Fallen Idol
Chapter Nine: There Will Be Others
Oh, my head hurts. I asked Nick to write the fight scene for this chapter, but nooo, he's too busy. So uhm, yeah, this chapter's going to suck mighty badly. ...Enjoy!
Whatever Cybersix was expecting, it was not Mikae, standing in front of her. The girl's eyes were cold and dangerous, and there was a new aura about her. she began, but the girl threw out a foot, and Cybersix barely dodged the kick. Stop this. He got you, didn't he?
CyberX-1 spat on the roof. He didn't get me. There was a silence, then she spoke up again. What are you waiting for, six of 5000? Do you know me?
Know you? Cybersix stepped forward to take her shoulders, but CyberX-1 grabbed her forearms in a vice-like grip. Through gritted teeth, Cybersix continued, You're Mikae. You- She was cut off as CyberX-1 kicked her feet out from under her, and she was twisted to the ground.
I am CyberX-1. I do not know this Mikae, but it seems your care for her has hampered your ability to fight. Therefore I think you will die.
The girl threw Cybersix forward. Get up and face me. Face your destruction.
No, I can't. Cybersix got to her feet.
Never.
CyberX-1 snorted, and then she rushed at her prey.
Her pace was overwhelming to Cybersix. Blocking a punch would leave very little time to jump over a sweep kick, and that in turn left almost no opportunity to twist her head away from an uppercut. There was no chance to gain the offensive in this fight, and even if there had been, Cybersix was not sure how long she could manage to keep it. This was a losing battle, she knew, and a dangerous one. Mikae was not remembering who she was, and this was a problem. So Cybersix did the only thing she could.
She appealed to the girl, not the fighter.
Mikae, I know you're there- Step away. Mikae Krubens, remember that- Jump; pull cape away from her. Your mother's worried.
The furious attacks slowed, then stopped as CyberX-1 searched her memory. Had she ever had a mother? She didn't think so, but there were flashes of laughing, warm hugs, sticky candy canes... But... I have no mother.
Her name is Sarah. She's very frightened for you.
CyberX-1 looked at the ground, then back at her opponent. You're lying. I don't know anyone who'd worry about me.
You know me-
You? Hah! The cold laugh and bitter, stinging comments that followed didn't seem to suit Mikae's teenage voice. You! My enemy?! I know your style, your principles, but YOU....
Remember - you're Mikae!
Mikae...Mikae Krubens...Your mother...Sarah...you're Mikae...Mikae! The names were strange, but familiar. CyberX-1 stared at her former prey in shock, and disbelief, then turned and leaped into the alley below, running blind. Von Reichter had LIED. Though she didn't know how she knew, or where else she could go, CyberX-1 vowed to stay away from her creator. Far, far away.
Von Reichter hung up the line with a Type's cell phone. She's reverting... but then, it is no matter, not now. Let her go, there will be others. More reliable others, more... suitable others. And he turned, smirking, back to the equations on his computer console.
CyberX-1 followed her instincts, letting them take her to a familiar house, a familiar window, a familiar computer. She examined the clothes on the floor, the homework on the desk, and she picked up a framed photo - the only one in sight.
It depicted a laughing little girl, perched on her mother's hip. The mother waved at the camera, the child waved a small teddy bear. Her little eyes were hidding behind pink-framed sunglasses, and she wore a white shirt with the words Moon Child on the front.
You never fell asleep... Stared out the window... Laughed whenever we read Goodnight, Moon together...
CyberX-1 dropped the picture, faling to her knees among the broken glass. She pressed her hands to her head, shaking violently with the rush of memories, over a decade of them. The park, a bike, a hallway, lockers and numbers, photos, newspaper articles, and blurry pictures, a flash of black against light, then the broken photo itself, and - Mikae fell silent again with that word, remembering the events of the last few days... Her newfound abilities and who gave them to her... The person she so admired... And-
A low cry issued from the doorway. Startled, Mikae whirled around to see her mother, hair uncurled, leaning heavily against the doorframe. she began, relieved, but got no further as she was pulled into a bruising hug.
Mikae, oh my Mikae..
Mom... Mommy.
Don't leave me like that, never again, promise me!
Oh Mom, I won't, I do promise... Mikae looked out the window. But there's one more thing I have to do.
Sarah smiled weakly through her tears. I'll make you some breakfast... Hurry, okay?
Yes, Mom, I will.
Sarah left the room, and Mikae looked at her computer, briefly considering going back to talk with her Internet friends... but decided against it. Let them dream. The reality will be too harsh for them, for now... but someday...
And Mikae leaped out her window, searching for her fallen idol.
