(What follows is part one of a Death Cure rewrite based on movie canon. This takes place months after the Scorch Trials Finale: Movie Alternate Ending in the same alternate universe timeline. Special thanks to Gwtwfancaro for all the help in collaboration. I do not own Maze Runner. Updated with minor revisions 4/21/19)

Thomas and the others had been tracking WCKD for months. Analysis of prior prisoner transports confirmed that if Minho were still alive, they'd be moving him by rail. Thomas was the first to pinpoint the area for their ambush based on its proximity to the mountains which they could use for cover. But the best news yet was that his entire team had arrived a day ahead of schedule. That meant a good night sleep before hopefully, they reunited with Minho and the rest of their friends. Thomas had been cheating on sleep for weeks by this time and reveled in the chance to sleep for a full seven hours before they'd all need to get in position for the elaborate heist. He couldn't know as he laid down in his hammock strung between parked vehicles that his sleep would be anything but restful. Thomas no more than shut his eyes when he began dreaming.

He saw himself and the others taking the train with Jorge's hijacked berg flying overhead, and himself hooking up the cable to the first car as planned.

Flash to opening the prisoner transport.

*No Minho.* The vivid morass of his dreamscape spun forward.

Flash to the view of the outside of a tunnel. Newt's speaking.

"If I was a Crank that's where I'd be."

Thomas blinked his eyes, and the vision replaced itself with the distant view of the walled megalopolis; Last City.

Suddenly his view blurs as if hurtling forward and he is walking with the others through a crowd of protesters outside the city walls. Thomas looks back and forth sensing he's being watched.

*They're following us.*

Thomas looks up at the Massive walls as missile fire begins to rain down. They are captured one by one as they fled and taken to some abandoned parking garage, forced down to their knees as a man moved front and center pulling off his mask.

*Gally?!*

Flash to the image of Newt sitting at the edge of a roof. He rolls up his sleeve confirming he's infected. He speaks.

"I ain't afraid of dying Tommy, just losing myself."

The visions shifts to a small frame as viewed through a telescope.

*Teresa...* Even as he slept, Thomas felt his heart beat faster to see her again.

The visions began to speed up. As the pace increased, the images got darker.

Minho being tortured...

A sick little girl with spidered vein across her face screaming and thrashing...

A disfigured man fomenting and angry crowd...

Thomas' view suddenly cut to a massive explosion at the wall. Followed by more in the city streets as a rolling war consumes Last City...

The images halt with a scene of Newt's eyes going dark as the humanity drains from him. He's lost himself to Flare. Newt charges at him with black bile coming from his mouth. Thomas tries to escape but Newt's reckless charge leaves him impaled on Thomas' knife. Now the life drains from his eyes...

Flash to Thomas is standing with Ava at gunpoint.

"You can save us all." She says.

Thomas hears Ava's words and sees the truth in her eyes. He's the cure WCKD has been searching for all along. A single shot rings out, and she falls dead. He looks up to see Janson staring back at him. Something about this moment feels different than the rest of the vision. Thomas feels like he's the one being watched...

The image shifts and his nightmare slides into its final frame.

Thomas is looking at Teresa's face again. She's trying to reach him. He can feel her terror as gravity rips them apart. He feels the moment engulf him as she falls further from his fingertips wreathed in flame. Thomas awakes in the same scream that was pouring from his mouth as he helplessly stretched out his hand knowing he was losing her...

The vision ends.

Thomas snaps back into reality. He's in a cold room made of beige stone listening to complaints from his half-awake friends at being disturbed by Thomas' yelling.

The next thing Thomas saw was Brenda's face.

"Thomas! Thomas, it's just a bad dream."

Thomas took several deep breaths as he sat up slowly feeling the terror subside. As he grounded himself more moment by moment his heart rate slowed almost to normal.

"Yea... Yea I guess that's all it was. A bad dream..."

"Wanna talk about?" Brenda seemed cheerful for a girl who'd just woken up needlessly.

