Chapter Five

The trip to the boardwalk was a big change for Carla. It was very crowded. She was put between Francoise and Joe, for safekeeping, but that was only a minor inconvenience for her. The two older cyborgs were good company for her though. The first stop they made was to a clothing shop. Since Carla had lost her pack in the river, all of her pretty clothing had also been lost. "I need new clothes. I can't imagine wearing the same outfit for the duration of my stay."

"I agree with you. I know a great place for bargain shopping." Francoise led them down the row of shops. "Ah. Here we go."

"Do I have to..? This really isn't my thing…" Joe started.

"Come on, Joe. It'll be fun!" Francoise pulled him inside.

"She hasn't attempted contact. Maybe she's dead. We found this in the river close by." The black clothed man held up Carla's satchel so that Stephen Baker and his captor could see it.

"Carla…. No……" Dr. Baker shook his head in disbelief. "She's not dead! She's not!"

"Then call her,Dr. Baker. Have her meet you somewhere. The location where this pack was found was not far from this base."

"Never! I will not let you capture her!"

"Either you call her, or I will. I have a voice manipulator, so it will not be that hard for me to imitate you."

"You…you Monster! Leave her alone!" In his own thoughts, he thought it would be better if Carla was dead. At least then she wouldn't have to be a victim of Black Ghost's cruelty.

"Call. Now."

There was a cold metal barrel at his head now. "Okay…okay…" He pulled out his cellphone, and with shaking fingers, fumbled to dial his daughter's number. Please,don't pick up,Carla. Please. He begged silently, as he listened to the sound of the phone ringing.

"That looks really cute on you, Carla. Don't you think so, Joe?" Francoise nudged 009 who was dozing. "Doesn't it?"

"Oh yeah. It's looks very nice." Joe replied sincerely.

"I'll take it." Carla went back into the fitting room for the last time, and removed the blue sailor dress. She put on the laced dress she'd bought and tied her hair back, before emerging once more. "I think we're done here." She picked up the thirteen outfits her two friends had picked out for her.

"It's about time. Are you hungry? We could grab a bite to eat." Offered Joe.

"Sure. I could go for some non-organic food. Not that I hate Chang's cooking. "

"Don't feel too bad. We don't always like it either." Francoise assured her. "There's a great restaurant down the block from here. Let's see if it's open."

Once again, the three friends found themselves in the street, walking. As they were getting to the doors,Carla heard her cell phone ring. That's strange, she thought. No one knows my number but one person. She took her phone out, and checked the caller identification. It was her father's number. She looked over at Joe and Francoise, who were trying to get them into the restaurant. As the phone continued to ring, Carla began to worry. Why was her father just now contacting her? Was he in trouble or something? She gave in, and answered. "This is Carla…"

"Carla….you're alive…" Stephen's voice sounded ragged, and full of sorrow.

"Daddy? What's going on? Where are you?" Carla demanded,trying to keep the fear out of her voice. She looked over her shoulder at her two guardians.

"Baby,listen to me, okay? I need you to meet me in the shopping center. Do you know where that is? Be there tomorrow at sunset."

"But why? Are we in trouble?" She was trying hard to fight off the angry tears she felt welling up in her eyes.

"No. I want to show you this neat little dance studio I found. Just meet me,okay?" The line went dead then,and Carla hung up slowly.

"That was weird…" She muttered, as she returned to Joe and Francoise.

"Is everything alright,Carla? You look very pale." Joe stared at her concerned.

"My….my father called." She said slowly.

"He did? When?" Joe's gaze darted around the streets, then he looked at Francoise. "We better skip dinner. She needs to get home."

"I think you're right. Come on." Francoise put her hand in Carla's gently,but firmly.

"But….I have to meet him tomorrow night."

"Not alone you won't." Joe informed her firmly. "I was afraid this was going to happen." The two cyborgs led their charge back to the dock with the submarine.

"You can't keep me away from my father!" Carla raged angrily. "That would be kidnapping."

Joe looked at Francoise helplessly. What was he supposed to say to that? The child was right. He was her father.

"We've no intention of keeping you away from your father,Sweetheart. Joe just wants to make sure nothing happens to you. " Francoise soothed gently,as Joe pulled the submarine under, towards the compound. "Your father might be being forced into giving you over to them."

"It doesn't make spying on us right." Carla said slowly.

"No, that's true. But it really is for the best." Joe answered. "Buckle up."

"She told you all of this on her own?" 001 asked 009 slowly.

"Yeah." It was late that night, when 009 remembered the weird dream Carla had told him about. Luckily,001 was still awake. "It is a little suspicious, don't you think?"

"I agree. But we can't stop her from meeting the man she thinks is her father. For all we know, it could've been nothing but a dream. However, I do suggest that you,004,006 and 007 go with her, and hide,in case our worst fears are confirmed."

"Sounds like a plan. But I think it would be better if the others went on ahead of us. Carla's not too happy that I'm insisting on chaperoning to begin with."

"Alright. I'll inform them. Is Carla in bed already?" 001 shifted a little in his basket.

"Yeah. 003 put her to bed earlier. I get the feeling 003 likes playing her mother, you know?"

"What about you playing Daddy?" 001 teased. "You like playing that role too."

"Nah. I'm more of an older brother type. Carla will never think of us more than that." 009 replied, as he started to walk of the room.

"Hey…take me to her room. I want to watch over her." 001 requested. "Poor thing's had such a long, trying day. She's bound to have more dreams."

So,with a light heart, 009 walked Baby Ivan to Carla's room, and set his basket on her bed. "Good night,001. Sleep well." He closed the door to Carla's room, and went to brief the others on the next day's events.