Author's Note: Thanks so much to all of you readers and reviewers. To answer some questions, this is not a Gary Stu (male equivalent to Mary Sue) because I despise them. 003 is not in love with Robespierre, she still deeply loves Joe. The plot is for Robespierre to infiltrate the 00 cyborgs and cause disunity in the team making it easy to destroy them. Black Ghost used data from when he had kidnapped 003 in my other story Sunset Dance Into Darkness to have him gain trust and access into the group. Joe is suspicious naturally but as the story progresses you'll see that so is Gilmore. 003 is drawn to Robespierre because he represents a tie to her past, a past she misses. If anybody wants the synopsis of the story, e-mail me at angelsong60@yahoo.com

IN THE MIDST OF THE VORTEX

Joe continued staring out his window at the two locked together on the moon swept beach and anguish overtook him as he felt the sting of tears at what he perceived as yet another loss in his life. His mind imagined all sorts of scenarios, and his heart constricted in pain as he grieved. I really, really love her and now I'm losing her. I've lost so much in my life, why is it that whenever I think that I have someone that could really be mine, they're stripped away from me? Oh Franciose, my koishii, why, why?

His tortured thoughts were interrupted by the brash announcement of 002 as he barged in. "Hey 009, it's almost time to eat, aren't you coming?"

"I'm not hungry," Joe said flatly as he hurriedly wiped his eyes dry. The last thing he wanted was for Jet to see him in the throes of lovesickness, the former street tough would never let him hear the end of it.

002 glanced at his commander curiously as he said, "You're gonna miss out on Chang's special chow mein. It's your favorite."

Joe became irritated. "I said I'm not hungry! "Now just leave me alone!" he snapped as he whirled and glared at the rocket man.

"Okay, okay! Geez, ya don't have to bite my head off," Jet replied irately as he glared back.

The two men eyed each other evenly as if in a stalemate when Joe turned with a grunt and resumed his vigil at the window.

Jet sighed and approached his Japanese comrade. He placed a clumsy hand on Joe's shoulder to console him. "Look, 009. I know it hasn't been easy for you, seeing 003 with that guy. If it's any consolation, I don't trust him either."

"There's something not right about this whole thing, 002. And it's not just that I'm jealous," he admitted as 002's eyes lit up in triumph. "Yeah, I'm admitting I'm jealous but there's more. Why did he come from nowhere and run into me and 003? And why is it that he's all of a sudden a cyborg who was someone from her past? And if he really is a first generation cyborg from France, why wasn't he with the rest of you guys? There's just too many unanswered questions, the whole thing gives me a bad feeling."

002 nodded as he too pondered. "Yeah, I have to agree with you, 009." He turned and headed to the door. "So you're still not hungry?"

009 managed a slight smile. "No, but thanks for asking." He turned his attention back to the beach.

"Sure," Jet said as he continued heading out. He turned and addressed Joe again. "009?"

"Yeah?"

"Take it easy, huh?"

Joe turned with a wry grin and gestured with a thumbs up. Grin fading, he then turned back to the window and noticed that 003 and 0017 had gone inside. . . .

At the dining room table, the 00 cyborgs were all gathered to eat the dinner Chang had prepared. 002 came down the stairs and glared at 0017 who was seated in 009's seat by 003. He took his seat across and continued shooting daggers at the Frenchman.

Francoise noticed the hostile gaze and remarked acidly, "Is there a problem, 002?"

Jet's eyes narrowed as he turned away. "Humph!"

Chang entered with a steaming bowl just as Gilmore and 001 entered. "I'm sorry to interrupt your mealtime again, team but we have to depart for another mission. Black Ghost is on the prowl again with a new operation."

009 had slipped into the room unobtrusively and stood by listening as 001 addressed the group telepathically.

**It appears from some communiqués I've picked up between Black Ghost operatives indicate an operation that involves a theft of uranium stores. Since they need uranium for fusion and fission bomb production and since Saskatchewan in Canada has the richest raw uranium mine at Key Lake they have targeted it for a hit and are on their way to do that.**

Gilmore stated, "So we're off again."

