Jade stood at the massive gates that led into Terra Nova, scarcely able to believe the utter devastation that lay before her. Much of the outer fence had been smashed, parts of it lying on the ground smoking from the ensuing fire. Huge pot-holes from mortar fire were scattered throughout the compound and the once bustling market place was a complete wreck. Jade turned her gaze up towards the main building that lay in the centre of Terra Nova, intact but still damaged from the attack several days before. She preyed that Commander Taylor had not been inside when the enemy struck and slowly made her way towards the building.
"Jade!", a familiar voice called, making her turn to her right. Tom Boylan strode confidently over to her and Jade could see that he was exhausted. He approached her offering a warm smile and wrapped his arms around her small frame, "Where the hell have you been?", he asked firmly. Jade pulled away gently and looked up at him before turning her attention back to the main building, "I had", she paused, not really wanting to go into all that she had been through, "I had an urgent matter to attend to". She kept her eyes locked on Commander Taylors quarters, willing him to walk through the door onto the deck. "What happened Tom? Did the Sixers attack?".
"You've missed a bloody lot of action Jade", Tom replied in that strong Australian accent. "Lucas arranged for these people to come through the portal from 2149 and they liaised with the Sixers to launch a pretty devastating attack". His gaze narrowed and Tom looked around the camp, sighing deeply. "We lost a lot of people Jade. Wash", he paused, closing his eyes as he tried to fight of the deep grief inside, "Lucas shot her". Jade felt her heart sink and she grabbed Toms arm to keep herself standing, "Wash?", she whispered gently. God, not Wash, Jade thought to herself. They had become incredibly close since her arrival at Terra Nova and she knew that Commander Taylor would be deeply affected by her death.
Nathaniel!, Jade thought wildly, taking a step towards the main building. She paused and turned to face Tom, her hazel eyes filled with concern. "Please tell me he's ok Tom. Please tell me Nathaniel is ok", she pleaded with her friend. Tom smiled warmly at her and motioned up towards Commander Taylors quarters, "Why don't you ask him yourself?", he suggested gently. Jade closed her eyes, turning back towards the building as she opened them. That tall, familiar figure she had come to care for so much stood in the doorway, those blue eyes locked on her, a broad smile on his face.
Nathaniel slowly made his way down the stairs as Jade walked towards him, neither daring to break eye contact as they moved. In moments they were standing before each other, both gazing at each other, etching that moment into their memories forever. Nathaniel moved his hand to Jades dark hair and gently brushed it back, "You've cut your hair", he whispered, those blue eyes moving over her body. "I like it", he continued as his hand gently caressed her face. Jade felt herself flush, uncomfortable at his sudden public showing of affection towards her. "I didn't have much of a choice, it got caught in a fence and I had to chop it off", she said coolly, trying to suppress the sudden wave of emotion that had enveloped her.
"And did you and your friend sort out that little problem?", he queried, those blue eyes still set firmly on her. "We did. But", Jade looked around the camp, "I should never have left. Maybe if I had of stayed, none of this would have happened". Nathaniel shook his head, "No, I honestly think they still would have launched an attack on us. And I also believe that if you were here then Lucas would have you in 2149, doing God knows what to you". Jade looked back at that strong man in front of her, his eyes reflecting the pain from the past few days, "You're probably right, but when I came back and saw the Command Centre", she sighed deeply, still trying to hold back the tears, "Nathaniel, I thought", Jade paused and looked down at the ground, "I thought I had lost you".
Nathaniel gently lifted her face back up and pulled her closer to his strong body, "Never", he said firmly. "I will never leave you. And, after the events of the last few days, I will never hide my true feelings again". He leaned down towards her, kissing her soft lips firmly. Jade responded, wrapping her arms around his neck as she pushed herself against him, his heart beat resonating through her. Jade suddenly realised that there were people watching them and pulled away, wrapping her small hand around Nathaniels as she did so. She placed her other hand on his chest and peered up at him with a questioning gaze, "Perhaps you should tell me what exactly happened her", she said. "And don't spare any details".
Two
Jade sat in the large chair across from Nathaniel, still trying to process what she had just been told. In the few hours since her return to Terra Nova she had learnt of Lucas' ultimate betrayal, the destruction of Hope Plaza and of the Phoenix Groups fascination with Bad Lands. She leaned back into the chair and closed her eyes, running her small hand through her hair. "So in a nutshell, you are cut off from 2149", she opened her eyes and looked over at Nathaniel. "Probably forever", Jade said in her soft English accent. Nathaniel nodded and walked over to her, kneeling down so he could take her hand in his. "Malcolm says there is little to no chance of them ever being able to re-establish the connection. Terra Nova will be safe from now on Jade".
Nathaniel looked at her, those cool blue eyes filled with so much hope. Hope that she did not want to destroy with the truth. Jade leaned forward, squeezing his hand, "Nathaniel, the Bad Lands. There is something that you need to know".
