We sometimes get too caught up in trying to keep from dying that we forget to live. I promised myself a long time ago to see and recognize everything that makes life worth living. To pursue joy, enjoy beauty, and all those other little fortune cookie statements. Life is about looking back and seeing all the amazing times you had. It is looking forward to all the sights you have yet to see. I plan to live forever, but I live as if I might die tomorrow. Because tomorrow is never promised.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He squinted his eyes against the storm beating upon the beach. Rain soaked him to the bone and hit the still-hot coals of the bonfire with a long continuous hiss. Wind blew his long, wet hair all around him while choppy waves attacked the beach with abandon. He stood alone on the beach, the party long gone as the smarter people fled before the storm.<\/p>\n
But he remained, wishing he knew why. The party was gone, so why was he still here? He didn\u2019t know. He just knew he didn\u2019t want to go. It was hard not knowing what he wanted. It was a familiar feeling. He\u2019d had it before but couldn\u2019t remember when. He couldn\u2019t remember much at all at the moment.<\/p>\n
And here he was with storm water running down his face and quenching the memory of every party he\u2019d ever had. He ran fingers through his hair and drew it back from his face so he could see further into the storm. The double decker pontoon that was sometimes there was nowhere to be seen now. Not that he would have wanted to see it on a lake as choppy as this one was today. Only a fool stayed out under a storm like this.<\/p>\n
So what was he doing here? He couldn\u2019t remember. No. That wasn\u2019t quite right. He didn\u2019t want<\/em> to remember. There was an intangible difference between the two, but he knew which side of the line he fell on today. Tonight? He wasn\u2019t sure. The storm was so heavy he couldn\u2019t even tell if it was night or day. That was something. He hadn\u2019t seen more than a handful of storms that powerful in his lifetime. They were the kind that brought tornadoes. Not the little ones. The big ones that hit entire towns and left nothing but kindling behind. This was a killer storm.<\/p>\n He shouldn\u2019t be out here. He should be home. But there was no home. His home was gone. Destroyed. He couldn\u2019t remember when that happened, but he knew it was gone and his family with it. Everyone was gone. He was alone. Rain came down in sheets driving across the beach and he heard the storm calling to him. It called him to stay forever. Well. That was easy. He couldn\u2019t think of where else he wanted to be.<\/p>\n A flash of red appeared in the storm and he watched it come closer. It whipped in the wind like a pennant as it approached, and a black dress came into focus beneath it. Long legs followed with a confident stride through the sand and he heard a familiar voice wafting in on the wind.<\/p>\n \u201cHi, Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack frowned and studied Samantha for a long while. He finally asked her, \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou invited me here,\u201d she answered with a shrug that said it explained everything.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t. Jack\u2019s frown deepened. \u201cI thought you didn\u2019t want anything to do with me.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha sighed. \u201cI\u2019m sorry. I was wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy should I believe you?\u201d Jack asked and lightning flashed in the storm clouds.<\/p>\n Samantha looked up at the sky in worry and liked her lips. Then she looked back down towards him. When she spoke it was with deepest calm. \u201cI\u2019ve never lied to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack grunted and turned to look back out onto the storm over the lake, letting his silence tell her what she could do and where she could go. First Julie and Alex. Now Samantha. He was sick and tired of being left behind like yesterday\u2019s garbage.<\/p>\n \u201cJack,\u201d Samantha whispered and stepped close to lean into him. She pressed the curves of her body into his and the perfumed scent of the ocean wafted off her neck. \u201cI won\u2019t leave you again. We don\u2019t ever have to be separated again.\u201d<\/p>\n He would have done anything to hear those words yesterday. Today he knew they were a lie. Well. Not a lie. She didn\u2019t lie to him.<\/p>\n Samantha leaned in closer, reached up to pull his jaw towards her, and kissed him. Supernovas exploded behind his eyes and he lost all conscious thought. He opened his eyes an eternity later to find her sharp green eyes looking deep into his soul. And that was when he knew without a shadow of a doubt. He\u2019d wondered in the past. Now he knew. He could stay. He never had to go again.<\/p>\n The storm raged as he smiled at Samantha. Then a flash of yellow caught his attention and he turned to see another woman walk out of the storm. Her blonde hair and yellow sundress whipped around her in the chaotic wind currents, and her bright blue eyes speared him all the way through.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t listen to her,\u201d Samantha hissed into his ear. \u201cShe doesn\u2019t want us to be together.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack\u2019s jaw twitched at the warning, but he already knew it. Why else would she be here, after all?<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Jack,\u201d the blonde said over the storm.<\/p>\n \u201cBetty,\u201d he answered in the best calm voice he could master as he held one arm around Samantha.<\/p>\n Betty looked around at the storm-tossed beach. \u201cThings are looking pretty rough here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think I can manage,\u201d Jack answered in a cautious tone.<\/p>\n Betty smiled. \u201cI know you can.