Thank you to everyone who reviewed and alerted and favourited this story. I'm so glad you all like it. I just wanted to say that Skye has different opinions in this fic. I'm trying to keep her as canon as possible but I'm exploring an idea I've had about what might have happened if she felt differently about Taylor. Anyway I would love to hear what you all think about this chapter :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Terra Nova


There was a part of Skye that felt guilty as she snuck into the Command Center. Commander Taylor and most of the other soldiers were out on dawn patrol and most of the colony was still asleep making it the perfect time for Skye to sneak into the Command Center and retrieve the research.

Skye hurriedly sorted through the assortment of things that littered the Commander's desk. She finally found the familiar looking plex and picked it up, turning it on and watching as it flickered to life. The title "Syncillic Fever" came on screen along with the words "Lucas Taylor". She couldn't believe that she hadn't recognised the name earlier. The Commander had never mentioned Lucas to her but she had heard rumours around the colony about 'Taylor's estranged son'. Most people believed that he was dead but Skye knew the truth. She was glad that he wasn't dead. If he could find a cure for syncillic fever then Skye would truly owe him.

Skye hastily stuffed the plex inside her jacket before turning to leave the room. As she left her eyes glanced over to a filing cabinet in the corner of the room, she was glad that Taylor hadn't put the plex in there, it was where all of his important documents were kept and there wasn't one person other than Taylor who knew the combination to open it. It would have been nearly impossible to break into it. But Skye had what she had come for, now she just had to get the research to Lucas then the rest would be up to him.

Skye found Lucas back at Snakehead falls where he said he would meet her. He glanced up as he heard her approaching before standing up and making his way over to her.

"Did you get it?" he asked once he reached her. Skye nodded and handed the plex over, feeling as though she was handing over her mother's life with it.

"So you can really find a cure?" she asked, hoping that she wasn't just being set up for disappointment.

"Give me a few days," Lucas replied, sounding rather confident in his ability to find a cure. "I'll have one of my contacts in Terra Nova tell you when it's done then we'll discuss how we're going to get your mother out of Terra Nova."

"Out of Terra Nova?" Skye questioned. Lucas nodded back at her.

"We can't treat her while she's in Terra Nova," he answered. "My father would never allow it. Don't worry Bucket, she'll be safe out here with me. I'll take good care of her."

"How do I know that I can trust you with her?" she countered.

"I know what it's like to lose a mother Bucket, I'll take care of her I promise," he replied as he looked deep into her eyes, trying to reassure her. He took a step forwards and reached out to take her hands.

"It's Skye," she replied, feeling that if she could trust him with her mother's life she could trust him with her name.

"Skye," Lucas repeated, contemplating this for a moment, thinking about the way her name sounded on his tongue. "I prefer Bucket," he replied shortly. "I should get to work on the cure," he said, stepping back from her, dropping her hands and turning to leave.

Skye took this as her cue to leave. She turned and began her long walk back to Terra Nova. She hoped that Lucas would do what he said he could, her mother's life depended on it.


Lucas got in touch sooner than expected. It was only a few days later when Skye was approached in the marketplace. She was at one of the stalls, buying breakfast when a man casually sidled up to her.

"Luca wants to see you at Snakehead falls," he murmured, looking away from Skye, pretending to be interested in a piece of fruit. "He has news for you."

Then he was gone as quickly as he had turned up, leaving Skye to think about what he had said. This was it, the moment when Lucas would either tell her that he had a cure or crush her hopes. She paid for her breakfast before making her way into the jungle for the third time that week.

Lucas was once again waiting at the top of the waterfall. He jumped up upon seeing Skye arrive. He looked even scruffier than the last time she had seen him. He had dark circles around his eyes yet he seemed to be full of energy based on the way he ran over to her.

"When was the last time you slept?" Skye asked in a concerned tone.

"I don't know 3, 4 days ago," Lucas replied, brushing it off, his excitement taking over. "But I did it I found a cure."

"What?" Skye asked, hardly believing what she was hearing. "You really found a cure?"

Lucas nodded. Skye couldn't stop herself from flinging herself at him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Lucas was slightly taken aback, he stiffened, unused to human contact but he soon found himself relaxing in her arms and returning the hug. It was a strange concept for him, this closeness. It confused him which was something that rarely happened to him. He hadn't let anyone get this close to him since he was 14, not that there had been many people to push away, most people gave him a wide berth.

"Thank you," Skye muttered as she stepped back, glancing down at the ground, a little embarrassed by her actions. She barely knew this man and here she was throwing herself into his arms, but at the same time she owed him everything and wanted to show her gratitude. Lucas brushed her thanks off, returning to the matter at hand.

