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A New Beginning	By : MarianTheBlackadder Category: S through Z > Terra Nova Views: 2105 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Terra Nova characters, places, or copywrites. I make no money from writting this and it is for pure enjoyment of the writter and the readers of the Terra Nova FanFiction Fandom.

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
- 12
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Tracking Systems
            “Could there be any more frustrating target practice then this?” Jim Shannon asked.
            “It’s the best shot we have at tracking the Sixers. Be grateful, my wife has been working on this for months. She’s impressed even me.” Just then another bird flew over and Taylor fired the weapon at it. It seemed to change it’s course slightly but then circled around and continued on it’s way. Taylor turned on his com, “That makes 7.”
            Rayne’s voice came back over the speaker, “Good. 5 more and that should give us a pretty good spread.”
            Jim sighed and raised his voice so she could hear him, “Like hitting the eye of a needle at 900 yards, Rayne.” He was definitely frustrated at this point.
            “Oh come on Jim. As a cop you should be grateful for the target practice.” She answered. “Why, how many have you gotten out of the 7?”
            Taylor looked at Jim with a grin and gave him a nod, “4.” Jim asked.
            “Uh huh. So stop complaining. Let me know when you get the next one.” The com turned off and Taylor laughed.
            “Thanks.” Jim said.
            “No problem. But she probably knows you were lying through your teeth.” Taylor chuckled.
            “I got 1. It’s a tough shot!” Jim said in his defense.
            The Commander just laughed and shook his head, “There’s another one.” He said as another of the birds they were tracking flew over. This time Jim took the shot and managed to hit the mark.
            Jim grinned, “So that makes my score 2. . . . but 5 if Rayne asks.”
            Taylor gave a nod still finding it incredibly funny but agreeing to keep up the charade if that was what his sheriff wanted.

Expecting
            “I had a feeling.” Rayne said putting her shoes back on as Elizabeth smiled.
            “Well this time you guys were actually trying though, right?” The Doctor asked.
            “Yeah, but you were giving me hope that maybe we were done having kids when the tests kept coming back negative.” Rayne admitted.
            “Well, you’re not even 40 yet Rayne and the Commander is very healthy and fit.” Elizabeth said. “You could probably have a couple more children after this one if you wanted.
            “This would make five, Doctor. I know that Commander Taylor seems to be trying to break a record, but as I said to him, we can’t overrun the entire colony with Taylors. Someone else needs to have a chance.” Rayne said standing up. “He is really going to be overjoyed though.”
            “What about you? You haven’t had any complications with your other pregnancies and they tend to get easier each time.” Elizabeth asked. “I don’t foresee any problems, there is no reason this child shouldn’t be as healthy as the others.”
            “I’m not questioning or debating that, Doctor.” Rayne answered, “But like I told Nathaniel, we already have twice the number of kids we would have had in 2149. I think we should be grateful for what we have instead of being greedy.”
            “It’s not being greedy.” Elizabeth mentioned. “There is room here, for all the kids that the colony has. We have clean water, fresh air, and no shortage of food. The Commander has every right to feel like he can have as large a family as he wants.”
            “Maybe. But this means we’re going to have to expand our quarters yet again, and . . .” She sighed and shook her head. There were other things on her mind, mostly Lucas. “It’s great.” She said with a smile, “I’m thrilled, truly.”

Mapping
            “Wow, this is working better then I anticipated.” Rayne said looking at the monitor. “Everything they fly over is being recorded and mapped. “Look at this,” Rayne said pointing to the monitor before punching a few buttons pulling up the image, “Anything that moves gets recorded, and the different colors indicate body temperature, size, and when possible, readouts of their movements.”
            “This is just amazing.” Taylor said looking at what she was showing him. “Maybe we should try tagging some more of those creatures. Cover more ground and collect more Intel.”
            “We probably could. Might take me and Malcolm a few days to fabricate another dozen or so chips, but if you and Jim want to tag more of these birds . . . .” She began.
            “Eh, I think I might take Wash or Reynolds with me next time.” Taylor said.
            Rayne smiled, “How many did he really get out there?” Knowing full well that Jim was having a hard time with the task.
            “3. But if you ask I’m supposed to say 7.” Taylor said. Rayne laughed and shook her head. Men could be so strange at times. Taylor looked at the monitor and gave a nod, “This is good work honey. Wish I had you working on this years ago. We get enough of these animals to do the spying for us, we’ll be able to find and track the Sixer’s movements. Maybe put an end to their raiding parties.” He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her cheek.
            “I’ll tell Malcolm we need more of these. We’ll make as many as we can, and you and your people can put them on whatever birds you find.” She said with a smile.
            “Great, I’ll see what I can do about getting some better shots.” Taylor said before turning and heading out.
            “Don’t tell Jim you’ll hurt his feelings!” Rayne called out after him.

