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Now that another Time Traveler is loose upon Earth's fragile timeline, what will he change and could the Empress and her sisters be the first casualties? Can the wondrous Empress of Time and Space return history to the way it should be or will she need to 'step back' to re-evaluate her historic options here and in other universes? Episode 10 "Proving Ground" 0811hrs, Reilly Research Station, Kili Island, June 22nd, 2020BC "Oooww, my head," I said as my eyes opened on the obnoxiously bright sunshine streaming into my room. I closed them immediately. "Must you always wake up the same way? My head hurts too, Alex!" My voice complained from beside me. "Not so loud. Give the nanos time to regroup," I whispered to the warm, silky body lying next to me as I ran my hand over the back that was facing me. I paused a moment, holding my hand still on the warm, smooth, flesh. "Alex? Why aren't you wearing any clothes?" I asked in alarm. In response, her hand reached back and began to explore my flat belly and points farther south. Predictably, the hand stopped and retracted sharply when it encountered a slight wiry resistance. "Um..." I gulped. "Why don't I have any clothes on? What exactly did we do last night, Alex?" "Y'all are askin' me, Alexandra Steinert? If y'all got no clue, what makes ya think I do?" "Guess we'll have to watch the video," I sighed as I slowly opened my eyes while turning and lowering my legs to the floor. I thought about what I had just said. "RVP?" "Yes, Director?" "What's the status on your Psionic shields, hun?" "Main Shield Array power status is recovering and presently at forty- three percent. Reserve power status stands at fifteen percent and holding. Backup reactor is currently offline with overload safeties engaged. Auxiliary distribution busses require manual reset, director." "Thank you, hun, I'll have Tabby go check them as soon as she's able," My sister replied as she rubbed her eyes gently. "So that's what I look like right now," I muttered to myself as my temporal sister stood from the bed and stretched enticingly. "Haven't you come to terms with that yet?" Alex Reilly asked as she closed her eyes for a second. "Oh, so you have!" She grinned deviously. "You should try a Phoenician, hun; they really know what to do," She winked. Ignoring the advice, I bent over to pick up my pink nightie. Or what I thought was my nightie. Bringing up the HUD I scanned the clothing selection and found a whole inventory of 'Ancient' fashions. "This is yours, sis, sorry. Who would've thought the Sumerian's had such diverse tastes in fashion?" I asked as I pulled the skimpy garment back over my head and handed it to her. "Not just diverse fashion, sis...diverse technique," she said with an even more devious smile and another wink. Gently taking the lingerie from me, she dropped it over her head. "So how are things going since the 'big bang'?" She asked as she smoothed the silky fabric out over her body. "It's tough keeping Jack's mind out of mine. I'm surprised by the number of times those memories try to escape, though," I admitted. "I'm lucky I was so fatigued on that one. I can barely remember half of what happened, and what I do recall seemed very out of character for you, Alex." "I'm sorry, Alex. The stress of knowing that mission was actually approaching became intolerable." "I remember the doubt and your loss of self-confidence, hun. It had to be several magnitudes greater than Mr. Lincoln's mission." "It was. Oh Alex, why are we given those missions? Why us? Why...me?" I asked as I hurried around the bed and wrapped my arms around my sister. "Who else would...could...possibly complete them, sis? I mean it's not like that Darren guy has any care about protecting the timeline, right?" "Ya, you're right. I wish Ricky Lynn had never invented that infernal thing! You know it's going to affect all three of us before we actually catch that vermin," I growled as I lifted my head from her shoulder. "I've seen most of the trouble he causes. I'm thinking I'll have to take a trip back to Yellowstone to see the prehistoric stuff, though." "I'm not sure how far back he went," I admitted. "Just far enough back, sis, not to become a tasty morsel, I'm afraid." "Oh darn, and I had such high hopes that one of Rexy's cousins in this universe might 'greet' him," I half-heartedly giggled. "Clemson will get what's coming to him, Alex; we've both seen that conclusion," she said, brushing my hair with her hand. "It still doesn't make anything easier." "No..." The door chime to my...to Alex Reilly's quarters sounded. "Enter, Miss Cummins," Alex called out to the door. Jack staggered in wearing a surprisingly revealing, very short, very low-cut black um...'nightgown'. "Alex..." She paused to rub her forehead, "Alex, can you please tell me what you think happened last night? My head is pounding so bad that I think I might have dropped a Triton class submarine on it!" "What do you remember doing, Jack?" I asked quietly...carefully. "I woke up in Cami and Cassie's room, Alex. I've got no clue, no memory, and one sore..." She complained before looking down her torso. "What did I do last night, Empress?" "You think they archived the footage yet, director?" I asked as I gave Jack a feigned smile. "Oh that's just wonderful! I'm in another porn film? Just wonderful," Jack exclaimed as her hands went up into the air! She turned around and walked out of the room in a huff. "That went well," I commented. "I think Billie should handle this one, sis; you up for some sunbathing?" My temporal sister asked with a grin. I took her offered hand. "And just where have you two been all morning?" Jack's voice called out from behind us. We had just gotten back from an area fifty miles west- southwest of what would someday be called Clearwater, Florida. Turning around Alex and I saw Billie Sangiere storming toward us. "I'm sure you two are aware that our Mind Warriors put on a very provocative fashion show last night, followed by the biggest all-female orgy Reilly has ever been witness to in her nine hundred and eighty year history!" "So how was it?" Alex Reilly asked, beating me to the question. I noticed Billie absentmindedly and gently rubbing the lowest part of her abdomen. "Noooone, none of your business! Why did you leave me to handle the aftermath, Alex?" "Well, we just thought you needed to clean up..." "Why do I even put up with...?" "You mean put out, right, Billie dear?" "Just shut up, Alex! Why does it always have to go there?" "Maybe because you've been the only girl at base not to have a boyfriend actually...?" Billie Sangiere let out a loud growl of aggravation as she turned and stormed off down the hall muttering something about the whole impossibility of her life since returning from the dead. "You do know that she saw this coming, right, Alex?" I asked casually. "The whole point of the exercise, sis. For some reason Billie just won't accept her gift, nor does she care to use it." She'll come around in a few more years. "I know, but in the mean time..." she replied waggling her eyebrow a few times. "Good afternoon, Empress," a cheery Yuuka greeted as she flew close to my ear. I noticed her rub her eyes a few times- as if just waking up. "Sleep late, hun?" I asked. "No...I was up early this morning to take a shower, though I'm still not sure why I'm so tired and sore now," she said but paused a moment. "Say, you wouldn't have any idea why I'd wake up in my Pixie form covered in some fishy smelling, half-dried, sticky goo, would you?" "I have absolutely no idea about that, Yuuka. Alex and I are having difficulty accessing archived files from the previous night also." "Oh, okay, I just thought I'd ask...you two being the Empress and all. See you both later," The hovering five-inch woman bowed slightly and flew off. My temporal twin broke