The group needed no further prompting and exited rapidly to head to the Dolphin. 003 and 0017 stopped and met the scientist with inquiring gazes. No words necessary, Gilmore sighed and nodded and the two were off to join the rest of the 00 team. . . .

The Black Ghost ship, the super fortress known as the Dymanta crept through the cloud-laden skies as flashes of lightning blinked about it as if they were heralding its arrival to Key Lake. Blakke Forege, the, obnoxious and vainglorious commander sat at his control seat, like Napoleon in his throne, sipping at his omnipresent glass of wine. He pondered his conversation with Scarl. . . .

"Forege, I trust that you will be able to accomplish this small task. The last time you failed, woefully inadequate in your attempt to capture the Dolphin and destroy the renegade cyborgs."

"I know sir. Trust me it won't happen again."

"It had better not. You're skating on thin ice, I won't tolerate your incompetence in this task."

"I will not fail you, sir, I promise."

"You'd better not. Now go," the skull visaged apparition dismissed the diminutive officer with a wave of his hand. Forage turned and scurried to his ship. . . .

Forege sipped his wine with a thoughtfully evil grin splitting his black goatee as he anticipated his victory.

A midshipman approached him gingerly and stated, "We are approximately 25 kilometers from Key Lake Mine, sir."

"Excellent. Prepare for battle," Forage ordered as he downed the rest of his wine.

At the Key Lake mine, the activity was as everyday busy with cart after cart of the ore streaming from the deep underground mine, heading for the facility where the refining of the mineral would turn it to the U-235 isotope that was required for nuclear energy plants since construction of weapons was forbidden due to a global moratorium. The workers that were loading the ore into the trucks for transporting cast an uneasy eye to the darkening sky where the cloud ceiling was covered in bulging mammatus, colored greenish-gray with lightning skittering across their ominous surfaces.

"Hey take a look up there. It's a storm brewin' that's for sure," one man commented to his co-worker.

The latter gazed up into the dark clime and nodded. "Yeah, we'd better get moving and get these trucks to the facility." As he turned to resume his task, he came face to face with a high-powered rifle in his face and the amused laughter of Commander Blakke Forege of the Black Ghost army. They were amazed by the view of Black Ghost troops storming the mine facilities, herding workers over to the mine entrance as the lightning began flashing in earnest, the rains started lashing in sheets, and the wind began to increase.

"You needn't worry about that. My men will take care of the ore, you just get over to where the other prisoners are and maybe we'll spare your puny life." He handed the two men to his soldiers to bring them to where the other workers were corralled, by the entrance of the mine.

Forege turned to his troops and announced, "All right men, let's grab the uranium and go. Black Ghost will be very pleased." He grinned in self-satisfaction.

His gloat was interrupted by his second in command. "Pardon sir but the radar is picking up a hostile presence heading this way. It could be the 00 cyborgs."

"Ridiculous! Those fools haven't a clue as to what we have planned," the belligerent commander sneered. "It must be a figment of your imagination."

"B-but, sir--"

"Silence! You should know by now, Black Ghost is second to none."

He threw his head back to laugh and choked instead when a large fast blur swooped above them, shooting laser rays causing his men to scatter.

"Not on your life, scum. Release those men now!" 002 ordered as he flew back and forth. The Black Ghost attack forces trained their weapons on the flame-haired hellion as he continued his assault.

At the same time, 004 used his leg launchers to blast at the black Ghost fighters while 006 shot flames at them that defied the torrential downpour that engulfed them.

The rest of the 00 cyborgs had split up and were attacking his men, causing them to set to flight as 003, 007, and 0017 headed to the frightened mine workers to calm them down.

"Don't worry, you're safe now," 003 said soothingly as one worker looked past her to the southwestern sky and gasped in fright.

"Oh no! Look!"

At the rear flank of the raging thunderstorm, a wall cloud had formed and an unmistakable tongue of vapor from the dark sky lowered, insidious like a viper as it spiraled down to the ground forming the funnel of a tornado. Like a stalking monster, the twister then began its sure approach to the mine complex.

