Post MoM AU, general post

[use_everything]

And then one day, it was over.

The memory of how it happened was hazy. Perhaps it was as simple as being ported out, perhaps there was a great experiment, bringing together physicists, chemists, alchemists and scientists to get something WORKING. But like the memories of that time, that other dimension, singular events come and go, like a dream, or an age past.

From the very start, however, there were changes.

Comments

[jacksonian]

[ Too many.

He gives a morose shrug. ]

There were clones besides me, I think. Clones of you. I think there had to have been. If it was...some alternate timeline, how can you be sure it was me and not one of them?

[dendarii]

[ Quietly: ]

Because you're here right now. How do you think Da found you so easily? How we set up the ambush so perfectly?

[jacksonian]

Because it was easy to figure out how Galen would jump. The moment you showed up on Komarr, doing all that, he'd have lost his temper and acted prematurely. Obviously.

[dendarii]

All that is true. But it requires knowing Galen was there, on Komarr, at that exact time. And that you would be there too.

Haven't you wondered who told us all that?

[jacksonian]

You had a mole. Obviously.

[dendarii]

Yes, we did. It was you.

[jacksonian]

[ He stares, uncomprehending. ]

It...What?

[dendarii]

You told us. The you in about three years. You and Da set a time and place for him to come rescue you. The first safe opportunity.

[jacksonian]

That's not...

[ He falters. Then he swallows, blinks hard, and says: ]

That's not possible. I - [ He struggles, then asks, his voice small: ] I...got myself out?

[dendarii]

[ Miles nods firmly. (He would lay much of it at Aral's feet too, but - he senses now is not the time to reduce this moment for Mark.) ]

Just so.

[jacksonian]

[ He fidgets a moment, then says, a little quiet, a little choked: ]

Doesn't really sound like me.

[dendarii]

[ Miles shrugs a bit at that. ]

Three years can change a lot for a person. Hopefully they make a difference for you too.

[jacksonian]

And -

[ He fidgets a little more. ]

It didn't get screwed up or anything.

[dendarii]

As flawless an operation as ImpSec can possibly manage, I'd say.

[jacksonian]

[ He pauses a moment, and then drops his face into his hands again. But the gesture is less frantic, less desperate. He's freaking out a little less. ]

This is impossible. [ Then a pause, before: ] Why didn't Count Vorkosigan stop me from happening at all?

[dendarii]

[ Good. That means they're making progress. ]

Because he wanted you, Mark. His second son. He's been waiting twenty years to bring you home.

[jacksonian]

But he could have done -

[ Better. Though they say Count Vorkosigan and his wife are infertile...But even so, Betan doctors could harvest a few cells, make another kid. One who's less...strange. ]

[dendarii]

[ Miles can guess at what that last word was going to be. He gives Mark a bit of a lopsided grin. ]

That son wouldn't have been you.

[jacksonian]

[ He gives Miles a helpless look. ]

But I was - I'm useful to Galen, and to the Komarrans. I can't imagine - being useful to Count Vorkosigan.

[dendarii]

Useful isn't a part of this quotation. You're family.

[jacksonian]

[ He looks down and admits, shakily: ]

I don't even know what that means.

[dendarii]

[ Miles hesitates for a moment. Then slowly reaches out to place a hand on Mark's shoulder. If he'll let him. ]

I imagine it will take a while. Fortunately you have time now.

[jacksonian]

[ Mark flinches, but doesn't shrug him off. ]

I - had thought this was temporary. Until the mission against Bharaputra.

[dendarii]

Being part of the family? Hell no. Staying physically in the house until then is a necessity, but after that you can stay or go as you please.

[jacksonian]

[ A little shake of his head. Then he admits: ]

I - don't know if this is something that I want.