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Sammy smiled to himself from his seat just outside of the Kitchen area when he heard Joel's excited cry of 'Energize!'.
'That's good; he's happy,' Sammy thought as he stood up. He made his way into the Rec Room looking for Brian, when two boys came close to him. He recognised them as DJ and Tanner, and smiled. "Hey guys."
"Hey, Sammy," Tanner smiled happily in return, then jabbed his thumb in a gesture towards his boyfriend at his side, "This doofus has a question for you. It's silly, I think, but he's getting himself worked up over it."
Sammy saw Tanner glance with love at the sandy blond thirteen year old at his side, and that look told him clearly that this was standard banter between these two love-birds.
"Bite me," DJ giggled in return, as he stuck his hand under Tanner's tee-shirt and lightly tickled the strawberry blond's ribs.
Sammy laughed along with both boys as they started a mock fight there and then. He was slightly concerned, however, for he could sense some odd emotions coming from both of them.
He waited a few minutes before stepping up and giggling, "Enough, guys. We get the picture; you're both madly in love. Now, what's this question, ah... DJ?"
DJ nodded, "That's me. Well... can we sit? This is weird, Sammy, and it might take a while for me to say it right."
Sammy smiled and walked with them over to the Quiet Area of the room. Adam and JJ were curled up with each other, and both were reading a book each. They nodded in passing, at the three newcomers, before getting lost in the worlds of Tolkien and Lewis once again. Jude and Billy Joe were also there, and simply talking quietly.
Sammy sat down on the nearest sofa and patted the seats next to him. Tanner sat furthest away, allowing DJ the spot right next to Sammy. DJ smiled, a little timidly, and took a deep breath to steady himself.
Before he could find his words, Sammy said quietly, "Before you begin, can you both tell me what's wrong? I can feel your emotions and something is nagging at me about them."
DJ glanced at Tanner, his eyes pleading.
"You don't have to say if you don't want," Sammy said quickly, catching the look.
"No," Tanner smiled, sadness in his eyes, "it's not that DJ don't want to tell you. He's asking me to; that's what that meant."
Sammy nodded and waited. He reached and held DJ's hand, giving it a squeeze in support. DJ smiled his thanks, and reached to hold Tanner's hand with his other.
Tanner's face filled with love and gratitude, then he started speaking, "This is kinda difficult, but; a little over a month ago, DJ became very depressed. It was a lot of things, so no one thing started it. He... he, ah..."
Sammy squeezed DJ's hand tightly and whispered, "He tried to kill himself?"
DJ sniffed sadly, and Tanner nodded. "Yeah," Tanner said sickly, "I was so scared of losing him, I nearly lost my head with a few of the guys. Nothing we said was getting though to him, and even though Doctor McCoy from the Enterprise saved him, he still wanted to... to leave us." Tanner took a few breaths to steady himself before saying, "What changed DJ's mind about killing himself is why he wanted to speak to you. I... hon, I think you need to say this, not me," he finished as he shuffled closer and wrapped his boyfriend into his arms.
DJ nodded from the middle of the hug and started to twist about, so that his back was being held against Tanner's chest protectively. He looked into Sammy's bright, sad eyes and said, "I had a buncha dreams. I didn't know what was happening, what was real or not. People were really with me and talking to me, but then others were there who weren't really there. I... I think you were, Sammy. Your boots, your clothes - when I saw you on Sunday, I recognised you. I'm so sure you were there, and I've had that feeling all week."
Sammy just blinked. "On Enterprise?"
"Yeah, or somewhere. You talked to me. I can't remember what you said, but you talked to me," DJ nodded firmly. "It all faded not long after I woke up, then Tan decided to rip me a new butt-hole."
"Someone needed to," Tanner giggled, although there was little humour in his eyes.
Sammy looked completely lost. Jude glanced over and said, "Didn't mean to hear all that, guys, but Sammy? You did see him and talk to him, only it was a you from the future. That's all I know, 'cos the story I read it in never really explained where you had come from, or why."
"Jude's right," said a firm yet gentle voice from the corner. They all glanced over to see the Doctor. "Just accept that you did help, Sammy, and that we now have things on the right path."
Sammy shrugged and smiled. "Okay. I just hope 'I' helped," he giggled, and DJ nodded happily. Sammy looked at Deej and Tanner, "Wanna go find something to do?"
"Sure," Tanner smiled.
DJ looked closely at Sammy, "You believe me then?"
"Sure I do. If John says it's true, and Jude says so too, then yeah, I believe it as well. I've got questions, but... I know John; he won't answer them, will you?" Sammy asked, looking at the Doctor.
The Doctor shook his head 'no'.
Sammy thought for a moment before smiling and extended his senses out toward the Doctor. He put into practice what Jason had taught him, but his only result was to have the giggling Time Lord wag his finger at him. "Nuh huh, SamSam!"
Sammy shrugged my shoulders and giggled, "Can you blame me?"
The Doctor winked. "No, I suppose not; but you really shouldn't try to read me, Sammy."
"I wasn't. It's just that so many people... well, leak, I guess you'd say. You can pick up lots of stuff that way without actually reading, ya know?" Sammy explained.
"I'll have you know I DO NOT LEAK!" the Doctor retorted, glaring at the brown haired boy, but Sammy could see the smile in the Doctor's eyes.
A voice came from out of the air, "Ah Galli? Actually..."
"JAY! I do NOT leak! Well, at least not for a few years yet!" the Doctor said as he broke out in giggles.
Jay voice could be heard replying excitedly, "Ooooh; I can't wait!!"
"I do wish you'd tell me, though, what this is all about," Sammy said to the little Time Lord, whose face now matched that of his hair in colour.
"I know you do SamSam, but there are some things you're not meant to know, and this is one of them. Just know you helped him in another time and place. Besides, it would spoil the whole 'all knowing Time Lord thingy'!" he giggled, fighting with his blush.
"You're no fun!" Sammy retorted as he stood sticking his tongue out briefly at the little Time Lord before turning back to D.J. and saying. "Anyway, I can feel you telling the truth, DJ. You didn't lie, so I'd believe you even without these comedians! Now, come on; let's play," he added with a sunny smile. The other two stood as well, and together they started to run from the room.
Everything seemed to freeze in place, and the Doctor turned to giggle at a surprised Levi. "You can't sneak up on a Time Lord, kiddo."
Levi giggled, then grew serious, "You didn't tell them everything, did you, Galli?"
The Doctor looked at Levi closely, then shook his head, "No. I think you are ready to learn this aspect of your powers. Come with me."
Levi walked up to the Doctor and cuddled into his arms, "What're you going to do?"
"Teach you about the 'Memory of Time', and also show you how even the smallest choice can change things in unforeseen ways."
"Shouldn't Daddy and Poppa be here, then?"
"No," the Doctor shook his head. "They are not ready yet. Maybe they never will be. You are, for you are the Voice of Forever; his Avatar. Come, Levi... oh, but our Friend says we have to swing by Utah and get someone. He needs to see this too, but for another reason."
Adam watched as all the new rescued children milled around and interacted with his family, and nodded with satisfaction. Even if he could not fully accept why his family had to be hurt and killed, at least this showed that it was worth it. 'I just wish they were still here; I miss them,' he thought to himself, morosely.
The air seemed to quietened down a lot, and Adam started looking around quickly, wiggling his fingers in his ears as if to clear them out. Why was it so quiet when the place was filled with hundreds of kids?!
"Huh?!" he muttered when he saw that not only had everyone become as silent as the grave, they were all stock still: as immovable as the Earth. "What the fuck..."
"No. 'When the fuck' might be the more accurate statement, Adam Casey, Master of Arms," said a voice behind Adam, causing him to spin around and draw his weapons all in one motion.
A ginger haired little boy with green-brown eyes and a mischievous smile was grinning back at him. An air of competent power seemed to be around him, and a feeling of peace and laughter was palpable.
Adam lowered his weapon slowly. "What is going on?" he demanded.
"Nothing, right now," the boy said with a slight giggle as he looked around at the motionless group around them. "Or, to be more accurate, nothing as far as we are concerned."
Adam forced himself not to smile. "Not what I meant," he said steadily.
The boy's face became serious, "I know, young one. I was just trying to lighten the mood a bit."
"'Young... young one'? What the..." Adam spluttered, his eyes widening. "I'm older than you, kid."
"Really? By how many millennia? How many galaxies have your seen the birth of, or the death of, even. Have you walked in the Fires of Time, bent the Wheel to your own ends, and breathed on the Ribbons of Fate?" the boy said, a small, wicked smile spreading over his face.
"... oh, God..." Adam sighed, covering his eyes with his hands. "I don't have time to go nuts..."
"You're not, and no, that's not my name," the boy giggled as he moved over and reached to lower Adam's hand. "You have heard of me, but only through some British TV shows that you started watching a few months ago, courtesy of Logan and his brothers."
Adam stared at him. "Go on. Explain, then," Adam sighed, giving up and smiling himself.
"I got a smile! Wow, I'm the luckiest Doc ever!" the boy giggled. He stepped back a bit and touched the red button on the strange wristwatch he was wearing. "I'll not just tell you, Master of Arms. I'll show you."
Adam nearly fainted when an old fashioned, 1950's UK style Police Telephone booth appeared, amid the chords of wild thrumming that suddenly filled the air. "The Doctor??"
"Pleased to meet you," the Doctor giggled as he bowed. "Now, as you have no doubt guessed... I'm older than you!"
"But... but... how? Why?" Adam sputtered out.
"First," the Doctor answered seriously, "I'm from this Universe, but was out of it for 50 thousand years. So that meant that my adventures were 'seen' through dreams of those who made the shows. Its a Universey type thing, don't worry about it. As for 'why'? You've asked many times why this had to happen - why your family had to die and get hurt. An Old Friend of mine told me that you should come along, on the trip I'm about to take. It'll answer some of your questions, just not as you'd expect. It's up to you, though, Master of Arms."
Adam thought about it for only a second. "If there's any way I could get some answers as to why my family died, then I would definitely like to go."
The door of the Tardis opened, and a voice said, {Enter, then. You shall ride the Winds of Time with us, Adam Casey, of Earth.}
"Who...?" Adam spluttered yet again.
"The Tardis. Yes, he talks, and yes, he is weird..." the Doctor giggled as he reached and took Adam's hand to lead him inside.
"Hiya, Adam! Want a Jelly Baby?" Levi called out from where he was sat on a large sofa. All around him were bags and bags of Jelly Babies.
Adam just shook his head as he walked in and over to the sofa.
The Doctor sat with them and said, "First, there's some stuff I will be teaching Levi, Adam. He has to know the limits of the power I will now be showing him. If there's anything you want to eat while we do, just ask and Tardis will make it for you."
{Oh, so now I am an Inter-Universal Vending Machine. Will my life never cease to thrill me?}
Adam thought for a moment, then said, "Well, you know... ever since Koth and Korris introduced us to Gagh and blood wine... I've grown rather fond of them. Could I have some, please, Tardis?"
{Since you have asked so nicely, yes you may. The machine just to the left of you shall dispense them.}
Adam rose up and walked to the now humming machine, and took his food. "Mmm... fresh too!"
The Doctor shuddered, "Live worms... Klingons, I ask you." He looked at Levi and pulled the boy over, with the Jelly Babies, and kissed him. "Any questions before we begin?"
"What's 'Memory of Time', Uncle Galli?" Levi asked after kissing the Doctor back.
"Time never forgets; not even those Timelines that died in the fight with Axon. Even the past Cycles of Creation are remembered. Time Lords can visit them, and even remove things from them, but if we were to interfere in a 'Memory' we could unravel the fabric of reality itself. Active Timelines and Universes are fair game, to a point, but a Memory should never be messed with. Ever. Come over to the door, and I'll help you see."
Adam looked up and stared, as the Time Manifold started to glow, and the entire room trembled. He then watched as the Doctor and Levi went to the door and opened it to reveal what seemed like a Universe of white mist. "What's that?" he asked, as a worm escaped the side of his mouth, causing him to chase after it.
"The Great White. You are the first Young Race member, ever, to see this, Adam," the Doctor smiled over his shoulder before beginning a long chat with Levi as they both stood by the door.
Adam was far from bored. He threw question after question at the Tardis, ate a fair amount of food, and even watched a few TV shows he'd never even heard of before - all the while, the two High Race kids talked and talked.
Eventually, the Doctor giggled. "Okay, stick your cute little face out there and try."
Levi sniggered and did so.
"Now, let your eyes sink through Time," the Doctor said as they looked at the Universe Time-Trees around them.
"I see it. It's before Daddy became a Mikyvis, isn't it?" Levi said in wonder.
"Yes. Where we're going, the Mikyvis never 'were', so even events before the split are different. That is why you should never 'change' what is 'in' a Memory. You'd undo everything. Now, that's where we are heading. It was the Main Trunk of Time, and, well... you'll see. Watch close, for something like this could still happen at any time. And also, be careful with what you learn here. This power is one to be used only at need."
Adam moved over and looked out. "What's that black thing?"
"Our Universe," Levi answered with a nervous smile, for the Doctor's speech had slightly unsettled him.
"What are we going to see, Doctor?" Adam asked, as he gazed in awe at Alpha Prime. "And how does it help me?"
"Some bad stuff, and you shall see how bad something can get when someone dies who should not have. It is the opposite of what has happened to you," the Doctor answered softly. "You'll understand more after we leave. Hold on, Time Shifting..."
" How bad is it there?" Levi asked.
The Doctor sighed. "Bad. The name 'Tanner' in that dead Timeline is synonymous with another name."
"What name?" Adam asked, as the Tardis started moving down through Time's Memory and towards a now rapidly solidifying 'dead' Timeline.
