a laser rifle, her golden hair flying in the wind and her eyes glazed and vacant. The team approached her slowly, led by 009.

"003," he began softly. "We've come to rescue you." He extended his arms, entreating her.

She glared at him, as she answered, "I have no intention of being 'rescued' by you. You all are going to be destroyed." She then took aim and fired.

"Scatter!" 009 barked to the team as he clicked his tooth and took off. The cyborgs all jettisoned in different directions as 003 fired her weapon. They gathered together on the deck of the Dolphin, all except 002.

Scarl materialized on the sub deck laughing. "How do like that, cyborgs? The tides are turned, and your own teammate is now my weapon to destroy you!" The blue flash of a laser interrupted his gloat.

"Man, that guy really gets on my nerves," 002 commented as he fired the laser. 003 aimed and fired back with her laser. "But I can't hit 003."

**002, keep them at bay. We'll be joining the fight as soon as we can,** 009 communicated. He then addressed the rest of the team grimly, "It appears that Black Ghost has done something to 003 to turn her against us. We need to figure a way to break through to her while not hurting her.

Dr. Gilmore and 001 came to the deck. "It appears that Scarl has used a similar device that was used when she had hallucinated in Paris that Christmas Eve," he informed them. "Only this device is more insidious."

**That's right. 003's mind has been blocked of her memories and her emotion, the strongest part of her has been rendered almost nonexistent. For us that has makes her very dangerous, it is like he has wiped all memory and feeling for us from her**

All the cyborgs were stunned. 007 and 006 looked shocked, 008 shook his head in disbelief, 004 scowled, 005 was expressionless with his hands clenched in tight fists, but 009 had a look of ironclad determination. No he said silently Black Ghost, you will not take 003 away from us, away from me. I'll fight and get her back if it's the last thing I do.

"So how can we counter that?" 004 wanted to know.

**The only way we can, through her heart. And the only one who can be successful doing that is 009 since he's in her heart as she's in his.**

The team all turned and studied 009, words at a loss. Dr. Gilmore broke the silence and asked, "Are you up to do this, 009?"

All eyes turned to Joe Shimamura as the young Japanese cyborg nodded, "I totally agree. I will go alone to reach her and bring her back to us." He clicked his teeth and cried, "Acceleration Mode" and he was gone before anyone could protest.

Back on the deck of Black Ghost's submarine, 003 was continuing her laser shootout with 002 who was flying back and forth at half his mach 5 speed. Like the coward he was, Scarl was directing her telepathically from inside the sub.

**Keep firing, Francoise. The 00 cyborgs must be destroyed and you are the only one to accomplish this.**

"Yes, I will," she said automatically, her tone flat and emotionless. She scanned the perimeter of the submarine, laser in hand and didn't see when 009 appeared behind her.

009 materialized just behind 003 as she made her sweep and he was fighting mixed emotions. One was fury at Black Ghost manipulating the girl he loved so to be a killing machine, something he knew was abhorrent to her gentle nature. The other was concern for her safety, wanting to get her back to the Dolphin and once again in the bosom of the group that was her family. He shadowed her movements to remain undetected as he gathered his plan together.

003 came to a stop and said, "Hiding from me is pointless, 009. I know you're behind me and your destruction is imminent." She whirled around aiming the laser gun but again 009 shadowed her movements like a wraith.

"Listen to me, 003. This isn't your doing. Black Ghost has manipulated your mind and arrested your emotions. He's tried to take away the essence of your humanity. Don't allow him to succeed, 003," Joe entreated as he continued dodging her by staying behind her.

**Pay no attention to him, Francoise. I care for you and together we can rid the world of the 00 cyborg menace.**

"Yes," she agreed numbly as she continued firing. Jet continued to return the fire from the night sky, but he was purposely missing her.

009 decided that he was going to try to get through to 003 the only way he knew he could, through her emotions. He tried again to break through to her. "003, Francoise, please listen to me. You can't let him do this to you, take away the sweet compassion that is you. I knew it the minute I first met you that you were one of the sweetest, most loving people I had ever known."

Her shoulders slumped as she lowered the weapon. Joe took note of her hesitation and continued. "We've all been through so much as a team but you and me have been through a lot together, just us. Remember when 0010 tried to kill you? I saved you because I couldn't let him destroy you."

003's shoulders trembled a bit as 009 went on. "After that attack I was so weak with a fever, you stayed with me till I was well. That meant so much to me, Francoise. Nobody ever cared for me like that since I was a little kid with the Father."

On 003's face, she bit her lips as she completely lowered the laser cannon. Joe moved right up to her and gently took her shoulders in his hands squeezing them.

"Remember Christmas Eve in Paris? I was frantic, trying to find you and then a red biplane flew by and led me to you. You were dancing on the crumbling terrace of the tower and almost fell but I stopped you. You turned and fired your laser at me and then when I was laid out, you came up to me and helped me come around. Then during the fireworks you asked how I came to find you and I told you about that plane, your brother's plane and it flew by again. Your brother's spirit led me to you because he loved you and wanted to make sure you were saved."

"J-Jean P-Paul," Francoise whimpered.

