Man. Myth. Agent. Legend.

*He knew the plan, he could see the way forward. If they captured the Shard, this all ended.*

*And yet...*

*Hatred of the Ice King made the edges of his vision red. Getting up from his half kneel again, he threw his fist out.*

[The soldering had yet to cool. This needed to be perfect, time spent be damned.]

I need to increase the output, or it won't be enough.

*He went back to pacing.*

*Jones shook his head at Foundation's glare.*

[Jones' humor had a gift for lightening the mood, but it was terrible for focus. Taking a breath to stabilize, the Visitor set another solder down.

Letting the molten metal cool, he checked the wiring, then test-charged the weapon. Everything worked as it should, and he reverted the Shieldbreaker to normal.]

*The Dark Voyager's ship dropped from the Rift, and activated the Shard's tractor beam. Picking up the shard, it began to slowly move towards Dark Dominion.*

[Visitor shook his head slightly, before gesturing Jones in close. Waiting until he was within whispering range, he said his piece.]

I know you want to be out there. Believe me, I know. But I need your help coordinating the troops back here. I cannot do it by myself.

The problem was, the Visitor was right, Jones had a gift for coordinating people. If he was needed here, he was needed.*

It's okay, John.

*She pulled him down and kissed him, pressing his wedding ring lightly.*

We'll be okay, just help him tell us what we need to do. I love you.

*Leaning their foreheads together, she gave him a smile.*

Yeah. I mean hey, this happens once every few months, we've got this! Now you guys go kick Ice King's butt, and be back in 30 minutes or less.

I'll see you then.

*Jones let her go, and went to stand beside Visitor, who gave him a small nod.*

Yeah yeah, I know. Stay quiet people, let's move in.

*Activating some skyline deployers, the team moved out. They were met halfway by some associated loopers and the River Guard, but Foundation wasn't paying attention to them. His eyes were on the orb in the sky.*

Porcupine. Shopping cart. Maybe... Mini mall?

What are you doing?

Foundation needs a code phrase to activate the assault! Durr Burger!

*Foundation groaned.*

No. I really don't. Stay focused.

Yes you do! Lawnmower.

*The orb was coming into view... Along with the Ice King and a much larger squadron of loopers.*

*Foundation cursed under his breath. They had reached the checkpoint, he had a clear shot on the ship... But the Ice King was right there.*

*He couldn't just let that go.*

ICE KING! HEAR ME!

*The Ice King paused, and looked at him. He could hear Jones and Visitor arguing in his ear, but he was done caring.*

You. The strong man finally decides to show up.

It doesn't have to be like this. Give us the shard, and end this now.

Fool. There is no stopping... this.

*Foundation grit his teeth.*

You... Can't deal with the fact that your prize trophy escaped?

*The Ice King's face crumpled into a sneer.*

You didn't escape. You were... discarded. Now, witness the world remade!

*The Ice King laughed, but Foundation was laughing harder.*

Well... You know, there's only one thing left to say. PORCUPINE, YOU SON OF A--

*Foundation activated the Shieldbreaker... before collapsing into a heap on the floor. It had backfired, shocking him all over his body.*

*Now the Ice King was TRULY laughing. He signalled his troops to open fire, as Foundation fought to get his suit under control.*

Time... for plan B.

Plan B? Why do I not know about plan B?

*The Visitor sounded concerned, but Foundation was already on his next move.*

This... Has got... To WORK!

*Straining as hard as he could, Foundation hurled the Shieldbreaker into the Cube Cradle. The shields went down, and his loopers began firing on the ship.*

*And with a crash, the last Zero Shard fell to earth, feet away from the rest of the Point.*

*They had done it.*

You're not going anywhere...

*Foundation smirked.*

Hadn't planned on it.

*Ice king seemed to grin.*

Perfect. The shard was the price, and this, my reward...

*With a roar, he lunged at Foundation, and Foundation met him in midair with a massive punch to the chest.*

*Jones sounded frantic, but Foundation was unconcerned.*

Right.

*He grabbed the shard... and slammed it into the Ice King.*

That's. Not exactly what I meant.

*The Foundation took up the piece of the shard, a piece of what he had sworn to protect, and slammed it again, and again into the Ice King. Jones was talking, but he was far away, and Foundation didn't care.*

*Ice King retaliated, of course, welding the infinity blade to strike back. Every attack shook reality, but the two did not stop.*

*Over. And over. And over again. They both hit each other, as cracks appeared in the island, as their strength fluctuated and their armor broke and crumpled. As their weapons lay discarded, and they just used their fists. It was just the two of them, caught in endless battle, until Foundation saw his opening, took the shot, and--*

*His leg didn't move.*

Lost your step?

*Foundation went to punch again, but the cold-- it was spreading. His suit would protect him-- but the seal was broken through the crack in his helmet.*

You'd... Better hope...

*The cold was spreading. He could feel his heart slowing down.*

I never... Break free...

*He could feel the cold hitting his brain, and as the shock set in, he saw his life flash before his eyes. Was this the end?*

*Before the last spark left his brain, he had a sudden thought, chilling as the ice rapidly filling his veins.*

*The Zero Point, reforged.*

*Then the Voyager's ship hit it, and everything began to spin.*

*Kendo felt himself tossed from the ground, thrown far from the island, as it began to shift and change. The Zero Point spun, and reality spun with it.*

... hear me... have to... stop... it!

*That was Jones. Kendo shook himself out of his stupor.

I have to stop the... ship? But how?

*He felt a vibration from his belt. Pulling out the two Shard Daggers, he felt a hum coming from them, as a butterfly floated out and landed gently on the tip of one. They surged, and suddenly, Kendo was holding a massive sword, like the one the Ice King had had.*

I... know what to do. Thank you.

*He turned, with all his strength, and swung the Infinity Blade towards the Cube Cradle, slicing it cleanly in two with a massive sword wave.*

*For a moment, everything froze. The Infinity Blade scattered into hundreds of butterflies, leaving only the shard blades once more.*

*Then gravity reasserted itself, and Kendo was plummeting back towards the ground.*

No... no, the Zero Point! Dark Voyager repaired it! We... we lost.

*This shock was only amplified by an orange shape hurtling rapidly towards their location.*

And speak of the devil. Get down!

*Jones shot several rounds at the blazing cube creature, and jumped back, only for Voyager to... kneel?*

What... what is going on? I don't --

*All the air in his lungs vanished as the not unfamiliar feeling of a gunshot wound pierced his side... from behind.*

*Jones collapsed to the floor, cough slightly. Visitor had... shot him?*

*And then he saw him. Standing tall, unmasked, and unmistakable... if a little worse for wear than the last time he saw him.*

*He knew the plan, he could see the way forward. If they captured the Shard, this all ended.*

*And yet...*

*Hatred of the Ice King made the edges of his vision red. Getting up from his half kneel again, he threw his fist out.*

[The soldering had yet to cool. This needed to be perfect, time spent be damned.]

I need to increase the output, or it won't be enough.

*He went back to pacing.*

*Jones shook his head at Foundation's glare.*

[Jones' humor had a gift for lightening the mood, but it was terrible for focus. Taking a breath to stabilize, the Visitor set another solder down.

Letting the molten metal cool, he checked the wiring, then test-charged the weapon. Everything worked as it should, and he reverted the Shieldbreaker to normal.]

*The Dark Voyager's ship dropped from the Rift, and activated the Shard's tractor beam. Picking up the shard, it began to slowly move towards Dark Dominion.*

[Visitor shook his head slightly, before gesturing Jones in close. Waiting until he was within whispering range, he said his piece.]

I know you want to be out there. Believe me, I know. But I need your help coordinating the troops back here. I cannot do it by myself.

The problem was, the Visitor was right, Jones had a gift for coordinating people. If he was needed here, he was needed.*

It's okay, John.

*She pulled him down and kissed him, pressing his wedding ring lightly.*

We'll be okay, just help him tell us what we need to do. I love you.

*Leaning their foreheads together, she gave him a smile.*

Yeah. I mean hey, this happens once every few months, we've got this! Now you guys go kick Ice King's butt, and be back in 30 minutes or less.

I'll see you then.

*Jones let her go, and went to stand beside Visitor, who gave him a small nod.*

*He knew the plan, he could see the way forward. If they captured the Shard, this all ended.*

*And yet...*

*Hatred of the Ice King made the edges of his vision red. Getting up from his half kneel again, he threw his fist out.*

[The soldering had yet to cool. This needed to be perfect, time spent be damned.]

I need to increase the output, or it won't be enough.

*He went back to pacing.*

*Jones shook his head at Foundation's glare.*

[Jones' humor had a gift for lightening the mood, but it was terrible for focus. Taking a breath to stabilize, the Visitor set another solder down.

Letting the molten metal cool, he checked the wiring, then test-charged the weapon. Everything worked as it should, and he reverted the Shieldbreaker to normal.]

*The Dark Voyager's ship dropped from the Rift, and activated the Shard's tractor beam. Picking up the shard, it began to slowly move towards Dark Dominion.*

*He knew the plan, he could see the way forward. If they captured the Shard, this all ended.*

*And yet...*

*Hatred of the Ice King made the edges of his vision red. Getting up from his half kneel again, he threw his fist out.*

[The soldering had yet to cool. This needed to be perfect, time spent be damned.]

I need to increase the output, or it won't be enough.

*He went back to pacing.*

*Jones shook his head at Foundation's glare.*

*After ordering their food (Durr Burgers. They only served Durr Burgers), Jones and Evie sat down to wait for it to be ready.*

But, despite clearly being an idiot, he was still a nice guy, so she wasn't mad at him. Plus, judging from the smell, he could definitely cook.

That aside, she was really starting to like this place, it felt a little like the Blimp, but a lot more relaxed.]

