This is the third story in a series. It follows:

1. Strange Allies

2. Decision Made

The Dominance (Part One)

Wash had vanished. The Commander looked most of the night after Jim Shannon told him bluntly what he had said. "I didn't mean it that way," but knew how she must have interpreted the scathing comment. With heavy heart, he took a duffle stuffed with an assortment of everyday Senonian period items and small dinosaur skulls that Guzman put together for his visit to the future. Her comment about going to pack for him was a ruse to lick her wounds in a place he didn't know about, but would ask when she forgave him as she always did. In the end, just before light, he ended up packing his own clothes hoping she would show up, but she remained absent. He made one last trip to the clinic to carefully hold and kiss his son.

"Elizabeth." The doctor quietly waited for him to gather his thoughts. "Tell Wash I love her." He wanted to say so much more, but that's all he could formulate into words.

"No, you'll have to tell her that one yourself." Her refusal left him looking surprised and glum.

"Then tell her, I'll see her as soon as I can," he handed his son over and left. Jim drove him in silence to the terminus where Malcolm had it fine-tuned for his return trip. Looking around at the clear blue morning sky, another promise of a beautiful day, he made a request. "Take care of my family, Shannon."

Jim looked at the dejected man. He knew deep down, the Commander really did love his wife. "You know I will." With a handshake, he watched the Commander step out of sight.

World news organizations had been put on notice: A special guest was going to speak at Houston's Sports Complex Football Arena. The President of North America was going to be present along with top military brass. Deep pocket donors who made the Hope Plaza project a reality, World leaders, both friendly and foes were given passes to the event. Tickets were sold to anyone with enough money and the richest bidders invited to a special closed dinner with the speaker. The two hundred thousand seat arena was packed to overflowing.

The President stepped to the center of the stage, "Citizens of the World. We are delighted so many leaders and dignitaries responded to our special invitation and on such a short notice. It was difficult, but we managed to keep our special guests out of the media. As you know by now, Lucas Taylor returned from Terra Nova. He has been telling incredible tales that may or may not have validity to them. Hope Plaza was destroyed, but we were able to recover the terminus and make it operational. With our world at war once again, we severely lack funding to continue the program. Our hope is to secure the means to continue servicing the inhabitants who bravely gave up families and homes in this time to secure a future for mankind. We are honored that a special guest has returned to educate us about Terra Nova. Here to tell his incredible story is the one and only Commander Nathaniel Taylor."

The famous Commander walked from a tunnel across the stage to shake hands with Madam President. He was wearing a dress uniform with the rank of Brigadier General on his collar and jacket adorned with a chest full of medals. On his heels was a slender man about six feet tall who also shook hands with the President and took his place off the Commander's left shoulder. Seated on the stage was a full complement of Generals and Admirals. It was no easy task seating that many in for historical preeminence. To the other side of the speaker were prominent world leaders of whom the president sat with after her introduction. A seat was provided beside her for the other guest, but so far he displayed no signs of leaving the Commander's side.

"I want to thank you all for putting your lives on hold for an evening to come listen to an old war horse talk about paradise. While I'm speaking, images and vids of Terra Nova will be displayed on these impressive screens." At that moment, those in attendance, like at sporting events watched him close up and were amazed that his face changed so little from the departing photo eight years before that was also displayed, marking the beginning of his incredible journey.

"Before I begin," he put a hand on the shoulder of the man standing patiently beside him. "This is Casey Durwin. He was a soldier on the original roster and followed me through the portal the first day," he had to stop for applause. Casey stood and grinned, not being able to make his usual smart assed comments due to the open mics so opted for silence. Close up shots of Casey and the Commander filled the screens. Holding up a hand, the audience quieted, "Casey was attacked a few years ago by a Carnosaurus, a flesh eating dinosaur and had both legs ripped off." Pictures of Casey in a wheel chair replaced the faces of the men and also a genre of the beast who attacked. "He was able to come to the future and have legs grafted. He will be returning to Terra Nova soon." While the crowd applauded once again, Casey went and sat beside the President, and they spoke quietly off and on as she asked questions quietly on what the Commander was saying.