"Judas..."
"Cory get your ass moving RIGHT NOW!" I screamed while firing my phaser rifle once again into the trees.
"What's the point?" I heard him reply as I turned to look at him.
Sometimes I didn't know the answer to that question myself and now, looking into those haunted sky blue eyes, racked with such pain and loss, I had to ask myself again, for the thousand or maybe millionth time, just what was the point anyway?
"Because we can't give up fighting," I said; as I had done a million times before, it seemed.
He laughed and shook his head, but it wasn't one of amusement by any means.
"What is there left to fight for?" he asked bitterly.
"You'll never find out if you don't move your stinky butt right this fucking minute," I answered, ducking as a blast of energy hit the window near my head.
Shit; I needed to pay attention - I almost got my head blown off.
"Ark, we need emergency transport and we need it now!" I yelled once again, hoping this time she would answer me.
I heard a yowl from the trees and knew Vish was still with us, especially when I heard the screams which followed.
At least one more was down for our side.
Cats tended to get a bit vicious when they got pissed off, and having a big ole boy like my Vish mad at you was, as they were finding out, not a good thing - not a good thing at all.
"Alright, but if Ark doesn't answer..." Cory replied as he got to his feet. "I'm sorry Sammy, I suppose you're right; it's just...just..." and I knew what he meant.
Why were we still fighting, why did we care any more?
We'd never win, most of us were dead, another two in this battle and if Ark didn't respond, we would be joining them.
There was no where left to run, no where left to hide here.
Tapping my comm badge I said into it, what I or another had been saying for six years now. Six long, very long years. "All units fall back immediately."
"All you alright?" I asked as I resumed firing.
"Yes, just got my head knocked around a bit" Cory replied, which I already knew, even if the blood oozing down his face from the scalp wound hadn't told me that already.
Looking back at him, I smiled and said, "Well, no harm done then. And who knows? Maybe all that agitation will have made that one blond cell reproduce finally!"
"Bite me," Cory replied with a wan smile, but I could see a bit of the old Cory show through for just a moment before the pain overtook it once again.
"Ark respond!" I said into my sub-vocal.
"Maybe it's finally gone," JJ said into the silence, finally giving voice to what we had all been thinking but hadn't wanted to say.
Before we could answer, Vish and three others came running in from the back of the house. I let out a sigh of relief to see both him and Matty safe, along with Antony Parnell.
"Bloody wankers," Antony muttered absently.
"Didn't want to play nice, huh?" Gabe asked jokingly.
"Never do, now do they, bro?" he replied to Gabe's grin.
"Ark, wake your ass up!" Matty yelled as he took up a position next to me and added his fire to that of my own.
"They're all over. We barely made it back through the rear," Vishnu told us, and it just confirmed there was no way out... but we already knew that.
Then, through static that never used to be there, Ark's voice rang out, < You do not need to yell Matty. Furthermore I do not have an 'ass', as you put it >.
"YES!" Matty yelled again, pumping his fist in triumph as Antony muttered, "About time."
"Ark we need emergency transport and we need it like yesterday," Cory told her.
I never knew you could hear weariness in a computer's voice, but we all did in Ark's, as she responded, < I am afraid that will not be possible, Patriarch. >
"Make it possible, Ark," JJ replied.
< You do not understand, JJ. When I lost Austin in teleport on the last use, I discovered that my memory core had began to degrade. If I try teleporting you, the location I will send you to might get 'lost' in my memory. I might not be able to retrieve you, > she responded.
Except for continued phaser blasts, there was silence. I asked, "Is it that bad, Ark?"
< It is. Also, I am afraid my power levels are below what would be considered critical, Samuel. I can neither guarantee safe teleport for any of you, nor that I will remain active for much longer, > was Ark's response.
I looked at Cory who finally said, "What are our chances?"
< I do not know that I can transport effectively even one, Patriarch. It is possible that I can transport all of you or that all would be lost. >
"Do it" Cory finally said, and I was glad it wasn't my decision.
"This is not a wise course of action, Cory," Ark replied quickly.
"We're all dead anyway, if you don't," Vishnu told her.
< Very well. Where do you wish to go? I will attempt it, > she asked.
Now that was a very good question.
There just weren't a whole lot of options when you got down to it.
Cory looked at a complete loss and JJ finally said, "A nice deep cave somewhere maybe?"
"Are any of your life support systems functioning yet?" Kyle asked.
Why any of us kept asking that question I didn't know but every few months we would; even though we all knew it would never have the answer we wanted to hear.
< Negative, Kyle, > was her reply as it always was.
Suddenly what JJ had said hit me and memories flooded me.
Memories of dad saying 'Never again' and why he had said that.
"That's it, JJ!" I yelled as I remembered.
JJ asked, "What's it?"
"A cave! Dad built a bolt hole, we should be able to use that!" I answered.
"What are you talking about?" Matty asked.
"I just remembered, Matty. You remember after the attack dad had the house and everything rebuilt?" I asked him.
"Yeah kinda," he replied.
"Well he built a bolt hole, a safe place should it ever happen again. At least he thought that's what it would be," I said turning away for a moment.
"Where's it at Sammy?" Cory asked.
"It was in a cave system about six miles north north west from our house," I told him.
"Ark can you scan that area and see if you can locate it?" Cory asked.
< Negative Cory. I no longer have that type of precision. I have found a cave system in that area, but what may or may not be within them is beyond my present capabilities to determine, > she told us.
"Well I suppose we haven't got much to lose," Cory finally said.
< May I remind you that the FCC set up a base there that is still in existence, > Ark said.
"Yeah don't remind me" I said. It still pissed me off that the SOB's had set up camp on our land, and even gloated about it.
"Well hopefully they won't be up at these caves," Cory said before looking at all of us. As we each nodded our heads he said, "Ark. Take us there."
< Very well, Patriarch; but I must warn you again of the dangers involved in... > she started to say, but Cory interrupted her, "Just do it."
I was scared, in all honesty. The last time we had asked Ark to take us somewhere, Austin never reappeared. She couldn't understand why, then. Now she'd obviously found out. Her memory was failing.
We could all go the same way, this time.
One second I was in the house, the next I was in a field.
I heard Cory ask if everyone was alright.
I heard CD gasp as he asked "Where's Gavin and Antony?"
I started to frantically look around for them.
"Ark, where's Gavin and Antony?" Cory asked.
Even fainter than before, I heard, lt; < They are... gone. I can not find their... co-ordinates. I am sorry. >
"No," Ricky cried out softly.
How we had more tears to shed I didn't know, but I felt them on my face and saw them on the faces' of the others as well. We turned to the one closest to us and sought comfort.
Vishnu wrapped his arms around me and hugged me to his fur sleek body as we both cried for two more members of our family; now lost.
In the midst of this Ark made it three.
< I am... sorry Patriarch, but po...wer is fail...ing now, as... well. >
"No Ark! You can't leave us too!" Matty cried out.
< I do... not seem to have much... choice, Matthew. > she said as our sobs filled the silence.
"What will we do without you, Mama Ark?" Matty asked quietly.
< I... do not know... child... shut... down in pro...gress... > was her only reply.
"NO!" we all said as a final static filled message came across our sub-vocal implants, < And...I...am not...female. >
Through our tears, we couldn't help but laugh at that. For all the years we had known her, and for some of us even before, she had been fighting the kids calling her a 'she' and even as she died, she had to get the last word in.
I turned and buried my head into Vish's fur lined shoulder. I cried for Gavin, Antony, Ark and all the others we had lost over these past six years. I was thinking again about how it had come to pass that the most powerful entity in the galaxy was now reduced to ten scared and weary teens and young adults.
All gone now; the once mighty Clan Short reduced to this - running and hiding like thieves in the night.
Always scared and alone, only each other to rely on, and a never ending struggle to keep going - not giving up.
Today it had been Cory again, but it had been each of us at one time or another; and many more times than once.
Why?
It was a question I kept asking myself and I knew the others were as well.
Why?
I started to think back while Cory gathered us to him and led us into the caves. It had started as such a fun day...
It was Timmy's eleventh birthday and we were being hurried along by dad so we wouldn't be late.
It was decided that only some of us that had been around a while would be going today, otherwise there would be hundreds there instead of dozens.
The guys loved parties, but even Cory and Sean had to admit there were limits to everything. Several hundred kids all showing up at once was a bit much.
I think Timmy would have loved it, but his daddy and poppa had overruled him on that.
Me, I think they were scared he'd be in the shower for the next several months continuously if they had allowed it.
Finally, I looked to the Trinity and the rest of the group who were going and asked, "Everyone got their presents?"
After getting a 'Yeah' from everyone, I called in for transport and the cool Montana weather was replaced by the ever hotter climate of Orlando in September.
It had been a long five years filled with so many changes and new things.
I was sixteen, now, and dad had not stopped teasing me about being a terrible teen since I had turned thirteen; but he still loved me just as much. Maybe even more, I guess.
After the attack it had been hard. Real hard, but we got through it. It took a long time, and we had a lot of help, and we succeeded.
That help had come from Cory and Sean, along with the rest of the Clan, and of course Dr. Dan. I spotted him and had to run over and give him a big hug.
"How ya doing kiddo?" he asked.
"Oh, okay, I guess," I replied and he smiled.
"Vishnu keeping you occupied?" he asked while laughing.
I felt my face turn bright red as I mumbled, "You could say that."
"Well, with his enhanced stamina and strength..." he said letting the end trail off as I just blushed more.
I decided to turn the tables. Grinning up at him, I said, "I'm so glad that Doc. Austin gave me that dermal regenerator. I never knew it could get so raw!"
This time it was him choking and turning red as I smiled sweetly at him.
I felt my love's arms go around me from behind as Vishnu said, "It solves a lot of problems," He then started to purr into my neck.
Oh wow! And we couldn't do nothing about it right now either!
"Stop that!" I muttered almost below hearing, knowing he'd hear me anyway. He just purred louder.
"I should know better after all this time," Dan muttered as we again laughed.
"Gee, how many of your kids are teenagers now?" I grinned up at him.
He snorted and said, "Too many!"
That got us all laughing again.
JJ was seventeen, now, as was Adam, while Kyle and Tyler were each thirteen. If anyone had thought them horndogs before... well, they found out real quickly that they had been quite mistaken.
Suddenly the crowd parted, and the 'Birthday Boy' came out with Cory and Sean walking behind him.
We all shouted "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" as he started giving hugs to everyone.
Cory and Sean got quite a few as well; especially from me.
When Timmy got to me, I lifted him up into my arms and gave him one of the big bear hugs which he had always loved. I said "Happy Birthday, Fireball," as I began tickling him. His laughter spilled out immediately.
As everyone headed back inside, Cory and Sean pulled us aside and asked, "How's it going SamSam?"
I smiled, for that nickname had stuck with all the Clan. I answered, "Pretty good. Nothing really new going on. We got those kids out of that mess in California and into Unit Base 5 up in Washington, but other than that nothing much has been going on."
Even after five years, it still seemed strange that I was the head of the Western US division of Clan Short.
"Well that's good to hear. You should know that the attorneys for the ex-parents filed an appeal with us," Sean said as I stiffened.
"Relax, dufus," Cory interjected.
Sean quickly added, "We told them it was final, and Grandfather Sarek happened to be visiting: it was so funny. He walked over to the comm and basically said, 'Just in case you were thinking to appeal to me, appeal denied.' he then walked away!"
I started laughing, envisioning that scene, as Cory added, "You should have seen the look on the attorney's face at that!"
"Oh I wish I would have!" I replied.
"It's archived, so we could probably pull it up for you," Sean said, still laughing.
"Maybe later. Give Tommy a break for once," I told them.
"So how are you doing, you big pussy?" Cory asked as he pulled Vish into a hug.
I heard a growl as my Vish replied, "Fine, but DON'T call me a pussy!"
He was grinning though, as he pulled back from Cory. Although, if you didn't know him you would think he was about to eat you.
That had been a running joke ever since we had gone on an operation back in the beginning. As usual, the cat kids wore their hooded robes, and some punk had made the comment 'What, this big pussy here gonna kick our butts or something?' and Khan had let out a low rumble. We knew it was muted laughter but the punk didn't. He pulled his hood down and said simply, "Yes."
The punk and his friends had wet themselves before they even took off running... which is something you really shouldn't do around cats. The cats found it fun, let's say, to chase them down; yet never quite catching them for the longest time. Watching them gave a whole new meaning to the phrase 'cat and mouse'.
Wetting themselves wasn't the only thing they ended up doing, especially after Kev had yelled rather loudly, "Come on guys; quit playing with your food!"
It was funny until they rounded them all up finally, and found that their very sensitive noses didn't much care for the resulting stench. Still, they'd had a ball and the joke had stuck.
"I'm surprised you haven't worn poor SamSam out yet," Sean just had to say.
Vish gave me a look and I just shook my head.
"Not yet," he said before adding "At least."
"Gee thanks," I replied to Cory and Sean's laughter.
"Is there a bet going on how long I'll last?" I asked.
"Well actually..." Cory started to say when I cut him off with, "I don't wanna know!"
"Probably not," Sean said, grinning.
"We better get inside and make sure Gizmo hasn't headed off to the showers with all your guys," Cory said then.
"Oh God; he still does that?" I asked, even knowing the answer.
"Oh yeah, you know with everyone growing up and all he's got to keep track of the changes," Sean said laughing as we all followed him inside.
"I bet he does real well in comparative anatomy class," Vishnu added as we entered the room.
"Straight A's" the proud papa shot back.
"Bet that's the only thing straight," I couldn't help adding, which got more laughs.
