Notes: I don't own any of the rights to cyborg 009)
(Authors notes: Now this chapter is gonna get interesting to read. With every passing victim of the dreamland virus, 003 is only seems to grow more insane and dangerous. Major, major plot twisting alert with a hint of lime? Not to mention shocking accounts on others cyborgs.)
(Shingami: Japanese for God of Death)
Rouge: Red, the color of lust:
Slamming the hood down on the engine compartment of the rusted old biplane, Jean Paul wiped the dripping sweat from his brow in satisfaction of the plane being fixed.
"She's all ready for the skys, everything should be in almost prime condition."
"So soon? " The plane seemed to be fixed in no time at all. Though he offered to help, Jean Paul wouldn't except his offer. Honestly, he really wished he would have accepted his help. It would have given him less time to think, less time to let doubts and uneasy feelings circle in his mind.
Getting up from the patch of soft rose petals he was laying in, 009 dusted himself off. He wasn't sure how long he was laying there, minutes, hours they all seem the same here. However, in his time of rest he couldn't stop thinking of 003. Just how much did she care for him? What was it he felt in his feelings when they had their dream together? In their last dream before it was tragically cut short he was about to find the answer he was looking for.
Packing away his tools and equipment, Jean Paul questioned 009's dawdling. "What's wrong pal? You seem so glum all of the sudden."
Shifting his boot slightly, 009 watched the remaining flower petals that were stuck fall to the ground. "...Nothing really.."
Flipping out his pocket watch, Jean Paul inspected the time on the gold watches face. Obviously he saw though his lie. " When you're ready to tell the truth, we'll leave. You'll never be able to get though to her with dishonesty."
Dishonesty? How could he be dishonest if he wasn't even sure of his feelings, let alone the whole situation of this "little school girl crush" that she had on him in the first place.
Kicking one of the near by roses in frustration, the tiny flower exploded in a burst of petals as 009 turned to argue. " How am I being dishonest!"
"Hey, hey easy pal. " Putting away his pocket watch, Jean Paul tried to compensate for his poor choice of words. "I mean when your heart is sure of your feelings, it's the only way you'll be able to truly reach her."
009 took a deep breath of the rose scented wind in trying to subside his feeling. However, in the moment of silence yet another tormented scream not of 003's echoed though the rose covered valley.
"007!.." Turning towards the pavilion, a stronger burst of wind met him head on. Deeper winds surged though the storm as it grew in intensity scattering more rose petals into the wind.
Yelling over the surging wind, Jean Paul shielded his face from the raging breeze and blowing petals. "The storm is only growing worse the more we wait. She's becoming more and more out of anyone's reach with every passing moment."
Her world was beginning to be filled with more doubt, anger and sorrow. He knew now she had a certain crush on him. He knew she cared for him, he in return cared for her to, but just how much? Was it love? Was it a deep friendship? Or, was it far deeper than love or friendship combined. He would have never have come this far if he didn't care so much about her.
Shielding his eyes from the wind but also trying to hide the tears beginning to from in his eyes, he couldn't bare to stand by and watch her pain any longer despite how confused his own heart was.
Flipping his long flowing yellow silk scarf behind him in the wind, 009 walked towards the plane.
Dishonesty. He had to sort though his dishonesty to get though to her. What dishonesty was his heart holding from her?
The wind in the valley never stopped surging. The sound was so loud the only was he could talk to Jean Paul was to practically scream. "How am I supposed to sort out my feelings if I'm not even sure how she feels about me..!"
Jean Paul stepped into the plane as he motioned 009 over. "There's not much time, come on perhaps I can give you some insight on the way up."
Taking his seat in the back of the plane, 009 noticed the large gattling gun behind him. Noticing 009 curiously looking over the piece of antique equipment, Jean Paul informed him of his position on this fight. "I need you to be my gunner if anything gets too hairy."
" Right!" Fastening his seat belt, 009 was beginning to feel more determined then ever to take on the task at hand.
"Everything's a go!" Forcing back the clutch, Jean Paul shifted the plane into running gear. The plane barreled though the field of damaged rose bushes at a rambling speed leaving behind a shower of broken flowers.
However, they were running out of runway fast when the field ended at a large cliff.
