By evening, the Sliders had returned to the comfortable but secure residence Honor's group had helped them to procure for their stay. By the time they'd reached the place, pretty much every one of their local acquaintances had managed to be recalled either as witnesses to alleged events, or to help in preventing escapes by file-indicated guilty parties.
The news events were an endless speculation and reports on those brought in for questioning. Eventually, a door chimed, to reveal Paul Tankersley with several individuals in the uniforms of Palace Security.
"May we come in?" Paul asked Ash and Rupert who'd answered the door.
"Do you have a warrant?" Ash asked somewhat confrontationally.
"Um, no, why would we?" he responded, then understood their suspicion of security, "Ah. Um, no."
"In that case…" Rupert responded and opened the door to permit them all in, though two of the six remained outside. When they'd all passed the threshold into the house, he continued, "please come in."
"Hi Paul," Xander greeted with a small smile, getting up from watching the news, "I'm hoping this is a social call."
"Actually, more of an invitation, really," Paul responded, "Her Majesty and the Prime Minister have discussed your situation with Honor, and she's asked to meet you."
"The girls are kinda tired, any way we could do this tomorrow?" Xander replied
"Well, she was really just asking about you coming over tonight," Tankersley responded frankly, "Nimitz communicated to Her Majesty's 'cat, how I don't know, but I get the impression that those 'expecting' should be given their rest."
"Can you give me an hour to shower and get ready?" Xander asked, "And I'd like to bring Doyle with me." The security detail sergeant looked at the dangerous young man who'd caused so much trouble. "Don't worry, we'll check weapons when we get out of the car. But expect them returned when we're done. Otherwise, we'll come unarmed tomorrow. With all the nasties turned out from under their rocks, I'd rather not take any chances." The security detail sergeant nodded.
"Upon exiting the car, and keep it light please," he directed.
The Palace would've been impressive if they could actually see out of the car as they drove up, and checked the light sabers and a few minor weapons with the guards.
"Please keep these secure, but you might want to keep them available in case they're asked for," Xander told them, "And don't push the buttons."
They were escorted in by a Major Dupre, and were soon led into the presence of the Queen and a few others.
"Your Majesty," the officer announced in a carrying voice, "Alexander Harris and Alan Doyle."
"Thank you, Andre," a woman of light mahogany skin replied from across the room, and the major stood aside for Alexander and Doyle before turning and closing the door silently behind them.
Alexander and Doyle walked forward across the rust-red carpet. Xander from his Tomas Ramirez memories recognized the people in the room, including Captain Michelle Henke, Admiral Hamish Alexander, Admiral Thomas Caparelli, Lord William Alexander, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Allen Summervale, Duke of Cromarty and Prime Minister. Additionally, he also recognized Harrington and Ramirez, but not Paul or the earlier entourage. The two men came before that woman to whom they all stood in deference, and a respectful distance away, Alexander stopped and bowed slightly but respectfully, Doyle following the example.
"Well, I must agree, Mike, he is quite imposing, isn't he?" the Queen of Manticore quipped, "Mister Harris, Mister Doyle, welcome to our world."
"Majesty," Doyle nodded at the woman, Alexander in Methos-mode nodding graciously and waited.
"It seems you've managed to cause Us a huge internal crisis, gentlemen," the Queen continued, then smiled, "You have my personal thanks."
"I apologize for inconvenience to You," Xander smiled through his persona, "And to you, I say it was my pleasure to serve." Michelle Henke broke into a fit of snickers.
"Nicely done, Alexander," she wheezed, "I told you cousin, he's a bulldozer."
"That's unrepentant bulldozer, Captain Henke," Alexander deadpanned.
"Enough," Her Majesty chided, "I see somehow we've immediately gotten away from business, so let's get back on track. Mister Harris, we've been discussing for the last hour what appears to be the next few years of the war, and details as our two on-hand officers are able to recall them. We would appreciate any assistance you could give us in the matter."
Alexander noted the queen looked hopeful as well as expectant.
"Well, while we were hoping to see Sphinx and the Harrington Steading and maybe attend a wedding," he smiles, looking at Honor, "while we're here for three months, I guess it wouldn't be a bad way to earn our vacation money."