"Ya'll git yur butts movin! We gots a party to be getin' to!" Tommy yelled out just as loud as ever, and with just as much of an accent too.
"Heya, southern boy," I said as I saw him, kidding him as I always did for being so Southern. Even though I was from Dallas and had never quite lost my accent, he for the most part hadn't even tried when it was just family.
"SAMSAM!" he yelled as he ran over and wrapping his arms around me tightly.
That was the way it went for the rest of the afternoon as we had a barbecue out by the pool. It was a fun party and we all had a good time, before headed inside for the cake and, finally, the presents.
Before Timmy blew out the candles on his cake, he had to hug and thank Tommy and Tyler for making it for him. Once the 'wishes' had been sorted out, the main event got to take place.
Presents. A ton of them.
That was one really nice thing about the Clan; come birthday or Christmas time, everyone got a million presents.
That especially meant a lot to the kids who had never had presents before.
I still found it hard not to cry when some kid would ask, "These are really for me?"
My answer was the one I learnt from dad: "No, they're for your twin brother."
At least until that one time that I was bringing a boy presents and he asked that question. When I gave him my normal reply, I watched as his face fell completely. He fingered the presents longingly for a second before turning and yelling 'David, these are for you!' and another little boy came over who actually was his twin!
No one had mentioned that to me when I had gotten the gift!
I felt like crap, and it took me a while to convince him they really were for him. Luckily Kevin had transported out to a toy store while all the drama was going on and showed up fifteen minutes later saying, "See, these are for David!"
Oh I could've kissed him for that, come to think of it I did.
Everything was wrapping up, and some of the guys had started to help Timmy take his mountain of gifts to his room. I was standing and talking with Kev, Vish and Cory while Sean supervised the rugrats to make sure stuff actually got put away for a change.
Timmy had just came back into the room when suddenly things got quiet and I looked up to see what was wrong.
There was a boy, about eighteen I guess, standing there in the doorway from the kitchen. He was looking into the living room while everyone else was staring right back at him.
I reached for my weapon, but Cory put his hand on my arm. He said, "It's alright."
I looked over to him as I heard Timmy say "Hi" to the guy.
"How have you been Timmy?" the boy asked softly while I just watched.
Something about this guy set my neck hairs on end, and I could see Vish was at alert too.
"Ah...Fine..." Timmy stammered.
"Here this is for you" the young man said as he handed a gift-wrapped box to Timmy.
"Who is that?" I whispered to Cory.
"Tanner," he replied just as quietly.
"Who the hell is that, cause I got a bad feeling about this guy," I told him.
"Relax Sammy, he's Clan," Sean said.
I was shaking my head as Timmy said, "Gee, thanks Tanner! You didn't have to, ya know!"
"Hey, can't miss my little bros big day now, can I?" he asked chucking.
"I guess not," Timmy replied with a sunny smile.
"I've never heard of him before," I said, still watching the guy. Something about him gave me the creeps.
"Well go on; open it. I've worked real hard to make everything just perfect for you in time for this day," this new kid said while still grinning, but there was something.... something not right there.
"He... he's not been around much. Studies in the Ark complex, mostly, and keeps to himself. It's a long story, but we rescued him and his boyfriend back in the beginning; even before we got to you. His boyfriend... he died and Tanner... well Tanner closed up inside himself and no one could reach him. He doesn't have anything to do with us any more, really. That's why everyone is so surprised he came today, but then again he always did like Timmy. Timmy is related to DJ, Tanner's dead boyfriend, so maybe that's why," Cory told me quietly.
"Something's not right here, Cor," I said.
Cory just shook his head as he said, "You worry too much, bro."
I'd never told him, or anyone else outside the Trinity, about my 'seeing' or 'feeling' things, so he always thought I worried too much.
Maybe I was, but I couldn't escape the conclusion that something was 'wrong' about all this. I watched Timmy take the box, give it a shake the way all kids do, before he sat down at the table and placed it in front of him. He then began to unwrapping it.
Cory walked over to Tanner, saying as he went, "Hey bro; it's really good to see you again." Tanner didn't take his eyes off of Timmy for a second, and that feeling suddenly got a lot worse with the last of the wrapping paper being discarded by Timmy.
As his little hands reached for the lid, I suddenly had this overwhelming feeling of dread overcome me. Without thinking I screamed, "NOOOOOO!!!" as I began to run forward towards Timmy, with Vish and Kevin hot on my heels.
Everything seemed to go into slow motion; Timmy was in the act of lifting the lid up, while Tanner turned his gaze to me for a brief second. I gasped at seeing the rage and anger in his eyes before he turned back to Timmy.
Cory stopped and looked at me in shock before turning his gaze to Timmy. A pencil thin beam of green light shot out of the opening box and struck Timmy just below the throat.
Everything stopped as the lid slammed closed. Timmy's arm suddenly fell to his side, and he turned slightly in his chair with a stunned and uncomprehending look on his face. "Dad?" he mumbled, before starting to topple sideways.
"Grab him!" I shouted as I lunged the last steps and caught the falling boy, only to have Cory take him from my arms and lower him to the floor.
"Gizmo," Cory cried as I looked down into the still shocked face of our little Fireball, and the pinprick size hole just below his adam's apple.
"What?" he said, and it was obvious he was in a great deal of pain.
Sean had run over to Tanner and was screaming "What did you do?" when another flash hit me. Suddenly I knew we had to get out of here, and get out now.
"EVERYBODY OUT NOW!!! GET OUT!!!" I screamed as I starting to grab people and push them towards the door.
Cory stood up and Sean came over to help with Timmy. They looked at me and I just repeated myself, now completely sure of what I was feeling, "Outside, and get away from the house!"
Tanner was shooting daggers at me, but Vish and Kev were dragging him outside along with the others.
Brian, Danny, Randy, Kartik and JJ were all shouting and telling everyone to get outside, and I just hoped it would be soon because somehow I knew Tanner wasn't done yet.
I just didn't know how right I was with that feeling.
When it looked like everyone had made it outside, we joined them.
Cory and Sean were holding Timmy in their arms and talking to him. Matty suddenly cried "Wusty" and began running back towards the house.
I screamed "NO!" but Brian caught him before he could get closer. Brian then ran towards the house calling back, "I'll get him."
"Brian, come back!" I screamed, but he kept running. I saw Kartik running after him. "No, don't!"
But it was too late: as they got up on the porch there was a bright flash, and our world turned upside-down.
It was a howl of enormous pain that brought me back from the edge of blacking out. At first I thought it was Kartik, but then I realized it held too much pain in it and remembered the story Logan had told me of the death of one of the Cat-Kids during the Battle of Montana.
I could see Vish collapse from the shock of losing his brother, and my heart screamed for both him and my other brothers who had just died. For now I pushed it those screams deep down inside, and I began to try and get help. As dad said, there would be time enough later to cry but now something else was needed.
There were kids scattered everywhere; some obviously dead, while others clearly weren't far from it.
I shook my head to clear it and touched my sub-vocal, calling, "Ark - Code Red Clan wide, multiple casualties. We need immediate assistance!"
There was no answer, except laughter... from Tanner!
"Ark!" I yelled again.
Again, my only response was more laughter from that bastard.
"JJ, I can't raise Ark!" I yelled as I pulled my communicator out and tuned it to Terra Main. "Terra Main, this is Sammy Reynolds with Clan Short of Vulcan. We have an emergency situation; we've been attacked with multiple casualties. We require immediate medical assistance," I said into it.
Again I got no answer, and so I switched to a Clan general frequency. First I tried calling for A.I., then the other divisions, but it was the same story: no response.
I could see JJ doing the same, and, after getting the same results, he looked up at me and just shook his head. There was a look on his face that I knew mirrored my own; fright.
"You won't get anybody," Tanner said with a smile on his face.
Cory suddenly stood up and strode towards him. "What have you done?" he nearly screamed, tears of deep personal agony and rage running down his face.
Tanner just laughed at him, and that set Cory off completely. The tall blond Patriarch grabbed Tanner by the throat with one hand and literally lifted him up. He started to squeeze his hand, strangling him. "What have you done?" he demanded again, with fury clearly seen burning in his eyes.
The thing that unnerved me completely was, even though Cory was choking him to death, Tanner still had a peaceful smile on his face.
JJ quickly stepped up and placed his hand on Cory's arm, and said something softly to him that I couldn't make out.
I was still trying various Clan and Federation frequencies, including the VSO covert ones, but I was not getting any answers. Finally, I just asked, "Anyone got a cell phone?"
I didn't receive any response; what the hell did we need cell phones for nowadays? I guess we were finding out the hard way.
I think it was a strangled, pain filled cry of "It hurts papa!" that finally got Cory's attention, and the attention of whomever was not tending to the wounded.
We all looked at the pale faced red-head who had captured most of our hearts, and we all had tears running down our faces.
Cory just threw Tanner away, flinging him to the ground where he stayed. Cory turned back to his baby, and knelt by his side as the rest of us stood silent vigil.
"It hurts so bad! Make it stop, daddy! Please!" Timmy begged pitifully as Cory choked back on his helpless sobs.
He could not, however, stop the tears running down his face. "ARK!!!!!!!" he screamed into what I knew was his sub-vocal, but as I saw his head fall in defeat I knew that he hadn't received any more of an answer than we had.
"Oh, you won't get through to It," Tanner said quietly into the silence.
We turned our now hate filled eyes on him, and Sean asked, "Why?"
Tanner just snorted as he said, "What? You mean the high and mighty Sean Short of Clan Short of Vulcan doesn't know the answer?"
Sean mutely shook his head as Ricky spoke up, "You're our brother! Why would you do this to us?"
"Brother? Brother?! No!! You took us in and promised us you'd protect us!! You promised!! And you let Deej die - you killed him! Well, now I've killed the Clan!!" he screamed, before insane laughter started from him.
Cory, Sean and several others looked stunned at that, but it was finally JJ who said, "That's not true, and you know it."
"Then why is he dead?" Tanner asked as his wild laughter stopped, and his eyes filled with unspeakable hate. His gaze demanding answers, yet also refusing to heed any that might or would be given.
"He killed himself and there was nothing we could do," Cory replied, as he got up and walked back towards Tanner. He continued, "We all loved him, but it was his choice!"
"You promised, and you took the only thing I had in life; so now I've taken what's most important to you - starting with your son !" Tanner spat out.
Cory just shook his head and I could see the tears still falling thickly. "You were our brother. We trusted you. Timmy trusted you." was all he said.
"Your mistake," Tanner said scathingly.
I could see Cory tense up for a brief moment, before suddenly turning away. He began to walk back towards Sean and Timmy, and said as he went, "I won't kill you. You're not worth my soul."
It was at that moment that Tanner lunged up, and I could see something glinting in his hand. I didn't even think about it; all the lessons Jeremy had given me came back in full force. I yelled a warning at Cory, while I sent three of my knives flying. The first struck the now lunging Tanner in the throat, while the other two impaled themselves into his chest.
Time seemed to freeze as the knives struck home. Tanner froze in mid-motion before beginning to buckle and fall to his knees.
Somehow, though, he was still able to gurgle, "It doesn't matter, I've already won." That sickly grin was again on his face as he toppled to the ground - dead.
Cory had swung around at my yell and stared in shock at the boy who had been his friend as he died. There was a silver dagger clutched in those now dead fingers.
The silence was eerie as everyone who could, just looked at the horrible scene that had played out before them.
Cory turned and looked at me, and I said softly "I'm sorry, I just reacted," I was thinking he hadn't wanted him killed.
He walked over to me and took me into his arms. He said, "Thank you, you did what you had to do," before releasing me to return to his son.
Vish came over, and I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tightly to me before saying, "I'm sorry about KT."
Vish pulled back and looked at me, and what I saw in his eyes then will haunt me to the day I die. I never knew anyone could have that much pain and loss in their eyes, but his did as he said, "It wasn't just Kartik, it was all of them."
"What?" I asked, not comprehending what he had just said.
"They're dead, all of them. All of the Unit," he told me in a choked voice.
I was already shaking my head and saying, "No, no they can't be."
He didn't say anything; he didn't have to, as the pain in those eyes said it all for him. I just clung to him and both of us were sobbing.
He managed to say, "We must try to get help."
I felt ashamed, then, for he had remembered his duty. I hadn't for a moment. I let him go but surprisingly he pulled me back to him and said, "Don't."
I nodded my head, not trusting myself to speak, as I thumbed my sub-vocal again and called, "Ark ,damn it; we need you and we need you now!"
Another silent moment passed, apart from the cries of the injured and dying, with no Ark.... then, < I am here, Samuel. >
She sounded so much different than she usually did.
"ARK!" I shouted in surprise, and everyone turned to look at me.
< You do not need to shout, > she replied.
"Emergency transport right now to the med bay. We have mass casualties!" I nearly screamed.
< I am sorry, but I am unable to do so, > Ark replied.
Cory tapped on his own implant. "Ark we have injured here," he managed before choking. After a pause, he continued in a horrified whisper, "Timmy has been shot with some type of laser."
< I am aware of this, Patriarch, and I am sorry. The Ark complex has been mostly destroyed, and that includes the medical facilities. My core is severely damaged and most systems are off-line. I have limited sensors and my teleport systems work for now, but my geo-thermal power connections have been damaged badly. All the med and tech-bots were also in the sections which were destroyed, and the entire complex is flooded with radiation and bio-chemical agents on the Federation's Code Red list. >
We all just stood or sat there stunned at this before Sean asked, "Do you still have full communications capability?"
<Yes,> was her reply.
"We can't raise anyone," he said next.
