Author's Note: Here's the next installment where Joe inadvertently enters the trap that Monstore and Black Ghost have set, using his sensitivity to ensnare him. And believe it or not, Merry is not a Mary Sue, but I had to make her seductive to really get to Joe with his defenses down. In ep 43 she is a very pretty girl and there is a scene of the four of them as children where Joe has teased Merry and she's in tears and then they make up and I see that they were close. Thanks for those reading and especially my faithful reviewers.

SECOND REUNION

The circle of young adults within the charred ruins of the former haven for parentless children all stood contemplating each other. Joe's caramel eyes registered shock as it appeared that the three friends from his childhood at the orphanage were in fact alive and well. He shook his head to clear his vision and orient himself.

Jan grinned widely, his azure orbs twinkling. "Earth to Joe, come in Joe, over."

Merry tittered as she gently patted his shoulder. "Come join us in the present, Joe. We've a lot of catching up to do."

Sam nodded, his expression jovial as he chimed in, "C'mon buddy, let's go grab a bite. I'm starved."

"Me too," Jan said. "How about it Joe, are ya game?"

Joe stared at his old friends incredulously as it seemed that they had no clue as to what had happened at the beach house. But their warmth and affection also seemed natural and genuine and Joe felt like he had come home.

"Sure."

He followed as Merry took his arm and they headed over to where a VW van was parked by his convertible. They got to the two vehicles and as Joe went to enter his convertible, Merry told the other boys, "You lead the way, I'll ride with Joe in his car."

The two young men exchanged knowing glances. "Okay. There's a sushi bar not far from here, let's go over there. Follow us," Sam called out as he and Jan entered the van. Jan started the van and it lumbered off.

Merry slid in the passenger side as Joe started the Karmann Ghia and shifted gears to follow, his mind swirling with the events. As they followed, Joe was silent as he brooded, his face frowning in concentration.

Merry glanced at him as the came to a stoplight and she commented, "Penny for your thoughts."

Joe turned blankly to her. "Huh?"

She said, "You look so faraway, Jojo."

He chuckled as he repeated, "Jojo. I haven't heard that in a million years."

She giggled, "That was my special name for you. Remember when I first came to live at the orphanage and the Father introduced you as 'Joseph' I couldn't pronounce it so I called you Jojo."

Joe smiled in reminiscence as he remembered how the other kids used to tease him about the nickname so he told Merry to call him that only when they were alone. He looked at her and murmured, "I remember, Merry."

She smiled and her jade orbs twinkled making her look like a nymph, sweetly mischievous and he felt a warmth of camaraderie that he had been lacking of late with his 00 cyborg friends. The light changed and he continued to follow Sam and Jan thinking how Merry had gotten even prettier as she grew up, her shiny auburn curls dancing on the breeze as they drove and the old admiration for her was waking from its dormant state. But as Joe kept these thoughts, a lovely face with tropic eyes and golden hair invaded, making him feel a pang of guilt as his mind shifted to thoughts of his love, Francoise. The frown returned as the hurt of her perceived standoffishness attacked him anew.

They continued driving until Jan pulled into a parking lot of the popular sushi restaurant known as Umi Yorokobi or Ocean Delight. The VW van pulled into a vacant space near the lighted sign and Joe pulled in next to them. The four exited the vehicles and headed inside where they were seated by a large tropical fish tank.

They all ordered and then proceeded to reminisce about the few happy moments they managed to snatch while growing up without parents. The boys teased Merry about her penchant to cry easily and they all chatted about their own adventures as "The Gang." The food arrived and as they all ate, Joe noticed that his three old friends had not changed. Jan was still the boy next door, wholesome and cheerful, Sam was still the jolly fun-loving clown whose one purpose seemed to be to make everyone laugh. And Merry was still the sweet, lovely girl whose feelings were broadcast in her expressive eyes, deep and fathomless like jade stones. He found those arresting viridian orbs focused on him throughout the meal and it filled him with ambivalence as it both excited and discomforted him.

As they finished eating, the conversation drifted to the late Father. Jan began by remarking, "It's a dirty shame about what happened to him. He was the closest thing to a parent we all had."

"Yeah," Sam agreed. "He tried so hard to be there for all of us, especially when we were left behind on 'those days."

The foursome nodded as they all remembered "those days" the days that the local adoption agency would visit the orphanage with childless couples looking to adopt. On "those days" they were at their best behavior, wearing their Sunday clothes as they presented themselves as potential sons and daughters. But as the couples toured and observed to make selections, there were those who were sadly passed over, time and time again.

Joe sighed as he stated, "I used to dread 'those days'. No matter what, I always got left. And it was hard to see friends go even though I was happy for them, it still hurt like hell." He gazed at his three friends. "Especially the day you guys left, that nearly killed me."

Jan and Sam both looked at their friend with sympathy as Merry placed a comforting hand on Joe's, squeezing them as she gazed at him with fondness.

"I'm so sorry, Jojo. I had no idea you felt that way, you never said anything to us." Her soft alto voice was like a soothing song to ease his melancholy and like a thirsty man at a desert oasis he was drawn.

