She sighed. Now she has a lot to do and she should do it in the right order. Find the cure. Save her. And then find out what the Satedan really thinks about her. After all she will have to do it should be a piece of cake. Just some little voice inside her head was telling her it wouldn't.

Chapter 9

Eleven days. It took her long eleven days to get so close to the solution and now it didn't work. She put her head into her hands and sighed. The formula was right, she was sure of that. But it didn't work. And worse, she had no idea why. She really didn't want to start from the beginning. Not again.

She left the lab that was available to her. She must have admitted that the place was fully equipped and she had everything she needed for her work. Although this particular job had more in common with chemistry than her specialization, she tried her best and made a progress quite soon.

But now she was exhausted and angry at the whole world. The stupid amateurs developed by chance one of the most dangerous viruses she has ever seen. She didn't want to believe that two so thumby and slow men were able to do it. It was a mystery to her. But now she was the one who should solve it, although she evidently wasn't the right person for that.

While she was lost in the pessimistic thoughts, she was heading to a little room she was sleeping in. She was grateful that she had some private place, cause she was getting mad of the situation. She had no problems with Lens and his friends but the fact that she wasn't able to solve it yet didn't improve her position. And of course, there were another symptoms that started to show up. One of them was dying and she felt totally helpless.

One of them, she sighed. She started to consider herself to be one of them. Some way she understood why that all happened and you always develop some kind of relationship to people you get together through something like this with. She was thinking of Atlantis and her friends often, but now it seemed to be too long time ago.

She lied on the bed and closed her eyes. She was sleepy but not sure if she wants to fall asleep. The nightmares were back since the night she spent with Lens in the forest. And they came regularly every night, like the uninvited guest and she had no possibility to protect her. That night at the fire something was haunting her again. As she found out later, Lens had very similar dream and looked as desperate as her.

They left the place very early that morning. Lens stopped talking and Jennifer just appreciated that. She didn't know what she should say. She followed him silently, still wondering if the soldiers really let her go so easily. But no one was around; at least she didn't notice anything.

After few hours Lens suddenly stopped and started to look around. Jennifer didn't see anything different but after a few minutes she heard some noise behind the trees and then saw an older man coming to them.

„Finally," he said, while he was looking at her. „I was afraid you wouldn't come." Lens didn't say anything, just shrugged.

„Ok," the other man said. „We should hurry." He took something out of his backpack and gave it to Jennifer. It was a small bottle with some clear liquid inside. She took it carefully and looked at the man.

„Drink it," he said.

„What is it?" she asked. She wondered why he supposed that she would drink something without at least asking about it.

„You will fall asleep," he answered. „I am really not going to show you where are we going and how we will leave."

She glanced at Lens, but he didn't look to be interested in the conversation.

„What if you told me what is in," she said.

„You will sleep after that, that's what you need to know. Or should I strike you against your head? That would work too." He didn't show any emotion, it was just a statement of fact. She hesitated for a while but then she drank.

--

It really worked. She didn't know how she got to the place she was right now. Later she found out that they left in some little aircraft and is still on the same planet, but it was probably thousand miles from the Theroan village. Fortunately she had no time to spend thinking about it and she was persuaded it was better. She must have focused on the job she had here.

The days were running and she had problems to realize when one day ends and the other begins. She was working till the late night and then tried to sleep; sometimes she just fell asleep to wake up after a few minutes cause of the nightmares. She cursed her current companions in that time but she was ready to help them and save them all.

It was the fifth day when she finally started to understand what she should do. The two scientists were still around her and tried to help her with the basics but they weren't very useful. She felt much better that she made the progress and forgot about time completely. That time Lens came to the lab to remind her that it's morning already.

„Hi," she smiled tiredly. „What's going on?" She hadn't seen him since the day they came.

„It's almost 6 am, doctor. You should keep working after you have some sleep." She looked at him, surprised.

„Why are you interested?" she asked. The whole moment was weird. But although she talked much more to the others here, she still felt that Lens is different. He wasn't like the others here.

„I don't wanna you to make some stupid mistake," he said. „It's too important and the two already screwed up all they could."

Jennifer nodded. „Ok, I will try to rest."

Lens cleared his throat. „I wanted to talk to you about the dreams," he said after a moment of hesitation. „It seems that we have the same kind of nightmares."

