The first thing Alexander did when Jon woke up was hand him a mirror. Jon took it and studied his face for a moment and then smiled.

"Better."

"Like I said, I know what it's like to look in the mirror and not see the face you're expecting to see looking back at you. I don't think I'd be anywhere near as well adjusted as I am, if it wasn't for the fact that my Corda made this transition with me or that Xander's friends where there the night it happened and accepted it. Well except for one. But the rest have been good about it. I can understand people's unease in regards to you. Clones are for aliens to be and scientists to study. But assuming you'd be fine just because you have an adult mind in your teenage body? That I don't get. And I can relate too. Jack is middle aged, so were Corda and I. Of course middle age means something different for us then it does for you since Alteran lifespans are 10x Earth humans."

"So how old are you?"

"509 in a twenty year old body. Corda's two years older then me. And we've been married for over 450 years."

"Yeah, I can see why you'd think you wouldn't have handled this as well without her. I or rather Jack had a hard time adjusting to life without Sara in it either and they managed to remain somewhat friends. That's hard to deal with too. They're his memories, his feelings, but I remember them, I feel them."

"I can relate there too, given that Xander and I merged. I can remember his drunk father and how helpless he could make me feel. Except it wasn't me he hurt or made feel helpless, it was Xander. I had great parents, but Xander and I ended up with something in common despite our different backgrounds, a need to protect those who can't protect themselves."

"It seems Jack and I have that in common as well, because I've been keeping bullies from hassling kids at school."

"And you can have a dating life again. I know everyone thought since physically you're a teenager, you'd probably date teenage girls."

"Yeah, right up until the moment I realized that mentally, I'm technically old enough to be their father. Then I felt like a creepy old man."

"Hearing you. Alterans have mental abilities. We're not telepathic, although some did develop abilities like that, but they were always in the minority. When I say mental abilities, I mean the ability to identify an Alteran by their mental landscape, kind of like a retinal scanner. Eyes are unique, just like fingerprints and so is a mind, we can also shield our minds. Anyway, if I hadn't been able to 'see' her mind and she, mine, it would have made our relationship difficult. Xander and Cordelia liked each other and probably would have eventually tried dating, but they weren't even seventeen yet, so without that mental component or if it had just been me here, dating someone my apparent age, would have been really creepy as far as I'm concerned."

"And trying to relate to teenage concerns when I remember that there's an alien race out there bent on either enslaving or destroying us, just doesn't make for easy friendships for me either, especially since I can't talk about it."

"The scientists in the Program probably wouldn't have had much of an issue with you looking like a teenager and the soldiers, many of them know and respect Jack, most would have realized very quickly that you're capable and could handle the job, but it would always have bothered you."

"And that would have affected how well I did the job. I'd be second guessing myself, which would undermine everything we're trying to accomplish."

"You're perfect for the job, Jon. You know it and I know it, but if you lack confidence in yourself because of a disconnect between your mirror and your mind, it could have endangered us all. With that obstacle removed, now we can get busy really building an expedition.

"I'm ready."

"Good. I'm going to introduce you to the rest of my people and then we'll get your stuff and head to the outpost. I can't wait to see McKay's face when he finds out who his boss now is."

"I think we're going to enjoy being friends, Alexander. We seem to have similar senses of humor."

"Corda says in some ways I'm still a little boy, I say you gotta make your fun where you can find it."

"Totally agree."

Alexander drove them over to the Altimah Project's new headquarters and production plant. Workers were swarming around making the updates they needed. Oz and Johnathan were directing them.

"How's it going guys?" Alexander asked when he spotted them, after introducing Jon to them.

"Good. It should only take a few weeks to get everything up and running. It already was a tech plant. They had an up to date computer system and an electrical grid that could handle it. We just need to make some changes to the layout and install the equipment we need." Johnathan answered. "And the construction company Corda hired has worked with tech start ups before, so they definitely have a good idea what they're doing."

"Where is my better half, anyway?"

"Directing the construction of our office spaces and scaring the crap out of the construction workers." Oz said with a grin.

"You really felt the need to say that, didn't you?" Alexander asked with a grin.

"Entertaining." Said with a grin and a nod.

"What did she do?"

"Broke a guys hand when he grabbed her butt. He's been fired, the foreman wouldn't stand for it. He expects his guys to treat clients with respect. But her doing that keeps the others from getting ideas." Johnathan added, with his own grin.

"She sounds like Carter." Was Jon's thought on the matter.