Hóla! Qué pasa, everyone? Wow, it's been such a long time since I've updated. It must've been nearly a year now, hasn't it? I must be the laziest author in the entire world. Oh well. Oh and FYI to all my loyal reviewers out there, I never leave a story unfinished…. no matter how crappy the plot may seem. I'm thinking I should stop talking and leave you to your reading. Anyways, just a warning, but I might have to end this story short. I was planning for it to be longer. But I just can't find the time to update. So there might be one chapter left. So um… any flames that people want to throw are definitely welcome.

Now, onto 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

Tampering With Faith……..


It felt like a gloomy day. Mists of gray shrouded the sun. The air was clammy and there was a sense of evil lingering in the atmosphere. 0017 Black sat calmly on her bed, staring once again blankly out her bedroom window. She was lost in her thoughts, torn between love and trust. Love and trust…. They were so easy to gain…. But it was even more so to shred it. She didn't know what to believe, whom to trust, or what to do for that matter. She glanced at the sleeping cyborg beside her, his steady breath breathing in and out. At first glance, 0010 Plus had such a peaceful aura. He didn't look like the guy who would shed blood just for pure enjoyment. No… that wasn't John at all, at least not the John she knew. Her thoughts drifted and ended up replaying last night's scene:

"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.

"Am I really that easily won over?" Josephine thought to herself. Her eyes were focused on the sleeping figure, deep in thought. "No…." She shook her head. "I refuse to be played so easily. But just looking at him…" Her eyes softened for just a diminutive second. "… The person I've only trusted for the past forty-some years. But, how do I know for sure that it was trust at all… There was a time when I wanted to be just like him: strong, powerful, in control, but now I know that it was all just a crazy obsession. It's kind of strange… I never really had a reason in trusting John or Jean. There was just this weird emotion inside that just told me they were always right. But how do I know that they're always right? I wasn't really myself then. Alex and I were sharing one body then. Separated, I don't really know if I can trust anyone here at all. Who am I really? If I really am who I think I am, then why don't I recall any of my memories with the 0010 Brothers? If I really trust them, why don't I have a reason?" 0017 Black placed a soft hand over her beating heart. "I feel it… But why does it feel so unreal… so fake?" She cringed at the thought of having planted memories and flexed her hand, the skin stretching so perfectly over her metal outline. "Am I just an empty shell? Are all my memories just fantasies?"

0010 Plus shifted on the bed, starting to wake up. She snapped out of her thoughts, her full attention at the cyborg that she thought she knew. She was ready…No… if all of this was really an over-write programming inside her; she refused to actually believe anymore of his dishonesties. She refused to be made a fool of time and time again. She stood up and backed away from him slowly. For once, Josephine had a reason to be afraid of 0010. John stretched lazily as his rumpled shirt draped around him, outlining his well-tone chest perfectly. He looked so much like a lazy cat. 0017 couldn't help but crack a small smile at him… Bad habits die hard. 0010 Plus saw the small smile on Josephine's face and grinned back himself.

"It seems like you enjoyed yourself last night, didn't you?"

0017 Black stopped smiling and turned her head around so that she was facing the window once again. John frowned, not used to being ignored by his favorite girl. And quite frankly, he didn't intend for it to go on. He hated it when the woman he loves doesn't understand his feelings. His eyes started clouding over with tears. "Why does this have to be all so complicated? Ugh… I don't understand her at all. I mean, I haven't done anything seriously wrong, have I?" He thought for a moment, recalling any memories that might have upset the sensitive girl.

"That's right, you've changed, haven't you, John. I truly believed that what Jet was saying was just an over-reaction. But now I know that it's all true, all of it. You really have changed, John. And I'm sorry that I ever doubted Jet in the first place."

0010 Plus flinched at the memory. "That's right. I didn't tell her why she was here in the first place. But how could I tell her that she was just a trading device for Black Ghost's revenge plan? She'd hate me even more than she would right now, if that were even possible. And saying that I hate everything about 002 isn't exactly the best way to get out of this situation either. Besides, why is she getting all worked about such a tiny detail anyway? I'll never understand women…" He sighed lightly and lay back onto the comfy bed.

Josephine thought quietly to herself. "He couldn't possibly understand. After all, he's never been killed twice... How can I tell him bluntly that I miss Jet? How can I tell him that I've put up with this far too long? How can I tell him that I want to… no… I need to go home… HOW CAN I TELL HIM THAT I THINK I HAVE IMPLANTED MEMORIES? HOW CAN I TELL HIM THAT EVERTHING I'VE THOUGHT WAS REAL WAS JUST A FANTASY? …..…………..No, he can't possibly understand me…."

