Strange Allies
Decision Made
The Dominance Part One
The Dominance Part Two
Strange Allies
Watery puke spewed onto the pink tinged desert sand. One hand held the straight black hair back while the other rested on a queasy stomach. Heaving subsided, leaving the woman shaken, eyes moist, but feeling better.
Mira watched her closely, "You've been doing that for a month now. You can only use your head as an excuse for two weeks. I'm guessing Taylor's responsible for the rest," not a question, but observation from her time in Terra Nova. Her employers told her to find out everything she could firsthand about those two, especially their habits. Spying at night divulged the Commander liked to slip around in the shadows and could appear anyplace. She positioned herself in the shadows outside the Lieutenant's quarters and it wasn't long before the Commander would step from the shadows onto her porch and swipe his hand across the lock and without a knock would enter. Three times she waited and he always left just before dawn, not slipping, just a normal walk in the direction of his quarters or the Command Center. No sign they spent the night together was ever seen in the light of day.
Washington accepted the contents of Mira's outstretched hand, a wet cloth and canteen with cool water. Washing her mouth out and spitting, she downed the rest, trying to keep herself as hydrated as possible. "If Lucas finds out, it won't go good for me."
"He needs you, at least for now. Don't piss me off and I'll keep your secret. If Lucas can't find a fracture, you're my ticket back into Terra Nova."
Two more months of moving around in the badlands and Lucas found a fracture. He walked around excitedly talking to himself, holding his bizarre Amethyst scaled sculptured box, with the dancing diagrams illuminated against the black night as days passed and he was lost in his calculations. Ordering the Carno damaged terminus to be set up, he had it sparkling blue in no time. Gathering everyone around, he announced they could one by one walk into the future, but with a broken portal the vehicles had to be abandoned, but not to worry, they would return and soon to continue their work here.
"Where are we going to come out, Lucas?" General Hooper didn't want to land in the middle of the ocean.
"2150 for sure and somewhere near St. Petersburg, which is good as our major backers are RussoChinese and can pick us up," Lucas shut his box down and made an adjustment to the mechanism on the terminus and stepped to the edge of the future, "Let's go home." He was first to step out of sight.
One by one the Phoenix Special Forces followed their General until Mira and her people remained with Washington. Cutting the Lieutenant's restraining bands, Mira popped the cover off the portal. Washington turned a dial one click. The blue shimmered out then re-established and stabilized. "This should move your location a thousand clicks west, near London."
Mira handed the Lieutenant an information miniplex, which was quickly slipped into a jacket pocket. "Are you staying or going back also?"
"You have a copy of the calculations. Get them to the people I told you. I'll keep my end of the agreement if you keep yours. If it weren't for kiddo here," she rubbed her still un-noticeable stomach, "I would seriously think about going with you and spearheading the rebuild myself, but in a few months I won't be much use and Malcolm needs this to counter Lucas. Good luck finding your daughter, Mira."
Mira motioned her people to go through first, making sure Washington was safe. Even she didn't trust all her people and Carter had made comments of wanting to do unspeakable things to the Lieutenant. Taking a last look at the sky, with its blue expanse and gathering storm clouds white on top with the sunshine, but ominous dark underneath. Another storm was coming and for the first time in three years, she would miss the fresh smell as she stepped out of sight.
Alone with hundreds of cliks between her and another person, Washington rubbed her wrist and planned which vehicle would best serve to get her home. Pulling the miniplex out of her pocket, she looked at the recording Mira surreptitiously made from the time Lucas discovered the fissure. She had made a deal with Washington.
"You know Lucas plans on taking you to the future with him and use you hostage against your own government. He hasn't figured out that you're pregnant with his father's child. I'll convince Lucas to turn your care over to me, for a price."
"What do I have that would interest you?"
"Pull, specifically over Taylor. I want to come back and live here with my daughter. If my people want to come back with their families, we don't want to stay in Terra Nova, but go our own way. If it's just me and my kid, I want freedom for us in Terra Nova. I want your word. It's as good as Taylor's."
