Chapter 12: The Pirates

Ebony was thinking. It was something she'd been doing a lot more lately rather than plotting.

"You're going to wear a hole in your brain," Slade joked sitting down beside her on the bed.

She was lying on her side; head propped up by her elbow, and lost in thought.

She sighed, "I'm not sure of that, but I do have a headache."

"What are you thinking so hard about?"

"It's not that I'm thinking hard," she rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling, a hand draped across her abdomen, "I'm just reflecting on who I've been, what I've done, and who I've loved."

Slade could sense a really sensitive talk was coming, so he braced himself, praying for the right words to say when the floor was his.

"Love has been a difficult chapter in my life, I've fallen in love more times than one, but it never works out. I do admit, some of the 'love' was me looking out for number one, and the break-ups or rifts my fault, but was it all me?"

She stopped for a breath, "There have only been four people that ever really knew me, one is dead, and two broke my heart, and one of who is in this room, and I'm constantly pushing them away."

"You're not pushing me away Ebony."

"But aren't I? Whenever you get too close I shut you out."

"I won't let you push me away; I'm here for you, and our child."

"It won't be long before you're fed up with me. I'll push you away like I've done the others," she paused thinking of Siva. "I'm a difficult person Slade, I have baggage."

"I'm looking for baggage to go with mine. You're the most captivating woman I've met, and I think, no I know, you and I are good together. I get you Ebony," he placed a hand on her arm, "and you don't exactly know everything yet, but you get me. You are my counterpart, we are alive some, but opposite too. We, you and I, need that awkward balance. We'll rely on one another to get by."

Ebony looked at him, eyes glazed, "I've never admitted this to anyone before, but I need you by my side. Without you I'm lost."

Slade smirked, "Don't go changing your spots for me."

"No worries," she winked, her walls going up again, "so don't go asking me to marry you."

"I can't promise you I won't try to put a ring on your finger," he smirked, "but I promise I won't let you push me away."

Ebony's tears had sobered up before Slade had finished, but now a new expression was on her face. Her expression was a mix of shock, fear, and joy.

"What?" Slade panicked.

Ebony found a smile and shushed him, placing his hand on her stomach.

Slade smiled, "I think it's a sign, we're good together."

"I'll try and remember that during the delivery."

Slade didn't say anything. The delivery wasn't something he was looking forward to. He'd never admit it, but he was scared.

Bray had decided not to tell Amber about Kyra. It was too hard to break it to her gently. She however didn't take his distance as a warning sign, more like an attraction or welcome mat.

He knew he had to tell her soon, but first things were first, getting everyone off the island.

"Boat!" Sammy shouted. He was perched on the roof of the pool house.

"You'd better not be joking kid!" Ved barked at him.

Bray shielded the sun from his eyes, "That's no boat, that's a mini ship. Alert the others. We may be in for a battle."

"But they're not headed our way," Sammy said puzzled.

"I know, but we have to be cautious."

Sammy nodded and climbed down. He made haste in alerting everyone.

Ved looked at Bray, "Technos?"

Bray shook his head, "Not their style. Could be a harmless bunch, could be trouble."

"I'll make sure the kids and Ebony are secured then."

Bray was left alone. The boat wasn't headed their way indeed, but it was headed to the island. The side KC and Alice confirmed was Techno infested. But a big boat wasn't Techno style. They were probably looking for shelter and spotted the Techno camp before the resort.

A woman with bluish gray eyes and fair tanned skin led her band of pirates into the foliage of this new island.

"Alright Pirates, you know the drill, get the goods and get going," she shouted.

"Mikhail aren't you coming?" her younger sister asked.

Mikhail shook her head, "Migraine."

"Khail again?" There used to be days when you'd fight through anything," Lefty, a tall muscular pirate questioned her.

Mikhail rolled her eyes, "It's simple, the sooner you quit yapping the quicker I'll recover."

The group retreated. Mikhail watched them go relieved. The last thing she needed was for her tribe to figure out she was pregnant. There was no room for babies in their business.

She was their leader, she couldn't be tied down to a kid and raid Techno Prison camps, not that being a Pirate was promising at all. Khail just wasn't ready to be a mother again; the first time was too much of a nightmare.

She lay in a chair on deck and closed her eyes thinking about the last time she had become pregnant. She was fifteen and had fallen in love with her tutor. He was eighteen, and stuff happened. Their treacherous love ended with her finding out she was pregnant. The entire world abandoned her, except her nana.

Her grandmother had taken care of her and the child until the virus hit. When her nana died she ran home to her mother like a fool. It ended in her leaving a wailing new born in the arms of a nurse at the hospital. She had never looked back until today, and it hurt all over again.

"State your business," a voice snapped her out of her memories, "and we won't hurt you."

Bray had gotten worried. He didn't like the though of anyone else joining the island.

He, Lex, and Jay decided to track the boat and insure they weren't there to bring mayhem. But when they came across it, it was occupied by a sole person.

'You wouldn't hurt me," Mikhail batted her eyelashes at the boy with the raven black hair.

Lex stood his ground, "I wouldn't underestimate me."

Mikhail's smile faded. He didn't remember her. It had been quite a few years back, they were just kids, nine or ten, when they last were together.

"My name's Khail, and let's just say I'm here on business."

