Cyborg 009 Fan Fiction ❯ Ante Mortem ❯ Chapter Three ( Chapter 3 )

Ante-Mortem

By: Wildfire Sky

I am VERY happy for all of the reviews I'm getting. Even though I've written many fanfics before, I've never posted here (the responses are much better than at other sites I've posted on!!). So, as a reward for you taking time out of your day to review and encourage me to continue writing, I have a special treat…

THE NEXT PART TO THE FIC!! Can't get any better than that right? Unless I offered money…no, I think we'll stick with the fics.

Speaking of which, I think it's high time we got started huh? I knew you'd agree!!

Ante-Mortem

Chapter Three

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"You do realize what you're saying, right 007?" Pyunma questioned, staring at the shape sifting cyborg pointedly.

The 00 cyborg soldiers, minus 009 and 002, were gathered in the Dolphin living room, crowded around a small coffee table. 005 and 004 were staring at GB while the others looked down at the ground or at the walls, each thinking their own separate thoughts as GB was speaking.

"Of course I do!" 007 said, "Weren't you listening to a word I said?"

Pyunma glared at him, "Yes I was and to me this sounds crazy! How could you even think something like that? Especially of 009!"

GB threw his arms wide in exasperation, "What do you mean? It makes perfect sense!"

"Sounds to me like 002 is starting trouble again," 005 replied, concentrating on a far wall, "And you foolishly believed him."

"Foolishly believed who?"

The group turned as 002 strode into the room, casting a look around at the silent group. Immediately he went on the defensive, stopping near the doorway and leaning against it, a thin smile gracing his features although his dark eyes narrowed in suspicion. The others returned the stare, equally as suspicious of the flamed hair boy standing in front of them. Jet's gaze slowly fell on Francoise, noticing that she, unlike the others, did not look at him. A strange feeling rushed over him and he tore his eyes from her stooped from, breaking into a carefree grin.

"You said someone was being foolish," he repeated, "So who was it?"

004, who was sitting next to Francoise, stood, "I think you already know, 002."

Jet's eyes narrowed, "No, actually I don't. So why don't you tell me, 004?"

"007 is trying to convince us that our extremely loyal leader is a low down stalker," Pyunma cut in, jerking his head over to where the English actor stood sheepishly, "Something he apparently heard from you."

"Oh really?" Jet snarled, throwing GB an unreadable look. 007 quickly looked away and Jet's glare hardened. He turned back to Albert and shrugged carelessly, "Can't I express my own opinion?"

"Not like that you can't!" 004 snapped, "009 might be dying right now and here you are spreading these horrible rumors!"

Jet shrugged again, "I was just talking to 007. It's not like I was forcing him to believe me…he could have walked away at anytime."

Albert frowned, "Maybe he should have…"

"But," Jet said, a dangerous glint in his eye, "You have to admit that it could be true. I take it that 007 mentioned my reasons?"

"Unfortunately."

002 smirked, "So, even you can see that I could be right. You have to face the fact that our 'great leader' is only trying to get with 003…and he'll do it no matter what."

Albert shook his head, "You're wrong, 002."

"Jesus!" Jet shouted, throwing up his hands in anger, "Why is this so hard to believe? 009 is a stalker, all the facts point to it. Hell, he might even be a rapist for all we know!"

Albert's eyes flashed, "You stop right there you two-faced son of a---"

"I must admit, I agree with 002!" Chang said, "It does make sense in a way. Perhaps we should keep an eye on him."

Geronimo frowned, "009 is a good man. He hasn't done anything wrong."

"Not yet!" 007 exclaimed, "I think we should watch him too…just to be sure."

004 glared, "You would!"

"I'm just trying to look out for the safety of 003!"

008 jumped to his feet, "So are all of us! But you seem to be preoccupied with her safety and not her feelings!"

002 whirled to face him, "Are you saying we don't care about, 003?"

"Yea," 004 shouted, "He is! There's something wrong with your judgment, 002…"

"There's something wrong with this team!"

Instantly the room fell silent and all eyes turned to Francoise who was standing, face a beet red. She glared at the gathered men, her eyes lingering on Jet who quickly looked away.

"I…I don't know what's wrong with all of you," she started, "and I don't really care. All I know is that without Joe, this team falls apart. It's alright to be jealous Jet…"

"I'm not jealous."

"Please," 003 snapped, "Please let me finish. It's alright to be jealous, but to let your jealousy turn into all of this…" tears filled her eyes, "I care about Joe, I really do, and I know that he would never do anything to harm me. I'm glad all of you are so protective of me, but I can handle myself…I can trust my own instincts. Now, if you children don't mind, I'm going to go and see how 009 is going."

Jet stepped forward, "003…"

Francoise set him with a heavy stare, "Excuse me, 002."

