Freeing Cymbal

Chapter 10

Cymbal had read all the books Pan suggested and now he knew what she meant and saw what he lacked. What he lacked was masculinity. He also lacked sensuality, instead of embracing his strength he was afraid of it hell he wasn’t like any man at all. While Jolie was at work he went into the city and he observed many men trying to see what the biggest differences were. He watched so many men, so many different types of men and heard a lot of women talking about them and their types as well.
He thought he finally got it down when Jolie got home. He wore the black slacks she had got him, but left off his shirt. He didn’t like them much any way and he left his hair down. She dropped her keys on the counter and flopped on the couch with a sigh.
“Bad day?” he asked her walking up from behind.
“Extremely the good news it thought I think Dygon is gonna lay off for a while.”
He flinched like he always did when he heard her name. God he hated it when he did that. Jolie hadn’t seen so he leaned against the couch behind her. She leaned forward and rubbed the back of her neck.
“But the thing with Lataura went off with out a hitch. Tommy asked her to dinner and every thing...God I am sore.” she groaned.
He rubber her shoulders and her neck and her body slumped forward.
“How’s that?” he asked her.
“Incredible.” she muttered.
“Jolie needs to take a break.” he said.
She nodded in agreement, “Yes, but now I don’t have the time to take a few days off.”
“Then take a small one tonight.”
“Huh?”

He chuckled and released her shoulders and walked off. She blinked after him and shook her head. She went to her room and she grabbed a pair of pajama’s and went to her bathroom and dropped her clothes. There was a bath drawn for her filled with bubbles and lavender salts. She didn’t need to turn on the light because the room was lit with scented candles. She loved lavender, but...did Cymbal do this?
She looked outside the door and she shook her head and smiled. Come to think of it he was acting a little strange. She shut the door got undressed and slipped into the hot water and sunk down low into the suds. Oh this was heaven to her screaming body; still wounded, sore and bruised. She stayed in until the bubbles were gone. She washed up, got out and she dried and combed her hair feeling very relaxed until her pain came back. She blew out the candles as she went into her room only to find jasmine ones and her favorite Beethoven CD playing Moon Light Sonata.
Ok what was he up to? She turned as the door closed and Cymbal came in.
“What are you doing?” she asked with a smile of suspicion.
He turned and grinned flashing his teeth, God even those long fangs were sexy.
“This One read many interesting books and knows all too well, Jolie is in desperate need of this.” he told her taking her arm and leading her over to the bed.
He laid her down on her stomach and pulled her hair over his shoulder. At first she was unsure of what he was really going to do, but any uneasy thoughts vanished when he kissed her cheek tenderly and he started to massage her shoulders again. The man was a genetically altered god! Sexy, innocent, fierce, sensitive and magic hands. He rubbed away her soreness and every time his hands would move along her back he would drag his claws along her gently making her shudder. She wanted to feel his hands other places, but sleep was trying to shove it’s way into her mind as much as he resisted.
He simply whispered in her ear, “Sleep Jolie.”
And to the silky sound of his voice she drifted off to sleep.

* * *

“What did you do to him?”
Pan snorted as she made breakfast, “I didn’t do anything.”
“Liar, after you talked with him in the kitchen he started to act totally different.” Said Jolie in uniform at the kitchen bar.

“I just gave him a few books read and told him he should...observe the men in the books.” she said finally.
Jolie shook her head, “You’re gonna confuse him.”
“Please he was already confused I think I actually straightened a few things out. Now shut up and eat your breakfast. I have to go recharge.” Said Pan putting a plate down in front of her and then rolled over to an outlet and plugged her self into the wall shutting down.
Jolie shook her head and ate. Cymbal came in and grabbed a plate.
“Did Jolie sleep well?”
“Better than I have in years.”
“Good.”
“...Cymbal, why’d you...?”
He sat down and looked at her, “Because Jolie needed to relax. She was wound so tight she was fixing to snap...Good morning Lataura.”
Lataura was just trying to sneak in undetected, but Cymbal heard her with his sensitive ears. Jolie turned and saw her at the door.
“You’re just getting in?”
“Shut up.”
“I don’t believe it you and Tommy really hit it off huh?”
“Shut up.”
Cymbal chuckled, “Looks like she spent the night at his place.”
“Oh man, no one the office is gonna believe this.”
“Especially since you ain’t gonna tell nobody!” said Lataura sourly.
Cymbal shook his head, “Jolie won’t have to, ten bucks says Tommy will brag about it all morning.”
“...Oh that mother fucker, better keep his mouth shut or I’m plantin’ my fist in it.” she said before walking to her room.
Jolie laughed and turned back around, “All I can say is finally. And since when did you become so loose. It’s like ...I dunno every thing is coming to you easier.”
“It is except for referring to himself and others in the third person Cymbal is getting the hang human interaction. If he could speak normally it would be more apparent.” he sighed.
“I know you’ll get that too. You’ve said those simple words before and you can say them again.” she said.
Cymbal shook his head and took their plates to the sink; Jolie got up and grabbed her keys.

