Steve answers,

"The Watchers don't bother me. If they were hostile they'd have let us know. I am concerned Lorean's sister got taken out. That means someone has the power and motivation to do that, which implies they could also do so to Lorean. So yes, I'm also very interested in an offensive upgrade."

"As for a test, I think that sounds like an excellent plan Lorean. So... deal with Thetis first, then go up the timeline in a non-nova place to see what weapons are available?"

"I'm only suggesting Thetis first because I suspect we're going to do it anyway."

Joani nodded towards Steve in agreement. "That sounds like a reasonable plan. Better be safe than sorry."

Andrew at best half listens to most of the conversation. Later he could mentally review it but the revelation from Steve and the look from Amber had started Andrew's mental processes turning. "Wait ... Steve, does your fertility have anything to do with ... umm Proteus? Because if it does that's another good reason to raid their files for as much as we can take. Omar clearly was not affected on your homeworld ... Cody?" He looks at the man across the table with a questioning look. My god, were they trying to silently exterminate the species?

Steve responds grimly, with just a hint of old pain,

"I erupted a few months before Omar did. Proteus had more of a chance, and more time, to get to me with their sterility drugs. So, yes, they did get to me."

"Some of this is on file already... including that they didn't develop a cure for it. I think we still have a sample of the raw sterility compound. We picked it up with the rest of their black tech in that raid."

Omar heard his name spoken in reference to the sterility cocktail. "We know now that they dispensed the sterility compund at the Utopian facilities....Rash..something or other. Anyways, they put the drug into other drugs they gave to newly erupted nova. I did not go to one of those places after my eruption. Therefore I never received the sterility drug."

He looked at Steve and Amber, trying his best to hide his sadness. They would never have children unless there was some way to reverse the drugs effects.

"Andrew, is it possible to synthesize an antidote for the sterility drug? I'd like Steve and Amber to get started on my great-grandkids." He gave his grandchildren a wink and a big smile.

Morgan cleared his throat, "Omar is half right. I studied the records and they did hand out the drugs, but I came across other references that suggest they targeted all novas not just those that went to a facility. Omar, chances are that if you'd stayed on the original timeline longer they would have gotten to you as well eventually. One of the records mentioned spiking peoples drinks or even food at restaurants. I think with the exception of novas that kept a very very low profile and perhaps certain novas that had specific powers that prevented the sterility cocktail from working all novas were sterilized. In effect it was a subtle and insidiously slow form of genocide."

"I'll do what I can to help. Though I am sure you are all more than aware that the taint cure is more pressing. Morgan, perhaps we can review after this meeting, either I wasn't aware of this when it was initially discovered and studied or I simply cannot remember, regardless there's nto time like the present ... or is it the future? The past? Bah, I hate time travel!" Andrew's expression is serious despite his joking. Though his taint has forced him into a self imposed exile he understands the simple human urge to procreate, to ensure that one's legacy lives on in future generations. Although most do not catch it a hint of sadness touches at Andrew's eyes. Without a cure, I can never have children. I would be condeming them to this same curse.

"Do you think it could still affect us if we went to one of those timelines?", asked Joani. The thought of losing her fertility made her extremely uncomfortable.

"Yet we need to keep our focus. We've already decided to leave this timeline but now it's important to work out the details... maybe we should put it to a vote?", Joani looked at her gathered friends and tried to raise the spirits with a friendly smile.

"I'm with Steve - lets get Thetis first."

Andrew blinks, "But ... umm, which ... uhh, which one? With infinite timelines ... well ..." Andrew appears to have confused himself. He stops and his eyes go vacant while he tries to sort everythign out. "Umm, yeah so ... which timeline?"

Morgan smiles at Joani, "Yes, it could effect you and Ulric, Amber, Kyria and anyone that wasn't already exposed. But that's only if we don't prevent Thetis from creating her evil little drug. If we stop her before she gets started, there is no risk at all."

Lorean nods, "We can do that, it will take a little longer to travel to however. It's a deviation off the timelines we've traveled to before. Maybe three or 4 days worth of jumps away. It could be pretty different though. Depending on WHY there was no Proteus could make for big differences in the other events of the 20th Century."

Even though he had already fathered children, the though of being chemically sterilized was unpleasant.

