After The End

Faith

"Will me? All of them?" I turn to Abe. "Clem is floating in a tank. Jackson was kidnapped. Mitch is gone. Dariela wised up and got out of here."

Abe walks toward me and places his hands on my shoulders, "We'll get them back. When Dariela left I could've left with her. In fact, I probably should have. But you know why I didn't? Faith. Faith in our mission. Faith in our team. Faith that we are doing the right thing. And we are the only ones who can."

I take a deep breath, "Oh, but, Abe, I wish I felt that way. I wish I had your conviction. But what if faith isn't enough?"

Jamie takes a deep breath, the both of us fighting back tears, "I'm gonna, uh, keep looking for Jackson and Mitch. I'll let you know if I find anything. You two get some rest."

Abe and I head to our rooms, I don't know about Abe but I can't get much sleep. The bed feels too big and empty without Jackson next to me. The next morning I wake up and head down to the lab to start cleaning up. It isn't long before Abe comes down and starts helping me. About an hour later Logan comes onto the plane, leading a man in cuffs.

"Logan." I look to him, shocked and confused, "What are you doing here?"

"Jamie called in a favor."

"Who is he?"

"This is the Shepherd who's going to help us find Mitch, which will hopefully lead us to Jackson." Jamie walks down the stairs. "Do you know who I am?"

The Shepherd nods, "Jamie Campbell. Got rich selling other people's stories. Now you spend your nights chasing after those that you exploited."

"Sit down. Jared MaCavey, former Shepherd. You ran security for the Applied Science Division. And you've been living in New England since Pangaea fell."

"Alissa Graham. Peter Runge. David Hall. All my friends, all in federal prison because of you."

I chuckle softly, "oddly enough, if you can believe it she doesn't care and neither do we. But we wouldn't have a problem arranging a nice reunion for you guys."

Jamies nods, "Or you can talk to us."

Logan steps toward Jared, "Abigail used to be one of you and then she went rogue. What she's planning with the hybrids it'll undo everything that you Shepherds have been working for. Now, we know that you've been looking for her. We know how to find her."

"How?" Jared looks over to Logan curious.

"One of the bio-drives that you created, Abigail has made a few modifications." Jamie tilts her head for a moment, "She's using one to control my friend, Mitch Morgan."

"You've been hunting us like dogs for a decade. Your boyfriend goes AWOL, you come crawling to me, a Shepherd, praying for help. I hope he ends up like the rest of the bio-drive subjects, choking to death on his own vomit."

Having had enough of this games and tired of the rage running through me because of Abigail and Robert, I punch Jared knocking him out of the chair. Leaning over him and grabbing his collar, "Start talking!"

"Katherine! Katherine! Stop!" I hear Logan call out.

"Stay out of this!"

"That's enough! Katherine!" Logan shouts again, pulling me off of Jared.

"What are you doing?" I hear Abe shout as he runs in.

"Do you really think the other Shepherds are going after Abigail? Who's left?! Who's gonna stop her?" Jamie looks from me to Jared.

Abe nods, "You know, she's right." he looks from Jamie to Logan then down to Jared, "If we're both going to get what we want, we're going to have to start working together."

Jared nods as Logan lets me go and helps him back up into the chair. "Okay. okay. I'll get you the tech stuff you need to-to find Mitch and you'll let me walk free with Abigail. No strings."

Jamie nods, "The priority is Mitch."

I take a deep breath, "If Abigail is there, we get her for a conversation. And then she's all yours."

"Deal" Jared nods.

"Let's go, okay." Abe nods.

Jamie and I stay with Jared, for about an hour or so before one of Logan's men come in to take our place. When I get into the lab I hear Abe, Logan, and Mitch talking. I listen for a moment before walking over to them, "what about anti-pathogenic?"

Abe turns to me, "Max's research is to be believed, this enzyme seems to be able to weaken, if not destroy, all pathogens: bacterial, viral, toxigenic."

Logan looks over to Abe, "What about spores?"

Max nods, "Spores? Yeah, I see no reason why it wouldn't have a similar effect."

Logan nods, "Okay, I need everything that you have on this enzyme ASAP." Logan turns and heads out of the lab as Abe and I look to each other.

"Well, you heard the man." I roll up my sleeves, "Let's get to it."

As I get to work Max chuckles, "You know Katherine, you are a lot like me."

"How so?"

"When I need to keep my mind busy, I keep my hands busy. I focus on something I know I'm good at.