Josephine didn't seem to notice the dark mood in the room, as she was too busy staring out into the hazy landscape. 0017 Plus, however, with his sharp senses, detected a dark presence around them. And immediately, his urgency picked up. Tears gone, he snapped up from the bed, alert and ready. His muscles tightened and his hair seemed to regain its electric form. His eyes were alert and ready. Slowly, he looked around the room. The atmosphere grew darker and darker, almost as if it were turning into night. He quickly embraced the oblivious cyborg with a tight grip. Trying not to worry 0017:

"Say… um… Josephine… Let's go eat breakfast; I'm starving. How about you?"

He started shoving her out the door. The unaware cyborg was fighting back, nevertheless.

"I'm not really that hungry. You go ahead," she said with an icy voice, starting to get suspicious, not at the dark ambiance, but at 0010 Plus himself. After all, she did swear to herself to never be taken advantage of ever again.

He smiled weakly. "Come on, now. You know that starving yourself isn't good for your health. Plus, you're skinny enough as it is. There's no need to become anorexic." He continued rushing themselves out the room. "Plus, I need to show you something…"

This caught Josephine's attention, though not in a good way. "Sure…" But she played along anyway, sensing the urgency in John's voice. "Maybe, he'll finally tell me what's going on. I'll be able to ask if my memories are really real or not.

As they reached the doorway, 0010 Plus sneaked a look behind him as he shut the door. The window was open, mist pouring in like clouds. A brown haired girl with black attire stood in the bedroom. And instantaneously, four black daggers hurled themselves at the cyborg. Quickly, he shut the door. He could feel the heavy thumps of the daggers on the other side of the door, embedding themselves into the mahogany wood. With a sprint, John rushed both of them down to the kitchen, where his brother was waiting.

Shannon Mazaki glared angrily at the wooden door, trying to imagine the Asian cyborg's face… covered in daggers.

"I missed… I never miss…. once a target, always a target. If that ignorant cyborg hadn't closed that god-forsaken door at that last minute, I would've been gathering my prize as of now. But no… that prototype 0010 Plus just had to get in the way. He made me miss my target. Well I'll show him… no one… and I mean no one… not even my little brother will make me miss my target. It's too bad I have to kill him and his little girlfriend…"

Anger boiling inside of her, she leapt out the window, leaving a cloud of dark aura behind her.


31st and Jackson Lane

002 looked around at the burnt apartment. Ash traces still line the structure of the brick building. Black rust seemed to have grown along the sides. The entire roof was missing and you could still see the old flowered wallpaper lining inside the house. He took a deep breath and exhaled. More or less, the apartment looked exactly like what it did so long ago… It startled Jet a little bit to be thinking that in all the places in the world, the rendezvous point had to be here… the last place he thought it'd ever be. He shuddered silently. Deep down, he could feel a dark aura residing in the abandoned building. His heart shuddered. A sudden chill ran down his spine. For once in a long time… Jet was actually scared, not for himself but for what could and would happen to his team… his mission… and his love…

"002, are you okay?" 009 asked concernly. He saw the look of fear in his eyes. 009 never saw 002 this frightened. Just seeing him lost… afraid… made Joe himself shudder with fear. Jet was the strongest fighter in their group. If he was terrified, then something ghastly must be waiting… lurking around the corner just for them.

Jet snapped out of his gaze and shook his head determinedly. "Yeah, I'm good, just kind of thinking what I should do right now. I'm expecting an ambush, but if we don't go in, we'd lose 0017 Black for good." His voice was determined. He felt petrified, but his strong-minded words buried that emotion quite well. He breathed in again, trying to regain his courage. His hand touched a crimson scarf that was bound around his neck. Cold ruby gems met his warm touch. 0017 Black's bandana gave him courage. He took one small step towards the haunting building, followed by a few more steps. His pace grew steady and his willpower even steadier. Sooner than he thought, the rusty metal door met his eyes. He felt as if his eyes were burning holes into the metal since he was staring at it so long. The orange-haired cyborg breathed out nervously, so terrified of this apartment that he even forgot to breathe. It brought back too many remorseful recollections.

