Young Offender, Part 4:
It was a chilly evening on the deck of Kozumi's beach house, but Francoise didn't feel compelled to move inside. Kozumi had brought home dinner. It was some sort of marinated vegetables and rice. Her taste was not accustom to what she had been given, but she joyfully accepted the food out of sheer gratitude it wasn't just oatmeal and orange juice any more.
Jet and Albert were still cool towards each other from their argument during the morning. Ivan had complained of being tired right after breakfast. She had shooed him back to bed; he had been asleep since then. Gilmore had been quiet as well; he checked on Francoise only at lunch time, but spent the lion's share of his time in the basement lab.
She shivered and wrapped her arms across her stomach as a cold breeze came from the ocean. So much had happened that she hadn't had time to process. Tears brimmed, but she held them in, fearing Jet, Albert, or the doctors would see her. They were still strangers to her.
"Mademoiselle Arnoul?"
She glanced over her shoulder to see Albert standing by the sliding glass door. She quickly, gracefully brushed her hand over her hot cheeks and turned towards him.
She took a step towards him with a meek demeanor and said, "I'm terribly sorry for... this morning. Flinching from you. It wasn't polite."
He waved his left hand in the air and gave her a gentle smile. "I know what you're going to say. It's okay. I know my hand..." He flexed his gloved, right hand. "It can be unnerving. Let's just concentrate on the future rather than get caught up in petty worries."
"You're thinking about Jet?" she asked. She was worried, herself, about the loose cannon on their deck. She hoped the older man could control him, but it didn't look likely with how hard they fought.
Albert's smile faded slightly. He walked over to the deck railing and leaned on it. "I don't think he's a Black Ghost double agent, if that's what you're wondering. I think he's just a hothead that has a hearing problem."
"I didn't think he was with the Black Ghost, either." They both looked through the glass door. Jet was draped over an armchair, absently flipping pages of a Japanese magazine. Francoise knew he didn't understand it; she guessed he was trying to avoid them. He still wore the same scowl she remembered from breakfast.
"He's just a rash, pig-headed fool." Albert's voice caught her attention again. There was something there that sounded uncomfortable and suspicious, in spite of what he said.
"I'm more worried about Ivan. He's too young to be going through this. They've horribly scarred him." Francoise leaned on the railing to Albert's right. "Also, what about you? You're marked by your hand. It'll be difficult for you to blend into a regular life." Francoise laid her hand on his shoulder. She noticed his body tense. "Oh, this is yours. I laid it on your clothes, but I thought it might be precious to you, so I took it with me instead."
She dug in her pocket and got out the plain gold band on the chain. It matched the one he wore. His eyes slowly grew wide and then somewhat moist. He took the ring in both his hands and took a deep breath. "Thank you so much. This was her ring, my wife's. I gave her years ago when we married. She always treasured it, but I never had a hope of holding on to it when the Black Ghost took me. I'm indebted to you because she's no longer..." Albert's face twisted in pain. He said bitterly, "...here."
"I'm glad to do that for you, but I'm not sure how it stayed with you when we were with them. Maybe you'll find out one day," she said in a wave of pity. Ivan had already told her the man was newly widowed.
He quickly fastened it around his neck and got control over his emotions. She noticed he still wore his own wedding band on his left hand; it must be too soon to take it off, Francoise figured. She decided to changed the subject because she felt it wasn't her place to intrude on Albert's unfathomable grief loosing his wife. Although, now, she felt for sure he had been married to a lady that had died horribly when he was kidnapped by the Black Ghost. He was still going to refuse to talk about the details, so she wouldn't pry.
Albert said, "I've been thinking that Ivan can come with me after you're back in France. I figure I'll make sure Jet gets back to The States from Paris."
"After that?"
"I think the best would be to take Ivan with me somewhere remote. Switzerland. The Alps is my inclination."
"And just stay there for the rest of your lives?" she asked in horror. They needed to live their lives, too!
Albert's brow furrowed right before he turned his head away from her. "They never told you. Not the doctors? Not Ivan?"
"Told me what?"
"That we're virtually immortal." Albert paused a moment, the phrase rang in her ears above the ocean surf. "We won't grow older than we are right now. We can still be hurt, and you and Jet are more vulnerable to some things like poisons and illness than Ivan and me. Also, children for any of us isn't possible. We're all now..." Albert's face flushed and he seemed awkward as he said the word, "sterilized."
