Chapter 30
Lucas watched the vehicles roll through the Portal Terminus, fully stacked with fresh weapons and supplies. The remote had been an easy fix. A simple change of the damaged battery had got it working again. Hooper probably could have figured that out if he actually had a brain. Luckily there had been some stashed away at the Sixer camp. Now Lucas sat on a nearby rock, letting Hooper's soldiers regroup as he used some newly acquired medical supplies to change his bandages. He winced. The wound was still tender, but healing to Skye. He pulled down his shirt, glancing over at the many containers that Hooper's men were piling up.
"What is all that stuff?" he asked curiously.
"Crap load of tranquiliser," one of the soldiers answered. "Gonna need it if we want to take that thing alive."
Lucas bit his tongue, thinking seriously about this plan of Hooper's. He wanted to be on the winning side, sure, but did he want to get torn apart by a rampaging dinosaur in the process? He was pretty certain of his answer.
"Hey, Genius!" Hooper's grating voice sounded from the terminus. Lucas looked over to see Hooper walking towards him. "We're back on track thanks to you. Food, medical supplies, reinforcements. Everything we need to win."
"Wouldn't get too cocky just yet," Lucas mumbled. "We were prepared last time and look where you ended up."
Hooper scowled at him. "That won't happen again, I'll make sure of it. Now come on, he wants to see you."
"Who?"
"The new Nichol. Or at least the guy representing him."
Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Why does he want to see me?"
"I guess he still thinks you're an asset," Hooper shrugged. He noted Lucas' scepticism. "Just go. Maybe he has a better offer than Nichol did. This could be your lucky day."
With a heavy sigh, Lucas got to his feet and dragged himself over to the portal.
In a few seconds, he was transported from the middle of the jungle to a very large hangar. He looked around, adjusting to the dim lighting and the artificial air. It looked very similar to Hope Plaza, with its own large terminus anchoring the fracture. The set up was a lot more sophisticated than Nichol's rushed attempt.
"Lucas Taylor," he heard an authoritative voice greet him. Lucas stepped forward to see a man in military uniform standing some distance ahead of him. "General Grant Mercer," he introduced himself, stepping closer. Lucas studied him. He was a tall man, stoic, confident. He had heavy brows, giving him a permanent look of anger.
"You're Philbrick's replacement," Lucas guessed. "You work for EdenCorp."
"Actually, I work for the government," Mercer replied. "I represent a politician."
"Of course," Lucas said cynically. "A rich politician trying to make himself richer."
Mercer's dark eyes watched him. Lucas felt like he was being examined. He narrowed his gaze at him, wondering what exactly this was leading to.
"I've made Hooper's instructions very clear in terms of this unique dinosaur," Mercer continued. "My employer is very interested in it."
"And Terra Nova?" Lucas interrupted him. That's what he was interested in.
Mercer smirked slightly. "He wants the colony stabilised. He has big plans for it."
Lucas nodded, expecting this. "Control the past, control the future," he said bitterly, quoting Nichol's favourite phrase from long ago.
Mercer ignored the comment.
"I understand you and Ms Nichol had an arrangement," he said gravely. "My question is: are you interested in making a new one?"
Lucas paused a moment, considering the offer.
"What do you want me to do?"
The council didn't take much convincing on the evacuation, though Jim still seemed hesitant. Michael had to remind himself that Jim wasn't a soldier. He hadn't had the training he'd had. He didn't know how to survive outside the gates. Michael did. He knew that most of the wildlife in this world wouldn't make it up the mountain, especially the Cruentusaur. They'd have a better chance of survival up there than down here.
The preparations began the following day. Michael left Alicia's house to find the colonists busily packing their things. The market was empty, supplies and equipment were being loaded onto vehicles or piled up outside. He walked past Malcolm outside the Infirmary; he was complaining about having to leave behind the majority of his research and equipment.
Michael sympathised. It wasn't going to be easy leaving everything behind. This was their home and they had dedicated their lives to protecting it. Abandoning it seemed to be a betrayal of everything the colony stood for. But they had no choice. There was no reasoning with a wild animal. It would kill and destroy until there was nothing left.
He met Alicia and his father by the Command Centre. His father was holding William, looking down at him with a big smile. Michael was taken aback. He couldn't remember the last time his father had smiled so much. He almost felt guilty for interrupting as he came up behind them.
"Michael," his father addressed him, looking up from the infant in his arms. "I was just saying goodbye to my grandson here."
Michael forced a smile. A beat of awkwardness passed before Taylor handed Will back to Michael. The small boy let out a playful noise before returning to silence again.
"You're sure you and Will should be in the first group?" Taylor questioned him.
