Ah, the finale. I was stuck when I started it, but I hope I pulled it together well enough. The end and where to jump around got to me, but I think I set it up well enough overall. Enjoy; one season remains, and I'll begin writing that in a few months.

10: The House Where Mother Is

I didn't know what was happening at Latnok, but I did know one thing. Grace Kingsly was coming back. She had vanished when Olivia had staged her takeover of the organization, and I had heard nothing of her since. It seems that from Olivia's conversation, and what Mike told me, that she went into hiding, but a hiding to plot revenge. And now she's coming back.

I know where the Latnok facility is. I know that I probably can't do much right now, but I can go there. I could see what I could do, whatever that would be. I really don't know what I could do in the end, however. But I could try to do something.

As Kyle was leaving is room he lifted his phone up, "Declan, I'll be meeting you in a few minutes. It's time."

"Time for what?" Stephen asked as he walked towards Kyle's room.

Kyle closed his phone and looked to Stephen, "It's nothing," Kyle said. He hated to lie, but he couldn't talk about Latnok. He was telling them what he knew, omitting unimportant things, like how Foss had to save him from a trap, but they didn't need to know what he was about to do.

"Where are you and Declan going?" he asked, changing the question.

"Stephen, please, just take my word. It isn't important right now."

"I'd like to," Stephen told him, "But Kyle, you're coming with me for now. We need to talk. We all do."

"All?"

"Everyone. Or have you forgotten all of us?"

How could I forget any of them? They're the only family I have. I love them dearly, so how could Stephen even ask such a question of me?

As he followed Stephen to the dining room, he saw Nicole, Josh and Lori sitting at the table. He looked at them all, realizing something.

In my goal to stop Latnok, and with my own personal problems involving Amanda, how could I have forgotten? I've lost touch with all of them. When is the last time I've spoken to any of them for a prolonged period of time? When is the last time I've asked any of them about their day?

"Sit, Kyle," Stephen said, taking his own seat.

Kyle pulled out a chair and sat, looking at all of them, "I realize why you're doing this," he told them, "I've been…distracted."

"Distracted is one way to put it," Josh said, "More like just gone."

Kyle nodded, "I know…but I've been busy. With Latnok."

"Latnok is important, we understand that," Nicole told him, "And with everything that you've told us, we know how important it is for you to stop them. But Kyle, we're your family. You should make time for us. Or if you can't, then tell us, at least. Don't leave us just sitting here away from you."

"I didn't like it when you first moved in," Lori told him, not that it was much of a secret, "But clearly things have changed over the years. Right now…it's just like before you were here. And…I can't imagine ever going back. You've made that happen recently…and it's not good."

"We can understand you being distant. But not like this," Nicole told him.

Kyle looked at all of them, then looked at all of them in turn as he spoke, moving person to person, "I never wanted this to happen. But things have gotten out of hand recently. I'm so sorry, everyone. I never meant to cut myself off…to lose interest in your lives. In anything. You're my family. The only one I have. I love all of you so much…and I apologize for my actions of late.

"But I've done what I've had to do. I hate to have to use that as my reason…but it is. I've done what's best for myself, what's best for the majority. If I don't keep going like this, then people will suffer. Children will be forced into servitude by Latnok. I've almost been killed, as has Foss. Amanda was hurt. I'm sorry if I've been focusing on what's the bigger picture…but Latnok is only the bigger picture for right now. My family is the biggest, and always will be. Everyone I love…that is always what will be the most important thing to me. But right now Latnok comes first…so I'm sorry everyone. I will be back soon, and soon I hope…things will go back to how they were.

"I will give you all of my attention, all of the time I can. I'll be a proper son and brother to all of you. I'll be family again…but right now, my time lies with stopping Latnok. I wish I could give it to all of you. I wish it had always remained with you. But you know the situation at hand. I've told all of you. So please, remember that, and let me go."

"We know that what you're doing is important," Nicole told him, "And we don't hate you for what you're doing. We don't hate that your time is away…what we don't like is that it's all of your time. It seems like you don't even have time for a short conversation with any of us. You just go and think, or lock yourself in your room."

