AN: This muse hasn't left me! I'll keep coming back to this, no worries. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Reviews are ALWAYS welcomed. :)

Hope Plaza is an eerie echo-y structure. The last time Josh watched a pilgrimage broadcast on the wire it had been loud like the footage from old concerts. Exciting, with the expectation of something good to come; this isn't anything like that. His stomach is flip-flopping nervously with each passing minute. The group of soldiers have been gone seven hours with radio ins on the hour every hour. Kara is asleep, leaning on his shoulder; it's only her even breathing that's keeping him sane right now. His lips form into a fine line when he hears his mother's angry voice carrying from the office above.

"They're idiots." He thinks, not for the first time. He, Kara, Zoe, and Elisabeth are all fine without their rebreathers (five hours at the most); but not Maddy. His hand tightens into a fist at the thought of his sister's panicked expression when he saw her without her rebreather. Some pale skinny man in a lab coat had told her in a nasally voice that she wouldn't need her rebreather much longer, because they're due to pass through the portal in 'less than an hour'. He'd made a point to take her mask just to emphasize his point. Maddy can be a spit fire but she's just as nervous too and didn't say anything. It was only when Zoe ran over to him and Kara did he notice that Maddy had tears streaming down her cheeks and a blue tinge to her parted lips.

"Kara, get her inhaler!" He'd exclaimed jumping up from the bench and rushing over to Maddy. He helped her lay down, taking her hand in a vice grip. "Mom!" Elisabeth's upper torso appeared, leaning over from the platform above, expression changing from professional to outright worry in the blink of an eye. Kara placed the mask over Maddy's mouth pressing on the aerosol steroids to open her air passages. "You're alright Mads," she'd soothed, until Elisabeth came down and stayed with her daughter until she was breathing alright. Then came the fire.

The seventeen year-old is now sitting up with Zoe next to her, none the worse for wear. The lab coat is still getting an honest earful, and has been for the last fifty five minutes. The soldiers had misinterpreted the time it would take to set up the camp. They have fifteen minutes before they're due to go through the portal. Fourteen. And Jim Shannon isn't here yet.

"—I know you're not an alien, Maddy," Zoe says, "I'm saying tha' someone else could think you are, because yo-wer lips were blue!" Maddy's smiling under the oxygen mask at her sister's animated ramblings on. She takes a deep breath and moves the mask off of her face a moment.

"But what would aliens want with us, Zo' we've already taken all the good stuff from Earth." She replaces the mask and listens intently to the five-and-three-quarters year old's defense that aliens either want to eat us or that the smog will fuel their ships, "—so they'll clean the sky and make it sparkle again." A resounding low pitched beep has Kara stirring next to Josh and the Shannon kids all looking toward the huge tube like elevator at the side of the structure. The thing can hold up to thirty people at once, but from what they can see only four people are in it.

Elisabeth emerges from the office, anger falling away into an expression of relief. "Thank god." She whispers. Kara looks at Josh then back at the rising glass elevator. "That must be your dad." She says, Josh nods, looking over at Maddy and Zoe who are silently looking on, the younger of the two attempting not to fidget. The elevator stops at their platform and the four individuals start walking toward the group. Elisabeth covers her mouth with her hand, involuntary tears welling in her eyes. She blinks them back, taking a deep breath. Josh's grin mirrors Zoe's when they their father approaching.

"Dad!" Maddy's excited exclamation is muffled by the mask but is heard none the less. The man in the middle of the other three grins, quickening his pace. Maddy stands and Zoe does too, only to make sure her older sister doesn't fall over. She picks up the portable filter box and hands it to Maddy. The older girl slides the strap onto her shoulder, grin stretching over her face beneath the clear mask.

"Jim." Elisabeth says, and he hugs her tightly. Josh stands, keeping a hand on Kara's shoulder. "It's so good to see you." Jim says into his wife's hair, letting go and crossing deliberately over to Maddy to envelope her in another hug. She tries to blink back tears, but they're falling before she can stop them. "Hi, Dad." She gets out, muffled again by the mask over her mouth. He leans back to get a good look at her, running a hand over her hair. "God, I've missed so much." He says taking her in as much as possible. "How's my big girl?" She laughs and more tears slide down her cheeks. "I've been worse." She admits, and he nods. "You're so brave."

