Author's Note: Get the tissues ready for this one gang. Okay, I know that this chapter will invoke the fury of the 003/009 masses out there of which I am one but believe me, the story will end up with them together. Just keep reading and have faith in my storytelling modus operandi. Thanks to all you readers and my wonderful reviewers.
MOVING ON
It was barely dawn, the sun was peeking up over the land's end and the dark of the night was receding into the light, turning the sky to a deep cobalt. Dr. Isaac Gilmore was tying his tie and slipped his tweed jacket on, completing his toilette. He opened the door to his room and stepped out into the still of the beach house. He smiled as this was his favorite time of day, when his cyborg "children" were still all snug in their beds while visions of peace all danced in their heads.
Gilmore descended the stairs and headed to the kitchen to draw a cup of coffee from the timed coffeemaker and began to head out to the deck with it to enjoy the sunrise. He entered the room and rounded the divan as something made him glance down and his eyes flew open wide with concern. There, curled in a ball was a slumbering 003, her golden hair splayed on a small pillow she had managed to find. She had circles under her eyes, indicating that her sleep had been fitful and her breathing was shallow. He approached her slowly, knowing instinctively what had made her skip her rest, her worry for 009 who had apparently not returned all night.
Gilmore sighed softly as he put his mug of coffee down and leaned over his little ballerina. He gently nudged her.
"003. 003, wake up, my dear, you need to go to your bed and get a proper rest."
She opened her eyes and the aquamarine orbs bore a look of strain as she yawned and stretched, sitting up as she asked sleepily, "Dr. Gilmore? What time is it?"
Gilmore consulted his pocket watch and answered, "It's about 6:15. Have you been here all night?"
003 shrugged her slim shoulders as she replied, "I guess so." She clutched herself and shuddered, making Gilmore even more concerned. He sat beside the lone girl cyborg and wrapped a fatherly arm about her.
"My dear, you must not worry so about 009. He is like you, a very sensitive young person who has a great deal of pain in his past that he can't let go of so he needs to sort things out on his own. He's also a very powerful cyborg, so you needn't be concerned I'm sure he's all right."
Her eyes welled up as she said in a sob, "I-I feel terrible, doctor. It's my fault he didn't come home, I've been avoiding him and so has everyone else. But there's a reason for it."
"009's surprise birthday party," the doctor said evenly. "004 informed me of the plan and I couldn't agree more."
Francoise sniffled, "You do?"
Gilmore nodded, "Yes. We're a family and we should regularly celebrate everyone's birthday."
"I've been trying to surprise him but keeping him in the dark has made him think that we all have pulled away from him and left him out. He left without a word yesterday and he hasn't come back." She sighed deeply as tears stung her eyes again.
Dr. Gilmore rose to his feet and grasped 003's arm, pulling her up with him. "003, you need to go to bed and get some rest."
She opened her mouth to protest but the doctor was firm as he guided her to her room. Once there, he pushed her covers back and gently laid her back, covering her as she immediately fell asleep. . . .
Over in the mountain cabin, the sun was beginning to paint the landscape in various hues as the autumn colors were splattered about the woodland canopies that sheltered the dwelling. Still in the arms of Morpheus, Joe turned and took a deep breath as he snuggled in the sheet and comforter. The morning sun peeked in through the vertical blinds and a ray shone in Joe's cinnamon eye that his bangs left unobstructed and it chased sleep away.
Joe grumbled, "Jet, could ya pull the blinds? I'm trying to sleep." When his request went unanswered 009 became annoyed and sat up.
"Sheesh, 002 are you deaf? I asked you to pull the blinds, damnit." He opened his eyes and sat upright when alarmed, he noticed that he was alone in the room and that the room was not his room at the beach house.
"What the--," 009 began as he threw the covers off and blushed when he discovered that he was clad only in his briefs, not the pajama bottoms he usually wore to bed. He jumped up and looked about, wondering where he was.
What the hell is going on? Where am I and where's everyone else? Joe demanded of himself as he tried to piece together the memory of what had transpired to bring him to this unfamiliar room. He was perched on the edge of the bed still wracking his brain when there was a soft rapping on the closed door.
"Who is it?" Joe demanded, on guard as he shot to his feet.
