Author's Note: Okay the team's tracked Joe down but while it appears they are having a pleasant visit, something is definitely not right. Thanks for those reading and especially those reviewing.
UNEXPECTED GUESTS
The cyborgs all took seats in the sunken living room, with 006 and 007 on a settee, 004 and Dr. Gilmore in easy chairs, 005 on the sofa as 004 and 002 stood leaning against the mantle of the fireplace. Dr. Gilmore was cradling 001 as 003 perched on the sofa in the place that Merry had occupied before as Joe resumed his seat, which happened to be beside her.
Merry felt the rise of temper at the inopportune interruption and seeing Francoise sitting in her seat beside Joe just added to it as she took a seat on a small chair near the fireplace. She fell into the role as hostess as she favored the cyborgs with a bright smile.
"Well, it was very nice of you all to drop in to see Jojo."
"Jojo?" Jet said incredulously as he studied the blushing 009. "Is that you, buddy boy?"
Joe stammered as all eyes were trained on him, "W-well, that's what Merry used to call me when we were kids." He snuck a glance at Francoise, embarrassed.
"I think it's cute," 003 said, wanting to ease her beau's discomfort, her tropic eyes smiling at him. She turned on Jet as she added, "I'm sure you had a nickname when you were growing up in your street gang."
Jet became nonplussed, "Feh, yeah but not such a lame one as that."
"And what about the name you go by now?" Albert asked silkily. "Surely that's not the name your parents gave you."
"And what if it is?" Jet said defensively.
"All right that's enough," Dr. Gilmore scolded. "We happen to be guests here and are acting quite rudely."
Francoise offered an apology as she addressed Merry, "Please forgive us, we didn't mean to be impolite."
Merry's eyes were trained on the sight of Joe and Francoise sitting closely, with Joe's arm slung casually across the back of the sofa behind the blonde's slim shoulders and she was momentarily distracted as it appeared that they were too close for her liking.
"Huh?" She pulled her eyes to the aqua ones waiting for a reply. "It's okay, don't worry about it," Merry said as she got to her feet. "I'll get some beverages for us. Joe, could you give me a hand?"
"Sure." Joe rose and addressed the group. "I'll be right back," he said, his eyes resting on Francoise as he left the room.
The cyborgs all exchanged glances as Francoise murmured to Dr. Gilmore, "Doctor, can 001 pick up anything strange, because I can't see anything."
The scientist asked the infant, "001, do you sense anything peculiar?"
Nothing yet but you all will be the first to know if I do
The rest of the cyborgs acknowledged the communication and they all sat wordlessly as the French door on the far side of the room opened and Sam and Jan walked in chatting. They glanced up and froze at the assembly in the living room.
Jan went forward and smiled politely. "Hello there."
Sam was more direct. "Who are all of you?" Then he spied Francoise and stepped forward with an admiring gaze. "I remember you, pretty lady, you were at the café that day with our buddy Shimamura. It's nice to see you again."
The golden haired cyborg smiled cordially and nodded her head. . . .
In the kitchen, Merry was finishing making a pitcher of iced tea as Joe was getting glasses and she remarked, "Your friends visiting is quite a surprise."
"Yeah," he rejoined. "Especially since I didn't tell them where I was going. But I guess they managed to track me down." He was inwardly pleased by that assumption.
"Hmmm. Are they all cyborgs too?" she wanted to know as she stirred the pitcher.
"Yeah. And we've become more then a team, we're like a family. We really care about each other and look after each other."
"Nice," she said disinterestedly. She pinned him with her emerald gaze. "But they were ignoring you, leaving you out of things so if that's so, why did they do that?"
Joe opened his mouth to defend his comrades but the verdant depths of her orbs captivated him and the siren's voice of before spoke again. They came here out of guilt and pity. They don't care and you need to accept that, it's over. Just send them on their way.
"No, you're wrong!" Joe snapped, turning away from the penetrating orbs. He rubbed his eyes to clear both them and his mind as Merry looked at him, puzzled.
"Something wrong, Jojo?"
Joe stared at the questioning look on Merry's face as he shook his head. "N-no, I was just imagining things." He picked up the tray with the pitcher and glasses. "Let's go out there."
In the living room, Jan and Sam were engaging the 00 cyborgs in conversation with Sam sitting on the coffee table before Francoise with her hands in his. He was addressing her with a bit of ardor lighting his dark eyes and as Joe entered from the kitchen his eyes fell on the two and they narrowed as he slammed the tray down at the nearest table.
"Hey, what's the big idea?" he demanded, a scowl on his even features. "Get your hands off her!" The conversation in the room halted as all eyes were focused on the sofa
Sam shot to his feet as he entreated the taller and incensed Joe. "Hey, take it easy, man. I was just being friendly." He held his hands up placatingly.