"Is there a vaccine that we could give to those of use who are still fertile, that would nullify the Proteus cocktail? Vaccines are easier to make than cures." Omar looked sheepish, as if his suggestion was ridiculous.

"That way we could go to a timeline with a Proteus."

Steve says,

"Getting rid of Thetis would basically do that... and excellent catch Omar on the vaccine idea."

"I should point out that getting rid of Thetis and dealing with the sterility drug are different issues. Our records don't show how it was created. I suspect, but not strongly, that it's a nova creation like Eufiber."

"It should be possible to find timelines where the sterilization was not done, especially if it was a nova creation. Those timelines might provide much better nova medical records as well. It has the added benefit of giving Andrew comparisons between many more second and third generations novas. That should be quite helpful."

"A vaccine may be a viable stop gap but I can't just whip one up at the drop of a hat. Unless we are going to spend all our time debating I think we need to start with single discreet and managable goals. We test jump to gold world and see what data we can mine. We test jump to an alternate, proteus free earth, and data mine. Etc. until we find what we want, what I need, or we figure out a better plan of action."

Morgan nodded. "Excellent idea and that's a good series of steps. Anyone have any objections?"

"None.", stated Joani looking expectantly at the others.

Steve nods his acceptance.

Omar was surprised that his idea was received warmly. His idea for dealing with proteus would involve a vaccine? It might be worth it to mention his idea to the others.

"If we do find a vaccine, we could beat Proteus at their own game." Omar said as a smile creeped across his lips. "A nova population explosion, despite proteus's efforts, might break the back of the organization. There would be too many of them for Proteus."

"No objections here," replies Ulric. The idea of being sterilized was, of course, unappealing, but he knew this journey would have its perils. Some would be more readily dealt with than others, but Ulric had no doubts the assembled novas could conquer anything - given time.

"Looks like we have our first destination. If there's nothing else to do first I suggest we jump right away.", said Joani with determination.

Lorean nodded. "Very well. I have had all supplies brought on board. We can jump now." The two Loreans face each other briefly, one holographic and one physical, they both matched in identical expressions of concentration. Just before they look up at the rest of the room you feel a slight dropping sensation in the pit of your stomachs. Those who have made a time jump with Lorean before will feel the difference from past jumps. This one was much smoother.

After a moment an image appears of a building that some of you have seen before and know to be the secret headquarters of Project Proteus. In this timeline the Proteus building is coated with dust and ash and the atmosphere is thick and noxious and night reigns supereme. A grey drizzling rain falls but does little to clean the building or anything else.

Hologram Lorean addresses the group, "The images you are seeing are from a probe. I sent it down when we jumped in. I don't care to fly down into the atmosphere. I jumped us in just three years after the meteor strike this time since we know when it happened. The records should still be intact, but there is also still the possibility of survivors down there so you will need to exercise caution. We are here before our previous visit so conditions will be worse on the planet than when you were here last. There's a lot of sulfur in the atmosphere and it is gonna be pretty cool down there. It's mid summer right now and the temperature is only 60 degrees in the daytime." She finished up with one last less than cheery bit of news, "Remember that Thetis used a teleportation device to escape to Mars from this facility but that was in the world where the Aberrant war occurred, in this one there was no war. She could still be alive or there might be nasty surprises down there."

Omar lets out a deep sigh. "I had forgotted what a smashed world looks like." There was a distant look in his eyes, as he shook his head. "So much death."

Omar looks over towards Joani and Ulric. "I know both of you have seen the videos, but they don't do justice to actually being here."

His eufiber changed to an ashen grey, to match the general surroundings. He begins to do some light stretching; in anticipation of physical exertion. "I am ready to go."

*As am I.*

Cody says, even as his powered armor envelops him from it's hyper-spatial storage pocket. His voice coming over the vox systems in the suit is unusual in that it now seems to be coming directly from him.

*May I suggest we warp down in the Cruser?*

"Actually I think I'd rather like to walk." Andrew smiles as thick membranes cover his eyes and his nostrils and mouth seal shut. Over the link he adds, *I'll meet you down there. I've been waiting a while to do something like this.*

Andrew heads to the airlock and allows it to cycle through. Before it does he modifies his body to contain a pressurized air pocket and fills it. Enough to allow him to manuever in space for half an hour. As the airlock opens and Andrew is exposed to the harsh near vacuum his body shifts reflexively compensating for the lack of pressure and the stunning cold. Andrew takes a running leap out of the airlock and with a quick burst of air jets toward the atmosphere, his skin thickening to armor plates to ablate the intense heat of reentry.