"Joe, it's me, Merry. Can I come in?" a soft alto voice answered.
Merry? What am I doing here with Merry? "J-just a second." Joe glanced around and spotted his pants and shirt draped on a chair so he retrieved them and hurriedly dressed. When he was finished, he sat back down and called out, "O-okay, you can come in."
The door opened and Merry stepped in, carrying a tray with a mug of coffee, a glass of juice and a muffin. She set it down on the dresser and then turned and regarded Joe with a warm smile. "Good morning, Jojo. I figured you'd be hungry so I brought you some breakfast."
Joe watched her warily as she came to sit beside him. She tittered as she remarked, "You look like you've seen a ghost, Jojo. Are you okay?"
He saw the concern on her pretty face and so to reassure her he grinned slightly and said, "Yeah, I'm fine. I just was wondering where I am and what are you doing here?"
She smiled back as she replied, "In answer to both your questions, you're at my house."
"Oh your house, huh? Okay." He ran a nervous hand through his mahogany strands when he again asked, "So how did I get here?"
"You came back here with Jan, Sam, and me last night after we all went out to dinner. Remember, we ran into you at the church."
It then all came back to him, how he had felt isolated and rejected by his cyborg family and especially his beloved, 003. The thought brought a scowl to his even features as he stated cryptically, "Yeah, yeah, I remember now. But why'd I spend the night here?"
Merry replied, "We were talking so long and it got late and I was afraid to let you drive back home when you were so tired so I suggested you stay here." Her jade orbs radiated warmth and against his better judgment, he was drawn to them, almost hypnotized.
"What were we talking about for so long?" He was completely baffled, his mind drawing a total blank.
Merry sighed as she answered, "Mostly about the close friends you call your family. And about Francoise." She lowered her eyes, avoiding visual contact.
Joe's cinnamon eyes flew open and he stammered, "W-we talked about Francoise?"
"Uh-huh. You told me about the problems you'd been having with her."
Problems? With Francoise? Sure we've been avoiding each other for last couple of days, but nothing serious enough to say we have problems. We love each other too much and whatever the reason we'll work it out he told himself. "What exactly did I say?"
Merry continued to keep her head down as she said quietly, "You said that she was turning the others against you, that every time you came to talk to them, everyone would just shut up and walk away from you."
Joe shook his head as he tried to digest all the data she had supplied. It seemed so very uncommon for him to complain about his cyborg family and especially Francoise, who was deeply entrenched in his heart that the entire thing made him uneasy. He jumped to his feet and began to pace, feverishly searching his brain for anything to substantiate her claims.
He decided to change the subject. "So where are Jan and Sam? They live here too, don't they?"
Merry got up and laid a soft hand on his arm to halt his pacing. "Of course they do. They went to work and since I have today off, I offered to stay here with you so you wouldn't be alone." Her eyes again worked their spell, and he felt more entranced.
Joe said weakly, "I-I have to go home. M-my friends are probably worried since I didn't go home last night." He went to the bed and reached under it for his socks and shoes then sat to don both.
Merry joined him and pouted. "So I guess you won't stay and have breakfast with me, huh?"
Joe knew he should refuse but his stomach growled in protest as he smelled the tantalizing aroma of coffee and fresh baked muffins. He gestured to the tray she had brought and inquired, "What about that tray you brought me?"
She smiled as she replied, "I figured if you were still sleeping, I'd leave it but since you're awake, I'd love to make a real breakfast. So how about it?"
Joe studied the hopeful light in those forest pool eyes and with the perfume of the food invading his senses he decided. "Okay Merry. I am hungry and I'll stay for breakfast with you. Then I gotta leave, deal?"
She beamed at him and headed for the door. "Deal. Follow me, Jojo." And they headed upstairs for the kitchen. . . .
About an hour later, the dining room table was set with a sumptuous breakfast of omelets, hash browns, blueberry muffins, still warm from the oven, fresh perked coffee, and orange juice as Merry sat and joined Joe, who politely waited until she could join him. She sat opposite him as Joe began serving himself. Despite everything, he was ravenous and could not wait to dig in.
She giggled as she commented at the way he was wolfing down the eggs and hash browns, "You're still a hungry vulture, just like Jan and Sam. You guys always made the food disappear faster than the Father could put it down."
