OPERATION RESTORE HOPE

Alternate universe with a time line of finding personnel qualified to work in the manufacturing of the cure and laboratories not destroyed by the marauding immune factions around the country.

Rachel has been in hiding for the last eighteen months with the full knowledge of President Michener and the CNO before Shaw had him murder. Only a selected few by the CNO knows she is alive. For the past five months she has been working smuggle blood samples from Asia to figure out what is preventing the cure. Tom/Rachel centric

Chapter 1: Fight

Rachel has been in hiding since the shooting with only a select few with the knowledge she is alive.

Rachel rubs her eyes after studying the sample of the mutate virus she is close to identify the mutation but she is distracted by lack of sleep she is suffering from insomnia PTSD from being shot and late night work habits she is having trouble focusing.

"Dr. Scott, Rachel" as she looks up from the microscope acknowledges her fellow scientist Dr. Mark Milowsky he and Bertrise elected to go into hiding to ensure that the cure was not destroyed by rouge Immunes

"Yes", as she finally answers. "I believe I have isolated a compound that is preventing the cure from working". He said.

For the past five months they have been studying blood samples smuggled out of Asia to by a state department liaison. "Come take a look notice how this compound is surrounding the virus like a shield blocking the cure from working? Milowsky ask.

"Yes, I do. Is it an organic or synthetic compound?" as she replied.

"It is a combination of the two which makes it very hard to identify. Now that we know what is preventing the cure we need to modify the cure to break the shield to destroy the virus. Who ever developed this compound was a genius and I can only think of one person who could do this in the region." He replied with heavy sigh.

"Yes, I know who you mean and I cannot believe that such a brilliant scientist would create such a weapon it goes against all that he stood for. This bloody virus has turned good people into monster." She replied.

"Dr Scott may I have a minute." They are interrupted by Colonel Theodora Jane Howard (TJ for short) who was in charge of the security detail for the Rachel and the lab over the intercom "Dr. Scott I need you to step out I have to speak to you privately"

"Is it important Colonel we just made a significant breakthrough on the disruption of the cure?"

"Doctor Scott" her tone was serious not the jovial person who she would share an occasional meal with in the compound diner.

"Very well" as Rachel head towards the decontamination area she sees the strain on her face. Rachel is worried that something has happen to Tom or the Nathan James and she panics slightly.

"What has happen please do not sugar coat it give it to me straight"

"We need to pack up and move word has come down of the Region Leaders are about plotting against President Oliver. So we need to evacuate you and your team from here asap."

Since the death of President Michener no one has come here nor do they know I am still alive." Rachel stated.

"Our position has been comprised by a few members here on your security detail. Earlier this morning members of that fraction tried to kill me, luckily for me he was stop. You will have exactly two hours to pack up all your research and necessary equipment before we destroy this facility."

"Colonel we need more time than that! I need more time to ensure that the lab equipment and samples are pack properly for transportation." She said. Rachel had an uneasy feeling. Tom had devised an escape plan for her if things went wrong. For the past two weeks she noticed small changes here and there in the security details around the facility. That is when she sent a code message out on the secure network setting in motion her escape plan.

Signaling for Mark to join them as Rachel maintains her role the slight distress and ask the question "How did this have happen?"

"Breach in the security protocol is the only a hand few knew of this location and the vetting process in the new world is not what it was before the virus." as the colonel replied.

Rachel does a quick study of the colonel body language and reads that she is relaxed she does perceives her as a threat which is what she wants. She also realize that TJ has a two inch height difference and she not as fit tone as Rachel. She turns towards Mark she says him "Mark we have been given a two hours to pack up and move this is outrageous we cannot leave yet we have just made progress some much time and effort to start over."

"Rachel, I will start in the lab and begin the cataloging everything in the quarantine area" letting Rachel know he understand and head back into the area.