He scoops up Zoe and takes Josh into a one armed hug at the same time, muttering apologies, and awed comments about how much they've grown. He sets Zoe down as Elisabeth comes over and takes his hand, her turns his head into the crook of his free elbow and coughs. Elisabeth frowns but doesn't say anything else. Maddy sits downs again and Zoe hops up onto the bench next to her kicking her feet excitedly. "You're just on time," Elisabeth smiles, "we should be going through in about ten minutes." Jim nods, looking back at the men who 'escorted' him to Hope Plaza. Elisabeth levels a placating smile at the men.

"Thank you for escorting my husband here. We appreciate it greatly." Her accent rings out cheerily, but not without a touch of something else behind the friendly appearance. Jim inwardly smirks, not even two years away from her can make him forget her 'time for you to leave' tone. The men nod and retreat the way they came, one of the Hope Plaza officials catches up with them, shaking their hands and hands them a rather thick envelope. Kara comes to stand next to Josh, fitting her hand into his and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "It's good to see you, Mr. Shannon." She smiles, and Jim smiles back extending his hand to her. "You too, Kara." She shakes his hand.

Dr. Remington and General Anderson step off the stairs, the latter of the two sticking out his hand to shake Jim Shannon's. Jim takes it, and nods professionally at the soldier. "Thank you for everything you've done, General." He says; Anderson shakes his head. "I didn't pull the strings to get you here. But I'll pass on the thanks." He motions to the scrawny man in the lab coat. A majority of these scientists are rather rodent looking. "I trust you read the file you were sent, Mr. Shannon." He asks; Jim nods. "Good, good, we're just about due for a radio in from the team we sent through first, and I would like to remind you all," he raises his voice, making him sound rather shrill. The kids all look over at him. "When you are on the other side of the portal, that is eighty million years in the past, it will be a shock to your system, the air is extremely rich and I urge you to take quick even breaths. The soldiers already over there have CO2 infusers in case you need assistance."

And so they wait. The numbers on the digital clock counting up to the hour, second by stretched second. They get their call exactly on the hour.

"This is Samson checking in, we are good to go." The survival expert, for all intents and purposes, sounds content her tone conveys no hint of stress whatsoever. General Anderson replies promptly. "Good to hear, Samson. Portal initialization in three, two, one." There's a sudden tearing sound and a blue billowing window opens up in the terminal. "Wow." Maddy breathes, taking Zoe's hand. Dr. Remington steps forward fidgeting slightly. "Alright two at maximum," He ushers Josh and Kara forward, "you two can go first." He says, placing his hand on Josh's shoulder. He looks back at his mom for assurance.

"I'm right behind you, you'll be fine." She assures, shoving any doubt she has to the back of her mind. Josh takes a steadying breath and holds Kara's hand tightly. "Let's go." He says, and she grins, nodding at him. "Okay." They step forward, striding into the blue window. There's another flash and the couple is gone. Without missing a beat the scientists ushers Elisabeth forward, reluctantly letting go of Jim's hand; he motions for Zoe to come over. "Mom and daughter." He mutters, and then waves them onward.

"See you on the other side, Liz." Jim says, and Elizabeth smiles, taking Zoe's hand in hers. "I'm holding you to it." She replies and resolutely walks through the portal. Maddy stands, an uneasy look in her eyes. She pulls off the mask moving over to Jim. He wraps an arm around her waist. "It'll be okay, honey." He promises. She doesn't say anything just hands her filter to Dr. Remington and stands a little straighter. The last flash signifies the last of the passages. The portal in shut off. Mr. Helms steps up behind General Anderson.

"The goal is clear." He says. Anderson clears his throat. "Yes, sir, my team knows not to stray from the objective." He doesn't get how the highest of the up highs have him in this mess. "Find Taylor. Keep him safe. Help him adjust the portal."

Panic response, that's the first thing she feels when she takes her first breath. The second thing she feels is dirt, against her face, and a bright light in her eyes. It's like an alarm in her head, screaming; but she can't scream. She can only gasp as the fresh air assaults her lungs. "Maddy! Maddy!" The voice is far away, worried.

She can't breathe.

Everything goes white.

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