She quickly brushed past him and down the narrow corridor. The other cyborg looked at each other sheepishly, avoiding each other's eyes and staring at the ground.

"Well," said 007, clearing his throat, "I feel down right stupid. This was really all my fault; I never should have brought it up without thinking things through."

Pyunma shook his head, "No, everyone's to blame. We overreacted and nearly broke the team. 003 is right, we do fall apart with out a leader."

004 nodded, "You're right, 008…I think everybody should get some rest, it's been a long day and we're heading out tomorrow morning. Everyone return to your sleeping quarters and cool off for awhile."

The cyborg team nodded and began down the hallway towards their rooms. Before he could leave, Albert pulled Jet aside, a murderous glint in his eyes.

"If you ever pull something like that again, 002," he hissed venomously, "I'll kill you."

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The infirmary was empty when Francoise arrived, just to her preferences. She sat down on a stool beside the bed where Joe's prone and pale body laid, his chest slowly rising and falling with the hiss of the respirator. A tube was leading from an IV in his arm, a black liquid draining from his body and collecting in a large jar. She quickly checked the other tubes hooked into 009, adjusting a few before crossing over to a water basin. She grabbed a rag, smiling slightly at the scene.

"I remember this, 009," she said to the unconscious boy, "It was right after the first fight with 0010 and you had a fever."

She walked over to him, gently wiping his forehead with the damp cloth, "I was so scared that you wouldn't pull out of it. That I might lose you forever. I never would have been able to tell you how thankful I was…"

"003?"

Francoise looked up at Dr. Gilmore, giving him a small smile, "Yes, sir?"

The Russian crossed over to the other side of the bed and stood, watching her care for the Japanese youth. "I heard all of the commotion upstairs and went to investigate. What was the matter?"

The girl's face darkened, "Nothing. Just Jet up to his usual stupid tricks again."

"Well I caught some of it, especially the part about a stalker," Gilmore smiled at Francoise warmly, "Men can be such fools at times, believe me, I would know. Don't be angry with Jet, he's sincerely worried about your safety, we all are."

Francoise let her eyes fall to 009's face, "Am I really so weak that I must be constantly watched over?"

Gilmore shifted nervously, "Of course not, 003…but men will be men, always looking after the one they love."

"Like 009…" Francoise whispered. Quickly she looked up to see if Dr. Gilmore had heard her. He gave the French girl a quizzical look.

"Yes…" he replied, "like 009. 003, go get some rest with the others, I'll watch him tonight."

"No."

"Now, 003," Gilmore said sternly, "You certainly can't help 009 get better if you're barely standing on your own two feet."

"I'm fine Dr. Gilmore."

Gilmore shot her a look before sighing in defeat, "Very well…I'll come down later on and check on you two, then I want you to go to bed."

Francoise smiled, "Alright, Dr. Gilmore."

"Good night, 003."

"Good night."

Francoise waited until the door was firmly shut before letting her plastered smile fall. She turned back to Joe, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

"I really am weak, aren't I, Joe?" she fell forward, putting her head in her arms and sobbing, "I'm just no good to anybody! I can't even take care of the one I love."

She looked up and smiled, "I wish you would open your eyes, 009…I want you to tell me…help me to understand what is wrong with both of us. Your nightmares seem to draw us closer, but at the same time tear everything apart." She reached a hand up, brushing Joe's mess of hair from his face and gently planting a kiss on his forehead, whispering against it, "I just want to love you again, Joe."

She jumped in surprise as a warm hand wrapped around her shoulders, bring her close to a warm, solid body.

"Why do you love him so much?"

Francoise frowned, "Why do you hate him?"

She felt Jet wince, "I don't hate him…not at all. I have too much respect for a man of his caliber to even let a thought like that pass through my head."

"Then why…"

"Why did I say what I did?" Jet buried his face in her golden hair, inhaling her scent with a sigh, "I don't know…looking back on it, it was a pretty stupid thing for me to do. Maybe I'm just stupid…or angry…or jealous…" he paused, turning 003 to face him, pressing her close against his chest, lowering his head so their lips were barely touching, "or maybe…I'm in love with you…"

003's heart clutched at the words, "Jet…"

He cut off her sentence, pressing her body close to his as he engulfed her mouth in a passionate kiss, hands softly gripping her face, struggling to deepen the embrace. He pulled back, staring into her wonderful sea-green eyes.

"Please…just tell me you feel the same way."

Francoise looked away, staring at the ground. "I…I can't Jet…I love Joe too much."

Jet felt a sudden twist of pain, stepping back from the bewildered woman, "Why? Why do you love him and not me? What does he have that I don't?" He thrust his chin in the direction of Joe, a strange look crossing his face.

