South Of Bikini- First Mission free porn video

South of Bikini Episode 6 "First Mission" 0800hrs, Flagstaff, Arizona, August 11th, 2026 "Good morning, Empress! How did you sleep?" Spencer cheerfully greeted as I cleared the last step and shuffled, still not quite awake, into the kitchen. "Have you ever slept in a Quonset hut, or on a regulation cot, Spence?" "Can't say I've ever had the pleasure, Allie." "Well, this was nothing like that! That mattress was worlds better than anything I've slept on up to this point- except Mariah's custom-built bed of course! I've only slept...tried to sleep on it once so far. To answer your question, I slept like a baby, Spence!" "Glad to hear that, Allie. Emily and Alex spent about two weeks searching from here to Santa Fe for mattresses 'fit for an Empress'!" He chuckled as he removed a ceramic cup from the wall cabinet, filled it with coffee and placed it before me. "I assume you like your coffee the same as Alex?" His question was more of a statement. I nodded. Joss and Lynn soon joined us in the kitchen and Spencer fetched two more cups and poured them coffee as well. "I guess it's hard to get the military out of your system?" Spencer posed the question to the three of us. "Kind of. Seeing as yesterday morning we were still at war with Japan..." "And today they make most of our best consumer goods!" Spencer finished my sentence, though not the way I had expected. I could tell by the expressions on my two companions' they had not been briefed on this era's political and economic situations. "Yes, you two, Japan became an ally after the war. We helped them rebuild their industries and they began to out produce the United States beginning in the 1960's." "Allie's right, after World War II, the Allies helped to rebuild war- torn Europe and Japan. We reestablished trade with both countries, well, half of Germany anyway, after the Korean conflict." "Half of Germany?" Lynn always looked cute when she was confused. "Half of Berlin and the Eastern portion of Germany went to Russia, at that time the Soviet Union, after Germany surrendered in August of '44. In the fifties I think, the Soviets started construction of a huge wall that separated East from West until the fall of the Soviet Union in the late '80's." "So, we won the war?" "Yes, we won the war, Ricky Lynn. In winning that war though, we opened up Pandora's box- the Cold War arms race, and the Nuclear Age! Ale...Allie can tell you two all about how Emily and I met." Spencer began to adlib while motioning with his eyes behind us. It didn't take my gift or Jack's to tell me who was there. "Good morning, Gregory. Up rather early aren't we?" "How did you know I was here?" "We're Witches, remember? You called us that last night- something about a coven meeting, I believe? No, actually I smelled your cheap cologne as you came down the stairs!" "Cassie likes it, you don't have to!" "I wonder!" "You wonder what, babe?" "When Cassie was younger, she always asked me to bring her a pet. I wonder if she would still like a toad." I rolled my hand mystically at him as he came around the large kitchen table. Spencer tried hard to hold back his laugh. Joss and Lynn had no problem breaking into hysterical laughter though. "I'm on to you, Allison Steinert! You play this incredibly tough bitch to the entire world, yet I think that's just a cover for the soft- hearted, sexually deprived, Lesbian you really are!" Spencer noticeably tensed up as Joss and Lynn tried they're best to keep from killing my daughter's asshole partner. "You're right, Gregory, I'm soft-hearted, but I don't play at anything!" I hissed. I let my intense stare burn deep into his forehead. Six days left! Six...long...days until I could show this buffoon how dangerous it really was to push my patience! "Aunt Allie, are you and Greg butting heads again?" Cassie's weary voice sounded from the stairway. "No, I'm not butting heads with anyone, dear. I'm just having a battle of wits with an unarmed person. At the very least I'm conversing with a butt!" Spencer's coffee shot out his nose, spraying halfway across the table. I received a very 'threatening' look, a very conspiratorial look, from Greg- a look that failed to frighten me in any way, shape, or form. "Why don't you two call a trouce?" "Ya, babe, how about a trouce?" "Cassandra, I have not yet begun to fight!" I exclaimed then downed the last of my coffee and rose quickly from the table. "Chester Nimitz, right?" Gregory apparently wasn't comfortable with just one foot in his mouth. "No," I said in total disbelief, "John Paul Jones! Where did you learn your history- the five and dime?" "Mo...Aunt Allie that is enough! I will not have you and Greg nuking each other every time you meet! He's mine and I'm keeping him a while longer, do you understand?" "Have it your way, sweetheart, you're old enough to know your own mind! I think I'm going to go to the pool, anyone care to join me?" I turned and headed up the stairs without a second thought. "Allie, we'd like to talk with you about last night." I opened my eyes to see the Cummins twins standing over me in their matching bikinis. Raising myself up a little in the lounge chair, I moved my sunglasses up to my forehead. "Sure, what's on your mind, Jack?" I pointed to the empty chairs to either side. "Have a seat. Relax." "Cap, we're really concerned that that was only the first of many attempts! Joss and I agree with your analysis last night though, and..." "You were listening to me...again? Do I have to go to my dimension to have some privacy anymore?" "No, Alex! I...we only listen when it involves someone's safety! From what everyone who joined us saw last night, our eavesdropping seemed warranted!" "That's very considerate of you, Jack, but I felt I was in no danger from those women. In fact, I felt a certain amount of concern from them. Not so much from the one called Janelle, but from her two 'goddesses'. I got the feeling they were playing at something, but for the life of me I don't know what! Could either of you get any sort of vibe from them?" "Vibe, Cap?" "I know what she means, sis. She wants to know if you sensed...anything...from them." Joss shook her head. "No, Alex, nothing. It was like they were there, but not there." "Like phantoms, Cap." Joss added. "Well whatever they were, they weren't gods or goddesses! As I said last night they looked like scientists. The one looked like she was frantically trying to tune something in- like possibly trying to tune Cassie and I in?" "Like she was trying to beam you back!" Jacki raised her voice slightly in excitement. "Huh?" Joss and I asked at the same time. "Nothing, just an old TV program reference, that's all. Never mind. Could it be that they think you should be there instead of here for some reason?" I shrugged my shoulders. "Time for a dip in the water; you two coming in?" Jacki leaned close as I got off the lounge chair. "You do know Samantha is in the water, right?" She whispered. "For about fifteen minutes now, yes." I whispered back. Once over the shock of the water, we made our way over to the slight, stationery, oval shaped ripple in about three foot of water at the shallow end. I motioned for Jacki and Joss to surround the ripple. "We know you're here, Sam. No one is looking so you can re-phase." I said quietly to the motionless shimmer. "You two told her! I saw you say something to her before you got in!" Samantha said after reappearing. I noted with some irony that Sam and I wore matching bikinis. "I knew you were here before Jack even got here, Sam. Mother's have a sixth sense about their kids, didn't you know that?" "Yes, mom! I may not have any children yet, but you've told me repeatedly." "So, are you tailing me too?" "I thought I'd stay close, yes." "Come here!" I hugged my youngest daughter. "That was thoughtful, honey, but I'm in no danger. I don't think