Merry came over and she asked, "Something wrong?" She glanced at Sam and Francoise her eyes accusing at the French girl who rose gracefully to her feet.
Francoise caught the subtle implication and her own eyes narrowed slightly as she replied evenly, "Nothing at all. I was just talking to Sam and that's all."
Merry's expression softened as she went to Joe's side to offer reassurance. "Relax, Jojo. They were just talking, everything's fine." She wrapped an arm around him and seemed to nuzzle his cheek as she threw a triumphant glance at 003.
002, always the soul of discretion gave a catcall. "Whew, has the temperature in here gotten hotter or what?" He grinned at 009 with a wink.
Joe stood there while the aqua eyes of Francoise pinned him like a spotlight and he was momentarily stunned into inertia with Merry's arms locked around his neck.
Chang cleared his throat to dispel the tense atmosphere. "Well, everyone it's close to dinnertime, suppose I go and create one of my famous feasts."
Merry appeared dubious until Joe joined in enthusiastically, "That sounds great. How about it everybody, let's all have dinner made by our own gourmet Chinese chef."
"Sounds great," Jan said cheerfully. "I love Chinese food."
"Then you're in for a real treat," Albert said. "Nobody cooks like our Chang."
"And since it's my turn to cook tonight, I'll give you a hand," Sam suggested as he went to Chang and accompanied him into the kitchen.
Merry then said with her veneer of cordiality intact, "That's very kind of you all. Let us offer you a before dinner drink." She turned to Joe and requested sweetly, "Would you help me pass them out, Jojo?"
He smiled as he replied, "Sure."
He picked up the tray and they served the iced tea, beginning at the end of the room where Pyunma and Geronimo sat and accepted the refreshment. Then came GB, Albert, and Jet who winked at Joe while the latter ignored him. Then Dr. Gilmore, who had brought the carrier for Ivan laid the baby in there while he graciously accepted and took a sip, smiling in approval. Finally, they approached 003.
Merry took the last glass and handed it to the French former dancer, fighting the urge to "accidentally" drop it in her lap as Francoise took the beverage and thanked her hostess as she and Joe locked eyes.
"Thank you," she said softly, taking a sip and gazing at 009 over the edge of the glass.
"You're welcome," he murmured as he handed the tray to Merry without taking his eyes away from 003. "So how are you?"
"Okay. We all came to see if you were okay, you left so quickly yesterday, we were concerned."
He smiled as he said, "You don't have to worry about me. I'm fine, really."
Merry took the cue and put a possessive arm about his trim waist as if to create a definite impression. "Yes indeed, you needn't worry, I'll make sure Jojo is all right. After all we always looked after each other at the orphanage, didn't we?"
"Uh, yeah," Joe said, getting uncomfortable by Merry's actions as Francoise watched with a jaundiced eye.
The door to the kitchen interrupted the potential powderkeg as Sam called out, "Hey Merry, where do you keep all the spices, we can't find anything."
Merry sighed as she excused herself. "Pardon me but I have to go in there before they tear my kitchen apart." She disentangled herself and went into the kitchen to quell the disturbance.
Jan got to his feet as he took over the entertainment duties as he invited the rest of the cyborgs to a tour of the dwelling, ending in the state-of-the-art game room downstairs.
"Sounds good to me," Jet said as Albert and Pyunma nodded.
"I'll go sit on the deck," 005 informed them as he rose and exited through the French doors.
"I think I'll head in the kitchen and give my dear friend a helping hand," GB announced as he headed to the kitchen door. The room was empty save for Dr. Gilmore, 009, 003, and the dozing 001.
Francoise placed her tea down and decided to get proactive. The events of her dream and vision were uppermost in her mind as she addressed Joe.
"Joe, would you like to take a walk with me?" she asked, her eyes beseeching him.
He hesitated, "But I don't want to leave Dr. Gilmore here alone."
Dr. Gilmore said, "I'll just stay here with 001 and enjoy the quiet." He shot an imperceptible yet meaningful glance at 003 and she nodded in understanding as she tried again.
"Come on, Joe. Show me the scenery, it's so beautiful." Her tropic eyes glistened as she smiled at him and per usual he was done in.
"Sure. We'll see you in a bit, Doctor." He took 003's elbow as the two exited through the front door. . . .
Outside, Joe and Francoise strolled down a path that led into the wilderness surrounding the house, words at a loss as each grappled with mixed yet intense emotions. Francoise, always aware of what made Joe tick sensed a conflict in the Japanese youth that made the environs between them unusually awkward.
Joe walked beside Francoise, his hands jammed in his pockets and head down, afraid to make eye contact with her as he was filled with ambivalence, both savoring and dreading her nearness. His heart pounded with trepidation as they walked along sensing a conversation coming that he was also dreading.