out in a fit of laughter! "Oh, by the Goddess! That was one HELLAVUH party! Wooohooo!" "Alex?" I asked in confusion. "Oh come on! Do I have to spell it out for you, sis? The Romans' got nothin' on last night's fun!" 1534hrs, Reilly Research Station, Kili Island, June 22nd, 2020BC "Are you sure you don't know what this 'Pixie Stick' game is that Alex Reilly was talking about, Alex? I mean, don't you two share memories?" Jack asked in confusion as we walked into the Rec Room for dinner. "Only the ones she wants to share, Jack, you know that." "Sometimes I wonder," she said skeptically. "Look," I said, "I still don't know what went on between Alex Reilly and I last night, Jack! I mean...it's not like either of us could get the other pregnant, right?" "We are talking about Alex Reilly, Cap. Out of anyone here, she could probably do it." "But she wouldn't, Jack." "I'm just sayin'." "Enough conspiracies, Jack, let's get something to eat." Jack nodded and a commotion was heard across the room. A tray of food flew slowly from the direction of the commotion and stopped just above Jack's outstretched arms. It began to vibrate. "Jacki Cummins, it is rude to steal someone else's meal tray!" Camille's angry voice claimed as she walked over to us. "Maybe that is acceptable on some other planet, but on this one AND on the Homeworld it is a criminal offence." "Sorry!" Jack growled. "I thought that after what happened last night, you owed me!" "I owed you? What about all that I did for you?" "What do you mean? What did you do for me?" Jack's mouth dropped open as she was apparently shown some of the 'what'. "I...we...we did that?" The hovering, vibrating tray immediately reversed direction and Cami carefully snatched it out of the air. "Excuse me, Captain, but I suddenly don't feels so good," Jack gasped as she quickly headed for the passageway. "Geez, you'd think she never had sex before!" Cami complained, watching her sister Mind Warrior exit- post-haste. "She hasn't, Cami," I said flatly. "She hasn't?" She looked at me, puzzled. I shook my head 'no'. Camille Darough quickly placed her tray on the nearest table and ran after my Ex-O. "What got into those two?" Alex Reilly asked as she walked over to me. I just raised an eyebrow to her question. "Oh. I guess Jack finally saw the file playback?" I nodded. "She's going to find Yuuka and apologize?" I nodded. "Damn that Roman influence!" "Just them?" I asked. "Well...them and the Greeks, and the Phoenicians, and the Sumerians, and the Egyptians, and the Maya..." "I got it, hun! Welcome to the 'Ancient' world, Alex," I groaned. "The world..." she started to say then paused, "it's starting to change around us," My temporal sister said suddenly. "How are we going to fix this one, sis?" "First I have to figure out just where that 'whack-a-do' went and how far back, Alex." "Just you, sis? I was under the impression the Past Empress had a subdivision to perform?" I looked at my temporal sister and rolled my eyes. "That's...'part to play', Empress. How many years have you been on this planet, and you still haven't assimilated our verbal mannerisms?" I frowned. "Look, y'all got me doin' it now! Jack, Cami, and Cassi, I need y'all here right now." "Cassi is off-world to Terra Nueva, Empress, to visit her Father," Cassandra said as she walked up beside Alex Reilly. That's not what I remembered. Alex was right- time had started to shift. "Fine, we'll make do with two Mind Warriors...if they can behave themselves," I looked around the room for a moment. "RVP, can you tell me where Janice Silvers is, please?" I asked into the air. "There is no Janice Silvers in the Facility, Empress." My face suddenly felt cold as the blood drained from it. "RVP, I distinctly remember having Miss Silvers with me when Jack and I arrived yesterday. Is she maybe out for a walk around Kili?" "According to Empress Arrival archives only you and Jacquelyn Cummins arrived yesterday, Empress. Should I begin running sensor diagnostics?" Alex and I looked at one another. She looked as pale as I felt. Closing my eyes, I asked where Jack and Cami were located and reached out for Alex Reilly's hand. "So, what you are saying is that you, Cami, and Cassi used me as a...as a..." I heard Yuuka shout. Good, Yuuka still remembered Cassi being here. "Cassi is on Terra, Yuuka," Cami said in disbelief. "You know that! Why do you and the Empress think otherwise?" "Cami, Jack, we need to get going...NOW!" I exclaimed as soon as Alex and I rephased. "Yuuka, you too, hun." "Where are we going, Empress?" Cami asked in confusion as Jack and Yuuka stared between each other and me. "Back," was all I said as I snatched Jack's hand. "You mind telling me what is going on, Alex?" Jack asked as a vast, snow blanketed, conifer forest appeared around us. "It's Darren, he's changed things already," I said as I looked around us. "Stay in contact, ladies, I'm not sure how safe it is around here." "Where are we, Empress?" Cami asked as she too looked around us. "These trees don't look like anything I've seen before." "Arizona, about seventy thousand years ago." "Is that from our time or yours, Empress?" Cami asked. "Does it really matter, sweetheart? We should be far enough back that we," I nodded to my temporal twin, "should be able to see what that psychotic time thief has done to our futures. "Why back this far, Alex?" Jack asked. "Because our time has begun to change also, Jack," Alex Reilly answered. "It has?" Cami asked in surprise. Jack also looked confused. "Tell me, Camille Darough of Reilly, where is your daughter, Cassiopeia?" "Cassi?" Cami became somewhat upset to be answering the same question multiple times. "She's still on Terra Nueva, Director." "Not according to my memory, hun," Alex Reilly motioned to both of us. "But Alex, Cami and I, and Yuuka..." Jack started to say in confusion. "That's right, Alex! The four of us shared something...something special...um...last night," The Pixie on Alex Reilly's shoulder said loud enough for all of us to hear. "Alex and I are well aware of what went on in Camille's quarters, Yuuka. The fact remains that time is changing, and if we don't do something about it, loved ones and their memories will start to disappear," I said, almost cutting her off. "So...so that didn't really happen...then?" Jack asked hopefully. "Oh, it happened, honey! It's just that your memories have lost one person. Cassi, Jack. Cassi was with you last night..." I paused as a sad look fell across my face, "Jack, we also lost Janice." "Who, Alex?" She asked in confusion. I immediately started to remember our newest sister. "How can you remember when I can't...Oh! Oh, this is bad!" "So Cassi is not on Terra Nuevo, Director?" Cami asked Alex Reilly while Jack and I spoke. I nodded. Alex Reilly shrugged her shoulders sadly. "So why come back this far, Alex?" "Who would want to visit Earth right in the middle of the last Ice Age, Jack?" "What if he went back farther, though?" "As soon as Alex and I think its safe, we'll figure that out, Jack. Do you or Cami hear 'anything' in the area?" Jack and Cami were quiet for a few moments as they glanced around us. "Plenty of life forms around, Cap, but no humans," Jack reported. "It isn't the humans we're worried about, hun. I was thinking more about the things with big teeth...big...long...teeth." "Oh." "Empress, I can't sense any large aggressive types in our immediate area." "Thanks, Cami. Alex, I'm going to rephase us in three, two,..." "Wow, is it cold here!" "Really, Jack? I thought the snow would be an indicator," I said sarcastically as I commanded my Reilly into my cold weather gear. From the coat's pocket, I first produced Anna Beth's broach. Returning that, I found and placed my tiara on my head. "I thought you said he wouldn't come back this far, Alex?" "When tracking a psychotic criminal its best not to take chances, Jack, besides, its