Sam cleared his throat as he and Jan studied the rekindled sparks between the two.
"Enough of this depressing talk. We've got this great crib in the mountains, near the complex where we work. After this you ought to check it out with us."

"Yeah," Jan agreed. "It's a nice little place that me and Sam are fixing up. All three of us live there."

"Uh-huh," Merry chimed in. "Complete with a full kitchen so I can feed these two hungry vultures." She grasped at Joe's sleeve and beseeched him, "Please say you'll come, Jojo. I want to show you what we call home."

Joe looked at her, beset with uncertainty as he glanced at the clock on the wall of the restaurant where it had shown 8:30. He gasped inwardly as he realized that he had been gone from the beach house since before lunch as he wondered if the others wondered where he was, and he thought of Francoise.

"I-I don't know guys. It's kind of late and I've been out all day, I should be heading home."

"Why? You got a wife waiting, huh?" Sam inquired archly as Merry shot him an icy glare.

Joe blushed as he stammered, "N-no of course not. But I do live with some close friends who may be wondering where I am."

Merry got up and said, "Okay, tell you what. I'm going to the ladies room and when I get back we'll decide." She turned to exit as the trio of men got politely to their feet and then sat back down.

Jan winked at Joe as he insinuated slyly, "Looks like you two still got major sparks going between you."

Joe protested, "Aw come on. All three of us are just old friends, Merry included."

Sam shrugged as he pointed out. "Yeah, but you guys always were pretty tight."

"Just friends, that's all," Joe denied weakly.

"Oh that's right, you're already spoken for. How is that gorgeous lady of yours?" Jan asked.

"Huh? What do ya mean?" Joe asked blankly.

Sam leaned in as he said, "C'mon Joe, fess up man. We saw the knockout you were with that day at the café, the blonde with those amazing eyes and the sexy French accent. What a doll!" He whistled in appreciation.

Joe found himself back to that day when he and Francoise had stopped for coffee while they were checking out the factory complex for Dr. Gilmore. He pinned the boys with his eyes as he declared, "So you guys do remember seeing me before. Why were you acting so surprised when I asked what happened at the beach house that day."

Jan and Sam exchanged dumfounded glances as Jan said, "I honestly don't know what you're talking about. What beach house?"

"Yeah, all I remember was that we all went to the beach then we brought you back to your girl waiting for you. She didn't want to come with us, maybe she picked up that you and Merry were an item once," Sam relayed, nonchalantly sipping at his Coke. "Though she has nothing to feel threatened about, Merry can't even come close to her."

"Is that so?" the auburn-haired girl said as she arrived at the table. She cast a jaundiced eye at her garrulous friend, arms akimbo as she remarked acerbically, "And who exactly can't I come close to?"

Jan replied, "Joe's girlfriend. The blonde he was sitting with when we ran into him at the sidewalk café a few months ago."

Merry cast her viridian orbs right at Joe. "Is that girl you were with really your girlfriend, Jojo?"

Joe bit his lip as a slow blush crept on his cheeks. "I-I," he stuttered and hesitated as the recent events with Francoise came to mind. If they had asked me a few days ago I'd have answered an unequivocal "yes" but now I'm not so sure. I'm not so sure of anything anymore.

"Aww look at his face. She's his girl all right," Jan stated, grinning. He stood up to end the debate. "So are ya coming with us, Shimamura? You can call your girl from our place."

"Well, I—," Joe hesitated.

Merry grabbed his arm. "C'mon Jojo. Come with us." Her jade eyes pleaded with him and never failing to be a gentleman he relented.

"Well, okay. But just for a while."

"Good." Merry looped her arm with Joe's as the four friends went to pay their check. . .

Back at the beach house, the cyborgs were finishing the evening meal, all plates cleared save for one. Francoise sat before her barely touched dinner, toying with the food as she sat disconsolately periodically glancing at the empty place beside her.

All of the cyborgs had gotten up to bring their plates to the kitchen when Chang came in to remove the barren platters and noticed the golden haired girl's melancholia. Concerned, he took a seat beside her.

"003 you haven't eaten a bite all through the dinner. You need to eat," the rotund Shinpan pointed out.

"I'm sorry, 006. I just not hungry," she said with a sigh.

"You're worried about 009. He's been gone all day and hasn't called." It was a statement, not a question.

She nodded, a crystal tear shimmering in her tropic orbs as she murmured, "He's so sensitive. We've all avoided him because we don't want to let on about the party but I'm afraid he's taking it all wrong."

"Umm." 006 nodded as he studied the French girl. "But that's what a surprise party is all about. The element of surprise."

"Yes, but of late 009's been very depressed. He told me that he's been thinking about the Father a lot, it's been a year since he was killed and the church burned down. He told me that's been on his mind." She lowered her flaxen head as she said guiltily, "I've been avoiding him because I'm afraid to reveal about the party and I know that's upset him."

