Adult-FanFiction.org : Television / Streaming

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
- 1
- 2
- 3
(PLEASE SEND FEEDBACK!!! Comment on my story or e-mail me directly mercilessraven@yahoo.com)

Wedding Plans
            “That’s so beautiful.” Dr. Shannon said when she walked into Rayne’s quarters. She was being fitted for her wedding dress, and it was extensive.
            “Uh huh.” Rayne said looking a bit worn out. The two ladies that were there helping her helped her out of the dress as they picked it up and headed out to go make some adjustments. Rayne sighed and flopped down on her couch. “God, shoot me now.”
            Dr. Shannon smiled and came over taking out her scanner and sitting down next to her. “How are you feeling today?”
            “Irritated.” Rayne said honestly. “I haven’t had any privacy or peace in a month. How come Nathaniel gets to escape this torture and I’m stuck directing all the wedding activity . . . or I think maybe we have a wedding planner. I think the job is split between five women who are living vicariously through me.”
            The doctor laughed a bit, “Yes well it is exciting. Not just for you and Taylor, but for the colony.” She continued her scan, “You’re looking good. 100% healthy and back to yourself.” She said putting her equipment away. “Although you may need to get a little rest. I can give you a sedative if you like.” She said jokingly.
            “Doesn’t matter. If you did that, I think I’d get propped up with something and fitted again.” Rayne said. “Was your wedding this much of a headache?”
            “Mine? No. Me and Jim were so anxious to get married we didn’t have time to plan for a wedding.” She smiled a little. “Oh come on, you must be having a little fun.”
            Rayne sat up looking at her, “not as much as everyone else is.” She said. “I think he is way more used to this much attention then I am. I just want to run away and hide out with slashers rather than be here.”
            The doctor smiled a moment before she decided she would ask about her other concern. “How are you doing? After . . . everything.” She said not wanting to say it out right in case it did upset her.
            “We’re okay.” She said softly. “I think, he’s not happy with me right now.”
            “Oh?” The doctor asked thinking that a bit odd if he was blaming her outright for what had happened.
            Rayne smiled a bit, “That wasn’t what I meant. We’re not sharing a room right now, not until after the wedding. My idea.” She admitted but her smile faded, “I think I’m regretting it right now.”
            Doctor Shannon laughed, “Well, it’ll make your wedding night all the better.”
            “Yeah, but it’s six weeks away.” Rayne said with a whine.
            “This might explain the commander’s sudden rash of irritability.” Elizabeth said. Rayne laughed a little and Elizabeth joined her. “Course it might explain your irritability too.”
            “Oh you have no idea.” Rayne said rubbing her eyes slightly. “I imagine you’re quite happy when you’re with your husband.”
            “Yes, definitely. Me and Jim have always been attracted to each other. It was torture being away from him before we came here.” She said, “Was like our wedding night when we could finally settle down and be together again.”
            Rayne nodded, “Well, here’s hoping.”

Wedding Day
            “I know this is going to go wrong somehow.” Rayne said standing with Elizabeth who she chose to be her Maître of honor. “I just have that feeling when somethings about to go horribly south.”
            “Relax.” Dr. Shannon said fixing a bit of lace on Rayne’s sleeve, “every bride feels nervous on her wedding day.” Music started playing giving them their cue, and Elizabeth smiled at Rayne, “Ready?” Rayne took a deep breath and they took their places.
            After the vows were exchanged and they were pronounced, the reception began. It was a huge party that rivaled that of the harvest festival. Rayne had relaxed considerably and both she and Taylor looked very happy together. It wasn’t until a bit later, almost nightfall when what Rayne had feared started to sound.
            The alarm was sounded that the colony was under attack, and instantly everyone of the security and military personnel, including Taylor snapped into action. The words jumped out from one of the towers “SIXERS!” as everyone went to their stations armed and ready for action.
            “Come on.” Elizabeth and her daughter Maddy gathered up Rayne and hurried her inside as the other scientists and doctors and other colonists quickly ran for cover. She was hesitant and didn’t want to go right away.
            “It’s him, I know it’s him.” She said looking towards the gates.
            “Him? Him who?” Elizabeth asked. However Rayne didn’t say anything more and gathered her skirt hurrying back to her quarters next to the lab with Maddy and Elizabeth following behind her hardly able to keep up.
            It seemed that there was a diversionary tactic that didn’t make any sense. Taylor saw Mira, and her men in their rovers, driving around, taking a few pot shots, and then for some reason they just turned around and left. It was odd, and very suspicious.
            It wasn’t until Taylor went to find his bride that he and Jim Shannon discovered what the diversionary tactic was about. Maddy and Elizabeth were down on the floor, both hit with tranquilizer darts, and Rayne was gone. It seemed like there had been a struggle of some kind, but until the girls woke up they wouldn’t have any answers.