those women will harm me. I think they may be trying to retrieve me." "Retrieve you?" She looked at me curiously. "If it's alright with you I'll still worry about you, mom." "As a good daughter should, wouldn't you agree, Cassandra?" I said as I turned and looked suspiciously at an empty lounge chair near the pool's edge. The Cummin's girls reached for their heads simultaneously. "No! We didn't even know you were here, Cassie! Stop yelling at us! If your mother heard that foul mouth, she'd start looking for the Phel's- Naptha soap! Look, just materialize already and stop bitching!" I still wasn't comfortable with Jack's one-sided conversations, but I understood why she did it. "You two can suck the life out of any party, did you know that?" Both Jacks gave her a quirky smile. "And just how is this any kind of a party, Cassandra?" I inquired, more than a little miffed at her unheard vocabulary. "You don't seem to be taking any of what happened last night seriously! Even in their presence you openly mocked them, Mom! What if they are these gods they claim to be? They could possibly have the power to 'ffffffft' you!" Her hand opened quickly to signify a burst. "Mom, no one wants to see you die!" Her voice had a concerned, yet angry growl to it. "I'm a hard thing to kill, honey, just ask Aunt Brie!" "Oh, you mean the story she told us back at your parent's farm? About how you and Brie were escaping from the Oak Ridge lockup and you were just a little slow to phase out? Brie told us you were out cold and healing for two days, Alex!" Joss related with a catty grin. "You were in jail, mom? You never told Sam or I about that! My mother was a jailbird- a fugitive!" Cassie said with a slight giggle. "I was breaking your Aunt out because of a misunderstanding, besides your grandparents dropped the charges, honey." I downplayed it with a shrug of my shoulders. "You aided and abetted a known criminal, mom? Now I know where Cassie gets it from!" Sam interjected with a devious smile. "Ya, like you never did anything wrong, Miss 'oh, did that just drop into my bag?'" "Belay that you two! I'll find out about it soon enough! My point is that I've survived being shot...twice, almost blown up by a stray enemy torpedo, attacked by a large Japanese officer, attacked by a drunken longshoreman, almost incinerated aboard the Arizona..." "Wait, you were on the Arizona?" Cassie interrupted in surprise and raised her hand. "Brie never told you?" I asked, equally surprised. Both Sam and Cassie shook their heads. I looked to Jack. They both raised their arms and shrugged. I looked around us. The immediate pool area was deserted. It was as good a time as any to begin the story. "Your Aunt Brie was originally killed aboard the Arizona, 0810hrs Sunday December 7, 1941. They were trapped when the compartment next to his took a direct bomb hit." I felt a shudder run the length of my spine as I recalled the scene. "My brother Brian and ten of his fellow sailors were killed instantly. After I found I could travel through time, I decided to try and save them. That Sunday morning I ported into his compartment. We were so close to that bomb, we could hear the timer spinning down over the screaming and other explosions. I used my new feminine charms to get all eleven to hold onto me and ported them out in the nick of time to the beach directly across from the ship on Ford Island." "After we rephased, only Brian stayed close enough for me to protect as a Dive-bomber missed his target. The stray torpedo skipped across the water and impacted on the beach directly in front of us. We had nowhere to go and no time! I managed to shield Brian from the blast as I phased us out, but I wasn't quick enough- my back was exposed to a small fraction of the intense heat. The back of my uniform was burned completely off and my skin was severely burned." "Even so, Brian and I traveled back to 1944. We stopped aboard Sand Dollar so I could change my uniform. That's when he just had to have that drink of water... Y'all know the rest." I concluded the tale with tear-stained cheeks. "That's terrible! Aunt Brie just told us you came to her rescue, mom. She never went into the details, though- now I see why." "I remember it like yesterday, girls. Every time I tell that story the images of those eleven people come back to haunt me." "You just said ten...ten men from the Arizona, mom. Where did the eleventh come from?" Sam immediately caught my mistake. "Cynthia Riggby, Lt., J.G. She worked as a secretary at the Navy hospital. Cindy was kind enough to offer me a place to stay that Saturday night. She was killed when a bomb exploded just outside the office she worked in. The blast was so intense it blow her through the office wall and into the hallway, breaking her neck, Emily told me." "Empress, you can travel back and save her, remember?" Cassie quietly reminded me as she gently grasped my forearm. "It's not that simple, honey! Your Aunt saw her die! She was in the hallway not thirty feet from her! If I were to go back and save Cindy, I would risk changing your...our history. I can't take such a big risk! I have to get out of this water. I'm getting all prunie." I sniffed to clear my tear filled sinuses as I made my way to the steps. With all those images still freshly dredged up, I began to consider Cassie's words. How on Earth could I rescue that kind woman from under Emily's nose? Was there a way? I shook my head to clear my thoughts. There was plenty of time for me to formulate a possible plan. Surely I would have one in five days. Reaching the steps, I turned and saw that Jacki and Joss were wiping tears from they're faces. I waded back over. "I take it you both were looking into my head?" "Cap?" Joss asked for them both. "How do you keep it all inside? All those men...the pieces...the blood- how can you do that?" "Let me ask you a question, Jack. Have you ever thought about all those sailors we've sent to a watery grave during the war? Most of those men were only trying to do what they thought was best for their country- some, like Tish, never wanted any part of it, but served because they had to! Do you lose sleep with images of their gruesome demise?" "No." "Why not?" "Because it's our job, Alex! It was our job to kill the enemy!" Joss spit out. "Yes, Jack, it was our job...in part. But because of these changes," I waved my hand at us, "my job has unexpectedly become exponentially more complex! I'm forced to now be the ultimate strategist. Carefully picking and choosing what I can...should change and what has to be left..." I wiped my eyes again. I decided to describe it to them as I saw things. "Scientists claim there are four dimensions: three physical dimensions and time. I must coordinate, interpret, inspect, remedy, and interact with at least five. Confusing things even more, time has become variable! At least y'all have the security that sequential time affords- Monday flows into Tuesday flows into Wednesday." I could feel their argument forming. "I'm not saying my situation is any more overwhelming than yours- I'm sure it must scare the living hell out of you knowing you can end someone's life with just a thought. What I'm saying is that we all have to live with certain portions, certain aspects of who we are. Those images you saw are mine to deal with- mine alone! Some things are best left unseen, my sisters." I glanced up at the sun. "Would you look at the time? Let's get back to the house; I'm ready for some lunch!" Stepping out of the pool I retrieved my flip-flops and wrap from the lounge chair flicking my twisted wrap at Cassie as I passed by." "Hey that stung! What'd you do that for?" "That's for the foul language, young lady!" I saw Samantha smile. "Young! You do realize Sam and I are technically older than you, Empress?" "Relatively, Honey. I'm still your mother and that is a constant!" I giggled as I