Meant To Be

Data7 paced around in the abandoned room within the subway that had become his home. Deep beneath the city, there were miles and miles of abandoned subway lines. He had come across an old room with a cot in it, most likely used by engineers long ago, when they needed rest from long hours. The Black Panther’s mind wandered over the landscape of his memories. His childhood, his innocence, his death...

A child, young and innocent, he had died. And been reborn as a panther, all his memories gone. He had lost himself, and soon, his innocence was lost as well. Now, here he was, a full-grown man in the body of a panther. Trapped in a prison of fur and claws. It was maddening. He wanted to be human again. He wanted it more then anything in the world.

He couldn’t do anything he wanted as a panther. He couldn’t laugh, or cry or smile or dance. He couldn’t love. He would always be alone.

In an act of frustration, he swiped over a table with his paw.

He stared at the mess for a long time. Finally, he turned away in disgust and crawled onto his cot. Closing his eyes, he fell into a light, troubled sleep.

The bright lights of the city filled his vision. He blinked and shook his head. Before him were the streets of Meridian, all lit up. Data7 took a step forward, and nearly fell over. He looked down, realising that instead of paws, he had feet and hands. He was a Cyber again... Cyber29! Excitedly, he ran over to a window and looked at his expression. He was himself again! But older. He had on jeans and a t-shirt, under a black leather jacket. He smiled, really smiled. He was a Cyber again! Finally! Cyber29 turned and looked out at the street, scanning the crowds. And then he saw her. Cybersix.

She was even more beautiful through a Cyber’s eyes. Wearing jeans and a black tank top, one side of her hair covering he face, she looked cool and modern. He grinned and ran up to her.

“Six!” He called as he reached her. She stared at him, blankly, almost fearfully.

“W-What?”

“Cybersix!” He repeated. “It’s me, 29.” He smiled softly, his gaze full of love. She stared back at him.

“No... no that’s not possible!” She backed away. He grabbed her hands.

“No, it’s me. Sister, it’s me, really.” Cyber29 looked into her eyes, pleading with her. Cybersix shook her head in disbelief, then blinked. Blinked again.

“....Cyber...29?” She laughed then. “Brother!” She leaped at him, her arms wrapping around his neck in a fierce hug. Cyber 29 held her close, and they both cried for joy of being truly together again. “How?” Cybersix asked through her tears. Cyber 29 smiled softly and wiped her eyes.

“I don’t know.” He said honestly. “But it doesn’t matter. Let’s think about it later.” He hugged her again and led her down the street. Cybersix smiled and nodded.

They walked along the dirty mountain path, passed a blue car that had been ruined in a car accident. “How does the world look through cyber eyes?” Cybersix asked him. Cyber 29 smiled.

“Amazing...the colors are so much brighter now.” He raised his arms, gesturing to the tropical rainforest that surrounded them. Cybersix smiled again.

She took off down the trail. They both ran for hours, neither daring to stop. They raced through the paths, racing each other running from the wind. They let their muscles take over as they crossed miles in minutes, their long strides, 1 for each of the 10 tiny footprints on the ground. Trees and plants sped past them in a green blur until the world exploded into bright sunlight.

They passed a small hut, a village, and back into the forest. This time they crept along slowly, silent steps in the dark forest. Then they broke into another run. Slower then before, but just as frantic. Cyber 29 took Cybersix’s hand and looked into her eyes. She nodded, and they took a running leap, both sailing through the air and over the cliff into obsidian.

“I can’t believe you’re you again...” she said softly, looking up at the starry sky, as they walked through the dark field. The smell of dew and grass sailed around them.

“I can’t believe it either...” he said. “It’s a dream come true. I’ve always wished for this...to be a Cyber again.” He grabbed her hand and they ran through the field, warm sun shining on their backs. They came to a cliff. On a small ledge was a tiny red flower. Cybersix smiled.

“This time I won’t fall.” 29 told her. He kneeled down, and reached for the flower. His arms, so much longer all these years later were able to reach the flower and he plucked it from the ground. Straightening, he held it out to Cybersix. She smiled and took it from him. As there hands met, and the flower was between them there was a brilliant flash of light and everything faded out until it was all darkness.

The stillness and silence was deafening. Nothing but darkness and he could not see himself anymore. Suddenly, a spotlight came on, and there was a ring, a perfect sphere of light. In the center stood a young girl with feathery black hair and impossibly wide onyx eyes.

“You cannot have what you wish.” She told him. “You and Cybersix...you are meant to be together. Siblings, brother and sister should never part.

“You are together. Data7 and Cybersix are meant to be side by side.” The little girl smiled softly. “If Data7 hadn’t been born, Cyber29 would have died with the other 4997 Cybers.”

“It was meant to be.”

Data7’s eyes snapped open. He could not be a cyber again. Because the way things were now was destiny. Fate worked silently and questionably, but in the end all was best. This life, this world, this form. It was meat to be this way.