With morning came breakfast. Unfortunately for Robert, his condition meant that Leo had imposed a light diet, until he got his digestive system used to solid food again. This meant things like water and basic liquids, including nutrient paste that made Robert want to gag.

The culinary ordeal was followed by more tests. Leo looked over his scans and shook his head. "Well, your body is adjusting well. I'm surprised how well, actually."

"Oh?" Robert asked from the bed.

"I expected you to take a few weeks, maybe a month, to regain your pre-coma physical condition," Leo explained. "But it looks like your muscles are already adjusting to a full motion of activity. It's like you've done two weeks of therapy in a single night."

Robert thought back to the dream world he had left. His conversation with his grandfather in that place. "Maybe something is helping me along."

"Well, I'm at a loss to explain it." Leo shrugged. "I want to run more tests and have you do a physical therapy session. Just to test how well you're doing. But at this rate, you'll be back in full shape in a few days."

"At least I'll be out of your hair." Robert made a gesture with his hand. A surge of power went out and smacked a set of hypospray vials off of the nearby tray. They toppled to the ground. Robert blanched. "I'm sorry."

Leo gave him a sardonic look. "I'm also wondering about that, Rob. You always used to say you were weak in this stuff, or weaker than the others. Now it's like you don't know your own strength."

"I know." Robert looked at his hand. "I just… I guess it's an adjustment. I'm not sure what this is."

"Well, I'm not the one to consult on that."

"No, but they are."

Robert's comment caused Leo to turn his head. Meridina and Lucy had arrived in the company of Mastrash Ledosh. "So they are. Well, I'll leave you to that consult. I've got medical supplies to transfer."

Once Leo finished walking away Robert turned back to the others. "Hey, good morning," he said.

"Yes." Ledosh had a bewildered look to his face, showing through his usual stoic quiet. "This is quite extraordinary."

"My waking up?"

"No." Meridina shook her head. "Robert, your power has grown. Without explanation. We have never had a case such as yours."

"Yeah. I mean, I can sense it too." Lucy shook her head. "You've got a lot of power now. Maybe more than either of us."

Robert swallowed. He couldn't help but think this was more than just a side effect. Had being in that dreamworld done this to him? Aloud he said, "I've had trouble controlling it."

"Leo mentioned that," Lucy said.

"Would you mind returning to Gersal with me?" Ledosh asked. "I believe the Council can help you with this. And they will wish to learn more of what happened to you. Knowledge that may prevent ignorance that would create fear."

"Well, I'm not captain of the ship anymore," Robert said. "So there's no duties holding me here. And I don't want to cause harm because I can't control this." He sighed. "So yes, I'll come with you."

Ledosh nodded at that. "I am grateful for your choice. I will speak to Mastrash Tinaran to make final arrangements."

"I'm sure you all have work to do. I don't want to keep you from it." Robert gestured toward the door. Again power seemed to surge from him. Ledosh sensed it and held up a hand. His own life energy, powerful and trained as it was, absorbed the impact of Robert's unintended outburst. "But I would like to speak with Meridina for a minute."

Meridina stopped herself from turning away. Lucy and Ledosh departed from the medbay ward, leaving the two of them alone for the moment. Robert wondered how so much could change; here he was, awake again, and not only was Julia commanding the ship, Meridina was wearing command red and serving as First Officer. "Leo tells me that Julia asked you to be the new First Officer. Have you decided on your answer?"

"I am still considering it," she admitted. "In all honestly, it is not what I considered my destiny to be."

"True. You were always meaning to advance as a Knight, a swevyra'se." Robert grinned at her. "Of course, I figured my place would be running the family farm one day. Sometimes the future takes us places we didn't expect."

"Are you advising me to accept the promotion?" Meridina asked.

"I'm asking you to think about it," Robert said. "Although I admit to being selfish."

"Ah?"

"Julia." Robert sighed wistfully. "She showed me that a good captain needs a great first officer, someone who can make sure the captain is doing alright and getting good advice. Even if it means getting in the captain's face if they think the captain's wrong. And to me she was the greatest. And I think she deserves someone as her first officer who will be just as good to her as she was to me." Robert nearly gestured toward Meridina with his hand. He stopped himself just in case he accidentally knocked her back too.

Meridina nodded once. "I see what you mean, Robert. I will consider it. Is there anything else you would like to discuss?"

He shook his head.

"Then I shall go." She turned to leave. As she got to the door, she stopped and turned back to face him. "I am relieved to see you are awake again, and whole."

"It's good to see you again too, Meridina," he answered back.

Lucy and Ledosh were waiting for Meridina when she left the medbay. At Lucy's insistence they went to Lucy's quarters. Once the door was shut Lucy walked between them and to her desk. "I have to show you something," she said.

"This has to do with the Cylon swevyra'kse you fought on New Caprica?" Ledosh asked.

"Oh yeah, does it ever." Lucy picked up an object from the table. "She blew herself up when I defeated her. Her weapon was damaged in the process. It's not functional anymore, but…"

Ledosh and Meridina both recognized the warped, melted cylinder in Lucy's hand. "A swenkesh," Ledosh noted. "The Cylons can build them?"

