A Turning Tide

Two days later

Exhaling sharply, Evelyn raised her head from her arms, before wearily pushing the tangled hair out of her eyes. Sleep was rapidly becoming a stranger to her, only catching cat-naps at her makeshift desk, never knowing whether it was day or night. No longer living a lie, Evelyn had avoided the outside world, hiding in the helicopter bay, never seeing sunlight. The crew of the Nathan James now knew the truth, that the world they had left behind no longer existed, and shame made Evelyn seek the shadows, unable to look anyone in the eye.

She had been barred from the laboratory, the next stage of establishing a cure outside her experience, Evelyn quietly accepting this, knowing she would hinder more than help. But even as everything ended, life went on; meals were cooked and laundry was done, Evelyn attending to the mundane as much as possible. Nobody ever came near, but sometimes in the silence, Evelyn fancied she heard footsteps, only to always reach the conclusion she was imagining it.

As Evelyn sat there, staring into space, barely aware of Rachel and Quincy working in the lab beyond, a screeching alarm suddenly shattered the silence, before swiftly becoming a chorus of cacophony, every alarm on the ship exploding into existence. Staggering to her feet, it was only for Evelyn to see Danny Green standing in the doorway, making her do a double-take, his shocked face reflecting hers like a mirror, before the world suddenly went sideways, throwing them both to the floor.

The helicopter bay was instantly plunged into darkness, only relieved by the glow of the now silent alarm that hung above the lab entrance, erratically casting strobes of ruby light, oddly illuminating Evelyn where she lay. She tried to get up, only to immediately fall down, the sound of Danny's voice calling her name echoing in her ears. The air tasted bitter on her tongue, acrid like ash. As she tried to stand up again, the world reeled, sending Evelyn sprawling once more. Cursing, she rolled onto her side instead, panting with the effort, her back colliding with some overturned crates, sending the top one toppling, Evelyn barely registering the sound of smashing glass.

Danny dragged himself to his feet, ears ringing. "What the hell..." he breathed, half doubled over, gripping the doorframe for support.

"My sentiments exactly!" Evelyn snapped, head spinning. "But never mind that, what are you doing here, Green!?"

"I'm here to play Parcheesi!" Danny snapped back, stumbling over to her, kicking aside a plastic case. "Or maybe some Old Maid!"

"What, you've come to pay a call?" Evelyn retorted. "Sorry, but unfortunately I'm not receiving visitors today!"

"Shut up," Danny said, hauling her to her feet, only for Evelyn to stagger again. "It's okay," he said gruffly, steadying her by the shoulders, his grip almost bruising, "it's just the shock, it will pass."

Evelyn just nodded, suddenly uncomfortably aware of Danny's hands on her, the weight of them. "Rachel!" she called out, taking a stumbling step forwards, making Danny thankfully let go. "Are you okay? What about the experiments!? Are they alright!?"

"Oh, I'm fine and dandy," Quincy called back caustically, frantically packing their work up, the power-cut endangering their efforts, "thank you for asking!"

"We're... fine," Rachel replied, her voice harassed as she helped with Quincy carefully lay the cases into cooler bags, almost belying the lie, "so are the experiments... just about."

"Good," Evelyn said weakly, glancing over her shoulder at Danny, only to see him stalking through the doorway, leaving her all but alone, the knowledge strangely striking her like a knife.

Just hold on to what we know is true
You and I now
Though it's cold inside
Feel the tide turning...

Evelyn chewed on her thumb-nail, trying not to look at Danny, who was deliberately staring straight ahead, his face a blank mask. He had returned half an hour later, but not alone, Franklin flanking Tom alongside Danny, who was acting as if he had never been in the helicopter bay in the first place. Why Danny had deigned to darken her door at all, Evelyn didn't know, but that was the least of her problems.

"What happened?" Evelyn asked for the third time, only to be ignored again. They were waiting for Rachel and Quincy to present themselves, the pair unpacking their work again, Rachel clippedly telling the Commander to wait until they were done, refusing to admit them entrance.

"This is ridiculous," Danny muttered under his breath, making Evelyn's head snap up, "she's just playing for time."

"Why on earth would she do that?" Evelyn flared up. "We've nothing left to hide!"

"Because the three of you have been lying to us for months!" Danny spat. "Who's to say there aren't any more nasty surprises in store?"

"That's enough," Tom snapped, instantly silencing Danny.

The sound of the lab entrance being unzipped made everyone glance up, only to see Rachel standing in the doorway. "Surely there's no need to stand on ceremony?" Rachel said sarcastically, smoothing down her shirt sleeves.

"This is not the time for levity," Tom said coldly, "or delay."

"I had to ensure the experiments were alright," Rachel said, drawing herself to her full height. "I am not fond of having my work disrupted, Commander."

"I didn't plan on being caught in a nuclear strike, Dr. Scott," Tom said, striding over Rachel, ignoring Evelyn's gasp of shock. "But as events continue to outstrip us, we all now need to be reading off the same page."

"A nuclear strike?" Rachel said stupidly, staring up at him. "A nuclear strike?"

"Are the experiments unharmed?" Tom asked abruptly. "Can your work continue?"

"Y-e-e-s," Rachel said, trying to recover herself, "that is to say, I – we – we need more samples – I – I need to have samples of the actual live strain to compare against the primordial source" -

- "I told you, didn't I!?" Danny exploded, flinging off Franklin's restraining hand. "They're still lying to us about having a cure!"

"Lieutenant Green!" Tom roared, suddenly losing his unnatural calm. "THAT IS ENOUGH!"

Danny bowed his head, shoulders heaving.