As if it had a mind of its own, the door swung open. The 00 Cyborgs stood in their ready position. 003's cybernetic eyes scanned every notch and cranny of the room, afraid that she might've over-looked something important. She mustn't…no…. she absolutely can't let her team down. She's lost one person she cared about, and she wasn't about to let that same thing happen again. 009 and Vivianne stood just out of her view. 002 was thinking the same thoughts as Françoise. Failing was not acceptable.

"003, do you see anything? Anything at all…" 002 asked, weary of any toss of the wind or shift of a shadow. 003 switched to her heat-sensing mode and scanned the room once again. She shook her head, nervously. She could sense it, but she couldn't see it.

"It's strange; there's no sign of any living life form. It looks like the only ones here are us." 004 stood protectively over Alex. The Red cyborg glared dangerously around the room, knowing perfectly well that someone was here. And also knowing, their target was her. Something didn't feel right. There was an eerie aura to this place that unsettled her deeply. Vivianne felt it too. The shadows were moving, but there was clearly no life form. What was going on? The rest of the crew were feeling disturbed, too. Their eyes shifted nervously around the room, waiting for some danger to pop out unsuspectingly. 005's spirit senses went haywire and it worried him greatly. There was terrible danger in the room. But the 00 Cyborg just can't seem to put their fingers on it.


With the 0010 Brothers

"So, what was it that you wanted to show me?" Josephine asked in a calm, yet demanding way. She was waiting for an answer from 0010 Plus, but somehow; he just couldn't find a lie to cover up for their escape. He could never lie to 0017, nor could he possibly ever try. And how could he say that there was a murderer in her bedroom and now they have to get out of the house?

"Um…" 0010 Plus suddenly remembered that they were suppose to meet Black Ghost today… somewhere. It was a perfect escape from the house. "Um…" he stuttered. He looked at their surprisingly unbroken glass clock. "Oh yeah, we were suppose to be at 31st and Jackson at 12… And it is now 1:30, no sweat…ONE THIRTY!"0010 Plus took a second take on the clock, making sure he wasn't hallucinating. 1:30! How could he be late! He was never late for an appointment or anything, let alone a rendezvous for Black Ghost. He grabbed 0017 Black's hand. "Um… we're late for a road trip!"

She quirked her eyebrows. "Tell me… I would like to know how one is late for a road trip… I would appreciate it a lot, thanks." Her hopes diminished and a few drops of her anger steamed out. But, she ran along with John anyway, rushing down the flights of steps. 0010 Minus was standing at the door, impatiently tapping his feet, nervously glancing at the clock, and definitely ready to go.

"God! I was wondering when you'd get up. It's about time. We're only… oh… what… ONE AND A HALF HOUR LATE!" John mumbled his apologies as fast as he could, grabbing the keys to the Mercedes and his blue jacket. He stumbled out with his shoes and let go of Josephine's hands. Josephine, however, was already nicely dressed at six in the morning. Her jumbled thoughts gave her only grasps of sleep.

"Yea… yea… I know… one and a half hour late… no sweat," John muttered. Jean shook his head disappointedly. 0017 stood there looking at Jean, waiting for an explanation. He smiled shyly, afraid of what may happen if he told the truth. But, lying, he knew for sure, would obviously make this hectic scene look even worse.

"Um… you know that trade I was talking to you earlier?" Jean said hesitantly. Her eyes shot wide. No… She was astonished in thinking that they were actually going to go through with the plan. She nodded slowly, not really knowing what would happen next. "Well… its kind of today… But don't worry. Everything's going to be just peachy. After all, Black Ghost said you'd go home today." 0010 Plus looked at his brother stupidly, wondering if he really was his twin. Josephine just shook her head slowly at 0010 Minus. How naive can one cyborg get?

"So much for our "always on time" record." He opened the door and walked outside. Josephine was left to ponder in the blaze of confusion. All she could do was stand there and let 0010 Plus drag her to the car, grabbing a black handkerchief and a tetanus needle loaded with anesthetics off the shelf on the way out. She had no idea where they were going. And silently, her heart had a falling feeling about all this. These were not the answers she wanted to here. 0010 Plus stuck the needle in his back pocket and the black handkerchief in another. He pulled Josephine aside, while Jean got into the car, knowing that this was one state of affairs in which he should stay out of.

"Josephine, I can't stand the thought of you hating me every single day from the time you wake up to the time you fall asleep. I can't stand the thought that I have to lie to you every single day." Her eyes softened and she knew all her answers would be answered today. "So, I just wanted to ask you…. Is there anything at all that you want to know? I'm ready to tell you." 0010 Plus stared into deep pools of chocolate. "Today's the last day. Her knowledge won't matter anyway," he thought to himself. 0017 stared up at him fondly.

