A/N: Hi everybody! I would like to present to you my second series for Lucas/Skye pairing. :D

I'm so thrilled for this new series as I worked very hard for this. So first of all I'd like to thank every single one of you that have been so kind to me for supporting through my first story "Backfired", and now I decided to expand my horizon by writing this new series. This will be a huge chunk of story just like my previous one, and it will be updated regularly alongside "Backfired". So now I'm juggling 2 stories haha.. With the busy schedule, I know this is a crazy step to take, but I just love writing for this pairing so I decided to take the bold step and finally publishing this new storyline.

I'd like to thank "One Last Time Before The End" by "HeartoftheNighte" fanfic for giving me such a wonderful inspiration especially for Skye's character in particular. So, thank you so much! This story dedicated to you and your fantastic writing. :) And also for this chapter, some parts were inspired from the lovely and talented "Miss Junie"'s "Bucket and Cricket" fanfic. So thank you for the inspirations. I adore your stories so much! *hugs*

So I hope you guys will enjoy this. This fic is darker than my previous one, so if you want a lovey dovey drama for Lucket, head over to "Backfired". But if you want a more action-packed story, I hope this one satisfies your crave. And one more thing, this is an AU story so I've modified some parts from the original series. So don't get confuse, because it is intended to be different from the actual plot.

Leave me some reviews and tell me what you think! I would really appreciate that after 12 hours of sitting in front of my computer today. Thanks guys!

Disclaimer: I do not own Terra Nova. And neither do Fox. Nor Netflix.

Chapter 1: First Sight

Darkness. Silence. All seemed to be tangled into one as the night began to swallow everything from the naked eye.

The sound of crushing leaves on the ground echoed through the endless rows of trees and thick foliage, creating an eerie sound among the dense vegetation of the wilderness.

His breath was heavy in his chest, exhaustion from hours of trudging through the forest etched on his features. A rugged bag slung loosely over his shoulder, and a pair of worn boots wrapped around his bare feet, concealed them from the harsh surface beneath. He was drenched in sweat, despite the cold air that pricked through the thin cotton of his dirty shirt. He didn't bother at anything, even when the thickness of the foliage scraped through his skin, adding the collection to the scars on his body.

He was on a mission, to fulfill his lifetime ambition for the sake of his mother's death. It rooted deep in him, tugging him to the very core of his existence. He had no reason to live, as his soul already buried deep alongside his mother more than a decade ago. But somehow he stayed alive until this day, watching as the time passed in front of his eyes. He wanted to die, to leave this cruel and unfair world behind. But something holding him back, as if there was still a reason for him to stay in this narrow hole called hell. He still had an unfinished business to be done. And it was to see his father on his deathbed.

He continued the hike through a narrow path on the steep hill. He just got the news that the location had been moved around the higher ground of the jungle. He knew the Sixers always did this every time to cover their trail. They had been his father's worst nightmare, as they were the rebels from the lush paradise of Terra Nova, a place full of false hopes and dreams. They had the same reason for coming to this prehistoric time fracture, and it was to overthrown the Commander from his position and stripped all the resources for the sake of money. Even though he was on their side, he had a complete different agenda in his mind. All he wanted was to see his father finally at his mercy as the price of taking his mother's life out of her. He didn't care about the money, he didn't care if the last hope on earth being destroyed, as long as he saw the opportunity, he would take it no matter what the consequences were.

He was about to take another step when he heard faint footsteps from his back. Being 5 years in the jungle had thought him to be sensitive with the surroundings. He could even sense the danger from faraway. His eyes flickered at the movement from his side. He slowly reached into his pocket, gripping the handle of the knife tightly as he prepared for a sudden attack that might happen in a matter of seconds.

He quickly turned around to find the tip of the gun already held in front of his face. He froze in his place, knowing that just a slightest move would be a fatal decision at this point. His eyes adjusted to the scenery in front of him and slowly he could see her face through the darkness.

Her stern blue eyes fixated at him. Showing no mercy as her fingers enfolded tightly around the gun in her hand. Her short-cropped locks went unruly against her delicate features, gleaming faintly from the moonlit reflection. She wore a fully equipped suit, complete with different types of weapons hanging on her belt. She looked tough, deadly, and undeniably beautiful.

At that very moment, waves of old memories flooded through his brain. And suddenly it dawned to him. It was her…

July 2142

The streets were crowded with people, jammed with a heavy humid air in a hot summer day. He was sitting in the car beside his father, looking out towards the city of Chicago among the red haze of thick pollution that hovered above the skyline. It was an important day for them, the day when everything would change in the human history. A time fracture had been discovered as a second chance for human to have a fresh start in their life in a new world full of promising future.

