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With Clemson slipping away once again, Alex and company decide some 'R and R' might be good for morale, but is 1944 Hartford ready for the Empress and her entourage? How could a young girl, killed in 1942 Burma, possibly make one of Emily's hometown neighbor's life complete? Episode 5 "Departures" 1050hrs, Pearl Harbor, August 20th, 1944 "Cap, Admiral Demmit and Mrs. Scott just appeared on the bridge," Jack informed us. All conversation stopped until our superior got closer. "Girls, have you seen your missing toy yet?" Momma asked quietly as she cleared the gangplank a few minutes later. "Clemson made a very short appearance this time, momma. I did, however, get a copy of the QDA's log file." "Excellent. Then we should be going to Egypt next?" "Not without a side trip to Dayton, Ohio, Ma," I said with a grimace. "Dayton? What's in Dayton, Al...Allie?" "Meridian 12, Admiral," Alex Steinert answered. "An just what would a 'Meridian 12 be, sweetheart?" Uncle Rick asked a little too sweetly. "For those of us that haven't been on as many of your travels." "An Intergalactic Spacecraft of Terran design, sir," Jack answered officially. "Alex, I thought Anna Beth had to be the one to awaken Meridian?" "Anna Beth? The woman we saved in Reilly a couple months ago?" Uncle Rick seemed to shiver slightly. "She's the commander of her own spaceship?" "Yep," I replied with grin. "Ruthie...you see what I have to put up with? I'm supposed to be their commanding officer...not the other way around." "But you're just such a lovable, cuddly Teddy Bear, Uncle Ricky," Momma schmoozed as she suddenly took Uncle Rick's arm. 'SP at six o'clock, sir,' Jack said quietly in our minds. "So that is the inside of one of our submarines, girls," Demmit said, catching on. "HEY...YOU GIRLS! You shouldn't be out here! The submarine docks are off limits to all unauthorized personnel!" Our group parted to reveal Admiral Demmit. "And I'm not authorized...is that it, Chief?" Admiral Demmit growled as he confronted the SP. "Admiral!" The SP stopped, jumped to attention, and saluted. "Sorry sir, I didn't know you were..." "At ease, chief, I was just showing the girls around. These are my nieces. Alexandra and Emily you already know. These two are Alexandra's sisters, Allison and Ruth. They complete the triple wammy my sister and brother-in-law never deserved," Ma looked at him in contempt. "They just shipped in yesterday along with a family friend, Andromeda Celeste. I believe you've met Lt. Cmdr. Jacquelyn Cummins too?" "Ladies," The sailor smiled and nodded to us. "Sorry to have interrupted, sir. I'm still not used to seeing women out on these docks. I'll just resume my patrol. Good day, Admiral, Ladies," He said saluting once more. We all saluted back and he turned to leave. "I like him, uncle. He's cute." Momma giggled to her brother. We all looked around at her and a blushing Uncle Rick. The sailor stopped and turned around. "Thanks, my wife thinks I'm 'cute' too, ma'am. Have a nice day, ladies...Admiral." We waited for the SP to get out of voice range. "Mother! What has gotten into you?" Emily asked, surprised by her mother's behavior. "What if Daddy heard you? What would he say...or think?" "I'm sorry, honey. I forgot which universe I'm in at the moment." "What universe? Wait...is daddy..." Emily began to ask. Momma just lowered her eyes to the concrete. "Thank you for covering, Admiral," I said as I stopped and saluted. In fact, all us women were saluting. "You are quite welcome, Alex, but next time the Pixies remain full size on my base," He said as he pointed to my shoulders. "Yuuka...both of you...you can be twins too in cases like this." "There was no time when we arrived, sir. They would have been seen," I responded in Yuuka's defense. "Understood, Commander," The old man paused a moment. "Would it be possible for Ruth to stay for a visit or does she perform some vital service for the Empress in the hours to come?" "You do understand she is Empress as well, Uncle Rick?" I asked as I stepped back and nudged Jack and Emily's hand slightly. 'We're ready, Empress,' Jack confirmed in my mind. Ruth Scott turned suddenly as she released Uncle Rick's hand. "Don't think you're getting away with anything, Alexandra. I saw what you two were planning...just as you did. Empress, remember?" She said as she pointed to her chest with a wink and smile. Taking my freed hands, Momma Scott looked as though she were going to cry. "Thank you, Empress. I'll be waiting here for your return...tomorrow. Travel well, and...good hunting, girls." Momma kissed each of us on the cheek before taking Uncle Rick's hand again. The two reunited siblings walked along the concrete pier hand in hand. "So where to now, Allie?" "Now we return you, Jack, Yuuka, and Emily to Atlantis-Minor, Alex." Our base on Ni'ihui appeared around us. "Welcome back, Empress," Mina greeted after a minute of rubbing her temples. "I trust sister and brother are reunited and sharing some overdue company?" Alex and I nodded. "Then it was worth the severe migraine." Mina nodded purposely before she turned and began walking away. She then stopped and turned again. "Well, Captain Steinert, are you, Emily, Jack, and this instance of Yuuka coming? The Empress has many things to do and would like to get on with her mission." "I take it we still head back to Atlantis as before, Allie?" Alex asked, though not quite sure. "Andie, Yuuka, and I will be along shortly," I said before the Conference room on Atlantis appeared. I kept us phased out. Those whom I'd previously watched fade away one by one...my sisters...they were still here! My Granddaughter though, was not to be found. "Alex, should we even come back here? I mean... won't there be two of each of us now?" "Let me take care of that, Commodore." I smiled deviously knowing what I had to do. This had better work, I thought as I once again stopped time. "That's what I'm afraid of, madam," she replied with an audible gulp. Her hand gripped mine tighter as I walked us to and into our previous selves. We were now standing in the exact positions we were before we left. Even Yuuka was in the proper location. Concentrating on our previous selves, I rephased us and released time. A VERY cold shiver passed through my body. Alex Reilly, Emily, Jack, Reggie, Ricky Lynn, and...and Camille Darough stood looking at us strangely. All of them began rubbing their heads in some form or another. "Wow! That was way easier than a Sake hangover!" Yuuka observed lightly from my shoulder. "What the HELL just happened?" Professor Samuels demanded dramatically in surprise. "Did we just fix the timeline, sis?" Alex Reilly asked as she looked to be debating whether to sync with me or not. "Part of it. Why, did you miss me?" "Alex, I just got this really strange feeling...like a memory, maybe? Did we go to Pearl with Mrs. Scott?" Jack asked in bewilderment as she rubbed her eyes. "I'm not sure, Jack. Can you remember who we went with?" My Ex-O closed her eyes and turned her head slightly to the left as she concentrated on my question. "Mrs. Scott...Emily...Andie..." She paused as I noticed her concentrate harder. "Me...two Yuukas, and...and another you, Cap." Jack looked back to me shaking her head a couple times. "Admiral Demmit and Mrs. Scott...you let her stay behind to visit with the Admiral?" Emily looked my way as tears began streaming down her cheeks. She stepped toward me and wrapped her arms around me tightly. "Oh my God, Alex! Did you bring her back from...?" "I...I lost you, Emily! I lost every one of my sisters here. Andie and I had to go someplace where we wouldn't be erased ourselves. I...I asked for momma's help." "But did you...you know...resurrect..." "I needed to know what Upper Management would do...or could do because of what happened. I needed Upper Management's