"I know how you feel. Just promise me you'll go and get something to eat."
"Ok," Erica answered and smiled at Kyle.
Kyle smiled back and with one last squeeze of her shoulder left the room.
Erica turned back to the bed and picked up Trek's hand in both of hers. She started to gently stroke his hand.
"What's goin' on in that head of yours?" she asked sadly.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Trek stood at the small fence watching his wife and daughter playing in front of him. The buzzing sound was getting louder, distracting his attention. He felt the presence of his grandfather beside him.
"I don't think I can let her go again," he stated never taking his eyes off Annie.
His companion stayed silent.
"It'd be hard to go back wouldn't it?"
"I won't lie to you," answered the old man, "it wouldn't be easy. But then you already know that don't you? There's always some type of sacrifice involved in this sort of choice."
Trek looked across to where the team seemed to stand with the vehicles, deep in conversation.
"What would happen to them?" he asked.
"Don't know," answered his companion. "I'm just part of your subconscious remember. I can't tell the future any more than you can. But you know the dangers involved in their work."
Trek turned to regard his companion. He smiled.
"It's ok. I've made my decision," he said.
The old man returned his smile.
Trek closed his eyes as the scene began to fade to black around him.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Duke stood in the garage working through the inventory of Beast's equipment. Most of the mechanics seemed subdued, although one was moving around whistling happily to himself.
"What the...?" Gil's startled exclamation rang out across the garage.
"What's going on?" Duke asked, moving to Gil's side.
"I don't know," came the puzzled reply. "It just started."
Duke followed Gil's gaze to the screen behind Plato. A single light was blinking on and off rhythmically. It was almost like a heartbeat.
"Does that mean what I think it does?" asked Duke with a growing sense of foreboding.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The first thing Trek was aware of when he opened his eyes was a blinding white light, so bright that it hurt his eyes. Then the world gradually began to drop back into focus. He lay still for a minute, listening to the hiss and bleep of machinery, before slowly turning his head to one side to take in more of his surroundings.
Erica was asleep in a chair to the side, her hair hanging in her eyes. As he watched she woke up, stretched with cat-like grace and opened her eyes. As she looked at him her eyes widened in surprise.
"Hey," Trek said, his voice sounding rough and weak to his own ears.
Erica's answering smile was like the sun coming up.
"Welcome home," she said.
**THE END**