Chapter 40- Daybreak

"You're hovering again," May answered Liv's light footsteps with a bored tone.

"You could hear me?"

"I had a good friend once…he was an Eco…" she paused, unsure if Liv even knew who the Ecos were, "I learned a lot from him…what are you doing out here?"

"You loved him."

It was a statement, not a question, and May didn't want to talk about it. She sighed heavily, "It's history."

There was silence between them as they walked through the dense outskirts of the jungle. May was silently amazed at how Liv could blindly find her way through the foliage after her as if she had sight. Only a few times did she stumble, but she caught herself quickly before May could comment.

"I have heightened senses."

"What?"

"You asked why I was out here. I have heightened senses so I can help."

"How long have you been blind?"

Liv hesitated, "It's history."

May rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to say something when Liv shook her head.

"Someone's coming," she whispered.

May strained to hear and finally heard a soft rustling, "I'm impressed," she whispered mockingly.

"You mock me now, but ask Ved, my blind magic could save your life!"

May chose not to retort, "Toc and Lefty are on the opposite end of us, can you find your way to them?"

"Can Gel talk your ear off?"

May rolled her eyes, "Just go!"

~0~

Tai-San couldn't sleep so she took to meditating. She needed to relax, but every time she closed her eyes she felt compelled to open them. She was just afraid as anyone of the new comers and even more afraid because her dreams weren't clear to her anymore. They had always been so forthright and crystal clear in the past, what made this time different?

One thing she did know is that at any time the future could change. Maybe she could do something to change it.

"Lex," she softly spoke the man's name while shaking him gently. He had just come off his guard duty shift and she hated to wake him, but for the first time she felt like she needed his protection.

He groaned turning over, "What?"

"I need to talk to them."

"What?" he opened his eyes a peek.

"Geo and Niko, I need to talk to them."

"Why?" he was becoming more awake now; alarmed.

"Do you remember when you planned to shoot Jaffa with that bow and arrow? I dreamt it and when it happened I changed what was to come by taking his place."

Lex winced at the painful memory, "You think by talking to them you can make peace and this will all go away?"

"It's worth a try. We just need to get Geo alone. I'd be willing to bet he's the weakest link."

Lex grumbled getting up, "Geo is alone. It seems Niko prefers to sleep on his boat."

"Perfect," she beamed.

"Tai-San it's late…"

"Hey you wanted to marry me remember?" she smirked pulling him along out their room, "Now you get to put up with me."

~0~

"Do you hear that?" Éowyn stopped Dragon and Kai in their tracks.

"Hear what?" Dragon asked.

Kai held up a hand ; a gesture for waiting, "Shh…"

"We aren't alone out here," Éowyn informed Dragon.

Dragon nodded in understanding, "We should fan out."

"Smartest thing you've said all night," Kai mockingly applauded him.

Éowyn heaved a heavy sigh. She had practically begged Kyra to come even offering Danni a part in the expedition, but Kyra had been talked down by Kai (those two were making fast friends oddly enough) and Danni tartly declined. So Éowyn had offered to stay behind and let Kai, Blaze, and Dragon go alone, but Blaze made some long winded speech about how she was the best fighter. Both men would fight to the death for her should a confrontation with Lani present itself this morning, but they might end up killing one another first.

"I'll take 12 o'clock, Kai you take 2 , Dragon you take 10," she ordered.

They had approached the island cautiously, spotting Niko's boat docked amongst a few others. So they had docked a few miles away where they wouldn't be spotted and Éowyn, Dragon, and Kai had to swim to shore. The sun would be rising soon so they need to hustle. They had to reach the islanders before something bad happened.

"No need, we've got you surrounded," came a female voice.

Then slowly four figures appeared around them.

"What are you doing here?" the same voice inquired.

"My name is Kai. I am leader of the Kraits."

"What happened to Charis?" another female voice wanted to know.

"Deceased. That's why I'm here. Her murderer is amongst you and her child."

"How do we know you're telling the truth?" the first voice asked again.

"You don't," Eowyn spoke up, "trust must first be gained."

"So then tell us is it just you three?"

"No. There are five people on a boat waiting for us to confirm that a man named Niko is on your island and is harboring a fugitive infected with the virus, an infant, and two Technos."

"I hate it when she's right!" someone threw up their hands, another female.

"She?" Kai questioned.

"Our seer, we'll take you to her."

"Someone should go tell the others," Éowyn looked from Kai to Dragon.

"I'll go," Dragon volunteered.

"And we'll accompany you," the male voice declared, a slimmer figure stepping in unison with him towards Dragon.

The third female voice spoke again, "Then it's settled, Liv and I will take these two, you and Toc that one."

~0~

Tai-San and Lex had found Geo rocking the baby up and down the corridor to the lobby. And after his quick explanation of how he ended up there, she was perturbed. But her dream had come altogether.

The black force in her dream was Lani, an enemy indeed. She had never liked the woman, mainly because of the way she looked at Josh, but also because Lani was the most disagreeable person on the planet. Lani used people to get what she wanted and she wasn't past killing anyone; whether for sport or defense.

"I'm sorry Tai-San," Geo uttered, "But Skip, he's my brother, and Meadow is dying. I'm just trying to save what little family I have left."

"I understand, but why me?"

"You have the cure," he said.

Lex wanted to punch the guy in the face. Why couldn't he just come out and say what he had to say. Why the hell were they here exactly? "The cure to what?" he asked angrily.

