Sorry to keep you waiting for this update. I promise I'll try my best not to do that to you all again ;)

Chapter 19

"As you are already aware," Yelena Bishop began, "the office of the World Council approached us when they learnt of the medical research we were conducting using nanotechnology."

Her husband continued. "We were looking into its use in helping repair internal injuries without the need for invasive surgery."

Yelena nodded. "We also looked at its use regarding DNA restructuring."

"I thought that was illegal?" Blue interrupted, surprised that not only were the doctors able to get away with conducting this type of research, but that the World Council seemed to be encouraging it.

"It was understood that our work was only for medical advancement Captain, besides there was a time where our work was halted; I won't bore you with the details...besides we don't have time," Raymond explained briefly

"Our medical research was not designed to hurt people Captain," Yelena added, her voice low.

"And yet..." Blue snapped, gesturing to his injured friend

"Building weapons was not our initial intention. But the research we were conducting is very important and it was the only way we were allowed to continue," Yelena answered back, her voice tight. Clearly she did not like what the blonde Captain was implying.

"We built a failsafe into our nanotech which meant that it would automatically self destruct if someone tried to use it for something other than what it was designed for," she added.

"So why did the failsafe not work this time?" Blue asked. He was still angry and Yelena Bishop couldn't blame him for feeling that way, but this time when he spoke his tone was more neutral.

"It did," Raymond Bishop shot back, defensively. "The nanotech we were working on for the World council was designed to target and destroy Mysteron DNA, not human."

"How could you be sure that was the case?" White asked curiously.

"Because we tested it," Raymond replied tersely.

"What!" Blue gasped. "You used human guinea pigs?"

Scarlet tensed. Whether it was from pain or Blue's comment no one could be sure.

"Of course not," Bishop snapped back.

"Then how?"

"I tested it on myself," Yelena Bishop said, her voice barely more than a whisper.

The others in the room were shocked by her revelation; all except her husband anyway. Even Scarlet seemed to appear pained by her words.

"Just as with Captain Blue, the nanotech remained dormant and was absorbed back into my system. No harm done."

"Okay, so you already knew what you were using was safe in regards to human DNA" Gold said "But what I was wondering was where you got the Mysteron DNA from?" a murmur from Captain Blue showed that he too, wanted to know.

Both Doctor's Bishop looked over at Colonel White. When Gold and Blue followed their gaze and too looked over at their commanding officer; despite looking composed, they saw that he had visibly paled.

"Because I gave it to them" he said bluntly.

"But the closest thing to Mysteron DNA that we have..." Gold's words trailed off as the enormity of the situation sank in.

"Are you saying that you gave them Paul's DNA?" Blue asked shakily as he understood what Gold was implying.

"That's correct Captain," White replied somewhat coldly.

"I can't believe this...you betrayed him by allowing this..."

"That's enough Captain," White commanded.

"Adam..." Blue looked like he was about to continue, but the sound of Scarlet's voice stopped him.

"I understand you're angry Captain. But I assure you that at the time the request was sent to me, I was unaware of the reason for it. Or what the sample was going to be used for."

"If we had know what it was we were given, or knew of Paul's circumstances, I promise you we would have done everything we could to protect him," Yelena said trying to lessen the tension between Captain Blue and his commanding officer. Yet as she spoke, her voice was barely more than a whisper, and filled with emotion. Tears began to fill her eyes and she quickly fled the room.

"Excuse me," Raymond Bishop anxiously rushed out of the room in pursuit of his wife.

Yelena Bishop's reaction had confused Colonel White, so too had her obvious familiarity with Scarlet. When he looked over to his officers, White saw a similar expression on Blue's face; Doctor Gold on the other hand did not seem to share their confusion.

"What's going on Mason?" White asked, his voice taking on its usual authoritative tone.

"I think Colonel, that if Scarlet is feeling up to it, you should ask him." With that Doctor Gold excused himself and left the room, returning to his office. Both Blue and White looked down at Scarlet. Even though his eyes were closed, he wasn't sleeping.

"Scarlet?" The Colonel finally spoke. Scarlet's eyes opened and focused on his commanding officer "Do you know what that was all about?"

It felt like every time he looked at Scarlet, the man was looking weaker and weaker. But under the present circumstances he was sure that it wasn't just his imagination. His most valuable officer and his friend was slipping away from them; knowing that he was part of the reason made the guilt White was feeling even worse.

"You know her, don't you Paul?" Blue asked his friend. Scarlet gave a slight nod of his head in response to the question.

"Wait," Blue said as the realisation hit, "was she the one you told me about...the one from your training days?" Scarlet gave another nod as he closed his eyes. It was clear that that was all the injured Captain could manage in his weakened state.

"White looked down at Scarlet then up at Blue. He was about to speak when the younger man held a hand up, indicating for his commanding officer not to say anything.

"You get some rest okay Paul. Destiny said she'd call in when she gets off duty."

"Destiny..." Scarlet muttered quietly to himself as he appeared to fall asleep, although under the circumstances, Blue was certain it was more likely that the pain meds had made him pass out.

Blue indicated to the door, leading both men out of the room before he spoke again. "Sorry about that Colonel."

"Under the circumstances there's no need for you to apologise Adam. Do you know what that was about?"

Blue shrugged his good shoulder "Kind of Sir. Paul told me once about this biologist he was seeing back when he was in the academy."

"Yelena Bishop," White murmured in understanding.

"I believe so Sir," Blue paused and looked down at his feet, unsure if continuing was such a good idea. He really didn't want to divulge too much information about his friend's private life; especially in light of new developments.

"Look Adam, I had no idea what Scarlet's DNA sample was needed for. Believe me if I had known it was being used for something that could do this..."