It's actually really nice here. Except for the, y'know, monsters trying to claw off your face. Ray is nice, and Homebase is a lot comfier than I expected from a post-apocalyptic bunker!

[Evie leaned her chin on her hand, giving her fiance a smile.]

I never thought I'd ever get to be back here... at least, not like this. When I visited that one time, Ray and the bots were still here, but everyone else...

*He looked around the room. Their world would rebuild, certainly. It would take several generations, but he had seen it happen. These people... they were fighting for a world they would never see. A world for their great, great grandchildren to inherit.*

*There really was a certain nobility to that. And not for the last time, Jones wondered if, in trying to help give them that world... he had only run away from the fight.*

Oh stars, that was one of the best and worst nights of my life! I was trying to get your attention so hard and then you up and told me about your family! I gave up, thought I had no shot.

*She pulled out one of her pistols and started checking and cleaning it. That round with the Husks had taken a lot of bullets, and not taking care of her weapons ran the risk of them jamming.

That sad look in Jones' eyes - and the pang of guilt - as he looked around was not lost on her, though. Evie paused for a moment, reaching over to squeeze his hand.*

*Dennis happened to bring over their food right then, so they paused the conversation to try the burgers. After they were done, Jones licked the tips of his fingers appreciatively.*

Mhmm. Man, nothing like actual Durr Burgers. Even made from reclaimed material, it's better than the stuff on the island. I worked there undercover long enough to cause a snapshot to form, and even I don't know what radioactive waste they put in that junk... Here, at least the meat is real. And the sauce. And the toppings.

... And the bun.

*Evie gave him a little smile, reassembling her pistol and pulling the other one out to deal with after the burger.*

If it's any help, if you hadn't come to Reality Zero, I don't think any of us would be here right now. Maybe I'm being overly romantic about this, but it feels like maybe something bigger was at work.

*He was right, though, these burgers were actually good. Dennis definitely knew how to cook.

That still didn't rank him anywhere near Jones on her list, though, and she still thought Sarah was stupid for thinking otherwise.*

*He grinned.*

That's why we're here, after all.

I wondering if we'll run into the past version of me. He'd probably be very confused, to be fair...

*Jones looked over at Evie. The resemblance to their first date was getting him thinking about everything they had been through all last year... and of the promise he had made her. One he still hadn't been able to make good on.*

*After ordering their food (Durr Burgers. They only served Durr Burgers), Jones and Evie sat down to wait for it to be ready.*

But, despite clearly being an idiot, he was still a nice guy, so she wasn't mad at him. Plus, judging from the smell, he could definitely cook.

That aside, she was really starting to like this place, it felt a little like the Blimp, but a lot more relaxed.]

It's actually really nice here. Except for the, y'know, monsters trying to claw off your face. Ray is nice, and Homebase is a lot comfier than I expected from a post-apocalyptic bunker!

[Evie leaned her chin on her hand, giving her fiance a smile.]

I never thought I'd ever get to be back here... at least, not like this. When I visited that one time, Ray and the bots were still here, but everyone else...

*He looked around the room. Their world would rebuild, certainly. It would take several generations, but he had seen it happen. These people... they were fighting for a world they would never see. A world for their great, great grandchildren to inherit.*

*There really was a certain nobility to that. And not for the last time, Jones wondered if, in trying to help give them that world... he had only run away from the fight.*

Oh stars, that was one of the best and worst nights of my life! I was trying to get your attention so hard and then you up and told me about your family! I gave up, thought I had no shot.

*She pulled out one of her pistols and started checking and cleaning it. That round with the Husks had taken a lot of bullets, and not taking care of her weapons ran the risk of them jamming.

That sad look in Jones' eyes - and the pang of guilt - as he looked around was not lost on her, though. Evie paused for a moment, reaching over to squeeze his hand.*

*Dennis happened to bring over their food right then, so they paused the conversation to try the burgers. After they were done, Jones licked the tips of his fingers appreciatively.*

Mhmm. Man, nothing like actual Durr Burgers. Even made from reclaimed material, it's better than the stuff on the island. I worked there undercover long enough to cause a snapshot to form, and even I don't know what radioactive waste they put in that junk... Here, at least the meat is real. And the sauce. And the toppings.

... And the bun.

*After ordering their food (Durr Burgers. They only served Durr Burgers), Jones and Evie sat down to wait for it to be ready.*

But, despite clearly being an idiot, he was still a nice guy, so she wasn't mad at him. Plus, judging from the smell, he could definitely cook.

That aside, she was really starting to like this place, it felt a little like the Blimp, but a lot more relaxed.]

It's actually really nice here. Except for the, y'know, monsters trying to claw off your face. Ray is nice, and Homebase is a lot comfier than I expected from a post-apocalyptic bunker!

[Evie leaned her chin on her hand, giving her fiance a smile.]

I never thought I'd ever get to be back here... at least, not like this. When I visited that one time, Ray and the bots were still here, but everyone else...

*He looked around the room. Their world would rebuild, certainly. It would take several generations, but he had seen it happen. These people... they were fighting for a world they would never see. A world for their great, great grandchildren to inherit.*

*There really was a certain nobility to that. And not for the last time, Jones wondered if, in trying to help give them that world... he had only run away from the fight.*

Second off, you gotta get better material! You've got no flair, no pizzazz! If you want to really do well in these verbal spars, you shouldn't use tired old reactions.

*As sight returned, he took an experimental look around. Thanks to the setup of the Scientist, they were in a blessedly storm-free zone. However, he could see the storm wall in the sky, bearing down in an oppressive purple mist.*

*The only sounds were the wind rustling in the trees, and the garbled snoring of sleeping husks. None in sight, but they were undoubtedly all around.*

Well, here we are. Home sweet home... at least in the cosmic sense. We're still a ways away distance-wise.

*He looked up, and squinted at what he saw.*

And would you look at that... seems we're on the right track...

*Hovering ominously in the sky was Dark Voyager's cube cradle. Small enough to be clearly some distance away, but still an imposing reminder of why they were here at all.*

*The presence of the Force was intense here, both Light and Dark. A deathly quiet permeated everything, almost as though all natural sounds were being smothered. She could see in her mind multiple congealed masses of Dark Force, asleep at the moment, but lightly.

Evie opened her eyes to the shimmering sun, bright despite the Storm, and breathed in the sharp and salty sea smell. Wolf howls broke the silence. Broken buildings scarred the skyline. And everything was bathed in soft golden light.*

Honestly, it's eerily beautiful...

*What was most jarring was the feeling of standing on an actual planet again. She had almost forgotten that most other places in the Omniverse were full planets, not just a chunk of an island adrift in space.

She shook it off as best she could. Jones was moving already, and the Harvester was looming overhead.]

*Realizing that may not be enough information, he elected to elaborate.*

You'll know the first ones because they'll be yelling for help from atop cars, or asking for medkits before they leave. You'll know the latter because they'll be intentionally aggravating the husks, and destroying anything in sight for materials.

In fact...

*Jones took out his radio, and tuned it to the frequency he remembered Homebase using. Only quiet chatter at the moment, but that meant there were search parties a few miles out, at most.*

We'll be looking for scouting parties, because that will allow us to get to Homebase, rendezvous with Ray, and start figuring out what Dark Voyager is doing here.

*Of course, he was slipping back into the role he must've had here before like a fitted glove. Like a trained operative. Sometimes Evie forgot that was what Jones was, he was so funny and easygoing with her and around his friends.

Evie smiled to herself as she closed her eyes and reached into the Force. His resilience and drive were part of what made Jones so inspiring. Part of why she loved him.

The area quickly mapped out in her mind's eye, details coming into sharper clarity as she focused. The rank energy of undeath was everywhere, but she was noticing some signs of actual life...*

Prison, east wing, second floor. Waterfall cave, southwest. Camper, north. Signs of life! I think we can reach them!

*Something else caught her attention. Another life sign, but mobile.*

If we're lucky. Let's go get those Survivors safe, then meet up with them.

*The two of them began scouring the map, helping get the survivors out of the situation they were in. Helping on retrieve his lost medkit, getting the husks off one who was being stalked by them, and defending an RV besieged by a group of them. That was when they ran into their first Smasher, and it was shockingly fun to wail on it.*

Whew, these guys are way easier to deal with weapons not made of scrap!

*Threat down and survivor secured, Jones checked the radio again.*

Well, looks like we have a location. They're receiving a weather balloon with storm data down to the southeast.

*He grinned at Evie.*

We shouldn't be late then! Your favorite party girl has been cooped up too long!

*Despite the obvious post-apocalypse, there wasn't a feeling of hopelessness here. Fear absolutely, sadness, confusion, but not despair. Humanity had not given up.

So this was where he got his endless optimism.

Even with the Dark Side snarling the air, Evie felt light as a feather as they ran to the interception point. They said "hope springs eternal", and that was true here more than she had ever felt before. It was a beautiful feeling.

The two crested a hill, and Jones paused at the top, Evie catching up to see what was causing his confusion. Before them lay an open field, ideal for a returning drone or satellite... but it had been covered in hastily constructed fortifications and traps. A powerfully built woman stood on top, setting down a massive machine that set the nearby walls humming with energy.

She looked up, spotting them, and obviously squinted a bit. When she called out, her voice was shockingly strong, and carried a soft English accent.*

Hey there, Pen! I've got an explanation, but I'm gonna save it for later when we're back at Home-- BAH!

*Penny had effortly picked him up into a crushing hug. Gosh, he had forgotten how tight her hugs could be!*

*Once he got put down, he gathered himself, and continued.*

Regardless, we're here to help you out. I noticed the storm gathering a lot of Smashers together, so I'm sure you wouldn't mind.

*Penny laughed.*

'course I wouldn't mind! I'll never say no to a bit of soldierly support!