"The virus."

It all made sense finally. They all needed something from her, but they didn't know how to obtain it and she wasn't aware she even had it.

"You think I have the antidote?" she asked incredulously.

"We don't think, we know."

The three of them turned around to see May and Liv with two others; a male and a female.

Lex couldn't hold his tongue, "Who the hell are you?"

"They're Kraits, the baby belongs to them," Geo handed the sleeping infant over to the female, "Éowyn I wouldn't let them near him. He wasn't hurt."

She took the infant hugging him tightly to her before checking him over and giving him a dozen kisses. She glared angrily at Geo then took to studying Tai-San.

"So you're the almighty, antidote wielding seer?" the male asked Tai-San.

She smiled bitterly at him, "In the flesh, and you're the hot-headed idiot that gets me killed!"

~0~

By daybreak no one but the babies and Gel (adamant about beauty rest) were keen on sleeping on Fleur Isle. Some were buzzing with anticipation in the café, others tense and on edge hiding away in their rooms, and many more crowded in the stuffy café.

"I thought I'd never see that face again," Slade said as he and Ebony arrived at the café. Ebony followed his gaze to the tall woman with golden eyes, and shiny, sleek, black hair with purple woven in her long braid. She was holding an infant, one Ebony thought she recognized from last night when the other two strangers appeared.

"You two know each other?" Ram asked. He began to get that glint in his eye, the one he got whenever he knew he could start trouble. He watched Ebony carefully, she wasn't steaming yet, but she was clearly annoyed.

The woman smirked, "Apparently this world isn't big enough!"

"Yes, apparently," Ebony muttered under her breath in unison with the dark haired man beside the woman.

"You must've grown tired of running," Slade remarked.

The woman rolled her eyes, "I wasn't the one running."

"I wasn't running either; I told you I had business."

"You obviously found what you were looking for." She smiled at Thunder in his arms, "Cute kid. "

"Thanks you, his name's Thunder," Ebony smiled. She couldn't stand by silently anymore.

Éowyn smiled returning Ebony's stare. It was one of curiosity and wonder. Just judging by Ebony's cover she knew the woman was Slade's type. The baby was probably just a happy accident.

Ebony was judging by the cover too and strangely she didn't feel threatened. After a moment she returned the smile.

An awkward silence grew among everyone as they watched this exchange, and it was Lex who braved to break it. "O-kay…we've got big fish to fry."

"I'll say," a voice broke through from the back of the crowd.

Everyone turned to see Toc and Lefty with a few strangers. It took a minute for anyone to realize that there were a few familiar faces.

Cloe was the first to break the silence. She pushed through the crowd and tackled Patsy in a hug, "I thought you were dead!"

~0~

Salene wasn't surprised to see Bray standing on the other side of her door, but she was clearly not thrilled to see him.

"Shouldn't you be at the meeting?"

"There are more than enough people there to execute the plan."

"Which is?" Sal was curious. May and her new pet Liv had come and warned Salene trouble could very well be stirring that day, but she didn't know the details.

"Preventing a blood bath."

She visibly shuttered, but not from fear. She then disappeared into the bathroom shutting the door.

Bray didn't remember this part of Amber's pregnancy. He only remembered the mood. She was angry all the time and distrustful. Though come to think of it, she was only distrustful of Ebony, and she had every right to be. Only he realized that too late.

Seven minutes later Salene emerged from the bathroom, "You're still here?"

"I told you, I'm going to be here for you."

She groaned, "There's nothing you can do until the baby gets here. That'll be awhile."

"You can't keep me from being supportive until then. You were in there a long time, I was worried."

"Well I thought since I was in there I may as well freshen up a bit. And I think you're hiding."

"Why would I be hiding?"

"Because Kyra is on the island. You know it, I know it. So what's the problem?"

"You can't be so sure that she's with the newcomers."

"Then let's go find out!" she slipped on her shoes before marching to her door. She slowly crept it open and stepped outside. Bray hesitated before following suit. "See you hesitated."

"I didn't hesitate…I just took a moment to prepare myself."

"Hesitated."

"Look whatever, where are we going?"

"The café. May said that's where they're holding the meeting."

"What will it look like, the two of us arriving together, you still in pajamas?"

"Oh please Bray, now you're worried that someone might see us? You're constantly changing like the wind since I met you."

They walked in silence before he spoke again. "Why are you so adamant on throwing me to Kyra?" he stopped.

She turned around, "You dumped Amber for her so you must've had a serious love affair with this woman. No matter how much I think I love you, I am not going to stand in the way of you and your happiness."

"So you admit it, you do love me."

"I've always loved you. But there's a difference between being in love and loving someone," she turned around then ready to go.

But he whirled her around to face him, "You're too good to me. Even after I broke your heart and got you pregnant."

"Everyone knows I love babies," she smiled, "You've given me what I've always wanted, someone to love who will love me back. I'm just returning the favor."

He kissed her cheek, "I will never in a million years have you figured out."

Salene's heart was thumping around in her chest wildly. In fear that he might hear she patted his shoulder before turning around again toward the Fleur Café.

Bray shook his head, but followed her. He hoped for both their heart's sake they were doing the right thing. He couldn't deny he loved Kyra. He did. She had found him at a dark time and reminded him that he had so much to live for. But perhaps his problem was he fell too quickly into love because now there was Salene. She was pregnant with his child and alone. He couldn't and wouldn't abandon her. And there was something more there in his heart for her.