The Bullet stopped two hours later.

Sarah couldn't get any more information from Wolf. Nothing about the Observation Facility, no details as to the timestamp on the video, nor any hint of the identity of whoever was on the footage, or where they were going after that, if anywhere. After the stunt she pulled trying to escape, she doubted they would tell her anything until the actual moment of discovery, meaning not until they arrived at their destination, and even then, they would probably keep her on a tight operational need-to-know basis.

After Wolf had finished with her bandages, they moved to another cabin. This room bore a resemblance to the previous one, except whoever engineered it flipped the layout with her recliner on the other end and the sink-mirror combo opposite of its original position. Of course, Wolf didn't live up to getting her another shirt, since they didn't have a cache of clothes on the train.

Sarah grimaced on the inside. What did he think? He would find a department store on this thing?

Now they stood, ready to get off The Bullet at the Observation Facility. Next to Wolf, Sarah waited for the exit doors to open in her white sweater, the sleeves pushed up; the garment streaked with blood across the front. She refused to give him the pleasure of knowing the entire ordeal miffed her. Bleeding everywhere was her fault, but then again, Wolf put her in this position. Another thing irritated her. The bandages. She unraveled the cotton, stained with dried crimson on the innermost layers, wadded them up and handed them to Wolf.

He tensed up and caught the soiled bandages, grimacing when he saw her wounds, or lack thereof. He could only stare at her wrists in amazement.

"Only a hint of a scar," Wolf said, his words filled with awe.

"Even that will vanish by tomorrow," Sarah replied as the doors glided open. "When damaged, my cells regenerate and never lose their youthful luster."

"That's the main reason you're here, Sarah. For the greater good."

She cut her eyes to him. "We'll see about that."

With the jailer and prisoner routine down to a science, Wolf guided Sarah by the arm into a corridor. As they walked, the change of scenery distracted her too much to object. Rocks lined the walls and ceiling like a cave in some old movie she watched when life was simpler. Pebbles and dirt made up a well-trodden path that led away from the train toward this new subterranean place.

The tunnel appeared natural. It meandered like a snake with uneven indentions and sharp points that jutted out, some at eye level, making Sarah tilt her head to avoid being gouged. Spaced-out fluorescent lights hung above them in a series, running the length of the corridor. And a muskiness hung in the air, emanating from the walls. Portions of the rock glistened with seeping water while fungus grew, darkening other areas.

"Nice place you have here." Sarah pulled her arm free. "I think I can make it on my own."

"Sorry," Wolf said. "You didn't mind me helping you earlier."

"That was different. You were giving me medical attention."

"Which you probably didn't need. If left alone, your blood would have clotted, and you would have healed up all the same."

"But your kind gesture may have bought you a favor in the future. You may be the one who needs help next time."

Wolf didn't get sarcastic, but only offered a solemn nod, drawing his lips together and swallowing uncomfortably.

Sarah wanted to smile. She actually tried, but it came out forced, all in the cheeks. Her eyes remained as hard as the rocks in the cave. This prompted Wolf to increase their pace, leading the way. As they arrived at the end of the corridor, another set of doors slid open with a hiss of air. They turned left and entered a long hallway, passing a man dressed in desert military fatigues.

Wolf pressed Sarah's soiled bandages into the man's stomach. The man tried to wrench away, but Wolf didn't allow him to escape. "Do something with this, will ya?"

The man cowered, shook his head, and then hurried past them.

Based on the encounter, Sarah surmised Wolf had a reputation around this place, one that demanded respect and brought about fear.

They continued, rounding a corner to the right, and then passing a guard station on the side. A man sat at a computer and a woman stood above him. Neither of them could take their eyes off the redhead and the bloody sweater entering the elevator.

"You got a problem?" Wolf leaned out, glaring at them while pushing the number three on the control panel.

"No problem here," the man replied. Both he and the woman redirected their attention to a computer screen.

"It's not like we're a sideshow attraction or something," Wolf said as the doors closed.

"Are we going up?" Sarah asked.

"Down. To see Jake. It's classified footage."

"What?" Her chest tightened. Her heart shot a wave of anxiety through her body, thumping in her ears. "What are you talking about? Jake's dead."

"I told you; we have proof of life."

"But you said it had to do with Arcturus. I thought you meant Sergov."

"No, it's Jake, and he's not on Arcturus."

When Sarah heard his name again, a memory struck deep in her soul. Jake held her, their lips pressed together. They were in the Bahamas again. Anger had coursed through her because she thought he had cheated on her. They were at the pool, the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort. Behind them, a man had a concealed gun bulging under a light jacket, talking to a bartender. She didn't know how Jake's ruse had worked, but it did. The man turned away and wandered off in the opposite direction in search of them. In the meantime, Jake continued to kiss her, and she continued to kiss him. Then she broke free from his embrace and told him to never kiss her again. Back then, she didn't tell Jake that she enjoyed the moment. She couldn't, after all. In her mind, he had slept with another woman, a co-worker. But she found out later he didn't. Of course, she ended up kissing him again. Many, many times.

"You alright?" Wolf asked.

"No."