On the other hand, Francoise was deep in her own reverie, worry for the man she loved reverberating throughout her being. She felt like she did that time in the Andes and 009 was seemingly mesmerized by the mysterious Ishkik, who with her beauty and song drew him to her. At that time she truly feared losing him until it was discovered that the beautiful siren was actually an android created by Black Ghost to destroy the 00 cyborgs. Like that incident, 003 felt that Joe was being drawn into something that would lead to his destruction and she felt the same sense of urgency that she needed to alert him before it was too late. She strolled alongside Joe words at a loss as she wracked her brain to say something to break the wall of ice between them.
Francoise glanced at the gorgeous surroundings and she commented, "It's really very peaceful and pretty out here, Joe. I can see why you want to live out here."
"Ummm," he grunted as he continued to walk, not breaking his stride.
Francoise sighed and decided to plunge in. "Joe, I wish you would talk to me."
"What do you want me to say, Francoise?" Joe asked in a weary tone as they were on a wooded path, away from the house.
She stopped walking and grasped his arm to get his attention. "I want you to talk to me like you used to. From the time you joined us you and I could always could tell each other anything."
Joe turned and looked into the tropic eyes and saw no accusation or demands, just a pained questioning that deserved an answer. His heart pounded as he was torn, the ambivalent emotions engulfing him.
"I'm sorry to have left so abruptly. I know you and the team were kind of surprised."
She responded wryly, "That's putting it mildly. We were shocked, really. You're a part of us, Joe."
"Really?" he said still with his head down avoiding her. "Then why'd you guys cut me off from everything?"
Francoise bit her lip as she searched for a reply to his question. She still held high hopes that the meticulously planned surprise party for him would still take place, regardless of the present strained situation. But her silence drove the wedge between them further as Joe let her off the hook.
"It's okay, Francoise. You don't have to tell me, because it's all moot now. I'm starting fresh with a new life and that's all."
Francoise saw the resolve in his cinnamon eyes and she felt him slipping slowly, but surely away. Her heart constricted as she made another try to reach him as she took hold of his shoulders.
"So you want to forget everything about the 00 cyborg team, huh? Every incident, every battle, everything?" Her eyes were stormy tropic tide pools, maelstroms that he fought being drawn into as her voice lowered in timber. "Even us?"
Those aqua orbs of 003 were hypnotic as always why is it that a woman's eyes can destroy me quicker and more completely than any weapon Black Ghost has ever tried to use against me? I'm a guy like others that finds the obvious parts of 003 pleasing but when she pins me with those eyes, I'm a goner.
Joe took his hands and placed them on Francoise's slender shoulders. "I could never forget about us." They both leaned in for a kiss when the passionate action was halted by an alto voice calling out to him.
"Joji? Joji, where are you?" Merry's urgent voice called from the direction of the house as Francoise and Joe stepped apart. The auburn haired girl came into view and hurried over to the couple.
"Oh, here you are." She pushed herself between the two, presenting her back to Francoise as she placed her hands on Joe's lean chest. "I didn't see you and was worried about you."
Francoise felt her ire rise as Joe reassured Merry, "You didn't have to worry. We just went for a walk to talk." He smiled at her while the French cyborg inwardly seethed.
"Well, it's time for dinner, your friend made a fantastic meal and I'm sure you're famished so let's head back." She took Joe's hand and pulled him with her, forcing Francoise to trail behind.
As she followed Joe and Merry, Francoise glared at the young woman, her mind filled with all kinds of thoughts at the interruption, both violent and nonviolent but the one uppermost in her mind was that Joe was under some kind of control, one that had Merry pulling the strings. He just seemed totally obedient to her, doing exactly as she requested, no questions asked and so completely unlike him. In addition to top things off, he became oblivious to her, Francoise. In light of their exceptionally close relationship, that in itself disturbed her. She narrowed her eyes as they all got to the house and made their way in for dinner.
The dinner seemed like a typical social get together with the exceptional cuisine being relished as banter and conversation flowed about except for Francoise who sat before her still full plate toying with her meal. She watched across the table as Merry fussed and fawned over Joe, catering to his every whim and bearing witness to the spectacle each mouthful 003 managed to force down stuck in her throat. Her misery intensified when it became apparent that Joe seemed content to do nothing and even appeared to enjoy it.
It's just like that time in Egypt, just like with Ishkik when he was completely mesmerized. If that android had been human, I would have lost him. And unless we find out what has Joe under the spell, we'll definitely lose him this time, I'll lose him and I can't let that happen, I love him too much.
"Hey, Francoise are you okay?" Jet asked as he saw the disturbed look marring the porcelain visage of the lone female on their team.
She turned to him and pasted a smile on her face to reassure the former street tough. "I'm fine, Jet. Don't worry about me."
He frowned dubiously as he said, "If you say so."
The exchange caught Dr. Gilmore's sharp eyes as he studied 003 carefully and gave her a gesture that she alone caught and nodded imperceptibly in response.
