Final Countdown (Chapter 2)
After a few moments of stunned silence, the scientists in the Astraeus control room began separating into groups, quietly discussing options for bringing the ship home from its failed journey. With a look of apology, Allison left Henry and Jack with Jo at the main control panel to begin organizing what was now a rescue effort for the Astraeus crew.
Jo was still crying, though not audibly. As she struggled with little effect to regain her composure, General Mansfield appeared, an Army officer at his side. They had been present to observe the first planned use of the Faster Than Light module. Instead, they'd witnessed what would likely be the end of a $20 billion project.
"Lupo," the General said, more softly than Jack or Henry could ever remember him speaking. Jo turned toward him, reflexively beginning to stand. "No, please don't." He gestured for her to remain seated. "I didn't know about your…relationship with Donovan. I'm…" Jack stiffened. Was the man actually going to chastise Jo for her involvement with Zane? Now? "I'm sorry for your loss." His words were formal, but sincere.
Jo looked at him, face devoid of the surprise she would have felt at any other time. "Thank you." Her voice was strained, but calm. Mansfield nodded, then moved off toward Allison. Jo turned back toward Jack. "I'm going to my office. I should…" she trailed off, looking at Jack as though he could tell her what her next step should be.
"Jo," he said. "Why don't you go back to S.A.R.A.H? There isn't anything you can do here for now. I'll take you." She shook her head no. "Jo, you shouldn't drive-".
"I want to stay here. At GD. In case…" she looked out at the now busy control room. "In case I'm needed." As Jack opened his mouth to object, his cell phone rang. With a huff of frustration, he pulled it from its holster. "Carter," he barked.
"Boss?" Deputy Andy's relentlessly upbeat voice came from the phone. "Not now, Andy. We have a serious problem here." Jack made to end the call when Andy spoke again. "I know. That is what I am calling about. I've been making my nightly rounds of Eureka, and have detected unusual amounts of radiation in the vicinity of the Boson Cloud Exciter."
"The Boson…what?" The Sheriff absentmindedly rubbed the back of his neck with exasperation. At his words, Henry looked up sharply from Jo's face. "The BCE, boss. There is a radiation spike suggesting that it has been activated within the last hour. Should I investigate?"
"Jack." Henry spoke urgently. "Is that Andy? Is he near the BCE?" When Jack's face remained blank, Henry changed tack. "The catcher's mitt, Jack. The radiation field we used to catch the capsule that Fargo and-" Henry broke off with a worried look toward Jo. "The Apollo capsule, when it returned from space."
"Um, Andy?" Jack spoke quickly. "Are you near the BCE?" When Andy answered affirmatively, Jack extended his phone to Henry. "One moment." Henry turned to the main control panel, rapidly pressing keys as he scanned a data readout. He straightened quickly, glancing at Jack with eyebrows raised before speaking to the robotic deputy waiting on the line.
"How far are you from the BCE? Good. Go there now—your copper shielding should protect you. Call us as soon as you arrive." Henry snapped the phone shut and pulled Jack a few steps away from Jo, lowering his voice. "Jack, he's right. The BCE did activate, right at the time when the data show the second impact shook Astraeus."
"So? That means…" Jack circled his hand in a 'hurry up' gesture.
"I'm not sure. If the FTL was functioning, then Astraeus was supposed to return after the mission via the BCE. We modified it-when the positioning sensor arrays on the ship sent a signal, the BCE would activate automatically. It would help pull the ship back from deep space."
"But the FTL wasn't working, right? So why would the crew turn on the BCE?" Jack asked.
"Maybe they didn't. I'm guessing here, Jack, but it's possible that the strong vibrations Astraeus suffered when the FTL failed and it came to a sudden stop did something to the positioning sensor arrays. Those weren't designed for that kind of impact."
"Positioning sensor arrays." Jack's voice was tinged with excitement. "Aren't those what-"
"What Zane was trying to save." Henry and Jack had been so intent on their conversation that they hadn't noticed Jo's approach until she spoke. They shared a quick look before Henry answered. "Yes. What he did save."
"Henry." Jack's voice was almost reluctant, as if he wasn't sure if his next question should be asked. "Are you saying that the sensor array thing could have turned on the BCE?"
"It's possible. Briefly, anyway—the readings indicate that the BCE was only active for a few seconds. But if it was responding to a signal from the sensor arrays, it might have connected to the FTL—it might have turned it on, at least briefly."
"What would have turned the BCE off?" Jack asked the question of Henry, but it was Jo who responded. "It would turn off when transmission was complete. When it received what was being sent to it. But Astraeus didn't come back…". Jo stopped, her eyes widening.
Henry nodded as Jack's phone rang again. He pressed the speaker on. "Andy? Did you get to the BCE? Is there anything…there?" Realization had dawned over Jack's face as well.
"No. Not anything." Jo's eyes closed, the tiny hope she'd barely recognized starting to drain from her. "It's someone. Mr. Donovan is here. He appears to be quite injured." Andy continued in his usual cheery tone. "I assume I should bring him to the infirmary?"