< That is because there is no one left to answer. Massive explosions were registered simultaneously at all Unit bases, VSO Central and associated bases, Oceania, and the A.I. Division. Utilizing my own sensors along with what remains of Starfleet satellites in orbit, I have detected no life signs at any of those locations. You should also know that Terra Main, Starfleet HQ in San Francisco, and all major Starfleet facilities world wide, including London, Moscow, Madrid, Beijing, Paris, Sydney and Stockholm, also show massive detonations with no survivors occurring at the same time as the attack on your complex. Those starships that were in orbit suffered massive Warp-core failures and were destroyed, and the Starfleet sensor array shows disaster buoys have been activated from approximately 47.8 % of the fleet. Their destruction is also surmised. The last messages I managed to retrieve before the array was destroyed was that Vulcan, Andoria and Tellar Prime are being attacked in force by Romulans. They are likely to be gone, soon, for there is no help left to send, > Ark explained.
There were stunned cries of disbelief and 'How?!' from everyone able to coherently ask. For me, it was too much to take in.
"How is this possible?" JJ asked, while Matty cried out, "What about dad?"
< The answer to both questions is most likely related. Tanner apparently contacted the FCC and coordinated this attack with them. Logically, they in turn contacted and coordinated everything with the Romulans. The FCC have attacked and secured the White House, as well as the other major governmental centres world wide. It is presumed that they now have control of at least some if not all the remaining starships within Starfleet. If you remember, Admiral Morrow always felt that there had been infiltration into Starfleet by FCC elements. As to your home, sensors show that it has not suffered attack as yet, but considering how much 'love' the FCC has for your father and the rest of you, I do not believe it will be long until your home is also attacked. >
"The FCC? We rooted them out and destroyed them years ago!" Cory exclaimed in shock.
< Apparently not all of them, > Ark replied.
"We have to get to Montana! My dad can help us, and we have full medical there," I said into the silence that greeted that statement.
"Yeah love, Timmy's not doing so good," Sean added quickly to Cory.
< I am sorry, but there is nothing that can help Timmy, Sean, > Ark said then, and I could hear the sadness in her voice.
"What?" Cory cried in anguish.
< The weapon that Tanner devised comes from a previous cycle; cycle two. It was banned during that cycle as it is beyond cruel and inhumane. It is a molecular disruption beam weapon. Once it strikes someone, it slowly eats away everything inside that person until death results. It does so slowly and painfully. There is no treatment and it causes a tremendous amount of suffering before death finally overtakes the victim. It is a barbaric and painful method of execution that was banned not long after it had been created, > Ark told him.
Both Cory and Sean, along with several of us, all cried "No!" at the same time.
Timmy, who had not heard the answer given by Ark since he was not wearing his implant, asked in a weak, pain filled voice, "Am...am I gonna die?"
Cory and Sean looked down upon their son, and the anguished filled look on their faces was heartbreaking. I could see their mouths open and close several times as neither was able to give voice to the lie.
They'd never lied to Timmy before and couldn't now, no matter how much they wanted to.
All they could do was gently stroke his forehead and cheeks.
Suddenly, Timmy looked up and a smile came to his face, even through all the pain. He said weakly, "Uncle Mikey!" causing all of us to turn and look at the teen-saint walking towards us.
"Hey, little guy," he said as he reached Timmy and knelt down by his side. He placed his hand on the redhead's chest.
You could see the pain leave the boy's face, and Cory said, "Thank God you're here, you can save him!"
I knew something was wrong immediately. Mikey looked down briefly before raising his head, and I could see the tears in his eyes.
"No."
"What do you mean, 'no'?!" Cory said with sudden anger in his voice.
"I can take away his pain briefly, and Our Father has allowed that I can take him Home early to spare him the pain of what is to come... but that is all that I can do," Mikey said with tears streaming down his face, and pain in his every word.
"No!" Cory sobbed out.
Sean said bitterly, "You're supposed to protect us! To protect our brothers, protect us all! Save them!"
"I can't!" the angel sobbed out.
"Why? I've seen you heal others, I've seen you bring the dead back to life. Why can't you save your family?" Cory asked, angry beyond reason now.
"For everything there is a time and....now is their time," Mikey said as if each word was drug from the depths of his soul; each filled with sorrow.
"Well, if you won't help then I know someone who will!" I said, refusing to stand for this any longer.
I didn't know what the hell was going on, but I'd be damned if I'd put up with it.
"PABLITO!" I yelled knowing he would hear me and come.
"He can't do anything either," Mikey replied quietly.
"You gave him the power to, and he won't stand by and do nothing," I said. I knew he heard the part I didn't say: 'like you'.
Suddenly, Pablo was there. He was looking around and I could see tears come to his eyes as well, before he walked over to me and gave me a hug.
He then went to Vishnu next, and he placed his hand on Vish's head. A glow appeared, and Mikey stood and commanded, "STOP!"
"NO!" Pablito said back loudly, turning to Mikey. "This is wrong, and I won't be a part of it! We're supposed to protect them and I'm going to do just that!"
He started walking towards Timmy, when suddenly he stopped with a startled look on his face. He sighed out bitterly and said "Damn you..." before fading from view.
"What did you do?" I screamed launching myself at Mikey but Vishnu grabbed onto me.
"What had to be done," Mikey said sadly turning back to Cory and Sean and telling them, "I can take Timmy and the others that will die, or they can suffer. That is all I can do. What is your choice?"
"You're supposed to be my brother," Cory said.
Mikey reacted just as if Cory had slapped him hard. He let out a strangled whisper, "I am."
"No. You're not," Cory said, turning away from the angel who now looked completely stricken.
"Please don't fight," Timmy said weakly into the strained silence.
Nothing was said as Cory sank down to be with his lover and his son. We all knew the choice they must make now; a choice that wasn't really a choice at all.
"Mikey will take care of me, Daddy," Timmy said quietly. Mikey went around taking one after the other of our dying family members to their ultimate Home, after those still living had said their tearful goodbyes. Finally, he returned to Timmy and his parents.
Both of them looked up at him in mute appeal before Sean pleaded a final time, "Please?"
I could see the angel's shoulders shaking as he knelt down next to them. "If there was anything I could do, I would; you have to believe me," Mikey finally said.
Cory gently bent down and kissed Timmy, saying softly as he did so, "I'll always love you, Gizmo, and I'll never forget you."
Sean was next as he too said, "I love you, Fireball... take...take care of everyone for us okay?" He then broke down sobbing along with Cory.
Timmy looked up at them and said, "I love you too daddy and papa. Don't cry, please."
But it was no good, all of us were crying as Mikey gently reached down and touched Timmy's head, saying softly, "It's time," and a loud screeching filled the air as William came flying in to land next to Timmy's head.
At Mikey's touch Timmy let out a long final breath, and his chest slowly fell. It did not rise again, and his eyes fluttered closed. A look of peace was now on his still, dead face.
With that, William launched himself into the air and disappeared just feet off the ground. Vishnu let out a howl echoed by a loud mournful screech from Duke, who was now perched on Ricky's shoulder.
We all knew William had gone to join his partner.
Mikey slowly stood up, and we all watched as a bright glow seemed to surround Timmy's body before detaching itself and coming to stand by Mikey's side. It slowly coalesced into the form of our little munchkin, all bright and shining. He was as I remembered first seeing him, six years old again, and he smiled at his parents and the rest of us. There was no injury to mar his body.
"I'm okay daddy, papa, I'm okay now," he bubbled.
It didn't stop the tears from any of us, though, as he stood there for a moment.
Suddenly, a winged form of light appeared in the sky above then dived down and landed on Timmy's shoulder. It formed itself into the glowing shape of an eagle. William.
Timmy looked at his Animal Spirit partner for several minutes, and William returned the stare. He finally gave a small chirp, then Timmy turned back to us and said, "Matty, come here."
Matty looked startled, but walked over and stood in front of his long time friend as Timmy smiled at him. "It's your turn now," Timmy said, and with that the glowing form of William launched himself from Timmy's shoulder and flew to perch on a very surprised Matty.
"But... but," Matty said in shock as Timmy walked forward. The spirit-boy reached up and took a glowing object from his ear which he moved over towards Matty's own ear.
A deep sense of warmth and love filled the area, and everyone in it, as he initiated the ritual. We all watched as the glowing talon went into Matty's ear, just like it had resided in Timmy's all these years. Timmy withdrew his hand and the glow around both the object and William faded until he was just an ordinary appearing eagle with his just as ordinary talon in Matty's ear.
"Take good care of him," Timmy said. No one was sure to whom exactly he was saying that to, and that was made worse for me when both William's chirp and Matty's "I will" came at the same moment.
Timmy giggled softly before backing into Mikey's waiting arms.
"I... Thank you, Timmy," Matty finally said, awe and tears mixed on his face.
Timmy just smiled before he turn to his parents and said, "Don't be mad at Uncle Mikey, please." He then turned and wrapped his arms around his uncle tightly.
Cory and Sean didn't answer; probably because of the tears and sobs being torn from their bodies.
Timmy finally, with a sad smile, said, "Remember, 'sometimes the bad things have to happen in order for the good things to'. I love you." He began to walk away with Mikey towards what all could see was a bright light; a light filled with warmth eclipsing that of moments ago by a magnitude immeasurable.
Sean and Cory, with an obvious struggle, finally found their voices. They called out in unison, "I love you too, rugrat! Be good."
Suddenly, there were giggles as three small forms of light appeared around Timmy and Mikey. They were no older than Timmy, and two may have been younger. One of them said, "Yous silly, Unca Cory! Wes the Rugrats! Timmy is Tribe , ain't that right, Ross?"
We couldn't help but laugh as Ross answered, "Yeah Bel, wes the Rugrats!" and then they, with little Jessica, began to fade slightly.
Timmy stopped and turned around. He was surrounded by small forms of light filling all the space around him for some distance as he said giggling, "Yeah, Daddy! We're the Tribe. You'd think you'd know that after all these years!"
As we all laughed amidst our tears, the Tribe, the VSO Rugrats and Mikey slowly faded completely from view - taking our hearts and a good portion of our souls along with them as well.
That was the start of it all.
We learned much in the following months from Ark as she pieced together everything that had happened.
Tanner accessed and studied things from his time in the Ark Compound, and had been giving all that information to the FCC. It was held off world in secret, ready for the day when he could get 'revenge' for what he obviously thought was the murder of DJ by the Clan.
The things that he had given them made them virtually unstoppable, now.
No such tech existed in this day and age, and by and large it was more than most of the other alien races could handle. It made the FCC next to invincible, especially with the captured Vulcan and Starfleet ships they managed to salvage.
Tanner's betrayal had far reaching implications besides just the Clan and my family. Now the entire galaxy was at the 'mercy' of the FCC, and they were consolidating their empire with a viciousness that made the Klingons look tame by comparison. Between them and the Romulans, they had carved the Federation into pieces... and the 'dream' was truly dead.
The day after Timmy had died, Antony Parnell and Koth Evans showed up, both injured and bleeding in an VSO two man attack fighter. They had been testing it around the Founder's moon base when everything went to hell, and had fought their way back to Earth. A five minute flight took them over 24 hours of constant dog-fighting to make. Koth died a day later when he found out what had happened to Juan and their child.
Even though he was Klingon, his heart was very Human, and he just couldn't live with it.
He took the fighter craft and drove it at top speed into the White House, taking out a large number of the FCC leaders, and most of Washington, along with his own life... but that only slowed them down for so long.
The FCC came after my family as Ark had predicted; that was part of the deal Tanner had made.
Dad died a couple of months after Timmy and the others, and I was by his side when he went. He went and joined his first son, and so many others as well.
He went the way he would have wanted to go, though, which was saving one of his children's lives.
Pablito came as I knew he would, but he wouldn't do any more for my dad than Mikey had done for Timmy: no matter how much I begged and pleaded with him.
He just kept telling me he was sorry. Dad finally told me to remember the story he told me of Pablito's death, that for everything there was a time and this was his.
It didn't help, and I watched helplessly as Pablo took my Daddy home to finally be with him.
Vishnu's arms around me, and his heart loving me, kept me from losing it completely that day - just as they did on that first day of our 'hell on Earth', which is what we came to call our Fireball's birthday.
So many gone, now; so many Home with Dad and Timmy.
Just the ten of us left out of a once mighty Clan that had spanned thousands and even commanded worlds.
I couldn't forgive Pablito any more than Cory and Sean forgave Mikey. I knew that when Sean had finally met his end last year, and Mikey had refused again to help, it had sealed Cory's feelings for his one time big brother. We have never understood why they didn't and don't help us; why they let the families they were supposed to protect be hurt and killed like this.
Now we were huddled in a cave like rats in the dark, hoping to avoid detection. We all knew this was it, and that there was no place else to run to. Without Ark, there wasn't even a way to get to a place even if there was one.
She was gone, we were well and truly alone. For the first time since that horrible day six years ago, we had no one but us left. No help, no support, no one.
We had known from the beginning that it was hopeless, but somehow we had kept going. Finally we were admitting that it was over. The fight was done, it was just a matter of time before it would actually end.
For most of us, I think, we were ready. More than ready. We wanted to go home, I wanted to be with dad, Brian, the Trinity and so many others of my family. I just wanted for it to end, and we all knew without asking that each of us felt the same way. We weren't the same people we had been since that fateful day. Sometimes late at night I would wonder if dad would like what I've become; and what I've had to do.
I'm not sure that I do, I'm really not.
They say a cornered rat will gnaw his own leg off to escape a trap, and fight inflicting much more damage than something his size would normally be able to account for.
Well for six long years we had been the cornered rats, and we'd had to do things that left me waking in a cold sweat of terror on far too many nights.
It was my love who got me through it, but sometimes I asked him, "Is it worth it?"
