The Prometheus was finally getting its shakedown cruise and Sam was going along, to study an unusual nebula. Since he'd nearly completed his Bachelor's in Astronomy, Alexander would also get a chance to study it, up and personal. He was very excited.

"I might be able to use studying this nebula as the ground work for my Master's. I intend to advance beyond Major after all. Thanks for inviting me, Sam." He said, as they drove to the hanger.

"No problem. I considered also inviting Jennifer, but her class is on maneuvers this week. It's a very unusual nebula and we've been observing it from Earth for a very long time."

"What if it's something more? There was an episode of Star Trek Voyager were the crew encountered what turns out to a space born type of energy creature that resembles a nebula. We've seen for ourselves perviously unknown and unthinkable phenomenon before. Would it be possible to communicate with something like that?"

"Possibly, thru the use of different energy waves maybe. And you're right, just because we haven't seen it before doesn't make it impossible. In this job, being open minded is most definitely a requirement."

Soon they arrived and while Sam helped with preflight checks, Alexander explored the ship. Earth's first attempt at an actual faster then light ship was big, ugly and clunky, based of off the design of an aircraft carrier. In time, Earth would make more atheistically pleasing ships. This one was built to be utilitarian, to test out the concepts and systems. Personally, Alexander hoped they would use the Asgard ships as an inspiration, they were beautifully done. Soon they were ready to take off and then they made the jump to hyperspace. Alexander stood by a viewport.

"You know, as hard as it can be, not knowing where I came from, wondering about the life I had there, I can't help being grateful for the life I have here. A father who loves me, instead of hurting me, a sort of brother, family and friends and an incredible job. Would I have gotten to see this view, back there?"

"Possibly. Especially if you were apart of the Program back there. But it's good you're focusing on the present instead of the past."

Just then an announcement came over the loudspeaker that they'd encountered an alien vessel. As Sam and Alexander headed for the Bridge, a shot from the alien vessel hit the Prometheus. Sam switched direction and headed for Engineering when word came that there was damage there. Alexander followed, sticking close to her and hoping he'd be able to help. Sam was making repairs when another shot slammed her into a wall and knocked her out. Concerned, Alexander knelt beside her, checking for injuries. The head wound was definitely concerning. He went to get help and discovered to his horror, the crew was gone, apparently beamed away. He went back to Sam.

"Sam, come on, wake up. We're in trouble and we need your brain to figure it out."

She came to and blearily focused on him.

"Alexander? What happened?"

"A shot hit us and you slammed into the wall. Worse, the crew's gone. Must have been beamed away by the aliens attacking us. How'd they miss us?"

"This area has extra shielding and inertial dampeners to protect the crystals."

"Oh, that explains it. What do we now?"

"We inventory the supplies, check the damage and then make repairs. Before we do that, though, we need to do a scan, check for that other ship. Get me to the Bridge."

"Other circumstances and I'd be protesting and insisting on you going to the infirmary. Anything happens to you and dad'll kill me."

"Anything happens to you and he'll kill me." She joked back.

A scan was difficult to do, but did show they were in the nebula, so they moved on to inventorying supplies and checking damage. Sam began repairs. Alexander helped as much as he could, she'd helped design everything on this ship, she way ahead of him on knowledge and brains. Then she tried one plan after another, none of which worked. And then she started to hallucinate.

"The head injury must be worse then I thought and doing the work you've been doing instead of getting help and rest is making it worse. Sam, focus on me. There's nothing there, you know, I'd know if there was."

The hallucinations came and went. Everytime she had one, Alexander would pull her out of it by getting her to focus on him. Then he heard her say something very concerning.

"You think I'm focusing on thinking I care about you to avoid trying with someone else?"

Was she seeing Jack? Alexander knew they cared about each other, but had both been too scared to try anything. Maybe she thought Jack had stopped caring or maybe she was even more scared then he'd thought. Remember hearing about the guy she'd been engaged to and guys that had been interested in her dying over the years, he could see why.

"Sam, listen to me. Jack cares about you, that hasn't changed. Your feelings haven't changed either. I can tell. You're scared. I understand that, Sam, after everything you've been through. That jackass Jonas and feeling Jolinar's feelings. But you're not a person to run scared."

She focused on him again. "You think so?"

"I know so. Dad's just as scared as you are. You know, I can tell. So can Jesse. If you don't know, then figure it out for yourself. What are you seeing now, Sam?"

"A little girl, blowing bubbles."

Alexander looked around and spotted something he'd missed, being so focused on her. A flicker. There was something there. Then she was talking to Jack again. "Sam, show me where you're seeing Jack." She pointed and he looked. Nothing. Then she mentioned the little girl again blowing bubbles and again he saw a flicker.

"Sam, remember when we were talking about the possibility of the nebula being alive? What if it is? What if its trying to communicate? Whenever you mention the little girl, I see a flicker. Is there something about bubbles that might help us?"

Turns out there was. Using the hyperdrive to make a bubble to push them out. When she discovered that the alien ship was also trapped in the nebula, she contacted them and offered to free them as well if they returned the crew. The crew reappeared and Sam activated the hyperdrive and got both ships out of the nebula.

Afterward, as the Prometheus was limping back towards Earth.

"Unless the Program goes public, you won't be able use that nebula for your Master's. It really is some kind of life form." Sam said.

"Yeah, it is and that is awesome. Sam, about what you were hallucinating. I won't tell anyone. What you do about your feelings is your business. If you need to figure it out for yourself if you really care about dad or if he really is just a safety for you, you need to know that before you try with him. You both could get hurt if you're not sure. Just be careful okay? And remember, you are loved."

"Thank you for understanding."

"Don't worry. If you do decide to try with someone else first, I'll also be keeping an eye on him. I'll alert if I see anything concerning."

"Thanks for looking out for me."

"It's what you do for family."