"You want money to help us?" Caparelli responded in shock, but Xander held up his hand.
"We'll help you no matter what, Admiral," Xander sighed, "I was merely hinting at the fact my family still needs to make arrangements, perhaps sell technical information to a cartel of yours, in order to not keep mooching off of Admiral Harrington."
"Captain, right now…" Doyle reminded him, sotto voce.
"Sorry, Captain Harrington."
"If you talk to my factor, I'm sure you can figure something out," Honor sighed, to which Xander nodded, "So until then you can continue to bleed dry the coffers of my poor, starving, Harringtons…"
"Okay, funny lady, now that I can provide for my family, what do you all want to know?" Xander asked, wagging a finger at Honor in amusement, "And I should warn you, since I'm not part of your hierarchy, and come from a democracy, please overlook the general and purposeful disregard for protocol while we're at this. In public, when we're not throwing questions and answers back and forth, I'll try and behave. I don't know how much Colonel Ramirez has told you about me, but I think that's a fair enough assessment."
"That's fine, Alexander, for now we're interested in what you remember of the next year or so militarily," the queen directed him.
"Well, if you're willing to give me a few minutes to meditate, I'll try to concentrate as much as possible on that time period."
"Please do," she replied, and gestured across the room. She watched as he crossed the room, then turned to Doyle, "Do you need to meditate also?"
"No, ma'am," the Irishman replied, "As Harkness I don't remember the higher level stuff, so Jedi meditation would not add much at this time."
"Jedi?" Hamish Alexander prodded.
"The Order of Jedi Knights have been the guardians of the Republic for nearly twenty thousand years, Admiral, and both Alexander and myself are Masters within the Order."
"You mean from the costume possessions?" Honor asked to clarify.
"At first, but we were on Coruscant, and spent a few weeks being retrained and tested, both in our control of the Force, and in use of the light saber. We are going to establish the Order when we get home."
"What's a light saber?" Caparelli asked.
"Think of it as a coherent laser beam extending a meter or so beyond a hilt, and able to slice through most objects it contacts. It is the symbol of the Jedi. If you wish a demonstration, your security people would need to bring our weapons in and we could show you."
"Later perhaps…Master Doyle," Allen Summervale interrupted, "And this… Force?"
"Think of it as the energy from the chi and the soul and simply, from all living things, what seems to bind them together, and yet remain a step apart."
"What can you do with this force?" Caparelli asked, getting nods from everyone.
"Well, a Jedi can use it like telekinesis," Doyle responded, tapping the Force to lift the coffee table half a foot up, then set it down, "Or harness the darkness within one's emotions to create and hurl Force Lightning, or use it to accelerate the healing power and rate of a life form. Most with this gift are discovered as small children and their training begun at that age so that they're less likely to fall to the temptation of the Dark Side of the Force. We avoid the aggressive forms when possible, for that reason." He would've continued, but noticed Xander approaching.
"Okay, if someone's willing to keep me plied with coffee, tea and snacks," Xander smiled, "I think we can do this."
Beth, Pike and Brandi were sipping some type of juice on the balcony, the girls having separated him from swapping lies with Ash, thinking it would be a good time to let the young man in on a secret of theirs that they'd had confirmed at the Jedi temple,
"Hey Pike," Brandi broached the silence, moving as did the slayer away from snuggling the man in order to talk to him, "Beth and I, we have something to tell ya."
"Oh?" Pike asked, wondering why the serious faces were looking at him, "Okay?"
"Um, we're…tell him Beth…"
"You're gonna be a daddy?"
"Wow, uh, which one of you…"
"Both of us," the two young women chorused, Beth continuing as they smiled tentatively, "We're about ten weeks along."
"That's amazing," the young mechanic remarked, still a bit in shock, thinking back, "When we were on…Raisa?"
"Yup," Brandi confirmed, both girls looking at him for reaction.
"I'm really glad we agreed to go to work for Alexander, we won't have to worry about money."
"But what do you think?" Brandi pressed.
"I think I'm gonna like being a father…how about the first place we find that does multiple marriages, we get married?"
Happy squeals were heard.
"So, Scotty, what do you think?" Kirk quietly asked over coffee at one end of the room, "Did we make the right choice?"
