Colonel Scott McGrath took the lead as he surveyed the building. The coordinates indicated the person wearing the wrist strap was in the small tesca, a local bar near the Taylalian Market on Caputo 7. Jack had taken Jens and Gray to it on several occasions when he visited friends on the planet. The Time Lord contacted the Tayloon Militia on their arrival along with Jack's friend, Hakim. The Tayloon warrior had coordinated with Scott and the Militia to establish a perimeter around the bar. They were all dressed in the flowing white throbes worn by men in the desert area. The dry air began to cool as the dual suns began to dip below the horizon.
"Are you sure he's in there?" Hakim looked skeptical. "If they are in there, they are very quiet."
"I'm not sure of anything," said Jens. "All I know is whoever is wearing the wrist strap is in that building."
"On my count," said Scott, "I want Jens to secure the side door. Hakim, you take the back, and I'll go into the front. Mara, you stay back in case someone needs medical attention." He turned towards the two men. "I don't want any civilians hurt, understand? The militia will catch anyone trying to break the perimeter."
The Colonel hid his weapon under the throbe and moved towards the door. As he quietly entered, he could one patron bent over a drink at the bar chatting with the bartender. They looked up briefly and then continued their conversation. He scanned the rest of the room in the dim light. Two lovers were using a dark corner to get acquainted, while in the opposite corner he could see a man sitting with a boy. The child sat across from him, vacant eyed and hunched as he wrapped his arms around his stomach. A plate of fruit and sliced cheese placed in front of him was untouched. The man had his back to him, but something in his posture told him this indeed was Jack's brother, Gray.
McGuire slipped his hand through his garment, gripped the handle, and slowly began to walk towards the table. The man lifted up a glass of amber liquid to his mouth as the Colonel drew and cocked his gun.
"Keep your hands where I can see them."
Gray slowly turned bleary-eyed, putting the glass down and his other hand firmly on the table. "What took you so long?" he slurred as his head dipped down.
The Colonel signaled the rest of the team to come into the room. As Jens saw Gray, something snapped inside. He grabbed Gray by the collar, lifting him out of the chair and slamming him into the wall.
"Where's Jack, you bastard!" he growled.
Gray rolled his head back in a hysterical giggle.
Jens slammed him again into the wall. "What have you done with him?!"
McGuire pulled the Time Lord off of Gary, who slid to the floor laughing.
"He's drunk, Jens!" shouted Hakim who then placed himself between Jens and Gray.
Mara came forward checking Gary's pulse and then his eyes. She looked up at the men and nodded. She knelt closer to him and asked softly, "Gray, where is Jack?"
He stared at her trying to focus on her face. "He took my place."
"What does that mean, Gray?"
"He took his turn, he took my place," he slurred again looking around the room before focusing on the boy. "But I brought him back." He pointed unsteadily to the cowering boy. "See? I brought you back, didn't I?" He leaned towards the child and called. "Tell 'em Jack! I brought you…" Gray closed his eyes and slumped to the floor in a drunken stupor.
"What the hell is he talking about?" asked the Colonel.
Mara moved from Gray's side to examine the child. The boy was clearly in shock. His skin was clammy, and his eyes were unfocused as he rocked slowly back and forth. He shrank back as she attempted to examine him more closely.
"What is your name, son?" she asked gently as she moved closer. The doctor waited for a reply.
"Jesse" he finally said in a toneless voice, staring in the distance.
"Jesse," she said softly, "where is your family?"
"Dead."
He continued to rock.
"Where?"
"In the caves." Back and forth, back and forth he rocked. "They're dead, they're all dead. In the caves…"
Mora carefully brushed his hair away from his face, and saw the pattern on his neck. Her hand covered her mouth in horror.
Jens crouched beside her. "What is it?" he asked.
"He gave them Jack!" she choked as she looked into his eyes. "Gray gave Jack to the Adyan raiders."
