Chapter 52-All That Is Left

Following Ved's wedding ceremony, Dragon went in search of his twin. There was much that needed to be discussed both personal and business wise.

He found her with Skipper and Geo on board their boat fussing over maps and weather patterns. He grunted at the sight of Skipper, but it was no surprise Kyra had been quick to forgive him. They'd forgiven one of the world's most notorious villains to date post virus, so why not forgive him too? Even still he was annoyed.

"I need to talk to you," he approached the group addressing his sister, "privately."

She gave him an annoyed expression but he knew she wanted to talk too. When they were left alone she was the first to speak, "I don't want to talk about it."

It was in references to the increasingly complicated relationship or not-relationship she had with Bray. Dragon clenched his jaw, holding back the spiteful words he'd been reserving for that whole pained relationship and tried to move on.

"Fine, but I still say…"

"Dragon…" she warned.

"All right, all right, I'll let it go for now. There are more pressing issues anyhow. Any luck contacting ground zero?"

"No. We tried frequencies all night and before the wedding…perhaps when we're closer. I'm sure Units Alpha and Delta have gotten there by now and are handling the clean up accordingly…but you didn't come here to talk business. You're just as pained as I am…"

Dragon looked at her guiltily. Sometimes being a twin had its disadvantages. Twin telepathy didn't exist for him and Kyra, but they were always in tune to one another.

"I don't want to lose her again."

"Éowyn isn't going anywhere without her dysfunctional family," Kyra rolled her eyes.

She was a little sore that her quest for Bray had resulted in them both finding their lost mates, yet Dragon seemed to be having better luck with his. Not even Kai was a problem anymore she didn't think. At least her brother wasn't competing with another man like she was with the other, pregnant woman in Bray's life and not one, but two other kids. Maybe even the mother's of those kids too. She didn't know. She didn't seem to know as much about Bray as she led herself to believe.

"But do you honestly think she want to go back to that island?" Dragon asked finally drawing her out of her bitter thoughts.

"Why are we even having this conversation? I know you have a brilliant plan, so let's have it."

He sighed running a hand through his flame of a hairdo, "What if I went to man things back at home while you took care of the city? I mean you've got a slew of somewhat intelligent people tagging along with you…and troop Alpha is the best they come. I should know because I trained them…"

"Are you asking me as your boss or as your sister to give you new orders soldier?" she interrupted him.

He smiled, she was joking again. That was a good sign. "I'm asking you as my best friend."

She laughed quietly, "You mean your only friend?"

"Exactly," he smirked.

"You have my permission to pursue Éowyn, but Dragon try and be productive in the mean time. Make sure Beta unit doesn't get lazy and I expect you to check in with Melbourne and Sydney. Take count of their effected."

"Maybe I'll have some help. A few Mall Rats have hinted at wanting to…"

"Get off this island? I don't blame them. There's nothing to do here. Whoever thought of putting a resort here was nuts."

"Maybe it was some rich tycoon's private island where he or she liked to entertain their friends, but that's not the point…I don't know what talents the Mall Rats or Pirates possess but we could use Ved and…" he said the last name with hesitancy, "Ram."

~0~

"Swift thinking today Patsy."

Patsy smiled turning around to face the speaker. Rayne was standing on the other side of the counter with a polite smile on her face, but Patsy knew it was false.

"It was wasn't it? I'm a genius."

"More like an eavesdropper."

"Now don't be upset because it wasn't your idea. I know Cloe; I am her best friend after all."

"You mean you were her best friend as in past tense. She told me about you and the Supreme Mother, how she was treated."

"The past is in the past."

"I agree. And that's exactly what you are Patsy, the past."

"You can't get rid of me," Patsy smiled brightly in challenge.

Rayne ran a finger along the countertop, her smile still in place," You're right, but I can make your life miserable."

"The door swings both ways."

The two girls were in an intense stare off when Trudy came into the kitchen, "Patsy what's the hold up with the fruit tray?" she paused looking from one girl to the other, "What's going on in here?"

Patsy grinned, "Rayne was just thanking me for saving Cloe's big day."

"And I was just telling Patsy that I'd deliver her message to KC, he's going to be elated, you know? He's been trying to get this date since you arrived."

Patsy lost her grin and it was Rayne with the bright smile on her face as she disappeared.

~0~

Kyra wasn't offended that her brother had brought Ram to attention. Ram was smart. He was the whole reason the Technos were even in existence.

"He's going to expect some form of leadership; he is the founder after all. Technically he's still in charge since it was a near assassination attempt that got him replaced anyhow," she answered.

"Come on sis, you know as well as I do that you're a better leader and thousands of freed slaves can attest that."

"We were all like Ram and Josh once," Kyra said referring to the Technos, "it took this whole chain of events to get us back on the right path."

"Are you saying you don't want to lead?"

