I do not own Terra Nova nor Doctor Strange nor any other story line that may get referenced. I only own the character that is created in these pages. She is all mine. Time to hatch.

I apologize for the time between chapters. This chapter just wanted to be written and I had not finished the last one. So, it has been back and forth on both. Enjoy!

Guzman

Guzman, heart beating steadily, kept up a fast pace to the Command Center as he nimbly ran between the planted rows. He had decided to jog the distance through the agricultural area instead of accepting the ride offered by Dunham when the Private had delivered the summons. No trace of sweat marred the athletic man's dark features or stained the t shirt that stretched across his muscular chest. A Salvatore Guzman was a 5'11", dark-eyed Latin/Egyptian at 39 years of age. He had been part of the team that was 'right' behind Nathaniel Taylor on that first pilgrimage over 7 years ago. His beautiful daughter, Tasha Renee Guzman, had joined him when she arrived with the Official 1st Pilgrimage to the Cretaceous, 85 million years before their departure in 2142. Guzman had lost his child's mother when the courageously exotic Nubian had fended off three kidnappers after her and her daughter in an effort to blackmail him. Only arriving in time to see her fall at their hands instead. He never heard their pleas for forgiveness as they had not intended to kill but only to capture. The three falling almost neatly together as he mowed them down. He could hear his daughter's screams as she pounded on the door of a closet her mother had shoved her into. Tasha had only been a toddler then and now barely remembered what her mother had ever looked like. Her father showing her that she merely needed to look into the mirror. Although Tasha's skin was more fair than her mother's, her features were an exact replica of the woman he had run away with.

The summons had been completely unexpected. He had been on leave to take care of his daughter ever since the Slasher attack the day after the 11th Pilgrimage had arrived. He had yet to talk with Commander Taylor about a return to duty. Tasha's physical wounds were completely mended by the excellent medical care she had received at the hands of Dr. Elisabeth Shannon. The Doctors speed and efficiency giving Tasha a head start on recovering that had been sorely lacking prior to the good Doctors arrival. The nightmares, however, had started before Tasha was even released from the Medical Center. Fortunately there were single bed accommodations for just such occurrences. Her frantic screams only disturbing her father after that first night if he drifted off while sitting with her. After the third day of minimal sleep Commander Taylor had relieved him of duty and told him to go take care of his daughter. She needed her father's complete attention, and Guzman was no good to Taylor when the good father was too exhausted to focus. Taylor didn't hold it against him and Guzman had tried to not take it personally. When Tasha had cried over the news, he had held his beautiful daughter, gently smoothing her soft dark curls and kissing the top of her head. She knew how much his job and position mattered to him. Reassuring her that she mattered far more to him than some job he had wiped her tears away.

There also might have been a bit of guilt in there over giving her so much freedom when he let her live with her friends. Not that he had anything against her friends. Hunter Boyce, Max Pope and Skye Tate had been tight with Tasha since before the Syncillic Fever outbreak that had taken both of Skye's parents. The Base Commander had stepped up and taken the orphan under his wing and let her stay in the home she had shared with her parents. When Tasha had begun spending more time at Skye's than at home, and Guzman's duties often kept him late, he had caved and let her move in with Skye. Max Pope had already taken a room on a recommendation from Commander Taylor himself, and Guzman had spent enough cook outs at the 'kids' place that he had no worries about their conduct. He and Commander Taylor had also both developed a habit of dropping by unannounced at any time of the day or night to keep the kids on their toes. Perhaps they had all gotten a little too comfortable with the situation. Perhaps it had been more responsibility than the kids could handle.

Hunter had ended up back in with his parents since they had collected all of his belongings while the curly haired ginger was recovering with his friends in the Medical Center. Max and Hunter were so worried over Tasha when she had started screaming that first night that the staff members had a time keeping them in their beds. Captain Guzman and the medical staff having to reassure the boys over and over that Tasha's reaction was not entirely unexpected after such a traumatizing attack. Tasha had still not returned to work but was now visiting a therapist only every other week. Max brought her news from the job site almost every day and Hunter brought her wildflowers from the edges of whatever agricultural area he had been helping out in that day. That was, until Hunter had decided to enlist and serve Commander Taylor. Tasha and Max both knowing the why but supporting their buddy on his choice. Father and Daughter had actually been discussing a return to their jobs when Private Dunham had arrived with the summons to get to the Commander Center, pronto.