“I’ll see you tonight Cymbal.”
“Wait.”
He stopped her at the door and she turned and was right in his arms when he planted a hot, steamy kiss right on her lips. He slowly let her go with a grin.
“Have a good day Jolie.”
And he left her with a kind of dreamy expression.
“Oh I definitely will...” she turned and ran smack into the door.
She shook her head and opened it this time and left for work. Skip looked up at Cymbal suspiciously as he walked back into the living room.
“...what?” said Cymbal finally noticing his stare.
He shook his head, “I just can’t figure you out man...”
Cymbal snorted, “Don’t try to you won’t succeed. I can’t even figure myself out...”
Skip chuckled, “Alright you just referred to yourself in the first person.”
“Now this One...” he shook his head and rubbed his sinuses sitting down, “Now this One really can’t figure himself out. This One wants to say it, but he can’t get it out of his damn mouth.”
“...Maybe it will eventually wear out of your system.” shrugged Skip.
Cymbal sighed, “Hope is coming over so Skip knows.”
“What!? Why is she coming here!?”
“To play with Bobby and maybe even...talk with Skip.”
Skip rolled his eyes, “Like she’d want to talk to me.”
“For the love of God Skip! Tell Hope what happened! Don’t let it go on you’re still madly in love with her it’s so obvious. And she doesn’t even know what really happened, so do us all a favor and just talk to her...shit I am on a roll.” he got up and walked into the kitchen with Skip kind of starring in awe at him.
Talk to her...maybe...but...There was a knock on the door.
“Answer it Skip.” said Cymbal from the kitchen.
“I liked it better when you had to stare at shit to figure out how to use it!” yelled Skip angrily as he got up.
Cymbal poked his head out of the kitchen and growled at Skip baring his teeth making him jump. He chuckled and went back in. Skip went to the door and he sighed and opened the door.
“Hi...oh it’s you.” said Hope distastefully.

“What? No hi for your ex?”
“Just leave me alone Skip.” she snapped and walked in, but he followed her down the hall.
“Me and you gotta talk.”
She snorted, “I don’t ‘gotta’ do anything.”
“Look Hope just hear me out. Even if nothing comes of it I just want you to listen to me. Then I will know when it’s time to just give up. Just give me a chance to explain.”
Hope turned and looked at him with her arms crossed. God she was tall.
“Ok, you can explain tonight when you take me out for dinner.” she said simply.
“Oh...ok.”
She nodded and went down the hall leaving Skip feeling very awkward.
He sighed and ran his hand over his hair.
“And don’t wear a T-shirt!” she yelled down the hall making him grin.

* * *

So Skip took Hope to the nicest place he could afford, which was...
“...The Outback?”
“Look I am broke, dead broke and Jolie wouldn’t loan me money.” he said indignantly.
She sighed and they went in and got a booth.
“Ok, go for it.” she said settling back.
He sighed and rubbed his face, “What I am about to tell you I have never told any one, but Jolie because she is my best friend and my only friend...When I started my senior year in high school my mother was diagnosed with brain cancer.” he started out and she frowned, “They couldn’t remove the tumor with out killing her so they predicted that by next Christmas ...she’d be gone. We tried chemo and experimental drugs and all that, but nothing worked. The medical bills stacked up and my dad...my dad was a useless drunk who was more for spending money than making it.”
He stopped as the waitress came up and took their orders and brought them their drinks and left.

