Author's Note: Here's the next chapter where the seeds of discord have been sown into the very insecure and moody 009. If you'll remember, he has always been very introspective and he had visited the burned out church several times in the series (ep 3 when he's on the cliff and ep 7 when he encounters 0013). And the monstrous plan by Dr. Monstore begins. A big thanks to all reading this and my faithful reviewers.
FEELINGS OF REJECTION
During the evening meal, 009's somber mood was masked by a quiet yet genial manner that fooled everyone but 003 who knew the cyborg leader was bearing a heavy burden of remembered hurts. He was an immensely private person and mindful of that, the French former dancer also put up a cheerful front, chatting about light subjects that encouraged the customary banter that took place while they all ate.
006 came in with a huge platter of seafood chow mein, served on a bed of vegetable fried rice that was consumed with gusto by all but 009 and 003 who were distracted by the same thoughts, centering on the conversation they had on the cliff. 003 snuck surreptitious glances at 009 where she saw the underlying sadness in his cinnamon eyes and she reached discreetly to squeeze his hand. He gazed at her and his eyes became warm with gratitude and more as he returned the gesture.
The meal concluded and 009 rose and turned to 003. "I'm going for a walk on the beach, you want to come with me?"
She shook her head. "I can't, I have something to do."
"Oh." Joe's cinnamon eyes clouded with disappointment but then he said, "Is it something I can help you with?"
Francoise said vaguely, "Not really."
"Oh, okay." He leaned over and gave her a small kiss, which strangely she did not return. Her lack of response made him confused and added to his funk. "Will you be around when I get back?"
"Uh-huh. See you later." Francoise waved her hand as she turned and left the dining room without a backward glance.
Joe felt a dismayed chill by her sudden cavalier attitude but shrugged, turned, and headed out, his head drooping and hands shoved in his pockets. The rest of the cyborgs watched the exchange with curious expressions, sensing something up between the two cyborg lovers.
003 came back into the dining room and asked, "Is 009 gone?"
002 replied, "Yeah, what's with you two anyway? You're usually inseparable."
003 took a seat and regarded the team gravely. "I want to talk to all of you without 009 around."
"Hmmm. I could be wrong but does this have to do with 009?" 007 said, leaning forward.
"Yes it does," Francoise replied. "Next week marks the anniversary of him joining us."
"Yeah, so?" 002 said yawning.
She glared at the American and continued, "It's also his birthday. And I know for a fact, he has never had a proper birthday celebration."
004 nodded as he remarked, "Growing up in an orphanage he probably wouldn't." He gestured to her. "Go on."
Francoise took a deep breath as she said, "I'd like us to throw him a surprise birthday party. With all the trimmings."
Everyone agreed except 002 who remarked with a twinge of resentment. "Hmmph, nobody ever threw a party for me."
"Well maybe if you told us when your birthday is, we would," retorted 004.
Francoise sighed as she nodded, "That's right. If you all would say when your birthdays are, we could have proper celebrations. Like a real family."
The room became silent as the cyborgs all contemplated her suggestion. As always, 003 was lending her special brand of delicacy to the surreal circumstances of their lives. She was as always the shining light in the darkness of their existences, existences created by the diabolical Black Ghost.
She pinned everyone with her steady aqua gaze and everyone felt drawn in as she said, "Okay then. Let's start with off with 009 and do the same for everybody, just like a family should."
Everyone, including the recalcitrant 002 nodded, in total agreement.
"Now that it's settled, let's plan the party for 009," 003 began. . . .
Out on the beach, the solemn 009 was walking along the moon silvered sand, oblivious to the surroundings as he brooded about 003 and her sudden evasiveness. It seemed strange, out on the cliff she was so affectionate and open now she appeared closed. She even stated that she did not need his help, which added to his dismay. It worried him because she was not so changeable in her moods unless she was ill or experiencing her monthly time and even then, she was always eager to share her burdens with him. This was especially true now that they officially were recognized as a couple.
