O four hundred, Taylor was pulled from sleep again, automatically reaching for her warm body. She was fast asleep, rolled away from him on her side. Fumbling for his comm, he responded, "Taylor," his tone gruff and laden with sleep.
"Sir, sorry to wake you," Corporal Reilly had night watch. "Outpost ten has missed two check in's."
"Has outpost seven checked in?"
"No, but it's manned by Drake and Johnson, so they both might be asleep. With only two, they're not required to man all hours."
"True, but they're supposed to answer, like I did." Fully awake now, he was more coherent, "I'll be right there." Slipping from under the warm comforter, quietly he dressed in the dark. Unable to leave without word, he leaned over to kiss the side of her head, "Have to go to work, Babe. Call me when you wake."
"Wash your beard," she mumbled back.
"Rather not, but guess I will," he went to the bathroom and closed the door.
A tired looking Reilly handed him a cup of coffee as he entered the Command Center and accepted with a grateful nod.
"Outpost five is investigating. I sent Reynolds on a motorcycle." Reynolds was on a two week rotation to the outposts.
"When did he leave?" Sitting behind his desk, he sipped the bitter brew.
"Just before you came in. How's Wash doing?" She changed the subject. They had a couple hours before Reynolds would reach the next outpost.
"Doc says today. Either she goes into labor on her own or it gets taken." He checked his watch for the date. "Are we going to establish a date for our time. No use keeping future timelines. I'm thinking of making the year I came year zerro." He grabbed his plexpad, "Malcolm send me the rotation and days to make a year again." Pressing send, Malcolm would read it with his morning mail.
"Your baby would be born July tenth, year seven," Reilly liked it.
"This timeframe rotates faster than the future, so Malcolm will adjust the days. I bet we add a leap year every year or just drop the 29th of February all together." Getting up, he got a refill, noticing a slight pink to the east. Wash would be waking soon. He didn't like her being alone; besides she promised him one last go at her pregnant body. He knew she needed sex more than him during this pregnancy. Elizabeth had told her some women had voracious appetites while pregnant and his wife's sexual hormones were definitely elevated according to the doctor's readings.
Setting the second empty cup by the coffee machine, he stated, "Time to see if anyone's checked in yet." They went together to the communications center.
Dunham stiffened at the entrance of his superiors.
"At ease soldier, anything?" Taylor ordered.
"No Sir. I've kept trying. Sargent Reynolds checks in regularly on half hour intervals," he stopped talking as his Commander's comm signaled.
Looking at the signature, he answered, "You up?"
"You wimped out, too much sex lately?" She teased.
Even though he had his comm on private, he felt his ears turn red and quickly changed the subject, "How do you feel this morning?"
"Glad today is the day." She had gotten used to his physical presence and missed his morning warmth, "You shave?"
He smiled, "No, forgot how."
Reilly wandered what they were talking about with his short one liner's. He had the privacy tone set. She heard him say next, "In a few days," then "Okay," then "Need help?"
A blast on the communications panel and Taylor's private conversation was forgotten, but she heard behind her, "Hold on, Wash."
"Say again, Reynolds?" Reilly reached over Dunham.
"I'm hightailing back to the outpost. Topped a hill and the Phoenix army is on the move. Looks like back to Terra Nova."
"Wash I have to go," he broke the connection. "Sound the warning. Call all troops to prepare for invaders. Clear out the outpost from five to here; bring the troops home Reilly." He left at a dead run to the Command Center, as warning sirens blared throughout the colony.
Josh Shannon came out of a sound sleep, feet hitting the floor and registered the siren before his brain came fully awake, as he headed to his parent's bedroom. Throwing the door open without knocking, he called, "Dad, the Phoenix are coming." He saw his father was already half-dressed and mom holding the covers over her bare breast, and ran to get dressed. Meeting his father in the kitchen, he exclaimed, "That warning sounded when we got invaded. I heard from Boylan that it's the warning siren for war." He watched his dad grab armor from the hook inside the door and buckle on his pistol. Together they raced to the Command Center.
