Hope In The Future
Note: This is a sequel to Once Dead on the Terra Nova site. It will make more sense if that story is read first. This is a crossover with Star Trek TNG.
"This is an active area," Lucas Taylor could feel the magnetic pulse emanating from the crack. He held his hand out, palm repelled by the wave like trying to match the negatives of two magnets. His hand slid to one side. "When we were building Hope Plaza, we went through this phase before configuring the polarity to penetrate through to the other side."
"What happens if we end up on the inside of the cliff?" Mira's public education was basic twenty second century standard issue. She could barely read and write.
Lucas chose to ignore her. He took the box she had recovered for him and used it to gather information and with his plexpad. Soon he was totally absorbed in his calculations, not cognizant of the activity milling around him. They had been camped here for a couple months while he worked on the calculations to pierce the fissure, when his father got close enough to set up surveillance equipment. Now his movements were silently sent back to Terra Nova.
They had searched for months in the badlands. Several deposits and bleached bones drew them ever further into the barren environment. Like the portal near Terra Nova, this elusive portal moved, never opening twice in the same spot, but the distance in the desert was greater, transporting debris over a very large expanse, making finding the main fissure like the proverbial needle in a haystack. Lucas was sure he had found their 'needle'.
A very pregnant Wash couldn't get comfortable in any position. She would sit in the office chair that allowed her to recline slightly, and then struggle to her feet, leaning heavily on her cane. She didn't dare take a step without it now with impaired balance multiplied with this un-natural protrusion weighing her down. A welcome hand slid under her maternity top and started massaging her sore lower back.
"Elizabeth couldn't get comfortable either," an amused voice was just behind her.
Startled, she whirled ready to punch, into her laughing husband. Jim Shannon, also chuckling stood beside him, close enough to fool her. For good measure, she punched both of them lightly. "What had your attention that you didn't hear us come in?" Nathaniel left off rubbing and she missed his hand.
"Looks like Lucas found something," she moved aside so the men could watch the monitor. They watched the young man holding the box stolen from Terra Nova during the meteor strike when the sonic blast knocked the parameter fence down allowing Mira's men to break into Malcolm's lab and steal it.
"We know for sure now who it was for," Taylor somehow wasn't surprised.
"Are you guys done looking for now?" an alarmed Alicia wanted to know.
"Why?" her husband asked whipping his head sideways at her.
"My water just broke," she stated, startling both men who jumped into each other, each not sure what to do. She laughed and wished she had a video of them to show Elizabeth.
"Uh, I could carry you to the clinic," Nathanial started to pick her up.
"She should be able to walk," Shannon cut in, earning him a murderous glare from Nathanial and a nod from his wife.
"No she's not," he scooped her up in spite of her protest to be put down. As soon as he emerged onto the balcony with her in his arms, the witnesses below hoped nothing was wrong with the most protected person in the colony. Reynolds led the charge up the steps followed by several strong soldiers.
"Nathaniel, you are not carrying me down these steps," her firm command stopped him, along with her gripping his ear and turning his head to hers. "Just don't let go, I can't make it alone," the last spoken low and soft, her tone usually reserved for their private time.
That got through to him and he carefully set his pregnant burden on her feet, hands never leaving her waist until she was steady. He got on her left side, arm around her and Jim Shannon took the other side, gripping her arm tightly. Reynolds was in front in case someone slipped. Other soldiers moved near them, ready to assist if needed.
And thus was the small group who made a noisy entrance into the clinic. "Elizabeth," Jim Shannon roared loud enough to catch the attention of everyone in the building. Strangely Nathanial was silent letting his friend do the calling. It was starting to sink in and he was starting to panic. What if something went wrong. He couldn't lose her again, he just couldn't, his breathing quickened.
Dr. Shannon read the situation with a glance. She had been expecting Alicia and had everything ready, just needed to add mother. Taylor wasn't looking too good, and for that matter her husband wasn't either. Both wore identical panicked expressions, but she was sure for very different reasons. Jim didn't want Taylor to crash again and leave him in charge, and he had grown close to Alicia and losing her again would hurt him deeply. Taking charge, she ordered, "In here, and I want everyone not related out of here, now." Her orders were reluctantly followed and Jim loitered near the door.
Nathaniel felt a pressure against his forearm. "A light sedative. You look like you're going to pass out," Elizabeth Shannon smiled and led the expecting parents to the birthing bed.
Nathaniel scooped his wife effortlessly into his arms. Before laying her on the bed he gently kissed her lips, "I love you," he whispered.
Dr. Shannon pretended not to hear.
"Ready?" Dr. Shannon loved bringing new members of Terra Nova to the world. "Your place is near her head," she moved Nathaniel to the right side of Alicia and he held her hand as she called for her nurses. Soon a team was ready as the doctor administered a local. Quickly she made an incision, almost making Nathaniel pass out. He could handle any amount of wounds on anyone, but her.
