April 23rd 2550 _ Mother of Invention-Mess Hall _ 1630 hrs Earth Time

After several more minutes of awkward crying and holding, Washington, Carolina and this strange girl who called them her parents regained their cool and they all regrouped at the Mess Hall. The two agents didn't really believe her but it was odd seeing this girl, just being around her they felt different. Washington left the two to fetched the two some drinks. Carolina still hadn't forgotten how well Washington handled this whole situation. She still couldn't keep her eyes off the girl who was still sniffling and watery eyes. What really kept throwing her off was her own green eyes on the girl. Washington soon returned with some coffee. Never to early or late for coffee.

"Alright Kristen, I hope you don't mind the coffee." Washington said and sat down beside Carolina.

"Thank you Dad." The girl said and took a sip.

"Okay Kris," Carolina said. "Now can you tell us what you doing here?"

"Well first off, my real name is Emma. Not Kristen Gilbert or Aileen Wuornos or Cathy Wood, those are just aliases I use to throw people off my trail. And also I'm from the future. Of course."

"Okay then, Emma. Next why did you call us your parents? Me and Washington aren't together. Like at all."

"Well, in the future, yeah you guys are. Your married and I'm your daughter. I even have some of... what?" Emma noticed how Washington and Carolina were giving her confused and surprised looks. "Whats up, is there something in my teeth?"

"No no, not that. Its your, hair and eyes."

Emma grabbed her helmet and looked her reflection off the VISR. It was that time again. Her hair was slowly turning from her usual light brown to red and one of her Green eyes was blue like Washington's. She took a small puff and continued to explain. "Oh this, yeah well, its a genetic mutation. My hair and eyes change color three times every few months. It only last 24 hours."

"I've never heard of that before. That can't be real."

"Actually it is." Washington added. "Its an extremely rare genetic mutation where the persons eyes and hair color change in relation with that of the parents DNA. Its even more rare for someone to be born with it with no history in the family, but other then that, it is passed down from generation to generation. Sometimes, or not at all."

"But neither me or you have that."

"Thats true, but my mother had it. And so did my great-grandfather, her grandfather. Its skips a generation."

"You see mom. I am your daughter. Both of yours."

Carolina honestly wanted to believe it, but she just couldn't. She would've loved to know that after all this and after the war she would get married and have a family. She always liked the idea of having a daughter, but this all just seemed to much for her to handle. "Look Emma, you seem like a sweet girl and all, but I'm sorry. I just don't see how me and Washington end up together and, I'm just not sure if I believe you."

"Mom. I am your daughter. Since I was a baby every night before I'd go to sleep, you come into my room to say goodnight before leaving on a mission. And you would always say to me the exact same thing. 'Don't say goodbye, say I'll...'"

"I'll see you later. So I'm never really gone.' My mother used to say that to me." Carolina had the most shocked and terrified look she ever had. Now, she was starting to herself in this girl. Maybe she really was her daughter.

"Exactly. You'd say that to me every night. You would never say good-bye, because you hate good-byes."

Carolina took a long time to cope with finally accepting Emma as her daughter from the future."Okay, okay. Your my, our daughter. So what now? What are you really doing here?"

"Thats, actually my problem." Emma showed them on her TacPad the diagnostics of her armor. "I can't go back to my time period because the power cells are completely drained. I'm stuck here."

"Okay then well how do you intend on going back?" Washington asked. "This can't be your mission, to just live here for the rest of your life."

"No its not. Finding Power Cells won't be a problem, but I was actually sent back to deliver you this message on my CommPad but its been corrupted, or something. I think the it got screwed up when I made my jump." Emma slapped the table an in angry gesture. "Damn it. Everything got f**ked so fast!"

"Hey you watch your mouth young lady." Carolina said.

"Mom!"

"Don't talk back to your mother." Washington added and went to examine the DataPad.

Emma huffed an annoyance. "I'm sorry Mom." She couldn't help but crack a small smile. It was strange, but it was nice having an argument with her parents again. At least for one last time.

"So whats the problem Wash?"

"I'm not sure. It looks intact and its functional. Its just the file inside seems locked down."

"Ugh, I told Simmons not to put that in." Emma said. "I told him but he kept blab, blabbing, babbling." Emma grabbed her head and started feeling intense pain.

"Emma whats wrong?" Carolina asked worried.

"Come on Emma say something."

Emma opened a compartment in her armor and pulled out a tiny syringe and stuck it in her neck. She immediately felt relief.

"What was that?"

"Nothing its just, I get these bad migraines. I'm okay now though."

"Are you sure? It looked bad."

"Yeah Mom. I'm okay."

"Alright then. So do you remember what your mission is?"

"Thats kind of the risk with time travel Dad. Sometimes you remain intact, sometimes you forget a few things, sometimes your drooling on the floor. Those are just a few probabilities."

"Okay. This thing doesn't look that bad, maybe some of out techs could crack the thing open."

"The sooner the better." Carolina commented. "So what do you plan on doing while your here Emma?"

"I don't know, I guess chill in the Cargo Hold."

Washington took Carolina to the side to have a private chat about the situation in hushed tones.

"are you thinking what i'm thinking?"

"we can't let her stay down there. what are you thinking wash?"

"i don't know. maybe she can just hang out with us. at least until we can get things sorted out more."

"i guess thats okay. but what if people ask questions?"

"we'll just say she's an intern."

"we don't take interns."

"i can't do this with you right now."

Washington and Carolina turned back around. "Okay new plan. Since we don't really feel comfortable with you staying down there, we think it'll be best if you just stay with us."

"Your sure? Its okay?" She asked.

"Yeah sure. It won't be a problem." Carolina said.