Joe shrugged, grinning sheepishly as he downed his coffee. "I guess I just have a good appetite. This is great, you're a terrific cook."
"Thank you," Merry said, pleased. She watched with an amused expression as he continued to shovel the food in. "Don't they feed you at home?"
Joe nodded vigorously as he swallowed and replied, "Yeah and how. One of my friends, Chang is a great Chinese chef and has his own restaurant. I work there for him sometimes."
"Really? Does everyone?"
"Uh-uh. Albert works for a trucking company making day runs. Geroninmo is a construction worker on high steel. And Pyunma works as a deep sea fisherman when he doesn't do volunteer work in his country in Africa."
"Everyone else works at the restaurant?" Merry wanted to know as she nibbled daintily at a muffin.
"No, just me, GB, and Francoise."
Merry raised a delicate eyebrow. "Francoise works at the restaurant with you?"
Joe nodded as his mind lingered on the memories of the beautiful blonde French girl in the skintight silk dress she wore when at her job at Chang's Magic Pan. His eyes grew soft and dreamy as he savored the remembrance of 003's highly feminine curves showcased in the Chinese dress.
Merry tapped him on the shoulder. "Jojo? You've done it again, left without taking your body with you." She sipped her coffee as she stated as a matter of fact, "You're really hung up on her, aren't you?"
Joe nodded as he admitted, "I guess I am." He frowned as he asked, "Did I really talk a lot about her?"
"Uh-huh."
"So what'd I say?"
Merry sighed as she said, "You felt that she was turning against you and turning your friends against you as well."
Joe's cinnamon eyes became wide as saucers. "I said all that?" he asked incredulously.
"Well, not in so many words," Merry said ruefully. "You were pretty upset until you actually started talking about it."
Joe frowned thoughtfully as he pondered That's funny I don't recall saying anything about the team or Francoise but if Merry says I did, I must have. She's never lied to me about anything. I don't even remember being upset.
"Merry, you're going to think I've flipped out but I don't remember saying anything to you about Francoise or any of my friends." Joe stated laconically.
Merry sighed again as she said, "I wouldn't wonder. You were really bugged about it and when you finished telling me, you were so upset and tired, I insisted you stay here." She got up and moved her chair right beside him, wrapping an arm about his shoulders. "I think it's a shame that she's turning all your friends against you." Her verdant gaze had locked on him and he heard a soft soothing voice begin to speak She doesn't love you and never did. She's been deceiving you all along and he felt his anger stir as he was swept into the compassion radiating at him, feeding into his insecurities, depression and doubts.
Joe sat and stared ahead as he finally realized that he was indeed upset about what he was now viewing as Francoise's and the team's betrayal but it was the realization of Francoise betraying him that hurt more than anything, cutting him like a hot, dull knife. He scowled as his eyes darkened, and he began to make a decision, a life changing decision that would hit the team with the impact of a tsunami after an earthquake.
Merry saw the turmoil seething in Joe's eyes and she said gently, "You know, Jojo the four of us made a pact at the orphanage, that we'd always be together. And I did tell you that the extra room was yours if you wanted it."
"Yeah," Joe said slowly as he continued to stare ahead, thinking.
Merry made a sympathetic sigh as she offered comfort. "No matter how your other friends feel about you, we'll always stand by you, Jojo."
He felt the gentle warm arm around him and breathed in the scent of Merry's perfume, the soft fragrance of cherry blossoms that reminded him of spring. He felt a feeling of warmth and belonging, something he had been lacking of late, yet at the same time felt uneasy as Francoise's tropic eyes were floating in his mind's eye, still haunting him. He abruptly rose.
"I gotta split. I have to go home," Joe stated as he turned to head back to the bedroom to get his jacket but Merry got up and laid a hand on his shoulder to detain him.
"What about my offer, Joe? It would be great, the four of us together again, just like we'd always planned." Her jade eyes sparkled and her pretty face was lit with hope.
Joe gazed down at the visage before him and suddenly felt that maybe what Merry was offering might be what was best for him, to rejoin those from his first "family". He nodded slowly as he replied, "Okay. But I have to go ho—back to get my things and return the car, it's not mine."