Kidnapped
            Elizabeth and Maddy were in the infirmary being checked over to make sure they hadn’t been injured more severely than first thought, or given an over dose of the tranquilizers usually reserved for the large animals that roamed the planet.
            “What happened? Where’s Rayne?” Jim asked his dazed wife who was still trying to get her wits about her.
            “We were attacked, it happened so fast. Maddy and I were helping Rayne change out of her wedding dress, then all of a sudden it seemed like we were surrounded by people. Yelling, and then I felt something sharp and then darkness.” Elizabeth said trying to recall the pieces.
            “Did they take her?” Taylor asked. “Did they take Rayne?” He said repeating his question.
            “They must have.” Elizabeth said.
            “I remember she called something out.” Maddy said wondering if her mom could recall it.
            “Yes, yes it was a name. I heard her call a name before total black out, it was um . . . Louis?” Elizabeth said.
            “Lucas.” Taylor said correcting her with a name that made more sense. “It was Lucas who took her?”
            “Yes, I heard her say it.” Maddy said. “It was like ‘Lucas, no. leave me alone’.”
            “You two get fixed up, then get some rest.” Taylor said turning and leaving the infirmary. Quickly, Jim followed him out. “Word must have gotten back to them, to him that we were getting married today. Why else would he decide to do something like this.”
            “You think their spy told them? How would that be useful information? And what would be the point of kidnapping the bride from her wedding?” Jim asked.
            “To hurt me.” Taylor said coming to a stop looking at him. “He’ll hurt her, to hurt me.”
            It seemed that the situation was even more dire, that the only reason she would be taken would be to spite Taylor. “Where would he take her?”
            “God only knows. We haven’t been able to locate the Sixer’s, and they can’t even keep track of him.” Taylor said. “We’ve gotta get out there and look now. If Rayne is awake, she’s making it hard for them to take her. She leave clues but they won’t put up with her for long.”
            “Let’s go.” Shannon said as they hurried to dispatch the rovers and other military.

Lost and Found
            “They don’t have her.” Taylor said looking out of the tower towards the canopy. “My man in Mira’s camp, said that they don’t have her and don’t know where she is. Lucas took her by himself.”
            “Something’s gotta turn up soon. We’ll get something and we’ll find her.” Shannon said.
            “Yeah,” He said turning and looking at Jim, “But in how many pieces?”
            “SIR!!!” Wash said running up the stairs to where the Commander was. “We found her.”
            “Where?” He asked.
            Washington hesitated for a moment before she answered, “The Falls.”

Punishment
            It was a bizarre sort of reality when they arrived on the scene, Elizabeth with a med team and supplies not knowing what they would find. When they went up the rocks, Taylor was the first to see her laying sprawled out on her side near a large boulder. It looked like she’d been thrown from the falls themselves and landed far from the water.
            “My God.” The Doctor said as she hurried over with her kit and assistance and instantly took her pulse taking out her scanner and quickly moving over her body to assess her injuries. “She’s still alive.” Elizabeth said. “We need to get her back to the colony.”
            The medics that had come with her and soldiers scrambled to get the equipment needed to transport her out of the falls and off the rocks into a rover so they could get back home to Terra Nova. “How bad is it?” Taylor asked.
            “Hard to say right now, but there seems to be some internal bleeding. We need to get her home.” The Doctor reached out and carefully turned Rayne over on her back. They had gotten her changed into shorts and a tank top when she got out of her dress, and it didn’t leave to much to the imagination as far as her injuries went. There was extensive bruising on her arms and face. When the doctor reached out and pushed her shirt up a little, there was deep purple and black bruising across her chest and abdomen. “These are more than a day old.”
            Taylor looked ill to his stomach and looked up around the rock formations, half expecting to see his sons face glaring out at him.

Healing
            “What made you look there?” Jim asked Wash, “That areas off limits isn’t it?”
            “Yes, but that’s common knowledge, and I get the feeling he wasn’t counting on anyone being around there. It seemed like the perfect place to hide.” The Lt. said. “Is she going to be alright sir?” Wash asked turning her attention to Taylor.
            “The Doc’s still working on her, hasn’t reported to me yet.” Taylor said looking out of the window towards the gates where they’d come in earlier. “I don’t know how she’s still alive. Beaten mercilessly and then flung over the falls like a rag doll.” He turned looking at Jim and Wash. “He’s angry with me, he hates me, and he took it out on her.”
            “That isn’t her fault.” Jim said, “And it isn’t your fault either. What he did was just . . . it was him.”
            “6 to 8 months living OTG on her own and she doesn’t get a scratch on her. A few months with me in Terra Nova and she’s had a miscarriage and she’s been beaten half to death and thrown over a cliff. I only see one common denominator in all this Shannon.” Taylor pointed out.
            “You had no control over what Lucas did, none of us could predict this type of depravity.” Wash said.
            Just then, Dr. Shannon came in dressed in her scrubs. Taylor quickly moved closer to her waiting to hear the diagnosis. “I’ve stopped all the internal bleeding, there was no brain damage, but there were some broken ribs and swelling that I want to keep a close watch on. All in all, she’s going to be fine, but it’s going to take some time to recover from her injuries.” Taylor sighed in relief at the news, having been expecting something terrible like she had only been hanging on by a thread and it broke. “Rayne is a strong young woman. She’s going to bounce back from this.” Taylor gave a nod and the Doc looked at Jim motioning for him to come with her. The two left Taylor’s office but Wash stayed behind with him a moment.
            “Why do you think he did it, Sir?” She asked seriously.
            “Because . . . oh a lot of reasons Wash. To many to count at this point.” He said rubbing his eyes. “I don’t know if he meant for her to die out there, or just meant me to find her as she was. If he had intended for her to die, then there is no guarantee he won’t try to take her again. I’ll feel a lot better now that she’s moving in with me permanently but security is going to have to be on high alert. I don’t want her going through this again. Ever.”
            “Yes sir.” Wash said.

