Author's Note: Here's the stage set for the action coming up in the next chapter. I just saw "City of Wind" and made a reference to that episode here as Joe is also being mesmerized, here this time by Merry. I also have Francoise here as the one who will be the chief rescuer so there is a big fight coming up between her and the assassin cyborg disguised as Joe's old friend Merry. Anyone who saw "The Pharaoh's Curse" knows she can fight quite well and believe me, she will here in the next chapter. Thanks to all the readers and the reviewers. BTW sorry if the chapters are long but with all the elements to make sure the chapter is cohesive and not fragmented, that has to be the case.

BATTLE STATIONS

Sleep was elusive that night for Joe Shimamura, formerly Cyborg 009 as he tossed and turned for the umpteenth time, his mind full of the day's events. He sighed and lay on his back, studying the shadows on the ceiling as he pondered his mixed emotions at seeing the team come to him. His mind played back the events of the evening, the dinner and the way he felt torn. Part of him was overjoyed and relieved when Merry opened the door and Francoise and the others were standing there but the strange thing was there was another part that was livid at them. That was puzzling him the most because he never was one to hold grudges, he always believed firmly in the second chance and had looked upon his cyborg comrades as his family and you always forgive your family.

Or do you?

Joe sighed deeply as something else gnawed at the base of his head, and that was the increasingly amorous intent of Merry. It was becoming more and more obvious that she had romantic designs on him and it was making him increasingly uncomfortable. After the team left, Joe had bid everyone good night and headed to his room, wanting to rest alone. But Merry had followed him with the purpose of seeing to his comfort and her aggressive advances were doing just the opposite. . . .

Flashback:

Joe went to his room and wearily sat on the bed, rubbing his eyes and still thinking about his cyborg friends as she entered his room, unbidden and sat closely beside him.

"Are you okay?" she asked, wrapping her arm about him.

An uneasy feeling swept throughout his being as Joe replied, "Yeah, I'm fine, don't worry about me."

Merry looked dubious as she remarked, "You're asking the impossible, Jojo. I'm always going to worry about you."

Joe turned his head to look at her and she raised her hand to brush his unruly mahogany bangs back from his face, revealing both cinnamon eyes. His eyes widened as she drew in, her lips touching his softly yet with intensity. His head was telling him that this was not the Merry he knew, she had always been shy and sweet the type of girl he preferred, which was why at 13 he had been so infatuated with her. But his body betrayed him as the heat rose as passion began to take over from reason and he responded with enthusiasm. He closed his eyes as a voice told him in a seductive purr to enjoy it so he obeyed until. . .

He opened his eyes and saw it, the picture on his dresser of the Christmas kiss with 003 under the mistletoe and like a bucket of cold water being dashed in his face, reason came back accompanied by guilt. Joe took hold of Merry's shoulders and pushed away, taking a deep breath to collect himself as a pair of aquamarines floated before him.

Merry was dismayed. "Jojo, what's the matter? Why'd you stop?"

Joe rose to his feet and approached the picture on his dresser top. He said over his shoulder, "I think you'd better go, Merry. I'm really tired and want to go to bed."

She smiled as she slid onto the bed as if she were waiting for him, "That's okay with me."

Joe turned and looked directly in her eyes. "I meant ALONE," he said, emphasizing the last word.

Merry looked at him in disbelief, her smile fading. "Jojo, we're adults now, this is natural and we can be together in a very special way."

Joe shook his head as he said firmly, "No, Merry."

Pouting she got up and said pettishly, "Oh, all right. I had no idea you were such a prude." She sauntered over to him and ran her finger over his lips, slowly and sensuously.

He backed away and went to the door to open it. "Good night, Merry," he dismissed her as she strolled out. He closed and locked the door, expelling a deep breath in relief.

End flashback

Joe sighed as he mulled over the feeling that Merry had radically changed as she got older. She was never so bold before and it unnerved him to see her behave that way. He had never been attracted to that type of aggressive girl anyway, preferring the girls who were refined and ladylike, gentle, sensitive souls. . . .

Like Francoise.

"Francoise," he said softly and with longing as the vision of her came to him in a mental slideshow of all the times they had shared on missions and in down times as they they strolled the beach together sharing secrets and dreams. He had fallen hopelessly in love with the lovely ex-ballerina almost from the time he first rescued her from –0010 and after the assassin's first attack finding her by his side in the lab when he opened his eyes, caring for him and watching over him. All previous thoughts of betrayal and doubt of her fled as his reverie continued.