Emergencies
            Taylor and Shannon ran up to the lab, “What the hell is going on? What happened?” They said coming up next to Wash.
            “I don’t know yet, I just know we got a call from the zoology lab and we got here the same time the medical team did.” Wash reported.
            The scene around them was like some sort of accident had happened. There was bandages, medics, bruises and blood. A lot of blood. “How bad is it?” Shannon asked.
            “So far, we have one fatality. Dr. Bartley. Dr. Shannon is still assessing the extent of the other injuries, but . . . .” Washington said.
            “Dr. Bartley?” Shannon said.
            “One of the animals got lose, and tore through the lab. Apparently, from what I’ve been told, Dr. Bartley was the first one to be attacked and . . . well we haven’t been able to go in and pick up the pieces yet.” Washington admitted.
            “Christ.” Taylor said. “Have you called Rayne?”
            “She’s inside the lab right now with the animal.” Washington said.
            Taylor just starred at her wide eyed when she said that. Rayne had only told him a week ago that they were expecting the arrival of their 5^th child, and now she was inside of the lab by herself with an animal who had caused this much damage and destruction. “Shannon, get witness statements so we can find out what the hell happened here, Wash find out from Dr. Shannon what the damage is.”
            “Yes sir.” The three went their separate ways, Taylor heading into the zoology lab to find Rayne hoping that she wasn’t going to be on the causality list.
            The Commander got a tranquilizer gun out of the case at the front door of the lab, and carefully went inside. It looked like the place had been ransacked from top to bottom. There was blood in every direction, broken pieces of lab equipment and the computer seemed to have some kind of repeating message on it, the hardware obviously damaged.
            He followed the trail checking around every corner and listening for some sign of life. It was so eerily quiet it was unnerving. Near the dangerous animal enclosure he paused hearing something that sounded like a lawnmower trying to be started. It was a weird sound that he wasn’t familiar with and he carefully followed it.
            Turning the corner he sighed slightly lowering his weapon as he saw Rayne sitting on the ground, her hand on the head of the rather large vicious animal, who was hard asleep as Rayne made cooing noises and continued to rub and scratch it’s head. Rayne looked up seeing the commander and carefully put her finger to her lips before returning her hands to the beast. Then she motioned where to put the tranquilizer darts in its neck.
            Instantly Taylor put three in the creatures neck and it’s eyes opened as it acted as though it was going to try to get up, but instead it fell back to the ground completely unconscious.
            Rayne sighed and stood up walking over to him, “We need to get him moved back to his cage before he wakes up.”
            “We’re going to have a talk about this.” Taylor said looking into her eyes.
            “Okay. Can you chew me out after the animal is secured back in it’s cage?” She asked.
            Taylor just starred at her for a minute before he took out his com, “Taylor, send a unit in here fast so we can secure this thing.”
            “Yes sir.” Washington’s voice confirmed.

Memories 2
            “You know, you should have told me about him before now.” Rayne said sitting in Taylor’s lap looking at the pictures he’d been showing her. His arms were tight around her and his face nuzzled into the warmth of her neck beneath her hair. “He came on the pilgrimage before mine, and then was gone before I arrived. You should have told me he was out there with me.”
            “Rayne, it’s a huge wide open world out there. I never thought the two of you would cross paths.” Taylor responded.
            “Well, he was polite enough. Introduced ourselves, what sort of work we did, that sort of thing. Of course I didn’t realize how vague he was being until you told me what his true purpose was.” Rayne sighed, “I guess it can’t be all paradise. Where’s the fun in that?”
            “To be honest . . . I didn’t think he’d survive out there this long on his own. The boys a genius, but never really was the solider type.” He admitted.
            “He seems to be doing alright. Has a decent amount of weight on him. Knows how to hunt and trap. He looks good.” Rayne told him knowing how much he missed his son and still loved him.
            “This really isn’t my favorite topic, honey.” He said rubbing her back a little, “Things got out of control between me and Lucas, and I don’t know if it could ever go back to the way things were before.” Taylor sighed, “Baby, you just got back this morning. Can we save all this until tomorrow?” He said turning her towards him and wrapping his arms around her.
            “Well, I suppose.” She said with a smile. They kissed anxiously and tenderly. Rayne licked her lips and looked into his eyes. Within seconds they were locked in another passionate embrace.
            It may have gotten much further but a knock came to his office door and halted the onrush of lavish affections. “Figures.” Taylor groaned, “Timing around this place is horrible.”
            “I have my job, you have yours.” She said patting his chest before she hopped off his lap. “You should probably get that.” She grinned and took off her top, “I’m going to take a shower.” Rayne tossed her shirt at him before disappearing into the bathroom.
            Taylor grinned and tossed her shirt he’d caught on his bunk before heading out to his office to see what was needed.
            A while later, Rayne came out of the bathroom rubbing her hair dry with a towel finding that Taylor had returned, “Did I miss anything exciting?” She asked tossing the towel aside.
            “Apparently, someone breached the perimeter without checking in with the guards, again.” Taylor said giving her a look. “Appears you haven’t made your presence known to anyone else in the colony today.”
            “You have new recruits on the gate today, Commander. I didn’t want to go through the shake down routine.” Rayne admitted sheepishly. “As a result, I was left alone to get hours of work done so I could come and see you.”
            “Rayne,” Taylor said covering his eyes a moment and sighing in frustration, “I let you get away with a lot.” He looked at her, “But you need to follow the barebones guidelines we’ve set. You don’t come into the colony without notifying someone. If Wash hadn’t been on when they reviewed the camera, they could have sounded the alarm and turned the entire colony on its ear.” He explained walking over to her and putting his hands on her waist. “I appreciate the skill it takes to move through the perimeter like a ghost but we are on the same side. You’ve got to give me some cooperation here.”
            Rayne looked at him a moment before giving a nod, “I’m sorry.” She apologized. “I’ll tell them when I come in.”
            He looked at her, “Good.” He smiled and kissed her forehead, “Good. Have you eaten tonight? You want some chow?”
            “I ate before coming over.” She said reaching up and running her hand through her damp hair. Taylor reached up running his fingers over her head taking up a piece of her hair between them.
            “Did you cut this?” He asked realizing it was shorter than before.
            “Yup. Gets to long to manage so I cut it about shoulder length whenever I come in. You’ve never noticed before?” She questioned.
            “You weren’t in there that long, just surprised that’s all.” Taylor said as he smiled, “I like your natural hair color. Neon orange was just strange and a little hard on the eyes.”
            “It’s easier to get up close and personal with animals if you blend in with your surroundings in 2149, I didn’t need to. There wasn’t much chance to see animals in the wild. Their natural habitat. I could have put glitter in my hair and flashing lights around my neck, it wouldn’t have mattered.” She sighed remembering how unhappy the animals were being locked in cages, and how unhappy she was that there was no place to put them out.
            Taylor drew her close and hugged her. She really was a tender hearted woman. They colonists had been calling her Snow White every since the stunt she pulled with the Slasher pack. A slasher attack on a supply convoy had called in colony security and rescue teams out of the colony to assist them. They were far enough out that they had feared they would be to late and Taylor would have to put seven of his soldiers in the ground.
            However, when they arrived it was like a scene from a fairytale or an old passage from the bible. Daniel in the lion’s den. The soldiers that had been attacked did have wounds and were banged up pretty good, but they were still alive. There was Rayne, between the slashers and the soldiers, petting one on the nose of all things. The mindless killing machine they’d come to know it as, was purring like a giant cat. If they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, it was as farfetched a story as there ever could be. That was when people in the colony dubbed Rayne, Snow White. On this occasion, Taylor stayed true to protocol and arrested her leaving her once again a guest of the brig.
            “So.” Rayne said clearing her throat pulling back and patting her hands on his chest, “Moving on from my moment of melancholy.” She said looking up at him with a smile, “Must be close to midnight. I wonder what there is to do now.” She said with a mischievous grin.
            “Hmm. I wonder.” He said wrapping his arms around her holding her soft warm body against his. Then he kissed her once, and then again as she anxiously returned his touches and caresses.
            “Does this mean I’m off the hook?” She breathed as he moved down to her neck tasting her skin.
            “Not even close,” Taylor reached down and swept her up into his arms carrying her to his bunk.