"I don't know. Maybe not, actually, because I did a scan of it." Lucy set the destroyed weapon back down before she brought up the results on an extra-large holographic screen generated by her omnitool. "This is the result of dating the material."

The two Gersallians examined the result. "Three thousand years?"

"Well, anywhere between twenty-eight hundred and thirty-one hundred, roughly," Lucy answered. "But yes. It's almost as old as Swenya's Blade. And I think I found a marking on it that survived the blast." She tapped her omnitool again to bring up a zoomed in image of the burnt out lightsaber. On the rim of the hilt were several bits of what had once clearly been characters or text of some sort, melted beyond recognition. But one of the characters was intact enough to be distinctive. "Here." With a tap of a key Lucy highlighted the intact symbol.

"Swenya's Light," Ledosh gasped. The two younger women looked at Ledosh with surprise.

Meridina looked back to it. She narrowed her eyes and soon recognition came to her. "It looks like an old Gersallian symbol," she said. "Similar to the ones I found on Dralan Olati's lakesh."

"It is a clan symbol of the Kuneli," Ledosh said. "Specifically, it is the insignia of a long and extinguished clan. The Ihblis."

"And what's so important about these people?" Lucy asked.

"Because, Lucy Lucero, they died out with their last patriarch in the War of the Brotherhood." Ledosh frowned deeply. "For the Ihblis were the clan and family of Mastrash Kohbal."

Lucy's eyes widened. "What?"

"How could these Cylons have acquired such a relic?" Meridina looked to her old mentor. "You do not think…"

"I have long wondered about the similarity of the names," Ledosh said. "How the Humans of the Colonies referred to their worlds as the Colonies of 'Kobol', and how the world of that name was their homeworld. I had considered it nothing more than phonetic coincidence. But now, with this evidence, I wonder…"

"You believe the ancient origins of the New Capricans might be tied to the Brotherhood of Kohbal," Lucy said.

"Right now, Lucy Lucero, I do not know what to believe," Ledosh said grimly. "I will have to do research. Until then, I implore you, do not share this with anyone."

The two nodded in acceptance of his charge.

"There's also that dead Cylon at the ventilator access," Lucy continued. "There's no indication of who killed him."

"Whatever did was of great service to us," said Meridina.

"Yeah, but I'd feel better knowing…"

Lucy didn't say anything else on the matter. After a few quiet seconds passed Ledosh spoke up. "I must be going now. President Morgan has instructed me to begin talks with the government here on a proper response to this attack." Ledosh bowed slightly. "Mi rake sa swevyra iso, Meridina, Lucy."

They returned the farewell. Once Ledosh was out of the room Lucy went over to a chair and settled into it. "The Cylons are a lot more dangerous than we thought," she said.

"Agreed." Meridina sat on the small couch in the living area of Lucy's quarters, placing the coffee table between them. "I can feel how upset you are about this, Lucy."

"They… they cloned me, Meridina. They cloned me. And they've got all these other copies of me running around doing God knows what! I mean, for all we know, this attack only happened because of them copying me!" Lucy gestured toward her arm. "They could pretend to be me! Geneprint and retinal scans, fingerprints, every one of them would have worked for them. Maybe even the bioelectrics!"

"I have prepared a report to Defense Command on the problem."

"What's it going to mean for me?" Lucy asked. "If the Cylons can pretend to be me… if we can't find a way to tell the difference between me and their copies of me… what's going to happen? Are they going to make me leave the ship? Quit the Stellar Navy?"

"Do you want to remain in the service?" Meridina asked.

"Well, I want to stay here, on the Aurora, where I can do the most good," Lucy said. "But if I get kicked off the ship, where will I go?"

"If such a thing happens, I am certain you will find a way to continue to serve the Light."

Lucy looked up at her and smiled softly. "I'd try my best," she said. "And what about you?"

"About me?"

"This. I mean, that." She pointed to Meridina's collar, where the rank tab had three gold strips to denote her as a Commander. "Are you going to go back to being security chief? Or will you take the promotion?"

Meridina lowered her eyes. "Truly, I am uncertain."

"Oh?" Lucy shifted in her seat and leaned forward. "Why?"

"That is something I have been meditating upon, ever since Julia asked me to be her first officer." Meridina placed her hands together below her chin. The gesture made her look like she was praying though Lucy knew it to be more of a thinking position for her. "I have commanded before. When I examine my capabilities and knowledge, I see no reason to presume I am unsuited to the post. But I feel a… a block to my acceptance of it. There is something within me which resists the position."

"Hmm." Lucy nodded. "Maybe it's because you never imagined you'd be something like that? You grew up to be a swevyra'se. Maybe you imagined you'd become a Mastrash when you were much older than you are now, but there's nothing like a First Officer's position in the Order, right?"

"There are those assigned as seconds-in-command during large-scale missions. But nothing permanent like this."

"Right. So I suppose it could be intimidating? I mean, I don't know if I'd want the job either."

"Robert believes I should take the position. He desires me to, in fact, though he was reluctant to press me on the matter."

