A Tangled Web Part 4: Family Ties

by ordinaryguy2

REWRITE: The Borg are invading Los Angeles in the 1980's. Unfortunately for them, the Visitors have already occupied the Earth. But luck is with the people of Earth as some long-lost relatives come to see them. The bad news is their enemies the Cylons are still in pursuit. Help is brought in from Sam Beckett and the Starman. A few other crossovers will also appear.

8. Chapter 8

THREE HOURS LATER ON THE NEW YORK MOTHERSHIP

The somber visage of the purple-dressed Leader stepped before the camera, sending his image to all the surviving motherships. "Prete-na-ma. Greetings, one and all. I will be speaking in one of the Earth languages because I want the Humans to hear what I have to say as well. Today we have fought off a formidable enemy with the help of the Earthlings' long-lost relatives. In that we can rejoice. However, we must are also saddened at the loss of several motherships and all those on board. They will be missed and their sacrifice remembered." He paused for a moment for effect as well as to prepare himself for what he was about to say next.

"However, our very reason for even being on Earth was not honorable and for that I am mostly to blame." The large lizard man leaned on the podium in front of him. His scales no longer held the luster that they had when he was in his prime. "I have the Mark of Zon on my arm," he said while lifting up his arm to show the well-known mark. "Yet I have not lived in the ways of Zon for a long time. This is my own fault for it was my choice to give up the ways of Zon, to serve in brotherly love. As a young man, my abilities as a bearer of the Mark of Zon let me see into the hearts of others. I became fascinated with those whose hearts were dark, and thus began darkening my own heart. I began visiting places that seemed to have an ambiance of darkness, of evil. It filled my heart to the point that I no longer recognized myself. It wasn't long after this that I began using my mind-powers to influence or control others for my own purposes. Those of the House of Zon stood against me so I wiped them out to the best of my abilities. I loved the thrill of conquest for I felt nothing could overcome me. I took over our planet and turned it into a manufacturing station, building motherships and weapons so that I could attempt to conquer the stars. I gave no thought to what environmental damage was being done to Sirius IV because I didn't care. I had already conquered it."

"The few worlds we found had limited resources that we could exploit, and the sentients, if there were any, were crushed. Until we came here. This planet called Earth was to be our new home as it had more food and water than we had found on all the other planets we discovered combined. We came here by deception. We opened our arms in brotherhood to the people of Earth and repaid their welcome with treachery most foul. Most of the blame for this can be placed on me, although I think you should all know that I did not influence everybody to my will. Some obeyed my commands because of the darkness already in their own hearts, some because they were afraid to stand up for what was right, some because they knew Sirius IV could not feed its people anymore, some because they just wanted power. Only those that I influenced truly escape blame. The rest will have to wait for the judgment of Elizabeth."

"The starchild Elizabeth, also a Bearer of the Mark of Zon, shall be your new leader. As she is yet young I have placed her in the guardianship of Philip, whose integrity has surpassed even my influence. Perhaps between the two of them, they shall work out a peace agreement between the Visitors and the Humans. Hopefully, an alliance can be formed as we may each need the other's help when the Cylon invaders return."

"One bit of good news I can give you is that Diana has been captured. Her actions have always been her own so all her evil deeds are on her own head. I request that she be handed over to the Earth authorities with whom she has already been tried and sentenced to be executed."

"As for myself, I will be doing more than stepping down as your leader. Elizabeth has been able to shed some light into my being but the darkness that I have been living in returns even now." Calmly, the leader stepped to the side of the podium with the cameras following him. "Because I will most likely be returning to my less benevolent nature, I will be removing myself for the time being." He placed his left hand on an unoccupied cryogenic sac. "I shall place myself in hibernation while I try to deal with my internal struggles. This way I should not be able to manipulate anyone the way I have been. But do not worry about me, my people. Elizabeth has promised to check on me annually to monitor my progress."

He shrugged off the purple robes leaving himself dressed in something similar to boxers. He lifted up a foot and slowly eased it into the gel-filled sac. Philip hurried over to help the Leader balance himself as he entered the cryogenic sac. Sitting with the gel up to his chest, the Leader regarded the cameras once more. "My people, I do this for you as well as for myself. Pray for my success even as I pray for you in your endeavors. Prete-na-ma, my people. My blessing upon you all."

Having said his part, he leaned back into the fluid and the sac closed. Philip bowed his head and signaled for the cameras to be turned off.

A number of people hurried over to the sac and quickly reopened it and pulled the Leader into a sitting position.