"I'm supposed to be the one squeezing," Alicia teased her husband and he relaxed his grip slightly.
Soon the first child was pulled from the opening. Dr. Shannon confirmed a son and passed it off to the nurse who clamped the umbilical cord and gave the cutter to Nathaniel. He quickly cut the umbilical and readied for the next child. As expected, the second was also a boy and he performed the same quick cut while Dr. Shannon cleaned and closed the uterus, then sprayed the incision closed.
"No scaring from the boys. You have enough from other injuries," she said and left to oversee the cleanup on the boys while Nathaniel's panic waned. Alicia was doing just fine, in fact she glowed.
He leaned over for another kiss, "How do you feel, Sweetheart?" his term of endearment never spoken in public, but they were alone for the moment.
"I can't believe we've come this far," she reached up and stroked his beard drawing him in for another longer kiss.
"We should have done this years ago. Forgive me for being dense." He didn't think it possible to love her more, but he did.
A nurse entered and raised the bed so Alicia was sitting at a forty five degree angle as Dr. Shannon and another nurse each carried a baby to the new parents.
Nathaniel reached for one and the other was placed in Alicia's arms. "Which was born first?" Alicia wanted to know which one she had.
"Nathaniel has the first born." The baby opened his eyes to look at his father.
"Hmmm, he has my eyes," Nathaniel wasn't sure how he felt about another son carrying his eyes, as he failed so miserably with the first.
"Well this one has my eyes," Alicia gazed into her son as he looked back at her.
"Good," they switched babies and Alicia was absolutely delighted to see her eldest had his father's beautiful eyes.
Dr. Shannon motioned her husband to join them. He stood back, happy for his friends and remembered how it felt to hold one of his new children. He knew it was an experience only the parents could feel, bonding with their offspring.
Nathaniel motioned with his head for Jim to join them and he came over and looked at both boys. Elizabeth held a plexpad containing birth information, "I need their names," she prompted.
The new parents looked at each other and nodded. Nathaniel spoke for the family, "The first born, the one with my eyes will be called," he paused, looked back at his wife, "you sure?" At her nod, he grinned, "Okay, his name is Malcolm Nathanial Taylor."
"Malcolm will love that, you naming a child after him," Elizabeth was delighted while Jim thought they were crazy. The Taylor's looked pleased. Wonder what they are going to name the second one. For once Jim kept that thought to himself.
Nathaniel continued, "I know you're not going to believe this one, but Alicia's father's name is Thomas, so the one with my wife's beautiful eyes is Thomas Washington Taylor, and," he looked at the Shannon's "it will double for being named after Boylan, Wash insisted." Jim Shannon was starting to doubt Taylor's objections in regards to their token bartender. Boylan had told him they were friends at one time and he suspected they were better friends than they let on. After all he did perform their wedding and shot a Sixer off Taylor.
Soon friends came visiting after the newborns had been fed by their mother. The men had moved off to one side giving Wash access to her female friends; giving them a chance go visit and fuss over the babies. Malcolm turned a bright pink and was speechless. He did take that opportunity to place a kiss on Wash's cheek and ask her quietly, "Why?"
"We wouldn't be here without you. Did I ever apologize for not being a better help to you back then?" she kept her voice low, not wanting Nathaniel to know the direction the conversation had taken.
"You couldn't help me, nobody could. I was the only person here with the knowledge to build that thing," he couldn't believe, here, on the day she gave birth, she was upset that she didn't help him more. Must be the hormones; he tried to make her smile, "Do I get to be godfather to my namesake?"
It worked, "We're asking the Shannon's to do that responsibility," she smiled at his pretend relief.
"What are you two conspiring?" Nathanial had been covertly watching them talk and figured it had taken a turn to the time he wanted his wife to get over. Time to break in.
"Just honored, Commander," Malcolm moved to the small group of men and safety.
"Feel like you can get up, Alicia?" Dr. Shannon had been monitoring her recovery and all signs were normal.
"So soon?" Nathaniel took his wife's hand, worry starting to come back.
"I'm kicking her out as soon as you bring her some clothes and her cane. Now I want everyone out for one last exam," Dr. Shannon escorted the Commander to the door, "She's fine, just take her home and keep her there for at least a week."
A steady stream of congratulations came from all directions as he made his way through the market area to their home, stopping by the Command Center to collect her cane. He brought his personal rover back and Skye wandered up for her second visit to the clinic as he was figuring how to transport his babies. Two were going to be a challenge. "Want me to ride in back and hold one of them?" she offered.
He nodded, "Thanks."
"So do I get to be an un-official big sister?"
He laughed as he pulled a bag and cane from the front seat. "Isn't it time for you and that Shannon boy to think about having your own?" he winked at her.