"Don't be second guessin' yerself, already, Cap'n, we've helped save one world from nuclear devastation and worse. And what I learned from those Jedi fellas was good too. I learned a few things and even got myself some of that Force training that can be used to work and think a little faster if I have to."
""Oh, I'm a long way from second guesses, Scotty, but I was hoping you thought so too."
"Oh, aye, while you were off learnin' the unarmed combat moves and such from those Jedi, I was learnin 'boot their ship technologies, and the workins of the sabers everyone carried around. They even helped me fix up an interface that let me compress and download their stuff."
"Really? A lot of their stuff was beyond what we have…"
"They don't 'ave a Prime Directive, Jim, and I traded our data to them for it."
"I never liked the Prime Directive…"
"I think everyone in Starfleet knows tha' by now," the engineer smiled, "And are amazed you held back as much as you did, why the lads and lassies they have at the Academy these days study that about you."
"What? You're kidding me, right?"
"Not at all, it's a senior level class, and it shows how someone had your feelins on matters, but still managed to barely stay in, or barely bend the Directive. They seem ta' worship tha' damn thin' today, but it at least gets the best of 'em thinking, like tha' Picard that brought ya back. With the whole bunch o' precedents we and others have set, the young-uns have to fight like hell to bend rather than break the rules, but it keeps 'em honest I suppose."
"I don't know that that's reassuring…"
"Just a fact, it means that even if we never got 'round to families, we made a difference on others. It means Tiberius and his kind won't be the future instead of the Federation."
"I guess…what were we talking about?"
"Well, I was telling you we made a swap, what I didna tell anyone is that if we find a rather secure spot at this new home of ours, "I smuggled out two wee replicators, one for field operations, and ta' other from an engineering shuttle. I think the wee reactor I 'ave from those Jedi should be able to handle 'em both as long as we keep 'em maintained."
"Scotty, you shouldn't have…"
"But—"
"Because while not as fancy as yours, I smuggled out the replicator out of the Ambassadorial kitchens before we left, now it won't be a surprise," Kirk smiled as he reached under the cushion to pull out a bottle of Romulan ale, "so I guess we'll just have to find something to toast to now instead of waiting."
They heard the happy squeals as the drinks were poured, both declaring at the same time, "That'll do."
"So, kids," General Brewster sighed as the young couple sitting with him eating fruit made themselves comfortable, "What do we want to do when we get to wherever we're going?"
"Gee, daddy, John and I have just been trying to get past the whole dimensional travel thing, and the Jedi…" she sighed, turning to John.
"All I know is keeping a low profile, and weapons, and stuff," John said, "and the Jedi said I had a good mind for piloting, and Force camouflage, so I'm hoping to sign up with Alexander, or this SGC he's been talking about. Sounds like your kind of thing."
"Yeah, but who knows how readily they'll accept an Air Force general into a position of trust if he's from an operation that nearly destroyed the world?"
"Then figure out what you want to do, daddy," his daughter told him as her and John held each other close on the couch, "And if they don't accept John into the SGC, maybe we'll go to work for you."
"Yeah, maybe you could run the company side of things for those Big Gates and combo ships Alexander was talking about," John suggested, "You're the only one here that can talk to the Air Force types and contractors, and understand what's actually being built. Talk to the boss and see, he can't do everything at once."
"You know, John, you might jus have something there…"
They smiled at the sound of happy squeals.
Joyce and the three expecting young mothers were glad for the comfortable time to relax and plan for the impending births of the ten children, a number boggling to the mind. And they were Xander's kids. She turned to her youngest and smiled.
"So Dawnie, how do you feel honey?"
"Oh, I'm fine, I'm just glad I won't have to go through another slide while pregnant" Her daughter smiled with a bemused look, "I don't think my bladder could handle it." The other two nodded as well.
"Well, the doctors at the temple think that anytime in the next two weeks for all three of you to have your babies."
"Yeah, and Willow, here, keeps talking to hers…" Dawn smiled, then imitating Willow, who laughed along, "Come on, any time, you don't have to be late like your father…"
"So, I know we've talked a little about it before," Joyce said, shifting from laughter to seriousness, "But what are we going to do when we get home? I couldn't quite hear how long we might be cut off from other worlds when we get back."