Nearly ducking under the seat 009 screamed in a panic. "WATCH OUT !"
With another swift tug of the clutch, the old rickety plane left the ground in the nick of time and off into the dark raging yonder.
Finding the courage to look over the edge the of the seat and trust in Jean Paul's flying, 009 looked out into a world that was like no other. Beyond the Roman garden that stretched on for miles there was a large city in the distance. One that much resembled the city of Old Paris. In another far off place, a sparkling water fall fell from cliffs hanging from no place. However, the whole landscape was being altered by the storm and leering darkness. With every passing of the dreamland virus to another one of his teammates, the virus was doing more damage to 003's mind.
" You ok back there ?" Jean Paul hollered back to 009 "I thought I almost lost you back there on take off. "
"Almost." 009 chuckled slightly in trying to hide he bout of cowardliness on take off. It's not like he was used to such primitive technology. Then he remembered what Jean Paul was supposed to give as insight on 003 " ...Um...Just how dose.."
Jean Paul interrupted. "How deeply dose she feel about you? She hasn't told me all the details, but she cares for you very very much. Every waking moment she's around you fills her heart with joy. Everytime she looks into your deep brown she feels lost in their autumn glow. The way your long bangs hang in your face when your shy or nervous makes her giggle. In her eyes, your simply handsome in every way posable"
" Really ..?" These where just all physical things. All of this still seemed like just any other innocent school girl crush. It wasn't enough. He was touched but he had to find out more.
" Is there ..?" In curiously, 009 questioned Jean Paul's knowledge of the situation. " Just how do you know all this?"
Jean Paul only laughed at what seemed like in obvious response. "She told me once in a conversation we had at a small cafe we often have tea at. Ah, but yes there's more to the story."
Jean Paul smiled slightly in remembering his sister's conversations with him. " o no, there's plenty more. The times you saved her from near misses and death's grasp, she was always moved by the way you put others before yourself. Not to mention when you did save her how strong and secure your embrace felt as you held her close.
She was so deeply moved by the time you saved her life from 0010 that when you were injured in the battle she stayed with you all night almost to the point of collapse from exultation just to make sure that you were safe in your recovery. Making sure you where cool from fever by placing a cool rag on your forehead wile you slept, holding you hand though the terror dreams you dreamt wile your body was trying to recover. She stayed with you though it all until you awoke. It was then, it was then when she began to fall deeply in love with you."
009's heart was now completely take over by shock ... It had been that long? That long that she loved him? He had remembered that time she was so kind to him. Why hadn't he ever given it much though? He should have seen this a long time ago. How could he have been so clueless, and yet there where so many other times she had been so kind, loving and unselfish to him that he never seemed to play much mind to.
"Dammit, how could I have been so.."
"Clueless? " Jean Paul interrupted once more. "There's still more. I'm not sure you realize how much you broke her heart when you seemed to daunt your feelings on come and go women. Granted it's not something you even realized at the time, especially since you were never sure of your own feelings. However, the real knife in her heart was how deeply you daunted your feelings over Helen. If she was still alive would you even be here in 003's dream world?"
Welting back his growing anger, 009 clenched his fists against the plane's seat. " Dammit, that's not true! I was deeply concerned and cared about Helen and her sisters because their lives only consisted of slavery and the lack of free will. They were never even treated like real people. I never felt any kind of romantic feelings for her!"
" Cei la vie ..." Jean Paul decided not to go on with the rest of his knowledge for the moment. "Perhaps, it's all in being a young man to be so confused about love."
009 fell silent, Jean Paul was right. He had wasted his time on come and go women, but at the same time he wasn't far from the mark about Helen. He did have a certain feelings for her at the time. Now looking at the full picture, it seemed more of a love out of pity and spare of the moment emotions when he was wrapped up in the mitts of the final battle. It was such a selfish crush on his behalf the whole time. He had someone who unselfishly looked after him, someone who worried about him from the moment they set off to battle till the moment they retuned. Someone who cared from him in times of peace and war. Someone who loved him despite all his faults, and yet without her there seemed to be something missing in his heart. Helen only saw freedom in him and someone who would hold her hand since she never realized how to think for herself. It would have been a one sided relationship. As he remembered all the times he and 003 had spent together, the more he realized just how much, how much she loved him and in return how much she met to him.