"Josh hasn't even asked me on a date. I think we're a long way from kids."
"You should ask Wash for advice; she managed to get through to me."
The week passed quickly. Alicia learned how to carry one baby at a time with ease. For some reason she was a natural with kids and it came as a surprise to her, but not her husband. He had seen how the kids in the colony had been affected when they thought she was dead; they adored her. He was sure their sons would also be momma's boys. They each carried a boy to the clinic for their first checkup and hopefully her clearance to return to work. She was cleared for light duty, but more importantly for Nathaniel to resume lovemaking. Hand jobs were better than nothing, but he missed the intimacy of being in her.
He had to go back to work and she accompanied. They stopped at the bottom of the steps, Taylor aiming to carry both boys up until he saw Jim Shannon dashing down the steps and without a word took Alicia's baby. She was irritated, not at him; she wasn't cut out to be a cripple. As soon the selfish thought crossed her mind, she felt remorse. At least she could walk, unlike Casey with his missing legs. "Thank you," she would have to get used to not being able to carry her son's up a flight of stairs.
She settled in front of the monitors. A hand made crib had been placed nearby. She saw a wooden rocker in the corner. "I figured it might come in handy," Nathaniel looked down at his sons, then chanced a glance at her, "Tonight?"
She knew what he meant and smiled.
Soon she was absorbed in a week's worth of data. Lucas was still working on his physics. Every time he opened that strange box, the diagrams were more complicated and numerous. She downloaded the data and shipped it to Malcolm's plexpad. She remembered Skye telling the Commander that Lucas had made her take a data pad into the eye. She wondered if he were going to try and gain access again. She checked the fence monitors and saw too many weak spots where one person could slip through. She was going to have to order a parameter test soon.
She heard a baby cry. Time to change and feed again, a non-ending job. One at a time she cleaned them up and held them to her breast, glad her husband thought to add a rocking chair. She could get used to this and loved these intimate moments with her son's. Much later, Nathaniel came in with Reynolds and Dunham in tow. He had been doing her training and was still flush from wrestling one soldier after another. Each soldier went and picked up a baby. Wash raised an eyebrow without saying anything.
"New orders," Taylor indicated the two men, "I've put out new orders; soldiers will carry the boys. What's the good of being in charge if you can't delegate and abuse. Whenever you go out, I want to see at least two soldiers, one with each kid, understood, L.C." he ordered her. He grabbed the diaper bag and pulled her to her feet.
Wash smirked at the men, "Aren't privates qualified for this duty. It takes an officer to carry a Commander's kid?"
Both men were grinning like idiots, happy to be of service.
"They're setting an example for the other's," he took her hand and together they led the way home. It became a familiar sight, one or the other, but mostly her going back and forth from the Command Center to home, with frequent stops through the market. Two soldiers trailing, each carting their charge with pride.
Supper over, boys fed and sleeping in a crib placed in the corner of their parent's bedroom, Nathaniel locked the outside door, turned the lights off and made his way to their bedroom. He stopped in the doorway. She was checking the boys one last time, but wearing a new nightgown he'd never seen before. It was satin and barely covered her ass. She turned around and he could see the low cut front splitting to cover each breast, and string straps almost invisible as they looped over her bare shoulders. He couldn't make out the color; it shimmered reflecting the colors in the room as she glided up to him.
"You going to spend the night leaning against the door frame?" she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him softly.
"Enjoying my present," he held her away, hands on her waist appreciating the view. He led her to their bed and quickly undressed while she pulled the cover back and laid down. "If you want that in one piece you better get it off," he growled as he joined her.
"If you want to see me in it again, you better not rip it," she dared him to destroy and lose out of future enjoyment. He ran his hands up her body, pulling it up with his upper movement until it was off and flung somewhere across the room.
"So beautiful," his gaze moved over her body, enjoying her flat stomach again. Their lovemaking was slow, each rediscovering how they fit together before her pregnancy. He found it to be perfect, just like before. She relished the way he made her moan his name while his mouth found her core. He in turn lost his mind while she returned the favor, until his, "Stop," was so raspy she knew it was time to settle on him.
Twice. The second time came after the midnight feeding. He watched her as she leaned against him while he switched the boys and changed them. He stayed awake watching her feed and burp, and she watched him tent under the blanket as she turned Malcolm, nicknamed Colm, to her shoulder. He watched her gentle rubbing on his son's back and started imagining them on him. He leaned into and kissed her lips, tongue requesting and granted entrance. They kissed until a small burp told them it was Daddy's turn again.
"Okay, that gap's secure," Wash spoke into the communicator. Early the next morning, Reilly and Dunham started their tedious trek around the entire fence. Each time they found a spot large enough for a person to penetrate, they called in to their Lieutenant Commander. Distant visual monitors marked their location and she would zoom in for a close up as they crawled back and forth, adjusting sensors and adding hot wires across the openings. They would shoot beams into the openings until an alarm back in the control room sounded. So far five had been located and they were only a quarter of the way around the parameter. Reilly's background in wiring explosives provided a learning experience for Dunham as she taught him the difference between animal and human interference in the interrupted signal.
