This story is not for reading yet. it is only for a friend to take a look at and then will be deleted. I will post this once it is finished.


So it would appear that they realized that the Infinity Drive was to power full and down sized the whole thing. Well if you two will excuse me I have some research to attend to." Without another word Hector left through the hatch and closed it behind himself. "What a delightful man." Said Jack. "He is creepy as all hell." Replied Locke. "Though not as creepy as Bob Thompson." Locke let out a cheerful sigh. "He was the one that carried around a dead fish for a week because he thought it was good luck right?" "Yea thats him. And every day the smell of that fish got worse and worse." Jack grinned. "That is until I flushed it out the airlock." Locke laughed. "I never did charge you for miss uses of an airlock did i?" Jack smiled. "No because I went above and beyond the call of duty to save my fellow cremates from the smell of that damn fish." Just as Jack finished his smile faded away and he grew quite as he stared at Locke. "Whats wrong?" Asked Locke.

"For the last seven years I have believed that you were dead, and now here you are looking the same as the last day that I saw you." Said Jack. "What did you say was the explanation for my death?" Questioned Locke.

"Well that I could never figure out. After i hadn't heard from you in a few months I decided to track you down. I finally got in contact with your family which was when i had found out that you were dead. But they were only told that you were dead, No explanation was ever given to them. I did some research of my own and found nothing except that you and your crew were declared dead. There were no details or anything." Said Jack a bit bitterly. "So the families of my crew were never told what had happen to them?" Asked Locke. "No they weren't." Replied Jack. "Well I guess that makes sense since the mission was top secret.” Jack rolled his eyes. “Don't you get me started on top secret missions.”

“Well Jack it seems you have a story that I must hear.”

Jack Nodded. “Yes, but first things first... Do you have two glasses?” Jack asked as he indicated to his flask that had been placed next to Locke.

Locke grinned. “Of course I do.” Locke crossed the room to his cabinet and pulled out two glasses, then took his seat across from Jack again.

Locke poured some liqueur into each of the glasses then slide one of them across the table to Jack. “Thanks.” Jack said as he took the glass and drank down some of the liqueur. As he did so Locke noticed Jacks ring finger was missing the gold ring that he usually wore. “So how is Rebbecca?” Jack took a larger sip from his glass. “She is doing fine.” Jack smiled for a second. “We had a baby boy five years ago.”

“Congratulations, I bet he is just like his father.”

Jack sighed. “I'm not sure what he is like... I have never been able to see him.”

Locke sat his glass down. “Why not?”

“Because for the last five and a half years i have been on the run from the Coalition, pirates, and anyone else that thinks that I owe them money.”

“And do you?”

“That's beside the point. The point is that i took the fall for something that wasn't my fault. So to protect my family I have had to stay away from my wife and son. As far as i know they believe the news reports and wanted posters.”

“There are even wanted posters?”

“Yes, the last time I checked I was worth one million thank you very much.”

“So why did you remove the ring?”

Rebbecca remarried three years ago. I mean who could blame her. She hasn't heard from me in five in a half years, and thinks I'm a criminal. I have just learned to accept that she has moved on.”

“Have you?”

Jack didn't answer, he just took a sip of his drink. “Well I'm sure that your anxious to hear my story of betrayal that lead to me stealing a prototype ship and renaming it like a pirate ship. Well it started with me waiting for Derek out side of his office...” Locke drank from his glass as he listened to Jacks story.



CHAPTER 6



Winter stood in front of a full size mirror trying on different outfits, Jack had told her that it was finally safe for her to go back home again, so the first thing that she did was went on a shopping spree. She spun around to get an idea of how the skirt looked on her, but didn't like the way it looked.

“What I need are a pair of pants, that should get them boys to turn there heads.” She took a quick look around the changing room, but didn't see any pants. When she looked back to her reflection in the mirror she realized that she was wearing a pair of leather pants that she thought looked great on her.

“Much better.” She took one last look at how the pants followed her curves before leaving the room. Her heart skipped a beat and she smiled as she saw Jack waiting outside of the room for her. He was leaned up against the wall with his arms crossed. “Jack!” She said with delight. “Arn’t these cloths just perfect?” Jack kicked off the wall as he walked towards her. “Yes, but not nearly as perfect as you.” Her heart began to race as he grabbed her and pinned her against the wall. His body right up against hers made her fell secure.

She grabbed the collars of his jacket and pulled him into a kiss. Jacks left hand grabbed her side just above her waist, while his right hand grabbed around the the back of her neck, with his thumb against her cheek. She kissed him deeply as she realized that this was the happiest that she had been in a long time, and all she wanted to do was live in this moment forever. But without warning Jack pulled away from her. “Jack?” She asked. But he never answered, instead he turned from her and ran as if there was something that he was after.

