Changing the Rules

by Lerris

The Rowan surviving the accident that took her parents was a miracle. Her falling between universes to end up in front of the USS Enterprise was another. Her catching the attention of Q, well that was something else entirely. There were a lot of problems with his plan, not the least of which is he would have to change the rules. Rowan/Trek/Stargate/Doctor Who/Multicross

55. Chapter 55

Disclaimer: This is fanfiction. Anything you recognize is not mine. All characters and events in this story are entirely fictional.

-=oOo=-

Author's Note: This chapter is fairly much standalone, but still part of the whole.

-=oOo=-

Aditu in the middle of a hurricane chest deep in cold water. It was almost pitch black. With her elven eyesight she quickly spotted Jinto, Lafiel, Ami, Celeste and Romana. Jinto grabbed Lafiel.

"Hold hands. Stay together!" she shouted.

Ami took Jinto's other hand, then Celeste's, who took Romana's. Aditu grabbed Lafiel's other hand as she headed for what she hoped was higher ground.

A huge street sign, saying the word Tampa shot at them at dangerous speeds. Celeste's eyes flashed and it sunk under the water.

"Hold," said Celeste.

"We have to get to higher ground!" said Aditu.

"Jinto, Lafiel, find us safety. I'll keep anything from killing us, till you do," said Celeste.

Aditu looked confused, but continued to be watchful.

"The storm is wide. It will be several hundred kilometers to get clear," said Romana.

Jinto and Lafiel focused for several minutes as the storm continued to rage.

"We have found a spot," said Jinto just after they opened their eyes.

Celeste didn't wait. She worked width Aditu and they all vanished only to reappear where dawn was just now breaking under a large solar panel in a field of solar panels.

"Where are we?" asked Romana.

"An amusement park, we think," said Lafiel.

"Did anyone swallow any of that water? Some of it might be toxic," said Romana.

They shook their heads.

"We need to know what is going on," said Lafiel.

"We need to first dry our clothes or get new ones," said Romana.

"I can do that. Give me a bit," said Ami. She focused and the water in her clothing and on her body formed into a ball in her hand that she tossed. She then clasped the others hands one at a time and dried them out.

"Thank you," said Lafiel.

"Your welcome," she responded before pulling out her little laptop. A couple minutes later she added, "Well, it is pretty bad. Politics is insane. Many are lying about the storm and relief services to win an election."

Lafiel cursed.

"What can we do that actually helps?" asked JInto.

"Going to the local government is liable to see us locked up, particularly Aditu and Lafiel. They might lock me and Celeste up as well, if they knew our preferences. It certainly wouldn't help," said Ami.

"What about this place?" asked Romana.

"Use it to help people? It seems evacuated. I sense almost no one and there is power here," said Aditu.

"She is right. You can sense some now, and as the day progresses there will be a fair amount of power available," said Ami.

"Let's find a building to work out of and see if we can gather some people here. Water and something to eat as well," said Romana.

-=oOo=-

"This is Keith Davis with WABC news. This morning I received a phone call to hurry to this Disney building, that they needed our help to find people. I tried to contact the park's management, but they are not answering calls. I did verify the phone used came from here. This is probably a waste of time, but if so, then I suppose you won't see this footage. There is not supposed to be anyone even here. We are approaching the solar power station where we were told to meet."

He knocked on the door. A very attractive blond woman in a white blouse and beige pants opened the door.

"You must be Keith. My name is Romana. Come in. We only arrived a couple days ago. We have been helping as best as we can. Come."

"What? Are you park employees?"

"No. Though we are hoping they won't mind too much our borrowing their facility. Come."

He walked in and then he and his cameraman followed the pretty blond into the basement where two reclining chairs were laying next to the main power panels. There were two large flat screens on portable stands showing both powered on with information about the current situation. On the chairs was Celeste and the even more exotic form of Aditu.

His eyes widened at seeing the elf.

"Are you filming this?" he asked.

"I am. The station is talking about going live."

"Good."

In another two chairs, in front of a computer to the side was Lafiel and Jinto. They were holding hands.

Lafiel said, "We have a family. An older man and woman. They are trapped in the attic of their house. The woman needs medical treatment urgently. Transferring to you."

"We have them," said Aditu.

The lights in the room dimmed as the pair suddenly appeared on the floor. Celeste got up.

Ami said, "Let me keep going awhile. We need to save your strength for the ports." Celeste nodded.

Celeste nodded and laid back down. Ami gently cupped the woman's cheek. Healing magic flowed into her. Ami held her left hand just over her mouth as a small ball of fluid formed there. She moved it over to styrofoam cooler where the lid floated up. It was already half full of disgusting fluid. She gestured and it went in and closed. She returned to her patient and continued to heal her. A few minutes later the woman coughed and began breathing easier.

Romana pulled a bottle of water from a package of them, opened it, then knelt beside the man, helping him drink a bit, before doing the same for the woman.

"How?" asked the man, who was watching his wife in concern.

"That's not important. Do you have any place you can go? We can send you there," said Romana.

"No, it's just us. Our house is ruined. They said the politicians stole all the FEMA money."

"That's not true. We have nothing to do with them, but that is not true. They are trying to manipulate you," said Romana.

A dozen security guards ran in. "Just what is going on here?"

"We are helping people. Could you perhaps take care of this brave couple? Perhaps some soup and warm clothes?" asked Romana hopefully.

The guard captain said, "Get them whatever they need. Now, what are the rest of you doing here?"

"We are helping people. We needed the power," said Celeste.

"What?"

"Just watch, and perhaps help. You will understand soon enough," said Celeste.

"They seemed to be helping. Those two were, somehow, apparently brought here from their house, and then healed. I know that sounds insane," said Keith.

"Your that reporter?"

"I am."

"I'll have to talk to my boss."

"That's fine. Please do," said Lafiel.

He saw her hair and ears, and then saw Aditu's ears and cheekbones. "I really need to talk to my boss."

Jinto smiled and nodded.

-=oOo=-

The next day the place was swarming with people. They were still porting people in, but medics were there to take them. Local politicians and countless reporters were there now, as was the head of FEMA.

"Okay, your about to go live with probably most of the television and radio networks in the country. There is a lot of people listening. Perhaps now you can explain in detail," said Keith from WABC.

"I suppose I can," said Jinto before walking to the podium.

"Hello Florida. My name is Jinto Linn. A friend of ours knew you needed some help, so our group came to help. We have been moving people trapped by flooding here, or where they need to go. We have also been helping who we can. Our work really isn't that important compared to the countless others. Why don't we let the director of FEMA speak? His agency has been the subject of a lot of lies lately. There are a lot of good men and women from FEMA working to help everyone. We should all do that, and not lie to win a political contest."

The man stepped up and took Jinto's place. "Quite right. I can't talk politics. I'm not a politician and that is not my job, but please, there is a lot of people in trouble. Let's help those people. You can make up lies when people's lives are not in danger."

"You say lies, but we know your agencies funding was redirected to the illegal migrant housing," said the politician.

"No,it was not."

Lafiel walked up and smiled. He moved aside.

"Freak," said the politician.

"Do you know we can tell every time you lie? Care to test me?" asked Lafiel.

"I should have you arrested for breaking an entering."

"I've just got a report from 911 about four children trapped in their house. They think their parents are dead. Their cell phone is running out of power," said one of the park employees.

"We need a location, complete with image. Something to find them with," said Celeste.

"1347 Parks Avenue in Sarasota."

Romana entered it into the computer and soon had an image of the house. She zoomed out, then stepped in slowly.

"We have it," said Aditu. They two laid back down. The lights dimmed. Four small pops were heard. The children were swiftly treated by nearby paramedics.

"Found the parents," said Celeste.

The lights dimmed again. Two soaked forms appeared. Celeste jumped up, as did Aditu, though it was clear both were tired.

Ami yawned. "Too many. Too tired. Have to resort to this." She pulled out a familiar transformation pen and said tiredly, "Mercury crisis make up."

"Are you getting this?" asked Keith.

The cameraman nodded.

The transformation was shown live on television. Celeste and Aditu also shimmered, but it seemed Ami didn't have the strength to transform them. Celeste leaned over the man, Aditu held her hand as Celeste started to transfer energy, and then energy from Aditu flowed to Celeste.

"Hold.. Let me get the water out first," said Ami.

Ami quickly placed her hand over the mouth of the man. A ball of water formed over his mouth. A different cooler than before was nearby. The top opened. The ball of water shot in. Ami immediately did the same with the woman, repeating it, and then the cooler closed, preventing the smell from spreading. Celeste's energy spread forth as did Aditu's. Lafiel and Jinto took hold of Ami and passed her energy as she and Celeste did their best.

"Too long," muttered Ami.

They streamed a torrent of energy into them. It was too much. Ami and Celeste passed out, as did Aditu, Jinto, and Lafiel. Romana caught Jinto, Lafiel, and Ami for the most part and Keith managed to catch Celeste and Aditu and lower them to the ground. Two doctors went to the pair they rescued. It was one man and one woman.

"No pulse," said the man.

"Same," said the woman.

"Look again, they are breathing," said Keith.

They looked back and suddenly both took a breath.

"Does anyone know what they did?" asked the woman doctor..

"Not a clue, but let's make sure they stay alive," said the man.

She nodded and returned to her work before looked at the other doctors and paramedics. "Someone check the others. That woman may not be human. The one in blue may not be either. Don't give them anything you don't absolutely have to."

"I think Lafiel can take most of the same medicine, but I doubt she needs any. Aditu is not the same species at all. Here let me help. I don't have their tricks, but I am decent at medicine," said Romana.

Romana immediately took charge.

-=oOo=-

They awoke in a white padded room with no windows and one door, without a handle on the inside. They were all in simple hospital beds without monitors. The overhead lighting was long fluorescent tubes. Romana was awake and leaning against a padded wall.

"They did insist on confining us, apparently because of fear of disease," said Romana in a voice loaded with sarcasm.

"So, what have they asked for?" asked Jinto.

"I see you don't believe the official explanation. Well, they do want you to resume your work. I believe they want to use you for everything they can. The state government is running this place. The national government is trying to get to us. They also made sure there was no large power sources nearby," said Romana.

The politician from before walked in.

"Hello. Did you want breakfast, or perhaps lunch? Whatever you need we will provide."

"We are not going to help you," said Lafiel.

"Come now. I can make things very comfortable for you."

"Why are you not saving your people?": asked Aditu.

"My people are dealing with that."

"Then perhaps we should return and resume our work," said Celeste.

"No, I don't think we will put you near the power plant for awhile. You need to rest. Still, if you want dinner, knock on the door."

He walked out. The door locked.

"What a lovely man," said Romana dryly.

"Time?" asked Lafiel.

"Of concern? Hmm, I should think we don't want to wait too long. I also wouldn't trust the food. I watched them very carefully, but I'll have to sleep soon," said Romana.

"Doesn't matter," said Celeste.