The elevator opened to a well-lit floor. If she hadn't known they were underground, she would have thought they were in any other building in any other city. To her left, another guard station stood. Sarah and Wolf breezed by a man studying an eBoard tablet. He never looked up. The guards they had run into earlier must have warned the man not to interfere, or look the redhead's way, if he knew what was best for him.

After a left-hand turn, they took a hallway with windowless doors lining the walls. At the end, Sarah slowed a step at the sight of a sign over an entryway, reading OBSERVATION ROOM. This was their destination.

Wolf typed in a passcode and the doors swung open.

Sarah's feet wouldn't budge.

Without a word, he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her forward. She stared at him like he had lost his mind, but she couldn't summon the courage or desire to shrug away from him.

Originally, Sarah had left Jake long ago for his own good after her first encounter with Wolf in Sydney, Australia. A madman forced the first version of the serum upon her, and she didn't learn of its effects on her until sometime later. That was sixty years ago. Thirty years later came Arcturus. They shouldn't have brought Jake back into the mix, but they had to lure her into deep space. The obvious answer was to give Jake an imperfect version of a serum created by the admiral and his scientists and put him on the same transport ship as Sarah. She blamed Wolf and the admiral for it all. Rage kindled to a steady burn inside her. She glared at Wolf, jerked her arm from his grasp, and somehow found the ability to move on her own.

The hallway appeared empty. They reached another doorway, another keypad, and entered.

A man attired in Navy blues stood with his back to them, arms crossed, gazing at a bank of computer monitors arranged in a semicircle. The five screens displayed three letters, TXP, like a floating logo. The man turned, ever so slowly, to face them. Short-cropped gray hair sat atop a smug brown face, chiseled like granite. He was about an inch taller than Wolf.

"Nice of you to join us, Dr. Lawson, or is it Dr. Soloman?"

Sarah edged closer, her boots dragging across the floor. "Since Jake died, I've went by my maiden name. His name only reminds me of the past, and the past was a long time ago."

Wolf nudged her shoulder to push her deeper into the room.

His touch made fire burn behind her eyes. "Keep your hands off me."

"Jake's not dead," he replied. "Remember. He's alive."

"We have proof," the man Sarah knew as Admiral Woodrow Jax said. He clucked his tongue against the roof of his mouth several times. The sound echoed off the walls of the small room. "I see you've fared well. You look younger than you did thirty years ago, back on Arcturus. No side effects either."

"Only mild ones."

"Maybe we can perfect the process with your expertise?"

"Why would I wish this malady on anyone?"

The admiral snorted. "We gave Jake an imperfect version of the serum, and you know it. He needs your help."

Sarah blinked at the use of present tense. "Enough with the small talk. Let's do this. Show me the video."

"Of course. I guess we'll skip the formalities." He grinned, revealing a diastema between his two upper front teeth. "Computer. Video file, Cassini 7, space probe. 6-15-76."

"Six months ago?" Sarah said.

"Yes. We have one, seven second shot as the probe passed overhead."

"Let's see it then."

"Computer. Play file C761576."

On the middle of the five screens, an aerial view, tinted yellow, revealed a grainy image of a round two-story structure and a human form in a thermal suit and helmet, trudging over an icy rock littered landscape. The figure continued on its path, heading straight for what Sarah knew to be a habitat. And that was it. The clip ended.

"That's all you have?" Sarah asked.

"It's all we need. He's alive."

"And how do you know it's him?"

"We know, Dr. Lawson. The probe picked up the bio readout on his thermal suit. It's Jake. In time, I'll tell you exactly where he is, and let you go get him if you do something for me."

"Like what?" Sarah held some reservations, despite what they called proof. But maybe they were telling the truth?

"First, I want you to perfect the serum."

"But you've made progress on your own, right?"

"The serum in its current state?" Admiral Jax snorted again. "Do we really want a bunch of Wolf's running around?"

This drew a scowl from Wolf. "I'm not all that bad... with proper medication."

"Here's the deal, Dr. Lawson," Admiral Jax said. "You proceed on to the next stop. You perfect the serum, and we'll see if you can rescue Jake. But you better hurry because he has limited time. His meds could run out any day now, and then we could end up with another Sergov transformation, like on Arcturus."

Sarah inhaled a slow, contemplating breath. Her gaze narrowed, probing the admiral for any signs of a lie. "How do I know you'll keep your end of the bargain?"

"Because you'll be working for us on a classified project. We'll be indebted to you, and we'll have no reason to betray you. We'll be on the same team. Besides, we have ulterior motives. Extremely top secret. We'll enlighten you as each phase begins. Here a little, there a little. You'll have to trust us."

"Where is the next stop?"

"We call it the TXP Facility."

Sarah eyeballed Admiral Jax. "What else do I have to do? There's always more."

A sly smile creased his lips. "You're a smart woman, but one step at a time, Dr. Lawson. No more, no less."

"Let's get started then." She didn't have a choice if she wanted to save Jake, if he was still alive, that much she knew. According to the admiral, Jake's pod malfunctioned and sent him off course. He didn't offer a location, but Sarah had a suspicion based on the evidenced presented to her. With that bit of knowledge, she turned without another word and left the room with Wolf on her heels.

Their train awaited them.