A/N: ACK! I can't believe I made you all wait again like this! Especially after I said I'd update more regularly, too!

002: You really are good at sticking to your goals, do you know that?

:sweatdrops: Eheheheh...By the way, telepathic thoughts will be in italics from now on since this is the first chapter 001 has a speaking part in.

002: Yeah, THAT'S going to happen, right after the Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse ride in to review this story.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, save for an amazing ability to take nearly a month to write a few pages of text.

"Unhh..."

With a groan, 002 opened his eyes to find himself in a small cabin that was eerily reminiscent of the living quarters aboard the Dolphin along with the rest of the 00-Cyborgs. However, this version was..off, somehow.

"Oh good, you're awake." 001's thoughts drifted into his head.

"Why does it matter? The only thing that's going to happen to us at this point is that Black Ghost is going to murder us all in cold blood, since his newest assassins didn't even try." 002 grumbled morbidly.

"Are you sure? You've got a big lump in the middle of your forehead." 005 informed the American.

"Still, they got rid of us so easily!" 004 exclaimed, a frown crossing the German's face.

"I don't know about THAT, but they were definitely different than everyone else who's come after us before." 007 mused, recalling the more, ah, 'creative' powers of the two he and 006 had squared off against.

"Yes...I got a quick look at the blond man's mind, and there was some sort of mental filter set up there. The little girl had the same thing, and the others are probably the same way. However, I have no idea if it's self inflicted or a product of Black Ghost's tinkering." 001 broke in seriously.

"Yes, that WOULD make sense, but why would anyone willingly block out their own thoughts?" 003 inquired.

"To forget their past." 004 replied tightly as a strained silence fell over the small group, the conversation bringing up painful memories, both of Black Ghost and of their own pasts.

Meanwhile, the third generation of cyborgs were in the middle of a discussion of their own.

"There's something fishy about this whole thing." Tabby announced to the others from her position on a small bench near the entrance to the living quarters where the rebels were being held. Thanks to Tegan and Eric's abilities, the two of them could fly the ship Black Ghost had lent them without the help of the others.

"That's a bit obvious, but how else are we going to get away from Black Ghost?" Nick asked her rather irritably. Gio tended to have that effect on most people.

"Everything ABOUT Black Ghost and his cronies is fishy. He might be evil, but at the moment we don't really get a say in the matter. Unless of course you'd like to return to Storage..?" Maggie stated calmly.

Tabby glared at her. "So the ends justify the means, huh? Even if these people ARE crazy, I wouldn't wish Storage on anyone. Besides, why would Black Ghost let multi-million dollar technology just slip away like this?"

"Ok, so how do you suggest we get out of this mess? Nine people versus God knows how many troops are not good odds, even if we do have powers lifted from a bad sci-fi movie." Nick retorted sharply.

"Miss Morrow is right. Good cannot come from the sacrifice of a person, no matter who they are or what purpose they serve." Casper told him softly as Nick rolled his eyes.

"Black Ghost may be crazy, but he isn't stupid. At the risk of sounding cliched, this feels like a set-up." Indira chimed in.

"Whatever you say. It still sounds CRAZY..." Nick said, throwing up his hands.

Before anyone else could react, an explosion rocked the entire ship.

"This shouldn't be happening! The only group with that kind of aircraft arsenal would be Black Ghost, but why would he fire on us?" Eric wondered aloud from the controls as another explosion rattled the ship, completely frying the control panels and sending powerful electrical currents through the length of the airship.

"Three guesses, and the first two don't count! That asshole double-crossed us!"Gio shouted,trying to stay upright without being barbecued by the wiring system(although it was a losing battle).

A voice crackled out faintly from a battered intercom unit near the front panel. "This is Colonel Ecarte of the craft Impaler. State your identification and why you are using one of Black Ghost's aircraft without permission or be destroyed!"

"This is the Seabird. We have a deal with Captain Sevro for the use of this ship in order to recapture the 00-Cyborg Soldier experiments." Tegan informed the colonel icily, coming out of her trance-like state.

"Do you take me for a fool? I know who you amateurs are. Sevro, or anyone else for that matter, would never strike a deal with the likes of YOU. Now get down here NOW, before we take over that vessel by force, cyborg!" The intercom thundered as the cyborgs sat in stunned shock.

Black Ghost had always been in control of their lives, and as a giant magnetic hook came down from the Impaler to take them back, he was beginning to seem inescapable, no matter what they did.

R&R now please! Thanks!