*Ducks head in shame* Sorry I've been gone so long... I got sick, and then I was busy with stuff for Christmas... I really didn't mean to take a break like this. Anyway, this chapter is ready and as you may be able to tell, we're wrapping up and getting pretty close to the end. I had originally planned for this to be over by the end of the year but, well... Yeah, that's not happening. Anyway, please enjoy the new chapter and tell me what you think of it.

I stare at the map floating above the table. The choice is obvious, of course. There's a Covenant base less than a day's flight from us. Any other location we know of is at least twice the distance. I know where we're taking mom. And, surprisingly, she's already signed her confession, though I suspect this has something to do with the talk she and Gold had after we got back. Rho won't give me any details, even though she listened in, but she said it was scary. I don't mind, really. He didn't hurt mom, and after what she did to Gold and Boron, I think she deserves to be a little scared.

I'm about to have Rho announce the destination when Tucker enters the room.

"Hey," I say, standing up straighter. His eyes fix to the map before finally reaching me.

"I heard you were planning where to take Dr. Han," he says, eyes flitting across the different highlighted locations.

I nod. "This is the closest Covenant facility," I explain, pointing out our destination.

"That one's no good," he says immediately. I look at him and raise an eyebrow, waiting for an explanation. "It's a refueling station," he explains. "There'll be engineers and a few soldiers, but nothing you need. You want to go somewhere with ambassadors or negotiators or something; someone who can help you."

I stare at him thoughtfully. I know he worked as an ambassador between humanity and the Covenant for a while, along with his son. I should have thought to ask him how to go about this. Once again, I realize I have underestimated these simulation troopers. I suppose I should apologize for it eventually, but it doesn't seem like they'd care. I think they like people underestimating them; it makes them seem more impressive when they do succeed.

"Where would you suggest?" I ask, willing to travel further if it means we have a better chance at succeeding.

Tucker studies the map a bit longer before tapping a button on the side of the table a few times. The map instantly zooms out, showing the rest of the system we're in. "Here," he finally says, pointing to a planet at the very edge of the map. It isn't highlighted, so it isn't registered as a Covenant base, at least not on any of the military records I've found.

"You're sure there's a base here?" I ask, stepping around the table and focusing the map on the planet.

"More like an outpost," he shrugs. "It isn't strictly military, but a lot of politicians and ambassadors are there."

"It's also more than a week away," I say.

"Trust me," Tucker says, looking directly at me. "If you go to some random base, you won't find anyone to help you. This is where you need to go."

I think about it for a moment before nodding. "Will you come with us?" I ask.

"Uh, yeah, I thought that was the plan the whole time," he says. "I may not be too great in a fight, but I know how to talk to these guys. I'll get them to listen to you."

"Good," I say. "Because right now it looks like they'll try to kill us before talking."

"Don't worry," he says breezily. "If I'm right, this'll all work out."

"And if you aren't right?"

"Then we all die long before you have a chance to get mad at me about it," he jokes.

"I don't like the sound of this plan," Grif says, entering the room as well. Gold, Nick, and Wash follow him. "This sounds like the kind of plan we're going to regret."

"Not at all," Gold says enthusiastically, slinging an arm around the sim-trooper's shoulder. "This is the kind of plan that, if we fail, we won't live to regret."

"That does not fill me with confidence," Grif says, backing away.

"It's not meant to," I say, laughing lightly at my brother's antics, glad he's at least somewhat back to normal. I can still see some pain in his eyes, which I doubt will ever leave. It's the same as the pain I felt when I heard about Manny. I don't think any of us can fully recover from losing our partners, at least not so soon.

"Is this where we're going?" Wash asks, looking at the coordinates on the map. Tucker and I both nod.

"That looks like a long road trip ahead of us," Gold remarks.

"Which is why we leave tonight," I explain. "I want to do this as soon as possible."

"We should take mom's ship, then," he says, sounding more serious. "It's faster, and has more room to store supplies."

"Also more room to move around," Wash agrees. "We may end up wanting some space after a week trapped on that ship together."

"It'll be a bonding experience," Gold says happily. "Nothing brings people together like the high level of stress caused by cabin fever!"

"Or we could just use the stasis pods and have Rho run the auto pilot," I suggest.

Gold rolls his eyes exaggeratedly. "If we want to do things the boring way, sure…"

I shoot him a fake glare before addressing the rest of the room. "We leave tonight," I repeat. "Just a small team; Gold, Wash, Tucker, and myself. Grif, tell Tinu and Nick that they're in charge. We'll try to send you a message if things go bad, but just in case, be ready to run if anything suspicious happens."

"Got it," he says, waving a hand above his head as he leaves. Despite the apathetic response, I know he'll take care of things. He's proven that more than enough times before.

I stare at the map for a few more moments, debating the wisdom of this decision. It's a long journey, but I trust Tucker's judgment on this. He knows the Covenant better than any of us. If he says this is where we need to go, then this is where we'll go.

"Alright, if there's anything more you want to do to get ready, do it now," I instruct. "We leave in two hours."

Everyone in the room leaves except for Wash. I wait to see what he wants.

"You're about to go get Han, right?" he asks. I nod. I want to get her to the ship and into her cryo-pod as soon as possible, to avoid any complications. "Do you want some company?"

"I can handle her," I say.

"I know that," he says, smiling slightly. "You can handle anything. Still, I thought you might like some help," he says nervously. "So you don't have to deal with her alone."

I smile at the offer, stepping forward to close the space between us. I do hate having to deal with mom. She always tries her mind games, and even though they don't work it is irritating. Maybe having Wash there would help.

"I think I'd like that," I say before leaning up to kiss him. Wash returns the gesture, moving his hand to the back of my neck for a moment. For those few brief seconds I forget all the plans and all the ways things could go wrong, and it's just me and Wash. Then the moment passes and we separate, ready to go do the things that need to be done.

"Come on," he says, reaching down for my hand, and I slip my fingers into his. "Let's make sure your mother is nice and comfy for the trip."

I chuckle at the joke, wondering once again how this became a part of my life. I doubt I'll ever be able to live without it, now that it's here. That's just how happiness is.

It's not long before we're all in the ship and on our way. I put mom in cryo-sleep before we leave the base, to avoid her causing trouble, though she doesn't fight. Once again I wonder if she's really given up or if it's just another act. I suppose it doesn't matter. If she tries to cause trouble, I'll be ready. In the mean time I don't mind her cooperation. It makes things easier on us all, which I think we deserve.

I listen to my brothers joking as they get ready for stasis. Tucker and Wash join in on the conversation as well, their voices rising in excitement over the debate. I can't tell exactly what they're saying, not while concentrating on double checking the coordinates programmed into the ship. I've already checked them a dozen times, but I don't want to risk them being wrong. A single digit out of place and we could end up light-years away from our destination.

As I'm scanning my eyes over the coordinates again, I hear a light laugh from the console. Rho appears above the ship's controls, looking at me with her head tilted a bit to the side.

"Relax," she instructs in an amused tone. "I've got this. I'll get us there safe."

"I know," I say with a sigh. "I just want to make sure-"

"You always want to make sure," she interrupts. "Trust someone else to do something for once, okay? You don't have to take care of everything yourself."

"I'm just running a pre-flight check," I argue, trying to shoo her away as she locks me out of the controls.

"You've already run it three times. Go get ready for stasis," she orders. "I've got this."

"But-"

"No buts," she says, once again in her motherly voice. "Go kiss Wash, tell your brother's a joke, glare at Tucker, and freeze yourself solid. I'll see you in a week." She makes shooing motions as she speaks, trying to push me out the door.

I roll my eyes at her antics and stand. "Be careful," I say. "Don't take us too close to any UNSC or Covenant facilities."

"I know," she says. "I helped map out the route. Now go."

I do as she says, making my way to the back of the ship. I pause for a moment at the only active cryo-pod, looking at Dr. Han's fogged over face. She somehow manages to look peaceful and cruel all at once. I move past it to the empty pods next, where Wash and Tucker are waiting with my brothers.

"Everything set?" Nick asks.

I nod. "We're ready to go."

"Let's get going, then," he suggests, pressing a button to open the top of the pod closest to himself. "I don't want to stay away from Tinu any longer than necessary."

"Me neither," Tucker jokes, dodging a kick before he can even finish the sentence.

"Enough," Wash says tiredly. "Tucker, leave it alone. You know you don't have a chance with her."

"Dude, I saved her life. I've never had more of a chance with a girl before," the dark skinned man argues.

"Tucker," Gold says seriously. "Crawl in the box and freeze before I kill you."

The former ambassador grumbled but obeyed, hitting the button to activate shut and activate the tube from the inside. Nick followed suite shortly after, along with Gold.

Wash takes my hand as we walk to the last two pods. He gives me a quick kiss and whispers "see you in a week" before stepping inside. I watch as the glass fogs over, sealing him away for the journey.

I glance along the line of cryo-pods, from my creator's all the way down to my own, before sighing. I tell myself it isn't that long, and it isn't too bad since I won't feel any of it, but I can't stop the worry. We'll be without contact for a whole week. Anything could happen back home during that time. Still, I have no choice. I'll just have to hope everything will still be okay by the time I wake up.

Finally, I climb into my own. I shift a bit on the hard seat, trying to get comfortable, before deciding it doesn't matter. I reach up and press the activation button, bringing my arm back to my side just before it takes effect. After that, it's just a brief flash of nothing before we're there.