Chapter 21

"Michael, how the hell do you know all this?" Jim demanded. He and Mira were standing over him as he sat on the couch, next to Elisabeth. He'd told them everything Lucas had said in their brief conversation. "I have your device. How did they get in contact with you?"

Michael looked sheepishly at his hands. Above him, Mira laughed spitefully.

"Still keeping secrets?" she said derisively. "Always the bad boy."

"Shut it, Mira," he mumbled in reply. "It's just..it's not my secret to tell."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Jim scoffed.

"Mark," a female voice came from behind Michael. He turned to see Maddy standing from her bedroom door. "Mark had a device too."

"Reynolds? And why would Reynolds have a device?" demanded Jim. The room was silent. "Does someone want to fill me in here?"

"Because he was working for them too," Maddy admitted sadly. "A long time ago, years before we got here. He was one of them."

"What?" Jim looked furious. "And you're just telling me this now?"

"Sweetheart, is that why you broke the engagement off?" Elisabeth asked. Maddy nodded her head, frowning.

"Did you know about this?" Jim turned to Mira, who looked just as surprised as he did.

"No. He wasn't an ally when I got here. As far as I knew, we were on our own. Except for Lucas."

"I'm gonna need to speak to him. Now," Jim almost shouted.

"I'll get him," Elisabeth offered helpfully.

Ten minutes later, she returned with a bewildered looking Reynolds. Elisabeth set him down on the couch next to Michael whilst Maddy watched from a distance. The questions started immediately. Reynolds looked overwhelmed. Michael caught him locking eyes with Maddy. He recognised the shame and misery in his gaze.

"Alright, I'll tell you everything," Reynolds snapped, his chest rising and falling rapidly. He must have known it was over. The whole room went silent, staring at Reynolds intently, particularly young Maddy who looked on, her face filled with hurt and confusion.

"My family…" he began timidly. "We didn't have a lot of money when I was growing up so we lived in a pretty basic apartment. It didn't have all the latest filters it should have, so it was cheap. But when I was twelve years old, my dad got sick from the pollution. He died pretty soon after that and then my mom got too sick to work, so she lost her job and couldn't afford the rent." He risked a look at the small crowd around him. Their expressions had eased slightly. He continued: "Our landlord kicked us out. We lived on the streets for a couple years, so she didn't last long. She developed respiratory problems. Then she died too." He sighed miserably. "I was on my own for a bit. I'm not proud of what I did to get by, but I did. I took care of myself. Then they approached me."

"EdenCorp," Jim said.

Mark nodded. "They found me and told me they could house me, feed me, give me clean air. As long as I did something for them. I was a kid with nowhere else to go, how was I going to turn down an offer like that?"

"Sounds a bit like my story," Mira said under her breath. "They seek you out when you're most vulnerable, promise you the world, then screw you over."

"Well," Mark continued. "I agreed, obviously. I lived at their Headquarters. They gave me all this training, all this education. I joined the military, then they ensured I got assigned to Terra Nova. Nichol, she gave me the device. She said she would contact me when I made it through. I gave her information on the colony. I went out and explored, told her about the Badlands and what I found there…But then I changed my mind. I got rid of the device and I never heard from her again. Until Michael came back."

"So you knew about this the whole time?" Jim asked Michael accusingly.

"They told me about Mark," Michael admitted. "They said if I needed help with contacting them, he would help me."

"Stange how us Sixers weren't told about him," Mira commented bitterly.

"I expect you didn't need the help," Michael said. "There were enough of you to infiltrate without Mark's help. Anyway, the only way he was going to help me was if I blackmailed him, now that he's broken ties with them."

Mark got to his feet. "I am sorry, Mr. Shannon." He turned to face Maddy, who had tears streaming down her face. "Maddy, I'm so sorry. I hope you can understand...can we just put my past behind me and start again?"

Maddy walked over to him, wiping her tears away. "Mark, it's not about who you were. It's that you didn't tell me. You had this terrible secret from me when we were about to start the rest of our lives together. I wish you had just told me."

"I'm sorry. I'll tell you everything from now on. I promise."

"You better, if we're going to be husband and wife."

Mark's eyes lit up. "You still want to get married?"

"Of course I do!"

She kissed him, wrapping her arms around him, holding him tightly. Mark kissed her back, happy, relieved.

"This is really romantic and all, but wasn't there something about an incoming invasion?" Mira spoke up. She turned to Michael. "You said Lucas told you this? Why would he, given that he works for the bitch?"

"I don't know, but he did," Michael admitted. "He has no reason to lie."

"I agree, we can question his motives later," said Jim. "Right now we have to treat this seriously. We're really going to have to speed things up. I'll get in touch with Reilly to brief the troops. Then tomorrow morning, I'll address the colony." He sighed. If Michael didn't know better, he could have sworn Jim was looking nervous.

He got to his feet. "Jim, is there anything you need me to do?"

"Yeah," Jim glared. "You can give me that communicator and get the hell out of my house."

Defeated, he retrieved the device from his coat pocket and handed it over. His one link to the future, gone. He had to rely on Jim for any communication now.