Michael held Will close to his chest. "I want to get my son out of here before that thing attacks again." He softened, noticing his father's concerned gaze. "Don't worry. The recon team have found a safe spot on the mountain. By the time we get there, everything will be set up for us."
Taylor nodded. "I know you'll do what's best for him." He looked back towards Alicia. "I'll leave you two alone…"
As he headed back for the Command Centre, Michael turned to Alicia, trying to balance his son in his arms. "I wish you'd come with us. I'd feel much better about this if we all left together."
"I know," she said softly. "But like I said the other night, it's our job to protect the colony. You get the civilians out, I'll make sure our home is still standing when you get back."
He stared at her with a concerned expression. He wished there was something he could say to change her mind, but he knew there wasn't. "Keep safe," he told her.
He leaned in to kiss her goodbye. He was reminded of the last time she had kissed him goodbye like this, before she was almost lost to him forever. With that in mind, he lingered on her lips for a second or two longer.
"I love you," she whispered. Then she kissed Baby Will on his head too. "Both of you. Come back to me."
She squeezed Michael's hand and he smiled reassuringly at her before he stepped back and released her, letting go of her comforting touch. "See you soon."
She watched them leave, her gaze unwavering, full of worry. Then she got back to work. She had a colony to protect.
The first group involved about forty people. Jim and Mira were at the helm, tasked with supervising the base camp once they could take over from the recon team. Sienna was close behind, getting to know the youngest Shannon, Zoe. Josh and Maddy Shannon were also in attendance, along with Mark, Skye, Deborah, Tasha, and several other familiar faces.
Michael had watched the Shannons say goodbye to Elisabeth, who was staying behind with her patients until the last possible moment. He knew Jim would have the same worry for Elisabeth's safety as he did for Wash's. Luckily, he didn't let it affect his duty as he instructed the large convoy of people to line up in an orderly manner.
They were leaving via the West gate, avoiding all routes where the dinosaur had been seen. They had been given a total of five vehicles to carry the supplies and luggage and to also transport anyone who would struggle with the two hour walk.
The groups would be staggered throughout the day, leaving hourly. Their limited vehicles would return to the colony to escort the next group, and so on until everyone had made it out. It was agreed that this would be the safest method of evacuation.
Michael had requested to be in the first group, eager to get his son to safety. He would have volunteered to stay behind but he and Wash had agreed that one of them should stay with Will.
As he joined the large group, Michael gratefully handed Will over to Maddy who took the baby with delight.
"Thanks again, Maddy. I appreciate you taking care of him while I'm on duty."
"Of course!" Maddy beamed, giggling as Will playfully grabbed at her long hair. "It's what a godmother is for!"
"Don't go getting any ideas," Mark teased Maddy, packing up a Rhino behind her. "At least not until all this is over with. I'm fine with just being a godfather for now!"
Michael smiled. Early that morning, before the evacuation, he and Wash had called round Mark and Maddy's house to ask if they would be Will's godparents. It had been somewhat out of the blue, but as military parents, they both needed reassurance that their baby would be in good hands if anything were to happen to them. The newly wedded couple were touched and, thankfully, they accepted.
The idea had been funny to Michael when he'd first thought of it. A week or so ago, he and Mark despised each other; the idea of Mark being godparent to his son would have been laughable. But now, he couldn't think of anyone more perfectly suited. It took a load off of Michael's mind to know that while he was working, someone would always be looking out for Will.
He turned around to see Jim Shannon all the way at the front of the convoy, while Michael volunteered to guard the back of the group. He could barely hear Jim from all the way back here, but he could just about make out the use of his father's overused phrase:
"Roll out!"
He sniggered and rolled his eyes. Jim's stint at commanding the colony had caused him to become even more like his father.
He watched as the transport slowly rolled forwards, navigating carefully round the civilians. Michael followed everyone out of the gates, throwing a thumbs up at the guards once everyone had made it out. He took one last glimpse at the colony as the gates slammed shut, wondering what state it would be in when he returned. Then he turned back around to follow the group.
It wasn't so bad to start off with. It was a mild day, not too hot, though that didn't stop Michael overheating in his uniform. He was already reaching for his water bottle half an hour in.
As he took a swig of the refreshing liquid, he noticed Tasha walking alongside Deborah and felt an instant pang of guilt. Whenever he looked at her, he was reminded of his failed promise to her father. He hadn't spoken to her since she had attempted to shoot him several nights ago. He hadn't reported it either, though he probably should have. He didn't want to give Tasha any more reason to hate him. She needed someone to blame for what happened to her father; Michael understood that. He'd felt that anger, that uncontrollable grief. It had led him to doing some pretty unforgivable things too.
He found himself walking up beside them. "Ladies," he greeted.
Tasha ignored him. Deborah smiled.