Joe shook his head, mentally chastising himself C'mon Shimamura, snap out of it! She probably will tell you about it eventually, just like she always does and if she needed your help, she'd have asked for it. Stop jumping to conclusions, idiot!
He turned and headed back to the beach house and noticed that it was mostly unlit, just the sitting room where the sliding door led into the dwelling. He checked his watch, noted the late hour, and figuring his teammates had all gone to bed, he mounted the stairs to head in.
Once inside, Joe glanced about, as he noted the way the beach house appeared deserted, one small lamp left burning. He reached to turn it off and saw that he was not completely alone, 003 was curled up on an overstuffed easy chair, dozing.He smiled as he drew up to her, gently brushing her bangs back.
Her inky lashes fluttered open and her tropic ocean eyes, almost cobalt in the dim light sparkled as she recognized her beloved. "Joe? Is that you?"
He nodded as he replied, "Yeah, it's me. What're you doing here, it's late."
Francoise stretched and yawned as she came to full consciousness. "Waiting for you."
Joe felt a thrill of pleasure and scoffed at his own earlier doubts as he sat beside her and took her in his arms. "You didn't have to do that, koibito. It's late and you need your rest."
Francoise snuggled closer and protested, "But, cherie, I can't rest till I know you're back. Even if you're just taking a walk on the beach."
He began to nuzzle her neck and whispered, "I asked you to go with me, remember?"
She nodded and said, "I know. But I couldn't." She turned her head away, afraid to lead him into being suspicious but her manner rose questions in him.
Joe sighed, giving up as he said, "It's okay. You don't have to tell me but promise me something, okay?"
She turned and waited for him. "Uh-huh."
"If it's something that gets too big for you to handle alone, please let me know so I can help you. Anything that bothers you or causes you pain I absolutely want to know about, okay?" He took her chin in his hand to raise her eyes to his. "You promise?"
Francoise saw the tender concern in 009's eyes bubbling warm like melted chocolate and her heart began to pound as she nodded, her mind on the surprise she was planning. "I promise," she assured him in a soft voice as his mouth descended softly on hers.
The next few days Joe got the definite feeling that something was up and more so, something that everybody else was aware of but him. It was getting to him more and more that frequent deep conversation seemed to take place between his teammates and when he came to them and asked them what was going on, they immediately clamed up and then would disappear, leaving him alone. Just a few minutes ago, he had seen 004, 008 and 003 in yet another deep conversation. . .
004 said, "I took care of it, 003. Don't worry."
She smiled, pleased. "Good. 008, did you get what I asked?"
"Uh-huh. It's all set, 003."
"Hey guys, what's up?" Joe asked with assumed cheerfulness as he came to them.
It was as if they all had taken a vow of silence as all three immediately closed their mouths.
"Ahhh nothing, 009. We've got to get going, see ya," 003 sang out as they scattered and made to leave but he detained her by taking hold of her elbow.
"Is there something I can help you with, Francoise?" Joe asked softly. "You know you can ask me to do anything." His cinnamon eyes were earnest and hopeful.
But she pulled her arm away and replied, "That's sweet of you to offer, 009 but I'm all set so if you'll excuse me." And she turned and hurried down the hall, leaving him all alone.
It was getting to be a regular thing and he was beginning to feel isolated and even worse, it seemed to be indirectly connected to 003 because usually she was in the conversations and it was she who was the one that avoided telling him anything. That is what really bothered him most of all, she not only was close mouthed but also seemed to be evasive and made excuses not to spend time with him and those moments had become times he treasured. Now it appeared that everything in his life was falling apart, coupled with his depression surrounding the approaching anniversary of the Father's murder, Joe was steeped in gloom. It was everyone's secrecy continuing that finally got Joe annoyed enough to give them a taste of their own medicine so he began keeping his distance as well, even going so far as to fix his own meals and eat alone before or after everyone else did. He even stayed in his room, avoiding all contact with everyone, including 003.
