Chapter Twelve

"Please! Don't hurt me anymore!" Melissa flinched as another shock went through her.

"Where did she go?" Her captor asked again.

"I already told you. I don't know!" Melissa cried in pain. Four days had gone by. Every day, Black Ghost's assistants had asked Jordan and her the same question. Melissa wasn't lying when she said she didn't know where Carla was. She only suspected that the girl had gone to the ballet boarding academy. Of course, she wouldn't tell them that. Jordan was keeping his silence as well.

"Whether you tell us or not doesn't matter. We will find her. Then she will tell us where the rebel cyborgs are. "

"Don't count on it, Garlic Breath!" Jordan retorted. "If she wouldn't even tell us, her best friends, she sure as heck won't tell you!"

"Very well." He nodded to someone, and the two children were taken away to their separate cells. He looked to the lone scientist who was being made to watch. "Well, Dr. Baker. It seems your so-called daughter is more elusive than we imagined."

"She will not be caught. She is very intelligent little girl." Baker spat. "And if she truly is friends with the rebel cyborgs, she is the better for it.

"Or just stupid for it. She's put herself into even more danger by associating with them. " He left Baker tied up where he was, and went to see if any of his associates had found Carla yet.

"What are you guys doing here?!" Carla stared at Francoise and Joe.

"We've come to take you away from here. Two of your friends have been taken captive." Francoise explained.

"I can't go! They're doing auditions for Swan Lake!" Carla stared at her two unofficial guardians. "Please don't make me go, Francoise! You know how much this means to me!"

003 sighed deeply. Of course she knew how important it was to her. "I'm really sorry, Sweetheart….."

"No! I won't leave! You can't make me!" Carla ran back into the school.

"That went well….." 009 sighed.

"She's so happy here, 009. Do we have to do this?" 003 could sympathize with Carla's longing.

"You know what will happen if Black Ghost gets their hands on her! We can't risk it." 009 replied firmly. "Get Professor Gilmore. We're going to have to do some fast talking to get her out of that school. "

"Alright." 003 walked back to the Dolphin while 009 waited patiently.

"You're one of them! I knew you looked familiar!"

009 turned around to see a tall girl,with brown hair and green eyes. "Excuse me?"

"You're one of Carla's rebel friends. A cyborg!"

"And who are you?" 009's voice was sharp with agitation. Maybe 002 had been right. Carla didn't know how to keep her mouth shut.

"I'm Frances. Carla's missed you all so much. But she said you wouldn't be able to visit."

"We're not supposed to be here, she's right about that. We came to remove her from harm." 009 replied coldly. "And appearently, we came too late to keep her from talking."

"She needed to tell someone. She's young yet. Don't worry,I haven't uttered a word. It's been four months since she told me." Frances defended her young friend. "Actually,I'm honored to finally meet you."

009 was immediately sorry for his reaction to Frances. "Um….well…thanks. The others are in the Dolphin around back.."

"Actually, we're right here." 007 piped up from behind them.

"Ah!" Frances stared at them in awe. "Wow…this is so neat."

"I'm 007, but you can call me GB." 007 extended a hand for the girl to shake.

"I'm Frances. You can call me Frannie. Carla's told me so much about you all. Especially 001 and 006."

"What did she say about me? Did she tell you I was a great cook?" The chef wanted to know.

"Yes, I did." Carla had returned, with her bags.

"You're not really going, are you? You're a shoo in to play Oddette!" Frances stared at her young friend sadly.

"I have to go, or I'll be putting everyone here in jeopardy." The twelve-year-old replied softly. She turned to her friends. "I….I failed you."

"No, Sweetie. You did better than any of us could've guessed." 008 replied, taking one of her bags.

"Five months, and only three people know." Dr. Gilmore said. "That's not bad."

"Who is it that Black Ghost took?" Carla asked, remembering Francoise's statement.

"Your friends from the Science Academy. Jordan and Melissa." Albert told her.

"Oh no!" Carla exclaimed. "We have to go after them!"

"I'm afraid that might be impossible." Gilmore replied. "You see, we know they're taken, but we don't know where."

"We have to find them!" Carla insisted.

"Calm down. Let's get you to safety first." Joe said soothingly. "Then we will see about your friends."

"Alright….." She turned to follow Albert and Chang on to the Dolphin.

Joe nodded, then turned to Frances. "You'll have to come with us."

"Me?! No,I can't go, but you can rest assured your secret is safe with me." Frances said.

"I'm afraid, you haven't a choice in the matter." Jet replied, coming up, and grabbing her arm firmly, but not hurting her. "We can't leave any evidence that we've been here." He pulled Frances along to the Dolphin. "It's really not as big as it looks." He added to her, when he saw her shiver.

"I hate flying." Frances muttered, as he helped her aboard.

"You're perfectly safe with us." Jet told her kindly. "Take a seat for now. Once we're in the air, you're free to look around."

Frances looked over at Carla, who was talking quietly to a baby. She guessed the baby was 001. "Looks like we're going to be together…"

"Cool!" Carla grinned at her friend, before returning to her talk with Baby Ivan. "I missed you so much."

"I've missed you too, Big Sister." Ivan replied,clutching her finger tightly. "Don't leave again."

"I don't think I will. At least until I'm older." Carla knew somehow that she probably wouldn't leave them again for a long time.