Joe's eyes stared at the Christmas photo as they became heavy and he finally got drowsy. "Good night, koishii," he said as with a yawn, he drifted off to sleep. . . .

In meantime, the other inhabitants of the mountain ranch house made their way downstairs to the basement past the game room, to a door that led to a subterranean interior room that was behind the actual basement wall. Jan drew a key out and unlocked the heavy oak door. He opened it and let Merry precede him and Sam inside who flipped on the light.

The room was vacant except for a large video screen and a communications board. Jan went over and turned a button and the screen came to life. Dr Monstore's sinister visage filled the room as he spoke to the trio.

"Well my lovelies what have you to report? Black Ghost is quite eager to hear what you have to say."

Merry came forward and spoke first. "Phase One of the mission is accomplished. 009 is here in the house and away from the rest of the 00 cyborgs."

"Excellent," the booming voice of Scarl said. "Divide and conquer is the best way to completely destroy them. What else have you planned?"

Merry began to map out the plan of deceit. . . .

At the Dolphin, 003 found sleep elusive as well as she thought of the way Joe had acted within the circle of his old friends and especially Merry. She felt the hollow, empty feeling as she did the time 007, 004, 005, herself and 009 were in the Andes. He had been so drawn and affectionate toward Ishkik and he was so hypnotized by her song and seeming helplessness that he protected the tragic siren first, forgetting everything else including her, Francoise. She was so hurt, that as soon as they all were back on the Dolphin, she made it a point to avoid him and he determined to seek her out.

Flashback:

The Dolphin was off and so a few of the team members left the bridge and dispersed as 008 piloted the craft, satisfied to leave the navigation in his very capable hands. The atmosphere upon their liftoff was thick with tension as the rest of the cyborgs saw the manner of 003 who appearing wan immediately left and went to her quarters, claiming to Dr. Gilmore that she was not feeling well. She made her exit and Dr. Gilmore followed her.

004 watched her figure disappear and turned to 009. "What's wrong with 003?"

Joe too watched her retreating form as he felt the chill in her aftermath. He bit his lip as he said woodenly, "I think it might be about what happened at the pyramid. I'll go talk to her."

"It might be even more than that. She was having trouble using her powers, like something had blocked her."

"I know. She told me and I was worried about her."

Albert continued, "And then when she saw the corpses of the archeological team, well you know our 003." He shrugged as his ice blue eyes bore into the Japanese youth.

Joe nodded, acknowledging her sensitivity and sweet compassion, one of the many things he loved so much about her, "She was upset by that."

"Among other things." Albert said significantly. He then nodded as he asked, "And how about you, how are you doing after all that? That princess really had you snowed, my friend."

Joe sighed as he thought about Ishkik and the way she drew him to her to rescue and protect her and said dourly, "I'll live. I'm just more concerned about 003 right now. I'll see you later." He turned and made his way to the part of the Dolphin that housed their personal sleeping quarters.

In her quarters, Francoise lay curled up on her bunk as she held her temples, the pain keeping her from seeing now gone. Dr. Gilmore had followed her and checked her over, finding everything in perfect working order and had just left, prescribing rest for her. The pain she was still feeling however was emotional as she closed her eyes and thought back to when she saw into the place that the bodies of the captured archeologists were held. Her thoughts then went to the way 009 was so mesmerized by that woman that turned out to be an android, a robot. The way he had protected her and cared for her sat in 003's heart like a cold lingering ache that refused to go away and tears began to form in her tropic eyes.

A soft knock on the panel door startled her as she sat up and on the edge of the bunk. "W-who is it?" she asked shakily.

"It's me Francoise, Joe. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Just leave me alone, 009."

A sharp pang shuddered in his heart at her rejection. "Please, can I come in, 003? I-I have to see you. Please, won't you let me in?"

Francoise dabbed at her eyes with a tissue as she sighed and gave in. "Come in." she said coolly as the door slid open and admitted the tall cyborg commander, who approached her hesitantly.

He smiled shyly at her, his head lowered and his eyes contrite as he said, "Hi."

She nodded, still avoiding him. "What do you want?"

"To talk to you."

"I really don't feel like talking, Joe."

Joe pleaded with his wide cinnamon eyes. "Please, Francoise?"

She looked up at him, the hurt evident in her tropic orbs. "What is there to talk about?"

"Can I sit down?"

