Chapter by LilManiac

Ian

Erik had told everyone else that Jade had run off, and he'd followed her. It took him the entire night to find her again, apparently. But her clothes proved differently. It was light, but I still saw the faint marks on her jeans. I honestly wouldn't have seen them if I hadn't been looking. Hopefully none of the others saw either…

Later on, when I was watching Amanda sleep, Jade came in and told me the truth. So, now Erik knew her secret too. This was getting a little out of hand, or so I thought. But then again, Erik found out by accident, and he'd been a good enough person to do what he could for Jade. That, in turn, made me start to respect the man named Erik Bishop. If he could do that for Jade…

After I got back with Rally, who had restocked her herb supply while she was at it, all we could do was wait. Good thing it didn't take that long.

We left just after three, with Rally promising she'd watch over both of them while we were gone. Karen and Fred seemed to be a little reluctant to leave Becky there, but I assured them she'd be fine; Rally was an expert, and did all she could for her patients.

Too bad I knew that even her best wouldn't be enough if we didn't get the vaccine.

We headed off, all of us a little more torn by the whole thing. I hardly saw Jade, since she was almost always in her cabin. Robert and Fred seemed to constantly have it in for each other. Every time I saw both of them in the same room… well, let's just say that if looks could kill, both of them would be dead a thousand times over by now.

It was uneasy with Karen and Robert as well. Then again, Robert always seemed to make everyone uneasy. I guess both of them shared that trait.

It was on the first afternoon that I found that out. I was steering the ship, thinking gloomily of Amanda, when Karen came up on deck with me. She hovered around the wheel where I was, before she said one word.

"Ian"

"Karen" I said formally, turning to look at her.

"This is your fault you know" She said, coming up to a few feet from my face. Her eyes flashed with anger.

I sighed "Look, I didn't mean to hit Becky. It… it all happened so…"

"I know that, but if she dies… I'm going to make sure you never forget what you've done"

"How could I forget something like that?"

"Don't get smart with me, changeling. If she dies…"

"Well she's not, all right! No one's going to die as far as I'm concerned!" I snapped, and she backed off a little.

"How can you be so sure?" She asked softly, looking back out the window.

"Because I don't give up so easily, and if you and your team are willing to give up so easily…"

"I didn't say that now, did I!" She turned on me, bringing her face inches from mine. Thankfully, I'd had this done to me before. I hardly flinched.

"Look, I know what you're going through. I really do. But turning on each other isn't exactly going to help us now, is it?"

She sighed, and backed away. I resited the urge to let out a sound of relief. She turned, and was about to go downstairs, when turned her head to look at me once more.

"Remember, if Becky dies…" She let the threat hang in the air, then made her way downstairs. I shook my head, turning back to look at the relatively calm sea in front of us. I just wished the outside portrayed what was on the inside. Calm, focus…

But Karen had made me loose all focus, and when Robert came to take over, I was pacing like a madman.

"What? What happened?" Robert asked.

"N-nothing. Just… I'm worried, that's all"

"Ah, I see" he took over, and I retreated back downstairs. I checked on Jade, who was reading with her headphones on. I was amazed she'd want to bring a walkman on board, but then again it was her decision. She hardly noticed me as I entered, flipping the pages and bopping her feet as she sung quietly. I shut the door again, with her not even noticing I'd been there.

I was more than worried now. Karen's 'threat' had shaken me up, and made me want to pace. I remembered the talk I'd had with Jade and Robert. Robert was the strategist. And Jade… saw things other people didn't.

I was glad that those two were on my side. If I had to match wits against the two, I'd be dead before I could make a sound.

That thought calmed me, and later that night I fell asleep pretty quickly.

Straight into the nightmares that none of us could get away from.

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When we got there, all of us were eager to get back down there. It was only Robert that said it though.

"I don't see why we don't just go down there and storm the place. Those guys…"

"Robert, it's been over a week since we were last here. And a week is more than enough time to bring more Hork-Bajir to the place, as well as beef up the security systems. We'd be shot to death before we could get within twenty feet of the place" I said, and I could tell the others agreed with me.

"Plus, the vaccine isn't ready yet, is it Ian?" Karen directed her question to me, staring hard at me.

"That's right. The last reports were negative from the others. No vaccine, no reason to go down there and get ourselves killed" I replied, averting my eyes from Karen. Instead I looked at Jade. I saw the determination on her face, and I knew she agreed with me. I also knew she wanted to get down there as soon as possible.

"Okay, here's what we do" Fred showed us, and all of us had our part. I was doing what I considered was the right thing, when there was a shout, and a splash beside me. I looked over in time to see Jade leaping over the side and into the water, shifting to Spinner dolphin as she went.

"What the hell just happened!" I yelled as I ran to where she'd jumped, looking down in time to see her splash into the water, halfway into her dolphin form. Karen was already there beside me. She looked panicked.

"Erik's hand just got caught in one of the hooks! I don't know how… Erik!"

Robert and Fred were soon beside us. Below, there was nothing but the waves lapping against the boat.

"Oh god… are they… did we…" Karen was shocked.

"Jade!" Robert called. There was nothing.

Nothing except the calm waves lapping against the boat.