"Hi, Michael."
"Nice day for a walk." He coughed awkwardly. "How are you, Tasha?"
Tasha frowned at him. "You don't have to do this."
"Do what?"
"Whatever it is you're doing." She looked over at him, her dark eyes still filled with that recognisable pain. "I'm sorry for what I did to you...what I almost did. It was wrong. But whenever I look at you, I just see my dad. I can't handle it."
Deborah put an arm around her. "Tasha, sweetheart. It wasn't Michael's fault. It was those terrible people."
"I know," Tasha snapped. "But I can't help it." She glanced back at Michael tearfully. "You were there when he...you watched him die. Then you left to work for the people who killed him. You just left." She shook Deborah off of her. "I can't forget that."
Michael watched as she stormed off to join her friends Max and Hunter a little ahead of them, feeling even worse about himself than he did before.
Deborah closed the gap between them. "She just needs time."
Michael smiled appreciatively at her. "Thanks, but she's right. I promised her dad I would make sure she was okay, but I abandoned her. I abandoned all of you."
"You had your own family to take care of," Deborah said softly. "That's understandable."
He looked over at her. "I appreciate you being so kind, but I really don't think I deserve it. You and Skye have been far too forgiving. Especially after what happened the day I left."
She shook her head. "I know you'd never hurt my daughter. You care about her just as much as I do. You took care of her when I couldn't. I'll always be grateful for that. Besides, I have a knack for seeing the good in people…" A look of sadness took over her features. "I heard about what happened to Tim. It's such a shame."
A wave of regret hit him at the mention of Curran's name. He saw flashes of the dino, tearing into him, tossing him aside. Those sharp teeth piercing his flesh. It made his stomach turn. He desperately tried to stop picturing it.
He looked over at Deborah. "He mentioned he visited you a lot."
"Yes," she smiled warmly. "I could tell he was struggling with something. He was in a lot of pain. He felt so terrible for what he did. I told him he could talk to me. For a while it seemed like I was the only one who would listen. He kept stopping by every now and then for tea and I guess it just became routine. I was happy to lend an ear when he needed it."
It comforted Michael to know that Curran hadn't been entirely alone this past year. It sounded like Deborah had been a good friend.
"You know," she continued, "I'm happy to lend an ear to you too if you're struggling. You and Tim seemed close."
He smiled at her. "Thank you. But I'm fine."
"Well, if you change your mind...I'll be in this crowd of people for the next hour or so," she laughed.
"What are you two talking about?" Skye asked nosily as she appeared in front of them.
"You know you're going the wrong way," Michael teased, spinning her around to walk the correct way.
She rolled her eyes. "I just came to check on you slow pokes. The folks I'm supervising are pretty boring." She turned her head to look over at her mother. "How are you doing, Mom? You can take a ride in one of the Rhinos if you're tired."
"I'm fine, sweetheart. My body's not what it used to be, but I'm getting stronger every day!" Skye looked relieved. Her mother looked back and forth between Skye and Michael. "I'll leave you kids to it," she said, smiling and walking on to leave the two alone together.
Skye glanced at Michael sympathetically. "I heard about Curran."
Michael's expression fell again. "Yeah." He just wanted to think about anything else. "He died saving us. He died a hero. I hope people remember him for that."
"We'll make sure of it," Skye said.
They walked in silence for a moment when Skye's body language suddenly became uncomfortable, her face pained, as if she had something she wanted to say but was having trouble saying it. Michael looked over at her with a confused smile.
"Everything okay?" he asked.
She let out a small, exasperated noise: "Ugh. Michael, I kissed Lucas."
He blinked, unsure if he had heard correctly. "What?"
"I was patching him up and it just happened."
Michael legitimately didn't know what to say. He was still trying to process what Skye was saying. He cleared his throat awkwardly.
Skye looked embarrassed. "It's okay, we don't have to talk about it. I just had to tell you. You're the only one who understands how I feel."
Michael shifted uncomfortably. Inwardly, he was relieved. He'd rather talk about Curran's death than this. But, still, he felt a little rude palming Skye off if she needed a friendly ear. "I mean, if it's something you want to talk about…"
"I hate him for what he's done," she blurted. "You know I hate him. But he started saying these things. Nice things. About me. I think he meant them."
He glanced at her, a deep concern in his eyes. "Skye. Please be careful."
She looked up at him.
"He's dangerous. He may be in love with you but he could still really hurt you. I don't trust him with you and you shouldn't trust him either."
"I don't," she argued. "But that night. He was different. You said yourself that you saw a different side to him?"