friend/foe display will let me know if anything wants us for lunch- just in case yours and Cami's RADAR is glitching today. Alex, we'll take the first watch while you search for Mr. Clemson's handiwork," I said as Alex Reilly nodded and her eyes became glazed. So that's what it looked like. Yuuka took to the air. "Pixie!" I shouted as she flew fast and true, "Yuuka, I want you to stay grown up unless in danger. There are things here that pray on small things...things you won't see until too late." She was immediately by my side and growing. "I forgot about that, Empress, sorry." "Alex, something big is heading this way," Jack warned. I immediately consulted my HUD. "Slow heartbeat and large heat signature, three hundred yards and closing slowly," I announced as I pointed in the proper direction. "Mammoth?" Jack asked. "With any luck," I replied as I felt the hair on my arms stiffen. Jack and Cami quickly took up defensive positions in front and behind Alex Reilly, Yuuka, and I. We instinctively joined hands to phase out if necessary. "Got ya!" Alex Reilly chimed out. "Where to, sis?" I asked. "Black Sea region, 6123BC. He's going to stop the flood." "What?" All four of us shouted in surprise. The trumpeting of an extremely large elephant was replaced by the calm bird-song filled air of a mountainside overlooking a vast forested valley. Several light plumes of smoke wafted into the air from the distant trees farther up the huge valley. An explosion and a huge rockslide echoed through the valley from a few miles off our port side. The scene around us instantly changed and we observed the aftermath of a large explosion not a quarter mile away. Several rocks were still settling as a large cloud of dust and debris rose from the site. "Um...so how does this change our history, Empress?" Cami inquired as we took in the destruction. "According to Alex Steinert's archived files, without the Aegean and Marmara Seas spilling forth into this valley, many biblical stories will not be recorded. This land," she motioned out across the huge, deep expanse. "This land would not have flooded to become the Black Sea and the biblical flood would not have happened. "So what do we do, Empress?" "Sweetheart, its time you and Jack had some exercise," I said sadly. "You want us to purposely cause a flood that wipes out most of this world's population, Alex?" Jack exclaimed, her mouth agape. "In order for the timeline to return to its proper course...yes," Alex Reilly said quietly. "But Sensei!" Yuuka cried. "How many people will die? I thought you vowed to save as many as possible?" "Jack...please?" "Aye, Cap. Cami, you take the far side and I'll clear the near shore." As both women concentrated, rocks of enormous size started to fly from the slope. The sound equaled the blast we had just heard moments before. "How deep should we make the channel, Empress?" Jack asked as her eyes stayed fixed to her objective. "Eighty feet," Alex Reilly answered- her eyes glazed over again. "Aye, ma'am." Rocks suddenly exploded from the mountainside in a thunderous eruption. Water began cascading wildly down into the valley. The roar of the water drowned out any verbal communication in the vicinity. Both Mind Warriors relaxed and promptly held their hands to their ears as the rest of us had been doing since the Cummins and Darough Demolition Co. had started this project. "Where to next, sis?" I asked and noticed Alex' eyes once again become fixed. "Aren't we going to try to save at least some of the people down there?" Yuuka shouted over the noise. I shook my head 'no' slowly- deliberately. Yuuka suddenly sprinted down the slope as she shrank and took to the air. Within seconds she was out of sight. Impetuous Pixie! I couldn't fault her for her courage though. The ground below us began to shake. Trees started to shudder then topple between the rushing torrent and our position. 'Ladies, it's time for us to leave.' I thought to our Mind Warriors. They both nodded and rejoined hands. 'Where to, Alex?' 'We have to get Yuuka back, Jack.' 'Cami and I are ready, Empress. Will Alex Reilly be okay if we move her like this?' 'We'll find out in a second, Jack' I answered as I asked where the pixie might be found. "Oh, that's just GREAT!" I shouted out. I doubt anyone heard it though. A small village- six or seven stick and grass huts actually- appeared before us. About one hundred yards away, a group of twenty or so people in simple, ragged, animal skin-type clothing pointed toward the thunderous noise echoing up the valley. I noticed Yuuka hadn't arrived yet. "Rephasing now," I thought and said aloud. "Y'all need to head for the hills!" I shouted to the small crowd as I pointed uphill. One, maybe two people turned around to briefly regard us. I repeated my order, frantically pointing to the highlands behind us. The same two men seemed surprised this time and began pointing their flint-tipped, wooden spears toward us. They looked angry. "Ladies, show them what's coming." The entire group reached for their heads simultaneously. Now everyone looked around at us in anger. Yuuka arrived at that moment and began swooping into the crowd at a high rate of speed. People began to swat at the five-inch dive-bomber assuming some large insect pest was attacking. Not a bad assumption really, I thought. Over the increasingly thunderous rumble, I heard the sound of a child crying from further down the gentle slope- nearer to the soon to be rising water. Since Alex was still in her 'trance', I changed into my dress whites and asked myself where I could find my target. The trip was instantaneous and I snatched up the crying little girl as fast as I could. We reappeared in my original location with her screaming and instantly pointing to the distant crowd. A younger woman took notice and began screaming excitedly, pointing back toward me. "I've got our next location, Alex...by the Goddess, where are we? Why are you detaining that auditory-piercing, young revision?" "RUN!" I shouted and clumsily pointed uphill. Jack and Cami looked back toward us and wasted no time in catching up. The wind started to howl as we ran higher up the gradually steepening slope. Looking back quickly, I noticed that the villagers were following- even starting to gain a little ground. I didn't need a translator to know they were not happy at all. A spear lazily flew past my right side. "Oh, so they want to play rough...?" "Jack, they think I stole one of their kids and they don't understand what is going to happen to them if they stay. Keep running!" The little girl that I had rescued- the one screaming at the top of her lungs for her mother- seemed to calm down a little; her fussing and squirming subsiding also. This made the job of running while holding a thirty-pound child only slightly easier. "How much farther, Alex?" Cami asked, in between gasps for air. "Another hundred yards maybe?" I answered huffing and puffing for my own air supply. I wondered if I could make it, but one look back at our angry pursuers encouraged me to keep moving. We were now close enough to the ridge that the trees were starting to get thinner. I stopped and released the girl after placing her gently on the ground. She immediately took off running for her mother. The angry crowd seemed to get confused by that action and slowed to a stop. The men aggressively surrounded us though- spears at the ready. "Alex?" Cami asked excitedly, hoping I had some plan to get us out of here alive. "What now?" I felt her hand try to grasp mine several times, but I gently batted it away. Alex Reilly began talking in a language I had no reference for in my translator. Those surrounding us looked at her then amongst themselves in confusion. Some of the men even let their spears drop, momentarily confounded. "I think I told them that we mean them no harm, Sis," She told me quietly. "You