EUREKA EUREKA EUREKA EUREKA
News of Zane's discovery spread rapidly through the Astraeus control room. Most people were simply relieved, whether or not they'd known or liked him. Some were skeptical that he could have made the journey from deep space in one piece, if at all. And a few were privately of the opinion that Zane's presence on Astraeus had been an illusion, that he'd been in Eureka all along. On the Astraeus, however, the mood was elation. Zane's loss had overshadowed even their concerns about whether the ship could return. His survival seemed like a sign that they too would make it home.
"I want a medical-surgical team standing by and need a full treatment kit brought up stat." Allison was directing the preparations to treat Zane's injuries. "We need someone to go out to the BCE and get him stabilized for transport." Jo reached toward her. "Can't you go, Allison? I mean…". Senator Wen stepped forward as Allison began to shake her head.
"Go," she said to Allison. "I can supervise the recovery effort here while you're away—Dr. Deacon can assist." Allison turned toward her, surprised at the suggestion that the acting Director of GD leave at such a critical juncture. Wen, however, was looking at Jo with a look that bordered on sympathy.
"Fine," said Allison, moving off toward the door. "I'm going too," said Jo. Her expression was calm, but anxiety filled her voice. "It's going to take us 30 minutes to get there, at least. How long will it take to get an ambulance ready?" Wen stepped forward and grasped Jo's shoulder. "Take my helicopter. You can get there and back in the time it would take to get off the grounds in an ambulance." Jo nodded and turned to follow Allison.
"Andy, I need you to assess Zane's condition." Allison spoke into her phone as she and Jo jogged toward the elevator. "Run as complete a diagnostic scan as you can and stabilize him if possible, but do not move him. We don't know whether he's suffered any head or spinal damage." At this, Jo stumbled slightly, but recovered quickly. Jack watched as the elevator doors closed behind them, then closed his eyes, bowing his head for a moment before returning to the control room.
EUREKA EUREKA EUREKA EUREKA
An hour later, Jack walked into a treatment center adjacent to the infirmary. Allison and several other doctors were standing in front of a bank of medical equipment, watching as numbers and lines flickered across screens. Several yards away, a cylindrical glass enclosure filled a corner of the room. Zane was inside, strapped to a gurney, his eyes closed.
"How is he?" Jack spoke softly, eyes on Jo, who was standing next to the enclosure. As he watched, she pressed her hand against the glass, splaying her fingers as if to reach through to where Zane lay.
"No brain or spinal damage that we could detect, but he's suffering from decompression sickness," Allison answered. At Jack's blank look, she explained. "The bends. Exposure to the zero pressure atmosphere of space, coupled with the effects of faster than light travel caused air bubbles to become trapped in his bloodstream and tissues. He was at risk of having a stroke, so we needed to get him into the hyperbaric chamber and begin treatment immediately." She gestured to the glass enclosure.
"He's lucky, Jack. If the FTL hadn't connected to the BCE for the few seconds it took to bring Zane home, he wouldn't have survived. His flight suit was adequate to protect him for that time. As it is, he has multiple bone fractures-we didn't have time to set them, so he's sedated and restrained for now."
Jack blew out a sigh, body relaxing somewhat for the first time in what felt like hours. "Henry said the FTL was able to connect to the BCE. Only for a few seconds, but he's pretty sure they can fix it well enough to bring the ship home. Looks like they won't make it to Titan any time soon, though." He looked toward Jo. "How is she doing? I know they still had a lot of things to work out before he left but-it's Zane. She loves the guy."
Allison smiled. "She's better, now that she's seen him. There's no guarantee, but it looks like he'll make a full recovery, eventually. For tonight, I've set her up with a bed here—she's said she won't leave, but I want her to get some sleep after everything she's been through. I'll give her something to help with that once Zane finishes the hyperbaric session and we've treated his other injuries. She'll do fine until then." Jack smiled in return, taking the opportunity to kiss Allison lightly before walking to Jo's side.
"Jo, you ok?" She turned to Jack, smiling slightly. Despite the evident signs of strain on her face, her eyes were sparkling. "He's alive. I almost don't believe it…I was so sure I'd lost him again. But there he is," she looked at Zane. "We've been through so much, even though he doesn't remember all of it. I didn't think he was the same Zane I knew before, couldn't allow myself to really let him in. But when I thought he was gone…" her voice grew determined. "It didn't matter if he's the same or different, if he's sweet, or snarky, or a delinquent. It didn't matter if he loves me now, or even if he ever will. It doesn't matter now. I love him, Carter, I really do. And whether or not we have a future together, I'm going to make sure he knows it."
Jack squeezed Jo's shoulder as her gaze returned to Zane. He smiled to Allison before leaving to check on the status of the rescue effort for Astraeus. Jo spoke softly, head leaning against the glass enclosure.
"I meant what I said. I love you. Not my memory of you, but you. I'm sorry I let you doubt that before you left. I'm sorry we both haven't tried harder. But I promise you I will." She raised her head and voice slightly. "You just promise me you'll get better, and we'll try to make it work. Together."
Jo leaned her head back against the glass and closed her eyes. She and Zane had time now, and she intended to use it well.
A/N: So there it is—I just couldn't leave Zane and anyone reading this hanging. I'm considering one more chapter, something with M inclinations, but am not sure I have the nerve. If I don't, use your imaginations—poor Zane will be bed-ridden for a while, but he deserves a little fun after what I've put him through. q-:)