Michael sighed. He remembered telling Skye that, but it didn't change the fact that he was still unbalanced; a risk to them all. "I think it's going to be hard for him to let go of all this hate and anger he's been harbouring all these years. Trust me, I've been hoping and wishing he'd give all this up and come home for years, but it's not that easy. I have seen a change in him, though. Maybe he can still find a way back."
She gave him a hopeful smile. Then she looked down at her boots. "You said he was in love with me. Do you really think he's capable of that?"
He paused for a moment before replying. It was a good question. A year ago, he wondered the same thing, having witnessed Lucas' complete disregard for his own father and brother. But his feelings for Skye, even his feelings for his new nephew, he had demonstrated that he was capable of it, at least in his own complex way.
"Yeah," Michael said. "I think he is."
Crossing an open field, the Terra Novans had the mountain in their sight. They were close. Michael estimated another thirty minute trek before their arrival at the base camp, but even then they had a bit of a climb over rocky terrain before they reached it. They'd have to leave the vehicles at the bottom of the mountain and carry the supplies by hand. Everyone was exhausted, feeling the heat and strain of the long walk, but it would be worth it. Michael just wanted to make sure everyone was safe.
Guarding the back of the line with the stragglers, Michael paused when he heard a low noise, like thunder. He looked upwards, noting the clear skies. No, it wasn't the weather. It was something in the distance. He looked behind him, noticing a vehicle rolling towards him. Suspicious, he grabbed his sonic rifle.
"Michael?" Skye said nervously, turning around with her mother.
"Keep going, Skye."
Maddy also glanced back at the incoming vehicle, carrying Will in a home-made baby carrier. Mark touched her shoulder and told her to keep walking before he took up a place next to Michael.
As five more vehicles emerged behind the first one, Michael's suspicions began to increase.
"Those aren't ours," Mark muttered to him.
"Nope."
The large rover stopped in front of them, with the others pulling up behind. The corporals poised their weapons, prepared for a fight, when Hooper stepped out.
Michael pointed his weapon at him, when he noticed Lucas step out from the back seat. He looked at him with disappointment. Of course he had rejoined forces with the Phoenix Group. Lucas glanced at him, avoiding his judgemental gaze.
It was then Michael noticed Skye had appeared beside him, giving Lucas much the same expression. He told her to go back and join the convoy, but she refused. There was no point telling her to do anything, even if he did out-rank her now. So Michael turned his attention back to Hooper as a few armed soldiers joined him. He recognised a few of them from EdenCorp. Hooper had obviously managed to use the portal afterall.
"What do you want, Hooper?"
"Aren't you Terra Novans a little far from home?" he asked smugly.
Michael ignored him. "I said what do you want?"
Hooper smirked. "I've got new orders. Don't worry, it doesn't involve your people...yet."
"I'm guessing it involves that thing running around in the jungle?" Mark said.
Excitement flashed in the older man's eyes. "Yeah. And since you're evacuating the colony, I'm guessing it's nearby?"
"You're going on a suicide mission," Michael told him. "We learned the hard way, that thing can't be taken down that easily."
"Interesting. You fought it. When?"
Michael glanced at Mark. "Yesterday. A team of us tried to hunt it down. But we failed. It killed one of our men."
Hooper raised his brows with intrigue. "Well, as you can see, our new employer has provided us with all the supplies we need to take it down. All we need to know now is where it is."
The soldiers behind him immediately raised their rifles. The three Terra Novans did the same.
"You're coming with us, Corporal Taylor."
"Like hell he is," Mark spat.
"If you want to find it, it's your own funeral. I'll mark it on a map if that'll make you happy," said Michael, his gun still trained on Hooper.
Hooper shook his head. "I want you to show us exactly where you last saw it. It's too valuable to let it slip away."
"Find it yourself!" snapped Skye. "You'll run into it eventually."
Hooper sighed dramatically. "Fine. Well, since Terra Nova appears to be in its trajectory, maybe we should try there. I'm sure whoever hasn't evacuated would be happy for a demonstration of our new arsenal."
Glaring daggers at him, Michael lowered his weapon. He could picture Hooper attacking Terra Nova again, purely out of spite. He couldn't let that happen. There were plenty of people who hadn't evacuated, Wash included. He exhaled sharply.
"Fine. I'll go."
Mark stared at him. "What?"
"Michael, you can't!" Skye argued.
He handed his rifle to her. "Just make sure everyone gets to the camp okay. Keep them safe." He looked at Mark. "Take care of Will for me?"
Mark nodded, knowing there was no point in trying to talk him out of it.
Michael approached the vehicle, passing Lucas, who he shook his head at as he pulled himself into the back of the rover. Lucas frowned at him, then his eyes settled upon Skye who looked equally as discontent. With nothing he could say, he tore away his gaze and got back in the vehicle, just in time for Hooper to order them back towards the jungle.