A crowd was already gathering at the bottom of the steps. "Stay here," Jim instructed Josh and took the stairs two at a time. He was one of the first to arrive and spotted Reilly and Taylor looking at the screens to the side of the room. That was at one time Wash's duty. Wash, Elizabeth told him last night today the baby would come one way or the other. He didn't want to worry Taylor by asking and disturb his planning so instead asked, "What's going on?"
Taylor fired him a glance, "We're going to have visitors. Reynolds saw the Phoenix headed this way."
Officer's started filtering in. Within twenty minutes the room was packed. Malcolm pushed to stand by Jim and spoke only to him, "I heard they're coming back?" He wanted confirmation.
Jim nodded, "Reynolds saw them headed this way."
Taylor called for order, "Sargent Reynolds just checked in again. He's doing recon, just keeping ahead of the advancing army and out of sight. Let's all hope his luck holds," he saw Jim nod. "We'll know the trajectory by outpost three." He outlined the plan while Wash slipped unnoticed through the door and stood at the back of the room, her side holster looped over a shoulder. Finishing, he saw her when her looked his troops over and ordered, "Dismissed," and made a beeline to her side followed by Malcolm and Shannon. Taking her hand and giving it a squeeze he wanted to know, "How much did you hear?"
"Enough."
Leading her out, he stopped in his usual place to address the now huge crowd, flanked by his wife, Malcolm and Shannon. "We believe the Phoenix are headed this way with their entire army. The last check in confirmed Mira and her people are with them. Get the clinic prepared for wounded," he searched the crowd until he saw Elizabeth with her three children. She nodded back. "Prepare your families. We don't know how bad it will get, but we've seen what they are capable of. Our soldiers will do their best to protect us. Go home and get the kids safe." He escorted his wife back inside.
"Wash, we need to deliver," Nathaniel pulled her close, hand automatically covering hers as it rested lightly against their baby.
"I brought food," Elizabeth entered a couple minutes later with a woven basket covered with a cloth. "Ansel just pulled the first batch from his oven," reminding them breakfast hadn't entered the equation. Sitting around the dinosaur desk, four hands reached for apple cinnamon muffins after Taylor and Jim brought cups of coffee.
"How long will it take to C this baby, Doc?" Taylor wanted one less worry.
"We can do it now; takes about fifteen minutes," she looked at Alicia, who was slowly chewing a mouthful of muffin. "Well?"
She shrugged, "I think that's a good idea." Taking another bite, she confessed, "I woke up with labor pains."
"What?" Three people shouted at once.
"We haven't exactly had time for a baby. I've been timing the contractions and my water hasn't broke," she took another bite.
"How far apart?" Dr. Shannon felt she should have known. This was not a woman to seek attention to herself, definitely not a squeaky wheel.
"I've had four contractions….and" looking down, she frowned, "either my bladder has failed or we have a dam break."
Both men looked through the glass, while Elizabeth looked at the puddle spreading under Wash's chair.
"Are you in pain?" Elizabeth couldn't believe the calmness.
"Not much, the first contraction brought me out of bed. I forgot I was alone until it passed and then I remembered Nathaniel had more pressing matters."
"Why didn't you tell me when you called?" Her husband demanded.
"You wouldn't have left me if your situation wasn't more important."
"You listen to me. Nothing, and I mean nothing is more important to me than you. Got it?"
Finishing the muffin and washing it down with the last of her coffee, she looked to where the doctor was glaring and shaking her head, "I'm ready to give Nathaniel one less problem now?" She struggled to stand as her husband was already by her side.
He lifted her out of the chair as Reilly once again rushed in, "Sir, oh, oh," as she saw Wash dripping fluid, "I have an update, but it can wait."
"Walk and talk, Reilly," Taylor ordered and Reilly saw he was mainly focused on his wife. Wash supported by her husband on one side and the doctor holding her other arm.