It was after lunch one day when Joe decided that he wanted to take a ride to think about the deteriorating situation with his teammates and so without a word to anybody, he jumped into his convertible and took off. Driving had become a sort of a therapy for him, a catharsis that allowed for solitude yet also had his mind occupied so he was not just brooding. The scenery speeding by gave him peace as he drove and also calmed any anger or sadness that was besetting him. But as he drove, as usual of late, Joe found himself again at the site of the burned out shell that was the church where he spent his formative years.
He pulled up and the brakes squealed softly as the car stopped before the fence that worked to keep the curious at bay. He opened the door and exited, staring at the hulk that was still standing even now a year later. The diocese, poor as always, seemed to lack the funds to knock the ruins down and since they owned the land, the city did not push to clear it. Joe reached up and hoisted himself up the fence and hurdled it to drop down behind. He landed on the grass then rose and headed to the building, his thoughts dark as the scorched shell. . .
Unknown to Joe he was being watched by the invisible eye of Dr. Monstore as he walked through the dilapidated playground area. The fiendish doctor watched the forlorn demeanor of the young cyborg with an evil glee and then took up his control pad and punched in combinations of numbers then spoke.
"Subject is in range. Go to him now and commence mission. . . ."
Joe waded through the abandoned playground and stepped onto the lawn that flanked what once was the church. He glanced about and idly mused about how overgrown the grass had become in the stretch of a year. Must be because nobody's around to mow it like I used to.
After wandering a bit he again found himself in the ruins of the sanctuary, where the damage from the fire was still evident in the stench of singed fabric and wood, the holy relics smashed and scattered, and the organ shattered into a splintered and mangled mess. His eyes misted as he remembered the Father sitting at the organ, teaching him how to finger scales when he was about 11. As with everything he taught Joe, the kindly priest took his time to show the half-Japanese boy the proper procedure.
Ha, I barely learned enough to play "Chopsticks" let alone "Onward Christian Soldiers" he said to himself as he knelt beside the keyboard, remembering afternoons practicing after school. The Father had decided to teach him to play after he and the "Gang" had caused another ruckus with the town bullies, figuring he could get him to play well enough for morning mass as well as keep him, the ringleader, out of trouble.
Joe knelt beside the destroyed instrument and was fingering the keys when he heard a rustle like someone approaching. He rose slowly and cautiously looked in the direction that the noise came, his hand on his blaster in his pocket, just in case.
A familiar sweet alto spoke his name. "Joe? Joe, is that you?"
"Huh?"
Joe stepped forward as three figures emerged from the shadows and stepped into the area lit by the late afternoon light. He blinked his eyes in disbelief like as if he saw an apparition, his three former friends coming back from the dead. He was astonished, for hadn't he seen them all perish in the fire and explosion at their beach house a few months ago?
"Merry? Sam? Jan? Is that really you guys?"
The three surrounded Joe with delighted enthusiasm as Jan clapped him heartily on the back. "Hey Shimamura, you old dog, how are ya?"
Merry reached up and gave him a kiss on the cheek as Sam pumped his hand and said, "Man, long time no see. Where ya been hiding?"
Joe gazed back at him and said, "I-I haven't been hiding nowhere. I thought you guys had…died."
The trio gaped at him in dismay. Jan said with a laugh, patting Joe on the back. "What're ya talking about, buddy?"
Merry giggled as she grabbed and squeezed Joe's hand. "Silly! I know we've not seen each other in years but we haven't died, for goodness sake," she chided.
Joe was undaunted. "B-but I saw you guys! The house you were living in blew up and you guys were inside. There was nothing left."
The three looked at him in complete amazement, genuinely stumped. . .
NEXT----SECOND REUNION
The "gang" referred to was mentioned in ep 4 when Joe was sharing about his past in the lab with Francoise after he came to--he spoke of his friends at the orphanage as a "little gang".