443. One Year Ago

One year ago, the crew of Bravo had their first karaoke night before Yul headed to hospital and Kyra embarked on the ill-fated rescue mission--the first time since leaving Hyneria the crew would be separated. On the anniversary of that occasion and the eve of another mission into harm's way, the crew again has gathered with shot glasses eight (plus three) and song. Rog took the mic first, hair long and with guitar (don't ask), and looked over the crowd as a single spotlight held him as in suspended animation. With everyone's attention, he nodded to Von, and as the music started to play, looked at Yul and said, "Breathe out."





Lyrics: Everlong (Foo Fighters)

Hello
I've waited here for you
Everlong

Tonight
I throw myself into
And out of the red, out of her head she sang

Come down
And waste away with me
Down with me

Slow how
You wanted it to be
I'm over my head, out of her head she sang
Chorus-

And I wonder
When I sing along with you (Yul is singing along here--in a world of her own)
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again

The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
She sang
Verse 2-

Breathe out
So I could breathe you in
Hold you in

And now
I know you've always been
Out of your head, out of my head I sang
Chorus-

And I wonder
When I sing along with you
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again

The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
She sang
Chorus-

And I wonder
If everything could ever feel this real forever
If anything could ever be this good again

The only thing I'll ever ask of you
You've got to promise not to stop when I say when
She sang

His sweaty visage came to rest and his eyes found hers as a king finds his queen across a crowded court. Yul looked like a doe, standing in a pool of joy, blue rivers running from her fawnish glossy eyes. Her melanic leathered chest heaved as a balloon about to burst before she remembered--breathe out. From darkness to light, with a canorous quiver of lip, she spoke through the haze, her words riding a hush in the room like a cool breeze, "I promise." And in the space of a snapshot, time paused.

442. Together and Alone

The door opened and weary smile greeted weary smile, bodies moving as if floating down a river as they entered the bedroom. From across the wooden floor, a tired heart, lying alone, watched what appeared to be shapes, hues muted, one large and one small, come forth as silver angels. She could not speak and nodding her head was a herculean task. As if with all her might, she moved her head as one might move a boulder blocking life from death and within a face hardly recognizable two eyes looked with a love that induced three sets of tears. Her right hand began to tremble, the effort to lift against the force of nature and gravity too great, and as a plane too heavy to launch powers down, her hand exhaled and laid still, her eyes filled with (urgency) failure . . .

"Kyra, it's time. The others will be waiting."

"On my way Rog."

Kyra wiped her eyes and on bended knee bowed her head and wiped a few more.

Papa stood behind Kyra, his weathered hands on her small shoulders. "I love you Grand," she whispered, her tiny hand reaching out and where there was cold a warmth radiated and skin white became flush. Grand tried to speak. Her lip quivered as her eyes looked down upon a gift bestowed by Janus himself. Kyra turned her head to Papa, and with his thumb, wiped away a tear pure. "The great river of life Kyra. We all journey together and we all journey alone." As if cradling a pillow to his torso, he held her head within his hands, his white tunic wet with love. "Your Grand loves you too."

441. A Thousand Wishes

Ariel stood on a small stool behind Em, silver brush in hand, her small hand stroking as if pulling cotton candy, her blue eyes about as wide as if she were. "Emy, you know what I did this morning?"

"Tell me my little angel. What did you do this morning?"

"I held my last willow flower and I blew you a thousand wishes."

"Whatever did you wish for?"

"That your heart would smile again." Ariel kept brushing as if the wishes were matter of fact. Then added, "You know what?"

"What?"

"My wishes always come true."

Em turned and wrapped her arms around Ariel.

"Emy?"

"Yes."

"I can't breathe."

Em started laughing. "I'm so sorry, but that is about the sweetest thing anyone has done for me."

Ariel poked Em in the shoulder and declared: "See."

"What? What do you see?"

"It's working!"

Giggle revolved around smile like a lacquered primrosed filly around a merry-go-round, each the world to the other within the moment of a ride on a thousand wishes.

440. Take Your Time

"You wanted to see me?" asked John.

"Come in, grab a seat," said Kyra.

"I just wanted to say thanks--"

"Save it. I've got one question and you've got one chance to tell the truth or I will mind-frail you with rusted nail pleasure before jettisoning your sorry Kulmykian carcass out the garbage chute all the while telling Ariel you abandoned her for another child you loved more. Am I making myself clear?"

"Say what you got to say."

"What the frail did you know and when did you know it?"

"Concerning?"

"The frailing Dyad."

"It's complicated."

"Damn it John, no it's not."

"Yes it is."

"The truth is never complicated."

John sighed.

"And don't roll your frailing puppy dogs eyes."

"Look, I'm not proud of every choice I made and the world is not as black and white as you'd like to think."

"From a distance everything is gray. I'm not interested in what you think is in your nescient head. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Kyra could see that he didn't.

"Your heart. Open it. You've got one chance."

John looked slapped.

"I've got all day. Take your time."

__________

ed note: the following chapters will provide some background on this chapter. Start with the bottom link and work up. The question at hand is, What did John know about the original distress signal from the Dyad and what did he do about it and why. John has never been completely forthcoming on this matter and with the information Zoe has supplied, new information about what happened to the Dyad, much to John's chagrin, the questions have resurfaced.

Understood
The Order of Merit
Its Hynerian
Bury It

439. As a Jeweled Crown

Papa led her through the roric grass to the edge of the river. With both hands, as if holding a pillow upon which laid a jeweled crown, he gently placed the floating candle in the shallow water. He handed Kyra his torch, her young face illuminated like a member of a midnight choir, and nodded. Together they held hands, said a prayer, and with eyes sparkling like the moonlight off the water, pushed the lighted flower candle into the eternal flow of the river. Grand would forever live in their hearts he told her as they watched the candle fade from view on the gentle warm current.

438. Golden Pegasus

John tucked Ariel in bed. By request, he told the story of the golden pegasus, as he had the night before and for several nights before that as well, with the same enthusiasm as if telling it for the first time. Likewise, Ariel listened with rapt attention and joyful animation as if she did not know every twist and turn in the story, of how her father had met her mother. In a simple bedtime ritual, father and daughter found reprieve, however slight, however unacknowledged, from a reality that followed them both as faithfully as shadows in a cloudless sky.

437. Ocular Symbiosis

Em sat, back straight and tongue silent, a posture defiant or embarrassed could not be said. Dr X examined first the left eye and then the right, reviewing the data twice before entering a few notes into his slate.

+I'm not going to ask you any questions.+

Em remained silent of tongue and thought. She could feel his warm honeysuckle presence sitting gently within her mind, thankful he was not probing.

+You don't have to say or think anything. You've done no damage, but I will need to replace your bandages and we will need to wait a few more days to allow symbiosis to root. If you believe in Janus, a prayer or two wouldn't hurt.+

Em nodded.

Dr X secured the final bandage. He placed his hand on hers. +If you prematurely remove the bandages again, you'll risk ever seeing again. Do you understand?+

+Thank you Dr. Am I free to go?+

+Always.+