Soon they were surrounded with green forest, bright sun, massive waterfalls and the colony of Terra Nova as Commander Taylor wove a narrative for the next three hours. On display for the cameras to pick up were samples he brought with him. Holding up a knife fashioned from a slasher blade, a shot of a Slasher came into view. He told the story of some teenagers visiting their homemade still when Slashers came calling. Up popped a photo of Tasha Guzman and her healing scars. A sympathetic gasp resounded around the coliseum.

Suddenly without warning, the next photos were of a damaged colony. The audibility reached a fevered pitch as everyone had to express their shock. Again, holding up a hand, he waited. "My son, Lucas Taylor did this. The stories you've heard of plundering the past to help your own future are simply false. These private interests have no plans to help humanity, just get richer while the working people of Earth become in ever increasing numbers, serfs and slaves to them. They already control your food and water, and want to add your souls. Lucas hates me, Terra Nova and you."

He paused for a moment, gathering inner strength for the next part and hoped his voiced stayed steady.

"My second in command was forced to surrender to a private army." The screens flashed in rapid succession from Washington surrendering to the invasion and occupation. The Commander held the control devise and quickly skimmed over the scenes of carnage and threw in a couple dead bodies for effect, but stopped on the next part. In the dark, the people were shadowed, but recognizable in the obvious live shot. Lieutenant Washington was bound and standing in front of Lucas Taylor. He chose live footage to hammer his point home, but didn't dare look at the screen, instead studied the people's reaction. It was everything he hoped for, total revulsion and cries of outrage as a flash at pointblank range and the woman slamming backwards.

"She got lucky; it was a stun blast instead of an actual bullet. We didn't know at the time she didn't get killed. She was a POW for three months, at the mercy of these people." A photo of Lucas, Hooper and Mira one by one flashed. Mira's stayed on the screen, "Mira here changed sides and helped our Lieutenant escape. Lieutenant Washington was supposed to be brought through the portal with Lucas, but Mira was last through and conveniently forgot to take her. She came home." He paused and smiled, "I didn't waste any time." The next image was their wedding and the people clapped and cheered. "We added a son a couple months back." The final picture was of Thaniel and caused more riotous applause. He ended with, "I hope to get back to my family soon. Thank you for listening to me ramble with such grace and patience."

The President took the assembly back over and told the crowd that further interviews one on one were scheduled and be shown on the media outlets, but the Commander had another important function to attend to so had to leave. He and Casey were escorted to Houston Dome's ritziest hotel where a never ending parade of people shook their hands. Women openly flirted and offered invitations for more private parties. Nathaniel responded the same way, "I'm married, but Casey here will be more than happy to go with you." Finally, with a laugh, Casey told the Commander, "It'll take me about five years to go through all your referrals."

Looking around the majestic hotel, it was a world away from the primitive lifestyle he'd become accustom to, and after two days missed the pure world and most of all his wife and son. His arrival the day before was marked with a cough at the polluted air, and that was inside the hangar with its purifying system. Even filtered dome air was no match for the fresh oxygen rich environment he left. A plethora of Generals and Admirals and lesser ranks were assembled. He gave a general salute and General Caldwell returned it for all of them and hurried over, "Nathaniel, I get first crack at you. Dinner at my house or my wife will kill me."

Laughing, he accepted amidst the protest. He was given a hero's escort to a large briefing room. Over a hundred officers gathered while he gave his initial report. Getting into the meat of discussions, he pushed his inner turmoil to the back of his mind. Lunch was brought and work continued until late afternoon. Finally, General Caldwell called it a day, "Nathaniel, is there anything you want?"

"I'd like to check in on Casey Durwin."