*Her eyes went to Evie, and she cocked her head.*

From the moment the woman called out, it was clear that she and Jones were very good friends. When the woman scooped him up off his feet into a massive bear hug, Evie couldn't help but laugh.

When she was addressed, however, Evie smiled, giving a little salute.*

Something like that! I'm new around here. Call me Evie!

*She held her hand out to shake, but found the air in her lungs very suddenly squeezed out in a smothering hug. Definitely should have seen that coming...*

Evie! Right! And you can call me Penny!

*Hefting a massive hammer over her shoulder, Penny grinned and gestured upwards towards a descending weather balloon.*

Right then! You've come at the perfect time for some action! We're going to shoot that thing down, and then we're gonna defend it while Ray gets the goods off it. You up for it?

*She definitely didn't know who Ray was, but defense wasn't new. Some good vantage points were already standing out to her. Evie drew her dualies, checking the magazines before nodding to Jones.*

*But a lot had changed since then. Now, he had centuries of experience on his side, top of the line equipment, and a goal in mind. More than that, though... he had Evie.*

*While Penny set up on her mounted turret, and he set up keeping the Husks at bay, he watched Evie do her thing. She weaved around the battlefield, her lightsabers striking down enemies with a deadly grace that was almost hypnotic. And when she ran out of enemies up close, her duelies came out, as she rushed towards the next group with a lighthearted laugh in her eyes.*

It was not lost on her that these had clearly been people at some point, if the bloated remnants of their faces hanging down their backs were any indication. But what watched her from behind those eyes was not a person. What was left of the human beings the Storm had dessicated were nothing more than rotten puppets.

She could still hear them though. In all the snarls and screams, she could hear cries for help, and echoes of their fear congealed in the Force, catching her throat. But Evie didn't flinch. There was no cure for these people. They were already dead. The only peace she could give them was annihilation.

So she kept on dancing, feeling the Force grow lighter as the three of them ended the suffering that fed it. The horde felt endless, up until the moment they all suddenly vanished at once, and Penny called out that they were done.

Cheeks flushed, a light sheen of sweat on her skin, Evie climbed up to join them on the fort again. Penny immediately greeted her with a slap on the back that drove the wind from her lungs, and Evie gasped out a giggle as she straightened up again.*

Now that was a good show! Jones may be a bit of a lunkhead, but he sure knows how to find good people! Homebase could use someone like you! Just don't let Ray get ahold of those blades of yours!

*Evie smiled as she rehung her lightsabers.*

I appreciate it! Let's get to Homebase first before you go picking me a bunk, though, huh?

*She looked at Jones, her face still pink.*

*People were bustling all around as Penny led the way through the common area and up the flight of stairs. Jones noticed Major Oswald and Director Riggs over in their corners, barking orders to their respective teams. He exchanged a wave with Clip Lipman, who was busy at work on some new wacky weaponry.*

*And finally, they came to the main hub, where several small robots were buzzing around, exchanging beeps and monitoring the screens.*

*One of them, a robin's-egg blue one with an arched cover, noticed their approach and flew over.*

Hey, Penny, you're back! Nice job on the survivor extraction in addition to the data recall! And you two must be the extra hands she asked us to "beam out"!

*Ray's singular camera twitched slightly, and her whole body tilted.*

Uhhhh... Sergeant Jonesy? Aren't you supposed to be on mission with Lars for our Plank Harbor scouting? I don't recall needing to do an emergency extraction...

*Her camera flared.*

Unless I did... and then forgot! Oh no, I knew my workplace efficiency was starting to destabilize! Ooooooh, the Commander is gonna be really concerned...

*Jones held up a hand encouragingly.*

Ray, Ray, calm down, it's OK. I'm from the future. Well, more like...

*He wracked his brain for a moment, looking for an explanation that wouldn't mess with time.*

I'm from the future of an alternate universe version of this world.

*Yeah, that worked.*

Anomaly? Oh! The big black spaceship-looking-thing! Right! Lemme gather all the information we've collected on it!

*The little robot scuttled to the massive computer, shifting the projected map above it to a render if the Harvester.*

Long story short - or rather short story short - this thing showed up through a big gold crack in what I can only describe as the fabric of reality, and it's just been sitting there. Ominously. It's sent out a few drones but that's it.

*Evie leaned on the computer, almost without thinking slipping a drive into the oversized console. The tech was simultaneously retro and advanced, how that worked was something to be studied, but for the moment that would serve in her favor. Her tech was too different to be expected and detected, on top of being designed to go unnoticed.*

Noooo... Nothing we've noticed, at least! But I'll keep an eye out for other odd energy signatures!

*She tapped a finger to her dome.*

In the meantime, if you wanna help, I've got one of our top people working on tracking those drones! Far as we figure, blast the drones, send the guy away! Sarah's over by where Lars is usually set up.

*She spun to face Jones.*

You do have a Sarah in your timeline, right? You should find her no sweat, then!

*Jones blinked. It had been almost a year since he had last met Sarah, and they... hadn't parted on good terms.*

Yeah, I know Sarah.

*An understatement if he'd ever said one. The important thing, of course, was that this version of her would be from a long, long time ago. He had to be professional.*

We'll head on over. We have a way to get back, so don't worry about that. Just let us know if there's any more movement from the Voyager.

Evie gritted her teeth, hiding the anger in her eyes behind a big, sweet smile.*

Sounds perfect! Can't wait to meet her!

*She was a professional. She could hold this. For the moment.

Holding her breath and her expression, Evie returned the three little squeezes. A silent communication that had sprung up between them lately. Three squeezes, "I love you". It made her feel a little bit better.

As they headed deeper into Homebase, Evie distracted herself by committing the place to memory. For an apocalypse bunker, it was nicely decorated, and awfully cozy. People were training, building weapons, dancing, cooking, playing games... It was almost normal.*

This is where you came from, huh? Penny, Ray, all of these people... they're so nice.

*She pocketed the drive she'd retrieved, giving Jones a smile.*

*He chuckled a little, then squeezed her hand again.*

But... yeah. All the people here, they may not have a choice in it, but they want to help. Leave it to the apocalypse to bring out the best in everyone...

*It was... odd, being back. The place seemed truly alive, in the exact way that the Island wasn't. On the island, the loop and constant upheaval tended to leave everyone mainly doing their own thing, only connected for temporary alliances. Here, though...*

*It felt like a home.*

*Maybe that's what he had hoped the Reality Warriors would be, too. A shame that the reality of the situation was that they still often felt like colleagues only working together to stop the latest threat.*

*He frowned to himself, thinking it over. Maybe that's something he needed to ponder more in-depth.*

You'll be good with Sarah, right? After all, this is a very, very young version of her. She wont be like the one you met...

You're also 2,000 years older than me with just as much training! I couldn't read the whole book you are if I tried for my whole life!

*She grinned and pecked his cheek.*

Though that won't stop me from trying!

*Jones' expression suddenly clouded over, and for a moment Evie was tempted to peek into his head to see what he was thinking, but she resisted, instead gently checking on the emotions that he was giving off.

Loneliness. Longing. Sadness. Disappointment.

...

Her hand strayed upwards, softly running through his short hair.*

... You're homesick...

*And no wonder... This place felt shockingly stable. It was almost unsettling, after years of constant chaos, change, displacement, and loss. Despite the apocalypse, Evie found herself liking this place more and more.

But the cherry on top of the discomfort... she was here too. Evie put on a fake smile that carried dangerous implications, though her voice remained sweet.*

Who, me? As if she stands any chance of treading on my territory!

*Jones tried to puzzle that one out.*

... No, I don't think I'd... put it that way. Nostalgic, maybe. It's more the atmosphere that I missed...

*He looked at Evie, trying to sort out his thoughts now, before shaking his head.*

We'll talk about it later. It's too out in the open, here, don't need gossipy ears listening in.

*In a small, cramped space like this, there was little else for the residents to do BUT gossip. He knew Ray would use the version of events that he told her when debriefing everyone... buuuuut he also had a hunch his past self would be getting comments about the "cute babe" he had on his arm currently for AGES. Heck, his ears could already pick up on the rumor mill starting to spin.*

*On that note, though...*

Well, yeah, that's a given! I just mean... don't be mean to her. If they haven't even geared up for the Battle of Plank Valley yet, then her and Jonesy haven't had their Valentine's day mishap yet.

*He pursed his lips.*

*Evie tugged on Jones' arm slightly, just enough to get him to pause and look at her again.*

But we will talk about it, okay? You need to. We need to. This can't be another one of those subjects you say you'll talk about later and bury.

*She wouldn't push that now. He understood.

However, the request not to be "mean" to Sarah made Evie roll her eyes a little bit.*

Come on, John, I'm a professional. Plus, I have a vested interest in keeping your past as close to the same as possible too. Even if it involves her.

*Clearing his throat, Jones tapped her on the shoulder.*

Sarah, right? Ray sent us over. We're here to help with the whole "Dark Voyager" situation.

*Sarah turned around, and Jones almost choked. She was so young... come to think of it, so were all the people he knew here. Heck, so was this version of him. None of them knew what was coming.*

*And he couldn't tell them.*

*Sarah, meanwhile, tilted her head at him.*

Jonesy? Ray put you on this? I thought you were--

*She waved in a general direction.*

Uh, not quite. It's complicated, and involves time travel and alternate timelines. Myself and Evie--

*He gestured to Evie, who gave a tiny wave and an incredibly plastic smile.*

It was with some satisfaction that Evie noted Sarah was not very good at hiding her annoyance. Good. She'd be easy to read.*

Seriously? More time travel shenanigans? Great.

*Evie's expression did not change at all as Sarah pulled up a log of recent activity. A number of drones were listed as deployed by the Harvester and subsequently destroyed. A lot of drones.*

I've been harassing his drones for a while now, but for every one I take out, he sends out three more. We've intercepted multiple transmissions talking about "something something zero shards" but lately he's been seeming more frustrated. Guess he's not finding what he's looking for.