advice, so I...so I modified her and brought her along." "You modified...you..." Emily stared at me for a minute. "You made momma look exactly like you! You made momma's boobs bigger, Alex? Wait...our mother IS Upper Management?" "We also found out from her that I am somehow your half-sister, Emily," Andie informed our sister. "Somehow, Mother Empress found the time to visit my world and...and conjugally visit Pappa." "WHAT?!" Emily shrieked. "Andromeda, could you please pull up the back of your blouse?" Alex Reilly asked suddenly. "I'd like to look at your back a moment." Andie looked at my twin in horror. "Oh, you want to see Andie's weird birthmarks. Why? Is it important, Empress?" Reggie asked in surprise. There it was. The mark of the royal bloodline- the Homeworld symbol for the Reilly clan. Above it, also plain as day, was the symbol of a tactical seer. I closed my eyes and shook my head to the side twice. Just above that was an unfamiliar symbol- circular in shape with a tiny sideways 'S' in its middle. A family ranch brand maybe? Circle-lazy- 'S'? "Alex, do you recognize this symbol? I've never seen it before," I asked my twin as I pointed to it. "It's not Reilliese or Homeworld, sis- that much I know." "It's a draftsman's mark," Reggie said and continued to explain. "I didn't know what it meant until I got into finishing school. When I started learning about computers and control systems, I was amazed to find it on a control circuit diagram. It means 'source of power'- a power supply. I teased Andie after that...that she would be in a place of power- in control or command of something." "Yep. That's what it is all right. Use it all the time in my project plans, Director," Ricky Lynn confirmed as she took a quick look. "Alex...if these are actually Homeworld runes...can she..." Emily began, then swallowed loudly and continued. "Can she possibly share our gifts...foresight and...and..." I immediately knew what Emily was implying. When had she discovered that part of her gift, I wondered, or...or had she always known but kept it to herself? "I would imagine, sis, yes. I'm surprised you asked that though," I said before pausing a few seconds. "When did you find out about your..." "We share the gift of foresight, Alex. Need I say more?" I smiled. "Nope. You ARE my sister after all." "It looks like there are a few more than we thought. Welcome to the family, Andromeda and Regina Celeste," Emily said with a big smile. "But Emily...I'm not...I mean...but I don't have any symbols on my back," Reggie admitted- sadness evident in her voice. "Y'all are Andie's sister, right?" I asked, smiling, as I thought, 'none that have appeared yet.' "We have father in common, yes," she answered. "Welcome to the family, hun. You two are related by blood. Welcome, sister." "Alex, why can't I remember you leaving like Jacki can?" Cami inquired in a frightened tone. "What happened to me? Did something bad happen?" "Several bad things happened, Sweetheart. You suddenly disappeared from Atlantis. Jack was hysterical when she noticed you weren't here." "What...what happened to me?" "It's complicated, Sweetheart. Let's just say that Jack did everything she could in righting the tangent and we call it even," I said, not wanting to confuse her with the convoluted truth. Despite not wanting to remember what had happened, I began to recall exactly that. Cami and Jack's eyes went wide. "We...we really just began to fade...disappear?" Jack asked in amazement. "I actually got blown up by that psychologically challenged equine?" Cami burst out. Andie and I looked to the deck. "Like I said...I...I lost ALL my sisters." I noticed Alex Reilly looking at me with uncertainty. "Yes, even you, Alex," I told her sadly. Noticing Andie I modified my last statement. "Ever'one 'cept Andie and the people of Atlantis." Stepping closer, I reached out and quickly snatched Alex Reilly's hand. "Y'all need to know this stuff too, Alex," I said as the extra strong tingle passed between us. "Know what, Alex...oh...OH! We can do that? She says we kin do even more? Mina knew?" Alex Reilly said after she jumped at our touch. "So, when we leave for Egypt?" "Tomorrow. After Ah get some rest," I said as Alex, Andie, and I began to yawn. "Will we...will we be okay in the mean time, Alex?" Cami asked, a quiver in her voice. "Yes," I told her truthfully. "Even if Ah have to turn back time again to make sure." Emily's mouth dropped open- her eyes opened wide. "You turned...back time, Alex? Y...yyyy...yyyyyou actually made time run backwards?" "Ma claims Ah can do even more too. Apparently, Ah've only realized a fraction of mah potential. See y'all in the morning," I said as Alex and I turned for the door. "You have control Reggie. See you tomorrow," Andie said as she too followed Alex and I out the door of the conference room. "Alex, we need to talk," Emily said just after locking the door and enabling 'privacy mode' from the touchpad. She sat down on the chase recliner across from me. "Yes, Ah changed her genetic code to match mine. Apparently, Ah kin do that in mah private domain," I answered her unasked question. "That isn't what I was going to ask...well, it was...but I wasn't going to ask it just yet." "Yes, Ah believe her to be part'a 'Upper Management'. Why wouldn't a close relative be considered for the position? Who knows us best, after all?" "Will you stop that and let me ask MY first question, Alex?" I motioned to her with a flourish of my right hand. "Was she really unfaithful to daddy? Is she really our mother in this universe, Alex?" "Is what Ah do on Terra considered cheatin', sis? Ah mean, Ah'll feel guilty for a year or so after returnin' to Earth, but...but Ah really can't consider it cheating. Ah'll still be faithful to Sandy." "I understand that, Alex. What I guess I really want to ask is...is she really momma? Or is our momma still on the other side...dead?" "Truthfully? Ah'd have to say that the Ruth Scott that Ah brought back to August of 1944 is definitely our mother, so yes...but...but Ah'm not sure if she belongs to this universe, sis, so no." "Thanks for that decisive clarification, Alex," Emily said sarcastically. "Ah'm sorry, sis, that's the best Ah can do. Ah wasn't exactly paying much attention when Andie and Ah got to my domain. Ah'm lucky Ah even got us there in the first place. It ain't easy holdin' it together after seein' ever'one ya love and hold dear just vanish sequentially before yer eyes! Y'all don't know what it's like to experience that, Em," I told her, wiping away the tears forming again. "I can't imagine what you felt, Alex. It must have been horrible." "Em," I said, my face suddenly turning somber. "Momma did somethin'," I paused. "Somethin' that got her banished to the...Ah guess, the afterlife. She was trying to warn me. She said that there are 'people' that are even more powerful than us...with our gifts, I mean. Sis, she told me they based punishment on severity. Ah can only wonder what she done in her universe to warrant such punishment." "Whatever she did, do you think she can atone? I mean...even you have given people second chances. Surely those with that amount of power are understanding and forgiving...right?" "Ah'd like to think so. If Ah kin show mercy, Ah'd hope our superiors would do likewise. She did mention 'the rare second chance'." "Alex, did you give momma a choice to come along or did you just..." "Ah changed her subtly as she tried to comfort me and grabbed her hand before Andie and Ah left mah domain. No, Ah didn't give her no choice. Ah felt she needed to come along...to help us. Ah did ask her what the 'rules' was though. She seemed to take too long to make something up, sis. That's when Ah got suspicious." "So momma is with Uncle Rick as we speak. Do you think she'll behave and not get him in trouble?" "Momma's a smart gal, Em. Ah got to believe she