DISCLAIMER: As always, I do not own Left Behind, or the characters thereof.

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PART ONE

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The Team

In a way, he supposed, it was beautiful.

To others.

To him, it was only a hunk of metal, wiring and assorted hardware that was going to help the Tribulation Force get a member back. David Hassid couldn't understand how Cameron Williams, a journalist and fellow Christian, could have wound up in such a situation, but hopefully keeping watch over him and Carpathia would give some clues as to how Buck was being controlled.

So, rather than lazily glancing at the screens once every twenty or thirty minutes or unplugging them completely, to tinker with like many of his coworkers did, he watched with alacrity from the beginning of his shift to the end.

Captain Rayford Steele hadn't completely settled into the little apartment on the New Babylon base, and there would never be a day when he would move everything in. Most of his earthly possessions would remain in the little house in Mount Prospect. But he and Chloe had brought enough with them that it would probably take one or two more weeks to finish unpacking. Right now, however, he had to abandon that. He'd promised he'd go meet with Hassid at one for a late lunch. Chloe wasn't too keen on being alone in the same city as the Antichrist, with or without God's protection.

"Mind if I tag along?" she asked after voicing her insecurity. "Besides, I'm hoping he's heard from--"

Rayford gave her a hug, but said firmly, "Don't get your hopes up, honey. That way, if there's no good news, you're not let down."

"And if there is?"

"You'll be pleasantly surprised."

The men had chosen a small restaurant in a small blink-and-you-miss-it town about a forty-five minute drive from New Babylon. The place was family owned and operated, and all four of the people working there had the seal of God on their foreheads. They seemed quite overjoyed to have customers who shared their beliefs and love for the Lord. Apparently, another pilot at HQ had recommended the restaurant to her father, and the owners of the little shop talked for a while with Ray about this guy-- Mac.

When their menus were brought, it was obvious what had originally drawn Mac to this place two months ago. According to Chloe's father, Mac had only become a Christian himself three days ago. So it wasn't the comraderie of having people with like beliefs that had led him to discover the little restaurant. It was the food. Mac l-o-v-e-d loved Mexican food, and it was the only Mexican restaurant within driving distance that wasn't in New Babylon. The place just got to be too much sometimes, Mac had told Ray. Understandable. Everywhere you looked in that city, there were posters, portraits, statues or souvenirs featuring the Potentate.

"They shoulda named it Carpathia City," the pilot muttered as he took a bite of his taco. Mmm... It was every bit as good as Mac had said. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had one this good. Shredded beef was so much better than ground.

David laughed. "Just don't tell him that. He might actually have Leon make it happen."

Chloe snorted. "You mean the weird old guy who keeps claiming Carpathia raised him from the dead? I'm surprised anyone believes him about that. Have you heard him talk about it? It's the most ridiculous thing."

"Yeah. Speaking of ridiculous, got any news for us?" Ray asked.

The other man shook his head, frustration crinkling his forehead. "Not unless you want to hear the details of their first kiss."

Chloe blanched, and Ray just looked a bit green around the gills.

"Not particularly."