They found him in the weight room. Taylor and Caldwell stopped to watch as Casey lifted weight with his new ankles. A few reps and he stopped and lay back on the bench and went to grab the barbells. Bringing it to his chest, before he could raise it back up, the Commander held it down grinning at him.

"Commander, good to see you, but I can't lift your sorry ass and this weight at the same time," he was delighted to see someone from home as the Commander helped settle the barbell on the brackets. Casey stood so the Commander and General could see him upright on his own two feet.

"Good to see you standing again, Casey," his eyes stayed on the new legs. A therapist with Casey stood with his mouth open at the sudden appearance of the great Nathaniel Taylor. All physical therapist fought daily for the opportunity to help with Durwin's rehab and hear stories of Terra Nova and the famous commander. But to see the Legend in person joking with and taking insults from his patient; well the kids then grandkids would tire of hearing the story.

"Wash come with you, Commander?" Casey watched the commander's face fall. "What happened?"

The General looked in surprise at Nathaniel. He asked after Wash and the Commander said she didn't come, had something else to do, but no specifics. Any nuances in the Commander's face was overlooked by him and those standing nearby when his wife was mentioned, but Casey knew him well enough to immediately read his expression.

"I accidently hurt Thaniel, so she stayed home. If I have to stay or come back, I plan on her being with me," he seemed comfortable telling the truth to Casey. The General knew from his few hours in Terra Nova, there were not many secrets among the colonists.

"Not seriously, I hope?" The therapist took in every word and played them over in his mind so not to forget.

"Wash put him beside me while I was sleeping. I swung at someone in my dream and hit him," the General saw Casey nod in understanding and mouth, 'Nightmare' and Taylor nod. "Graphs taking okay?" The subject got changed.

"They're almost ready to kick me out."

"Good, I want you with me for a speech I am giving tomorrow. With Wash not being able to come, you play her okay?" He grinned broadly as Casey flinched and threw his hands up.

"No kissing, I draw the line at doing that in place of Wash," everyone laughed.

"Tomorrow I want you released, so get with your doctors and finish today," Taylor ordered.

Now, after his talk at the sports arena and obligatory dinner for heads of state, the Commander and Casey retired to a suite in the hotel, a large central room and bedroom to each side opening into the main room. Undoing his collar, the Commander sank onto the plush couch and kicked a foot onto the expensive coffee table, uncaring if he marked it up. Casey walked around looking at the opulence, never being in a room or hotel like this.

"I asked Caldwell to keep you under lock and key. He did a good job. Surprise will be our advantage. I saw the interviews of the Phoenix Group and Mira's people from the info sent a month ago. Our side tried to counter, but it couldn't compete with actual first hand stories. I want you to tell your story while your here, Casey. General Caldwell sold the rights to the highest bidder tonight, and the bids were more than even I can imagine and you will get part of the proceeds. I'll even have them pay you in Terra's if you want. Tomorrow morning, right here, we have our first in-depth interview, so get plenty of sleep."

"What's off the table?"

"Military numbers, our strength and assets. Leave any of those questions to me. You can answer the day to day life at the colony which you know more of anyway. Kinda like a woman, Casey," The soft pillow hitting his face didn't stop his laughter.

With a mock huff, Casey went to his bedroom to take a hot bath and bed. Nathaniel was faced with the part of the day he dreaded, being alone. With nobody to keep him from his thoughts, he replayed last night's dinner with his old commander and friend. The brandy he consumed the night before didn't dull the pain in his heart at his last words to his wife, even if said in ignorance. He wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and whisper he didn't mean it. He hadn't so much as left the colony for a few hours after she came back unless she was beside him. They made three extended trips including their honeymoon OTG overnight, but he never left her alone before now since he wedded her.

Lenore pulled up the pictures Wash put on the miniplex for him to explain in further detail. All he wanted to do was gaze at the few that included his wife. Their parting was tearing him apart and he wanted to go home and repair the damage he caused, but duty called. He spent the evening telling Lenore and her husband more details of his marriage and explained Wash was pregnant before the occupation. Lenore picked up on the dates immediately and her husband said he didn't put them together when at Terra Nova, earning him a rebuke of how he managed to make a three star General and couldn't do simple math while Nathaniel laughed at him.