“Continue.” said Hope a little less coldly this time.
“So...three days before Christmas it took it’s toll and my mother passed away leaving us with a crummy Christmas and all of those bills. Then new years eve my dad got drunk, got in his car and ran into a light pole and killed himself. I was eighteen by that time and it left me with my mom’s bills and now all of the debts he owed. Turns out my dad was also a crack head and he got in it heavy with your dad. I...I did every thing, every thing I could to pay every thing of. I sold every thing in the house worth value, then i sold the house and all of my mom’s old drugs and that was just enough to pay off my mom’s bills with that and the three jobs I was working. I still had no way to pay off your dad because my jobs weren’t cutting it. So...after...one of your dad’s lackeys shot me in the leg I took a job as one of his dealers to work off my debts. I got out of it about a year ago.” he took a deep breath and leaned back and ran his fingers through his hair not looking at her.
“...why didn’t you tell me before?” she asked him silently her eyes bright.
He scratched his nose still not looking at her, “I didn’t want to tell any one. Jolie really was the first and only person who knew about it.”
“...is that why you’re living at her house? Because you are broke?”
“That and because I’m her official hacker.” he said finally meeting her eyes and the first time in a long time she smiled at him.
“Skip...it would have saved us both a lot of grief and a lot of time if you just told me that.” she chuckled.
“It might have saved me a few punches too, but while I may be a hacker, a coward and a convict I still have some pride left.”
She took a sip of her drink and shook her head.
“So...what have you been up to the last couple of years?” he asked.
“Well I went to boot camp, got a job as a private in VINA corp. until the old Lieutenant in charge of military direction got drunk and wouldn’t answer an alert. So I answered it for him and gave them an effective formation hat got me chewed out and a promotion all in one day.” she said in her perky way and then smiled.
He smiled back, “I missed your smile.”
Her face reddened a little.
“You’ll get to see it more often now.”

They got back to the house the same time as Jolie and Lataura. They ran right past them straight into the living room. They looked at each other and went after them. Jolie turned on the little TV set from her basement on in the living room and turned it up. The woman anchor switched the subjects finally.
“In military news General Alva Dygon was rushed to the hospital this evening at five thirty three PM after suffering a minor heart attack...”
Cymbal snorted, “This one is surprised. He thought one needed a heart to have a heart attack.”
They all chuckled.
“Doctors have reported she is in stable condition and will most likely be released over the course of a week. Mean while she remains in the ICU. Lieutenant General Jolie Titan will take her place temporarily until the General is well enough to return to her post.”
Jolie turned off the TV and every one shouted for joy.
“Yes this is my chance to check out every thing that conniving little witch has planned!” she said pounding her fist in her other hand.
“How the hell did that woman have a heart attack? I mean i know she’s not all that young, but she’s an army general for Christ sakes.” said Skip.
“She’s always had heart problems.” sighed Jolie sitting down, “Ever since she was tortured in the war.”
“That better not be sympathy I hear your voice, Chief.” said Lataura, “The woman stuck you in the Devil’s dungeon.”
“I know I can still feel it. But poor old Alva dug her grave and now she’s fixing to lie in it.”

* * *

Jolie just couldn’t stay away. One her day off she found her self walking into the ICU of the hospital to Dygon’s room. She slipped inside and she was asleep. Man Jolie had never seen this side of her before. Her face was pale and dull, her eye patch lay on her bedside table so she could see the long scar that went over her face all too clearly. Her hair was dirty and disheveled and she was laying with tubes and wires all over her. She had never seen this...Dygon weak and vulnerable and for some reason it almost made her sick.

She walked over to her be side...how could the woman who was her mentor be so cruel and heartless? Dygon was practically Jolie’s older sister before she told her how she disposed of her mentor. In every sense Dygon was more than her boss before. She was her best friend, her only family and she was even maid of honor at Jolie’s wedding. She even caught the bouquet. And yet this woman used her and her work and abused what she made in hopes of making the world a better place for pain and suffering. She forced her to kill one of her good friends and forced her wage a war against the last woman she ever thought would betray her.
Then she herself condemned her to a fate worse than death in the Devil’s Dungeon and she laughed in her face.
Jolie drew a combat knife from her belt with a shaking hand. She swallowed and turned it over in her hand and raised it over her head. Her arm was shuddering and she closed her eyes and her hand jerked down, but that was it. She let her hand fall to her side and let the knife drop to the floor.
“Can’t do it?”
She lifted her tear stricken face as Dygon opened those cruel green eyes forlornly.
One of them milky white the other a searing green like a green flame, “I bet you could if you really tried. Maybe not now...no you’re too good to stab a sleeping woman...a woman who already has one foot in the grave. What were you thinking as you stared at my lifeless form so intently before you drew that knife?” she muttered in a tired way.
“...I trusted you...with every thing, with my life, my future...you were my friend. You were more than my friend and you made me do all those horrible things and you did all of those horrible things! You an evil vile creature who deceived me and destroyed every thing I once held dear!”
Out of no where Jolie never expected it. Dygon’s hand shot out and grabbed her around the throat and she pulled Jolie forward looking so pissed off she was almost crazed.
“I haven’t destroyed any thing! You still have things that are of worth to you, you still have your life in your hands, do not talk to me like you know what is going on! You have no idea...”