Bruises
            “You’re looking better.” Taylor said having learned from Dr. Shannon that once again, Rayne went back to work as soon as she was awake in the infirmary. She had a hard time staying put in that place and made no secrets about it. Instantly when she heard his voice she turned away from him, pulling her hair down over her face slightly. He walked over and took her arm turning her around towards him. Then he smoothed her hair back off her face reveling the large bruise that spanned around her eye and her entire cheekbone on the left side. “It’s nothing, sweetheart.” He said. “It’s already well underway to healing. It’ll be gone in a few days as long as you keep going back to Dr. Shannon.”
            “I screwed up again, didn’t I.” She said softly. “We missed our wedding night.”
            “No,” He said kissing her other cheek. “As soon as you’re feeling better, and ready, we’ll have our wedding night. I promise.” He said.
            Rayne was quiet a moment not certain how she felt right now. “Dr. Shannon says that with treatment the bruises will be gone by Saturday. My ribs might take a little longer.”
            “Well that’s normal. I’ve had a rib or two busted in my life.” He reassured her. “Don’t worry.” He said looking into her eyes. “Everything’s okay. I’m not going to let what happened ruin our happiness.”
            Another quiet moment passed by before she decided to talk to him about something that was firmly on her mind. “Why did he do this to me Nathaniel?” She asked. “Why didn’t he just kill me if that’s what he wanted?”
            This was going to come sooner or later, and she definitely deserved an explanation. He couldn’t brush it aside or make it seem like it was his business and not hers. It was hers now too. Lucas saw to that. “He didn’t want you dead, he wanted to hurt me. To destroy me. It’s been his only goal for over 3 years.”
            “Did he?” She asked looking into his eyes, “Do you realize that I’m his step mother now?” Hearing it out loud gave Taylor pause. “He repeated it to me over and over. It wasn’t you he was mad at, it was me.”
            “That’s not true, Rayne he . . .” Taylor said starting to try and explain what the problem was but she wouldn’t let him.
            “He thinks I’m replacing his mother.” She said bluntly in frustration. He quieted looking at her, “He believes that I’ve always wanted to take her place, and want you to forget Ayonie.” Taylor closed his eyes and shook his head knowing full well that wasn’t the case. Rayne had always respected the memory of his late wife, and never once tried to be like her or take her place. “I tried to tell him it wasn’t true, but he wouldn’t listen.” Rayne held up her left hand showing him that her hand was bare.
            “Where’s your ring?” He asked not once having it seen it off of her finger since he gave it to her.
            “Dr. Shannon has it.” She said seriously. Taylor didn’t quite understand why she would have it. “She took it out of my stomach, Nathaniel.” A look of horror crossed his face, “He put it in my mouth, and made me swallow it.”
            “That’s not . . . it’s not . . .” He couldn’t even form words.
            “He’s broken, Taylor.” She said seriously looking into his eyes. “He’s broken, and he can’t be fixed.”

Lookouts
            “It’s dark out tonight, ain’t it?” Taylor said looking through his binoculars on the porch of his office.
            “It is sir. Always seems that way when it’s a new moon. But the cloud cover doesn’t really help either.” Wash replied. “How’s Rayne doing?”
            “Sleeping with a sonic pistol in her lab.” Taylor said putting the binoculars down a moment scanning the tree line. “According to the doctor, her physical injuries are all healed and she’s 100% again.”
            “I thought you two were going to share your apartment?” Wash asked. The only reason that she could talk to him on such personal matters was because they were very close friends and she had noticed how unhappy both of them had been in stark contrast to their wedding day.
            “Well, she hasn’t been ready to yet. I’ve let it go because she was injured but she’s well again now. I guess there’s no reason to now, but I’m still stalling about it.” Taylor said. “The Doc gave me back her ring, there was no damage to it. But, I’m not entirely sure she would want it back after what happened.” Washington was quiet for a moment before she decided to be bold and turned towards him.
            “Sir, you’ve been happier then I’ve seen you in over a decade.” She said in a lower and gentler voice. “Don’t let him ruin that for you. For either of you.”

