Kylie Sue Martin took stock of the "hotel" she was in. Apparently the Department of Research for Anomalous Genetic OrgaNisms rated high on the plush-o-meter. Her room was more like an apartment, and boasted every luxury imaginable. Satellite TV, satellite radio, a recliner couch, oak tables, tile flooring. The only thing she didn't have was internet, or a way to go home.

How they were able to get her and Rhavishath to their compound without anyone noticing was beyond her understanding. Well - Rhavishath was understandable. She had round-the-clock care while still in the Toledo Metroparks, then when she was recovered just enough, was able to get the coordinates for the DRAGON compound from the minds of several agents. As she explained to Kylie, she didn't want to take any chances of betweening to the wrong place.

Kylie was taken to the compound the old-fashioned way - by Lear Jet. Rhavishath's back was still too tender for her to sit on, otherwise she would have gone there via dragon. Kylie was worried about Rhavishath going between with unhealed injuries, but her gold didn't seem any the worse for wear after the trip.

The most surprising thing about the DRAGON compound was the ready belief in her story - of course, how else could they explain the large gold dragon in their backyard, eating any and all livestock they brought in for her? There was also the fact that DRAGON had been around since the early 70's, when the first dragon and rider were found in a mangled heap on a parking lot in downtown Atlanta.

Since then, speculation ran rampant about where these manifestations originated. That Kylie provided the answer only whetted their appetite for more answers.

The sound of a key turning in the lock alerted her to a visitor in this luxurious prison. She smiled as Derek came in, closing the door behind him.

"So, any decisions yet?" she asked, sitting back and folding her hands on the table in front of her.

"They finally decided," Derek answered, taking the chair across from her. "I'm to take you home."

Kylie felt her stomach plummet in disappointment. "Oh. To Toledo?"

"No." Derek leaned forward and looked in her eyes. "To Pern."

A/N

Yes, sadly this is the end of this fic. After I finished this (back in 2006), I began a fanfic starring Mardra, which at this point is a whopping 1/3 finished. Yeah, I write fast, don't I?

I do plan to come back to the DragonSue universe, to continue Kailisu's story. Or Derek's story. Or, maybe even Kailan's story! I haven't decided if I'm going to bring Kylie and Derek back to the same point that Kylie left…or bring them back in the future when Kailan is the Weyrwoman of Telgar Weyr. Either one has its merits on the Pern native freak-out-o-meter.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading this fanfic as much as I enjoyed writing it.