wouldn't do anything to attract her 'Upper Management's' attention again." My sister nodded in agreement. "Ah wonder..." "What, Alex? Oh, I know that look. What are you thinking about, sis?" "Ah wonder who would show up in mah domain if Ah called for Ma?" "I thought you were tired, Alex." "Mah curiosity just give me a second wind. Care to join me, sis?" Emily stood from the recliner and took my hand. My domain appeared. "Momma? Mother Scott, would y'all come here please?" I called as I thought about Ruth Scott. I tried again. "Ruth Scott! Emily and Ah need your council. Please...kin ya show yerself?" "I'm afraid your mother is somewhat unavailable, Empress," A familiar voice replied as three figures began to materialize from the darkness. "And I believe you know why that is," Mr. Lincoln continued as he, Maximillian, and Grandpa came into full view. "Hello, mein Granddaughters. What is all zee shouting about?" Grandpa asked pleasantly. "Where's Momma Scott, Grandpa? Mr. President? Sir Maximillian?" I asked each individually. I noticed Emily staring. "Vhy ask zee question you already know zee answer too, Alex?" "To satisfy mah curiousity, Grandpa. Have Ah deduced properly that when Ah changed momma to look like me and took her with me, Ah somehow took all instances of her along...livin' or deceased?" "That is very good, my dear Alexandra," Lincoln answered. "The Empress is the only one capable of such a miracle on your level. I am amazed at the rate to which you grasp concepts." "The rate to which Ah grasp..." I paused to look Mr. Lincoln in the eyes. "Thank you...Ah think. So Ah'm right about Momma being a part of mah 'Upper Management' then?" "I told you, Abe, mein Granddaughters iz schmart." "Having met her earlier in her career, I agree whole-heartedly. That is why I volunteered to help guide her." "Guide me?" I repeated. Emily and I looked at each other in confusion. Something then dawned on me. "Y'all are part'a 'mah' 'Upper Management'?" "We are, Alexandra. You see, who would watch and care for you more than those you have impressed so thoroughly?" Maximillian admitted. "From the very first time we met, I knew you were trustworthy, kind, and caring. Your very character was well founded, even, and yet, enigmatic. Those traits, and your ability to lead, made me believe that you were indeed the savior from Terra's documented history. After my passing, I too volunteered to watch and guide you in your many endeavors." "But, momma...she's not here. Has Alex somehow broken the rules by granting her passage to our Earth?" Emily cried out in worry. "My dear Emily," Lincoln said with a pleasant smile as he came over and took my sister's hands in his, "bestowing charity will never be a punishable offence. Worry not my beautiful, young doctor. Your sister, with her large and caring heart, has once again shown that the greater powers have chosen wisely. She has again granted a lost soul the rare 'second chance'. Your mother, Ruth Scott, has been given the chance to once again prove herself worthy of being Empress in her universe." "Mr. President, Ah don' understand. In ever' universe Ah visited, Ah'm the Empress. It's always me...not Ma, me." "Alex. In the ones you've visited, has the timing, relationals, OR the distribution always been consistent?" Maximillian asked. "Well...um...no...not really." "Then how can you assume that the Empress will always be Alexandra Steinert and not Ruth Scott? Wasn't it you that rationalized that time is now a variable for you?" He continued. "If a constant is no longer a constant, wouldn't it follow that a constant is nothing but a regional construct?" I really hadn't thought about that concept in such depth before, but now...now it began to make sense...at least to me. Emily still looked completely baffled. "That would certainly explain how Ah been able to do some of the things Ah done lately," I admitted. "But what'd Ruth Scott do that earned her a spot on mah management team?" "Let's just say, Alexandra, that she forgot 'herself'," Mr. Lincoln said, his eyes sadly falling to the darkness that was the floor of my domain. "Ah think Ah understand. She forgot she was the Empress and did somethin' outta avarice or spite?" "I told you she vas quick, Abe. Zat iz more or less vhat happened, Liebchen. Zough Ruth knew it vas wrong, she didzit anyvay, und vound up in our universe, but now...now you have come to her rescue, Empress. It iz up to her to redeem herzelf. Acht, I am zo proud, Alexandra!" "So Ah...Ah give momma a second chance...a chance to prove she kin still be the Empress? What if she fails to redeem herself?" "I believe that will not happen, Lady Alexandra. Ruth is as intelligent as you, M'lady and will not make the same mistake twice." "So that means she'll be able tah go home? Tah her universe, Maximillian?" I asked with renewed hope. "If she follows as instructed...and proves an asset to the reigning Empress of your universe." "Alex?" Emily seemed to snap out of her confusion. "Did I hear right? Will momma be allowed to go home? What of Ruth Scott in our universe? Will she suddenly come back to life? How is daddy going to handle that?" "You have deduced correctly, Lady Physician. All instances of Ruth Scott, be it in your realm or others should return," Maximillian answered, though he rubbed his forehead in consternation, "We think..." "You don't know?" "Something like this has never before happened, M'lady. At least not that we have been informed," Maximillian motioned between himself, Grandpa, and Mr. Lincoln. "Sounds like they never got the rule book either, sis," I deadpanned. "No, Alex, we never got the manual, as you call it. Nor did we receive instruction on our responsibilities as your mentors," Mr. Lincoln confessed, "As you have so succinctly inferred. Questionably, I would be surprised if there were any rules at all save the one I know as fact. I suspect you already know that foremost rule though." "Ah do...we ...do, Mr. President." "Zen vhy delay, Liebchen? You und Emmie have zee criminal to catch, do you not?" I looked down to the non-existent floor of this place. "Ah'm...Ah'm jus' not sure Ah kin do that without breakin' the rules, Grandpa. Ah seen the result...Ah'm not entirely sure Clemson deserves the punishment though. Ah mean...Ah...shouldn't he deserve a second chance also?" "Alex! What are you talking about? My God, you just got done telling me that he changed things so completely he made us all cease to exist. Isn't that genocide?" Emily cried. Grandpa took my sister into his arms. "Mein liebchen, zis is vhat zets Alex apart from your mother. Your sister...she follows her heart. Zhat vill lead to zee right course most of zee time. You too muzt follow your heart, but trust your sister as you trust yourself. Zee two of you should work together- only zen can you complete zis mission. Now dry za tears, mein beautiful Granddaughter und take your sister's hand. It iz time to return to zee living." Emily wrapped her arms around Grandpa a moment, slowly stepped away, nodded, and gently took my hand. "Alexandra," Mr. Lincoln spoke up. "Thank you, Empress." He bowed. "For what?" "For what, M'lady? Why, for re-asserting the original ideals defining the 'Empress of Time and Space', of course!" Maximillian noted. "But Ah ain't really done nothin'...not yet." "I'm sure Ruth would disagree with you, Alex. Travel well, Empress and Dr. Scott," Lincoln argued before he bowed to us again, straightened, and tipped his tall hat. My three mentors silently faded away with contented smiles on their faces. Emily and I had arrived back in our quarters almost thirty minutes ago. The silence between us hadn't been broken since then and I was about to fall asleep. "Empress?" Emily said quietly. I immediately glared at her, raising one eyebrow as I did so. She quickly looked back down to the book she had been reading. I brought my palm