You’re Poison Running Through My Veins
            “Rayne?” Taylor said surprised when he found her standing in his quarters. It had been expanded to a families living quarter but as she was still staying in the lab, he’d been sleeping there alone. She seemed somewhat distraught as though she was nervous about being there and wasn’t entirely sure she should be there. “What is it? What’s wrong?” He said stepping closer to her. However she immediately took the same number of steps back to keep him at a distance. He stopped seeing that she wasn’t comfortable with him being close right now and accepting that she needed her space.
            “I was laying in my bunk, in my lab and . . . just thinking about things. Everything.” She began as she started to pace slightly not sure where she was going or what she was meaning to say. Taylor patiently waited, a bit surprised by this sudden event. “I think I . . . . I’m . . . .” She stopped herself and looked at him, “I’ve been back for over a month, and it gets so quiet at night and . . . .” Her thoughts were jumbled and she was frustrated she couldn’t express herself better.
            Taylor almost instinctively knew what had brought her here. It was the same struggle that he had every single night she was locked away from him, but it seemed tonight she had lost her struggle where he had somehow managed to succeed. Rayne stopped and covered her face with her hands taking a deep breath and sighing as though she was actively and deliberately forced herself to calm down.
            Before she could decide that coming here was a bad idea completely and bolt, Taylor took this moment to step forward and get close to her. “Hey,” He said reaching up wrapping his hands around her wrists and lowering them away from her face. Reaching up he gently cupped her face in his hand just rubbing her cheek softly with his thumb. Her eyes still closed, Rayne reached up and covered his hand with hers holding it against her cheek. “I know.” He whispered gently to her.
            Rayne’s eyes opened slowly looking up at him, “You do?” She asked softly. They were looking deep into each others eyes a long moment before at once they began to consume each others mouths with a feverish passion. It seemed that they had both been lonely for one another and neither of them could stand to be apart from the other one any longer. Rayne had kept everyone at a distance on purpose, especially Taylor. He’d given her as much space as he could to the point where they were completely avoiding each other, but it seemed when both of them were alone, all that was on their minds was the other.
            The kiss broke as they were breathing deeply, “Nathaniel, I . . . I don’t know if . . .” She said still stuttering a bit.
            “It’s okay.” He said kissing her again, and then once more cupping her face in his hands before they slid down gently to her neck. “It’s okay,” He breathed between ravaged and desperate kisses. After another moment he backed her towards the bed, and she eagerly followed his direction and it wasn’t long before they fell down onto the bed together, wrapped in each other’s tight embrace. It seemed like only seconds passed before their clothing both fell to the floor and their naked bodies were once again entwined with desperate lust and passion.

Mornings
            Taylor was the first to move as a sound from outside in the busy colony woke him. He raised his head a bit seeing that it was a bit of a late start for him. He’d not slept past sunrise in years. Looking over her saw Rayne was still there, lying beside him sound asleep. He smiled watching her for a moment before turning and wrapping his arm around her lying against her loving the feel of her soft warm body in his embrace.
            After a moment or two, Rayne stirred a little bit and stretched her body lifting her arm over her head and turning back towards him as he wrapped his arms around laying over her. Good morning.” He said.
            “Good morning.” She responded with a smile. They kissed once, and then again and it seemed like if this continued a moment longer, they were going to be occupied for another few hours. “What time is it?” She asked breaking up the kisses for a moment.
            “Still early.” He said, “It’s about 10am I think.”
            “When has that ever been early for either one of us?” Rayne said looking up at him still smiling as she ran her hands down his back and up over his shoulders. They both grinned and kissed again, then once more as their bodies just seemed to move against each other anxiously wanting to devour the other. “Okay, it’s early.” She said rolling over with him as they began to become lost in each other’s embrace once again.

Market Place
            “Seems like things got patched up over there.” Jim said standing next to Wash. They could see the Commander and Rayne in the market place, both eating Zipkabobs which was a popular food in Terra Nova. They were both smiling and having a good time enjoying being together.
            “About time.” Wash said glancing at Shannon. “If they hadn’t gotten back together, then Lucas would have won. After what he’s done, I would prefer it if Lucas didn’t win something like this. Nathaniel has scarified a lot for Terra Nova. He’s entitled to some happiness. A new beginning, fresh start, and a second chance.”
            “Yeah. Seems like he’s sacrificed a lot for Terra Nova. Sometimes I think he’s single handedly kept this place from falling apart.” Jim said.
            “You have no idea how much.” Wash said. “They’ve both been through hell these last months. The fact that they keep bouncing back like this despite everything? They really love each other and want to be together. How many people can really clam to have that.”
            “I’m one of the lucky ones I guess, it’s hard to realize that most people don’t have what Elizabeth and I have. Or what Rayne and Taylor have.” Jim admitted.
            “He’s a very compassionate man, Shannon. More than anyone really knows about him, since as the leader of this colony he can’t show it very often. He has to be strong and not let the colony see he’s just a mortal man like every other man. It’s good that he has something that he can love and care about, be himself in private.” Washington explained. “I think he was forgetting a bit before Rayne came into his life.”
            They watched for a moment before Jim spoke again, “So their age difference . . . .”
            “Doesn’t bother me a bit.” Washington said finishing his sentence. She looked at Shannon, “It doesn’t matter. Not really. They’re two people who found each other, they have a connection, and they make each other happy. What does it matter how many years apart they were born.”
            “I suppose it doesn’t. Yet a lot of people notice, but tend to turn a blind eye I guess.” He paused a moment seeing Taylor wrap his arm around Rayne and they walked out of the marketplace together. “I think everyone is happy for them really.”
            “That’s what worries me.” Wash said.
            Shannon didn’t expect the conversation to take such a sudden turn. “Why?”
            “Because if the Sixer spy is still reporting to them, and to Lucas and it gets back how happy they are and how well they’re coping and moving on from what happened . . . he might try again. His fathers happiness is the worst thing in Lucas’s world right now. The mere thought of it will drive him mad. You saw how he left Rayne, and I don’t think he cared if she had died from the fall or eaten by slashers . . . or both.” Washington sighed, “I haven’t told Taylor, but I’ve added an extra detail to make certain she’s safe when he’s not with her. Just to be sure nothing like what happen on their wedding day happens again.”
            Shannon nodded, “Good.” There was still a lot about Lucas and Taylor that he didn’t know, but Washington apparently did. “How can I help?”

