Happy Halloween!

Commander Ford and Katie Hitchcock left the small maintenance building beside the cemetery looking much more concerned than when they entered. "What is it?" Tim immediately asked, cutting off Ben mid-speculation.

"A new guard started work here a week after the ship went down." Ford explained darkly, "he requested the night shift, and was given it gladly. I guess not many want to work an actual graveyard shift."

Katie grimly passed the rest of the gathered crew her smart phone. "We have his ID photo."

"Baktag!" Tim growled when he saw the familiar face, he was tempted to throw to the ground, but regained control of himself and pass the evidence on. "Zellar, how did he get out?"

"I don't really care, that's something we can take care of after we get our people back." Ford declared authoritatively. "Chief Crocker, I need you to dig up as much information about his current whereabouts as fast as possible. Take Tim and Miguel, they can help with any computer work."

Each man nodded in turn, and jogged away to begin on their assignment. "And the rest of us?" Ben asked, staring at the phone in his hand as his fingers threatened to crush into shards.

"We do it the old fashion way, door to door, asking anyone we can if they've seen anything." Ford clapped a strong, but comforting hand on Ben's shoulder, "you have my full backing to bust heads if you need to."

Lucas finally shook loose from Kristin and stood. "Is it any better?"

He shook his head, gritting his teeth. "No, I… I just understand it now. It hurts, but I can deal with it." He sat at the computer and turned it on. "I need to work on something so I don't think about it."

"Good idea, I might as well get ready for my first day of work with Rubin." She spat his name like a curse.

"So you're helping him?"

Before answering, Kristin flicked her eyes to the camera in the room. "I have to."

Lucas only nodded, and turned back to the computer. Kristin watched him bring up the video feed of them sleeping, and then talking on the edge of the bed. Seeing that he was occupied, she headed into the bathroom to check the needle's hiding place. It was still secure, but she wished she had a safer home for it. She didn't know how bad Lucas would get, but she wasn't sure she could trust his frame of might if he happened to find it when he was at his worst.

Wendell came for her as she was eating an apple and watching Lucas work. Again, she stood in front of the computer to block what they were doing. "Are you ready ma'am?"

Kristin didn't answer, instead giving Lucas another quick hug as he started up a game about evolving a microorganism in the ocean. He didn't respond to her, but she felt his muscles tense. She knew he was trying not to react to the pain in his head.

Shivering in the hallway, Kristin threw all caution to the wind, "may we have our shoes back for heaven sakes? This is ridiculous."

"I'm sorry ma'am, Dr. Zellar said you aren't allowed them in any circumstance."

"Why ever not?"

Wendell paused to give her a distinctly malevolent glance from the corner of his eye. "That's not something I can tell you, ma'am."

Losing the presence of mind to argue after hearing his tone, Kristin only could swallow and concentrate on her breathing. They arrived at the door to the lab, and they entered without further conversation. Zellar was waiting for her, smiling pleasantly. "Ah, Kristin, I trust you slept well."

"We were fine, thank you," she returned icily.

"No problems?"

Kristin turned away and stalked to a counter holding chemicals, she inspected them before answering. "Nothing that you can help with, Rubin."

"Very well," Zellar chuckled. "Where do you think we should start?"

"We can start with you leaving. I need to examine what you have and possibly start from scratch. Nothing will get done with you breathing down my neck and dropping little breadcrumbs of information for me to chase after." Kristin didn't turn to face him during her short speech, and few seconds passed before she heard a reaction.

Finally, a short loud burst of breath hissed from between his lips. "I will leave you alone, my dear, but I want to see what you have done for me at the end of the day."

There was no malice in his voice and he didn't offer a threat, but Kristin released a shuddering gasp when the door slammed. She glanced over her shoulder, they had both left her alone in the room. Forcing herself into a scientific mindset, she read the labels before her. "Acetone, calcium chloride, methylene chloride, hydrochloric acid..." She muttered through the basic and familiar names in front of her.

Setting herself on a nearby stool, Kristin went to work.

Several hours later she was mindlessly sipping a cup of tea Wendell brought her. The door opened, and with a sigh Kristin turned to face Zellar. "How is everything going?" He asked cheerfully.

