Katherine waited while Scott searched for what he needed, but loud cracks of thunder reverberated through the air, and she flinched, clenching her jaw, wishing the storm would stop because the noise was grating on her already raw nerves.  Scott however didn’t seem fazed by it, his facial expression was sympathetic yet he was clearly deep in thought, and Katherine would have given anything to know what he was thinking at that moment.  Her eyes searched his, and then she knew. They had left so much unsaid, but it was time to focus on finishing their task and find their way back to the ship before time ran out, even though there was so much she needed to tell him…all of her feelings she wanted to share.  With a mental shake, she pushed it all aside, once again well aware this wasn’t the time or place, but the gentle tugging in her heart each time their eyes met, didn't help keep those wistful thoughts at bay.  Wishing they could have just a few precious moments away from reality and free of all their responsibilities, she resisted the urge to reach out and pull him closer by clutching the fabric of her shirt tight in her fists, and let out a soft sigh when a second later she saw whatever fleeting emotion in his eyes was gone as he pulled out the medical supplies.<br/><br/>Teeth chattering from the damp chill inside the cavern seeping through her jeans as she knelt on the ground, Katherine shifted her weight trying to find a comfortable position, but Scott lay out the poncho for her and she flashed him a grateful smile.  “Thanks, I think that will help,” she said softly, but noticed the concern in his eyes. Though he teased her now, there was a tone in his voice belying his light-hearted banter, and as she lay down, she tilted her head to get a better look at her injury, suddenly worried it might be worse than she first thought, but it was impossible to see in the dimness.  Sucking in her breath as the cool water and antiseptic he applied sent a stinging sensation rushing across her abdomen, she bit her lip and stared hard at the ceiling, seeing that it glowed with a pulsing frequency she hadn’t noticed before.  Finally, the pain began to subside as Scott finished wrapping the bandage with soft gauze, and she took his offered hand, swaying as she sat up, feeling so tired she barely heard what he said and gave him a quizzical look.  “That’s much better, thank you…but…I…,” she said as the words drifted off, suddenly unable to remember what she wanted to say.<br/><br/>He was still speaking, and yet, it was as though she was in a tunnel with his voice moving farther and farther away, and all she heard was the word ‘sleep’, the strange slurring and unnatural drowsiness to his speech didn’t even register.  Yes, she thought nodding, sleep was exactly what the Captain needed…and then Katherine’s lips turned up into a dreamy smile as she watched him settle down on the ground beside her, already asleep before his head came to rest on the poncho.  Succumbing to her own fatigue, she lay next to him, watching with blurred vision as the pulsing light above became brighter, seeming as though it was reaching down to envelop them both, and then her eyes closed and she was aware of nothing except darkness as she floated into unconsciousness.<br/><br/>Perhaps no more than an hour passed, when Katherine’s eyes flew open as though something had touched her, something cold that sent a chill across her skin, the hair on her arms rising with goose bumps despite the heat from Scott’s body now pressed against hers.  Turning her head to look around, she saw nothing unusual except that the storm appeared to have calmed, the only sound now was of softly falling rain splashing on wet earth outside, the violent thunder and lightning had stopped.<em>There’s nothing to worry about here, this cavern is a safe shelter, a welcoming place for weary travellers and no need to fear.</em><br/><br/>Sitting up, relaxed by such peaceful thoughts, she gazed at Scott, who was still asleep, and smiled, reaching out her hand to caress his brow, running her fingertips through his hair in a soothing gesture.  Contented by the sound of his deep breathing, her attention drifted to the back of the cave, to the entrances leading to tunnels that were dark except one, the one in the centre was now glowing with the same pulsing light as the rest of the ceiling.<em>Perhaps what we seek is through that tunnel, yes…of course, we need only explore the path to discover the answer.</em><br/><br/>Staring at the light, she stood up, no longer aware of anything except the urge to obey the now overwhelming instinct to go deeper in to the cave.<em>No need to wake the Captain, I’ll just take a quick look.</em><br/><br/>With slow, deliberate footsteps, she left Scott’s side without a second thought, and moved towards the tunnel, lulled by a sense of peace and well-being.  Once inside, she followed the narrow winding trail that led downwards in a steady spiral, until she saw a series of stone steps leading to a darker chamber.  Pressing her palms against the wall for balance, she descended the rough-hewn staircase, peering with curiosity as the room she now entered suddenly came to life, illuminated by a blinding beam of white light, but from where she couldn’t see.  Shielding her eyes with her arm, the intensity dimmed immediately, as though adjusting to her needs, and she gasped in awe of her surroundings.  Standing in a vestibule of sorts, carved completely out of glittering amethyst crystal that bathed everything in shimmering lavender light, before her stood a smooth onyx archway, beside two matching pillars etched with symbols she didn’t recognize.  Beyond that, she could see the arch opened up to a simple onyx bridge that stretched across a deep canyon, to what could only be described as a docked vessel of some sort.<em>A spacecraft?</em>It was about the same size as the Stealth Bombers she often saw at NORAD, but this ship was oblong, and made of white, almost transparent metal, but with no discernable features or even grooves.<em>Perhaps if I touch a crystal prism.</em><br/><br/>That thought popped into her mind at the same time she saw a large round diamond shaped amethyst embedded in one of the smooth black pillars, and the moment her hand touched it, the ship pulsed to life, transforming the shell from opaque white to a mirror like surface, bright and shiny, yet reflecting nothing.<em>There is nothing to fear, the ship holds the answers.</em><br/><br/>Moving forward without hesitation, she crossed the bridge.  The canyon below appeared infinite in its darkness, and she felt a shiver of dread, but a firm yet gentle nudge in her mind switched her focus back to the ship, and a renewed sense of peace washed over her in soft waves.  Almost there…her boots made no sound on the smooth black stone, and as she approached the ship, she could feel and hear a faint hum of energy emanating from it.<em>Touch it, go ahead it is safe.</em><br/><br/>Two steps forward and she let her hand glide over the cool, mirrored surface, gasping with delight as it seemed to ripple like water from the touch of her fingertips, yet remained solid. The entire ship began vibrating with a stronger energy than she sensed before, and as she moved even closer, a tiny voice of warning from deep in her conscious mind screamed to be heard.  But she ignored it, another voice even louder pushed her to explore until she found the key.<em>What key?</em>She frowned as confusion blurred her thoughts, and she shook her head, feeling very alone and isolated, such a sharp contrast to the tranquility a second ago.  That sudden switch of awareness jolted her memory, and she remembered Captain Hunter.  A rush of thoughts flooded her mind as she realized how far from him she had wandered, scared by the inability to recall why or how she was there.<em>Scott!</em><br/><br/>Her hands flew to her chest and she panicked, staggering backwards, just as the ship shuddered and started to open.  Turning to flee, a powerful pulling sensation wrapped around her body and left her paralyzed, almost hypnotized as she could do nothing but watch the entrance to the ship reveal itself.  Unblinking, she stood silent as a veil closed around her conscious mind, calm and transfixed, her body went slack, and with a slight swaying motion, Katherine began walking towards the welcoming light inside the belly of the strange alien ship.<br/>