Darwin swam through the aqua-tubes looking around the Seaquest. He didn't like that Tim was not here. It had taken time for him to get used to the new crew after the years taken from them and he had but only because Lucas and Tim were still onboard.
But now without Tim the boat felt off and Darwin didn't like it.
"What did you see?"
Henry looked up surprised to see AJ standing in front of him, arms folded across her chest determination written over her face.
He let out a long sigh, "Nothing."
"Nothing?" AJ asked confused.
He shook his head in confusion, "There was no foreign mind within his."
"That's good isn't it?" AJ noted, "Because that is what we wanted to know."
"It would be except there is something in there," Henry told her, "The only way I can describe it is as a golden box. I've never seen anything like that."
AJ grimaced, "Could that be the cause of the symptoms he's been experiencing?"
"I don't know," Henry admitted, "I think I need to do a read when we're out from the shield."
"That could be dangerous," AJ noted.
Henry shrugged, "But it is the only idea I have."
She let out a long sigh, "Let me talk to Tim. Although I'm pretty sure what his answer will be."
"AJ," he called as she started out, "This is something I've never seen before. I don't know if I'm the right person to deal with this."
x
AJ walked the corridors of the Institute trying to decide what to do. It was on one hand the only real way to find out what was happening but then again it could put Tim's life in danger again. She had become quite fond of her patient and didn't want him to be hurt but he could be stuck here for the rest of his life if they didn't.
She reached Tim's room and leaned in to check him, smiling to herself to find him sitting engrossed in the translation.
Finally she tapped on the doorframe to let him know she was there, smiling as his head bobbed up.
"I need to talk to you," AJ told him as she stepped inside and pulled a chair across to the bed.
Tim winced, "This sounds ominous."
AJ took a deep breath, "Henry didn't find anything when he did his scan," she told him continuing before he could say anything, "He wants to try the scan outside the shielded area."
"That's dangerous, isn't it?" Tim asked softly.
AJ nodded, "It is but it could also be the only way we can find out what is happening to you."
"Then let's do this."
Oliver watched the bridge as they went around their business very aware of the large hole at communications. Ensign Dent was doing his best but there were very few who could keep up with O'Neill. Those who had been on the Seaquest before the ten year jump were obviously missing him. He'd overheard Piccolo noting that the old crew were dwindling, though that wasn't the word he used exactly.
"Sir," Dent called, "We're receiving orders from Secretary General McGath."
Oliver sighed, hoping it was something interesting to get everyone's minds off their absent friend.
"I'll take it in the ward room," he ordered marching off the bridge.
Reaching the privacy of the ward room he let Dent know he was ready.
"Yes, sir," Oliver said the moment McGath appeared on the screen in front of him.
"We've lost all contact with Huntsman Colony," the Secretary General said, "I need you to find out what's happening."
"Any possibility that the Macronesians are behind this?" Oliver asked leaning back in his chair.
McGath grimaced, "We've not had any indication they are in the area but it's not an impossibility."
Oliver grimaced before he nodded, "I'll keep you informed, sir."
Huntsman Colony was a farming community which was deep in UEO territory but it was close enough to the Macronesian border that it was always watched closely.
"Sir?"
Oliver looked up to see his second-in command standing waiting, "Sit down, Commander. We have a mission."
Ford listened attentively as Oliver explained the history of Huntsman.
"If there is a need to board the colony," Ford mused, "I'll take Dagwood, Piccolo, Underwood and Smith."
Oliver nodded in agreement, "Take Wolenczak as well. You may need his skills."
"Of course, sir," Ford nodded.
"I'd prefer O'Neill be going since the colonists are a mixture of cultures and not everyone speaks English," Oliver grimaced, "But I suppose Smith will have to do."
x
The colony was quiet when they reached it; Tony announced that there were no signs of life as he manoeuvred the WSKRs around the buildings.
"Commander," Hudson said.
Jonathan nodded, "Yes, sir. Okay, people lets go."
The team all moved passing their station to their relief before they followed Jonathan down to the launch bay. Underwood piloted the launch towards the airlock while Lucas tried to get into the computer system.
