Sorry again for the very long wait. School's starting soon, and I'm just finishing up my homework. It's been very hectic for these last couple of months. I just hope you all enjoy the story so far. It has been quite a while since I last updated, haven't I? Well, I guess I shouldn't keep you guys waiting. So, on with the story...
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone except for 0017
Red and Black
"..."
The way the 00 Cyborgs talk
(...)
the way 001 mental talks
{...}
Author's notes
[...]
Vivianne's mental talks
Here we go...
For the next 2 days, 002 and the rest of the crew tried finding the rendezvous point Black Ghost spoke of. "31st Street and Jackson Lane. Where the heck is that?" 004 said, searching the coordinates map on the ship. 002 came up became him and slowly took the map from his hand. He placed it on the table where everyone could see. Carefully, he pointed at a small state on the map.
"America... New York... 005, get me a close-up map of New York," Jet said. 005 nodded and searched the drawer under the table. He tossed it to him. 002 nodded his thanks. He opened up the map and set it on the table, his eyes scanning the area quickly. "There," he said pointing at a narrow street in front of many houses. "That's 31st and Jackson Lane." His fingers traced an apartment on the map, as if hypnotized by it. Slowly, tears started to form in his eyes, shining brightly like shards of light.
"002, what's the matter?" Vivianne asked him. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. The shards of light started to drip down on the map, soaking it ever so slightly. Jet smiled weakly.
"It's nothing, really. Nothing you should be concerned about... Nothing... at... all..." 002 remembered his dream from a while back. The one when 0017 Black died in a blaze of inferno fire. He was helpless as he watched the burning apartment crash down to the floor... the girl he loved, still inside. His eyes gazed out into space. 004 tapped him on his other shoulder, awakening him from his painful memories. 002 turned to look at him.
"That's the apartment, isn't it?" 004 said softly. Everyone turned his or her attention to 004. "The apartment you envisioned in your dreams... the one where 0017 Black died in... and you couldn't do anything about it. Isn't that right?" 004 said, remembering 002's dream just like it was yesterday. Jet nodded.
"Yeah, that's the one, alright. I felt frozen. I couldn't move. All I could do was watch that burning building fall. Then that scream, it still haunts me to this very day. And I still blame myself... I could've saved her from that fire. I could've... but I didn't... why? Why couldn't I move?" 002 said, almost in a whisper. He shook his head and Vivianne removed her hand from his shoulder. "That doesn't matter right now. We have to find her and get her home. I can't live with myself if I lose her again," he said, determination filling his voice. 004 simply nodded at him. He took out a pen from his front pocket and circled the place where 002 last pointed. Taking the map from the table, he gave it to 009 who was driving the ship at that point.
"Here you go, 009. The rendezvous point is in America. This map should help... a lot." 009 nodded his thanks.
"Thanks, 004. I'll put the coordinates in right away," 009 said as he quickly turned back around and typed something into the on-screen monitor. The plane shifted to its right and they were off to New York, USA.
{With the 0010 Brothers}
0017 Black stared emotionlessly out her window. The skies were gray and blank. Not a single shred of light could be seen from the rays of the sun. Josephine's eyes reflected the skies. The tiny spark that use to lit up her eyes vanished as if swallowed by the darkness of her irises. Unblinkingly, she heard the sound of a door slowly creak open. "What do you want, Jean?" she said, without lifting her gaze at the window. 0010 Minus cringed at the dark tone that laid in her voice.
"Breakfast is ready, if you want to go down and eat," he said, trying to sound cheery. 0017 Black sat silently as if deaf to his responses. After a moment, she responded in that same dark voice of hers.
"I'm not hungry," she said, "In fact, I don't think I could eat lunch or dinner either. Don't bother coming in to get me." Her voice grew darker and darker with each word she spoke. Jean simply nodded and left the room, closing the door to the mysterious woman with a silent click. He sighed sadly as he walked quietly down the hall, which use to be full of laughter and noise. Now the only sound he could hear was the empty, hollow, monotonous tone of his own footsteps resounding from the hall.
0010 Plus sat at the kitchen table, sipping at his coffee, not looking up as Jean walked in... without 0017. Half expecting for her to show up, John let his hopes of regaining her faith flicker and die. His heart felt cold, and that coldness spreaded throughout his body like the plague. Trying to warm himself up, he cupped the coffee in his hands, but to no use. He could feel the cup in his hands, but he couldn't feel the heat residing in it. And it left him freezing from the inside out. 0010 Plus stared at the reflection of himself. His once pointy, blonde hair grew dull in shape and color, and he lost his electric blue eyes. What were left were two round balls of deep navy. He closed his eyes and took another sip of his coffee. He could hear his brother sit down across from him.