"It's okay Colonel, I understand. Paul would too," Blue responded cutting off White's words "You were following orders; I'd have probably done the same."

"Just because it was an order, it doesn't make it right," White said his voice low. Blue was surprised by the Colonel's words; he had never heard him sound so unsure about his actions before.

"Sir, we all know the risks we take doing this job and fighting an enemy like the Mysterons, it just creates more risks because we never know what they're going to do next."

White was surprised by the conviction in the younger mans eyes as he spoke.

"The Mysteron threat," Blue continued "doesn't just effect us...It effects the whole population of the planet."

"And Scarlet is our best weapon against them to protect Earth," White interjected.

Blue gave a nod "Perhaps. But as much as I hate to say it Colonel, what if this is the only way he can save everyone."

White hated to admit it, but Blue was right. Could he really justify not sacrificing the life of one man in order to save billions?

"Are you implying that we don't try to save Scarlet?" White asked. The look of regret that came over the Captain's face had already told the Colonel what Blue thought before his answer even left his lips.

"Honestly Sir, you know I would do anything I could to save Paul...but if they are able to find a way to save him..."

"There is nothing to stop the Mysteron's finding out and making the weapon useless."

Blue nodded.

"When I was injured during that mission in Ragnarok, Paul tried to help me first. I made him leave me so he could stop them...I was willing to sacrifice myself so that the world could be saved. I know Paul would willingly do the same thing."

"And he has many times...sacrificed himself to save the lives of others," White said.

"Only his time, he won't come back from it," Blue added solemnly as his gaze diverting to a spot on the floor. It was obvious how painful all this was for him.

Gently, White placed a hand on Blue's good shoulder, trying to comfort the younger man.

"I will still allow the Bishop's to work on finding a way to save him Adam, but if there is any trace of interference by the Mysteron's..." The rest went unsaid but Blue knew what White meant.

That he would rather destroy their work and sacrifice Scarlet then let the Mysteron's get their hands on any of it.

"I need to get back to Central Command, and you need to get some rest."

"SIG," Blue sighed reluctantly.

White remained where he was as he watched Captain Blue leaving the medical bay. As much as White had no doubt that Blue had meant his words in regards to making sacrifices for the greater good, it was clear that the actual action itself was not so easy to swallow. Perhaps Blue, like everyone else on Skybase had become so accustomed to Scarlet surviving, that thought of him not meant that the reality of it was all the more difficult to face.

'I just hope that the history between Scarlet and Doctor Bishop doesn't interfere with all of this,' White thought to himself as he left the medical bay and returned to his desk.

Yelena Bishop fled the medical bay and entered the quarters that they had been assigned since coming to Skybase. As soon as the doors into the room closed behind her, she dropped to the floor- her legs no longer able to hold her. She had tried so hard to fight the emotions she had been feeling since she had arrived at the Spectrum base. When her husband had told her that the explosion in their lab had resulted in their nanotechnology slowly killing a member of Spectrum, Yelena had found it hard to believe. As she had told everyone in that room, she had tested the technology on herself and had experienced no issues with it. However, once White had told them about Scarlet's unique situation, it had made the possibility all the more real.

But once she had walked into his room and found out that Captain Scarlet was Paul Metcalfe...she struggled to deal with the emotions that were threatening to overwhelm her. Even now, she had no idea how she had managed to explain to the Spectrum officers the reason for their research before she had to get out of there. The only reason why she hadn't fled the room sooner was because the shock of seeing him had her rooted to the spot. But knowing that the DNA they had used to develop the weapon belonged to the man that it was now killing, the guilt had become too much for her to handle and she felt like the walls of the room were closing in. She had to get out of there.

But what made the guilt worse, was that the man she had wanted to marry all those years ago was the man that her life's work was responsible for hurting. The man who she had struggled so hard to get over - had thought she had gotten over. Yet seeing him again had brought all the old feelings flooding back. As her legs buckled underneath her, tears filled her eyes and streamed down her face. She only wanted to help people, not hurt them.

Especially not him,

Suddenly the doors hissed open, and her husband rushed into the room. "Lena, are you okay?" he asked as he dropped down to floor beside her and wrapped his arms around her.

"I don't know," she sobbed, as tears continued to fall.

"What is it darling?" he asked tenderly. Yelena shook her head, indicating that she wasn't ready to talk about it. That was when everything clicked into place for her husband.

"That's him, isn't it?" he asked her, his voice more demanding than tender now. Reluctantly, Yelena nodded her head, as more tears fell down her face.

"I should kill him myself for what he did to you..." he raged as he got to his feet and moved back towards the door.

"Raymond, please," Yelena pleaded as she too got to her feet and grabbed her husband by the arm. "It's not what you think..."

"He abandoned you..."

Yelena shook her head. "He wasn't the one who left...I was," she confessed, unable to look her husband in the eye. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but I was ashamed, and..." tears once again began to fall.

"You know I would have understood if you had told me the truth. I love you Yelena, you mean everything to me."

"I know," She sobbed.

"So he doesn't know about..."

"...I never told him." She admitted cutting him off; her shame evident on her features.

"Okay," Raymond nodded in understanding. "We'll help find a way to help Scarlet and then deal with this later. Do you think you can you manage that?"

Yelena nodded. "What are we going to say if they ask why I ran out of the room?" she asked in a small voice.

"We'll just tell them you got a little overwhelmed that an old friend was hurt. Does that sound okay?" Again, Yelena nodded.

"We'll get through this," he reassured her as he guided her over to the bed and sat her down. Taking a seat next to her, he again wrapped his arms around her and held her until the tears had stopped.

Yet despite his wife's confession, hatred still flowed through Raymond Bishop. He knew that going back out there and helping to save the life of the man that had caused his wife so much pain, was going to be one of the most difficult things he had ever had to do.