Morning dawned
bright over Leawood, as usual. The first rays of the sun washed over the
peaceful city like liquid gold. In a small suburb outside of the city,
a young man sat on the roof outside his bedroom window, watching the display
with thoughts that were far more troubled than the world around him.
Dex Stewart,
prince of the planet Edenoi and heir to the powers of the Masked Rider,
hadn't slept at all last night. In part, it was the sheer relief of Shadowborg's
defeat, and in part it was due to coming off of two weeks of constant vigilance.
But it went deeper than that, and now, as the world slowly awoke around
him, the young Edenite tried to sort out the thoughts and emotions coursing
through him.
He could still
remember the shock he'd felt when Tommy had told him of Edenoi's liberation.
He was happy about it, certainly, but- it had been a surprise, nonetheless.
Somehow he had always thought that when the final battle for Edenoi came
around, he would be present in it. It was what he had been training for,
for the five years of the Edenite rebellion.
Now it was over.
For the first time, Dex could see the end of his long struggle. Not that
he didn't still have responsibilities, he reminded himself. It wasn't visible,
but he knew that somewhere, soaring above the planet he had come to regard
as a second home, was Dregon's spider base. Edenoi might be free, but his
private war went on.
But even that
battle was drawing to a close. Dex could feel it in his bones. Without
his forces on Edenoi to support him, Dregon was restricted to the Insectivores
he had aboard his Spider Base, and those were diminishing rapidly as Masked
Rider soundly trounced every one of his uncle's evil schemes. It was only
a matter of time before Dregon's lack of resources forced the dictator
into the final battle. That was a battle he'd either win, or- Dex shook
his head. Losing to Dregon wasn't a possibility he let himself contemplate.
But victory
brought its own problems. However much Dex loved Earth, and it's people,
he was the prince of Edenoi, the only one who could carry on the royal
line- and the line of the Masked Rider. Once Dregon was defeated, and could
pose no more threat to Edenoi, there would be no more reason for Dex to
remain here.
Part of him
was glad, rejoicing in the end of his long fight, in the chance to finally
relax and enjoy the fruits of peace. But part of him ached every time he
realized that peace meant never seeing his adopted family again. The Stewarts
had become true family to him, despite only having known him for three
years. Hal and Barbara had become his parents, since he had never had a
real chance to know the people who had given birth to him.
A sudden sound
behind him made Dex turn, only to see his slightly portly adopted father
hauling himself out the window behind him. "I used to do this when I was
your age," Hal Stewart puffed, managing to fit. Dex smiled.
"You were never
my age, Dad," he replied. "I am sixteen hundred of your Earth years old."
Hal shrugged.
"You know what I mean. So- what's bothering you, son? You've been extremely
quiet since you came home last night, and I noticed that your light was
still on at two this morning."
Dex let out
a long sigh. "I'm just- trying to work through a lot of things. Edenoi
is free, Dad, finally. Dregon's been dealt a crippling blow, and it looks
like this fight will at last be over."
"But?" Hal prompted
softly.
"But that'll
mean I have to leave you guys, and Earth. I've come to love this place,
almost as much as Edenoi. It's my home."
"But you have
responsibilities there. It's not an easy choice, I can imagine. But you
don't have to make it right away. Dregon hasn't been defeated yet. What
else is bothering you, Dex?"
The young man
dropped his head into his hands. "It's just- all of a sudden, I don't know
what I'm fighting for. The battle's not about freeing Edenoi anymore. I
know it's about protecting Earth, but- what if there's more to it?"
Hal was silent,
knowing that Dex wasn't about to stop there.
"He killed my
father," the Edenite continued softly. "I was five Earth years old, but
I can remember. My grandfather was retiring as King and Masked Rider, passing
the powers on to my father. His name was Tyrex. I can remember just a little
about him- he had dark hair like everyone else in the family, and he was
tall and strong- well, at least from a five year-old's viewpoint." Dex's
eyes stared off into the distance, seeing things from a very long time
ago. "My mother's name was Janara. Supposedly she was the most beautiful
woman in three provinces. All I really remember is hearing her sing to
me- I sometimes hear her still, when I'm very afraid. She'd always sing
me lullabies when I had nightmares.
"Anyway, Dregon
and my father had both courted her, and she chose my father. My father
was always the golden child, but no one realized just how much his younger
brother resented him. Not until the day of the coronation.
"Grandfather
had just begun the transfer when Dregon pulled a blaster and shot my father
dead. I was only a child, but I can remember everything so clearly. He
shot my father, and turned to shoot me, and my mother saved me. She threw
herself in front of the shot to save me. By then, the guards had captured
Dregon, but it was too late. My parents were dead.
"Dregon was
banished to deep space, along with some of his 'court.'" Dex's mouth twisted
at the thought of the Renegades. "Nobody heard from him again until five
years ago, when his attack on our planet began." Shaking himself, he pulled
back to the present.
Hal nodded slowly.
"And now you're not sure whether you want to take Dregon on to protect
people, or to get revenge for your parents' deaths."
"Exactly." Dex
rubbed his temples. "I've seen what vengeance can do to you, Dad. I got
a very graphic reminder a few days ago." He shivered, remembering the look
on Ryan Steele's face as the defense force had burst into Ziktor's office.
For a second, the Trooper hadn't seemed quite- human.
"I can't give
you any guarantees, Dex, but I can tell you that we have a lot of faith
in you. You've always made the right decisions, even- especially when they
weren't easy. This is something I'm afraid you'll have to deal with by
yourself. Just remember, we all love you, and we will always be your family."
Dex shot his
adopted father a grateful smile. "Thanks, Dad."
"Anytime." Then,
in silence, the two of them watched the rest of the sunrise.
The End