Steve picks up some guns, some other gear and says,

"Yes. Let's."

Kyria's own eufiber shifted much as Omar's had, her normal street clothes flowing into a light grey martial looking outfit. She nods to Steve, *I can carry some of that, if you'd like.*

Her eyes flicked to her father for the briefest second after that statement, braced for any objections but wanting to feel like part of the team now that they were apparently in another dimension. Talk about leaving the nest.

"I'll be following Andrew - just in case something unexpected comes. We should stay at least in teams of twos.", having said that Joani quickly followed Andrew to the airlock and dived after him once the pressurizing system has cycled the locks.

Sending over the link she added for Andrew. *I got you covered, Andrew. Just in case.*

Michael frowned at his daughter but didn't say anything aloud. Over the private link, *Be careful out there and don't get used to it. After this test run we are going back home. I wouldn't have come even on this jump except that the records they are seeking could be very useful to us as well.* He pauses for just a moment then adds, *That and I've been curious for the last 80 years what jumping through time and across dimensions would be like.* You feel your fathers amusement over the link and a slight disapproval for your 'adventure' but almost equal amounts of pride.

Aloud and over the open link he says, "I will stay aboard and scan for minds and see what can be found in this barren place. After you have retrieved the records, I would like Lorean to jump back home so that Kyria and I can disembark."

Watching Joani follow Andrew down, Ulric can only stand back and chuckle.

"I'll be taking the shuttle, thank you very much."

Looking to Steve,
"Good idea. You never know what you'll meet."

Ulric grabs a sidearm, vision amplifiers, and a med-kit. He also gets a breathing mask and some urban camoflauge, seeing as he's never invested in eufiber.

Reentry for Joani and Andrew was not bad, it was actually pretty enjoyable in fact, until they got lower into the atmosphere. Then the visibility reduced and the sulfur and ash began to coat them. The others had an uneventful trip in Cody's cruiser and after about 45 minutes everyone stood assembled before the building that housed Proteus' secret facilities. Several feet of ash and dust were piled up against the front of the building blocking the doorway. Walking around the perimeter reveals a service entry at the back that is surprisingly not blocked.

Steve sends over the link,

*Stay on your toes people. That entrance has been used recently.*

*Hey Cody, sense any minds in there?*

Joani dusted off the Ash that covered her using some of her superbreath. After she was satisfied with the results she nodded to Steve and scanned the door using her X-Ray vision and Microscopic Vision.

(ooc: I'm trying to see if there are any traces of recent use and of course if there is anyone inside)

"I'll have a good look the old fashioned way", said Joani smiling.

Cody opens up his awareness to sense any lifesigns in the area, He also keeps the link open for Michael who is doing the same over a much wider range.

"Just to be clear, what kind of threat level and aggressiveness are we likely to face? Just trying to determine how likely we are to talking to people."

Ulric's mind is as much on the facility as he is thanking God that his timeline was spared this fate.

Omar stood next to Cody. After he spoke, Omar gave him a slight push to the front. "Lead the way..Oh sensitive one." Omar gave Cody a teasing slap on his shoulders before addressing him again.

"You had better hope that you feel the danger before it arrives." Omar said to Cody with a smile, as a grin spread across his face. "Or I will need to take a shower and replace my eufiber."

Steve answered,

"Think of this as the White House right after the US lost a nuclear war. Better still from their point of view we were probably on the other side."

"Presumably if we know to come here then they'll have to assume we're here for their ass. But after all this time they might be more interested in living than loyalty."

Cody materializes a large gun into the air similar to a replicator type effect. It is a canon and wraps around his arm and shoulders with a robotic support arm connected to the suit. His other hand materializes an electroshock pistol which he sets to high level stun.

*Don't worry about me Omar. I can take care of myself.*

*I can't feel any life signs. It's not impossible that the building could be shielded but I am not picking that up either. Michael, can you sense anything?*