Hopefully it isn't here at all.

*Evie leaned on the console, once again slipping the drive into a port without being noticed.*

Ray said that there have been no anomalous energy signatures detected besides the Harvester itself, so the chance of it being here is low. But still, it is possible.

*Jones gestured over the map at the various locations.*

Taken in that respect, the only place he hasn't looked would be... here, right on the border into Canny Valley.

Except we can't get into Canny Valley.

*Sarah looked rather annoyed.*

We'd have to free Plank Harbor before being able to make a dedicated push there. Ray's run the numbers, and they're not pretty.

*"According to this simulation, we'd all have to die at least three times over to match the expected casualty report." Yeah, Jones remembered that.*

Which is why we just need to get to the BORDER of Canny Valley. With a single ATLAS, we could drop in, and either find what Voyager is looking for before he does, or confirm that it's not here. Either way, he'll leave, and we can follow him to wherever he's going next.

*Sarah nodded, considering.*

... Ok, fine. I'll talk to Ray about getting an ATLAS approved for use there. I wouldn't count on it, but if that's our best shot, we'll do it.

*She closed the screen.*

In the meantime, get cozy. Ray's got several other missions to run, so we'll be unlikely to get a new Op approved for a bit.

*Nodding curtly, she headed towards the main mission area. Letting out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding, Jones turned to Evie.*

Well. That went well. All goes to plan, we'll be back home in a day or two.

*He gestured towards a fenced in section of homebase near where they were.*

*As sight returned, he took an experimental look around. Thanks to the setup of the Scientist, they were in a blessedly storm-free zone. However, he could see the storm wall in the sky, bearing down in an oppressive purple mist.*

*The only sounds were the wind rustling in the trees, and the garbled snoring of sleeping husks. None in sight, but they were undoubtedly all around.*

Well, here we are. Home sweet home... at least in the cosmic sense. We're still a ways away distance-wise.

*He looked up, and squinted at what he saw.*

And would you look at that... seems we're on the right track...

*Hovering ominously in the sky was Dark Voyager's cube cradle. Small enough to be clearly some distance away, but still an imposing reminder of why they were here at all.*

*The presence of the Force was intense here, both Light and Dark. A deathly quiet permeated everything, almost as though all natural sounds were being smothered. She could see in her mind multiple congealed masses of Dark Force, asleep at the moment, but lightly.

Evie opened her eyes to the shimmering sun, bright despite the Storm, and breathed in the sharp and salty sea smell. Wolf howls broke the silence. Broken buildings scarred the skyline. And everything was bathed in soft golden light.*

Honestly, it's eerily beautiful...

*What was most jarring was the feeling of standing on an actual planet again. She had almost forgotten that most other places in the Omniverse were full planets, not just a chunk of an island adrift in space.

She shook it off as best she could. Jones was moving already, and the Harvester was looming overhead.]

*Realizing that may not be enough information, he elected to elaborate.*

You'll know the first ones because they'll be yelling for help from atop cars, or asking for medkits before they leave. You'll know the latter because they'll be intentionally aggravating the husks, and destroying anything in sight for materials.

In fact...

*Jones took out his radio, and tuned it to the frequency he remembered Homebase using. Only quiet chatter at the moment, but that meant there were search parties a few miles out, at most.*

We'll be looking for scouting parties, because that will allow us to get to Homebase, rendezvous with Ray, and start figuring out what Dark Voyager is doing here.

*Of course, he was slipping back into the role he must've had here before like a fitted glove. Like a trained operative. Sometimes Evie forgot that was what Jones was, he was so funny and easygoing with her and around his friends.

Evie smiled to herself as she closed her eyes and reached into the Force. His resilience and drive were part of what made Jones so inspiring. Part of why she loved him.

The area quickly mapped out in her mind's eye, details coming into sharper clarity as she focused. The rank energy of undeath was everywhere, but she was noticing some signs of actual life...*

Prison, east wing, second floor. Waterfall cave, southwest. Camper, north. Signs of life! I think we can reach them!

*Something else caught her attention. Another life sign, but mobile.*

If we're lucky. Let's go get those Survivors safe, then meet up with them.

*The two of them began scouring the map, helping get the survivors out of the situation they were in. Helping on retrieve his lost medkit, getting the husks off one who was being stalked by them, and defending an RV besieged by a group of them. That was when they ran into their first Smasher, and it was shockingly fun to wail on it.*

Whew, these guys are way easier to deal with weapons not made of scrap!

*Threat down and survivor secured, Jones checked the radio again.*

Well, looks like we have a location. They're receiving a weather balloon with storm data down to the southeast.

*He grinned at Evie.*

We shouldn't be late then! Your favorite party girl has been cooped up too long!

*Despite the obvious post-apocalypse, there wasn't a feeling of hopelessness here. Fear absolutely, sadness, confusion, but not despair. Humanity had not given up.

So this was where he got his endless optimism.

Even with the Dark Side snarling the air, Evie felt light as a feather as they ran to the interception point. They said "hope springs eternal", and that was true here more than she had ever felt before. It was a beautiful feeling.

The two crested a hill, and Jones paused at the top, Evie catching up to see what was causing his confusion. Before them lay an open field, ideal for a returning drone or satellite... but it had been covered in hastily constructed fortifications and traps. A powerfully built woman stood on top, setting down a massive machine that set the nearby walls humming with energy.

She looked up, spotting them, and obviously squinted a bit. When she called out, her voice was shockingly strong, and carried a soft English accent.*

Hey there, Pen! I've got an explanation, but I'm gonna save it for later when we're back at Home-- BAH!

*Penny had effortly picked him up into a crushing hug. Gosh, he had forgotten how tight her hugs could be!*

*Once he got put down, he gathered himself, and continued.*

Regardless, we're here to help you out. I noticed the storm gathering a lot of Smashers together, so I'm sure you wouldn't mind.

*Penny laughed.*

'course I wouldn't mind! I'll never say no to a bit of soldierly support!

*Her eyes went to Evie, and she cocked her head.*

From the moment the woman called out, it was clear that she and Jones were very good friends. When the woman scooped him up off his feet into a massive bear hug, Evie couldn't help but laugh.

When she was addressed, however, Evie smiled, giving a little salute.*

Something like that! I'm new around here. Call me Evie!

*She held her hand out to shake, but found the air in her lungs very suddenly squeezed out in a smothering hug. Definitely should have seen that coming...*

Evie! Right! And you can call me Penny!

*Hefting a massive hammer over her shoulder, Penny grinned and gestured upwards towards a descending weather balloon.*

Right then! You've come at the perfect time for some action! We're going to shoot that thing down, and then we're gonna defend it while Ray gets the goods off it. You up for it?

*She definitely didn't know who Ray was, but defense wasn't new. Some good vantage points were already standing out to her. Evie drew her dualies, checking the magazines before nodding to Jones.*

*But a lot had changed since then. Now, he had centuries of experience on his side, top of the line equipment, and a goal in mind. More than that, though... he had Evie.*

*While Penny set up on her mounted turret, and he set up keeping the Husks at bay, he watched Evie do her thing. She weaved around the battlefield, her lightsabers striking down enemies with a deadly grace that was almost hypnotic. And when she ran out of enemies up close, her duelies came out, as she rushed towards the next group with a lighthearted laugh in her eyes.*

It was not lost on her that these had clearly been people at some point, if the bloated remnants of their faces hanging down their backs were any indication. But what watched her from behind those eyes was not a person. What was left of the human beings the Storm had dessicated were nothing more than rotten puppets.

She could still hear them though. In all the snarls and screams, she could hear cries for help, and echoes of their fear congealed in the Force, catching her throat. But Evie didn't flinch. There was no cure for these people. They were already dead. The only peace she could give them was annihilation.

So she kept on dancing, feeling the Force grow lighter as the three of them ended the suffering that fed it. The horde felt endless, up until the moment they all suddenly vanished at once, and Penny called out that they were done.

Cheeks flushed, a light sheen of sweat on her skin, Evie climbed up to join them on the fort again. Penny immediately greeted her with a slap on the back that drove the wind from her lungs, and Evie gasped out a giggle as she straightened up again.*

Now that was a good show! Jones may be a bit of a lunkhead, but he sure knows how to find good people! Homebase could use someone like you! Just don't let Ray get ahold of those blades of yours!

*Evie smiled as she rehung her lightsabers.*

I appreciate it! Let's get to Homebase first before you go picking me a bunk, though, huh?

*She looked at Jones, her face still pink.*

*People were bustling all around as Penny led the way through the common area and up the flight of stairs. Jones noticed Major Oswald and Director Riggs over in their corners, barking orders to their respective teams. He exchanged a wave with Clip Lipman, who was busy at work on some new wacky weaponry.*

*And finally, they came to the main hub, where several small robots were buzzing around, exchanging beeps and monitoring the screens.*

*One of them, a robin's-egg blue one with an arched cover, noticed their approach and flew over.*

Hey, Penny, you're back! Nice job on the survivor extraction in addition to the data recall! And you two must be the extra hands she asked us to "beam out"!

*Ray's singular camera twitched slightly, and her whole body tilted.*

Uhhhh... Sergeant Jonesy? Aren't you supposed to be on mission with Lars for our Plank Harbor scouting? I don't recall needing to do an emergency extraction...

*Her camera flared.*

Unless I did... and then forgot! Oh no, I knew my workplace efficiency was starting to destabilize! Ooooooh, the Commander is gonna be really concerned...

*Jones held up a hand encouragingly.*

Ray, Ray, calm down, it's OK. I'm from the future. Well, more like...

*He wracked his brain for a moment, looking for an explanation that wouldn't mess with time.*

I'm from the future of an alternate universe version of this world.