He hand fell from Jolie’s throat and she fell forward clutching her chest her face screwed up in pain. She coughed and gasped as her monitor went hay wire reaching for the call button. Her hand fell...and her eyes rolled up to Jolie almost pleading. Jolie stared defiantly back and she closed her eyes and swallowed. She hit the call button herself and she walked out of the room.
Some thing was wrong...something was so wrong. What was going on. The plead in her eyes, Jolie had never seen Dygon so angry before as when she told her she had destroyed every thing, that she was vile and evil... She went back home and got in at eleven. She put down her keys and slipped off her jacket and she to Cymbal’s room. He was up reading of course. He looked up when she came in.
“When did Jolie get it?” he asked.
She sat down on the side of the bed, “I just got in a few minutes ago. Cymbal...I need to ask you something.”
“...ok.”
He put down his book listening.
“When you first came here you always talked about...a ‘Her’.” she said and he flinched.
“Never mind this One doesn’t want to talk any more.” he said hastily.
“Cymbal...”
“Don’t! ...ask this One about her please Jolie...” he said looking panicked.
Jolie sat back, “...It isn’t Dygon is it?”
He didn’t answer her.
“Cymbal you have to answer me...”
“No.”
“Cymbal! This is serious!”
“I am serious I will not tell you any thing about Her!” he yelled back standing up and he walked out.
Jolie blinked rapidly...that was new. She went after him. He looked up from the couch and walked outside and jumped in a tree. She sighed and she went after him and she climbed after him.
“Cymbal!”
“Leave this One be.”
“Cymbal...” she sighed and she got to the top where he was.
“Ok...you can’t tell me...can you tell me...why you can’t tell me?” she asked calmly.
“...why does Jolie ask about this now...after Jolie went see Dygon?” he asked her in turn.

She blinked and looked up at the sky, “Dygon was acting strangely. Even for being sick she’s never acted so angry or...”
“Scared?”
“...yes.”
“She is always watching. Dygon...is being watched...every where Dygon goes Dygon is watched. Watched by another...She has eyes every where...and She can do so much worse than a shock collar or a computer chip.” he said slowly, “Jolie asked if it was Dygon. This One can’t honestly say it isn’t...seeing as... Dygon is a last name.”
Jolie thought about this for a second and it came to her.
“Not Alva...does she...have a sister? A brother? I thought both of her parents were dead...” this was confusing if it wasn’t Alva then what Dygon was responsible?
She sighed and looked up at the sky. She saw a shooting star.
“Make a wish.” said Cymbal.
She smiled and she made her wish, “What did you wish for the last time?”
He chuckled, “A kiss what else?”
She smiled at him.
“You have changed a lot. You are turning into a real man.”
“Like Jolie said...Jolie hasn’t turned this One into a real man...not yet.” he said looking at her with those exotically colored eyes.
“You’ve been reading too many romance novels.”
“And the book of Coma Sutra. Don’t forget that.” he mused.
She laughed and the branch snapped under her and she fell. Cymbal jumped straight down and got under her in time to catch her.
“Whoa...nice catch.” she said.
He flashed his white teeth, “Least you fall on this One again.”
She chuckled and he carried her back inside.
“I just have one more question on the subject.”
He groaned, “What?”
“...what will happen if you are Dygon tells?”
He looked at her thinking of how to put it.
“Let’s just say...Alva’s heart attack...was in no way natural.”

