THE BEGINNING OF A NEW END: The story of Cyborg 009 and Cyborg 003

CHAPTER #4- The Vision Of Hearing

When the door opened, there she saw him waiting for her. Both embarrassed and ashamed, Francoise tried to avoid Joe. Thankfully the others knew she was awake and appeared, welcoming her back to the world of the awake and conscious.

"We missed you," Jet said.

"What upgrades did Mari give you? Any new UNG weapons?" Albert inquired.

"Thanks Jet and she said everyone would get new guns. The old laser ones, were completely ineffectual against the UNG and The Blessed. The only thing they caused damage to, were us."

Geronimo picked her up. "I knew you'd pull through. Our family needs you."

Chan added, "I've whipped up your favourite meals. Come up and eat. It's been three days!"

Sir Great Britain shape shifted his hand into a bouquet of flowers. "This is the best I could do on short notice," he joked.

"They are very pretty, thank you." To Pyunma she said, "Mari gave me some fighting abilities. I'd like to train with you, to build on my defence skills."

"Sure, eat first. Relax a little, then we'll test your fighting enhancements."

Geronimo carried her all the way to the dining room, then finally put her down in a chair. Chan served her meal. It smelled so good, the others joined her too.

"Living on an island, means not much has happened since you went into sleep mode."

"I like the peace and living passively," Francoise said. "This is divine, you've out done yourself Chan!"

Once the conversations ended, Joe spoke up. "Can we go for a walk after you're finished eating Francoise?"

"Um, okay I guess."

"We have to get your surprise ready, so go with Joe for a bit," Jet encouraged.

As they left the house to walk down the pathway, Joe took her hand into his. "These last few days have been hard on all of us, but I can't even imagine what you endured."

"The most extreme emotions....Joe... I," Francoise hesitated. "In my nightmare... how much did you see?"

"Enough to know what I'll never do, as it would destroy us."

"I killed you. I was so hurt and enraged," she blurted. Tears welled up in her eyes. With a sniff, she continued. "I know it wasn't real... but somewhere the darkness inside me...."

Joe turned to face her. "We all have that darkness inside, the Black Ghost ensured that. But none of that nightmare, was the real you. You'd never willingly hurt me and nor would I do that to you.... I love you Francoise, with all my heart and soul."

"Really?"

"Yes. I've meant to say it sooner, but I didn't know how."

"I love you too Joe. The team is our family, but there is no one I love, like how I love you."

Their foreheads touched each other, then like in the dream that brought her back to them, Joe's lips connected to hers. It was soft and gentle. When her lips parted, his tongue slipped between to caress hers. Their bodies responded; she leaned into his and Joe's arms pulled her closer. Before their first kiss, turned into something even more intimate, Francoise put space between them.

"Come now, it's time to see what the guys have been doing while you've been asleep."

Unable to speak, she just nodded. Her face was red, but so was Joe's. He didn't let go of her hand, even when they joined the other guys in the house. Only when it was time to cover her eyes, did he let go. His hands went on her shoulders as she was guided through the house.

"No cheating with your x-ray sight, either!" Jet reminded.

They moved her into the centre of the room. Then standing in a semi-circle behind her, gave the command to open her eyes. Their efforts were rewarded with a shout of joy.

"A dance studio! The floor is perfect, oh my! Thank you so much everyone!" Tears poured forth from her eyes.

"If you like it, why're you crying?" Chan asked.

"Tears of happiness... I don't deserve this... I love it," Francoise said turning slowly to take it all in.

"You do deserve this and we should've made one for you sooner. Just because you're a cyborg, doesn't mean you can't still dance."

Francoise took off her shoes and in her socks, danced across the floor.

"She's poetry in motion," Sir Great Britain sighed.

"Pure beauty," Geronimo agreed.

"I wish I had my ballet shoes, but they went up in flames with the other home. If I had them, I'd show you all what a ballerina can do."

"When we get supplies in Guam, you could buy some there right?" Pyunma asked.

"Yes," Francoise smiled.

The guys watched her glide across the dance floor, not stopping. It made them happy, because it was simply joy that she shared with them.

"We need to get you some music too."

"Nature is her music," Geronimo said profoundly.

When she was still dancing an hour later, the guys eventually left, so it was just Joe and Francoise remaining. Realizing it was just them, her movement slowed down.

"Sorry, I got carried away. I'll stop, if you want."

Joe stood leaning against a wall. "Don't stop, I could watch you forever. You're like my sunshine, making my heart light and bright."

She danced into his arms. "You have a way with words that would make a poet jealous."

"You once told me, that dancing was sometimes the only way you could release your emotions. A way for you to speak, without words. I believe it now. This place is to show I was listening to you and heard what you didn't say until today," Joe admitted.

Needing no further confirmation that he indeed loved her like he said, Francoise put her arms around his neck and pulled his face down. She initiated the kiss and her open mouth, was direct reflection of her open heart. The cyborg wiring made the electric currents travel through their bodies, like pleasurable lightning. The temperature of their bodies rose, too hot for normal humans, but not for them. Because they never were truly alone, both separated, even though eyes remained connected. Their telepathic connection, was something only those in love could understand.

Joe smiled, "I hope we didn't wake up Ivan."

That made Francoise giggle like a little girl and that was music to his ears. They might have been turned into super cybernetic fighting machines, but she was what helped them all keep their humanity. She was a reminder that what they were, didn't define who they were.