Philip slapped the face gently a few times. "C'mon, wake up! We don't have much time!"

The scaly face shook itself as he tried to shake off the hibernating effects of the gel. "Oh boy. That was something."

"Get out of there already, will ya?" called out a nervous man dressed in bright colored clothing.

Sam Beckett leaped up out of the Leader in a bright flash. Mike Donavon caught him just before he hit the ground. "Did it work?" he asked groggily.

"Yep," answered Al. "Willie even told me that you even pronounced the 'Prete-na-ma' hello-goodbye-blessing thing right."

Philip began to gently ease the Leader back down into the cryo gel, when the tyrant suddenly grabbed the edges on both sides of the sac.

"What-How dare you…" The Leader looked around himself in a daze. "Where am I?"

"You are about to take a long nap," answered Philip. "And trust me, it is the best thing that you will have ever done for your people."

"Wha-My powers?"

"Are being blocked," answered Elizabeth. Kyle stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders as a sign of support.

"What are you going to do to me?"

Philip regarded him for a moment. "We can't kill you, if that is what you are wondering. The last time our people thought you were dead, many of those that you had influenced began mass suicides. But we can't let you stay in leadership because you are a tyrant with no morals. That leaves imprisonment. However, if you are awake, you would use your powers to free yourself, therefore we won't leave you awake."

The Leader looked down in horror at the hibernation unit he was sitting in. "You can't do this to me! I'm the Lea-"

Philip grabbed hold of the Leader's head and brought it close to his own. "Of all the things I want to do to you, this is by far the kindest. You should know this, however. Elizabeth will be checking on you from time to time to see if you have changed your ways. If you haven't, then you stay inside. There is a time limit, though. If you haven't changed your nature in fifty years, you will simply die in your sleep because the gel won't last any longer than that."

The Leader's eyes widened. "Philip, I treated you and your brother like you were my own sons!"

"And now my brother is dead!" He forced the Leader's head back under the gel and held him there even though his own arms were becoming numb even through his false Human covering.

Elizabeth knelt down next to Philip. "He's unconscious now. You can let him go."

With a sobbing shudder, he released the Leader and pulled his gel-covered hands out of the sac. "It's amazing. I know all the wrong that he has done. Even heard some of it directly from him and yet I still have a difficult time working against him."

Elizabeth nodded in understanding. "And now that he is gone, our people can start the healing process."

"It won't be easy."

"Few things are."

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THE RECEPTION AREA ON THE NEW YORK MOTHERSHIP

The medical tricorder moved slowly up and down the face of Lt. James. Finally satisfied, the Starfleet doctor nodded to the two guards on either side of the shackled prisoner who then hauled him away.

She examined the results on her tricorder for a moment then stored the information away. She looked over at the man she had previously examined. "And you say Lt. James reminded you of someone you knew as well."

Paul Forrester nodded. "The man I knew with that face, on the Earth I was brought from, was called Bennu. He was the Phoenix. An ancient astronaut who had come to Earth thousands of years ago, but found that they were way too early to help man. Mankind was not ready culturally, or scientifically, to deal with the information the astronauts wanted to share with them. So, he and another were placed in hibernation at separate locations to await a time when mankind was ready and then subtly lead them to the point where Humans could reach their full potential and travel to the stars on their own. Unfortunately, a problem occurred."

Beverly, a romantic when she got the chance, was captivated by the story. "What happened?"

"An archeological team found an ancient Peruvian Tomb with a coffin inside. When they opened Bennu's coffin, he was revived early and his instructions were erased."

"So what did he do?"

"He went to search for his partner, Mira, who is still in suspended animation and buried somewhere. The only thing that he was sure of was that she was buried above the 30th parallel and in one of the old Indian burial sites."

"Did he ever find her?"

"Not the last time I saw him, but that was about a month ago and he said he had a good clue as to her whereabouts."

"Well that's good. No, wait a minute! That's not good at all. How will I ever find out how it turns out?"

Paul just shrugged. "I'm sorry. But now tell me who he reminds you of?"

Beverly frowned. "A historical figure named Joachim. He was the lieutenant of a madman named Khan Noonien Singh. They were part of a group of genetically engineered Humans who saw themselves as the masters of the world because they were stronger and smarter than regular Humans. They took over nations and fought among themselves, causing mankind to slip into a dark age. The regular Humans banded together and hunted down all those that were genetically engineered and killed them. Khan and his followers fled the Earth on an experimental sleeper ship called the S.S. Botany Bay. They were awakened a could hundred years later by Captain Kirk on his vessel, Enterprise-A. Kirk and Khan's crew fought twice. The second time they fought decades later wasn't documented completely because of red tape, but we do know that Khan and his followers are dead."