walked through the gate and down the street to Emily's. The street outside of Emily's Condo was certainly getting crowded these days, I noted as I turned onto the concrete driveway. Opening the door, I was assaulted by loud groans, shouts and heavy weapons fire. Only the gunfire and some of the groans were coming from the loudspeakers around the room. "Damn! How do you do that, woman?" Greg's voice shouted loudest among the other noises. "What's wrong, Greggie? Got a problem with a girl beatin' your ass?" A familiar voice shouted back with a slight giggle. "Randi Van Pelt?" I shouted- hopefully to be heard above the noisy destruction playing out on the screen. A menu of some sort quickly appeared on the screen. "Hey! What the hell?" "Quit yer bitchin', Greggie! You were just about to get fragged again anyway!" The lithe brunette rose from the couch and turned her attention to me. "Skipper! Glad you could make it! I've missed you so much!" We hugged and she kissed me on the cheek. "Glad to see you in the flesh, Chief!" "Speaking of flesh, looking good, Allie!" She said as she eyed me up. "Alex said she was going to get you into something more up-to-date! How are things back at the Base?" She winked at me with a large smile. "I'm afraid things just aren't the same without you, Randi." My expression grew dark as I glanced down at the floor for a brief second. "Oh, I see." Randi leaned into me harder and whispered in my ear. "The damn pervert thinks he has a clue what we're talking about, Allie, let's do something to make him forget! Follow my lead." She moved away slightly. "Maybe this will help get things back on track!" Without warning, Randi reached up, cupped my left breast in her hand and began gently massaging it while pressing her lips to mine in a very passionate kiss. Wow! Go with it she said! How could I not? Certain parts of my body jumped into overdrive! I suddenly felt faint- dizzy at the very least. Randi broke the kiss and I looked into those ice blue eyes of hers. "That..." I swallowed hard and blinked slowly a few times. Taking a deep breath I continued. "That...that's what I call a real course correction!" "Damn lesbo's get all the good ones!" A disgruntled Greg mumbled to himself. It was just loud enough for us to hear. "Let's go upstairs, Allie, I'm tired of torturing this loser! It's so hard to find a man that can hold up his end of things for the duration these days." She giggled as we headed for the stairs. Alex, Brandon, Emily, Spencer, and Ricky Lynn were in the kitchen talking as we topped the stairs. "Skipper, glad to see ya!" A smiling Ricky Lynn greeted. "You to, Chief!" We hugged. "Good job yesterday, by the way. Very impressive!" "Aw, hell, that was nothin' compared to the beauty we sent to Mars, Skip!" She bubbled. "How's that one going?" I asked just to blend in. I tried to look unimpressed. "So far she's got more mileage on her than the Sand Dollar and still goin' strong. How's things on Base?" "I was just telling Randi that we miss her a lot and wish she would come back to us. Maybe Lynn can get you to reconsider?" I sweetened my voice and looked toward Randi. "Skipper, I'm out of the service now. Maybe I can come for a visit one of these days? I have other priorities these days, you know." "You should all come back to the Base! I'm in a position now to provide transportation!" I winked at Randi, then to Spencer. Our conversation was interrupted by the loud voice downstairs. "Ya, the bitch is upstairs with her sisters! When ya go up, ask one of 'em when lunch is- I'm getting hungry! Hey, why'd the damn TV shut off? Damn remote!" Greg's voice could easily be heard now. The Cummins twins entered the kitchen first, huge evil grins on their faces. Lynn came around the corner next, upon seeing Randi she broke into tears and just about knocked her over. "Randi!" She squealed. " I'm so glad to see you, Randi! Oh God, did I missed you!" She hugged the woman for all she was worth. "Geez, Louise, sis! We haven't seen each other in the same amount of time and all I got was a cheap peck on the cheek! How does she rate?" Gregory and Cassie appeared with Samantha following close behind. "You're just my sister!" Lynn stated matter-of-factly. "Shit! Not another one! Damn dike's are takin' over the world!" Greg muttered under his breath. "Shutup, asshole!" Cassie growled as both my girls slapped the back of his head. Alex and I smiled as did everyone else in the room- except for, of course, Greg- and Cassie. "Hey Greg, I'll take you on! I think I can still kick your butt at that decade old shoot 'em up! Or err ya yeller, pilgrim?" Brandon said as he tried to imitate someone- I wasn't certain whom though. "Ya sure, why not. I have this deep desire to kill something lately!" He looked toward me with an ice-cold stare. I stared back into his eyes with the intensity and determination of someone with nothing to lose- and a slight smirk. He immediately broke eye contact. I thought as much. "Hey!" Spencer broke the tension, "Want to go into town and catch a flic? The new remake of 'Gone with the Wind' just came out. It's playing in 'Holo 3D'. Would you girls like to go see it? My treat!" "Oh, Spence, that movie is going to be full price! You sure we can afford twenty-five a person?" "This is a special occasion, Emily, and special occasions demand special entertainment, right?" I just about fell over when I heard the price of a movie ticket! What really struck me hard was the price of gasoline when we passed a station that still sold it- $17.50 and 9/gallon! I was glad I would be going back to twenty-five cent movies and seventeen-cent gas! How could anyone afford to live these days? The movie wasn't bad. It followed the original faithfully with only minor changes and a few exaggerated, questionable scenes. I didn't think I cried in some parts the last time I saw it, though. It was amazing how the audience was surrounded by the picture and actually felt like a part of it, though I thought it was a little too over the top, when the Union army came riding in over our heads. I ducked my head thinking the hooves would hit me! Being raised on a farm, I knew all too well what that would feel like! When we returned to the house, yet another vehicle had arrived. I also noticed that the other cars had been shifted around. "What do you know, she did make it!" Emily sounded surprised yet happy as we pulled into the garage. Alex's truck was gone from the other garage stall. "Brandon must have taken Greg down to the bar in town. We should be able to talk freely for the rest of the night." Alex explained looking back from shotgun. Alex then looked at Emily. "I thought her doctor told her to stay home?" "Pffft! What do they know?" Emily waved Alex off with her right hand. "You think she'll be okay, sis? Tell the truth, I honestly can't remember my reaction." I heard her ask. "I'm not sure how she'll take it, Alex. I know she's never seen it before. It may hit all three pretty hard. You know, remind them of something they've tried hard not to think about until now? " Emily responded. As soon as we reached the living room, Emily greeted her newest guest. "Hey, stranger, how's our newest momma doing?" "Oh, about as well as I can, Emily." The brunette slowly stood from the couch, her back still to us. I recognized the voice immediately. "Carroll! Long time no see!' I greeted her cheerfully. I felt my smile widen- until she turned sideways and waddled around the side of the couch! My mouth just about hit the floor when I saw her basketball- sized belly! I was speechless! "Thanks for the compliment, guys! You really know how to make a pregnant woman comfortable! Care to pick your jaws up off the floor, you three?" "No she didn't eat too many watermelon seeds, Ricky Lynn! She's seven months along on her very first pregnancy. You of all people should know what that looks like, Chief." We