"Sit down," Nathaniel pointed to a chair at the end of the handmade wooden table. Mira noticed Shannon and Washington already seated when she was escorted in. Taylor came and got her personally leaving Lucas the final prisoner. He filled her in on Travis' fate. "All he had to do was answer a few questions and let Wash put him in solitary until all of you had been questioned." He stopped her at the bottom of the steps to tell her in private before escorting her to the others for questioning.
Mira wasn't surprised, but didn't express her thoughts aloud. She rolled her dark eyes and with a shrug mounted the stairs. Travis had been making noises in the cell about the fate of the others and how he wasn't going like a lamb to the slaughter. She tried to tell him Taylor didn't have the cahones to slaughter them, but he had a deep distrust of the colonist. Unlike the others, her hands weren't bound. Nathaniel was taking charge of her interrogation personally and would be ready if she tried anything, but he wasn't expecting her to try and escape. She had no place to run to.
"Coffee?" Nathaniel offered from where he'd gone to fetch himself a cup.
Mira looked at him closely and saw nothing but an honest offer and nodded her head, "Black."
It was early the morning the day after Travis had been shot; in fact she was still sleeping when Taylor came to retrieve her. The sun was a sliver of pink in the east when she saw her first glimpse of sky in a week. She noticed that Lucas never stirred from his cot and almost woke him to say goodbye, but Taylor made a motion for her to not speak.
"We have a pretty good idea of your mission, lifestyle and failures over the last four years," Nathaniel stated after taking a sip of coffee.
"Have you made a decision to our fates?" Mira wanted to know the ending.
"I have a couple questions first. When you hurt the Empirosaur the night of the meteor shower; did you have any remorse?" Jim started the questioning off.
Mira thought back to that night, "We had a job to do. We found we couldn't drive the Empir without hurting it. It was a causality of our war against you. If I could have done my job painlessly, I would have."
"But you didn't have any issues with slamming the butt of your rifle against my Lieutenant's head," Nathaniel's angry outburst in her face caused her to intuitively sit back. Mira shifted her gaze down the table to meet the dark eyes of her nemesis. She took her time responding, "Washington was a gift from the Gods when she left the colony with so little backup." She shifted her gaze back to Taylor, "She was taking my men out single handedly and Carter was no match one on one against her. She jumped off the embankment almost in front of me, but Carter got to her first. She was useful in getting Leah to declare her desire to stay away from me, which was one of the scenario's we went over with the child. I told her what to say if she were to see me."
"Would you have really hurt her brother?" Jim remembered the rough treatment he received at their hands.
"I wouldn't, but Lucas might have. He wanted his computer really bad."
"Did you know what the cask contained?" Alicia asked.
"No," Mira looked directly at her and saw her head swivel as a noise carried from across the room. She watched as Washington rose and disappeared. Only then did she drag her attention from the obvious sounds of a baby back to the men.
Nathaniel leaned back in his chair, "Wash gave a complete report of the occupation. You told her to cooperate when you first came through the gate. Why you?"
The question surprised Mira, "I don't know, maybe I was closest to her."
"Not good enough. Wash stated in her report that you, Hooper and Lucas walked up to her, but you did the talking, why?" Nathaniel asked again.
"Mira held his look and didn't shift her gaze to Shannon, "Hooper didn't know her and he was occupied with gathering your soldiers to the plaza beneath the Command Center. Lucas was looking around for you. He asked Washington where you were and she didn't answer his question. I could see he was getting angry so stepped in to reason with her."
Smoke and fire was burning all around them when the gate finally rose signaling the surrender of the colony. Mira and her people were intermingled with the Phoenix Soldiers. She saw Lucas motion to Hooper and followed where Lucas' finger pointed. Through the smoke, she saw Lieutenant Washington standing proudly at the center of the balcony looking down upon them. They watched as she gracefully descended and walked to them. Stopping in front of Hooper, she handed him her pistol, barrel first.
"I've ordered my people to cease fire and turn in their weapons."
Mira saw amazement in Hooper's eyes that this slight woman was in charge. After accepting her surrender with a silent nod, he turned to issue orders, which included placing the remaining captured soldier's front and center and gather the colonist.
"Where's my father?" Lucas ordered Washington.
When once again he was ignored with silence, Lucas slapped her across the face, "I gave you an order, Second, now answer me." They both watched a trickle of blood escape the corner of Washington's mouth and Mira didn't want her unable to talk so intervened again.
