Epilogue

[Nick Ryder]

TAS Tigris -

The crew on the bridge of the Tigris were still in shock and awe at the impressive feat that occurred on the viewscreen, the former Starbase Python was engulfed in a massive ball of light and energy and then just as suddenly, it was gone, leaving only a part of the 'mushroom' ring floating in space, packed with survivors from numerous Starfleet ships and stations.

Nick checked the sensors, he was reading a few hundred people, which was low considering his original estimates after Pythus was lost, that they lost close to 200,000 officers, family and other allies. Of course, this was but one station and the sight of multiple Dominus' told him that he didn't put all his eggs into one basket.

"I'll be in my ready room... Hill, keep trying to call Jack's pod. Lyashev, contact Kaine's ship and tell her we're going to need some help." Nick said and rubbed his neck. "Don't bother me unless something major happens. I need some time alone."

He had felt the death of his friend and Jase'dasis mentor J'Larin through the Iljuna, for most of his career she had been around, bothering him and giving him counsel a lot during his Presidency. It was clear to him now, that her words to him, that he needs to focus on the Iljuna were right. He was only tapping into a small fraction of his potential and the dark side of the Iljuna was very strong, he would have sworn there was an Ajem'dasis guiding things, but he couldn't sense an actual one, which worried him.

Opening a small cabinet he pulled out a bottle of Kanar and poured two glasses. "May you find peace in the Iljuna Master J'Larin... wherever you may be." he said as he raised the shot glass and swallowed it in one gulp. "Computer... notify Alliance Naval Command, mission accomplished but with reservations. Prepare for a few hundred survivors, full quarantine and processing protocols. "

Meanwhile --

Khan limped to the sickbay and glanced at a couple of the survivors. "Well, isn't this just like a bloody Ryder... I go through all that... and then twist m'ankle on a bloody door threshold."

"That's actually hilarious." Kirby said as she pulled on a freshly replicated pair of loose yoga slacks and a loose sweatshirt with the Tigris ship's logo on the front. "Oh it felt so good to sonic shower and change out of those old things, I swear everything on that station was left over from before I was born." she pulled her long blonde hair into a high ponytail and slid into a pair of flats. "So you married Nick's sister and she's already having your baby?" she held up a news padd. "I honestly didn't see that coming. 'Talia always struck me as 'done' with the concept of marriage ever since her last marriage."

"She did... express her reservations, but it happened. We're quite happy together." Khan replied.

"I'm sure you've been given the 'if you do anything to hurt her, you're a dead man' speech by others, but seriously... I like Aunt Natalia, she bought me my first suit." Kirby said and looked around. "Another thing that shocks me, that we actually made it out of there with this many. I thought it would be a lot fewer."

"Never under-estimate the Ryders, that's something I've come to learn and rely on." Khan said and nodded his head.

--

Kassie was sitting on Jason's lap when she got the message from the Tigris. "Well babe... guess round 23 will have to wait." she slid her skirt down and stood up. "Tigris, this is Kaine, we read you and will be at the rendezvous point in less than fifteen minutes." she gave Jason a smile as she sat down in the center seat. "MIKI, take us to the rendezvous point, maximum warp."

"Aye Captain Kaine." the perky holographic helmswoman said with a smile.

"I kinda don't want this mission to end... I kinda like being 'Captain Kaine'." Kassie said with a shrug of her shoulders. "I wonder what stories your dad has to tell... I really need to thank him again for this ship. Which reminds me... Computer... begin auto-clean procedures all crew quarters and sickbay." she whispered. "Guess we'll need to actually wear real clothes."

[Lehona Sunstrider]

The TAS Erebus approached the rendezvous point flanked by a squadron of fighters. It dropped out of warp and slowly moved into formation next to the Tigris.

Captain Lehona Sunstrider stood to her full height of nearly seven feet easily towering over most of her officers. That included even a handful of Narlins who were under her.

"Open channel," Lehona ordered.

"Channel open ma'am," a young Ensign of Japanese decent replied from his position at operations.

"Tigris, this is Captain Sunstrider of the Erebus. How can we be of assistance?"

[Daisy Hill]

"Erebus, this is the Tigris... we have a few hundred survivors in the habitat ring that is all that remains of Starbase Python." Daisy said as she opened the channel. "Not sure if there are any subdued hostiles or not so proceed with caution."