Positioning
            “You know, if we could somehow manage to shove a satellite up there, we can stop terrorizing the animals.” Rayne said looking on the monitor.
            “You designed the system, Rayne.” Jim Shannon said, “And you examined one of the first birds we ‘bugged’ and said there were no adverse affects.”
            Rayne sighed, “I know.”
            “But, if you haven’t learned anything these past few years Jim, Rayne doesn’t like to use the animals this way.” Taylor pointed out.
            “Okay,” Rayne said punching in a few commands, “We can’t have a live feed, for obvious reasons, the program only records all of the transmitters 5 times an hour, and then projects the layout of the map like this.” She pulled up the image. “So, when we’re seeing something, it could be 5 to 15 minutes apart. As fast as the Sixer’s move, it won’t do us very much good unless they’re staying in one spot.”
            “But if we track them long enough, we can figure out where their hiding and camping spots are, right?” Jim said.
            “That could take months, but Commander Taylor and I have an idea how to make that go a bit faster. Whenever we have convoys or patrols in the Sixer’s territory, they move again just to be on the safe side. As long as we send nonthreatening or descript military in that direction, we can keep them moving so they don’t suspect what we’re doing.” Rayne explained.
            “That’s great.” Shannon said with a smile. “Wow, we should have thought of this years ago.” He looked at his watch, “I’ve got to go meet up with Lt. Washington, but I can come back in a few hours, see if anything’s turned up and maybe we can figure out a plan of attack.” The sheriff turned and left the office. As soon as he was gone, Rayne called Taylors attention to the screen.
            “This is more the whole reason we started this.” Rayne said pulling up another map and zooming in on a green indicator.
            “Is that him?” He asked.
            “It keeps moving in and out of the Sixer’s camp every few days. I don’t know who else it would be. Regardless of where they are, he always returns to the same spot.” She pulled up another map showing it to him. “That must be where he’s living on his own.”
            “We’ll watch it a while longer. See if the pattern remains the same.” Taylor said. “I don’t want to lose this opportunity. We might not get another.”He kissed her cheek, “Besides, we can’t do anything about it until after the baby comes now anyway.”
            Rayne sighed and gave a nod before going back to work as Taylor left to go see to some other things.

Loving
            Taylor kissed Rayne before pulling her shirt off and tossing it to the floor. His hands returned to her body and traveled against her skin, up her arms, over her shoulders and down her back pulling her closer to him as they found each other’s lips and kissed again. Rayne’s hands rested against his bare chest, loving the feel of his hard body beneath them, and the beat of his heart. Sometimes when she couldn’t sleep at night, she would rest her hand over his heart just feeling the steady beat. It was comforting and made her feel very safe.
            Nathaniel’s fingertips slipped under the straps of her bra and pulled them down over her shoulders, completely baring her skin. He kissed her shoulder, before moving to the other and placing gentle kisses there as well. His hands moved over her back, finding the clasp of the garment and releasing it letting it fall to the floor with her shirt.
            They looked into each other’s eyes, each one moving their hands over the others body just wanting to feel close, and share the affection they had for one another. There were instances when they rushed their time together, ravaging each other in the heat of passion and lust. There were other times, like this time when they took things slow. Took their time leaving no part untouched and caressed.
            They continued to lavish affection on one another in the darkness. Taylor sunk down to his knees and kissed her tummy and abdomen, where their child grew deep inside. He kissed her tenderly then rested his cheek to her belly, wrapping his arms around her hugging her tight. Rayne wrapped her arms around him holding him against her.
            The love they felt for each other ran deep into their hearts. Neither went looking for it, on each other or anyone else, nor expected to find it. But when their souls touched, they melded together never to be separated again.