think? What language was that anyway?" I asked glancing over to her for a second before returning my eyes to the nearest pointy spear tips. "An early dialect of Sumerian. I thought it might be a good idea." The man apparently in charge of the group shouted something guttural that didn't have any chance to translate and raised his spear again. "Well that worked well, Empress!" Jack quipped. "I'll try another variation," she said before something sounding like chimpanzee came out her mouth. This time our attackers abruptly turned around and looked down into the valley. They began to point at the onrush of water now quickly flooding the lowlands several hundred yards below. The small village disappeared in the huge wave as we watched. Alex said something else to them. One by one the group quieted and began to turn around then kneel before us, the men dropping their weapons to the ground as they did so. "Alex...what did you just say to them?" I asked in wonder as I turned and raised an eyebrow to my twin. "I just told them that we saved them from the flood," Alex Reilly grimaced. "I think. Their exact dialect is not in my translator." "Where's Tish when you need her?" Jack quipped again, shaking her head. "Director, we need to leave," I insisted. "Pixie!" I shouted. "Time to travel with the big girls, hun." Yuuka flew over to us and began to grow. A hushed gasp escaped some of our guests as she took Cami's outstretched hand. The little girl I had rescued bravely approached us- one hand outstretched, the other occasionally rubbing her runny nose. she said something that sounded like a question. Alex Reilly slowly crouched down and took the girl's hand, shook it gently and said something to her in a consoling tone. 'She wants to come with us.' Cami thought the translation to Jack and I. The child quickly turned to her mother and said something to her. She turned back to Alex and said something else. 'She asked her mother to come too, before asking the Director if it was okay.' My twin's reply didn't need translated, the sad tone saying everything. "Ask her name, Alex," I asked quietly. The girl answered with one word. 'She claims her name is A'hee, Empress' Cami thought to me as I began running the name. "Ask her where her father is," I suggested, to confirm what I had just learned. Again the young girl answered, dropping her eyes to the ground. 'She has no father anymore. He was taken by a...' Cami failed to translate the girl's last word, but I got the idea. Alex motioned for the girl's mother to come closer. With extreme hesitation, she complied. "She's your responsibility, Alex," I said, "But this really isn't the time for any new recruits." "But this IS the time, sis," She replied, motioning for both to take her extended hand. Once we were all linked together, Alex said something to our new companions. "What do you mean we're going to a far off place, and that there will be some pain involved, Director?" Cami cried out in surprise. The world around us closed in and became darker than pitch. An intense pain that I knew all too well pierced my very soul. I heard screams of pain cry out all around me. Unfamiliar, large blurs formed into lights- stars- and began to move away from us, rapidly growing smaller. The stars then began to coalesce and form into clouds- galaxies. These too grew smaller as we moved farther away. The whole of the universe became one big dust cloud and grew smaller. Another cloud appeared and began to grow in size. Before long we were entering a somewhat familiar star system. A familiar bluish-green planet grew larger in my sight. Were we really where I thought we were? The blackness overtook me again before bright sunlight momentarily blinded me and the sound of birds singing filled my ears. Every hair on my body immediately stood to attention. "Oh God, is it really you- after all these years?" A familiar voice cried out from several yards away. "Welcome, Empresses! Welcome sisters, we've missed you all so much!" Jack cried, tears streaming down her face as she hurried across the grassy field toward us. "That...that's me," Jack gasped from my right. I felt her squeeze my hand tighter. "Oh Alex, I've missed you and Earth so much! Jacquelyn Cummins cried as she embraced me tightly then repeated her emotional greeting on a flabbergasted Alex Reilly. "Oh," Jacki said, stopping as she suddenly remembered something. "Empress, welcome to the Homeworld. It is 1014hrs, Wednesday, June 13th, 264AE," She announced, quickly, but gracefully dropping to both knees. I rolled my eyes at her in annoyance. My temporal twin gasped- her hand released our two new companions and she quickly covered her mouth in shock. "264...A...E...after the arrival..." Alex muttered before suddenly staring at me eye to eye. I could only wonder what was going through her mind at the moment as I noticed tears form and begin to fall. "So...it...it was you. It really was you," she exclaimed- her voice echoing off the nearby tree line! "Alex?" My Jack asked in confusion. "Captain Steinert?" The other Jacki asked. I nodded. "Permission to sync-up with my temporal sister, Cap?" I smiled tensely and timidly nodded my approval. I didn't miss my Ex- O's expression change...or her suddenly glare at me. "I'm sorry, Jack," I said quietly. "It was my...their decision." Jacki released my hand and took a tentative step to her twin. She embraced her twin aggressively as tears began flowing from both women's eyes. "Did I miss something, Empress?" Cami asked awkwardly. "After I stopped at Reilly to have that computer virus analyzed..." I paused. "The patch you, Randi, Cassie, and Sam created...after it healed RVP, there...there were two of me...two of Jack, Peyton, and I..." I stopped as my Jack pulled back from her twin to stare at me again. "The Protoverse Chamber became unstable. Both Alex' rushed into Chamber Control and desperately tried to stabilize the cloud. They ran scenario after scenario...nothing seemed to work. Alex," Jacki nodded to me as she continued the explanation, "came to the conclusion that our universe had one too many Empresses in it for far too long a time, and that, she theorized, was causing the imbalance." "You singularly hypothesized, postulated, extrapolated, evaluated, and confirmed that theory, Alexandra?" Alex Reilly asked in amazement. "All within about fifteen minutes, Empress. I had never seen her mind operate that fast before. There has only been one other person I have ever seen process at anywhere near that speed- Delores Steinert!" Jacki continued. "Ma?" Both Alex and I gasped together. "You don't remember, Alex?" "Oh, I remember, Jack," Alex Reilly replied, beating me to my reply. "I've just never been compared to Ma is all- I never thought we were that much alike now," I explained. This world's Jacquelyn Cummins shook her head with a disbelieving smirk. "So who're the new recruits, Empress?" Jacki asked, nodding over beside Alex. "Alex picked them up from the flood," I answered nonchalantly. "Oh? What flood?" Jacki asked, looking intently at my twin. "THE flood, Jacquelyn," I responded. "Oh, THE flood," she said without recognition, but stopped as it hit her. "You mean THE flood...the Biblical one?" "Biblical only to the inhabitants, but yes Jack, that flood," I smiled. "Then you got to see the ark? What did Noah actually look like?" "We never got far enough up the valley to find out, Jack." "Valley?" "Back home we call it the Black Sea now?" I informed her casually. Jacki tenderly patted the hand she still held a few times and stepped over to our two new companions. To this point they had been silent and standing stiff as statues. Their eyes though, were big as saucers. "And who do we have here?" she said to them, crouching down demurely so as not to stress the pastel yellow, gold piped, muslin gown she wore. I had to admit that it did compliment her complexion, but