He always gave me Adam's credo. "Never give up, never lose hope, never stop fighting."
We hadn't; or maybe two of the three, anyway.
We'd kept going, we'd kept fighting and when one of us would lose that hope the rest would struggle to give it back to him.
We followed Adam's Credo... until now, at least.
Now we all knew it was over, and just a matter of time - the question was 'how much'?
"What the hell are you doing here?" came an angry shout from Cory, and it brought me abruptly back from my thoughts. I turned to see Mikey standing there with no glow and no wings: just a sad teenage boy looking at Cory even more sadly.
"I came to see you," Mikey replied softly.
"What, so you can watch the rest of us die?" Cory snarled at him.
There was a time when I would have tried to defend Mikey.
Not any more.
I watched as the words struck home like daggers through the angel's heart, and I watched as tears came to his eyes. He whispered "No, not this time."
Duke and William let out screeches of protest, but Kyle walked up and said, "Go away! We don't want you here."
It was like each word was a blow to the angel. With a strangled sob he said, "I know."
We all watched as he turned away for a moment, struggling to regain control of himself, before turning back to us. He said, "There is a chance to change this."
"Whatcha mean?" Tommy asked as he stepped forward, but before Mikey could answer Pablo suddenly appeared.
"NO!"
"Stay out of this," Mikey said as he swung around on Pablito.
Both Vishnu and I stepped forward, and I could hear Vish's soft growl. What he thought he could do to an angel, I had no idea, nor to which angel he meant the growl to be for.
"I won't stay out of it, you can't do it," Pablito yelled, stepping up to stand in front of Mikey as we all watched, startled at this turn of events.
"I've stood by for far too long, Pablito, and I can't stand by any longer and watch the last of my family die!" Mikey yelled back.
"You think it's been easy for me either?" Pablito asked with pain filling his voice.
"What's it matter now? We're all dead anyway," Ricky stated softly, and I nodded my head in silent agreement.
Mikey said to Pablito, "I never should have abandoned them."
"No, you shouldn't have! You promised to watch over us and protect us and you didn't!" Cory screamed out angrily. "I've lost EVERYONE, Mike! EVERYONE. Only we remain, and we're ALL AFRAID BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T DO A FUCKING THING TO HELP!"
"I know, and I shouldn't have abandoned you, but I think I can change it, now," Mikey said as he turned to look at his 'little Tigger'.
"No, Mikey! You know what it'll mean!" Pablito yelled as he stepped between the two of them.
"What's he talking about?" JJ asked into the silence as the two angels stared at one another, both obviously angry.
"Nothing," Mikey said.
Pablito looked down at the floor, then said finally, "You have to at least tell them."
"No I don't. It doesn't matter anyway, I'm prepared to pay the Price," Mikey answered softly with the anger gone now.
I was surprised to see tears in Pablito's eyes now. "Then I will, so they'll know at least," he decided finally.
"No, little one, it's my choice. Please let me make it, then you can tell them," Mikey begged him.
Pablito and Mikey stared silently at each other for several minutes, and I could see the tears rolling from my brother's eyes the entire time. He finally nodded in almost defeated acceptance.
"What's he talking about?" Cory asked with a bit of the old Cory back in him, a bit of the old fire.
"I think with your help we can change it," Mikey replied to Cory.
"Change what?" Tommy asked.
"Everything," Mikey said, and we all gasped.
"I don't understand," Matty said while William just chirped with worry.
"There was one event that, if changed, would change all this," Mikey said sweeping his arm out to indicate everything.
"Change?" Vishnu asked.
"Yes, change. If we can change it then I believe none of this would then 'happen'," Mikey said.
"You mean...?" Cory's question trailed off.
Mikey finished his sentence for him, "...none of them would die."
It was pandemonium for several minutes as everyone started shouting questions at Mikey, but Cory finally restored order with one word. "EXPLAIN!"
"There was one pivotal event in all this that brought this history about. If it gets changed then none of this will have happened. I don't believe any of this was meant to be, and you can change it, Cory; you and the others by doing what the Clan always did - getting through to a kid in trouble and saving him," Mikey said softly.
"Who?" CD asked just as softly.
"DJ," Mikey replied, which sent the room into shocked silence... then angry shouts, but only I started making them.
"You mean you want us to save the boyfriend of the S.O.B. who did this to us?!" I yelled, pissed as all hell now.
"Yes," Mikey replied
"Why?" Tommy asked, the anger just as apparent in his voice.
"Because Tanner wasn't like he was in this timeline. Don't you remember what he was like? It was DJ's death that changed him and made him into something bitter, angry and most of all, hurt. Don't you remember?" Mikey asked again. He waved his hand and showed us a young boy who, after a moment, I recognized as a much younger Tanner. He was laughing, smiling and, in the images I could see of him with another boy, clearly loving.
Gone was the hate, anger and bitterness. Gone was the madness I'd seen six years ago.
It was a different person I was seeing, and I think I began to understand what Mikey was trying to say, even though I didn't much like doing anything that would help Tanner at all.
There was silence as everyone watched the images before them play out.
A different Tanner, one they had all known briefly, one they had once loved as a brother, and one who hadn't been driven insane with grief.
What would have happened if the Tanner we were seeing in the images had stayed around and never became the Tanner we had come to know to our horror?
We might get to find out.
Finally Cory asked the question that we were all thinking: "What do we have to do?"
"Change DJ's mind about dying," Mikey replied.
"How?" Ricky asked
"I can't tell you that. I can take some of you back to that pivotal moment where he hung between life and death, but only you, through your love of him, can make the decision as to how to get him to want to stay," Mikey replied.
"Okay, we'll do it. If it means saving our family, we've got to try at least," Cory said into the silence that followed. "I loved DJ and I tried talking to him when he was in the Enterprise's Sickbay, but... he just wanted to go. I let him then. I won't this time. I can't."
"Then you need to know now," Pablito spoke up, and I watched as Mikey hung his head.
"What do we need to know?" Matty asked.
"He'll be Cast Down if he disobeys Our Father in this," Pablo answered.
Cory and the others gasped in shock as Mikey looked back up and said to Pablito, "I've made my decision, bro; I got into this for you and my family, and for too long I've not been there for them. This is the last chance to make things right... at least for me."
"Then let's do it," Pablito replied.
Mikey ended up taking Cory, JJ, Gabe and Tommy first. They were the oldest of us remaining who had known DJ, and one at a time, they went back in time to try and convince this boy to live instead of die.
When he returned with Cory, who had been the last of the four, it was clear that Cory hadn't been able to do anything from the defeated look on his face.
"I tried but he's so... so hurt! I just couldn't get through to him," Cory said as we all stared at him.
"It's not over yet, little bro. Sammy, you're up," Mikey said as he turned to me.
I stared at him in shock before saying, "Me? I don't even know this kid!"
"That's the point. I want you to give it a try because all their talking in the world hasn't done him much good so far. You don't know him and maybe you can get through to him, to show him why he should want to live and not die"
"I don't think I'd be the best for this, I... I hate Tanner too much," I said finally.
"You're not going to be seeing Tanner; you're going to be seeing a scared, lonely and hurting little boy called DJ, and you are good at getting through to those in need," Mikey said softly.
I felt Vishnu reach and wrap his arms around me tightly and whisper in my ear, "You have to try, love."
I knew he was right, even if I had no idea how I could possibly do anything to change the outcome with a boy I'd never even met.
"Alright," I reluctantly agreed.
"Good. The first thing is we need to change you a bit so you don't scare him to death," Mikey said raising his hand.
"Change?" I spluttered, not liking the sound of that at all.
Suddenly I was enveloped by a golden glow, and when it cleared I found myself standing there naked, and not exactly myself at the moment. "What? Where'd it go?" I asked looking down in horror at what was suddenly missing. The room erupted in laughter around me.
I heard a growl-filled voice say "I don't know, but it better be coming back!" which sent the rest of the room into wild laughter. I just stared down in shock at my current lack of, let's say, 'physical attributes'.
Even Mikey laughed softly, and of course Pablito was rolling on the floor. Mikey said, "Don't worry, it'll grow back... eventually!"
"Huh?" I muttered as the laughter grew.
"Chill, SamSam. It's about how I remember it when I first met you. You look just like you were eleven again," Cory giggled.
"Oh God! Not puberty again!" I groaned, eliciting more laughter.
"I don't know. I seem to remember it rather... fondly!" Vishnu said with a purr, and I felt my face turning bright red. I quickly covered something which, although not nearly as large it once was, was certainly trying to make up for it at that moment.
"Ah... clothes here..." I said into the laughter and I couldn't believe the whine in my now very high pitched voice.
"You were kinda cute back then," Cory had to add.
"He still is," Vishnu said with a mock growl, which set everyone off again.
"Clothes? Remember me?" I plaintively whined.
Mikey waved his hand, and suddenly I found myself dressed in my old, eleven year old clothing - right down to my old cowboy boots.
I had to fight back sudden tears as I remembered who had bought them for me, and how much I had loved them. "What do I do?" I asked to break the train of memories swallowing me.
"Follow your heart, SamSam. Follow your heart," Pablito whispered.
"Ready?" Mikey asked, and I nodded and took his hand. He led me towards swirling mists that had suddenly appeared.
"Good luck!" was the last I heard from the others as I vanished.
We appeared in a beautiful meadow with a stream running through it, and there were the most majestic snow capped mountains in the distance.
I looked at Mikey and asked, "I don't know what to do. No one else got through to him. What do I say? How do I do it?"
"Only you can answer that, Sammy. What Pablito said was true, follow your heart. It's never led you wrong yet," he replied.
I didn't say anything, and finally he said, "Let me show you some things and maybe it will help to know Deej better."
With that, images filled my head; things that had happened, things which might have happened and things which did not happen.
So many things... how was I to choose?
Maybe if I showed him what Tanner had done, maybe that would do it.
If he knew what his death would cause, if he knew what Tanner would do if he died, then he'd have to stay.
No, that wasn't right.
It had to be a choice.
He had to want to stay, not stay because he felt he had to.
He had to want to live, because if he came back because he felt forced to, then it wouldn't be good. It wouldn't be good for anyone.
I don't know how I knew what to do, but suddenly I did.
I knew exactly what I was going to do, and how I was going to do it.
I didn't know if it was going to work or not, but I was going to try.
I'd show him not tell him. Let him see what he meant to people; people he didn't even know, and I'd let him decide if living was worth it.
When I looked up at Mikey he was smiling and waved his hand towards some more mists and I began walking forward.
I could suddenly hear the 'tap, tap, tap' of my boots on a tile floor and could see in the distance what looked like a sterile hospital room. I felt myself become eleven years old inside my heart. This needed a kid, now, not the adult I had become. With the tapping of my boots on the floor, I moved towards what I hoped would be a new future... for all of us...
DJ woke to footsteps and looking around, saw a young boy approaching his bed, one he didn't know.
Tap, tap, tap.
The boots the boy was wearing made an eerie sound on the hard floor in the room as the boy stopped in front of the bed DJ was sitting on.
He looked the strange boy up and down; seeing a boy of about 11 standing there looking at him, with brown hair and intense brown eyes flecked with gold that almost seemed to be flashing in the bright light.
DJ looked around the room and noticed it was sterile and white; bare with no furnishings, before returning his gaze to the boy in front of him who was still standing there without speaking.
"What do you want?" DJ asked.
The boy cocked his head to the side, and a small smile played across his features, promising mischievousness as DJ added, "You going to try to talk me out of it too?"
"Nah" was all the mysterious boy said, now smiling, which caused DJ to gape at him in shock.
"NO?" he asked in disbelief, everyone else in this dream had been trying to do one thing, and one thing only and that was to get him to change his mind; now this kid says he didn't want me to.
"Why bother, no one else's been able to do shit with ya, so why should I try the same crap?" the boy asked, still giving him that smile.
"Who the hell are you anyway?" DJ asked in confusion, this didn't make any sense.
"Oh sorry, my name's Sammy" he said.
"I don't know you." DJ told him.
"Nah you die so we don't get to meet." Sam told him, matter of factly.
DJ shook his head in disbelief as this was not going at all like the others had gone.
"So what are you doing here?" DJ asked.
"Trying the same thing as the others did I guess, Mikey wanted me to try, so here I am."
"That's it, you don't even know me, and you are trying to get me to change my mind?" He asked incredulously.
"Yeah, I know Tanner, Beau, Toby and Timmy and this...it ain't right man. This ain't the way to deal with stuff." he told him.
"Yeah what would ya know about jack?" DJ said bitterly, as he watched those eyes fill with pain for a moment before saying, "I know a few things, a few." with sadness in his voice, which gave the older boy pause, as he took a closer look into the young boy's eyes.
"Like what?" DJ asked, with a little less anger in his voice.
"Like Tanner will never recover from this. He won't ever trust no one again, and he'll grow up to be a mean person. You kept him from that."
"Yeah, the Clan'll help him." DJ replied.
"The Clan can only do so much, dude. This hurt he won't get over. Your brothers will never get over it either." he said.
DJ looked down for a moment before returning his gaze to the boy.
"I don't wanna live nomore, it hurts too much." he said with pain in his voice.
"I know man, and we all got stuff that's happened to us, but there's people who'll help ya if you let em." Sammy told him.
"I don't wanna. I just wanna forget and I can't." DJ said, looking up with a pain racked gaze at the younger boy who walked forward and wrapped his arms around him, looking deeply into his eyes.
"I know Deej, I know. It seems like that'd be best and all, but it ain't. My dad says that everything that we experience makes us who we are, and if we hadn't had those things happen to us, we would be different."
DJ looked at him for a long moment before saying, "I wouldn't mind being different."
"Really?" Sam asked him and saw the boy nod his head affirmatively.