"How's your marriage, Nathaniel?" Lenore knew he loved his first wife and hoped he found love again.

They watched him give the biggest smile, "I didn't realized how much I missed being married. There is a difference between sex on the side and a wife. We had our first real fight two days ago. With her being my second wife, we'll have to work through a few issues."

They let him talk and he told them, "I watched Wash get shot by Lucas and couldn't do anything to stop him. I thought she was dead and even though I wasn't married to her, it hurt worse than when Ayani died. That confused me. I hadn't been married to her for fifteen years, but her dying ripped my heart open like losing Ayani never did. It scares me sometimes how happy I am with Wash, and our son is another chance for me to do a better job this time around. If I were ever in the situation like Somalia again with Wash, nothing would ever make me choose our child over her."

"You love her more than Ayani?" Only Lenore could ask a question like that.

"Differently, Ayani was fun, never had a trouble in her life until she married me. Wash was my work companion so I knew her years before a relationship. Sometimes I feel guilty, like Ayani died for nothing with Lucas turning out the way he did."

"Nathaniel, I saw the way you looked at Wash while you were still married. If Ayani lived, would you have had an affair?" She always wondered if he didn't have one with this woman while he was still married.

He looked her in the eye, "I don't know. I never cheated on my wife, but know now that I loved two women at the same time. I was drawn to Wash like a moth to flame. I could have transferred her to another outfit, but since I first met her I needed her in my life even as a subordinate. Over time I spent more time with her than my family. That's one of the reasons I brought Ayani and Lucas to Somalia. I had a few thoughts of wanting to be with Wash." It was his first open admission ever, but these people were like parents, "And most sexual sins start in the mind."

"You didn't like other men touching her. I saw it on a vid once," Lenore remembered. "You were frowning as she danced with one of your soldier boys. You moved around the room keeping her in your sights."

"Dancing, meetings, training or combat. I hated any other man touching or being touched by her. They used to line up for her to stitch them up just to feel her hands," he smiled at the memory. "I never let anyone else touch me. She had such a gentle manner and with those same hands could knock you over a table."

The General poured him another brandy, "How come you didn't bring her? I heard what you said to Casey. There has to be more to it than that."

"She was coming, but I did accidently hurt Thaniel," another uncontrollable shot of pain ripped through him at the though he hurt his baby. "I made a comment that indicated Ayani was a better mother than her. I didn't know I had done so, but Jim Shannon told me I did. Wash disappeared and I couldn't find her before I left, to apologize." He let out an uneven breath, "She doesn't think I love her as much as I did Ayani. Truth is, I love her more, just not sure how to get through to her. I'm just a stupid soldier."

"So you parted not talking?" Lenore was wondering how she could help.

"I could leave Ayani for months. Sometimes, either Wash or I'd be gone for a week or two at Terra Nova. I would get into trouble and she made everyone's life miserable until we got back together. After we were married, the colony told us we couldn't be parted for more than one or two days," the Caldwell's saw a small smile at this admission.

"How long has this rift been going on, Nathaniel?" The General tried to remember any rift two weeks ago. He was sure there was none.

"A few days, started when we knew I was coming back. We argued over bringing the baby. After your message, I didn't want to risk him getting hurt or falling into Lucas' hands. Anything I said was taken wrong and it seemed Ayani's name came up more than it did in the past eight years."

"Was it just Wash overreacting?"

"We both did. She told me to fuck off in a meeting and I suspended her for it."

"How'd she take that?" The General didn't figure Wash would like it one bit.

"Threw her tags at me, but never mentioned me being unfair. We made up that night and yesterday it started all over again." He had that desperate look again, "I can't lose her. I love her more than anything."

