Fan Fiction » Mini series » Heaven/Chi – The Definition of Insanity #1 (of 9)
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Heaven/Chi – The Definition of Insanity #1 (of 9)
Post by Last Hero on Jun 1, 2007, 2:45pm
Heaven/Chi – The Definition of Insanity #1
Cover – Amelia holding her sword in front of her protectively, Mike is standing next to her, blood dripping from his hand.
Title: The Definition of Insanity
Written by – blackmore, born, and havok3595
Note: This story is still being written, but the early parts are done so I wanted to start posting this. This is going to be a long one, I am proud and sorry to say. Special thanks to born for helping me out with this beginning. Also, big kudos to both havok and born for taking the time to help me write a story that might just never have gotten posted if Mike had been killed ;)
That is the most beautfiul blue he’s ever seen . That is all Mike could think as he stared into the ring admiring the Shi’ar writing around the band “Nic…where did you find this? I tossed it…well…she tossed it…” Mike said with a shudder. It was going to be a long time before he felt comfortable in his body.
Nicolette gazed at Michael calmly, trying not to look like she was pitying him, "Good question. The garbage on Shi'ar starships is regularly disintegrated, but it's always scanned beforehand, just to prevent what almost happened from happening. One of the janitors noticed it and retrieved it. By chance, he happened to be an honest man, and didn't keep it for himself. Standard procedure for items this valuable is apparently to take them into a sort of lost and found, so the janitors brought it to the officer in charge of it. I happened to be passing by that exact moment, and recognized it…"
Mike followed that whole conversation with some awe.
Nic smiled slightly, "Fate, I guess."
"Wow…that is just…wow." Mike flips the ring over in his hand, "The one thing I never understood though. Why was this ring just sitting in the Acantii? I don't think whale brains normally have rings, do they?"
"Heh, " Nicolette ran a hand through her hair, her smile widening, but she looked a bit sad, "It was Oracle's. The Brood usually leave the possessions of their victims lying about - they have no use for them, after all. Well, it looks like when Oracle, Nadia and me were in the Acanti… she lost her engagement ring. It had been given to her by Electron a few years ago."
It was sad they had had to postpone their wedding because of their duties for so long. In the end, they ended up waiting too long. Electron had been too distraught to pay attention to the absence of the ring.
Nic continued, "I only found out a few days ago. I could finally start reading her autobiography, which wrote about it, and even had a picture. But I wasn't sure until I saw it again."
"I didn't even think of that. It makes sense…my sword was still there, too." Mike sighed, "Amelia would love this ring, but I guess it would be wrong if I didn't send it back to Erection. The guy's a bit of an ass, but he deserves to have this back, right? So much for a cheap engagement ring," Mike said with a grin.
He handed the ring over to Nic, "Make sure he thanks you for returning this, or you have my permission to force feed it to him!!"
Mike stepped back and took a deep breath, "You know, that bitch was right about something…in another time, another place, I really could have fallen in love with you Nic! You should have joined up with Xavier earlier! You could have been the one carrying Junior…" Mike flinched when he said that, remembering Amelia's note saying the baby wasn't his.
Nicolette accepted the ring and rolled it around between her fingers for a moment, looking down at it in silence. This would have been a good spot for some sort of joke, but she wasn't feeling up for it. Michael was obviously using humor to alleviate what he was feeling, but she usually had other ways.
"It's kind of strange to find out that none of what I had thought you did was real. Not your words, and not… the kiss. I feel sick for acting with that thing as if it was you. I don't know if that means anything to you, but I agree. Another time, another place… I could have been happy with you. But now, the die is already cast."
Mike put a soft hand on Nic's arm, "Actually, I said and did all those things. When I was 'me,' she left me alone. I think that's why no one really noticed. Either that, or you guys are totally oblivious," Mike said with a grin.