"That would mean no Tanner, no brothers, and no Clan, you really want that?" he asked as the boy sobbed. "No, yes, I mean no... I don't know," as the tears began to fall.
After a few minutes, Sammy said "Come on," to the older boy.
"Come where?" DJ asked..
Well, the others tried talking, I'm gonna try showing ya some stuff." Sammy said, with a grin.
"Showing me what?" DJ asked, warily.
"Well my dad says a picture is worth a thousand words, especially this one that he keeps showing people," Sammy said, as he giggled, "So I'm gonna show you some."
Sammy stood up and commanded, "Take my hand DJ!" to the older boy.
With some trepidation evident on his face, DJ stood up, and looking Sammy in the eyes again, reached out his hand in trust, and grasped the younger boy's hand, as Sam began walking, leading the older boy away from the bed, towards the far side of the room which had become shrouded in grey swirling mist, with a smile on his face.
DJ wasn't too thrilled with the fog bank which had suddenly appeared in his room, but before he could say or do anything about it, they were entering it.
They appeared in a home, in the hallway, just as a naked little boy ran into a room down the hall screaming, "Can I take a shower with you, daddy?"
"Sure honey." was heard from an adult voice in response, as Sammy turned and said, "They can't see or hear us, so don't worry," to an obviously stunned DJ.
"How did we....?" He asked
"Mikey." Sammy replied, with a big grin on his face, "Ain't it cool?" he said.
"I guess." DJ said, looking around.
Then the grin vanished as Sammy said, "Come on," and led the older boy into the bathroom and to the shower, where a sight greeted DJ that provoked an immediate reaction.
"That's sick" he said in disgust, as he watched the man collapse back against the wall and looked at what was all over the boy who was smiling.
"Is it?" Sammy asked, turning and looking at DJ speculatively.
"Yes it is. Why are you showing me stuff like this?" he asked Sammy.
"Because, one little event can change a lot of things, DJ." he replied, as they watched the man stagger away from the wall and his son, as the boy cried, "Daddy?"
They heard him snarl, "Just finish your shower." as he rapidly exited the tub, and then the room, before they heard a door slam down the hall somewhere.
"Daddy, wait, did I do something bad?" the little boy cried as he got out of the tub and ran out of the room and they could soon hear him calling plaintively "Daddy, what's wrong, daddy?. Daddy let me in, please."
A short while later, they watched as the boy came walking dejectedly back into the room and crawled back in the shower with tears running down his face.
"So why did you show me some guy messing with his kid like that?" DJ said angrily. "Didn't they tell ya nothing bout me?"
"Yeah, they told me about ya, and you'll see." Sammy said, as he grabbed DJ's hand again. "Things aren't always what they appear to be." Sammy said, as he began walking, dragging the older boy into the suddenly forming mist again.
This time they came out in the living room of the same house, as the man walked out of the kitchen and the boy ran over wrapping his arms around his legs.
What surprised DJ was the man angrily pushing the boy away from him. "Go eat your dinner." and watching as the boy's face fell in despair.
"It's been 3 days since the shower." Sammy said, as they watched the boy pick at his food.
Nothing got eaten to speak of, and finally the man said, "You don't want to eat then get ready for bed." still with an angry tone of voice, causing the boy's head to snap up and tears to begin to run down his face.
"GO" the man ordered.
"So the dad's an asshole, your point?" DJ asked as they watched the boy slowly slide off his chair and walk out of the room.
What confused them was the man burying his head in his hands, and the sobs that seemed to come out of him until he heard the boy returning at which time he straightened and said before the boy could even get in the room.
"This isn't the way to your bed."
"I..I wanted a kiss and hugs." the boy said, as if he were begging for sustenance.
"You're a big boy now, you don't need that any more, just get into bed." the man said with pain lacing his voice.
The boy reacted as if he had been slapped, as he stared in shock at his father finally mustering the courage to cry out "But dad..." only to be told in a growl "Just GO!"
The boy turned and ran with tears flying from his face, as Sammy took DJ's hand once more and pulled him into the mist.
They next appeared in the same house, to find the father on the sofa and the boy hesitantly walking into the room and coming over to find that his father had dozed off on the couch.
The boy crawled up in his father's lap and snuggled in and the boys could almost hear him purring in contentment as Sammy said "It's been a week since the shower," in a quiet voice.
Both boys watched as the father stirred, and wrapped his arms around the boy, hugging him to him, and moaning in his sleep, before waking, looking confused, and then to DJ's surprise, at least, panicked as he saw what was in his arms.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" he screamed at the child, and before the boy could respond, pushed him roughly off his lap telling him "I told you, you are too old for this nonsense any more, go to bed now." causing the boy to begin crying uncontrollably, as he shakily got to his feet, and ran off towards his bedroom.
Then they watched as the man began crying again, pleading for someone to help him.
"I don't get it" DJ said in confusion, "He treats his kid like shit but then cries about it, he must be whacked"
"You don't yet," Sammy said as he waved his hand slightly
"What did you do?" DJ asked suspiciously, as he looked around.
"I just moved us forward a few minutes." Sammy replied, as the man who had been staring off into space got slowly to his feet, and headed towards the back of the house.
"Come on." Sammy said, as they followed the man, then Sammy pulled him by the hand and they were in the boy's bedroom, where said boy was touching himself almost absent-mindedly, DJ thought.
They watched as the father came into the room, and froze at the sight. A smile had started to come across his face, but it suddenly turned to rage, and he advanced screaming at his young son.
"What are you doing, you don't do that." and then as they watched, he struck the boy once, twice and then again as the boy screamed in pain.
DJ had ran forward at the first blow, but found out that in this form he couldn't affect anything.
"You can't do anything." Sammy sadly informed him, as they watched the father rant at the little boy, before turning and stalking from the room.
"You have to do something, you can't let this kid be hurt like this." DJ said, furious at what he had just witnessed.
Sammy shook his head as he watched the little one curled up on the floor, now crying and sobbing hysterically.
"There's nothing I can do." was all the response DJ got.
"Come." Sammy told him.
"I can't leave him like this, what if he comes back?" DJ said, "We have to at least call someone." he added in fury.
"Come, there's nothing to be done, the boy survives, for now." Sammy said, with tears running down his face, as he grabbed an unwilling DJ, dragging him towards the mist once again.
"But...." DJ began but didn't get to finish as he was pulled into the swirling tides of time, to reappear once again in the boy's room, only this time the boy wasn't there but two older boys, both naked and both engaged.
"What?" DJ asked turning in confusion as Sammy said, "It's the same boy, just when he's older." and DJ noticed the pain etched on Sammy's face as he asked, "What is it?"
"Just watch." was all that Sammy could say, and they did.
DJ turned back to the bed and the two boys who appeared to be about eight years of age lying on it exploring one another.
DJ thought it was cute, but that thought quickly changed to terror, as the door to the room was flung open and the father from before entered screaming at the boys.
His son never got to voice a word that his mouth had opened to do before his father's fist came crashing down on the boy's young face.
"Fuck do something" DJ screamed in tandem with the other child who was trying to get the man off his friend.
The man turned and hit the boy in the head sending him crashing into the wall where he slumped down unmoving for the moment, as the man pummelled his son screaming in a blind rage.
They watched as the other boy woke and slowly crawled away, reaching into his pocket where he pulled something out that DJ recognized as a communicator, fumbling with it with one hand until he got it open and pressed what DJ recognized was the emergency signal button, and then passed out once again.
It was obvious to DJ as he witnessed these things, that the boy was injured and he thought the son had to be dead by now, because the man hadn't stopped hitting the boy.
He glanced over and saw Sammy staring at the boy on the ground with tears running down his face.
In a strangled sob he replied, "I can't."
Moments later the room filled with the familiar glow of a transporter as Gabe, JJ and Cory all materialized in the room, all noticeably older but unmistakably them.
"STOP IMMEDIATELY!" Cory shouted at the man who froze in mid motion.
They watched as the man turned, looking at them and then returned his gaze to what was left of his son before beginning to look back and forth between the two.
DJ watched in disbelief as he said "What have I done?" before crying "NO" and charging the boys.
JJ fired first, followed by Gabe, as they watched the man collapse to the ground, unmoving.
"Aw shit" Cory said, as he ran to the boy, pulling a tricorder from his waist and aiming it at the child, JJ was doing the same to the boy on the floor.
"Matty, Matty" he called as he waved the device over the prone boy before pulling his communicator from his waist as Cory turned around with tears in his eyes and just shook his head.
"JJ to Lafayette emergency transport plus one injured, one in custody and one...one dead" he said brokenly into the communicator.
"Acknowledged." a voice replied as Cory asked, "How is he?"
"Broken arm and concussion that I can see" JJ replied.
"Isn't there anything..." Gabe started to say but Cory shook his head and said "No" with absolute finality in his voice as the transporter hum filled the room taking them away leaving only two very stunned and shocked boys in their wake.
"WHY?" DJ turned on Sammy, screaming "WHY SHOW ME THIS?" he demanded with anger clearly in his voice.
"Because you needed to see it." Sammy said with the tears still running down his face.
"WHY, I DON'T KNOW THESE KIDS WHY!!!!" DJ said again.
"Cause one of them is my brother," Sammy choked out, before saying, "And the other one would have been, if you hadn't died" he finished softly, causing DJ to freeze in his pacing of the bloodied room.
"What? What do you mean?" he asked, stricken of the younger boy.
"Come" Sammy said, in a choked voice.
"Not until you tell me what the hell that's supposed to mean." DJ yelled at him.
"What you didn't think you're leaving this world would cause shit to happen; well it does. You weren't there to save Damien and this is what happened." Sammy said, with anger replacing the sadness of moments ago.
"You think you don't affect anyone else, well just ask that kid there, Damien would be alive if you were!" Sammy yelled back at him, before saying in a softer voice, "And my brother wouldn't be hurt, and spend years blaming himself for his friends death," and DJ could hear the pain behind those words.
"I do something if I live that prevents this?" DJ asked.
"Come" Sammy said, not brooking any argument this time, just reaching out and grabbing a stunned DJ's hand, and pulling him into the mists.
When they emerged again, it was the same bedroom, and the same two boys doing the same exact thing as before.
"No, please" DJ begged, as he saw the scene from minutes ago about to unfold once again before him.
"Watch." was all that Sammy would say, as once again the door went flying open and the kids looked startled only this time the man laughingly said "Sorry to disturb you guys, next time you might want to shut the door," grinning the whole time, as he quickly began to back out of the doorway.
"It's okay dad, I don't mind." Damien said, causing his father to blush, as he said, "Well, maybe your friend there does." which caused Damien to giggle and look a bit chagrined as his dad pulled the door closed laughing.
"You're dad is really cool" Matty told him
"Yeah he's the best dad in the whole world." Damien said, smiling softly, as Matty said, "Nah mine is." giggling as they got into a war of "No mine."
DJ turned to Sammy in shock, who was smiling now and said, "How?, What?"
"Little things mean a lot." Sammy said, as he took DJ's hand once again saying, "Come, and this time you will get to feel what they feel." causing DJ to suddenly become worried wondering what was going to happen next, but before he could get too worried, they entered the mists reappearing in the bathroom once again.
This time it was as a little voice shouted "Can I take a shower with you daddy?"
"Sure honey." was the response from inside the shower.
The boys and in particular DJ watched and more importantly felt the events as they unfolded this time, and understanding made all the difference.
When it was over DJ looked wonderingly at Sammy and said, "He wasn't..."
"No he wasn't," Sammy replied.
"But I don't understand." DJ said.
"Come," and Sammy took the older boy by the hand, bringing him to each of the places he had visited before, immediately after the shower.
When they got to the last one DJ turned and said, "He thinks he's protecting his son."
"Yes" Sammy replied, sadly.
DJ shook his head in disbelief at this.
"I was so sure...." He said as his voice tapered off, and Sammy replied, "So sure he was abusing his kid, and was an asshole?" Sammy asked.
"Yeah, I mean..." DJ said before continuing, "He loves him and it's hurting him to push the boy away like this, but he thinks he has to."
"Yeah, he thinks that's the only way to protect the boy. He sees what happened in the shower, and thinks he's evil for what happened." Sammy told DJ.
"But it wasn't, dude, nothing happened." DJ said.
"Yeah but he thinks it did. His son grabbing him and washing him like that brought a lot of feelings suddenly out and he came almost instantly, remember?"
"Yeah but he wasn't doing nothing bad," DJ said.
"I know that, and you know that, but HE doesn't."
"He didn't even have time to tell his son to stop before it happened. Now he's scared to death to touch the kid, cause he thinks he's some kind of pervert or something, and he's doing this stuff cause of all the crap his head has been filled with." Sammy told him.
DJ was just shaking his head. "I was so wrong." he said.
"You reacted to what you saw, and sometimes that can be a good thing, but other times......" Sammy said, letting his voice trail off.
"Yeah, I guess that's why Russ and Sara are always telling me to think before I do stuff.
"Probably, my dad says that too." Sammy replied, with a grin.
"So how do I change things?" DJ asked.
"You don't, if you don't live." Sammy replied, sadly.
"If, I mean if I do?" he asked.
"Come" Sammy said, as DJ extended his hand and Sammy grasped it and they walked together for the first time into the mists.
They emerged into a mall, and DJ looked around with interest before asking,
"What are we doing here?"
"Watch." was all that Sammy said.
At that moment, several boys came around the corner walking down the concourse.
"Hey that's me" DJ exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes, it can be, in about a month or so." Sammy said, causing DJ to give him a questioning look, as they watched the antics of the boys as they got closer.
It was DJ, Tanner, Jamie and Jacob, along with JJ and Gabe and they were obviously clowning around and having fun.