I failed to understand how she could wear the brown, stiffly boned and delicately embroidered corset- especially knowing how much she complained about them the last time. I had to remind myself that this Jacquelyn had not experienced the tight bindings prior to her hasty departure from Earth. "We're not really sure they understand us completely, Jack. They use some variant of the very earliest Sumerian dialect," Alex Reilly informed her. "Oh? I think I know that one. We ran across a very, very old language a few decades back. Peyton spent a few months deciphering it and entered it into our translators. Let me see if it works." This world's Jacquelyn Cummins said a few words and surprisingly got quick single word answers from the little girl's ma. Jacki then began with longer sentences before she apparently began to introduce us individually- at least I assumed that was what she was doing as she gestured to each of us and pronounced our names slowly. The little girl giggled and ran over to Yuuka, pointed to her a few times then pointed up into the air; her gibberish mixed with laughter. "A'hee wants you to become a bird again, Yuuka," Jacki told her with a pleasant smile. "She wants to know if she can fly too." She suddenly looked back across the field from where she had originally come. "Alex is on her way, Empress." "You can sense me traveling now?" Alex and I asked in shared surprise. "Nooo. Our Empress just started her..." "Wonderful!" I exclaimed as I looked past my former Ex-O. "I hope y'all don't mind stayin' for a week or so, 'cause there ain't a force in this universe that'll stop what happens next, ladies. The sound of hooves on dirt grew louder to our ears as two figures atop horses appeared over the field's distant ridge. The two riders, one in a flowing, pink gown, the other in a similar light green gown came into focus as they neared. Stopping abruptly a few yards away from us, Alex Steinert quickly rolled from her saddle and ran headlong into me at flank speed! I tried desperately to stay standing. "You finally came to visit! Oh God sis, I've missed y'all so very, very much! Welcome...welcome to the Homeworld, y'all!" She cried excitedly, looking up at everyone else from where we lay on the ground. The tingle we exchanged felt more like touching Sand Dollar's main battery busses! The massive information exchange was almost perceptible this time and I realized that it had been two hundred and sixty-four years for her since that day in the Protoverse Control room. "God Alex, has it really been that long since..." I asked. "I told you to mind the time differential, Alex. Did you forget?" "I wasn't the one doin' the driving, Alex. Allie here decided we should visit y'all all by herself. What's with all the medieval-style fashions and such, sis?" I asked, standing back up then helping her to stand. "Alexandra Steinert! This is the preferred manner of dress in this time period on Earth...the Homeworld." "M'lady, thy husband duth approach," Peyton called from atop her horse. She had been strangely silent since arriving. "Nice to see you too, Sephie," I giggled, receiving an angry glare. "Don't mind her, Cap, she's expecting in December," Jacki said pointing to our still mounted sister. "Morning sickness?" I asked in understanding compassion. "Nearing the end, Empress, though I fail to see the true meaning of the 'morning' part. Could you not have seen fit to bring Ladys' Emily or Cynthia along? The physicians here are even more backward than before Meridian enlightened the Lands of Pharaoh!" Peyton complained. "Empress, could I ask that a change of clothing be in order. We were labeled Pariahs for many months after our initial arrival. The people of this world do not accept change so easily." "Gee, I wonder where we've seen that before," I asked sarcastically looking over to Alex Reilly. "Empress, please, since you will be staying a few weeks..." Alex pleaded as she looked back to the field's ridge. She then embraced Alex Reilly. Both again jumped as the violent tingle crossed between them. I quickly selected the earliest period clothing I could find in my Reilly's inventory. Surprisingly, what I found would look regal enough to match my sister's stately dressings. Exhaling deeply, I triggered the change, not forgetting to stand on my tiptoes. The crushing of my ribs reminded me why I hated corsets! Alex smiled appreciatively at my selection. "I see you've been to a few more periods since I left. I am sorry that Jacki had to knock you out, Alex, but I figured it was the only...it was the right thing to do," she said sadly looking to the ground momentarily. "I understand. Besides, Admiral Demmit would never get over the headache of me inciting my own mutiny," I said as we exchanged a forced giggle. Six horsemen and an exquisite-looking, empty, open-air carriage pulled by a team of four chestnut geldings appeared over the ridge. I quickly looked around to my companions. Alex had changed into clothing very similar to mine, but Cami and my Jack seemed to have chosen some type of Amazonian warrior get-up. For some strange reason the name 'Xena' and the term 'bad-ass' came to mind. Yuuka, in contrast, had choosen a vibrant red, silken, feudal-period, ceremonial gown from her homeland's distant past. Everyone looked sufficiently medieval except for A'hee and her mother, M'lee, who had resumed statue-mode again, complete with wide eyes and open mouths. "M'lady Alexandra, you fled the Keep with such haste! What hath happened and who be these look-alikes?" A very handsome man asked from atop his mount. He was similar in appearance to Brandon Covington- if he shaved the full beard and trimmed his hair, that is. "M'lord Byron, I'd like y'all to meet my twin sisters, Alexandra Steinert-Reilly and Alexandra Steinert-Covington," Alexandra pointed to Allie then me. "Meet also our lifelong friends, Jocelyn Cummins, Camille Darough and Yuuka Sukiro. They accompany my sisters from the old country." "And the heathen woman and child? What relation be they- slave or servant?" "Neither, M'lord," I answered, hoping it was now proper to do so after formal introduction, "We found them upon the road on our journey between realms. They had seen some form of mishap and grasped what clothing they could to stay warm. This is M'lee and her child, A'hee, sire. At least that is what we think are their names. They speak a difficult tongue we do not recognize." "I see. Dost thou consider them friend or servant, Alexandra of Covington?" "Honored companions, M'lord Byron," I stated bowing courteously. "Then they shall be treated likely, M'lady. I leave it to you, my betrothed to see to their cleansing and proper attirement." "Aye, M'lord. I shall task my ladies-in-wait and the millenaries on our return to the Keep." 