Delivery
            “So?” Rayne said laying on the bio-bed with their new arrival in her arms. “We can get to work on that other matter now, yeah?”
            “Rayne,” Taylor said holding her hand looking into her eyes. “You just gave birth. Maybe give yourself a few days . . . if not weeks before hopping right out of bed like that?”
            “Nathaniel, the sooner we get this taken care of, the less stress it’s going to be on everyone. Including the colony.” She pointed out.
            “You know, it’s waited this long, I think we can wait a while longer.” Taylor said not about to let her rush her recovery like that. “It can wait.”
            Rayne sighed and looked at their newborn child and smiled seeing the way he yawned. “Willow Ayonie Taylor, William Nathaniel Taylor, Cory James Taylor, River Cara Taylor, and now Stephen Nate Taylor.” She kissed the little ones head ever so tenderly, “Welcome to the family my little one.” She whispered.
            “Do you think the Nate is reaching for it a little?” Taylor asked. “To self serving?”
            Rayne grinned, “No. He’s your son, Nathaniel. I wish we could have done it for Cory in his name somewhere.” She admitted. “Either way, all three sons are Taylor’s.”
            “Hmm. Two daughters, three sons.” He said with a small smile before leaning over and kissing her before looking down at their child. “You’ve given me such a beautiful family, honey.” Rayne smiled before wrapping her arms around the baby and touching her perfect small fingers. “Stephen.” She whispered.

Loading a Trap
            “You’re kidding. Right? You have to be kidding, right?” Jim Shannon said following after them. “You’re both going OTG, at the same time, in the same ATV, . . . together?”
            “Yes, Shannon I don’t see what is so hard for you to grasp here.” Taylor said.
            “Um, the downright idiocy of it? Not to mention the entire colony knows that the two of you are going out together without backup and by yourselves. This is not conducive to survival for either of you.” Shannon said as they came to the concrete slab near the gate where their Rover was waiting after it had been fitted with provisions.
            “Idiocy.” Taylor said coming to a stop and looking at Shannon who realized his choice of words, however true, probably weren’t the best.
            “I just don’t think this is a good time for . . . a second honeymoon.” Shannon said utterly frustrated.
            Taylor just smiled before turning and climbing in the Rover as Rayne had already climbed in the other side ready to go. “You and Washington are in charge until I get back. Should only be two days or so.”
            “Commander, if something happens to the two of you it won’t just be the colony that suffers. You and Rayne have a 3 month old son, not to mention your other four children.” He said in a lower voice.
            “Terra Nova has been going strong for quite some time now, Jim. I’m pretty sure that Rayne and I can last a few days OTG. Both of us have spent a large amount of time in the field on own on.” With that he closed the door and the gates were opened letting them leave the colony.
            Shannon had this strange feeling that there was something more going on, but he wasn’t quite sure what. Washington walked over and stood next to him watching as the Rover disappeared out of sight. “You getting that same funny feeling I am?” Wash asked.
            “Yeah. Like this isn’t just a causal day trip.” He looked at the Lt. “They’re doing something they shouldn’t be. At least not by themselves.”