Over the months on the road, Thomas and Brenda had grown quite close but never more than friends. Thomas was fond of her, as she was of him but after the events in the scorch, he was more confused than ever.

"Not tonight Brenda. I-I think I'm just going to go for a run."

Thomas stood and searched his pocket pulling out a shiny silver coin, squeezing it in his fist. Brenda glanced up at Thomas with a knowing look, seeing the coin in his hand. Suddenly she felt the swarming heat of jealousy as she pictured Tom with Teresa. She'd figured out Tom's affinity for Teresa's broken button months ago even if Thomas didn't know she had. As if the keepsake Thomas treasured more than water in the desert wasn't bad enough the reality that Teresa still had a hold on Thomas even after her betrayal made Brenda fume. Teresa treated Thomas like her birthright and still managed to get away with it. Thomas always played mad in front of his friends, but deep down Brenda knew Tom could always find a way to see past anything Teresa had done wrong.

"You sure that's a good idea?"

Brenda let her question's dual meaning hang in the air for several moments watching Thomas twirl the coin through his fingers. She continued.

"Going running I mean. It's the middle of the night."

"I like running; it helps me think."

Brenda stood and walked in front of the door blocking the exit stairs which lead outside.

"You know what else helps people think? Talking." Brenda grinned at Thomas.

He had to admit that Brenda was attractive. She was intelligent, fit, and most importantly Thomas had no reason to doubt how she felt about him. She'd come on strong at first but after hearing Thomas tell her; "You're not her." She seemed determined not to make the same mistake again. Some combination of her respect for him and her respect for herself had blockaded any further attempt to change the nature of their relationship. So that was it. They were just friends. Brenda continued.

"Sooo, what do you say you skip the midnight run and settle for a walk with a friend?"

Thomas smiled. For a moment he forgot all about the nightmare he just had.

"Sure... I guess that'd be alright."

Brenda looked surprised but delighted to have her invitation accepted.

"Great! let me get my shoes."

Moments later she returned. Brenda led Thomas outside, and they start walking under a night sky veiled with wispy high altitude clouds.

"So I've been sleeping near you for months and have never known you to wake up screaming from a bad dream. What's up?"

Thomas sighed.

"It's weird, and this is going to sound crazy but, it didn't feel like a dream Brenda."

"Well Thomas, you were asleep. What else could it have been?"

"That's not what I mean, I know I was dreaming, but I felt like I was watching things happen to me, to all of us. I saw the transport train-"

Brenda interrupted.

"-Did we get the Berg?"

She was smiling. Thomas laughed.

"Yes, we got the Berg."

"Great! I thought that part of the plan was kinda sketchy. Glad to hear it worked."

Thomas couldn't help but feel a little better about the situation after hearing Brenda's reaction.

"Brenda, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure Thomas. What is it?"

"Is your leg feeling ok?"

Brenda nodded and pulled up her pant leg exposing her healed bite wound.

"It feels as good as new. Whatever Mary took out of you and put into me did the trick."

Thomas spoke again.

"And you feel good otherwise? No headaches, chills, or nausea?"

Brenda had a devious look flash across her face for a split second. She replaced it immediately with a curt nod and spoke.

"Well, I've meant to talk to you about that. Um, Thomas, do you remember about six weeks back when Vince threw that big party?"

Thomas nodded.

"Yeah, the one to celebrate finding a seaworthy ship big enough to get everyone to where Vince figured we'd be safe. What about it?"

"Do you remember how drunk you got? How I had to help you back to bed?"

Most of that night was still a blur to Thomas. He remembered the party and waking up in his bed, but he didn't remember how he got there.

"That was you?"

Brenda nodded with a faint smile playing across her lips.

"Yes, and to answer your question I've been feeling a little nauseous lately but. I don't think it has to do with Flare. I think it might be morning sickness..."

Thomas suddenly felt light headed and turned pale as a ghost. Brenda started laughing.

"Tom, I'm teasing you! I feel fine. And it was Newt and Fry who got you back to bed not me. -Not that I wouldn't have lent a hand if needed."