She ran after him and out into the mall. Jack was was much farther ahead of her than she had remembered. He disappeared into a crowed of people so she took off after him. Every once in awhile she would catch a glimpse of him just before he would disappear back into the crowd. She was rushing by people and pushing her way forward as she saw him turn down a corridor. It took her a few seconds to get to the corridor, but when she did she was filled with fear. The corridor was barley lit, just enough so that she could still see.

She realized that the corridor that she was looking down was one of the corridors from the Chaos. Dreading the idea of going after Jack alone she decided that she would ask someone for help. But to her shock as she turned around, the mall had been replaced with more corridors from the Chaos. “Jack!” She yelled. But there was still no response. Instead of waiting around she began to run. Her hopes of finding a way out of the maze of corridors was diminishing the more that she ran. To her horror everything seemed to be getting darker. The darker it got the closer she came to crying.

“Winter!” Winter stopped running when she heard her mother call out her name. “Mom!” She yelled as she turned to see her mother towering over her. It didn't concern her that she was seven years old again, her only thought was that her mother would protect her. But the look that her mother gave her told her that something was wrong. There was a loud gun shot that came from down one of the corridors. “I need you to hide! Don't let any one find you!”

“But mom!”

“No! Now I'm begging of you sweetie, go hide!”

Knowing almost where to go Winter climbed into a small opening under the desk. With the lights pretty much out it was impossible to see her where she hid. There was a loud banging sound at the door, and all that Winter could do was watch her mother try to hold the door shut, but quickly lost the fight as she went falling to the ground. Several men burst through the door and began tossing stuff from in the room around. One of them went up to her mother and dragged her to her feet.

“Look what we have her boys!”

“Please no!” Begged her mother, but quickly the men had flocked all around her. Winter wanted to help but her mothers screams and cries sent fear through her that kept her paralyzed where she hid. Then Winter saw another man enter the room that filled her with hate. There was no one else that she despised more, yet she had never meet him before. The man who was obviously older than the rest pulled out a pistol and shot her mother in the forehead. Her lifeless body fell to the deck not to far from Winter. Her eyes widened and her heart stopped as she noticed that the body was Jacks corpse.

There was a moment when Winter began to scream that she was lost and confused. The only thing that she did know was that she was screaming. Not till her mind stopped racing, did she notice that she was was in the co-pilot seat of the mercury. Sweet was dripping down her face as she sat there kicking at the deck. Once she had realized that it had all just been a dream did she finally calm down. “Winter?” She yelped when she heard her name called from out of no where, but then remembered it was just Lucy.

“Lucy?” She asked.

“Are you all right?” Questioned Lucy.

“Yes.. I just was having a nightmare.”

“I thought that only Jack had those.”

“Ah.. No every one has them.”

“Everyone dreams of Jack blowing up with the Mercury?”

Winter Sounded surprised. “What?..No!..Thats just what his are about.”

“So what was yours about?”

Winter thought back to how it had all started. “Jack.”

“Are you sure that that was a nightmare?”

“No! it wasn't that kind of dream.. but i cant stay here Ive got to go find Jack.”

“Whys that?” Asked Lucy.

“Because I've all ready lost one person, I'm not losing another.” Winter got up and headed to the aft hatch in search of a flashlight.

“Well i hope that you find him.” Said Lucy. “I hope so to.” Replied Winter as she grabbed a good flashlight from the container by the aft hatch. Pleased that the light worked she went to the aft hatch and forced it open. She was surprised at how easy Jack had made it look. Once she walked through she closed the hatch behind her which sent a thud echoing down the dark corridor behind her. She could feel chills shooting through her as fear began to consumer her, but she did her best to push aside her fears and began walking down the corridor.

Like last time she could hear the sound of metal creaking, whispers,and the sound of occasional foot steps. She Jumped a little at the sound of what sounded like a glass bottle rolling across the deck. Once the sound had faded did she continue down the corridor once again. With out warning she was consumed by by blinding light which caused her to gasp out in surprise.

…........................

“...So you can see how after five and a half years alone that haveing her around is a huge hassle and pain, but at the same time im so glade that she is there. Some of the things that she does and says... well it just makes me feel better.” Jack said. “And how old is she?” Questioned Locke. “I would have to guess mid twenties.”

“I see, and how old are you now?”

“Thirty-six..” Jack narrowed his gaze. “why?”

Locke smiled and shook his head before taking another sip from his glass. “No reason.

“Thats what i thought.. any ways, were two complete opposites.. it would never work out.”

“Never say never Jack, you of all people should know that.”