Mira knew from experience, Washington would die before divulging classified information. They tried to get a few secrets from her on the occasion she fell into their grasp. What they got was a threat of war from the Commander for returning her in that condition and she never said a word during her captivity. Mira remembered the anger simmering under the surface that day and knew she'd made an enemy. Washington was looking at her now, even in defeat, with a look that made Mira want to apologize. Therefore, she tried to reason with the Lieutenant, "Washington, do as I say and your soldiers won't be hurt. Don't and you'll watch them executed," Mira's quiet tone seemed to finally get a reaction as Washington turned her stoic gaze to her. Mira continued, "Is Taylor here?"
Washington shook her head, "No, I'm in charge."
Mira heard Lucas start to cuss and toned him out, "We have orders to occupy the colony. You're going to tell the colonist what I direct you to say or more will be hurt and killed and their blood will be on your hands." She knew Washington was following, although the woman didn't speak.
"I'll be the one you will kill. I take responsibility for my people and the colonist," Washington informed her.
"I will, without hesitation if you so much as forget one instruction. Here's what you are to tell the colony. You'll tell everyone they are to wear identification tags we are setting up right now," Mira pointed to an area near the market where boxes were being unloaded. "Explain to them that their houses will be searched and all weapons confiscated. Any weapon not willingly turned over and found will result in your execution, so it's in your best interest for them to comply. A nighttime curfew will be enforced. All people have to be off the streets by eight at night. Food will be provided and all work is suspended."
Mira stood beside Washington as she repeated verbatim the instructions and was amazed that under those conditions, the Lieutenant could remember each and every word. She underestimated this woman. After she finished speaking, Mira, who was standing beside her, spoke, "People of Terra Nova, step out of line and you'll watch the military officers be executed starting with Lieutenant Washington here. We instructed the leaders left in the colony to be visible to keep the masses under control and Lieutenant Washington will be circulating among you. If you have any questions or comments, tell them to her, your defunct leader."
"So Hooper or Lucas didn't tell you to instruct Wash?" Nathaniel was persistent after hearing again the details, this time from the enemy.
"No, I took it upon myself to direct Washington, but after that Lucas issued all orders to her. I would see her stiffen and so did he; so he looked to interact, just to watch her struggle to obey," she noticed Wash had returned with the baby and was holding her. She had a flashback to when she would hold her daughter, Sienna, and wondered if she'd ever see her again. "Hooper gave a speech after Washington, but it was more technical and addressed the portal and placement of his troops."
"What did Lucas do while this was going on?" Nathaniel kept the questions flowing.
Mira tried to remember, "He was not present. After he found out you weren't present, he took off. I think he was rifling through your quarters, looking for anything he could steal."
"He got my shoulder holster and pistol. I got them back when we ambushed him," Nathaniel confided.
"He never told me how he lost the holster," Mira was actually amused. She didn't have too high of an opinion of Lucas after seeing his father in action and comparing the two. If there were two opposite people in the same family, they had to be it.
They grilled Mira for three hours. She never saw them take a note so assumed the meeting was covertly taped. Once, Washington left to feed the baby and returned sans the child.
"So, Commander, do I live or die?" She watched the silent communication between the others at the table and Nathaniel spoke for the group, "Malcolm is preparing the portal to send most of you to the future."
Mira felt an overwhelming relief and her pulse raced, "Does that include me?"
"The only ones staying will be Drake and Jenna, unless you can give me a reason to send them with you."
"They're good kids, just misguided by falling in with me. Neither of them committed serious crimes against your colony. So they want to stay?"
"They want to get married and live here," Alicia confirmed.
"And you'll accept them without prejudice?" Mira wanted to make sure.
"I wouldn't go that far," Jim shook his head. "They'll be on probation for at least a year and under supervision. There will be places they can't go and a few people they'll be banned from associating with. In time, if they prove trustworthy, the suspensions will be lifted."
"And they've agreed to this?"
"They have," Nathaniel replied. "Do you want them back in the future with you?"
Mira shook her head, "I don't know what I'm walking into. All I want is my daughter and to make up to her the four years I can't replace."
A soldier entered the room, "Sir, Dr. Wallace says he's ready."
"Thank you," Nathaniel looked over to his man, and without another word, he left. He looked back at Mira, "We're going to take you to the portal now. Do I have to use binders?"