[Lehona Sunstrider]

"Understood. I'll send in the Marines to clear it and bring our people back. Erebus out."

[Rebecca Talon]

The ramp lowered, from the back of the pod. Jack, Kinsey, the kids, and Rebecca stood solely at the top of the small ramp.

Ashley smiled and ran to Jack and kissed him on the cheek, "You're a bloody hero mate. Admiral."

Rebecca smiled, "I don't think we've been introduced."

"Lt. Ashley Walker ma'am. I was on the East Kilbride when everything went to bloody..." she glanced down for the first time remembering the young child she'd escorted to the shuttle bat. "Well, you get the idea aye?"

"I do. Pleasure to meet you Lieutenant." Kneeling down she came face to face with Kim who immediately wrapped her arms around her neck.

Rebecca embraced the young Xenexian girl, "There, there it's alright."

The girl started sobbing uncontrollably, but didn't say anything. Rebecca picked her up patting her on the shoulder still telling the child that everything was alright even if she herself wasn't sure that it would be.

[Jack Ryder]

"As are you Doctor." Jack said as he rubbed his cheek and gestured to Kinsey who was walking out with the twins. "My wife, Kinsey, my daughter and son, Mackenzie and Jason. Products of the last time I was captured, well technically we conceived them before the capture, but she gave birth during the captivity." he chuckled and then saw the small Xenexian girl. "She's Xenexian? Where'd you find her? Like a bloody unicorn... birthrates have been horribly low since Kinsey was a teen. Wonder which house she's from."

[Nick Ryder]

"No idea... but we can check it later." Nick said as he walked into the shuttlebay. "Oh, you made the pod look like a shuttle again?"

"Well, only because a blue police box would stand out." Jack said with a smirk as he pointed his multi-tool and it changed into a blue 1960s British Police Box. "I mean it's a bloody TARDIS... should look like it." he nudged Ashley. "As a Brit you should be able to appreciate this. Although I don't like being known as 'the Doctor'... actually a Doctor gave me the box, I prefer Professor."

"Yeah, I raised a geek... " Nick said and raised his eyebrow. "Walker?" he stood in front of her and gave her a look. "I am suddenly remembering a conversation we had about you taking an assignment that took you further away from the relative safety of Python..." he cleared his throat. "But you just HAD to join the Faerians..." he whispered. "The Queen reamed my ass out. Jack actually went to Oxford and spent time in Britain as sort of a 'payback'. MIT really wanted him but then again... the kid loved being in England."

"Wait... you mean the Queen WANTED me to go to Oxford?" Jack chuckled. "And then here I rescue her daughter?"

"More or less." Nick said and cocked his head, "And you wondered why I never visited you there, always had you beam home. If she knew I was on 'her' land, she'd badger me again about why I wasn't leading the search for her. And then that bitch and a half... sorry... Lady Marissa..." he rolled his eyes. "She slapped me in front of twelve Admirals and Julie. I had to explain why. Julie thought I slept with her and stood her up."

[Rebecca Talon]

"Kahn and Kinsey found her and the others on a slave ship. She just bonded to me for some reason, though I'm sure Xenex will be happy to see it's children return home. Lady Marissa?" She asked.

Ashley sighed, "Well, I guess everyone is going to know now." She eyed Jack before speaking. "The prodigal daughter returns so that I may be used to further my dear sister's ambition. I am Princess Ashley of House Windsor. I'm the oldest living child of the Queen, which I have renounced making my dear sister the heir to the throne."

Rebecca stared in disbelief, "Holy mother of..."

[Nick Ryder]

"Personally, you're still Lieutenant Walker." Nick replied. "Maybe Commander after all these years." he bobbed his head slightly. "Not that I have any say in those matters anymore, but my daughter might. That is if you feel like serving as a science officer again, we do have civilian science endeavors which my wife and I are still part of." he shrugged his shoulders. "Or you could find a nice, peaceful corner of Terra Alpha to retire to. That is, if you don't feel like returning to Earth. Trust me, I have been offered to retake some old property of mine and I refused, donated it to the Imperium War Widows and Orphans."

[Ashley Walker]

"Thank you," she said non-committally. "I don't know where I belong anymore."