all giggled at Jacki's remark. Alex stepped up to her and gave her a gentle hug. "I think she looks spectacular!" Alex gushed. Carroll looked back to me. "Sorry I broke protocol, Alex. I just figured it was time to finally try it." She looked sad. "You waited all these years, Carroll? Why? Those protocols haven't been in affect since the eighties!" I responded, revealing that I had traveled to more places, more times than I let on. "I didn't feel ready until now, Skip. When Carson and I met...I...it just felt like the right time!" We wrapped our arms around each other. Her extra baggage felt strange against my flat, trim stomach. "We both welcome you to 2026, Empress!" She whispered in my ear. I felt a foot or hand kick me. Now that was strange! Carroll moved back slightly and looked down at her swollen belly. "Now, is that any way to treat our Empress, Sweetheart?" She said as she gently rubbed her stomach through the extra large blouse. "I don't mind, Carroll. It was amazing! I've never felt anything like that before. How does it feel?" "Like I swallowed a beachball full of lead! My back hurts; I feel bloated all the time; my legs ache: I walk funny; I get these crazy mood swings and cravings at all hours of the day oh, and Greenpeace wants to push my huge ass carcass off the beach and back into the ocean- aside from that it feels marvelous! Now, can I sit back down, please?" I never realized Carroll could be so sarcastic! She returned to her spot on the couch after exchanging hugs with Lynn and Joss. After we all found seats, Lynn got right down to business. "So, Randi, how do we get you back?" "I forgot how hard that was on you Chief! As I said in the trailer, isn't it enough you know I'm alive and well? The whole purpose of the Empress' bringing you here was to get you to relax, Ricky Lynn! You would've worried yourself to death if Alex and Emily hadn't planned this trip for you." "I just want to get you back, Randi! It's not the same with you in the infirmary!" "Sis, that was almost ninety years ago! Let it go while yer here! She's perfectly fine." Ricky Lynn admonished her twin. "I wanna know how to help you, dammit!" Lynn shouted abruptly. "Lieutenant, stand down! That's an order!" Alex beat me to the command. "I just want to help her get better." Lynn broke into tears. Ricky Lynn leaned over and gathered her 'sister' in her arms. "We know, Ricky Lynn. We know. We drive ourselves too hard sometimes, sis!" She consoled her twin. "I just want her back." Lynn cried quietly into her sister's shoulder. "Lynn, it's an easy fix! You just have to reboot me...that's all." Randi told her as she touched the distraught woman's forearm. Lynn slowly looked around at her. "How do I do that? What's a reboot?" I don't know how you did it, Chief. Only you know how you did it." Randi glanced over to Ricky Lynn. Lynn immediately glared at her twin. "You knew the whole time I've been here? You knew and didn't tell me? Why would you do something so cruel? Was this all some kind of sick joke on little Ricky Lynn? I hate this place! I hate time travel! I hate you!" Lynn screamed to her sister as she jumped up, ran out of the room and up the stairs. We heard a door slam. Ricky Lynn excused her self and ran after her twin. "That went well! The next time I have an idea like that just smack me, Emily!" I said with disappointment. Emily just smiled. "She'll be fine, sis. As I recall, it's just PMS. The first one took us by surprise too, remember?" Alex admitted. "Better than you do, sis!" "Yes, well, we won't talk about that right now." Alex said in embarrassment. "Allie told us the real story about Aunt Brie, mom!" Cassie chirped with excitement as she spilled the beans. Alex's expression changed dramatically! "I don't remember us telling them that, Empress! Something has changed and I'm not sure I'm me any more!" She began to cry. "Then hold my hand and be reassured, Alex!" I held my hand out to her. She promptly took hold and we both felt the slight tingle that indicated we were one in the same. "Believe me now, Alex?" "How can we be sure, Empress?" "Because I'm sure! Just because three strange women suddenly suck Cassie and I into another possible dimension doesn't mean this reality has changed! It simply means they are affecting time as it pertains exclusively to the Empress. Since we are the Empress, we both have the experience fresh in our minds! That is why you can't remember it, Alex, it only just happened!" "Wow, mom that is really deep! When did you learn so much about Chaos Theory?" Sam asked surprised by what I had said. "I read a lot of comic books as a boy! They were just a nickel back then. So, have you picked out a name for your daughter yet, Carroll?" Alex and I turned our attention back to our very pregnant guest. "You know I have, Skip!" "Allie, Carroll is the reason you decided to fully embrace your womanhood. You decided tonight not to fight your urges." "It wasn't tonight, Alex. It was the very instant little Alexis kicked her godmother in the stomach a little while ago!" "Well, that much hasn't changed!" "Nor has anything else in our life, Alex! Learn to trust yourself!" "Doc, Jim and Alex are back. Should I let them in?" Jacki suddenly changed the subject. "Of course, I didn't know you had the place under lockdown!" "Just a precaution in case Greg and Brandon decided to crash the party, Doc." My nephew and son soon joined us. Apparently, the two had gone to the Community's Recreation Center to play something called a 'Virtual RPG'. Jimmy immediately approached and hugged me tight. "Hi, Empre...Aunt Allie." He slipped as he kissed me. "Hi, Mom. Wow, Aunt Carroll, you got big!" Young Alex exclaimed as he caught a glimpse of her belly. "You know you have your mother's talent for subtlety, don't you?" There was that rare Sheldon sarcasm again. "I'm sorry, Aunt Carroll, it's just that it's been a long time since I saw you." The teen gently hugged his Aunt. "How come you never learned to apologize like that?" Carroll glared at Alex and I then laughed. "Because y'all weren't preggers before, girl!" Alex shot back. The room erupted in laughter. "Emily, how much do you remember about that morning?" I asked as I sat across from her at the table the next morning. "Which morning, sis?" She said looking at me curiously. "That December morning. What do you remember about that morning at the hospital?" "What are you getting at, Alex? What could possibly interest you about the hospital that...? Oh, I see where this is leading! No, Alex! You can't do anything without disrupting the flow of this reality! I won't let you, sis! Tell me you'll forget about this...this...this ludicrous idea to save Lt. Riggby!" Emily pleaded with me. "She helped me, Emily! She had plans for a husband and family! How could I just let that all disappear?" "How many others died that day? In the days, even years that followed, sis? You can't save them all! You can't play favorites!" "Haven't I been playing favorites by protecting y'all?" "You haven't just protected us, Alex. You've done this world a great many services over the years! Services it will never realize happened." "If you say so, sis. I've just had this nagging feeling I need to do something... to save Cindy! I can't explain why, it just feels right!" "Oh, Alex, I had no idea you felt so strongly about her. You've never mentioned anything all these years, why now?" Emily gave me another curious look. "It's been eating at me since we arrived at the base. I picture her in my mind and feel I forgot something! I just can't shake the feeling I forgot her- like she should be here! See? It's bringing tears to my eyes!" I complained as I wiped the wet beginnings from the corners of my eyes. I could see the same happening to Emily. "If you feel so strongly about it, sis, I'll try my best to recall that morning." "I appreciate it, sis! As much