Quarrels
            Taylor sat at his desk with Rayne standing at one side and Malcolm on the other listening to them and watching them argue with each other. This wasn’t a new thing, Rayne and Malcolm always did tend to butt heads with different views on how research should be conducted, but this was getting ridiculous.
            “She can’t withhold information from the science department, that’s the same as . . . as embezzlement. She has vital information for the science division that could potentially help everyone in the colony not to mention future generations.” Malcolm said.
            “If I’m guilty of embezzlement then you’re not any better with stealing research from my work space.” Rayne countered.
            “Stealing . . . . you should have turned it in day one. You shouldn’t have kept these things from us, we need to know about them.” Malcolm said.
            “How do you think this is going to help the human race if my findings are kept and published? It’ll be like people practicing medieval medicine and causing the destruction and extinction of an entire species disrupting the evolutionary chain.” Rayne said.
            “Alright you two.” Taylor said in a loud and stern voice. Both quieted and turned back towards Taylor. “Rayne, you are very well acquainted with protocol and procedure, you know you can’t pick and choose which rules to follow and which not to.” He said seriously, and then he turned to Malcolm who was looking a bit smug. “You, should probably learn a bit more tact and develop a bedside manner which you seem to be lacking any trace of. I don’t blame her for not wanting to discuss this with you.” Taylor said. “Now both of you, stop this nonsense and do your jobs. You’re both on the same side. Allies, not rivals.”
            “Yes sir.” Rayne said feeling a bit sheepish that things had gotten this far out of control.
            “Agreed.” Malcolm said conceding that maybe they were acting a bit childish. Taylor gave a nod before waving them off out of his office. Both of them turned and left.
            On the way back to the labs it seemed that feelings between them had not gotten better, “You still have to follow the rules like the rest of us do.”
            “I do follow the rules, Malcolm. But I’m not a mindless drone. I do my job and I give you everything that I collect.” Rayne replied.
            “Almost everything, except for the parts you seem to think are going to be misused by me or other people in authority.” He sniped.
            “Just because we came back from the future doesn’t mean we’re instantly resolved of being human. How many millions of species of animal have been wiped out in just a few short centuries by our kind, and you think I’m going to give that practice a leg up?” Rayne replied as they were both getting more irritated with the other.
            “That is not your call to make, Rayne. You have a job to do like all the other scientists in Terra Nova, and sleeping with the commander does not give you special privileges.” He said. Rayne came to a stop as soon as he said that starring at him and Malcolm realized he might have overstepped his bounds. “I apologize, I don’t know why I said . . .”
            “Is that what you think?” Rayne demanded. “You and all the others in the science department?”
            “No, no I didn’t mean that, it just sort of . . .” He was clearly embarrassed but Rayne was also clearly upset.
            “If you recall, Malcolm,” She said not letting him say anything else, “I thought you were a jerk before I even started seeing the Commander.” With that she turned and left leaving him in a stunned silence.

Expeditions
            “Nathaniel, please.” She asked, “This is the first Expedition out in that area that requires a zoologist and I’ve never been there before. It’s a great opportunity to see what sort of wildlife nests there.”
            “It’s a 7 month expedition far too close to the badlands for comfort, and I’d rather you not go.” Rayne sighed and crossed her arms feeling like she was paddling upstream.
            “But it’s not like I’m going alone, it’s a full science team with a security escort. We’ll be protected by the soldiers going out with us.” She countered.
            “You were in Terra Nova on our wedding day and you were taken right out of your own Lab.” Taylor said. “How much easier is it going to be out there in the wild to kidnap you if the Sixer’s are still after Mrs. Taylor?” He asked.
            “They’re still after you, you go OTG all the time.” Rayne said.
            To be honest, she had him there. It was hard to counter that argument. “That’s different.”
            “How?” She asked.
            “I’m a soilder, not a scientist.” He said.
            “I spent more time in the field by myself then you have.” Rayne stated. “Unarmed with technology.”
            “You’re only concern were animals, now you have to worry about Sixer’s and Lucas.” Rayne started to make other point but he reached out putting his hands on her shoulder, “Honey, please.” He said halting her speaking, “I just don’t feel comfortable with you leaving the colony right now. With all the other concerns about things and the next pilgrimage on it’s way . . . I’d rather not be worrying nights about if you’re alright.”
            That wasn’t an argument she had anything to. How could she? He was flat out just worried about her and it would be all he thought about on top of the welfare of the colony. She seemed like if there was more she had to say but instead she just quieted and gave a nod.
            He kissed her cheek, “Good.” He rubbed her shoulders slightly, “You have an assistant coming on the next pilgrimage so you won’t have to be doing all of the zoology reports on your own.” He reminded her.
            “I like doing my reports on my own. I do them right.” She said pouting slightly when he walked away. She followed after him, “Who is coming?”
            “I don’t know. The last I heard the woman who was coming to assist you had to be replaced. She came down with a contagious disease that revoked her eligibility by Hope plaza. They assured me they would have a replacement by the pilgrimage. Right now your guess is as good as mine.” Taylor explained.
            “I don’t like guessing.” Rayne sighed.
            “Neither do I, but I’m just happy you’re not going to be doing all this stuff on your own anymore.” Taylor said.