"Do you really mean it?" Her voice was like soft feathers floating on a cloud. 0010 Plus just melted hearing her voice. He smiled his best smile.

"Yeah…" And in such a long time, 0017 was actually willing to step into John's embrace. She loved how it was warm and strong, so much like Jet's hug. Oh, how she missed him so. She looked up into those sky blue eyes. With as much courage as she could muster, she stepped out of his warmth and searched in his eyes. She breathed out her one worry that was on her mind ever since the first day she was reborn.

"John, do I have implanted memories?" The shock hit 0010 Plus with such force that he almost forgot it was coming. But he knew that with such a curious girl like her, secrets would never escape her grasp. He sighed.

"Yes…..and no…… Yes because Black Ghost has tried the over-write program on your memories. But there was a glitch in the program and you. I mean, don't get me wrong or anything. In my eyes, you have no glitches. But your memory stash wasn't as flexible as everyone else's. In other words, your spirit was too stubborn to let them go. To erase your memories would mean erasing your personality, and that was what Black Ghost liked the best. So, in replacement he fed you memories of him instead of erasing the ones that you already had. So basically, yes, you still have your individuality, but it isn't your true spirit that's showing. Your feelings, your emotions, your personality are all under your manipulation. Black Ghost had no control whatsoever over them. That's why you are so valuable to him."

0017 bit her lip until a small trickle of blood started running from her pink lips. She had a feeling she would regret hearing the answer. But nonetheless, she was grateful to 0010 for telling her the truth. She lapped up a little of her blood to stop it from bleeding. So… that was the truth, huh… She smiled up at the older cyborg. "Thank you, John. That's all I wanted to hear." She smiled and once again stepped into the warm embrace of the electric cyborg. 0010, however, did not seem to acknowledge Josephine's affection. He simply stared down at her with smooth blue eyes, caring love inside of them. She looked up, confused with his reaction. John caressed 0017's smooth pink cheeks with one of his hands, while the other reached for the serum needle in his back pocket. He adored being able to hold Josephine again; even if was the last time.

He brushed a piece of smooth, black hair away from her soft chocolate eyes. For a moment, the two cyborgs simply stared into each other's eyes… electric blue versus chocolate brown. 0010 started to lean in towards 0017, while she simply stared at him worriedly. He wasn't acting like himself. 0010 stopped a few inches short from her pink lips. A lone tear streaked down his face. "I'm sorry, Josephine. Please forgive me…" As light as he could, John placed his soft lips against Josephine's. She gasped in shock as a sharp needle stabbed into the side of her waist. The serum coursed through her body and triggered a temporary system shutdown. She fainted as 0010 pulled out the needle.

With strong arms, 0010 brushed the unconscious 0017 off her feet and placed her lightly in the back seat of the Mercedes car. He opened the driver's side of the car and started the engine. A sad frown was painted unto his face as he looked into the rear view mirror. 0017's motionless body laid peacefully in the back seats. For a brief moment, John thought he saw a shining tear trickle down her face. But in the next moment, the tear was gone. "Brother, shouldn't we be going now?" 0010 Minus said softly to his brother. 0010 Plus nodded.

"Yeah, Jean, it's about time all this madness stopped."


Back With the 00 Cyborgs

Shadows kept darting back and forth along the walls. The air was still and yet it had a dank sense of darkness to it. For a moment, the aerodynamic cyborg swore he saw a pair of dark mahogany eyes, staring briefly back at him. It sent chills down his spine and in the next moment, those pairs of eyes vanished into the air. "They're here," he said. The crew continued standing in their fighting stance. In the next moment, a flying dart shot Alex. It hit her precisely on the neck, making her faint as the poison ran through her body.

"No, Alex!" 004 screamed mercilessly. She fell lightly in his arms, weighing less than a feather in his piece of mind. The German pulled the dart out of 0017 Red's pale neck. He gasped in shock as he briefly met contact with her skin. It felt like the frost of winter. Alex was turning cold… fast. He embraced her body as fully as he can, trying to transfer some of his body heat into hers. Still, Alex lay limply in his arms. Cobalt eyes scanned the cyborg's face, searching for any emotion… any at all. Her face stayed blank, expressionless. 004 never gave up. As long as there was breath in his body, he would bring 0017 Red back from Death's cold. He hugged her tightly, afraid that at any minute, her life would slip between his fingers. He glared at the shadows. "Someone's definitely here."

