The End of the Beginning
Chapter 55: Expanding Trust

Hours later, at a table well to the back of one of the dining halls by a dark window…

“Terra Nova,” quivered DJ. “Holy shit.”

“My… My brother…” Sergey whimpered. Amanda put her arm around him.

“So much for not getting us involved,” sniffed Vinny.

Amanda waved him a deadpan look.

“This has now become greater than our squadron. I wouldn’t involve you if I didn’t think your safety and the safety of everyone on this base was in jeopardy,” affirmed William.

Abeo shook his head. “Sir, where is your evidence of this conspiracy? With all due respect, you are connecting random dots hoping they form a hidden masterpiece.” “Well,” said William, gently putting the white murky liquid filled vile him and John had found on the table, “hopefully with this we can start to get some.” “What is that?” Gaspard asked.

“I’m not sure. Colonel Morrison and I found it in Samir’s room. It fluoresces under ultraviolet light. I was hoping that you Fortin, with your background, could tell me.” “Me?” gulped Gaspard.

William nodded. “I know you’re a mechanical engineer by trade but don’t you also have a chemistry background as well? Your personnel file says so.” “Just a minor in it, sir.”

“That will do. I need you to analyze what is in this vile as soon as possible. Can you do it?” Gaspard grabbed the vile hesitantly. “Yes, sir. I can.” Shampoo stuck her noise up over the table and sniffed the vile. Amanda quickly brought her back to the floor.

“And for what you said before, Captain, about Rescue Officer Lewis. Do you trust her, sir?” asked Paul.

“Yes, I do, Macom. She has come into this objectively. She has had no prior contact with anyone in the investigation and never knew Samir. She hasn’t been interviewed and she hasn’t met any of you. She barely even knows me.” “So you trust her, even though you barely know her?” asked Abeo.

“She is smart, she can figure this out,” William said confidently.

“Why Terra Nova?” whispered Vega.

“Because…” William took a deep breath. He brought his head down and leaned into the table. “Because of Base Commander Hammond.” “What?” gasped Mario, sitting up as he did.

Vinny ran his hand through his hair. “You think Base Commander Hammond is…”

“Yes,” asserted William.

“What did you see?” Vega asked, as if already knowing the answer.

William told them all about the warehouse, about Toronto, and about the note Samir had slipped him at the ropes course. For a good minute or two after William concluded, his team was silent.

“Well, Boss,” Simba huffed finally, “I am a firm believer now.”

“Yeah,” agreed Heather.

“Something is going on here,” whispered William, “something very dark in a place where darkness should not exist. Rescue Officer Lewis will do her part. Now, I need all of you to do yours. I need your eyes and ears everywhere. I need your smarts. But, most of all, I need your trust.” “Si-Si-Sir,” stuttered Seong. William looked over at him biting his lip. “The whole wor-wor-world could be against you, and I, I would st-still trust you.” William smiled gratefully.

“Lead me into battle, Captain,” hailed Vinny.

“Thank you, sir,” said Sergey, “for giving me the chance to give my brother peace.”

“I’ve always wanted to be a spy, sir,” grinned Mario. “It’s the biggest chica magnet.” “I like killing terrorist,” stated Vega. Everyone looked at her for a moment. “What?” she smirked.

The whole team agreed something must be done, even Abeo, albeit slightly reluctantly.

“Fortin, get me that vile analyzed while we wait for Colonel Morrison to do the same with the blood sample we collected to prove Samir was clean. He should be landing soon in…” William looked around and noticed everyone was looking behind him. In the dark window in front of him, William saw a reflection materialize. Someone was walking up behind him.

Amanda caught William’s attention from across the table. She was shifting her eyes back and forth, looking at him and whoever had just arrived. No one at the table looked particularly happy to see this person. William mouthed the words, who is it, to her. As discretely as she could, she mouthed back, Hernandez.