But while Jackie and Meko struggled with the backlog of Twinns needing repair, Harmony was sitting in her favorite spot in the yard by the butterfly bush, reading the newspaper. Along with all the other Twinns at the Continuum, she had been following the news about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and thinking about ways to help.

Kimmie came by, almost buried under an armload of papers. "Hi, Harmony," she said, spying her friend. "Hi, Kimmie. What is all that?" asked Harmony, looking up from the newspaper.

"Applications to join the Continuum. I guess I am glad we are so popular, but it is difficult to see how I am going to fit everyone in." Kimmie sat on Harmony’s bench and handed the papers to her.
Harmony looked at the various mugshots. "Do we really need a sixth Emma?" Kimmie joked.
"About as much as we need an eighth Cookie," laughed Harmony. "I’m glad I don’t have to decide."
"The Cookies think we should have eight so we have an even number. The boys think we need a lot more boys. Meko and Mië want me to investigate whether MT really is bringing back Pearls. I am sort of glad we don’t have a lot of Bernettas applying. I kind of like being one of a kind. I’m sure you do, too."
"Uh, yes," said Harmony, changing the subject quickly. "Look at this report about New Orleans, Kimmie."
"What a mess," said Kimmie with a sigh. "It’s going to be a lot of work to get the city back in shape."
"I’d like to go down there," Harmony blurted out. "I think I can help them. I learned a lot as a Mission Specialist here, you know."
"Yes, that might be a good idea. I know they are looking for good Twinns," Kimmie agreed. "We would miss you, though. But if you feel it in your armature, I think that is where you should be."
"My armature is saying I should go, even though my heart will still be here with all of you," said Harmony. "It’s a tough decision. I have never lived anywhere else but here. And if I go the Continuum won’t have a Beatriz anymore."

"That is true," said Kimmie, thoughtfully. "And as we both know a good Beatriz is hard to find. But I think New Orleans may need you more than we do."
"The Cookies can always fill in for me," said Harmony with a grin. "How many Cookies does it take to equal one Beatriz?"
"The Caities would say, only one Caitie with her hands tied behind her back," laughed Kimmie. "I will look into getting you transferred, Harmony," she added. "Meanwhile, why don’t you start making a list of what you will need and we will work together to gather all of it?" Kimmie was very big on making lists and had a complicated system with various colors of paper and ink.
"OK, thanks, Kimmie," said Harmony. "I am glad you understand."
"Oh, everyone will understand," Kimmie said. "Otherwise I will bop them in the nose."
"Uh oh, don’t do that or Meko will be mad at us," Harmony laughed. "She already has enough patients to keep her busy. I will go explain everything to her myself as I may need some shots and medical supplies before I go."

"Good thinking." Kimmie dug in her pocket and found a pen and handed Harmony one of the mugshots that was blank on the back. "Here, can you make us a list of things that we need to take care of. I will talk to Rory and see whether she is ready to start taking over your duties. That new girl Jackie who is helping Meko is doing a very good job, I have been keeping an eye on her as a possible assistant myself, but with Rory being promoted she will need an assistant anyway and we may as well take Jackie in to do it."
"I like your way of thinking Kimmie, lets do it because I am afraid I want to leave here quickly and quietly, I don't want to have a whole lot of Twinns and Crocs in tears disrupting the whole flow of life here at the Continuum."
"No party huh?"
"No party, but once I am on my way you can break the news to them. I will also leave them a letter and my best wishes through you."
"I understand my friend, we will miss you terribly. I know that what you are doing is the right thing, I just wish that I had the courage of my convictions to do the same. Do you know that I will always remember what Jane said to Leah when she left. "We are all part of the Continuum, whether we live in Michigan or Ohio, whether its on this continent or another, we are all Twinns, we were created to bring joy and happiness to others, and as long as there is another Twinn we will be together, because each Twinn is part of another and we are part of the whole". Never forget that it applies to you too."
"I know Kimmie, and that's why I know that I will be leaving things in good hands. I must go pack and get that list ready, please notify Meko for me and let her know I will need those shots and medical supplies. Please ask somebody to call a taxi for me to take me to the bus station once I am done, and I will quickly complete the paperwork for my handover to Rory. Please see that she gets the guidance to do a good job. I have a lot of faith in her, and I know that you will make sure that she does it properly. I would not be doing this if I did not know that there were capable hands to take my place."
Kimmie could see that Harmony was trying her best to keep busy to avoid the obvious emotional storm that she knew was coming.
"Consider it all done my friend. I hope to see you before you slip away, but if I don't.... I want to hear from you on a regular basis. And, one day when you are ready to return I will be here waiting."
They embraced for a last time before each went their seperate way, each pausing to wipe away the inevitable tears. Kimmie to the sickbay, Harmony to her office to complete the paperwork for the handover.

Rory was amongst the first to know the news, and when the time came Meko found it difficult to administer the shots to Harmony through her own tears. Harmony returned to her quarters and hurriedly packed her case and wrote the last letter. As had been arranged, a taxi was waiting for her when she came out and took her to the bus station where she quickly boarded the bus which would take her to her new home. Harmony had slipped away and nobody had seen her go.

That evening Kimmie called the Twinns together outside on the lawn and told them about Harmony, she tried to explain that Harmony had left quietly and without fuss because she knew that it would seriously disrupt the Twinns schedules.

Harmonys final letter was brief. "To all my dear friends, by the time you hear this I will be well away en route to my new home. I have to do this because it is part of what being a Twinn is all about. We do not exist to serve our own pleasure, but to bring love and comfort to others. I hope to bring that to somebody who has been affected by this disaster that has befallen us. The Armature has called me and I must answer that call. Take care of yourselves, and of each other, never forget why you are here and always remember that we are Twinns, we are all a part of each other, and all a part of the whole."

And with everyone in tears Carlisle raised his eyes to the sky. "Look to the sky girls, and look at all the stars, let each one remind you of those who have gone away to other places. They may no longer be with us, but they will always be a part of us. Do you see that bright star? that is Harmony's star, it's shining tonight for her so that we will know, she is always with us."