"You are dismissed, Lieutenant," Tom said with difficulty, "return to your post."

Without a word, Danny saluted Tom smartly, before turning and leaving, Evelyn watching him go, her head reeling afresh at what Rachel had just let drop, feeling as deceived as Danny.

"What is the hell is happening, Commander?" Rachel then said, standing her ground, face pale.

"Now the shoe is on the other foot," Tom said with a glimmer of grim humour. "Unpleasant, is it not?"

"Are you going to tell us or not?" Quincy demanded from behind Rachel, zipping up the doorway behind him.

"Oh, I see Dr. Tophet has finally decided to grace us with his presence," Tom said dryly, "and high time too" -

- "Captain, please," Franklin interrupted, startling Tom. "Did you not say this wasn't the time for levity?"

Tom looked at Franklin for a long moment, before exhaling sharply. "I... I had made plans to head to an unmanned refuelling station on the coast of France," he said abruptly turning to Rachel, "I thought if we operated a trail shaft... Then... that happened. I am sure you will explain what that was to your colleague," he said, jerking his chin at Quincy, "but nonetheless, the electro-magnetic pulse temporarily blew out our grid... then there was a cloud of radiation just about to drop right on us..." His voice trailed off, words suddenly failing him, the shock only hitting him now, finally breaking through.

"You seem to be having quite the day, Commander," Rachel said, taking a seat, indicating he did the same. "Perhaps you should have that cup of tea after all."

"That was a nuclear strike!?" Quincy said as they followed the Commander along the passage, Evelyn caught between Rachel and Quincy, Franklin bringing up the rear. "As in an actual nuclear strike!?"

"Get with the programme," Franklin said coldly, "we nearly go nuked, go figure."

"You know, you really should have told me about needing samples of the actual live strain," Tom admonished Rachel over his shoulder. "We're meant to be on the same side, aren't we?"

"Are we?" Rachel flared up. "I didn't even tell my own flesh and blood, so why would I tell you, unless it was absolutely imperative?"

"It's imperative now, isn't it" -

- "Only because we just got nuked, as your subordinate so eloquently put it" -

- "The subordinate has ears," Franklin said dryly, earning a glare from Rachel.

"You never told your sister because you were protecting her," Tom snapped, swinging around to face Rachel, forcing her to halt, "like you've been doing all down the line. But I'm a big boy and I can handle shit, okay?"

Rachel just looked at him, her fists clenching by her sides, knowing he was right and she was wrong, her pride preventing her from admitting it.

"Typical," Tom said, shaking his head, before turning and leading the way again, Rachel reluctantly following him, Evelyn and the others trailing in their wake.

"He's right, you should have told me," Evelyn muttered, just loud enough for Rachel to hear, "I'm your bloody sister!"

"Precisely," Rachel hissed, "which is why I didn't tell you. It's my duty to protect you, and that is exactly what I was doing" -

- "Senator Brandon wishes to speak to you, Captain," one of the crew called from the doorway up ahead, "it's urgent."

"Great, that's all we need," Quincy said, rolling his eyes at Rachel, who was already making for the doorway "an audience with your illustrious brother-in-law."

"Okay," Tom agreed, ignoring Quincy, forcing himself to focus, already on the edge of losing control. He was being stretched to breaking point, but he had to hold it together for his crew, knowing they were relying on him as he did them.

The others followed him, not knowing what else to do, Evelyn uncomfortable at the prospect of actually seeing Aaron. Deep down, she knew the bond between them had been damaged, something Evelyn didn't want to admit. He had been the only father she had ever known, and now he was nothing but a stranger.

Tom approached the screens with some trepidation, wondering what bombshell was going to be dropped on him next, whether it would be literally or metaphorically. He didn't know Senator Brandon, but Tom knew of him, and hadn't entirely impressed by him either. But the gaunt face on the screens was a world away from the perma-tanned persona Tom was familiar with, the Senator's hollow gaze finally fixing upon Tom in an unsettling stare.

"Commander Chandler," Aaron acknowledged hoarsely, "thank you for agreeing to speak with me."

"I didn't think I had a choice," Tom said coolly, glancing up as Rachel edged forwards, Evelyn hanging back. "But then again, nothing has changed, has it? We have to obey, while your lot call the shots" -

- "Death is the great leveller, is it not?" Aaron cut across him, "we're all on the same side now, Commander... well, what's left of us, that is."

"Aaron, please," Evelyn blurted out, suddenly stepping in front of Tom, making Aaron start forwards, "it's me, Evie."

Aaron stared back at her, half out of his seat, his arm half raised, almost as if he was about to embrace her. "Evie..." he said dazedly, "little Evie."

"You never spoke to me," Evelyn said, her voice cracking, "it was always Rachel" -

- "Evelyn," Rachel reprimanded, taking her by the wrist, "we don't have time for this" -

- "Ah, Rachel," Aaron said, sinking back into his seat. "I was wondering where you were."

"I've been bloody trying to reach you for days!" Rachel exploded. "Where the hell were you? Why did nobody pick up!?" -

- "We were attacked by the Russians," Tom interrupted, stepping in front of the sisters, "and just faced down a nuclear strike. What else is heading our way, Senator?"

"You tell me, Commander," Aaron shrugged, dragging his gaze away from Evelyn, focusing on Tom instead with some effort, "we are standing at the very gates of hell. Anything could happen" -

- "Anything?" Rachel snapped. "Anything has already happened, Aaron. But – but the cure is just within my reach – all I need is a sample of the original live strain" -

- "It's too late, Rachel," Aaron said wearily, shaking his head, "you're too late." Then the screens went blank, leaving them staring at empty space, a void that threatened to engulf them all.