Thomas exhaled as if he'd been holding his breath for ages. He smiled like he just had his death sentence commuted. Even though it was her prank, Brenda couldn't help but feel unwanted after seeing the joy on Thomas' face when he learned she was only joking. Brenda forced herself to smile and enliven her words to disguise her disappointment as she spoke.

"Thomas, I'd never take advantage of you! ...I get that you don't like me like that. So I promise no matter what, it won't happen. Ok?"

Thomas spoke.

"I'm glad I didn't go running tonight. Thanks, Brenda."

Brenda smiled genuinely hearing Tom's words of affirmation. Thomas continued.

"Are you ready to head back?"

"I'll catch up with you Tom. I, uh, have to go to the bathroom."

Thomas nodded quickly and spoke.

"-Ok, I'll leave the doors open remember to lock them."

Brenda smiled weakly at Thomas and spoke.

"Ok, will do."

Thomas turned to leave as Brenda spoke again.

"Hey, Thomas. It was really nice talking to you."

Thomas nodded with a quick smile. He ran off back to where the others were sleeping.

Brenda was lying about her reason for needing privacy. But she wanted to be alone for a moment to center herself again. She could act any way she had to stay on Thomas' good side, but that couldn't change how she felt. She didn't just think Thomas was attractive. She had feelings for him. She watched until Thomas rounded a corner and went out of sight before she sighed loudly. Brenda shook her head and spoke aloud to no one.

"Why am I doing this to myself?"

Brenda laughed so she wouldn't cry. Even as she heard her own words, she felt the answer in her heart even if she couldn't bring herself to admit it. Brenda wanted to be closer to Thomas, but she wasn't stupid either. Brenda knew if she kept trying so hard she'd end up as a footnote in his history and one not spoken of well. So she decided then and there to take the love she felt and refocus it. She'd make all of her unruly passions behave and use their sum total to fuel a friendship that would last beyond this life and into the next. Even if she'd only be an adjunct to Tom's happiness at least, she could be part of his life. That thought pleased her. Her eyes got a little brighter feeling right about the situation for the first time in weeks.

She ambled back to their makeshift camp feeling just a bit better about everything.

The sound of Teresa's hard soled shoe echoed off the high ceilings of the marble lobby at WCKD's headquarters. She'd been working closely with Ava Paige for months now, but she'd never been summoned in the middle of the night before. She already had a pit forming in her stomach as she reached the elevator and the door opened revealing Janson. Teresa spoke.

"What are you doing here?"

Janson smirked. "I could ask you the same thing, but I imagine I wouldn't get a straight answer."

Teresa entered the lift and turned to press the button for the research level.

"Your imagination is improving."

"Look, Teresa, we'd all be better off if we just let bygones be bygones and focus on the task at hand."

"And I think we'd be better off if we didn't shoot researchers with valuable field research experience."

"Is that what all this has been about? Mary?!" Janson laughed shaking his head. "Teresa I'm beginning to think your imagination is overdeveloped. Mary didn't leave WCKD; she washed out. She tried to hide behind her qualms over our methodology, but as a scientist she was incompetent."

Teresa stared at Janson with a hateful look.

"Well, that incompetent doctor managed to produce viable serum from an antiquated purification kit in a tent in the middle of the desert so spare me the post-mortem character assassination."

The lift was silent for several moments. Janson spoke again.

"...And to think I was under the impression that your standoffish attitude towards me was because of Thomas."

It was the first time Teresa had heard that name spoken outside of her own head for months. The fact that Janson was saying it provoked a special contempt from Teresa. She wheeled around and faced him as the lift stopped, and the doors began to open behind her. Teresa spoke angerly.

"-You mean the other critical asset you managed to lose? Janson, try to wrap your mind around this. I don't dislike you because you're a monster. I dislike you because you're sloppy, inept, shortsighted, and mistakenly under the impression you merit continued treatment."

Janson's eyes went wide with rage. Teresa continued.