to my mouth as a yawn escaped. "Sis, if y'all wanna ask me somethin'- use mah name. Wha'd Ah do now tah deserve such formal approach from mah own sister ena'way?" "If momma is really back...if she earns amnesty, that is..." She began and stopped abruptly. "She'll probably go back tah her own universe tah resume her work as Empress," I said stifling another yawn. "But our momma... MY mother... how do we explain to daddy?" "Don't even know'd what Ruth Scott's re'mergence as Empress'll do, Em. Maybe it'll reset the whole damn timeline. Maybe Ah'll wake up in mah quarters as Alexander an' think this whole crazy life's been one drunken halluc'nation." "That would mean...we wouldn't be sisters then, Alex!" "Exactly. It'd mean we could continue on with our relationship the way it was b'fore Kili...b'fore the Mahanilui...b'fore...this," I said as I motioned my hand down my body. "You don't like being my sister?" "Ah didn't say that. Ah'm just sayin' things might change drastically." "But Mr. Lincoln, Grandpa Steinert, that Maximillian fella... By the way, is he Terran?" I rolled my tired eyes and nodded. "He was High Council before Tibius." "Oh...anyway, they all seemed to think that you would stay the Empress, sis. So if you are still the Empress, what will this universe's Ruth Scott do? Would she even remain alive or would she...you know..." "Look sis, Ah'm tired. Ah slept maybe four hours in the last seventy- two trying tah keep Clemson from destroyin' mah sisters and this here universe. Ah ain't thought 'bout what momma'll do now she's been 'per- rolled'," I said before covering my mouth to yawn again. Emily glared at me now. "That out of someone who swore to protect their family! Alex Steinert, you hypocrit!" "Ah am trying to protect the family, Emily Scott! In order tah protect 'em they's first gotta exist- or didn't y'all think 'bout that aspect?!" I fired back. "Ah'm sorry Ah ain't put no thought into wah Ma'll do now's she's...if...if she gets forgiv'ness from them 'higher ups'," I let out a huge, tired, sigh. "Look. This Clemson debacle's got me so tangled and aggervated! Ah'm 'fraid ah cain't think' a nothin' else at the moment. An'...need Ah remind y'all...Ah ain't the only one in this here room that kin devine Ruth Scott's future, sis!" "Yes...you're right...I'll look ahead some seventy thousand years so that I can see momma's future...Right....like I could do that, Alex!" "If Ah can do it, why cain't mah sister?" I replied calmly as I rubbed my eyes once more. "But I can only..." "There's a lotta things we both kin do but haven't yet, Em...simply 'cause we ain't needed ta or ain't imagined 'em yet. Both Ma and Mina thinks Ah only just tapped mah potential...why wouldn't it apply ta all mah sisters-'pecially you, Brie...an...an Andie," I told her before another yawn escaped my mouth. "Listen sis, Ah'm sorry how Ah said somma them things Ah did, but Ah'm ready to pass out. Ah just need some sleep...just...a...little..." "Alex. Alex, wake up." "Huh? What...what happened...where...where am I?" I asked as I opened my eyes slightly to the person calling my name. Had I fallen asleep? "Alex, I think that something is wrong with Emily. She seems catatonic. I don't think she's moved since I left yesterday." "Commodore? Andie?" "Yes, Alex, it's me, Andie- your newest sister? Don't you remember?" "What time is it? How did I get in bed?" I asked as I rubbed the sand from my eyes. "This is how you were when I had Dixie override your security lock. You were here in your bed and Emily was, is, sitting motionless in the recliner staring at the far wall resisting all attempts at revival," Andie replied with worry. "How long?" I asked. "You or Emily?" "Me. How long has it been since you left?" "Two days, Alex. We haven't seen you or our sister in two days. We were beginning to wonder because Jacquelyn and Cami said they could still hear both of you...with the exception of a ten hour span when they said you probably traveled somewhere," Andie answered as I got up from my bed and stretched. "Wow, can I copy that little nothing? If you let me keep the Reilly, that is." "What little nothing?" I asked before looking down at myself. "Oh...um.. ya...if Ricky Lynn doesn't want it back...I guess," I blushed. Why did I like this pink nightie so much? Better yet, why did I keep keying it up in my sleep? "So Alex...what is going on with our sister?" Andie asked again as we both walked into the main living area of our shared quarters. Emily sat- still as a statue- right where I remembered her to be before I dozed off- her horror novel held stiffly in her hands. Was this how I looked while in one of my trances? I thought about that for a minute. "Apparently she took my advice and decided to use her gift to find the answer to her question, Andie," I said before turning to walk into the bathroom to retrieve a cool, water-soaked washcloth. She would need it in about three minutes. "What question, Alex?" "Emily wanted to know how our mother coming back to this universe would complicate things...for us as well as her father." "How long has Mother Empress been gone?" "From this universe? She died before the war started so...1938 or 39- about five years." "I see. That would pose unwanted emotional trauma for her mate." "He still doesn't know about me or the sisterhood yet," I added. "Oh? So, when have you seen her coming out of her trance?" "Any minute now," I said as I saw Emily's eyes blink. "Here sis, this will help them feel better," I said as I took her right hand away from the book and placed the damp towel in it instead. "At least I think it helps when I've been away for so long. "Why are my eyes so...? What happened, Alex?" "Did you find the answer to your question, sis?" I asked instead. "I think I did...Alex...is this what it's like for you? How long was I away?" "Away, Em? Do you think you went somewhere?" I asked with a knowing grin. "I...IIIII'm not sure. It all seemed so real," she said quietly in confusion. "So...when did you think you traveled to, sis?" "It wasn't when, Alex, it was where. I traveled to Bridgeport...I went back home. Daddy was there and we talked...talked about momma. I told him that I thought she wasn't dead...that she had just gone away for a while. He...he wouldn't believe me. I tried to reason with him, but he just wouldn't listen," Emily then looked at me in terror. "Alex, I think I told him about you! About how we all went through the Mahanilui and how it gave us all gifts... About how you look exactly like momma..." "And he didn't believe that either, right?" "No! He seemed to reassess what I had already said! Alex, I think Daddy knows more than I thought. I think he knows exactly who momma was...is...I mean, what we are." "Could it have been a dream of how you wanted him to respond?" "Alex, it felt...I think...I was...I was there for two days. I slept in my own bed for the first time in four years!" She went on. "No, Alex, I was really there...home! I just know I was." "Okay, so...do you want to find out for certain, sis? I mean I don't want you accusing me of neglecting my family again." Emily's pleading eyes said everything. "Andie, 1940's Navy dress whites if you're coming," I said as I motioned to the interface panel by the door with my eyes. "Dixie, where is subcommander Celeste?" "She is currently in her quarters, Commodore." "Patch me through, please." "Yes, Commodore?" Reggie's voice answered a moment later. "Reggie, Alex has asked me to travel with her again. Could you take command again?" "As you wish, Commodore. How long will you be away this time?" Reggie's voice sounded disappointed. "Ask if Ian is on duty, Andie," I suggested quietly. "Reggie, is Ian scheduled to be on the bridge right now?" "He is, Commodore. I wasn't scheduled until three bells." "Thank you, Reggie, I'll contact him then." "Okay, have fun, Andie." Commodore Celeste ended the conversation. "Alex, why did you have me ask about Ian? Reggie is the next senior officer." "How can she be on the bridge when she's in Bridgeport, Connecticut seventy-two thousand years into the future, hun?" I asked with a big smile on my face. "Cami, can you ask Alex if Reggie could borrow her Reilly for a short trip into the future." 