"Of course I want to lead, but being in charge has its disadvantages," she said forlornly, "I mean what life am I gonna have?"

"You could always rule with an iron fist behind a desk like our friend Ram, but technically his desk was a wheelchair."

That made Kyra laugh, but she answered with seriousness, "The people of the city, if there are survivors are going to want to see a friendly face; someone taking charge and accounting for the mess. I have to go."

"But you don't have to stay. You don't have to let this job dictate your life."

"…as you so vividly display every day on base. A lot of girls aren't going to be happy to see Éowyn again if she decides to take you up on your offer, especially Techna."

"I'm not worried about Techna, the girl is harmless…Breeze however might build some contraption to kill me in my sleep."

"Breeze? Oh god Dragon, she's our resident genius! Tell me you didn't sleep with her! I told you, you can't keep scaring my best employees off!"

"Relax, I didn't sleep with her. She, like Danni, has a blatant disregard for Éowyn however and I, though it may surprise you, had nothing to do with it."

Kyra looked relieved, "Good because we need Breeze. She'll be able to make batch orders of the antidote on Techno Island once we wire it to you."

He nodded in understanding allotting a few minutes of silence to surpass them before he spoke again, "Be straight with me Tyro, are you going to be all right?"

She frowned at the use of her Techno name. It was a name that proved why she was now successor to Ram's throne. She had been one of his best pupils.

"Yes Kyle, I'll be fine."

~0~

Éowyn had no idea what Charis could've left for her on Niko's boat, but by the next day her curiosity had taken her over; she had to know. When she thought everyone was minding their own business, participating in the weddings and what not, she quickly made her way to Niko's boat. It's not that she wanted to be alone, but this was something she needed to do alone.

On board the tiny boat Niko had left to Keahi, Éowyn wasn't entirely sure of what she was looking for until she spotted it.

Hanging on the captain's wheel was something she thought she had lost. It had probably been left there by Niko before he boarded his lifeboat out to sea. She fingered the golden, circular body before letting her fingers gingerly trace the links. Carefully unhooking it she took it in her hands, holding it close to her heart.

She hadn't seen her father's locket pocket watch since she first set foot on Techno Island nearly two years ago when it was stolen from her knapsack. That was what all the commotion in the market had been; how she ended up working for the Technos and falling in love with Dragon.

She opened the watch finally, the tears flowing freely. She blinked them back furiously as she stared at the two little girls in the picture opposite the side of the watch; She guessed she was about six or seven.

Charis was taller and standing beside her on their father's boat; their hands intertwined, a toothy smile spread across the older girl's face. Her hair was a mane of tamed curls and she was wearing a cute little sun dress. Beside her the younger Éowyn had on a sundress as well and her hair was done, as always, in a long braid. Her smile was nearly identical as her big sister's whose grip she could remember holding tight.

It was a picture taken for their father's parents who refused to ever venture to Krait Island. Their mother hadn't wanted them to appear like savages so she orchestrated the whole shot from wardrobe to setting. Éowyn could remember being very antsy and wary of being in a dress. She had managed to stand still for the five minutes her parents took shooting pictures of her and Charis, before she was off bothering her father's crew.

Her father had been extremely proud of that picture. He carried it on all his travels, tucked securely inside his pocket watch that doubled as a locket. It was the pocket watch he gave to Éowyn when he knew he was dying.

"Charis almost thought she had found you when she saw a man playing with that at a market stall in Tar Land back on Krait Island. She traded a weeks' harvest for it and bugged many islanders for weeks about your whereabouts."

Unaware she was no longer alone her breath caught with a start. She turned slowly to face the speaker whom she recognized as Kai by his low, sad pitched voice. His arms were open, welcoming her to cry on his shoulder.

Still clutching the watch she did so, allowing his arms to wrap around her. And she just let her water flow. She hadn't cried hard like this in a very long time. So much anger, frustration, and sorrow had built itself up inside her and it had finally broken free of its bondages.

She cried until her sobs were nothing but dry heaves. And Kai said nothing; He just let her cry, holding her in a gentle, locked hug until she was done, then he pulled away.

Éowyn looked at him with earnest thanks, unable to find her voice. It was all that was needed. He nodded in response backing away and turning his back to her. A few awkward moments of silence passed between them. She fondled the pocket watch, opening and closing it nervously while he watched the waves. She knew his aloofness meant there was something to discuss and she had a good guess of exactly what it was.

"I can't go back there," she said breaking the silence. She watched his shoulders stiffen then go slack as she did so.

She of course was talking about Krait Island. While it would always be a part of her, it was no longer home to her. Too much had changed there; too much had changed with her.

"I don't think Blaze could stand to either," he said plainly, turning around, keeping his gaze up above them on a few circling sea birds.

"What about you Kai?" She already knew the answer, but she had to ask.

His gaze slowly lowered to meet her eyes, "It's all I have left."