The Betrayal

Episode 12

Willie stepped out into the cold night and carefully made his way to the front of the alley. He peeked around the corner and saw nothing but when he looked the other direction he saw a trooper vehicle checking the streets. He ducked back into the alley just as the vehicle passed by.

"I must be careful, can not fail them." He said quietly to himself before stepping out of the alley and sneaking down the street.

"Willie" Simon said when he spotted Willie in the abandoned building.

"Simon" Willie greeted his friend.

"We got to make this fast. I think I'm being followed. Charles is secretly sneaking arms into the open city. He's preparing to…." Simon suddenly stopped talking and Willie turned to see two visitor troopers behind him.

"Simon" Willie yelled when one of the trooper shot Simon.

"Don't move. Your under arrest. Stop or I'll shoot" The trooper yelled as Willie continued to back away from them. When Willie reached the door the trooper shot and Willie fell back against the wall. Willie pulled himself up and drug himself down the hall as quickly as he could.

"Don't worry, he wont get far." The trooper said when he saw the green blood on the side of the wall.

"Good evening Los Angles, it is now two hours past curfew. All is quiet and I have instructed the police to see that all remains that way. I ask ounce again…." Nathan Bates voice continued from the TV.

"Kyle have you seen Willie? What is it? Is everything o.k.?" Elizabeth asked.

"Look at his eyes." Kyle said.

"What?" Elizabeth asked.

"Something's gone. That's not my father" Kyle said. Never looking away from the TV.

"Kyle your fathers been thru allot. Maybe he hasn't fully recovered from his wounds." Elizabeth said.

"That's the point. He was shot at close range. The best doctors in the world couldn't put him on his feet this fast." Kyle said.

"Where are you going?" Elizabeth asked when Kyle got up and put on his jacket.

"Out on personnel business." Kyle said.

"I see." Elizabeth said in a hurt voice.

"I'm sorry, it's just for now." Kyle sad then kissed her on the cheek. She faced him and returned the kiss.

"Your risking the entire experiment by coming here." Diana said.

"As far as I'm concerned the experiment is over." John said.

"You've served under me long enough to know how I deal with insubordination. Or would you like me to refresh your memory?" Diana asked.

"I don't consider the insubordination Diana. You were ready to let me die." John said.

"You were in the wrong place at the wrong time." Diana said.

"And I don't intend to be there again." John said.

"She's fallen in love with you hasn't she? Why does it frighten you so much when a women wants you? You should be used to that by now, you're a master." Diana said.

"I don't care about this little Robin. Now either you approve my request for transfer or I take the matter directly to Charles." John yelled.

"Oh, Is that what your going to do? Let me make myself clear. You have a choice Lt. Langley. You can either carry out your mission and impregnate Robin Maxwell or you'll force me to write a letter to your relatives that you were killed in action and burned beyond recognition." Diana said. "Well, that's better. Now, tell me where is this Resistance headquarters that you went?" Diana continued after John took his seat.

"And take the chance that you'll blow it up with me still inside. Diana, I didn't just slither out of the swamp yesterday." John laughed.

"Caution becomes you John. Do try to smile your supposed to be in love." Diana said

"Where would he have gone?" Robin asked.

"I don't know." Elias said.

"It's not like Willie to leave this late without telling anyone. It's to dangerous." Robin said.

"Willie's been acting strangely lately. I don't know what's gotten into him." Elias said as they rounded the corner of another abandoned street.

"Hey, what's that?" Robin asked when she saw a clump in the distance moving in the opposite direction.

"I don't know. Let's check it out." Elias said as they pulled out their guns. "Careful." He continued as they moved closer to the moving clump. Suddenly they heard the sound of footsteps coming from the darkly lit hall a few feet away and they quickly hid behind a near by car.

"There he is." The trooper yelled and they lifted the clump off the ground and drug him toward their waiting shuttle.

"It's Willie." Robin screeched before Elias had the chance to cover her mouth and pull her back behind the car.

"We can't help him now. We'll go back and let the others know what happened." Elias said. They watched the shuttle disappear into the night sky then ran back to the resistance headquarters.

"What was he doing out there in the first place." Ham grumbled in anger.

"It doesn't make much difference now does it." Elizabeth shouted at him.

"We have to get him back." Ham said.

"You said Willie looked injured. Could you tell how serious?" Julie asked.

"We couldn't get close enough. We didn't even realize it was Willie until they were dragging him onto their transport." Elias said.

"If only I had a fifth column connection." Mike said.

"If only's aren't going to do us any good here. We need to come up with a real plan and real fast, for Willie's sake." Chris said.

"Hey, what's going on?" John asked as he entered the room.

"I'm so glad you're here John." Robin said and ran into his arms.

"Hey, what happened?" John asked with concern.

"They got Willie." Robin cried.

"They killed Willie?" John asked.

"Not yet. But Robin and Elias saw two troopers take him to the mother ship. Now we need to come up with a plan to get him back." Mike said.

"Isn't that a little risky for one person?" John asked.

"Worth the risk. Besides Willie'd do the same for any of us." Elias said.

"And has." Robin reminded them.

"Maybe we can grab one of theirs and make a trade like we did when they got Ham and Kyle. Speaking of, where is Kyle?" Elias said.

"Personal business involving his father." Elizabeth said.

"Theirs not much chance the same plan will work twice but we'll keep an ear manned for any transmissions from the mother ship just in case." Mike said.

"Chris and I are going to check out the area where Willie was taken." Ham said.

"I'll go with you. It's better then doing nothing." Elias said .

Mike watched the three leave and got up and started toward the door as well.

"Where you going?" Julie asked.

"To see if I can find an informant. A willing one or other wise." Mike said.

"I'll go with you." Julie said.

"No, I'll be quicker on my own. Besides with Kyle gone Elizabeth needs all the support she can get right now." Mike said.

"Your right but be careful." Julie said then Mike leaned in and kissed her.

Mike walked down the street carefully surveying his surroundings to be careful not to be spotted. Suddenly he heard footsteps behind him and began to speed up. He turned a corner into an ally and stopped and waited for the footsteps to get closer. When he herd the footsteps stop a few feet away he stepped out with his gun drawn.

"Hi Mike." The women said.

"Lorraine!" Mike said in shock. "I thought you where dead. I thought they got all of you." Mike continued.

"Not me. When I saw what was happening on the news I hid out." Lorraine said.

"Where? Why didn't you let us know you were alive? Why didn't you join us?" Mike asked.

"I'll explain later. We need to get out of here it's not safe." Lorraine said.

"Not safe, why not?" Mike asked.

"It's to open, we could be spotted. Besides there's something I need to show you." Lorraine explained.

"Where we going." Mike asked hesitantly.

"Please Mike, You can trust me… Martin did." Lorraine said.

"Of course." Mike said and followed her.

"This way Mike." Lorraine said a half hour later as they made there way thru an underground passage way.

"I've lived here all my life and never knew this was here." Mike said.

"There all over the city. Old closed off subway stations and some passage ways used during prohibition long since abandon and forgotten." Lorraine said.

"How'd you find them?" Mike asked.

"Research. After the first war I went to the library every day after work and researched then at night went in to the sewers and found these places. Some where used by homeless people and still are but others where long ago bricked up and forgotten." Lorraine explained.

"Wow, why did you go to all that work to find these places?" Mike asked.

"I never believed the war was really over, not as long as Diana was alive." Lorraine answered.

"So while the rest of us were going about our daily lives and building our careers you were planning for the worst." Mike said.

"Saved my life." Lorraine said.

"Mine to." Mike heard someone in the shadows of an old abandon subway car say.

Slowly the figure lit a match and then lit a lantern hanging on a hook in front of him.

"Martin!" Mike said with shock for the second time tonight. "Wait this isn't possible I saw you die. You died in my arms. You were dead." Mike said.

"Close to it. So close in fact that I thought I was dead. Imagine my surprise when I woke up the next day. Light in my face and my body covered with leaves." Martin said.

"I didn't have time to bury you properly." Mike said.

"Glad you didn't. Anyway I pulled myself up and walked out of the woods. I found a pay phone and called Lorraine. I knew she'd know what to do." Martin said.

"He's lucky he caught me I was on my way out the door when he called." Lorraine said.

"She picked me up and brought me here where I could heal." Martin said.

"Why didn't you contact me, let me know you where alive?" Mike asked.

"I was hurt pretty bad and took along time to heal even with Lorraine's excellent help. She's been keeping me updated on what's been going on. I did get out recently though. We saw what was happening with the hostage situation and thought we could help." Martin said.

"The hostage situation. Where you the one that shot that trooper?" Mike asked.

"No, Lorraine did. She's an even better marksman than she is a nurse." Martin said.

"That's what I was trained for Martin." Lorraine said.

"Elias will want to thank you. You saved his life that night." Mike said.

"His actions were ill conceived." Lorraine said.

"We were going to contact you after it was over but noticed you had a new friend." Martin said.

"You mean Kyle. I know he's Nathan Bates's kid but don't worry he's on our side." Mike said.

"No not him. The blond one." Martin said.

"John, he was one of the hostages and kept Robin safe." Mike said.

"I doubt that was his motive." Martin said.

"Motive… What are you getting at Martin?" Mike asked.

"Langley and I went to the academy together." Martin said.

"The academy…You mean he's a visitor." Mike said.

"We couldn't take the chance he'd recognize me before I had the chance to contact you so we waited until you were alone." Martin said.

"I understand. We better get back though he may have already set up Willie." Mike said.

"What happen to Willie?" Martin asked.

"He was captured a couple hours ago. Elias and Robin saw him being drug off and taken to the mother ship." Mike said.

"We'd better hurry then." Martin said.

"Hey, did you guys find anything?" Julie asked when Ham, Chris and Elias walked in the door.

"A dead visitor and green blood on a wall, to far away to belong to the dead visitor so it was probably Willie's." Ham said.

"I hope Mike has better news." Julie said.

"Where'd Gooder go?" Ham asked.

"To see if he could find an informant." Julie answered.

"Alone?" Ham asked.

"I wish I'd known I would have gone with him." John said.

"Having you hear was very comforting." Robin said as she wrapped her arms around John.

"Mike." Julie said when Mike walked in the door. "Did you find anything?" She asked.

"I'm not sure yet. Where's Elizabeth?" Mike asked.

"She's resting in the other room." Robin said.

"Could you go get her?" Mike asked.

"Sure." Robin said and then left John's side to get her daughter. When Robin was safely away from John, Mike pulled his gun and pointed it at him. Ham, Chris and Elias quickly copied Mike's actions.

"Mike, what are you doing?" Julie asked.

"Ran into an old friend. Turns out John here is actually a visitor named Langley." Mike informed everyone.

"What are you doing?" Robin asked when she came out of the other room and saw everyone with their guns pointed at John.

"Sorry Robin, John's a visitor." Mike said.

"No, your wrong. Tell them John." Robin said and then stepped close enough to John for him to grab her.

"Everyone step back and put down your weapons or she dies." John said.

"No, no, not again. Not again." Robin cried as she twisted around to fight John and then scratched off a peace of his fake skin.

"Your coming with me. Don't any of you try anything. That includes you Blondie or your mother gets it." John said as he moved the knife from Robin's back up to her neck and pulled her toward the exit. As John pulled Robin out the door a hand reached out and grabbed the blade of the knife and pulled it away from Robins throat and John quickly pulled the knife back but someone else pulled Robin out of his grasp before he had the chance to regain control.

"Martin. Heard you were dead." John said.

"Shouldn't believe rumors." Martin said.

John quickly jabbed his knife toward Martin and Martin dodged it and grabbed his arm and swung John into the wall behind them. John kicked Martin away from him and Martin fell back against the steps but quickly got to his feet and backed up the steppes, never taking his eyes away from John who continued to jab at him with his knife. Lorraine pulled Robin further away from the two as Martin continued to dodge John's knife. As John came up the last step Martin saw his chance and kicked the knife out of John's hand. John ran at Martin and the two fell to the ground, each trying to gain control over the other. Finally Martin got the upper position and pushed John's face to the side so he couldn't spray venom in his face. John punched Martin in the side with his right hand then punched him in the face with his left fist. Successfully knocking Martin off him. John got up and picked the knife up off the ground before Martin could stop him. The two fought over the knife for a moment before coming to a sudden stop. The Resistance having came out to watch the fight aimed their guns at the two not sure yet who had won. They breathed a sigh of relief when Martin pushed John's body off to the side and set up.

"You o.k.?" Loraine asked when she ran to his side and helped him up.

"Yah. I'm fine." Martin said just before collapsing.

"Fine huh." Loraine said.

"Fine may be to strong a word." Martin joked.

The two troopers drug Willie off the ship and Willie's head was pulled back by the hair.

"This is the one called Willie?" Charles asked.

"Yes sir." The trooper answered.

"Take him to the infirmary. I don't want him dieing before I get to know more about him." Charles said.

When Willie woke up he found himself strapped to a table. He tried to turn his head but something held his head in place.

"I'm afraid you will find movement rather difficult." Charles said as he flipped the table so that Willie was now in an upward position.

"I will not tell of anything." Willie insisted.

"Well now, lets not get off to a bad start. I was hoping we could be friends. After all we have so much in common. We are after all both… warriors." Charles said.

"I will not tell of anything." Willie repeated.

"Why do you protect these humans?" Charles asked.

"They are my friends." Willie answered.

"We are your people Willie. We are your blood. We are your friends Willie." Charles said.

"Yes, what is it?" Lydia asked the trooper that entered the room.

"Message for Charles." the trooper said.

"Thank you." Charles said when Lydia handed him the message and the trooper left. "Bates has come out of his coma. I'm going to pay Mr. Chang a visit. Well Willie, it seems we will have to cut our visit short. Not to worry though, Lydia will keep you company until I return." Charles continued.

"How would you like me to proceed?" Lydia asked.

"I want him talking before I return. Use any means necessary." Charles answered.

"You do seem to be in a difficult position." Diana said.

"Yes Diana, a most difficult position. When Mr. Bates finds out what the computer impersonation has been saying I'm afraid he'll have my head." Mr. Chang said.

"Mr. Chang don't you think you may be over reacting?" Charles asked.

"I don't think so. Bates will probably have him executed for treason." Diana said.

"Oh, dear." Charles replied.

"Charles, maybe you can persuade him. After all I've acted in everyone's best interest." Mr. Chang said.

"Of course you were. But I'd hate to interfere, after all Mr. Bates is the legal administrator here." Charles said.

"But he's incapable of…" Mr. Chang started.

" Don't misunderstand me. I'd like to help you, you've been most cooperative. However, as long as Mr. Bates is alive….you see it's really rather simple. You kill Nathan Bates and the city is yours." Charles said and they agreed without a word.

Kyle pulled the medical cart down the hall toward his fathers room hoping anyone that saw him would believe he was just another nurse treating Mr. Bates.

"Dad don't try to talk." Kyle said holding his fathers hand.

"There's some things you got to know. I set up a system of underground tanks with concussion detonators set to go off if the visitors try to take L.A. by force. The doomsday device. That's why I had Chang bring you here." Nathan said.

"Chang didn't bring me. He doesn't even know I'm here. What's wrong?" Kyle asked.

"If Chang didn't bring you here that means he's gone over to the other side. You've got to get out of here fast." Nathan said.

"No, Not without you." Kyle said.

"Kyle, I made my deal with life along time ago. I wanted power and I went for it. I got it but I lost you in return. Now there's no need to say that I'm sorry, that I was wrong. Kid I love you though." Nathan said.

"Hang on dad. I'm going to get you out of here" Kyle said.

"Kyle, I want you to do something you've never done before. I want you to listen to me. Get out of here now." Nathan said.

"Dad I love you and I'm not going to leave you here. No way." Kyle said.

Kyle got Nathan dressed as best he could and helped him walk down the hall to the elevator. When the elevator opened they saw Mr. Chang standing in front of them.

"Well, Mr. Bates I see you have found your son." Mr. Chang said.

"Mr. Chang I always knew you were hungry. It's nice to know some things don't change." Nathan said.

"One must be practical." Mr. Chang said.

"We're out a here." Kyle said.

"I'm sorry no one is going to leave here." Mr. Chang said pulling a gun on them.

"Dad no. No dad." Kyle yelled when Nathan thru himself at Mr. Chang allowing Kyle with a chance to escape but taking two fatal bullets.

"Yes, What is it?" Diana asked.

"A message from Lt. Langley." The trooper said.

"This is it?" Diana asked.

"We got cut off." The trooper answered.

"Have my ship prepared in five minutes." Diana said.

The door to Nathan Bates office opened and Mr. Chang looked up to see Kyle glaring at him just before he ran at him and jumped him. Kyle pulled Mr. Chang off the floor got in a couple punches before Mr. Chang used his martial arts skills to kick Kyle away from him and then pulled a gun out of his jacket..

"Alright that's enough. The game is over." Mr. Chang said.

When Mr. Chang reached over to buzz security Kyle saw his chance to grab the gun and went for it. Mr. Chang held tightly to the gun so Kyle banged his hand on the desk until the gun finally fell from Mr. Chang's hand. Mr. Chang flipped Kyle over the desk and the two went for the gun. Kyle reached the gun first and fired twice and Mr. Chang fell to the floor. Kyle turned Mr. Chang over and checked for a pulse. Finding none he left the office before the sound of the gun shots brought security.

Diana entered John's apartment and saw him setting on the sofa.

"Well, Lt. I was quit pleased to receive your message. And where is the Maxwell girl?" Diana asked.

"Occupied, but she sends her regards." Mike said when he came up behind her.

"Donavon." Diana said.

"You have someone we want back." Ham said from the kitchen.

"The trader no doubt." Diana said.

"Start talking or you join your friend here." Ham said grabbing Diana by the arm and pulling her over to the couch and setting her next to John.

"You disappointed me John." Diana said when she touched the John's face.

"Touching. Now where is Willie?" Mike asked.

"On board our ship." Diana answered.

"How do we know your not lying." Mike asked.

"I have no reason to lie. My people will gladly trade him for my safe return." Diana said.

"This sounds to easy." Ham said.

"My life is worth much more then that traders. Besides his capture was Lydia's plan not mine." Diana said.

"You two still at each others throats." Martin said.

"Martin, I killed you." Diana said.

"Did a lousy job." Ham joked.

"I'll have to make sure I do better next time." Diana said.

"We better get going. Willie may not have much time left." Mike said.

Mike, Martin and Ham took Diana to her shuttle and Martin flew it to the Mother ship. Upon landing Mike and Ham stepped out of the transporter with a gun faced at Diana's waist.

"Stop, don't move." A trooper yelled.

"Anyone makes a wrong move and she's dust." Ham yelled.

"Enter." Charles said.

"A message from the landing bay sir." The trooper said.

"Thank you." Charles said and the trooper left.

"What is it?" Lydia asked.

"It seems the resistance has captured Diana and want to trade her for our friend here. There holding her in the landing bay." Charles said.

"How appropriate. Let them have her and we can finally be rid of her." Lydia said.

"Except Diana does hold some rank. It would not look good to just let them have her as you put it." Charles said.

"Then let them shoot it out. We'll be rid of her and the Resistance." Lydia said.

"That idea does have it's merits, however I have other plans for dealing with Diana that do not include making her a martyr." Charles said.

"Then we will be giving in to there demands?" Lydia said.

"This time Lydia, yes. You have proven a much stronger opponent then expected, Willie. However it seems we will have to end our game much sooner then planed." Charles said.

"Where's Willie?" Mike shouted when Charles and Lydia entered the landing bay.

"He is being brought down. I trust Diana is unharmed." Charles said.

"For now." Mike said. "To bad we can't say the same for Willie." Mike continued when he saw two visitors in medical uniforms wheeling Willie out of an elevator on a gurney.

"Release Diana and we will send Willie to you." Charles said.

"Clear out the room and we'll make the trade at the same time." Mike commanded.

"Very well then. Everyone lower your weapons and leave the room. That is an order." Charles commanded. "The room is clear, there will be no tricks. You have my word." Charles said.

"The word of a visitor." Ham countered.

"I'm afraid that is all we have. Besides Diana is to voluble to us to risk her safety and Willie is to voluble to you for you to risk his safety." Charles said.

"Fine, we'll meet half way. One of your people bring Willie and I'll slowly approach with Diana." Mike said.

"Any tricks and I start shooting." Ham threatened.

"Very well, lets get this over with." Charles said.

Mike grabbed Diana's arm and began walking slowly forward while the medical trooper walked toward them. When they got close enough Mike grabbed the gurney and let go of Diana's arm. Each pair slowly walked to safety and when Mike reached the shuttle Ham stepped out in front of them while Martin helped Mike get the gurney into the shuttle. Once they were loaded into the shuttle Martin went back to the controls and Ham slowly backed into the shuttle. When the doors closed the shuttle took off.

"How bad is he hurt?" Ham asked as he climbed into the gunner seat.

"Pretty bad. They really worked him over." Mike answered. "Hang on Willie we're almost home free." Mike said.

"We got company." Ham said and began firing at the approaching fighters.

"I contacted Loraine while you were making your trade. There going to get a visitor doctor from the Inglewood complex." Martin said.

"Good thinking. Willie's going to need it." Mike said.

"This is risky." Lorraine said.

"We don't have much choice. Willie's life's on the line." Julie said.

"Looks like there changing shifts." Lorraine said.

"What's bothering you Howie." The doctor asked.

"Nothing, why do you ask?" Howie asked.

"You seemed a little nerves in the operating room." The doctor said.

"Did you hear what happened to Simon?" Howie asked.

"Charles promised to weed out suspected members of the fifth column. Apparently Simon was a suspect." The doctor said.

"Doctor he was one of your best students." Howie said.

"So are you Howie. That's why I'm going to give you a very voluble peace of advice. Don't get involved in politics. Our job is to save lives." The doctor said.

"The question is what's the best way to save lives." Howie said.

"Hey, check it out." Elias said from the back seat.

"You coming Howie?" The doctor asked.

"No, I'm meeting a nurse and we're going out for drinks." Howie said.

"There that one is coming this way." Julie said.

"He's not a doctor, he's just a student." Loraine said.

"We better take him anyway. It may be the only chance we get." Elias said.

"Could you help us please? My friends real sick. Please, she's real sick." Loraine said.

"Get in." Elias said when Howie leaned in to take a closer look.

"Hey watch it. Willie's in rough enough shape without being shaken like a martini." Mike said when Martin swerved and missed a hit. Ham fired back and blew up the offending fighter.

"One down two to go." Ham said.

"Hold on tight things are about to get bumpy." Martin said.

"You see that mouton right?" Mike said.

"Mouton?" Ham said then spun around in his seat and saw they were quickly approaching a mouton.

"What mouton?" Martin smiled after making a very sharp turn and heading back toward the approaching fighters. Both fighters swerved to miss him and smashed into the mouton.

"And I thought Gooder was kamikaze pilot." Ham said.

"How'd you do that?" Mike asked.

"Training." Martin answered.

"Of course." Mike said.

"Lets get back on course. Chris is waiting to take us to our new hide out." Ham said.

Chris drove the van as deep into the tunnel as he could.

"This is as far as we can get in the van. We'll have to walk from here." Chris said.

"It's not far from here." Martin said.

"I hope not. Willie's not doing to good." Mike said.

"I got the flashlights. Here Martin lead the way." Ham said. After a few minutes the group reached the abandon subway station.

Hey, it's about time we were start'en to worry. Oh, geez are you sure that's Willie he's hardly got any human skin left?" Elias asked.

"It's him. I've seen him without his sudo skin." Martin said.

"What did they do to you?" Elias said as he helped push the gurney toward the subway.

"We got him." Mike said.

"Oh, think God." Julie said.

"Here's your patent go to it." Mike said.

"He's going to die." Howie said.

"You don't seem to understand. I care about this Lizard." Ham said.

"Look he's lost to much blood, this wound has been open to long for me to heat suture it. He needs an immediate transfusion and a surgeon to repair this damaged tissue." Howie said.

"Can't you please help him?" Elizabeth asked.

"I'm not a doctor." Howie said.

"Not a Doctor?" Mike asked.

"I mean I'm going to be a doctor. I'm still in medical school though. Hey, compared to you guys I'm an expert and in my expert opinion we're wasting precious time." Howie said.

"Wait just second. If that was me on the table I don't think I'd want this clown operating on me." Ham said and pulled Howie away from Willie.

"We don't have an alternative." Julie said convincing Ham to let go of Howie's arm.

"Look, I'm not going to be doing the operating. She is." Howie said.

"I'm what?" Julie asked.

"You're a doctor aren't you?" Howie asked.

"Yes I am but not on visitors. I don't know enough…" Julie started.

"Look your friend needs a blood transfusion and unless I'm terribly mistaken I'm the only one that can do it." Howie said.

"I can do it." Martin said.

"No you can't. You've already done to much today. Willie can have some of my blood." Loraine said.

"O.k. I'll assist you. I know this procedure I'll talk you thru it. They trust you a lot more then me" Howie said.

"He's got that right." Chris said.

"That's it. Now seal the outer right ventricle. Be careful of those wispy fibers those are nerve conduits very tricky stuff." Howie said.

"Done" Julie said.

"Good, Just remove the damaged tissue." Howie instructed.

"Got it all." Julie said.

"Well if he can make it the next twenty four hours I think he has a chance." Howie said.

"How'd it go?" Mike asked.

"He pulled thru the surgery. The next twenty four hours are critical." Julie told everyone waiting outside the subway car.

"What are his chances?" Elias asked.

"I don't know Elias. He was shot in the side before he was captured. They're doctors treated him but probably only so he could be interrogated. Then they really worked him over." Julie said.

"Can I see him?" Elias asked.

"Sure." Julie answered.

"You o.k.?" Mike asked.

"Tired. I didn't know what I was doing in there Mike. After all this time that Willie and the others have been here and all they've done for us I never thought to learn more about them. To learn more about there anatomy. If we hadn't been able to get Howie…" Julie said.

"Hey, what matters is that you did and now Willie has a chance." Mike said.

"Instead of wasting all that time working for Nathan I should have been doing something to help the fifth column. Now it could be to late. Speaking of Nathan, has anyone seen Kyle?" Julie said.

"Not yet. Ham and Chris went to keep an eye on our old home base. Hopefully he'll show up soon." Mike said.

"Kyle!" Elizabeth yelled when she saw him walk thru the tunnel. Then ran into his arms.

"Are you o.k.? Ham and Chris told me what happened." Kyle said.

"I'm better now that you're here." Elizabeth said.

"How's Willie?" Kyle asked.

"All we can do is wait and hope. What about your father?" Elizabeth said. Kyle didn't say anything. He just shook his head in confirmation.

"Oh Kyle, I'm so sorry." Elizabeth said and hugged him.

"Sorry kid. I didn't like him but I'm sorry you lost your father." Ham said.

"Thanks. For what it's worth he didn't die from the injuries you caused. Mr. Chang killed him." Kyle said.

"Means a lot actually." Ham said and walked away.

"We should check on Willie I don't want to be away from him for long." Elizabeth said.

"How's Robin?" Kyle asked.

"She was really hurt. She's talking about visiting her sisters in Chicago once Willie gets better. She doesn't want to leave while he's sick." Elizabeth said as they walked toward the train car.

"Are you o.k. with that?" Kyle asked.

"I don't want her to go, I'll miss her, but I understand why she wants to leave. Besides she hasn't seen Polly and Katie since they went to visit their moms sister and couldn't come back because of the war…and then grandfather died. They're better off there." Elizabeth said.

" Maybe you'd all be better off there." Kyle said.

"Are you trying to get rid of me?" Elizabeth asked only half joking.

"Of course not. But it is safer there. The red dust still works there. Diana couldn't get to you there, you'd be safe." Kyle said.

"I don't want to be safe if it means leaving you, Willie and the other's." Elizabeth said.

"I could visit." Kyle said.

"Willie couldn't." Elizabeth said.

"He means a lot to you doesn't he." Kyle said.

"Yes. I love him very much. But he's also the good of the other half of me. That didn't come out right…A part of me is sirian but most of what I've seen of that side has been bad. Willie is proof that there's good to. Does that make since?" Elizabeth tried to explain.

"Yes. It makes a lot of since." Kyle said.

"How is he?" Elizabeth asked when they stepped into the subway.

"Still sleeping. He…" Elias said.

"I will not talk of anything, I will not…ELIZABETH!" Willie yelled frantically.

"It's o.k. Willie I'm here, your safe." Elizabeth said trying to comfort him.

"Yah buddy your safe." Elias said.

"You will not make me talk." Willie said.

"I'm going to get Julie" Kyle said rushing out of the subway car. "Julie!" Kyle yelled when he saw her curled up on a pile of blankets laid out on a couple old plastic worn seats lined up along the wall.

"What is it Kyle? Is it Willie?" Julie asked.

"He's awake." Kyle answered as they ran to the train car.

"Get Howie." Julie said then ran to help Willie.

"ELIZABETH!" Willie yelled.

"Willie calm down. Willie your safe." Elizabeth said while Elias tried to keep him still.

"He's talking crazy." Elias said.

"Please Julie, Can't you give him something to stop all this pain." Elizabeth asked.

"I don't know. Mike go get Howie." Julie said.

"Julie we have to give him something now or he's going to die." Elizabeth begged.

"I don't know what to give him Elizabeth." Julie said.

"If we don't give him something he's going to die. Please" Elizabeth said.

"O.k. hold him down he mustn't move." Julie said.

"Wait a minute, what's going on here? What's in that?" Howie asked rushing into the room with Mike and Kyle right behind him.

"Morphine." Julie said.

"You use that and you don't need me. Morphine is poison to us." Howie said.

"Ok. Ok. How's he doing?" Mike asked.

"Get me my bag." Howie said.

"What's that?" Julie asked when Howie pulled out a small bottle with green liquid.

"Very similar to morphine but not poison to us. It should help calm him down." Howie said. "There he's calming down." Howie said when Willie finally began to relax.

"Willie it's o.k. your safe now." Julie said.

"Yah buddy your home safe and sound. All your friends are here for you." Elias said.

"I didn't talk Elias. I didn't, I didn't tell them of anything." Willie said softly before drifting off.

"Willie? Hey Willie …" Elias panicked.

"He's just sleeping. He needs all the rest he can get." Howie reassured him.

"Do you think he's going to pull thru?" Elizabeth asked.

"It looks that way. He'll need some physical therapy after he regains his strength but he should make a full recovery." Howie said. Then Ham grabbed Howie by the arm and led him out to the subway station. Elizabeth stayed with Willie while the others followed Ham.

"Now for the magical question. What do we do with him?" Ham said.

"Hold on, we owe him something." Mike said

"I say we let him go." Julie said.

"What's to keep him from going straight to Diana? He knows to much." Chris said.

"I wont betray you. I want to help you. Diana's my enemy. I'm part of the fifth column." Howie said.

"I thought you were all purged when Diana returned to the fleet." Mike said.

"Many of us were killed. Some of them were my best friends but that just drove the rest of us to deeper cover. The fight goes on. Nothing can defeat the struggle for freedom on any planet." Howie said.

"Look fifth column or not I agree with Julie. He saved Willie's life. We should let him go." Elias said.

"We have no reason to trust him." Chris said.

"I don't expect you to believe me, you'd be stupid if you did but I can prove I'm on your side." Howie said.

"You'd better." Ham said.

"At this moment Charles is moving a massive shipment of armaments into the open city." Howie said.

"See they don't keep patience in that part of the hospital. It's used to store guns and liquid zenon." Howie said from the roof top of a building near the back of the hospital.

"Zenon. What's that?" Elias asked.

"Fuel source for our canons. It's used to triple the fire power." Howie said.

"How do you know all this?" Ham asked.

"Fifth column keeps tabs on everything that's high security." Howie said.

"If this is so high security why aren't there more guards?" Chris asked.

"They don't want to attract attention. There not supposed to have guns in the open city remember." Howie said.

"Makes since. Charles wouldn't want to advertise his intentions." Mike said.

"Still need proof." Ham said.

"Why don't you believe me?" Howie asked.

"Cause you're a lizard." Ham answered.

"Hey look, the kid could be on to something." Mike said as he watched an ambulance being unloaded.

"Those boxes there unloading don't look like medical supplies." Martin said.

"We could be getting sucked right into a trap." Ham said.

"Well we better blow what ever is down there before it blows us." Mike said.

"I know a way we can do that." Howie said.

The ambulance drove thru the gate and the guard started to close the gate when Ham snuck around the booth and punched him, knocking him out. Mike quickly changed into the guards uniform while Ham, Chris, Elias, Martin and Howie went thru the gate and ran around to the side of the building and watched the ambulance being unloaded. When the two troopers carried a large box into the building. Ham an Martin ran to the entrance, Ham quickly checked around the corner and then ran to the other side of the entrance. When the two troopers came back out Ham and Martin hit them with the butt of there guns and drug them to the back of the ambulance and closed the doors. When they stepped out they were wearing the troopers uniforms and Martin held a clip board with visitor writing on it.

"Is that going to be useful?" Ham asked.

"It'll get us in the door." Martin said. Ham then motioned for Chris, Elias and Howie to take their places. Elias jumped into the front and ducked down.

"Your with us." Ham said. And the four walked into the hospital.

"Look, they have some of the weapons stored in here." Howie said.

"We'll have to blow it." Chris said.

"With what?" Howie asked. Chris pulled out a couple explosives from his bag.

"Never leave home with out it. Come on you can help me get em set up." Chris said and Howie followed him into the storage room while Ham and Martin continued into the hospital.

"I'd feel a lot more secure using plain old nitro. Blow this place sky high." Ham said.

All we need to do is create a melt down so they can't use the zenon as a weapon." Martin said.

"There are the medical supplies." Ham said when they walked past an open door with a large weapon laying on top of a crate. "Your up" He continued.

"Maintenance check. You have a cryonic modulator on the blink." Martin said when he walked up to the desk.

"We've had no report of problems." The trooper said.

"It says so right here." Martin said then handed him the clipboard.

"This is not valid. These orders require two signatures." The trooper said.

"Here's one." Ham said pointing his gun at the trooper.

"Here's the other." Martin said pulling out his gun.

"Buzz us in." Martin said. "Hey, buzz us in" He repeated at the hesitating trooper and the trooper buzzed him in.

"High, how you doing? Come with me." Ham ordered to the trooper in the computer room as he pulled him out of the room .

"I'm turning off the cooling system. When the liquid xenon reaches it's boiling point those tanks are going to blow ski high." Martin said when Ham entered room after taping up the two troopers.

"What's to keep the cooling system from coming back on?" Ham asked.

"I don't believe it will." Martin answered.

"I'm not taking any chances." Ham said then started shooting the computers. The two then ran back down the hall to where Chris and Howie waited.

"You ready?" Ham asked when he stepped into the storage room.

"Just gotta set it." Chris said. "O.k. lets go." Chris continued after setting the charge.

The four ran out to the waiting ambulance and jumped in. Elias started the ambulance and drove to the gate. Mike opened the gate and jumped into the front with Elias and they drove off watching the explosions behind them.

"I don't know how I can ever think you." Willie said.

"Don't think me Willie, you had an excellent surgeon." Howie said.

"An excellent surgeon that almost killed him." Julie said.

"That wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known." Howie said.

"Maybe. We need you here Howie. We could really use a visitor doctor." Julie said.

"Yah, what'd a ya say Howie?" Mike said.

"No. I can do more for our cause if I go back." Howie said.

"It could be very dangerous." Martin said.

"War always is." Howie said.

"How are you going to explain your absence?" Julie asked.

"Just before you grabbed me. I told my instructor I was going out with a nurse. I'll tell him things went better then expected." Howie said.

"Excuse and reputation builder at the same time. Good thinking kid." Ham said.

"Thinks. I figure it will also give me an excuse to check on my patient as well. I guess I better get going though, I can't afford to miss any more classes." Howie said.

"We'll escort you out." Julie said.

"Lets go this way. It'll be easer for you to get in and out without being spotted. Just be very careful." Martin said as he led Julie and Howie down a dark tunnel lit only by there flash lights.

"Go up that hill over there. It leads into the park and to a path. Do you think you can find your way back?" Martin asked.

"Sure. I'll just have to remember my flashlight." Howie said.

"We'll put an extra near the door." Julie said.

"Thanks, that will help. I'll bring some of my old medical books with me when I come back to check on Willie." Howie said.

"Thank you Howie. I appreciate that and all you've done for us." Julie said.

"At least your not pregnant. Sure you want to do this?" Julie said.

"If I stay here I'm going to go crazy. Sure you wont change your mind and come with me to Chicago?" Robin answered.

"I love you mother but I can't." Elizabeth answered.

"Because of Kyle?" Robin asked.

"Kyle and Willie and the whole resistance." Elizabeth said.

"Time to go." Mike said.

"Just leave that I'll take it. We're going to have to move it if we're going to get to the Mojave desert before dark." Ham said.

"You o.k.?" Julie asked.

"Yah. I guess so. With those two as escorts I'll.." Robin started.

"Be in constant danger." Julie finished and the two shared a laugh. "I just want you to know I want you to come back when ever you feel ready." Julie continued.

"I'm gonna miss you." Robin said thru her tears

"I'm gonna miss you to." Julie said as she pulled Robin into a hug. Then Robin and Elizabeth walked toward the exit. Ham walked over and picked up the suitcase and Julie quickly turned and wrapped her arms around him. After a moment Ham returned the embrace and kissed Julie on the forehead. Then walked toward the door.

"Well hard rock. You all set?" Mike asked.

"Ya know your not so bad for an amateur. But your still a sucker for a sad story and I'm not gonna be around for the next few weeks to cover your back." Ham said.

"Take care. It matters." Mike said.

"Watch the shadows." Ham said.

"Do you think we'll ever see her again?" Julie asked. Mike wasn't sure how to answer and the two turned and watched Ham and Chris escort Robin out of the tunnel.