She shrugged as she scooted over and he sat beside her awkward and trying to reach her. "I was worried about you. The abrupt way you left as soon as we got back to the Dolphin just wasn't like you."

Francoise sniffed, "I'm surprised you even noticed. Or cared."

Joe felt like a knife went through him at her words. He murmured, "Of course I care. I care deeply about everything having to do with you."

She shrugged again as if he were saying something hard to believe. "You didn't act like it when we were nearly crushed by that Gold Robot. Your first concern was her."

The way she said "her" referring to Ishkik with a tinge of resentment made everything quite clear. Joe sighed as his earlier assumption was proved to be true. He spoke softly, "What would you expect me to do? We're supposed to protect those in trouble and at the time that's what I thought she was, a beautiful woman in trouble." He placed his hand on hers. "I was doing what we are called to do."

"But she was a machine, an android. She was specifically calling to you to entrap you," Francoise pointed out.

"We don't know that to be true." Joe insisted, "We all are machines too. Does that mean that she didn't have feelings? We all have feelings, emotions that are both a blessing and a curse. Didn't the machine, the computer Sphinx fall in love with you?"

She lowered her head. "Yes, but it was different. Sphinx abducted me and I was powerless to do anything. This was different, she was luring you like she lured those archeologists and tried to ensnare you by drawing your heart."

Joe turned and studied the carpet on the floor of 003's quarters, her words hitting him like arrows piercing his heart. The pain was made more intense because she was right, Ishkik had him dazzled and had invaded his tender heart with her tale of woe. And then the others had found that there was the captive archeological team that had been killed and had been her prisoners.

"You're right. She did draw me in as she told me of her loneliness and I felt a sympathy for her." He sighed as he admitted, "A woman's tears always manage to destroy me."

There was a silence between them as the words stood like a barrier, a deep chasm separating them even though they were only inches apart. Joe fought the sense of hopelessness that was sweeping through him and nearly got up to leave but something else was urging him to stay.

He tried again as he added, "I just wanted to help her. When I was growing up all alone except for the Father, nobody was there to help me. That's why I accepted being a cyborg, to help others." He squeezed her hand. "You did too."

Francoise cringed as she still remembered him so attentive to the other woman and pulled away at his touch. "I know. You have a compassionate, caring nature so it's to be expected." She grasped her shoulders as she continued, "But as a woman, it hurt to see you more concerned about another woman then you were of me. At the same time, my powers were being blocked and I thought like I would lose them, and that made me feel even more useless."

With those words, Joe then realized that the past mission had really taken its toll on 003 in many ways. He gazed at the delicately lovely profile and saw a crystalline rivulet tracing its way down past her thick brush of lashes as Francoise continued averting her gaze. His heart constricted as he longed to take his hand and brush her tear away but her soft little girl voice suspended him as she went on.

"There's a part of me that's still a woman too and I want to feel like a woman. Sometimes as a cyborg, I find it so impossible to think that I'm nothing more than a freak, a re-fabricated conglomeration of flesh and machinery so much so that I feel like anything but a woman. But you're right, that woman was beautiful and seeing you so smitten made me feel even more unattractive then I already do."

Joe was speechless as he sat there hearing the beautiful ballerina say words that were so ludicrous they would make him laugh if not for the gravity of the environment and her tears. He wrapped his arm around Francoise's tiny waist and pulled her to him tightly, encircling her with his other arm and cradling her soft golden head against his heart.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm sorry I made you feel that way, I would never, ever hurt you, for anything. She did have me mesmerized and I did want to protect her. But please believe me when I say this, I would always protect you with my life. I would be nothing without you, helpless and hopeless." He took her chin in his hand gently and raised her head to look into her watery aqua orbs. "I told you how I reacted when I thought Sphinx had destroyed you and how I felt."

She nodded, "Uh-huh."

"Then let me elaborate. When that robot that looked so much like you ran away from me, I still thought it was you running away from me and I wanted to follow you to find out why, but you told me to stay away. That hurt and confused me but when I saw you blown up right before my eyes, it was like my heart exploded. The pain I felt thinking that I'd lost you forever was too much to bear and I collapsed." 009's cinnamon eyes were earnest as they met the tropic ones gazing at him. "I never want to feel pain like that again."

"Oh Joe," Francoise said.

Joe continued as he gently stroked her hair. "When I first came to the team, I saw how you reached out and cared for me. I hadn't had that kind of care shown to me before."