"So if I were you, I'd be focused on the task at hand. Because you're the only person, I'd be willing to see die needlessly."

Teresa smiled at Janson as she took a step back out of the lift and the door closed. As the elevator continued on its way, Janson punched the wall leaving a minor dent.

"We'll just see who survives this Teresa..."

Teresa walked into Paige's office which was adjacent to the laboratory. Seeing Teresa's approach through the large plate glass windows, Ava turned to speak to her protege.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice."

Teresa closed the door behind her and spoke.

"Of course but what's so urgent that it couldn't wait until morning?"

Ava turned a computer screen toward Teresa. On it was a series of graphs and diagrams that are showing projected infections rates now that viral Flare was airborne. Teresa's eyes went wide.

"But how is this possible? The airborne variant was supposed to be less virulent, not more."

Paige shook her head.

"I was wrong. What's worse is that all three formulations of serum appear to be losing their efficacy. Shorter curative durations mean a greater need for immune test subjects. That might please Janson, but the reality is it was always a stopgap measure. Now more then ever, we are running out of time."

Teresa continued scanning the files trying to spot something in the data that would offer any hope.

"Wait, what about the pairing experiment? That showed promise."

Paige nodded.

"Yes it did but in order for it to work the bond between the pair had to be genuine. Simply altering the memories of test subjects to make them think they were romantically involved was insufficient."

Paige pulled up another image on the screen that looked like a cargo manifest only it was filled with the first names of people listed in alphabetical order.

"We would need immunes with a strong familial bond or ones who are in love. Hmmm, Aris and Sonya are in transit to us now. The video surveillance taken since their recapture suggests a parallel romantic interest beginning between them. Aristotle even attempted to physically fight one of Janson's men when they attempted to relocate Sonya away from him."

Teresa felt her mind gravitating to Thomas for the second time that night.

*In love...* Hearing her own words resound in her head made Teresa measure the cost of her prior actions back in the scorch. The searing pain of regret followed. Teresa still believed in her reasons why but that didn't make what she did to Thomas any less painful. She had run from that ugly realization for months, trying to fill her every waking moment with her work to find a cure because only that would make the sacrifice feel justifiable. Paige continued.

"You know, you may be on to something Teresa. We could modify the Reality Simulator so two subjects could simultaneously exist within the test environment. That way we could collect relevant brain activity without risk of physical harm."

"What about psychological harm?"

Teresa couldn't believe she said that out loud. She was shocked when Paige looked at her and smiled.

"You know who you sound like?"

"Don't say, Thomas."

Paige nodded.

"It was excellent work on your part neutralizing him during the standoff despite the fact he escaped you. His absence is a shame. Were he here, I anticipate you two would be ideally suited for this new trial."

Teresa allowed herself to think of Thomas like she once did. The sweet, awkward boy who would steal glances at her from behind his computer console when he thought she wasn't looking when of course she was. The brave guy who threw himself in front of countless cranks and guns to keep her safe. And the man he'd grown into who was single-handedly leading a war against the most powerful organization on earth. She didn't care how much mental trauma she would surely endure for the privilege. The idea of being with Thomas again on even footing was the sweetest dream even if it came wrapped in a nightmare.

Ava looked through medical reports for prospective candidates and spoke.

"I really must reprimand Janson for these harsh tactics. From the X-rays, Aris has a hairline microfracture of his Zygomatic bone. When will he learn?"

Teresa had been waiting for an opportunity to speak out against Janson.

"Considering the instability brought on by his condition isn't he overdue to be replaced?"

Paige was reviewing files as she spoke.

"Janson has been overdue for replacement for years. Unfortunately, he provides more than security and unparalleled enthusiasm for rounding up candidates."

Teresa looked at Paige quizzically.

"Meaning?"

"Meaning there are other useful anomalies within blood beyond immunity..."

(Thank you for reading! Hope you enjoyed the prequel portion of The Death Cure rewrite. Part two will be coming soon. As always it is a pleasure to write for you :)