"I think they said if we'd waited another couple months or if we went along with their jumps, it'd be safe enough," Dawn said, receiving a nod from Tara, and an embarrassed smile from Willow, who'd been peting her tummy and humming.
"What?" the redhead said with a blush, "OH, uh, I don't think they said for sure. I mean, what happens if time flows are, are different and we show up a few days short of two months? Do we get blocked for a few weeks or months? I don't know, they just said how long it would be for the bad."
The women smiled at the semi-babbler with affection, poured more Corellian tea, and lapsed into silence for a few minutes. Joyce again broke the quiet with a question.
"What happens if we find out we're cut off for a year or two? Then what?"
"Well," Willow thought, "I guess we have to come up with paperwork showing Dawn at the age she looks, square things with my folks, and settle the kids into normal life."
"Are any of you considering college?"
"I-I might," Tara replied, "But I might major in early education, now, and find time to keep up the skills I have."
"Wow, a teacher in the family," Joyce approved, "I can see how that might be handy."
Dawn nodded in agreement, "I'm thinking of testing as far as I can, and maybe try medicine, I think."
"What kind Dawnie?" her mom asked with delight, "general practice?"
"Obstetrics and Pediatrics?" she replied, "I already have the Janet Frasier memories, and can use the healing device. I know we'll have money, but I've been thinking of maybe being at the SGC, or work out of Sunnydale Hospital. At the very least, I want to handle as much of our family care as I can, then know that the specialists we go to really know their stuff."
"Wow, that's great Dawn," Willow enthused, "And I feel so much better, though a little guilty. I mean, Tara's education girl, and you're medical girl, but I'm gonna stay with the technology stuff, and try to build those big gates and combination ships you and Xander talked about. Beyond normal mom stuff, you keep the kids healthy, Tara keeps 'em smart and I'll give 'em options."
"And what does Xander give them, Willow?" Joyce asked, curious as to the redhead's viewpoint.
"Xander's given them the universes, and he's our provider and protector beyond what we can already provide," Willow smiled, "I mean, hey, Slayer-Mages here, but his extra means our security isn't just real, but it feels real."
Willow's assertion of female ability assuaged the Amazon in Joyce, and the matter lay there, so she brought the conversation back on track.
"Tara, what if we can connect to Caprica and the SGC right away?"
"Maybe we buy a big beach house on that Earth, raise the kids there, and commute to Sunnydale?" the blonde considered, "With big sunny rooms full of life, all the plants we've brought back, so that any vampires and other unfriendlies don't survive long enough for us to bother."
"I like that idea," Dawn enthused, "though I'm rooting for Willow and Xan to build the ship so we can have a place on Caprica, I'd so like to go to college there."
"Yeah, that'd be nice," Tara and Willow remarked and smiled, the red head continuing, "but I want to make sure home is as safe as possible before spending most of my time away from it."
"Yeah," Tara agreed, "I have my two new…sisters, Faith and Kendra, though it's been eight months for me since I saw them. Somehow we just clicked, kinda different from us three, but you know what I mean?"
"Yeah," her sister-wives-to-be agreed, understanding a lot.
The happy squeals from outside brought smiles.
Rupert, Deirdre, Maggie and Ash were sitting around sipping coffee and talking about the amazing journey, and the fact that it was supposedly over.
"So Rupes," the former Promised One smiled, "How about we take up ol' Alex up on his offer?"
"Which one? Setting up a business of some sort in Sunnydale, or the one about selling our world to those SGC chaps?"
"Both, 'cause I was thinkin' as nice it'd be to have the money comin' in if we want it, I think I've seen way too much to just give up fightin' the bad guys…though I'd be happy to avoid any more Deadites."
"Hmm, I see your point, but for me I guess it would depend on what Dee wants," Rupert admitted, then turned to the smiling woman curled up against him on the couch, "Darling?"
"I like the both idea, at least until we're used to having money," she confessed, "I think I'd at least like to help the girls get started with the herd of babies they're having all at once."
Maggie smiled, considering that her own world was trashed and her life there gone, but with these three and a place of responsibility with the Commander, "Want any of your own, Dee, little Rupelets running around saying 'good lord' or something?"