His father shifted uncomfortably beside him. He was chosen as the first volunteer to explore the new world before the settlement began. It was an honor for his father that he found it as an insult. It ached him in the inside to be called as his son. His perception about this man beside him had changed drastically after the tragic incident that happened 4 years ago in Somalia. He would never forget the horror in his mother's eyes as she was slaughtered in front of him to her death. It was still a nightmare that haunted him every night and he couldn't seem to find a way to accept it especially when he knew that his father was the cause of all the terrible things that happened to him.

They moved towards the outer city, leaving all the hectic surroundings behind. He could see the destination ahead of them on the horizon, a giant dome enfolded in glass structure called the Hope Plaza. It was the center of governmental research and development for the new world project. His brain started to stir as they arrived at the entrance of the dome.

This issue was not a surprise to him anymore, even before his father was assigned for this mission, he already knew about this whole project from the beginning. He had formed his own plan for 2 years, since the first discovery of the fracture began. Even though he was still in his young age, but his mind surpassed the average intelligence of normal people. He acted like a grown man, plunging into the real life when he was just 16. He worked as a physicist, analyzing complicated equations and somehow managed to climb himself to the top of the line in the business world.

He was a genius, a brilliant physicist, and a successful man. But all these qualities didn't seem to match to his father's expectations, as he always looked at him like he was a mistake, a glitch in his life that was not supposed to happen in the first place. He felt like being thrown by his own flesh and blood. He was a trash, a worthless child, nothing but a speck of dust in his father's eyes.

He didn't even think twice when he was accepting the offer to join the secret company that saw a different opportunity from the new world project. As long as it had a way to get his unfinished revenge to his father, he would do anything, even if it had to sacrifice everything he believed in.

"Lucas" Taylor's voice pulled him back to reality. "It's time" he told him without even bothered to look at his son's face. He knew better than to answer him with sarcastic words he could think of and went out of the car to join him with the crowd on the entrance of the building that was constructed inside the dome. They didn't have to use the rebreather as the dome concealed the inside from the polluted air.

As they entered the building, everyone greeted them with high respect and awe. Lucas felt as if he was the center of the universe as the people wanted to get their hands on him. It must've been thrilling to see the great Nathaniel Taylor's genius son. He felt sick being overshadowed by his father. And he felt sick at the look on their faces when they looked at him.

They went to the balcony at the top floor that had an overlooking view to the city. Lucas wandered himself along the railing, looking down to the crowd below him. A wave of disgust struck him when he knew that these people came for his father's departure to the new world. His hands gripped the handle tightly at the thought. He didn't even know why he was there, accompanying him in his big day. He should've stayed in his office, busying himself with work and endless calculations rather than being where he was at that moment. The pressure weighed him down, pushing him to the very edge of his sanity. If only this was not for the sake of the request from his employers, he wouldn't have done it for anything, especially when it came to giving his father a moral support at critical times like this.

He heard his name being called from the distance. He gritted his teeth at the pathetic sound of his father's voice ringing in his ear before finally turning back and found Taylor already standing beside him.

"Lucas, I want to introduce you to Corporal Tate. He is one of the soldiers in the army division that scheduled to depart several years from now to the new world." He held out his hand reluctantly to the man in front of him. "Lucas Taylor. Nice to meet you, sir." He introduced himself, forcing a smile as he shook his hand. "I've heard about you Lucas Taylor. You're one impressive young man. A brilliant physicist in a very young age, I'm impressed." Lucas shoved his hands to his pockets. "Thank you, sir." He replied as a smirk appeared across his face.

He heard noises from the back as he saw a little girl running towards Corporal Tate with a wide grin on her delicate face. He smiled at the child in front of him and took her hand when she reached out him. "This is my daughter." Corporal Tate introduced her as she stepped forward and stretched her hand towards Lucas. He was stunned for a moment, looking at the little brown-haired girl in front of him. "Skye Tate. Reporting for duty." She took his hand and shook it impatiently when he was just standing there looking at her with bemused expression written all over his face.

"She's a fascinating girl, Tate." Commented Taylor as he smiled towards Skye who was still staring at Lucas with curiosity in her blue eyes. "What's your name, young man?" she asked, eyeing him with a stern look on her face. "Lucas" he replied shortly, unable to form any other words. This girl in front of him had managed to knock his brain to death. She didn't look like any other girls in her age. She didn't wear pretty dresses and instead wearing a cargo pants and a loose shirt. Her hair tied to a ponytail messily, with strands of locks framing her feature. She looked tough, with the same charisma like her father. She seemed confident in her own skin and didn't even shudder at the tense situation around her.

