As Desmond woke, the memory of the horrible dream lingered with crystal clarity.
Tunguska.
A word that meant nothing to him up until the last couple of days now seemed to be casting a dark shadow over his mind.
But there was also a silence here that was not right. The others were supposed to be back. It did not feel like the sanctuary was occupied by five.
Desmond rolled over to see Rebecca. She was typing at her computer. No one else was visible.
"Rebecca..." he said. She jolted. Then she looked at him. There were bags under her eyes. She brushed a lock of hair aside. "The others...?"
"Desmond...They never came back last night."
"Are they...dead?" The word was almost hard to say.
"I don't know, Dez. I don't know. I've been trying to locate them. I -"
Desmond sat up.
"I'm up. Can I help you find them?"
"No, Desmond. It's not that simple. Besides, your work here is too important. Why don't you...just have breakfast and get back in the animus. We'll put you back on Élise."
"Are you sure?"
"I don't even know where they are right now. We can't mount a rescue even if they're alive. Not yet."