„I know," she sighed. „Did something happen?"

„Yes. I saw..." he started. „I saw my little sister dying again and again. For three nights I am afraid just to close my eyes." He didn't look at her; he looked still disinterested, although he was saying such things. But she knew exactly what he meant.

„We have similar dreams," she agreed. „I am still dreaming about my mother."

„The worst is that I cannot help her," Lens said and closed his eyes. „I wanted to help her so much."

„We will get rid of that," she said. „I will find the cure."

„Thank you," he said simply and she saw a bit uncertain smile on his face. She took courage and decided that it was the right time to ask.

„What are you gonna do after that? With me." She was thinking about it all the time and tried to put it off till she is ready with the solution. But now she could be loosing the opportunity.

„We will let you go," he said firmly and looked back at her. „I promise you that no one will hurt you. I won't allow that." He smiled more openly but stopped immediately when he realized he is showing too much. „If you find the cure," he added and left her standing in the middle of the lab. It was really time to go sleeping.

--

During the next days Lens was avoiding her. In fact it wasn't difficult at all. The only few places she had access to were the lab, kitchen, bathroom and her own room All other rooms were locked and she had no idea how it looks like there. The rooms she saw had no windows and were still enlightened by the strong yellow light that was making her crazy from time to time. The building could be underground or not, she didn't know. But she would never choose a place like this to live in.

Her social contacts were mostly restricted to the two scientists and the older man that met her with Lens in the forest. His name was Alain and he was not a talkative person. He was bringing the supplies to the kitchen and everything she asked for but he never said more than few sentences. Jennifer knew from the lab coworkers that he wasn't infected. It was just a routine job for him and he didn't care of the fate of his companions a lot.

Jennifer was getting more exhausted and the days in the lab were difficult. She slept about five hours every night and in the morning wasn't in the mood to look at the mirror. She looked as bad as she felt but she kept on working, not paying attention to that.

Today she finally felt she would make it out. It was about time. Two days ago one of the man got worse and she could just watch him dying. She gave him some painkillers and did all she could but the most important was to go on with the cure. A while ago she was sure it's right and that she will get the positive reaction. But she didn't.

Now she wasn't ready to sleep. She got an idea and she knew she must try it now. Why didn't she check it before? She wasn't sure if she was right but if she was... It would be all behind her. She got dressed quickly and hurried into the lab. She was searching through the computer for a while before she found the file. And it was there. She made just a little mistake when she was writing the formulas in and the younger scientist obviously didn't notice that and used the version she wrote.

She took a deep breath. She must test it now. At least she must start to prepare the antidote. All the weariness was away now and she felt full of energy and optimism. It took a few hours than she finally completed what she wanted. Now she had about two hours before it should show the results. She thought about taking a quick bath and waiting for the rest of the time here. When she turned to door, she saw Lens staying in there, looking much worse then she remembered.

„Revor is dead," he said quietly. Jennifer twitched. It was worse then she supposed.

„I am sorry," she said.

"He was my friend," Lens continued. „One of the last. He was a good man, if you believe it or not.

„I believe it." She really did, although she knew him just for a short time and under these strange circumstances. She believed that Lens was a good person too. Maybe it was foolish but she felt it that way. And she was glad that she finally has some good news.

„I think I have the cure," she said. Lens glanced at her.

„I was told it didn't work."

„Yeah. It didn't actually but it was just my mistake. I wrote something wrong and we had a small misunderstanding. But I hope it will be right this time."

Lens looked at her. She saw a small interest in his eyes, but it disappeared fast. „When will you know that for sure?" he asked.

„In two hours I hope." She smiled nervously. He didn't look to be convinced. She probably shouldn't be surprise. He had no reason to trust her abilities yet.

„Well, I will wait here," he said. He sat on a chair standing in a corner and sighed slightly. Jennifer let him in the lab. She needed to do something in the following hours cause the waiting was unbearable. And sitting there with Lens wouldn't be the best idea. She closed the door of the bathroom behind her, wondering how long it will take before she gets back to Atlantis. She couldn't imagine anything she would want more.

TBC

--

Hello again :) I am surprised myself, nine chapters, I didn't think this story will be so long (no, we are not getting to the end yet). I will be off for a while, I will be back on the 22nd, so a new chapter will be up probably that day. Thank you all for reading! And please, let me a review. It helps ;)