“Yea, well believe me I know how to not fall head over heels for a women.”

“So you say.”

“I mean it.”

“Im sure you do.”

Jack smiled. “So changing topics, You have something that belongs to me.”

“Oh? And what would that be?’

“My pistol that your crew mate was so kind as to take from me.”

“That's right, you never go any where with out of that thing. Ill make sure that you get it back.”

“Thanks, and one more thing.. I could really use that part you guys took back to fix my ship.”

“Or you wont be able to go any where.”

“Or i wont be able to go any where. I'm glad that you understand my plight.”

“It goes against my best judgment, but seeing how Derek screwed you and possibly every one on my ship.. I guess ill let you have it.”

“Great, now that almost makes us even.”

“You all ways think that people are in your debt and owe you.”

“No i don't.”

“Do to!”

“Ok, maybe a little.”

“So whats your plans from here on out?”

“Well id like to get the Mercury fixed right away and check up on Winter. Then after that I would like to...” With out warning Jack vanished from where he was.

Locke quickly got out of his seat while keeping his eyes on where Jack had been. There was the loud sound of bending and warping metal that echoed through out the room. As soon as the sounds stop Jack reappeared in the spot that he had been. “And now I’m back.” Said Jack.

“What Just happened?”

“Well it would appear that i just went back to my own time for a moment.”

“Damn it! I need to find out a way to fix this ship.”

“Well as i was saying, once i get the Mercury fixed i would like to come back and try helping you find a way to fix whats going on here.”

“Well im not going to say no to any help that you have to offer.”

“Well you might have a crazy scientist to help you, but ive got one smart girl back on the Mercury.”

“I thought you said that she didnt know what a hammer was.”

“Oh no, not her, my ship has an AI called Lucy that puts your scientist to shame.”

“Your ship has an AI?”

“Yes.”

“And its a girl?”

“Yes she is.”

“I see...”

“You act like there is something wrong with that.”

“No, No. I just don't see why an AI needs to pretend to be a women.”

“The better question is why not.”

Locke laughed. “Why not indeed.”

“Now if you don't mind Id like to take care of my ship as soon as possible, then help you with yours.”

“Of course, ill see to it that your stuff is brought here right away. Locke picked up his phone and after a minute sat it back down. “There, your stuff will be here in just a moment and you will be all set.”

“Thanks again.”

“Don't mention it, like you said, I owed you one.” A minute later there was a knock at the hatch and Locke answered it. Dismissing the crew mate Locke returned to Jack with his stuff. “Just as promised.” Locke said as he set the stuff down on the desk in front of Jack. “Thank you.” Jack picked up his pistol and returned it back to its shoulder harness, and returned the flash lights and now half full flask back to inside chest pocket of his long coat.

Jack extended his hand out to Locke. “I wont be to long.” Locke smiled as he firmly shook Jacks hand. “I'm sure that you wont, and Jack, Its been great seeing you again.” Jack grinned. “Like wise.” Jack turned and left through the hatch with all of the stuff that he had come for.





CHAPTER 7







The corridor echoed of the sounds of moving metal as Jack made his way back to the Mercury. He wanted to get back as quickly as he could so that he could the part he had onto his own ship, and so that he could start working with Lucy on what was going on. The way that Jack saw it was that Lucy was the best way of figuring out a possible way of fixing the chaos and getting it back to normal. Since Lucy could see the Mercury’s infinity drive in a way that no one else could it only stood to reason that she might be able to come up with a way of shutting it down on the Chaos. One thing worried Jack about what would actually happen to the Chaos once the engine was shut down, would it be stuck in the past? or would it return to the time when she first jumped? Jack hatted not knowing, but in the end, the only thing that mattered was making sure that the hole that they were tearing into the universe and time stopped growing.

He smiled as he walked, not because the universe could possibly be destroyed soon, but because he couldn't actually believe that the whole universe was at stake. The only things he was use to was peoples lives and ships being in danger. Suddenly he heard his name called out which broke his chain of thought. He came to a stop in the middle of a T-shaped junction in the corridor that he was passing by. Jack looked down the corridor that was to his right and saw the man that had called out his name. “Hector! Can i help you with something?”

Hector shook his head. “oh no! I was actually looking for you. I was intrigued by your story about how you came to be in possession of a military vessel.”

“I see, and do you all ways listen to other peoples conversations?” Asked Jack.

“Just the interesting ones, and yours was very interesting.

“Im glad that you liked it.” Jack said as he narrowed his gaze. “and how does a scientest such as your self get the ability to eavesdrop on a conversation in the captains quarters?”