"Of course," she said gladly. "Tell you what, I'll follow you in the van and you can drop the car off and we'll get your things then come back. Oh, Jojo I'm so excited!" And she threw her arms around him and hugged him, drawing a surprised look on Joe's face before he shrugged and returned the hug. . .
Back in his observation chamber, Dr. Monstore was, through the miracle of close circuit cameras observing both what was happening at the house and the brainwaves of 009 as Merry's embrace planted a microscopic monitor on the unsuspecting cyborg's neck. He grinned in satisfaction as he spotted the brain signals that precipitated the emotions of anger, rejection and isolation. The rotund madman clapped his hands in satisfaction, 009 was ripe for the picking.
The door to the chamber slid open and the tall, sinister figure of Scarl strode in. "Well, Doctor? Are the actions of your creations fruitful or am I looking at yet another in an all too long line of failures by incompetents?"
Monstore replied assuringly, "Patience, Signore, patience."
Scarl snapped, "I am tired of being patient! I want results!" He leaned into Monstore's round face and said distinctly, "I want the 00 cyborgs destroyed."
"And they shall be. Already, my creations are luring their leader into a trap that he is falling for with ease. Once he is securely within our trap, we will turn him to our side where he will become the ultimate assassin cyborg." He keyed in a series of numbers in his palm control pad and sat back.
Scarl was pleased but somewhat dubious as he stated, "We shall see. The proof of the pudding is in the eating and we shall see if this plot of yours will be palatable. I don't have to remind you what will happen to you if it isn't." His yellow eyes bored into Monstore meaningfully.
The doctor swallowed hard and nodded as a chill ran through him, the implication clear. . .
At the beach house, the 00 cyborgs were all gathered for the noontime meal, all subdued by the noticeable absence of their commander. They were also sans 003, who was still in her room slumbering as per the order of Dr. Gilmore. Her overnight vigil had taken its toll as she slept soundly since early dawn when the good doctor discovering her still up and waiting for the missing 009 had guided her to her bed. Completely exhausted, Francoise's eyes closed the minute she hit the pillow.
Chang brought in the steaming platter of chicken teriyaki and vegetable fried rice and placed it down on the table as the rest of the team gathered.
GB sniffed the fare and said peevishly, "Hmmm. Smells good but I hope you didn't overdo the spices. Last time you served teriyaki, I had a terrible case of heartburn."
006 bristled as he retorted, "I put just the right amount of spices, I'll have you know!"
004 spoke up, "All right, all right you two. Let's keep it down to a dull roar, remember 003 is trying to sleep. She was up all night."
"Thanks but I'm right here," a dulcet voice said as the blonde former ballerina came into the dining room yawning. Clad in a too-big T-shirt, which was obviously 009's and jeans, Francoise came and took a seat at the table as all the men peered worriedly at her unusually rumpled appearance and lackluster aqua eyes.
Geronimo Jr. said in his deep rumble, "Are you okay?" His almond shaped obsidian eyes gazed unwaveringly at her, quietly concerned.
She returned the regard as she gave him a sweet but tired smile. "I'm fine, don't worry about me." 003 glanced about and her expression became disappointed when she did not see 009 still. "I see 009 is still out. Does anybody know if he came home at all?"
002, Jet Link replied reluctantly, "I'm sorry, 003 but his bed's not been slept in so I guess he's still out."
"Oh dear, what could have happened to him?" she cried, the tears spilling out of her ocean orbs. "He's been gone since yesterday, where could he be?"
The cyborg's attention was torn from the teary girl to the front door opening and closing followed by the sound of footsteps as 009 came into the dining room. He stood and gave a sheepish smile as he waved. "Hi everybody."
The room was silent as seven pairs of eyes zeroed in on the missing member of their family. But each bore a different expression. 006 and 007's were amazed, 008 and 005's were relieved, 004's glacial orbs were questioning and 002's chocolate eyes were flashing with annoyance, but 003's aqua eyes were the most heartening. They glistened with tears of joy as she leapt up and ran over to him, throwing her arms around him in a glad embrace, which he did not return, his arms at his side.
"Joe! Oh Joe, we were so worried," Francoise said in tears as she buried her face in his strangely unyielding shoulder. Dismayed, by his non-response to her hug and his cool attitude, she pulled away to look at him inquiringly.