'Ask her yourself, Alex, she just disappeared from our quarters.' Cami's voice replied in my mind. "Sorry it took me so long, sis, but I took a chance and went forward to Reilly," Alex Reilly said as she appeared next to me carrying a freshly made Reilly suit over her arm. "So how were things on Kili, sis?" "Everyone was complaining of headaches. Billie was complaining about that and how she was retaining water...you know...the usual," Alex nodded with a devious smile. "Here, Reggie can keep it for when she and I travel together." I nodded my thanks and offered my hands to Emily and Andie. "Don't forget to tell him about your twin sister, Alex," Alex Reilly said before Reggie's quarters appeared around us. As usual the temporal anomaly alarm sounded. "Dixie, please disable that alarm." "As you wish Commodore," The AI replied as the noise ceased. "Reggie, we brought you a little something to wear," I said presenting her with her very own Reilly suit. "What am I going to do with this, Empress?" "Um...I don't know...wear it maybe?" I giggled. "Why? What is going to happen, Empress?" "Reggie, put the suit on as quick as you can or we are going to leave without you," Andie urged strongly. "Going? Where?" she asked before it finally hit her. "You...you want me to go along with you, Empress?" Her eyes tripled in size as her mouth dropped open. "Only if y'all call me Alex, got it hun?" I never thought anyone could get so excited about going on a trip with me! Reggie shrieked in excitement as she ran into her bedroom to change. Five minutes later she reimerged looking very disappointed. "Empre...Alex, it doesn't fit." Subcommander Regina Celeste suddenly froze in place for a minute or two before she began going through the motions of initializing her suit. Another two minutes, and she looked very smart in her dress whites. 'Thanks, Jack and Cami.' I thought to them. 'Are you sure you don't need me on this one, Alex?' 'We'll be fine, hun. We'll be back in a minute.' I thought back as I offered my hands. "Reggie, keep holding hands until I say to release them. The trip is instantaneous and completely painless. As Reggie nodded our surroundings changed. We now stood on a sidewalk in a pleasant looking section of Bridgeport. Though older, the homes on either side of the street looked well cared for. Most of the cars parked sparsely along both curbs were five to ten years old, but still looked nice. "We're still out of phase so keep holding hands until we're in the clear," I ordered as I looked up and down both sides of the street. Satisfied that we wouldn't be seen, I rephased us and released Emily's hand. She immediately turned to her right, took my hand again and pulled. "Alex, everything looks exactly as it did in my temporal projection. Is this the same day?" "Let's go to the front door and find out, sis," I said as I caught up to walk beside her. Knocking on the front door, we heard a man's voice talking to someone farther back in the house. "Well, I'm so glad you could get enough leave to come and visit me, Sweetie. Let me see who's at the door. How soon before you have to catch your train back?" The door opened and the voice got louder. "Hello, can I help yo-" Louis Scott gasped as he opened the door. He immediately looked back into the house for someone. Thoroughly confused, he began to waiver on his crutches. "Daddy, what's the matter?" Emily asked as we both reached in to steady him. "You look like you've just seen a ghost." "Emily? But you were just there..." He said pointing back into the house. "How...? He asked as his eyes met mine. The six foot-three man's jaw dropped and all color drained from his face. "Daddy, remember what I said earlier...about my having a sister now? Well Daddy, meet Alexandra." "Maybe I should've brought Jack along after all," I said flatly as Emily and I fought to hold 'Daddy' up- a difficult task given his crutches had fallen away and he outweighed us by an easy one hundred pounds. "Quick, let's get him into the living room and onto the sofa, Alex." Looking around quickly, I determined that the coast was clear enough. Emily's living room appeared around the three of us and we lowered him onto the Davenport. "Was it really necessary to show off, Alex?" Andie asked as she and Reggie walked into the room. "Well he isn't exactly light, Commodore!" Emily gently tapped her Pa's cheek. "Daddy? Daddy! Daddy, wake up. It's me Emily. We have guests, Daddy." It took several minutes, but Emily finally succeeded in reviving him. "Emily...what's going on? I was just talking to you in the kitchen then suddenly you, your deceased mother, and two other women are standing at the front door!" "Daddy, do you remember what I told you earlier?" She asked from his left. "You were telling me how you and the rest of the crew of that submarine...that you all went through some kind of change...that you are different than before." "Hello, Louis," I said from his right. "Sorry we frightened you." "Ruth? How can you be here?" "Daddy, this is Alex...Alexandra Steinert...Captain of the Sand Dollar, not momma." "You certainly look like my late wife, Captain," He blinked, shook his head, and swallowed loudly. "I get that a lot these days, sir. Nice to meet you..." I said, but added "again" as I looked away. "Alex!" Emily growled at me from across her Pa. "Wait. We've met before, Captain? Where?" Emily rolled her eyes. "We met at a wedding a few years back, Mr. Scott," I answered frankly. Emily again shot death rays at me. "Daddy, these are two of our friends. Commodore Andromeda Celeste and her sister, Subcommander Regina Celeste." "Commodore and Subcommander? But you're in U.S. Navy uniforms." "They're on loan to us from Atlantis, sir." "Alex!" Emily glared at me. "Stop kidding around with Daddy!" "I thought you told him about us, sis- about me?!" "I never said he actually believed me, Alex!" My sister answered through clinched teeth as she looked over at me in embarrassment. "HUH? Sis...as in 'sister'? You mean this is what you were trying to tell me, Emily?" "If you would have listened to me instead of just agreeing with me!" Emily replied crossly to her Pa. "I've never known Emily to lie to anyone, Louis," I said before I phased out and rephased beside her. "Alex, stop that this instant! You'll cause him to pass out again," Emily hissed through gritted teeth again. "Hhhhhhhh...hhhhhow..." Louis Scott blinked and pointed to me then my previous location a few times. "How did you do that?" "Why...have you seen someone do that before, Louis?" I asked with a devious grin. "Um...no...not ever. I never saw anyone do that before...no." "Daddy, I could always tell when you were lying. I'll tell you right now that Alex, Andie, and I can tell when someone is lying to us...it's part of our gift. Please don't make me use another part of my gift if I don't have to. I don't like to use that part." Now who's lying, I thought...to myself for a change. I quickly glanced around the room waiting to hear a comment from Jack. Louis Scott remained silent for a few more minutes as he stared at the four of us individually. "So help me, Daddy, if you don't tell the truth, I'm going to leave. I'm sure Alex can be more persuasive...if not her then I'm sure Andie or Reggie know some techniques to loosen your tongue." Still he remained silent, as if daring her. "Fine! Have it your way, father!" Emily disappeared. "NO! Emily, come back! No! Don't leave me alone with them! I'll tell you what I know...please...please come back." "Sis, Pa's gonna behave