"Hell, you must be an Einstein to figure that out, genius…" a sarcastic tone said. Muscles tensed as a dark figure floated calmly from the shadows. It seems as if she just appeared from thin air. Dark drapes wrapped around her slim body, blending her in with the dark ambience of the room. She smirked at the unfortunate couple. "Don't worry, Prototype Number 4. You're in much more trouble than her. At least this way, she can't feel pain. Oh, and do be careful, such fragile things can easily slip through careless fingers." The dark figure smirked once more and camouflaged herself into the shadows. 004's grip on 0017 Red tightened briefly. He wanted to hug her close once more, but all he appeared to touch was the remote and thin air. He looked down in his arms and was startled that Alex was no longer in his arms. In the next moment, a certain unconscious cyborg was dangling from the ceiling from a tight linen rope.

003's eyes sharpened by 75, trying to sense the stranger's fluid motion. A malevolent chuckle resounded through the vicinity, bouncing off the walls in an eerie echo. "In case you aren't aware, Prototype 003, I am far more superior than any of the likes of you Prototypes. I'm Shannon Mazaki, the beginning and the end to your fate. 003 had to increase her vision to 98 before she could even pick up the dust trail from the cyborg. She was moving way too fast, even for the quick-witted cyborg.

"009, see if you can try to catch her in acceleration mode. There's nothing else any of us can do." Joe nodded and did as he was told.

"Acceleration mode!" In a blink of an eye, 009 was off. Everything moved in slow motion around him. A cruel laugh resounded from the room. He could catch a black blur from the corner of his eye, but whenever he turned to look at it, the blur seemed to have simply disappeared

"So, it looks like it's just us now, huh Prototype 009? Well, FYI, there's no way you can catch me. My acceleration mode is far more advanced than your system could ever be. In fact, why don't you just quit right now? It's a lot easier for the both of us… and much less painful for you," she said with a sarcastic laugh. This flared 009's anger. How dare she call him weak? He was a lot stronger than any cyborg can dream to be. He'll show her…

009 closed his eyes and listened to the silence around him. "Come on," he thought, "I just need one sound… any at all…" He could feel the swishing movements in the air. She was toying with him, he knew. But still, he remained still, wishing that she could make some type of noise… any at all… In the mental mode he was in now, a pin drop would sound like a snare drum to him. Shannon looked suspiciously at the prototype, angered that he didn't want to play with her anymore.

"Well, if that's the way he wants it, then fine. No more games; it's time to get serious." Her stance became more fluid in motion, her body swaying with the wind. For a moment, 009 just seemed to have lost track of her. He couldn't hear her, he couldn't see her, and worst of all, he lost all sense of her. The air seemed to have turned sharper with angst. A dread filled the atmosphere, clouding most of prospect's light. In the next minute, the slick black assassin was in range for her rapid dagger fire. Smoothly, she pulled out her six midnight-black blades and kissed them faintly for good luck. "Sayonara, Prototype 009…" Six far-from-blunt blades hurled themselves through the air, aiming straight for the still motionless figure of a certain brunette. Joe's eyes blinked open and in a graceful motion, he dodged all six of the daggers thrown at them.

007 jumped with fright as six swift blades just barely grazed the side of his head. A small cut appeared on his cheek moments later. "007, are you okay?" 003 asked frantically, also disturbed by the fact that there were half a dozen knives thrown through the air. 007 nodded.

"It's not me you should be worried about. It's the person that was the target of the blades that you should be concerned about." 003 scanned the vicinity again. All she could see were two red and black blurs shooting back and forth.

With a powerful punch, 009 managed to sneak up behind his opponent and strike her square in the shoulder blades, dislodging one of her shoulders. Shannon hissed in pain as she stared at the mutated arm. Blood started tricking slowly from 009's powerful punch. He stood there in astonishment. "I thought… It looked like…. So you're not a cyborg, then?" 009 said slowly, wincing at the thought. He didn't fight humans, let alone beat them to death. He saw the crimson liquid smudged on his knuckles. He wiped the blood off frantically, terrified at the sight of the scarlet fluid.

The assassin snarled nastily. "And so what if I am! That doesn't mean I'm as weak as you cyborgs are. No… I'm far much stronger than you can ever imagine." She stepped back into the shadows, letting the darkness heal her wounds. However, that was not the real concern on 009's mind. Two other cyborgs stepped out from the shadows, looking as menacing as the assassin herself. 009 switched off his acceleration mode. Vivianne was the first one to see the nervous cyborg. She ran to him quickly, flinging both of her arms around him.