"Nearing the airlock," Underwood told him, "I'm not getting any signal to bring us in."
"I'm working on it," Lucas spoke up, "There seems to be something blocking me."
Underwood held position as Lucas typed furiously; he gave a quick cry of victory when he activated the automated docking sequence. Slowly the shuttle attached itself to the colony locking on with a loud thunk.
"Weapons ready," Jonathan ordered, "Stay together."
With a deep breath he hit the button allowing the door to open before stepping slowly into the colonies launch bay. The lights were low, appearing to be on emergency power.
"Kinda creepy," Lucas noted softly as he followed Dagwood.
Jonathan grimaced; he was thinking the same but was trying not to think too much about the fact. They reached the habitat area and Jonathan frowned that it was empty as the launch bay.
"Captain," he said over the radio, "The whole place is deserted."
Silence greeted him for a moment before Hudson came on, "How long do you think they left?"
"From the looks of things," Lucas said, "I'd say months."
"Try and get into the computer system," Hudson ordered, "Commander, I want you to see if there is anything to explain this."
Jonathan nodded even though Hudson couldn't see him, "We'll keep in touch, sir."
"If everyone left a long time ago," Dagwood spoke up suddenly, "Why do we only know now?"
Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to Dagwood who looked extremely self-conscious that everyone was staring at him.
"That's a very good point," Jonathan said softly looking around slowly, "Lucas."
Lucas appeared at his side, "Yes, sir?"
"Find out who was here and what happened to the colonists," he ordered.
As Lucas headed to the closest computer terminal Jonathan looked around the deserted room getting a very bad feeling.
Tim took the offered chocolate bar from AJ with a frown, "Is this a bribe?"
"An apology," she chuckled, "I know you wanted to do the test today."
He shrugged, "Since one of your other patients woke up I can't complain too much. How are they?"
AJ smiled as she took her usual seat at his side opening her own chocolate, "Doing better than expected. How are you doing with the translating?"
"It's going well," he told her, "But I don't have much left to do."
AJ nodded, "I'm sure I can find you something else to do," smiling at his frown, "I'm kidding. Henry will do the test tomorrow and hopefully it will give us a clue to what happened to you."
He leaned back against his pillows with a sigh.
"Do you want to tell me?" AJ asked softly.
Tim chewed for a moment before turning to her, "I lost ten years."
"I know."
"But it was so much more than that, AJ," he tried to explain, "The last thing I remember is a missile coming towards us then I woke up, soaking wet, in a dive bar I remember being in once and not having that good a time."
She chuckled softly.
"They put us to work quickly," Tim explained, "And it kept my mind off it. I was actually still hopeful the missing crew would be found. Then Captain Bridger told us they weren't coming back and I couldn't breathe because my best friend was gone for good."
AJ reached out and squeezed his hand.
"That was it," Tim continued, "We had to go back to work."
He paused again and took another bite of the chocolate, "Captain Hudson scheduled meetings with us all to tell us about our families."
"Tim..."
"I had nieces and nephews I never met," he told her anger filling his voice; "I have pictures and some home movies that were made but that's it. They died celebrating my birthday. Can you believe that?"
AJ shook her head, she could feel tears pricking her eyes at how matter of fact he was about losing his family.
"The Seaquest and my friends are all I have left," Tim continued, "AJ, I can't lose them too."
AJ took a deep breath and tugged his hand so he would look at her, "Listen to me. I am a brilliant doctor, one of the reasons Kristin Westphalen hired me, but I am also extremely tenacious and I am going to find out what is happening to you. I promise I'm going to get you back to the Seaquest. Okay?"
Tim nodded feeling comforted suddenly, "Okay."
x
Closing his eyes to sleep Tim thought about AJ and her promise to find out what was happening to him. In the dim light, meant to simulate moonlight, Tim looked down at the three burn marks across his arm. He knew there were several others on his back which he could sometimes feel depending on how he lay.
He needed to sleep.
Tim knew this but it wasn't easy.
Sitting up he started thinking back over the few days before he'd fallen ill. He remembered having a headache for several days and some weird dreams but other than that nothing too unusual.