Michael left the house with Mira in tow. He tried to race ahead but he could hear her insufferable snorting behind him.

He turned around. "What?" he snapped.

"You can barely look at me," she said incredulously. "Look, we're on the same team now whether you like it or not, so you might as well learn to work with me. Just like old times." She smirked.

That was it. She was infuriating. "You don't deserve to be back here," Michael almost yelled. He knew he had defended her to Skye earlier, but really he was just as angry as her that Mira was here. He couldn't forget what she had done to him or the people he loved. She was the reason why he betrayed everyone, why his father distrusted him. It all started with her and that stupid box. "After what you did to Deborah, to Skye, to me and everyone here. You hurt the people we loved to manipulate us. You're no better than Nichol. You disgust me."

She blinked. "Well, don't hold back, will you? Tell me what you really think," she said sarcastically.

He shook his head, repulsed by her. "Obviously Jim thinks you're of some use, that's why he's working with you. But it doesn't mean you still control me. Or Skye." He came closer. "And if you ever go near her or Deborah, I'll kill you."

He started to walk away.

"You're no better than me, Michael!" She yelled after him. "You hurt people for the same reasons I did!"

He paused, considering turning back to argue some more. But he continued walking. He had to leave or he wouldn't be in control of his actions.

Besides there were bigger things to worry about now.

"I know I'm not as good as this is as Taylor was," Jim declared from the Command Centre balcony, facing the crowds of people staring up at him with fear and concern. He shifted his weight awkwardly, clearing his throat. "In fact, I know many of you disagree with how I've been handling things since he's been gone. And I am truly sorry for that. I hope under different circumstances, I would have done you justice...been the leader you deserved. But as you all know now, since Corporal Taylor's return, we've become aware of a further threat to our colony, to our way of life. I think you all remember the Commander's words from a year ago, when we were under similar circumstances. He said that together, we can prevail. We beat them once, at a cost. But we got through it. And we can do it again. We're not sure when they're coming, but they will come. Be alert, be ready. Be brave. I have faith in you, Terra Nova."

Jim paused, looking out over the crowd as the nervous chatter began. Then he turned back into the Command Centre.

"Nice speech," Michael complimented him. It was good to still have someone speak to the colony, to instill some hope in them.

"Is that really what Taylor sounded like last time? Give me strength," Mira said disdainfully.

"Thanks for your input, Mira," muttered Jim. "Next time I'll let you proof-read my speech before I give it."

"Reilly's briefing the troops in a minute. Last minute ammo and equipment checks, that kind of thing," Michael informed him.

"Good, any update with the science team?"

"I checked in with Malcolm this morning," replied Mira. "Once he stopped ignoring me, he told me they were nearly there with the terminus. They've been working non-stop. Look like a bunch of zombies."

"Alright. Everything seems to be coming together." He scrolled through some data on his plex, wiping sweat from his forehead. Michael wasn't used to Jim looking like this.

"You feeling okay, Jim?" Michael asked.

"Fine," he said sternly. "I just wish Taylor were here...he'd know the right thing to do. He led the way last time, even when he wasn't here….he was here."

"You seemed to know what you were doing last time," Michael offered. "You helped save the colony."

"Yeah, well, I seem to remember someone telling me my actions caused the deaths of dozens of people," Jim said bitterly, glaring at Michael.

"Oh," Michael replied. He hadn't realised what happened at Hope Plaza still resonated so much with Jim.

"Don't feel sorry for them," Mira scoffed. "They were working for EdenCorp, or whatever corrupt part of the government funded Hope Plaza. They got off easy, if you ask me."

"No one's asking you, Mira," Michael snapped. "Make sure everything is prepared for the lockdown tonight. No one leaves their units unless of an emergency, got it?"

"Got it, ex-captain," she murmured, shooting him a quick glare as she headed for the exit.

As soon as Mira left, Michael stepped up to Jim. "Now is not the time to second guess yourself, Jim. We're all counting on you to lead us. If you've got guilt, join the club. We can deal with that afterwards. But my dad trusted you to take care of the colony, and that's what you've got to focus on."

"I know," Jim barked, looking like he wanted to throw his plex on the desk in front of him. "I just didn't think I would be the one to lead us into another fight. We've already lost so much. What if we don't survive another attack?"

"Heed your own words, Jim. We'll get through it together. Whatever it takes."

Jim raised his head, inhaling deeply. "Yeah. I know, you're right. I just needed a minute." He nodded gently at Michael. "Right. We've got work to do. And I have somewhere important I have to be. You mind helping Reilly address the troops?"

"Yes, sir."

"You know what," Jim smirked, making his way towards the stairs. "If someone had told me a year ago I'd be leading the fight with Mira as my deputy, and you calling me 'Sir', I would have told them they'd been spending too much time in Boylan's Bar."

Michael laughed. "I would have been inclined to agree."

Michael left to join Reilly in rounding up the troops. Most of them had already gathered, with a few stragglers joining the back, like Skye. She was saying goodbye to Deborah.