DJ was looking at this intently and had a sad smile on his face, and Sammy could see the tears forming as he watched his other self existing with the one he loved.
"I miss him," DJ said softly.
"I know, and he misses you too." Sammy said, with sadness evident in his voice, causing DJ to look at him quickly before returning his face to the boys, with yearning now present.
Then the other DJ stopped suddenly and pulled on Jamie's arms whispering urgently to him.
The boys watched as the other kid's gaze locked on a man and young boy walking across the aisle from them as DJ gasped "Damien."
"Yes, it's been about a month since the shower now." Sammy said, as they looked at the boy and his father.
"They look like shit." DJ observed.
"Yeah, Dad from guilt he shouldn't have, and Damien from not understanding what he did wrong, and missing his father's love." Sammy replied.
Sammy and DJ watched as the boys suddenly made a bee line for the father and son, and began talking to them.
They watched as the father was taken aside, and Jamie spoke with him, getting an angry reaction before JJ showed him something in his hand, and he settled down.
"What's going to happen to them?" DJ asked.
You and Tanner are going to take Damien, for now, while his dad gets help from Dan and the Clan, to deal with his feelings, as well as his fears. Damien will also get some help understanding that he didn't do anything wrong, and that his dad still loves him. After about six months, they will be reunited and.....well you saw what happens in a few years."
DJ looked in wonder at the group before him, as they all began walking from the mall.
"All because of me?" DJ asked.
"Yeah, little things bro, little things," Sammy said, grinning.
"What happened in the shower, did it all, didn't it?" DJ asked.
"Yeah, that one little thing destroyed two lives for nothing, you save two lives, just by caring about a little kid."
"And your brother?" DJ put in.
"Yeah and my brother, who suffered for a long time because of what happened to Damien, and because of some crap that he'd been through before." Sammy replied.
"Why didn't the Clan just take Damien for good, like they usually do?" DJ asked, perplexed.
"That's something your Clan needs to learn, you don't always have to destroy families to protect the children. Sometimes, just working through things can save em too. Damien's dad loves him to death, but he did what he did out of love, not hate. It just wasn't the right thing." Sammy replied, sadly.
"Yeah." DJ said, looking after the group as they reached an exit and left the mall.
"Come on DJ, one last thing, and then you need to get back." Sammy said as DJ reached out and took his hand, leading Sammy towards the mist this time, and they entered.
Once again they were in Damien's house, and in the bathroom as the father was preparing to enter the shower
"Daddy, can I take a shower with you?" came the little voice, and the boys watched as the boy came tentatively into the room, while the father stiffened before relaxing and turning to face his young son.
"I think I would like that honey," the father told his son, smiling fondly down at him, which earned a dazzling smile filled with love in return, as the boy quickly ran to his father, and was picked up as they entered the shower together.
The boys watched, as the same events were eerily repeated from another shower, while Sammy whispered, "This is the first night that Damien was allowed to move back in with his father."
They watched as everything happened like it had before, only this time when it was over, the father didn't get upset, he just smiled as Damien asked, "Did I wash it good daddy, did I?"
"Yeah honey, you washed it good." the father replied, as he scooped up his young son, and held him to him, kissing him on the cheek.
"I love you Daddy," the boy said.
"I love you too, munchkin, I love you too." the father replied, inhaling deeply, and letting out a long sigh as the boy giggled and said, "Can we wash this off now daddy?" still giggling as the father said, "Sure, baby."
Both DJ and Sammy had tears of joy on their faces at what they had just witnessed, as Sammy said, "That's the way it's supposed to be."
"Yeah it is," DJ replied, as the father and son got out of the shower, and dried off, walking out of the room naked to be met, much to the surprise of DJ, by the other DJ.
"So, how's things going?" he asked looking between them
"Fine" dad answered, smiling down at his son.
"Weally good; Daddy said I did a good job." the boy answered, as the other DJ said "I'm glad to hear that," and the relief showed on his face, with his words.
"After Timmy set me straight, it'll never be a problem again." the dad said, chuckling while the other DJ laughed and said, "Yeah the little munchkin has a way of doing that, don't he." and the boys watched as they walked down the hall towards their room, with the dad reaching down and picking up a giggling little boy.
DJ and Sammy both had smiles on their faces, as suddenly the mists seemed to rise up and envelop them in darkness before dissipating, and when they were gone, they were back where they had started, in the white room.
DJ looked around and said, "I guess I got some thinking to do, don't I?"
"Yeah bro, you do, it's all up to you; no one can make you stay. I hope you do though, I'd really like to get to know you." Sammy said, looking directly into his eyes as he spoke.
DJ just looked back at him and Sammy hoped, really hoped that this had done some good.
"Well, I gotta be going before the munchkins get into more trouble." Sammy said, smiling at him, as he turned and began walking away with that click, click, click again echoing hollowly in the space.
"Sammy," DJ called.
Sammy stopped and turned back to DJ who walked over to him and wrapped his arms around him, giving him a hug before saying,
"Thanks, bro. I'd like that too."
Sammy just smiled and nodded his head, hoping, as he turned once again to go back to the land of the living, leaving a very scared and hurt little boy alone once again, to make a decision that would affect so many, and hoping that he had contributed in some small way to him making the right one.
There were so many things he hadn't shown him, what he had was the mildest of the things that would happen if he died, as he felt his body regaining it's true age once again.
He just hoped it did some good, too many needed him for him to die.
Too much rode on him making the right choice or everyone would die.
I could feel my form changing, and by the time I exited the mists my body was back to my true age. The 'tap, tap, tap' still echoed hollowly as the mists faded, and I looked around at everyone there in the cave. I couldn't help but pull my pants out a bit and take a look. I let out a sigh of relief as I found that everything had 'grown back' to it's proper size; but my relief turned to shock. Even as the others were laughing at me for my 'attribute' checking, I came to the horrific conclusion that things had not changed - they were all still here. We were all here! Nothing had changed!
"I failed then," I said, into the silence.
"You tried at least," Cory said, as he pulled me into his arms to give me a hug. He let go of me and turned to Mikey, who was standing there looking at him. "I'm sorry, Mikey. I love you, and I always have," Cory said to the older boy, who let out a sob before grabbing Cory tightly into his arms and holding him.
"I've missed you so much, Tigger," Mikey said, as they both cried for the years apart, whispering softly to one another.
I turned to find Pablito standing there, and knowing what I had to do, I walked over to him. "I never should have hated you, I was wrong and I'm sorry," I said to him, as tears fell from my own eyes.
"You didn't hate me any more than Cory hated Mikey. You both were just angry and you had a right to be," Pablo replied.
"I took it out on you, though," I said softly.
"Brothers fight, yet they still love each other, ya know," he told me gently.
"I always will, bro," I said, picking the little angel boy up and hugging him to me.
"Hey! Watch the wings, ya big oaf!" Pablito whispered in my ear. I just hugged him tighter to me, but I could feel the tears falling from his eyes as well.
I felt Vishnu join me in hugging him, but we were startled by a strange voice saying, "You did not fail, young ones."
I just about dropped Pablito as I reached for my phaser, along with everyone else in the room, but Mikey quickly said, "HOLD!"
Two glowing beings radiating pure light and love filled the room with their presence to take form before us on the other side of the room.
"Do not fear," one of the 'men' said, before repeating himself, "You did not fail."
"But we're still here," Cory said, into the stunned silence.
The first being being chuckled as he said, "Do you think He could not hold a timeline open for a short time should He wish?"
The other being turned to Mikey and said, "Do you think you would have been allowed to proceed, if He had not intended it always?"
"What? You mean....." Mikey spluttered, disbelief showing clearly.
"Saint Mikey of Urbandale, you are one of His Chosen. Do you truly think that El'Runi'm would cast aside one of His Chosen for loving as He has always taught?" the being on the right intoned.
"But...but I disobeyed Him," Mikey replied.
The being on the left waved his hand and both Mikey and Pablito suddenly took on their full angel form, golden wings shining brightly behind them.
"No, child. You did exactly what He asked of you all these years and more, even though it almost broke you. You abided by His strictures though it seemingly cost you all you held dear. Now was the time and you were ready to do what you were always destined to do: to save your family," the being on the left finished.
"You mean God wouldn't let them help us?" Cory asked in disbelief.
With a soft chuckle, the being on the right replied, "El'Runi'm... Our Father... was always helping you, but for the Time to heal DJ, this had to occur."
The one on the left took up next, "Timmy said it right all those many years ago as he bid you farewell, 'Sometimes bad things have to happen so that the good things can'. If you had not been through this, then there was no way that DJ could have been saved. The pain, sorrow and love which you have lived through these past years, allowed you all to save him where all your earlier efforts had failed."
The right one said, "All took place for a reason, and that was to lead you to this moment in Time. Samuel was the final piece in 'play', and when he listened to his little brother and 'followed his heart', he sealed your fate and that of untold millions. For it was with a child's heart and a child's faith, full of love and hope, that he approached DJ in the Mists of Time. With a child's understanding he showed a small slice of one child's life to teach another the value of their own."
"If he had not followed his heart, then the future, the past and all of creation to come would not have been re-written. All of you who went back and tried with your hearts began the change, Sammy completed it. And three 'others' after him 'polished' it, but they are not to be named. It took all of you, through your pain, and through overcoming it, to show the love that was always so much a part of your Clan. That Love, and only that, healed the boy," The one on the left intoned as the one on the right began to speak.
"Your love has changed the course of Time, and more things than you can possibly imagine will now result from this day."
"Does our family live in this new time?" Cory asked hopefully.
Both beings laughed and said, with joy ringing in the cavern, "Oh yes, Child of Earth. They do much more than live - they prosper. And what they bring to the world changes not only this one, but the entire galaxy. It is all from the Love that exists and the dream of two boys helping another one day that it comes about. There is so much that is different there. Events that never happened in thistimeline. Kyle shall be King of a new form of life, while Cory, Sean, Sammy and others shall be the next level of human life. Brothers you have never met, but did hear about from your Dragon Division, will now live - Jason, Nathan and Viccy... due to Kyle's son, they shall not have died in 2003... all as now it was always meant to be. There are so many changes for your Family, Cory Short: all brought about because of your Love. Because of all of your love."
They kept on speaking, but our attention was drawn to a light forming in the room between the beings. Cory fell to his knees crying when he saw who now stood there.
Sean walked forward and took his love into his arms, and Cory cried out, "Oh God, Sean! It is you, isn't it?"
"Yes, it's me, love; and now we'll be together for all time," Sean replied before kissing Cory soundly.
"Don't forget me!" another voice said, as Timmy suddenly appeared next to them, with Teri alongside. She smiled down at her children.
I could hear the beings going on about weird things like Disney and fish, for some reason, but my attention was totally captivated by Cory and the ever increasing number of his family who were appearing around him when another voice intruded: "Hey, you get too old to give your old man a hug?"
I froze, my body shaking, and not daring to believe. I slowly turned around to see... "D...d..d.dad!!!" I cried, still not believing what I was now seeing.
"You're right mijo, how soon they forget," he said, smiling at me.
All of a sudden, I was a little kid again as I cried, "OH GOD! DAD!" and threw myself into his arms.
Vishnu and Matty were there almost as soon as I was and dad was on the floor with all of us trying to hug the life out of him.
"Got room for some more?" I heard and looked up to see Uncle Eric standing there with Kevin, Randy, Danny and KT, and my Brian, along with the rest.
We launched ourselves from Dad to them, crying, laughing, crying some more and just hugging them, never wanting to let them go.
When we calmed down some, I realized that many more were there. Matter of fact, they were all there now - standing in that meadow from earlier which had now appeared behind the beings of light.
Waiting for us to come home...
Dad echoed my thoughts, as he asked softly, "You ready to go Home now, baby boy?"
"Yeah Dad, we are! Forever and ever and a million years past that..." I replied with his words from so long ago. He put his arm around my shoulders and together we headed for the meadow and our family.
We were finally Home as we took that final step from the darkness of the cave into the Light of the Glade, and to all those who awaited us there.
Home at last.
The two beings watched as the last band of the Clan, those who had given so dearly to save so much more than they could ever know about, stepped into the meadow. It began to fade from view, and all the Clan children there were basking in the love of those around them, the love they had missed for so long.
Mikey and Pablito said to the two beings, softly, "Thank you," before they too faded away - away to join their reunited family. The beings were pleased.
Before the meadow and those gathered there faded completely, however, a lone woman of late middle age, very motherly appearing, could be heard plaintively asking, < I still do not know why I have been given this form. I keep telling you, I am NOT female! >
With that, the cave entered into darkness again, except for the light from the two beings. They couldn't help but laugh at her continued insistence to the contrary. One asked the other, "Michael, for how many aeons do you think she is going to protest this to Our Father?"
"Longer than creation will exist, Gabriel. Longer than Forever," the other replied, eliciting more laughter from his companion Archangel - as well as giggles from some observers who didn't know they had been observed all along.
Gabriel turned and said to them, "It is time for you three 'imps' to go; for even Lords of Time and Life cannot survive what is to come, never mind a Son of Earth."
Levi turned to the Doctor in shock at their being discovered, and Adam Casey gaped at the Archangel; but the little Time Lord simply smiled and said, "We know." With that, all three Folded away, and a thrumming filled the cave.
"Those three," Michael said as he chuckled softly.
"Indeed," Gabriel murmured with a smile.
The sounds of crashing outside the caves came to them suddenly, letting the two Princes of Heaven know that those FCC who had pursued Clan Short for so long were getting close. They obviously thought that they were finally reaching the end of their 'Holy quest' to slay the 'evil Clan', but the two Archangels would teach them differently.
