Star Trek: Terra Alpha

Jack had spent the past few hours on their way to Xenex working on getting the multi-verse device that the Andorians developed up and running on their shuttle. It wasn't that it was overly complex, but with the limited tools and system on the shuttle he had to get a little creative. At least Noella and Kinsey weren't about to kill each other, they were actually having a nice conversation and enjoying the heat of the shuttle. The system worked much like a radio tuner, it would zero in on the particular frequency and then if there was a nearby rift, allow passage. Of course, it was entirely untested beyond sending things through, they weren't sure if it was two way, but they didn't figure on someone with experience dealing with time/space travel that there were ways to navigate a return trip, but they had to be careful, less they go into yet another similar but totally different reality.

He was just hoping they could find the right point in time when the Pit was acting up and Tali'Zorha is nearby so they could swing by and pick her up. After looking at the scans from his small tricorder that he always had with him, he saw that Tali' had experienced more than one timeline and more than one reality and she was still young.

"How is it coming?" Noella inquired as she replicated a tea pot and some mugs.

"Almost there." Jack replied and made a connection on the terminal he was working on. "Surprised you and Kinsey haven't killed each other yet."

"We're not that anti-social. We have a lot in common now." Noella said and poured him a cup of tea. "Here, tea break... if you're anything like my Ally, you need a tea break in the middle of a hard task."

"Can't argue with that. Always did like her. Too bad she didn't come with us, Kiera always lights up when she visits." Jack set his tool down and took the mug. "I have to admit, I am a little nervous about you being aboard, Kinsey and I are used to traveling in time and other "temporal bullshit" but you aren't."

"Oh... I've lived through quite a few... temporal bullshitty things in my day." Noella said cryptically. "Besides, anything that'll distract myself from the fact that yet another version of me showed up and wasn't all that nice."

"Hey... like they say... wherever you go, there you are." Jack replied with a smile. "And... the system is up and running... that was quick, it's already locking onto multiple rift signatures even though space looks clear." he walked over to the cockpit with the mug for Kinsey in his hand. "Tea... and the system works, once we're in range of Xenex, fly over the Pit, if you can, see if we can't detect anything weird... we'll try to lock onto Tali'zorha's signature and... hopefully be able to get her before she gets sucked back in. Get you and Kiera some answers about your lineage. And... find out just how powerful you and she really are."

Another time - another Xenex --

"The Pit's really stirring up again." Jackson said as he pulled the scarf over his face, trying to keep the sand out of his mouth and nose. "Are you sure she went there?"

"Yes sir... I saw her with Selene not more than a half hour ago." one of his soldiers said with a nod of his head. "Should we send the men after them?"

"No... she'll only find a reason to turn your men into greasy smear on the sand." Jackson said as he pointed to the house. "Watch over K'n'zy, and this time... try not to find yourself between her legs.'

Meanwhile in a cavern near the Pit -

"I need to get closer, it's the only way." Tali'Zorha said as she clutched her cloak and looked at her 'protector'. "This isn't my place... and what Jackson has planned... it is not something either of us should be involved in." walking ever closer, she could feel the energies pulling at her. Tali used her abilities to keep the rocks and other debris from striking her or Selene. "Dozens of times I have gotten here and dozens of times I have been sent somewhere, somewhen else... " she closed her eyes and could feel the familiar pull of the Pit. "Selene, you can come with me. I do seriously doubt that Jackson will treat you very well if you come back without me."

"Oh of that I am quite sure." Jackson's voice said from afar. "What the hell are you doing woman? Get back here right this instant!"

"Like hells I will." Tali said with a sneer. "I am not your slave nor is my daughter! We are far more powerful than you give us credit for!"

"Of course... that's why I spent years blocking K'n'zy's power." Jackson said with a wicked laugh. "I should have been harsher with you... but you always seemed to be weak."

"Because I've encountered you so many times before... and you're not even half the man you could have been." Tali said and took a step backward. "And without you... the girl your father and you corrupted would be free... but I fear you corrupted her too much." she took another step back. "Good bye Jackson." she gestured with her hand and crushed him into a small ball of meat. "Selene... come or not... but you're free either way." she turned around and dove into the Pit.