Josh nodded, "We know you have some cool stuff you can do…and that's really important and cool, like I've already said, but…Kyle, Andy and I broke up, and you haven't been there to talk to me at all. I was expecting you to be there and talk to me, whether I wanted it or not. But for once…I want your advice, and for you to talk to me about my problems that are my own business. But you're not."

"You're Declan's best friend, and…Mark broke up with me," Lori told Kyle, "I expected pretty much the same. For you to be there and talk to me. Maybe even putting in a good word for Declan, since you two are so close. But nothing. I don't mind that…I can deal with that. But it just doesn't seem like you, Kyle."

"We're parents who are about to have their children leaving the house and going to college," Stephen told Kyle, "We've been ready for the day that they leave. When you came, you became another son to us. Another loved child. We were planned for Josh and Lori to leave, no matter how hard that would be for us, but knowing that you're here, and yet gone…that's something different completely. It's something much harder to deal with. We like that you're doing good…but Kyle, you can't just let this consume you, no matter how important it is. How bad it is."

"It isn't consuming me," Kyle told him, "I…"

"You're thinking of Amanda," Nicole told him, "But isn't that because of Latnok? She's been here, asking for you, but we never know where you are."

"I leave when I know she's coming…," he admitted softly, "But she was hurt because of me!"

"You can't let that stop you from having your life," Nicole told him, "We won't fault you for what you choose to do…just make the right choices, Kyle. Please."

Kyle nodded, and then he rose from his chair. "Josh, Lori…I'm sorry about not talking to the two of you about your problems. When I get back I'll make time for it…I promise. Stephen, Nicole…thank you, and I'm sorry for being gone. I'm sorry for…not living my life. It's my life, and the choices I made are what I believe my life should be. But these choices aren't all helping, I can see." He looked at all of them, "I'll be back soon…and I'm hoping that I can make things normal here again."

"We hope so too," Stephen told him.

Nicole nodded, "Go, if you have to. We'll be wishing you the best."

"Thank you," he said, heading towards the door.

"Where are you going without me?" Jessi questioned as she came out of the living room, having been waiting, apparently.

"Latnok," he said, "I imagine you're coming."

"Of course," she said, "Was there any doubt?"

"None," he said, walking out with her. It was time to go to the Columbia Center.

"I'm sorry that it took so long," Kyle apologized as Declan drove the three of them.

"Yeah, don't worry about it," Declan said, "You're usually on time, but I figured it was something important that kept you."

"You're not a good guard, then," Jessi commented, "What if he was in danger?"

"Kyle's smart enough not to get into danger at his own house," Declan said, "I know he was there."

"What if you were wrong?" Jessi questioned.

"I was right. That's what matters," Declan said.

"Declan won't let me down," Kyle told Jessi, to end the conversation. He looked out ahead, "Ok, park there," he directed.

Declan pulled over about a block away from the building for good measure as Kyle directed. The three got out and looked at the large building.

"How are we going to do this?" Declan asked.

"Do you have your gun?" Kyle asked.

Declan looked confused and surprised, then he opened his jacket and showed it, "Yeah, I do. Why?"

Kyle reached over and pulled it out, putting it in the car and under the seat, away from view, "No guns."

"Any water?" Jessi asked.

"Do what you have to, but don't cause widespread destruction," Kyle warned her.

She shrugged, "I did enjoy having water on my hand, though. I was really onto something there, since you were so prepared. It was nice to have that extra push."

"Not again," Kyle told her, "Let's go."

The three headed towards the building with Kyle looking around constantly, though not making it too obvious. He was letting his senses wander, searching for something, anything suspicious. Anything that might be problematic, or anyone who might be Latnok.

"Well, what do we do? We're almost there," Declan said as they stood across the street, waiting for traffic to clear.

"We'll go in and see what happens in the lobby. If need be, we get ourselves out," he said, meaning that they would use force. He didn't want to have to say that, "My plan is to get access to a computer and check the database. I need to know where to find Olivia Archer, wherever she is in that building. I need to know."