Nicolette smiled back weakly. She made no effort to make it especially brilliant or charismatic or comforting, it was just… a smile. A real one, "I'm… glad. This whole deception and what it managed to do was pretty shameful - to all of us, really, but me especially. It's good to know you weren't completely gone. Though, I did have to kiss that 'icky' thing…"
She sighed and looked him in the eyes, “Are you sure you want me to return this? I doubt you'll ever find a ring like that again." Nevertheless, she admired the integrity.
Mike shook his head, "Hell, no I ain't sure! But, it's the right thing to do…"
She closed her hand around Mike's, “I'm glad you want to do what's right… I'll return it for you, but I imagine seeing it and getting it back will hurt Electron. I'll call ahead and ask him."
Mike nodded, “Sounds good. Thanks for everything, Nic. You gave me the chance to be a real superhero, and actually got some smarts in this hard head of mine. And you’re not allowed to miss the wedding!” Mike said, “Or the bachelor’s party! I need to have my best friends there!”
Nicolette pulled away before the situation reached the boundaries of what was platonic. She carefully pocketed the ring and looked at Michael appreciatively, "I'd definitely come, you know that. Best buds forever. Though, I'm a tad more feminine than most of your other guests, I'm guessing."
Mike chuckled, “Yeah, you can definitely say that! All right. Gladiator said we had no ships heading towards Earth, but he did arrange for a ride.” Mike checks an imaginary watch, “And she should be here in five…four…three…”
Lila Cheney appeared in a brilliant flash of light, “Ready to go?”
Mike smiled at Nicolette, “Yeah. Keep the rest of these jerks in line, Nicolette!” This was the first time he had ever used her full name. Mike and Nic shared one more hug, that ended up being longer and tighter than either of them would have admitted to Wildfire or Amelia. Mike picked up his empty backpack. One more quick wave, and Mike and Lila vanished in another flash of light.
**
Amelia Chow sat at the kitchen table of her parents’ small apartment, looking at the three pieces of paper before her. None of them had magically decided to write themselves. She had started all three, if “Dear Michael,” “Dear Marisol,” and “Dear Mr. and Mrs. Placio” counted as starts.
She got up, stretched slightly, and put in another CD, Tori Amos’ Crucify EP. She half realized that it’s the one that contained the song she sang to Michael back on Chandilar, and wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad memory. Probably good. It wasn’t up yet, though…Crucify itself of course started the CD. It’s a song she identified with on several levels.
It also reminded her of Marisol, which made her letter to Marisol much easier to write.
Dear Marisol,
Glad to hear all is well! As for the consciousness/pregnancy thing…I’m pretty sure that the reason it happens during the waking hours is tied into the body’s rest cycle or something…Jean tried to explain it to me, she came out here to talk. So, yes, I have been using the mansion’s resources on this one, even in absentia, and I guess it’s true what you told me…they’re completely professional. I’m pretty sure her fiancé doesn’t even know.
She also explained, well, helped me understand how it happened. That’s…something we’ll have to talk about in person. It’s sort of…well, you’ll understand when you hear it.
And yes, I did tell Mike…sort of…I was mad…he did something stupid…so I told him the baby wasn’t his. So you’re going to write me back and tell me how stupid I am and what a big mistake that was. That’s okay. I think I need to hear that.
As for you and Zephyr…frankly, I’m concerned. Poseidon is deadly. I respect Zephyr’s determination, but trust me…Poseidon’s not an easy guy to kill. I’ve tried. Twice. Didn’t take. Hopefully you have some sort of plan? Because doing this without a plan seems idiotic, no offense. However, I’d be glad to see you both. I’d offer to let you stay here, but there really isn’t room, to be honest. Please stop by, though. I’d love to see you both, and I could give you the cheap tour of the city. Space Needle, Hendrix’ grave, Starbucks corporate hq, whatever. Due to the whole…weirdness, I’m not really having problems getting around. Yet.
Glad to hear from you, and hopefully see you soon!
Love,
Amelia
She put the pen down, and absently realized the CD was over already. She looked at the two unfinished letters.
“Well, at least I started them,” she said to the empty room, then sealed her letter to Marisol, addressed it, stamped it, and went to bed.
