17-year old Maggie Freeman cringed slightly as she heard the front door to the apartment slam. Hiding away in her little room, she didn't need to think to know that her parents had come home....drunk, as usual. She knew the routine off by heart by now. Any minute, her mother would collapse on a piece of furniture somewhere, either to stoned or drunk to keep herself conscious, and her equally messed up father would head towards her room....she got up and locked the door.

Perfect timing on her part. There was a non-rhythmic pounding on her door, followed by the slurred voice of a man in his late thirties. His face was unshaven, and coarse, his eyes were probably blurry and red from all the booze he had drank. Not a pretty picture. "Mag?" The voice slurred.

It was strong, despite it's cracked speech. She shrank away.

"Mag's, open the door!"

More pounding on the wood of her door, so loud that she was afraid he may brake the door down eventually. She knew with growing terror that once he did, she would be helpless. Her mother offered to solace or comfort, certainly no aid. She was passed out somewhere in the dingy apartment, and would probably wake up with a hangover followed by an attitude. Then her father would get really angry, and take it our on her. Maggie didn't want to face that...couldn't face that. The bruises from last time hadn't had time to heal yet, and those were just the physical ones, the emotional ones probably never would.

She caught sight of herself in the small mirror at the side of the room. Her light brown hair was slightly dishelved, and her dark eyes filled with fear. They darted around the room, searching for an escape path, but there was none. The pounding on her door had increased, just as much as the screaming. He would be in the room soon, and there would be no escape...again.

"No..." .

Maggie ran over to a cupboard, whose paint was peeling, and picked up a small statuette. It was chipped and cracked, but it would do. It was a statue of a large black panther. Her favorite animal...probably all that could save her now. She crept along until she got behind the door, then she unlocked it, and had to keep herself from whimpering with terror as her father came in. Maggie held her breath.

She waited for the exact moment, when the vulnerable flesh on the back of his head was turned towards her, then *CRACK* the statuette came plummeting down, and so did her father. That was enough to send Maggie rushing for the front door. She could hear him getting up, screaming her name and cursing.

"I'm gonna kill you Mags...when I catch you...I'm gonna kill you!"

She didn't doubt it, that's why she ran. Her long blue skirt made it difficult, but her father was so hung up on the booze he had drank that his running was more like shuffling. Still, he seemed to be getting closer. Maggie ran into an ally, where it was dark. She could see a light somewhere in it's darkness, and ran for it. Her father ran into the same alley, murder on his mind.

Relief turned to despair as Maggie neared the light. The light came from a tall stone building. She had never seen it before, but she had no time to think about it. Cutting her off was a large fence, that went high, and had barbed wire at the top. There was a door by the fence, but it was shut tight with a huge lock. Nowhere to run, and nowhere to hide. Still, Maggie feebly scraped at the lock, making a useless effort to pry it free. It was to no avail, as it remained as tight as before. Somewhere in the incoming distance, she could hear her doom approaching.

She leaned her rigid and tired body against the red bricked wall of the alley, and began to cry. Then her cries turned to screams as she saw her father approach. He looked worst then before, and Maggie knew in the deepest part of her mind that running from him had been futile. He was always there, and he always would be. Even though there would be no future for her. All she could do was watch as he came closer, and pray that it would be over quickly.

But it wasn't over. Her father managed to deliver one singular blow to her head before he started screaming. Maggie watched astounded, as something large picked him up, dangled him in the air, and threw him against the brick wall. He fell, unconscious.

She couldn't see clearly. Her vision was becoming hazy, and she knew that in a moment, she would lose track of reality all together. Still, she strained to see who had saved her. A large gray hand picked her up, scooping her in, and something held her. She couldn't tell what. She heard a voice, which sounded like a man's. It was slightly sharp, and a little loud.

"Take her to the laboratory...and leave that....neanderthal in the waste!"

