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Chapter 23 -

The adult Tony Tyler sat at a control panel, operating a computer, inside of a dark room onboard the Doctor's ship. The different color lights illuminated his face as he worked. He didn't take his eyes off of the panel as he rubbed his beard and read what printed across the screen.

"Oh, this is interesting." He mumbled.

He clicked a few more buttons and the computer did her work.

"Friday. Is this all of the information from the Vesuos ship?"

"No. The information is still downloading. Currently, it is at 34%." She told him.

He groaned, sat back in the chair and crossed his arms. "Well, shit."

"You, need to control that mouth." A voice said that made Tony's heart stop. He turned to look behind him to see Jackie Tyler standing looking at him with her hands on her hips.

"And would you like to explain to me why you aren't in the med bay?"

He stood up and suddenly was at a loss for words. "Ugh-"

"Friday, turn up the lights in here." Jackie said.

The room lit up and Tony's eyes became as wide as saucers. It was really her. She was really there. Standing, unharmed, in front of him.

"Mum!" He managed.

She smiled at him. "That's right. At what point is it deemed too old to come see your Mum before you disappear across the galaxy?"

He rubbed his beard. "Ummm. Well-"

She pointed at him, forcefully, in the chest. "Do you know you could have died?"

"But, I didn't-"

"Out there, God knows where-"

"Mum! I was kidnapped. I wasn't like I could ring home-"

"Well, at least you brought yourself back. And in one piece."

He sighed and looked at the floor. "Yeah. More than I can say for Sam. I really should have-"

"Explain to me what you believe you could have done differently?"

He held out his hand, "Well, I could have left sooner-"

"There's no way." She shook her head and looked at him sadly. "The way John has explained it to me. Everything just had to be in the right place for all of that work."

"Well, yeah. But-"

"No. That's the way of it. There's no reason at all to be full of regret-"

"But-"

She pulled him into an embrace. "My God, I'm glad you are alright."

She really wasn't his Mum he reminded himself. She was Jackie Tyler from 18 years before. But, in that moment, it didn't matter. She smelled the same, the way she hugged him was the same, even that squeak in her voice that she used when she was trying to be brave when she really wanted to cry.

She let him go and smiled at him. "I like the beard. You look….dashing."

He rubbed his beard and laughed under his breath. "Thanks, Mum. Please, sit down."

She sat down at the control panel he had been working at, and he sat down in front of her.

"What is this you're working on?"

He looked back at the screen. "I'm going through all of the transmissions from the ship that held me and Sam. I've found where they took Poltious and reported him dead back to someone."

"Who?"

"The buyer they were taking us to. The computer is chewing on it to find out who it was."

She nodded. "And you understand how to do that?"

He grinned, "Of course. Why wouldn't I?"

She crossed her arms and huffed, "So this is what 18 years of living with John has done to my family."

He smiled, "It's been a hell of a ride."

She laughed, "I imagine it has."

He clicked a couple of buttons and the screen showed a status bar. The files continued to copy.

Jackie asked. "You've been avoiding me-"

"No, ma'am. I haven't-"

"Oh, bull shit. You have. I'd like to know why?"

He looked back at her. "It's hard to see you."

"Well, that doesn't make any sense. I'm here."

He sat back and crossed his arms. "Yeah. That's true."

"So, I'm not there?"

"John tells me you are now."

Her face slowly spread into a proud smile. "Because, you have saved me. On your mad adventures?"

He looked back at her and grinned, "That's what he says."

She rose up and pat his thigh. "Oh! I'm so proud! My hero!"

He couldn't help smile.

She pointed at him. "You get that brave stuff from Pete. I'll fully admit it."

"Oh, Mum. John's told me the story of you and Cyber Invasion-"

"I didn't run into that. It was forced upon me." She insisted and crossed her arms. "Don't even get me started on what John told everyone. I owe him a slap, come to think of it."

He smiled at her. "It's really good to see you."

She rose her eyebrow at him. "Is it as hard to see me as you thought it would be?"

"It's getting easier, the more you are here."

"Well, then. I'll just sit here a bit longer. Tell me about yourself."

He smiled and turned to face her. "Alright."

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