Romana walked over and held Celeste's hand for a bit, passing along some energy. Celeste and Aditu joined hands as their eyes glowed and their wells flickered for almost a minute, before they all vanished, appearing in an empty house which had working power.

Celeste and Aditu were panting as they arrived.

"Sorry you had to do that with so little energy. I hope I helped some," said Romana.

"You did. Aditu and I are going to sleep," said Celeste.

"You need to eat first. This place may have food," said Jinto.

"I'll help. I can do that much, then I too need to sleep," said Romana.

"How far?" asked Lafiel.

"Ten kilometers maybe. We are all exhausted. Best we could do," said Celeste.

"It works. We will keep you safe while you rest. Ami, you should rest too," said Jinto.

-=oOo=-

A middle aged woman unlocked the front door and walked in. Jinto and Lafiel were sitting on the couch sleeping. They instantly woke.

"You are the ones who saved those lives?" she asked.

"Sorry for taking over your home. That politician was holding us, and we kind of found this," said Lafiel.

"Oh. Don't worry about it. I don't want to fight the government, but as long as they don't find you here, I'm fine with it. Do you need anything?"

"Um, food? You didn't have much. We kind of helped ourselves," said Jinto guiltily.

"That is a problem. All the stores are out of food. I'm Katy."

"Jinto. This is Lafiel."

"I can go try to find something. I was trying to find a takeout place that was open, but I'm not too surprised I didn't, not now. I'm only here at all because I work for the hospital as a receptionist."

"Want help?" asked Jinto.

"Honestly no. Nothing personal, but if no one knows your here, it may be best to keep it that way. I'll try to find something," said Katy.

"Thank you," said Lafiel.

She returned a couple hours later carrying in a bag. Lafiel and Jinto were still awake.

"Sorry, I have a large thing of cheese and two boxes of crackers they gave out, well that and some bottled water in the car, though I think the water is still working here."

"It is," said Lafiel.

"You did what you could. We can survive with minimal food for a time. The main thing is to get Aditu, Celeste, and Ami some. They were using a lot of calories," said Jinto.

"It was just madness. The cheese and crackers were brought to the local store and they wrote down my name to collect it. Everybody has been hoarding," said Katy.

"We saw your local news. The lies are out of control," said Lafiel.

"It seems, according to your governor, we are still receiving the best treatment possible and cannot be disturbed," said Jinto dryly.

"I'm not surprised. Your all here then?" asked Katy.

"Yes, sorry about using your bed," said Lafiel.

"Don't worry about it. I do need to get some rest though. I'll get the sleeping bag out of the attic and use the back room, well after I put this away."

"You can take the couch if you want. We are staying awake for now. If you need help with anything please ask," said Lafiel.

"Alright. I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep."

"We can help, but, well that requires a lot of trust that you don't have a reason to give us," said Lafiel.

"Really?"

"We learn to develop what skills we have the potential for, including of the mind. Carefully setting your own mind into a sleep pattern is one of them," said Jinto.

"I think I'll just take a Benadryl, but I maybe if you are around later."

They nodded, moving off the couch. Katy put away the cheese before going and taking two of the small pills and laying down.

-=oOo=-

Aditu was eating a bit of the cheese and crackers while watching the television on a barely audible level when Katy woke up the next morning.

"I hope I did not wake you," said Aditu.

"You did not. Pardon, I have not met someone like you before."

"I am an elf. They helped save my world and my universe so I decided to come with them."

"Really? I'd like to hear about that sometime. I don't suppose someone found better food? I'm afraid I eat out too much and don't have any," said Katy.

"I was the first up. We lack any of the money to buy anything here. I can, however, bring you wherever you wish. I probably can't help you purchase anything. That would draw too much attention."

"How does that work?"

"I need to be able to find where we are going. I can possibly figure it out by reading your thoughts, with your permission, or if you can just show me on a computer, I can probably use that," said Aditu.

"Let me get my computer."

Aditu nodded. A few minutes of Katy's effort later and she had the location of a store that was well outside of the disaster area. Katy promised to call the house when she was ready to come back.

-=oOo=-

"Thank you for making all of us breakfast and letting us use your house," said Romana.

"It is no big deal. I can't afford to feed so many forever, but for now it is fine. What will you do now?" asked Katy.

"I'd like to see if we can get hold of the head of FEMA," said Lafiel.

"For?" asked Katy.

"To see if we can find more that need help."

"We can contact him without leading him here," said Celeste.

"Alright. I thought about asking if you could help at the hospital. There are so many coming in."

"Doesn't work. If we are seen in public they will come and try to arrest us it seems, which certainly won't help your hospital," said Romana.

"I know. Thanks for all of your help. Had we listened about all the climate change warnings and did something twenty years ago, but it's here now and will get worse," said Katy.

"True," said Romana.

-=oOo=-

Jeff Anders looked up when a young man walked in the local FEMA office he had appropriated.

"Jinto Lynn right?"

"Yes."

"I heard you were kidnapped."

"Well, we were locked in a room without a way out or a door handle, but we got out without assistance. Can we help, or is our help just going to make a bigger mess?"

"To be honest, what I need rather than you finding people in small numbers is a lot of equipment and people that is half way across the country. We positioned as much as we could, but there were two of these in a row."

"We can do that, or even from other countries. We will need more power. Certain types are better. Direct current is probably what we want to focus on. We need images and locations of what we are moving and where we are moving it," said Jinto.

"Alright, let me make a call."

-=oOo=-

"Good evening everyone. I am in Intermountain Utah. We are under a tent here next to some of the highest powered direct current transmission lines in the United States. The people you are familiar with from helping in Florida are here. Let's talk to one of them."

Lafiel and Jinto walked forward.

"What happened?"

Jinto responded, "The governor of Florida had us in a padded room with no windows and one door, without a handle on the inside. He refused to let us go. We escaped and eventually made our way here. We are now about to transport a loaded train car of supplies into the affected regions. They are separating the cars so we can do it one at a time and get all of it there today."

"How do you do all this?"

"Some can learn to use their minds for such things. Lafiel and I can do some. Aditu, Celeste, and also Ami to an extent can do far more."

"Really?" he asked in surprise.

"Yes. We are doing our best. We are deeply concerned about all the lies being told. To be clear, we are working with FEMA to get the required supplies there to help. They are doing their best, just as we are doing our best. You can't blame everything on those not born in your country. None of us were born in your country, yet we are doing all this. People are people."

Romana said, "We are ready for the first railroad car. We will attempt to to one car per minute, to avoid tiring out everyone."

Celeste, Aditu and Ami laid down in the lawn chairs close to the main electrical distribution, well inside the secured area. Their hair stood on end from the fields they were exposed to.

"Lifting, shifting, lowering. Everything is there safe," said Celeste.

"Now we just have to repeat far too many times," said Ami.

"Let us continue," said Aditu.

"If there are people we want to move, it might be better to move them soon, before the others are tired," said Lafiel.

The director said, "We are flying them out now."

"That's fine. Celeste certainly has moved who knows how many people safely, but Aditu and Ami are new to this. We believe we can do it safely, but, overall, we are just here to help," said Lafiel.

"And we appreciate it. Is there any chance you could help move some of the equipment needed from oversees to repair infrastructure?"

"Of course," said Lafiel.

"I can get you copies of some better designs for solar panels and batteries, when we are a bit less busy," said Ami.

"That would be very helpful."

-=oOo=-

"Governor, the people that are doing these seeming miracles bringing in all these critically needed supplies just accused you of kidnapping."

"It's all lies. We have evidence that these so called saviors in fact manipulated the weather and caused the whole thing, so they could pretend to save us. Rest assured they will be punished."

"What evidence?"

"The evidence is currently under seal, but rest assured when the time is right you will find out all. For now, there is an arrest warrant for all of them in the state of Florida."

"So they save nearly a hundred lives directly, escape from your unlawful custody, then go above and beyond the call of duty and help your state get everything they need, and you have the nerve to try to frame them with some made up crap that you will give no evidence for?"

"Perhaps you are a part of the conspiracy? Maybe we should be investigating you?"

"Feel free, but I'm not buying this weather control nonsense, and I don't think anyone else should either."

"This interview is over."

-=oOo=-

Romana was interviewed the next day by Keith.

"What do you think of the Governor's words?" asked Keith.

"Well, could I have created a weather controlling system that would have created that hurricane? Sure, we study that on Galifrey. Then again we study almost everything on Galifrey. Unfortunately, you need a very large network of satellites with advanced power systems, or a way to transmit massive amounts of power into them. Weather control is not easy. That hurricane contained about four trillion watts of power at its peak. Now you don't always need the same power level to influence things, but assume about say ten percent, or about four hundred million watts of power. Assuming you setup a network of satellites of around two hundred. Yes, that's about the minimum for realistic weather control. You see they need to be low orbit satellites, so they will not cover a given area but for a few minutes. That means you need a full set to affect one area. Maybe about four or so satellites at once could affect the region. Those four need to generate a total of that four hundred million watts of power and be able to shape the environment and such to create this hurricane, so the total ready power would be fifty times that for all the satellites or about twenty trillion watts of power."

"I have no idea about any of that," said Kieth.

"Well let's put it that way. Total world power generation for the planet is about three and a half trillion watts of power. So you need about five or six times that in total power generation, in satellites, in controlled orbits, than your entire planet could generate. In short, generating a hurricane is way more work than its worth. Any species that could do that, could simply fire a torpedo at the area and do nearly as much damage. Do you really think an alien species that doesn't like you is going to spend probably a thousand times the effort and resources to hurt you than necessary? That would be insane."

"Ah, that makes sense. Your saying establishing a weather control system to do this convoluted plan is a stupid plan. For that matter, wouldn't you see such a thing?" asked Keith.

"Yes, and yes, you would see them. Even if you had advanced cloaking systems, well, you do the best you can, you cannot cloak a weather control satellite and be using it in any real way," said Romana.

"Why is that?"

"Because you have to emit an enormous amount of energy to influence the weather. It would be like putting the most powerful transmitter ever conceived and covering it with a black cloth. No one is going to be remotely fooled. I'm sure you must have weapons that take out radar towers. It's the same idea. Controlling the weather is not subtle. There are reasons worlds build such things. You just need to stop burning so much carbon and clean up your environment. The battery and solar panel designs they have are good. I might be able to think of a couple minor improvements, but what I skimmed already is fine. In fact it looks like they have been optimized to be easy to build and recycle," said Romana.

"You sound like your not part of the same group." said Keith.

"Oh, I'm from a different universe than them. I was actually making my home in a smaller universe near my home and trying to build my own vehicle. I made several mistakes and sent a generic request for help, expected a friend to eventually notice it, but this group did. They seem interesting, so I've been tagging along."

"And their ability to move things like they do?" asked the reporter.

"Advanced kinetic manipulation on that scale is rare, but not unheard of. It is quite remarkable," admitted Romana.

"If you understand all this, is there anything that can be done by these growing storms that won't take a long time?" asked Keith.

