Chapter 4 – Deciding One's Fate

Alex kept his gaze upon the rotunda, as he thought about what his family had just told him. He had gone back in time, in an attempt to save his father from dying by an unknown assailant, and in the five attempts had failed. Granted some of the technical stuff did seem greek to him, but he could grasp the basic mechanics of temporal transportation, and the one thought that popped in his head, was genetic de- stabilization. That much time travel must be affecting him in some sort of way, but how and why had they not said something about it before. Then he heard a familiar voice behind him.. his own.

~Hey Alex. Damn would you turn around and face the computer. Honestly I hate having a conversation with myself when I'm not even looking myself in the eye.~

Alex about swallowed his Adam's apple when he turned around to see himself on a laptop computer screen, looking at himself and grinning.

~Better. So listen, if you're seeing this recording, then it means I failed to save dad, and the family is trying to convince you to make the trip. I know this seems six levels of insane.~

"A bit, yeah, but how are you…"

The video of him nodded as he spoke, as like if he was having a video conference with himself in the past. Alex knew this was a recording, and was trying to ask a question when "Video Alex" cut him off.

~I recorded this message when I first arrived to save dad, but since you're watching this, it didn't work out. I hope if there has been more than one trip since you seeing this now, I remembered to save any leads and info found to try to find this guy. We need to know who it is and what they want.~

Zane nodded to Alex, confirming that the info had indeed been saved from the other trips and that it would be explained. He turned back to the laptop and to the video of him.

~And if you're still not convinced this is real and they somehow did this vid as a computer hack… Remember the "Supposed" camping trip to the lake before you joined the army? Who actually went with you on that stud?~

Alex almost fell out of the seat. Only he knew that he and Elise went on that camping trip and it had been their first time. He looked up and saw the look on his mom's face and the smirk on Uncle Zane's.

"A story for another time, I swear."

The video of himself began to laugh and turned to look back at the screen after wiping his eyes.

~Look, in all seriousness, you're the only one that can do this, and if you don't then we never get to know dad and, that would suck. Yes, there is going to be a problem with the de- stabilization and it will wrack the hell out of you, but if you can do the impossible, then dad will be alive and be there at your birthday party and the rest of your life for that matter. Even though I'm sure I know the answer you'll say, take a moment to think. Good luck man.~

Alex stood up and walked to the door, saying he needed a moment and walked out of the office. Allison went to the window and looked at her son. She couldn't even begin to think what was going through his mind and what he would say. Henry walked over and placed an arm on her shoulder, giving a supportive smile as she looked up at him. She hadn't noticed that Zoe had left the room too and now was standing next to Alex. He turned to face her and she took him in her arms, holding him as it looked like he was breaking down. After a few moments, Allison saw Zoe say something and pull back to look him in the eyes. He calmed himself and nodded to her apparently letter her know that he was good. They walked back to the office and as they stepped inside, Alex looked to his family, everyone he loved minus one, was in this room and he knew what he had to say.

"I'll do it, but I'm going to need some help."

Everyone in the room smiled and gathered at the table, as Zane placed the laptop in front of him.

For the next three hours, everyone in that room was involved in the planning process, pointing out details that may have not been looked at before, verifying data on his health, explaining signs to watch out for, even making a list of injections he might need once he arrived and how to get them. Uncle Zane explained the workings of the nodes and how to access them from the laptop, most GD computers of the time, and advised how to build an access port in the smart house so it would work with S.A.R.A.H's equipment of that time. Aunt Jo ran him through all routes to the Section Five vault, including ducts and crawl spaces.

Uncle Henry gave Alex a code access list that he himself created when he started as director, which could grant Alex access to areas that should not be accessible. Allison and Zoe, provided detail plans of changes made to the town over the last twenty years and popular events of the time and trends. He would have to blend in and from what his eldest sister said, his normal attire would serve him well. Alex tried to memorize everything they told him and made sure everything was audio recorded incase something didn't stick. He also recorded as much video as the laptop could handle and still have room to work with or support external sources. Uncle Zane had him memorize a pattern in the city grid to where the nodes would be located, since they would be transported separately, along with the laptop.

With an hour left before he had to get ready for the party, he asked them simply to tell him more about his father and the adventures they had with him. They gave him more detail into the Astraeus Mission, being trapped into the Matrix and the situations that occurred. Alex had to admit that the thought of his dad and Aunt Jo being together was a bit messed up, but he had to laugh at the comments Uncle Zane made as he was hit by both his mom and Aunt Jo.

After all was done, Alex helped pack the equipment that Uncle Zane would send out in the morning with the Bridge Device. Alex wouldn't have to go until later, so he left as soon as he could, but once in town, was compelled to stop at the Sheriff's office. He walked in to find no one around, not even Andy, so he looked at the pictures of his dad and the android deputy. He looked at what were his father's desk and the pictures on it. Andy left it as it was when his father was still there, the jacket as he left it laid across the back of his chair and his files splayed across the desktop. The only thing that was not still there was the dust as someone came in and regularly to make sure it was tidy.

Alex opened the top drawer and noticed a package inside, addressed to him, which looked to have been there for some time. As he opened, he saw what he knew to be a logic diamond flash drive, and a note. The note only said to play it, so he turned on the computer and plugged it in. The screen lit up with a view of the office and his dad coming to sit in the chair. His hair was cut short, his jaw appeared firm and his eyes held the intensity of a person that would lay their life on the line for those he loved and even those he never met. The creases in his cheeks when he smiled, which seemed to relax Alex as he sat there and saw his father fidget with his uniform and ask if he had the camera facing the right way. He took a deep breath and began talking.