"So you don't want to come back with Lucas and strip this place and live like a queen in the future? Interesting."
"I want my daughter to have a future, just like you want for your child. Miscarriages are up to sixty percent now. You want this baby, and I must have a soft spot for pregnant women and don't want it to fall into Lucas's hands. The baby doesn't deserve that, even if it's Taylor's."
She readily agreed and together the two women planned. Get the knowledge on Lucas's box to Malcolm and the government that sponsored the Hope Plaza project. Hopefully, re-establish contact and warn them, and hope they could stop Lucas. In turn, Mira could return through a newly built terminus. It would take the government a few months to re-establish contact, providing they were able and Mira was able to convince them she switched sides. Lieutenant Washington recorded a message to her future superiors explaining the situation. Mira had to find a way to them.
Washington started getting treated better by Mira, more food and plenty of water, but most important, clothing. Mira made her Sixer give the black leather jacket back and provided a men's t-shirt large enough to hang and stretch and an extra camouflage jacket to wear when around the Phoenix soldiers. Nobody found out about her pregnancy and Mira was careful to accompany her everyplace after their pact.
Looking at how Lucas turned the portal on, she reversed the settings and it powered down. Loading a Rhino with extra rifles and a hand held grenade launcher in case a pack of Carnosaurs cut her path. It would take her several days to get back to Terra Nova as the wet season was upon them and she had to be careful and not get swept away in an arroyo. Making a bed in the back and enough food and water, she headed home.
"Your move, Commander," Skye reminded him once again. It was a slow day, going on the third of rain in a row. Watching the dripping from the bamboo channels, Taylor sighed and looked back to the board.
"Mom is inviting you to dinner again tonight, third in three days," Skye teased.
"She knows how hard it is to lose someone, just being friendly," he made a move.
"Hmmm," Skye was sure her mother had designs on being a certain Lieutenant's replacement and not in military terms. The Commander pretended a non-relationship with his deceased second and the colony looked the other way when he was seen leaving her place early in the morning. Nobody would dare question either of them, and Jim Shannon hadn't figured it out yet as he was usually home with his family at that hour. It had gone on as long as anyone could remember and even Reilly made the comment about her being a good soldier to the Commander that day three months before as if that was all she were to him, setting the tone for the soldiers to mimic.
The Chaplain performed a memorial service, as a body was never recovered. The Commander choked up trying to speak, tears running down his cheeks, finally gave up and accepted a hug from the elder Chaplain. Several people spoke, mostly military. A military salute had been given and the Commander was often seen walking to Memorial Park at the end of his day.
Wasting no time, women in the Colony saw him as quite the catch and were seen stopping him as he made rounds and an occasional hand on his arm, stroking his bulging biceps and making comments on how strong he must be. Skye couldn't believe her mother had joined the mad dash to be the next woman rumored to belong to him. He had white hair and was one of the oldest men around. True he was powerful; that must be it. Skye wished her mother hooked up with Tasha's father. He was her age and not as intimidating as the Commander. True, the Commander had stepped in the role of a father, but she liked her special relationship with him and didn't want to compete with her own mother.
Without warning, the rain stopped and sunshine broke through the dense clouds throwing a double rainbow across the southern sky. People started milling about and the market filled with customers. Debora Tate made her way up the Command steps. Skye took one look and rolled her eyes. Her mother was wearing a new extra low cut blouse, and a push up bra. "Check mate," Skye wasn't sure how she won so easily, but since Washington's death, he didn't seem to care about a lot of things.
"Did Skye give you my message?" Debora paused to stand behind Skye's shoulder so his eyes would look up to her. She took time with her makeup and her brown hair was long and curled at the ends.
"Hate to impose on you again, Debora. I've been there the last two days."
"Trust me; it's good to cook for a man again. You weren't so fussy when Alex used to drag you home. I miss you not being there," she looked over his shoulder as his new best friend always seemed to be loitering, upsetting her plans.
Jim Shannon climbed the steps and joined them, giving Debora the once over. Her display of wares not lost on him. He wasn't one to interfere in the Commander's personal life so stayed silent.