"Convert to the new technology as fast as reasonable. Stop building so close to the ocean. That group might be able to eventually contact their people and bring in more help, but honestly, I'm amazed they haven't quit helping. There is an arrest warrant on them after all. Also, you've already done the damage. It is not like you can turn an environment on the dime. You can, however, keep it from getting far worse."

"What could they do?"

"Shield generation to protect against such things is feasible for an advanced society, but I can't see them leaving potentially at least one of their capital ships and crews just to maintain it all and keep it secure, because you refuse to do what you know is necessary. Your talking about tying up a thousand people, more or less, who have, I'm sure, better things to do. Frankly if your not doing everything you can do, well, why should they bother to spend their finite resources to help you?"

"Couldn't they just give us what we need?"

"Won't happen, or am I wrong?" asked Romana.

"Generally Romana is correct. The power to stop a storm of that magnitude could be turned into a weapon pretty easily. We won't take the chance," said Lafiel.

"How long are you staying here?" asked Romana.

"We don't know," said Jinto.

"Surely there is something you could do," said Keith.

"If we stay, we are likely moving to another country and helping them. Your country needs to clean up the lies. It is disgusting and will stop you from accomplishing much of anything," said Lafiel.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Have you seen this kind of thing before?"

"Yes. Unfortunately us telling you what are lies doesn't help. Us telling you that judging each side by different standards does not help. You know that the press, on average, is doing that. One side has told over fifty thousand lies, has a good portion of those that worked for him to come out and say he should not be put in charge again, and you're likely doing it anyway. Seriously, how do you expect us to fix that?" asked Lafiel curiously.

"I know, but what about the people here that are not a part of this nonsense?" asked Keith.

"What about Annie Moore?" asked Jinto softly.

"I'm sorry, I don't recall the name."

"Look it up. You are all sons and daughters of Earth. You should be treating each other like it. I understand that it is easy to blame problems on the other, but it doesn't actually fix anything," said Jinto harshly.

"I think I'll sing it. I have no need of a new home. They saved mine, and I am deeply grateful for it," said Aditu. She sang.

"On the first day of January 1892, they opened Ellis Island and they let the people through. And the first to cross the threshold of that isle of hope and tears was Annie Moore of Ireland who was all of fifteen years..."

-=oOo=-

"Turn that damn thing off," snarled the governor, who really didn't want to hear that damn song again.

"We need to know what the reaction to this is if we are to counter it."

"Fine, but I'm not listening to it."

"They saved her world, yet seem almost interested in leaving ours. Is it really only the lies? She may not be human, but she is gorgeous. People are watching her."

The governor stalked out.

-=oOo=-

Aditu walked out on the stage. It was a huge theater that held over four thousand seats.

"Hello all. My name is Aditu. Not that long ago I was a student hired to do a job we were fairly sure was pointless. You see we knew our world was to die in about five years. I had been doing this seemingly unimportant job for about a year already, making recordings to transmit into space, to ask for help. We didn't think it would work, but we also couldn't just give up and die. I was completely surprised when the people here and others answered my call."

Lafiel walked forward and stood beside her. "To be clear. I am not an elf. My ears are just a trait of my family, of which I am equally proud of, just as I'm sure Aditu is of hers. The reason we found the elves of Lothlorien so very precious was they have, somehow, managed not to walk the path you are walking, despite having a similar level of development. They are, simply put, honest. These lies, we know where they lead. Ultimately they are cancer, that will destroy your world, probably directly, or in the unlikely event you survive to meet us among the stars, well, I very much doubt we will be friends."

Lafiel stepped aside. Aditu moved back to the podium and continued.

"We knew our destiny for years at the point that was recorded. It was destroying everything it touched." Projected behind them was the ribbon as seen from Lothlorien.

"Dozens of species, aliens, if you like, worked together to solve that. I was even a part of it with Celeste and Ami at the end. They didn't just prepare to face this battle. They weren't entirely sure they could stop it. It was massive. To be sure all was done that could be done, they spent years transferring as many of our children and enough others to other universes where they would be safe; where no matter what, some would survive. I can still barely conceive of the effort dozens of worlds did to save us. Even now, many of our children have likely not returned yet, though most will in time. Others will find new places to live, and our heritage will not give way to the fall of night. Will yours?"

"Prove it," shouted one in the back.

"If you like. Celeste, Ami, will you join us on stage? Anyone not wanting to see the proof should leave, or at least stand to the side of the room," said Aditu.

Celeste walked up with Ami at her side. "We can show you a bit of that. Perhaps some of when we arrived and even a bit of the help we gave this world. You don't have to participate, but yes, please move to the sides if you don't wish to participate. You have ten minutes. In the meantime we will sing."

-=oOo=-

"What did you see when they did that?" asked the reporter.

"Warmth. They were a family. I was not just Aditu then, but also Celeste and Ami. We were united for a purpose. Together with this marvel of technology, our own potential, and thirty six other groups, plus countless other nodes spread across the galaxy. The sky was also filled with ships of all types. They were going to hold the line. They also gave us a memory of after, where they celebrated their success. I could tell they planned a heck of a celebration, but then they cut off that memory and showed some others."

"They likely didn't want to share private thoughts."

"Oh, I'm sure they didn't, but for all they are alien, the vague hints we got of what they planned to celebrate seemed quite human. I'll never forget their first thoughts after arriving here and saving their own lives was wondering how to help others. We need more people like that."

The reporter nodded, then added absently, "I wish we could do such things."

"I think some can learn."

"Are you sure?" asked the reporter.

"No. It's just an impression I got. They do plan on leaving this country soon. They may already have done so."

"What were the other memories?"

"One was a memory of watching a recording of World War III. Some of their group comes from a world that managed to rebuild, eventually, after that. One was of them stopping another world who decided to launch. They stopped it. Two more were worlds they had seen where the population destroyed themselves. One due to the climate change resulting eventually in the extinction of all life. Another wsa due to releasing a very lethal series of bio weapons. They also showed one where they survived but the propaganda became so entrenched. The government controlled the citizens with chemicals and careful control of everything. Anyone who objected was either brainwashed, or framed and shipped off to a penal colony."

"My God."

"Yes, we can't say we haven't been warned."

-=oOo=-

Bak Sang Kyu looked over as his second came in. He was proud to be in charge of a patrol ship that protected South Korea's waters.

"Is there a problem Roe?" he asked in Korean.

"There is a little boat in the middle of the ocean. Those people are on it."

"Those people?" he asked in puzzlement.

"The ones that helped the Americans! The aliens!"

Bak blinked. He asked, "Did they say anything?"

"We are too far away to hear them."

"Well then, let's go see what they are doing here. Are they armed?"

"Not that we can tell. It is a very small boat. It shouldn't be able to make it out this far."

They approached to within talking distance of the little ship. It took a few minutes to get there. He then called out Hello in Korean.

"Can you understand me?" asked Jinto.

"I can."

"Good. Our translators seemed to be working," said Jinto.

"Actually, I have a gift to translate most languages. It could be that too," said Romana.

"Why are you here?" asked Bak.

"Oh, we were just wondering if you maybe wanted our help. You can say no and we will leave," said Jinto.

"To do what?" asked Bak curious.

"Well we did give the American's copies of some useful plans for solar panels and such. We can give you them as well. Really, we can do that pretty quick if you want them. It is up to you."

"Do you wish to come aboard?"

"Up to you. Maybe you should ask your government what they want?" asked Jinto.

"Alright, well if they need something within reason give it to them. I'm going to go make a call."

-=oOo=-

Romana walked to the front of the meeting room. There were fifty of the best engineers in the world at creating silicon wafers in the room.

"I read through what Ami had in her computer after it ran the automatic translation program. The documentation you have on the process is there, as well as the version I spent four days editing. I honestly mostly blame the auto translation. I know you have been looking at the original the same time I have. I'm mostly here to answer questions. I did include some notes on how to further optimize the process of panel creation, but I'm sure you noticed my notes included increases in difficulty and cost."

An elderly man in the front stood. "We will go around the room. The work you have provided is very good, but we still want to clarify certain points."

"Thanks, but again, I only proof read and mostly fixed the auto translate. The original would have taken me months to make."

"We understand."

They begin asking questions one after the next. Romana gave answer after answer. Several times she gave an answer it was questioned. The first time she responded with that they were correct. The second time she pulled out a white board market and began going through the theory, and ended up filling all four white boards in the room with notes, before she got to the end and said, "Hmm, assuming I haven't made a mistake in my derivation here somewhere, my statement is correct."

The elderly man stood. "You realize that your derivation implies that there are problems with the standard model."

"Oops. I probably should be more careful. Have a care what you do with that tidbit. Now that you pointed it out, I can't actually explain further, but I'm not going to insult your intelligence by trying to erase what I wrote."

"We will use appropriate discretion. Everything in what Romana just covered is now top secret. You will not reveal any of it to anyone outside of this room without my express approval. We can still use it to solve problems, but that doesn't mean it will ever be published or taught outside of those with a clear need to know and clearance."

"Thank you," said Romana.

-=oOo=-

Bak Sang Kyu almost wished to be back at sea, but as the captain that first found the strangers they quickly put him to work helping them. He was sitting behind a desk in a side room at the house they had bought for them reading a book when Celeste walked in.

He sat the book down and asked, "Can I help you?"

"I do shield by default, but emotions and such sometimes still come through. I admit, I'm curious as to what your reading," said Celeste.

"It's a book by Han Kang. It's award winning. It's about a married woman's path towards vegetarianism."

"Interesting. Could you get me a copy?"

"You can have mine if you want. I can go buy another. I'm just surprised your interested in this."

"It caught your interest and it seemed to be making you think intensely enough that I had to focus a bit more on shielding. I was curious."

"Alright." He pulled out a pad and then marked down a page number, before handing her the book.

"You do know I can wait."

"Yes, but this is certainly not a task I need to delegate, so I'll go for a walk and get a new one, unless you wish the new one?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Alright."

-=oOo=-

Celeste read the story avidly, and soon had Ami starting to read over her shoulder.

"I could lend you the book and let you catch up?" offered Celeste.

"You're already half way through."

"Would you like to read it together?" asked Celeste.

"Alright."

Ami slid in beside Celeste into the comfortable chair before she could get up. Celeste smiled and opened it back to page one. She absently held Ami's hand and offered a light rapport to her. Ami accepted and they began reading. Bak walked into the living room that evening and saw them still reading, side by side, lost to the world.

He said softly, "I was offering to drive everyone to a restaurant. We have some that have agreed to keep your presence discrete, so as not to cause problems."

"We want to finish reading this," said Ami absently.

"Another hour, and we will be done," added Celeste.

"I understand. I'll talk with the others and arrange accordingly."

"Thanks," added Ami absently.

-=oOo=-

They were at traditional Korean restaurant and had a the whole closed dining area to themselves. They handed out menus and left them to consider them.

Romana said. "You two have had an idea for the past half day. I don't probe either, but that much was obvious."