Mother of Invention-Freelancer Rec. Room _ 2000 hrs Earth Time

After having a nice 'family' meal and taking a long tour of most parts of the ship, they ended their day with having a meet up at the Rec. Room. Emma had heard stories of this ship several times but actually being here was different story all together. It was much better then the old canyon back home. That got old when she was 11. She had explored just about every inch of the canyon, even the underground caves so it had gotten old quick.

They arrived here in the Rec. Room where they were welcomed with questions from Connie and York about the new comer.

"Hey guys whats going on?" York asked, but then noticed the girl. "Wait a second Aileen, what the hell?"

"Al. Your the kid who got away."

Carolina and Washington looked at Emma in confusion. "Care to explain Emma?"

"Oh yeah, I kind of escaped from jail."

"Yeah and then disappeared from us. We thought she was with the Resistance." Connie added. "What is she doing with you guys anyway?"

"She's with uh. She's uh..."

"She's an intern. She's learning under our expertise." Washington answered which made Carolina face palm.

After a moment York finally responded. "Seems legit. Wait! I thought she had, what?" York was now flabbergasted with the fact that Emma now had Red hair and Blue eyes. Carolina's red hair and Washington's blue eyes. "What the f, my head hurts."

"Wait I thought you had brown hair and green eyes." Connie finally managed.

"What?" Carolina said, trying her best to ease the already awkward situation. "What are you talking about Connie?"

"Connie I think your mind is playing trick on you." Washington added.

"You know what I'm getting tired of this I'm leaving. Come on Connie we need to get going."

"What, whats going on?"

"Me and York have a mission and so we're heading out." Connie said. "We won't be back for a few days. So have fun with, her."

With that being said York and Carolina walked out but not before trying to grab a kiss from Carolina. She almost wanted to slap him, but just settled with pulling away. "York. Wh-What are you doing?"

"Ah come on Carolina, just a quick one. For good luck cause you know, I might not come back."

"York just keep walking. Or I'll slap you."

"Okay." York walked out.

York walked out of the Room. As soon as Carolina turned back around only to be faced with an upset Emma. "What was that Mom?"

"What was what?"

"That with Agent New York? Are you cheating on Dad!?"

"What!" Carolina got a lot more defensive. "N-No no. I'm not cheating on your father. Damn it now you've got me saying it."

"Mom! Your cheating on dad."

"No Emma, I'm not cheating. On anyone. York just plays like..."

"Emma calm down okay. York is just our friend, he likes to joke around."

Emma turned around to face her father in shock. "Dad? Your okay with this. I can't believe your okay with the guy who almost got you killed and kidnapped me!"

"What! He kidnapped you!?"

"I was 7."

"Oh that son of a..."

Washington almost went after York but was stopped by Carolina. "Wash calm down."

"Carolina you heard her. He kidnapped our daughter."

"Okay yeah I get it I'm upset too now. But we have to stay calm. Besides that hasn't happened yet and now we know."

Washington was about to snap but after a few deep breaths he calmed down. "Okay okay. I'm good. Emma is there anything you can tell us about the future."

"Sorry dad. But I can't really expose much about the future. You know, whole time paradox deal. Paradigm Shift, just to much of a hassle. I have a question now, when do we sleep. Time travel is exhausting."


Mother of Invention-Freelancer Barracks _ 2100hrs Earth Time

They finally arrived outside of there quarters. They were all tired after the events of the day so a god night sleep would do them all good. The only problem though was they never made sleeping arrangements.

"Okay so what are we going to do with you Emma." Washington asked.

"I don't know, I guess I'll just crash down in the Cargo Hold. That container looks is more comfortable then it looks."

"No no I won't allow that." Carolina spoke up. "Connie and York said they won't be back for a few days right. Maybe she can bunk with me."

"Yeah that can work." Washington agreed. "I guess I'll see you ladies tomorrow. Have a good-night."

"Wait hold up." Emma stopped him and pulled him into a big hug. Washington, being overwhelmed with emotion hugged her back. "Good-Night Dad."

"Good-night Emma."

They pulled away and Washington headed down the hallway for his room and Emma and Carolina entered there room. After taking quick showers and got dressed they readied themselves for bed. Carolina loaned Emma some of Connie's pajamas. Luckily for her, they were the same size. Before sleeping of course Emma when ahead and continued where she left off in Silence of the Lamb. She already read the entire series but felt it was necessary to reread them. This time in chronological order starting with Hannibal Rising, then Red Dragon and so on.

"I see it now." Carolina said.

"What did you say?"

"Wash does the same thing. He reads a Hannibal Lecter book before sleeping. I see how he's your father." Carolina first caught on to that during one over night mission. It sparked a pretty interesting and disturbing conversation. "I never understood his fascination with it, I mean he's a Serial Killer right, who eats people."

"Its not just that Mom. Its everything behind it. The psychological aspect, the psychopathy, the mind games, the whose playing who. Its just a constant thriller with psychological horror to it."

"You can keep on talking but I'm sorry Emma, I just don't get it."

"Yeah, you were never much for it anyways. I remember you'd complain to Dad about reading it to me when I'd go to sleep. Said it would mess with my head." They both gave chuckles and then Emma but the book down. "Good-night mom."

Emma turned around and clutched and snuggled with the pillow. Carolina couldn't help but smile at how peaceful and cute she looked. The concept of this girl actually being her and Washington's daughter was still hard to grasp but just seeing her in person some how made it easier. Within minutes Emma fell into deep sleep as indicated by her quiet snore, kind of like the way she sleeps. After a minute of watching Carolina turned off the lamp and went to sleep. Never breaking contact with Emma. "Good-night Emma."