The guard on the main gate tower gave out a shout, "Incoming, not one of ours."
Taylor stood and moved to the rail to get a better look at a single camouflage Rhino marked with Phoenix red and black logos. Debora Tate moved to his side and gripped a bulging bicep. Her maneuver, to send a message to the women looking up from the market, he's mine. She pulled his bicep into her breast. Several glares were exchanged. The Commander was oblivious to the silent war waged amongst the mature available women.
The vehicle rolled to a stop outside the gate and nobody moved. Wash, from behind the wheel took in the woman holding her man with a sinking feeling. He moved on. Well, it wasn't like he ever made a commitment to her, her hand automatically pressing into her abdomen. He did seem to prefer lighter hair women and his wife had hair just like Debora Tate. She watched the Commander motion with his hand and the gate's perfectly turned logs started banging together as they lifted. Moving at a crawl through the rifles aimed at her, she stopped in the middle of the pad near where Lucas had stunned her. She saw Mark Reynolds nearest the driver door rifle ready, and slowly opened it, not giving him cause to shoot.
Taylor, ignoring the soft flesh pressing into his arm and watched the proceedings below. He saw the Rhino stop and Reynolds move to get a clear shot when the door opened, just like Wash had trained him. To his surprise, Reynolds threw his rifle barrel down, leaving the gun barrel aiming at the ground as he rushed to the door and his upper body disappeared inside. It was obvious he was hugging someone and didn't show any sign of stopping.
Sharing a glance with Shannon and then back to the unit now gathered around the door, he saw someone step out. Taylor gasp along with Shannon and with a bound that effortlessly broke the woman's hold on him, he raced Shannon down the steps, both men taking a different set, but ended up pushing through the gathering crowd to her at the same time.
Above the gathering crowd, Skye commented, "Nice try Mom, but I think his true love is back."
"Can't blame me for trying," now she would have to make it home for more decent clothes, past the mockeries of her rivals.
"Wash," was spoken together as both men tried to hug her at the same time. Taylor spun her out of Shannon's embrace into one of his own and held on tight, head buried in her loose hair. Jim reached over his shoulder and ran a hand over her hair, just to make sure she wasn't a figment of his tortured mind. "Wash, what happened?" Jim spoke the burning question for everyone.
Moving her head to look over the Commander's shoulder, she answered and the troops pressing in went silent to hear her. "Lucas stunned me and they took me with them when they left. Ummpp," the Commander squeezed her even tighter and she felt his tears on her neck. Slipping her arms tightly around his middle, he was pulled close as she could get him. He felt so good and she didn't care this display of intimacy was in front of the entire colony and his soldiers. Soon everyone would know about the baby anyway. THE BABY. "I need to go to the clinic, but I'm not in a hurry," she murmured into Nathaniel's ear, hoping no one else heard, and kept her arms tightly around his middle.
"You were a POW?" Shannon stated the obvious.
"For three months," she felt Nathaniel shift his head so his lips found her neck. Oh God, she missed his lips and beard against her skin. Finally, he released his death clutch, gripping her head in both of his hands and rested his forehead against hers.
"I would have come for you, if I'd known," his voice was soft and broken, blue eyes shinning with tears.
"I know," their lips met and for the first time ever, the colony witnessed a public display of love only demonstrated behind closed doors.
Jim Shannon looked around at the smiling witnesses, "I think we should give them space. Go back to whatever you were doing." He kept watch while Reilly ordered the troops back to work.
"You said something about the clinic," Nathaniel came up for air and looked at her face again; gaze drawn to the site of the blast, even though no evidence remained.
"You need to come also," breaking out of his arms, she hugged a waiting Jim. "What were you doing Shannon, lining women up for him?" a reminder of what she witnessed upon arrival.
Shannon shook his head, "All them, none him, trust me." His smile remained and he hugged her impulsively again, then allowed the Commander to escort her to the clinic, with an arm around her waist.
Elizabeth had heard the commotion and was waiting when Wash finally broke through a crowd hanging around to welcome her back. They hugged and Wash was pulled inside by Taylor and door shut against the milling mob.