"Oh, Joe, I was so worried about you…" Vivianne trailed off as she followed 009's intense gaze. She herself was frozen in shock. The rest of the crew followed the two nerve-wrecked cyborgs' gazes. 002's eyes flew open with bewilderment. For out from the shadows, stepped a brown haired cyborg with the same glassy green eyes as Albert's cobalt ones. The man smirked.

"Why, 'ello mate. It's been a while now hasn't it?" But that wasn't all that was waiting for 002. The second shadow took the form of what seemed to be a liquid form solidifying. Jet's face turned pale as he realized whom it resembled. A seemingly innocent girl smiled brightly at the petrified cyborg.

"Hóla, Jet. I hope you haven't forgotten little old me, now, have you?" She giggled softly. A chill ran down his spine. 005 noticed the sudden change in mood from 002.

"002, is something the matter?" 002 nodded his head slowly.

"Yeah, I would think so, 005. That Australian guy that has 009's hair… his name's Shalo, otherwise known as 0029. And that navy girl? Don't be fooled be her innocent appearance. She's as tough as a nail. And as painful as one, too. Her name's Isabella from Spain. But her ID number is 0032. Watch out for both of them. I almost lost a life because of them," 002 said, nodding to the two cyborgs.

"Oh, come on there, mate. Is that any way to treat your partners? And after all we've been through?"

"Yeah, 002. We're your friends. You can't just turn your back on us now. We're a family, and we should stick together!" 002 glared at them.

"Don't listen to their sick words. They're feeding you lies. And they taste despicable." Isabella pouted innocently.

"Aww…don't be such a meanie, Jet. We're not all that bad…" Her smile sickened his stomach. However, he didn't feel like seeing what he had for breakfast that morning. 009 was the first one to snap out of his gaze.

"What do you want from us?" 009 said. Shalo smirked.

"Why, isn't obvious, mate? We've come for the red Sheila. But now that we have her, I guess there's not point in leaving you alive, then," Shalo pulled out his hidden katana and unsheathed it, metal glinting in the waning light. He stood in a graced position. Isabella giggled lightly as her hands became flowing water and reestablished into deadly icicles.

"Well, Shalo, this'll be fun…" Her smile turned deadly and her cerulean blue eyes became pools of dark navy. "It's time to end this once and for all." Jet looked around the room.

"Yo, we had a deal. Now where's 0017 Black?" Shannon curse under her breath.

"Damn that brother of mine… so any of you cyborgs know where he is?" Shalo searched around the room for the two other cyborgs that were joining their party. He shook his head irritably. Isabella smiled her patented seductive grin.

"I'm sure they'll show up sometime… But for now, I think we'll just have some fun." With a smooth back flip in the air and a tumble to her left, she was able to get in range for her assault. There were so many cyborgs to kill. She had trouble deciding whom to tear apart first. The first prototype to lock eyes with her was 004. And with that she performed a precise cartwheel backhand spring into the mechanical cyborg's stomach. Trickles of violet blood streamed down his chin. With amazing speed and momentum, one of her icicles cut a deep scar into Albert's delicate cheek. He bowled over with pain, stunned that he was beaten down so easily and so quickly. He forced himself to get up, refusing to give up on 0017 Red. Just the sight of her fragile body swaying softly above him gave him the strength and will power he needed to stand up. He roughly brushed the blood away.

"So you've got speed… So what? You got no skills against me…" With a swift click, 004 unhinged his knee and fired a rocket at her. 0032 shifted her weight slightly to the left… But surprisingly, the rocket seemed to have swayed to her movement, catching her off guard. She received the full blast of the vigorous missile and was thrown back a few meters. 004 smirked mischievously and hinged his knee back on. "There's more to me than meets the eye, huh… Isabella…" he said mockingly. 0032 glared with fury as her body began to liquefy. In moments she was a lethal pool of what looked like black acid, rapidly gaining alacrity. Regardless of 006's weight, he was still propelled aside by the force of the fluid, but solid, form of the cyborg. 007 rushed to Chang's aid and with that, the battle began…

Shalo decided to join in on the fight, afraid that Isabella would take all the fun of the battle. In the blink of an eye, a fireball ejected from his palm and thrusted itself at the first target it sees…. which just so happens to be 005. Although 005 possess the strength of a hundred men, even he could not withstand the commanding intensity that sent him into the nearest wall. 008 was furious at Shalo and shot his laser gun at the pyrotechnic cyborg. Not expecting the attack, 0029 was shocked as he felt a jolt of pain in his left arm. "Damn, they're like rats." 003 ran to Geronimo's aide and helped him stand back up.