Preparations
            The couple where camped out in one of the burrows that Rayne frequented when she was out in the field. It was well hidden, and no animals had made it their home in her absence. It served their purposes very well.
            Rayne checked the positioning grid again as she and Taylor were preparing for their task. Making sure that their target was following the same routine. She marked the coordinates on the map and the time, before she checked it yet again.
            Taylor was going over their weapons situation, making sure the power cells were charged and spares were readily available for each one. He looked up when Rayne put her positioning equipment aside and she began to check the adjustments on her bow that she used to hunt when she was in the field, having brought a fresh string to replace the old since it had been a while.
            “You still any good with that?” Taylor asked. Rayne gave a nod, and continued doing what she was doing. “I can’t believe you have actual candles in here. You must have hand made these. There are chem. Lights in the colony, you could have just brought those out.” She gave a nod and still she was silent. “You haven’t said a word since we left the colony. About anything.” Taylor mentioned, but still she didn’t respond. “What’s on your mind, hon?” He asked finally.
            “Just concentrating.” She replied simply as she finished stringing her bow and then adjusting the tension. Taylor hardly believed that for a minute, and put the riffle down before walking over to her.
            “Uh huh.” He walked over and leaned on the wall next to her looking down at her clearly seeing she was distracted. “If you aren’t sure about this, I need to know now. You don’t have to come with me if . . .”
            “Of course, I’m coming with you.” She said in a frustrated tone stopping what she was doing. Taylor just looked at her a moment waiting to hear what was going on. “I’m just getting . . . a sick feeling inside, that’s all.” She sighed and rubbed her eyes with her hand, “like bats flying around in the bit of my stomach, crashing into the walls.”
            “Hmm.” He said, “Any chance you’re pregnant again?” Taylor was joking of course trying to lighten the heavy mood, but she wasn’t feeling the humor.
            “We’ve been married for almost ten years, and still, you have a single track mind!” She said putting her bow down before standing and storming over to count the arrows. He hadn’t realized how upset she really was otherwise he wouldn’t have tried to be funny.
            “I realize that this might be hard for you. Regardless of who we’re going after, it’s never easy knowing your hunting down a human being with lethal intentions. It’s only natural to be scared, Rayne. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about.” He tried to explain.
            “I’m not scared for me.” She said raising her voice but not looking at him, then she put down her arrows and covered her face, “Or maybe I am, I don’t know.”
            Now he had a clearer picture of what was going on. They were going after Lucas, who was going to go for the kill shot any time he had it. The time for games and torment was over, and no one was going to be pulling their punches anymore. “Baby,” he said walking up behind her and putting his hands on her shoulders.
            Rayne closed her eyes and covered his hand with hers holding tightly, “Ten years isn’t enough, Nathaniel.” She said her voice breaking and tears in her eyes.
            He wrapped his arm around her holding her tight, “We always knew that a day was going to come when I wasn’t going to be around anymore.” He said in a gentle voice. “You’re young, you’re smart, your strong . . . .God knows your still smokin’ hot.” She smiled and laughed a little even though she was holding back tears. “But we knew that we weren’t going to have 20 or 30 years. I’m pushing 65, honey and I’m the kind of man who is meant to leave this world with my boots on.” Rayne reached up and wiped her eyes as Taylor turned her around to face him rubbing her shoulders and arms. “You’ve given me five beautiful children. Willow is so intelligent and independent, just like her mother. Nathan, Cory, River are all far smarter than I ever was when I was a kid. I have no doubt that Mathew is going to be just as smart and adventurous as his brothers and sisters. The sound of kids laughter and feet fill our house night and day and it’s like music to my ears. I never could have asked for such a wonderful gift as the home you’ve given me. Full of life, and laughter, and love. You’ve given me everything, Rayne. Everything. You have made me so happy, sweetheart.”
            “But there is still so much for us to do.” Rayne closed her eyes as more tears escaped and took a breath forcing herself to gain some composure as she reached up drying the tears from her face and eyes again. “Willow, is daddy’s girl. It doesn’t matter what she’s doing or where she is or who she’s with, she’d rather be with you.” She began looking into his eyes, “Our children deserve to know you. Not just from photos, or videos, or stories from colonists in Terra Nova.”
               “Honey,” Taylor said feeling her body tremble. “No one is saying it’s going to end tomorrow.” He said with a smile, “I’m not planning on going out there with a big target painted on my face. Okay?” He said rubbing her shoulders a bit more trying to comfort her and calm her down. We’re well prepared; we’ve been working on everything down to the last detail for over a year. We have the upper hand here.”
               She nodded a moment before changing and shaking her head, “I can’t shake this feeling, Nathaniel. It’s like cinders in my throat, and I can hardly breathe.” Taylor looked at her and sighed before kissing her softly. Then he kissed her again much deeper. Rayne’s hand rested against his face as he wrapped his arms around her squeezing her against his body. She wrapped her arms around his neck and desperately kissed him back just wanting to feel him against her. After a moment she took a breath cupping his face in her hands, “Make love to me, Nathaniel.” She whispered resting her forehead against hers, “Please.”
              It was something they both wanted and needed more than anything right now. They began to kiss again passionately, as they began to shed clothing each needing to feel the others body against their own as they sank to the floor together and spent the next few hours making love in the candlelight.
             Taylor would never tell her or let her see that he was just as upset and anxious on the inside about everything that was happening. Lucas, even after everything he had done to them, all the horrors he’d inflected on them, was still his son. Tomorrow, they were going to kill his firstborn child for the sake of younger children. It was the worst scenario a father could ever have to face.

Ambush
            Lucas was walking through the dense jungle brush back to where he stayed. It was a place he had found and made his home after he had been banished from Terra Nova and before the Sixer’s arrived. It was well off the beaten path, cleverly hidden, and most larger animals couldn’t get to it. It was just off a high cliff that fell a good 300 feet into a ravine below of jagged rocks. With the back of it cut off like that, he would only have to worry about defenses around the front. It really was a clever set up as long as you weren’t prone to sleepwalking. Perhaps all those years of trying to teach Lucas about survival and defense techniques did sink in somewhat.
            As he made his way through the Jungle canopy down towards his home, he paused when he heard something that seemed out of place. It was like a hum or a buzzing sound that he wasn’t familiar with. Something that definitely didn’t belong this far out in the jungle.
            He turned his head only slightly before continuing on his way as if he had dismissed the sound. Perhaps he would have if it wasn’t paired with the feeling that someone was watching him. Reaching to his side, he took out his pistol and turned on the power cell keeping his hand on it as he kept moving.