Unfortunate Twists
            Rayne was waiting with the rest of the personnel at the gate when the pilgrimage was brought from the portal. There were a lot of people that were expected, especially personnel. Rayne was there to help anyway as there always needed to be help processing the new colonists. Taylor was walking across the porch of his office overseeing and keeping an eye on everything.
            Suddenly, out of the blue, Rayne was attacked from behind and lifted from her feet as someone wrapped their arms around her and picked her up. She panicked a little and twisted around so they would drop her. When she turn around her eyes were wide, “Jason?” She said in shock before she smiled and hugged him. “Oh my God.”
            “Oh good, I thought you’d forgotten me.” He said with a grin before he suddenly kissed her deeply. Instantly she pushed him back still surprised to see him but incredibly caught off guard by his open affection.
             “What are you . . . . What are you doing here?” She asked his arms still firmly around her. Taylor didn’t miss anything as he had been looking at Rayne when the newcomer approached her and was already halfway down the stairs from his office, Washington fast on his heels.
            “I’m your new assistant. Didn’t they tell you?” He said starting to pull her in for another kiss but she kept her arms firmly locked so he couldn’t.
            “No, we didn’t know who was replacing the woman who wasn’t able to make it.” She was nervous right now, especially at how he was holding her, and others were looking at them. “Jason, you have to let me go.” She said quickly.
            “Why? Aren’t you happy to see me?” He asked.
            “Yes, I’m glad to see you but you really have to let me go now.” She said trying to push his arms off her. He thought she was being silly and seemed like he was going to kiss her again, but was suddenly snatched up by his arm that was twisted hard up his back.
            “I believe the lady asked you nicely, son.” Taylor said into his ear.
            “No, wait.” Rayne said quickly moving closer to them. “He didn’t know,” She said quickly reaching up and putting her hand on Taylor’s arm. “He didn’t mean any harm.”
            “Maybe not,” Taylor said before letting go of the young man pushing him away. Jason turned around rubbing his wrist, his attention sufficiently captured. “But I suggest you listen when a woman tells you no.”
            “Nathaniel, this is my new assistant. Jason Alexander.” She said introducing them. “We did our internship together.” She turned towards Jason, “Jason, this is my husband. Commander Taylor.”
            Jason’s eyes went wide when she said that, “You’re married?” He asked.
            “Yes,” She said, “Very happily.”
            Taylor was glaring at him before he looked at Rayne, “I’ve got to go through the transmission messages from Hope plaza.” He said letting her know he was going back to his office. He glared at Jason one more time before he turned and left.
            Jason looked at her almost a pleading for an explanation in his eyes, but it didn’t seem like a good time for conversations right now and to many people’s attention were on them. “You should, finish the processing procedures.” She suggested. Jason looked at her another moment before giving a nod and getting back into line. He turned back glancing at her once again before returning to the lines.
            Suddenly there was a lot to explain in every direction, and Rayne wasn’t sure how to even start.

Late Nights
            Rayne was sitting on the floor listening to music and working on some files and paperwork from earlier in the day. It was after midnight now, and Taylor was still out dealing with some issues that had come up.
            When he did come in, she looked up seeing him walk in and took off her ear buds. “There’s dinner waiting for you.” She said.
            He gave a nod, “Good. I’m starving.” He said taking off his gloves and jacket. Rayne gave a nod and put her PLEX aside before standing and going to prepare it for him. When she went into the kitchen he added, “Then maybe you can tell me what that was all about this morning.”
            She knew that this was probably going to come up again, and had been trying to think of how to go about it all day. It was going to make him mad, and it seemed like he was already there as it was. Setting his place at the table, Taylor sat down and picked up his fork and started eating. It smelled really good, Rayne was always an excellent cook even when she didn’t have a full kitchen. She got two glasses and came back sitting down by him and filling one for him then one for herself. “Where do you want me to start?” She asked softly giving him his glass.
            “Well I think we should get to the main part where a man I’ve never seen before, nor knew of picked you up and stuck his tongue down your throat in the middle of the colony in front of God and everybody.” Taylor said seriously.
            Rayne winced a bit when she heard him say that. There were several looks she’d received from various people in the day and it was embarrassing not to mention humiliating already knowing the event had upset the Commander. “We were still kind of . . . .a thing when I was recruited.” She said honestly and straightforward as she could. “It was the main reason we broke things off, because I could never come back and they were only looking for one zoologist. The thought of the actual ‘wilderness’ didn’t seem to interest him at all anyway. It wasn’t possible that we were ever going to see each other again, and he had family that he didn’t want to abandon back there.” Taylor stopped eating putting down his fork resting his elbows on the table as he folded his hands together with a sigh. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before, but it didn’t seem relevant.”
            “I checked his file, Rayne. He’s been on the waiting list since you arrived. Apparently he decided he wanted to follow you after you left.” Taylor said looking at her.
            “He never told me.” Rayne said, “He never wrote to me, I didn’t know anything about him trying to be recruited to come here.”
            “Maybe so. But the fact remains that we have a man who now lives in my colony, whose got feelings for my wife and has no qualms about showing them 5 years after she left him.” Taylor said sternly. “Not to mention he’s your assistant and is going to be working with you all day every day from now on.”
            “I’m not interested in him, Nathaniel.” She said seriously. “We were together for a while, yeah, but I never could see a future for us. It was like it was . . . . it was a relief when I was told I was being sent back here.” Taylor was quiet and just looked at her. “He didn’t know, I’ll talk to him.”
            “Rayne, five years go by and apparently it’s only been days in his mind otherwise he’d have kept his hands to himself.”Taylor said, “I don’t think it’s you who should talk to him, I think it should be me.”
            “Yeah, but when you get mad you have trouble keeping your hands to yourself.” Rayne responded seriously.
            “He needs to understand you’re a married woman and such behavior is unacceptable.” Taylor insisted.
            “You don’t trust me.” Rayne’s voice was somber and a little hurt.
            “I didn’t say that.” Taylor replied instantly.
            “Then let me deal with this, please?” Rayne requested, “It’s a small colony and we all have to live together, and work together.” Taylor still looked uncertain as to wither or not he was going to kick an ass. “I don’t love him, Nathaniel. I love you.”
            Taylor looked at her and sighed. It wasn’t her he didn’t trust. There was something about that young man he couldn’t put his finger on. All he could see coming of Jason’s presence in Terra Nova was problems. It didn’t help that he was young and handsome either. “Alright. Alright, I’ll let you explain things to him. But he better keep his hands to himself unless he wants to lose both of them.”