"Are you okay, 005?" Geronimo nodded.

"I'll be fine. Just make sure you watch your back. This Shalo person is quite tough, I must admit." The two cyborgs took one look at each other and took off to help 008 with Shalo. Shannon stood their grinning, eyes locked intensely with 009's. 009 glared.

"No, Shannon. I refuse to fight you. I made a promise that I would never kill a human being, not after what Black Ghost did to all those innocent people. I refuse to end up like him." 009 hugged Vivianne with fierceness, showing the astounded cyborg that he was being serious. For a brief moment, the assassin was stunned at the cyborg's sudden burst of emotion. She shook her head out and glared menacingly.

"What an incompetent rule to live by? You'll never get through life if you give pity to every living creature. It's time that you learned a lesson… a lesson I hope you'll never forget." The meticulous assassin took her stance and prepared herself for a second round. "Pity is an irrelevant feeling in which no cyborg nor human should show." With a graceful spin kick, she launched Joe flying straight out of 0025's arms. Vivianne glared threateningly, a look of shame under the pools of chocolate.

"Pity is a human feature. We are not cursed by Fate's hands, but blessed. Pity is the daughter of Compassion. Without these two deities, humanity itself will crumble under its own pressure. Pity… Compassion… It's what gives all living things the ability to love, to cherish, and to simply… be human… Of course, you would understand nothing of the sort now, would you?" 0025 disappeared through the floor and reappeared behind the mystified assassin. Vivianne's words stung her like a needle. She was paralyzed in her own shock. She gave a brief sign of weakness, but that was all the time the ghost cyborg needed to drift below and behind the assassin. With a kick behind the knees, Shannon was left kneeling on the cold, stone floor. She stood, breath panting and her heart racing. Her thoughts were still pondering about 0025's expressions. She coughed, vomiting blood on the charred floor.

"I don't understand…Pity… Compassion…what does that mean… Shannon Mazaki, pull yourself together. You don't need to listen to those putrid words. You're tough. Pity… Compassion… the real world is nothing like it… So stand up and fight!" The assassin shook her head out roughly, trying furiously to wipe the worthless images from her mind. Her vision was blurred but that didn't phase her rock-hard pride. "I'm sorry, sweet-heart. But I've never understood the meaning of the word "pity" or "compassion". Because in real life, these two "deities" you speak of are nothing more than figments of your wandering imagination…" she said with spite. Her eyes flared with fire, the dark pools of black tinted with drops of crimson. 009 shuddered as Shannon's aura bursted into thick waves of power. It hit Joe like a piecing dagger, and the pain lingered in his wounds. He winced.

"Amazing…with just her spirit aura…is she really human?" he wondered, while falling back. 0025 rushed to his aide.

"Joe… Joe… Oh my gosh, are you alright?" she gasped, staring at the deep lashes embedded deep in his skin. The brunette cyborg smiled.

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine… After I take a small rest…" Vivianne's tears streamed down her face as 009 slipped out of consciousness. Gently, she placed the motionless cyborg on the cold floor and glared daggers of hatred at the powered-up assassin. All her fury… all her anger… and all her rage suddenly bursted out as she lashed at the inhumane human.

"And you call yourself human! How could you? The 00 Cyborgs are more humane than you'll ever be. Just look at yourself… How can you say that you're a human? You kill for your own pleasure. How does that make you human?" Tears filled her eyes once again. She spoke in a whisper. "In my eyes…" The assassin stared confusingly as Vivianne sent her… not a look of wrath… but a look of shame. "You are the cyborg."

Shannon lashed out her anger as well. "How dare you compare me to the likes of you? I am nothing like you…" Vivianne smiled slightly.

"Yeah, you're right. You are nothing like us. Just look around you… We would never cause such destruction to innocent people…" The unsuspecting cyborg stared at her surroundings.