Firefight
            Regardless of all the preparation work they had done, they didn’t manage to take into account how paranoid he’d become living out here on his own. The traps set in the area weren’t just for animals.
            This resulted in Lucas stalling Taylor long enough to find a covered position to fire at him from. Now, Taylor was behind a large formation of rocks and Lucas had gotten cover behind two large trees. They were at a stalemate for the moment, as they both stood ready to fire if the other poked their head out again.
            “Seems like you learned a thing or two over the years, boy!” Taylor called out as he changed the power cell in his sonic pistol.
            “Didn’t have much choice old man. After you banished me from the colony.” Lucas called back planning out his next move. “So you’re up to five now! You’d think that you’d get tired of that whore. I’m sure there are plenty young hot pieces of ass coming through the portal.”
            Taylor narrowed his eyes hating it when he talked about Rayne like that but he couldn’t let it get to him right now. “You have three brothers and two sisters you’ve never even met!” Lucas slipped from behind the trees making his way towards the cliffs. “Would have been so easy for you to come back and be part of the family, Lucas. If you just had the wherewithal to apologize and change your ways!” Taylor heard his movement and quickly ducked back around the rock to cut him off.
            Lucas paused a moment seeing the point he was trying to get to, but there was an open space without cover he’d have to get passed. Lucas crouched down on the ground and listened trying to hear if there was anyone close by. Taking a breath, he lunged out. As suspected, a powerful sonic blast fired sending wood and rock shrapnel in every direction. Lucas found cover again and quickly wiped the brush off his face finding some splinters had nicked him in the neck.
            “Half siblings. Not even the good half!” Lucas shouted. Taylor kept his eyes glued on the spot that Lucas had moved too, as he found a better position further down the trail. “Where is the bitch anyway!”
            “You sure have a foul mouth, boy. All times time in the wild by yourself has made you forget your manners!” Taylor shouted back.
            Rayne was up in the trees keeping a close watch and following them, her bow in hand an arrow trained on the target whenever she had line of sight. Lucas kept ducking down not giving her a chance for a clean shot. Taylor told her to absolutely not enter the fray until absolutely necessary. Giving away the fact that she was there and where her position was would put them at a disadvantage. Despite the denseness of the jungle it was still difficult keeping them in line of sight. They could move much faster, and Lucas knew this area much better than either of them did. It was part of the reason Taylor was keeping this conversation going to give her the ability to stay close, even though there was nothing left to say between him and Lucas. Not after all this time.
            Lucas made another mad dash through the brush diving underneath shrubbery and slipping underneath and between the plants. Taylor followed but stopped seeing where Lucas had disappeared, not about to follow the same route. If he tried he could come up on the other side with severe consequences. Instead he doubled back going around the small cluster of trees.
            Still trying to keep up, Rayne frowned seeing they were getting closer to the cliffs and the tree line stopped and wouldn’t allow her to follow so close or see what was going on. She had no choice, she had to go down to ground level. She put the arrow back in her quiver and slung the strap of the bow across her chest so she could climb. Now both Taylor and Rayne had lost sight of Lucas.
            Taylor stopped and listened for the slightest sound so he could figure out where Lucas had gone. Crouching down low he moved around the rocks before stopping and listening again. The sound of snapping branches caught his attention and he started to round the corner but quickly fell back when several long wood spears sharpened at the end flew passed him and struck the rock he was using for cover. “Damnit.” He said realizing that Lucas had gotten the upper hand. Now he had access to whatever traps and defenses he had around his hut.
            Rayne started to climb over another cluster of plants, but she quickly dropped to the ground when what sounded like a barrage of arrows was fired at her. She sat up and took the bow off her shoulders and frowned when she saw the string had been severed making it useless. She sighed and put it and the quiver of arrows down, before taking out her knife and quickly crawling down low to get over to where Taylor and Lucas had disappeared too.
            Taylor quickly repositioned in another direction and caught a glimpse of Lucas moving through the brush. He aimed his pistol and fired several times but missed the target. He was hot on his heels now and couldn’t lose sight of him again. However he stopped cold sliding a few feet on the gravel finding himself at the edge of the cliffs at the end of the path.
            “That was stupid.” Lucas said from behind Taylor. Taylor raised his hands as he turned seeing his son had his pistol trained squarely on the Commanders head. “Toss the sonic.” He ordered, “back over the cliff.” He sighed and turned tossing the weapon over as he’d been told and kept his hands where Lucas could see him. Lucas grinned as he stepped closer and Taylor took a step back trying to stay away from the sudden drop.
            “I’m sure you dreamed about this scenario for years.” Taylor said starring at his wayward offspring.
            “Oh, you have no idea.” Lucas said not getting closer than 8 feet away knowing his father could take him if he got any closer. Lucas was no soldier, Taylor was. “One of my other traps went off. Who are you here with? Washington? Some other grunt from your toy soldier collection?” Taylor didn’t answer and Lucas smiled, “Doesn’t matter. Just wondered who I was burying.”
            “You killed them?” Taylor said his eyes wide.
            “Didn’t hear or see anything after the trap went off.” Lucas said. “I doubt they made it too long after being hit.”
            The Commander clinched his jaw at the thought that Rayne had been mortally wounded. “All those brains in your head, no room left in your heart for mercy.”
            “Mercy?” Lucas said his smile fading. “You, of all people dare to talk of me of mercy?” He half laughed in disbelief, “Look around you, old man. This is where I’ve lived, by myself, surviving and starving while you were with that whore in Terra Nova, doing your best to forget I ever existed. You hate me so much; you’ve come out here to put an end to me altogether.”
            “I never hated you, boy. I hated the things you’ve done, the monster you’ve become, but I never hated you.” Taylor admitted.
            “Well, I guess that’s all over now, isn’t it.” Lucas aimed squarely at Taylor’s face preparing to fire when a knife flew through the hair sticking in his shoulder. He roared in pain and started to double over, but quickly held up the gun at Taylor when he saw the Commander starting to move causing him to stop in place again.
            “Stop!” Rayne yelled appeared from the large curtain of plants and Lucas laughed.
            “Of course. Of course it’s you. You two, as thick as thieves.” He said panting for air as his shoulder screamed with pain causing his arm to shake. Taylor started to lunge at Lucas again but he fired a blast knocking Taylor back and he landed hard on the ground, his back striking a rock knocking his wind out. Nathanial coughed and gasped for air. “Hi mom.” Lucas said looking at Rayne still holding the gun on Taylor.
            “I’m not your mother, Lucas. I never wanted to be, I never tried to be.” She said to keep him talking now that she had no weapons left.
            “After all this time, after wanting the two of you out here together, here you are.” Lucas said starting to laugh. Reaching up he wrapped his fingers around the handle of the knife preparing to pull it out. But Rayne quickly stepped towards him.
            “No, no. Don’t do that.” She said as he prepared to fire at Taylor again making her freeze in place. “If you pull it out you’ll bleed to death in minutes.”
            Lucas looked at her thinking that was odd. “That’s what you came out here to do, isn’t it?” He said looking at her not knowing why she’d warned him. “To kill me.”
            Rayne took a breath her eyes moving towards Taylor a moment before looking at Lucas again, “Not if we didn’t have to. Not if you let us take you back to Terra Nova.” Lucas looked at her another moment and started to laugh again.
            “To what? To a jail cell? To spend the rest of my life under lock and key, or just to await straight out execution? Oh, I don’t think so.” Lucas said not believing that for a minute. He looked at his father on the ground again, “All this time building up a big family. How old is that girl now, 10?” He asked. “Willow. My first replacement.”
            “She’ll be nine in two weeks.” Rayne said quickly. “She’s my daughter, Lucas. She’s my child. William, Cory, River, Stephen they are all mine.” She was trying to take the focus off the connection between the children and Taylor. “She was never meant to replace you. None of them are.”
            He smirked, “Oh wasn’t she. You think I don’t know? You think I’m oblivious to the fact of who is his favorite??” He looked at Taylor, “Don’t worry, you’re precious little angel will follow right after I kill you, and I kill your bitch.” The glare in Lucas’ eye was a clear indication he was preparing to kill Taylor now, as he pushed the charge up on his pistol all the way. At such a close range, the damage it would inflict would be extensive.
            “No, don’t!” Taylor hollered when he saw the desperation in Rayne’s eyes and her body tense up. Rayne screamed and threw herself forward landing on Lucas grabbing the handle of the knife and shoving it further into his body his hand clinching her arm to push her off. The force at which she hit him knocked him back and sent him over the steep cliffs, his hand still around Rayne’s arm like a vice taking her with him.
            Taylor’s eyes went wide “RAYNE!!” He screamed as he quickly got up scrambling to the edge. “RAYNE!!!” It happened within seconds, It was already too late. The Commander could see the bodies on the rocks far down below. It was like a nightmare, the entire world seemed to stop and he could hear his own heartbeat ringing in his ears.