Commander Taylor watched his former Head of Security as Guzman almost lazily sprinted up the final stairs, coming to a perfect salute while standing at attention. "No need to salute, Guz, you're not back on duty, yet." Nathaniel Taylor's gaze returned to beyond the front gate as he leaned forward resting his forearms on the railing that circled the Command Center. Taylor was a seasoned warrior standing about 5'10" in his fifties. But the only hint of age to the man was his white curly hair. His muscular, lean build showing not an ounce of fat or slouch. Clear blue eyes assessing all and giving nothing. His skin smooth with just a hint of crows feet at the corners of those piercing eyes. Guzman settled into a resting position waiting for his friend and mentor to bring him up to speed on whatever situation was so necessary as to send a Rover speeding through the Colony. Both turned their attention to the aforementioned Rover as Private Dunham slid it to a stop near the bottom of the main stairs. The Private stared at the Captain a moment before climbing his skinny frame out of the driver's seat and starting up those same stairs. Noting the complete lack of moisture marring the athletic man's shirt and person, the sweaty Private reported to the Commander his successful delivery of the summons to Captain Guzman. After Taylor had acknowledged and then dismissed him, Dunham turned to Guzman. "You could at least be winded or something, Dude." complaining as he smiled. Guzman's physical prowess was legendary and second only to Commander Taylor's with Lieutenant Alicia Washington a seriously close third. The three long time soldiers and friends often sparring with each other to keep their skills finely honed. A dazzling of white teeth was Guzman's only response as the Private clomped away, returning to his duties.

The dazzling white disappeared upon hearing his Commander's next words. "Looks like you were right, Guz." Taylor said quietly, still leaning as he slowly turned towards his friend to assess the reaction. "She's still alive and she's here in the Cretaceous." pointing downward on the last part of the statement. Stunned, ears buzzing, vision threatening to cloud over, Guzman caught the railing by his Commander for support as he let himself sag a little. Taylor straightened quickly, almost catching his friends arm but then stopping as he determined the man's level of control. The surprising news had merely winded the man he had known since the younger was little more than an angry frightened boy. It had been that frightened boy's knowledge of the 'She' in question that had finally decided whether to help the lad or have him shot as an enemy spy. Guzman flashed back to before Terra Nova, before Commander Taylor had ever entered the Cretaceous. Guzman had been in charge of that team that had been 'right' behind Taylor. He had been chuckling over the look on his friend's face when he had jokingly said "Say Hi to Lisa for Me" as Taylor had started walking towards the Arch of the tamed Time Fissure.

"Lisa," Guzman almost whispered. He looked up and locked gazes with Taylor. The memories clear for both of them no matter how old or different. "What is the word on her? Who found her? Where?..." The questions started speeding out of him. Taylor held up his hands gesturing calm and then taking his friend gently by the elbow started steering him towards the Command Center's main office door. Guzman let himself be led at first but then he picked up the pace proceeding Taylor indoors unassisted. "The word came in from Outpost VI" Taylor continued as he closed the door behind them. "That's the outpost Hunter went to," Guzman said distractedly. Taylor nodded as he gestured towards the large glass desk that dominated one end of the big room. It was supported by a huge bleached Allosaurus skull. He tapped the glass as he reached the edge activating a three dimensional map of their Cretaceous Continent. Guzman watched as Taylor 'scrolled' the map to the newest Outpost. Seeing the region zoom closer as the view was steered to a location just past the Outpost, further into the vast plain. As they rolled over Taylor started pointing out a 'path' along a ridge of massive trees that ran parallel to the Jungle. "Hunter and Curran were exploring this cluster which cuts through the Savannah." The view slowed and zoomed to what at first looked like a shadow just off the edge of the flow of Behemoths. 'Pulling' the view closer the image resolved into two lone Giants with dark, prickly looking bushes surrounding their bases, creating a large clearing that had a sizable orchard of small dark leaved trees right in the center.