The tears he tried to hide before began to form in his eyes once again. "003... I'm so sorry.. I..."
"Hey pal don't go all soft on me. " Breathing out a sigh of relief, Jean Paul felt he did his job in knocking some sense into the poor boy. "Perhaps you should tell her that when you see her."
Shifting into a swift gust of wind the bisheveled red biplane raced towards the raging storm clouds and towards the danger that awaited them.
In the far off reaches of 003's dream mind, 004 awoke to a world far more unique than the last two cyborgs have seen.
" What the hell is this place?" Dusting himself off from the dingy brick wall he was leaning up against, 004 took time to gaze at his surroundings. This seemed to be a place much to seedy for 003's tastes.
Darkness of late night loomed over what seemed to be a lost street hidden deep in the heart of the city. The only light leading the way though the night were the blaring neon flashing lights from jazzy bars and night clubs. His footsteps against the pavement were droned out by loud music filtering out of the establishments and into the night air. Strangely, there was no one on the street besides him as he walked along the sidewalk alone in the darkness of the night.
It was so strange to be all alone in a place like this seeming as though the surroundings acted as if they held many people. He didn't trust one minute of it. Cautiously, he watched his steps for danger, the whole time keeping a look out for 003.
" Dammit. " 004 hissed under his breath, there was no sign of her.
Instead he would have to wait for her. Stepping into one of the near by bars, 004 took a seat on one of the many red bar stools that lined the counter. It was then when he began to notice his own reflection starring back at him from the large tavern mirror behind the bar. His figure was long and tall. Leaning forward slightly to inspect his reflection deeper, he rested his hands under his chin making his shoulders look strong, broad and rounded as he rested his elbows on the bar's wooden surface. His black button down shirt hung loosely around his body. The first few buttons where left undone, his shirt tails were left hanging outside of his nearly form fitting black slacks. The only small splash of color in his outfit was a simple white scarf tied loosely around his neck, making the silver highlights in his hair stand out.
004 smiled slightly in an inward laugh "Not too bad for a shingami."
Soon after taking his seat, a buff and very handsome bartender came over to take his order. The tight white shirt he was wearing fit snugly over his healthy build. His tight black leather pants hung snugly around his rounded hips in the way he stood. " What will it be, sir?"
Flipping his long slick black bangs to the side, the bartender waited for 004's response.
"Tall beer, little foam." Ignoring any more response than needed from the bartender, 004 turned his stool to face the rest of the bar.
The place was kept dimly lit, a few colored lights loomed to the floor from a small stage towards the back of the bar. Mostly the bar was kept lit by a few strategically placed lights on the walls and some dimly lit candles on each table.
Resting his elbows against the hard glossy surface of the bar, 004 rested one foot on the brass kicker of the stool the other on his knee. He felt fully relaxed now. Hearing the bartender place his glass on the bar, 004 only turned slightly in acceptance that his order was received. Kicking back once again 004, continued to observe the rest of the bar cautiously waiting for anything to happen in a moment's drop. Lounge music and light smoke filled the air, but still no one was around.
Giving a small sigh of frustration, 004 turned towards the bar and towards his drink. Taking the tall mug in his hand, he took a large gulp of it's continence. Hesitating for a moment, 004 placed the mug back on the bar's glossy surface.
"Red wine, the beer tastes like red wine." Glancing at the mug filled with beer, it only made sense since 003 never drank beer only the occasional glass of red wine with holiday meals.
Regardless of how relaxed he tried to feel, this dream was making him more uneasy by the second. Dusting a hand though his silver hair, 004 swished away a few stray strands falling in his eyes. Taking another long sigh, he starred impatiently at his beer glass as he tried to relax once more.
The click of a pair of high heals moving across the finished wood floor stepped behind him, but 004 was took caught up in his worries to even notice their sound.
After each click there was a slightly pause before the next as if she was sneaking behind him like a cat on the prowl, as if she knew what she was waiting for was easy pray.
Placing her small silky hands on his shoulders, her fingertips pressed lightly against his black cotton shirt slowly massaging small circles down his tense shoulder blades.
