Young Offender, Part 68:
"So?" Pyunma asked. He sat in the backseat with GB, Ann rested in between them still in a deep trance. Junior was driving and Chang was in the passenger seat, clutching the suitcase full of money for the Black Ghost.
"It's as we feared. Those four were actually kidnapped and forced to undergo cybornization. The Black Ghost was going to use them as weapons to spark wars and world chaos. Well, those cyborgs wanted their freedom back so they escaped. It seems they were caught one time after that and they were brutalized. At least, according to 003. That's why they decided to turn to a life of crime. The Merchants of Death owed them a living, in their way of thinking. Not only that, they feel like they're preventing world domination by the Black Ghost by stealing from them. I will say, 003 was very convincing."
"That makes total sense," Pyunma said, clenching his fist. He pounded it against the car door in frustration. "Only this time the Black Ghost figured it would be smarter and extort us to keep us in line."
"Then we've been played for fools," Chang lamented.
"Even so, we got some valuable things in our deals. I have my daughter's health, and you have your freedom, Chang. Pyunma got protection for his village and Junior could defend his land. We have to be careful and decide how to protect those things we've gained and not aid the Black Ghost if they want war," GB said. "I think we're all agreed none of us want to see war break out across the world."
"Agreed," Pyunma said enthusiastically. "They'll know we engaged the first generation in conversation if we confront them with their lies. Let's act loyal to the Black Ghost and make plans."
"What about the first generation cyborgs? The Black Ghost will expect us to bring them in," Chang said.
GB shook his head. "Even if we were the ruthless types to catch them and take them to the Black Ghost, I certainly don't think they'll grant us our freedom in return. I'm getting the feeling they'll want all of us around a lot longer than our contracts say. If they've been pursuing them for twenty years, well, you figure out our chances of ever leaving. After all, we cost them even more money than the first generation cyborgs."
"We'll figure out something," Pyunma insisted.
"I don't think we should count the first generation as allies yet. I think they may hold a grudge against us after tonight," Junior pointed out. "That acceleration device makes 002 pretty dangerous."
"003 did offer to help us. I think it was sincere. Maybe we should take her up on her offer," GB said.
"Next time, we'll have a long conversation with them," Pyunma said, just as their car reached the edge of Moscow.
Gilmore and Kaminari arrived the day after the first generation cyborgs had shown up on Kozumi's doorsteps. Kozumi had made the cyborgs as comfortable as possible, but their conditions hadn't improved.
"Where are they?" Gilmore asked franticly, following Kozumi upstairs.
"They're in very bad shape. I recommend you see Albert first. He's unable to move his limbs. Francoise caught a really horrible chest cold, but I've given her an herbal remedy. She got bruised up, but she'll be fine with some more rest. Jet... well... I just can't figure him out. He has some sort of concussion, and I've help with his biological side, but his electronics are beyond my understanding."
"I'll handle Albert," Kaminari offered. They got to the top floor of the house and Kozumi opened one of the guest room doors. They walked into the darkened room with two beds. Albert lay on one, his left arm draped over his eyes. Jet, rather than resting in the other bed, was balled up on the floor beside Albert's bed. Gilmore flung his jacket on a chair and rolled up his sleeves.
"Jet, you need to get into bed," Gilmore ordered. Jet showed no signs of moving so he went and felt Jet's forehead.
The New Yorker looked up at Gilmore; he could tell Jet was exhausted and in a lot of pain. "It'll be fine in just a moment."
He got Jet to his feet, and he swayed horribly. "Doc, I'm going to puke."
"Don't do that! I think I know what's wrong."
He got Jet to lay on his stomach in the empty bed. He looked over to Kaminari, who had been carrying their equipment in a large, black suitcase. After Kaminari set it down and got to examining Albert, Gilmore rummaged through the case . He got out a thick, portable computer and some wires. He exposed the nape of Jet's neck and peeled off a small amount of artificial skin. He found a small port and plugged one end of the wire into it. The other he hooked into the computer and brought up the diagnostic.
"This is going to be an easy fix. Jet, you may want to hang on tight to the bed, though. You're about to have one wild ride," Gilmore said and hit enter. The screen flashed with an empty circular chart that start to slowly shade in as the word "recalibrating" flashed repeatedly on the screen.
"Oh now I really am going to hurl!" Jet howled in time for Kozumi to bring over a trashcan. Jet kept it together, though, and turned his head to look at Gilmore. "What are you doing?"
"It seems the gyroscope we implanted in your head got a good whack and just needed to be recalibrate so it can read magnetic north again. Otherwise you'll just keep corkscrewing into the ground every time you try to fly."
"My ears are ringing. Can you fix them?"
"That'll go away because your gyroscope is wired to your inner ears." Gilmore looked over to Kaminari.
The Italian scientist gave a rueful shake of the head after assessing Albert. "This is not going to be so simple to fix."
"Money, but no cyborgs! And you lost the aircraft to them," Scar observed from this throne. Pyunma could hear the irritation in his voice. "And Miss Ember is still out."
"They were really difficult, sir. They over powered us once we landed and took the plane before we could stop them," Pyunma said. He wasn't nearly as good as GB at lying, but he was the one responsible for the others. He hoped he was believable. The other three were standing behind him, all looking blameworthy.
"You incompetent idiots! We spent a fortune on you for results!"
"002's acceleration device really took us off guard," Pyunma said.
"You'd been warned," Scar pointed out. "Your next foray better yield results, or there will be consequences. Out of my sight!"