"Great Caesar's Ghost!" GB expostulated. "We need to get to shelter pronto!"

"There's a storm shelter over about 200 feet to the north. But we have to hurry!" the supervisor exclaimed as the group of workers became terrified.

"Now everybody just go! Follow 007 and we will cover the back of you," 0017 directed as 007 and the mining supervisor led the panicked group to the cellar doors to the underground sanctuary.

Back at the battle scene, the rest of the cyborgs were engaged in the skirmish with Forege and his guard, firing their lasers almost continuously, as 004 peppered the harried troops with his warheads. But still the stubborn and bellicose commander stood jeering as he too fired his weapon.

"Ha! You must be joking if you think that you alone could defeat us," Forege said mockingly as he suddenly saw 009, 008, and 005 advancing as they shot their lasers. Seeing that they had no chance and spotting the approaching twister, the Black Ghost troops began pulling back much to the chagrin of their commander.

"Whaaat? Men, I order you to attack!" Forege howled but to no avail, his troops spooked by both the formidable cyborgs and the threatening weather were in full retreat as the lightning strobed about.

"You haven't heard the last from me, cyborgs! If it's the last thing I do I'll see to it all of you are destroyed, you cannot win against Black Ghost's evil forces!" he roared as he too turned tail and ran.

Jet hovered and landed by the team as he said cockily, "Well, that didn't take long, I hardly worked up a sweat."

009 tossed his head as he retorted, "Don't get so smug. We still have work to do, we've got to get the workers to safety." He whirled around and cursed as he saw the tornado. "Where the hell did that come from?"

002 glanced at the cyclone, "Holy crap! We gotta split!" he bellowed as he jetted over to the shelter, followed by 009, 004, 008, and 005. They joined the group of mine workers filing into the subterranean shelter.

The tornado was moving ever closer, pulsating and crackling with lightning and it became larger as it got closer. The cyborgs were nearly finished shepherding the group to safety and were about to follow suit when 003 noticed a slight figure being tossed about in the shrieking winds.

"Oh no, that poor boy! I've got to go help him!"

It was a youth, about 16 who had come out of the mine and had no idea as to what was happening. Afraid for the teen, she pushed her way though, turned and raced toward the boy as the twister was nearly upon them. 009's eyes widened in horror as he realized her intention.

"NO, 003 don't!" 009 screamed into the wind and was about accelerate and go after her when a flash passed him. The 00 cyborg commander then saw the flash materialize as 0017 and plant himself right before the roaring vortex. He opened his mouth and the twister was suddenly drawn into his mouth, hissing and moaning as if in protest. The whirlwind then disappeared into 0017's mouth as he shot electric bolts from his eyes at the flashing forks from the sky and the clouds split and dissipated like smoke. The sky became clear and the sun shone brightly as the wind ceased immediately.

"Whoa!" 009 said incredulously as 002, 008, 007 and 005 stood gaping in disbelief.

0017 knelt beside 003 as she was crouched over the frightened teen and gently helped both to their feet. He looped his arm around 003's shoulders as she led the youth over to the shelter.

007 opened the door and called down to the terrified group. "It's okay everybody. The storm's gone and it's safe to come out." The fearful group began pouring out and everyone looked about in sheer amazement at the clear, sunny sky.

0017, 003 and the teen came over to the shelter entrance. The boy headed for the group of rescued mine workers as 009 grabbed 003 by the shoulders and addressed her, worry etched on his sculptured features.

"Francoise koishii, are you all right?" Joe forgot all about them being on a mission as his emotions took over and he crushed her to him in a fierce embrace.

"I'm fine, Joe," she reassured him in a shaky voice. "Thanks to 0017."

009 turned and glanced at the tall French cyborg as he stood there, arms crossed on his chest. Almost grudgingly, he stepped up to Robespierre offered his hand, showing his gratitude to him.

"0017, thanks for your help. If you hadn't done what you did--" he let it trail as the thought was too heart wrenching to bear as he crushed 003 to him again.