"You really think she'd be in a database?" Jessi questioned him.

"I have to side with Jessi," Declan admitted, "It just seems like this place has enough cover already that any database will be for employees, not Latnok."

"Latnok has databases. We know that," Kyle said, "Even if it's not on that computer, I should be able to access Latnok's network with it, and find what we need," he said, "But if it says her location or not, I don't know. It might say something relevant, though."

"Well, let's try that, then," Jessi said, "Better than nothing."

"Do you have a better plan?" Kyle asked. Curious, honestly.

"Other than walk in and start taking down resistance? No," she said, "And no, that's not my solution to everything. The plan you have makes sense, if this wasn't Latnok. They're too careful, so it's a longshot. It's a longshot that we'll get anywhere regardless, without just being proactive. That's the problem here."

"Well, we'll figure it out," Declan said, anxious, "Let's go."

The three hurried across the street, walking in the front. The lobby was empty.

"That's not right," Declan said, looking around, just trained to look. He saw a camera, but it was deactivated. Kyle looked around as well, but neither he nor Jessi could make anything of it.

Kyle hurried over to the desk, accessing the computer. It was working, but the internet was killed. He tried to get into the database, into the network, but nothing. It was down. All there was were the files on this specific computer. Nothing more.

"Someone did this," Kyle said, trying to get anywhere. To the network, to the internet. Nothing, "Everything is dead but the power, it looks like."

Jessi saw the stairs and hurried over while Declan stood behind Kyle, "What do you think the point was?"

"Not us," Kyle said, "It's…it has to be Grace Kingsly."

"Grace Kingsly?" he asked.

"Yeah…I heard her and Olivia on the phone when we were at the radio facility," Kyle admitted, "She's coming back. For revenge. This might be her doing. She might be back already."

"What do we do then?" he asked.

"We go in blind…as much as I hate to say that," Kyle said, getting up and heading to the stairs. Then he stopped, "Hold on…" He closed his eyes and lifted his hand a little, trying to focus.

"Kyle?" he asked, having not seen this one yet.

Kyle ignored him, focusing. No radio waves, no phones being used. He lowered his arm and opened his eyes, "Silence…nothing. No communication to the outside, or through phones in general. The Columbia Center is just…isolated for now."

"That might not be the best," Declan said, "I don't know quite how important this place is, but…"

Kyle nodded, "It'll have to be put up with for now," he said, "Jessi?"

"Nothing," she said, "Nice trick, by the way. We going up?"

He nodded, "Yeah. Together, for now."

The three ascended to the second floor, but a quick sweep revealed nothing.

"How many stories are there?" Declan asked.

"Seventy six," Kyle answered off the top of his head, "I read that."

"Are we looking at all of them?" Declan asked, exhausted by the mere thought.

"No," he said, "We're listening, don't worry."

As they cleared up to the fifteenth floor, nothing. They kept going without much talking, and then stopped at sixteen.

"What is it?" Declan asked.

"I hear…"

They could all hear it. Footsteps coming towards them from the floor above, "Hey! Stop!"

Two security guards – or guards of some sort – came down, pulling their firearms.

"Run!" Declan shouted, reaching on instinct that Foss had drilled into him, but there was no gun. Kyle went on instinct as well, going into the fifteenth floor, while Jessi hurried up. Declan grabbed her and pulled her down the stairs, avoiding a bullet.

"You can do some crazy things, but I don't think you can stop a bullet," he told her, pulling her down farther, and into the fifteenth floor.

"I don't know if I don't try," she countered as they ran into the hallway. Declan grabbed her and pulled her down the first hallway they found after it, pulling her into an office and closing the door, crouching back, behind the desk.

"If you try, you might die," he told her softly.

"How else do I learn?" she questioned.

"Practice…?" it was a dumbfounded answer. It was so obvious.

"I like live practice," she said.

They quieted when they heard footsteps. The guards were nearby, searching.