"Oh, sorry Taylor", a tall man walked into the room, clearly surprised to see a women in Nathaniels presence. "I didn't realise you had company", he stared at her for a moment and a flicker of recognition suddenly appeared on his face. "Woah! You're Professor Jade Sedar", Jade stood up and offered him her hand, which he almost snatched up to shake. "That I am", she said smoothly, "Missing for over 100 years only to turn up here", she released his hand and motioned around the room, "In the Cretaceous period".
"Jade", Nathaniel moved forward, offering her a gentle smile, "This is my most trusted friend in Terra Nova, Jim Shannon". He looked at Jade and placed his hand on her back, "Jim came here with his family. His wife is one of the Doctors here". Jim stared in disbelief at the small women in front of him. At only 5ft tall she was tiny, with feminine curves and short dark hair, giving her an almost elfish appearance. Dark hazel eyes surveyed all around her and Jim saw a warmth in those eyes as she looked at Nathaniel. "I'm sorry Professor Sedar, I just had no idea you were here. I mean, as far as history is concerned you've been dead for 100 years".
"So what can I help you with Jim?", Nathaniel asked hastily, clearly trying to change the subject. Jim looked over to him, a look of confusion suddenly vanishing as he remembered he had come for another reason. "I nearly forgot. That figurehead the Phoenix Group obtained, where do you want it?". Jade turned to Nathaniel giving him a somewhat confused look, "Figurehead? Weren't they normally something found on Tall Ships?", she asked. Nathaniel nodded and sighed,
"They were, but it seems there was one lying out in the Bad Lands and the Phoenix Group wanted it for some reason". As Nathaniel spoke Jade went white, her legs suddenly growing weak.
Nathaniel grabbed her arm, certain that she was going to collapse, "Jade?", he asked, his voice filled with concern. "What is it?". She looked up at him and shook her head, hoping that this was just a bad dream. Preying that the Figurehead was a fake. "Show me", she said firmly. "Show me now!".
Three
That ancient, wooden figurehead felt smooth under Jades fingertips as she ran her hand over it. Those carved eyes seemed to gaze into her very soul and Jade flung the cover back over, uncomfortable in the ancient objects presence. "And you say they found it in the Bad Lands?", she asked gently, already knowing the answer. Jim and Nathaniel looked at each other, both unsure why the carving had so deeply affected Jade. "That's what they said Professor. They sent the Sixers out to retrieve it from there", Jim replied, taking several steps towards her.
"Damn it!", Jade muttered in frustration, "Damn it, damn it, damn it!". She turned to face Malcolm who was standing directly behind her, "Have you analysed this yet?", she asked him firmly. Malcolm pointed towards the equipment that lay next to the container, "I've only just started, but honestly I don't expect to find anything significant".
Jade gave him a curt look, "I don't care what you think Malcolm. Have you learnt nothing from our lessons?". She sighed, picking up a small hand-held analyser and thrusting it towards Malcolm.
She picked up another piece of equipment, giving him a stern look, "We are going to go over every inch of this thing because there is just something not right about it", Jade pointed towards the covered Figurehead, refusing to look at it, "And I don't give a damn how long it takes, but we are going to find out why the Phoenix Group are so interested in this item".
Nathaniel placed his hand on Jims arm and squeezed it, "I think we should leave you both to it", he suggested, motioning towards his quarters. "Jim and I have a great deal of organising to do if this place is ever going to get back to its old self". He cast Malcolm a firm look, "Look after her Malcolm. She's a precious object". Malcolm nodded, knowing full well that it was not the figurehead that Nathaniel was referring to, "She's in safe hands Commander", he assured him. Nathaniel moved towards Jade, leaning down to kiss her gently on the cheek, "Don't stay up too late", he whispered. "We have some catching up to do", he continued with a mischievous twinkle in his blue eyes.
Jade gave him a wry smile, "I'll be home in time for dinner", she replied softly before turning back to continue analysing the figurehead. Jim and Nathaniel turned and walked away, heading back towards the main structure of Terra Nova. "Taylor", Jim said when they were far enough away from Jade and Malcolm, "Can I ask you something?". Nathaniel stopped mid-step, already knowing what Jim was going to ask.
"You want to know when Jade arrived here? And you will also want to know why you have never seen her before", he looked at Jim who was nodding.
"Come on Taylor, she's the women responsible for helping us understand Portals. Professor Jade Sedar, one of the most famous women in world history, who mysteriously vanished just over a 100 years ago". Jim gave Nathaniel a questioning gaze, waiting eagerly for his reply.
"I will tell you everything Jim. You just have to promise me one thing", Nathaniel looked back towards Jade who was flitting around the figurehead and barking orders at Malcolm, "That you never tell anyone what I am about to tell you. While everyone here knows Jade, there are some things that", he paused and set his cool blue eyes onto Jim, "Well, let's just say only a small group of us know certain things, and that is how it has to stay". Jim nodded, there was no way he would ever betray Commander Taylor. He had helped ensure the survival of his family and proved that he would lay his life down to make sure humanity survived.
"You have my word Taylor. What you tell me stays between us, I swear", he replied reassuringly. Nathaniel smiled and motioned for Jim to head up the stairs towards his quarters, "Fine, I will tell you everything, but only in the privacy of my quarters. That way we won't have any interruptions as I tell you the story of how Jade came into my life".