"Be careful, Bucket," Deborah said, hugging her. She pulled away and rubbed her daughter's arm, looking at her in her uniform. "I wish your father could see you. He would have been so proud."

Skye smiled. "Thanks, mom."

Her smile disappeared as soon as she saw Carter rock up to join the group, dressed in the same Terra Novan uniform.

"Oh hell no," Skye said. "No way is he fighting with us?"

"Sorry, Squirt," Michael chipped in as he approached. "Jim okay'd it. Carter gets a chance to prove himself. Isn't that right, Carter?"

"Can't wait," Carter muttered.

Skye looked like he was about to punch Carter as she walked right up to him. "You can't be serious! He kept my mom captive. He kept her medicine from her."

"Bucket," Deborah said softly. Michael was relieved to see her calm Skye down. She gently pulled her daughter away, only for Deborah's hand to suddenly collide sharply with the side of Carter's head.

He recoiled, holding his burning flesh with both hands. "Bitch!" he turned to Michael. "You gonna let her just do that?"

"Do what?" Michael asked. "I didn't see anything." He winked at Skye and Deborah, who were holding back stifled laughter.

Carter growled, about to make a counter-attack, when Michael grabbed him and pushed him towards the crowd where Reilly was beginning to address the soldiers. Neither of them had to be afraid of him anymore. Now he was going to play by their rules.

2150

There was so much to do.

Now that the original Hope Plaza portal was back in range, Lucas had started work on anchoring it to their terminus. Then Nichol would send her army through. They would finish what they started a year ago. They would take Terra Nova.

Except Lucas didn't seem so deliciously enthralled by the idea anymore. His father had already been dethroned, and he was the one Lucas wanted to hurt most. It had already been done. The Commander was gone. It was over.

Maybe that's why he had warned Michael of the incoming invasion. Terra Nova's destruction didn't mean as much to him anymore, not if his father wasn't around to see it. Now he just felt like he was following Nichol's orders for the sake of it. Perhaps warning Michael was to spite her.

Regardless, he still had to do as she said, even if he wasn't getting anything out of it anymore. He was collecting some papers together with his plex when a loud, piercing alarm thundered through his ear drums. The security alarm. Noticing some men running through the corridor outside, he went to investigate.

"What's going on?" he asked the soldiers passing his lab.

"Perimeter breach. A bunch of rebels have got through," one of the men explained. They ran for the elevator, some readjusting their uniform and weapons, preparing to fight the intruders.

Lucas slowly walked over to the window. He could see a large crowd of angry, screaming people down below. They were storming the building, running through the entrance. Guns were going off from both sides.

Well, it was only a matter of time until they tried something like this, Lucas thought. The Rebellion was fast outnumbering Nichol's army of pathetic volunteers. People were soon realising she wasn't as powerful as she was making out to be.

But still, this proved problematic for him. If the rebels were attacking, he wasn't going to be safe here. They weren't going to be particularly happy with the guy that was helping make Nichol's pockets deeper, were they?

He didn't have long to make a decision. If he left EdenCorp, he wouldn't survive a day out in the city. He wasn't arrogant enough to think otherwise. With a civil war going on and the levels of pollution outside, his chances were slim.

But now he had another option. He didn't like it much either, but it would at least buy him a bit more time.

He slowly headed towards the terminus.

On the way he passed more Phoenix Group soldiers who ignored him as they sprinted past. The sounds of gunfire and screaming sounded like they were getting closer. His heart started pounding. He had to get out now. As soon as he got to the stairwell, he started running. The terminus was being kept in a control room downstairs. If he hurried, he could power it up and…

He stopped. Catching his breath, it suddenly dawned on him.

William. His instincts were urging him to run for that portal. He couldn't take a baby to the cretaceous period with him. It was hard enough for him to survive in the jungle alone, let alone with an infant.

But he remembered his promise to Michael and how much he meant it at the time. It was true. He would rather die than let anyone harm that baby. He sighed, swore under his breath, then turned and ran back up the steps.

Heart racing, he burst through the doors, running as fast as he could to the baby's room. The gunshots sounded so close now. There wasn't much time. When he got to Will's room, he frantically typed the code and swung the door open.

As he neared the cot, he realised it was empty. The baby was gone.

Before he could do anything, he heard the rebels in the corridor and he ducked.

He heard the heavy sound of boots running past and the rebels yelling at one another.

"Anything up here?"

"Nah. No sign of the bitch. Keep looking."

Lucas kept low. When he was sure the rebels had gone, he got to his feet.

He had to go.

He got to the door, about to make his escape when he was met with four rifles pointing directly at him.

Slowly, he raised his hands up. They had him.

"Tie him up," a male voice ordered.

Instinctively, every muscle in Lucas' body tensed. He knew that voice.

His father emerged from behind the rebels. He was dressed like them, in black armour and dark clothing, but it was undeniably the Commander.

"You," Lucas seethed, his gaze darkening. He couldn't believe it. He had turned the tables once again.

Taylor offered him a brief, ironic smile. "Hello, Lucas."