Chapter Five
Alt: Part I

Jo and Zane immediately went to find Grace when they got back to GD and explained the situation to her. As they both had suspected and discussed on the way over, she was easily convinced and on board with their plan. Sure she'd had her moments of doubt but everything they were saying seemed to make sense to her, especially when she added her own strange dealings with Henry. After they pieced together a rough plan, Grace headed straight back to her lab to start work on the ionic resonator.

Zane was also trying unsuccessfully to get in touch with Fargo who, on his advice, had gone after Holly. When Jo explained what had really happened to her, he'd been crushed, not only because Holly was a friend but also because Fargo was his friend and he knew it would devastate the little guy. It made him even more angry and frustrated about their situation and it made him want that much more to get their plan underway so they could return to their lives and decimate whoever was responsible for this.

Next on their list was a talk with Allison. Although he had serious work to do on the resonator, their plan needed her help too—and this wasn't something Jo could handle on her own. There was no way that Allison would believe Jo's story given what she'd experienced in the Matrix and Zane couldn't blame her for that. It'd been hard for him too. And from what he'd just heard, it didn't seem like Grace had been having completely happy times either.

Jo walked beside him with purpose, so strong and brave but dreading this next encounter if the tension around her grim frown was any indication. He had an overwhelming urge to give her hand a squeeze for support like he'd done a few times back in the real Eureka. That was out of the question. But soon he'd get his chance when they escaped from here. Over the last twenty minutes, he'd second guessed himself dozens of times. He questioned whether he was letting himself fall for some elaborate trap perpetrated by the woman that had been his sworn enemy not so long ago. Maybe the sadness of losing her had made him so weak that he'd easily fall for her feigned yet passionate entreaties of wanting him. If he hadn't seen what he'd seen this morning, there was no way he'd have let himself become convinced about something as crazy as living in a total immersion simulated reality program.

But he didn't feel weak right now with her. Trusting her felt right. Even if he got burned for it, he'd rather flame out loving her rather than wallow another second in this shitty version of Eureka.

They turned the corner into the infirmary and spotted Allison going over something at her desk. When she looked up and saw who had come in, her eyes instantly became guarded and she braced herself as if there was a full on assault headed her way. Jo glanced at him worried. That she didn't want to have this conversation was clear but he was surprised at how nervous she was. If things weren't so serious, he'd find it amusing but he just smiled down at her to let her know that they'd get through this together. She immediately relaxed a little at that and it again confirmed to him that this was the right thing to do.

When they reached Allison, her frown had increased and now showed signs of hostility and confusion. To her credit, Allison did try to cover her reaction and offered a tight smile in greeting. "What's up?"

Zane looked at Jo and after an unspoken debate of expression, he spoke up. "Well, 'what's up' is us getting the hell out of here."

Allison took a step back in shock. "Like you two are running away together?" Anger then replaced shock and her wrath was directed squarely at Jo. "What about Jack? What about Jenna?"

Jo held her ground. "All of this is fake. The town, the people, all except for the crew of the Astraeus, you and us," she finished motioning at Zane. "We're inside of a computer program—"

"And it hasn't been four years, it's been a month." Zane interrupted excitedly.

Taking in the sternness of her expression, Zane calculated that this was not going well at all, not that he thought it would be easy. But maybe he'd underestimated Allison because she seemed pretty pissed. He figured she'd be more shocked and curious than angry at the idea of everything not being as it seemed. Not so much.

"This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard."

Jo would not be deterred despite Allison's bitter tone. "Allison, I understand what you've been going through. I know what it's like to blink and your life is turned upside down. You know that." She glanced at Zane meaningfully. "But the real Jack Carter is out in the real world and he loves you. He's with the real Kevin and the real Jenna who I saw this morning at Café Diem throwing Cheerios at Andy and still refusing to walk anywhere but in S.A.R.A.H."

The mention of Andy made both him and Allison flinch a little. Jo was about to comment on that before Zane spoke up again. 'Bigger issues' Carter would say if he were here; the real Carter anyway. "We need you to trust us. Can you do that?"

"Honestly no," Allison said.

"I bet this would have gone differently if Carter had been the one jacked into the program." Jo's frustration was starting to simmer to the surface. She was antsy and so was he; he needed to go give Grace a hand with the ionic resonator.

But he couldn't help an easy snipe at the good sheriff. "Yeah, if he'd been the one jacked in here, he would have probably tipped your NPC off in a matter of seconds. And I don't see him passing along elaborate information about building an ionic resonator—not without writing it on his hand or committing it to song or something."

She opened her mouth to dispute him and defend her friend but thought better of it. He tried to push down the bitterness about her taking Carter's side on anything. Instead she conceded. "Yeah, you're probably right. He'd get the job done though and that's what we've got to do. And we don't have much time," she added turning her attention back to Allison.

Allison had been looking back and forth between the two, not so much angry anymore as confused and annoyed. Zane was starting to worry. "Adjusting to this reality has not been easy for me," she explained mostly to Jo. "Missing all these years with my kids, seeing you with Jack—"

"This isn't reality!" Jo insisted indicating the room around them. She then gestured between her and Zane. "We're reality, not me and Carter," she said with disdain.