Joe saw a subtle change in her demeanor. It's working he said to himself I'm getting through to her heart. He leaned his head over her shoulder so his lips were right next to her ear. "Francoise, remember the time we watched the Northern Lights in the rose garden? I had the scent of roses in my head for a long time after that and then I found that roses was your favorite perfume so it had even more meaning to me." His voice deepened and became husky, "Sphinx, the computer fell in love with you. He was really Carl Ekamen, Dr. Ekamen's son who wanted you. He drew you into the computer and I rushed in because I wouldn't let him take you away from me. He then tried to make me believe he'd destroyed you and I was shattered, my heart was broken, afraid you were lost to me forever."

His arms wrapped around her as he nuzzled her neck, savoring the feel of the gold silk of her hair. "And the other day when we finally kissed, it was something more wonderful than my wildest dreams. Even when other girls caught my eye, none of them could come close to you. All this time while you've been gone has been a nightmare to me, a nightmare that continues into day, that has had no end."

Scarl's infuriated voice rang in her head. **Don't listen to him. He's lying and trying to deceive you. He and all the other 00 cyborgs are evil, he's just waiting to destroy you.**

"No!" 003 screamed as she wrenched herself from 009's arms and bent over, covering her ears. She grabbed the laser cannon and leveled it at him. "You're a liar. You want to destroy me." She fired the weapon and 009 accelerated before the beam could hit him.

002 hovered near 009. "You might as well forget it. She's not biting, that creep's got too great a hold on her."

"No 002, I was getting through to her I know it! I'm going to try again." 009 insisted as he accelerated and got behind 003 again. 002 shook his head disgustedly.

003 scanned the area again and sensed 009's presence again. She tried to whirl around but he had taken hold of her arms and began again to touch the far reaches of her heart.

"Francoise, we all are missing you. Chang, GB, Albert, Jet, Pyunma, Geronimo, Ivan, and Dr. Gilmore. You're the bright light in all of us. We may be cyborgs but we are family, because Black Ghost ripped us from the lives we had and our families. You've been like a mother to Ivan, a sister to the other guys, and a friend they can depend on. Dr. Gilmore is like our father. And there's us."

Once again 003 lowered the laser cannon as she tuned into 009's gentle words.

His arms then encircled her, holding her to his chest. "Francoise, you have to listen to me. If you give in to the evil of Black Ghost, all will be lost. Everything all of us have been fighting for and fighting against. We all escaped because we didn't want to be used as machines made for the express purpose of evil. You, koishii, most of all could never allow that to happen. You've been like an angel to all of us, with your sweet and kind heart, your concern for others. You are the example of what I want my life to reflect."

Francoise's body convulsed with suppressed sobs as Joe held her tighter, burying his face in her hair. "When I first came to all of you when 001 guided me to you, I was afraid and unsure. But when I saw your beautiful face, and those amazing eyes of yours, I knew my place was anywhere you were going to be."

He continued as her sobbing became more pronounced, "Francoise, the other day when we kissed I knew that what I felt was like nothing I had ever felt before. And with you gone, I realized what deep down I've known all along, I love you. With all my heart, koishii, I love you."

"Joe," she whispered, dropping the laser to the deck.

**No! Don't listen, Francoise, you're mine, my creation! I made you and if you don't do as I say I will destroy you!** Scarl leapt from the submarine hatch and hovered above the couple, a frightening spectre all aglow with the sonic wave device in his hand. "Okay cyborg, die!" he screamed as he pushed the device to its limit and pointed at them.

But just at that moment, a bright blue beam hit the device causing it to explode, shooting up multicolored sparks like a Roman candle. Scarl howled as another beam hit his body causing it to arc with energy as the apparition was infused with a blue-white light, illuminating the night. The caped figure fell to the deck like a sack of potatoes.

Finally released from her spell, Francoise fainted, falling limp in Joe's arms. He scooped her up and cradled her, holding her close to his heart It's all over, koishii. You're safe now and I'll never let anything ever happen to you.

Jet landed beside them. "Is she okay?" he asked 009 in concern.

"She will be when we get back to the ship." He glanced at his second and said gratefully, "Thanks for doing such a great job."

002 tossed his head and said airily, "Don't mention it. It's all in a days work." 009 and 002 exchanged tired grins.

Both cyborgs' attention was caught by the Dolphin drawing up to the submarine and the rest of the team arriving. The large ship came up to the starboard side and the rest of the cyborgs joined their teammates.

"Well we're certainly glad to see you all," 006 said as he came forward.

005 gestured to 003, still held in 009's arms. "How is 003?"

009 replied, "She'll be fine, she just needs some rest."

As if in answer, 003's aqua eyes fluttered open to the warm golden brown eyes partially obscured by shaggy mahogany hair and a sweet shy smile. "J-Joe? Is that you?"

He smiled in relief, "Hai, Francoise. It's me."

"Thank you again for saving me," she murmured as her eyes closed again.

009 sighed and addressed the team, "Let's go back to the Dolphin." Still carrying his precious bundle he headed for the ship.

"You heard our leader, team let's go," 002 directed as the entire team followed.

TO BE CONTINUED--EPILOGUE

A/N: A very special thanks to Silver Starr and her time and effort getting me the summaries for episodes later in the series, especially episode 30—This chapter couldn't have been written without you.