"Yeah 009 where the hell were ya?" 002 demanded as he got to his feet and glared at his roommate. "Ya had us scared half to death."
"Sorry," was the cryptic reply. "But I had to get away and think and I've made a decision." He disentangled himself from 003's grasp as he asked, "Is Dr. Gilmore around, he needs to hear this too."
004 answered, "He's out at the government research library, but should be back in a few hours. What's the deal?"
With a sinking feeling deep in her heart, 003 was more than a bit put off by her love's manner and she backed up to study him closely I can't quite put my finger on it, but I have a very bad feeling like 009 is far, far away from us.
009 sighed as he said in a clipped tone, "I can't really wait for him, somebody's outside waiting for me." He reached into his jacket pocket and laid an envelope on the table. "Make sure he gets that, it'll explain everything." He looked about the room of expectant faces as everyone waited for him to explain to them.
He sighed again as he said, "Well there's no other way to say it so--," but he was interrupted by a knock on the front door. Without a word he went to the door and let a very attractive girl in with shiny auburn curls. He took her by the hand and brought her in the dining room to introduce her.
"Everybody, this is Merry, an old friend of mine from the orphanage I grew up in. Merry, this is…," and he went around the room introducing everyone by their names until he reached 003. When at her, Joe lowered his head and barely murmured, "And you remember Francoise."
Merry smiled politely at everyone, individually acknowledging the introductions until her jade eyes beheld Francoise. There, her eyes narrowed slightly as she pasted a saccharine smile on her full lips.
"Of course I do. How nice to see you again, Francoise."
Francoise, remembering the manners she was raised with nodded and smiled politely as the other girl almost rudely appraised her. "It's nice to see you too." Her own tropic orbs became frosty as she picked up on Merry's veiled hostility.
Joe saw the two women regard each other and he cleared his throat. "L-like I was trying to say, I made a decision. I'm quitting the team and moving out to live with my friends from the orphanage."
You could hear a pin drop as the room became deathly still, 009's declaration hanging in the air like the smoke after a bomb detonation. Each member of the 00 cyborg team each registered expressions of total and utter shock and it was safe to say that nobody expected 009's curt announcement.
004 spoke first, breaking the silence, "You must be kidding."
009 responded, "No, I'm quite serious. I ran into Merry, Jan and Sam and they invited me to come live with them and so I figured it was best for me to do so."
"B-but what about your job at Chang's Magic Pan? You know I need your help there," 006 said in a pleading tone.
"I'm sorry, Chang but I have decided it's time for me to move on," Joe said matter-of factly. "So if you'll all excuse me, I'll go and pack." He turned to Merry.
"Wait for me, I promise I won't take long."
She smiled at him. "Take your time, Jojo. Do you want me to help?"
He smiled at her and squeezed her shoulder. "No, I think I can manage. Just wait down here, okay?" He then turned and climbed the stairs to head to his room.
"Okay." She took a seat and offered a smile to everyone who just stared unbelievingly at her, still stunned. . . .
Once in his room, Joe went to the closet and began gathering his clothes and his one suitcase. He tossed the luggage on the bed and opened it, then proceeded to empty his dresser drawers of the rest of his things. He then began to fold and pack his belongings and was so intent into his task that he was unaware of the presence of someone else in the room with him.
A soft voice whispered, "I was wondering where you went when you left yesterday."
Not even bothering to turn his head, Joe was bent over as he continued packing, the sweet concern in Francoise's words causing his heart to pound and he was getting extremely uncomfortable. He stopped packing as he said in a low tone, "I didn't think you'd noticed I was gone."
She came forward and perched on the bed beside the open suitcase. "I always notice when you're gone, Joe. Why'd you leave and not tell anybody where you were?"
Joe sighed as he replied, "I didn't think anybody cared. I mean, you all kind of been shutting me out of things around here lately so I figured it was time for me to push off."
I knew it! She said to herself. "Oh, Joe I'm so, so sorry. We didn't mean to make you feel left out, really." 003's eyes beseeched him, and he felt stirred as always but savagely quashed the emotion down as he continued to pack.