"Reynolds checked in again. Outpost three is almost back and one just arrived. Still no word from seven or ten."
"How far out is Reynolds?"
"About thirty clicks and he's staying a couple ahead of the enemy, Sir."
"Too close," he snarled. At the bottom of the steps everyone stopped. They could see the turmoil as the Commander was torn, indecision played across his features.
"Go with Reilly, Nathaniel," Alicia reached up to stroke the side of his face and neck, her other hand permanently attached to their baby. "Come by when you get time and meet your son," she pulled him in for a kiss.
He gave reluctant nod of acceptance. Once again her wisdom prevailed. His talents were needed elsewhere, "The next kid, I'll be present and accounted for, I promise." He hurried off with Reilly and Shannon in tow.
With no distractions, Elizabeth hurried to deliver and took this time to anesthetize Wash. She wanted a closer look at her uterus and remove non-dissolved tissue if possible.
"It's a girl," Nurse Ogawa exclaimed. The only person who knew and locked the records was the doctor. She smiled as she handed the baby over for cleanup, returning back to her exam.
Malcolm rushed in hearing the verdict, smiled. "Need assistance, Elizabeth?"
"Look at the scar from the inside," he grabbed a mask and held it over his nose and mouth.
"I think I can remove half a millimeter in these three areas," she started shaving with the laser. "Get a syringe of solvent, would you please." He complied and was instructed where to inject. Within minutes Wash was closed and reversal injected bringing her awake.
An hour later.
"Open the gate." The Commander ordered when he saw the solo headlight closing the distance fast. Once again the gate lifted as a sole motorcycle zipped in. "Report, Sargent."
A weary Mark Reynolds responded. "Sir, I turned them over to our scouts." He looked around, looking for the now familiar attachment to the Commander's side in an emergency. "Where's Mr. Shannon?"
"He's with Alpha troop, continue."
"They didn't veer this way. Made tracks to the portal."
"Get some food, soldier and then bring my rover. You're with me."
"Yes Sir," Mark hurried to the mess.
Nathaniel looked his army over, most were heavily armed near the front gate and he knew Wash had them positioned such the year prior. Taylor himself manned the colony for now. Soon it would be turned over to Reilly and he would join his army when the fighting began. He instructed her, if things went badly for them again, not to resist.
His comm buzzed, "Taylor."
"Can you come to the clinic, Commander?" The quirky voice of Malcolm Wallace forced his wife back to the front of his thoughts.
Looking around, he decided he could take a minute, "On my way." Malcolm's tone held mirth and was relaxed, hopefully good news, mom and baby were okay.
Pausing to watch his wife hold their baby while she chatted with a smiling Dr. Shannon and Malcolm, Taylor filed the precious memory close to his heart. They stopped talking when he walked swiftly to his wife's side. Pulling the blanket aside, he looked at his red faced baby. Wash indicated with her hand he should take it. Carefully scooping the tiny thing into his large hands, he studied the looks. "Looks like you Wash, that's good," he grinned widely when the baby opened its large ebony eyes. "I hope it's a girl or its going to have a tough life looking so beautiful."
"She is, and you'll have to wait until I've recovered to collect," Wash was delighted herself. The baby in her dream was a blue eyed boy. Doc was right, she was overdosed on hormones.
"I could stay here all day, but the Phoenix are close," his eyes never wavered from his baby. "Malcolm, what's the state of the portal?"
"As far as I know, human or beast hasn't touched the thing," Malcolm was fascinated by Taylor's expression. Never once did he look up, just kept staring at his daughter.
"What do you think they are after?" He shifted his new daughter to the crook of his left arm, right hand pushing the blanket aside so he could check her out, starting with her toes.
"I can guess. Maybe they found something in the badlands to make the portal work." He found himself counting toes along with the father and then fingers.
Finally, Taylor looked up and at his very amused wife, "I don't have to lift the diaper? You sure it's a girl?"
"I diapered her myself," her arms for their baby back.