*Yeah, that worked.*

Anomaly? Oh! The big black spaceship-looking-thing! Right! Lemme gather all the information we've collected on it!

*The little robot scuttled to the massive computer, shifting the projected map above it to a render if the Harvester.*

Long story short - or rather short story short - this thing showed up through a big gold crack in what I can only describe as the fabric of reality, and it's just been sitting there. Ominously. It's sent out a few drones but that's it.

*Evie leaned on the computer, almost without thinking slipping a drive into the oversized console. The tech was simultaneously retro and advanced, how that worked was something to be studied, but for the moment that would serve in her favor. Her tech was too different to be expected and detected, on top of being designed to go unnoticed.*

Noooo... Nothing we've noticed, at least! But I'll keep an eye out for other odd energy signatures!

*She tapped a finger to her dome.*

In the meantime, if you wanna help, I've got one of our top people working on tracking those drones! Far as we figure, blast the drones, send the guy away! Sarah's over by where Lars is usually set up.

*She spun to face Jones.*

You do have a Sarah in your timeline, right? You should find her no sweat, then!

*Jones blinked. It had been almost a year since he had last met Sarah, and they... hadn't parted on good terms.*

Yeah, I know Sarah.

*An understatement if he'd ever said one. The important thing, of course, was that this version of her would be from a long, long time ago. He had to be professional.*

We'll head on over. We have a way to get back, so don't worry about that. Just let us know if there's any more movement from the Voyager.

Evie gritted her teeth, hiding the anger in her eyes behind a big, sweet smile.*

Sounds perfect! Can't wait to meet her!

*She was a professional. She could hold this. For the moment.

Holding her breath and her expression, Evie returned the three little squeezes. A silent communication that had sprung up between them lately. Three squeezes, "I love you". It made her feel a little bit better.

As they headed deeper into Homebase, Evie distracted herself by committing the place to memory. For an apocalypse bunker, it was nicely decorated, and awfully cozy. People were training, building weapons, dancing, cooking, playing games... It was almost normal.*

This is where you came from, huh? Penny, Ray, all of these people... they're so nice.

*She pocketed the drive she'd retrieved, giving Jones a smile.*

*He chuckled a little, then squeezed her hand again.*

But... yeah. All the people here, they may not have a choice in it, but they want to help. Leave it to the apocalypse to bring out the best in everyone...

*It was... odd, being back. The place seemed truly alive, in the exact way that the Island wasn't. On the island, the loop and constant upheaval tended to leave everyone mainly doing their own thing, only connected for temporary alliances. Here, though...*

*It felt like a home.*

*Maybe that's what he had hoped the Reality Warriors would be, too. A shame that the reality of the situation was that they still often felt like colleagues only working together to stop the latest threat.*

*He frowned to himself, thinking it over. Maybe that's something he needed to ponder more in-depth.*

You'll be good with Sarah, right? After all, this is a very, very young version of her. She wont be like the one you met...

You're also 2,000 years older than me with just as much training! I couldn't read the whole book you are if I tried for my whole life!

*She grinned and pecked his cheek.*

Though that won't stop me from trying!

*Jones' expression suddenly clouded over, and for a moment Evie was tempted to peek into his head to see what he was thinking, but she resisted, instead gently checking on the emotions that he was giving off.

Loneliness. Longing. Sadness. Disappointment.

...

Her hand strayed upwards, softly running through his short hair.*

... You're homesick...

*And no wonder... This place felt shockingly stable. It was almost unsettling, after years of constant chaos, change, displacement, and loss. Despite the apocalypse, Evie found herself liking this place more and more.

But the cherry on top of the discomfort... she was here too. Evie put on a fake smile that carried dangerous implications, though her voice remained sweet.*

Who, me? As if she stands any chance of treading on my territory!

*Jones tried to puzzle that one out.*

... No, I don't think I'd... put it that way. Nostalgic, maybe. It's more the atmosphere that I missed...

*He looked at Evie, trying to sort out his thoughts now, before shaking his head.*

We'll talk about it later. It's too out in the open, here, don't need gossipy ears listening in.

*In a small, cramped space like this, there was little else for the residents to do BUT gossip. He knew Ray would use the version of events that he told her when debriefing everyone... buuuuut he also had a hunch his past self would be getting comments about the "cute babe" he had on his arm currently for AGES. Heck, his ears could already pick up on the rumor mill starting to spin.*

*On that note, though...*

Well, yeah, that's a given! I just mean... don't be mean to her. If they haven't even geared up for the Battle of Plank Valley yet, then her and Jonesy haven't had their Valentine's day mishap yet.

*He pursed his lips.*

*Evie tugged on Jones' arm slightly, just enough to get him to pause and look at her again.*

But we will talk about it, okay? You need to. We need to. This can't be another one of those subjects you say you'll talk about later and bury.

*She wouldn't push that now. He understood.

However, the request not to be "mean" to Sarah made Evie roll her eyes a little bit.*

Come on, John, I'm a professional. Plus, I have a vested interest in keeping your past as close to the same as possible too. Even if it involves her.

*Clearing his throat, Jones tapped her on the shoulder.*

Sarah, right? Ray sent us over. We're here to help with the whole "Dark Voyager" situation.

*Sarah turned around, and Jones almost choked. She was so young... come to think of it, so were all the people he knew here. Heck, so was this version of him. None of them knew what was coming.*

*And he couldn't tell them.*

*Sarah, meanwhile, tilted her head at him.*

Jonesy? Ray put you on this? I thought you were--

*She waved in a general direction.*

Uh, not quite. It's complicated, and involves time travel and alternate timelines. Myself and Evie--

*He gestured to Evie, who gave a tiny wave and an incredibly plastic smile.*

*As sight returned, he took an experimental look around. Thanks to the setup of the Scientist, they were in a blessedly storm-free zone. However, he could see the storm wall in the sky, bearing down in an oppressive purple mist.*

*The only sounds were the wind rustling in the trees, and the garbled snoring of sleeping husks. None in sight, but they were undoubtedly all around.*

Well, here we are. Home sweet home... at least in the cosmic sense. We're still a ways away distance-wise.

*He looked up, and squinted at what he saw.*

And would you look at that... seems we're on the right track...

*Hovering ominously in the sky was Dark Voyager's cube cradle. Small enough to be clearly some distance away, but still an imposing reminder of why they were here at all.*

*The presence of the Force was intense here, both Light and Dark. A deathly quiet permeated everything, almost as though all natural sounds were being smothered. She could see in her mind multiple congealed masses of Dark Force, asleep at the moment, but lightly.

Evie opened her eyes to the shimmering sun, bright despite the Storm, and breathed in the sharp and salty sea smell. Wolf howls broke the silence. Broken buildings scarred the skyline. And everything was bathed in soft golden light.*

Honestly, it's eerily beautiful...

*What was most jarring was the feeling of standing on an actual planet again. She had almost forgotten that most other places in the Omniverse were full planets, not just a chunk of an island adrift in space.

She shook it off as best she could. Jones was moving already, and the Harvester was looming overhead.]

*Realizing that may not be enough information, he elected to elaborate.*

You'll know the first ones because they'll be yelling for help from atop cars, or asking for medkits before they leave. You'll know the latter because they'll be intentionally aggravating the husks, and destroying anything in sight for materials.

In fact...

*Jones took out his radio, and tuned it to the frequency he remembered Homebase using. Only quiet chatter at the moment, but that meant there were search parties a few miles out, at most.*

We'll be looking for scouting parties, because that will allow us to get to Homebase, rendezvous with Ray, and start figuring out what Dark Voyager is doing here.

*Of course, he was slipping back into the role he must've had here before like a fitted glove. Like a trained operative. Sometimes Evie forgot that was what Jones was, he was so funny and easygoing with her and around his friends.

Evie smiled to herself as she closed her eyes and reached into the Force. His resilience and drive were part of what made Jones so inspiring. Part of why she loved him.

The area quickly mapped out in her mind's eye, details coming into sharper clarity as she focused. The rank energy of undeath was everywhere, but she was noticing some signs of actual life...*

Prison, east wing, second floor. Waterfall cave, southwest. Camper, north. Signs of life! I think we can reach them!

*Something else caught her attention. Another life sign, but mobile.*

If we're lucky. Let's go get those Survivors safe, then meet up with them.

*The two of them began scouring the map, helping get the survivors out of the situation they were in. Helping on retrieve his lost medkit, getting the husks off one who was being stalked by them, and defending an RV besieged by a group of them. That was when they ran into their first Smasher, and it was shockingly fun to wail on it.*

Whew, these guys are way easier to deal with weapons not made of scrap!

*Threat down and survivor secured, Jones checked the radio again.*

Well, looks like we have a location. They're receiving a weather balloon with storm data down to the southeast.

*He grinned at Evie.*

We shouldn't be late then! Your favorite party girl has been cooped up too long!

*Despite the obvious post-apocalypse, there wasn't a feeling of hopelessness here. Fear absolutely, sadness, confusion, but not despair. Humanity had not given up.

So this was where he got his endless optimism.

Even with the Dark Side snarling the air, Evie felt light as a feather as they ran to the interception point. They said "hope springs eternal", and that was true here more than she had ever felt before. It was a beautiful feeling.

The two crested a hill, and Jones paused at the top, Evie catching up to see what was causing his confusion. Before them lay an open field, ideal for a returning drone or satellite... but it had been covered in hastily constructed fortifications and traps. A powerfully built woman stood on top, setting down a massive machine that set the nearby walls humming with energy.

She looked up, spotting them, and obviously squinted a bit. When she called out, her voice was shockingly strong, and carried a soft English accent.*

Hey there, Pen! I've got an explanation, but I'm gonna save it for later when we're back at Home-- BAH!