"Interesting. Both Joachim and Bennu spent hundreds of years in suspended animation; one as he fled Earth, the other as he waited the right time to guide mankind to their rightful place among the stars." He paused to think about it. "Do you think there is some connection between the two?"

"I don't know but I find it all so fascinating. When I get back home, I'm sure I'll put together a report or two explaining my theories on all these body doubles we have been coming across."

"I wish you well on that."

Elsewhere in the reception area people were milling around trying to get to know each other and bond with their new allies. Visitors, mostly those that had been in the Fifth Column, mingled with some of Tyler's soldiers and those that had been released from their cryogenic sleep. One small group consisted of a number of Colonial Warriors sharing some drinks of Ambrosia with Vash and a few of their new Human friends. Apollo and Boxey traded battle stories while Vash, Al Calavicci and Boomer exchanged humorous suggestions as to Starbuck's sudden need to go to the Galactica to see his girlfriend. Jack O'Neill and General Hammond sampled the drinks sparingly as they followed the enigmatic Time Lord's advice to carefully listen in on the conversation Adama was having.

Adama looked over to see his son and grandson bonding together. To think that I was almost certain I would lose them both today, he thought.

"I still say you're wrong in your translation."

Adama frowned as he regarded the young man Apollo had introduced him to. At Apollo request, Adama had brought copies of the earliest Colonial writing for Daniel Jackson to look at. Now he was almost regretting it because of all the radical reinterpretation the young man was insisting on. Especially those commenting on when the Thirteenth Colony of Man left Kobol.

"This is clearly [to]; not [from]. And this is definitely [forced]. They were [forced] [to] this Kobol place by these [gods]. A rebellion happened and they [blocked, took away, or disabled] the gods' [door to heaven]. [Door to the heavens]…? No, [star gate]. Yes, that word seems more accurate. The people on Kobol [disabled] the [stargate] to [escape] the [gods]." Daniel sneezed and took a moment to clean his glasses. "What do you know of this Kobol place?"

"It is where we are from, all the people of the Thirteen Colonies. Caprica, Leo, Piscon, Gemoni, Canceria, Libra, Aeriana, Taura, Scorpio, Sagitara, Virgon, Aquaria and Earth," he stressed.

Daniel, a young radical in the ancient languages circuit, was used to conflicting views so really wasn't bothered by Adama's rather insistent views. "So why did they leave this Kobol place?"

Ever the diplomat, Adama began telling what he knew. "Kobol, sometimes called 'the Lost World of the Gods,' was a world of technological wonders, but our ancestors had taken it for granted and the planet was doomed. Ecological disasters caused by various forms of pollution made it impossible for my people to stay any longer. So, they fled to the stars and formed the colonies."

"Hmmm. I think I understand. If I am translating this correctly, it says that after they had [separated] from the [gods], the [people] or maybe the correct translation is [slaves], [took] [many] of the [secret] [treasures] of the [gods] for [themselves]. The [treasures] were both a [blessing] and a [curse] for the [people]." Daniel stared in wonder at the symbols in front of him. "If I'm right, that could explain the evacuation of Kobol."

Despite himself, Adama was curious. "How do you reach that conclusion?"

"Well, think about it. If Kobol really started as a slave colony for these 'gods', then once the slaves freed themselves, they helped themselves to the technology of their 'gods'. But being slaves, they probably didn't have the full understanding of the technology that they were trying to use. Thus, accidents and ecological problems that shouldn't normally occur with a race so far advanced as the one you described happened, forcing them to abandon the planet. Their mistakes on Kobol most likely helped them to not make the same mistakes on those other planets you mentioned."

Adama didn't like the rough hue that Daniel was painting of his ancestors, but he couldn't find any fault in the theory. At least not at the moment. Despite himself and despite the headache that Daniel was giving him, he found himself liking the young man. "That doesn't mean you are right."

"No. No, it doesn't. I'd need to do a lot more research to validate anything, but it is fascinating." Daniel pointed to a picture on the paper. "What is this? It's not writing, at least not anything I am familiar with."

Adama looked at the circular disk that Daniel was pointing to and his mouth went dry. "What do you think it is?"

"Well, the writing around it seems to indicate it is this 'stargate' that the 'gods' used to go between the heavens. Personally, I was thinking that the 'stargate' was a spaceship or something."

"What about a device that could make a portal? A portal from one place to another?"

Daniel looked at the old man strangely. "Across galaxies? And you considered some of my ideas radical?"

Adama held his hand up to get a moment to explain his thought. "There was a device we had on Caprica. It is said to have been brought from Kobol when the colonies left."

"What did it do?"

"We don't know. We had been told that it would only work on Kobol and that my ancestors didn't dare leave it behind because they feared that it would be used again."

"Nothing more specific?"

"Nothing. Evidently it was a taboo subject. I had some of our scientists on Caprica studying it and trying to determine its purpose, but it wouldn't function for them."

"Just because it wasn't on Kobol?"

"That's what little the legends tell us."

"Excuse me, gentlemen. But could I see this picture that you two are talking about?" General Hammond walked over and brought Jack O'Neill with him. "Ah, yes. I thought so."

"Is this of some interest to you, general?" asked Adama.

"I'm afraid it is. Could you two come with me? I'd like to show you a project I've been working on. I think you might find it fascinating." The general looked down at the small robot unit. "Okay, K-9. Take us to wherever you parked that cargo room. I want these men to see the relic that you saved from the Borg."

The little mechanical obediently took off, waving its antenna tail all the way.

Samantha Carter nodded to O'Neill as he walked by but returned back to her conversation. "Are you sure you want to do that? It's an awfully big step."

Dr. Banner smiled and nodded. "It seems like the best thing to do at the time."

"Well, since I can't convince you, I'm going to go see where the general and O'Neill are off to."

"Um, Samantha. He's a little old for you and I think he's married."

She sighed gloomily. "Yeah, he already told me. He did say I could baby-sit for him any time though." She laughed at the thought. "He said he didn't think his son could ever be in safer hands." She took a moment deep in thought. "It would be nice to do something simple again like babysitting. Going to church. Actually having time to read a book. And gardening."

"Well, go tell him yes then."

"Alright. Good luck. I'm out of here. Besides it looks like your reporter friend really wants to talk to you."

Banner looked across the way passing various other groups. He groaned.

"Can you spare a moment, doc?" asked Jack McGee as he walked up.

"I don't suppose 'no comment' would satisfy you?"

"Ha! I hope that was a joke."

Banner didn't bother to answer. "So, what will you do now?"

"You mean will I publish what I know?"

Banner laughed. "I don't think whether or not you publish anything is really going to matter. Too many people saw my metamorphosis into the Hulk. My secret would get out now no matter what you do."

"Then you don't mind if I write about it for a newspaper column? Possibly even a book?"

"Go right ahead. I won't be around to be bothered by it."

A cold chill went down McGee's spine. "What do you mean 'you won't be around'?"

"No, nothing as gruesome as suicide." Banner pointed over to a group of people across the room. "You see the redhead woman in the blue and black spandex uniform."

"The space traveling doctor from the future? Yeah, I met her. She's scanning everybody she can get near with that device of hers." At Banner's bemused expression, McGee explained. "I traded a quick interview with her for a scan of my body. Why? What about her?"

"Well, she seemed very impressed with my persona's metabolism and when I mentioned to her my fears about not being left in peace now that my secret was out she offered to take me back to where she comes from."

"You're going back with her… to the future?"

"A future in a parallel universe, yes. But it makes sense to me. She says they have done wonders in medicine and could possibly even cure me or at least hook me up with something to keep me from losing control." Banner leaned a little closer to the shocked news reporter. "And to tell you the truth, even if I didn't have this 'curse' on me, I'd probably go just to see all the technological advances they have made."

McGee was dumbfounded. He didn't know what to say. "So… so you're leaving… and that's it?"

"Yes. I'll be leaving as soon as everyone else does." He watched his old nemesis sulk for a moment. "But I suppose I have time for an interview before I go."

"You do? You will?" McGee couldn't believe his luck. "But why?"

"Mostly to get the story straight."

"Yeah? I like that. Why else are you doing this?"

"Partially in respect of an adversary who gave up everything to try discover the truth."

"Thanks. Sorry about giving you such a hard time though." Jack's hands reflexively moved to his shirt pocket to retrieve a pen and notepad.

"Something wrong?"

"I-I lost my notepad! I borrowed it to Professor Hinkley, one of those island castaways, because he was working on a formula for something. Don't look at me like that! He promised me an interview of his experiences. He and six others had been castaway on an island for decades. Two were the missing Howell millionaires. There was also the starlet Ginger Grant. It's a story worth its weight in gold that fell in my lap. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to set up an interview." He looked around the room but couldn't spot the Professor anywhere. "Wait for me! I'll be right back!" he said excitedly. "Does anyone have a pen and paper I could borrow? Or a tape recorder?"

Banner laughed as he watched the newsman scramble for his needed resources.

A commotion occurred as a skinny man in a red shirt and wearing a white sailor's cap chased after a fat orange cat with black stripes. The cat was leaping from table to table taking bites out of the various foods that presented itself. At least, he sampled the food on the Human tables. He seemed to avoid the Visitors table.

The cat made a quick hop unto another table. He was about to take a bite out of the plate full of lasagna next to him when he suddenly found he couldn't move.

"Bad cat!" scolded Gilligan. He was out of breath from chasing the cat who insisted on overeating. At his feet, an odd, blonde dog was running around in circles due to all the excitement. "Sorry about all the trouble. I don't know what got into him."

"Looks like too much food to me," joked Kyle. Elizabeth, Leela, Scott, B'Elanna, Hugo and Sam laughed at the fat cat's expense.

"You're the one who captured Diana, right?" asked Elizabeth.

Gilligan nodded in humble embarrassment. "Actually, Garfield and I both did it," answered the skinny man as he pointed to the cat. "How come he isn't moving now?"

Elizabeth smiled. "That would be my fault. Here. Let me hand him to you." She carefully used her powers to levitate the paralyzed cat over to Gilligan who took him in his arms while in a state of complete amazement. "And if you take this plate of lasagna with you for him to eat, he shouldn't give you any problems for a while."

"How do you know he likes lasagna?"

She smiled. "I read his mind."

"Wow! You can read minds! Can you tell what I'm thinking-"

"Gilligan!" called out a loud voice that turned a number of heads. "Get over here and bring that cat and dog, too!"

"Coming, Skipper!" Gilligan quickly said his good-byes and grabbed one of the plates of lasagna for Garfield. "C'mon Odie."

"And he had to take my plate," commented Kyle as he shook his head. The others just laughed.

A couple of tables away Jenny was having a quiet moment with her husband when the man she most feared and despised came up to them. "Leave us alone!"

George Fox looked from husband to wife as he tried to figure out what to say. "I just wanted to have a few words with you."

Paul put a comforting hand on his wife's shoulder. "Be brief."

"Well, the… people here have given me more than enough evidence to bring back with me to prove that alien life exists. Mostly some small gadgets with amazing technology and metals and alloys that don't exist on Earth."

"But you are getting this 'evidence' of yours from a parallel universe," pointed out Paul. "That technology may not even exist in our universe."

"That's not the point. What matters is that alien life will be proven to exist."

"And you will have been the one to have proved it. Makes me glad we're staying here in this universe," snorted Jenny.

"You're what?"

"We're – staying – here!" stated Jenny. "Where you and your government hounds can't wreck our lives anymore!"

"You can't do that! You just got to come back! You just got to!"

Paul shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid once your government friends get a hold of the 'evidence' that you have regarding extra-terrestrial life, we would be hunted down even more ruthlessly than before."

"But you have nothing here!"

"I can contribute. I've already made plans with Elizabeth to go with her to see if together we somehow heal the damage done to Sirius IV. Also, I have also already offered my services to her in helping to teach her in the use of her powers."

"You know," the FSA man said, "I am not a bad guy. I am just doing what I feel necessary to protect my country and world."

Paul tightened his hand on his wife's shoulder to let her know that he would handle it. "But it is the effect of your actions that would cause innocents like my family and I to be locked away by your government. And then experiments would be performed on us against our will. Experiments of a very unethical nature."

"You don't know that!"

Jenny couldn't take it anymore. "Could you guarantee our freedom or even our safety if we returned with you?"

Unable to answer, George Fox turned and walked away.

Paul looked down into his wife's eyes. "I think you may have misjudged his full intentions, dear."

"Maybe, but we're still staying here. At least here they don't seem to mind very much if you come from outer space."

Paul just nodded. "I think I finally understand the old adage of not coming between a she-bear and her cubs."

She looked him in the eye. "Are you calling me a bear?"

Paul just laughed and kissed her.

Ham walked around the two lovebirds as he tried to find someone. Spotting her, he hurried past an older couple in expensive, but thread worn clothes. He gave his apologies to the Howells and kept walking even as the old man was berating him for being uncouth.

Cassie was sitting at a table with two young male Visitors. Ham's nostrils flared briefly, but he managed to put on a grin and sat down across from the young woman.

The conversation stopped for a moment as the two young Visitors sized up the new arrival. The peace between the Visitors and Humans was still new and many still needed to change their attitudes on a number of things. Ham wasn't bothered at all by any possible hostilities harbored against him since he was still jealously harboring a number of his own.

"Just wanted to tell you that Chris is awake and says thanks."

"That's good. I'll have to go see him after this and say hi to him myself." She turned to the two men with her. "Steve, Tim. I'd like you to meet Ham Tyler." She saw her friends' nervousness at the mention of the infamous Tyler so she thought she would be kind. "Would you two mind leaving us for a moment? Mr. Tyler and I need to talk."

As the two young Visitors hurried to leave, Ham chuckled softly, admiring how she had affectively gotten rid of her two companions. "So what do you want to talk about?"

"Nothing, really. So, what are your plans now? You are a fighter. Now that the fighting is over, what are you going to do?"

"Oh, there's always trouble somewhere." He looked at her plate, which turned out to be a clear flat box with air holes in the top. And two white mice aimlessly searching for a way out. The long, white, skinny one looked up at him and made a sound that sounded something like 'Narf'. He grimaced at the thought of her eating the creatures. The smaller white mouse seemed to have a swollen head and seemed to bully the long, white, skinny one into doing what he wanted. Ham looked away, thinking back to some of the odd things his deceased Vietnamese wife would eat.

"Something wrong, Mr. Tyler?"

"Ah, no. Not really," he said, turning back with a smile. "And please call me Ham."

"Okay… Ham," she said with a shy smile.

"I wonder what they are talking about?" asked Willie rhetorically.

"Does it really matter? We have plans to make. Now since we are having the wedding on Earth, should we wait for my family to come to Earth for the ceremony, or should we just have the ceremony and send them a video feed of it?" asked Thelma,

Willie didn't even take his eyes off of Ham and Cassie. "We'll send them a video feed."

"Really? Then… you don't like my family?"

"What?" He turned to her in alarm. "Why do you think that?"

"Well, why else wouldn't you want my family at our ceremony?"

"It's—it's just that I didn't want to put off the ceremony any longer than we have to. We have already waited a long time."

She considered that for a moment. "I suppose that is something to reflect on."

Willie breathed a sigh of relief. These wedding plans were starting to get to him. It was starting to become a nightmare. He changed the subject out of necessity. "Do you think Tyler is asking her out?"

"Why would you think that?" she asked now rather curious herself as she glanced over at the other table. "Isn't that Hugo's sister that he is with?"

"I don't know who Hugo or his sister are," Willie answered. "But, I did hear that Tyler likes toxic women."

"'Toxic'?"

"Um, wrong word. Um, exotic?" he looked at her hopefully.

"Sounds right. Uh, exotic in what way? Not kinky, I hope."

"No. His wife was Vietnamese. A Human variation, or race. He met her while he was fighting in Vietnam."

"That doesn't exactly mean he likes exotic women. Wait a minute! He's married?"

"No. He's a fiddler," explained Willie.

"You mean he's a 'widower'." She was used to his word slipups by now and just automatically corrected him. The English language had come much easier to her than it did for him. "Oh, that is sad."

Willie nodded.

"So wouldn't it be a good thing if he likes Cassie?"

"I don't know," he shrugged. "Maybe."

"You are not prejudice, are you?"

"No! Most of my closest friends are Human!"

"A purest maybe? No wanting one species mixing with the other?" she asked, wondering where he was coming from.

"How can you think that? Elizabeth is both Visitor and Human. And I have been practically a father or an uncle to her. And even if Philip is now her guardian-" He stopped and just fumed for a moment.

"Ah, so your distraction really has nothing to do with either Tyler or Cassie, does it? It is the 'wontu' matter." Thelma leaned a little closer to Willie. She had had no idea that Willie was so close to the starchild. "You have seen yourself as her wontu – her second father or guardian – and now Philip has supplanted you."

Willie said nothing and stared into his vegetable shake he clutched tightly in his hand.

Thelma leaned even closer to try get eye contact. "I'm sure in her heart Elizabeth sees you as her wontu and maybe even an uncle."

Willie broke out in a smile. "You're right, I'm sure. It's nothing to get upset about."

The two suddenly noticed that they had another person at their table. Ham Tyler sat there grinning at them.

"Uh, Ham." Willie struggled to find something to say. "This is Thelma. We are to be mates."

Tyler just chuckled at what he assumed to be another of Willie's obvious slip with words. Thelma was torn between embarrassment and fright at the very near presence of 'the Fixer'. "Sounds good. Listen, Cassie and I are putting together a group to go see the sunrise on Earth. Would you two want to go?"