"John, it seems all you've been doing lately is moping around and drinking coffee. Tell me, have you eaten breakfast yet?" 0010 Minus asked. John shook his head slowly. Jean sighed. "I'm worried. And it's not just you I'm worried about. Josephine seems to be always at her window, never eating anything. I doubt this is healthy for either one of you. And why doesn't she call you by your name anymore? She keeps calling you by your prototype name," he said. 0010 Plus took another sip of his coffee.
"Because in her eyes, that's all I am to her... a prototype... a cyborg... a machine... There is no 'John'," he replied, his voice drifting off at the end. "I'm just another machine... another figment of her imagination... I am nothing and will be nothing for the rest of my miserable life..." he said, mumbling to himself. 0010 Minus stared in horror at what he thought was once his older, happier, and lovable brother.
"Why do you say such things? Why? Why don't you just simply talk to her? Isn't that what any sensible being should be able to do?" Jean said, his voice almost quaking in anger. "Brother, I don't think you know what Josephine is going through. And half the time, I expect you know that. Because all you're doing every day is just moping around, dragging your feet like it was your shadow instead of trying to apologize for whatever the heck you did. It's what I would've done,' he said, his voice slowly regaining its patience. John merely glanced up at his brother.
"You don't understand... You weren't even there..." John said whispering to himself. 0010 Minus started at the other man in front of him.
"Who are you?! What have you done to my brother?! You think you know everything, every single piece that goes on in your life. But, it seems like I know you better than yourself. And I think your denying everything and everyone, including Josephine. You think that your own flesh and blood doesn't understand? Well then, go ahead and try me." Jean stared at his brother with a murderous glare while John simply lolled his head to one side, gazing at him. He smiled weakly.
"Of course you do. Tell me. How do you handle a situation in which you try to protect the one you love from getting hurt, and in result, you let her hurt anyway? Tell me, how do you handle it, Jean, if you think you know so much about me?" Silence resounded from the room. 0010 Minus had his head down, gazing deeply at the table. John smirked sadly. "That's what I thought..." Slowly, he stood up and finished his coffee, placing it in the sink. Before he left, "I will take you're advice anyway, Jean, just to prove you wrong. I'll go talk to her. If you hear a door slam, I assume you know what that would mean..." And with that, he left the hall...
{Back With the 00 Cyborgs}
For hours, all the crew could see was a sea of navy. Then slowly, a piece of land approached their view. Jet squinted into the distance and smiled. "Looks like Lady Liberty's back," Jet said, smiling to one side. 009 simply nodded.
"Yes, and with that, a new sense of hope resonating in all of us. This time, we just may be able to bring 0017 Black back where she belongs," 009 said, happiness sounding in his voice. The rest of the crew nodded. "Hang on, we're in for a rough landing. It seems New York doesn't have many places to land," 009 said, trying to find a place to park the ship. Jet simply smirked.
"And I'm dang proud of it. It's the busiest place in the US of A," he said proudly. 009 just shook his head and smiled.
"Yes, you're just lucky the Dolphin has a built in cloaking device. Otherwise, a whole lot of people would be gawking at why a spacecraft would suddenly land in their city. 002 simply shrugged it off. "Ha. Don't feel too proud of yourself now, do you?" Joe said. 002 started to laugh and so did the rest of the crew. Carefully, 009 parked in a back alley, just narrow enough for their spaceship to fit in... sideways. Everyone aboard tumbled to their side as the ship was turned. 009 looked back. "Is everyone alright?" 007 gazed menacingly at the leader.
"Does it look like we're alright to you?" 007 asked, trying to lift 006's foot off his stomach.
"Ow, 007, that's my hair."
"Hey watch it, that's my foot."
"005, would you kindly take your arm out of my face?"
"Stop whining, 008. I still have your foot in my stomach. Now get it off!!!"
An argument started to break out as everyone tried to untangle themselves from each other. "009, I suggest you never do that again, if you know what's good for you," 002 said, shaking a fist in front of his face in mockery of his driving. 009 sweat dropped.
"Sorry, 002. But, this is the only parking space there is, unless you want to park on the Statue of Liberty?"009 said, who also fell on his side during the turn. 002 simply sighed with defeat as his fist turned into an offering hand. 009 smiled. "Thanks, 002," 009 said, as he pulled him up to his feet.
"Well, that was an enjoyable experience. Who wants to do it again?" 007 asked sarcastically.
"NO!!!" Everyone laughed at him.
"Gees, I was only kidding. Next time, I'm driving."
"NO!!!"
{With Black Ghost}
He sat at his desk, neatly arranging the folders and papers around to his liking. Suddenly, he heard a knock on his door. "Come in," he says, finally deciding which order he liked his files to be in. A girl with long brown hair up to her shoulders came in quietly. He hazel eyes glared dangerously.
"I've heard rumors that you needed another assassin to finish off the 00 Cyborgs. Is that true?" the brunette asked, walking up to the front desk.