*Penny had effortly picked him up into a crushing hug. Gosh, he had forgotten how tight her hugs could be!*

*Once he got put down, he gathered himself, and continued.*

Regardless, we're here to help you out. I noticed the storm gathering a lot of Smashers together, so I'm sure you wouldn't mind.

*Penny laughed.*

'course I wouldn't mind! I'll never say no to a bit of soldierly support!

*Her eyes went to Evie, and she cocked her head.*

From the moment the woman called out, it was clear that she and Jones were very good friends. When the woman scooped him up off his feet into a massive bear hug, Evie couldn't help but laugh.

When she was addressed, however, Evie smiled, giving a little salute.*

Something like that! I'm new around here. Call me Evie!

*She held her hand out to shake, but found the air in her lungs very suddenly squeezed out in a smothering hug. Definitely should have seen that coming...*

Evie! Right! And you can call me Penny!

*Hefting a massive hammer over her shoulder, Penny grinned and gestured upwards towards a descending weather balloon.*

Right then! You've come at the perfect time for some action! We're going to shoot that thing down, and then we're gonna defend it while Ray gets the goods off it. You up for it?

*She definitely didn't know who Ray was, but defense wasn't new. Some good vantage points were already standing out to her. Evie drew her dualies, checking the magazines before nodding to Jones.*

*But a lot had changed since then. Now, he had centuries of experience on his side, top of the line equipment, and a goal in mind. More than that, though... he had Evie.*

*While Penny set up on her mounted turret, and he set up keeping the Husks at bay, he watched Evie do her thing. She weaved around the battlefield, her lightsabers striking down enemies with a deadly grace that was almost hypnotic. And when she ran out of enemies up close, her duelies came out, as she rushed towards the next group with a lighthearted laugh in her eyes.*

It was not lost on her that these had clearly been people at some point, if the bloated remnants of their faces hanging down their backs were any indication. But what watched her from behind those eyes was not a person. What was left of the human beings the Storm had dessicated were nothing more than rotten puppets.

She could still hear them though. In all the snarls and screams, she could hear cries for help, and echoes of their fear congealed in the Force, catching her throat. But Evie didn't flinch. There was no cure for these people. They were already dead. The only peace she could give them was annihilation.

So she kept on dancing, feeling the Force grow lighter as the three of them ended the suffering that fed it. The horde felt endless, up until the moment they all suddenly vanished at once, and Penny called out that they were done.

Cheeks flushed, a light sheen of sweat on her skin, Evie climbed up to join them on the fort again. Penny immediately greeted her with a slap on the back that drove the wind from her lungs, and Evie gasped out a giggle as she straightened up again.*

Now that was a good show! Jones may be a bit of a lunkhead, but he sure knows how to find good people! Homebase could use someone like you! Just don't let Ray get ahold of those blades of yours!

*Evie smiled as she rehung her lightsabers.*

I appreciate it! Let's get to Homebase first before you go picking me a bunk, though, huh?

*She looked at Jones, her face still pink.*

*People were bustling all around as Penny led the way through the common area and up the flight of stairs. Jones noticed Major Oswald and Director Riggs over in their corners, barking orders to their respective teams. He exchanged a wave with Clip Lipman, who was busy at work on some new wacky weaponry.*

*And finally, they came to the main hub, where several small robots were buzzing around, exchanging beeps and monitoring the screens.*

*One of them, a robin's-egg blue one with an arched cover, noticed their approach and flew over.*

Hey, Penny, you're back! Nice job on the survivor extraction in addition to the data recall! And you two must be the extra hands she asked us to "beam out"!

*Ray's singular camera twitched slightly, and her whole body tilted.*

Uhhhh... Sergeant Jonesy? Aren't you supposed to be on mission with Lars for our Plank Harbor scouting? I don't recall needing to do an emergency extraction...

*Her camera flared.*

Unless I did... and then forgot! Oh no, I knew my workplace efficiency was starting to destabilize! Ooooooh, the Commander is gonna be really concerned...

*Jones held up a hand encouragingly.*

Ray, Ray, calm down, it's OK. I'm from the future. Well, more like...

*He wracked his brain for a moment, looking for an explanation that wouldn't mess with time.*

I'm from the future of an alternate universe version of this world.

*Yeah, that worked.*

Anomaly? Oh! The big black spaceship-looking-thing! Right! Lemme gather all the information we've collected on it!

*The little robot scuttled to the massive computer, shifting the projected map above it to a render if the Harvester.*

Long story short - or rather short story short - this thing showed up through a big gold crack in what I can only describe as the fabric of reality, and it's just been sitting there. Ominously. It's sent out a few drones but that's it.

*Evie leaned on the computer, almost without thinking slipping a drive into the oversized console. The tech was simultaneously retro and advanced, how that worked was something to be studied, but for the moment that would serve in her favor. Her tech was too different to be expected and detected, on top of being designed to go unnoticed.*

Noooo... Nothing we've noticed, at least! But I'll keep an eye out for other odd energy signatures!

*She tapped a finger to her dome.*

In the meantime, if you wanna help, I've got one of our top people working on tracking those drones! Far as we figure, blast the drones, send the guy away! Sarah's over by where Lars is usually set up.

*She spun to face Jones.*

You do have a Sarah in your timeline, right? You should find her no sweat, then!

*Jones blinked. It had been almost a year since he had last met Sarah, and they... hadn't parted on good terms.*

Yeah, I know Sarah.

*An understatement if he'd ever said one. The important thing, of course, was that this version of her would be from a long, long time ago. He had to be professional.*

We'll head on over. We have a way to get back, so don't worry about that. Just let us know if there's any more movement from the Voyager.

Evie gritted her teeth, hiding the anger in her eyes behind a big, sweet smile.*

Sounds perfect! Can't wait to meet her!

*She was a professional. She could hold this. For the moment.

Holding her breath and her expression, Evie returned the three little squeezes. A silent communication that had sprung up between them lately. Three squeezes, "I love you". It made her feel a little bit better.

As they headed deeper into Homebase, Evie distracted herself by committing the place to memory. For an apocalypse bunker, it was nicely decorated, and awfully cozy. People were training, building weapons, dancing, cooking, playing games... It was almost normal.*

This is where you came from, huh? Penny, Ray, all of these people... they're so nice.

*She pocketed the drive she'd retrieved, giving Jones a smile.*

*He chuckled a little, then squeezed her hand again.*

But... yeah. All the people here, they may not have a choice in it, but they want to help. Leave it to the apocalypse to bring out the best in everyone...

*It was... odd, being back. The place seemed truly alive, in the exact way that the Island wasn't. On the island, the loop and constant upheaval tended to leave everyone mainly doing their own thing, only connected for temporary alliances. Here, though...*

*It felt like a home.*

*Maybe that's what he had hoped the Reality Warriors would be, too. A shame that the reality of the situation was that they still often felt like colleagues only working together to stop the latest threat.*

*He frowned to himself, thinking it over. Maybe that's something he needed to ponder more in-depth.*

You'll be good with Sarah, right? After all, this is a very, very young version of her. She wont be like the one you met...

You're also 2,000 years older than me with just as much training! I couldn't read the whole book you are if I tried for my whole life!

*She grinned and pecked his cheek.*

Though that won't stop me from trying!

*Jones' expression suddenly clouded over, and for a moment Evie was tempted to peek into his head to see what he was thinking, but she resisted, instead gently checking on the emotions that he was giving off.

Loneliness. Longing. Sadness. Disappointment.

...

Her hand strayed upwards, softly running through his short hair.*

... You're homesick...

*And no wonder... This place felt shockingly stable. It was almost unsettling, after years of constant chaos, change, displacement, and loss. Despite the apocalypse, Evie found herself liking this place more and more.

But the cherry on top of the discomfort... she was here too. Evie put on a fake smile that carried dangerous implications, though her voice remained sweet.*

Who, me? As if she stands any chance of treading on my territory!

*Jones tried to puzzle that one out.*

... No, I don't think I'd... put it that way. Nostalgic, maybe. It's more the atmosphere that I missed...

*He looked at Evie, trying to sort out his thoughts now, before shaking his head.*

We'll talk about it later. It's too out in the open, here, don't need gossipy ears listening in.

*In a small, cramped space like this, there was little else for the residents to do BUT gossip. He knew Ray would use the version of events that he told her when debriefing everyone... buuuuut he also had a hunch his past self would be getting comments about the "cute babe" he had on his arm currently for AGES. Heck, his ears could already pick up on the rumor mill starting to spin.*

*On that note, though...*

Well, yeah, that's a given! I just mean... don't be mean to her. If they haven't even geared up for the Battle of Plank Valley yet, then her and Jonesy haven't had their Valentine's day mishap yet.

*He pursed his lips.*

*As sight returned, he took an experimental look around. Thanks to the setup of the Scientist, they were in a blessedly storm-free zone. However, he could see the storm wall in the sky, bearing down in an oppressive purple mist.*

*The only sounds were the wind rustling in the trees, and the garbled snoring of sleeping husks. None in sight, but they were undoubtedly all around.*

Well, here we are. Home sweet home... at least in the cosmic sense. We're still a ways away distance-wise.

*He looked up, and squinted at what he saw.*

And would you look at that... seems we're on the right track...

*Hovering ominously in the sky was Dark Voyager's cube cradle. Small enough to be clearly some distance away, but still an imposing reminder of why they were here at all.*

*The presence of the Force was intense here, both Light and Dark. A deathly quiet permeated everything, almost as though all natural sounds were being smothered. She could see in her mind multiple congealed masses of Dark Force, asleep at the moment, but lightly.

Evie opened her eyes to the shimmering sun, bright despite the Storm, and breathed in the sharp and salty sea smell. Wolf howls broke the silence. Broken buildings scarred the skyline. And everything was bathed in soft golden light.*

Honestly, it's eerily beautiful...