A deep shiver ran down 004's spine under her sudden touch, but for some reason he didn't dare move. He just kept his face forward in disbelief as her slender fingertips continued to move lower and lower down past his mid back. Just as he was beginning to relax under her sensual back rub her hands swept suddenly around to the front but continued working their way down his steel tone chest.
Placing his large hands over hers, 004 stopped her in place when she began to reach his stomach "This isn't how you normal greet your friends ... What's ...!"
Leering over him from behind, her body pressed slightly against his back, the slightest touch of her candy soft lips brushed teasingly across his neck just behind his ear. Soft as the heated breeze of summer, she whispered close to his ear. " I've been waiting all night just to see you."
He could feel his white scarf slip away from it's confining knot around his neck as her lips continued to make their tantalizing trail across the back of his neck.
The sensation of her silken lips over such a tender spot was starting to make his head feel dizzy with speeding thoughts . The stile of her words made him shiver from the sudden heat that he felt creep over him.
Enough was enough.
Spinning around the bar stool, 004 pushed her away from him making her stumble to the floor. Stiffening his gun hand at her in warning, 004 was ready to shoot with any sudden move. " Enough! Obviously, you're some twisted version of the real 003."
Her large eyes only starred at him in shock and disbelief. However, they still held the same glimmer of innocence she always carried when she brought his white scarf that she was still holding close to her lips as if she was trying to hide crying.
It was her, but was it? She wore her pink China dress, only this time her dress seemed tight to fitting to her slender form showing off her more perky features. Her hair was in large yellow bon bon buns held back by her token red hair band.
"004...!" Her eyes continued to stair back at him like the eyes of a deer stuck in headlights, slightly in shock but also slightly in confusion over what he was doing.
The way she had fallen somehow seemed to show off her long slender swan like dancer legs and 004 couldn't resist not to look away.
Finally, though the confusion 003 was the first to break the silence. "Why are you pointing at me like that ..?
" What do you think...!" Examining his hand, his gun hand wasn't there but was just a normal hand like any other man. " What the ..!"
Slowly in the stealth of what seemed like a cat lurking in the night, 003 threw him off guard once again. Taking his hand and hers she began gently kissing and sucking at his fingertips.
Even in a dream he was beginning to feel more awake with every one of her sensual touches, but this wasn't right. it wasn't right at all.
Stumbling back against his bar stool 004 tried to make his break away." ..But what about 009..! Don't you love him?"
Pushing him to sit down, 003 crawled her way onto his lap. Placing her hand firmly against his chest, she held him close against the bar. The finger tips of her other hand stroked across his silk lips in silencing him. " 009 ...? He doesn't care two cents about my heart or feelings .. He only proves it time and time over again."
It all made sense now, this dream her actions. Wile the other cyborgs were programed with the knowledge of hundreds of world languages to get them by on missions, 003 being a lady, Black Ghost must have programed her with a little "extra" knowledge to seduce male enemies in times of war. Let alone just to be and expert surveillance spy. However, in her time nearly sixty-five years ago, she was a well respected sweet lady. Respected women of that time were bent on innocents until they met the perfect husband to be. They never normally acted or knew much of such actions until they where married. She must have repressed her Kama Sutra programing in hopes it would never be found.
004 tried to scramble for more logical explanations to take his mind away from her seduction, but something was all too painfully different. Felt only as a distant memory, he could feel every soft touch, every kiss across his skin. Not though fiber optic nerves or cybernetics, but as a fully human man. A fully human man needing love and touch just like any other.
Despite how wrong this was the feeling was never so good.
Her kisses continued to trail over every possible piece of reviled flesh, her fingertips lingered over the buttons of his shirt. Still he scramble for something to say. Something to break away, but the temptation to stay was growing. " Ofcorse he loves ...you ...What about all the times he's saved you from near death ..?"
" Love...?" 003 paused only for a moment, covering her mouth in a mocking lady like fashion trying not to burst out in a fit of twisted laughter. "Love...? You call it love when every chance you wish to tell him your feeling, he only pushes you aside for some floozy he meets on a mission. You call it love when you've made your emotions so obvious to the rest of the world and yet he still doesn't give a ..."
Shifting slightly in her position on his lap, 003 took hold of his hands pinning him in position against the bar as she leered over him giving her answer as she whispered it across his lips "Then I guess I was just a fool to him."