detail as you feel you can relate. Stop if it gets too painful though, okay?" I reached across the table to hold her hand. "I reported for duty at 0600hrs. I was making my rounds up until we heard the planes overhead around 0800." She stopped as tears began streaming down her cheeks. "Oh, Alex, it was so terrible!" "Take it slowly, sis. We don't have to do it all right now." "No, Alex, let me get it out. I've kept it locked away inside for way too long!" We were interrupted by Jack entering the kitchen. Both had a somber look as they nodded at us and proceeded to fix themselves coffee. "If you'd like," Jacki spoke quietly, "I could pass the memories to you, Empress. That way you could have all the details to replay at your discretion- with your permission of course, Emily." She nodded. "We can do that?" Joss sounded surprised. "Ya, sis, we can do that. You find out from me...today...right now." "Oh, this is one of those time paradoxes, Mina talks about, right?" "Sort of, Jack. With Emily's permission you can help." Again Emily gave a nod. "We just need to hold hands for this to work. Ladies?" Jacki took one hand and Joss took the other. Each took one of Emily's hands. "Close your eyes, please." I found myself walking down a sterile looking hallway. Most of the doorways I looked in revealed an empty room. On the whole, the hospital seemed empty. Servicemen with minor scrapes, bruises, or a broken limb occupied just a few of the rooms. I attended to them and continued on. Reaching the end of the hall, I descended the stairs and entered another almost identical hallway. This hallway contained fewer doors but more people- mostly doctors and nurses. The sound of airplanes quietly started to fill the passage and slowly grew louder. No one seemed concerned or even worried. A clock on the wall indicated 0758. Walking about one quarter of the way down the hall, I stopped and turned a doorknob to my right. The door opened to reveal a smallish office with a single desk. Seated at that desk, a uniformed woman typed away on a typewriter- the key taps and platen bell echoing through the room. "Morning Lieutenant! How are you this morning?" I heard Emily's voice say. "Morning, Emily. I told you not to call me that, or should I make that an order, Ensign?" "I just thought your boss was in, Cindy. I don't want you to get into trouble." "I don't think Capt. Billings even came in today- it being Sunday and all. Somehow I don't see him as being too religious! Anyway, you finish your rounds early?" "Yes, all four patients are coming along nicely- not that I had anything to do with it, mind you!" "You'll get your chance, Emily!" "One could only hope, Cindy! One day woman doctors will be more prevalent than men, I just know it." "If that's what you think, I couldn't think of anyone more qualified to start that trend than you, Emily- except maybe Cmdr. Steinert." "Cmdr. Steinert?" I felt my self physically gasp. "Yes, Cmdr. Alexandra Steinert. She just arrived last evening. Poor dear lost her gear and orders on the way over from the airfield. She said they went right over the side along with her purse! I felt so sorry for her, I offered to put her up for the night. Luckily Christine had shipped out early last week- I doubt I would've gotten away with sheltering another wayward soul! The Captain would have had me up on charges for sure this time!" "Why do you push your luck, Cindy?" "Who else would do it, Emily? You know as well as I do that some of them end up over in the red-light district! Sometimes I think the Navy intentionally 'loses' their gear for just that reason!" "Oh come on, Cindy! Do you really think the Navy would do something like that?" "Think about it, Emily, how better to satisfy all those men on shore leave?" "I have it on good authority that is not the case, Cindy!" "And what authority would that be?" "My Unc...dad told me that is only a nasty rumor!" Lt. Riggby looked up from her typewriter and stared at me for a moment then returned her attention back to the documents she had been typing up. "Whatever you say, honey. I'm just saying it's not out of the realm of possibility." Cindy's phone rang just then. "Hello? Yes? Yes she is, I'll tell her, sir. Good-bye." She hung up the phone. The sound of airplane engines was louder now, yet Cindy paid it no mind. "Emily, Cmdr. Fields would like you to take these reports to his office- he said STAT." "We can't keep his Excellency waiting now can we?" We both giggled. Cindy handed me the reports and I walked out of the office and down the hall about four doors. "Commander, here are the reports you asked for." "What...oh...just put them in my basket, Ensign." He never looked away from the report already opened on his desk. I heard the now infamous explosions in the distance as another wave of planes passed overhead. Cmdr. Fields turned immediately to the window and pulled open the blinds. We watched in horror as explosion after explosion laid waste to the anchored fleet. I turned immediately and headed for the chaotic hallway. Hurrying down the passage, an explosion went off somewhere close. The floor shook and the walls rattled, the left wall exploding forth into the hallway directly ahead. A large object collided with the opposite wall and fell in a heap. As the smoke and dust cleared, I saw that the heap was wearing a Navy uniform. Carefully, I approached the gaping hole were the office wall had once been to determine if the building would hold. Plaster, wood, wiring, and unrecognizable debris dangled from the ceiling and cluttered the floor. Nothing existed to prove this had once been an office at all. I knelt down to check the uniformed heap for life. My vision became blurry as I discovered Cindy's lacerated, motionless face below the mess of hair, plaster, and wood splinters. "No!" I cried over and over until I felt hands grab and pull me from the seeming lifeless body, away from the destruction and carnage. I opened my eyes to see three women crying profusely. Spencer and Alex were standing nearby, deep concern on their faces. "Thank you, Emily. Thank you for enduring it once more and I hope this helps you as well." Emily said nothing; instead she stood, hurried around the table, and crouched beside me wrapping her arms around me in this process. "Thank you, Alex." She finally whispered between sobs. "I haven't shared that with anyone!" "Rest assured that what you have shared with me today will be well guarded." I looked to Jack- both nodded. "Emily, I promise I will find some way to save our mutual friend from her terrible fate. I'll run simulations until I find an acceptable solution. I won't give up on her, sis!" "Why can't you leave her rest, Alex? Must you save everyone you meet?" "You really have to ask that, sis? Whether you realize it or not, Cindy is part of all this! Did you even realize she mentioned me to you in the office before all hell broke loose?" Emily looked puzzled. "She told you she provided lodging the night before for one Cmdr. Alexandra Steinert, remember?" "I...I never paid it any mind until today." She looked up at me finally understanding. "That was you?" I nodded. "The very same, sis." "Allie, we have company!" Alex interrupted as she pointed to the stairwell. I immediately looked to Jack. Both shook their heads and I relaxed slightly. "We were too focused on Emily, Allie, we didn't see him coming. "Show yourself, Brandon. We know you're there, honey." Alex called out softly. "Cassie, Sam, and Alex, you can phase in now too- cat's out of the bag, kids." I added. As Brandon approached the table, my three kids appeared standing behind me. He stopped suddenly and his eyes grew wide. Alex approached his side in case he started to faint, but he immediately waved her off. "Stay...away, just...you...stay away...a minute!" He ordered in a calm, but strict vibrato. He pointed to the seven of us around