Francoise stepped back, "Jet, please listen to me…"

"You can call me by my real name and yet you can't say 'I love you'!" he grabbed her hand, bringing it to his lips and planting a kiss on it, staring deep into her eyes, "Please, Francoise, I'm begging you…I've never been loved before and I…I want to feel it again. Just once more."

He leaned in for another kiss, and strangely Francoise didn't have the urge to pull away or dodge it. As their lips touched, she felt herself open her mouth to let him taste her, return the kiss as passionately as she was receiving it. Francoise could almost feel the pleasure radiating from Jet's body as he wrapped his arms around her, much the same way Joe had only yesterday.

Joe…

"Francoise?"

Quickly, Jet and Francoise broke the kiss and pulled apart, turning towards the bed where Joe laid, staring at her with a strange look in his eyes. Jet shot the red eyed cyborg a fierce look before turning on his heel and leaving the room, firmly closing the door behind him. Joe sat up, looking at 003 with an unreadable expression on his face.

"Francoise, what were you doing?"

The woman quickly walked over to Joe, pushing him back onto the bed, "Lay down, Joe…you need to rest."

"What were you doing with 002?" Joe demanded.

"Jet and I…"

Joe shot her an angry glare, "Jet…?"

Francoise quickly realized her mistake and tried to cover it, "I mean, 002 and I were talking about what happened today."

"Not too many words for such a conversation," Joe said, rooting Francoise to the spot with his eyes. He reached out, grabbing her hand, "Why were you kissing him? I though you loved me?"

Francoise felt a panic rising within her breast, "I do…I mean, I don't….I mean…oh Joe, it's not like we're together!"

"Sure did look like it."

Francoise turned her eyes down, "I was talking about us."

Joe instantly froze, dropping her hand, "I…I thought we were together…"

Francoise couldn't bring herself to look at him, instead she picked at a small stain on the dress she wore, "I thought so too, but…now I'm not so sure."

"Francoise…" Joe whispered, reaching out to stroke her face, "Please tell me that you love me…"

Francoise stopped, the words echoing in her mind…the same words Jet had uttered only moments before. Tell me that you love me…

A cool hand touched her face and she quickly jerked away, "Don't touch me!" she snapped throwing her pursuer a dark glare. Instantly she regretted her words at the hurt look on Joe's face. Tears began to fall from her eyes as she quickly stood up and crossed to the door, not daring to look back at the bed.

"I'm so, so sorry…009."

A tiny sound of pain escaped from between Joe's lips and before he could respond, Francoise jerked open the door, rushing out into the hall and up the stairs. But the powers she was given prevented her from ignoring the cries from Joe.

"Wait! Francoise please! Come back!"

She dashed down the main corridor.

"003?"

She looked up to see Albert blocking her path.

"003, what's wrong?"

She quickly brushed past him and hurled into her room. Slamming the door closed and locking it before 004 could react, diving onto her bed. She could hear him pounding on her door. Calling for her to open it. Shouting at Jet who had just arrived.

"What did you do to her?!"

She grabbed a silk pillow. Burying her face in it. Crying herself hoarse. Realizing that it wasn't Jet at fault anymore. It was her.

What had she done?

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Dumdumdum!!!!! Jesus Francoise, what have you done?? And can we say 'male cat fight?'

So here it is at last, the 3rd chapter in my series. With this ending I can do some many things with it. Perhaps you have an idea or two? No? Oh well, next contestant!! But here's what I want you to ponder, you don't have to tell me but…should she have stuck with Joe, or is Jet the man for her?? I've never really had a BF so I really don't know how relationships go exactly. R&R please, for the sake of everyone!!

GoldAngel2:Y-You…were inspired by m-me?? Oh happiness!! Oh Fortuna!! This is truly an honor!! My goodness, you know what, and I swear to you this is true, every time I see you review for me, I get an inspiration kick. It was a double-whammy when I saw you put my on your author alert. I don't think I can thank you enough, my friend!!

Jenny644443855:See? I put you whole name this time!! I figure, you do me the honor of ready my fic, so I should show the same courtesy and call you by your rightful name. And yes, I do know that cyborg 009 is back and in action. Every Saturday night on Cartoon Network at 10:30pmEastern/Pacific. I also have the newly released DVD, took me forever to find it, and I can't wait for the new one!!

Wolfwood11:Yes, I'll admit it, I like blood, but not in a totally of the wall kind of way…which in contradicting the way I used it, but I felt that the scene needed description for, like you say, the absolute horror 009 was going through. I apologize if I turned anybody way from the gruesomeness of it.

BabyG of Westlife:Errr...I'm not exactly sure how I supposed to reply to that, but it was interesting to read!! Thanks for your support!!

Everybody watch out for my next chapter!!