"He's probably worried about Julia. She's used to being the second-in-command. To questioning him and giving him advice. Now she's the one in command without anyone to be the same to her." When silence was the answer to this point, Lucy left her chair and walked around the coffee table to sit beside Meridina. Meridina turned her head so they could look eye to eye. "I can't sense whether you should or not. But I'll do whatever I can to help you once you've made it, whatever the choice is. With all the support you offered me while I was your student, I couldn't do anything less for you."

A quiet moment passed before Meridina answered her. "Thank you, Lucy."

When Zack returned to New Caprica, it was to get the dreadful duties over with. He knew it would hurt and he wanted it done.

And he wanted to be alone.

Unfortunately, it turned out that the latter simply couldn't happen. When he arrived at Clara's home in the Hospital Quarter of the Colony, Thrace and Anders were waiting for him. So was Cally and Galen, with their infant Nick sleeping in a nearby baby carrier. Zack saw them and managed a "Hey".

"We figured you could use somebody," Thrace said. "To get this done."

"And we didn't want you to be alone."

Zack didn't retort that that's exactly what he wanted to be. He didn't need to. He was sure Anders and Thrace already knew that. Just as they knew that leaving him alone with the memories of what he lost was not good for him.

So he said nothing while opening the door. They stepped into the quarters. Everything looked just as it had the other morning before everything went wrong. Dishes meant to be done later were piled in the sink. The refuse from their breakfast before her hospital shift was at the top of the trash can. Everything in the bed area of the studio apartment was as they'd left it. It all looked like the last two days hadn't happened.

But they had. And Clara was gone.

Cally set little Nick on the table. The infant seemed unfazed by the slight movement of his carrier, continuing to doze peacefully. She turned back to Zack with tears forming in her eyes. "I'm so sorry," she said, after which she hugged Zack. "I can't believe she's gone. She… she saved my life. I would have frozen up if Clara hadn't been there."

Zack couldn't keep the tears from his eyes. "She was looking forward to you becoming a dentist," he said. "She said that if we ever had kids, you'd be their dentist."

Cally sniffled at that.

When she finally let go, Galen put a hand on Zack's arm. "Clara was the best," he said. "We're going to miss her."

Zack's only reply to that was to nod. "We should get started," he said. "The ship's supposed to leave tonight, and there's a lot to do here."

"It'll be good practice for all of us," Thrace remarked. "The Quorum's talking about abandoning this colony and jumping universes after all. Like we should have done if Baltar hadn't been such a fraking idiot."

Zack had nothing to say to that. He did have the thought of what that meant, of course. That if Baltar hadn't been so ridiculous in deciding to settle here, then this attack wouldn't have happened. And Clara and so many other citizens of the Colonies would still be alive.

There was a knock at the door. Zack stepped between Galen and Cally to open it.

Tom Barnes and Leo were outside, joined by Apley, Magda, and Hajar. "Scotty, Nick, and Jarod are going to beam down as soon as their watches are over," Barnes said. "With all of us together, this should be over in a snap."

Zack sighed and closed his eyes. "Yeah, yeah it will be," he said. "Come on in."

They all piled into the apartment. There was just enough room for everyone to work, and it was true that if they worked well together it would be over soon. Zack forced himself not to say anything. They'd get everything over with and he could get to his quarters and be alone, just as he wanted to. He went to join the others in working.

There was another knock. This time Magda beat him to it. She stepped back enough to admit Julia. "I wanted to see how far things were going," she said. "And help if you needed it. Meridina and Lucy may…"

She stopped herself. Zack did too. At least, he stopped himself from yelling at them. But at the same time, he simply couldn't be here, surrounded by friends, by family, being pitied and sympathized with. "I need air," was all he managed to say before he rushed past Julia and outside. He closed the door with enough force that it nearly reached the level of being slammed shut, though it was not.

The others all looked toward Julia and then each other. She sighed. "He needs space," she said. "And time. We should get everything done before he gets back. It'll be easier on him that way."

There were nods of agreement. Everyone started working.

Zack needing air turned into a walk that took him to the center of the Colony. The populace was back out of the bunkers now and cleanup was continuing from the damage caused by the attack. Some of the businesses were even open again.

Including the one that Zack had spent so much time in before the Cylon attack.

After several moments of consideration he sighed and stepped into the jewelry store. It hadn't been touched by the attack. The jeweler spotted him from behind his display and grinned. "Ah, Commander. You're just in time. I…"

"I'm here to cancel my order," Zack said.

That brought a surprised frown to the other man. "You're what?"

"Cancel it," Zack repeated.

"But… I cannot." The man bent down briefly and came up again with a small box of velvety red. He opened it to reveal a ring with a glinting set of diamonds in it. "I finished it this morning. Our policy is no refunds after completion of the project."

Zack frowned at that. The frown was followed by a sigh as he picked up the ring. His heart quaked in agony at seeing it. All of his plans with it were for naught now. Just looking at it was painful.

"What is wrong?" the man asked. "It's just as you asked for."

And indeed it was, as Zack noticed the engraving on the inside of the ring. Clara & Zack, with a stylized romantic heart. He closed the box and set the useless ring into his pocket. "It is," he said.

"It is exquisite. Some of my best work. Surely your young lady hasn't changed her mind…?"

"She can't change her mind," Zack answered. "She can't do anything now."

The older man's face fell. "I am so sorry to hear that. I pray that the Lords grant you both peace."

"Thanks," was all Zack could say before he walked out. The weight of the little box in his pocket was nothing. The weight it left inside of him was tearing the fresh wound further open. All of his dreams of how he would present the ring to Clara were nothing but fantasies now. He felt the urge to just take the ring and throw it away.

He started walking back toward the Hospital, the direction of Clara's apartment. He made it a block when a light caught his eye. A sign for another business along the main road he was following. He glanced over to read the sign. Something inside of him tried to dig his heel in, to ignore what he was thinking.

But it was too weak to fight the pain. The pain won. Zack entered the business. He walked past the rows of bottles, the stands of product, and to the main counter. A middle-aged woman met him there. "Yes?" she asked.

Before he could stop himself, the question popped from Zack's lips.

"Do you have any tequila?"

"You know, I could get to like it here," Jack O'Neill announced.

His team walked alongside him. "It does seem to have an agreeable climate," Teal'c agreed.

"And it has that small town feel to it."

"Because they're all that's left of their civilization," Sam pointed out. "I doubt it's a small town by choice."

"And it's more of a really small city than a town," Daniel added.

Jack let out a sigh. "Alright, so you're both right about that. But you can see what I mean, can't you? And we got to be the heroes here, so let's enjoy it before we head back, right?"

"Personally I'm more interested in reading their histories than anything else," said Daniel. "I'd like to find out how they came to associate their religion with Greek mythology. They're supposed to be the distant descendants of Humans who survived Earth's destruction in an atomic war, right? So how did they end up thinking they came from another world and Earth was just another colony?"

Jack leveled a look at Daniel. "Well, that's your idea of fun. Now me, I'd like to meet the people. Get to know them."

"Try out their beer," Daniel said, anticipating Jack's interest.

"That too."

"And discover their best fishing spots," Sam added.

"And yes, that too…"

"Well, there you are," another voice called out. The four turned and watched Buck and Wilma walk up. Buck was in a civilian suit, brown jacket and light-colored shirt with dark pants, while Wilma was wearing the blue variant of the Earth Defense DIrectorate uniform. "They finally let us out," Buck said.

"How's the arm?" Daniel asked Wilma.

"Doctor Gillam got it patched up last night," she answered.

"Well, Buck, now that you're here, maybe you can help us settle something," Jack said. "We're having a little discussion about the best way to spend our time before we have to take off. Daniel here wants to go put his nose in a book."

"I didn't say that…"

"...while I wish to mingle with the people here and get to know them better."

"What he means to say is he wants to try their beer and see their best fishing spots," Sam remarked with a grin.

"Ah, yes. 'Beer.'" Wilma smiled at Buck. "You've mentioned that substance before."

"Wait, wait." Jack leveled a look at Wilma. "You don't know what beer is?"

"The Earth of the 25th Century is a little… different," Buck managed.

That prompted Daniel to ask, "How different, precisely?"

"Well, having the Alliance contact us has been a great way for me to eat real food again, for starters." Buck gave Wilma a cocky grin. "It's a way to get away from those bland food discs everyone on Earth eats these days."

Wilma gave him an exasperated look. "Food discs are carefully designed for nutritional value. They're a vital part in keeping the populace healthy."

"And they taste like stale crackers."

"So we've got descendants from a devastated Earth who worship the Greek pantheon under a new name… and now a post-atomic Earth." Daniel glanced toward Sam. "You know, I have to wonder, how precisely do people in the Multiverse keep all of these Earths apart?"

"I believe that is the purpose of their universe designators, Daniel Jackson," Teal'c pointed out.

"Okay, how about this? We're running out of time." Jack gestured to his watch. "Now, anyone who wants to go meet some great people and learn more about them, you follow me. If you want to read books about them, I'm sure Daniel will enjoy the company. But as of now, my part of this conversation is over, and there's a barstool somewhere in this colony with my name on it."

"Count me in," Buck said immediately.

The Aurora was just a few hours from departure when Julia got the communication she expected. She had it routed to the ready office off the bridge and sat at the desk to accept the call. Lee Adama's face appeared on her screen. "Congratulations, Julia," he said. "On your new command."

She smiled at him and nodded in reply. "Thank you. It feels better now that Robert is awake. How are things on your side?"

"My crew is relieved to see we saved their families and sent the Cylons running. Honestly, It's a good thing your people did come through." Lee frowned a little. "I think a few people felt like you let us down when the Cylons got the drop on all of us."

"I can understand that," Julia said. "We underestimated them. But we won't again."

"It may not be a big deal for us anymore. The Quorum just appointed Roslin as the new Vice President, and there's a rumor going around that Zarek might resign in her favor and take the VP spot. His association with Baltar and his policies isn't going to do him a lot of good right now. Roslin's already talking about renegotiating the colonization deal and going to another planet. Possibly in another universe."

"I don't blame her, or your people." Julia settled back into her chair. "Whatever happens, I hope everything works out."

"Thanks." The look on Lee's face became pensive, but a little hopeful. "So, are you staying long…?"

"We're leaving in a couple of hours, actually." Julia gave no sign of responding to his subtle disappointment. "The Aurora was rushed out without a full crew and with a few minor problems we need to sort out. We're due back at the Fleet Drydock in a couple of days, so we're heading back to Gersal to make the jump to Earth L2M1."

"I see. Well, it was good to see you anyway." Lee lowered his eyes. "Will you extend my condolences to Commander Carrey? I tried to reach him but he's not answering his comms."

"Yeah. He's… in a bad spot right now, and he's insisting on being alone. I'll give him the message when I can."

"Thanks." Lee remained silent for a moment before shrugging. "Well, that's it I suppose. Maybe we'll see each other at the New Liberty anniversary this year. I'm not sure who will be going to represent the Colonies."

"Maybe," Julia agreed. "We'll have to see." She felt surprise at her own little sense of disappointment. After all the stress of the prior few days, the chance to spend some time with Lee was something she realized she'd enjoy. It was unlikely to go anywhere as a romantic relationship, but the chance to unwind with someone who understood the pressures she was coming under, who understood her… yes, she could enjoy that.

"May the Lords watch over you, Julia," Lee said. "Pegasus out." His image disappeared from the screen.

Julia gathered her thoughts for a few moments and, with a little sigh, decided to go through her paperwork for the evening.

The streaks of warped space filled the one window in the captain's ready office on the Aurora. Julia found herself staring through that window. For nearly half a decade she had witnessed this scientific miracle, traveling on a ship exceeding the speed of light, and it never quite seemed to get old.

Seeing it as the captain of the ship in question? That made the experience all the sweeter.

It occurred to Julia that there was something of a madness to the last few years. She had always intended to be an athlete, or perhaps a businesswoman. Maybe even a politician, if the opportunity came. Any position where she could take charge and accomplish something notable, something worthy. She could never have imagined growing up to be a spaceship captain. And yet it was the very embodiment of the kind of work she wanted to do in her life. There was an impatient urge within her to get the Aurora back to dock, just so she could get back into normal duty and tackle the challenges coming.

Of course, even in dock there would be some challenges. Getting the crew established. Making sure the ship was ready. Getting her senior staff filled out.

The thought of that need was in her head when the door chime sounded. "Come in," she said.

The door slid open and Meridina stepped in. She was still wearing the uniform with command branch burgundy red in the trim. "Captain, Commander Scott reports that the engines are running as desired. All damage has been repaired."

"That's good to know." Julia leaned forward in her chair. "Anything else?"

"Yes." Meridina nodded once. "The Peregrine is waiting at the rendezvous point. They are here to pick up our allies."

Julia nodded. "Let Colonel O'Neill and Colonel Deering know. We'll see them off once we drop out of warp."

"Very well." Meridina placed her hands together before her. "Captain, I have another matter to discuss with you."

Julia was pretty sure of what Meridina was talking about. She responded with a simple "Yes?"

"I have put a great deal of thought into your request."

"And?"

"And…" Meridina paused briefly, as if making one final review of her decision before she made it permanent. "...I have made my decision. I humbly accept the task of being your First Officer."

Julia answered that with a smile. "That's good to hear, Meridina." She stood and extended her hand. "I'm looking forward to working with you, Number One."

Meridina furrowed her brow. "'Number One'?"

The smile turned into a grin of bemusement. "Yeah, I don't think that works for me either. We'll stick with Commander."

"Ah." Meridina reached out and accepted the hand. "Of course, Captain. I will serve you to the best of my ability."

"Will that include letting me know when you think I'm wrong?"

"I am informed that doing such is one of the primary tasks of a First Officer, so yes, I shall do so."

"Good." Julia nodded and settled back into her chair. Meridina took one of the chairs on the other side of the desk. "I suppose our first order of business is your replacement as Chief of Security. I'll submit Lieutenant Richmond's name for the promotion, if you're in agreement."

"I am. She will do well in the position."

"Good." Julia kept the smile on her face. Everything had finally clicked into place. She had a proper command staff for her ship.

Meridina, for her part, finished glancing around the room. "I see Robert's things have been removed."

Julia nodded at that. "He came by this morning and got everything. He's getting his quarters packed up now so I can move in. And, of course, you can then move into my old quarters."

"It shall give us something extra to do during our remaining time in dock," Meridina noted.

At that, Julia chuckled and said, "As if we won't have enough to do. At our rank, our only holidays end up being working holidays."

Much to Julia's surprise and delight, Meridina started laughing. Yes, I think this will work out, Julia thought, enjoying the sound of the stoic Gersallian's lilting laugh.

Robert made it to the Transporter Station just in time. He found Julia and Meridina standing with SG-1. "So, you're off too?" he asked them.

Jack replied, "Yeah. Before the snakeheads get all bent out of shape about us being around you."

"Well, I'm thankful you came to help," Robert said to them. "It was good seeing you again, however briefly."

"We are gratified to see you are well, Captain," Teal'c answered.

"Y'know, if you're no longer with the Alliance, you could always come to the SGC," Jack suggested. "We can always use good people."

Robert answered that with a warm smile. Julia and Meridina did the same. "Somehow I doubt the System Lords would be happy," Julia pointed out.

"Probably not," Robert agreed. "But thank you for the offer."

"I wouldn't mind getting to see some of these other universes," Daniel said. "I've heard about this one moon, somewhere called Solaris?"

The thought of the generally strait-laced Daniel dealing with the frantic insanity that Solaris could bring made Robert laugh. "Oh, that's a memorable one," Julia remarked.

"Quite," Meridina agreed. "It is certainly a… unique experience."

"Maybe one day, Doctor Jackson," Robert said. "Say hello to Sha're and little Leo for us?"

"Oh, don't get him started on Leo," Jack sighed. "Frankly, if you ask me that kid is growing up way too fast."

"That is a common complaint I hear from Human parents," Meridina said. "It would seem your species has a chronic inability to anticipate child growth."

"We just like to pretend they'll be small forever and won't go asking to borrow the car," Jack explained.

"It was good working with you all again," Sam said. "I know I wouldn't mind getting to spend more time on your starships."

"Hopefully we'll see each other again sometime," Julia said.

That got a single nod of approval from Jack. "Same here. And how about you talk to your Admiral Maran so that the next time we do this, instead of killer robots you let us fight something more interesting. All of this talk about a war with Space Nazis, but I haven't gotten to shoot a Nazi yet. It feels like you're holding out on me here."

Teal'c nodded. "I have heard many terrible things about these 'Nazis', and of the heroes who fought them. I too would like a chance to face them in battle. And I am most curious to see if they possess this 'ark' that Colonel O'Neill has spoken of."

"I don't think these Nazis have the Ark of the Covenant, Teal'c," Daniel remarked.

Sam smiled at that. "And I'm sure it doesn't behave the same way it does in the movie," she said.

The door to the Transporter Station slid open, admitting Buck and Wilma. "Ah, we're not too late," Buck said.

"No, you're not," Julia said. "It was nice to see you again, Captain, Colonel."

"Same here," Buck said.

"Yes." Wilma smiled at Julia and extended a hand. Julia accepted it. "Congratulations, Captain, and good luck out there."

"Thank you, Colonel. The same to you."

"Buck." Robert offered his hand. "How have you been doing?"

"Alright." Buck accepted it. "Good to see you're awake."

"Yeah. It's good to be back."

"The Peregrine just signaled, sir," the transporter station operator, a teal-skinned Dorei male with dark blue spots and hair, said. "They are ready for transport."

"Time to go," Wilma said, taking a step up to join SG-1 on the pad.

"Give Doctor Theopolis and Doctor Huer our best," Julia said to them.

"And Twiki," Robert added, smiling.

Julia nodded. "Yes, and Twiki."

"I will. It'll be nice to deal with robots who don't want to kill us." Buck stepped up on the transporter station, taking the spot beside Jack. Wilma stood beside Samantha. "Take care everyone."

"Hey, before you use that thing…" Jack held up his finger. "I've got one last thing to ask."

"Go ahead," Julia said.

"Zack's been pretty distant since, well… just let him know we hope he gets through this."

The request turned the mood in the room into a somber one. "Yeah," Robert said. "We will."

"Thanks. Well, now you can get on with the atom-shooting stuff."

"It's not shooting atoms, Jack," Sam pointed out.

"Close enough…"

"Crewman, energize," Julia said. And they watched together as their allies, their friends, were whisked away by the transporter system.

"So, where is Zack?" Robert asked. "I tried to visit his quarters but there was no answer."

"He's there." Julia sighed and shook her head. "He said he just wanted to be alone."

"Oh." Robert sighed at that. He could feel his friend's pain even here. "Well, hopefully he'll open up."

"It will have to be his choice," Meridina said. "And his alone."

It was the middle of the night for Zack, but even in his comfortable bed in his quarters on the Aurora, he found no rest. Falling asleep brought the dreams. Dreams of Clara dying before his eyes. Of her empty blue eyes accusing him of failing her. For not being there for her. For not saving her.

When the clock showed 0200 and sleep still hadn't come, he got out of his bed and walked into his living area. For a short time he simply sat on his couch, clad only in his boxers, staring ahead into space. Thinking of all of the plans he'd made and where they had gone. When he cast his eyes down toward his small coffee table, he spied the two objects he'd placed there upon his return. Seeing the velvet box with the engagement ring he never got to give to Clara made the pain in his soul spike. Tears flowed freely from his eyes until his vision became a blur. He sobbed quietly to himself.

When his vision cleared again, he was facing the other object. He stared at it. He knew he should have never bought it. He knew what it represented. What it could do to him, what it had done to him.

Which is why he knew what it would do to the pain. Just for a little while… just so he could sleep without dreams.

Zack reached to the table and picked up the bottle. He popped the top and poured a little into a mug he typically saved for his coffee. His hand quivered in momentary resistance before, with a low sigh, he surrendered to the impulse and picked up the mug.

Tag

The planet Gersal shined through the windows of Robert's old quarters. Everything here was as he'd left it, even after his months in a coma. Old certificates and awards that were now packed away in boxes, along with the plentiful family photographs and other keepsakes. Said boxes were being loaded onto a Order of Swenya transport even now, to be delivered to his cousin Beth on New Liberty.

Not everything would be taken there. Ledosh assured him there would be some room for private keepsakes wherever he stayed. He'd selected a picture of his family and another of the Aurora and Koenig crews from the prior year, items he was now placing in his duffel bag on top of his spare clothes and other personal items.

For a moment he lingered while looking at the two pictures through the opening of the bag. The one image was the last picture the family had with his grandmother in it. Allen and Anna were in the center. Michael and Leigh were beside them. Beth, ten years old at this point, stood between the two sets of adults, holding the hand of Robert as an eight year old. Three year old Susannah was between the two, smiling up at the camera.

A tinge of pain filled him. They were all gone from his life, save Beth. Getting to see them alive again, even in the way he had… he wondered for a moment just how he'd found the strength to leave them willingly.

That only lasted a moment, of course, since the answer was in the other photo. They were lined up in the Lookout. Robert in the middle, Julia to his right and Zack to his left. To Zack's left was Tom, and beyond him were Zack's officers: Apley, Magda, Karen Derbely, Sherlily and Opani. On Julia's were the rest of the Aurora crew: Jarod and Nick, Angel and Cat, Leo and Nasri, Scotty and Meridina and Patrice Laurent and, finally, Lucy. He reached his hand into the bag and briefly touched the image with his fingers. Tears were formed in his eyes, and not just tears of grief for his dead family, but joy as well, for the family that was still here.

The door chime sounded. Robert turned in time to see it slide open. Julia stepped in. She looked around at the spartan emptiness of the living area of what were now her quarters, and he could feel the wistful melancholy that briefly came over her. "Well," she said, "I came to see if you needed any help. Ledosh and Gina are ready to depart."

"I'm done." He patted his duffel bag. After taking a quick look around he felt a smile tug at his lips. "It's yours now."

"Yeah." Julia nodded.

"And I'm sorry about the bathroom mirror."

Julia gave him a bewildered look. He winced and gently raised a hand. "Yeah, I knocked my razor into it. Left a bit of a crack. And I'm going to need a new razor."

"Just as long as you get the seven years bad luck," Julia answered with a wry grin. Robert laughed in reply, and she laughed right back. Both felt better for the laughter.

When it ended, Julia glanced toward the desk facing them and the dormant monitor there. "I…" She looked at Robert and stated, her tone apologetic, "I never wanted this at your expense, Rob."

"I know. And it's not." He stepped up and took her hand. For a moment the energy within him stirred. He concentrated and barely managed to keep it in check. "Never think that, Julia. I made my choice. And the TARDIS warned me my life would end."

"It almost did," she pointed out. "Having you alive is a miracle, if you ask me."

"I think my life did end," Robert said. "I mean, I didn't die. But I'm not going to be able to go back to that old life. Of being Captain Robert Dale."

Julia could have pointed out he could get another command. But she knew not to. She could see what he meant. "So you sent in your resignation?"

"It's not officially accepted due to the war, of course, but Ledosh tells me Maran made it clear I'm off the active duty roster pending review of my condition. Knowing Davies and Hawthorne, they'll do everything they can to keep me out." Robert shrugged. "I did a lot of good as a captain, and I could probably do more, but when I think about it, I'm not as upset as I thought I'd be. And I've got a new life I have to settle into now."

"Are you sure about this? Becoming a mystic monk or whatever?"

Robert chuckled. "Well, I'm not going to become some hermit in the desert or anything. I'm going to be in the middle of nowhere for a while, yeah, but only until I regain some control."

"And then…?" Julia asked.

"Well, then I've got some things to do. Maybe spend time with Beth. Visit some sights in the Multiverse." Robert allowed himself a shrug. "I don't know. I have questions, and I need time to find the answers. But wherever I am, call me if you need me and I'll help you in any way I can."

"I know." Julia wiped away a tear from her eye. "It's just… it's going to be weird, I guess. You've been away before, but it feels like this might be for good. And we've always lived near each other or worked together."

"I feel the same way. Living without you is going to be, well, I'm going to have to adjust I guess." Robert shrugged. "Who knows, maybe I'll find a way to serve with the civilian staff on the ship." An amused grin came to him. "Maybe Hargert can use another waiter."

An old memory made Julia giggle as she shook her head. "Oh no. I remember the last time you tried that kind of work. The restaurant fired you after an hour."

For a few moments, there was more laughter. The silence that followed it grew awkward and then painful. "Leo said your brain was active while you were in the coma," Julia said. "Like you might be dreaming somehow."

Robert sighed and replied with a nod. "You could say that."

"Was it… I mean, it wasn't something bad, was it?"

"Far from it. I was happy." He swallowed. "It… has to do with my powers, with this swevyra and Flow of Life stuff. But I got to live in a world where I was happy."

"Were we in it?"

"Yes. Especially you." When Robert went silent, Julia couldn't help but feel the awkwardness of it. "I don't… I'm not sure how to say this…"

"Say what?"

"In the… dream, I guess you'd call it, you and I, we…" He saw Julia's cheeks flush slight pink and knew she understood where this was going. "...we had a son, Julie."

The flush disappeared. Her eyes locked onto his. "You… dreamed that?"

"It wasn't just a dream. I mean, it was more than a dream…" Robert couldn't stop the tears that formed in his eyes. "You named him after me. Robby Junior. Little Robby. He… he had your hair. And your eyes. And… if there was anything that could have kept me from waking up from that place, it was him."

"What are you saying then?" she asked. "That you want to have a child with me?"

There was an awkward silence. "Maybe," he finally admitted. "If you and I ever… if we ever feel we can make it work without endangering what we already have. If you want to have a child."

Julia struggled to find a response aside from a stiff nod. She swallowed while the thought went through her head. Have a family? Settle down? Could she do that? Would she want to?

"Maybe one day," she finally said. "I… I mean, if I were going to have a baby with someone, you're… it'd work. But not now. What I'm doing, what we're doing, it's dangerous. I'm not going to make potential orphans, Rob."

"I understand completely. I wouldn't want that either." He shrugged. "It's so strange. You and me, having a kid, that's something I'd love. But I also value what we have together, what we've had since we were little, too much to risk it on romance."

"I feel the same way." Julia cleared her throat and made a show of checking her omnitool. "We should probably get to the shuttle bay. They're waiting."

"I'm right behind you, Captain."

When they arrived in the shuttle bay, Robert could see that Julia hadn't just been speaking of Ledosh and Gina.

The officers of the Aurora and Koenig were lined up and waiting for Robert and Julia. His heart swelled at the sight of all of his friends and loved ones coming to say goodbye. He looked toward Ledosh, standing beside the shuttle they were departing on, and felt the assurance from the old Mastrash. He would ensure Robert's power didn't flare out of control. He could give everyone a proper goodbye.

He started with Ensign Hajar, who shook his hand and said, "Thank you for giving me a chance, Captain."

One by one he accepted their hands with his. Patrice Laurent, with friendly grin Robert associated with the commander of the ship's fighter group, gave him a pat on the shoulder. "You will be back," the Central African Republic native insisted. "Our lives are intertwined."

"Thanks, Patrice."

"Good luck, Captain," Lieutenant Richmond echoed in her Australian accent. "It's been an honor serving with you."

"The honor was mine, Lieutenant. Good luck with your new assignment."

"Ye take care, lad," Scotty said. "An' dinnae worry a bit about th' ship."

To that Robert chuckled. "With the Aurora in your hands, Mister Scott? Never."

"Take care of yourself," Leo insisted

"Always." He took Nick Locarno's hand next, then Jarod's, replying to their well-wishes with "Thank you" and "Good luck out there."

Caterina hugged him as tightly as she could. "I'm going to miss you!"

"Woh," he said. "Cat, when did you have a growth spurt?"

"Well, I did travel with the Doctor for a year…" She smiled at him. Her hair was longer than it had ever been, down to her shoulders, and there was a confidence in her eyes that was new. "Take care of yourself, and I don't care how, you have to come back. We're all family!"

"What my crazy not-so-little sister said," Angel added. She gave Robert her own tight hug. This one felt like it could actually crack ribs. "And you need to take care of yourself, Rob."

"Or you'll punch me?"

Her response to that was a smirk and a wink.

Robert could feel the pain coming from Zack even as his friend stepped up. The two embraced. Robert patted Zack on the back. "Call me if you need me," he said. "Just because I can't stay right now doesn't mean I won't be there for you, Zack."

"Thanks, but I'll be fine," Zack answered. The pain Robert sensed in his friend indicated otherwise. "I mean it. I… I just need to get through this by myself, Rob. Okay?"

"Okay," Robert answered. "Just remember that you don't have to." He hoped Zack would keep that in mind as he watched his grief stricken friend step away quietly.

"Man, get out of that monastery place as quickly as you can," Barnes insisted, giving Robert not so much a hug as an excited pat on the back. "I can't imagine how Goddamned boring it's going to be in that fraking place."

"I'll try, Tom, I'll try," he promised. He leaned in and whispered, "Take care of Zack."

Barnes nodded. His expression turned somber. "I'll try, man. It's not gonna be easy."

"Yeah, I can tell."

This left one last goodbye. Robert walked up to the shuttle, where Ledosh and Gina had been joined by Meridina and Lucy. "You look splendid, Meridina," he said. "Congratulations on your new posting."

"Thank you, Robert," she replied.

"Good luck with the training at Umintamil," Lucy added. A bemused grin appeared on her face. "I hear it's a special place."

"Quite special," Meridina said, giving Lucy a similarly-bemused look. "It is a place of introspection and quiet. It is said Swenya often went there to grieve for the slain and strengthen her connection to the Flow of Life. It is a good place for you to learn control."

"Right." Robert sighed. "I suppose I'd better go then."

"Yes."

With a nod to Ledosh and Gina Robert stepped into the shuttle door. He turned back to face the others. "Thank you, everyone," he said. "I know it feels like I just got back. I'm sorry to be leaving on such short notice. It's… well, it's something I need to do, or I'm going to end up hurting someone. I want you to know that whatever happens, I consider you my family, and I will be here when you need me." He stopped himself from saying "goodbye", or even "farewell". "Take care, everyone."

With his piece said, he stepped into the shuttle. Ledosh and Gina followed and the door closed behind them. Moments later the shuttle lifted off of the bay floor and flew out through the containment forcefield.

As the shuttle curved away out of sight, Julia activated her omnitool. "Andreys to Bridge, they're away. Begin jump."

The Starship Aurora turned away from Gersal and accelerated into a green vortex.