* * *


Jolie was right back next to Dygon four days later as she woke up again. She looked at Jolie sunk into her bed too weary to move.
“Hey.” said Jolie remaining seated next to the window, it was at least two in the afternoon, “Brought you some flowers this time.”
She pointed to her left at a vase of red and white roses.
“...what day is it?” croaked Dygon.
“It is... November twenty fourth.” she replied.
“...I was asleep four days?”
Jolie grinned evilly, “Only after you recovered from...exploratory surgery.”
Dygon frowned, “I didn’t sign a consent form.”
“As your next benefactor I signed one for you in fact I performed the surgery myself...”
If possible Dygon’s face got even paler.
“What did you do...”
Jolie chuckled and she leaned back and took out a small box from her pocket, “I found ...the most interesting device implanted in your right ventricle. Every time I pressed a certain part...it would cut off the blood flow to your arteries. Now many think I’m wrong, but I’m willing to bet this is what caused your heart attack.”
She shook the box and Dygon could hear a lot of metal clink.
“In fact...I found at least six of these in various places that would prove to be fatal if engaged. And all of them were in places where you had old battle scars from the war.” said Jolie eyeing her.
Jolie stood and walked over to her and leaned over the side of the bed looking right at her.
“You are a war legend because it was said that when you were being you took it with out shedding a single tear, with out speaking and keeping complete and total composure. So many times you have told me death is but the next adventure when you were on the brink and yet when I last came to see you...and this device was engaged you were angry. And you were scared...I’ve looked in ever record I could get my hands one and every single one of them says you came back on the brink of death from that war. Except for one...that says your lifeless corpse was taken out of a torture camp covered with an American flag and they have pictures.” said Jolie.

Jolie walked to the door and she opened it. All of the lieutenants walked in and so did Bobby and Cymbal all of them eyeing her with an even amount off cool indifference.
“Through the means of this file that said you were dead we found another on line. An old hospital file that had you registered in the morgue. And then a file that said your body was donated to the VINA corp. science lab.” every one else looked at each other confused except for Bobby and Cymbal who were just kind of starring at Dygon, “While your wounds were still open though you were dead a person or persons who’s identity is unknown placed these devices in each of your wounds before performing a surgery that was only successful in science fiction movies. They placed a working donor organs in your dead body and they brought you back to life. In a way they put you back together again. Only now some one else was in control of your bodies because of the devices placed there.”
“Wait a second...” said Kelly suddenly, “Are you telling me that...she was...she was like those two some one else was just using her?”
Jolie blinked at Alva looking her straight in the eyes.
“That’s exactly what I am saying and now...we are at square one. Because we don’t know who is behind all of this shit and none of them are going to tell us who this mysterious ‘her’ is.” sighed Jolie.
Alva cracked a grin.
“I knew I hired you for your brilliance.”
“I don’t believe this.” groaned Lataura smacking her forehead.
They all found a place to sit and think.
“So we got nothing?” asked Tommy, “and why can’t you tell us who?”
“Look at what she dug out of my heart and ask me that again Thomas.” replied Dygon evenly, “All those legends of me with standing torture were quite true and this woman manages to strike fear into my heart. This girl...Bobby, was it, was not the first VINA corp. experiment in the genetics lab.”
Bobby shook her head.
“No I was the second. The first was a failure.”

“Indeed, I was brought back, but I was also a failure. When I had my wits about me again they released me and I went back to my job as if nothing had ever happened. But...the worst part of all of this is...all of you have something in common here. Every single one of you has either lost a parent, or both of your parents or a sibling, or significant other due to an accident of some kind. And all of you came to work in the same office. Well when Thomas’ mother died in a shoot out, Paul’s sister was mugged and beaten to death, Tula’s late wife was destroyed in a hate crime and both of Lataura’s sisters were kidnapped every single one of them was taken to the VINA corp. lab and taken apart.” she told them as... Tommy, Tula and Lataura seemed to have died in that moment.
“What?” asked Lataura unable to believe.
“They were all killed around the same time as when I was brought back to VINA corp. They were dismantled and I received a heart from Tula’s wife, a lung from Paul’s sister, several organs from Lataura’s sisters and a liver and kidney from Thomas’ mom.” she announced closing her eyes her brow knitted, “They have been killing people masked by accidents for a long time. Any of you that has lost family...it was no accident. Zach...your little sisters, Hope your little sister and...my daughter were all taken apart and used to build Bobby. Jolie’s father and husband, Tula’s brother, Thomas’ father, Skip’s father, Kelly’s boy friend, Ruben’s brother and father, my husband...where all used to make Cymbal. And what seemed odd to me was...every single one of you came to work at VINA corp. after wards.”
She opened her eyes looking tortured starring at the ceiling. She reached over to her bedside table and she reached into the drawer and pulled out a gun. Jolie got up and wrestled it out of her hand as she pointed it to her head. She only succeeded in shooting the ceiling before Jolie got it. And what freaked them all out more were the tears that ran down Dygon’s cheek. Never had any one seen her cry. How was it possible that there was a being more cruel than what they thought Dygon was? And who was it that held the same last name as she?