“I'm a more important man than most people think. I designed the Infinity drive and i know what makes it work, but im also Derek's insurance. In these times important people need others that they can trust to get things done for the greater good. So Derek has me make sure that all of the secrets about the Infinity drive are kept. There for i keep an eye on everyone, from the men on my team, to crews that run and test my designs.”

“And what if somebody was to know more than there supposed to?” Jack all ready knew the answer so he quickly reached for his pistol but was forced to stop half way before getting to his gun. Hector had pulled his hand out of his coat pocket with a small pistol in hand aimed right at jack.

“I take care of those problems Jack. Derek is real picky about those that he has serve him, and we all are willing to do what it takes to help him keep the coalition military the most powerful military in the galaxy. We make sure that all the citizens of the planets under the Coalitions protection are safe.”

“Do you really believe all of that crap? How is framing service men, and breaking peace treaties protecting anyone?”

“Some times sacrifices must be made, I’m sure even you can understand that. And now i must do my job, i cant let you keep that ship Jack, no one can have it, and of course, you know way to much about how that ship works. More importantly, i can be sure that Derek wouldn't want you running around as a liability against him.”

Before Jack could say anything Hector had pulled the trigger on his gun. The whole corridor echoed of a gun shot as Jack cried out loud as the bullet tore into his chest. Jack quickly fell back into the bulkhead that was behind him, and then slide down the bulkhead until he came to a sitting position with the part dropping out of his hand and to the deck between his legs. Just as the echoing stopped there was a loud screaming of the word Jack, that had come from behind Hector. He quickly spun around and took quick aim at the women that now stood in front of him.

“And you must be Winter, to bad i cant let you live either, its such a waist of a lovely lady.” Winter took a step back as tears began to run down her cheeks, and once again the corridor echoed of the sound of a gun shot. Only this time it was Hector that gasped out as he took his left hand and grabbed his shooting arm. He removed his hand after a second to see that there was blood, and after looking he could see that a bullet had torn his jacket and left him with nothing more than a bad flesh wound. Hector spun around with fiery eyes and a growl as he looked at Jack who was still leaned up against the bulkhead, but now had his pistol in hand.

Jacks vision was quickly beginning to blur as he tried his hardest to keep his pistol aimed at Hector who had just been threatening Winter. But with the more blood that he lost the more his vision blurred and the heavier that the pistol felt in hand. After holding on for a few seconds of his gun wandering around it soon slowly slid out of his grip and to the deck as soon his hand and arm did the same. The last thing he saw was Hector walking up to him quickly before everything faded to black.

Hector quickly walked right up to Jack as he put the barrel of the gun up to Jacks head that had just gone limp. His gun was shaking in his hand from the rage of anger that was running through his head, and this time there would be no more mistakes and he would finish the job. With a snarl he pulled on the trigger, and once again the corridor echoed loudly with the shot of gunfire. The bullet went straight through Hector's wrist he had his gun in. Bone broke and came out the other side with the bullet as Hector howled out in pain and feel to his knees dropping the gun.

Captain Locke who had been standing in the corridor that Jack had come from quickly charged at Hector taking him down to the deck and pinning him there. Locke didn't have to put much effort in keeping Hector down since he was more distracted by his wrist then with trying to get free. The he felt some one rush by behind him, and as he looked back he saw Winter fall to her knees in front of jack. Her face was covered in tears and she was whimpering as she grabbed Jack by both sides of his face as she moved his head up to look into his eyes, but the were closed.

Winter was shaking as she held Jacks head up. “Jack tell me you're OK, Please Jack! Jack!” Fresh tears fell as Jack didn't move or respond to her. At that moment a few officers came running up after hearing all of the gunshots. Locke looked up to the three crewmates. “you two, Hector is under arrest, take him to the medical bay and don't ever let him out of your sight.” Locke stood up as the two crewmates dragged Hector to his feet as he moaned out from the pain of his wounds. As they took him away Locke kneeled down next to Winter as he gently moved her away from Jack. “I’m sorry miss but i need to see him.” Winter just sat there as she watched Locke check Jack for a pulse.

After a few long seconds, which to Winter seemed like hours, Locke finally looked up to the third crew mate who was the same one that had been questioning Jack just hours earlier. “Hendricks get me Dr. Tennant! Now!” Locke looked to Winter as he stripped off his uniform jacket and then moved Jacks Jacket to the side as he pressed his tightly up to the bleeding hole over the right side of Jacks chest. “He still has a pulse but its faint. What i need you to do for me..Winter?...is to stay calm. I will make sure that we do everything possible to keep him alive.

Winter looked at Locke speechless for a moment until she sat her bottom down onto the deck as she covered her face with her paws in a way to imagine that this wasn't happening.