"We would like to talk to Han Kang, and perhaps offer to see if she wishes to try to learn," said Ami.

"The author of the book? Why, if I might ask?" asked Bak.

"She thinks about things on a deep level. She has a brilliant mind," said Celeste.

"Can we do that?" asked Ami.

"I'd like to work it through channels, but it seems likely it would be approved," said Bak.

-=oOo=-

Han Kang was surprised when she opened her door and saw the uniformed naval officer.

"Is there a problem?" she asked concerned.

"Your not in any form of trouble. I am carrying out a request from the government to speak with you."

"I'm an author. Why would you want to speak to me?" she asked curiously.

"May I come in?"

"If you wish."

She moved out of the way and invited him in.

"Tea?" she asked.

"Water is fine, or tea if you have it ready."

She moved into the other room set a tea bag into a cup then poured already hot water into the cup, before swirling the tea bag and tossing it in the trash. She carried the tea into the other room. He took it and took a careful sip.

"I don't recognize the flavor."

"Earl Gray. I'm not sure if I like it or not. I have been trying different varieties."

"It isn't bad. Is now a good time to discuss this?"

"Yes."

"May I sit down," he asked.

"Of course."

He found a non cluttered spot on the couch and sat. She sat in a reclining chair by the window.

"First I must ask you not to reveal what I'm going to say to others. It is not an official secret, but it is not far from one."

"Alright. I'm certainly not going to deliberately make my government angry with me."

"I am not trying to be threatening. Please tell me if I do make you feel uncomfortable."

She nodded.

"Are you familiar with the incident and how it was resolved in America?"

"You mean the aliens who helped them and basically told them to fix their mess. Wait, they said they were going to leave for a different country. Are you saying they are here?"

"They are."

"And? I've been trying to write a story about them, but I don't have enough details. I would greatly like to talk to them."

"I was reading The Vegetarian in the house we gave them. I'm just there to help out. It is a big house. One person was curious and asked for a copy. You see they can read minds. They don't, as a rule, but emotions and such still come through. Apparently my reactions to reading your book was enough to draw her in. She asked for a copy."

"I hope you got a chance to read the rest," said Han softly.

"Oh, I went and bought another copy. Good story."

"And?" she asked.

"They are considering offering to teach you what they can, which could include telepathy, if you agree and have the potential. You have to agree to certain rules and pass their interview. I was told that it is purely optional. You can also just come to talk."

"Why?" she asked.

"They were impressed with the mind that created the book."

"Tell me about them," she asked.

He shook his head.

"So I have to go to learn more, you are saying," said Han Kang.

"No. They offered to meet you wherever. I haven't actually told them your address. I didn't know it myself until others found it, though I'd imagine they could find it."

"Why does the government care?" asked Han.

"They offered to help us, and have in a large way I won't mention, but so far they have been just learning about our country and haven't offered anything more till they mentioned you, and yes, we are interested in people learning their skills."

"Ah, what makes you think I wouldn't learn for myself and keep it to myself? It sounds like a very useful skill," said Han.

"We are certainly willing to take that risk. So far no one has impressed them enough to get even a possible offer."

"I'm not sure me in real life will match whatever they got from that book."

"Do you want to go see them?"

"Let me get my laptop."

"Can I persuade you to just bring a copy of files? We would prefer to keep track of what comes in and out. We have no problem with you writing a story, within reason."

"I want my ergonomic keyboard as well."

"That's fine, or we can buy one like it. Bring yours for now."

-=oOo=-

Han walked into their house following Bak about an hour and a half later. No one was there.

Bak blinked. "I thought they would be home, but perhaps someone took them somewhere, or they certainly know how to go places themselves."

"Catch," they heard from the back of the house.

"Ami?" asked Bak in surprise. They walked through the living room, then the kitchen, before opening the back door, only to see nothing. Han looked up, her eyes widening in surprise. From the side Romana walked up to them.

"Hello," she said.

"What? They can fly?" asked Bak.

"Yes. I don't actually have their kinetic talent, or at least not enough of it, so I'm just watching. They are just playing a game of ball, well kinetic dodge ball," said Romana.

"It is going to be a very good book," said Han absently.

Romana smiled and nodded. She then looked up. Celeste and Ami immediately flew down to them.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," said Celeste.

"Now I know why you always wear pants," said Bak.

"Yes, they are handy," said Ami.

"Can I learn to do that?" asked Han.

Celeste smiled at the woman and said, "Perhaps. It is a difficult skill, and one of the easiest ways to maim or kill yourself. We do watch out for each other."

"I want to learn everything," said Han.

"In time perhaps," said Celeste. The others landed and crowded around.

Han sighed.

"Don't worry about the questions. We aren't seeking perfect answers, though we do want your answers," said Jinto before slipping inside with Lafiel.

Han blinked. "You haven't asked any questions yet."

"Oh, we thought we would begin with the easy ones. Suppose you were us sitting around here, what would you do?" asked Celeste.

"Your asking me for ideas?" asked Han.

"For your ideas," corrected Romana.

"I don't know. Your like a walking pile of potential. Any action you take can have ripples that echo long into the future," said Han.

"Well, are you by chance a good cook? None of us are. You certainly don't have to be," said Celeste.

"No."

They sighed. Bak said, "I suppose you want to go out tonight for food again..."

"We are sorry. If it is a significant cost we will find a way to pay you back," said Celeste.

"The work you did for the others is nearly priceless. Don't worry about it," said Bak.

"Inspire. Lead," said Han.

"Doesn't work, at least by itself. We are, after all, not staying. We were hoping to see more of that, but so far haven't," said Romana.

"Your waiting for them to lead and they are waiting for you to lead. Amusing," said Han.

"Well we weren't going to just tell them that," said Lafiel dryly from the other room.

"Bak, we would appreciate if you didn't tell them yet," said Celeste.

"Okay. Can I suggest ideas then?" asked Bak.

"Yes," said Romana.

"Okay the world has a crisis related to using lies for power, and far too much military power, including nuclear and even some bio weapons. How has this been solved on your worlds?" asked Bak.

Celeste said, "I have two mothers. It's complicated, but one was born in a universe that had developed telepathy to a high art. Another was from a universe that had less developed but still significant telepathy. We learned how to teach it to most, to some extent. Teaching it to those who would abuse it is a very bad idea. In the first universe, those with talent helped the rest develop and spread in the universe, and perhaps helped keep the corruption from growing too bad. Corruption of telepaths was rare. It was also rare in the second universe, though they had world war III before they eventually grew up a bit, made many more mistakes, and grew up some more. Telepathy is helping more there than it did. Telepathy can be used to detect lies, at least in person."

"Was it the same thing? Your spreading in the universe to your sending train cars?" asked Han.

"Very clever. Generally not. You need one of us at the other end for those distances," said Celeste.

Bak blinked. "Wait, your saying you can move between planets with just a pair of you?"

"I'm the only one fully trained with the required strength. Aditu has the strength, but not quite the training. Talents as strong as us are rare. Ami should be able to do it eventually, though she won't be quite as strong," said Celeste.

"Then if you were on another planet with a generator or something, we could explore?" asked Han.

"You have to get there first, which requires a space ship, or at least life support and a very substantial reactor," said Ami.

"Use something like a sub. It's a lot easier to seal in space than underwater. For cooling, you could probably send more cold water right?" asked Han.

"I've done enough engineering for this group. Why don't we have Bak take the idea and see?" asked Romana.

"About five times," said Celeste.

"Pardon?" asked Bak.

"You need to sustain about five times the rate of energy draw for longer ports, but the duration keeps increasing. It takes several minutes, up to about ten to move to where there is likely a habitable world," said Celeste.

"So you could replace the water quickly enough?" asked Bak.

"Probably. You need safety margins and such. One has to be able to bring a reactor to safe even without more water," said Ami.

"Then you are talking nuclear?" asked Bak.

"Well I'm not teaching you to build other reactor types, and while Ami might be able to, I don't think she is either, so, yes," said Romana.

"Is just bringing more water all the time the way to do it?" asked Bak.

"Again, we are not doing the engineering for you. We will help, but if you want this, you have to lead it," said Lafiel.

"We of course won't agree to use it, if we don't think it is safe," said Ami.

-=oOo=-

Han wrote in spiral bound notebooks and on laptops as she documented it all. She was there for a meeting with some of the top engineers and scientists in the country. An elderly man walked to the front.

"Hello my name is Jin. We have been looking for an option to do this. First, we do not have nuclear submarines. We could, in theory, build them, but it would take probably years, and might cause an international mess. The US, China, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom have them. We are considering working with France or possibly the United Kingdom. China and Russia are problematic and the US is still, but in different ways. We were wondering if solar power would be at all possible, maybe by stopping in solar systems periodically?"

"Maybe, but the risk to us would be quite high. We need power in large amounts. I don't think we can accept that as a solution, though we would help run the numbers," said Ami.

Another stood. She was a younger mid thirty woman with black hair and average height. "My name is Aera. I was wondering, are we sure an ICE based generator would not work? We have some diesel ones that are relatively efficient. We would have to collect and filter the exhaust to scavenge gasses to dilute pure oxygen with. I suppose we could use a gasoline based approach for cleaner exhaust, though gasoline generally weighs more for the same energy."

"Solving problems with liquid oxygen can be tricky. The pollution in space isn't a problem. It might work, but I suspect we would be in space for a long time, and need a fair amount of shielding, which presumably would be more fuel or water. The liquid oxygen needs to be mostly stored well away from the people, at least in those quantities," said Romana.

"Well if we can set it up on the ground then do some test moves of things, we can get an idea if this is feasible," said Celeste hesitantly.

Jin stood and asked, "Could we make a phased approached where stages are discarded when the fuel and oxygen is exhausted to simplify this?"

"I am not an engineer, but I would want this where we are to be able to keep us alive even if we ran out of fuel," said Aditu.

"I'd presume we could sustain those of us who went with about twenty thousand watts in a core area," said Ami.

"Probably," agreed Romana.

JIn said, "That is not that much power to sustain. Let's built the generators and run them to make sure they are reliable."

"I agree, the core module must be absolutely reliable, though if we did have to use only what energy that generator can spare, we may be years arriving anywhere. I do think we could remain alive, but it would not be pleasant," said Celeste.

"We will make sure we have a solution that is reliable. Nuclear might be required. We may talk to France."

"Your plan to remove the heat?" asked Romana.

Jin added, "Has to be radiated out. Might need to separately cool the crew area. One benefit of ICE engines is they generate less heat, but we still need to keep the fuel somewhat warm. Gasoline based engines may be more reliable because of that. I suspect heat will not be a big problem, once we run the numbers. We can figure that out, though I will warn you this may take years before we have something."

"We might help speed it along a bit. We haven't solved this exact problem, well maybe Romana has, so no guarantee we really are a help," said Ami.

"Haven't messed with anything this primitive," said Romana.

"Can we combine ideas? Solar panels for some. Stopping where they would work?" asked Jinto.

"I don't see any reason not to plan this with the maximum number of options, as long as it works. It is a ship designed for one trip. We can afford more risk if it is mitigated more ways," said Lafiel.

"Agreed," said Jin.

-=oOo=-

Han asked, "How did I get to come on this trip again?" It was nearly a year later. Jin was the one who responded.

"Celeste is the most powerful. Romana has the most technical knowledge. Should something happen we didn't predict, having those two here should allow a solution to be created and gotten to you. Ami and Aditu are going to provide a similar level of kinetic ability. Ami has the technical ability to help implement any solution. Lafiel and Jinto are experienced in space. You, on the other hand don't have to go," finished Jin.

"I'll be glad to take your place," said Aera, who was the mid thirties woman engineer from before.

"She is a potential T2 kinetic. A bit less in path. That was the main reason we hoped she would accept, but I can also possibly use her here. It is just that if they ever were on their own, having another may help. Ami is also there because she can heal, if required," said Celeste.

"I'll go. It's just scary. I was supposed to tell stories, not be in one," said Han. She sighed. It was a very cute sigh for the Korean woman.

"We understand," said Jinto.

"I remind you that South Korea and France are working on a nuclear solution that will hopefully replace this one day. It is at least a year, possibly two out, but we are working on it," said Jin.

"We don't want to delay that long. We are kind of hoping just opening this world will help you out, and give your world enough to focus on to be alright," said Lafiel.

"As long as they have any amount of generators left to allow me to send you more, we can get a tower up. You have personal capsules that are, if not great, adequate. They need to make a lot more. We would prefer to make them mostly one way, at least until someone needs to return," said Celeste.

"We are working on it, and also working on improving them," said Jin.

"We'll be trying to find a couple potential primes while you do all your work. We hoped Jin would be one. She could, possibly work with another T2 to receive on one end, or a prime, if we get that lucky," said Celeste.

"I can help you find them, though past a certain point I can't teach them very easily. Your brain structure is just different enough to limit what I can help with," said Romana.

"That will help, since I'll likely be on cargo duty most of the time," said Celeste.

"I wish I could be here with you," said Ami.

"Me too, but we have work to do," said Celeste.

"That we do. I'll be glad when we can returned to Ekuryua."

Celeste smiled and nodded.

-=oOo=-

They were ported into the core module.

"What was this ship named again?" asked Aditu.

"Sahuseon. It was a famous Korean scout ship that sailed ahead of the fleet to observe enemy movements," said Han Kang.

Lafiel and Jinto sat down. Lafiel was the first to speak. The others sat down right after.

"It looks like the two core generators are running. The temperatures around the ship are all within the expected range. I see no significant changes from the test trip to Mars. Temperature regulation is working."

"Environmental is good. The oxygen scrubbers have been continuing to work in alternation, to verify operation. Backup systems to use stored oxygen are also available," said Jinto.

"I'm bringing up the main generators. So far so good. All of the spares also read as available and ready. The work we did to top off the supplies has us as ready as we are going to be," said Ami.

"I presume we intend to use our wells, and then recharge them, and not rely on the generators for actual movement," said Aditu.

"Correct, for now anyway. This is going to take months, though the sheer amount of diesel fuel and water in tanks all around us should mostly shield us, and I can check us all periodically," said Ami.

"I am directing the exhaust from the generators into thrust and slowly positioning us. It's going to take around thirty minutes," said Lafiel.

"I can't believe this hunk of junk is expected to move us to a new solar system," complained Han.

"What happened to the faith you had when you named it?" quipped Jinto.

"That was for the story," said Han.

"Well, I'd definitely trade this for a copy of Falcon, or even any Abh ship," said Lafiel.

Q appeared and snickered.

"Do not laugh," said Lafiel with a slight bit of a pout.

"You know you could point us to a useful ship that won't get us killed getting it," suggested Jinto.

"You'll be fine, though I admit, I never considered this. The rest of the Q are quite amused you are using a bunch of cobbled together fossil fuel generators to make the trip."

"Well Romana and I could have probably built a fusion reactor in this amount of time, though managing to also keep it secret would be impossible," said Ami.

"And I appreciate Romana not doing more than partially fixing their understanding of physics."

"She got distracted solving a problem," said Ami.

"I know."

"Got anything to make this less boring, or maybe less of a radiation bath? Even with the water and fuel, it's not great," said Jinto.

"I should think you two will think of something," said Q dryly.

"The usual medication would help," quipped Lafiel.

"Don't worry about it. If you are on a mission from me, you are protected from becoming pregnant, unless you clearly choose to," said Q.

"Thank you," said Lafiel softly.

Q snapped his fingers. A small room replicator was suddenly part of the outside wall.

"You can make what you need with that. Propulsion should continue to be as you planned it. You can make some small shield emitters and such to protect this ship, as well as food, or small parts to fix things."

"Can we keep it after we arrive?" asked Jinto hopefully.

"Provided you keep control of it, and don't use it to advance their tech significantly. It vanishes when you leave. I'm just trying to not spend more time on one mission than makes sense. You also can't take it apart. That would also cause it to vanish," said Q.

"Thanks," said Lafiel. She walked over and requested the standard Alliance birth control medication for all the women here. She then tossed each a bottle and took one herself. The others did as well.

"It's more than just birth control," said Ami.

"I know. You know you can add that formula into your computer while you are here and give it out if you want," said Q.

"Thanks. I'll do that," said Ami.

Q nodded and vanished.

"It's a bit sad. Whatever power source Q is using to run that replicator is far better than all the power running this entire ship," said Ami.

"Let's see if we can figure out how to create some shield emitters," said Ami.

"Would not Celeste want a bottle of that as well, and maybe Romana?" asked Aditu.

"Good point, though its probably poison or useless for Romana. Let me work on getting a copy of the information they need to produce it and get it approved and we will send it as well," said Ami.

They nodded.

Jinto added, "You may want to include more than one bottle, in case they want the samples."

Ami nodded and got to work.

-=oOo=-

The South Korean President reviewed the information about the birth control medication. He finished reading the five page executive summary and then looked up. "This is all true?"

"We believe it is. Celeste took one of the pills without hesitation. Romana didn't. She is a significantly different species. Did you know she has two hearts?"

"No. Continue."

"We have only been looking at it for three days, but so far it looks like very impressive work. Obviously it is probably the work of others, just like the other things. Celeste specified that this should be open to anyone who is going to make it without changes. There is a lot more in there. There is a detailed process to create the drug, to verify the process is correct, and to verify the drugs after creation. There is also anonymised trial data. There is a very great deal of it. It it was our data, we could approve it based on it."

"Continue. Let's review internally for a bit, and then once we are sure, well, delay sharing it for now."

"You assume they will instantly know where it came from if we share it."

"Yes."

"Alright, for now we will just work with what we have, but you have to know they will find out soon. The fact that we hid the craft behind the moon saved us for now."

"I know."

-=oOo=-

Alex Wagner looked over at her screen. She was in the basement of the National Security Agency in a closed area by herself. It was three in the morning. She drank a bit more coffee and flipped through some of the other close image matches to people of interest their latest algorithm turned up. She eat a handful of walnuts and then suddenly gasped and coughed to recover from her surprise causing some of the walnuts to go down wrong. She turned away from her computer and coughed till she cleared her throat, only to turn back and notice her coffee was empty. She grabbed a bottle of water from the side of her desk and downed it till she was recovered.

She suddenly realized that she was there by herself. No one would even enter the area till Monday morning. "That would be ironic. I finally find those they are looking for and almost manage to choke myself to death." She locked her screen and then went through the elaborate process to lock and secure the closed area, saying hello to the guard that stood outside. She then used the key to unlock the little bay where her cell phone was and slipped off into a private conference room before digging through for her bosses cell phone number and dialing.

There was no answer. It went to voice mail.

She dialed again.

And again.

And again.

And again. She got an answer.

"Alex, I assume you have an excellent reason for waking me up?"

"Yes."

"I'll be right there."

"I'll be here."

-=oOo=-

Alex was sitting at her computer going through more images when her boss walked in.

"What have you got?"

"Take a seat. I've archived the ones of interest. This is footage from a street view camera in Seoul we have been monitoring. We monitor a very great many public cameras." She opened the folder.

"It's Ami walking with another. Do we have an id on the second?"

"She is a famous South Korean author named Han Kang. The stills I have are all of those two together. If they are there, they have been careful. Ami doesn't really stick out. The pattern match barely caught it."

"You have found none of the others?"

"No. I have been looking, but so far the ones found are in that folder."

"Make me a copy on a secure drive with the details. I'll need to you to come with me to the white house. I'm also going to arrange at least one guard as well."

"Okay, I'll encrypt it as usual."

He nodded. "One more question? How old are these pictures?"

"Almost three months."

"Great. Spare me the request for more budget. I'll ask."

She nodded.

-=oOo=-

Agent Phil Coulson walked down the streets of Seoul South Korea. It was a week from when the analyst found the images. He had been here already for a day casually shopping, buying very little, but not none. That would be suspicious. So far he had found nothing. He would keep at it.

He ended up heading to a nearby city for a few hours, then repeated everything over the next week. Two weeks later, he was back in the area the pictures were taken when he saw two familiar people in an outdoor Korean barbecue restaurant. The two blonds suddenly turned from the salads they were eating and looked right at him, where he was nearly a block away.

Phil sighed. He really thought he was being more subtle than that. To have them both detect him at once. It was just downright sad. He smiled and walked over to them and said, "I apologize. My name is Phil Coulson. My Korean is really not very good. I was hoping perhaps someone here might speak English."

"Hello agent," said Celeste in amusement.

"Take a seat. What would you like? We can order for you," said Romana.

"Well, I would quite like the barbecue, though I hear some of you don't eat much meat. Do you mind?" he asked.

"We do not," said Celeste.

"Then that please. Tea is fine to drink. I'll pay of course," said Phil.

They ordered for him. He got his meal and began to eat.

He asked, "So, is there any chance you will tell me what your doing here?"

"What makes you think we are doing anything here? It is a very nice country," said Romana airily.

"Call it a hunch."

"What do you want?" asked Celeste after he eat a bit of his food.

"I'm not your enemy. It even seems like sanity might occur in the next election, maybe."

"And it might not. We looked at your mess and just sort of threw up our hands, deciding to focus on where it was not an intractable nightmare," said Celeste.

"We did notice the solar panel and even battery tech Korea was starting to produce," said Phil.

"Just now?" asked Romana curiously.

"Yes, well, intel seriously missed that one. The product is clearly what you gave us the plans for. The companies we are working with haven't gotten nearly as far. We did note the patents you got in first and such. Very clever," said Phil.

"We do try. Do you have a problem with our actions?" asked Celeste.

"No, honestly a bunch of companies are now going to try to work with the ones here. I take it you helped them solve their problems?"

"You dramatically underestimate just the quality of the engineers in this country. Perhaps help was given, but I'm sure they would have been fine without it," said Romana.