~Alex, I know that if you're watching this, we failed to stop the culprit and your mother has had to raise you with the help of your family. It pains me to wonder how she has endured the last twenty-one years, alone raising all you great kids, into the fine people I know you will be. I'm sorry for you my son, to know up to this point, you have never heard my voice, thrown a baseball with me, gone camping, or simply spend a night sitting around talking with your old man. One plus is that if you have agreed to come back to try to save me again, we will get the chance to change all that. As I'm recording this, you've been here with your mother and me for a week, and I've learned so much about you. All that you've done in the military, the training you've gone through, will make you a great person to help others. I don't know if you are going to work with Andy and keep Eureka a safe place, or go on to do great things and meet a great girl to love.~

Alex saw his father look up and hear in the background, his Aunt Jo correct him on the girlfriend and her name. He chuckles when the light bulb lit up in his eyes and he smiled as he looked back at the camera.

~Oh yeah! Elise. I didn't recall her. I'm sorry son, you just told us about her last night and it didn't click. She seems like a great girl and I hope you two will be happy together. I am surprised you didn't ask her to marry you before you came to us, but if you haven't had your party yet, I have some advice and a request of you. The advice first: Don't waste a moment with her, you'll find out every moment is precious and you'll find yourself more times than not wishing you had seen the smile on her face one more time. I sit here now and wish that I was there to see all the smiles I've missed on your mother's beautiful face. So enjoy every second. And now the request: Ask her. Don't waste the party away, without asking that beautiful woman to marry you. Take it from me, it is a memory you will regret not having if you don't. I asked your mother in front of an entire crowd at Café Diem and place a French fry ring on her finger. I got her a real ring shortly after, but we were already married by then. If you don't ask her at your party, then I will have no choice but to get you home alive, so you can. Who knows maybe we'll both be there this time and I can see you ask her. Here I go, talking about all sorts of things and the one thing I want to say most, I haven't. I love you Alex and I am so proud of who you have become. You honor me by looking after your siblings and caring for your mother. She is my world and I am nothing without her. Take care son.~

Jack leaned forward and the screen went black, Alex slumped back in the oak chair and felt tears run down his cheeks. He was so deep in thought, he didn't hear as someone entered the office, until the creek of a board, pulled his attention toward the visitor… his mother.

"Your father told me that day he left something important at the office and went for it. He never said that he called Jo to record that message. He liked to surprise those he loved in different ways. I remember on in particular, a surprise dinner he planned in the submersible on the day we married. I just don't think he planned for the lab to sink into the deepest part of the lake, or us getting married in the airlock capsule before we were transported to safety."

Allison walked over to the chair and wrapped her son in her arms as he stood up. She could feel him shaking as she knew he was crying, just like she was at that same moment, and stayed for awhile. Afterwards they left the office, but not before Alex took the crystal drive and as he placed it on his key ring, Allison felt a smile creep across her face.

Café Diem was filled to capacity as the Carter Birthday Bash began, most of the town came to wish the youngest Carter a happy birthday and pay homage to a great man. Alex never felt prouder of his father as so many people pulled him aside to tell him how he saved them from one disaster or another. In five years, he became the glue that held everything together, and changed so many lives. Alex found himself laughing as many of the stories, showing how intellectually different his father was with how he did things. One of his favorite stories of the night was hearing how his father had to track a rouge drone that could camouflage itself and how he caught it and rode it on a blanket. Elise stayed at his side the whole night and got so emotional at just how great Alex's father was and told him she knew he would be just as great.

After the cake, the birthday singing and gifts had all been collected, Alex felt the party start to wind down. He felt in his pocket for the ring box, and pondered on what to do before too many of the guests left. He remembered his father's words on the message and decided out of memory for his father, he wasn't about to waste a moment. He stood up and hollered above all the noise to get everyone's attention, much to the surprise of Elise, his mother and many of the guests.

"My father, sometime back left me a message with some sage advice. Life is too short to know what the next day's challenges will bring. It could be a day where, gravity is tossed upside down, or the laws of nature aren't twisted inside out. No one knows how to prepare for what lies ahead, no can predict it, so we should not to waste a second. And you know what, I don't plan to start."

What sent a shock of quiet over the room was when Alex dropped to one knee in front of Elise and looked her dead in the eye. He could tell she was already crying into her hands, before he could even give his speech. He took her hand and looked to her parents, who smiled and nodded, tears already filling their eyes. He turned his attention back to their daughter.

"Elise, I told the whole town of Eureka at the age of five, that one day I would be in this position, giving this speech. They all heard me loud and clear, and now, they are wishing I would just get on with it."

A chorus of laughter fell over them and the spectators, but not for one moment did he look away from her.

"Ever since I first asked you to go out with me, I wanted to see us in this moment.I have never felt this nervous in my life. The army can't prepare you for something like this. I love you Legs, more than I could put into words. There is no right saying to make this more perfect. You are my guide, you're my best friend, and you're my beacon home, whenever I am lost. So in front of all these people, God, and my father above, Elise Samantha Parrish, will you marry me?"

A/N: Well, another great chapter and a few surprises. I know there are a few moments, that can and probably make a few tear up, but it's expected. If there are any of you asking why I left it as I did, what better to sow intensity that leave a cliff-hanger at the end of the chapter. Don't worry, the answer is coming. Again please leave comments and reviews, I could always use the inspiration…