--

"Bloody hell... what's all that... racket?" Jack said as he looked at the console that was sending off alarms left and right. "Andorian alarms... so annoying." he muttered and looked at the display. "HA! I knew it... Kinsey... take us to these coordinates, the Pit is active and I think I have locked onto something..."

Kinsey fought with the navigation controls as they neared the pit. That part of the desert was always difficult if not impossible to navigate in it was Xenex’s version of Earth’s Bermuda Triangle. Storms appeared out of nowhere and disappeared almost as quickly. Though some storms did linger and appeared as though one of those very storms was brewing. If they weren’t quick they were going to have to weather the storm on the ground and hope to the Gods the sand wouldn’t destroy the engines.

“That something better be what weren’t looking for.” Kinsey yelled back as another alarm sounded. “There’s a storm moving in fast. If we aren’t out of here in the next three minutes we’re going to have to weather it out.”

Jack held onto his console and looked at th display "That's a minute more than I need!" he replied and locked the targeting scanners. "This is amazing, there are at least a dozen... maybe more realities... but the signal I am looking for... is right... THERE." he pounded the console and laughed. "IT WORKED! Kinsey! Change course to..." he ran over to the helm and entered them in. "Right there... punch the engines... we can get a new shuttle from Zeke." he looked at the console and pointed his multi tool at it. "You'll see a rift form in five... four... three... two... and got her!" he looked at Kinsey. "Land the shuttle... your mother will be waiting for us."

Meanwhile --

Tali'Zorha found herself face down in the sand and confused. Getting to her feet she dusted herself off and looked at the swirling rift of the Pit from much further away than she entered and heard the distinctive whine of a shuttlecraft over head. Closing her eyes she tried to get a sense of who was aboard and her eyes went wide. "That son of a sandworm... he actually did it!" she laughed and waited to see the daughter she knew was her's.

“If the engines fill with sand you’re walking to Calhoun.” Kinsey said as she eased the shuttle down onto the sandy ground. Sand was already collecting on the windows and the wind was starting to howl outside.

The ramp lowered as Kinsey slipped out of the pilot’s seat sending a rush of hot air and sand into the shuttle. She cursed softly as she hurried towards the ramp with Jack.

“We have to make this quick.” She told him.

"K'n'zy!" Tali'Zorha shouted as she used the scarf to shield her face from the sand. "I was almost beginning to think I would never see you two again..." she said as she closed the distance and stumbled in the sand and gasped when she saw it was a skeleton, sun bleached and sand blasted. "Grozit... this frelling planet."

“The Brethren and Tiberius.” Kinsey said looking at the skeleton as she steadied Tali. Then embraced her tighten. “Jack was so sure we would find you again but I was skeptical. I have so many questions.”

"Let's talk inside your shuttle... " Tali spat out some sand she inhaled. "I need a drink..." she put her arm across Kinsey's shoulders and smiled. "I always had hope I'd find you two again, even though I've been through more than a dozen different timelines. Versions of you that I really wish I had the guts to kill and some versions where you never survived you first birthday."

"Sounds bloody awful." Jack said as he walked toward them. "Uhm... I got good news bad news."

"Engines are bloody borked son." Noella said as she walked out with a scarf over her mouth. "But Zeke is on his way." she approached Tali with her arm out stretched. "Noella St. James, Terra Alpha Alliance Secretary of State."

"Son?" Tali glanced at Jack and smirked. "So... you married Nick Ryder's son and the son of the Secretary of State? You really got the better end of the stick in this reality K'n'zy my girl." she gestured and blocked a blast of sandy wind coming their way. "We should get into the caverns until your ride comes."

"Aye." Jack nodded his head and followed her. "We have so many questions."

"I know you probably do... needless to say, this isn't my home not like it used to be. I want to go with you." Tali said and looked at Jack. "Please tell me in your reality there is no Jackson... not like the bastard I just spent the past few years with."

"He's gone." Jack said and looked at the cavern and raised an eyebrow at the walls. "I've been in these caves before, but i never noticed these carvings."

"I made them after I met you... was hoping they'd help me know where I was, I still have no idea if this is really MY reality, but it's your's... and I know I had you here K'n'zy. Until that... bitch... pressured your father to have me give you up."

“Who?” Kinsey inquired with a raised eyebrow. “His wife?”