Ghosts

[Tali’Zorha]

Naval Medical Center - Capitol City

Tali had managed to avoid being pulled over by the local Police despite going well over the speed limit, although it did help that she had government plates on the car. She laughed as she pulled into a spot by putting the car into a spin and stopping it on a dime.

"GroZIT! That was fun... you see how everyone just let us through?" Tali said as she got out of the car and looked up at the large hospital. "Huh... it's bigger than I thought."

"Tali? Tali'zorha?" a woman's voice called out from across the lot by the front door.

"Uhm... yes... yes I am." Tali replied and squinted

"Come on in... Noonian called that you'd be coming." a woman in a grey and blue scrub top and pants said as she motioned to them. "This must be Selene. Wow, she even looks like her."

"Another reality's version of her... who are you?" Tali inquired with a bit of confusion.

"Ally St. James. Jack's sister. And one of your co-workers in Presidential Intel." Ally said and put her badge on the door plate. "Grandma Tess has me renewing my field medicine certifications, gotta play 'nurse' for a week or so. I guess since I'm your back up, I have to know how to patch you up in a pinch." she looked at Selene and shook her head. "Never thought I'd see her face again."

"So Tess knows we're coming... Noonian certainly is efficient." Tali said as she looked around.

"Mainly because he wanted to prepare, hence why I was waiting at the door. This is for you Agent Lenara." Ally handed her a badge and a pair of glasses. "They'll activate a sort of chameleon mode on your face, holographic disguise, different nose, different cheek bones. Even if people 'THINK' you're her, upon closer inspection you aren't. At least until you take the glasses off. We have all the latest toys."

[Tess Ryder]

Tess was already waiting in her private exam room and office. The slinky evening gown she had planned to wear for her own date that evening with Roger was draped over the back of her desk chair. Still it surprised her that there was another Selene, even more surprising she came from the last reality that Tali'Zorha had lived in. From what Jack had told her, he had figured out how to lock onto her frequency and open a precise rift to her last reality and bring her through. Glancing at the readings that Noonian had sent her, she was sure she was relatively healthy, other than the lingering injury.

"Dr. Ryder... your appointment has entered the building." her secretary informed her. "If it's alright with you, I'm going to head out for lunch. Surgery is having a retirement party for Dr. Morehoune. I used to work in his office before he came here."

"Quite alright, enjoy yourself. I probably will be leaving early today anyway." Tess said and nodded her head. "I don't have any other appointments right?"

"None... you wouldn't have this one unless it was Dr. Singh making it for her."

Tess laughed. "Well, my son in law is one of the few who can put appointments in my book." she shook her head. "I'm still technically on leave but I like to be here at least for morning rounds and the late afternoon staff briefings, even if I'm not actively treating patients."

Meanwhile --

Ally kept looking at Selene as they walked. "It's so weird, you move like her, but you don't really move exactly like her. You've got a bit more grace in your walk. Like you're sort of floating."

"Dancer training.' Tali said with a wink of her eye.

[Liara]

“Thanks.” Selene said not sure what else to say. She knew they would compare her to Cross at least this seemed to a complement of sorts. She still didn’t like it but at least Tali was there to run interception, this time.

[Alessandra St. James]

"We should do something together like training simulations or hell... just go out. " Ally said with a smile. "Chances are we're going to be working together at some point and I always regretted not working with Selene more closely, although after I was killed in action... you gave me a few pointers and we did some training together, but not really as much as I kinda wanted. Of course, by the time I was brought back to life, you and Clint were busy helping to undermine the Imperium on Earth and take down Bloodstone. One of those regrets like, 'well we'll do something later' and later... never really came." she shook her head. "Sorry... I guess I have a thing about death, I mean I WAS dead, in a box and buried and well... my mother's side of the family wasn't having that apparently and I was brought back, wasn't truly dead after all... but that was a wake up call."

"I suppose it would be." Tali winced slightly. "You're very much like Jack, heart on your sleeve aren't you?"

"You're family Tali and by extension, so is Selene... even one from another reality." Ally said softly. "Noonian is still technically an uncle now just like you're Kinsey's mother, who's my sister in law. I know you're both new here, but we try to take care of our own, as well as everyone else, but... if we can't even taken care of our family... what good are we? Right?"

[Liara]

“Ally...I wouldn’t mind getting to know you but I am not the same person you knew.” Selene stated matter of fact. “I look like her but that’s it.”

[Alessandra St. James]

"I never really knew the other you, other than a few random missions and I was at her wedding and helped out a little, but I was more with Kinsey and I was off world for a while." Ally shrugged her shoulders. "Half this city wasn't even built when I left and when I came back... " she gestured to the window. "Place tripled in size. Even this hospital was barely built and now..." she sighed. "Look, I know how it is to be the new girl, more than once. Or people see the last name and just assume things. You look like her, sound like her, but you aren't and that's a good thing. Selene was always sort of an enigma, only person that really knew her... were Clint, James and Bella and the dog."

[Liara]

“Yes I’ve heard of the dog, Coulson. Weird name.” Selene said with a shake of her head. “And that was probably for the best. More security.”

[Alessandra St. James]

"To tell the truth, most of the agents were scared shitless of her." Ally chuckled lightly. "Me included a little... there were a couple of times when she lost it and killed a bunch of people, had to cover it up but yeah... for a while, never quite knew what side she was on. Wasn't until Jack cleared her and even then Jackson, his dark alternate, still made things hell." she sighed and looked over at her. "I trust Tali and if Tali says you're on the level, then I'm trusting you. Since we lost Selene AND Kinsey and Jack... at least we're sort of getting some of what we lost back."

[Liara]

“Perhaps or you all may find out I’m worthless.” Selene said with a serious expression though these was a twinkle of humor in her eye.

[Alessandra St. James]

"I doubt that." Ally said with a smile. "Honestly, I made a lot of rookie mistakes and I know I'm not even close to being on Selene's or Kinsey's or your level, but I'm working on it every day. And what I've learned, no one is worthless. Even in a fight. Even if all you can do is sound an alarm or get someone to safety, you're worth it. I always felt bad that our Selene was never quite trusted. So uhm... don't be too shocked if people unclip weapons or keep a wary eye around you or just flat out look like you're going to kill them and try to back off. You can use that to your advantage." she gave her a wink. "Could probably subdue someone with just a look. Don't even have to draw a weapon."