With a sigh he closed his eyes sliding to lie down and fell asleep.
Tony walked slowly along the dark corridor with Dagwood just behind him; they'd checked about twenty apartments with no clue where anyone had gone.
"It looks like they just left their life," Tony mused seeing the remains of a breakfast on a table, "It makes no sense."
"This is very messy," Dagwood said looking into one of the rooms.
Tony moved to his side and peered in, "It's a kid's room. If they're anything like I was they're always messy."
"You are still messy," Dagwood told him.
Tony chuckled as he led the large man out of the apartment, "There's something really not right about this place. Come on, let's go to the next one and hope something there will give us something."
Obediently Dagwood followed on to check the next apartment.
x
Lucas sat at the computer terminal trying to get into the records to find out what had happened to all the people. Ford was nearby looking around the office checking any paperwork to help.
"Huh," Lucas let out involuntarily when he entered the power schematics for the colony.
"Something?" Ford asked.
Lucas grimaced, "I'm not sure, sir. There's what appears to be a whole lot of power being rerouted into nowhere."
Ford peered over his shoulder at the screen, "Interesting. Where is this?"
Lucas checked, "Not far from here."
"Okay, I'm going to have a look," Ford ordered, "Keep checking to see what you can find."
Lucas nodded before grimacing as he was left alone trying not to think of every horror movie he'd ever been forced to watch by Tony and Miguel.
x
Jonathan found the door to the room that apparently didn't exist and studied it. There was a keypad to open it which he knew he wouldn't be able to crack easily.
"Lucas," he called over his PAL.
"Yes, sir," the young ensign replied.
"I need you to see if you can find the code for this room," Jonathan told him, "Or come and hack it for me."
There was a pause before Lucas replied, "Give me a minute, sir."
Jonathan stared at the door wondering what was behind it, hoping it was going to be something completely innocuous but doubting it.
"Sorry," Lucas jogged over, "Can't find a code. Let me have a look."
Jonathan waited as the young man started working, muttering to himself before giving a nod when he heard the click of the lock. The door slowly opened, they looked inside and horror filled Jonathan.
"Captain," he called the ship without taking his eyes off the sight in front of him, "We found the colonists."
x
Oliver Hudson had seen a lot in his time in the navy but nothing like this. There were literally hundreds of men, women and children all in what looked like honeycomb, wires coming out of them into a central pod.
"Doctor?" he asked softly as he moved to Dr Perry.
She shook her head, "I've found no survivors yet, Captain."
Oliver sighed, "Find me whatever answers you can. Mr Wolenczak?"
"Yes, sir?" the young ensign appeared at his side looking slightly ashen at the scene in front of him.
"Have you found anything in the computer systems?" Oliver asked.
Wolenczak shook his head, "It's taking some time, Captain. Whoever did this knew how to cover their tracks. I do have the security cameras working again though."
"Keep working," Oliver told him before turning to Piccolo who came running over, "Yes, Mr Piccolo?"
Taking several deep breaths the young man motioned to him, "You need to see this, sir."
Following behind the normally wise-cracking man Oliver was worried how quiet he was. Stepping into the room Piccolo was leading him to Oliver realised why.
The office was covered in pictures of the Seaquest crew, from what he could tell they had been taken on every leave since they'd returned from Hyperion.
"What the hell?"
x
Lucas finally managed to crack the security and started hunting through the files finding finally what they were looking for.
Opening the footage taken from the security cameras Lucas watched soldiers round up the colonists forcing them into the pods. A man walked forward and sat in the central one closing his eyes.
"Sir, I have something," Lucas told Ford, "I think I know what these things were for."
"So do I," Hudson appeared, "Ensign, show me the room Mr Piccolo found."
Confused Lucas brought up the room and stared at the screen, the room was covered in photos of the crew but all were jumbled about except for one corner.
"Is that Tim?"
Hudson nodded, "The machine is for enhancing telepathic abilities, correct?"
"That's was my theory," Lucas replied.
"Then we need to get back to the Institute," Hudson told them, "The Lieutenant is in danger."