Recovery Team
            Washington and a team left the Colony, using Rayne’s tracking system to find their Commander and his wife who had gone rouge and left the colony. When they found the Commander, he had made his way down the face of the steep cliffs to where Rayne and Lucas had fallen. It was such a long fall both had died on impact into the hard rock base.
            The soldiers helped in recovering the bodies, wrapping them up and securing them to return back to the colony. It was too late now to return to Terra Nova, they had to stay the night before leaving at first light.
            “Sir.” Washington said sitting down next to Taylor at the fire that had been built. He’d been flipping through the pages of his handwritten journal for some time.
            “I wrote this for her.” Taylor said closing the book holding it in his hands. “Basically a dairy of everything from the first day I stopped thinking about her as a spoiled pain in the ass. There are pictures of us, our wedding, with the kids. Everything up to last night before we came out here to . . .” He stopped not even wanting to finish the thought. “I wrote this for her, so she would remember me, our time together. Because I was twice her age. Too old for her, from the beginning, I know. I can’t deny that. Figured a couple years with me, then I’d be gone, but she’d still have our family. Our kids.” He turned the book over in his hands. “I wrote this for her because I was supposed to go first. She was supposed to bury me, not the other way around.”
            “It wasn’t your fault.” Wash said in a soft voice.
            “Wasn’t it?” He asked looking at her. “Most people just looked at us and knew we shouldn’t be together. What made me so God damned blind.”
            “You loved her, Nathaniel. God knows that Rayne loved you. You both wanted to be together.” Wash reminded him. “Rayne was a strong willed, smart, and very independent woman. She was with you because she really and truly wanted to be with you. If she didn’t, it would have been easy for her to disappear into the jungle and never come back.”
            “He might have left her be, if we hadn’t gotten married. From the moment we were together he fixated on her. Wanted to hurt her, punish her for things she wasn’t guilty of. I knew Lucas, what he was capable of, how much he’d come to hate me and I ignored it. Even after what he did to her, she recovered from it so quickly and so well . . . somehow I could still manage to ignore it.”
            Washington listened to him blaming himself for Rayne’s death. He wasn’t going to accept anything else, not for a while. “What about your kids?” She asked simply. “The book could be a gift for them. About their mother and father.”
            Taylor half laughed, “I don’t know about that. Some of the memories in here are pretty graphic. Hardly something a kid wants to walk in on much less read about in great vivid detail.” Washington smiled and laughed with him having slightly embarrassed herself.
            “Well, you might want to edit it a little then first.” She suggested.
            “Yeah.” Taylor agreed.
            Washington could see how distraught he was and how close the book was to the flames, “Sir,” she began, “You think maybe I could hold onto it for a while?”
            Taylor looked at her a moment, “Why?”
            “Rayne was my friend, just like you are. I wouldn’t presume so much to say I’m like family . . . but, I’ve been so close to both of you. To the kids.” She stated.
            He was quiet for a moment looking at the old worn book again before it handed it to her. “Read it Wash.” Was all he said before standing and walking away. She was relieved when he had given it to her and put it away in her jacket.