"Before we begin, I need to talk to the Commander in private," she stated and with a hand on his arm, she led him to one side and out of hearing of would be eavesdroppers.
"Nathaniel," she played a thousand times in her mind how to tell him and not one scenario was in the clinic like this, "I'm pregnant." She waited for his reaction.
"Mine?"
"It happened right before the eleventh."
"You were going to spring this on me?" He was stunned. They never talked about having children. He was going to start dating her openly, but to have her go ahead without consulting him was just too many steps ahead of where he envisioned them to be.
"I know. The timing wasn't the best, but…"
He cut her off, "What were you going to do, force a marriage out of me?" He didn't mean the words to come out like that, but spilled milk couldn't be put back.
"You don't have to marry me, Nathaniel," she pushed by him and went back to the doctor and her husband.
"I'm ready now," her tears were brimming and one escaped, noticed by both Shannon's. What did the Commander say to ruin her home coming? Jim couldn't believe what just happened. Not one voice was raised by either of them during their private conversation, but he obviously upset the person who risked her life for his family.
Looking at them both, she stated, "I'm pregnant, it's Taylor's. The Commander didn't take it well and doesn't want it," she brushed a tear away.
Jim slipped an arm around his wife's shoulder and gave a squeeze, "Take care of Wash. I'm going to talk to Taylor." He noticed the Commander had left without a word to anyone.
He found him sitting at his desk, staring through the glass at the large time bleached T-Rex skull, "Wash told us she was pregnant." He wasn't sure what else to say.
"She didn't even tell me she wanted kids," Taylor was in shock, absorbing his returning mate and her soon to be offspring, no their offspring he corrected in his mind. Even if fate dictated he wasn't the biological father, he would raise it as his, but she seemed sure it was his.
"Maybe that's why she came up with Chullah Chaum. With ties to the future, your hands were tied and you couldn't marry her." It was starting to sink in to Shannon that he missed an illicit relationship and between the two people he was around the most. "You kept it well hidden. I usually figure things like that out," he chuckled.
"We never really kept it secret, just discrete."
"How long have you two been 'more' than friends?"
"After I confided in her about Philbrick and kicked Lucas out of the colony. We were still building the colony and the first civilians hadn't arrived yet. I started a courtship, under the table of course, military protocol and all. We began a relationship that's lasted to this day. One day I woke up and wondered how long I'd been in love with her. I started craving her touch," he was barely audible on the last. An ache he had buried was starting to grow again. He wanted to touch her and bury himself in her willing arms. Never once had he lifted his eyes, "After the eleventh, I was going to change the terms of our relationship and go public."
"Maybe the pregnancy was an accident. We were busy during that time looking for a spy, preparing for war. She probably forgot to get a shot." Jim was sure Wash wouldn't get pregnant during a crises on purpose, "And besides it takes two to make a baby."
"I was just surprised." Standing up, he shook his head and admitted, "I kinda said something stupid and need to fix it," they went back to the clinic.
"Where Wash?" Taylor was as surprised as Jim that both women were missing.
"They went to Dr. Shannon's home," Nurse Ogawa had been told where they were rushing off to by Dr. Shannon if her husband came asking.
"Probably went to say hi to the kids," Jim told Taylor as they hurried down the drying pea gravel road.
Both women were in the living room with the three younger Shannon's. The kids were plying her with questions, "Mind if we join you?" Jim and Nathaniel stood at the edge of the room. Nathaniel wasn't sure of his welcome, but she looked so good to his eyes, he couldn't stop staring, his gaze for her alone.
"Only if you both mind your manners," came a stern warning from Elizabeth. Alicia had stopped talking and looked uncertainly at both men. She was sitting on the couch with Zoe snuggled next to her and she had arm around the girl's shoulders. Nathaniel took in how the youngster was comfortable with his tough second. He never thought as her as the maternal type like his Ayani had been. He still had a lot to learn about this woman and hoped she would give him a chance. Sizing up the seating arrangement, he took a bold move. Crossing the room, he pulled Zoe up and before Wash could protest sat next to her placing Zoe beside him with a smile and wink, "My turn to see if I can get her to put an arm around me." He made it sound like a conspiracy to make her do it.