0017 noticed the emotion and lowered his head as he answered, "Don't worry about it. I was just contributing my part to the team."

003 pushed herself away from 009's embrace, much to the latter's dismay. She gazed gratefully into 0017's eyes, her own glimmering with unshed tears. "Thank you for saving my life."

Robespierre smiled fondly at her, showing even white teeth. "Do not mention it, ma cherie. I owe it to Jean Paul to look after his petite soeur." He embraced her and 009 felt a pang in his heart watching as the other cyborgs came up to them.

"Well, everyone is coming out of the shelter," announced 004 as he drew up to the trio. "The storm came and went?" he inquired as he viewed the clear skies.

"Yeah, thanks to 0017," 009 said laconically as the rest of the team came forward and heard.

"You're kidding," 008 said, awestruck

"How did you do it?" 006 asked as the rest of the cyborgs probed Robespierre with their eyes.

The tall French cyborg was nonchalant as he shrugged and answered, "I used my cyborg capabilities to absorb the tornado and dissolve the storm."

The team was struck silent as they regarded Robespierre with expressions of gratitude, amazement and unbelief. GB broke the mood in his usual flamboyantly effusive manner

"Bravo, mon ami. I wish I had seen it," he said clapping 0017 on the shoulder.

"Yeah, that sounds terrific," Pyunma said as Geronimo nodded.

"I have to admit, I'm impressed," 002 stated in amazement

"Well, I guess that makes it official then," 004 said matter-of-factly. "You're a part of the team. So now, thanks to 0017 that the mission was a success, let's all head back."

The group of cyborgs headed in the direction of the amphibious transport vehicle that would take them back to the Dolphin. But as everyone fell in step with another as they made their way back, 009 was trudging along behind alone, his head bowed, utterly crestfallen as his eyes saw 003 walking along side with 0017. . . .

On the Dymanta, a defeated Forege sat on his throne waiting for the inevitable ax to fall when Black Ghost would contact him. He did not even pour himself a glass of wine from the chilled bottle waiting for his consumption. Then the communicator screen flashed with Scarl's malevolent countenance as his voice boomed like a death knell.

"Well Commander Forege? What news have you to tell me?"

The commander began to shudder involuntarily as he stammered, "W-well sir, we didn't succeed in acquiring the uranium."

"Indeed? And why is that?" Scarl asked almost genially.

Forege sighed as he admitted, "The 00 cyborgs came and battled with us just as we were about to seize it then there was a storm that came so we retreated." He lowered his head in abject shame then just as quick it shot up as he heard the hideous laughter of the head of the criminal organization.

Scarl's maniacal laughter echoed throughout the craft as he responded, "Commander, I know all about your failure. But take heart, I am not displeased, for everything went just as planned."

Forege was confused. "S-sir?"

Scarl laughed again. "Commander, I sent you to Key Lake because I wanted the 00 cyborg rebels to show up. You see, I wanted our operative, 0017 to win their trust. And the weather just made it perfect."

"Come again, sir?"

Scarl explained, "Cyborg 0017, is our planted operative who is to infiltrate the renegades and cause them to come apart. He has capabilities to control the atmosphere as well as the other natural elements. By calming the storm, he has proven himself to the fools to gain their trust. It will be that much easier to destroy them once their balance of unity is disrupted."

Forege's beady eyes lit up with understanding. He answered maliciously, "That is a brilliant plan, sir."

Scarl laughed evilly as he bade, "Commander, return to base for debriefing and then we shall plan the next phase of the operation. Over." The screen went black.

Forege leaned back in relief as he pondered the words his leader just spoke. Genius, pure genius, Black Ghost is a genius and it's an honor to serve him. He reached and poured himself a healthy draught of wine and sipped it, delighting in the beverage and the news he had received.

His pilot called out, "Ready to depart, sir?"

Forege grinned like the proverbial cat that swallowed the canary as he ordered, "Yes, back to the base immediately. He leaned back in pure bliss.

NEXT---SEEDS OF DISCORD