First Day On The Job
            Rayne had come to her lab before sunrise things were a little tense between her and Taylor after what had happened the first day. It wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone to know that Taylor was jealous. What man wouldn’t be where his wife was concerned?
            “Hi there.” Rayne turned when she heard Jason’s voice and saw he’d arrived.
            “Good morning.” She said uncomfortably. An uneasy moment passed between them before she stepped closer, “Look, Jason . . .” She began but he stopped her.
            “No, wait. I wanted to apologize to you first.” He said causing Rayne to fall silent, “I came to Terra Nova . . . assuming a lot and that wasn’t fair of me. To either of us.” Rayne was hardly expecting this but it was a huge relief. “I don’t know what I was expecting to find when I got here, it’s been a long time since we said goodbye to each other.”
            Rayne nodded a little not entirely sure what to say, “Thank you.” She finally answered.
            Jason gave a nod, “You must really love him.” He commented.
            “With everything in me.” She said with a small smile. “Jason, I don’t want us to be at odds with each other. This is a really wonderful place and you should be able to enjoy it like everyone who has come here does. Clean air, blue skies, green plants. It’s a paradise.”
            He smiled and shook his head, “We aren’t at odds, Rayne. We’re just good friends.” Jason said with a smile, “I’m just happy that you’re happy.” Rayne smiled just glad he was taking everything so well. That he’d had time to think about it and accept it. He held his arms out a bit asking for a hug and she grinned and obliged hugging him tightly.
            She stepped back feeling like the weight of the world had been lifted off of her, “Come on, let me give you a tour of the lab and show you what we’re working on.” She said turning and heading into the next room. Jason kept his smile until she turned away then his smile faded but he followed after her.

Eagle Eyes
            Even though Rayne had told Taylor what happened and assured him that everything was fine and taken care of, he couldn’t shake that feeling of uncertainty that Jason Alexander gave him. Just the way he looked or acted around Rayne sometimes. She didn’t notice, but Taylor saw things she didn’t and he didn’t like it at all. After a few weeks of Jason being in the colony and his assisting Rayne, Taylor decided that it was time he and Jason had a chat.
            That evening, Jason was working in the area where they kept animals they were studying. It was outside the lab because these particular animals were the size of dogs and cats or farm yard animals. He was taking the days readings of several of the occupants when he was suddenly not alone.
            “Like working in a petting zoo, isn’t it.” Taylor said causing Jason to turn and see that he had company. The Commander walked closer and Jason went back to using his scanner to input data into his PLEX.
            “I wouldn’t advise petting a lot of these animals, Commander. There is a reason they are in a secure holding area.” Jason said moving to the next cage, “Some of them have teeth razor sharp and at least 3 inches long.”
            “Oh, Rayne has tamed down most of them.” He said bringing up the real reason he’d come to find Jason. “A lot of people call her Snow White. Mostly because she has a tendency to favor animals that others wouldn’t bother with.”
            Jason could sense that they were no longer talking about the animals and it seemed that Rayne’s husband had finally decided to come around and intimidate him. “Obviously.” He said under his breath. He took another reading adding it to the PLEX files as well. “She’s a talented woman, she always has been. Every since we were kids right out of school.”
            “She’s done a lot of growing up since she’s come to Terra Nova. I doubt there’s even a shadow of the girl she was when she crossed through the portal.” Taylor said looking at him. He was facing him now, starring at Jason and not turning his gaze away. “She’s done a lot of living, brushed with death, worked hard to contribute to the good of the colony. A woman like her deserves a man in her life.”
            “I would imagine that someone as accomplished as Rayne could tell the difference between an adult and an adolescent with intense amounts of testosterone coursing through his body.” Jason sniped.
            Playtime and banter was over, Taylor had just about had enough of this man and everything that came out of his mouth. He was irritated with his very existence. Taylor stepped close to him and grabbed him up by his shirt collar jerking him closer. “She’s made her choice you little son of a bitch.”
            “Only for a lack of options,” Jason said reaching up and jerking his collar away from Taylor. “She was top of her class of over 5,000 students on a full ride scholarship she earned for being beyond a genius level. You’re a dusty old soldier who happened to get lucky when he was given this assignment. She’s out of your league.”
            “And you think you in it, is that it?” Taylor demanded.
            “She’s a scientist, not a soldier; she lives in a different world.” Jason said getting just as angry as Taylor now. “She’s half your age, what sort of future is there for her with you.”
            “You have no right to come back here, after all this time, and decide you’re just going to be a part of her life because of some fling the two of you had when she was recruited. You don’t know her anymore; you don’t know anything about her. And you don’t have the right to try and wedge yourself between me and my wife because you don’t know how to let go of the past.” Taylor said. “Stay away from her.”
            “She doesn’t belong to you.” Jason said.
            “Actually the ring on her finger kinda means she does, boy. You’d do well to remember that next time you start trying to turn her head.” Suddenly Jason swung out to punch Taylor, but the commander ducked and came up punching Jason in the kidney. Jason hollered and lunged forward hitting Taylor in the stomach before taking another swing at his face. Taylor blocked the hit and quickly countered nearly dropping Jason to the floor. This only made the young zoologist angrier and he came back hitting Taylor again. Taylor grabbed his wrist and backhanded him twice before twisting his arm around and dropping him to his knees.
            Taylor grabbed Jason by the neck and brought him to his feet looking into his eyes squeezing so tight he could hardly get air. It was clear that he was beat and he wasn’t going to get the upper hand, “Rayne is my wife. If I catch you so much as even look at her in a way I don’t like, I’m going to take your eyes out of your head and feed them to a Carno before the rest of you follows piece by piece.” With that he squeezed a bit harder before releasing Jason and dropping him to the ground. Then the Commander turned and left him gasping for air feeling that his point had sufficiently gotten across.