"Now Bucket," he said, returning to his business-like manner. "Can I trust you?"

"Of course you can," replied Skye as though this whole notion was ridiculous. "I'm trusting you with my mother's life of course you can trust me."

"There is going to be a time soon when you will have a choice to make," Lucas began as he led Skye over to sit by the edge of the waterfall.

"What sort of choice?" Skye asked warily.

"A choice between my father and his precious Terra Nova, and me. There will be a time soon when you're going to have to choose. Lucas replied as he turned to try and gage Skye's reaction, seeing if he could trust her.

"What sort of choice is that Lucas?" she asked, her voice rising in anger. "Taylor, he refused to help my mother he was just going to let her die whereas you said you'll save her. I won't give my loyalty to someone who's content to just let my mother die.

"You and I have that in common," Lucas murmured, struck by the irony of her words. They were both so similar. Although Lucas barely knew her he decided that he could trust her. They were both taking giant leaps in trusting each other; they just hoped that they would pay off.

"Do you know what the whole point of Terra Nova is Bucket?" he asked.

"A second chance?" she answered in an unsure tone.

"A second chance for who?" Lucas prompted, anxious that she understand where he was coming from.

"A second chance for humanity," she replied, still unsure of where Lucas was heading with this.

"Exactly!" he exclaimed, excited that Skye seemed to be following his train of thought. "The whole point of Terra Nova is a second chance for humanity all of humanity, not just the few who were lucky enough to get chosen to go through the portal. Terra Nova was set up so that food could be grown for the dying world back in the future. The plan was for plants and trees to be sent back to the future, they would be replanted in domes and slowly we would bring the air quality back to a safe level where people could breathe without masks. We could send back water and food to help the future get back on their feet while creating a new future here. My father however had other plans. He believed that Terra Nova was only a second chance for those who were deemed important enough to be chosen to come here, or those who were lucky enough to win the lottery. My employers back in the future aren't too happy about this but soon it will all be fixed."

"So Terra Nova, everything Taylor has said, it's all been a lie?" Skye asked, shocked at what she was hearing. "That's horrible."

"Yes!" Lucas exclaimed as he nodded enthusiastically, excited that there was finally someone else who saw his father for who he truly was. "The last pilgrimage, the sixth, was filled with a group of people sent by my employer. Together we can take back Terra Nova and dethrone my father. Then Terra Nova can become what it was always meant to be."

"And what does this have to do with me?" Skye asked, wondering where Lucas was going with all this.

"Well Bucket," he replied. "Now that you've decided that you're with us and against Taylor you need to know this. Unfortunately for us, fortunately for you and your mother, Taylor knows about the people that were sent on the sixth pilgrimage and is getting close to discovering the people who are working for my employers. The last person that was sent through the portal to take back Terra Nova was killed; my father murdered him in cold blood. This group, the Sixers as they are called, aren't prepared to take the chance of something similar happening to them and so they are leaving Terra Nova. They will be leaving in the next few days before my father can stop them. They can sneak your mother out of the colony with them and bring her with us so we can treat her."

"I want to come too," Skye exclaimed, liking the sound of Terra Nova less and less with every passing moment. "If my mother is going with you then I want to come too. I can't stay back at Terra Nova with Taylor, not now."

"No Bucket," Lucas replied, turning back to look at her. "You need to stay in Terra Nova, it will be too suspicious if you and your mother both disappear along with a group of so called 'traitors', he'll think that you've been kidnapped and he'll send out a search party. We can risk him finding us. We need you to stay at Terra Nova and fake your mother's death. Besides, I need eyes and ears inside Terra Nova and you are just my girl. Then once my father has been taken down you'll be reunited with your mother. Of course you can come and visit her but it would be in everyone's best interests for you to stay at Terra Nova."

"So you want me to spy?" Skye asked, contemplating what this would mean for her.

"Well it would really just be helping out a friend, working for a common cause," he replied with a charming smile on his face. "But yes, technically it would be spying."

Skye knew that it was wrong to spy on Taylor but he was the one in the wrong. His actions would bring about the demise of the future, besides Lucas was offering her so much. Honestly Skye would be glad to see Terra Nova taken from Taylor, she didn't think that she could ever forgive him for his refusal to help her mother.

"Ok I'll do it," she replied, confident in her decision.

"Excellent," Lucas replied, smiling as he got to his feet. "My people will be in contact with you."

And then once again he was gone, just as abruptly as the last time, leaving Skye alone again yet she didn't feel as alone as she did a few days ago. Her mother was going to be saved, Lucas had said that he was her friend and soon Lucas would take over Terra Nova. Things were finally looking up for Skye and it was all thanks to the man from Snakehead falls.