A/N: Hey guys :) So, I'm not sure how big the Space: Above & Beyond fandom is, since it's an old show, but if you're part of the fandom, welcome. If you're not, I would highly recommend it, it was a great show, even though it got cancelled after all the shenanigans of the season 1 finale.
This takes place after "...Tell Our Moms We Done Our Best," and is a bit of an AU, since in my version, the APC Wang's in doesn't fully explode (more is explained in the chapter below). I couldn't bear the thought of killing him off (although I don't see how he could've survived what happened in the finale) and wanted the possibility to bring him back. Whether he actually does, you'll have to read and find out ;) Don't worry, I'll definitely still be updating my other fics, I've just always loved this show and have been getting back into it lately. I've had this idea for awhile and wanted to share it with you guys. Thank you so much for the read and enjoy!
Unknown month/day/2064. 0700 hours
Unknown planet
She was dead. She was dead and in hell. Every part of her hurt as she wandered through the swampy, barren landscape. It was still dark out, but her eyes had long since adjusted. Did the sun even rise in hell? Shane Vansen didn't think so.
Her last living memory had been their APC taking a hit, the cockpit with her and Damphousse in it blasting off and falling towards some unknown planet. Then there had been darkness and she had woken up here. No signs of the crashed cockpit or her squad mate anywhere to be found. She had looked all over, but hadn't found anything. She had trudged all over a diverse landscape for who knew how long. For awhile, there had been a forest where her parents had walked on either side of her. That was how she knew she was dead. They spoke to her as if nothing had separated them, just having normal conversations that any parent and child would have. They promised to keep watch over her as she slept, but when she awoke, they were gone. The beautiful, lush woodland filled with birdsong had disappeared when she'd woken, too, to be replaced by this disgusting, rank-smelling, humid swamp. It was as if she'd been granted a few minutes in Heaven, then someone up there realized they'd made a mistake and hurled her down to hell. She hadn't seen Wang or Damphousse yet, but she could only hope they were in a better place.
Shane's boot caught in a particular swampy patch and wouldn't come up. With no strength left to yank it out, she simply moaned and stood there, staring into the dark, cloudy sky. She panted, suddenly realizing how out of breath she was. After the APC had crashed and inevitably killed her, her helmet was missing as was the cockpit. Any emergency provisions that might've been inside were gone. But she was dead, wasn't she? Didn't that mean she didn't need any provisions? Then why did she hurt? Maybe that was part of being in hell.
Several tears slid down her cheeks, making tracks in the grime that caked her face. She moaned once more, then again as it felt good to release the agony inside her. Her moans soon turned into wails and she sank to her knees in the muck. While hurtling towards the unknown planet, she'd slowly resigned herself to her death. But she hadn't been expecting this. Why was she in hell? Was it for all the times she'd failed the people she cared about? Yes, that had to be it. It was the only explanation. At least Hawkes and West had been alive last time she'd seen them.
She thought she heard voices, but who cared? She was dead. There was nothing more they could do to her. She continued to wail her misfortunes to the sky until her throat was hoarse and she couldn't howl anymore. She was aware of the landscape becoming lighter around her and rain began pelting her upturned face. She opened her eyes to see a bright, glowing golden orb begin to peek up over the lip of the horizon, underneath the clouds. So maybe hell did have a sunrise after all.
May 19, 2064 (several weeks later), 1000 hours
Aboard the Saratoga
"Flex it for me, please," the doctor commanded, standing over his patient intently.
T.C. McQueen did as bade. It had taken several months of hospitalization mixed with therapy and surgery, but he still refused to be down and out of the war for long. The only way they'd be able to send him home and keep him home was in a bodybag. After some convincing, he'd been fitted with an artificial leg akin to what the Silicates were made out of. It was a new remedy doctors were trying on patients who had missing limbs, although it was still very much experimental. He couldn't run on it or fight—at least not yet. But he didn't care at the moment. All he cared about was getting back to his "kids." Or what was left of them. Hawkes and West were still alive and kicking, but Damphousse and Vansen were still MIA.
Wang had been declared MIA as well, although his situation was a bit more complicated. From the reports he'd heard, Vansen, Damphousse and Wang were all in an APC carrier together. Vansen was pilot, Damphousse was co-pilot and Wang was operating the guns in the passenger compartment. A Chig had fired a missile just right and separated the cockpit from the compartment. The cockpit had floated down towards an unknown planet, where SAR teams were still searching for the missing marines. The compartment had apparently taken a "bad beating," as Commodore Ross had told him and looked scorched. The light in the tiny windows had gone out and it had slowly floated towards the same unknown planet as the cockpit had, although its landing spot would probably be a few miles away from the cockpit. When West had tried to contact Wang, there had been only static.
Ty had still been under many doctors' watchful eyes, but Hawkes and West had been given four weeks shore leave after the tragedy. Both had returned two weeks ago. The trio had all been thrilled to see each other, although "happy" wasn't really an emotion he himself showcased. Both Hawkes and West had seemed rather somber as well and the three of them had showed their elation just by sitting and talking about the things they'd done the past few weeks. West had gone to spend some time with his family and Kylen and the couple had gotten married over the shore leave. It was a small ceremony and Hawkes had been present, although he still seemed like he wasn't sure what to think of the whole experience. West had invited McQueen, but he was several states away undergoing surgery for his artificial leg at the hospital and hadn't been able to attend. Hawkes hadn't really said what he'd done other than go to West and Kylen's wedding and McQueen wasn't one to pry into someone else's personal matters.