Francoise sniffled as she responded, "The way you protected me when 0010 tried to kill me, I was determined to see you well again."

"Then know this." He tightened his hold on her. "I'll always protect you. You are so important to me, please believe that."

She nodded as she reached up to kiss him, all things forgiven and forgotten.

End flashback

Francoise sighed as she turned over and again tried to sleep. She then gasped and shot bolt upright in the bed, startled as her extra sensitive vision focused on the view of Joe's three friends and her hearing picked up the chilling words. . . .

"…so he's been under the thought scrambling device but is fighting it, huh? Well, just increase the power so he can't be influenced by his emotions. That fool Gilmore bungled the design with those renegades by allowing them to hang onto their human emotions, saying that would make them better. Well, he too shall discover the folly of his ways."

That's Scarl! Francoise said to herself. I knew he was somehow behind this!

Did you hear that, 003? Ivan communicated to her from his bassinet.

Yes I did, 001. Shh, there's more.

Merry smiled a feline grin. "I just did. I'll make sure he forgets all about the 00 cyborg team."

Jan said, "But they are here. They came tonight and are planning to come again tomorrow. What should we do?"

Scarl answered, "Just keep lulling them into a sense of false security. Then signal me and I'll send my troops to help you annihilate them. In the meantime just keep acting the perfect hosts."

"Yes, sir," they chorused.

"And Merry, you work on 009. Make sure he's completely besotted and then when the time is right…destroy him!"

She smiled in malicious pleasure. "Leave him to me."

Francoise was furious as she yanked her boots on than jumped to her feet. Over my dead body, Merry! I'll be damned before I allow you to destroy Joe. Before you even have a chance I swear I'll kill you with my bare hands! She went to the bassinet and lifted the baby up. "Come on, 001. We have to tell Professor Gilmore and the team."

003 rushed to the closed study door that housed the scientist when he was on the Dolphin with them. Balancing 001 with a deft hand she rapped on the door with the other urgently.

"Dr. Gilmore! Dr. Gilmore, please open the door!"

The panel slid open and a sleepy Gilmore met Francoise, in pajamas and yawning. "What is the matter. 003? It's quite late." He saw the distraught look on the lovely features and immediately became alert. "Did you see something?"

She nodded as she said in a panicked manner. "I saw and heard. Black Ghost is planning to destroy 009 and is using his friends to do his dirty work. We have to go and rescue him!"

001 added telepathically I heard too. There's no time to waste

Gilmore pushed the alarm and in minutes the rest of the team emerged from their quarters and hurried to where the professor and Francoise were gathered.

"Everyone to the bridge immediately! We have to get prepared to rescue 009 and for a formidable battle with our old nemesis, Black Ghost."

"Yes, sir!" And they sprinted to the bridge as Gilmore quickly dressed to join them. . .

The sun rose blood red, a ominous harbinger of the day to come as Joe finished getting dressed and headed to the dining room where Sam, Jan and Merry sat sipping juice. Merry smiled as she spotted him.

"Good morning, Jojo," she said warmly as she gestured to the empty chair beside her. "Come sit with us. We want to talk to you."

Joe acquiesced as he glanced around with a slight frown. "How come everybody's here so early? What's up?"

The trio exchanged glances as Merry took a deep breath and plunged forward. "We were wondering that about you. After seeing your friends last night, you seemed a bit detached when you went to bed last night."

Joe blinked in amazement. "I was?"

Jan nodded and Sam replied, "Uh-huh. And you seemed a bit touchy about me talking to Francoise. Didn't you break up with her when you left them and moved here?"

Joe looked confused, his mind whirling as he nodded dumbly. "I-I—," he stammered but Merry took his hand in both of hers.

"You weren't yourself after they left, Jojo. We all discussed it and figured that it would be best if you told them that you didn't want to see them anymore." Her verdant orbs studied him, hypnotizing him again.

"That's right, Joe. It's really for your own good. You need closure, buddy or you can't move on." Jan said but Joe did not hear him, all he was aware of was deep forest pool eyes captivating him. Jan tossed his head at Sam and the two men left discreetly as Merry worked her spell.

A tear formed in her verdant orbs as she continued to grasp 009's hand and she rose, pulling him up with her. "Come with me, Jojo. There's a place in the woods I want to show you. It's beautiful and it could be 'our place' here, like the old baptistery was at the orphanage."

"Okay," he said, entranced. . . .

NEXT----BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH