Dylan entered the briefing room and started the meeting.

"I would like to congratulate everyone in doing a magnificent job in Boston." Dylan said. "I would also like to thank Mr. Lahey for attending despite his injury."

"It's only a scratch captain." Brendan said. "A mere flesh wound really."

Dylan knew his injury was more serious. He also knew that Brendan was just trying to play down the seriousness of the ordeal.

"Trance." Dylan said. "How long until Brendan is fully recovered?"

"If he were a crewmen aboard Andromeda," Trance said. "I'd say he could return to light duty in two more days, but it will take five days for him to fully recover from the surgery."

"Understood." Dylan replied. "Brendan, Captain Stark has some very important information concerning Earth and yourself."

Captain Tony Stark rose up out of his seat and walked over to a large vid screen.

"As you may know, while you and your people were fighting to free Boston, we contacted resistance groups all over the planet. They had already heard what was happening in Boston, and when we offered to send troops in to help them in their cities, they gladly accepted."

As Captain Stark spoke, scenes of thousands of armed Lancers with armored support vehicles, as well as Planetary Warbots fighting along the side of resistance fighters appeared on the screen. The screen faded from one major city to another. It was the same everywhere. "Brendan, we're winning. Intelligence reports estimate that eighty five percent of the planet will be free within seven days."

"Did you say seven days?" Gold Harper asked, unable to believe that in such a short period of time the entire planet would be free.

"Yes." Stark answered. "Seven days. At that time however, Earth is going to need a spokesperson,… a leader, someone to make decisions that will effect Earth's future. Somebody to delegate committees and workforces to rebuild hospitals, schools, libraries, and many other needful institutions. Law enforcement will be a prime concern as well as building and maintaining a strong military force."

"All of this is very interesting Captain Stark." Brendan said. "And I agree with everything that you've said. Earth will need all of those things and much more. I can honestly say that I and the people of Boston will do our part in rebuilding Earth and restoring order."

"I'm sure you will." Stark said. "But actually, I need to ask you to do something more. I need you to be that leader that I spoke of Brendan. Earth needs you to be their guiding light, lighting a way to a brighter future."

"You've got to be joking." Brendan said.

"It's no joke Brendan." Dylan said.

"I'm sorry. "Brendan said. "But you've got the wrong cousin. Harper's the one with the brains in the family. Plus he's spent time on a fancy Commonwealth ship as her engineer. He's got more experience with making difficult decisions and he's recently acquired a ship of his own. I'm just an Earther, an unlearned and unskilled Earther. Tell them Harper." Harper tried to make himself disappear. There was no way he wanted to have the responsibility as Earth's new President. He thought maybe if he tried hard enough he could time shift out of there, but nothing happened. Fortunately he didn't have to.

"Yet you were able to stay alive and fight the Nietzcheans for years, without the aid of the Commonwealth." Stark said. "That doesn't sound very unskilled to me."

"Staying alive and giving the Ubers misery is a heck of a lot different from ruling an entire planet."

"You won't be alone." Stark said. "You'll have advisors and aids appointed by the Commonwealth to help you. All you'll have to do is ask."

"What makes you think that the people of Earth would even want me to be their leader?" Brendan asked. "There's got to be thousands of people on Earth more qualified for the position than me."

"I'm sure there are." Stark said, momentarily shocking Brendan as well as Harper. "But you are the people's choice."

With that said, new videos began to play on the screen. This time it was showing people all over the world. Everyone stated in one way or the other how that they would gladly follow Brenda Lahey wherever he would lead.

"I'd fight by his side anytime"

"Mister Lahey is the best thing that has happened to Earth in centuries."

"Earth needs more men like Brendan Lahey."
And the video played on.

"And then there's this." Stark said. "It's a text message that's being sent all over the planet."

"FOR BOSTON

FOR LAHEY

FOR EARTH"

Brendan was speechless. He couldn't believe this was happening.

"Captain Stark, Captain Hunt." Brendan finally said. "This is a bit overwhelming and I'm beginning to feel rather ill."

"Dylan." Trance said. "I think it's time I took Brendan back to Medical."

"Very well Trance." Dylan said. "Brendan you may go, but please think about what you have heard here today. You are the one for this job, whether you believe it or not. Earth has already chose you. You just have to accept."

"I'll give you my answer in two days Captain." Brendan said. "I just need some time to think."

Trance escorted Brendan back to Medical, where she urged him to try and get some much needed rest.

"Trance." Brendan said. "How am I supposed to sleep? I just learned that they want me to be Earth's King."

Blue Harper was drinking a Sparky Cola, but was unable to control himself when he heard what Brendan had just said, and cola came spraying out. "They want you to be what?"

"Not King." Trance said. "Earth's Leader. It would be more like a president or governor. Not a dictator."

"Oh, that's so much better." Brendan said, being sarcastic, which caused Trance to look a bit hurt."