now. You've proven your point so please rephase," I said to where I knew she still stood. Emily reappeared and Louis Scott stared at her in shock. I noticed Andie and Reggie's mouths' open in surprise. "Oh, for the love of...Will y'all close yer mouths? She's of the royal bloodline. Y'all can probably do it too, Andromeda an' Regina Celeste," I griped in annoyance. I looked down to Emily's Pa. "And you better own up before Emily is forced to use more than just her temporal offset. Her medical foresight can instantly detect any change in blood pressure, breathing, or heartbeat, Louis," I warned. "Temporal what?" "Temporal offset, hun. We can shift ourselves slightly out of time with this reality and effectively disappear from sight. It comes in real handy when we travel to places we aren't sure are safe. Now, could y'all answer mah sister?" Louis Scott again looked between Emily and I for a few moments. "One...once I thought my wife...your mother...I thought she was acting a little strange this one night after I returned from work," He stopped and thought about something a minute. "Emily and her mother were supposed to be visiting in Hartford. You can imagine my surprise when I opened the door and found Ruth here waiting for me. I asked why she had returned. She told me that she missed me- that she needed me..." "Okay. We really don't need to hear about that part, Daddy. Please move on," Emily quickly cut him off before the best part. "She seemed like a completely different woman that night. In the morning, I opened my eyes just in time to see her disappear. I couldn't believe it...she just vanished... just like you two did just now." "Two days later Ruth and Emily returned from Hartford. I never told you or your mother what had happened, sweetie. I couldn't believe it myself." Emily nodded to me. He was telling the truth. "Now..." Her Pa continued, "Emily suddenly appears on my doorstep yesterday morning- no baggage to speak of. Today at breakfast, she tells me some crazy story that she now has a sister and that she can do amazing things because of something called a Mahanilui- then disappears into thin air while I go to answer the door and 'POW' there she is on the front porch with my dead wife standing beside her. She even changed clothes! Are you people witches or something?" "Daddy, Alex has been my C.O. since I got transferred to the Sand Dollar. A year earlier he and I dated for two weeks in Hawaii while he was on shore leave..." "He? Sweetie, Alex doesn't look like a he. I thought we taught you the differences." "Daaaaddy!" Emily rolled her eyes. "Alex didn't always look like this. That Mahanilui that I told you about this morning...it changed him...it changed everyone on board the Sand Dollar." "She's telling you the truth, Louis. Here, look at my credentials," I said reaching into my purse and pulling out my wallet. I handed him my driver's license. "This says Alexander F. Steinert." "That was my name before my Mahanilui, Louis. Commander Alexander Frederich Steinert." "But this military ID says you're a Lt. Commander." "Admiral Demmit promoted me just before assigning me to Sand Dollar," I said proudly. "I never had the chance to get it revised before everything changed." "Your uncle knows about all this?" He asked staring at Emily in surprise. "Yes, Louis, Uncle Rick knows everything." "Alex will you stop calling Daddy by his first name? He's our father now so pay him the proper respect," Emily chided. "Wait...what?" "Daddy, the Mahanilui changed her DNA...her...the genetic building blocks that make her who she is. Physically she is now my sister. I've run tests that prove it conclusively. Alex is also nearly identical to momma." Louis Scott's eyes drifted down to my chest. "Yes, Louis, that's the only difference between momma and I," I answered his unasked question with a smirk. "I got the bigger boobs, now can we at least move past the introductions?" Pa's eyes quickly snapped back to Emily. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to stare, Captain," He regarded all of us for a moment. "So why are you here?" "That was straight and to the point. I like him, sis," I said with a smile. "Daddy, is it okay if Alex calls you 'Daddy'?" Emily asked, sounding like a little child. I cringed at the thought of calling anybody 'Daddy'. "It's not okay by me, sis, I'd rather call him father or just 'Pa' if it's all the same." "Is that okay with you, Daddy? Can Alex call you 'Pa'?" It obviously meant a lot to my sister that her Pa accept me- I just wished she didn't sound so childish. Her tone was completely out of character. I decided to answer his initial question. "Pa, the reason we're here is to prove to Emily that she did indeed project herself forward in time to this date and location. Up until this point in our continuing development she has never been able to use that part of her gift." "What's she mean 'project yourself forward in time?" Pa looked perplexed. "Daddy, Alex can travel through time. Together we've been to 2026AD, 2026BC, 1865, and 1917." He laughed and shook his head. "I just knew you girls were kidding around. No one can move through time like that...it's impossible." "Would you care to place money on that, Pa?" I asked with a devious grin. "Mr. Scott, I can certainly vouch for Alexandra's gift of time travel. She and I have been to 2035...to a place called Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I am still not completely understanding of why the civilizations of Earth haven't advanced farther in the seventy-two thousand years since our arrival," Andie told Pa with an intensely serious face. Pa again began shaking his head and laughing. "Seventy...seventy thousand...oh that's rich...seventy thousand years! You girls are a real hoot." "Andie?" I asked, "Could you please remind Emily's Pa what the name of your ship is?" "It is Atlantis, Mr. Scott." "I've never heard her uncle talk of a USS Atlantis, girls," Pa laughed as he looked to Emily momentarily. "Not USS Atlantis, sir, Planetary Expeditionary Ship, Atlantis, launched in the Standard Year 235:01:14. We had been traveling between solar systems for ten Standard Years before reaching this beautiful planet." Louis Scott's mouth fell open. "Would you like to see it, Pa? It is larger than Bridgeport and its suburbs combined," I asked. "Is that wise, Alex? Daddy's not as mobile as he was a few years ago." "Commodore? What do you think?" I asked Andie. "I defer to you, Empress, You have obviously seen the proper course." "Empress? Why did she just call you 'Empress'?" "That's Alex' title, daddy, She's known throughout the known universes as the Empress of Time and Space," Emily informed him regally before giggling. I rolled my eyes in annoyance. "And just when I thought he was starting to believe us, sis." "I didn't get a chance to tell him before, Alex. The two of us disappeared and reappeared before his eyes a little while ago. Why wouldn't he believe what I just told him?" "Louis Scott," I addressed him formally, "Please stand up and take my hand. I will provide transport back to Atlantis." "Why do I have to hold your hand, Captain...or Empress...as it were?" "Because that's just what y'all need to do, hun, humor the silly blonde." "Daddy, just stand up and take Alex' hand! It won't kill you." Pa immediately stared at Emily in terror. I reached for, and took his hand. Emily grabbed his crutches and took his other hand in hers. Reggie, and Andie lined up on my other side. Our quarters on Atlantis appeared around us. Immediately the temporal alarm sounded. "It's just us, Dixie. Reset the alarm, hun," I said in Atlantian as I rephased us. Pa looked at me strangely. "How did you do that? Where are we, Captain?" "You are aboard my ship, Mr. Scott. Welcome to Atlantis," Andie greeted pleasantly in English. "Dixie, has Prof. Samuels completed her upload of the English language?" I