"Please, take a seat. And you are..."
"My name is Shannon, Shannon Mizaki." Black Ghost nodded approvingly.
"Ah yes, it says here in your records that you're also known as "Blaze", am I right?" The girl by the name of Shannon nodded her head silently. "Good. Hm... Interesting... I see that you've been an assassin for quite some time now, Blaze. That's good. How are you in combat?" he asked. She took out a knife from her boot and chucked it at him, grazing the side of his head. Calmly, Black Ghost glanced over at the dagger that was a few inches short from his skull. "Very good." He sent the knife back at the girl with his mental abilities. Swiftly, Shannon caught it between her fingers, returning it back to her boot. "You're skills are very impressive. I believe you are the one I'm looking for."
"When do I start?" she asked, starting to rise from her seat.
"If it doesn't bother you, I have a job for you tomorrow at 7, between 31st Street and Jackson Lane. You will receive more info once you get there. Is that alright with you?" he asked. Shannon nodded and turned to leave. "Oh and one more thing..." Black Ghost rose up from where he sat. He stuck out his hand. "It's good to have you with us."
Shannon took the hand kindly in a firm grip. "I'm glad to be here."
{With the 0010 Brothers}
Slowly, 0010 Plus made his way up the stairs and towards 0017 Black's room. The hall seemed long. And to him, it seemed an eternity to get there. But sure enough, he was standing there, right in front of her door. He listened closely to hear if she was crying. Only silence replied to his ears. Cautiously, John knocked on the door. No one answered. He knocked again. "I heard you the first time," a cold voice replied. Surprisingly, he didn't flinch at the sound of her dark voice. He sort of expected for it to happen.
"Can I come in?" John asked. Again, there was no answer. He waited, hoping that she would respond. After a while, still no one spoke. Supposing that he should leave, 0010 Plus turned his back from the door and started to walk away. Just then, the doorknob started to turn, and the door was opened a crack. John took the hint and went inside, closing the door behind him. He saw 0017 laying on her bad, staring blankly up at the ceiling. John sat at the foot of her bed, simply watching her. "Josephine, I just want to talk."
"There's nothing to talk about," she responded quickly. John just sighed.
"If you want to cry, you can cry. I won't stop you."
"Cry?" Josephine sat up and chuckled vacantly. "Cry?" she repeated, "I've cried more than I have for 5 years now. And right now, you expect me to cry?! Ha, that's a laugh. I wish I could, John; I really wish I could. But, I've got no tears left to cry with." Her eyes saddened and she lay back down. Curling up in a ball, she started to shake. Josephine rocked herself back and forth, keeping herself from crying in front of him, her head carefully tucked away between her knees. John's eyes saddened, and he could feel his own heart cry out for her. He laid down next to her.
"It's okay, Josephine. It's okay. Don't put a barrier over yourself. It's okay. Cry. Cry your heart out. I'm right here," John whispered in her ear, trying to comfort her. He wrapped his arms around her protectively and held her close to him. And with that, tears started to form in her eyes, dripping down her beautiful face. Josephine uncurled herself and buried her head in his chest. Crystal droplets stained John's black t-shirt, soaking it wet. But he didn't mind. All he did was hug 0017 tightly and whisper comforting words to her. "I'm sorry, Josephine. I'm so sorry. It'll be alright. I'm right here." Hesitantly, she cautiously wrapped her arms around John. Steady flows of tears continue to surge out from her eyes. Yet, she was silent throughout the entire moment.
Soon, Josephine stopped crying and John could hear the steady breathing of the lonely girl. John smiled and kissed her forehead lightly. "I'll always be here for you, Josephine. I'm always here," he whispered. Slowly, he closed his eyes, and he too fell asleep, holding the girl in comfort. Night fell silently and the two cyborgs fell asleep peacefully in each other's arms. Outside, a single crescent moon stood alone in the dark sky, serenely waiting for the morning rays of radiance.
DarkHeartKeyblade: Well your character was mentioned in here. It was brief, but recognizable. Do you know who she is? Don't worry. You will appear more in the next chapter. I just wanted the introduction in here. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Douceur: blushes Thanks, I guess. Anyway, thank you for reviewing and I hope you didn't wait long for this chapter. I hope you enjoy it.
Skylander: It's alright. You don't have to review, but I'm glad you did. I understand. I use to have horrible Internet connections, but now, I think it's getting better. I'm sorry that you cried at the end of the last chapter. It was a bit sad though, wasn't it? I hope this chapter was better. You're story deserved good comments because they were good. I hope you didn't wait long on this chapter. Please enjoy!!!
Anyways, that's the end of that. This story will last for another 2 chapter or so, since it's starting to get to the end. I hope you all enjoyed the story so far. And thank you all so much for reviewing. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Please R&R when you're done. Gotta' jet. Ja ne!!
