Chapter Two

Carla was in the mountains. She was very cold, and wet, having swam in a raging river. Now she climbed around the snowy mountains, with nothing. Her pack had sunk down into the riverbed. As she trudged on, she wondered why on earth she'd thought her father would be in the mountains. Night was falling as her body gave way to numbness. It was about then that Carla realized her mistake. She'd lost her map, and all her supplies. She sank to her knees, with a soft sigh, that sounded more like a despairing sob. If her father was around, he'd more than likely find her dead of hypothermia. With that thought, the young girl laid her head down on her two hands, against the cold ground, and just waited.

009 had been walking around, listening to the directions from his team, and looking for the young girl for a long time, when something small caught his eye. "Hey, I think I've found her. Whoa, she is little."

"Don't startle her. What is she doing?" 003 sounded every bit as maternal as 009 imagined she would be.

"She's sleeping think. Oh my…. Without coverings or anything!" He raced up ahead towards the girl's camp. "What should I do?"

"First make sure she's still alive. Then bring her back here." 004 replied on the radio. "003 thinks Black Ghost might be looking for her."

"Right. Okay. 009 out." He turned his attention to the girl on the ground at his feet. "What were you thinking, girl, coming out in this place alone?" He checked for a pulse from her, and when he found a faint one, he scooped her up. "It's going to be okay.my friends and I will take care of you. I promise." He turned around, and headed back to their compound. The quicker he got her to warmth, the better. "Acceleration mode." With that, he became a blur, carrying the girl with him.

"Oh my goodness! I know her face…." 004 exclaimed, as he helped 006 make a heating pad for the child.

"Really? Who is she?" The fire-producing chef questioned.

"She's the child of a Black Ghost member." 004 replied. "Her father was one of the ones who held me captive last time we were attacked. He showed me a picture of her."

"Oh boy…. Things just got interesting, didn't they? Why would he let his own daughter out without any kind of protection against the cold?" 006 put the warm pad against the girl's cold skin.

"Maybe he didn't. We'll have to wait until she wakes up to find out for sure." 004 said softly. "I can't imagine him doing anything of the sort. He talked of her as if she was his whole world."

"Hmm…. Well I should go make sure there's food enough for her to join us at dinner. Are you going to stay here until she awakens?" The chef turned around in the doorway, staring at 004.

"No. I think she needs to be left be. I'm sure one of us will be checking on her every so often. " 004 walked out of the bedroom, and closed the door softly behind him.

It seemed like hours before Carla's eyes fluttered open. She tried to move, but realized there was something warm on her side. "Mmm…" She looked around the strange room nervously. Where was she? How had she gotten there? "H-hello…. Is anyone there?" She called towards the cracked door. "I'd really like to leave now…."

"You're in no condition to be going anywhere." She heard suddenly. She looked around for the person the voice belonged to.

"Who's there? Where are you?"

"Look up. I'm above you." The voice replied.

Carla looked up, and saw a basket floating, with a baby looking out over its edge. "Uh…."

"Don't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you. " The basket settle on the edge of the bed, as the baby seemed to study the girl. "What's your name?"

"Carla Baker. Who are you? What is this place?"

"I'm 001. This is the mansion of Professor Kazumi. My fellow teammates and I found you unconscious in the snow about ten miles from here."

"Oh! I must've passed out from the cold…." Carla felt herself shaking still, although she knew well it was not cold that caused it. "001…. That can't be your real name…who would name their child 001?"

"Well, the thing is, I'm only an infant in some respects. But I won't bore you with that right now. I'd come to see if you were awake, and if you wanted some food."

Carla was starving. How long had it been since her fall into the river? She didn't know. She stared at the peculiar baby, and nodded. "I'm very hungry…."

"Do you need help to stand? My friend 005 would be glad to help you."

"005? Don't you people have real names?" Carla was beginning to feel a little uneasy with all the numbers.

"We did have real names, once." A new, female voice replied. "We'll explain everything after dinner. Won't you come and join us?"

"What's your name?" Carla stared at the girl with blonde hair.

"I'm 003. It was 001 who detected you first." She helped Carla out of bed. "I put you into one of my nightgowns. It's a little big, but it should do for now."

"I…. Thank you, 003. What happened to my old clothes?" Carla crawled out of the bed slowly.

"They were soaked. 004 put them into the dryer. They should be done soon enough." 003 smiled pleasantly. "Come on. Dinner's about done." She led the way to the dining room.