"Look, I'm not saying that it is impossible. I just think it is going to take awhile before the people of Earth get used to peaceful relations with the Visitors again. And even longer before Earth lets Visitors start to live here in large numbers." Juliet saw Mike's determined face, but she pressed on with her thoughts. "As it is, we are going to have to somehow prove the validity of our long-lost relatives from the Twelve Colonies. Mankind was fooled last time by the Visitors, they are going to want to be very sure of themselves before they open their arms in welcome a second time."

"We have the battle that was fought today! They had to have been able to see that all the way from Earth."

"Mike, I'm just saying that these kinds of things are what we can expect to oppose us."

"And what do we have to look forward to? Give me pros and cons."

Juliet folded her arms and leaned back against a pillar. "First we gain strong allies in the Colonists; even if they do have some powerful enemies of their own. Second, we have the chance of a new and better relationship with the Visitors; but we still have to sort some of those Visitors who still want to fight Humans for the planet. Third, we have a moment of peace on Earth because every nation and race has joined together against the Visitors; but we also have a long and tiring rebuilding program. Then there will be the relocation programs to set up for people trying to find lost loved ones and trying to identify dead bodies."

"Got anything more positive to look forward to?"

She looked down for a moment feeling vulnerable. "Marriage?"

Mike froze. When they had forced the Visitors off Earth almost three years ago, Mike and Juliet drifted apart. Once the Visitors returned, Mike and Juliet restarted the Resistance movement again. Being in close quarters constantly and fighting side-by-side, they slowly rekindled their romance. Now peace was returning, and Mike couldn't help wondering if their relationship was in danger again. He would go to his career as a news cameraman and she would return to hers as a scientist. "I suppose I could always just work at a local network."

"Is that a 'yes'?"

"If you will have me?"

They were still kissing by the time Cassie came to ask them to if they wanted to go see a sunrise.

Harry Kim sat sulkily as he sipped his drink.

B'Elanna sat down next to her friend. "Why so glum?"

"It's this whole celebration. People as congratulating me everywhere I go."

"And that's a bad thing? Boy, and Tom thought I was a party pooper."

"It's just that we didn't do hardly anything against the Borg except for the last half-hour! And even then, the people here were able to hold the Borg off without our help! I thought that that was why we had to come all this way! To save these people because they couldn't save themselves."

"Do you really think they were totally incapable of saving themselves?"

Both B'Elanna and Harry looked up in surprise at the tired yet determined figure of Kai Winn.

"Well, not exactly."

"Let me tell you something from experience," said the Kai. "When it comes to a peoples' home, they will find the strength regardless of the superiority of the enemy or how long it takes or even what it may cost them." She regarded Harry more closely. "Did you think the people here would just wait for someone to come and rescue them? Of course not! And on all the other parallel worlds that have been invaded by the Borg, do you think that the people there are fighting off the Borg? Of course they are!"

"Kai, why are you here?" asked B'Elanna in an attempt to deviate the Bajoran's attention.

Kai Winn made a disgusted face. "That Q being is insisting that we leave. But that Crusher woman wants us all to formally say goodbye first."

Harry jumped up from his seat. "I'm all for that!"

"What's your hurry?" asked B'Elanna.

"I still haven't been able to call my parents since Voyage returned. They weren't home when I tried before for some reason."

"Well, let's get you home then," B'Elanna replied. "I think they have waited long enough for you to phone home."

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Continued in A Tangled Web Part 5: How Much Is Too Much?

A crossover including Star Trek, Doctor Who, Smallville, Babylon 5, Crusade, Highlander, 7 Days, Touched By An Angel & many more. All while the Borg invade a Law Enforcement & Detective convention in Seacouver, WA.

List of Characters in this section
STAR TREK:
Dr. Beverly Crusher - Medical doctor on the starship Enterprise

Vash - A lady archeologist who would go from planet to planet usually searching through sites in which she wasn't allowed. Also, a brief love interest for Captain Picard and possibly Q

Major Kira Nerys - Second in Command on the spacestation Deep Space Nine

Kai Wynn - The religious leader to the Bajoran people

B'Elanna Torres - Chief Engineer on the starship Voyager

Harry Kim - Communication Officer on the starship Voyager

DOCTOR WHO:
The Doctor - The fourth Doctor in the series. He is a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey who travels through time and space

Leela - A warrior from a primitive tribe on another world descended from stranded astronauts

K-9 - A small dog shaped robot that has a very sophisticated computer, sensory, and weapons systems