They bowed their heads in acknowledgement and swiftly left the throne room. They were silent until they reached their dorm room. They sat on the corners of their respective beds, all wearing dire expressions.
"Well, that went a whole lot better than I expected," GB said with an attempt at levity as he tugged at his scarf to loosen it.
"We cost too much for them to push us too hard, at least for now," Pyunma said cynically. "Before too long, though, they'll lose patience with us. We got to figure out what we want to do."
"This is a bleaker fate than the reeducation camp. Being used as weapons to promote war, that is if 003 told the truth, is not something I want," Chang said.
GB frowned and nodded. "She told the truth all right. Her sincerity was undeniable. Trust me, I know a liar when I see one. I was a professional liar for years, so I know my own kind."
"What will it cost us to escape?" Chang asked.
"More than we can afford, I fear," Pyunma replied.
"We'll have to have the first generation cyborgs' help to leave the Black Ghost," Junior pointed out.
"Do you think they'll help us?" Chang asked.
"I'm certain they will. 003 has a kind heart," GB said.
Junior shook his head. "The other one, 002. I'm not so sure he has a forgiving nature."
GB chuckled. "Well, 003 let a little something slip. I was able to put another piece of the puzzle together along with that overly sentimental letter 004 wrote 002. I'm going to keep it to myself for now, because it's irrelevant to our situation, but I think 004 has more sway over him than you think."
Chang stood and clasped his thick hands together. "I'll make us some dinner and we can talk some more."
Francoise woke and stood from the bed in Kozumi's house. She draped a blanket around her shoulders. Her head was pounding, but she had a need to see if her friends were well. Before she left the room she paused and went to her uniform. She found the fold noted and took it with her down the hallway to where Albert and Jet were.
She knocked at the door lightly. "It's me."
"We're all decent," Jet called out.
She entered the room and was pleased to see Jet sitting up on a bed while Gilmore finished patching up Jet's nose with bandages. She was afraid he'd be a lot worst.
"You cyborgs had me worried to death," Gilmore fumed.
"We're all right, Doctor," 003 said.
"No, we aren't! Those jerks are out there and I'm going to settle the score with them!" Jet pounded his fist into his palm and fixed Francoise with a harsh expression. "You okay?"
"I'm fine. You?"
"Yeah, I'll live," Jet answered tersely and hopped off the bed. He waved Gilmore off. "Get to Albert already!"
"What about Ivan?" she asked Gilmore.
Gilmore said, "A deep coma. He's fine physically, but I don't have any idea when he'll wake up. Soon, I hope. Kozumi has him in the basement lab and is trying to bring him around."
She looked over to were Kaminari was examining Albert's mechanical arm with a jewelers loop. Albert was without his shirt so she could see the multitude of burn marks that glistened with some healing salve. Gilmore walked over to Kaminari and asked, "Well?"
Kaminari shook his head. "This is going to be a major undertaking. We'll have to rewire just about everything in his arm and legs. It'll take us a while. About a month if we work around the clock."
"I had that feeling," Albert said, frowning.
"But we can fix it, so don't be so down," Kaminari said. The mood in the room grew dismal, so Francoise walked over to Jet. His eyebrow quirked upwards when she held up the folded paper.
"007 gave me this to give back to you."
Jet took it and unfolded it with bafflement, then he started reading. His face took on a softer expression and a pinkish hue. He went over and sat on the left side of Albert's bed. He handed Albert the note. Albert squinted at it, not having his reading glasses, but understanding hit his eyes.
"What is it?" Gilmore asked.
"A letter I wrote Jet a long time ago. I was a little on the sentimental side," Albert answered, giving Jet a lopsided grin. "These other cyborgs, from them holding back, to them returning this to Jet, it would seem they're trying to figure us out. We need to be cautious, though."
"Well, let's take your arm and legs off so we can get to work on them. Then you can discuss this business with the other cyborgs," Kaminari said.
Jet took Albert's left hand in his. Francoise noticed the two scientists' eyes grew wide. They didn't say anything but eyed them curiously before going over to their big suitcase. She quickly and quietly left. If Jet was being that openly demonstrative, she knew he'd want to be alone with Albert after this terrible procedure.
Ryu looked up from his inherited mahogany desk when there was a knock at the study door. It was Akira wearing a bright smile. "I'm back from Monaco."
"Congratulations on your auto race. First place. I expected nothing less from someone bearing the Shimamura name. Come in. I have a few things to do and then we'll go for dinner. You can explain to me why you're three days later than I expected to start."
"Well, that's what I wanted to talk to you about." Akira moved from the doorway and tugged a willowy blond girl in with him. They were holding hands, Ryu noted with a little worry. She seemed to be very bashful, moving closer to Akira's arm. "Ryu, this is Julie. I wanted you to meet her right away. We got married right after the race."
Ryu easily covered his intense rage with a warm smile; he'd inherited the ability to flawlessly mimic any emotion from his mother, and he could see by Akira's pleased expression, it worked. Ryu stood and extended his hand towards the shy girl. She shook his hand, smiling. Ryu admitted to himself he wasn't all that surprised that his cousin would do something so rash.
"Welcome to the family," Ryu said with a pleasant, joyful tone. He'd have to contact his lawyers first thing in the morning to plot around this unpleasant news. Ryu hoped the girl wouldn't get pregnant before he could convince Akira to get a quick divorce. And if he couldn't get Akira to put her out, he'd bribe her into leaving.
To be continued.