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen why are you here?\u201d<\/p>\n Betty aimed a hard look at Samantha. \u201cBecause nothing you have here will ever be real.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt can be real enough,\u201d Samantha purred in his ear.<\/p>\n \u201cCan it?\u201d Betty asked with a shake of her head. \u201cAre you really willing to settle for a dream?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack frowned towards Betty. But instead of answering her, he asked a question of his own. \u201cWho are you? Really?\u201d<\/p>\n Betty stepped close to him and grabbed both collars with long and slender fingers. \u201cSomeone who cares enough about you to never turn my back on you. No matter how far away you run.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack gritted his teeth and glared at her. \u201cI don\u2019t run away from anything.\u201d<\/p>\n Betty shook her head in sorrow and patted his shoulder. \u201cYou\u2019ve been running every day since they left.\u201d<\/p>\n A cold chill ran down Jack\u2019s spine. He wanted to say she was wrong, but he knew she was right. He\u2019d been running from one girl to another since Julie and Alex left. But Sam was different. Wasn\u2019t she? Yes. She was. She\u2026she could be the one.<\/p>\n Betty smiled again.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYou don\u2019t ever have to run again, Jack. But you do have to walk,\u201d she finished and held her hand out towards him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t have to do anything she tells you, Jack!\u201d Samantha shouted and shouldered Betty aside to stand directly in front of him. \u201cStay here, and I\u2019ll take care of you,\u201d she purred and leaned into him. He could feel every memorized curve under her black dress and knew she could do exactly what she promised. She\u2019d never lied to him. Neither of them ever had.<\/p>\n Jack sighed and wrapped his arms around Samantha. Then he met Betty\u2019s gaze. \u201cYou are not Betty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. I am not,\u201d Betty said with a serene smile.<\/p>\n \u201cThen why should I follow you?\u201d<\/p>\n The woman who was not Betty laughed out loud. It was one of those crystal clear laughs that tinkled off the surrounding terrain and could brighten even a springtime early morning storm in its full fury.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve never followed me anywhere, Jack,\u201d Betty said with a tragically beautiful smile. Then she held her hand out to him. \u201cBut we can walk side by side if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack frowned at the proffered hand. \u201cNo bribery?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNothing but the truth, Jack,\u201d Betty said with a smile that could break hearts. \u201cI will never leave you alone.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack held Samantha tight and aimed a bullish look at Betty. \u201cSometimes a little bribery can be nice.\u201d<\/p>\n Betty sighed. \u201cNo dream is ever as good as the reality.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, maybe the dream is all I\u2019ll ever get,\u201d Jack said in a bitter tone.<\/p>\n Betty\u2019s eyes narrowed and her stance stiffened. \u201cIf you truly believe that, then you should stay here and never wake up. If you\u2019re too afraid to risk rejection, then you should hide in here forever.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOuch,\u201d Jack whispered. \u201cThat\u2019s kinda harsh, don\u2019t you think?\u201d<\/p>\n Betty cocked her head to the side. \u201cThat\u2019s life, Jack. I never said it would be easy. I only said it would be worth it.\u201d Betty held her hand out again. \u201cYou\u2019ve spent years running from it. Your own life and the consequences of your choices. Can you honestly tell me that you really loved it?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack frowned and gave her an angry look. \u201cThey left! I wasn\u2019t going to run after them! So I did the best I could!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you really believe that?\u201d Betty asked with a shake of her head.<\/p>\n Jack opened his mouth to say, \u201cof course,\u201d but he stopped himself. She was right. There were a lot of things he could have done differently if he\u2019d been concerned with doing his best. Most of the things if he was being real honest. He\u2019d taken the easy route.<\/p>\n Betty nodded as she saw the recognition in his eyes. \u201cYou have unfinished business, Jack. Wouldn\u2019t you like to see how it goes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s already seen<\/em> how it goes,\u201d Samantha broke in before Jack could answer. \u201cNo good deed goes unpunished, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t asking you,\u201d Betty said to the other woman without ever taking her eyes off Jack. \u201cHe\u2019s the one with the choice to make.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack shook his head and disentangled himself from Samantha. Then he turned and walked to the edge of the beach where the storm-tossed waves crashed into it. \u201cI loved them,\u201d he voiced into the wind.<\/p>\n \u201cYou still do,\u201d the woman who was not Betty whispered beside him.<\/p>\n Jack snorted. \u201cBut I love her too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you can have her right now,\u201d the woman who was not Samantha said from his other side. \u201cWhat do you really want? I can make it all real for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut only in my dreams,\u201d Jack whispered and shook his head slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cLive your dream, Jack,\u201d Samantha said into the storm.