"When they open the door, do what you were trained to do. If you think you can handle it," she whispered.

"What are you going to do?" he questioned, "And…when? More like if," he said.

"No, when," she said, grabbing the paperweight from the desk and throwing it against the wall. They could hear the footsteps hurrying to the room as Declan cursed, keeping low and getting ready to move.

When the door opened Jessi threw her hand out, pushing them both aside. She miscalculated, however. Only one entered, so the other wasn't pushed, just bumped into. He got a shot off, a glancing shot on her other arm. She shouted and cursed, losing her focus and grabbing her bloodied arm.

"Damn it!" Declan shouted, hurrying over to the guards and grabbing the downed one by the collar. He slammed his body into the stumbling one that had shot, making him drop his gun. He shoved the man aside and punched the other in the face, dropping him.

"You ok?" he shouted back to Jessi.

She had her eyes closed in focus. The cut was slowly healing, "I'm fine," she muttered through clenched teeth.

He headed back inside and pulled her by the shoulder, guiding her out, "Look, don't do something stupid like that again."

"Fine," she muttered, compliant as she focused.

He crouched down and picked up the gun of the man who hadn't fired. He put it in his waistband and took the clip from the other weapon. He searched the men, but neither had ammo on them, so he left the emptied gun behind. "Let's go find Kyle," he said, "I don't like being away."

She nodded, "I'll lead," she said, going off ahead of him. He followed, sure that she would find him easily.

Kyle hadn't been pursued. That was fortunate. Planned? He didn't like that the two guards seemed to go after Declan and Jessi, but he was fortunate that he had time to search, at least.

He stopped and looked around the corner at a large conference room with a glass wall. Drapes were drawn, however, obscuring his vision. It didn't for long as he focused. The shades weren't too thick, so he was able to make out shapes when he tried.

And when he closed his eyes, he heard voices.

Inside, Olivia was sitting at one end of the rounded Latnok table, while Cassidy was nearby. Grace was on the other side of the room.

"You made it," Olivia said with a small smile.

"Of course I made it. I make good on my threats," Grace told her. Her eyes went to Cassidy, "And what is he doing here?"

"I came because Olivia needed me, mum," Cassidy said.

"Come here at once!" Grace ordered.

Cassidy shook his head, "No…I'm done listening to you. I had time to think in my exile…and I realized something. I'll never have your true love. Your true focus or attention. I have nothing to lose by not listening."

"You have everything to lose, because I will destroy you," she told him.

"You can't destroy me," Cassidy told her, "Because I'm on the winning side. The side with the power." He smiled and threw his arms out, "Latnok. Latnok has the power, mum…not you. And Latnok isn't in the palm of your hand anymore."

"But how long will they remain loyal to this little bitch?" she hissed in anger.

Olivia showed anger, but forced a smile, "Watch your language, if you would be so kind," she said. Mostly to anger Grace.

"It is true," Cassidy said, "And Olivia knows it too."

Olivia nodded, "I know that they don't like me. I know that they'll very likely betray me soon. But I don't care. Because the heir, so to speak, has returned."

"He is no 'heir'," Grace stated.

"You led Latnok. I am your son," Cassidy said, "What does that make me if not an heir?"

"Quiet you insolent brat!" she hissed at Cassidy, "I have no more patience for you!"

"Good. Because I have none for you either," Cassidy told her.

"We're done here," Olivia told Grace, "Leave, or I'll make you leave."

"You don't frighten me. You're nobody, after all."

"I am the leader of Latnok," she said, "I hardly think that makes me a nobody. But…Latnok is a hidden organization. We're all nobodies, are we not?"

"Stop getting smart with me," she told Olivia, clenching her fists.

"Leave. Now," Cassidy said, "Or I'll be forced to do something I'll regret, mum."

"You would never dare do anything to me," Grace told Cassidy.

"Try me," he said with a smile, "After everything, do I really have anything to lose? If you try to make a power play, I'll have a hard time, since Olivia isn't that loved. But if you're removed, then I have leadership easily."

