January 11th 2003 Seattle

"Why didn't they listen?"

Eidolon shrugged.

"Hate, stupidity, lots of things. I would love to say mind control, but we've been through their headquarters, the've been planning on trying to cut a deal for awhile. They thought that they could control her, or at least work with her, and damn the concequences."

He looked like he was swallowing something horrible.

"It cost them the West bank nd it could have cost them everything."

He sighed.

"We all expected Israel to take the West bank, but allowing the Palestinians to keep Gaza. Heh, it's odd but right now the israelis are the closest thing the palestianians have to a friend."

We continued to walk along the ocean shore, I still felt troubled by the slaughter.

"This... this shocked everyone Woody. We knew we were at war, but this really drove it home."

He picked up a rock and skipped it.

"And now what?"

"It's bad, but the world knows what the stakes are now, you can't surrender, you can't change sides, we either win or we die."

He looked sad but determined.

"Pakistan and India have sat down and are working out a deal over Kashmir, China and Taiwan are in talks for an official separation, a lot of territorial conflicts are being hashed out right now. New Endbringer protocols are being made and put in place. The UN task force is growing."

He stared out into the ocean.

"Humanity is coming together."

He looked at the World tree in the distance.

"I'm told the view on Titan is amazing."

I shrugged.

"With the war going the way it's going, I decided against holding off on not letting people use the portals."

I sat down in the sand and Eidolon sat down next to me, we took turns skipping stones in silence. We just did that for a while until...

"It's not your fault."

Eidolon's words were soft, but firm.

"You spent years warning us about her, about how dangerous she was, we relayed that message, told everyone and Hamas didn't listen."

He skipped another stone.

"We're not going to make the same mistake twice."

I nodded and continued looking out at the water.

Janaury 15th

"NO! NO! NO! NO!"

Juno was runner, as soon as she could walk she started running, She smiled and giggled her arms outstreached and flapping. I looked at my wife as our daughter ran in circles around the park.

"She's going to have to take a bath sooner or later."

Was this normal, did I splice the genes correctly?

"NO! BATH NO! NO!"

"JUNO IRONWOOD, GET HERE RIGHT NOW!"

I blocked her way with a soft bush, Juno frowned at the plants in her way and pouted, I watched as her mother grabbed her and blew rasberry's on her stomach. Our daughter giggled and we went back into the house. She really did need a bath.

March 1st

I stared at the assembled crowd and then turned to look at the giant tree in the distance.

"It's going to be ok, big guy."

Icy held my hand and squeezed it, I nodded my head. A man in a suit and a NASA patch walked up to me, his hair was grey, what remained of it. He looked at me, and walked closer, staring up at me.

"Neil Armstrong, current head of NASA."

"Ironwood."

We shook hands.

"You really want to open this up to the public, Woody?"

"This is for all mankind, and humanity has already waited too long to have access to the stars."

He smirked.

"Good point, well our boys are already set up, let's do this."

He stepped on a platform, I stood behind him.

"Last year humanity suffered a cowardly attack by the leader of the Endbringers."

There had already been leaks and rumors about the true purpose of the World tree, everyone here already knew what it was.

"Millions of people died, oil drills and refineries across the middle east were destroyed, even now the whole country is going through a painful period of gas rationing, our satellites in orbit were destroyed. Military, civilian and others were obliterated, the nation, no the world is doing it's best to adapt to this cowardly attack."

He stopped.

"The enemy seeks to steal the stars themselves from us, from humanity, but we knew this was coming."

Screens turned on.

"For months we have been sending out best and brighest into space, beyond the range of the Simurgh's interferance. Humanity still defiantly stands their ground against the Endbringers, but it's not enough to mearly hold our ground. WE WILL ADVANCE, WE WILL CLAIM THE FUTURE THAT IS RIGHTFULLY OURS!"

He stood ramrod straight.

"This is the World tree, it allows instant transportation to Mars, to Europa, to Titan, Triton and Pluto, and as of today, it's open to the public."

Giant portals opened in mid air, and a song started playing, I stood next to him.

"The buggles?"

His smile was forced.

"How do you know about a one hit wonder from the 80s?"

"I'm married, my wife has the CD."

He continued waving as a ship exited the portal.

"It was supposed to be Ode to Joy, not-"

"Video killed the radio star."

"Yeah I gathered from the words, when I find the snot nosed punk who screwed this up. Seriously they had one job, one job."

He turned the microphone back on.

"BACK FROM EUROPA the USS Arizona!"

Navy personal saluted at us, the ship stopped and a platform was lowered, the reporters got out of their seats. My wife waves at me from the top of the ship, we walk as one onto the ship and go through the portal. We watch as the sky goes dark, the reporters stare up at Saturn's rings.

Eventually though the ship gently stops in front of a dock, we walk off and Neil leads the reporters around the World tree. It's not a complete tour, the tree is huge and under my direction it's growing all of the time, and there are security risks, but it's enough to impress people.

"Did you have anything to do with the music selection?"

Junes smile was smug and self satisfied.

"The password for the computer was password... I... I had to do it, they were practically asking for it."

"That was very naughty of you."

She winked at me.

"I'm a very naughty girl."

We were alone, the crowd was off doing their own thing.

"So..the kids are with a babysitter, that tour's going to take at least a half hour on each stop, maybe an hour... so all the places?"

I thought about it.

"I know where the rooms are."

She hugged me as we continued on, when we rejoined the tour group she leaned against me face flush, Neal stared at me and shrugged.

"I will give you a buzz on your cell when the meeting breaks up."

My screen blinked.

"What?"

He shook my hand.

"I'm a married man myself, you do what you need to do, just get back on time."

He turned to the reporters as I held the burner phone he had placed into my hand, we continued our trip through the solar system. When we got back to earth we were exhausted and tired. June leaned against me in the van as we drove home.

"Totally worth it."

"The buggles or."

"All the things."

Her eyes closed and I held her close as the drive continued.