"Colonel there is just one thing I need to know. How long have you been working with the Regional Leaders?" she asked

"What are you talking about?" she replied

"Colonel being a virologist I am trained to look for the small changes in diseases and viruses and it applies to my daily routine here. I noticed this changes a few weeks ago. Which led me to the conclusion that you and only you could make these security changes?"

"I was hoping that you would come quietly doctor as the colonel pulls her side arm from the holster, but I guess it's the hard way. No one going to save you now so just load up research and come quietly and you won't be hurt."

"Sorry, Theodora that is not going to happen" use of the colonel's given name throws her off balance.

"If you want Bertrise to stay alive you will do as I say" she smirks

"Actually Theodora I will not do as you request. I know you don't have her she is safe from harm."

"You are very calm for someone with a gun pointed at them"

"Theodora you realize I grew up in some of the rough parts of the world held hostage on the Vernyi by a craze Russian admiral targeted by the Immunes for death and shot at. I do not scare easily."

"Nor, colonel I will not go without fight" she said. And in that moment everything changes once again her years on living in the roughest parts of the world she learned to fight to survive. Very deliberately Rachel locks eyes with the colonel and with a swift kick to her gun hand she disarms her. The colonel is stun momentarily realize that she under estimated the scientist. Before she can return a blow she is knock out with a serious of kicks and rapid blows to the head.

Two figures walk in and are smiling Colonel Howard has made the same mistake everyone does about Dr. Rachel Scott that she would be a push over. Rachel always uses these assumptions to her advantage. Ravit and Bertrise walk over and shake their heads in amusement someone under estimate Rachel again.

"What shall we do with her? Ravit asked as she zip ties her hands and feet.

"She has compromise this location so shall we have to follow the plan. What about the guards?"

"The extraction team has taken them out and the helicopters are in route to extract you and the CNO and Green families."

At that moment the Colonel begins to stir and Ravit bends down and places her in a sitting position. "You pick the wrong scientist to mess with" she says with smirks.

"Where did you learn to fight?" she asked.

"Various parts of the world" she replies.

"What gave me away?" she asked

"The way you worded your questions about my work tried to find out about my time with the CNO on the James and you trying to form a friendship. You showed you hand to soon."

"What are you going to do with me? Kill me? Hear your real good at murdering people." she spat blood from her mouth.

"Enough, we are going to leave you here for Shaw and the regional leaders to find. Maybe they will let you live" Ravit states.

Mark rejoins Rachel "I have all of our research on these hard drives blood samples packed and ready to go. The containment area is ready to be destroyed."

That moment the Jed, Ashley Sam and Debbie Foster with Frankie walk in escort by a SEAL minus Kara.

"We are here ready to leave?" Jed asked

"Has something happen to Kara? Bertrise asked

"No, she fine, she stayed behind to keep up appearance and throw them off our trail while we made our way out of town." Jed replied

"I thought you were dead killed by that immune Curtis who is in jail? Will someone please explain what going on?" Debbie asked

"All will be explained soon as we reach our destination. Come we don't have much time". Ravit states

Just then the SEAL receives word over his radio "Choppers are landed it time to move folks"

"We need to move quickly now" Jed states as he hustles the kids and Debbie out the door to the awaiting choppers.

"One last thing" she pulls opens a drawer and pulls out a pairs of thick rubber gloves and a bottle of acid and pours it over all the computers and satellite link equipment knowing the corrosive will destroy the equipment beyond repair. She then walks over to the wall and starts the burn process with in her work area destroying all the samples and research notes in the area.

"You made a big mistake leaving me alive I will find you before your precious CNO will."

"I doubt it the regional leaders do not like failure you will face their wrath"

They all head out door to a waiting to the site of three helicopters flanked by the SEAL team from Norfolk. Once everyone is aboard the helicopters they lift off to take them to their new location outside the regional leaders reach.

Howard is seething she was bested by two scientists and a girl she wants revenge.

After five hours in the air and two refueling stops they land on the one place they outside of regional leaders grasp on board the flight deck of the USS Enterprise.