xXx

11

xXx

004 woke to seeing his comrades in the sick bay. He heard soft footsteps heading his way and saw Genesis in a pair of mint scrubs. She had her long hair tied back and held in place by a bandana. She looked the part of a doctor for once, even back at black ghost she didn't look as professional. She had a small cart behind her and paused to look at him. Her expression blank before her face lit up with relief.

"You're the first to wake up," she informed him. "We we're waiting for you all to wake up so we can get you fixed…but Doctor Gilmore decided to work on 009."

"How is he?" 004 asked as she sat down next to him and frowned.

"I don't know, he's stubborn so I think he'll pull through," she answered, her expression worried once more. "Now that you're awake I need to start repairs. You got hit pretty hard."

He gave a curt nod and watched as the female scientist slowly began to work on his arms and legs. She was mostly checking the wiring and patching up the skin. She was focused on her work and missed it when 003 passed by with towels. The Frenchwoman gave a gentle smile at the sight. It was nice to see that 004 was finally warming up to the other woman. He flinched when a particular wire that worked as a nerve got pinched.

"Sorry, I thought I had more room to move this one," Genesis apologised feeling horrible for causing him more pain.

"You were one of the brains behind the newer upgrades," 004 said, waving off her apology. "What can you tell us of 0010?"

"It looks like they used one of my designs for an electricity power…but almost bastardised," she answered frowning. "If they had gone through with the design I had created 0010 wouldn't have had to retreat once it started raining. Even Ezekiel knows how to follow my ideas."

"Have you contacted your family yet?"

003 paused when she reached the doorway that led to the intensive care room. She hadn't expected 004 to ask Genesis such a question, and judging from the surprised look on the woman's face neither had she. A sad smile appeared on Genesis's face. How could she call her family and put them in danger? She could only picture how sad Rosie would be when her favourite aunt didn't show up for Christmas with gifts.

"I don't want them to be in danger," Genesis said. "My brother is safe because of his job, if one of the UK's top lawyers goes missing then it could cause problems, I'm more worried about my niece she's going to be sad for a while."

004 nodded his understanding at that and watched as she fixed the loading chamber to his hand. It felt lighter and she smiled slightly when he flexed his fingers and found that he didn't feel as much pain. Ah, 003 could see them becoming close in the future. She smiled sadly, she could only hope they all would be close. She hurried to deliver the towels that Gilmore had asked for.

"Ooh my head," 006's voice made 004 look towards his fellow cyborg.

"I guess it's time for me to get ready to do mass repairs," Genesis couldn't help but say. "You started a domino effect."

He smirked at her attempt of a joke and watched as she got up and moved over to 006. The Chinese man brightened considerably before wincing in pain. Genesis gave him a kind smile before starting her repairs, listening to him talk about his cooking. 004 got out of the bed he was in and slowly made his way out of the ship. He could help Koizumi around the house to take his mind off of everything that had happened so far. 007 joined him, and he seemed disgruntled by the quick treatment that Genesis had given him the second he started flirting. The others quickly followed suit and went to do their own things. Genesis sat in the sitting room, nursing a cup of tea seeing as Gilmore wanted her to rest a bit. Her arm may have been throbbing in pain, and the soaked cast was now itching up a storm, but she wanted to be of some help. She listened to the typewriter and closed her eyes. How many hours had she listened to it while Koizumi was working on his thesis?

"I'm going for a walk to get rid of my writers block," 007 informed the room. "If I'm not back within three days have a nice life."

He was only stopped by 004 holding out an umbrella to him. Genesis gained an amused smile before blinking as a rice cracker was handed to her by a passing Koizumi. He knew her lack of eating due to being preoccupied, and he knew the best way to get her to eat was to just hand her some food and then walk away. Her confused expression would change and she'd eat it. He heard the cracker crunch and smiled. Worked every time.

"What do I need this for?" 007 asked.

"No proper English gentleman would be caught without one, it's part of the costume," 004 stated. "Besides it pouring outside."

"In that case, thanks," 007 thanked, accepting the umbrella.

"You can run all you want, he'll keep hunting you until he finds you," 004 stated. "And when he does you'll have to fight him one on one."

Genesis found that she liked listening to him, and it wasn't because she enjoyed who his voice sounded like. It played a small part. She liked it because he was usually right about what he said. He wasn't wrong with his understanding of black ghost, or his tactical abilities. She paused as something clicked in her head. Shit. Getting a crush on a cyborg wasn't the worst thing she could do, but it was up there. Even if she someday wanted to become one, it wouldn't end well.

"Not if I can run fast enough," 007 stated as 008 joined Genesis on the couch and placed his own cup of tea down.

"You know you can't," 004 pointed out.

"If I lived in a rain forest he'd be afraid to come after me," 007 said, looking towards the large windows that were covered in raindrops. "The only problem is that I can't stand places with high humidity."