"Have you told her that?" Lenore hated to see him so forlorn.

"Oh, I've told her, but we need to settle this Ayani issue before it gets between us more than it has. I just don't know what to do or say."

"You remember everything I used to hammer into you young officers about treating a woman right?"

"I make my kids follow what I learned from you, Sir."

"Lenore and I were at church service on Sunday. Chaplin Etters service was on marriage, how you have to forgive each other, but also the marriage bond is the strongest there is. You made a conscious choice to sever your marriage bond in Somalia. At the time you thought you were doing right by your son. Now if Ayani had died and you weren't part of the factor, it would be an entirely different scenario. Look at Hudson. He lost his wife and son, but wasn't even there. He mourns the loss, but wasn't part of the process that killed them. You were. The next woman to have you is getting damaged goods. Wash is a good woman, probably the only one who will ever come close to understanding what you went through, especially after getting shot herself. No, I believe fate put you two together." The General gave advice like he did when Nathaniel was a younger soldier under his command when he advised him on how to pursue Ayani. It looked like he could use more reinforcement having strayed into a sexual relationship with Washington before marriage. Nathaniel listened to the older people tell him again the importance of marriage and how to keep one strong and they should know, being married over fifty years.

Washington slipped quietly into the clinic after Boylan came and told her the coast was clear. He didn't say much, just if she needed a hole in the ground, his was open anytime. Scooping Thaniel carefully, she told Nurse Ogawa she was taking the baby home. The nurse looked like she might protest, but Washington was already out the door, baby and bag disappearing in the sunlight.

Looking for extra breast milk in the crisper, she pulled a pouch to be warmed, having downed a bottle of wine while holed up in Boylan's cellar. Boylan told her to help herself so she did, but didn't want to pass the alcohol to Thaniel. Baby fed and sleeping, Wash jumped into the shower; she opened her mouth to rinse the aftertaste of local berry wine away. With Thaniel hurting, she opted for a quiet day inside. Dressed in a pair of short shorts and tank top, leaving her feet bare, she settled on the couch with her plexpad, first catching up on the military operations. Seemed her suspension didn't include exclusion of reports and schedules. 'Why did you marry me, Nathaniel? Maybe I'm supposed to be dead' An idea formed, grabbing her communicator, she made a call, "Washington to Maddy Reynolds," and waited. Soon her comm beeped, "Maddy to Lieutenant Washington, you call me?"

"Can you babysit Thaniel for a while?"

"Sure, I'm just studying. I was going to the lab later, but Dr. Wallace will understand."

"I doubt it, but if you need me to talk to him, I'll wear my sap gloves."

Maddy arrived quickly and Wash showed the bruised side so she would be careful when handling him. Maddy already knew the circumstances as once again her father went on a rant at supper.

"I just fed and changed him, so he's good to go for now. There are milk pouches in the crisper and you know your way around the diaper bag. I'll be in the eye." She had changed into jeans and a pullover top with long sleeves for this visit. Even though interacting with an image, she was still conscious of who she was going to talk to.

"Wash, there you are," Washington smiled at Ayani's normal greeting. She often had something to tell her and always seemed to be looking for her. The interactive program could literally replicate the person, both in looks and personality. She briefly wondered how many times Nathaniel had come here and spoke to his dead wife, a rhetorical thought, she really didn't want to know. "You look older, Wash. How long has it been since we've seen each other?"

"Twelve years. You look the same as when I last saw you."

"You're being kind. Twelve years would put me close to fifty. What color is my hair dyed?"

Wash couldn't help but smile. She missed their friendship, "Actually you're dead."

"Ohhhhhh, how did that happen?"

"You got shot in the head in Somalia in 2138."

"Oh dear, how are Nathaniel and Lucas?"

"Lucas went crazy because of it and Nathaniel still misses you."

"Why would my death make Lucas crazy, Wash? It shouldn't have."

"He watched it happen."

"I remember now. Nathaniel had to choose between us. He made the right choice."