"No, I won't give you any trouble," she stood when Shannon and Taylor rose. She saw Washington still sitting and the baby back in her arms as of a few minutes ago. On impulse, she rounded the table to her side, careful to not make an aggressive move. "Washington, I want to say I'm sorry for beating you up and making you recite that statement to your colony. I know it couldn't have been easy."
Alicia looked up at her, "Surrendering never is."
"I agree with that. I've had a lot of time to see both sides of the fight for Terra Nova and I was on the wrong side. Weaver told me without intervention, the future will end in roughly 2180 and my contribution here would earn me a place in history as we saved mankind. I was gullible enough to buy his line. I'm not coming back here, but I'll search for any fissure to take my daughter and a few others through if I get home in one piece. If I were to find myself in this time, how will I be received?"
Alicia thought about it, "Depends on what your intentions are."
"Never to make war again, that's for sure. I want you to know, I admire your strength and standing by Taylor, even when I thought he was wrong. You have principles and courage. May I see your daughter?"
Alicia noticed Jim and Nathaniel now flanked Mira as she turned her so Mira could look at her face. Jade opened her eyes and looked at this strange woman.
"Thank you," Mira took a step back and let Nathaniel lead her away. Shannon flanked her every move she noticed. For the first time in a couple days, she was reunited with her Sixers and she saw her people hadn't been harmed as Taylor assured her. Wordlessly she crawled into the back of the transport and saw a large crowd had gathered, and they were jubilant with the Sixers being out of their lives. Drake and Jenna came to the back of the transport and said goodbye. Drake kept an arm around Jenna's shoulders and the colonist gave them space. Taylor had informed the colony of his decision to let them stay via plexpads that morning, but to actually see Sixers loose and mingling was something to watch.
In the distance, Skye watched them leave with mixed emotions. She'd become friends with some of them and knew they weren't all bad people, just desperate, like fifteen billion people in the future.
Josh made his way through the press to her side. "You know, Skye, another chapter of our lives is ending."
"Since when did you become so poetic?" she smiled at him.
"I don't know. It seems like our lives are days of monotony, punctuated with events like this," he watched the transports leave with no less than three soldiers per Sixer accompanying them.
"I think that's called life," she headed back to work.
"Meet me for supper in the market?" he called after her, "I'm buying."
She smiled back at him, "In that case, of course." They laughed and parted, she to the Infirmary and he to the mechanics bay.
Elliot and Ayani hadn't seen the Taylor's or Jim at all that morning, but saw guards outside the doors of the Command Center and two more stationed at the foot of the stairs. A soldier explained when he stopped that the Commander had Mira under interrogation and didn't want to be disturbed. Now they watched as the Commander and Shannon climbed into the lead rover and the convoy pulled out.
The portal was functional when they arrived. Soon the Sixers were gathered in front of the semi-opaque mist. "Good luck, Mira," Nathaniel stood back from her.
"Same to you, Taylor. Take better care of your daughter than I did mine."
"I will." He and Jim watched her be the first through the portal into the unknown. Without hesitation, her band followed and soon all was quiet. Nathaniel knew he would have retrospective moments, but now wasn't the time or place. "Guz, take our soldiers home and give them the day off."
"With pleasure, Sir." Guzman looked around, "You heard the Commander, move it."
Jim and Nathaniel went to Malcolm, "Disable it soon. We don't know what may be trying to get a lock on that side."
Malcolm quickly flipped a switch and power was severed. He looked at Nathaniel, "Commander, before I was able to reconfigure our future, I got a solid lock on another time in the future. I copied the information and was hoping to open the portal to that time again and send a probe."
"We don't have any probes." Jim spoke up.
"No, but our guests do. Maybe we can talk them into having one or two sent to us," Malcolm, ever the scientist, wanted this mystery solved.
"I'll see what I can do," Nathaniel slapped Malcolm on the shoulder, "good job. Disconnect so we can go home." They waited for Malcolm to finish and not leave him here alone and followed him back to the colony.
By noon, Lucas was bored to death. He had nothing to read and gray laser cut walls to stare at. He woke late to a breakfast of fruit and bread along with a cup of coffee and an empty cell. Mira was gone. They'd talked late the night before, speculating on what his father was doing with the others and if they'd ever get out alive. Mira asked him how he came to hate his father so much.
"He let my mother die." His cold statement was meant to thwart any further questions.
Either Mira didn't get the ambiguous message or chose to press on. "There has to be more to it, than she died."