the table. "You really are...you're really...um...witches!" He gulped. "Far from it, Brandon, hon..." He raised his hand to stop Alex from saying anything else. Her expression turned sad. "You three just appeared...magic?" He motioned to Cassie, Sam, and Alex. "Not that we know of, Brandon." Sam answered meekly. He pointed between Alex and I. "You two aren't...sisters...are you." It was a statement and not a question. "No." Alex said sadly, slowly shaking her head. She glanced at me, her pain evident. "Then what?" He cocked his head to the side as he continued looking between us. "We're Alexandra Steinert." Alex and I spoke out in unison. "Stop that! What are you...really?" He looked directly to me. Spencer answered on our behalf. "They are the Empress, Brandon; who else would she be?" "I don't understand. What Empress?" Alex answered this time. "Brandon, I know this sounds crazy, but Allie and I are known as the Empress of Time and Space. I'm Alex of the present, 2026, and Allie is Alex from 1944. That's the best definition I can give you, honey!" "That's theoretically impossible! Hawking claimed that you two should cancel out! Neither one of you should exist!" "Hawking was wrong, honey, just like he was wrong about wormholes at first." Alex tried to explain. Again Brandon raised his hand to halt her. This time he rubbed his forehead with the other. "You really ARE their children?" He gestured between Cassie, young Alex, and Sam then to Alex and I again. "We are HER children, yes, Brandon." Cassie answered- pride most evident in her voice. Brandon nodded once. Several moments passed before he continued his inquiries. He held his forehead the whole time. He pointed to Emily. "You...you are her sister." His statement was direct. "Yes I am! Just as much as I am your sister-in-law, Brandon!" She stated proudly. "And you knew about this the whole time?" He pointed and directed the question at Spencer. "Emily confided in me only when she was sure I could accept the truth, Brandon. To answer, yes, I've known for almost fifteen years now. Our love for each other makes all this acceptable to me. Do you feel the same way about Alex?" "I'm not sure yet. At this point I'm not sure of anything! I'm not even sure this is really happening!" "Join the club, honey!" Alex, Emily, Joss, Jacki, and I said together. "Stop that...this instant!" Brandon raised his voice slightly. "Fine then! Alex, you talk to your husband. This IS your second and I haven't had one yet, so you answer his questions!" I said in anger and looked away. "Two husbands? I thought you said you were only twenty-eight?" "I was twenty-eight...before this all happened." "Before we were married?" Alex bowed and shook her head. "No, before we all became women back in 1944." She said shyly turning her head away from him slightly. I noticed her cringe- in fact, I felt myself cringe. Brandon gulped loudly. "Before you became women- in 1944? No freakin' way, Alex! There is no way you have ever been a guy! I...I saw you give birth to Alex! That technology hadn't been developed yet!" Alex said nothing, but met his gaze with a sad pleading look. "You two aren't twenty and twenty-one either then, are you?" "Seventy-six and seventy-four respectively, but I'll never admit to it!" Cassie answered putting her hands to her hips. Brandon gave a short, amused, snort. "You are still sixteen though, right?" He looked at young Alex. "Until next April, dad. Geez, give me some credit!" "How?" His question was generalized to everyone in the room. "I've been curious about that as well, Brandon." Spencer said moving to his side. "Jacquelyn, care to do the honors?" He looked to the twins. "If Brandon would permit us, Spencer." Brandon looked at Spencer in confusion. "She needs to make contact with you to relay the memories." "She? They're from separate times as well?" "Joss is my Jacquelyn, Brandon." I replied turning my attention back to him. "Lynn is mine also." "Curiouser and curiouser." He whispered. "I have read Alice in Wonderland you know!" I replied. "Brandon." Spencer motioned to Jack. "Only if you want to, my dear brother-in-law. I guarantee she will not harm you." "I take it you've done this before?" "More times then I will admit to." Brandon swallowed hard again. "Sure...why not. If anything I get to hold hands with two very lovely women and my wife before I go brain-dead." "Not this time, stud. Allie's memories are far fresher than mine. By her perspective this all happened just under a month ago. Sis, you want to do the honors?" Alex looked to me. "I don't see what the difference would be...but okay." I took Joss' offered hand and closed my eyes concentrating on recalling the days around our transformation. Thirty minutes later Spencer and Brandon were rubbing their eyes and foreheads. "That...that was the most bizarre thing I've ever experienced! Way better than virtual reality! It was like I was there- like I was going through it as you, Allie!" Both men felt around themselves just to make sure everything was still in place. "Gentlemen, we were only passing along her memories, not her mammaries!" Joss joked. Jacki gently punched her twin in the shoulder. "You are so bad, Jacquelyn Cummins!" "So are you, Jacquelyn Cummins!" "So you really can travel through time?" Brandon looked at the both of us. Alex and I looked at each other before I alone answered. "Yes, Brandon, I really can travel through time- only not now." "Why?" "Because I can't travel while I'm on my period. I have no idea why, that's just the way it works." I noticed Brandon, young Alex, and Spencer shudder. I could relate to that. "If you could wait four more days I'm sure either of us can demonstrate." Brandon thought a minute. "How far back can you go; how far forward?" "I'm not sure, honey." Alex answered. 'I was planning on introducing Greg to some dinosaurs...meat-eaters, of course- hungry, meat-eaters..." "Mother!" Cassie shouted. I took up answering his question even though that was my plan also. "So far, this is the farthest I've come into the future, Brandon. I've traveled back as far as December 6th, 1941. I haven't gone back past that yet." "1895." Alex interrupted. "I've been back to 1895." "Grampa?" I asked her. "Yes." I noticed her glance to the floor a second. "Oh." "Let's not forget about your's and Cassie's little excursion the night before last, Allie. We still haven't figured out if you went forward or backward, or by how much!" "I have a feeling that was inter-dimensional only, Spence. Let's just leave it at that, shall we?" "As you wish, Empress." "Inter-dimensional? You travel between dimensions too?" "Is it any harder to accept than traveling through time, dear? Hawking believed in them, why shouldn't you?" Alex insisted. "Alex, company!" Jacki spoke out. "Not right now, Jack, stop him!" She ordered. We heard the door at the top of the stairs slam, then a quiet voice. "Oh, God, I think I broke my nose!" "Jacki!" Cassie growled. "It was the only thing I could think of on such short notice!" She smiled deviously. Joss looked at her twin and smiled also. "You just slammed the door in his face? From down here?" They nodded, still smiling. "Incredible! What else can you do?" Brandon asked with a mix of curiosity and excitement. My future husband rose off the floor with a start and gradually turned horizontal about three feet off the floor. Several frying pans gently rose from their hooks and started to dance around, under and over him. This continued for several minutes before Jacki returned everything to its original place. "Unbelievable! Boy, am I glad you like me!" "Think if we didn't!" Joss pointed up as she placed her coffee cup to her lips and quickly moved her hand down and to the left, pointer still extended. A loud thump echoed across the kitchen ceiling. "OUCH!" A muffled man's voice cried, then all was silent. "Point taken, Ladies." Brandon