Let her go.

Julianna shook her head. "No, I don't think so."

Jayde, I'm sorry. The girl was still gagged but looked into the computer screen, she nodded once. Her light green eyes filling with anger over fear. Don't hurt her.

"That is up to you, Lucas."

What happened to you? Is some one making you do this? Did they hurt you?

For first time, Julianna's smug face faltered. "Yes... they did at first. But then I learned very quickly it was better to work with them. And they rewarded me very well."

So now you're their lacky?

Anger crossed her features again, she spoke through gritted teeth. "No, I work for them. And I need an answer Lucas."

Give me time to think... please Julianna.

She smiled slowly, "of course. But I think I need to encourage you some." She reached out and turned the screen to the side. Lucas could hear movement in the room and saw the reflection of light on a dirty wall. He heard a long groan followed by whimpering, a bloody knife was placed on the desk in front of his view. "Think about that, lover boy." He heard a shrill but muffled shriek before everything went dark.


"We have something!" Nick exclaimed suddenly. He turned to the captain, grinning wildly. "Julianna checked in to a small hotel a few blocks away. She used one of her aliases."

"Why would she do that? Are they hiding from some one?" Nathan asked. Nick looked back at him with worry. "I'll send a team there. They'll be able to handle anyone who is threatening them." The captain shook his head. "I just wish they had said something to us, we would have protected them."

"Sir..." Nick started slowly. "There's something you should know." He started to walk away from Tim's station and approached Nathan, looking shameful. "Julianna changed a lot in the last few months. Um, when the military guys took over, they... were very rough on her. I don't even know what all they did to her and... then it all changed. She got privileges no one else did. She was always talking to the guards like they were her friends. And she became cold to everyone else at the node, she was never like that before."

"Nick, do you think she is working with these people?" Nathan's eyes widened at the thought.

"I... I don't know. I can't imagine her hurting Lucas for anyone, but... so much changed." He held his face in his hands. "Oh god, I'm sorry, I should have warned you right away. I... I just thought maybe she was acting like that because she was scared. I was so stupid."

"You can't blame yourself for trusting a friend who was frightened, Nick. If it is her, we'll get her some help. Maybe she's just in over her head."

Nick nodded, "ok, but can I go with the team you send? I may be able to talk to her."

"Of course, we're leaving with in an hour."


"Any change?" Nathan asked, walking into the medbay.

Kristin slowly turned and shook her head. "His heart is getting weaker. I can hook him up to machines to keep him alive, but I don't know if I'll be able to wake him up when we get his consciousness back."

"We found them. And we're leaving soon to get them. He'll pull out of this, pretty soon he'll be arguing with you to leave his bed." Nathan smiled at her.

Kristin let out a shuddering breath in relief. "Do you know why they left?"

The captain nodded, "we think Julianna may have forced Jayde from the ship."

"Julianna? Why on earth would she do that?"

Nathan sighed heavily, "Nick thinks it's because of what the people who took over did to her. She couldn't resist them and started working with them." He cleared his throat, "I know you probably need to say with Lucas but I thought I'd give you the opportunity to come with me and the strike team."

She bit her lip and furrowed her brow, "I can't leave Lucas like this... but... a strike team? You need to be careful Nathan."

Nathan smoothed a piece of hair from her eyes. "I will, I'm hoping she's just looking for a way out."

"Even if she is, even if she's just terrified, be careful. Some one in a situation like this will act like a wounded animal. She'll lash out at whomever is around."

"I'll keep Jayde safe, Kristin."

"And what about you Nathan Bridger? Who will keep you safe?" Kristin crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes flaring in frustration.

Nathan warped his arms around her gently, being careful of her cast. "If my chief medical officers orders me to be safe, I have to obey."

"Fine, come home in one piece, no new holes... doctor's orders." She laid her head on his chest and repeated, "doctor's orders."

The captain softly kissed the crown of her head, "yes, ma'am."


Jayde! Jadye! Damn it! Lucas screamed in his mind. He couldn't do anything. All of his habits he used to calm frustrations and buy time had been stripped away. He couldn't run a hand through his hair, he couldn't crack his knuckles, couldn't even yell properly. He could feel his mind starting to break down. What am I going to do? He asked himself. Something caught his attention to the side of this prison, it was the code for the music Jayde had downloaded. With everything that had happened, he forgot it was there. He touched a song and closed his eyes when the music flooded over him. He was soon lost in the sounds and felt himself start to calm. He knew what he had to do.

About a hundred songs later, light came on again. Lucas blinked slowly before looking out the screen at Julianna. "Well?"

I'll help you. But I need to see if Jayde is ok first, and I want you to let her go.

"I can't do that Lucas, you're too self sacrificing. The minute she's gone, you'll fight us."

So sorry I care about my friends!

"I'm taking that as sarcasum, you'll want to stop that when you meet my boss... he doesn't respond well to smart asses." Her face darkened as she spoke.

We can protect you from him. Captain Bridger...

"No," She interrupted him. "I don't want to hear it. I'm not some tragic villain, Lucas. It may have taken some convincing to get me where I am, but I'm happy here."

You don't seem happy.

"Because you keep arguing with me!" She yelled.

I'm negotiating.

"Fine!" She spat. "You want to see your new heart's desire? I'll get her, but you may not like what you see." Julianna left the view of the screen and stormed to the side of the room. When she came back, she was pushing a chair holding Jayde. The girl's head rolled with the movement of the chair. Her shirt was soaked in blood and Lucas could see a long deep cut on her upper arm. There were bruises starting on her pale face.

You killed her!

In response to his accusation, Julianna slapped her, causing Jayde to jerk her head up and blink. She tried to focus on the screen in front of her. "See? She's fine."

I want to talk to her, take the gag out.

With a frustrated groan, Julianna untied the towel. Jayde worked her jaw slowly.

Are you ok?

"Yeah... mostly." She grimaced at the long wound winding from her shoulder to elbow. "Hurts like a bitch though."

I'm going to do what they want.

"Lucas, no..."

I have to... I can't watch you get hurt. I don't know how long it will take, I may be gone for while. But I will be back.

She swallowed, "ok." She blinked a few times and seemed to be having a hard time keeping her eyes open. "Hurry up, I think I lost to much blood."

I'll make them get you help. Jayde nodded slowly before resting her chin on her chest. Her breathing was slow and steady but Lucas could see blood seeping from her arm still. You need to treat her.

"After you help us." Julianna held up the towel, taunting him. "Until then, she bleeds."

I need the account numbers.

Julianna held up a flash drive and clicked it into place. Next, she plugged in a modem. "I want to see where you are going on the screen at all times. Don't forget how screwed you are. Try anything..." she trailed off while pointing to Jayde with her thumb.

I understand. Julianna tapped the button on the modem, and Lucas was inundated with information. He struggled to make sense of the code for a moment before finding the right data stream. He was propelled along until he reached the fire walls at the World Bank. Here we go.


Chef Shan returned to the uniformed group watching the hotel. "The clerk recognized Julianna's picture. First floor, corner room. Says no one has been in or out since she checked in."

"Cap," Crocker started as soon as Shan finished speaking, "I'm not really sure how all of this works, but should we cut the 'nex line? She took Lucas for a reason, if she's making him hack, we can stop that. There's no way she'll blame him for not having a connection."

Nathan considered for a few seconds. "I agree, do it." He ordered. Shan ran back to the hotel office to do so.