"Well then, nice to meet you, Lucas." Skye responded after awhile. She looked up to her father and smiled. "Dad, can I tell Mr. Taylor that I want to become a soldier one day?" She asked him with a soft tugging on the hem of his shirt. Corporal Tate shook his head in disbelief. "Well you heard that, sir. She wants to become a soldier one day." He commented on her daughter's statement. Taylor chuckled and rubbed the top of Skye's head. "Of course, kid. You can have a special training with me in the future. I promise." Without hesitation, she tackled him with a hug. "Thank you Mr. Taylor!" She shrieked with excitement at his answer and ran towards the crowd as she finished.

"Nice kid." Taylor eyed her with fascination from the distance as Corporal Tate dismissed himself to join Skye on the other side of the room. Lucas turned to look at him. He could see the worry in his eyes. It must be a huge burden for him to leave everything he had behind for this mission. But hell, he didn't even give a damn care about his feelings. The sooner his father left, the easier for him to finalize everything for his major plan of revenge.

The time finally came. He saw his father gave his final speech from the balcony, giving empty hopes and noble words that seemed to be promising and assuring the people that they really had a future ahead of them. But he knew better than that. There was no bright future, just ruins of what remains in this dying world.

When they knew that the new world would be exploited and reduced to nothing by his employers, then they would finally see this whole project was just a fraud.

He saw the blue light flickered at the end of the long passage of the portal. Taylor stood in the middle of the bridge, looking back to the people for the last goodbyes. His eyes finally dawned to Lucas. Thousands of emotions poured from his gaze as he stared at him with mixed feelings swirling in his chest. They were staring at each other for a moment before he finally walking towards the blue light and disappeared.

Lucas stood there, watching the blue light gleamed in the dark hall. They didn't even say any words to each other before his departure. There were no emotional goodbyes, just bitterness that separated them apart like a huge wall that could never be broken. It was permanent. Nothing could ever change their situation. It was beyond repair, damaged to the very last piece as if it was being smashed to the ground. They would never be the same again. Not now, not ever.

"I know you" he murmured to her as his mind went back to reality. She still had her gun aimed at his head, ready to pull the trigger when she needed to. She lowered it slightly to get a good look at the opponent in front of her. "Who are you?" she asked in a stern voice. She didn't feel him as a threat, but somehow she knew that he was dangerous. His hard features seemed to soften when their gaze met.

"You knew me." He said it simply, as if their situation didn't bother him. She aimed the gun back to his face. "Don't play with me." She muttered through her gritted teeth. This man had made her lose her patience. She knew that he was not one of the Sixers as she never saw him before in their camp. This whole detour thing they made to hide from Taylor had brought her to this situation, and she didn't want to blow her cover because of this ridiculous encounter with this stranger.

"I'm not playing with you. Now put that gun down and we can talk about this nicely." She eventually lowered the gun, but her grip on the handle tightened as he moved closer to her, eyeing her with his dark eyes. "That's better." He whispered to her as he reached out to touch her face, completely mesmerized by her presence before him. She quickly took the chance by taking his arm and pinned him to the nearest tree. He winced in pain as she pinned him harder and whispered in his ear. "I told you before. Don't play with me or you'll be sorry for the rest of your life." The words seemed to have an effect on him as he relaxed in her arms.

"I don't know that you were so tough." He scoffed at her, resulting another bump to the tree, scraping his face on the rough surface. "Say another word, and I won't be hesitate to pull the trigger on you." He found her act was quite amusing as he suddenly turned in her grasp and quickly spun her around, smashing her back against the tree. She panted heavily, eyes blazing with rage at the sight of him hovering above her. She seemed so tiny compared to him. His body pressed against her, pinning her further until she couldn't breathe.

"I know who you are." He repeated his words as his eyes gazing at her deeply. "I can't believe that you were not bluffing about your crazy decision to become a soldier." She froze as the words flowed from his mouth. "How do you know that?" She muttered at him, keeping her facial expression straight when her inside started to crumble down. Lucas smirked at her, his eyes gleaming in the faint light from the moon cascading down through the gap between the thick leaves above them.

She could see his face now. He had changed from the last time she saw him. His face etched with weariness from the hard life in the jungle and his hair had grown messy and chopped unevenly. He had stubble across his jawline, making him looked older than his actual age. His eyes still had the same jade-green spark on them, always clouded with his constantly occupied mind. She held her breath as the words slipped through her mouth before she even realized it.