"No, not really. They are clearly number one, particularly with anything involving silicon. It annoys me that no one thought of that, except in hindsight," said Phil softly.

"The problem with a society like is developing in your country is you can't really do great things when your spending so much time lying and fighting with each other," said Celeste.

"That wasn't the cause of the intelligence fail. The agency has competent people. I do agree that it is going to become a problem and already is in many areas," said Phil.

"It seems you have a lot of work to do," said Celeste.

"Not me. I stay out of politics, or try to, though I do vote of course," said Phil.

Romana looked around, as if bored.

"Am I keeping you?" asked Phil.

"No, we are waiting for someone," said Celeste.

"Oh okay. I'd honestly like to keep in touch," offered Phil.

"That shouldn't be a problem," said Celeste.

Phil continued to eat as he tried to figure out how to go about this. Finally he asked, "How can we help?"

"I have an idea or two," said a man in halting English.

Phil turned.

"Allow us to introduce one of the first people we met from here. This is Captain Bak Sang Kyu. I think he may still be slightly annoyed at us that he is not on his boat right now," said Celeste.

"It is fine. If you like, I could talk to Mr. Coulson while you can go about your day."

"We appreciate it. We honestly aren't entirely sure how he found us. He already knows about the batteries and solar panels of course."

"That was to be expected." Bak turned to the waitress raised a hand. She came over.

"Yes?" she asked in Korean.

"I'm paying for these two and I suppose this gentleman's and my own food. Is that alright?"

"Of course. I'll make a note. Would you like a menu?"

"Yes please."

The two waived and left.

"I never saw them call anyone," said Phil softly after Celeste, Romana and the waitress were gone.

"We will leave the shop talk till we are in a more suitable location, if that is okay?" asked Bak.

"Of course."

-=oOo=-

Phil sighed as he was lead into the Korean government building and eventually into what certainly seemed to be the office for the head of whatever agency this was. He sat down when directed.

"We do not appreciate foreign agents coming in unannounced," said the elderly man in passable English.

"I apologize about that."

"You are here to tempt them back it seems."

"Yes."

"And have gotten nowhere."

"Also true, but we are also willing just to help, if we can, so as not to be completely cut out of things."

"Celeste told me as much," said Bak.

"When?" asked Phil.

Bak didn't answer.

"We do not require your assistance at this time, though we do have one area we could perhaps cooperate on."

"Oh?" asked Phil.

"Captain, will you have an English copy of the executive summary of what they recently gave us made?" asked the manager.

"I'll go request that now."

"I hope your not sending me away," said Phil.

"No. You are fine, though there is no plan to expand our cooperation."

"Why are you working with the French on nuclear submarines?" asked Phil.

"I'm sorry that is classified."

"You know my government will insist on getting an answer to that one. Your risking destabilizing the region," said Phil.

"You can assure them that that is not the goal."

"That will of course assure them," said Phil dryly.

"Put bluntly, with China growing in strength, and the North having nuclear weapons, do you really think we can entirely avoid this?"

"I officially cannot respond to that, though I'm deeply curious as to what you are doing with the nuclear power is it?" guessed Phil.

The man didn't respond.

"They could use electricity. A portable form of electricity in massive amounts. That might be quite useful to them."

"I'm sorry, I cannot tell you anything there."

Bak returned with what turned out to be a six page document in English. He handed it to Phil. Phil glanced through, and then said, "A new birth control drug?"

"It's substantially better. Basically, they are giving us what they use," said Bak.

"Well that is interesting. Has anyone tested it?"

"We have not began testing it in our population yet. It has to go through a long process. We are close to being able to synthesize it," said the elderly man.

"Alright. I'm sure the president will want a full copy of this and some kind of terms so our companies can make it too," said Phil.

"They want it made available as widely as possible."

"I'm sure women will appreciate that. You do not appear to be trying to make a great deal of profit on any of it. What are you making money on? What are you not telling me?" asked Phil.

"Part of the plan on the technology is to establish ourselves as a preferred supplier. We should be at profit within year two, though they have requested a limit on profits for their designs."

"What are you not telling me?" repeated Phil.

They didn't respond.

"I'm going to take a guess that they are trying to help, without making things worse. The biggest thing we have seen them do is mass movement of freight. They apparently wanted portable power, when they don't need portable power. You have reactors here they could use, or make to move anything on the planet to anywhere on the planet. They have shown that, yet they wanted portable power. Space perhaps?" asked Phil.

"I'm sorry. I can't help you," said the head of the agency, that still hadn't given a name.

"I bet I'm right, but then how does the author come in."

"Pardon?" asked the old man.

"The one that made those award winning books. Han or something."

"I wish to know how you knew to come here."

"Trade?" offered Phil.

"What you ask is worth substantially more. No deal."

A middle aged man walked into the open door.

"Yes?" asked the elderly man.

"We believe we have found one possible source for their intel."

"What is it then?"

"There is a public facing camera in that area. No hacking is required."

Phil sighed then nodded. He asked, "Is Miss Mizuno here?"

"She is currently unavailable."

Phil smiled.

"What about the others? I probably owe them a meal," said Phil.

"I paid for your food," said Bak.

"I would have paid," said Phil.

"All that is irrelevant of course," said the agency leader.

"True," said Phil.

"I believe we are done here. We can of course give you the rest of the details on that and the others."

"And if we manage not to shoot ourselves in our other foot?" asked Phil.

"I'm sure they would be preferred."

"I'm better you have or are going to go into space soon, yet you can't possibly have developed so much in so little time, can you?" asked Phil.

The agency leader smiled.

Phil sighed.

-=oOo=-

Phil took a taxi back to his hotel and pulled out a very small phone from a hidden spot in his suitcase, before slipping it in his pocket and then heading out to a random park and setting on a bench. It was getting dark out when he dialed the phone number.

"Agent?" asked the person on the other end of the phone. He looked around.

"I've got agreements in principle for the solar panel and battery designs. I also have a similar one for a new birth control medication. I saw Romana and Celeste at a barbecue restaurant. I talked to them briefly for a bit. They said little of what they were doing. They know how we got the intel. They figured it out. They say the sub issue is not currently for defense, and I believe them. I think they are doing something with space, though I've only seen Romana and Celeste and they had someone come out to meet me and talk to me, without making a call that I saw."

"We want to know what they are doing."

"Sorry, they aren't budging. I'm not sure what I can bribe them with."

"You are authorized to mention that the US is willing to work with France and them on the sub design, provided we are absolutely sure it will not get out without everyone's agreement."

"That could help."

"Find out what they are doing."

"I'll do my best."

-=oOo=-

Phil went to the restaurant he found them before the next day in the hopes of finding them again. He was surprised when after sitting down, they both entered and sat down at the same table.

"I really must insist on paying, since you did come back," said Phil.

"There may be a small announcement. They haven't decided. Perhaps there will be one in a couple more weeks," said Celeste.

"I can't wait, though I'd greatly appreciate a heads up. I did get permission to help on your boat project."

"Fishing again Mr. Coulson?" asked Romana.

"Always."

Romana's phone rang. She pulled it out of her inside pocket and answered. "Hello." She listened closely and said, "We need to go now."

"Can I help?" offered Phil.

"Perhaps. Are you willing to help us and not ask too many questions?" asked Celeste.

"For now."

"We need the physical location of the sick supreme court justice. She is dying. That is likely to be bad for your country," said Celeste.

"Well, I've walked in front of the building and been in it a few times, but I certainly don't know what hospital or wherever she is."

"If we get you where you want to go, can you get us that information? We need it now," said Celeste.

"Can you take me back to my office?" asked Phil.

"We can. You are going to get that information for us?" asked Romana.

"I'm going to try." Phil pulled out some money and sat it on the table. Celeste and Romana headed out then headed down to where there was a transformer on a pole. Phil followed them.

Celeste turned to him. She said, "I'm going to read the location from your mind if you permit it and take us there. Focus on where we are going and say yes."

"Alright. Go ahead."

"Got it." She held out her hands to Romana and Phil. The transformer hummed in pain before they vanished, appearing right after in his office.

He pulled a badge out of his pants and slipped it on. "Follow me."

They went up a floor and down a long haul till they found an office in the corner. Phil knocked.

"Enter."

"Director."

"What are you doing here?"

"They want to know where the dying justice is. I think they are offering to help."

The director turned to his computer and ran a query. He then searched for the address and got a picture. He motioned them over to see the picture of the house and the map. He said, "Does that help? She is dying at home."

"Zoom out again. Let me see the bigger area, then zoom in again, showing the steps between," said Celeste.

He did so.

"I think I've got it. Where can we find power, preferably a large DC supply?" asked Celeste.

"Power panels are in the basement. They are not DC. I can lead you," said the director.

"Do so," said Celeste.

They entered an elevator and went down a dozen floors, where they got out and the director had to swipe his badge to go down several more. They ended up in a mechanical area.

"This works well enough. Are you coming Phil or should we bring him?" asked Celeste.

"Agent Coulson has my full confidence."

"Thanks." He held out his hand. Romana was already holding Celeste's. They vanished.

"Such a handy trick," said the director.

-=oOo=-

Phil knocked on the door. A woman opened the door.

"I'm sorry to disturb you." He held out his badge.

"What does the FBI want?" she asked annoyed.

"Nothing. One of these two, or perhaps both might be able to help her, if it isn't too late. I am not kidding," said Phil.

"If you are lying I will see that you pay for this."

"I am not," said Phil.

"Then come in."

They walked into a ground floor bedroom with a barely breathing anorexic woman lying in a hospital bed. Romana touched Celeste briefly. Celeste touched the woman's face gently and let her energy and magic flow into her even while Romana began very gently massaging toes, feet, legs, arms, and hands, and even giving a bit of her own energy.

"The cancer is fairly bad. I am working on restoring her organs before they shutdown. We will need something to port things into. A bowl at least. Also IV nutrition. We need that very badly," said Celeste.

"The doctor is in the other room. She said it was time. Hold on," said the woman.

They soon had a doctor agreeing to put the IV back into the already existing mainline, and resume treating.

"I need your help. Romana's medical knowledge is not specific on this. Will you help us?" asked Celeste to the older woman doctor who was treating her.

"They can help. They already have, I think," said Phil.

"If you can save her, I'll help."

"Good and sorry for the headache you are likely to get," said Celeste. She clasped her hand and brought her into the merge.

-=oOo=-

Doctor Richards suddenly was in wonder as she suddenly understood the state of her patient's poor body to a much greater detail. She understood what Romana and Celeste had done. She now knew why the large clean salad bowl was brought in and she found herself analyzing the cancer. It was such a big mass in her pancreas and it had spread. Still, most of it could be removed at once, without causing bleeding, so they did. It still caused some bleeding. Celeste stopped the bleeding and they quickly analyzed the next removal. They removed a chunk of what remained and a bit of healthy. Celeste then directed her magic to encourage regrowth. She could feel how much their combined mind appreciated the medical knowledge from both her and Romana right now.

