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The sun reflected streams of light on the ocean waves. The beach was alive, and vibrant. Two days after the catastrophic explosion things in the city of Meridiana were slowly turning back to normal. People hustled back to work, and children went back to school: but not the street smart, blond boy. He came to search the beach. He knew exactly what he was looking for, and he dreaded each minuet that would bring him closer to finding the still bodies of his friends. But with each minute a fire of hope burned brighter, and brighter, for he wished that he would find them alive. The boy scratched his face, wiping a stray tear on his left cheek with his callused finger. He would find them, if they were dead he would honor their memory by giving them a proper burial: as opposed to a sustenance bath that would recycle their organic material, their bodies breaking down, out of existence.
Julian doddled to the north end of the beach, the section closest to the peninsula that held Von Reictors now shambled fortress. Cybersix and Dataseven, would most surly be there, it seemed logical. It was also the only side closest to the peninsula that Julian had access to. His shoes trotted in the sand, he sighed, leaving heavy footprints in the sand behind him. The north side of the beach was only accessible by foot, as a thick forest lay beyond the ocean and sand.
The sand here shared the ground with rocks, glass, and metal from Dr. Von Reictors fortress of horrors: two days was enough for the rubble to cool. Julian walked among the rubble, careful not to step on shrapnel of trip over a rock. The thin beach stretched out about a kilometer before ending at a cliff face that held the Reictor peninsula.
Julian kept close to the forest line, thinking. If Dataseven or Cybersix survived, they would conceal themselves in the woods. The blond haired boy moved on, occasionally scratching his scalp or wiping tears from his brown eyes. There didn’t seem to be anything here, except junk. Julian nodded his head in despair, and sat down, a weakness; an aura of surrender enfolded him. A flood of tears was released with a loud sob. Julian looked around, trying to find a comforting face, and a voice to tell him, every thing would be ok. But it wasn’t, A breeze swept by him and fifty meters ahead, a flag of black and red unfurled in the summer breeze. Julian squinted his eyes trying to see the object, forcing it to focus. The flag was torn, but it was not a flag. It was a piece of cloth tied to a tree. Could it be? Julian in a fit of hope and excitement ran to the signal. Breathing in and out, quickly, the boy examined the purpose of his sprint. The cloth was torn, jagged, and ripped at the edges. The scruffy boy ran his hands on it, feeling it’s familiar texture. It was her cape, left here as a marker to her location; Julian concluded walking in the forest in the direction the cape had guided him to.
The forest was thick, obviously no one ventured through often. The trees were far enough apart to let a little boy through with a minimum of scratches. The place smelled of dead leaves and pine. Birds chirped the forest alive with creatures. Julian had lost his footing mire than once, ending up on the mossy floor on every occasion. The fifth time, some one gently touched his arm as he lay on his stomach. The boy turned his round head, half in fear, and half in curiosity, but each were equally motivating.
Cybersix lay there on the ground, her head braced on a rock. She smiled brightly at the sight of Julian. Tears began to fall from his eyes; Cybersix gracefully wiped them away. She looked exhausted. She had obviously not eaten, but there sat a metal bowl shaped piece of rubble filled with water near her battered body. Julian could hear the swift yet gentle waters of a creek nearby. Cybersix’ once long cape only came down to her back: various pieces of it tied tightly around her arm, her fore head, and her right leg. She was sparsely covered with small nicks and scratches, already scabbing. Plenty of bruises graced her with their presence on her soft, pale skin.
“Cybersix, where is Data7?” Julian asked curiously, he assumed that the two would be together. He helped Cybersix sit upright.
“I don’t know…I couldn’t see him when I swan to the beach…*cough*.I can still feel his pressence so he must still be alive.” Cybersix, badly winded, spat most of the words to avoid coughing.
“Then, I’ll go find him, you stay here Cybersix.” Julian gave her his hat, and ran towards the beach. Oh…. Data7 must be alive. His thoughts whirled in his head nimbly, as he jogged to the cliff face.