"That can't be right. That means I can never have a child?" It felt as though a cold wave scraped down her stomach. It took a piece of her life along with it. It now hit her that she hadn't had to deal with her regular cycle since she'd been kidnapped.
"That's what Ivan meant when he said none of us can truly fit back into a normal life. However, I think you and Jet should try. You're both still young."
"But, Herr Heinrich, I can't now! No children? Are you certain? I've always wanted them." His curt nod cut off her further questions.
A slight humming sound deep under the waves startled Francoise. Albert turned towards her with a quirked eyebrow. She explained, "Someone's coming from the ocean. It sounds like one of those large U-boats that surrounded the island where we were held."
He grabbed her upper arm and pulled her into the den. Jet bolted out of his chair and tossed aside the magazine. "What's got you in a dither, sauerkraut?"
"She heard them. They're coming after us."
Jet's face paled. He nodded and clenched his fists. "Well, we should kick their asses for coming around."
"With what? Your charming personality? It only goes so far," Albert quipped with a glare.
"You son-of-a..."
"Will you two stop!" France shouted, getting panicked. "I hear someone walking through the woods."
"Just one person?" Jet asked. She nodded.
"This is something big," Albert said in a dour tone. "Jet, take Francoise and the doctors. Head towards town and hide."
"But one person isn't a big deal," Jet complained, looking very insulted.
"Do as I say!" Albert snapped. Jet backed down after an intense glare-off with the German. He grabbed Francoise's wrist and tugged her upstairs. Jet started mumbling what Francoise guessed were English obscenities she wasn't familiar with. "Go get Ivan. I'll get the doctors," he said slowly.
She opened the door to Ivan's guest room. He was sleeping with arms crossed over his chest. She ran to him and started shaking his shoulders while shouting his name over and over. She noticed that he weighed double than she had expected.
"003!" Gilmore shouted out. She looked over her shoulder to see him, Jet, and Kozumi at the doorway.
"I can't get him to move!"
Several rapid gun shots came from downstairs; she easily identified it came from Albert. Jet jerked her upwards, away from Ivan, by her arms; he turned her around to face him.
"I'm going down to help that guy! You stay with them and get yourselves out of here. There's a car in the driveway with the keys in it. Take it."
"I don't know how to drive!" Francoise shouted, sprouting tears and shaking his head.
Jet shouted to the ceiling and fixed her with a hostile glare. "Try to get down there. I'll get to you. Just get yourself and the ankle bitter down there!"
"But Heinrich said you had to stay with us!" she insisted. Jet wasn't a person she trusted in the least judgment-wise, but he was better than nothing.
Those brandy eyes turned more volatile. Jet shook her by the shoulders, growled, and then shouted, "Get them the hell out of here! Now! That stupid cat needs my help!"
He gingerly push her away before bolting past the stunned doctors. The older men rushed towards Francoise and loud crashing noises came from downstairs, along with small explosive noises. The three of them managed to get Ivan sitting upright, but he was still in a deep slumber.
Jet skidded to a halt beside Albert. He glanced at the plump, elderly woman who was tugging off white, fur gloves. He raised an eyebrow at Albert's harsh expression trained on the graying lady.
"What the heck are you doing?! She's one of them, isn't she? Get her!" Jet demanded.
"She just told me she's Ivan's mother. I'm not going to kill her outright," Albert snarled back. "Besides, she's has telekineses like Ivan. And trust me, she hasn't been afraid to use it." Jet noted the deep, purple bruise on Albert's forehead.
Jet's ire spiked. "You idiot! Ivan said she's dangerous! Get her!"
Jet trained his eyes on her when Albert was still hesitating. She didn't look very intimidating. She just looked like a dumpy grandmother. That was until five photo frames from the mantle floated upwards and then hurled themselves towards Jet and Albert's heads. They both ducked; Jet could see the woman's eyes glowed a deep purplish color. Her eyes also held a gleeful malice that made Jet sick to his stomach. His parents were like that, too, so he decided this woman wouldn't get her hands on Ivan again.
"Told you, you should have kicked her butt before now," Jet hissed at Albert. He quickly fished his switchblade out of his pocket and flicked it out. He turned to the woman. He didn't really want to stab a lady, but he had to threaten her, get her to back down. He would certainly bluff her with no qualms. "Lady, back down!" He held the knife up and worked up his best belligerent expression.
