Chapter 43- Hearts Under Pressure

Shadow's head felt like a freight train had run through it. She opened her eyes, slowly and cautiously. She didn't know what year or even day it was. The light flooding into her eyes burned. And her vision was blurry.

"How long I have been like this," she wandered aloud. To her shock a voice answered back.

"A week. You really had us scared for a minute."

Startled, she blinked furiously trying to see the figure now crossing the room towards her. She lifted her wrist best as she could, as if pointer her zapper, but noticed her wrist was empty of it.

The figure laughed, "Don't worry, we're not here to hurt you. If anything we saved you, and in the nick of time."

"I suppose you're going to tell me you've produced the formula?" she asked snarkily.

"As a matter of fact yes, that's exactly what I was going to say. It's too bad we couldn't save your friends," the figure, Shadow now confirmed was a woman spoke with a sullen tone.

Shadow remembered she was the only one left. It pained her to think about it. Net had been the first to go. She was at least two years older than Shadow and just couldn't hold on anymore. She gave all her rations to Osei and Shadow. If the virus didn't kill her, starvation had.

Osei was the completely opposite of Net. He was overly optimistic and unfortunately the next to go. He and Shadow were the same age and the virus had swept over them slowly, but strongly. Shadow had the antidote and Osei was certain he could go out and find the ingredients. He returned with nearly all of them, but died that same night.

Shadow paused in realization. She had possession of the actual antidote.

"You gave me the folder containing the instructions on how to make it," said the woman now checking Shadow's vitals. She smiled a wide , but sad smile at Shadow. Her hair, brown with pink streaks and tips like it had been denied a dye job as it grew, was twisted up into a ridiculous ponytail.

"And you gave me some?"

"Absolutely and you're on the mend. I bet in a couple of days you'll be back on your feet."

Shadow lay back down on her cot, her heart reverberating in her ears. She had been saved. But what about Skipper and Geo? Where were they?

"My husband, where's my husband?" she asked. It was meant to come out frantically, but instead sounded like a soft echo.

The woman clicked her tongue, "Your buddies up front can't seem to contact his base. But don't you fret, we'll get you well and you'll be on your way to reunite with them."

"My buddies?"

"Other Technos came. They're different from the ones that actually possessed this city. They say this place was supposed to be safe, some kind of containment chamber, but unfortunately the explosion caused a weakness somewhere. Anyhow they've mainly got Mega's lab cleaned up. It'll probably be a long time before…"

Shadow yawned. The woman was still talking, but Sleep was beckoning her. As much as she wanted to listen to the news of the relief efforts her mind was foggy. And soon she had succumbed to dreamland.

~0~

"I can't help thinking you're avoiding me," Kyra said taking a seat across from Bray in the Café. It was late and clear except for them.

Fleur Isle had experienced a couple of rough days, but that was no excuse, in her opinion for Bray not to talk to her.

"I have," he admitted. "I have thought things through and I can't go to the City with you."

After Tai-San had informed them the formula she remembered had failed in testing, Kyra had invited Bray back to the City with her, Dragon, and the others to try and find it.

No formula meant that if Lani returned with a posse there'd be a fight. So Bray, Éowyn, a blind girl, and a a few others had been teaching everyone a few basic fighting skills. Through it all, Bray had used that as an excuse. He simply hadn't had time to think over things, but now he had.

"Bray, you are like a hero there. If we could get you to come along…" she began, but was cut short.

He snorted, "Hero? I helped bring an end to the Chosen which I accidentally took part in founding. And when they could've used me most I handed them over to Ebony."

"For the safety of your unborn child."

"Exactly. For my child, the reason I can't go with you. My life is wherever my kids are. And they're safe here."

Kyra and apparently someone snooping in both asked in unison, "Kids?"

Bray berated himself for unknowingly using the plural. He had promised Salene he wouldn't say anything until she was comfortable with everyone knowing. He had to cover his tracks quickly.

He turned around to see who the other woman was in the room. It was Amber.

"Well Brady may not be my child and I'm sure Ram will make a fine father, at least I hope so, but that's Martin's daughter. She's flesh and blood and I feel responsible for her. And Bray junior has been apart from me for so long it wouldn't be right to just walk out his life again."

"I am glad to hear you say that, I didn't mean to intrude, but he's asking for you. Trader and I tried relentlessly to get him to bed, but he wants his father," she said.

And that confirmed it for Kyra. Bray was definitely not leaving Fleur Island.

Bray stood up, "I'm coming," he turned to Kyra, "we'll talk more later?"

Kyra could only nod in sad realization. She and Bray would never again connect like they did when he was her prisoner.

~0~

Ebony was hoping Slade would be asleep when she slipped into their room, but he was up, rocking their sleeping son.

"I think he was waiting for you, but poor guy finally gave in ten minutes ago."

She offered a weak smile, "You'll spoil him if you hold him all the time."

Slade laid Thunder in his cot and crossed the room to her, "We're going to have to talk about it."

Sighing deeply she took a seat on the edge of the bed. It was funny how one week could completely turn your life upside down.

"I thought we said all there was to say. You can have your life back."

He shook his head, "You said all there was to say. I didn't get a word in. And what do you mean I can have my life back?"

"I mean that's what you are right, a drifter? Come and go as you please? Don't get emotionally involved unless she's of help to you or you accidentally knock her up?"

"You know that's not what this is about!" he stared at her in disbelief, "Didn't we just cover this issue?"

"Yes, but I'm starting to think that maybe we were just caught up in the moment, that maybe you said those things because you felt obligated to."

"Me, say it because I felt obligated to? You told Tai-San to forget about the elopement."

"How can I have someone marry us who brings bad karma? What would our marriage be like then?"

"You know Tai-San had nothing to do with leading Lani here."

"Oh no that's right, Josh did."

"And that's the real issue isn't it?" he asked.

The room went silent for a few minutes. It was out there now. Josh was the real reason for this new rift in their relationship.

"Ebony he's my brother and he's not like he was. He's trying to make this right."

"And he didn't ask you to go with them back to the city, you just volunteered. So go Slade. Never mind your son."

"I think you're trying to break up with me and it's not going to work. You may think those were just words I said when we agreed to get marry, but I meant them. And I know you did too."

"Then stay here. Leave all that business to the Technos…" she looked into his eyes.

"I'm sorry, but this is just something I have to do. It's only for a couple of months."

She stood up, "You've made your choice then." It was a statement, not a question.

"Where does that leave us?" he asked.

"There is no 'us' anymore."