laughed as he cautiously looked to the kitchen ceiling. "Beauty, brains, and skills!" "Jacki, I'm warning you, leave my Greg along!" Cassie warned again. "He won't be around much longer and I want to enjoy him til then!" "He's just a plaything to you? Is that all I am to you, Alex?" Brandon asked in surprised anger, looking to Cassie then to his wife. "NO! No, honey, when I said those vows I meant them! To have and to hold, better or worse..." Alex swallowed hard as tears started to spill from her eyes. "Til death...do us...do us part," She stuttered as she moved closer to her mate and collapsed into his shoulder sobbing. We all cried knowing what that last phrase meant to each of us. "It does not have to come to that, Alex!" Spencer said wiping his cheek dry. "What's he mean, Alex?" "I mean there is a very difficult, very celibate so-to-speak alternative." "Spencer, I really don't think he's ready for any more, do you? Besides, that method worked real well for Pa, didn't it! From what we've seen Brandon enjoys a cold one every so often." "No! I'm not ready to join your sorority yet, thank you!" He pulled back from Alex slightly as his left hand bee-lined south in defense. "What Spence is saying Brandon, is that if you drink from Kili Island or Sand Dollar's water supply you would share the longevity we possess- the down side is that you could never again drink anything with alcohol in it- no beer; whiskey, bourbon, scotch, rum, gin, spiked punch, and especially no tequila!" I informed him. "That goes for any medications that contain it too, dear." Alex added. "What about the new synthetic stuff?" "Brandon, according to Corrine Masterson, even synthe will trigger the genetic process." Jacki answered. "Corrine? She isn't old enough to...to know...she's the...one of your crew?" He looked at me suddenly understanding. "Yep, had one helluva time getting her out from under that torpedo that morning!" I recalled with a wry smile. "I could see why." Brandon blushed recalling from earlier that specific memory. "That's only when she lets her guard down, Cap. These days she pulls them back to a nice 'C' cup- easier to walk around like that. Keeps her hair light brown, too." Jacki informed me. I closed my eyes and asked some detailed questions. "Shapeshifter." I nodded my head. "She'll find out in about twelve weeks, your time, Cap- when she's finally had enough teasing." She acknowledged. "This is incredible! Skills and abilities that border on magic, yet you accept it all as normal- as commonplace! What's next, predicting the future?" Brandon exclaimed rubbing his forehead again. If he kept that up it would be raw soon. "Excuse me, but didn't I just state that a minute ago!" Cassie chimed out. Alex glared at her a moment. "I'm afraid we have that base covered in spades, honey. All members of the royal family have the gift of foresight in one form or another." "Royal family? Oh, this just keeps getting better! Of course, I should have known, you being this Empress and all!" He made some strange rolling arm flourish to me. Whatever it meant, you couldn't miss the sarcasm. "It's not because of me..." Everyone except Brandon glared at me. "Well, ya, it is because of me." I lowered my eyes. "You see, because I was so impressed by Mina when we first met, I guess the Mahanilui combined her pattern with that of Emily's and we became sisters. Because I am now part Kilian I, as well as my sister, Emily, and all our offspring carry the royal bloodline of Kili Island- Mina's four daughters and their children as well. So, as for seeing the future, we've really got that one aced!" "You mean...all of you..." He let the question drop. "Although honored, sir, we are but humble servants to the royal family." Jacki proclaimed for them both. The Cummins twins high-fived each other. "Believe me, if I could I'd separate you two!" I laughed shaking my head. "But we're just starting to have fun, Empress!" They said as one. Jacki's expression abruptly changed. "Jimmy's here, Emily. Should we let him in?" She nodded. Seconds later footfalls could be heard coming up the basement steps. "So, he finally knows the truth, eh Aunt Alexandra?" James said as he turned the corner. "You...you knew about this?" "Hellooooo! Royal family? I saw this day as soon as you two said 'I do", Uncle Brandon. It is still Uncle, right?" "You tell me! You're the blueblood!" James closed his eyes for a minute. "I guess you'll do for the next nineteen years or so." He grinned. "Nineteen years, twenty days, cuz!" Samantha corrected. "You mean in nineteen years I..." He held his hands to his chest in a cupping gesture. "You know what they say, Brandon. No one should know too much about their future less they should change it! You'll just have to figure it out on your own." Sam warned with a devious smile. "Mom, I'm going up to the pool. Last night I talked Aunt Carroll into wading around the shallow end this morning. I thought it would help remove some of the weight and pressure. She agreed to meet me there by 8:00AM" Sam said changing the subject. She untied her robe to reveal her black bikini and wrap. "See y'all later!" Samantha simply disappeared leaving her robe draped on my chair back. "Show-off!" Cassie sniped. "Does she do that all the time?" Brandon asked in wide-eyed amazement. "No, but she's been looking forward to this a long time, dad." Young Alex admitted. "All of us saw this coming about four years ago." "You knew about this?" He looked at Alex and I. "Alex didn't know, Brandon. I just saw it yesterday afternoon. Sometimes I have a problem seeing my own future- don't know why." I looked over to Alex. "See I told you I would be here for you, sis." "Why do you keep calling her 'sister' if you are one in the same?" "Would you have really understood if we called each other Alex? We agreed, just the other day, that whoever was traveling would be 'Allie'. People can accept identical twins easier than temporal multiples of the same person, Brandon." "I guess I see your point. What about Jocelynn and Lynn- same thing?" "He is a bright one, sis! Yes, same thing goes for whoever travels with me." "So, if Alex were to visit you back in...um, 1944, then..." "She would be Allie. If you travelled with her you would..." I let the sentence hang a moment. "You would have to watch yourself with all the horny women on base!" Everyone in the kitchen laughed. "Sam, I thought you were going to the pool?" I tilted my head back. "I'm going, mom! Geez, how do you do that?" Sam said as she reappeared behind me. "When you become a mom, you'll know how I do it! Run along now." "Wait, Cuz, I'd like to come along if it's all right, but we have to stop at my room so I can change." James caught her. "Sure, no prob, anyone else like to come along?" Jacki nodded to Brandon. "Honey, would it be okay, just this once?" Alex nodded. "Just this once and no excessive touching my daughter, you're mine, understand?" Brandon got a huge smile as he walked around the table and took Sam's pro-offered hand. Three people disappeared from the room. We all waited until Alex and I nodded. "That went better than expected!" "You could have told me it would happen today, sis!" "Empress' priveledge!" Pounding from above interupted our conversation. "Help! The door is stuck! I can't get out! Help! Can anyone hear me? Get me out!" The muffled voice cried. "Looks like 'Greeggggie' woke up. Should I trip him again, Cap?" Jack inquired. "You will do no such thing, Jacki Cummins! Leave him to me." Cassie growled before disappearing. "He was out for quite a while, Jack. I hope you didn't..." "Greg received a mild concussion, sis. He's got a hard head, so don't worry about it." Emily interrupted with her diagnosis and a giggle. "Got or is, sis?" "There's a difference in his case?" We all laughed. I loved these family get-togethers! 