"He doesn't think so and with what Lucas has done, neither do I."

"Alicia, why don't you stop talking in vague sentences and tell me everything. Looks like I've got all the time in the world."

Wash realized she was still standing and sat on the bench watching the apparition she created pace in front of her. She told Ayani everything including her marriage and their son.

"I'm happy Nathaniel has you, Alicia. I bet Thaniel as you call him, is beautiful. Has his father's eyes you say? Sounds like he might resemble Lucas a little."

"Nathaniel compares me to you and I don't know how to make it stop."

"You're not me, Alicia. I tell you one thing; I know when my man is interested in a woman. He wouldn't let me see picture of you or introduce us for a couple years after you joined his squadron. I heard from other's you were beautiful and when I would ask about you, he played dumb. I saw right through his act. At first I thought it was infatuation with your looks, but your name came up with every wound he came home with. I had to orchestrate a meeting with you. I came to the base on the ruse of looking for Nathaniel when I knew he was off training. I wandered into the medical bay and got to watch you work on a male soldier. Your back was turned, but I watched him look at you. That boy was in love or lust, whichever fits."

"I remember. I turned around and you were looking lost. I came over and you introduced yourself. I told you the Colonial was on a training run, but could call him."

"I made up some excuse and left. I got what I was after, a look at the other woman in my husband's life. Now I had a face to go with Wash this and Wash that. Wash, don't put up with any crap from him. I was concerned my husband would have an affair with you, especially after seeing how beautiful you were. I admit I was jealous and decided to make you my friend. After all, you were a trusted officer to Nathaniel."

"Was that something like keep your friends close and your rivals closer?" Ayani's revelation surprised her. The Commander back then was totally devoted to his wife and never strayed beyond friendship. What did the program pick up on that she missed all those years.

"You better know it. Over time, I came to realize you were dedicated to the service like Nathaniel and you would have been that good and loyal to any commander you served under, and I couldn't help but like you." Alicia missed her warm truth. Ayani hadn't told her much she didn't already know except keeping her doubts carefully hidden. The other woman continued, "Nathaniel loved me. If he loves you, you can't help but know it. He will do things in a way that he doesn't for anyone else. His special treatment of me was a smile that he never used on anyone else. I never saw him give it to you. What does he have just for you, Alicia?"

"Sometimes I catch him staring at me. He has a special smile for me also, but slightly different than the one he used to give you. We kiss a lot," she felt warmth, thinking of his lips running over her body.

"Well, we never kissed all that much, so he does have special treatment with you he never did with me. Sounds like he's tailored his relationship with you to fit you and him exclusively."

"What do I do about the suspension? I'm embarrassed to go around or talk to anyone right now." Enough personal confessions, and didn't want to know about their sex life. That, she would never get out of her memory, her husband's intimacy with his first wife.

"He was out of line on that one. If I were alive, I would have read him the riot act for it. You're letting him get away with too much, not standing up to him like you should. You are the perfect partner for him. Go after him and pin his ears back. That's my advice to you."

"Yep, that's exactly what you would do, but I'm not you as Nathaniel pointed out. I will act like myself. Either it will be good enough for him or he'll keep making comments about how you would have done it better. I can't be you, Ayani, or become like you. I can't let your name or what you would have said or done effect who I am. I'm just going to be me." With a last look at her old friend, she ordered, "Program, erase conversation with Ayani Taylor from the databanks." Ayani's program abruptly shut down. Staring at the empty spot, Alicia felt better than she had in a long time. Now she knew Ayani would always be in his heart, but he was with her now.

Leaving the eye, she went directly to the clinic and waited for Dr. Shannon to finish with a farmer whose leg had a large gash. While waiting, she wandered aimlessly looking at instruments and anything that caught her eye.

"How's Thaniel, Wash?" Elizabeth could have passed her patient off to someone else, but wanted to observe Wash. She seemed back to her old self, impenetrable mask in place.