Maggie couldn't see much anymore, as the darkness curled around her. However, before she completely passed out, she caught sight of something shining in the darkness as it loomed over her, watching her with a mild fascination unknown to her.

**********

Maggie woke up to find herself strapped to a large metal table. She groaned, and strained her head around, trying to see where she was. She couldn't see much, and her head still ached from the punch her father had delivered.

"Ah....I see my upcoming experiment is awake! How are you feeling?"

Maggie spun her head around in front of her, and saw the speaker. She recognized the voice from the alley, but she had never seen the man standing in front of her before. "What.....where am I? Who are you?" She asked weakly, pulling at the straps on her hands with little success of loosening them. "My name is Doctor. Von Reichter....you are in my laboratory. Also, to answer any of your other ridiculous questions....I intend to use you as one of my experiments. If I succeed, then you will be technologically advanced, and able to do things you probably hadn't even dreamed of doing!" He said, circling her like a hawk.

Maggie's eyes widened in fear as she went over what he had just said. "Ex...experiment?" Her voice shook and she whimpered slightly.

Maggie gasped and pulled on the straps binding her wrists to the cold metal operation table, while Reichter laughed and picked up a large, yet thin syringe. "Now my dear! I assure you the procedure will be quite painless! It will benefit both of us!" Reichter said. Maggie whimpered as she felt the syringe go into her arm. Then there was a hazy, almost comfortable feeling that started in her legs, and spread through the rest of her body. The next moment, she couldn't move, and once again, the world around her grew dark. She was out like a light.

"It is finished!"

"....."

"How long has she been out?"

"A few days....I believe it has been successful"

"....."

Maggie opened her eyes, and shut them tightly as a blinding light cut into her vision. She moaned, and raised her hands to her head, which throbbed. Her eyes snapped open again, and she saw that she was no longer binded to the operation table.

She felt strange....or perhaps that wasn't the right words for it. Maggie didn't really feel any pain, but it felt as if her entire body were suddenly suffering from an immense adrenaline rush. She felt so...alive. She was still on the operation table, and she jumped down. Instantly, Maggie felt as if her legs had been loaded with springs, though she only jumped to the floor.

Maggie stretched herself, finally getting a good long look at her surroundings. She was in some sort of laboratory, and she knew....knew...that it was the lower section of the huge stone house she had seen earlier, when her father had been chasing her. The room was empty, but computers of all shapes and sizes were placed around the room, with long cords reaching out all around them.

Suddenly, she saw a blurry red dot in her vision. She strained her eyes, and realized that there was a floating green grid in the air, with the red dot moving inside it. Once in a while the dot would be out of range and disappear out of the grid. Maggie reached for the grid in the air, but her hands never reached it. It seemed that each time she moved towards it, the grid floated back. Her hand waved weakly in the air, and she sighed, completely frustrated.

"I see your tracking components are working perfectly!"

She whirled around, faster then humanely possible, and stopped, amazed at her speed. "Don't be alarmed! The procedure is finished, and it appears to have succeeded!"

Maggie recognized Reichter, smiling at her in a sinister way that chilled her to the bone. "What...what procedure? What tracking components?" She asked, her voice slightly stronger. "Silence!" Reicter said sharply, then his features softened. "All will be explained to you miss....." Reichter trailed off, realizing he don't know her name. "Maggie....Maggie Freeman!" Maggie told him, wondering if telling him her real name had been wise.

Reichter nodded, and walked over to her, as Maggie backed up slowly. Reichter raised his hands to show he meant to harm. "Please...calm yourself Maggie!" He said, not hesitating in using her first name. "Calm myself...calm myself? You tie me to some operation table, stick a needle filled with god-knows-what into me, and you....."

"Save your life!" Reicher jumped in, his monocle shining.

Maggie stopped, looking slightly amazed. She stayed silent momentarily, watching him. "Yes....why?" She asked. Reichter shrugged, and moved closer until they were standing right in front of each other. "The blow to your head you received from the man in the alley would have killed you. It would have sent you into a concussion-state and you would have died! I operated on you....and I made some advancements!" He said.