She threw back her head and laughed. Albert shouted, "No! Jet, get rid of..."
The switchblade flew from his fingers before he realized it. It slowed in midair, turned towards Jet, and flew towards his left eye. He flinched just in time. His eyes jerked towards the wall where his switchblade was now lodged as is wiggled slightly.
"Damn it!" he swore at the woman.
"Will you think before you act?" Albert said in a low, irritable voice.
"Worry about her!" Jet snapped, seeing knick-knacks and small pieces of furniture floating around the room now. Albert brought his gun hand up and shot as objects were flung at them.
"We need to get him..." Gilmore's sentence was cut off as the man fell backwards. Kozumi also jerked upright and fell over on the floor. Francoise gasped in shock and realized there was now silence downstairs. She struggled to pull Ivan upright, but paused at the subtle creaking of the bedroom door.
She looked over to see an older, plump woman with short, black and grayish hair. She was dressed in a brown, fur overcoat that didn't seem proper in the slightly cool Japanese evening. She gave Francoise a vexed look and said something. Francoise couldn't understand in the strident sounding language the strange woman uttered.
"Leave us alone!" Francoise shouted back in French, knowing instinctively this woman meant them harm. The woman's expression grew even angrier.
The woman said something clipped in that language. Francoise watched in awe as the woman's indigo eyes started glowing a faint amethyst. She felt herself lurch through the air. She slammed into a wall. All Francoise could do was struggle for breath as she sat up.
"Why are you doing this? We haven't done anything to deserve this!" Francoise finally said after catching her breath.
The woman stalked towards her and pointed a finger in Francoise's face. The woman screeched something incomprehensible and then Francoise felt her throat tighten. Francoise grasped at her throat and tried in vain to draw air. Her head throbbed as her vision darkened.
Ivan's voice came into Francoise's awareness, but his words were foreign to her. She could suddenly breath again. She drew several quick breaths and focused her eyes. The strange woman and Ivan were facing one another. Ivan's angry attitude was unmistakable to Francoise.
Ivan spoke again with a nasty scowl; Francoise realized it must be Russian. It dawned on her that this woman must be Ivan's mother. This woman looked more like she should be his grandmother. It shook her to realize Ivan was much, much older than he had let on. The woman gave a mirthless laugh and launched into rapid speech at her son. She gestured several times to Francoise, the doctors, and then finally the opened door.
Ivan shook his head, a steely expression came to his face. He said the one Russian word Francoise knew. His voice was cool and soft, "Nyet."
She watch Ivan's right eye glow a bright blue; his fists clenched. Ivan's mother stretched her hand towards the bed. The sheets snaked out towards Ivan and rose to engulf him. He held up his hands; the sheets ripped into tiny shreds.
A point of light appeared between mother and son; it grew steadily brighter and alternated between violet and sapphire. It jerked back and forth between them just as Francoise was startled by Jet's hand on her shoulder. She rose to her unsteady feet and noted Albert, who looked worse for wear, was helping the doctors.
"We need to stop her! She'll take him back to those people," Francoise said.
Jet shook his head. She noticed his skin was deeply scratched. "She's dangerous. She flung us around like rag dolls and knocked us out with a lamp. That broad didn't lift a finger to kick our asses, she just did it!"
Albert leveled his mechanical hand towards the woman. He shouted in German, "Let him go!"
The glowing, violet orb slammed into Ivan's chest and knocked him back onto the bed. Francoise murmured his named, but Jet grabbed her arms before she ran to the Russian boy, keeping her from possible danger. The woman swirled around towards Albert and replied in German, "I am his mother. I know what's best for him. Besides, you will be back with the Black Ghost soon enough enjoying the same perfection Ivan has found."
"You call this perfection?" Albert's hand wavered slightly, his jawed clenched. Francoise's heart went out to the man. He was mutilated in such horrific, unnatural ways.
"Surrender now, you pathetic experiments!" A violet hazy shield was between her and Albert. Francoise had seen Ivan do a similar thing when they were in captivity. She knew Albert wouldn't be able to shoot the woman through the shield.
"Never," Albert said calmly and jerked his hand above the woman's head and fired. Ceiling debris rained down on her behind the violet shield. France watched the shocked expression as Ivan's mother crumpled under the debris; the violet haze dissipated.