'Lord' Byron nodded his approval. "Ladies Alexandra, Sir Garrett thought it obliging to beckon a carriage. Nay, I could never fathom his foresight on such brief alarm." "The Lady Jacquelyn can be very influential, M'lord- even from afar," a young man to his right replied with a quirky smile. Oh ya, he was sweet on her, I thought. "I suspect the ladies before us also convene such influences, my friend," Lord Byron said with a large smile as he dismounted and approached our group- his chainmail, sword, and spurs rattling rhythmically as he walked. M'ladies, if I may be so bold as to escort thee to yonder conveyance?" He asked offering each of his gauntleted hands. "Of course and many thanks, M'lord," Alex Reilly answered politely for us. Three other young, armor-clad men dismounted and offered their hands to our companions. As expected, M'lee quickly picked up A'hee and began to shiver, noticeably clutching her daughter tighter. "I assure you, M'lady, I mean you and the child no harm. I only offer you escort to the carriage," The third young knight tried to reassure her. "Sir, she does not speak our tongue, please allow me," Alexandra said as she laid a hand on M'lee's shoulder. She conversed calmly with the young woman for several moments, at times glancing back to the horses or to the strangely clothed men standing around us. Cautiously, M'lee extended her arm and took the still-offered hand. The knight smiled pleasantly as he guided mother and child toward the four- wheeled, lavishly upholstered, carriage. "Me thinks they met with foul play of a sort, M'ladies," Lord Byron said quietly to Alex and I as he helped each of us mount the few steps into our seats. "That was our initial observation too, M'lord. Where and how they acquired the skins, I know not. They are pleasant travel companions though, saying very little as we traveled." "Ah, the best kind of travel companions' then- those that converse little!" He laughed. "Some would think that less conversing would make the journey longer, M'lord?" I giggled. "Agreed M'lady, but only in certain company, you and your companions be not included, Lady Alexandra of Covington." "I stand delighted, M'lord," I smiled demurely. God, did I hate this medieval speak! It was bad enough having to use it during official Terran gatherings! Once we were comfortably seated, he helped Alexandra back onto her horse. "Empress, why do they talk so funny?" Yuuka asked as she sat on the plush leather bench opposite Alex, Cami, Jacki, and I, with her head cocked to the side. "Alexandra of Covington, you too are regarded as Empress of your realm?" Lord Byron asked as he returned to his horse. "As am I, M'lord," Alex Reilly spoke up. "Upon Lady Alexandra's departure, I ascended the crown of Kili. My sister also peacefully rules her land of Ni'ihau- several hundred leagues to the north of Oahu. Have you ever been there?" "Strange sounding places, all- though Alexandra has spoken fondly of them since our meeting. One day I should wish to gaze upon this land you call Hawaii." "M'lord, Kili is not within sight of Ni'ihau or Hawaii, but several hundred more leagues to the Northwest across the great Pacific. It is more hamlet than realm in the vast scheme of things." "Then I pledge to visit both at my wife's leisure, Alexandra of Reilly. Let us retreat to the Keep for it is time to partake of the mid-day meal. I trust you are all wanting of sustenance?" "That we are, M'lord. M'lee and A'hee even more so, I should think, though they have limited our attempted charity." "Agreed, there should be bountiful enough settings on our arrival. The harvest has been kind so far this year and last." "Your generosity is too kind, M'lord. On behalf of my companions, I thank thee," I said politely. He seemed a pleasant enough fellow, and if I accepted him he couldn't be too bad, I reasoned. 'He reminds her of Brandon, cap.' Jacki thought to me. "Alex...why do they talk so funny," Yuuka pressed, expecting her question to be answered. "Have you been to the middle ages yet, hun," I asked the insistent Pixie? "No, Empress, I have not, and I am unsure of the director's travels to that period." I felt a twinge in my abdomen. "Could we please not talk about periods right now, hun?" I asked as a stronger than usual cramp surged through my gut. I noticed Alex cringe too. "That would be my suggestion also, Pixie-kun," Alex agreed as she joined me in rubbing our respective bellies. Topping the ridge after turning the team and carriage, my eyes, as well as my companions', widened in amazement. The 'Keep' turned out to be a full-blown, honest-to-goodness, castle- a walled city actually- complete with towering stone ramparts and deeply rutted earthworks. Flags and pennants flew from the numerous towers spaced evenly around the bastion's walls, and the whitewashed stone shone brightly in the early afternoon sun. "Wow!" I exclaimed, in awe of the place. I actually lived in a real- life castle in this universe- not to mention dressing like a fairytale princess! As I thought about my reaction it seemed silly to be impressed so easily since I now had this Alexandra's memories. "Alexandra rode up beside the carriage just then. "I know what you're going to say about the Keep, Alex, but given the era we're in, it only made sense. Plus, how was I to know that Byron would be a wealthy landowner?" "Really, Alex? You didn't just say that, right?" I said, flabbergasted by the response. Alexandra rolled her eyes at me and nudged her horse faster to catch up to her husband. "Oh, the trappings of nobility," I tisked audibly. "And that crown on your head is any different, sis?" Alex Reilly chortled. "What? Oh, I forgot I even had that thing on," I said feeling the top of my head and finding my headpiece there. "You know, from what I know of Earth's history, royalty seldom traveled wearing any symbol of status. The roads between lands were ripe with thieves and cutthroats. The higher the known status, the higher the bounty demanded," Alex Reilly explained softly. "I forgot I had the blasted thing on, all right?" I grumbled, rubbing my belly some more. "It doesn't matter to me if you want to wear that thing. In a couple of days it'll just be an innocuous piece of jewelry anyway, sis," She responded. "And why is that, Empress?" I asked with a disgusted growl. "Do you see any power conduits in the vicinity? Without a source with which to recharge from, our suits and your tiara will cease functioning. Or had you forgotten?" "May I remind you, dear sister, that Randi Van Pelt is a top-notch designer, and that she believes in worst-case conditions when engineering new pieces of equipment?" "Go on." "The huge ruby in my headpiece also converts solar radiation into energy and stores it in the crystalline structure itself. Then there is this," I touched the large broach prominently displayed on the upper swell of my now overly emphasized boobs. "Is that Ancient Terran?" Alex asked in surprise as she reached for it, gently picked it up, and scanned the writing on both sides. "A gift from Anna-Beth and Khufu thanking us for retrieving her spacecraft," I boasted quietly. "Y'all are lucky. Cami and I helped him get his kingdom back and all we got was a state dinner and his personal thanks." "Perhaps, Lady Alexandra of Reilly, you did not befriend the niece of Co-administrator Anna-Beth nor promise her safe keeping and subsequent safe return to the Combined Kingdom," Peyton said as she slowed her horse to come alongside us. "Who are you again, sister?" Cami asked, looking a bit concerned that she had not met all the sisters of Kili. "Persephone Peyton Tribsche, Lady Camille of Darough, first niece to the Pharaoh's mate," She answered majestically. "Sephie, what has gotten into you?" I asked with my own concern. "Empress, I miss the Land of Pharaoh. For almost three hundred years we three have survived- at first in squallier while these primitives advanced sufficiently to embrace civilized behavior," She proclaimed quietly. "To these heathens we are mere properties, traded as payment for brutish exchanges between arrogant landlords! Over two hundred and sixty years, Empress! Two hundred-sixty years of hoping, waiting, desperately watching the fields for your visit and any news of home...of whether Earth even still existed." She sniffed and wiped her wet face a few times. "I miss Momma and Poppa, Empress," she admitted as more tears rolled down her cheeks. "So why not move to a more suitable time? It's not like you can't travel forward a few hundred years, hun." "M'lady Alexandra claims this is our base time of operation, M'lady. I took an oath to her prior to transiting the portal." "Sister?" I called to the riders ahead. "Sister, might we have words?" Alexandra slowed her horse and was soon riding next to our carriage. "Ya, hun?" "Alex, we need to talk in private. How long until we are safely within your chambers?" My twin looked across the carriage at Peyton. "That didn't take