"What kind of advancements?" Maggie asked. Reichter smiled again, and took her arm. It was bandaged, and he slowly peeled off the bandages. Maggie gasped in fear and disgust as she saw the strange set of small holes in her arms. Upon closer inspection, she could see small pieces of metal inside the skin, with holes in them.

"Those will connect you to the wires that lead to your sustenance chamber. You will be requires to ingest a certain amount of unique sustenance every few days, so you will have to return here!" Reichter said, sounding slightly smug. Maggie looked at him, completely confused. "Have you no idea what has happened? You are superior now! I have made you the 17th of my new unit of numerical cyborgs....and you succeeded!" Reichter said enthusiastically.

Maggie felt herself stiffen. "Cyborg?"

Reichter nodded. "Yes! I am a scientist, and my experiment on you turned out perfect! You are now half-cyborg, with abilities that would have been beyond your human comprehension! Your sight, you will see, will be like that of an eagle's at night, and as bright as an owl's! You have the ability to camouflage yourself into anything, and the tracking components I installed into your brain will allow you to track my other creations..."

His face seemed to have a shadow across it, as he spoke on. "You are my fastest, most agile and powerful creation! Now....you will use these capabilities to repay my favor!" He said, as he stepped over to one of the computers.

He punched a few keys, and a picture of a woman appeared. She seemed a few years older then Maggie, and was wearing a leather combo, with a black Fedora and a long black cape. "This....is Cybersix! One of my earlier....failures!" Reichter said, indicating to the woman on the screen. Maggie nodded, and he continued. "I have made you for two purposes! First...you will destroy Cybersix! Second...after that threat is eliminated, you will go stay with my cloned son...Jos�! He needs a cyborg guardian!" Reichter said, almost casually. Maggie wondered what exactly he meant by "cloned son" but didn't question it. Instead, she concentrated on what he had told her to do.

"Wait a minute! You want me to kill someone?"

Reichter nodded, and his features turned dangerous. "Of course....if you refuse....I could always pull your plug! Or perhaps, let you die from lack of sustenance! Believe me, for your unit, it would be most...painful!" His voice grew into almost a growl, and Maggie backed up. "You are now to be known as M-17! Understood?" Reichter asked. Maggie, or rather M-17, nodded feebly. "Excellent! I do hope that you will be the success I see you to be M-17! But for now...I want you to take your new abilities out for a test run!" Reichter said, as he led her up the stairs of the house, and outside.

"What do you mean?" M-17 asked, a feeling of slight dread creeping up on her.

"I mean, that there must be someone you want revenge on....someone who has perhaps...hurt you?" Reichter said, smiling with a sort of knowledge.

M-17 froze, knowing exactly what he was getting at. Then her eyes seemed to darken, as she looked at the night sky. She nodded slowly, then turned to Reichter. "Yes! All right, I'll help you....for saving my life!" She added, trying to convince herself that debt to the lunatic was all she owed, and that it wasn't a need for revenge she sought.

Reichter nodded, and took her back inside. He led her to a large room, where he closed the door and left, telling her to change, and then report back to him in the main hall. M-17 stood there momentarily, contemplating it all. She gazed at the clothes laid out for her on a wooden chair. It looked like a uniform. It was black, with white-edged shoulder's, and a skirt lower half. The top half zipped up. Beside the black suit, was a thin-materialed black cape, and a pair of high heeled, black leather shoes. It all seemed to fit as if it were made especially for her. Finally, there was a silver belt, with a buckle. On the buckle was an inscription. M-17.

M-17 latched the buckle, and stood in front of a full-sized mirror. "Not bad!" She said softly, then headed for the main hall, where Reichter waited.