"Never know," the woman in her late thirties smiled at a bemused Giles, as Ash snickered at the man's happy discomfort, "After being alone in London, it'd be nice to ease into any money by starting as normal as possible, and since I have had quite a bit of Watcher training, Sunnydale would be a normal start for us. How about you?"
"Well, I'm not a planet-owner like the rest of you, but maybe I'll get a few bucks outta the Cap One," Maggie Beckett considered, "But I'm committed to getting back to the SGC, and keeping everyone safe until that happens."
"Then what, Hon?" Ash asked her serious, but with a smile, "Any ideas that'd include the bionic non-Jedi?"
"Many thoughts, some of them actually thinking about taking you off the market and making an honest man of you?"
"Me? That might require real work on my part," he joked back, "But I hear Alex's Sunnydale probably has a bunch of construction jobs open, if not, maybe with a timer I could commute and get a maintenance job at the facility the SGC was putting up to interact with Alexander."
"W-well then, I suppose the book and magic store idea should be given serious consideration," Giles nodded at Deirdre, "Perhaps a back room and a timer so we can commute to the SGC world if need be?"
"Well, I think that would be nice," the woman remarked, "though let's make sure from the SGC side first as to locating our shop or home, Rupert, as I'd hate to go from the store the first time only to find myself in the ocean."
"Oh, ah, yes, of course, perhaps a good reminder for all. They turned at the sound of happy squeals out on the balcony.
So, Boss, I'm this Iolaus guy, huh?"
"That's right Mr. Harper, like brothers actually."
"I know I agreed, but I'm with you on this."
"I'm glad…"
"But why are we in front of this apartment?"
A female voice neither expected came from behind them, "Since they sent us here, I'm guessing we're supposed to knock, like this."
"Romy!" Harper exclaimed, hugging the avatar of the Andromeda Ascendant, "You're here, too!"
"Obviously," she smiled, exchanging a hug with her captain
A moment later a smiling Dawn and a suspicious-looking Ash came to the door. Ash and Dylan stared at each other a moment as Dawn exclaimed, "Kevin Sorbo?"
"I've used that name a time or two, but I'm going by Dylan Hunt these days," the large former-actor smiled, and gestured to his companions, "Seamus Harper and Andromeda Ascendant, my friends. We're looking for Alexander Harris, we've been sent to back him up when he gets to his Earth, but we've kinda been routed a few places before being dropped off in front of your door."
"This is so cool," the first Key enthused, offering her hand to shake, "I'm Dawn and this is Ash."
"Don't I know you from somewhere?" Ash asked, frowning as he reached out between Harper and Dylan, fingers colliding with both. All three men were for a second engulfed in a flash of light from their hands outward.
Ash recovered first, "Iolaus? Herc? How?"
"Your past life coming back," Dylan frowned and smiled as he rubbed his head from the sudden headache, "But I don't remember my getting the headache because of it."
"No problem, Hercules," the Classical Age King of Thieves smiled, "I just hope this isn't going to happen everyday."
"Yeah, Herc," Harper/Iolaus agreed, rubbing his own head, "But I guess you weren't just pullin' my leg, huh?"
"You remember, too?" Dylan Hunt asked, the conversation confusing Andromeda and Dawn slightly.
"Yeah, maybe those Powers guys thought we should wait for us to meet with Autolycus here to do that?"
"I go by Ash, now, and by the way, I'm retired from the thief business," he told them as they were gestured into the room and Dawn made introductions.
"So what do you do?"
"We were actually discussing that," he admitted ruefully, "This beautiful lady over on the left might just take pity and marry me, so with all the world-jumping it's hard to make plans."
"Married?" Harper said with raised eyebrows, causing Maggie to blush a little, "That's great!"
Autolycus looked over at an expectant-looking Maggie Beckett, glared at Harper/Iolaus, then walked over and took her hands in his, "I know this isn't the place or time for anything romantic, uh, Maggie, but would you marry me?"
She waited to give her answer, the room going quiet, then, "Yes."
And there were more happy girl squeals.
"Pip? Pop? Um, Your Majesty, if you have a vet knowledgeable in reptiles that give birth kind like mammals, now'd be a great time to call them in?"
"Alexander?"
"They're way overdue, and we're about to have a bunch of wee snakes around real quick."