"I was just trying to help." She said in the saddest of voices.

Blue Harper gave Brendan a hard look, letting him to know that he'd better apologize for hurting Trance. Brendan however, didn't need any persuading. He knew as soon as the words came out of his mouth, that he shouldn't have said them, especially to Trance. Like she said herself, she was just trying to help.

"I'm sorry Trance." Brendan said. "I know you're trying to help and I shouldn't have mocked you. I just find it hard to believe that they want me to do this."

"Then it's true?" Blue Harper asked.

"It's true Harper." Trance said. "And I accept your apology Brendan, but you really do need to rest. If you need it, I can give you something that will help you rest."

"I think I'll take you up on that." Brendan said as he lay down on his bed. "Maybe I'll be able to look at this situation differently when I wake up."

"Don't worry Brendan." Trance said, as she injected him with a mild sedative. "You'll do the right thing."

A few moments later Brendan was sound asleep and Gold Harper walked in.

"Hi Trance." Gold Harper said. "How's Brendan?"

"He's sleeping." Trance said. "The meeting took a lot out of him."

"Earth could do a lot worse than Brendan." Blue Harper said, sitting up in his bed.

"Oh, uh, hello,…Harper." Gold Harper said.

"Hello." Blue Harper replied. "You know this name thing could get confusing."

"I got an idea." Trance said. Both Harpers turned to look at her. "No. Never mind. It was a silly idea."

"Come on Trance." Gold Harper said.

"Tell us." Blue Harper added.

"I was just thinking, maybe you," Trance said, pointing at Blue Harper, "could go by the name of Seamus instead of Harper. We'll let everybody know and that way it'll be less confusing."

Both Harper's hesitated to respond. It was a solution so simple they wondered why they hadn't thought of it. "I told you it was a silly idea. You hate it don't you?"

Blast! Their moment of silence had caused Trance to think they didn't like her idea, when the truth was they loved it.

"Trance." Seamus (Blue Harper) said. "I think I can speak for Harper, since he's me, when I say we love your idea. From now on when addressing me, you can refer to me as Seamus."

Trance absolutely glowed with joy. "You really like my idea?"

"Yeah Babe." Harper said. "What would we do without you?"

Trance in turn gave them both a huge hug and kiss.

Trance then stepped back away from both Harpers, with a very serious expression on her face. "One minor problem solved." She said. "Now to tackle the big one."

"I assume you're talking about us both being here?" Harper asked.

"I'm sure she is." Seamus said. "You and I know that we shouldn't both be here."

"Wait a minute." Harper said. "You said that you blasted Mephist into ashes right?"

"Yes." Seamus replied.

"Then our time shifting powers took you back to the past, where you stopped his bomb from exploding?"

"Yes." Seamus said. "Where are you going with this?"

"Since Eternity and everyone onboard her didn't die in the explosion, I didn't blast Mephist, and I didn't go back in time. Since I didn't go back in time, I couldn't have stopped the bomb. Paradox!"

"But there isn't a paradox," Seamus said. "Or we wouldn't both be here,…would we?"

"TRANCE?" Harper and Seamus turn to their Purple Princess, hoping she might have the answer.

Trance hadn't been listening to them. Instead her mind was wandering and searching for the answer. One word kept coming to her again and again. "Timelines." She whispered as realization dawned on her.

"What'd you say Trance." Harper asked.

"Timelines." She repeated. "There is no paradox, because the timeline in which Eternity was destroyed no longer exists."

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Seamus asked.

"What do you think she's saying?" Harper asked.

"I'm saying" Trance said. "that when Seamus encountered Mephist, and realized that he had destroyed Eternity and everyone on her, his grief and anger caused him to change into the being he is now. When he unleashed his powers,….I'm sorry Seamus." Trance was beginning to cry. "I should have trained you better. It's all my fault."

"Seamus got up and wrapped his arms around her. "It's not your fault. Don't you ever think that you're to blame."

Harper just stood there confused and a bit jealous of seeing another man, even though it was himself, comforting his Trance.

"Um… I still don't get it." Harper said. "What's not her fault? What happened?"

Seamus let go of Trance and she continued to explain. "When I first saw Seamus in his current form, I was frightened at what he might have done. There was a reason for my fear. You see, Seamus now possesses more power than anyone can possibly imagine. He is what my people call a Banjah. They are very rare and for the most part feared by my kind because of their great power. I was so relieved when I learned that he hadn't done any more harm than that of killing Mephist and possibly altering the timeline." Trance's eyes began to tear up again. "But,… I was wrong. You see,… the two of you shouldn't be here. The two of you can't be here. The fact that you are, means only one thing."

"What's that Trance." Harper asked as he took her hand in his.

"The other timeline no longer exists." Trance said between sobs. "He didn't just destroy Mephist with his blast. ….He destroyed that entire timeline...That entire universe."