Reynolds rushed in with a report, "Outpost ten reports a convoy of Phoenix soldiers moving this way, Ma'am," he stood at semi-attention.
"They report numbers?"
"About half their army, maybe forty, with vehicles and tanks. They passed the checkpoint about ten minutes ago, moving fast."
"Thank you, Corporal," she nodded his dismissal. Tied to Command with the babies, she called the Commander on their personal channel.
"Wash, how's Reilly coming along?" he could be heard breathing hard. They had convinced a dozen civilians to join the military and he was training them hard.
"Slow, but can you take a break? I need you back here," her evasiveness of details over the open channel told him he wouldn't get anything more until he was with her.
"On my way. Guzman, take over," and the link closed.
Wash, leaning on her cane, marched up and down the line of vehicles, inspecting uniforms, weapons, a feeling of deja vu as she marched up to her husband. Once again he stated, "You're in charge, Wash..." He trailed off and couldn't quite finish 'if anything happens, it's coming out of your pay', but they both knew. He started his non-stop talking, a signal he was as nervous as her about a repeat of the previous year. Last time it went so horribly wrong. Now he was going out alone to face an obvious incoming army. By the third outpost to check in, they knew the destination….Terra Nova. He had to cut them off before they got close enough to shell the compound. Mustering three quarters of the army and Shannon, he told her not to resist if faced once again overwhelming odds. Hard to believe less than a day had passed since she called him back to the Command Center.
He quickly called the entire colony to the market area. Standing on the balcony with Wash just behind him to his right and Jim Shannon standing with her flanking his left, he once again prepared them for an attack. A hurried meeting with the core civilian leaders including Malcolm, Durham, Boylan, the Shannon's and his wife and a few others, he planned a resistance if once again the unthinkable occurred. This time he wouldn't leave them on their own. He had no arrogant confidence that his army alone could protect his 'extended family'. A lot had changed within the community. Weapons were stashed, children relocated in the eye with supplies to last days. A nursery set up for babies in the safest location they could find. His own boys already in Skye and her mother's capable hands, leaving his second free to assist in getting the soldiers ready to roll. They were only brought out for mom to feed then taken back out of the way.
The evening before, they had gathered the boys up for a last night as a family, but found sleep evasive. They did something they rarely did, cuddle naked together talking softly, caressing lightly. Lots of 'I love you' without the rougher sexual encounters both preferred. Comforting each other, saying things to each other usually left un-said except with their eyes. When they finally came together as one, their souls were already in sync, merging together. Satiated, he settled over her as if to protect her. He stayed that way until a couple hours before light he stirred, pulling away to check the time. He went to take a shower, feeling a strong loss of her presence. She was feeding his sons while he dressed. She laid out his black fatigues. A last lingering kiss, he buckled on his knife and gun, grabbing his armor from its hook by the door as he headed to the mess.
They had to hurry and get set up for an ambush. Her, "Cut the chatter; take your army and leave," had him grinning like a fool at her.
He jumped on the running board of his rover like before, and with a forward motion of his arm and a yell of, "Move out," they once again left Terra Nova without enough protection.
He had sent spotters out the day before and they reported, the incoming army was skirting the area almost like they were trying to draw the army away from Terra Nova. Taylor set his troops not far from where at one time he tested Skye to see how much information she was feeding Mira. It was a good location. Within an hour, the invading army rolled through their split ranks and they opened fire from the hills on both sides. The ensuing firefight was intense; both sides coming away with damaged vehicles and dead soldiers. The Phoenix Group broke and ran. Taylor gave chase until it was apparent they were high tailing it back to the badlands. He pulled up and headed back to where Shannon was mopping up.
Taking a third of the troops, Shannon cautiously approached two smoking tanks and two rovers with holes punched through the engines. They found dead troops, but no injured. "They managed to take their injured with them," Shannon surmised until he saw carefully placed head shots. "They killed their injured," he spoke to Dunham as the young soldier flanked his every move. By the time Taylor returned he had the dead lined up ready to be loaded for the trip home. They had lost four, all privates. Three of those had been from the new recruits. The other side accounted for eight dead. He figured they had killed two and the other six shot at close range by their own troops.
Taylor ordered the dead loaded and towing the confiscated vehicles, they headed home. Communications with Wash told him the colony was safe. He relayed the dead so she could inform the families. It was late afternoon when they pulled through the gate. Taylor spent the trip home in silence trying to figure out what just happened. It was a suicide mission, but why. Calling Shannon and his officers with him to the Command Center, they marched into the room. He looked around for Wash, but she was gone.