004, 006, and 007 were trying their best to defend themselves from the sly water cyborg. Her movements were as unpredictable as the tide and she was beating herself down on them brutally. 003, 005, and 008 were under the mercy of Shalo. 005 was using his body as a shield to protect the unconscious female and the wounded aquatic. Shalo, however, was as fit as a fiddle and kept firing flame attacks at the brave warrior. It seemed that the giant cyborg was starting to buckle under the pressure. In another part of the room, 002 was trying frantically to cut the rough linen ropes. A force field was around the cataleptic girl, and the aerodynamic cyborg was doing everything in his willpower to break through. Nevertheless, it seems that his own attacks were bouncing back at him with twice the force. His body language showed that his determination was slowly diminishing. Her gaze then traveled to the sleeping cyborg only a few feet away from them. Scars lined his masculine face and whiplashes rooted themselves into his wounds. His face flinched with pain every few seconds.

Once fully aware of her surroundings, Shannon was disgusted at herself. "Why should I care when innocent people are hurt? Wasn't I taught never to show pity to another? Then what is this emotion I am feeling right now? What is wrong with me? Is my heart starting to soften?" She stared down at her hands and was amazed at how well the skin stretched over her fingers, the same fingers that were used to pull the trigger on so many lives. "I've never learned to love… So why should I start now?" She smiled at her own lies. "No, that's not true… I have loved before… John and Jean, my little idiot brothers…" She smiled again and glanced up at the waiting cyborg. "I guess I got confused in who I wanted to be, and who I really am."

A large slam of a door resounded through the war room. Standing calm and collected at the door way was none other than 0010 Plus and Minus themselves. Shalo and Isabella smirked evilly as the sensed their presence at the door, never lessening up their attacks during the process.

"Well it's about time! We were getting worried about you, 0010. But looks like you finally decided to show up. Way to go, Einstein," Shalo commented arrogantly as he fired another fireball at the crumbling 005.

Isabella smiled as well, the innocent outlook retuning to her face. "0010! You're finally here. I'm so glad I don't have to finish off these weak cyborgs now. You're my savior, 0010!" Nonetheless, the water cyborg unleashed another one of her attacks at the tired fighters.

The 00 Cyborgs turned their heads slightly to see whom their enemies were talking to. 002 was the first to notice the slumped figure over his shoulder and immediately lunged at 0010 Plus. With a quick side step, 0010 Plus dodged the oncoming attack. He tisked at the orange-haired cyborg. "Seriously, 002. I suppose you think I was going to give 0017 to you without a fight. Well, you are sadly mistaken." Within the next few seconds, 0017 Black was tied up beside 0017 Red as both dangled dangerously from the ceiling. 0010 Plus smirked deviously at the aerodynamic cyborg.

"Let's make a bet, shall we?" 0010 Plus said as 002 got back on his feet. 0010 Minus jumped over to the hanging cyborgs. 0010 Plus stood in his fighting stance. "We'll battle to see who wins the prize of two lovely, yet powerful, cyborgs. If you win, you can take them back into your safe haven. However, if I somehow manage to defeat you in this battle, these lovely cyborgs will be my prizes. Do we have ourselves a deal?" Jet spat at him angrily.

"And why should I believe you? After all, we had an agreement, an exchange, Red for the Black. What ever happened to that deal?"

0010 Plus smirked again. "This is about more than just some exchange, my friend." At that precise moment, 0017 Black awoke from her slumber. She blinked her eyes carefully as the light hurt her eyes. "Good afternoon, Ms. 0017 Black. How was your beauty sleep? I do hope you had a good rest. There will be a long road ahead of you that's for sure." 0010 Plus laughed maniacally. "I'm sorry for putting you through all this," he thought to himself. 0010 Plus looked back at 002. "This is about much more than just an exchange… This is about winning the heart of certain spiritual cyborg that captured both of our hearts.

"Prepare to die, Prototype 002. Because I refuse to lose the heart and love of my only enchanting world…."


Skylander: Thank you so much for reviewing for the last chapter and I'm terribly sorry for keeping you waiting. I wanted to get in touch with you. But I can't seem to find any of your stories to review and talk about. Anyway, you don't talk a lot. Trust me, I know what "talk-a-lot" people are like. And you are definitely not one of them. So I hope you enjoyed this chapter. There might be one more coming up. Sorry for the delays.

Douceur: I'm trying so hard to update and I'm glad you're not pushing me like a friend of mine I know. But I can't blame him either since I haven't updated in a year. Anyway, thanks for sticking with me. I hope you enjoyed the second-to-last chapter.

DragonLover002: You really think this is a good story… Gee, thanks, you're making me blush… Anyway, I'm sorry that I kept you waiting for such a long time. I hope you're not angry with me. And if you are, that's okay, I guess. Well, here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.

So I'll see you all later, then. Please R&R if you have the time. Domone Arigatou!