long. Alex, know this: We all miss home very much and each of us has done remarkably well at adjusting to this world. Certain factors though cause us, at times, to pine for our lost families and friends. I'm sure you understand how two hundred and sixty-four years of isolation from everyone you held dear can mount up." "I understand completely, Alex," Alex Reilly replied quietly, wiping her face of tears. "I do indeed." "So why didn't you come back for a visit like you said in the message?" I asked. "I'm still not sure the Protoverse would stand for it, Alex. It might go out of balance again." "If it's even there at all," Alex Reilly mumbled. "What was that, sister? If what is there at all?" "We were on the trail of a very disturbed man who took something from Ricky Lynn, Alex." "This Darren feller y'all got blazin' in yer heads?" I looked around to see a few of the escorting knights looking back at us intently. "We'll talk in your chambers, sister. I'm sure the men folk would rather share stories of valor and conquest upon their return to the Keep rather than relate feminine rumors." Alexandra nodded and sped up to rejoin her husband. From far off, the Keep looked impressive, but its true size and scale overwhelmed us once we got closer. "This place has to be almost as big as Kili," I observed aloud as we leveled out onto a huge, rolling meadow that went off in all directions around the Keep. Ahead, we approached the earthen works surrounding the sizable fortress. The road we traveled was the only smooth surface from here on. What a fortress! Its fluted walls seemed to ungulate off into the distance on all four sides. From this distance it seemed there wasn't a single blind spot in the Keep's substantial defenses. "Who built it?" I asked. "Alex, Peyton, and I designed it," Jacki told us as she rode closer on her blonde-maned, mare. "Must have taken a King's ransom," I observed. "Actually it only took some 'mental grease' on my part. We had it finished in about two years. Our quarters took another six months to outfit with the equipment we borrowed from Reilly." You borrowed equipment from Reilly?" Alex Reilly repeated indignantly. "RVP gave us permission to take some of the older, unused equipment Ricky Lynn had put into storage," Jacki continued. "Just some old manufacturing gear and RVP's decommissioned processing center. Oh, and one of the old reactors to power everything," She answered offhandedly. "Don't let Alex know I blabbed. She'd have you think we had no conveniences at all here." As we rode under the massive arched gates of the outer, defensive wall, I thought it prudent to engage my tiara's mapping application. One thing immediately caught my attention- Byron's heartbeat was slightly slower than the rest of us- his indicated body temperature was also slightly higher than normal. I also quickly noted the thickness of the solid oak doors that closed and secured this entrance. "Problems with the locals or just the traveling salesfolk, sister? Possibly the Jehovah's?" I asked loudly. I noticed her head drop forward slightly and shake side to side a few times at my question. Inside the massively thick stone walls, the Keep became a moderately sized town with cobblestone-paved streets. As we made our way along one of them, people cautiously parted and clear the way. Many, I noticed, stared between Alexandra, Alex Reilly, and I as if never seeing triplets or in the case of Jack, twins before. 'Of course, it could be those get-ups Cami and Jack have on, Alex,' Jacki thought to me...to us. "What is wrong with our coverings, Jacquelyn Cummins?" Cami asked in a somewhat loud, angry tone. "Are we not here to protect the Empresses from harm? Jacquelyn and I ARE their warriors, after all." A gasp came from some people on the street nearer us. Whispers began racing up one side of the street and down the other. Before the quarter hour was up I expected every citizen in town to know that there were now three Empresses staying in the Keep. "You two are better than a church bell, you know that, right?" I growled, just above a whisper. Ahead of us a huge, square-cut, stone building came into view. The five-story structure reminded me of Reilly Research Station in design and scale. I could even make out the fourth level observation patio that both apparently shared. "By the Goddess, it's Reilly," Alex Reilly gasped. "Only with no cantankerous airlock to give us trouble though, I'd guess," I added. Our carriage stopped in front of the large, double wooden entry doors and our mounted escorts formed a protective semicircle between the rest of the town and us. Lord Byron dismounted and helped Alex, Jacki, and Peyton from their mares. Once the women were safely standing on the ground, he opened the carriage door and motioned us individually to take his hand to help each of us down. "Welcome to Avalon, M'ladies," he announced happily, his left arm swinging up toward the slowly opening, darkly stained doors. "Avalon?" Alex Reilly squeaked in surprise, her hand again went to her mouth. "You don't care for the name, M'lady?" Byron asked in bewilderment. "This is Avalon," Allie mumbled quietly, apparently ignoring our host completely. "By the Goddess, I'm really here. I'd only seen conceptual depictions of this place when I was a boy." "Nonsense, M'lady!" our host objected. "A creature as lovely as you or your sisters couldn't possibly be confused as 'boy'...at any age, Lady Alexandra of Reilly." Alex was noticeably shaken and looked on the verge of tears as we entered the building of Homeworld legend. The hall that we entered extended at least eighty feet in both directions and raised above us three stories in height. Two levels of balconies with carved wooden railings encircled us on three sides- brilliant, colorful banners- three with a brilliant white sand dollar, hung smartly from them. Hand- woven tapestries decorated the first floor walls and made the space feel warm and inviting. I felt Alex Reilly's hand gently take my right hand. It was shaking noticeably. "I never believed..." she choked out as she stared at me. Her face was tearstained- her eyes red. "Empress," I started, "you always had the power to visit this place. Why haven't you done so before this?" I squeezed her hand gently. "In over nine hundred years you never once thought strongly enough to even wish yourself here?" "I didn't know I could even be the Empress until I met you, Alex," she whispered while looking to the delicately inlayed mosaic floor. "And now here I am...Avalon. Never in my most uncontrolled, illogical, REM- derived, theoretical, archives could I have postulated..." "Ya, it's beyond my wildest dreams too, sis," I laughed as my sister reverted to her technical jargon. "Is M'lady casting some sort of ward? For what purpose would you do this, Lady Alexandra of Reilly?" Lord Byron asked in concern. "It is an old family tradition to ask the Almighty's favor for a benefactor's good fortune upon arrival into their home, M'lord. Alex is very old fashioned. Some would actually say 'behind the times'," Alexandra said with a wink toward us. "My humblest thanks, Lady Alexandra of Reilly. May good fortune follow you as well," Byron said while bowing courteously to both of us. "My love, I'm sure Lady's M'lee and A'hee would like to wash the distress of the road away as soon as possible. Could you ask them to follow Lady's Cassandra, Samantha, and Alexis to your private bathing chambers?" My eyes immediately locked on the three women approaching us. Despite knowing they're presence here, my vision blurred as tears escaped unhindered. "Empresses," all three courtsied in unision. "So nice to finally meet both of you!" Alexis pleasantly greeted us for the three. "Mother has told us so much of you." "Perhaps my sisters would like to see their chambers?" Alexandra winked at me as she gently took my other hand. "Jacki, I trust you will show your sister and Lady's Camille and Yuuka to their chambers as well?" She then said something to our newest companions. M'lee and A'hee tentatively, cautiously, took Cassandra and Samantha's outstretched hands. The five walked away to our right and disappeared into the third of four archways along that wall. 