"I need to go," he snagged her free hand, "OTG. I need to be there for our troops."
"I know, but don't like it. Come back to us," with a pull to his hand, he leaned into her kiss; keeping his mouth on hers and letting lips and an occasional tongue complete their conversation. Looking up, they were alone.
"Love you," he rumbled and stalked out.
He worked along his line of troops to where Shannon had an unobstructed view of the portal. The same spot Taylor noted he and Jim's wife watched Malcolm work almost one year before. He whispered to the troops as he and Reynolds passed, "I have a daughter." His announcement drew high fives and thumbs in the air and he smiled at everyone.
Settling in, he took Shannon's glasses and viewed Lucas building an attachment and hooking it to the open control box that Malcolm had blown. Without moving or making a sound, Taylor's army watched. Night was settling in when the portal sparked blue. Lucas was seen holding the strange effervescent box, now shining blue in the glow of the slipstream. With a nod to General Hooper, as Jim Shannon pointed him out, they watched Lucas Taylor take a step towards the mist. Even Jim Shannon was looking at Lucas and jumped with surprise as a lone rifle next to him spoke. The force took Lucas off his feet and he was dead before his body sank to the ground, one step from the future. All hell broke loose as both armies exchanged fire. Shannon saw Phoenix soldiers rush the portal along with Mira and her sixers. Some made it through, many died. Within minutes it was over.
Cautiously, the Commander and men circled the vehicles, looking for survivors. Two Phoenix men were pulled from under a tank and escorted to the portal where Taylor allowed them to leave. Mira was noplace to be found, but Shannon thought he saw her jump in the confusion. Taylor knelt by his son, tears running freely. "Throw the bodies of the dead through the portal. Let them bury their dead. Bring my son. I'll take care of him." He shut the portal down.
"We'll bring Malcolm back tomorrow to have a look at how Lucas got it going," Taylor ordered guards posted. Taking his captured bounty of vehicles and all the armament, he led a large procession home. Sitting beside Shannon, he acted much like when they thought Wash had been killed. Jim wisely gave him space and watched him, without a word head in the direction of the clinic the moment the vehicle stopped.
Slipping into the clinic just after midnight, lights dimmed to a soft glimmer, he pulled a chair to the side of his sleeping wife's bed. She looked so peaceful and didn't show signs of her nightly nightmare, as her brow was dry minus caked on damp strands. The baby was in a white plastic oval infant crib, thumb in her mouth. He rolled the infant to him. Carefully, he took his baby and held her, tears running again.
Wash woke to the sound of crying, looking into the dimness, "Nathaniel, what happened?"
"I killed my son. I couldn't let him come back and hurt you and our daughter." he sniffed trying to stop.
A pair of arms circled them both as his wife joined him. "Take us home, Nathaniel. I can walk. This is no place for this. I need to hold you in our bed. We belong home, not here," she kept talking until he nodded in agreement.
Jim Shannon was on the balcony, leaning over the rail. He felt for his friend and couldn't imagine having to kill a child, no matter what it did. Taylor could have asked and he would have spared him. He watched the soldiers strip the conquered vehicles, working under nightlights. Son's. Taylor had once commented on them when Josh had gotten into trouble. He watched as the Commander walked under the balcony, one arm around his wife's shoulder and a baby in the crook of his other arm. Not looking up or stopping, they made their way home. The soldiers gave them a wide birth, knowing he had killed his son.
"Promise me, Wash," holding her tightly against his chest, he pleaded, "Kathryn Alicia will never know I killed her brother on her birthday."
"She will in time learn. By tomorrow, news will have reached everyone."
"Then we have to teach her why I did it. I want her to bring all her problems to us and not be afraid. I screwed up with Lucas and didn't even know it. I'm going to need your help, so never leave me," he kissed the top of her head.
"Lots of love. No matter what they do, they need to know they are loved."
"They?"
"Oh yeah, I loved being that horny for so long."
The End