They would need more nutrients. Doctor Richards paused what she was doing and called for an emergency delivery of all they needed. In those few minutes, the other two removed and regenerated several more small sections, but the available nutrients in her system were just not there. The IV was still flowing.

They noticed a nearly full bladder and without much debate quickly ported most of the contents of that into the bowl. A second clean bowl was in the hands of the patient's daughter.

"Swap, dump that, clean it, and bring it back," said the doctor.

Romana's efforts to restore blood flow and some occasional ones by Celeste to port bits of blockages and repair arteries continued. They couldn't ask her body to restore any more big things, so they did small things. It was ten minutes later before an ambulance arrived with part of what they needed. She started to swap it out when Celeste, when Celeste debated giving her her own blood which she thought was compatible.

"Do not do that. You will weaken yourself too much, and be unable to finish," thought Romana.

"Would blood help more?" asked the doctor.

"I do not believe so. Her body is weak enough. Even the smallest mismatch could cause trouble," thought Romana.

"It's going to be hard to get all the cancer, but I think we can do it," thought Celeste.

"You do not need to heal everything today. This is very complex since it was not treated in an effective way in time, which is just a result of the technology here, and is not this doctor's fault," thought Romana.

"True. I wish Ami was here. She knows more. We are using both of your knowledge, but it is not the same," thought Celeste.

Doctor Richards finished changing to the next bag of nutrients. They kept working for another hour and then Celeste turned to the Doctor. "I'm going to gently release you. Sit down first." The doctor did. Her head hurt as she was suddenly so much less.

"You're likely fine. I was watching too. Caffeine may help," said Romana.

"We need to get her back to the hospital. We are making progress," said Doctor Richards

"Actually, it is probably going to be easier if we don't. Please, I'd rather not make this a circus," said Celeste.

"Whatever is the best for her health," said her daughter.

"We need them to finish healing her, no matter what, but it can't be now. Everyone is exhausted, and more importantly, so is your mother. She is better, but needs to rest," said Doctor Richards.

"She looks better," said her daughter softly.

"She is. Let me sleep for about thirty minutes, then I'll help again briefly, then sleep, then more. It will be exhausting. Your mother also has enough of my energy and that will continue to heal her, but it won't remove the cancer. I have to direct that," said Celeste.

"Alright. You can use the guest room."

"I'm fine. I can stay up for quite some time still, if needed," said Romana.

She nodded.

-=oOo=-

The woman awoke early the next morning. Everything was quite still. There was no pain.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I'm Q. One of my agents is in the middle of healing you. It has nothing to do with any religion."

"I remember something."

"You probably have at least ten years now. I would like to talk to you about that."

"Why?" she asked.

"The next time another can reliably take your place, that isn't an insane zealot, I want you to retire."

"Is this real?" she asked.

"Yes."

"I almost died. I'll keep on until I'm sure someone sane will replace me. I'll do my best for another four if sanity doesn't prevail."

"I'm going to prevent some of the visible signs of your recovery for a time. They will instead appear over a more believable period of a year. It will be cosmetic only. You will also have to work hard to recover anyway, so I doubt anyone notices. I just don't want anyone creating a religion or anything like that out of my people's actions. I'm asking you to be quiet about how you were saved. You can tell those when you wake that I told you that if you want."

"Were you who sent them?"

"I was."

"Thank you."

"You may not think your one seat matters, but in some worlds just one more seat stops a lot of the madness," said Q.

She nodded, then asked, "Can you tell me about any of it?"

"Sure, why not?" said Q.

-=oOo=-

The supreme court chief justice was quite surprised when two weeks later her colleague resumed light duties.

"I am glad you are well," he said cordially.

"Are you really? Don't worry, I do know I am mortal."

"Why the hostility?" he asked.

"Oh just some dreams I had when I was sick. In one of them a psychopath ascended the presidency and committed many obvious crimes, and yet this court, after I was dead, helped him get off by making up a bunch of nonsense about presidential immunity."

"That seems unlikely," said the chief justice.

"I would have said that once."

"Well, I'm glad your better."

She nodded.

"Care to share the miracle cure?"

"Excellent doctors and luck."

He nodded.

-=oOo=-

Phil returned to South Korea a week after Celeste and Romana finished their treatment of the Justice. He had let them sleep at his apartment for the week it took them to finish healing her. He ended up sleeping on the couch with Romana and Celeste sleeping in his bed. He tended to regard home as the place he slept so didn't bother with better. He had only just gotten to the airport when the captain he met before met him and gave him a ride to another location.

"Where are we going?" asked Phil in a bright tone.

"You'll see. It's not very exciting, at least not yet."

"I can't wait," said Phil.

They traveled for almost an hour and a half till they reached what seemed to be an older large warehouse next to train tracks. It even had its own tracks that connected to the main line, so clearly could load and unload using the train. It also had a lot of vehicles outside it, but nothing much new there. The captain badged them in.

He had to sign in as well and get his picture and fingerprints taken. He got into the main area and saw massive power cables running next to a pair of reclining chairs with large flat screens in front of them and off to either side.

"Ah, there they are," said Phil as he approached the occupied chairs.

"Surely your not surprised," said Bak.

"No, I rather think that is coming soon."

Romana smiled and said, "They are there. They have ported down the generators and equipment needed to port the rest down."

"Your telepathy is near prime status. It really is a pity you have so little kinetic talent," said Celeste.

"Yes, but there are compensations," said Romana.

Celeste nodded.

"So where are they?" asked Phil.

"You'll find out. We have a little pod like device if you want to go there," offered Bak.

"I think I want to know more first," said Phil.

Bak nodded. He said, "The plan called for at least a day or two for them to get ready for the next phase. This has been a hard trip for them."

"To the place," said Phil dryly.

"Yes, to the place," agreed Bak.

"How can I help?" asked Phil.

"See if they need anything, I suppose. I do have other tasks," said Bak.

"Alright. Will someone be bringing me my new badge?"

Bak nodded.

Phil walked over to the pair and sat down in a folding chair not far away.

"They still haven't told you?" asked Celeste.

"No. Bak did offer to put me into a pod. I passed until I know more."

"You should go," said Romana.

"Details?" asked Phil.

Celeste turned into the distance even as the lights dimmed slightly. "They are ready to receive the storage container with the bigger generator. They moved back to Sahuseon rather than bringing all the pieces down. They have the generators at max and are ready."

"Then let's see if we can get it to them." Romana looked over at several of the younger engineers. "Would a couple of you like to head to Altair now? It might be better to do it before we port this big thing. Celeste is doing most of the work on this end." Nine of them rushed over. Romana pointed to the two in front. "How about you two to start?"

Celeste waved and a pod at the far end of the room that Phil just noticed opened. They rushed over and got in. It closed.

"Someone please check the seals and the integrity of it," said Celeste.

The others rushed to do so. She soon had seven thumbs up. Celeste took Romana's hand. The lights dimmed slightly. The pod lifted up a bit and vanished.

"Tracking. Four minutes to hand off," said Celeste calmly.

"It seems I should have said yes," said Phil.

"Probably. Now your at the end of the list," said Celeste.

Ami and Aditu easily landed the pod on the planet safely. Phil watched quietly as more pods and more equipment vanished. At the end of the day a tiny metal bottle with a screwed on lid clanked in front of them. One of the techs opened it and pulled a pile of memory cards.

"We want to see after you get it loaded," said Celeste.

"It shouldn't take more than fifteen minutes or so at least for some. We will be back."

"How do I understand them?" asked Phil.

"Me mostly. Celeste and I have com badges from their ship that help, but in this case it is mostly me," said Romana.

"And?"

"It's a gift I can lend when I'm near. As I said, their are compensations to not having kinetic ability."

"Those memory cards were video from this Altair, which is presumably another planet?" asked Phil.

"Yes."

Ten minutes later they saw those that had left, including Han Kang, Lafiel, Jinto, Aditu, and Ami moving about and all helping the new beginning on this new world.

"You did it. How?" asked Phil in surprise.

"Sahuseon is a craft we helped them put together. It was mostly generators, fuel, water, food, and oxygen. It was barely adequate, even with Ami and Aditu's skills. I doubt anyone volunteers to take a trip in something like that again. The techs here did excellent work, but that was a horrible journey for them," said Celeste.

"We do, however appreciate it," said Bak as he came over.

"So, someone at both ends?" asked Phil.

"Yes, and fortunately we found a couple that can eventually take our places, though they need a great deal of training, particularly before they move people. Aditu and Ami are at the low end of what we allow there, and are very skilled," said Celeste.

"You can move people to a new world that seems perfect, and do it in a matter of minutes. That is remarkable," said Phil.

"It doesn't solve your problems. You have to ultimately do that," said Romana.

"You make it sound so simple," said Phil dryly.

"I could show you the alternative. I have memories of viewing recordings of what happens when World War III finally happens, or the environment is finally destroyed and Earth becomes uninhabitable. Even have some of us dealing with it," said Celeste.

"My friend the Doctor kept our Earth from totally destroying itself. I do know he became so frustrated with them at times," said Romana.

"I don't really want to see it, but I do want to know more so we can plan to avoid it," said Bak.

"Ami has some of it filed away in her computer. It may be some time before she returns, but she can likely forward copies," said Celeste.

"I'd like to see that too. I don't need to see a planet destroyed to know it can happen," said Phil.

"We do have tentative permission to release to the world this accomplishment, provided we can make sure we have security guarantees. We know they can't just kidnap Celeste and have access, but, well, I'm sure you can see how this might go," said Bak.

"I'll make a call. We will need to setup a coalition, just in case we lose," said Phil.

Bak nodded.

-=oOo=-

The president of the United States walked out to the press room and moved to the podium.

"Good Morning. I am here to tell you about a new alliance. The G7 countries Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US have formed an agreement with South Korea, Japan, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. We are considering others. The alliance requires member countries to exclude any country, even one that is already included, should the government there become unstable. We have been clearly told that we will be excluded if the previous occupant of this office returns."

"Are you seriously threatening if you don't get your way, the US loses on whatever it is you are talking about?" asked a reporter.

"Actually, it wasn't my idea, though why should this new alliance suddenly have to accept a leader that represents the opposite purpose of the alliance? Seriously, the demand to be a part of this new venture is going to completely outstrip what is available. They were considering excluding us in general, based on the last guy, and the odds of him returning, but we managed to remain a key part."

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh, the people we chased out of our country. You know the ones that saved all those lives and helped Florida recover, well they went to help South Korea. I'm sure you've heard of the new solar panels and batteries. They gave us copies of the info, but, well, it does help if you have actual help getting things going. New birth control is coming as well fairly soon."

She paused to collect her thoughts and then said, "But that is all minor stuff. They found a way, with nothing more than a cobbled together space ship with some generators, fuel and such to reach a new world in a new solar system nearly seventeen light years away. It is an impossible distance, except by those who have shown they can move things with their own power. They were in space for months to get there, the few that made the initial journey."