*What was most jarring was the feeling of standing on an actual planet again. She had almost forgotten that most other places in the Omniverse were full planets, not just a chunk of an island adrift in space.

She shook it off as best she could. Jones was moving already, and the Harvester was looming overhead.]

*Realizing that may not be enough information, he elected to elaborate.*

You'll know the first ones because they'll be yelling for help from atop cars, or asking for medkits before they leave. You'll know the latter because they'll be intentionally aggravating the husks, and destroying anything in sight for materials.

In fact...

*Jones took out his radio, and tuned it to the frequency he remembered Homebase using. Only quiet chatter at the moment, but that meant there were search parties a few miles out, at most.*

We'll be looking for scouting parties, because that will allow us to get to Homebase, rendezvous with Ray, and start figuring out what Dark Voyager is doing here.

*Of course, he was slipping back into the role he must've had here before like a fitted glove. Like a trained operative. Sometimes Evie forgot that was what Jones was, he was so funny and easygoing with her and around his friends.

Evie smiled to herself as she closed her eyes and reached into the Force. His resilience and drive were part of what made Jones so inspiring. Part of why she loved him.

The area quickly mapped out in her mind's eye, details coming into sharper clarity as she focused. The rank energy of undeath was everywhere, but she was noticing some signs of actual life...*

Prison, east wing, second floor. Waterfall cave, southwest. Camper, north. Signs of life! I think we can reach them!

*Something else caught her attention. Another life sign, but mobile.*

If we're lucky. Let's go get those Survivors safe, then meet up with them.

*The two of them began scouring the map, helping get the survivors out of the situation they were in. Helping on retrieve his lost medkit, getting the husks off one who was being stalked by them, and defending an RV besieged by a group of them. That was when they ran into their first Smasher, and it was shockingly fun to wail on it.*

Whew, these guys are way easier to deal with weapons not made of scrap!

*Threat down and survivor secured, Jones checked the radio again.*

Well, looks like we have a location. They're receiving a weather balloon with storm data down to the southeast.

*He grinned at Evie.*

We shouldn't be late then! Your favorite party girl has been cooped up too long!

*Despite the obvious post-apocalypse, there wasn't a feeling of hopelessness here. Fear absolutely, sadness, confusion, but not despair. Humanity had not given up.

So this was where he got his endless optimism.

Even with the Dark Side snarling the air, Evie felt light as a feather as they ran to the interception point. They said "hope springs eternal", and that was true here more than she had ever felt before. It was a beautiful feeling.

The two crested a hill, and Jones paused at the top, Evie catching up to see what was causing his confusion. Before them lay an open field, ideal for a returning drone or satellite... but it had been covered in hastily constructed fortifications and traps. A powerfully built woman stood on top, setting down a massive machine that set the nearby walls humming with energy.

She looked up, spotting them, and obviously squinted a bit. When she called out, her voice was shockingly strong, and carried a soft English accent.*

Hey there, Pen! I've got an explanation, but I'm gonna save it for later when we're back at Home-- BAH!

*Penny had effortly picked him up into a crushing hug. Gosh, he had forgotten how tight her hugs could be!*

*Once he got put down, he gathered himself, and continued.*

Regardless, we're here to help you out. I noticed the storm gathering a lot of Smashers together, so I'm sure you wouldn't mind.

*Penny laughed.*

'course I wouldn't mind! I'll never say no to a bit of soldierly support!

*Her eyes went to Evie, and she cocked her head.*

From the moment the woman called out, it was clear that she and Jones were very good friends. When the woman scooped him up off his feet into a massive bear hug, Evie couldn't help but laugh.

When she was addressed, however, Evie smiled, giving a little salute.*

Something like that! I'm new around here. Call me Evie!

*She held her hand out to shake, but found the air in her lungs very suddenly squeezed out in a smothering hug. Definitely should have seen that coming...*

Evie! Right! And you can call me Penny!

*Hefting a massive hammer over her shoulder, Penny grinned and gestured upwards towards a descending weather balloon.*

Right then! You've come at the perfect time for some action! We're going to shoot that thing down, and then we're gonna defend it while Ray gets the goods off it. You up for it?

*She definitely didn't know who Ray was, but defense wasn't new. Some good vantage points were already standing out to her. Evie drew her dualies, checking the magazines before nodding to Jones.*

*But a lot had changed since then. Now, he had centuries of experience on his side, top of the line equipment, and a goal in mind. More than that, though... he had Evie.*

*While Penny set up on her mounted turret, and he set up keeping the Husks at bay, he watched Evie do her thing. She weaved around the battlefield, her lightsabers striking down enemies with a deadly grace that was almost hypnotic. And when she ran out of enemies up close, her duelies came out, as she rushed towards the next group with a lighthearted laugh in her eyes.*

It was not lost on her that these had clearly been people at some point, if the bloated remnants of their faces hanging down their backs were any indication. But what watched her from behind those eyes was not a person. What was left of the human beings the Storm had dessicated were nothing more than rotten puppets.

She could still hear them though. In all the snarls and screams, she could hear cries for help, and echoes of their fear congealed in the Force, catching her throat. But Evie didn't flinch. There was no cure for these people. They were already dead. The only peace she could give them was annihilation.

So she kept on dancing, feeling the Force grow lighter as the three of them ended the suffering that fed it. The horde felt endless, up until the moment they all suddenly vanished at once, and Penny called out that they were done.

Cheeks flushed, a light sheen of sweat on her skin, Evie climbed up to join them on the fort again. Penny immediately greeted her with a slap on the back that drove the wind from her lungs, and Evie gasped out a giggle as she straightened up again.*

Now that was a good show! Jones may be a bit of a lunkhead, but he sure knows how to find good people! Homebase could use someone like you! Just don't let Ray get ahold of those blades of yours!

*Evie smiled as she rehung her lightsabers.*

I appreciate it! Let's get to Homebase first before you go picking me a bunk, though, huh?

*She looked at Jones, her face still pink.*

*People were bustling all around as Penny led the way through the common area and up the flight of stairs. Jones noticed Major Oswald and Director Riggs over in their corners, barking orders to their respective teams. He exchanged a wave with Clip Lipman, who was busy at work on some new wacky weaponry.*

*And finally, they came to the main hub, where several small robots were buzzing around, exchanging beeps and monitoring the screens.*

*One of them, a robin's-egg blue one with an arched cover, noticed their approach and flew over.*

Hey, Penny, you're back! Nice job on the survivor extraction in addition to the data recall! And you two must be the extra hands she asked us to "beam out"!

*Ray's singular camera twitched slightly, and her whole body tilted.*

Uhhhh... Sergeant Jonesy? Aren't you supposed to be on mission with Lars for our Plank Harbor scouting? I don't recall needing to do an emergency extraction...

*Her camera flared.*

Unless I did... and then forgot! Oh no, I knew my workplace efficiency was starting to destabilize! Ooooooh, the Commander is gonna be really concerned...

*Jones held up a hand encouragingly.*

Ray, Ray, calm down, it's OK. I'm from the future. Well, more like...

*He wracked his brain for a moment, looking for an explanation that wouldn't mess with time.*

I'm from the future of an alternate universe version of this world.

*Yeah, that worked.*

Anomaly? Oh! The big black spaceship-looking-thing! Right! Lemme gather all the information we've collected on it!

*The little robot scuttled to the massive computer, shifting the projected map above it to a render if the Harvester.*

Long story short - or rather short story short - this thing showed up through a big gold crack in what I can only describe as the fabric of reality, and it's just been sitting there. Ominously. It's sent out a few drones but that's it.

*Evie leaned on the computer, almost without thinking slipping a drive into the oversized console. The tech was simultaneously retro and advanced, how that worked was something to be studied, but for the moment that would serve in her favor. Her tech was too different to be expected and detected, on top of being designed to go unnoticed.*

Noooo... Nothing we've noticed, at least! But I'll keep an eye out for other odd energy signatures!

*She tapped a finger to her dome.*

In the meantime, if you wanna help, I've got one of our top people working on tracking those drones! Far as we figure, blast the drones, send the guy away! Sarah's over by where Lars is usually set up.

*She spun to face Jones.*

You do have a Sarah in your timeline, right? You should find her no sweat, then!

*Jones blinked. It had been almost a year since he had last met Sarah, and they... hadn't parted on good terms.*

Yeah, I know Sarah.

*An understatement if he'd ever said one. The important thing, of course, was that this version of her would be from a long, long time ago. He had to be professional.*

We'll head on over. We have a way to get back, so don't worry about that. Just let us know if there's any more movement from the Voyager.

Evie gritted her teeth, hiding the anger in her eyes behind a big, sweet smile.*

Sounds perfect! Can't wait to meet her!

*She was a professional. She could hold this. For the moment.

Holding her breath and her expression, Evie returned the three little squeezes. A silent communication that had sprung up between them lately. Three squeezes, "I love you". It made her feel a little bit better.

As they headed deeper into Homebase, Evie distracted herself by committing the place to memory. For an apocalypse bunker, it was nicely decorated, and awfully cozy. People were training, building weapons, dancing, cooking, playing games... It was almost normal.*

This is where you came from, huh? Penny, Ray, all of these people... they're so nice.

*She pocketed the drive she'd retrieved, giving Jones a smile.*

*He chuckled a little, then squeezed her hand again.*

But... yeah. All the people here, they may not have a choice in it, but they want to help. Leave it to the apocalypse to bring out the best in everyone...

*It was... odd, being back. The place seemed truly alive, in the exact way that the Island wasn't. On the island, the loop and constant upheaval tended to leave everyone mainly doing their own thing, only connected for temporary alliances. Here, though...*

*It felt like a home.*

*Maybe that's what he had hoped the Reality Warriors would be, too. A shame that the reality of the situation was that they still often felt like colleagues only working together to stop the latest threat.*

*He frowned to himself, thinking it over. Maybe that's something he needed to ponder more in-depth.*

You'll be good with Sarah, right? After all, this is a very, very young version of her. She wont be like the one you met...