Zane grinned at her. "Aww, Josefina…"

She rolled her eyes at his jest. "Shut up." But he could see the hint of a smile.

"I wish I could believe this," Allison sadly offered.

Zane's expression softened as he took in the broken woman in front of him. He felt for her, he really did. This situation had been the hardest on her. "You can believe this. We're going to get through it together. How about this: let's go to Grace's lab and talk to her." The look of hope on her face was clear as was the heartbreaking caution that wouldn't allow her to entertain the easy out from their situation "Jo, you go find Fargo and meet us there."

Jo looked between them, expression unreadable. Allison was her friend and he could tell she hadn't fully prepared herself for this reaction, this hostility. "Okay. Good luck," she added quietly. She turned to leave but he grabbed her arm before she got too far.

"Hey, I believe you. We're going to do this and you're going to get us out of here."

Jo smiled sadly but with determination. "Yes I am. No matter what." She glanced back at Allison and then headed out the door.

Zane turned back to Allison and guided her in the other direction so that they could head to Grace's lab and get to work on the resonator. He rushed her down the hallway trying not to rush so much as to draw attention to them.

"Do you really believe this nonsense? After everything we've gone through; everything she's put us through?"

Zane winced. Trusting Jo again was new and he had his lingering doubts. But he knew this was her. Truthfully, he'd known since the moment he saw her. She looked exactly the same but her eyes had said it all, trained on him from above the barrel of her gun. Matrix Jo was cold and distant. She reminded him a lot of the old Jo that he loved to hate before the time shift. No matter how much she insisted that they could be friends, there was nothing inviting about the proposition, nothing sincere.

But when he saw this Jo pulling a gun on him, her eyes had been how he remembered. They were focused but soft with relief and discomfort. He could sense her indecision and her urgency to get him on her side. Most of all he could sense that warm affection that he loved waking up to in the mornings when she'd linger in his bed before sprinting off to GD. That warmth was the last thing he'd feel before kissing her and losing himself in it.

Plus, she'd totally checked him out and he was well aware that she really loved this leather jacket on him.

In the face of all that, and of things he'd been seeing all morning, he wasn't going to deny what was in front of him. And he sure as hell wasn't going to pass up a chance to take back his real life. Now he just needed to convince Allison.

"I know it's hard to grasp. When I got zapped by Martha last month, I saw these flashes of light and people standing over me. I thought it was just a dream. Then I saw a collision mesh error this morning and fake Carter de-res'ed right in front of me. The issue with Jo aside, there's also Holly's sudden disappearance. So yeah, I'm pretty convinced. And simulation Carter practically admitted what was going on before Jo and I took him out back in the woods."

"Took him out!" Allison shouted.

"Shhhh! You want to get us busted? Trust me, it's not pretty." He looked around nervously but no one seemed to be paying them much attention. "Jo confirmed that they killed Holly."

Allison stopped cold. "They what! Who?"

Zane continued to hurry her along. They were almost to Grace's lab and they'd be able to talk more freely there. "The Consortium. Beverly Barlowe. Senator Wen. They're all in on this. But apparently after Wen basically killed Holly, she fired Beverly who then decided to switch sides."

He could tell Allison had a million questions but he didn't have time for more than a few and they all needed to be about constructing the ionic resonator. "Allison, I know you don't trust Jo. Hell, I wouldn't either if I were you. But you can trust me. And Grace." He turned her towards him as they waited for the elevator so he could look her in the eye. "Are you really going to fight me over this crap-ass version of Eureka? Do you really believe there's a version of reality where Carter doesn't choose you?"

As they rode the elevator, the tears in Allison's eyes led Zane to hope he was getting through to her. "Your kids have been waiting for their mom to come home for a month. Not four years but one month. Carter's been breaking laws and combing the universe looking for you. Henry too. Jo can help us get home. We've just gotta do a little leg work now."

They reached Grace's lab and saw her standing next to a tray upon which numerous gadgets were placed askew. Allison sighed, looking so tired, and walked over to the other woman. She glanced briefly at the different items Grace had collected and the gradual spark of curiosity was enough to inspire a little relief in Zane.

"What did she do? Plant a passionate kiss on you, proving that she was the same woman you left before the launch?"

It hadn't gone down completely like that but his answering grin couldn't deny that it had been a factor. "Like that wouldn't have worked for you and Carter," he replied smirking. Allison's answering grin didn't hold any objection.

Directing her attention to Grace she asked, "So we really are lying somewhere unconscious? Everything we've experienced since the launch, none of that happened? You two actually believe this?" They both nodded at her with conviction.

"So I haven't lost all that time with Kevin and Jenna; or with Jack?" Allison's plea couldn't mask the building hope he sensed in her tone.

"Uh, no. Throwing Cheerios at Andy this morning, remember?" Zane joked. He joined the two women and began assembling several of the parts Grace had set out for him. They were going to do this. They were going to get out of here. "Jo is going to get us home," he said glancing up at her. "I know she will. Carter and Henry are going to make sure of it too," he added turning briefly to Grace.

Suddenly, Fargo came tearing around the corner and into the lab, Jo in tow as if chasing him. "Guys," he loudly whispered, waiting for the doors to close. "We're trapped in the Matrix!"

"We know," they all answered together.

TBC