The pain seized and she was off in her own perfect dream world.
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Maddy's whole family had gathered for dinner and games. Her arm was wrapped around Mark's waist and he had his arm around her shoulder. She watched happily as her daughter, Mikayla, jumped on her dad's back. Mikayla laughed hysterically as her grandfather fell over and covered her belly with raspberries. Her mom was having a pleasant conversation with Josh and his new wife, Skye. Even Zoe had broken out of her usual "I hate the world" teenage attitude and was sneaking up on Jim; who had his hands preoccupied tickling Mikayla. She heard her name softly being called and it kept getting louder and louder.
"Maddy…. Maddy….Maddy….GODDAMNIT MADDY!" The voice yelled and she was ripped from her perfect world with a slap to the face. Maddy bolted up and found herself face to face with Mira. "Good you're awake. Now you have ten minutes to get ready."
"Ready for what?"
"You'll see." With a sly smirk Mira left. Maddy surveyed the room and suddenly jumped off the bed.
"Where am I? The last thing I remember was that I was with Lucas in the Rhino." Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw what she had been sleeping on. She looked down at in disgust. It was a pile of logs that was most likely the home to a numerous species of bugs. Normally small bugs didn't bother her, but she was sleeping on them. Plus the fact that she knew how many bugs people swallowed in their sleep, but even that was when they were in their houses not sleeping on them. The "bed" was covered in a thin layer of the rattiest, white sheets that she had ever seen. She went to walk over to grab her coat that was crumpled up next to the bed when her back twinged with pain. "If only Mark was here to give me a massage. Mark! Oh no he must be worried sick..."
"Hey hurry up in there," someone yelled from outside.
Slowly lying down on her stomach she pulled herself into a yoga pose she had read about on her plex. The humans from the 21st century called it the downward dog. When she stretched upward her back cracked loudly and painfully; causing her to cringe. Feeling much better Maddy walked outside only to be grabbed by a guard.
"Took you long enough," the guard harshly complained. Grabbing her arm the guard led her down several bridges that were suspended in between the trees. He stopped in front of a tree house that was built around the thickest tree. Pulling back an animal skin that covered the entrance to the house he roughly pushed her in.
"Ahh if it isn't the fully operational Madelyn Shannon. I was starting to believe you wouldn't wake up."
"Why would she be thinking that?" Maddy thought to herself. "Oh my god," she whispered out loud," "how long was I out?"
"I was also wondering when you would ask that," She laughed. "Let's see." Counting on her fingers Mira replied, "Just over 2 weeks and we have hit a snag in Lucas's original plan. Come and see for yourself."
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The last two weeks had been hard on Mark Reynolds. Not only had his soul mate been taken from him, but he had also been temporarily relieved from work. He had to do something to get her back and it was apparent that nobody in Terra Nova was going to help so he packed his military bag and slipped unseen through the gate at midnight.
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Nobody had seen Mark Reynolds in over 72 hours and Lt. Alicia Washington had been determined to find out why. This was why she sat a desk at the command center and watched the security camera tapes from three days ago.
"Wash it is time to go home," Taylor said to her, "its 2am."
"I have to find out where he is sir."
"No, you need sleep." The thought of her warm bed almost convinced her to go home, but Mark was more important to her so she protested.
"No sir."
"Now Wash that is an order. Unless you want a month on recruit training." Recruit training was the worst. Either they were smart but not athletic or they were athletic but not smart. It was hard to find a good soldier nowadays and watching teenagers struggle with basic soldier stuff was not how Alicia wanted to spend her Friday nights.
"Fine," she gave up. Smiling the Commander helped her out of her chair and led her to the door."Good night Wash."
"Good night sir." She gave him a quick salute and slowly started to descend the stairs.
Commander Taylor was about to turn off the footage when movement across the screen caught his eye. Replaying the tape he saw an all too familiar young soldier sneak through the bushes and disappear through the gate. After pausing the video he ran out of the command center and quickly caught up to Wash.
"I know where Reynolds went." He said breathless then laughed, "The things people do for love."
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Three days earlier
Mira led Maddy easily through the intricate maze of bridges that connected the Sixers shabby tree houses. Pulling back the curtain that led into a small, dark tree house she ushered Maddy in. Maddy gasped at the hundreds of cluttered papers that held Lucas's calculations. The mess greatly disturbed her and she had an urge to organize it, but she was drawn more to the shuddering mass that laid on a bed in the corner of the room. "Lucas?" Maddy questioned. Mira nodded in response. Maddy slowly and cautiously approached him. She was about to reach out and touch him when he turned over and looked wildly into her eyes.
"Bucket…Bucket, sister you need to stop betraying me. You know if I had the chance I would take you and keep you here to be my lovely and loving wife." Lucas got up and started to advance toward her.
"Lucas, get in bed now." Mira pushed him back while he continued to stare at Maddy. She was extremely uncomfortable. She hadn't felt like this since she thought she was going to be sexually assaulted in an alley back in 2149. That was however before her brother stepped in and took her straight home. Although she wondered who this Bucket person was she just wanted to get home, but it was impossible. She was in the canopy of 40 foot trees, there where guards outside every tree house, and she didn't like the chances of being in the jungle with no protection. When Lucas was finally in bed Mira broke Maddy from her trance.
"You are going to heal him young Shannon or else." Mira got in Maddy's face and grabbed onto her shirt.
"Or else what?" Maddy gulped.
"I don't think you want to know." Mira said seriously. "I'll leave you a couple minutes to mull it over and then I want a decision." Mira left swiftly only looking back to give Maddy a vicious glare. She sat in complete silence while her deep brown eyes stared at all the calculations.
"If only I had a source of fire." Maddy eventually thought, "I would burn this room and this tree to the ground." Before she even had time to think about the actual problem she faced Mira strutted back into the room.
"So tonight are you going to be in pain or sleeping soundly in your bed?"She asked casually.
Maddy stared at her silently with wide eyes. "I'll give you five more seconds Shannon before I tie you up and throw you to the Slashers!" She advanced toward Maddy and grabbed her fiercely by the arms.
"No." Maddy tried to sound confident, but her voice came out in a barely audible whisper.
"What did you just say?" Mira threatened.
"No! I won't help him or you!" Maddy yelled and cringed at the same time expecting to get hit. Instead Mira roughly led her out of Lucas's house and through the maze that was the Sixer camp. Mira led her to another tree house, but this one was different than the rest. The inside was almost completely pitch dark and it gave the house an eerie feel. Mira pushed Maddy forward toward the back of the house. Even with an intelligent mind like hers didn't realize what was happening until she heard the loud clang of metal on metal. She was Mira's prisoner.
"I would enjoy that pretty face of yours while you have it Shannon," Mira hissed through the bars of the cell, "because the next time your soldier boyfriend sees you he won't be able to look at you without cringing in disgust."