Michael raised his sword of lightning and fire, high over his head, and, as the door came crashing inward, those who thought they knew the 'Truth' got a truly 'Just' lesson in the reality of it, as Gabriel intoned:
"Let this timeline be closed... FOREVER!"
The sword Michael held aloft descended, and, amidst the screams, a final blackness descended on all. A Darkness that enveloped the entire Timeline... and those who had hated the Clan wrongly for so long reached the Fires Below... Fires that had been gleefully awaiting them and their sick and twisted brethren for so long...
"So. Any comments, guys?" the Doctor whispered to both Adam and Levi, as he held the small Mikyvis on his lap. Adam was himself holding the Doctor on his own.
Levi snuggled further into the Doctor's chest, "Why? Why were they so mean, Uncle Galli?"
"Ah, sweetheart," the Doctor answered, "It's Free will. We all have the capability of being that 'mean', little one. It seems like we'd never do such things, but... Take Tanner. You know him, you love him, you trust him. You saw, though, what he became. And that wasn't an alternate version of our Tanner. That was our Tanner; what he would have been had DJ died at that time. Everyone has Good and Evil inside, Levi. There are only two of mortal kind that I know of who don't."
"I know I do," Adam noted softly as he held both boys tighter. "I know that if someone hits all the right buttons in me, I'd do what Tanner did in that place."
The Doctor leaned his head back to rub his cheek with Adam's. "What do you feel now, Adam?"
"Peace," came the soft answer. "I saw what happens when someone who shouldn't have died did so, and the cost to put it right. I saw that sometimes hard things must happen for better things to take place."
"What do you think would happen if I did as you have wanted to ask of the Mikyvis since you first learnt more about them? If I were to go back and save those who went willingly into a fight to save others? What do you feel would happen if you guys had never gone?" the Doctor asked softly.
Adam sniffed as he thought about it. "The changes... I don't know, Doc. Not really, but I..." he trailed off and became silent.
The Doctor knew what was deep inside his new friend. "I understand, Adam. Levi, can you move for a moment? I need to take Adam back to his family. I'll be back soon."
Levi slipped down and watched as the Doctor set the Tardis on course for 'home', then, once the great machine had entered the right location and time, he watched as both Adam and the Doctor Folded out.
Adam found himself back in the same spot he had been before the Doctor had appeared, and no-one had moved. Everything and everyone was still frozen in time, but this time, Adam was not unnerved by the sight.
"Master of Arms, I do not think I need to say too much, regarding this experience to you. I'm sure you're aware that you cannot talk about this to others," the Doctor said seriously as he looked up at the taller teen.
Adam nodded just as seriously, "I know. I don't think anyone would believe it, and if Tanner knew, or DJ... I've heard others talk about those two; that they are wonderful, loving boys. It would kill either of them to know, wouldn't it?"
"Yes. I like you, Adam. In fact, I love you. You have an amazing heart, and I am glad I am a part of the Clan that you are a part of. Look me up later today, and we'll do some stuff together - and no, not that! Logan would not be impressed!" the Doctor giggled, winking at Adam to show he was only joking.
"I don't do old men, Old Man!" Adam retorted playfully, blowing the Doctor a raspberry as he finished saying it.
"Seeya later, Adam. Oh, and you and the guys here will likely get a surprise or two in the next few hours - a good one," the Doctor giggled as he Folded away.
As soon as he'd vanished, Adam was startled by the sudden noise all around him as time restarted.
"Uncle Galli, I have a question," Levi murmured curiously once the Doctor reappeared next to him. "You said that there were only two people who didn't have an evil side to them. Who?
The Doctor smiled, and rubbed his nose against Levi's as he cuddled in with him on the sofa. "You, for one. You're an 'Innocent', and there has never been one like you before. Not a 'mortal', anyway."
"I just try to make Daddy and Poppa proud of me," Levi giggled as he blushed. "I'm nothin' special."
The Doctor giggled as well and said, "I'm not going to convince you otherwise on that, Levi. Not for me to do. But the other without Evil inside... he will convince you - soon too."
"Who's that?" Levi asked with a tilt of his head.
"The Shaper. There was a reason he went through what he did: in order to be the Shaper, he would need his 'Evil' removed. He can no more do something wrong than you can, but not because he was born without it. It has been removed through pain and Fire," the Doctor answered.
Levi's jaw dropped open. "Wait... Jason said about the Sa'ren sword... that it would be forged in pain and tempered in love?"
The Doctor nodded.
"Does... I mean..." Levi trailed off.
The Doctor giggled, "The answer you are looking for is 'Maybe'. He is the Shaper. Nothing is certain. Now, back to what I have shown you. You are certain you have the ability mapped out correctly?"
Levi nodded absently, his face thoughtful. "Yeah... yeah I do, Uncle Galli. Umm... should we tell Uncles Sammy, DJ and Tanner about it all?"
"No," the Doctor shook his head, "it would break Tanner's heart; knowing that he killed the entire Clan - that is too much for anyone to bear, Levi."
Levi nodded in agreement. "Just one last question. Who healed Uncle Cory in that other place if Jason had originally died in 2003?"
"Oliver. He was adopted by Antony and Telez instead, and he did the healing. Time cannot be easily changed by anyone less than Intermediate Middle Race, Leev. If you change something in the past, then Time usually finds a way around it. In fact, there are some things, like Cory, that cannot be changed. Only one who can change Destiny can change them... and you know now that there are only two who can... The One you call 'Our Father'... and His Shaper." The Doctor then moved the boy over to the side of the sofa and stood. "Going to take us back to Orlando now, sweety. Be right back with you," the Doctor smiled at his young friend.
Levi giggled and nodded.
The Doctor and Levi appeared a second after they had vanished, causing no more than a slight flicker to anyone elses knowledge. They watched as Sammy, Tanner and DJ ran out of the room and started to follow them out. They watched the three kids pounce Brian, and then begin to play with Timmy and Ricky.
The Doctor murmured quietly to himself as he watched:
"It seems we stood and talked like this before,
We looked at each other the same way then,
But I can't remember where or when.
"The clothes you're wearing are the clothes you wore,
The smile you are smiling you were smiling then,
But I can't remember where or when.
"Some things that happen for the first time
Seem to be happening again,
"And so it seems that we have met before,
And laughed before and loved before,
But who knows where or when?"
(© Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, 1937)
"I like that, Uncle Galli," Levi murmured as the Doctor finished the poem. He then asked, "Will Tanner ever do what he did there?"
"No. That much I DO know," the Doctor said with a smile. "The turn-point of Time for him was that instant. If DJ died today, Tanner would remain our Tanner. However, those two: they will be together for a long time; and because of them and Sammy, a new day dawned. They'll have a good life, now... at least they will if the Shaper does what he should do."
"So," Levi said quietly, "it's all now up to Uncle Joel?"
"This is the 'Age of Legends', Levi. For this time, for this Age... Yes, it's all up to Joel... Time waits on him, now," the Doctor said seriously, hugging Levi close and kissing his hair softly. "The Shaper is the only one who can undo what is coming..."
That was quite a powerful chapter. I was ready to strangle someone, but of course, I held myself back.
As to where all that drama came from, I think it is only fair to point out a few things.
Some time ago, as was mentioned briefly at the beginning of the chapter, DJ was in turmoil, not really wanting to continue living. Many things were troubling him, and no one was having any success at giving him reasons to go on. Eventually, as we saw, 'a new day dawned', so to speak, and a sad little boy, whom DJ didn't even know, came to help him make the right decision. That little part of what happened appeared as part of a chapter of "A New Day Dawns" and, as we all know, DJ decided to come back. This chapter brings us "The REST of the story." We now see what kind of world would have been left if DJ had given up and died. That was not at all a pretty sight.
A lot of life lessons were learned here, and hopefully, we learned a few things too. I want to thank everyone who contributed to this chapter for their help in putting this together. Ilu and Dark Star did a wonderful job of telling the story behind the story. I am glad it has finally been brought to everyone's attention.
Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher
Well, first of: All the above is all Ilu's fault, and I had nothing to do with it! LOL
Seriously, this has been a long, long road to get to this point with this. So I'll say more at the end but, first and foremost, I want to thank three people. ACFan, for allowing me to write this up and see it used, along with Akeentia for the same reason. Ark was central to the story, and without Akeentia's permission it wouldn't have been nearly what I think it turned out to be. Iluvantir took my section and not only re-worked it, but with the kind assistance of Akeentia helping him, got all the tech stuff sorted out to make it work. Much more than that, though; without Ilu it never would have seen the light of day. More on all this at the end but a special thank you to all of them.
Now on to the "Rest of the story..." as Paul Harvey used to say.
Several years ago, Gunrunner approached me and told me his character D.J. was going to attempt suicide, and he wasn't sure if he was going to have him go on living or not. He told me that all the CSU authors were joining in and writing sections for a particular scene where D.J. hung in limbo between life and death and even he didn't know which way it was going to go. I thought 'neat', and then he gave me the punchline. He wanted Sammy to be one of those who appeared to D.J. to try and talk him out of dying. That blew me away and I told him first off I wasn't in the CSU yet and that since I wasn't then Sammy wouldn't have ever met D.J. so how could he possibly do anything that would mean something. Well Gun wonderful person that he is said he had faith in me and bye. About the only thing I knew about this whole scenario was he told me what you see above and that Sammy would be the last person to speak to D.J. and if SamSam didn't get through to him then it was all over. Gee, no pressure there at all now is there.
So I sat there forever trying to figure out someway to do what he asked of me and have it make some type of sense and for the life of me couldn't figure out anything. Of course Gun kept asking what I was going to do still without giving me a clue what was going on in the story surrounding the scene I was supposed to figure out how to write. So I was basically completely in the dark. Sammy somehow had to make an impact on someone he had never met or knew and he was D.J.'s last chance at doing so plus I had no idea what the other authors were doing or going to be doing in the preceding scenes for a set up.
Finally I did get an idea, and that was that something had happened, something so bad that Sammy had to come back in time to fix it, or was sent back in this case. This whole story idea came to me which really grabbed me but the problem was Gun wanted a little scene in his chapter not a mini-story so cutting it back definitely became necessary. Now what you ended up seeing in ANDD 8 was that short scene I wrote up for him where Sammy is sent back and tries to talk D.J. into going on living. It again was written in the dark and basically I had to take a wild a$$ guess as to lead in and such as well as lead out. The only problem came about when Gun decided to add more "Visitors" after Sammy which made my ending a bit... off let's say.
In the end that short section got posted and it was over except for one little teeny tiny thing. The kids wouldn't leave off with the "Rest of the story" as it were and over the last couple of years it's been going round and round in my head to tell the whole story which was the backstory for what Sammy was doing there. In a discussion with AC and Ilu I made mention of the fact I had this entire backstory for that scene which set it up and made it and I really wished there was some way to have it show up somehow. Ilu said "Well send it to me, and I'll see what I can do". So I finally sat down and wrote it up then sent it off to him.
I had no idea how it would be possible for it to get into a story since afterall I was basically totally killing the entire Clan but I had hope that if anyone could do it Ilu the Master of Time would be able to figure out a way. I also had to send it off to Akeentia to see if I could use his character/creation Ark. To my surprise he loved it and said go for it.
Then the problems hit. The first thing was Ilu kindly informed me that I had the Tech ALL wrong. Now that's a surprise... ( No it's not - ACFan ) Anyway, Ilu got with Akeentia who kindly spent his time figuring out how to make what I wanted to happen happen, and do it correctly within the framework of the tech he had created.
Apparently Ark doesn't use transporters and angular confinement beams like the rest of Star Trek does! LOL
So now that the tech was worked out, Ilu just had to figure out a way to get it in somewhere. It was a monumental task and somehow he managed to do it and incorporate it into Sa'ren. It took many months of work on his part as well as that of Akeentia but they did it and the above is the final product.
In addition to finding a way to get it into the story and the tech he had to deal with my punctuation and just general screw ups like not remembering which eagle went with which kid yet he did it and except for losing one scene involving a transporter which I really loved I'm ecstatic about it. He's done a magnificent job with it and it works beautifully. It finally allows the whole story to be told of what caused Sammy to be back in time and why it was so important.
As some of you may notice the part which was in ANDD 8 is in here as well but it's everything around it that brings such meaning to that part. I hope you enjoyed it and the work put into it by so many.
So now maybe you'll better understand why I say "Thank You" to Iluvantir for all his hard work in making my idea come to pass, and Akeentia for helping out as well in making it a reality.
ACFan of course for allowing me to do something like this to his Universe as well as using his characters in this story.
A thank you goes out to Roland and others who also allowed me to use their characters in the story. I would have used more except I was trying to keep the whole thing down to manageable levels. Others gave their okay on this as well including Jeff, Akeentia and Ilu for their creations being mentioned so a thank you for that is in order as well.
Thanks to all of you and especially to Ilu for making it possible at all.
Until Next Time...
Dark Star
What he said!
Seriously, I am grateful Dark Star trusted me with his 'backstory' regarding Sammy's appearence in "A New Day Dawns", and it seemed to flow nicely with the Doctor's assistance.
As Darryl said, Levi and Adam saw with their own eyes that even those choices that we may think of as only affecting us alone inevitably don't. It is a lesson we all need to learn. As was said in the film 'Prince of Egypt' - "Look at your life through Heaven's eyes..." - You never know what you will touch and change by simply being there, or even by dying. Don't throw your life away... if you are still alive and kicking, you have a reason.
Again, thank you, Dark Star... I just wonder how many more people are now after your blood - this time for murdering Timmy! You rotter!
Ilu
Ilu... be glad I know where you are going --- you are doing a great job!
Hugz