asked the A.I. "Mom has uploaded a full library of languages and dialects, Empress," The A.I. answered in good old, American English. "Good. Could you please state our current location for our father, hun?" "We are currently orbiting the planet 'Sol 3', recently re-designated 'Earth' at two hundred and seventy-five miles. Orbital velocity is steady at fifteen thousand feet per second. Next orbital adjustment thruster burn will occur in three hours, twelve minutes, thirty seconds." "Thank you, Dixie." "You are welcome, Empress." "Where is that voice coming from?" Pa asked as he continued to look around the room. "That is our computational control system, 'Dixie'. Without her, our journey to this planet would not have been possible, Mr. Scott," Reggie responded. I was beginning to wonder if she had gone mute on our little trip. "She's a machine...a robot?" "Only in the narrowest of terms, Mr. Scott." "Captain, how did you do all this? We can't really be ON Atlantis...I mean THE Atlantis, right? Atlantis was a mythical city that supposedly sank into the ocean thousands of...years." Walking over to the door, I disabled privacy mode and opened the door. "Come on in girls," I said to Jack, Ricky Lynn, Cami, and Yuuka. Turning around, I noticed Alex Reilly standing behind Emily. "So how did you get in here without setting off the detectors, sis?" "Actually...I think I popped in at the same exact time you popped out, Alex. I may even have fallen asleep on your bed...for an hour...or ...two," Alex Reilly replied, blushing a little. "How...how can there...there be...two of you?" "Louis Scott, meet Alexandra Reilly. She's what I call my temporal twin," I introduced, though I wasn't so sure of how much would get through. "Pa," I said as I tugged him around, "This is my first officer Lt. Cmdr. Jacquelyn Cummins; Senior Chief Petty Ricky Lynn Samuels; Camille Darough, and Yuuka Sukiro. Cami and Yuuka are part of Alex Reilly's chapter of our sisterhood from 2026BC." "Chapter? Of your...'sisterhood'? But you two look i...?" Louis Scott began to ask before his attention snapped to Jack. "How are you doing that?" He gasped. "Jack is a telepath, Pa. She can do things just by thinking them- that includes mind reading. We call her and Cami our 'Mind Warriors'." "Empress, will you be staying here for a time or will you be heading off in search of Clemson shortly?" Andie asked. I saw Reggie's face turn sad. "Actually, I had planned on spending a few days in Bridgeport, Commodore. I just wanted to prove to Pa, here, that we really are who we say- that we can do what we say." "You mean that Alex?" Emily gushed. "Can we really stay with Daddy for a few days?" "Yes...but only if you stop with the 'Daddy' all the time. You sound so childish when you say that, sis. Couldn't you just refer to him as 'father' like Alexis does to Tibius?" "Who is Alexis, Captain?" Pa asked in confusion. "My youngest daughter, Pa. She was born on a planet called Terra...about a hundred and eight lightyears from here." "You have a daughter?" "Three actually. Cassandra and Samantha are her older sisters. I also have a son, Alexander, three grandchildren and a great grandchild." "But you're so..." "So young? Thank you, kind sir, but looks can be and usually are deceiving," I said with a devious smile. "Who wants to go to Bridgeport for some shore leave?" Nine people joined hands with me. 1400hrs, L. Scott home, Bridgeport, Conn, August 20th, 1944 "It's a good thing I have a big house," Pa said just after we reappeared in the living room. "Regina and I can share a bed, sir. We have done that before," Andie volunteered with Reggie nodding her approval. "Nonsense. We have eleven rooms in this house- five of them bedrooms- and plenty of blankets- why, I've slept on that sofa for many a night. It's not that uncomfortable. You girls are welcome to the bedrooms." "Daddddd..." Emily started, but stopped as I began to glare at her. "Alex and I have slept together many times in the past. We even shared a bed at Grandmother Demmit's for a whole week." Pa's mouth opened as Emily said that, but he quickly started to frown. "Was this before or after that Mahanilui thing, girls?" "Listen, Pa...before our change, I was the perfect gentleman! Emily and I were in agreement that we would wait til after..." I countered, but stopped abruptly to wipe away tears. "So you were going to be part of this family either way, eh, Alex?" He asked, eyeing me carefully. "Daddy!" Emily gasped. "How can you be so cold? Can't you see that she still has a hard time with that?" "It's okay, sis," I said as I touched Emily's shoulder lightly. "I understand what he meant. It just could've been phrased a little differently. Yes, Pa, I loved Emily from the moment I first saw her in Honolulu. My intent was to ask for her hand, but then came my court marshal." "Alex, don't," Emily whispered as she turned to me in surprise. "Court marshal? What in the world did you do, Alexandra?" He asked me in shock. "Another male acquaintance of Emily's wasn't through with her, sir. He was intent on using her to get an unsavory story that would blacken the Navy's eye. I...objected." "You...you didn't kill...?" "NO! I merely corrected him on his etiquette. He decided to make a scene at the restaurant I had taken Emily to that night." "Da...d...I talked to Uncle Rick...told him what really happened. All charges were dismissed. Alex got her own boat instead," Emily continued quickly in an uncomfortable tone. "This was...was before...?" Pa motioned to me cautiously. "Way before, Pa," I answered instead. "About a year earlier." He nodded. "I'll need to walk down to the corner market and get more grub, it's not my day to get gas in the car." Looking to Alex Reilly and Emily, I said, "leave the meals to us, Pa." I offered my two sisters my hands. There was no way a man on crutches could ever manage enough supplies for nine more people by himself! "Alex, maybe I should come along?" Ricky Lynn suggested as she gently motioned to her regulation handbag. "Good idea, Chief. Pa, we'll be back in a few minutes. Jack, why don't you and Cami tell Pa about some of Sand Dollar's adventures...keep it general though- he's Army," I suggested. "Aye, Cap, keep it general." A thought occurred to me just before I was going to phase out. "Yuuka, stay among the grown-ups." "Awwwww!" "I'm serious, hun." "Oookay," she said dejectedly. Pa took notice. Boy was he going to be sorry he pushed Yuuka for an explanation! "We'll be back in about an hour, ladies," I said pausing a moment. "Pa, unless you want to see what Jack and Cami can do, don't make them angry," I warned. A busy city sidewalk appeared. People walked through us at a good pace intent on getting somewhere in a hurry. Twenty-first century cars tooled along on the newer looking concrete street to our left. "Where are we, Alex?" Emily asked, looking around and up at the multistoried buildings. "Kansas City. My future twin's memories say there is a great market district here. We should be able to get everything we need and eat like royalty. Plus, I can charge everything to my Kili account." "Ah yes," Alex Reilly nodded. "The famed 'Empress Express' card. I will have to ask Randi to enroll me." "Um...where would you use it in your time, Alex?" I asked with my head cocked slightly. "Weeeeell...there's the Egyptian Exchange...Phoenician Financial...Sumerian Savings and Loan..." Alex Reilly paused with a broad grin. "And let's not forget about the Hebrews! But not so much the Romans- their interest rates are usually too high and they want excessive collateral." I rolled my eyes at my sister and shook my head to the side several times. "And I thought you were the incorrigible one, sis!" Emily laughed. "Maybe I shoulda stayed in Bridgeport," Prof. Samuels said quietly. Alex Reilly, Emily and I looked at her with varying degrees of amusement. "So when