0700hrs, Flagstaff, Arizona, August 15th, 2026 "Good morning, Empress. How do we feel today?" Spencer greeted me as I took my position at the kitchen table and he presented me with this morning's coffee. "It feels like I might finish early this time, Spence." "Shame. I was hoping you'd stay a while longer, Allie, our visits are always too short." "You're too kind, sir. I thought you and Emily would be sick of me by now. Why are you so good to me anyway?" "Because, Empress, you've been good to me over the years. Good friends are hard to come by these days, are they not?" "Understanding ones, yes." A random thought and a nagging feeling crossed paths in my mind so I cocked my head slightly and posed the beckoning question. "Tell me, Spence, how many are we, and are we really the plague I feel we have become?" "Plague, Allie? I'm not sure I know what you mean?" Spencer looked at me in confusion. "I get the feeling that half of the U.S. population will live for several hundred years. Have the women of the Mahanilui spread that much?" "Why would you ask such a question, Empress? As I recall, the population of Kili numbered a paltry twenty-one before you provided rescue. At last count we numbered twelve hundred. I don't think that constitutes a plague, do you?" "It's just that I've noticed...observed...I've felt more gifted people now than anytime before." "Felt, Allie? I didn't know you could feel your people?" "Back on base, in 1944, the feeling was small- miniscule- confined to our small area. Here in 2026, the feeling is overwhelming. I can't mentally count all our people here! Fortunately, I can still sense my children individually, though I don't think that will ever change." "You've never told me of these feelings before, Empress. Why now?" "She's still worrying about those three scary bitches from last week, Spence." "Good morning, Alex. Sleep well?" Emily's husband poured another cup of coffee and sat it next to me. Alex pulled out her chair and sat down. "It's getting back to normal. Thanks Spence, you're a darling." She thanked him for the beverage. Everyone was quite for several minutes until Spencer broke the silence. "You know, you two really are amazing!" "Thanks, but why?" Alex asked first. "I know you two are the same person, yet there are just enough differences." "Ya, like she's eighty-two years older than I am!" I laughed. "You should look this good at one-hundred-ten!" Alex rebuked me. "I think I look beautiful at one-ten, sis!" I smiled at her. "See, that's what I mean, you two! You are exactly the same person, but you trade barbs and squabble like twin sisters- even your personalities vary slightly. It's just so...so amazing to me." "I wonder what it would be like to be triplets or quads, sis" Alex placed her hand on mine. I felt that tingle pass between us. Alex's smile brightened considerably. "I knew it!" I exclaimed. "Knew what?" She tried to conceal her expression. "You've been worrying about those three too!" "Was I that obvious?" I just looked into my twin's eyes and raised an eyebrow. No words were required. Spencer nibbled away at his buttered toast and smiled. Things were quiet for a couple more minutes. "What's it feel like?" I suddenly inquired. "What does what feel like, Allie?" Alex tilted her head. "You know! All the moaning, groaning, and squeaking of springs!" "Hey...wow, ya know, I think I'll be in the office. You two yell if you need something!" Spencer hurried out of the kitchen. We heard the office door close with a slight click. Alex waited a minute. "You know that second night...in our rack?" "I'm still embarrassed about that, but yes, I remember." I looked at her in suspense. She purposely paused too long. Alex moved her smiling face to within a few inches of my own. "A hundred time better!" Her smile was so infectious, we both giggled like children. "You know, if I didn't know better, I'd think you two really were sisters! Sharing performance stats with Allie, honey?" Brandon asked with a coy smile as he entered the room. Walking around the table, he withdrew a cup from the wall cabinet. After fixing his coffee, he sat down beside Alex, pulled her close and kissed her. I found myself slightly jealous. "I tried not to wake you, honey, sorry." "It wasn't you, dear. I was having this dream where you and Allie..." He looked sheepishly over to me and thought better. "Anyway, I'm having this dream... and the lamp falls off the nightstand. It woke me with a start. What a great dream too! Say, you don't suppose..." "Could have been, dear. I've tried to break her of the habit, but those two are incorrigible and capricious when together! She never used to be like this before the Mahanilui!" I just shook my head and chuckled. "None of us were like this before the Mahanilui, sis!" "Well, I for one am glad you are, Empress! I wouldn't have found you had it not happened!" "Aren't you the sweetheart? Hey, are you still up for some traveling, honey?" "Why, I thought you two were stuck here for another day?" "Sometimes it happens." I shrugged my shoulders. "So, where would you like to go, hon?" Alex inquired. My future self's spouse thought a minute. "With all due respect, Alex, I'd like to see this Base of yours- if the captain here, will permit it, of course. World War II history has always intrigued me." Brandon looked my way with promise. Alex gave me a nod of consent. "Okay, but I warn you, the welcome there may not be as cordial as yours. Only Ricky Lynn and Jack have experienced their 'twins'. Also, we will be in a real war zone, although a 'rear' area it is still dangerous, Brandon. Still interested?" I tried to cover all the problem spots. Alex was smiling ear to ear when I looked back to her. "Why the look, sis?" "Thank you, Empress!" A single tear ran down her cheek. "Um...huh?" I tilted my head at her. "I remember all this! This very conversation! I even remember what I was thinking...what you are thinking this very second!" "That I think you're being silly?" I laughed. Alex turned in her chair and drew me in with her arms, squeezing tight. The tingle was there again. "Or, that I can't breathe?" I fought my constrictor. "Yes!" She answered quietly and started to cry and laugh all at the same time. I looked to Brandon with concern. "Are you sure you're taking good care of me?" Brandon, for his part, just looked confused. Alex laughed a few more times then moved back to wipe her face. "Okay, so tell me when and who we leave with, sis." "Both of us, Brandon, Emily, Spencer, both Cummins', both Samuels', and the girls. Young Alex and Jimmy will want to stay here." "What about...'Greggie'?" I asked with as much contempt and poison my voice could muster this early in the morning. Alex just winked at me and smiled. I knew that look! I also knew we were being watched. Alex must have felt it too. "Gremlins?" she called out, "I know you're here! Show yourselves!" "How does she do that?" Sam said from behind me. The three of us turned around. "She had to have heard you, Cassie. I didn't make a sound!" "Oh, bull! I saw you walk through the table to beat me around it!" "Fight nice girls! I can feel you not hear you!" I informed them. "You both need to eat a good breakfast this morning and then you need to pack for a four day trip. We're going to visit Atlantis-Minor." "See, I told you I saw that coming!" "Give it a rest, Cassie, I knew we were going and I didn't even have to use my powers!" "Girls! Don't make the Empress change her mind! We leave at 1400hrs. You will wear your uniforms, Ensigns!" "Aye, aye, Admiral!" They said in unison jumping to attention. "Admiral, Alex?" I raised an eyebrow. "Actually, I retired a Rear Admiral in 1998. I got tired of using all that makeup to make myself look old- my pores got clogged and I started to get acne." "We can't have that now, can we?" I teased. "Has anyone heard from the Samuels twins recently?" "Greg and I stopped by there the