"What's your tribe?" Jay questioned.

"We're the Pirates, and unless you're Technos, you have nothing to worry about."

Bray laughed, 'Don't tell me you're their leader. What are you, like the sugar-plum pirates?"

As much as Mikhail wanted to laugh, she pretended to be miffed. Though her and her tribe were well groomed on account they were out at sea all the time. Occasionally, more now than ever, they stopped on Fleur Isle. She cursed many times over since shad had fallen for a man there.

"Don't you dare mock us!" she stood up.

"What are you going to do about it?" Lex asked.

"Don't underestimate me Lexy; you've felt my wrath before."

Lex looked a little confused. He'd never seen this girl before in his life, yet she knew him by name.

Bray got down to business, "Until we're certain you're not dangerous," he smirked, "you're going to have to come with us."

"Fine, but when my crew finds the boat empty, they'll come after me, "Mikhail made sure to sound intimidating," and you will suffer dearly."

"What do we do with her?" Tai-san questioned.

She had called a tribe meeting; infuriated that hey had come back with a prisoner.

"We wait to see if her sugar plum pirate crew comes to save her. We see their strengths and weaknesses, and then we see here to go from there," Jay offered.

"Surely you're not going to lock her up?" Trudy asked.

Amber answered for them all, "And treat her like an animal when she was brought here on innocent terms? No way!"

"Then she's not a prisoner?" Sammy asked.

"Absolutely not, but she's not allowed to leave the resort."

"Well don't talk about me like I'm not here," Mikhail entered the kitchen.

Sammy was in love. He noted how the rest of the tribe looked at her as well. The guys with admiration, the women with envy.

Mikhail's blue-gray eyes were dazzling and a threat. They accented her beautiful face, naturally tanned skin, and short, soft curls. She was also tall, and her outfit showed a great length of slender, perfect legs.

Trudy nudged Ram in the ribs, who instantly recovered. Mikhail laughed and found an empty seat next to a pregnant woman with a fierce stare.

Ebony tensed at the stranger sitting next to her, because Slade may as well have been drooling. "I'm not afraid to say anything to your face," Ebony glared at her, "and you'd be wise not to press any of my buttons."

"Hey, no need to get hostile, I didn't come here willingly," she glared at Lex, Bray, and Jay, "so…where's my cell?"

Tai-san spoke, "We're not going to lock you up…we're simply going to treat you like a guest."

"I'm confused…" Mikhail started to say at the sound of commotion outside. She could hear Lefty calling her name. Smirking she said, "I'll handle this," she stopped Trader and Jay in their tracks.

Lefty was leading the group. Mikhail was like a little sister to him, he'd do anything to protect her or anyone else of the tribe.

"Stand down crew, let that little girl go," Mikhail stepped onto the porch.

Lottie ran and hid behind Slade. "This is your crew?" Slade asked.

With the exception of one of the guy's roguish face, they weren't very intimidating and there were only five of them, Mikhail made six.

Mikhail laughed, "Have we proven to be harmful enough Bray?"

He replied, "Of course, not harmful at all. So why do you call yourselves the pirates?"

Lefty snapped, "That's none of your business!"

"It's okay Lefty, we have no secrets," Mikhail turned back to the Mallrats, "the name was more promising than the Robin Hoods. We raid Techno camps releasing what prisoners we can and taking the goods delivering them to where they're needed."

Rayne, her younger sister spoke, "The Technos no longer occupy that part of the island. They must have left in the storms."

"But we got the goods, it's on the boat, so let's go," Domino, a Pirate around Sammy's age said.

Mikhail spoke up again, "My crew and I thank you for this little misadventure, but we'd best be going, we have our own lives."

Lex stepped forward, "Wait. It's getting dark now; you can't possibly navigate with little sun."

Tai-san glared at him. She knew her husband, and she knew he'd never offer someone to stay unless he was interested.

"We'll take our chances; it doesn't look like we're welcome here. We're a bunch of strangers," Khail said.

"You and Rayne are no strangers, you came from a fine line of good Samaritans," Lex tried again, his memory coming back to him.

Mikhail stopped, "You remember?"

"How could I forget? Those are some of the most memorable times of my life. You tried to kill me!"

"We all know you had it coming am I right?" Rayne asked. She was only a year younger than Mikhail and Lex, sot hey were her memories too.

Lex smiled sheepishly, "I haven't changed a bit either since that summer."

Mikhail and Rayne laughed. Everyone else waiting to know the truth. "I suppose we could stay…the night, but we're going to get our boat," Mikhail declared.

When she and her little band of pirates left, everyone questioned Lex.

"They're my cousins by marriage. One summer I stayed with my uncle and his family, it was a blast, end of story. Besides, now we don't have to leave the island, the Technos are gone."

May spoke, "Great, now that's what I like to hear."

"We still need food…something not being naturally produced on this island," Cloe pointed out.

"She's right, we still need to find the necessary resources to live on," Amber said, "that's why it was a good idea for Lex to invite them to stay. They can help us with navigation and such."

"And maybe they can help us fix the boat…" Trader cleared his throat, "It was…um…damaged in the storms."

Everyone looked at him upset. Then slowly the crowd dispersed. They were disgusted with all the day's events and the news about the boat was the icing on the cake.