Fallen Idol
Chapter Three: Twisted Reality

...er, sorry it took so long, loyal readers... And why yes, I'd act like Mikae too.

The blurry lump crashed into the fire escape and managed a belly flop into the pavement with a muffled Mikae's blue eyes were wide as she gasped for breath, staring at the oddly dressed...THING lying at her feet. Gingerly, she prodded it with the toe of her shoe, and gave a small shriek as whatever it was burst into a glow of green light, then disappeared, leaving nothing behind but the mismatched clothes and shoes. And a bit of green SOMETHING peeked out from under the sleeve.
Mikae knelt down and moved the shirt aside, picked up the vial of strange green stuff. It cast its own glow on her face, brilliant against the dull yellow glow of the streetlight. Mikae looked up as a soft clicking noise pounded on the roofs above her. She tucked the vial quickly behind her and pressed her back to the relative safety of the shadowed bricks.
Click...click... Down here! A soft voice called out. Mikae shivered and stared upwards.

Cybersix leaped from the roof and effortlessly landed near the remains of the Fixed Idea. Poor devil, she muttered as she kicked lightly at the clothes, overshot his jump. Now...hmm -- where is it?
Data 7 landed with a thump behind her. What, not there?
A little yelp sounded from one of the shadows. Cybersix looked up, the streetlamp shining across her face for the first time since her landing. There was a hushed, purposeful silence. ...No, it's not there...but it should be. Data 7-
In a flash. The panther leaped into the shadows; there was a scuffling sound and a yell of protest, then -
WHUMPH. A girl stumbled to her feet, rubbing the back of her neck. Her black hair was mussed, her blue eyes glinting dangerously - but that didn't last long. she exclaimed, breathless. You're...you ARE, aren't you? Oh you must be! Excitement - and a faint green light crossed her face.
Cybersix tilted her head. Must be whom?
Ohhhh, Cybersix! Mystery woman of the night, beautiful creation of evil turned good...!
A smile crossed Cybersix's face. Whoever this girl was, she was obviously not a threat. I'm flattered. Is that what they call me now?
Well...no, not really. Most people don't think you exist! But I knew different, I did!
You knew?
Well you see sooo many pictures where you're just this tiny blur and- The girl whipped out a camera. See? I wanted to prove that-
Cybersix held up a hand. No pictures. Too many people...looking for me. But you have something I need.
The girl tilted her head. What...Oh! The vial from whatever the big hairy thing was? Yeah! She opened her right hand, revealing the vial of sustenance.
Cybersix quickly lifted it from her, opened one of the lids, and deftly drained the glass tube of liquid. Thank you, she said, wiping her mouth lightly, and she turned to leave.
Don't go! called the girl. I mean...you're like, my hero!
Cybersix glanced over her shoulder. What's your name?
Mikae Krubens.
A smile crossed her face. I'll be in touch. With those parting words, Cybersix leaped into the air, and was gone. The panther, with a last reproachful look at Mikae, followed.
Mikae waited until they had gone, then she burst out laughing and half-ran, half-skipped to the nearest bus stop. She'll be in touch, she'll be in touch, hurray for Cybersix! Hurray!

Mikae, where've you been?
Sorry mom can't talk gotta get online love you! Mikae dashed upstairs before she could be pinned down by questions, and before her mother could notice the tear in her khakis. Her fingers flew across the keyboard on her laptop, signing on to her Internet service, and the chatroom Are They Real?.

SixKix: I DID IT!
SevenSiete7: u went 2 the slums? awesome! and?
Superguy85: Great, more Cybersix news.
FuhrerMustDie: Superman isn't real. Maybe Cybertwo...whoever...is.
SixKix: Ok, I'd bite off your head for making fun of her, but I'm too happy!
SevenSiete7: OMG, did u FIND her?
SixKix: Even better! I'm about to go home, right, and suddenly this huge THING barrels off the roof! So I'm against the bricks and it hits...and goes POOF, vanishes in green light!
BabyBlack: ...sounds interesting.
FuhrerMustDie: Who're you?
SevenSiete7: OMG! OMG! that is SO kewl! what happened then?
SixKix: There was this vial of green stuff, and I picked it up, then SHE jumps down! And a panther too!
SevenSiete7: ohhhh, u are soooooo lucky.
Superguy85: Green stuff? We call that mold.
BabyBlack: LOL ;)
FuhrerMustDie: SUPERMAN ISN'T REAL.
SevenSiete7: dude, guys, sthu. let the woman speak.
SixKix: Well, so I'm hiding the vial thing and I musta made a noise, cuz she looked up and the light hit her face. O gosh, she's pretty! Anyway, the panther was talking to her, I guess, and then he-it-pounced on me and shoved me out into the light!
BabyBlack: Hey, she's pretty? HMU!
Superguy85: You can't hook up with someone who's not real.
FuhrerMustDie: Boy howdy, you're outta luck w/ Superman, then, huh?
SixKix: ROFLMAO!
SevenSiete7: OMG! LOL!
SevenSiete7: Neway, what'd she do?
SixKix: I gave her vial, and she drank the green stuff...she asked me my name and said she'd BE IN TOUCH!
SevenSiete7: She didn't let u take her pic?
SixKix: Nah. But I gotta get to bed. Mom'll freak if the light's still on.

Mikae grinned and signed off, flopping back onto her bed. Did SHE ever have a story for Jeremy... Jeez, what a twisted reality life in Meridiana is.