are we, Alex?" "I was shooting for September 12th, 2006, Em," I said as I looked up into the sky. "About 0900hrs. I suggest we change into something a little more comfortable and 'timely'." I selected and triggered my clothes to change. My dress whites became a pink button-down blouse, a pair of form-fitting, blue denim jeans, and a pair of black, low-heeled boots with knee-high stockings. A blue denim handbag finished out my ensemble. Alex Reilly chose exactly the same outfit but substituted a peach colored blouse and a peach, cloth handbag instead. Emily elected to go with a yellow sundress, low cork-heeled sandals, and beige, canvas bag. Ricky Lynn must have been feeling rebellious. She decided on a skin- tight, lace-topped, black leotard with a black, leather miniskirt, black tights and knee-high, black leather, chunk-heeled, platform boots with chrome buckles. In her hair she had two barrettes, one bat-shaped and the other a skull. She also carried a denim knapsack with something called a 'Hello Kitty' appliqu? on it. "Feeling a little 'Goth', professor?" I asked in amusement. "Ya, yer one ta talk, Alex!" "Moi?" I responded. "This ain't no worse then the getup ya wore when I ask'd ya to teach that class at the University up in 2035, Skipper." I thought about reaching into my cloth handbag, but realized we hadn't rephased yet. "I still have the mission broach, Chief. I can bring up that 'getup' now if you'd like." "Whatever ya wanna wear, Skipper, it's all fine with me." I stood silent for a minute. "Let's cross the street. The entrance to the shopping district is right over there." Finding a small nook where we could rephase, I did just that. The shopping district was teaming with shoppers already. Many an eye focused on the four young women entering from the narrow alleyway- twins, their obvious sister, and the redheaded, Goth chick. We made our way deeper into the shopping district as we collected everything we would need. Memory told me that Kansas City was reknowned for their stockyards, slaughterhouses, butcheries, and meatpackers second only to Chicago. Memory also told me that this was exactly the right place to stock up on the best cuts of beef and pork... chicken, too. When all was said and done the 'Bank of Kili' had taken a substantial hit and we stopped for lunch- yet we carried only two visible bags of groceries. It amazed me how much Ricky Lynn could fit into her knapsack. There had to be over a hundred and fifty pounds of steaks and chops in there alone, not to mention the six, whole fryers! "I hope yer dad got plenty of room in the fridge and freezer, Doc. I'd hate fer all this meat ta go bad," Ricky Lynn said as we ate at one of the eateries in the huge shopping district. "We'll use a good bit of it during our stay, professor," I assured her. "I really didn't think you would buy so much Alex. I mean...it's not like we eat that much anymore," Emily countered as she looked around the table- at four empty salad plates. "I was basing the quantity on Jack's appetite, sis." "Oh God Alex, she ain't..." Ricky Lynn gasped out suddenly. "No, she's not, hun, but Reggie is and, based on what I know of Atlantis' food processing systems, Reggie and Andie are going to go overboard when they taste the 'real thing'. I noticed Emily's mouth drop open a second before she closed her eyes and began to nod to herself calmly. She swatted me on my shoulder. "Oww. What was that for?" I asked as I rubbed the possible new bruise. "For not telling me about Russell and Jack," She glared at me in anger! "Time to go freshen up, Emily," I hurried to say as I quickly took her hand in mine. Pulling her sternly from her seat, we headed back to the restrooms. On the way, I surreptitiously phased us out when I saw the chance. "Are you crazy, sis?" I asked as I stopped and turned to her- still holding hands. "What? For finding out that Connie isn't a Terran?" "For even thinking that information when you know that 'Ears' Cummins might be on Earth and possibly listening!" I hissed in a raised voice. "She is not to find out about Connie until 2030! Until after I tell Connie that I lied to her...that we all lied to her." "Lied? Alex, I have no idea what you're talking about. Why would you lie to Connie about her lineage? She has the right to know who her rightful parents are. Why keep that from her?" "Look...it has to happen...it has to! I can't go into it with you at the moment because we need to get back to Connecticut," I bulged my eyes as a hint. "Emily, I know it may be difficult, but I need you to think of a place in a different time and deposit what you have just learned from your gift there. I know the memories of how to do it are in there," I said pointing to her forehead. "If Jack finds out about what I have done, she will never trust me again! Promise me, sis! Promise me that you'll hide this from Jack...please?" Emily eyed me carefully for several minutes. The whole time people walked through us in the busy establishment. "You almost got yourself killed again, didn't you? Alex...you have to stop going on all these suicide missions! I want my sister to stay around awhile!" She said as a tear formed in her eye. "I'll bury your little secret for however long you want, Alex, but don't think I won't recall it if you go and do something stupid again! I'm warning you Alexandra Frances Steinert!" I pulled my sister to me and hugged her tightly. "Thanks, Emily. And...and I'll try not to do anything more than I need to do on any given mission." "That was your way of promising me you'd be careful? Alex, where, when, or from whom did you take diplomacy lessons?" "You know as well as I do that I can't guarantee I'll be safe on any given mission, Emily. The Empress has to do what she can to right the time stream...dangerous or otherwise," I replied sadly. "Like scaring the bejesus out of me when you suddenly let go of us while we were rescuing Cami?" "So...you remember that. You were just playing along?" "Yes, Alex! For some unknown reason, I can remember everything that went on- including mother doing just about the same thing only making a whole cache of gunpowder disappear too! Alex, what are you becoming? What are WE becoming? Are we even human anymore?" "According to mother, we'll always be human unless we forget who and what we should be." "I remember that too, Alex! I remember her telling us not to make the same mistakes she did, and that we need to work together so that won't happen. So when will you let me work with you, Alex? Really work WITH you?" Sis, we really need to get back to Connecticut...unless you want to be stuck for a week in Kansas City. I'm sure Ricky Lynn would appreciate all that meat going bad in her pack." "This conversation isn't over, Alexandra. We will be talking about this and many more subjects once we get home!" "I know we will, sis. Rephasing in three..." Emily backed up to stand next to me as we faced away from the restrooms and toward our table. "Two...one." "Youse two have a good chat, Alex?" Ricky Lynn asked as we arrived back at the table and took our seats. The waitress arrived with our check. "I'll take this when you all are ready, honey." "Y'all are cutting it rather close, aren't you, sis?" Alex Reilly asked after the girl walked away. "Just couldn't be helped. Everyone ready to go?" I asked as I reached into my purse for the money to settle up. I made sure I left a good tip. "Did Tibius install a currency printer in that thing, Alex?" Ricky Lynn asked in curiosity. "I ain't never seen ya without the proper bills for a given time period, ever." "Like I told y'all before...I never go anywhere without my 'Empress Express' card," I giggled. "I especially like the 'Debit Card' feature." Once settled up, we found a nice quiet place to phase out. Pa Scott's kitchen appeared around us. "Hey, everyone, we're back," I shouted toward the front of t