After dinner, they all retired to the huge game room on a lower level of the house where Sam and Jan engaged Jet, Pyunma, GB, and Albert in a friendly tournament of pool. Geronimo and Chang were content to just watch the competition as Dr. Gilmore had taken a seat to both watch the game and Ivan who was dozing. It was toward the wee hours of the morning when the tournament was down to Jet and Pyunma with the winner playing Jan, who was undefeated.
Francoise sat watching as well but it was not the pool tournament that had her undivided attention but the ping pong match going on between Joe and Merry who had isolated themselves from the rest. They were laughing with abandon like children and shared the easy camaraderie of old friends.
Joe set up to serve. "This'll be game point for me, Merry."
"Just come at me, Jojo," she countered. "It won't be easy."
He served the ball and a spirited volley began between them as Joe adeptly hit the ball over the net as Merry returned it, each locked in battle as the game point was the prize. Finally, Merry hit the ball short and Joe rushed up and returned it short before she could get to it. He crowed in triumph as she gave him a sheepish grin as she conceded.
"You win, Jojo. You haven't lost a step, still the best at ping pong," she admitted as she laid her paddle down and came over to him.
"Thanks." He turned and addressed the davenport where Dr. Gilmore and Francoise sat and his eyes fell on her as if waiting for her response. Merry observed this with a slightly strained smile that did not reach her verdant eyes.
"How about playing me, Francoise? I don't think we ever played each other at the beach house."
She demurred shaking her golden head, "I don't know how to play."
He grinned engagingly at her. "I'll be glad to teach you, come on," he said, reaching to grasp her arm but she refused.
"I don't think so," Francoise said, consulting her watch. "It's late."
Joe was persistent. "Please, Francoise?" he beseeched as Merry rolled her eyes.
The blonde cyborg caught the not so subtle gesture and said, "Thanks for asking but I'm really tired, Joe. I think I'll leave and go to bed." She got up and headed out but Joe took hold of her arm, not wanting to see his family leave.
Dr. Gilmore got to his feet as well. "I agree." He addressed all of the cyborgs. "Come along everyone, it's time to go." Everyone grumbled as they all assembled breaking up the game.
Jet complained, "Aw, come on doc. I'm about to win and we still gotta do the rubber game, have a heart."
"Yeah, I'm ready to beat Jet, you can't do this now," Pyunma protested.
Still hanging onto Francoise Joe said brightly, "I have an idea, why don't you all stay here? Tomorrow's Saturday and we could have the whole weekend to hang out. Francoise and Ivan can have my room and all us guys can sack out down here. Sam, Jan and Merry don't mind, do you guys?"
The trio was a bit stunned as they were unprepared for the invasion of nine people for overnight guests but Francoise got them off the hook by graciously yet firmly refusing.
"I think we'll just head to the Dolphin and if you want us to, come back tomorrow." She extracted her arm from Joe's grasp much to his disappointment.
He asked, "The Dolphin's here?"
Gilmore nodded, "We couldn't all fit in the convertible so we flew the Dolphin over. She's parked out in a field nearby so it's best that we retire there in our quarters. Come along everybody." Without another word, they all filed past their former commander and his friends and headed to the door.
Bringing up the rear, Chang stopped and suggested, "I'll even come and make a big breakfast for us all. So we'll see you then." And the entire group opened the door and left. . . .
As soon as they all gathered in the Dolphin, Dr. Gilmore called a meeting.
He asked, "Did anybody else notice that 009 wasn't himself?" They all nodded as their faces bore concerned expressions.
Albert spoke up, "I did. And I noticed that girl Merry never left him alone except before dinner when he was with 003." He addressed her, "Did you get anything from him, 003?"
She shook her head dejectedly, "No I didn't but we were interrupted by you know who."
Jet snorted, "That figures. She was practically feeding him at the dinner table and she was at his side all night. For a minute I thought they were handcuffed together." He chuckled at his own joke until 003 pinned him with a cold aqua glare and he became sheepish.
Gilmore directed, "All right everyone, tomorrow we'll go back and do some investigating. We'll get the three friends of 009's out of the house and get him alone. I'll have 001 and 003 monitor any communications coming out or going in." He yawned loudly and said, "Let's all get some sleep so we can be there bright and early."
"Yes, sir." The group of 00 cyborgs all filed out but as 003 scooped up 001 and made to leave, Gilmore placed a fatherly hand on her shoulder.
"003, I want you to keep yourself on special alert. While we were there, I had a bad feeling and want us to be completely knowledgeable of what is going on." He continued gently, "Don't worry, Francoise we'll get to the bottom of this and have Joe back with us again before anything happens."
She gave him a wan smile as she said, "I hope so, Professor." With shoulders slumped, 003 headed to her quarters. . . .
NEXT---BATTLE STATIONS