"Ironic seeing as you came from the United Kingdom like I did," Genesis wryly pointed out, biting into the rice cracker and wondering where Koizumi got them from. "It's always humid there."

"The more rain the better," 005 said, and everyone turned to listen to the gentle giant. "It's the only thing keeping us safe."

"There must be some way to use this to our advantage," 008 said. "It seems to be his only weakness."

"Taht would mean he used a negative charge the entire time he uses his abilities," Genesis said in thought. "Rain can hold both negative and positive charges, and if he's using negative charges then he was cancelled out by the rain after the positive charges were attracted."

They looked at her and she turned a light pink. This was important stuff to know when working with machines! 005 gave a tiny smile and she pointedly stared at her cup of tea. It was so strange to have people actually listen to her unseat do ignoring her. Gilmore did it because he could understand her reasoning behind several things, Koizumi did it because he was her grandfather in everything but blood, but the cyborgs? It was a new sensation.

"Why are you all so afraid?" 002 asked, genuinely confused. "Last time we didn't know what he was capable of, now we know what to expect."

"We know he has incredible powers and whatever we throw against him he has something stronger to throw back at us," 004 stated.

"His power seems negatively charged?" 008 asked Genesis and she nodded. "Would a positive charge work against him?"

"It could, two different charges can repel each other," Genesis confirmed. "But you'd need a charge as powerful as him to take him out."

"There has to be a way," 002 stated, leaning against the couch.

"Is 009 able to help us?" 007 asked.

"We haven't been able to wake him yet," 004 stated. "Doctor Gilmore and 003 are trying to bring him around."

"I wish there was something we could do, he pushed himself to the limit to protect us," 002 said and Genesis gave him a tiny smile.

"He did," 007 agreed before he got a door to the face, courtesy of one 006.

"Lunch is now served," 006 happily informed them, placing his plethora of platters down. "Don't be shy, go ahead and dig in."

It was in front of Genesis and 008. They blinked in unison at the food. Their tea was still in the spots they had left it, and somehow steaming again. 006 smiled at everyone, it increased when Genesis's stomach growled. It didn't help that she hadn't been eating much due to stress, and Black Ghost's terrible food. Her face turned a dark red and she slowly hid behind one of her hands, not wanting to see the amused looks.

"At a time like this?" 007 asked, moving the door back and rubbing at his nose.

"Of course I made food, you can't fight at full strength without food," 006 stated. "They say an army moves on its stomach and with this food you're being chauffeured to the battlefield in a limousine."

"Well it does smell good," 008 said. "I guess it's my duty to eat it."

The serious atmosphere in the room had vanished the second 006 had kicked the door open. Genesis was able to get a small plate and shifted to the side so that 005 could sit on the couch with them. He gave a grateful nod and they all started to eat. 006 was happy to see people enjoying his food, but he couldn't help but worry about 009. He hoped that their fellow cyborg would wake up soon. Once the food was gone the conversation turned back to 0010.

"He knows how to press his advantage in a fight," 008 complimented, not liking it but still respecting his enemy enough.

"His laser beam becomes a path for his electricity," 004 added. "It gives him perfect accuracy, and makes his attack devastating."

The door opened again and this time it was Gilmore. He looked at the room of younger adults and saw that they had varying expressions of concern. They all looked exhausted as well. For people who barely knew one another it was refreshing to see them all getting along. Well, somewhat.

"How's 009?" 002 asked, and Gilmore shook his head.

"Sorry to say he's still in serious condition," Gilmore informed them.

"We could really use his help," 008 sighed.

"So, we're one fighter down and 001 is still sleeping," 004 commented. "Do we have enough strength to defeat 0010?"

"What about an ambush for 0010?" Genesis suggested.

They turned towards her and 008 was ready to help formulate that plan. 004 was acting leader as 009 was down for the count. 002 was just ready to fight. The idea was drafted and 007 blinked at the idea of having 002 act as a decoy to bring out 0010. It helped that he had attacked first, making 0010 think he had an idea of how 002 acted. Gilmore began to pace as they settled that plan and broke out the shogi board. It was Genesis against 008, with 006 and 007 watching.

"If you combine your strengths you could win," Gilmore stated agreeing with their plan. "It's a simple strategy."

"The clever combatant looks to the effect of combined energy and does not require too much from individuals," Genesis agreed, making a move and causing 008 to study the board a little more.

"That's Sun Tzu," 006 said.

"It still holds true," Genesis stated smiling slightly.

"You will be able to work together as friends," Gilmore said.

"As friends?" 002 incredulously asked. "We still refer to each other by numbers. We don't even know each other's backgrounds, what makes you think we can?"

"If you don't, then you'll be destroyed," Gilmore answered, watching as Genesis got the upper hand in the game against 008.

"I lived my entire life not trusting anyone," 002 stated. "I don't even trust God. I learned that the only person I can rely on is myself."