"You're nothing more than a frontman. You were never meant to be leader!" Grace told him.

"I didn't want to be, either, for the longest time," Cassidy admitted, "But I started to think on it. I started to wonder how wondrous it might be, especially when you spoke of Kyle. I started to realize that I probably would never amount to anything. I didn't want to be right, but it turns out I was. I continued to play the act. I was always the loyal son, playing the frontman for Latnok, feigning disinterest, waiting for my chance.

"And when I realized that Kyle would never join us, no matter how much I tried, I spent all of my spare time grooming my successor."

"The wench that went from nothing to this…," Grace muttered in anger.

Olivia only nodded, "I like your cleaned up language. Yes. The woman who had nothing, rising to be the successor of Latnok. Cassidy groomed me very well, wouldn't you say? Wouldn't you also say that this means he would make a wonderful leader?"

"And when I'm done, and Olivia takes my place, she'll be loved," Cassidy said, "Because I'm a charmer. I'll charm the members into loving her, as they will love me. Mum…your downfall has been planned. Not in any particular manner of downfall…but this power play has been in motion for some time. I was the loyal son until you pushed me too far. Now it's my turn to do as I want."

"And how did your plan fit into all of this?" Grace demanded.

"I thought you knew everything," Olivia said with a condescending smile.

Grace glared at her.

"Fine. When Cassidy disappeared without word, without a trace, I came for information. I was groomed to lead, so I used everything I was taught to overthrow you. Of course, my search for Cassidy was always because he deserved leadership more than I did. I'm a successor, after all. Cassidy's. He gets to lead first. I'm not happy as leader right now…so I'll give my position to him."

"I'll fight you every step of the way," Grace warned, "I have those loyal to me. I'll get the others. You'll be left with nothing, and you'll be gone!"

"It won't work that way," Cassidy told her, "Trust me. I have a charm that you lack. You have fear and intimidation. I have charm and charisma. It'll work out."

Kyle's focus was gone when he was grabbed on the shoulder by Declan, "What is it?"

Kyle looked at him, "Cassidy, Olivia and Grace Kingsly are in there," he pointed ahead, "They're fighting, arguing."

"Over what?" Jessi asked, holding her arm.

Kyle looked at it, then to her face, "What happened…?"
"Not important," she said, showing him. A small cut was all that was left, "What are they arguing over?"

"Leadership," Kyle said.

The three watched as the door opened. They kept hidden behind the corner, just able to see the door as the three exited the room. They were going to the elevators.

"I'm going too," he said, hurrying over, managing to see the floor. Basement, apparently.

"Kyle, are you sure about what you're doing?" Declan questioned as he and Jessi followed.

Kyle went to the other elevator, "No…but I have to do this," he said, reaching for the button.

Jessi grabbed his arm, stopping him, "We're not going, are we?"

"I'm going alone," he confirmed.

"No," Declan told Kyle, "Foss is gone, and he really drilled it into me. I'm not letting you go alone again. I didn't want to earlier, it's not happening again."

Kyle looked at both of them, "Thank you, both of you. I brought both of you here to help me…and right now, you can help me by letting me do this."

"You're shutting us out like the Tragers?" Jessi questioned, knowing that would provoke him.

"No," he said, keeping his anger down, "I'm doing this because this is Grace Kingsly. Because it's Cassidy. Olivia. These are people I need to deal with. I'll be back…just please, let me go."

Jessi let go of him, "Kyle…just don't do something stupid and die."

"I won't," he told her.

She looked at him for a few moments. He looked back. Declan watched the two of them share a mutual kiss. It was short, but they both wanted it. They both initiated it. And when it was over he hit the button for the elevator.

Kyle walked inside, "I'll be back," he said as it closed, leaving them behind.

As he descended, he was lost in thought.

When I get there, what will I do? How will I confront them? And what is going to happen overall? This is a potentially dangerous situation I'm walking into without any knowledge of…and I don't like it. But it is very important. And it is something I've been waiting for.