* * *

“Oh for the love of God just roll me into a street and wait for the traffic to get me! The last thing this world needs is another old loon from the war!” snarled Dygon from a wheel chair as Jolie took her to her car.
“Oh as if Ally.”
“Calling me Ally again? I was rather getting used to Dygon with a spike of venom in your voice.” she said lightly.
“Shut up and get in the car.”

Jolie helped her into the back seat and stuck her chair in the trunk.
“Hello Cymbal. Do you hate me as well? It seems Jolie is the only one who can stand to speak to me.” she said leaning into the front seat.
Cymbal chuckled and shook his head.
“Cymbal hates you no more than any other person.”
“Ok, so that’s two in the bank.”
Jolie got into the passenger seat and he drove on.
“Do I have to stay with you?”
“Yes, you need some one who won’t kill you while you’re trying to recover and I don’t think your personal assistant is competent for that position.”
“Yes, but you also have Skip and Lataura in your house and they have motives.” she replied lightly looking out the window.
“Look you old Brit, you don’t have to worry about them any more ok? How many times do I have to say it?” sighed Jolie.
Dygon chuckled and shook her head, “Has this taught you nothing Jolie? Enmity...is a very strong emotion.”
It took them a while to get to her house.
“Why do you live all the bloody way out here?”
“Because the city sucks Ally.”
They got her out of the car and inside. Minnie and Max came running and they sniffed her and ran away with their tails between their legs.
“What on earth?” muttered Dygon.
“This One thinks they smell the animal in you.” said Cymbal dropping the keys on the table.
“Oh and what do you think?”
Cymbal looked at her, “Honestly...Alva smells like a really big cat.”
“...a cat?” she muttered.
“Ok I have narrow halls so Cymbal...”
Cymbal picked up Dygon and she started.
“Wasn’t expecting that.”
They took her down the hall to a spare room and Jolie got her situated.
“If you need any thing...just pretend like we’re at the office.” said Jolie.
Dygon snorted and shook her head with a sigh, “Thank you Jolie.”
“...Sure thing.”

Phelix darted into the room and jumped on the bed and crouched over Dygon.
“...what...in bloody hell...is this?”
“This is Phelix the chimera no one thought I could make.”
“Extraordinary.”
Phelix sniffed her and licked her face to her distaste.
“Lovely.”
“Come on Phelix, let’s let her rest.”
They left and she closed the door and went to the living room.
“I can’t believe she’s staying here.” Skip told her agitatedly.
Jolie cocked her hip, “If you don’t like it then move out.”
“Actually I am.” said Skip lifting his head high, “Yes I am moving in with my girl friend.”
“You have a girl friend?” they all said at once making him go red in the face.
“Yes! Is that so hard to believe.”
“Yes.”
“Fuck all of you.”
“Who are you moving in with?” asked Lataura.
“...Hope.” he said quickly and they all looked at him.
Jolie grinned, “It’s about time our meddling paid off.”
Bobby slipped into the hall and she put up the hood to her cloak. She slowly sneaked into Dygon’s room. She was asleep at the moment. Bobby slowly closed the door and crept over and ducked behind the bed. Dygon opened her eye looking down and shut it quick when Bobby looked over the edge. She walked around the edge and slowly looked at Dygon as she slept. She stood and kind of leaned over the bed. Dygon slowly lifted her arm behind her and gave her a swift nudge that made her jump and scream. Dygon chuckled and opened her eye.
“What are you doing in here?” she asked looking at her cloaked figure.
“I was uh...this One was...the first time this one saw you before was at the hospital...this One feels like she has seen you before.” she said tentatively.
“Really. What’s your whole name?” she asked.
Bobby jumped on the end of the bed and sat.
“I am Bobby Josephine Edward De Pedro Constantine the 2nd.” she said and chuckled.
“...Josephine...” Dygon chewed her lower lip, “Let me see your face.”