"You're Taylor's son" She finally made her conclusion, and regretted immediately when she saw his face lit up with satisfaction written all over him. "It took awhile to recognize me, didn't you?" His tone was thick with sarcasm as she managed to shove him away, keeping the distance between them as far as possible.

"We thought you were dead." She stared at him, couldn't believe they would meet each other in such an unexpected way. He scoffed at her statement. "That's what dear old dad wants everybody to know. He despised his own son so much until he sacrificed everything to conceal me from the public eye." She frowned at his words. None of them made sense to her. "I don't understand." She said to him with a confused expression.

He chuckled darkly. "You don't have to understand this. It's a family business." He slowly walked towards her, eyes trained at her perfect features. "How about yourself? Why are you wandering here alone, in the middle of the night? Where's the other troop?" He tried to look pass her, pretending like he was expecting someone to jump out from the trees. "That's none of your business." She replied to him coldly. Hand still gripping at her gun tightly. He raised his eyebrows at her. "You're alone, aren't you?" There was an edge to his voice, making her shudder at the ugly thoughts that were starting to swirl inside her mind.

He chuckled at her expression and slowly reached out to trace her cheek lightly with his finger. "I never thought I would ever see you again. You're so beautiful."

She was completely paralyzed as his fingers playing against her skin, leaving her breathless as he leaned closer to her, pushing the strands of hair off her face. "I still remember how you introduced yourself that day. You took my hand without hesitation and shook it vigorously in yours." He took her free hand in his and held it tightly. "I remember you, Skye Tate. You're a fascinating young lady."

Her mind snapped back to reality as she took her hand off his and slapped him hard on the face. He was stunned by her act, but quickly regained his composure and stared at her. "Nice try." He simply said it before he shoved her to the ground and pinned her to the uneven surface. She struggled in his grip as she tried to let herself free from the pressure on the base of her neck. She threw her arm and gripped his head, crashing him to the side as he took a fistful of her short hair in his fingers, yanked her hardly until she let out a low cry of pain. They strangled to each other on the ground, both of them completely oblivious to the surroundings as they continued the assault.

There was a faint growl in the distance, getting louder by the second as they froze immediately at the familiar sound of it. "Slashers." She whispered breathily, hands still grabbing the front of his shirt. They quickly scrambled from each other and stood silently in the darkness. The sound was getting closer as their minds quickly searching for a simple solution to get away from the uninvited company.

"We have to get out of here." Lucas murmured to her. She shot him a hard stare. "We're not in this together. Go find a way yourself." She was about to leave when Lucas grabbed her waist and took her with him to the ground. "Don't move. They recognize movements faster." She tried to break away from him as he tightened his grip on her. "I said, don't move." He muttered under his breath, forcing her to look into his eyes as he spoke to her. She finally surrendered and let herself enfolded in his embrace.

They stayed on their position for a moment, waiting for any signs of the Slashers coming on their way. It was too quiet to decipher the situation, one of their abilities when it came to attacking their prey. Lucas' eyes quickly scanned through the thick plants around him, making sure the Slashers were nowhere near the area anymore. Finally he let his grip loosened on her. She jerked herself away from him immediately, brushing her suit roughly with her hand. Her lips cracked slightly from their previous fight and she brushed the blood off with her palm. He stared at her in amusement, seeing her completely distracted with her own task. He was about to give her a sarcastic comment when suddenly the Slashers burst through the trees and walking slowly towards them. Lucas automatically took Skye's hand in his and pulled her away from their direction.

They ran through the darkness of the night, stumbling several times as they tried to get away from the area as soon as possible. The Slashers were not far behind. They had to find a safe place to hide before the Slashers caught up to them. Skye could feel her lungs burned with the increasing pound in her chest as she tried to keep up with Lucas in front of her. Her mind scattered at the thought of her safety. She didn't even realized that she was following Lucas as they hiked through the steep road towards the familiar ground where she usually visited between her journey from Terra Nova to the Sixers camp.

They finally stopped to catch their breaths. The Slashers had managed to corner them into the cave beneath the falls. They sat there for awhile. None of them tried to break the silence. Their eyes scanned through the scenery in front of them, making sure the Slashers were gone for good.

Skye could feel herself tensed as she heard his voice echoed on the cave walls. "Do you know what place is this?" She held her breath before finally answered. "The Snakehead Falls."

Thank you for reading, and don't forget to hit that "review" button if you want this story to continue. See you soon! ;)