Chang nodded again, deep in thought. It was pretty much common knowledge that 003 and 009 were extremely close, always together no matter if on assignments or during down times so it seemed natural for him to confide in her. 009's sad and lonely background was known to all of the 00 cyborgs but not to the extent that 003 was informed. So for a sensitive fellow like 009 to feel hurt at her secretive behavior was to be expected.

He patted the girl on her hand comfortingly. "I'm sure that he's all right. And I'm sure that he knows that he is secure in your feelings for him and the way we all care for him. He's a part of us, and that will never change."

Francoise smiled tremulously as she answered, "I hope so, 006. . . "

Both vehicles climbed up an inclined driveway that led to a rustic yet sprawling ranch that was nestled deep in a wilderness, far away from the nearest house. The cars came to a stop and the occupants stepped out as Joe gazed around him in wonder at the beauty and isolation of the dwelling. In spite of everything it gave him a vaguely uneasy feeling.

Jan, Sam, and Merry had begun making their way to the staircase leading into the house when they noticed their friend's hesitation.

Jan called out, "C'mon Joe. Follow us in."

"Okay." Joe tailed the group as they climbed up the stairs and entered the house through double oak doors.

Once inside, Sam reached over and flipped the light switch on, illuminating the inside, which was quite elaborate in spite of its provincial appearance. It looked like a hunting lodge, with a vast arched ceiling and large supporting beams and the walls were cherrywood paneled. There was a stone fireplace at the far corner and a sliding French door opposite that led to a deck. The furnishings were rustic yet overstuffed and comfortable and the layout was modern, with a full kitchen located to the right of the front door.

"Come on, Jojo. I'll show you our rooms," Merry directed, taking his arm. Jan and Sam fell into step behind as she conducted the tour leading the men down some stairs and through a hallway which had four closed doors.

"These two rooms are Jan and Sam's," she pointed out as both young men stood before the portals and pointed out their respective private places. Sam was especially proud of his model railroad, a full Lionel setup complete with hills and scenery.

Then Merry turned the light on in her room, a frilly chamber that was done in hues of pink and lavender that was neat and airy. She showed Joe in and pointed out the door adjacent to her closet.

"That door leads to another room. I'll show you." And she opened the door and walked into the room, a comfortable yet sparse room lacking the personal touches of the others, clearly an extra or guestroom.

"This room can be yours," she announced as she gestured about. "The closet is over there and the dresser--,"

"Hold it, Merry." Joe said holding up a hand. "What do you mean 'my room'? I'm just visiting, I have a home."

She gazed at him, her eyes arresting as she said, "But we all can be together again. Like we had always intended, remember?"

Joe opened his mouth to protest but those eyes of Merry's just seemed to draw him in. She smiled sweetly as she sat on the bed and patted the space beside her, inviting him to sit.

"Sit down Jojo and talk to me. You seem a bit distracted, is something bothering you?"

He sat beside her and felt a warmth inside as he felt Merry's compassion, a soothing balm to his troubled soul. "You don't want to hear about it, it'll just bore you."

Merry shook her head vehemently setting her auburn curls dancing about her heart shaped face. "Jojo, this is me you're talking to. Remember how we'd go to the old baptistery and sit in it and talk for hours. You and I could tell each other anything."

Joe gazed at her, remembering. . . .

Flashback:

The mahogany haired boy and auburn haired girl peeked out cautiously from the door, cracked open an inch to allow the two children the view of the darkened hall in the church.

"The coast is clear, c'mon let's go," Joe urged as he crept toward the closed door to the baptistery, mostly unused now that the church building housed a catholic church.

"Okay," Merry said as she followed her best friend.

The duo carefully opened the heavy wooden portal and tiptoed into the small room with the shallow sunken tank in the center. The baptistery was about four feet deep, with three steps down into the tank. The two children stepped down into the tank and sat down, totally concealed from anyone that might happen to look in the room. There, the boy and girl began to share their deepest desires and fears as the afternoon drifted away. . .

End flashback

Joe chuckled, "I'd forgotten about that."

"Well, I didn't," Merry declared as she took his hand. "I was so glad that you would open up to me then and you can still open up to me, Jojo. So tell me what's wrong."

Joe looked at the girl that at one time was his very best friend and the urge to unburden himself about his home situation became too strong to resist.

"Well, it's like this…"

At the beach house, Francoise was standing on the deck, watching the clouds frame the moon in lacy tendrils, her heart heavy and mind occupied. Joe had been gone for almost twelve hours with no word and she was beside herself with worry. His attitude the past two days had cooled considerably towards all of them but they had in fact precipitated it by being so evasive and secretive to him. But they were planning a surprise party so what choice did they have?

003 sighed heavily as a breeze caused her to shiver so she hugged her shoulders then turned and went inside. Everyone else had long since gone to bed but sleep was the last thing on her mind as thoughts of 009 haunted her.

She sat forlornly on the divan facing the glass door that led to the deck and then stretched out, lying down as tears welled up in her aquamarine orbs.

"Oh Joe, where are you now?" she asked miserably as she closed her eyes and the warm rivulets squeezed through her inky lashes.

NEXT---MOVING ON