Lucas fixed his cold turquoise eyes on her, "They killed her slowly. I can still hear her screams as they raped her repeatedly and with anything they could find. Then they peeled skin with dull knives, pulled fingernails and hair out. Finally, she didn't make a sound because she passed out. That's when they woke her with a bucket of salt water. Through it all, my father just stood still, his face impassive. He shut himself off totally. I wasn't so lucky. At fourteen, I hadn't the experience to distance myself from that type of brutality. I'm sure I went crazy at that moment and all the hatred I felt for them was transferred to him. They wouldn't have done that to me. I'd have gotten what the others got, a simple bullet to the head." Lucas let out a ragged laugh, "Bodies were all over and the smell of blood…. I can't stand the smell of blood to this day."
"Were you the only kid present?" Mira wondered if others held such memories.
He nodded his head, "Everyone except my father and I were allowed to leave so they took the kids away. I wish I wasn't there, but more I wish it were my father who was tortured and not her."
"That other woman, Ayani. Is she like your mother?"
"Identically."
"Maybe Taylor will let you leave with her and you can have a mother again," Mira theorized.
Lucas wondered how he'd feel about that. It wasn't something he seriously considered. "I doubt the old man will let me live. I'm his greatest disappointment. Now he has another kid to screw up. Did you get a look at the baby? I did, looks like Washington so he doesn't have his face looking at him as reminder that he's such a fuckin failure."
"I saw her picture." Mira remembered the pride Taylor handed her the mini with in her cell in the future.
He heard footsteps and two soldiers arrived, one with lunch. Without a word, the young man set a tray down and took the empty with him. Lucas thought about making a break for it. He yelled after their retreating backs, "Tell my father, I want to see him."
One soldier went to the mess with the tray and the other climbed the steps to the Command Center. He entered, looking for the Commander. Not seeing him, he searched for another officer. He found the Lieutenant in the back fussing with the baby. Knocking, he waited for her to look around.
"What is it, Private?"
"A message from Lucas. He wants to see his father."
"Thank you." Alicia sat in a chair to nurse Jade and contemplate the message. Lucas bored easily it seemed.
Within half an hour, Nathaniel bounded up the stairs and through the door. He didn't see his wife and briefly wondered if she were at the Infirmary. He made a quick walk through and spotted her in what was becoming her chair with his daughter in her arms. The baby was done nursing, but Mom was still holding her. "You ready to go?" He leaned over and kissed the top of her head.
"Am I bad mother for leaving her?" Alicia was half tempted to take her with them.
"No, and you deserve a break from nighttime feedings, even if it's only for a night or two, now move it." He carefully took his daughter and cradled her in one arm while pulling his wife up with the other and didn't stop until she was close enough for a kiss. Together they walked the short distance to the Infirmary, with Daddy carrying the baby and keeping his free arm around his wife's shoulders.
Elizabeth looked up from her patient when they entered and smiled. "Excuse me," she motioned for a nurse to take over and hurried to the command team. Without being asked, she reached out and scooped the baby away from Nathaniel's arm. "Don't worry, she'll be in good hands, namely mine," she smiled down at the baby. "I'll give her a full exam while I have her."
"We appreciate it," Nathaniel spoke for both of them.
"I did leave enough milk?" Alicia was worried.
"I checked and you have enough here for three days," Elizabeth reassured her. "If something were to go wrong OTG, Malcolm has formulated coconut milk into baby formula and we have nursing mothers so don't worry."
"The thought of Malcolm in charge of baby formula doesn't exactly fill me with confidence," Nathaniel joked.
"Enjoy your selves," Elizabeth carried the baby away without waiting to see if the parents wanted to say goodbye to her.
Nathaniel slipped his hand to the back of Alicia's neck and let his fingers do a gentle massage. "I think that's our cue to leave," he guided her from the building. They met Elliot and Ayani near the two transports Nathaniel ordered prepared for an OTG excursion.
Jim was loitering nearby in case the Commander had a last minute order.
"It's all yours, Jim," Nathaniel opened a side door for his wife on the first Rhino.
"More importantly, your daughter is mine for a couple days. Zoe is beside herself as Mom said she could help."
"And what is your job with Jade?" Nathaniel laughed softly as they walked back to the second Rhino.
"My task is to try and convince Elizabeth that we can handle another one, so long as she's a girl of course."
Nathaniel just grinned as he climbed aboard and took the wheel.