"Altair is perfect. It is just is. It has more land than Earth and it is what they refer to as a garden world. It is like Earth must have been once. There are already over a thousand people there building a new world. They will show the video afterwards. The trick is, when they work in pairs with one on each end they can move people over such vast distances quite easily. We even have eighty of our own people helping out as well, and what is more, they have found two among us that can, one day, take their place, so our path to and from that world will remain. Don't you see? They have shown what we can do together. They have shown the potential of man, or in their case, mostly woman."

"Why are they threatening us?"

"Because we kidnapped them, or rather Florida's governor did. I shouldn't think it is that complicated. Still, I have work to do. We are dispatching a carrier group for security, and the others are dispatching some as well. Should we lose, I'll of course recall the carrier group before then. There are plenty of others to take over. I can just hope that if we do lose, by the time the next election comes about, well, maybe we will be in a better position. Maybe we won't fear so many made up things."

"But they will have sent millions there by then, if all of this is even true," said a reporter.

"I'm not sure what you expect me to say. We did manage to get on the list, thanks to a very stubborn agent and our offer of help. They want the lies to end. I want the lies to end. We need the lies to end. I never said we were perfect, but sometime you may want to actually count all the ways you have been lied to. Personally, I'd like laws and amendments, designed carefully to allow prosecution and incarceration of those who in their position of power flagrantly lie to the American people. Now you have to be careful how you do that, but you can't lie to the FBI or to Congress, but Congressmen and presidents, and candidates for those offices can lie to you? How does that make sense? I don't get it."

She got up and walked out to a flurry of questions.

-=oOo=-

"That bitch!" screamed the former president.

"Calm down. There must be a means to turn this to our advantage. Just portray it as a matter of strength as usual."

"We will have to make some changes to the stump speech."

"Exactly."

-=oOo=-

Behind bullet proof glass the former president began his speech inside the massive auditorium.

"You have all heard about the insane deal the brain dead socialist fascist came up with. It is as one would expect from the likes of that retard. We have confirmed that this new world is, in fact, true and that people are going there. When I'm president, it will be world for America and no one else, whether they like it or not."

Celeste appeared in front of her wearing something like her normal black and gray Alliance uniform. Her blond shoulder length hair was tied loosely behind her head. There was an odd necklace around her neck.

"Really? Your going to make me transfer your people and only your people to Altair?"

"Seize her!"

Nothing happened.

"I took the liberty of moving all your guards several miles away prior to coming here. So tell me, big man, how exactly are you going to force me? I hear you like forcing women. Trust me, any attempt to force me to do anything will result in me defending myself."

The bullet proof glass shattered.

He scrambled over the shattered bullet proof panels. The rest of the crowd moved away as well.

"Seriously this is your brave strong tough guy leader? What a joke. To be clear the kind of delicate balance and strength required for a kinetic gestalt cannot be forced, and I have no intention of training anyone who would follow this clown, even if another with the potential does turn up. The art requires a well balanced mind, and anyone so mentally deranged as to believe the pile of crap this charlatan spews would never be suitable. Seriously, grow up. Have some respect for truth, ethics, and simple decency. Your so called hero just said they would steal what is not theirs to steal, force what is not theirs to force. It is disgusting and it is vile."

She turned to the grovelling man. "You know you could try harder to hurt me. I'm here. Big strong man can't hurt a girl?"

"When the guards get here they will make you pay!"

"Is this your big tough leader? Can't stand up to a girl? I've faced death multiple times. I did not cower behind others. I probably shouldn't do this, but perhaps a bit of a test to the realities of the multiverse, of the kind of true threats that make it far too dangerous for scum like this to lead."

She pulled them all into her rapport, just enough to project their fear of the Borg when they fought them above Earth.

"We are the Borg. Lower your shields and surrender your ships. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. You will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile."

She showed them bits of the beginning of that battle and all the ships arrayed against all their ships. She also showed them how their invasive technology could turn friend to enemy in a matter of little more than minutes. She showed them the courage of all, and all the ships and even sacrifices, and even a fragment of Barclay's sacrifice.

"You want to become great. The men and the women who held the line against the darkness that day. They were great, and I speak mostly of others. You can call me what you want. I was a part of a team that day, and not a major one. This charlatan makes up lies, makes you fear your fellow man, rather than working together to help your fellow man or woman. You can't solve problems with lies, not even made up ones. You can declare them solved, once you are elected, but you have actually solved nothing, unless it is how to effectively prevent a democracy from working as it should."

"Be warned, if you use a person as a weapon, I'm going to go after the one giving the order. That doesn't mean the person gets to live. You come at me with lethal force, I will counter with lethal force, and I'll be coming right after you when I'm done. You declared that the strong should rule. If we accept that, then you are certainly not very strong. You are just are an accomplished manipulator. It was policies like yours that increased the planets temperatures, that contributed to the last hurricane and the last deaths. It was policies like yours that have most of the money flowing to the rich while everyone else works harder just to keep up. I suppose you figure as long as you can blame immigrants, all will be well. You just need another person to blame and then you never have to accomplish anything. So sad. It is really sad that everyone here buys this pile of crap. We will focus on helping those that are willing to work and aren't mentally ill."

She flew up into the sky and vanished.

The man stood up and walked forward. "That's right. Run away!" As he was shouting, people saw his pants had a large wet spot.

-=oOo=-

"Breaking News. Alexi Navalny was just admitted to a hospital in Germany for poisoning by a Russian nerve agent. We are told that Celeste Troi is at the hospital trying to heal him."

-=oOo=-

Celeste walked into his hospital room. All his hair had fallen out and he looked barely alive.

"Hey. Can you understand me?"

He nodded tiredly.

"I'm willing to try to heal you. I do have one request. You don't have to speak, or even do what I ask. I'll heal you anyway."

"Thank you," he said softly, barely audibly.

"My request is to try not to get killed. We have a record of a person with your name in another universe ending up dead in a Russian prison."

He looked at her and shrugged.

"I'm willing to help a bit. I can make you a bit harder to be killed, but I don't intend to teach you to use it to its potential, and I require you not attempt to teach others the trick, though you are more than welcome to figure out what you can. You live, and you become harder to kill, until you push it too far, or block too much damage, and then you just die. If you have a chance to recover between times, you will be fine. I can do that, or I can just heal you. Some say the first touches on the soul, and perhaps it does, but I have it on good authority that my soul is fine, as are many others. Healing obviously is just healing. You get no damage resistance. The first trick may not work against poison, particularly if it is bad enough. It is not a replacement for being careful."

He gasped out barely audibly, "I will fight for my people. I will keep your secret. I will take this chance, if it will help."

"Alright, just don't be stupid, please. Being harder to kill won't get you out of a Russian prison."

He nodded.

She took his hand and sent, "I'm going to show you how it was done to me, not the understanding, but the rest. Can you hear me?"

"I can. Show me," he thought.

She did, then she felt his agreement to do this and to keep it a secret.

She took both his hands and flared her aura high, directing it inside him as she sent, "For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all. Infinite in distance and unbound by death. I release your soul, and by my shoulder protect thee."

His aura flashed out. He began to recover as it settled. Celeste let go.

"I can sense it is working. You will likely be stronger if we just let your body heal naturally. Also, despite the chant, I assure you, you most certainly can be killed and are not immortal. It is limited protection only. Go too far and you die," she said very softly.

"I understand. I do not know if I will succeed in fixing Russia in any way, but I will try."

"And that is why I helped you more than most. I doubt you will ever figure out how to duplicate that trick, but I'm sure you can see why we do not spread it widely."

He nodded.

"Get well."

"I will."

-=oOo=-

"The candidate is regretfully limiting public appearances as his security tries to figure out how to deal with the emerging security concerns."

"The new Earth Alliance members agree to spend ten percent of profits from the businesses started in relation to the aliens gifts on supporting critical needs around the world. Their first goal is providing clean water around the world where it is needed, including replacement of lead pipes, including many in the US. As funds become available, other tasks will be begun."

"The new Earth Alliance has agreed to build a great academy of learning on Altair. All there will learn a common language. People from all over the world will be invited to learn there. The current plan is to use a language the aliens know, though they welcome everyone to agree on another."

"Breaking news. The aliens have released video recordings of other words where climate change was never stopped. There are also several Earths in their past where they have recordings of Word War III happening. My God. You have to see these videos."

-=oOo=-

In front of a familiar aircraft, a former president said, "It's all fake news. When I'm in charge I will arrest and have executed them for threatening the United States of America."

Behind him the empty aircraft suddenly lifted off the ground and vanished. A single paper fluttered to the ground in front of him. A guard picked it up and read, "Threats will not be tolerated. If you want your plane back, we sent it on the way to the system's primary. You should be able to see it with a good telescope."

Four hours later they had video from a large ground based telescope showing the aircraft floating in space towards the sun.

-=oOo=-

Late on the night of the election the president said softly, "We won, if you can call it that."

"Next time will be much harder. They will continue the lies. I'd be not surprised if it eventually does break out into fighting. I doubt we go as far as a civil war, but it could."

"I know. We have work to do. We have to fix this."

"We will, though it could take decades. We are not giving up."

She nodded.

-=oOo=-

Han Kang looked out from the window of her kitchen on the other side of Altair. Charles from Canada was Altair's new prime, though she helped as often as not. He had a house here as well. There was a tower here and a small village to support it. They were taking their security very seriously, hence setting them up in this isolated, but very beautiful area. It was a bit sad, but, she knew, it was also necessary. Most of the town was security forces to protect the town and them.

She turned back to see the others in her dining room. The others planned to ask to leave today.

Q appeared as she started back towards the table.

"Hello," she said.

"I shall want to read the story you eventually write for this. You are wondering if only training three was correct," said Q.

"Are you reading my mind?" asked Han.

"No."

"We thought that leaving it like this, where it worked, but was slow, might be best here," said Ami.

"Perhaps. If nothing else, there is the lure of the unobtainable. When your ready I'll return you to where you were and most of when. I'll also create a couple of your monitoring satellites for Earth and here," said Q.

"I'd like to meet Aditu's people with her, if that is okay," said Romana.

"It is," said Q.

"Any chance of me keeping their secret replicator?" asked Han hopefully.

"Sorry no, but I'll leave a communicator and if you really need help you can call the Alliance," said Q.

Han nodded, "We haven't really fixed the problems Earth is having. Delayed perhaps. Things are a bit better, but fixed, we didn't really do. We gave them their shining city on a hill, but they have to work at reaching it."

Q smiled.

"The work of keeping the world one where you would want to live in is an eternal one," said Aditu.

Q nodded.

Celeste hugged Han, followed by the others. They then said they were ready and vanished.

There was a knock at the door. Han opened it to find Katy there, who had helped them once.

"They are gone then?"

"Yes. Would you like to come in for a drink?"

Katy smiled a sad smile and nodded, then at Han's gesture walked in.

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