"I want you to take him. I'm going through the portal tonight."

"Bring him by when you leave. Is everything between you and the Commander okay?" Elizabeth kept her voice lowered and looking around for eavesdroppers.

"We're fine, or will be."

"Wash, I heard what he said to you. I don't care if he told Jim he didn't mean it that way." No way could Wash not be effected by his remark.

"He has a right to his opinion. I married him knowing the risks that he cherishes his first wife more than me. It would be the same if something happened to you and Jim remarried, but still loved you more," she left on that note.

Returning to her home, Alicia found Maddy rifling through the crisper looking for a pouch while Thaniel voiced his complaint that he wasn't fed upon demand. "I got it," she stripped her shirt off and opened her bra. Holding him as not to put pressure on his side, she guided him to his favorite place. Watching, Maddy was getting closer to wanting one of her own. Nursing a baby didn't deter Wash from being formable. "Can I get you to go and ask Malcolm to take me to the portal tonight?"

Malcolm knocked on the Commander's door, not wanting to be the bearer of bad news.

"Wash," he followed her inside and back to the noisemaker. "I couldn't get enough power to open the portal. Since the military took the terminus over in the future, we don't have steady funding to power it up every six months and with the recent openings, it's going to take time. I got enough signal through and they said tomorrow night, late was as soon as they could reroute power." He watched her rub the baby's chest and tummy, careful to avoid the black and yellow side.

"Did you tell them who was coming through?" She was disappointed to be parted for another night.

"No, just another person needed to go through. They didn't ask, were too concerned with the power. Maybe you should bring it up to Taylor."

"Gives me one more day with Thaniel and I'm okay with that, thanks for stopping by. It's been lonely with nothing to do."

Malcolm looked around, "Want me to impose for dinner?"

Wash grinned, "Only if you tell me how it's going with Debora."

Wash walked into several rifles pointed at her and halted when ordered. "Who are you and why are you here, Ma'am?" A fairly young male Sergeant wasn't on duty when the Commander made his appearance or Sergeant Reynolds either. It was his first sight of a Terra Novan, but this was definitely an unscheduled visit or his commander's would be present.

She was dressed in civilian clothes, black form fitting jeans and a black top under a leather jacket. Over a shoulder was a backpack that included her pistol in a holster on the pack for easy access. "I'm Alicia Taylor. I'm looking for my husband, Commander Nathaniel Taylor." She watched as the room came to attention and rifles lowered.

"I'll contact my superior, Ma'am," he grabbed his radio while she looked around the large hangar, taking in vehicles and fighter jets. Only top security areas housed those fighters she knew. Looking back at the contingent; she looked them over. All were young and evidently didn't know what she looked like on sight. Footsteps made her turn.

"Wash, never figured to see you again," and with a toothy grin, he scooped her into a hug.

"Hud. Heard about your wife and son. Tough luck."

"General Caldwell came back spouting lies about you. Said you married Taylor and had a kid that looked like him."

"Hard to tell which son is going to kill him faster, son one with his gun or son two by waking him in the night." It was good to see an old friend.

"Well, I'm happy for you, Wash. I know you waited a long time for him to get his act together after Ayani."

"You have someone waiting for you, Mike?" she figured he did, but like Nathaniel, maybe wasn't ready.

"I don't know."

"Don't wait too long. Nathaniel took four years, but was ready sooner. Speaking of which, where is he?"

"I got to provide escort duty this afternoon and tonight for him. He's at that swanky place, The Dominance."

"Isn't that the place the President and foreign leaders hang out at? What'd he do to rate that joint?"

"Gave a fantastic speech for a couple hundred thousand top ranking people from all over the globe. He stayed on base last night, but has to play the role. I'll give you a lift to him. Don't know why you can't spend the night bullshitting with me, though." He started laughing and grabbed her backpack and slung it over a shoulder. "Man, I still can't believe you and Taylor," he commented as they walked off.