"Slowly," she admitted, "I'm starting with the rabies virus." She passed him a petri dish. "Even after I separated the proteins and amino acids, it still destroys the cells too quickly."

Zellar tilted the dish in the light, "you introduced blood, where did you find it?"

"I needed a sample I knew would be healthy, so I used my own."

He raised an eyebrow after seeing the small marks on the inside of her arm. "You don't need to harm yourself, my dear. I can supply everything."

Kristin laughed harshly, "you're trying to kill half the population and you're worried about a needle hole?"

"Yes, I am. I may seem counter intuitive to you, but I want you to be safe." Zellar set down the dish, and reached for her hands. "You're wearing gloves at least." He rubbed one of her latex covered palms. "Would you like further safety measures? Perhaps a bio-suit?"

Kristin pulled her hand away, "are you concerned the virus will involve to become airborne?"

"Concerned? My dear," he smiled roguishly, "I'm planning on it."

"But how?" Kristin shook her head and fought the urge to slap the man. "How could it evolve so quickly?"

Zellar leaned on the counter to inspect the rest of her work. "We will guide it along. My... resource currently working on the dispersal rate has proven again and again the importance. Even if we infect wildlife and domesticated animals, it will not compare to the very air people breath. It shouldn't take long at all."

"Your resource," Kristin repeated, "and who would be twisted enough to help you? Or are you holding more families?"

"Families?" Zellar asked with triumphant grin.

Kristin realized her misstep too late. There was little doubt in her mind he knew how close she and Nathan were with Lucas, but labeling him thusly would put the young man in further danger. "Families, friends, crew mates, or whomever," she replied nonchalantly.

Zellar ignored the halfhearted attempt to disguise her slip. "Well, if one of your family members was helping me, of his own freewill, would you treat him harshly?"

"What do you mean? None of them would ever help you."

"Ah," Zellar stopped her with a raised index finger. "But the young Mr. Wolenczak already has."

"Lucas? You mean after you drugged him!" Kristin retorted angrily, "that is not freewill."

"Semantics," Zellar shrugged.

"You... you call it semantics, I'd call it lack is ethics." Kristin was shaking with rage, "what did you make him do?"

Zellar shrugged again, "nothing, I didn't even need to encourage him. He simply grew bored and started with no input in my part."

"How? He was locked in a room, Lucas told me he hadn't seen anyone before I was brought there..." She trailed off and began to rub her forehead. "The computer games. He's showing you how to evolve the virus in order to infect everyone."

"Of course, my dear. I wouldn't leave such an important task to just anyone. But, don't worry too much about it. It is finished, I know everything I need to know." Zellar smiled slyly. "Now, you have indeed shown progress, would you like to retire for the night? Perhaps have some dinner?"

Kristin sighed, "yes, but I'd like to eat with Lucas. And see Nathan... Please."

"Very well, if you would rather eat cold sandwiches with a recovering addict instead of gourmet food with myself, you may." Zellar turned and led her to the door. He knocked twice and it opened immediately. "As for Nathan, I'll be with you. I'd rather you not mention my other guest. The good captain has still been resisting us. Hope will only make his stay worse."

Kristin nodded, although she was enraged by the comment about Lucas being an addict, she knew the dig was mostly truthful. Even if it was due to no fault of his own, the young genius was, in fact, recovering from the medication. She also knew it would be difficult road back for him.

"Are we agreed?" Zellar prompted before they entered the next room.

"Yes, Rubin. I won't tell him." Kristin answered quietly.

They entered, Kristin fought the urge to look away. Even in the short time since she had last seen him, Nathan looked far worse. Where he didn't have bruises and scrapes, his normally rugged and tanned face was pale and bloated, his body was thinner and didn't seem to be able to lift his head. "He's sick!" She spat, "you need to let me examine him."

Zellar paused, weighing her words. "Ok, if it will make you happy."

"Happy isn't the word I'd use." Kristin growled as she watched them unlock the shackles and lift Nathan free from the tank. Wendell carefully laid him on the floor at her feet, where he began to shiver violently.

"Get me something to warm him with." Kristin snapped at the two men.

"What are you trying to do?" Zellar asked disdainfully.

Kristin didn't bother looking up at them, she leaned over Nathan to checking his breathing. "I am trying to save his life."