"Maybe it's time for a new lesson," 003's voice startled everyone and the anger in her eyes was enough for 002 to back down a bit. "009 is seriously injured and he did it for the unit."

"Is he any better?" Gilmore asked.

"Yes, he regained consciousness," she answered.

"That's good," Genesis said, relaxing just the slightest.

"You know that humans can't survive by themselves that's why they gather, for protection," 003 said to 002. "Even you can understand that if you think past yourself."

"Not every group can work together effectively," 004 stated, knowing that it had to be brought up. "There are personalities and dynamics that don't mesh, and sometimes it's a lack of leadership. It's not pleasant to hear, but it's true."

"Still, we have to try," 003 said, looking out the window.

"The rains going to stop," Genesis said before sending them all a serious look. "I don't doubt he was waiting for it to do so."

"He's coming," 005 confirmed.

The cyborgs shared a look before heading outside they needed to put their plan into action. They slowly trailed out of the room and Genesis knew that they needed to learn one another's names. She cared about who they used to be, but knew that some people wanted to move on from their past. She was one of them. She looked up as 005 walked past her. Well, there was no time like the present.

"005, what is your name?" she quietly asked, genuinely curious.

"Geronimo Jr," 005 answered.

"I don't think anyone else is going to have a name that cool," she stated without thinking.

Geronimo simply nodded his thanks at the compliment before heading out to join the others. It was odd, that the person who was trying to learn about everyone was the scientist that they hadn't been fond of at first. She waited with Koizumi and couldn't help but fret around the room as she worried about the cyborgs. He couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"You used to worry like this about your friends," he commented watching as she stopped moving about the kitchen, a hat of raspberry jam in her hands.

"I wish I remembered them," she admitted. "I spent years walking around not knowing what I did for an entire year…I seem to have forgotten people that I cared deeply for."

"My dear girl, it's quite all right," Koizumi said stepping up and watching as she set the jam down before pulling out a couple of ingredients. "You always baked when worried."

"I'm going to make them a victory cake," she said a small smile on her face. "I have faith in them."

It wasn't because she helped upgrade and change them. No, they were stubborn and had pulled through so much already. For her to doubt them now would be an insult to them. She slowly brought 001 into the kitchen so she could keep an eye on him. He shifted in his sleep and she gently pulled the blankets up to cover him a bit better. It was what she used to do for Rosie when her brother had left for a case and left her in charge. She had parenting skills because of him. It also made her sad.

"How has your health been, I know you seemed to get better once you lived here for a while," Koizumi asked, remembering her poor health when they first met.

"It's gotten worse again," she admitted, but it's always been that way from what I can remember. "You can sample my blood some other time, Ji-Chan."

He looked happy at that prospect and she gathered she hadn't allowed him to the first time she lived with him. She started to make the cake and Koizumi was surprised at how she was able to do so with only one arm. She struggled, but didn't ask for help. Ah, so that one cyborg was helping her because he wanted to. Or, he didn't know how stubborn she truly was. The cake didn't take long to make and soon he was waiting for the chance to dig in when the cyborgs returned from their battle. It was one of his favourite tea cakes. A Victorian sponge, he should've known with the jam.

"I feel like we've been in this situation before, 004," Genesis said as she helped to fix some of his wiring.

He had been hit full force by lightening. She heard his amused snort and was glad to see that his humour was still intact. He watched as she fixed him up for a second time, some flour stubbornly attached to her cheek and forearm. She looked like she had lost a battle against a cake, but the smell of one from the kitchen said differently. She moved back for a few seconds to grab a few new wires and he caught sight of more flour under her jaw. It was funny, and he couldn't help but smirk.

"I'm glad you all made it out in one piece," she quietly admited to him. "How'd you get hit in the legs? I think we'll be here for a while…sorry."

Ah, so the damage was greater than they originally thought. Genesis was just wondering how she became the unofficial repair woman for 004. It was odd that Gilmore seemed to think she was a better fit for the job. She'd have to ask him one day. 006 came in with some teach and happily hummed as he placed it near her work station. He would check in on the two periodically to make sure there wasn't any fighting. It seemed like Gilmore's idea of the two being alone and forced to communicate was good for their relationship, or lack of one really. The only one that seemed to have told her their name was 005, and he was tight lipped about why he did. He could've refused to tell her, but he didn't. 006 turned to leave with a smile on his face.

"I need to change one of the nerve wires, this is going to hurt."

006 heard them gentle warning and the hiss of pain from 004. He chuckled at the two of them. Perhaps Gilmore saw something they had yet to. He would have to bring them a slice of the victory cake, that 002 almost wanted to take for himself due to how much he liked it. It was funny to see 003 level him with look of utter disbelief. He just hoped that they'd continue to move towards friendship than the co-workers they felt like. He heard another pained hiss and an apology and smiled. There was someone who was trying to make those connections with people.