Upon reaching the cliff face, Julian observed the area, hoping to find the Black Panther lying on the golden sand. Here the granules of salt and dirt were free from being crowded by large pieces of rubble. It would be easier for the small boy to search here, provided he didn’t enter the forest.
Julian was aware of the connection he felt with Data7. It has helped him once before while he had been held captive by a clan of goblins, Von Reictor's home made variety. Data7 had responded by finding him in the subway maintenance room, trapped under broken concrete.
The connection was becoming stronger; it beckoned the boy in to the thick wood near the cliff face. Julian entered, scratching his nose at the on flux of insects. Julian knew that if indeed Data7 was dead his body would still be intact, the panther would not have enough sustenance in his system to dissolve the remains of his physical being. He had been walking for minutes, again wincing at the pain from scrapes made from thorns and branches: He found something. A dark patch amongst a berry bush.
“Data7?” Julian's voice cracked, letting out a sob, with tears welling in his eyes.
There was a low grumble to the right in acknowledgement. The black cat lifted its head, opening its eyes, slowly. The yellow glow from Data7’s eyes squinted in pain.
“Your alive! I found Cybersix. Can you move?” Julian crouched down, gently petting the shadow.
As if the name Cybersix held a mystical, power giving resonance, Data7 quickly scrambled to his feet, ready to follow Julian to the ends of the earth, if need be. The blond hair'd boy led the way out of the woods and to the flag. Occasionally looking back to see if the panther was closed behind. Time was passing slowly, stalling the reunion of brother and sister. They ran side by side, finding Cybersix sitting at the base of the tree hoisting the torn cape.
Data7 collapsed beside Cybersix, placing his head on her lap. Cybersix pet him behind the ears, perhaps they would live another day. The two did not have enough energy to muster a more enthusiastic greeting. Julian smiled, still gasping for breath.
“There is a pay phone at the end of the beach, near the docks, I’m going to call for help. Stay here, please.” The boy called to them, already running, his blond hair trailing behind him.
The little boy hastily made it to the telephone, taking only fifteen minutes to reach it. Gasping he pulled a quarter from the pocket of his brown jeans. He called Yahimoto. The phone rang six times before anyone answered.
“Hello Yashimoto detective agency.” Yashimoto spoke, wondering who would need a private detective if a quarter of the city was demolished.
“Yashimoto, its Julian. Listen, I found Cybersix, and Data7. They’re in pretty rough shape. I need help to get them to a safe place.” Julian frantically blurted over the phone. Time was of the essence.
“Hang on Julian, where are you?” The Chinese man spoke with nervousness in his voice, shaking with adrenaline.
“ I am at the beach, the West Side, look for the flag on the north side, near the cliffs. Please hurry.” With that Julian hung up. Giving Yashimoto a signal of urgency.
Yashimoto got his things together. Locking the door, getting on his bike. Quickly and efficiently the man bicycled to Lucas Amato’s apartment. He would need a car to pull this off, and another pair of hands to lug that huge panther.
Julian having ran back to the flag, sat down by his best friends, he calmed his breathing. “Help is on the way. I called Yashimoto, he’ll be here soon.” His voice trailed off.
“Than k-you Julian, thanks for not giving up.” Cybersix’s voice faint and full of sleep.
Data7 grumbled his thanks. They all dozed off in to a light sleep.
Julian awoke; someone was shaking him, calling his name. The boy opened his eyes. It was Yashimoto. “Huh? So you made it.” His voice was groggy.
Yashimoto and a big blond man carried Data7 to a little Volkswagen beetle at the other end of the beach, returning very tired and sweaty. The big man, upon returning, lifted Cybersix in to his arms. Never before had she been this vulnerable, he would take care of her. Cybersix lifted her head, facing her beloved. “Lucas…”
“It will be alright.” Lucas sounded reassuring.
She almost believed him.
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