'Cassie, Sam, and Alexis are all wearing earlier versions of our Reillys'. Jacquelyn assures me A'hee's language is on file.' Cami reassured both Alex and I. I noticed Peyton hurry through one of the archways in the wall to our left. "She's hungry, sis," Alexandra answered my unspoken question with a smirk. "You know how that is, right?" "Oh, I've seen my share, sister." "You have children, Lady Alexandra of Covington? Why have they not joined you on this pilgrimage?" "Ladys' Cassandra, Samantha, and young Lord Alexander elected to stay home and manage our realm while Lady Alexis is visiting a neighboring land." "You and your sister share common choices in names, M'lady. You three really are of like mind." "M'lord, you have no idea," I giggled. "But, are you not concerned for your young Lady Alexis? Visiting a nearby realm would be treacherous, me thinks." "Alexis has the men of that land wrapped around her finger, M'lord. She is betrothed to the son of the realm's Prime Minister. She is in no peril whatsoever, M'lord." "Ah, that we may have such peace and honor here," Byron sighed as he shook his head several times. "Alas, neighboring lords find our Keep calling to them and desire its contents," He admitted and looked to Alexandra as example. "Sisters, do you not want to freshen thyselves?" Alexandra insisted, tugging on my hand softly. "We really should take our leave of thee, M'lord. The road weighs heavy on us and shouts to be removed," Alex Reilly replied for us both. "I shall have the midday meal held if you wish, M'ladies?" "We shall stop by the kitchen as we tour the premises, my husband, and I should think that my sisters will want to check in on M'lee and her child," Alexandra decreed before pulling Alex and I away from the hall and up an unseen, but beautiful staircase. After ascending two more levels, Alexandra came to a stop in a hallway barren of doors of any kind. A single window at the hall's end provided enough light to see by. "RVP, access requested, OakridgeEmpress8716, engage," she announced quietly, yet calmly. The wall before us shuddered, moved away from us about a foot then slid silently to the right revealing a large, dimly lit room beyond. "RVP, illumination level eighty-five percent." The brighter lighting revealed a perfect replica of my quarters back at Reilly. Alex and I began to look around this 'diamond in the rough' so to speak. It was while I scanned the perfectly made up bed that I saw it. "My Tiara!" I gasped. "Not quite, hun. This one's mine! If y'all remember, you still had yours on when you appeared in front of us that day at Reilly. I still have no idea why we love this thing so much though." "Incredible! I'm the only one here without my own crown!" Alex Reilly exclaimed, raising her hands in defeat. "Oh, give it a rest, director!" Alexandra complained. "Ah'm sure if y'all asked Randi, she'd make one fer ya." "I take it by the sound of your voice you don't let the drawl out very often, Alex." "Darn tootin', hun! Ah kin only take that thee an' thou manure fer so long 'fore ah have ta come in here an'..." "Express yerself, sis?" Alexandra nodded and quickly pulled both Alex and I into a very tight, very needy hug. She immediately broke into tears. "Ah missed y'all so much. How's Cassie, Sammi, Alexis, an' young Alex doin'? Ah miss 'em all ta death, ya know?" She cried. "I'm sure they miss you too, sis," I told her. "If they knew you were here, that is." "Alex, knock it off! You know they'll find out in time," I glared at my twin in anger. "I understand the reason, Alex. I may live in the stone-age, but I do understand the concept by which I'm here," Alexandra said through slowing tears. "Alex, where on the Homeworld did you find a Terran?" I asked, remembering my tiara's display. "Empress, Byron is requesting access," a mechanical sounding feminine voice interrupted. "Let him in, we're still dressed, RVP. "Acknowledged, Empress." "You alright, Alex?" Byron asked as he entered the secret chamber. "Ya, hun, the formalities just got to be a little too much, with the Empresses' arrival an' all," she explained. "Welcome to the Homeworld, Empress. As you no doubt already know, I am Terran by birth," the man said in welcome. "Had ya the moment I turned this thing on, hun," I said pointing to my headpiece. "A marvelous piece of engineering work if I must say, Alex. I'd love to meet Miss Van Pelt one of these days." Y'all are welcome to drop by any time, hun- any time at all." "If you can find Earth, that is," Alex Reilly droned sadly. "I don't understand. Has something happened to your ancestral world, my love?" Byron looked to Alexandra, stunned. "We're not sure, sire. When we left earth we had just assured that the Biblical flood had occurred, as it should have. We were supposed to be enroute to our next encounter with the psychotic madman that stole a temporal device from Prof. Samuels when Alex decided that we should come here instead." "Why would you do that anyway, director?" Alexandra asked. "After Yuuka flew off into the valley and Alex stole the adolescent revision, I ran the probabilities and postulated our next move, hoping to intercept Clemson before he could modify the timeline. Instead, I felt that I needed to bring M'lee and A'hee here, to you, dear Empress. It never occurred to me that you were THE Empress and that we would be visiting my home planet." "Knock it off with the 'dear Empress' stuff right now, Alexandra Reilly, y'all know ah hate that regal bull." "Yet here we are in your castle, dear Empress," I giggled. Alexandra rolled her eyes at me. "Not one man in the realm would agree that you three were the same person, Alex," Byron laughed, shaking his head with a grin. "We aren't exactly the same, hun," I informed him. "Yes, Alex has told me that the varied experiences make the difference...slight as they may be." "So...how did a Terran transit between universes and arrive here, Empress?" I asked as my eyebrow rose. "Byron was originally part of the Future Empress' entourage for the conference, Alex. When Janelle took over Reilly, she immediately headed for the Protoverse Control room with visions of destroying it, leaving her minions to secure the rest of the facility." "But that would have torn the universe to shreds!" Alex and I shouted in unison. "That's right," Byron said, continuing the story from our sister. "Alexandra, your Granddaughter, dropped me off to act as the forward liaison to prepare for Grand High Counsel Tibius' arrival. I sensed that things weren't right just after the Empress had taken her leave. As I walked the hall trying to find Camille or Cassi Darough, I stumbled upon the Protoverse room. The woman known as Janelle Hathor was angrily cursing and abusing the control board, complaining that all she could get was a lock on something she called the 'Homeworld'. As I listened from the doorway, I learned that she meant to start a chain reaction that would not only destroy the facility, but also this world. Without warning she threw up her hands and briskly exited the room shouting 'why won't that alien ever die'." "I can only assume she meant you, Empress. I barely had the chance to avoid her and once clear entered the Control Chamber. Curious as to what she planned to destroy, I ventured too near the observation window and the concealed dimensional portal that she had inadvertently opened." "I found myself on this world, this land. I wandered aimlessly for fifteen of this world's days before stumbling across this beautiful woman and her two companions." "That was t