"So why were you? What's the big secret that you all didn't want me in on it?" 009's cinnamon eyes pinned her and 003 turned away, causing him to sigh. "Don't worry about it, it really doesn't matter anyway since I'm leaving. I never really felt I belonged on the team anyway."
Francoise looked up at him. "What do you mean, Joe? That day you joined us you had no hesitation. Why the sudden desire to leave us?"
Joe didn't answer right away, just continued folding and packing his clothes. He was nearly done with his task when he finally spoke.
"I'm not like all of you. I was born out of wedlock and my mother abandoned me so I never had much to offer the team outside of my cyborg abilities. And I never had anything to offer you." He gazed at her sadly as he continued, "I know that we're all no longer completely human but I can hide that. I know now that to hope to belong in this group like a family or to hope for one of my own with you was just a pipe dream. Like my friends from the orphanage, I have nothing to offer, I have no real family so instead we all can be a family."
Francoise cut in, "I have no family either. None of us here do."
Joe insisted, "But you had a family once. People that you could call yours. I never had that and still don't have it now. Now that Black Ghost is gone, there's nothing keeping me here."
"Nothing?" She jumped up and grasped his sleeve as she studied him with her tropic eyes. "What about us?"
He looked into those eyes as her scent of roses wafted to his nose on the sea breeze blowing in from the window and suddenly he was filled with an almost overpowering feeling that he was making a monumental mistake. Gently, he grasped her arms but another seductive voice inside his head purred, You're right, Black Ghost is gone and there's no need for your abilities anymore. And besides, she's lying, nobody cares for you here, least of all her if she did, she wouldn't be keeping secrets from you and sharing them with everybody else. Why should she, you're an orphan with nothing and she was to be a world famous ballerina. Come back with us.
The thought was halted by a slight rap on the doorframe and Joe saw it was Merry who peeked in and said hesitantly, "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
Joe immediately released Francoise as he stammered, "N-no, nothing. I was just finishing packing so we could leave." He went to close the suitcase on the bed as Francoise stood there, feeling as if her heart was shattering into tiny pieces.
The air between the three was thick with tension as Joe gathered up his things. As he turned to leave, Francoise said softly, "This T-shirt is yours, Joe. If you'll wait a minute, I'll go take it off and give it back to you.
Joe turned and saw Francoise standing in dejection her flaxen head bowed looking like little girl lost in the T-shirt he had given her one day on the beach when he saw her burning while she was sunbathing. It was nearly the one thing that made him entertain the thought of changing his mind about leaving but Merry's gentle tug of his hand drew his attention back to the mesmerizing jade depths of her eyes.
"Just keep it, okay? I gotta go." He gazed at her with regret as Merry again tugged on him.
"C'mon Jojo," she urged. "We have to go pick up Jan and Sam at work."
Joe sighed as he nodded and said, "Yeah. Bye Francoise." They headed for the stairs, leaving 003 standing by 009's emptied drawers and bed in total anguish.
The two climbed downstairs and were faced by the other 00 cyborgs, who were not ready to give up their commander. 004 stepped forward and began.
"Look Joe, why can't you just stay just for tonight and when the doctor comes back we'll all sit and discuss this. Surely it can be worked out between us all."
But 009 was adamant as he said, "Sorry, Albert I made up my mind. All of you take care."
002 tried next as he barked, "This is pretty lousy, man. After all we've been through, I even saved your life. And now you dis us like this? It really sucks!"
Joe responded flatly, "I really don't care what you think about it, I'm leaving. C'mon Merry."
He wrenched open the front door as everyone else streamed out behind him to watch as he opened the side door of the van to put his bag in the back seat then slammed the door as he opened the passenger side to climb in. Unknown to Joe while this was going on, Francoise came out and stood by Geronimo, her tears falling freely as she watched 009's departure from the team, feeling helpless and lost.
Merry had gotten behind the wheel and she started the van, shifting gears to pull away, leaving the shell shocked cyborgs in their wake. Joe could not help but watch through the rear view mirror all of his former teammates and friends but the one sight that etched itself on his heart was that of 003. As the van pulled away, she sank to her knees and buried her face in her hands, her slender shoulders shaking with deep sobs and his own heart dropped to his stomach as he suddenly felt sick.
Good-bye he said silently, his own eyes wet.
NEXT---NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM