Terra Nova Quest

Dragonlots aka Dana Bell

Chapter 2

Just like the earlier loud protests had gotten Elisabeth's attention, so did the complete silence, except for a faraway howler cry. Rising from her glass topped desk, she did a quick check of the room where the teens and Race Bannon should be. It was empty. Following a hunch, she found them all fast asleep in Dr. Quest's room. The two boys, Jonny and Hadji, were slumped over in chairs, each holding a hand of their father. Jessie slept on a cot, with Mr. Bannon slept on the floor. The dog Bandit lifted his masked face, made a type of inquiring noise before settling back down. He seemed perfectly happy at the end of the doctor's bed.

"They make a great family," Skye said quietly from beside her. She must have finished her duties for the night since she wore shorts and a top.

"Yeah, they do," she agreed, moving away to give them privacy.

"Dr. Quest going to make it?"

"He's a fighter from what Malcom said. I hope he does. He sounds like exactly what we might need."

Her old friend from university had spent several minutes explaining to her the importance of their new resident. The man had degrees in several fields, was a medical doctor, and had held worldwide influence. He'd been, as Malcom put it, the scientists' scientist.

"Lucky Lt. Reynolds and your daughter found them."

Elisabeth nodded. "I hate to think what the Sixers might have done if they'd found them first."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Scorched grass and a faint smoky smell met the Sixer patrol. Mira climbed out of the Rover, her eyes raking over the wreck. "Search it," she ordered. "Take anything of value."

Her people combed the wreckage, not finding much beyond busted metal. "Been stripped already," Hondo reported. He'd come from the South American region and liked to dress in black pants and sleeveless tops. His arms were covered in tattoos.

"Looks like there might have been survivors." Tessa, his sister, knelt down touching the ground. "One of them was hurt." She wore black pants too and a light colored top, her dark hair pulled back out of her tanned face.

"And now they're not here," Mira mused. Her braided hair had beads and feathers in it and she wore her usual leather outfit.

Hondo climbed the boulders along the hill. "Tracks coming down and going up. Someone found them."

"They're probably in Terra Nova by now." Tessa stood next to Mira. "How much longer do we stay before rejoining the rest of our group?"

The omission of Phoenix Mira didn't miss. She didn't much like the for hire soldiers either. "We need to find out who they rescued."

"Too bad we don't have a spy anymore." Mira glared at Hondo. He shrugged. She hated to admit he had a point.

"We'll find a way. Time to return to camp." She'd taken a risk being out this early just before the sun rose. Predators were at their worst. She'd seen the smoke the day before and wanted to take a look at the valley. "There anything of value?"

Tessa went over and squinted at the shattered back section. "Says Questor One."

Meant nothing to Mira, yet she suspected it might to Lucas Taylor. They'd found him bleeding and dying. She'd rather hoped he wouldn't pull through. He'd beat the odds and remained at their previous camp.

"Time to go," she ordered as several shapes appeared on the rim. No need to be breakfast.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Jonny?" Benton whispered, surprised on how weak he sounded.

"Dad?" Jonny looked up hope filling his blue eyes. He looked so much like his mother Rachelle.

"Where are we?"

"Someplace called Terra Nova."

"Dr. Quest?" Hadji stood up, his dark hand wrapped around Benton's.

The doctor squeezed the boy's hand. "Still here."

"Nice to see you awake." A lovely woman with dark hair and a white coat came in. She clicked on something and a holographic image appeared above him. "You're stronger this morning. I want you to take it easy. You have a long way to go."

"Who?"

"I'm Dr. Elisabeth Shannon." He heard a faint English accent when she spoke.

"Where's Race?" He couldn't imagine his body guard and friend would abandon them.

Dr. Shannon answered, "I sent him and his daughter to get something to eat. They should be back momentarily." She turned off the image. "You broke your leg and you have a concussion."

Part of him understood what she said and another part seemed confused. "How long have I been out."

"Longer than I would have liked." She fixed both the boys with her dark eyes. "Don't you let him get up."

"Yes, Ma'am," they both answered.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The canopy had been home for longer than Mira would have liked. She hadn't bothered to clean up the mess Taylor's people had left. They'd knocked over tables and boxes, taken the few supplies there had been and left other items scattered on the wooden floor.

"My father's soldiers left you a mess." Lucas Taylor said not for the first time. He grinned from the bed once occupied by Skye's mother, his upper torso bandaged.

"Not unexpected," Mira answered, unslinging her rifle and hanging it on a peg near the entrance.

Hondo and Tessa followed her up, each choosing a spot and munching on grubs.

"So, find anything?" Lucas asked, grimacing in pain.

"We're not sure what. Some sort of wreck. Had nothing of use."

She sat down on a box, popping a few berries in her mouth. "Tomorrow, we go back to the Phoenix camp." Mira looked at Lucas. "They're going to want to talk to you."

"My father destroyed my life's work." His eyes burned with anger.

Tessa finished her food and said, "The thing we found said Questor One on it."

The younger Taylor straightened, even as he winced. "Questor One? Are you sure?"

"Yes."

A sly smile spread across his face. "Questor One," he mused.

"Is it important?" Mira demanded, not seeing how a wreck could be.

"It may be the answer to everything, IF there were survivors."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"You have no idea how important finding Dr. Benton Quest alive is!" Malcolm said. He sat in a chair across Taylor's desk wringing his hands. The man wore his normal bright shirt and tan shorts.

Jim glanced at Taylor as the older man schooled his expression. Being patient with Dr. Malcolm Wallace, who could be trying, was difficult.

"Suppose you enlighten me," Taylor offered.

Caught off guard, Malcolm stuttered briefly. "Most of the technology we take for granted was originally based on one of Dr. Quest's ideas or patents. The man is bloody hell brilliant." He got up and started pacing. "Can you imagine what he can to help us now that we're cut off from 2149?"

Taylor glanced at Jim, who shrugged.

"Not to mention we solved one of the oldest mysteries on record."

Taylor sighed. "What mystery is that?"

"What happened to Questor One and everyone on board. Although how they got here," Malcolm frowned. "I'd like to talk with them and find out."

"That's a great idea, Malcolm," Jim encouraged the scientist.

"Provided Elisabeth will let me."

"From what I understand," Taylor sat back in his chair. "Dr. Quest was injured."

"Pretty badly," Shannon added.

"Hope we don't lose him." Malcolm sounded worried. "The world lost the man once. With the second change we now have, he could make the difference between us surviving or not."

"He's that important?" Taylor didn't look like he disbelieved Dr. Wallace.

"He's that important," Malcolm assured the commander.

"Then we'd best take care of him." Taylor rose. "Thank you, Malcolm."

"You're welcome." The scientist scuttled out of the room.

"Think we should post guards?" The commander wanted Jim's opinion.

"Not quite yet. There's no indication he's in danger."

"I concur." Taylor headed for the board where he could watch the various camera's throughout Terra Nova. "Let me know how the man is doing next time you see your wife."

"I will." Jim took his place beside Taylor, his eyes looking at the various images. "Any sign of the Sixer group?"

"No and that concerns me. Why did they come back and where are they hiding?"

"We'll have to wait until they make a move."

"And we'll be ready for them."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"You boys should get something to eat," Race said as he came through the door. "They're letting us eat in the mess hall."

"But dad," Jonny started to protest.

"You're no good to him if you're hungry." He crossed his arms over his red shirt, his no-nonsense look on his face.

"Come on, Jonny, Hadji," Jessie urged. "You should see this place." Her green eyes sparkled. "I saw dinosaurs outside the fence."

"Real dinosaurs?" Jonny sounded like he doubted it. Race was counting on the boy's curiosity to get them out for a while.

"I would like to see those." Hadji moved to stand beside Jessie. "Come on, Jonny."

Jonny looked at his best friend and brother and glanced back at his father.

"Go on son. I'm fine." His father smiled.

"I'll take care of him," Race promised.

"You promise?"

"I do. Now go."

Jonny hesitated a moment before joining the other two. They left and Race heard their voices drift back until he couldn't hear them anymore.

"That wasn't fair," Dr. Quest accused.

"They need to eat." Race sat in a chair beside the bed. "They also need some sunshine and to stretch their legs."

A young girl, with sun streaked hair, wearing blue scrubs appeared in the door. "How are you doing, Dr. Quest?"

"About the same."

She smiled, lighting up her pretty face. Race had to wonder how many hearts the teen had broken.

"I'll let Dr. Shannon know." She darted away.

"What did you find out about Terra Nova?" Dr. Quest looked expectantly at him.

Race cleared his throat. "You're not going to like it."

"I'll like it even less not knowing."

"We are eighty-five million years in the past in an alternate reality. These people here are escaping an Earth that is environmentally ruined."

"One of my worst nightmares."

"Leader here is Commander Nathaniel Taylor. Second in command Jim Shannon."

"Like Dr. Shannon?"

"Her husband." Race got up, pacing back and forth. "They recently had to fight for their lives and their right to have a second chance. I saw some evidence of the battle. Bomb holes they're repairing, damaged buildings." He stopped. "The group is still around. They retreated to someplace called the Badlands."

A slow smile spread across the doc's face. "We never do seem to land somewhere peaceful."

Race chuckled. "No, sir. This family attracts trouble." He shook his head. "Can you imagine our kids out in the forest running from dinosaurs?"

"Unfortunately, yes."