**********

Even in a city like Meridiana, where bloodshed, darkness, and pain ruled supreme, harmony could be found. The darkest corners seemed to contain the suprises, like peace. That was the feeling that overtook M-17 as she flew through the air. It was increadible, an adrenaline rush like no other she had ever experienced, and sensations that couldn't be reached even by the strongest of drugs. Her cape, outlined in white, but dark as the night around her, blended into the sky that she almost flew through. M-17 had never felt such power, and neither had Maggie, who was slowly becoming a shadow of her former life, still clutched away in that small apartment, hiding in the corners and waiting for any pain delivered. Tonight, M-17 was going to settle the score with the ones that had tortured her, and the bastard of a father that defied all known elements of how a loving father should treat his child.

Tonight.

As M-17 squinted her eyes, she could see the apartment, and twisted her body in such position, that she seemed to spiral towards it like a rigid torpedo in a cape.

Revenge was a dish best served cold.

That's what he had told her. At least in that, Von Riechter had been honest.

The air rushed at her face, as she flew head on into the window that led into the living room. In minor seconds, that living room was reduced to rubble, as she crashed into it. There was no pain. It was almost like running a thin knife through butter. Broken glass and bits of chipped paint filled the room with dust and smoke. There was a loud curse from somewhere within it, and as the dust settled, M-17 slowly rose from the place in the middle of the living room where she had landed, and stayed kneeling. She stood upright, surveying the scene with almost a sick sense of pleasure. "WHAT THE HELL?" Another scream, another curse.

She smiled

He was standing right infront of her, half-drunk. His forehead held a large bruise, where the Fixed Idea had struck him during her chance encounter with Von Riechter. Then, he had wanted to kill her. Now, the tables had turned in her favour.

"Hello dad!"

His red eyes squeezed shut, probably trying to get the blur out, and he looked at her. M-17 waited patiently for him to answer, and was vaguely aware of her equally drunk mother come stumbling into the room. There was no stalling on his part. Her father's reaction was that of a wild animal that had just discovered his kill. The one that had eluded him and had still managed to cause him harm. "COME HERE!" He screamed. She leapt to one side as he came barreling towards her, trying to wrap his hands around her neck. He didn't even come close. As M-17 watched with amusement, he dove head-first into a wall. She laughed cruelly, enjoying all the torment he went through, just as he had enjoyed her torment, and drunk from it just as much as the alcohol. "What's the matter father dear? Too drunk to get a good shot?" She asked, sarcasm dripping from every word. "YOU LITTLE BITCH!" He screamed as he tried to get up and hit her. Once again, the shot was completely off-track, and he spirraled in another direction all together.

When he finally realized that he couldn't get her physically, he turned to verbal abuse. "You think you can do whatever you want now huh? Just because some nut helped you out back in the alley. I'm gonna kill you Mags, don't you forget it! You can't get rid of me, ever!" He mocked, watching her, and expecting her to break. She did no such thing, and he gasped as she grasped his own bulgy neck in one hand, and lifted him clear off the floor. "No dad! I'm afraid you just don't grasp the concept of what's going on! You see, I'm going to kill you!" With a twist of the hand, a satisfying snap was heard throughout the room, with a humorous echo that followed it. The whole scene was like something out of a movie, and as she let her father's dead body sink to the floor, mixing with the dirt and grime, M-17 smiled.

And Maggie smiled.

There where small audible gasps from the other side of the room, and M-17 finally noticed her mother standing there, slightly cleared from her alcoholic daze by the events she had just witnissed. "You know what...revenge really is a dish best served cold....unless you kill to get it!" M-17 said coldly, as she headed for the window. Her mother stayed concious just long enough to watch her ex-daughter jump from the window and go flying away through the air, before she fainted, joining her husband on the floor.

M-17 headed back to the mansion. Inside her mind and heart, there was an odd feeling of fullfilement, like a gap had just been filled in. She understood. As she headed back inside the mansion, she took a moment to gaze up at the night sky, watching the stars. For some reason, they looked so much more beautiful.

THE END

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