[Start "Heart on Fire"]

Meanwhile Jessi and Declan were leaving, going to the stairwell. As they descended a few floors they heard one of them opening. They saw three men walking out.

"There!" one shouted.

"More security?" Declan muttered, pulling out the gun and aiming three floors up at them. He fired twice, but didn't hit them. He and Jessi ran, though it was hard for Jessi to just run.

As they went down another floor, the next door opened. One man emerged with a gun. Declan turned and smashed him in the face with his weapon, dropping the man, but he wasn't unconscious, as Declan had thought. He kicked Declan in the back of the leg, knocking him down.

"Declan!" Jessi shouted up at him, turning to run up and try to help.

The other three guards arrived as Jessi was turning up to help Declan, having already been halfway down to the next floor. She hurried up as two of the guards started to kick at Declan, one smashing his hand with a stomp to relieve him of his weapon. Declan's screams drove Jessi on as she ran up.

The last guard of the original three looked at her, and lifted his weapon as she lifted her hand, ready to push him aside. But she wasn't faster than a bullet.

It drove through her chest, causing her to gasp and gag on blood as she fell with her step, smashing into the stairs. Blood ran out from the wound on her chest and back, soaking her clothing and draining down the steps as she looked upwards, trying to form words as blood ran out of her mouth.

As Kyle stepped out of the elevator, he found another round Latnok table, and various Latnok members in the room. The three he had followed were there. All eyes were on him as he emerged.

"I knew it," Cassidy muttered angrily, "I knew you'd be here to ruin this!"

"I'm here to stop Grace," Kyle told him, "I'm here to sort things out. I'm here today to finally do what I can!"

Grace and her loyalists were on the other side. Grace spoke up, "Kyle…you've come to join us, I trust?"

"No," he said, "I'm here to stop Latnok. Finally…to stop them. Olivia is here, and she is leader. You're here, as former leader. Even Cassidy…though I only expected Olivia. I'm here to appeal. I'm here to make an argument to…"

"What prompted this all of a sudden?" Olivia questioned, "Was it that man who saved you?"

"No. It was Adam Baylin," Kyle said, "I'm finally going to accomplish what he wanted. I'm here on his will. Late, but I'm here to finally do it."

"That man was a fool," Grace said, "He's better dead."

"Take that back!" Kyle shouted at her, "You had a relationship with him somehow…how can you say that?"

"Because he was a fool. He wanted Latnok to change, but he was always a part of us somehow. As much as he wanted to stop, he couldn't. He was a hypocrite, truly."

"Adam was a great man…"

"You barely knew him," Grace pointed out.

"He wouldn't want to play god," Kyle said, "You seem intent on that, Grace. Latnok as a whole seems to think of themselves as gods among men, based on some of the things they've attempted, or completed."

Grace laughed. Others in the room laughed as well. Cassidy didn't understand, nor did Olivia.

"Join us," she told him, "Join Latnok. Forget your foolish quest which will take you nowhere. Join us!"

"Why? So I can play god too?" he questioned.

Grace shook her head, "No. So you can become a god among men. The program that was developed? With the new C.I.R.? It can unlock your brain. You can use all of it, Kyle. If you join us. We will make you god. Able to stretch out your hand and help anyone. Isn't that what you're already trying to do? Help people? Take this offer…and it will happen. Kyle…join Latnok. Join me…and forget the usurpers. Forget your quest against Latnok. Become a god…and join us!"

The ability to help anyone. The ability to truly help people on a large scale. This is what I've wanted to do. This is what I want to do with my life, when I'm done with Latnok. Stopping Latnok is the first step…but can joining them truly make things easier for me? Truly start my plans?

As Declan lay, being beaten, and Jessi lay, bleeding out, none of this knowledge to Kyle, he stood and wondered.

"Well?" Grace asked him, "Godhood?"

And Kyle looked at her, looked to the angered Cassidy and Olivia, and then back to Grace, standing away from all of them, but looking to each one every so often.

"I…"

[End "Heart on Fire"]