*As sight returned, he took an experimental look around. Thanks to the setup of the Scientist, they were in a blessedly storm-free zone. However, he could see the storm wall in the sky, bearing down in an oppressive purple mist.*

*The only sounds were the wind rustling in the trees, and the garbled snoring of sleeping husks. None in sight, but they were undoubtedly all around.*

Well, here we are. Home sweet home... at least in the cosmic sense. We're still a ways away distance-wise.

*He looked up, and squinted at what he saw.*

And would you look at that... seems we're on the right track...

*Hovering ominously in the sky was Dark Voyager's cube cradle. Small enough to be clearly some distance away, but still an imposing reminder of why they were here at all.*

*The presence of the Force was intense here, both Light and Dark. A deathly quiet permeated everything, almost as though all natural sounds were being smothered. She could see in her mind multiple congealed masses of Dark Force, asleep at the moment, but lightly.

Evie opened her eyes to the shimmering sun, bright despite the Storm, and breathed in the sharp and salty sea smell. Wolf howls broke the silence. Broken buildings scarred the skyline. And everything was bathed in soft golden light.*

Honestly, it's eerily beautiful...

*What was most jarring was the feeling of standing on an actual planet again. She had almost forgotten that most other places in the Omniverse were full planets, not just a chunk of an island adrift in space.

She shook it off as best she could. Jones was moving already, and the Harvester was looming overhead.]

*Realizing that may not be enough information, he elected to elaborate.*

You'll know the first ones because they'll be yelling for help from atop cars, or asking for medkits before they leave. You'll know the latter because they'll be intentionally aggravating the husks, and destroying anything in sight for materials.

In fact...

*Jones took out his radio, and tuned it to the frequency he remembered Homebase using. Only quiet chatter at the moment, but that meant there were search parties a few miles out, at most.*

We'll be looking for scouting parties, because that will allow us to get to Homebase, rendezvous with Ray, and start figuring out what Dark Voyager is doing here.

*Of course, he was slipping back into the role he must've had here before like a fitted glove. Like a trained operative. Sometimes Evie forgot that was what Jones was, he was so funny and easygoing with her and around his friends.

Evie smiled to herself as she closed her eyes and reached into the Force. His resilience and drive were part of what made Jones so inspiring. Part of why she loved him.

The area quickly mapped out in her mind's eye, details coming into sharper clarity as she focused. The rank energy of undeath was everywhere, but she was noticing some signs of actual life...*

Prison, east wing, second floor. Waterfall cave, southwest. Camper, north. Signs of life! I think we can reach them!

*Something else caught her attention. Another life sign, but mobile.*

If we're lucky. Let's go get those Survivors safe, then meet up with them.

*The two of them began scouring the map, helping get the survivors out of the situation they were in. Helping on retrieve his lost medkit, getting the husks off one who was being stalked by them, and defending an RV besieged by a group of them. That was when they ran into their first Smasher, and it was shockingly fun to wail on it.*

Whew, these guys are way easier to deal with weapons not made of scrap!

*Threat down and survivor secured, Jones checked the radio again.*

Well, looks like we have a location. They're receiving a weather balloon with storm data down to the southeast.

*He grinned at Evie.*

We shouldn't be late then! Your favorite party girl has been cooped up too long!

*Despite the obvious post-apocalypse, there wasn't a feeling of hopelessness here. Fear absolutely, sadness, confusion, but not despair. Humanity had not given up.

So this was where he got his endless optimism.

Even with the Dark Side snarling the air, Evie felt light as a feather as they ran to the interception point. They said "hope springs eternal", and that was true here more than she had ever felt before. It was a beautiful feeling.

The two crested a hill, and Jones paused at the top, Evie catching up to see what was causing his confusion. Before them lay an open field, ideal for a returning drone or satellite... but it had been covered in hastily constructed fortifications and traps. A powerfully built woman stood on top, setting down a massive machine that set the nearby walls humming with energy.

She looked up, spotting them, and obviously squinted a bit. When she called out, her voice was shockingly strong, and carried a soft English accent.*

Hey there, Pen! I've got an explanation, but I'm gonna save it for later when we're back at Home-- BAH!

*Penny had effortly picked him up into a crushing hug. Gosh, he had forgotten how tight her hugs could be!*

*Once he got put down, he gathered himself, and continued.*

Regardless, we're here to help you out. I noticed the storm gathering a lot of Smashers together, so I'm sure you wouldn't mind.

*Penny laughed.*

'course I wouldn't mind! I'll never say no to a bit of soldierly support!

*Her eyes went to Evie, and she cocked her head.*

From the moment the woman called out, it was clear that she and Jones were very good friends. When the woman scooped him up off his feet into a massive bear hug, Evie couldn't help but laugh.

When she was addressed, however, Evie smiled, giving a little salute.*

Something like that! I'm new around here. Call me Evie!

*She held her hand out to shake, but found the air in her lungs very suddenly squeezed out in a smothering hug. Definitely should have seen that coming...*

Evie! Right! And you can call me Penny!

*Hefting a massive hammer over her shoulder, Penny grinned and gestured upwards towards a descending weather balloon.*

Right then! You've come at the perfect time for some action! We're going to shoot that thing down, and then we're gonna defend it while Ray gets the goods off it. You up for it?

*She definitely didn't know who Ray was, but defense wasn't new. Some good vantage points were already standing out to her. Evie drew her dualies, checking the magazines before nodding to Jones.*

*But a lot had changed since then. Now, he had centuries of experience on his side, top of the line equipment, and a goal in mind. More than that, though... he had Evie.*

*While Penny set up on her mounted turret, and he set up keeping the Husks at bay, he watched Evie do her thing. She weaved around the battlefield, her lightsabers striking down enemies with a deadly grace that was almost hypnotic. And when she ran out of enemies up close, her duelies came out, as she rushed towards the next group with a lighthearted laugh in her eyes.*

It was not lost on her that these had clearly been people at some point, if the bloated remnants of their faces hanging down their backs were any indication. But what watched her from behind those eyes was not a person. What was left of the human beings the Storm had dessicated were nothing more than rotten puppets.

She could still hear them though. In all the snarls and screams, she could hear cries for help, and echoes of their fear congealed in the Force, catching her throat. But Evie didn't flinch. There was no cure for these people. They were already dead. The only peace she could give them was annihilation.

So she kept on dancing, feeling the Force grow lighter as the three of them ended the suffering that fed it. The horde felt endless, up until the moment they all suddenly vanished at once, and Penny called out that they were done.

Cheeks flushed, a light sheen of sweat on her skin, Evie climbed up to join them on the fort again. Penny immediately greeted her with a slap on the back that drove the wind from her lungs, and Evie gasped out a giggle as she straightened up again.*

Now that was a good show! Jones may be a bit of a lunkhead, but he sure knows how to find good people! Homebase could use someone like you! Just don't let Ray get ahold of those blades of yours!

*Evie smiled as she rehung her lightsabers.*

I appreciate it! Let's get to Homebase first before you go picking me a bunk, though, huh?

*She looked at Jones, her face still pink.*

*People were bustling all around as Penny led the way through the common area and up the flight of stairs. Jones noticed Major Oswald and Director Riggs over in their corners, barking orders to their respective teams. He exchanged a wave with Clip Lipman, who was busy at work on some new wacky weaponry.*

*And finally, they came to the main hub, where several small robots were buzzing around, exchanging beeps and monitoring the screens.*

*One of them, a robin's-egg blue one with an arched cover, noticed their approach and flew over.*

Hey, Penny, you're back! Nice job on the survivor extraction in addition to the data recall! And you two must be the extra hands she asked us to "beam out"!

*Ray's singular camera twitched slightly, and her whole body tilted.*

Uhhhh... Sergeant Jonesy? Aren't you supposed to be on mission with Lars for our Plank Harbor scouting? I don't recall needing to do an emergency extraction...

*Her camera flared.*

Unless I did... and then forgot! Oh no, I knew my workplace efficiency was starting to destabilize! Ooooooh, the Commander is gonna be really concerned...

*Jones held up a hand encouragingly.*

Ray, Ray, calm down, it's OK. I'm from the future. Well, more like...

*He wracked his brain for a moment, looking for an explanation that wouldn't mess with time.*

I'm from the future of an alternate universe version of this world.

*Yeah, that worked.*

Anomaly? Oh! The big black spaceship-looking-thing! Right! Lemme gather all the information we've collected on it!

*The little robot scuttled to the massive computer, shifting the projected map above it to a render if the Harvester.*

Long story short - or rather short story short - this thing showed up through a big gold crack in what I can only describe as the fabric of reality, and it's just been sitting there. Ominously. It's sent out a few drones but that's it.

*Evie leaned on the computer, almost without thinking slipping a drive into the oversized console. The tech was simultaneously retro and advanced, how that worked was something to be studied, but for the moment that would serve in her favor. Her tech was too different to be expected and detected, on top of being designed to go unnoticed.*

Noooo... Nothing we've noticed, at least! But I'll keep an eye out for other odd energy signatures!

*She tapped a finger to her dome.*

In the meantime, if you wanna help, I've got one of our top people working on tracking those drones! Far as we figure, blast the drones, send the guy away! Sarah's over by where Lars is usually set up.

*She spun to face Jones.*

You do have a Sarah in your timeline, right? You should find her no sweat, then!

*Jones blinked. It had been almost a year since he had last met Sarah, and they... hadn't parted on good terms.*

Yeah, I know Sarah.

*An understatement if he'd ever said one. The important thing, of course, was that this version of her would be from a long, long time ago. He had to be professional.*

We'll head on over. We have a way to get back, so don't worry about that. Just let us know if there's any more movement from the Voyager.