Chapter 1: Gone

"Where'd they go?"

Jack's words hung in the air as an eerie silence fell throughout the Astraeus reactor room. He and Henry stared at the empty bay, transfixed in shock, until the sound of high-heels echoing through the halls shook them into consciousness. Senator Wen's face was terrified as she ran toward them. She looked at them, questioning wordlessly, but all she got in response was a small shake of Carter's head. Henry's eyes closed as he took a shaky breath. When he opened them again, they were changed, shock and terror replaced with a cold, hard resolve.

"Mission Control," he shouted, making everyone jump, "back to your posts. I want full diagnostics run. I want every record of every bit of data gone through with a fine-toothed comb. And then I want it done again. We will find out what happened here and we will get them back!" He stormed off in the direction of the control room, brushing by a wide-eyed Wen as he did, his team scrambling to follow him.

As if Henry's declaration had sparked something inside of him, Carter pulled out his cell phone. He held a finger up to Wen as she approached him, stopping her in her tracks, before speaking into his phone. "Jo. There's been an accident. Astraeus is missing. Allison, too. I need you here. Now." He swallowed and closed his eyes against the emotion that was threatening to spill over. "Please, Jo," he said softly, and then hung up. He looked back at Wen who, he had to admit, seemed to be accepting his disregard for her authority rather well. "I'm sorry, Senator."

She waved him off, "No, I'm sorry for what happened. I truly am. I just wanted to tell you that I need to call my colleagues at the DoD, to let them know what happened." She sounded as if she was just as sorry for the phone call she was about to make as for the circumstances that were leading her to make it. "A failed mission is not going to go over too well. They might… They will probably send their own guys to come down here and head their own investigation. It won't be easy. I'm sorry." The last words were said in a near whisper and Jack believed her.

He nodded his understanding. "I need to get my deputy and inform the family members of the crew." Then with a stab to his chest, he remembered. The kids. Panic rose at the thought of them, and he ran past the senator and through the halls of GD. He arrived at his Jeep breathless and he forced himself to take a moment to catch his breath before he drove to SARAH. He would not scare the kids, not when there was still hope. And he had to have hope. I can't lose her again. Jack pulled out his cell once more, still trying to slow his breathing, and pushed the button for Andy. He closed his eyes as the phone continued to ring and couldn't help the harried tone in his voice when he left Andy a message. "I swear, Andy, if you're 'indisposed' with SARAH right now, I will find me a new deputy. Meet me at the office in twenty minutes." He hung up, climbed into the Jeep, and started what felt like the longest drive home in his life.

When he stepped into the house, he found Kevin and Jenna in the living room. She was giggling in his lap as he held a book in his hands. They both turned to look at him, though, when they heard the door.

Kevin's face fell slightly. "Hey Jack."

Jack tried to keep his tone light. "Hey…Kev. Have you seen Andy?"

Kevin shook his head and SARAH chimed in, "I have not seen or heard from Andy all day. I tried not to worry, though, as I thought he'd be busy with the mission."

Kevin looked at Jack worriedly. "What's wrong?"

Jack sighed. Everything. He sat on the couch next to Kevin and took Jenna into his lap. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he had to say.

"Something happened to the Astraeus ship. It disappeared, but it didn't go to Titan. And…and your mom, she was trapped inside." His voice broke, despite trying his hardest to control it. He watched Kevin's face as he tried to process what Jack had told him. Confusion, followed by fear, then anger.

Kevin's hands balled into fists. "We're going to get her back, right? You're going to save her." It wasn't a question.

Jack nodded. "We're going to do everything we can. We won't give up. I promise you." Kevin seemed to accept his answer, so Jack continued. "I need to find Andy. I'm going to go to the office and hopefully he'll be there. Will you be okay here with Jenna a little longer?"

"Yeah." Kevin's voice belied the confidence he was trying to, but Jack had to trust that they'd be okay.

SARAH's cool tones spoke softly. "I'll watch over them, Jack."

"Thanks, Sarah." He handed Jenna back to Kevin, kissing her on the forehead before hugging Kevin tightly and then heading out the door.

The sky had darkened and the air had chilled by the time he got to his office. Jack noticed Andy's car parked in front and he let out a sigh of relief. He stepped out of the Jeep, grumbling about unreliable robots, but his heart sank as he entered the building and flipped on the lights. Andy was there, but he was lying on the floor of the jail cell, locked inside. Jack ran to the cell door, fumbling with the keys until he could yank the door open.

"Andy!" He fell to his knees and started shaking the android, but to no avail. His deputy was shut-down. Why doesn't he come with an 'On' switch? Cursing, Jack stood up and reached into his pocket to call Henry, until he noticed a note lying on the lone piece of furniture in the cell. He stepped over Andy toward the cot and picked up the scrap of paper. It was a simple note, only seven words, but Jack found himself unable to comprehend them.

I lost Astraeus. Please forgive me. –Andy