Not being able to hold back his feelings any longer, a soft despite sigh escaped from his lips. Satisfied with his response, 003 let go of her domineering embrace continuing her assault on his senses.
The lights were nearly out as if everyone in the bar had left of the night. Despite the fact that there was already no one there, they where officially alone.
004's thoughts began to drift once more. Love. Despite 003's warped sense of thinking, he knew in some sense that she was right. 009 did waste his time on passing up a good ...no very good thing that he had waiting for him.
His mind was becoming more and more clouded with lust under her tempting ways. It was starting to become hard to think of much else but to give in. Within the last moments of his sanity, his thought drifted towards his own love life. Hidie, god how he missed the greatest love of his life. The tender moments they shared. The wonderful things they had done together. The nights they spent cuddled in bed together dreaming of the future. It was his own wishful thinking that got her killed, his own stupidity that made him the mess that he is today.
Vina, he could have started anew with her. How they could have given one another they love they were both missing. In one stupid move she was gone and he was alone again.
Shingami, he was in every sense of the word. Walking death.
Despite the fact that he'd had several senseless one nights stands with other women trying to hide the pain of his loneliness, nothing could compare to what he once had. What he longed for ever since it had been lost.
His shirt now lay fully unbuttoned, hanging loosely around his arms. His chest was fully exposed under her touch with the exception of his wedding band dangling from it's gold chain. Her touch of just a single fingertip traced every fold of well toned muscular chest down to the belt holding up his pants.
"Please ..." Nearly breathless from dancing on the brink of temptation's edge, he gave into his desires.
When would he ever feel anything like this again. Like he dreamed of since it was lost. Just one last kiss. One last feeling of pure human contact, and then he would fully accept what he's become.
Smiling a wicket smile, 003 knew she finally got her way. Boosting herself up, she was instantly caught off guard when it was 004 that claimed her lips in a desperate kiss.
His strong hands held her firmly by the waist, keeping her close to his body. Her arms wrapped around his neck in bringing his lips closer to hers as his tongue began to seek entrance. Her fingers playfully twirled around the soft duck curls of the hair on the back of his neck.
Moaning deeply in satisfaction against her lips, their kiss grew more desperate for intensity.
This is what he needed. This it was he longed for. This is what he wanted, to feel touch like any normal man once again.
DR Gillmore kept watch diligent watch over the already lost cyborgs. It was almost heartbreaking to expect to hear news of yet another lost member of his surrogate family.
Pacing in a rant, DR Eekamen scurried about the lab barking orders in panic to whoever he ran into. "Where's my most trusted assistant ?"
"Sir " A meek looking scientist came forward, " Um ..Sir..That Traitor guy said he was going to the bathroom and that was over two hours ago."
" What..!" With lightening speed DR Eekamen rushed the poor feeble scientist. " Well then go find him. He could be the only one to help get us out of this."
DR Gillmore sighed in holding back his anger. " DR Eekamen, did it ever cross your mind that Traitor mc Bastard was the one who PLANTED this virus in the first place!"
Pausing in a moment of confusion, DR Eekamen seemed at a loss." You know I never thought of that ..but I highly doubt it."
Suddenly, the tacing sounds of scientists clicking away at keyboards picked up. It was what DR Gillmore most feared.
"DR Eekamen sir!" Yet another faceless scientist stood up from his chair with the news. "Sir, the dreamland virus has just claimed it's latest victim."
Reaching out his arms, the smallest cyborg motioned to be held by DR Gillmore. In picking up the small baby, 001 gave the DR a small hug in hopes of confront. " I'm sorry DR .."
Large tears began to fall from the old DR's eyes as he held the baby cyborg. " Who's the victim?"
" 004 " The seemingly faceless scientist took his seat and began typing away on his computer once more. "We also have something else interesting happening. It seems the virus is mutating, but we're not sure just how or what it is yet."
News goes from worse to even more hell.
(To be continued)
( Mutation of the virus? What, but how will this affect the cyborg team or those already infected? As 009 gets closer to 003, he has a huge fight to face. Could he trust in Jean Paul to help him though, or will he too turn on him in a moments notice? Will he find out more about himself or 003's subcontious mind? So many questions, but perhaps we can clear up a few next time.)