She shook her head.
“Why not?”
“Bobby isn’t...put together well.”
“Neither am I, but you can’t see under my clothes. Trust me Bobby there is no way you can alarm me.”
Bobby hesitated but she lowered her hood. Dygon’s face fell and she suddenly looked sad and scared.
“I stand corrected.” she muttered.
Bobby lowered her head and pulled up her hood, but Dygon stopped her looking at her face, tears spilling down her cheeks. Bobby was confused. Dygon wiped her eyes and she reached into the bed side table and took out her wallet and produced a photo and looked at Bobby. Bobby blinked at her and she moved to her side and gasped when she saw the photo. It was a little girl of no more that seven in a small yellow dress. She had short black hair much like Bobby’s with a little yellow ribbon in it. She was smiling at the camera with the same green eyes as Alva sitting at a piano with Alva behind her guiding her fingers. Her body was whole and she looked so vibrant and alive. Not at all like she was now.
And what’s more was...Bobby and this little girl had the exact same face.
“Who...” muttered Bobby touching the photo.
“...that was my daughter...Roberta Josephine Dygon.” said Dygon sniffing, “My husband thought it was going to be a boy so he voted for Robert. I had Josephine in tow so when she was born we simply named her Bobby Jo.”
Bobby looked up at Dygon.
“Now I know...you’re the woman in my dreams. I remember thing...like I lived them...a woman who taught me to play the piano...who always sat behind me. Living...right next to the ocean and always walking on the beach. I’d pick up sea shells and...”
“You would take them home and make necklaces or little purses.” finished Dygon.
“...You’re my mother.” Said Bobby and she started crying.
Dygon shook her head and wrapped her arms around her and rocked her a little.

“Bobby...I missed you so much. When you died nothing mattered any more, so I just did as my grandfather said and joined the army to work out my anger. That’s how all of this happened.” she muttered hugging her close.
Lataura, Jolie, Skip and Cymbal all crept back to the living room.
“Dygon...Bobby’s mother...man this is all way too fucked up!” raged Lataura falling back in a chair crossing her arms, “I am surrounded by people who are made of pieces of my God damn sisters for Christ sakes! Did you find any other Dygon’s Skip?”
“None that are alive.” sighed Skip.
Jolie tapped her head.
“This shouldn’t be that hard...give me a list of the most recently deceased.” said Jolie.
He opened his lap top and brought up the list.
“Ok...we have Gregory Dygon, Helen Dygon, Marcus Dygon, Evert Dygon....”
“Women, only women.” she said.
He narrowed the search.
“Ok, Helen, Tina, Cassandra, Candice, Janis, Gabrielle, Mary Lou, and Radica were the most recent.” he told her.
“...any of them Related to Alva?”
“Candice is a cousin, Tina was an in-law and Radica...hmm...”
“...what hmm, you found something?” asked Jolie sitting up.
Skip shook his head.
“No file at all, no record, no picture the only think we got is a name and a date and place of birth.” he sighed.
Lataura frowned, “Where was she born?”
“She was born in...Pakistan.”
“Radica Dygon?”
“By marriage her maiden name was Hakeim.”
Lataura got up and paced she was thinking, they could see the gears going.
“Do a search on a man named Sihead Hakeim.” she told him.
He typed it in a pressed enter.
“Whoa this guy is her brother.” he said.
“Jolie, Sihead Hakeim was that guy that tried to blow us up, remember? You snatched the ignition pen and he was arrested.” she said suddenly.

“...Yeah, but wait if these people were straight from Pakistan then how is Alva tied into this?”
Bobby walked in and she jumped on the back of the couch and sighed.
“I am three fourths Pakistani.” sighed Bobby, “At least when I was born the first time around.”
They did the math.
“Radica Dygon.”
Bobby jumped so bad she lost her balance and fell off the couch.
“Ow.”
Lataura slapped her forehead and ran her hand down her face, “Radica Dygon was Alva’s momma.”

To be continued...

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RosettaMoon: Dygon is innocent! What a twist huh? Or perhaps...predictable. IDK you tell me, please, please tell me! For the love of God review!^-^