"Good," the doctor in front of him said, drawing his attention back to the present. "Keep using your crutch and we'll see how it goes. Make sure not to stand on it for too long."
The colonel nodded, slowly rising to his feet with his crutch under his arm. He still wasn't sure he fully understood how the leg worked; it felt and moved just like a normal leg. He just willed it to move and it did, thanks to a chip that had been implanted in his brain that somehow connected his thoughts to the fake leg. He'd protested anything being put in his brain, but had been told by multiple people that it was the only way the leg would function properly. It was either that or a wheelchair and Ty had opted for being on his feet. There had never been any question that he would return to the Saratoga once he was all patched up and he wouldn't ruin the one chance he had to do so. So he'd swallowed his stubbornness and pride and let them put the chip into his brain.
The leg worked fairly well, but he had still been ordered to use a crutch to help support him while they continued to test it out. He was required to go for weekly checkups on the Saratoga's sickbay. He slowly but surely made his way to the Rec. Room, surveying the area.
It was mostly empty except for a few other squads and the semi-newly formed 58th. West and Hawkes had insisted that if they weren't allowed to be on the SAR teams, they wanted to keep taking the fight to the Chigs until their squad mates were found. Well, West had anyway. Hawkes had been quieter than usual ever since he'd returned to duty but he refused to be left behind, so after a moment's pause, he'd simply nodded along with his squad mate. Ty admired their valor and perseverance.
West was furiously scribbling something on a piece of paper at a table in the corner by himself while Hawkes watched TV a few feet away. He, too, was alone and gazing at the screen intently—maybe a little too intently. Ty couldn't really see Hawkes that interested in a documentary about fish. The new Wild Cards were scattered around, although Ty couldn't have picked them out. He'd only returned to the Saratoga five days ago and hadn't had a chance to formally meet them. He didn't even know anything about them really.
He glanced over at West's furrowed brow and decided to make his way over to Hawkes. He approached from behind just as the documentary began its section on blowfish. He glanced over at the young In-Vitro as he came around the couch to see his face a mix of awe and confusion. Hawkes turned to meet his eyes and clamped his agape mouth shut, shooting to his feet.
"As you were," Ty said, waving him down. Hawkes scooted down to make room as his CO slowly lowered himself into the firm cushions. They were both quiet for several minutes until Ty said, "Blowfish, huh?"
Hawkes glanced at him. "It was either that or some dumb gardening show." He snorted to show his enthusiasm for the idea.
"There are more channels than two."
He shrugged. "Ain't nothing else interesting."
Silence again. "What's West working on over there?"
"Dunno."
Ty withheld a sigh. Hawkes had never been the most talkative person, but trying to get him to talk now was like yanking teeth. As In-Vitroes, they both usually kept to themselves and it wasn't very often that Ty would be the one to seek Hawkes out. It was usually the other way around. But the younger marine had seemed to fold inward on himself ever since the failed peace conference with the Chigs. McQueen felt it was his job to… comfort him in some way, but he wasn't really sure what to do. Hence, the awkward attempt at conversation.
He cleared his throat and tried again. "So, um… how are the rookies doing?"
Hawkes finally turned his full attention on him. "There are only three. Jack Burns and Anna Perkins are the two over there—" he pointed to two people who had their backs to them, crouched over something Ty couldn't see, "and Jack doesn't like In-Vitroes. Anna's okay, but she don't do much. On the few missions we've done, she just kinda sits there scared the whole time. She and Burns talk a lot though and she seems to be starting to get a thing against In-Vitroes, too." He turned and scanned the room, frowning. "Don't see Lily Drums."
"She any good?"
"Yeah, she's pretty cool. Keeps her head more than those two." He jerked his head back over to Burns and Perkins, who were now standing very close. Burns caught Ty's eye and his mouth twisted in disgust before turning back to his friend.
He sighed and settled back into his seat. He would still be the 58th's CO, he just wouldn't be able to go on missions with them anymore—at least for the time being. He was hoping this new leg worked out and they would eventually clear him for active duty instead of just sitting on the Saratoga waiting for things to happen, but he knew that was a long shot. Burns would just have to put a cork in it and do what Ty told him.
The intercom buzzed overhead. "Will the 58th report for briefing in 10 mikes." It was an order, not a question.
Ty frowned. He hadn't been notified about this.
"What's going on?" Burns asked from the corner. His voice had a whiny tone to it that grated on the colonel's ears.
"Don't know," Ty replied, pulling himself to his feet. Hawkes stood with him. "But you heard the commodore. Go get changed and meet me there in 10 mikes."
Ty was somehow still the first one to the briefing room, even with his current handicap. Commodore Ross stood at the front and his dark eyes appraised the colonel as he hobbled in. "Still getting used to the leg?"
"I'll get the hang of it," Ty replied, glancing down and rotating his foot involuntary as if to say see? He brought his ice colored eyes back to the commodore's face. "What's all this about? Why wasn't I or the 58th notified earlier?"
"Because we didn't get word until just now." He came over to Ty and put a hand on his shoulder. "Ty… we found Wang."