"Don't count on it, Sir," she wasn't ready to forgive him just yet, and besides what was Debora Tate doing dressed like that and clutching his arm, giving him a firsthand feel of her assets.
He rested an arm across the back of the couch over her shoulder, "I owe you an apology. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have acted like that especially after what you went through." He dropped his arm to her shoulders and pressed her to his side. He noticed her hands were still clasped together in her lap and she didn't look at him.
"Continue, what happened next?" Josh didn't care what the Commander did so soon after her homecoming, but Maddie was intrigued. Mark had tracked her down fast and informed her Wash was home and in the clinic. About that time her mother called instructing her and Zoe to go home as she was heading that way with Washington. Mark had told her how the Commander started kissing Wash right in the middle of the square.
"Like I said," she repeated for the men, "I woke up in a converted ambulance. They had cots for their wounded and Lucas was injured and beside me. I found out later, Mira's group picked him up and joined the Phoenix Group just outside Terra Nova. I tried to stay out of Lucas's sight and kept close to the Sixers. Nobody messed with Mira and the Sixers were feared. We moved around a lot. A few weeks ago Lucas found a fissure that was a rift to the future. I made a deal with Mira and she taped his work when he was tinkering with the terminus the carno broke. He made the one they brought with them work, but only for foot traffic. All the vehicles are waiting for us to retrieve." Taylor nodded at hearing that and exchanged a glance with Jim who was also nodding in approval. "Lucas and the Phoenix went through to a place near St. Petersburg he figured. I moved the dial one click. Lucas indicated each mark on the dial was a thousand clicks, so I may have put Mira near London with her group. She's supposed to give the data to our side to hopefully stop Lucas. I found out from Mira the RussoChinese are funding part of Lucas's operation," she finally stopped talking.
Nathaniel removed his arm and slipped it in between her clasped hands, forcing them apart and caught the closest in his, entwining their fingers. "Did you tell them what I said when I found out you were pregnant?" He saw her looking down and shake her head no. Looking at Elizabeth, he explained, "I was a little surprised at Wash's news, but you don't have to worry. I'll fix my screwup."
"I better leave," Wash tried to get up.
The kids hadn't heard the pregnancy news, but stayed silent after a warning look from both parents.
"Actually," Elizabeth looked at Jim, "We would like you to stay with us." He looked surprised, but overcame it fast.
"Great idea. You can stay here Wash. I know the kids would love to have you and Josh will gladly give his bedroom up, won't you?," He looked at Josh who smiled and nodded and could hear agreements from the girls. "Your place has been packed up and Elizabeth can keep an eye on you for a few days to see how things are going," he made a general motion to her mid-section.
"That's a good idea," Taylor noticed Jim's surprised look at him. "We need to talk, but if you're here, I won't worry about you. Jim and I are going to have to go and get the abandoned vehicles, so you stay and keep Elizabeth company."
"It's settled, Wash. You're not going anywhere, just stay and relax. I want to do more tests on you from head to toe, so that's as far as I want you walking," Elizabeth finalized the plan.
"I have a pad in my coat pocket for you and Malcolm," she managed a small smile at him. His heart leapt. How he had missed her crooked smile and returned one of his own, giving her fingers more pressure and easing back to his former position of lightly holding and stroking each finger between his fingers and thumb.
"I'll get it," Maddy jumped rushed to the coat hanging on a hook where the coats were kept. She came back with a miniplex and handed it to her father.
"Malcolm needs to download the material to his plexpad and put one on the Commander's, would you, Shannon?"
"Will do, Wash. Make yourself to home." Jim stood, "I know you and the Commander need to talk. We'll be back in an hour, play nice," motioning for everyone to follow him, the house emptied leaving them alone. Josh headed to the bar to tell Boylan, Maddy to find Mark, Elizabeth, Jim and Zoe to find Malcolm.