Funeral Arrangements
            “Are you sure this is what you want to do?” Shannon asked Taylor who was standing at the window looking out.
            “We’ve done funeral pyre’s before Jim, this won’t be too much different.” Taylor stated.
            “I realize that, but . . . .I mean . . . well it’s Rayne . . . .” Jim wasn’t sure it was really his place to be mentioning it.
            He sighed, “I can’t put another wife in the ground, Shannon. I can’t bury her out there, and she wouldn’t want that. This is better. I’ll scatter her ashes in the jungle, where she was happiest.” Taylor paused a moment, “And I know myself well enough to realize that I’ll spent too much time in memorial field if she’s there.” The office fell silent for a moment before Taylor seemed to pull himself back into reality for a moment, “Thank you to Elizabeth and Maddy for helping with the kids.”
            “They’re happy to help.” Jim said. Another moment passed, “What about Lucas?”
            “He’ll be buried in the cemetery.” Taylor stated. “After everything, after all this time, everything he’s done . . . he’s still my son.” Just then the door of the office opened and Willow ran in to Taylor. He bent down and caught her in his arms picking her up and hugging her close. “Hey sweetheart.”
            “I’m going to go check on things. Make sure we can start when you’re ready.” Jim said before leaving the two alone. Taylor set Willow back to her feet before taking her over to a chair and sitting down.
            He took both of her hands in his, “Do you know what we’re doing today?” He asked, “Do you understand?”
            Willow’s eyes were firmly on the floor but she gave a nod, “We’re saying goodbye to mommy.” A child’s view of things was so simplistic and clear. Seeing the necklace she wore, he reached up and touched the pendant. “Mommy made it for me.” Taylor smiled a little and nodded. “Daddy?”
            “Yeah, baby?” He said.
            “I miss mommy.” She said in a sad voice.
            “I know. Me too.” He said wrapping his arms around her hugging her as she wrapped her arms around his neck burying her face in his shoulder. “Me too.”

Epitaph
            Taylor lived quite a while longer. Another 10 years after Rayne had passed away. As he always said he would, he died with his boots on in the field. Fighting the last of the fugitive Sixer’s in the jungle when they had foolishly attempted to infiltrate Terra Nova. After Lucas died, there were Sixer’s who wanted to mend their ways and return to the colony. But there were still a large number who wanted to make Terra Nova pay for everything they felt wronged for. They continued to plunder, pillage, and ransack anything they could come in contact with. They turned into a raiding party and nothing more than thieves and bandits.
             Willow, who was now 19, presided over her father’s funeral. Like her mother, he was cremated and his ashes were to be scattered where Rayne’s had been. He didn’t much want to be buried in the ground either.
            The colony had grown, and Willow’s youngest brother Stephen, was 10 now. She’d helped Nathaniel take care of her brothers and sisters after Rayne died, and she would continue taking care of them. It was a hard life starting a new colony in a place like this. Death was commonplace and all who came through the portal or were born to Terra Nova knew it all too well.
            After the ceremony, when the cinders of the funeral pyre had lost their glow, Lt. Washington who was now the Commander of Terra Nova, walked up to Willow who had stayed from beginning to end. “You’re father would be proud of you, Willow.” She said, “So would your mother. They both loved you so much.”
            Willow nodded a little. “As I am proud they were my parents.” She was still a little in shock. Even knowing her father’s age and what a dangerous job he had, she still hadn’t been prepared when the news came.
            Washington looked at her knowing she was hurting and took out a small parcel wrapped in cloth. “This is yours.” She said softly. “Your father wanted you to have it.”
            Willow untied the string and opened the cloth finding a tattered old handwritten journal. She opened it finding it filled with her father’s handwriting, and pictures of her parents, and their family. Tears filled her eyes but a smile swept her face when she saw a picture of Rayne, Nathaniel and herself. It was taken just a week or two before Rayne died. They were happy, smiling . . . laughing. Taylor had his arms around his two girls tickling them both to make sure they were smiling big enough for the picture, and Rayne had her arms around Willow. She looked at Wash, “Thank You.” She said as tears escaped from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
            Washington reached up and wiped the young woman’s tears away from her eyes, “You look so much like your mother.” She whispered with a smile, before she wrapped her arms around her and hugged her tight. "You don't have to be afraid. You won't ever be alone."
            "Don't you know?" Willow said pulling back looking at Wash as a smile swept her face, "Taylor's aren't afraid of anything."
            Wash smiled seeing her blue eyes shine like her fathers did through the tears. She wrapped her arm around the young woman as they turned making their way back to the colony, back to Terra Nova.

The End
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A New Beginning