Caught
            Rayne came into the Commanders office and shut the large double doors behind her. Taylor looked up from his desk and could clearly see something was up. “Something wrong?” He asked.
            She turned and looked at him a moment, “Funny thing,” she began as she approached his desk. “Jason came in from taking the readings from our animals and had these strange marks. At first I thought that maybe he’d provoked one of the animals, or one of them was having the bad day . . . until it dawned on me that my animals don’t CHOKE people.” She said looking at him.
            “Did someone choke him?” He asked innocently.
            “Nathaniel!” She exclaimed in disbelief at the various levels of immaturity.
            “He threw the first punch, I defended myself.” Taylor said, “You can’t blame me for that.”
            “Yes I can!” She walked around his desk, “I’m not blind or stupid, I know he’s been making small advances these past few weeks, but I’ve ignored them all and let them go. Why couldn’t you? You said you’d let me handle this!” Rayne was properly frustrated by the situation.
            “I don’t care how small his advances are, he shouldn’t be making any!” Taylor exclaimed, “The endless flirting that goes on between the two of you is bad enough, I’m not going to tolerate his behavior.”
            “Flirting!? We work together day in and day out and we’re friends. That’s all.” Rayne replied. “You can’t just beat on him when you feel like it because you’re jealous.”
            “Hey, you’re acting like I jumped him in the alley or something. He attacked me, and I responded in kind.” Taylor said.
            “Oh? And where are your injuries?” She asked crossing her arms.
            Taylor looked at her, “Stomach’s don’t show bruises like the rest of the body.” He admitted. “Some times talking just isn’t going to work.”
            “I see.” She said, “You exercise all kinds of diplomacy with the Sixer’s and Mira when they come to the gates armed and ready to kill, but when it comes to one lone scientist that might be interested in your girl, and all that civilized human mercy just goes right out the window.”
            “Rayne,” Taylor said wanting to stop this before they ended up in a toe to toe shouting match. He stood from his seat and looked at her with a sigh. “It isn’t right what he’s been doing. He is the one who is in the wrong here, not me. Why can’t you see that?” He questioned.
            Rayne looked into his eyes for a moment, “Nathaniel. You are the highest authority in Terra Nova. There is no one above you, no one to go to and complain to if you get out of line. And you were, very out of line.” She said honestly. He couldn’t damn her for that, honesty tended to be what she was best at and he usually needed to hear it. She sighed wishing they didn’t have to have this conversation at all. “I am yours.” She said stepping closer and reaching up cupping his face in her hand. “I am Rayne Taylor. Your wife. There is no other man in existence that I want, and I love you with all of my heart. I belong to you, and you alone.” She stated directly.
            “I know.” He admitted quietly reaching out placing his hands on her waist and pulling her into a strong embrace hugging her tightly. “I trust you sweetheart.” He said still holding her close. “I’m just sick and tired of the disrespect, that’s all.”
            “I’ll talk to Jason.” She said softly, “I’ll remind him that I’m a married woman and that he needs to stop whatever it is he thinks he’s doing.” She pulled back slightly so she could look up at him. “I promise.”
            Taylor gave a nod knowing that maybe he was acting like a schoolboy about this, but he could hardly help it.

To be Continued . . . .

(PLEASE Send feedback! Comment on my story or you can e-mail directly at mercilessraven@yahoo.com)
- 1
- 2
- 3
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

A New Beginning