Francoise ran over to Ivan just as the boy was sitting up. His eyes drifted to the floor where his mother was unconscious. Francoise helped him stand, but his eyes were fixated on the woman.
"Erika," he murmured.
"I'm sorry, Ivan, but I had to," Albert said firmly, with squared shoulders.
"No need for apologies, Herr Heinrich. She would have taken us all back to the the Black Ghost. She's our enemy, and don't think I have any question about that. She is no longer Mother to me. I have no parents." Ivan's tone was so devoid of any inflection it chilled Francoise. Then again, what mother would sell her son into virtual slavery? Ivan said, "We must leave soon, because there will be more."
"More are coming," Francoise confirmed, interrupting Ivan just as movement from the ocean came into her consciousness.
"What? On the run again?" Jet snarled. "What about them?" Jet flung his hand towards the slumbering doctors and unconscious woman.
"I'll alter their memories and meet you out front. Hurry and get the car ready. Also, grab the suitcase in the hallway. It has our uniforms and guns in it. We'll need them," Ivan ordered.
"But, Ivan..." Francoise started.
"Go," Ivan whispered firmly. "They'll be here soon."
Albert tugged Francoise's arm towards the door, and she followed. She glanced behind her briefly to see Jet following. The American stooped and picked up the suitcase resting at the top of the staircase. Panic hit her stomach as more sounds, machines and marching, became louder. She sat in the back seat of the small sedan, trembling. Jet tossed the suitcase to her, she clutched it to her chest.
Albert started the ignition. The headlights flared on. Ivan appeared out of midair suddenly, slamming into the hood of the car. She half screamed before realizing he'd teleported like before. Francoise opened the car door beside her and shouted, "Come on! Come on! Ivan, get in!"
"I'm here! Go!" Ivan shouted as he flopped down beside Francoise on the backseat. The car door was slammed shut with Ivan's telekinesis. The car lurched forward into the dark night. Francoise quickly, carefully pinched Ivan's nose and had him lean his head forward to stop the flowing blood.
"I'm taking us to the docks. We'll find a way out," Albert said. "Francoise, tell me when we've lost them."
She let Ivan gingerly shrug her off, and she switched her concentration to the men combing the woods around Kozumi's house. She began to worry about the doctors as the men approached. Sounds of the Black Ghost agents faded out as sounds of ship horns came into Francoise's awareness.
"We've lost them."
"For now," Jet ominously finished her thought.
"And that's when 004 ruthlessly attacked your wife. I hope she's recovering," Issac Gilmore said, walking down the dank, dark hallway deep in the bowls of Ghost Island. Gamo glanced over his shoulder with a furrowed brow.
"We don't know yet. The injuries to her head seem to have put her in a coma. It shouldn't have been that severe. You're sure Ivan had nothing to do with it?"
"He was unconscious until the end, when 002 and 003 grabbed him. They ran after that. I tell you, I don't remember much about my captivity, but I do remember that. And taking me to my friend and lying to him! Those horrible ingrates!"
"Calm down, Gilmore! Hopefully, Erika can be brought out of her coma and she can tell us more. Right now, Scar has sent agents to Moscow, New York, Paris, and West Berlin. He's hoping they're stupid enough to run home. We can catch them then."
"I heard rumors that there are going to be budget cuts and a freeze on further development."
"Until the four cyborgs are found, Scar doesn't think it's a good idea to proceed, especially when the Merchants of Death aren't pleased with the loss of their investment. They want to see their merchandise back under our control before they loosen the purse strings again."
"I see. Wise idea," Gilmore murmured. "Well, are there any real leads to where they went?"
Gamo paused and turned, hands clasped behind his back. A devious smile spread across his face. Gilmore's head started pounding in time with his pulse.
"My bet would be Paris. One of them has a close relative. However the captain in charge believes they split up. Not me, though. Ivan is too clever to let them be divided and conquered, but if we hope to get them back," Gamo's smile faded into a scowl, " that's what we must do. By the way, Doctor Gaea and Doctor Uranus are ready to meet with us about the changes needed on the acceleration device. Damn it! We've lost a lot of our data with 002 gone. That mouthy boy! When we get them back, Scar will punish them horribly."
Gamo swirled back around and started down the hallway again. Gilmore murmured, "Good," in a hollow tone. He mechanically followed Gamo and succumbed to his hazy feeling.
To Be Continued.