V- THE SERIES:
Mike Donovan - Former news cameraman who quickly became one of the main targets for the Visitors

Juliet Parrish - A young biomedical student who became one of the leaders of the L.A. Resistance

Kyle Bates - Became a member of the Resistance but often at odds with those around him. He is also the boyfriend of Elizabeth

Elizabeth - The first and only crossbred between the Visitors and Humans, also known as the 'star child'. She has a variety of powers but is still inexperienced with them

Willie - A Visitor technician that managed to join the Human Resistance

Thelma - Willie's fiancée, with who he had just been reunited

Philip - One of those high in command on the mothership, Philip also became a secret member of the Fifth Column, those Visitors opposed to the fighting against the Humans. He also became a contact between the Fifth Column and the Human Resistance

Diana - Think evil, manipulative, intelligent, and power hungry. That's her all right

Lt. James - Diana's right hand man

Lydia - Diana's rival for power

The Leader - Just arrived to Earth, the Leader is a sadistic tyrant that has used his mental abilities to make his people love and follow him

Ham Tyler - An ex-CIA agent who had long supported the L.A. Resistance

Chris Farber - Long time partner of Ham Tyler

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA:
Commander Adama - Leader of the Twelve Colonies of Man and hopes to bring them to the legendary Thirteenth Colony on Earth

Capt. Apollo - Leader of the Vipers, the fighter pilots that protect the last of the Twelve Colonies of Man

Lt. Starbuck - Friend of Apollo's and fellow Warrior. Also a gambler and girl chaser
Boomer - Friend of Apollo's and fellow Warrior

Boxey - Apollo's adopted son and a young recruit of the Viper squads

Sheba - The current second in command on the Galactica

Bojay - A former warrior who is now the commander on the Pegasus

Jolly - A former warrior who is now second in command on the Pegasus

STARMAN:
Paul Forrester - An alien on the run from the government who just wants to be with his family. He also has powers

Scott Hayden - The son of Paul Forrester and Jenny Hayden. He is still a teenager and just learning how to use his powers

Jenny Hayden - A Human who bore a child with an alien and has been on the run ever since from the government

George Fox - A federal agent who is determined to prove himself by bringing in the 'starman'

QUANTUM LEAP:
Dr. Samuel Beckett - A time traveler who had gotten stuck in his project and found that in order to travel through time he would have to change things in people's lives

Al Calavicci - A friend of Sam's who helped give him information and advice while appearing to him as a hologram

STARGATE - SG-1:
*Alternate universe before the stargate was ever used and before any of the characters ever met.
Daniel Jackson - A LA college student who joined the Resistance and using his language skills to create unbreakable codes. Once he was caught, Diana was willing to try breaking him to get his codes deciphered

Gen. Hammond - In charge of the United States military operations in the southwest against the Visitor invasion, Hammond became a challenge to the Visitors until he was captured specifically for Diana.

Jack O'Neill - A young captain with a wife and baby boy at home, Jack had been given the responsibility of transporting supplies out of Chicago to the military zones

Capt. Samantha Carter - An eighteen-year-old young woman who joined the military with her friends to help fight the Visitors

THE INCREDIBLE HULK
*Alternate Universe since I am having it take place in the same universe as the V and Battlestar Galactica storylines. Everything happens according to the Hulk TV series and then the Visitors show up.

Dr. David Bruce Banner (Bill Bixby) / The Hulk (Lou Ferrigno) - Dr. Banner was trying to use gamma radiation as a means of tapping super-strength and healing abilities that he thought lay dormant in all mankind. Something went wrong with his experiment and the Hulk was born. Unfortunately, the Hulk was also blamed for Banner's death. He travels alone as a drifter trying to find a cure and usually helps others along the way. Currently, Ham dragged him and another of other doctors against their will out of a hospital in order to try free people from the cryogenic chambers in the mothership

Jack McGee - A news reporter for the National Register, Jack was the first to see the Hulk. Ever since he had been trying to prove the Hulks existence despite the obstacles. However, once the Visitors came and their true intentions were revealed, Jack joined the Freedom Network to help spread good news of the Resistances fights against the Visitors to encourage the Human race.

GILLIGAN'S ISLAND
Willy Gilligan (Bob Denver)

Skipper/Jonas Grumby (Alan Hale Jr.)

Thurston Howell III (Jim Backus)

Lovey/Eunice Wentworth Howell (Natalie Schafer)

Ginger Grant (Tina Louise)

Professor Roy Hinkley (Russell Johnson)

Mary Ann Summers (Dawn Wells)