<\/p>\n \u201cDreams are an integral part to life. But they are not all of it,\u201d Betty said as the waves lapped over her sandaled feet. Then she smiled at Jack. \u201cSo who are you, Jack? A man content to hold onto part of life? The easy part? Or are you a man who demands all<\/em> of it?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack sighed and looked back towards the pile of wet wood that had been a bonfire. His imagination supplied the pretty girls dancing around it with the sound of guitars playing to the beat of drums. \u201cIt really was a dream, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was everything you wanted,\u201d Betty whispered. \u201cAre you still the boy who wanted that?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack\u2019s mouth twitched at Betty\u2019s question. Then he sighed and shook his head. \u201cNo. I guess I\u2019m not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood,\u201d Betty whispered with a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not done,\u201d Samantha\u2019s low and husky voice said. Then she tapped his forehead with one elegant finger. \u201cI\u2019ll always be here. Until the day you die.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Jack said and smiled at her. \u201cSee you tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlways,\u201d Samantha whispered, turned away, and swayed sensually back into the storm.<\/p>\n \u201cShe is good,\u201d Jack whispered in amazement.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s bad, actually,\u201d Betty corrected with a frown.<\/p>\n Jack chuckled. \u201cJust like I like them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d Betty patted his hand and began leading him towards the lake. \u201cJust the ones you allowed<\/em> yourself to like after they<\/em> left.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue.\u201d Jack sighed. \u201cHow is it that you know me so well?\u201d<\/p>\n Betty smiled and tapped his forehead right where Samantha had. \u201cI\u2019m in here, silly. I know everything you know, and you never did master the art of lying to yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut I\u2019m really good at ignoring my own good advice,\u201d Jack muttered.<\/p>\n Betty laughed again and the storm began to fade. \u201cYou are an expert at that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you?\u201d<\/p>\n Betty stopped again and grasped both his hands in hers. \u201cWhat do you want me to say, Jack? That I\u2019m a figment of your imagination? Or maybe an undigested bit of beef? Or your guardian angel?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack let out a low growl and snapped, \u201cI\u2019d like you to tell me the truth!\u201d<\/p>\n Betty drew him close and leaned her forehead against his. He felt her there, close against him, but it was different from when Samantha had touched him. It was intimate without being sensual. \u201cI have never lied to you, Jack. And I never will. But before I answer, I must know what scares you most. The idea that it takes a figment of your imagination to pry you awake every morning? Or the idea that I am not<\/em> a figment of your imagination at all?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat does it matter?\u201d Jack asked as he looked into the fading storm. \u201cThey\u2019re both one way trips to crazy town.\u201d<\/p>\n Betty laughed again and the storm went away entirely. The lake was calm and quiet, like the storm had never been there at all. She tapped his nose and stepped away to face the lake as a rainbow began to appear. \u201cTrue. But there\u2019s a difference between living there and driving through at skyway speeds.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I guess I always did prefer to drive,\u201d Jack said with a smirk as the rainbow grew to fill the whole sky.<\/p>\n \u201cJack?\u201d Betty said next to him and he turned to look at her once more as the rainbow washed over her face. \u201cIt\u2019s time to wake up.\u201d<\/p>\n The rainbow filled his vision and everything faded away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cJack? It\u2019s time to wake up,\u201d Betty said and he opened his eyes as the dream faded away.<\/p>\n She\u2019d been in the dream. He thought so at least. It was fading so quickly. That was a shame. He felt like he\u2019d made a decision in it. It would be nice to remember what it was. But he had more important things to do than worry about the dreams.<\/p>\n \u201cHey,\u201d he said with a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, yourself.\u201d Betty smiled back and he knew it was the real Betty.<\/p>\n He blinked in confusion. Well, of course it was. Who else would she be? Why would he even question it?<\/p>\n \u201cYou have a visitor,\u201d Betty continued and turned towards the door to his room.<\/p>\n \u201cRight. Got it,\u201d Jack said and rolled out of bed. He looked around and spotted a tank top and exercise shorts. A minimally clothed and very decent Jack sat down on his bed seconds later and dangled his legs over the edge with a smile on his face.<\/p>\n The door opened. He exchanged glances with a very familiar face. His own.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, this is a rather unique situation,\u201d Jack whispered and waved his clone in.<\/p>\n The other Jack smiled and stepped in to find a seat. \u201cVery<\/em> unique.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack frowned and chewed his lip, wondering if the man sitting before him really was<\/em> a true copy of everything he was or \u201cgood enough for government work\u201d as the old saying went. \u201cSo, are you really me?\u201d he asked, one hand rubbing his chin. \u201cOr just some real good simulation?\u201d<\/p>\n The other Jack laughed. \u201cOh, that question is so far<\/em> outside my pay grade.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack frowned, clicked his tongue in thought, and considered another question. It might work. \u201cYou have my memories?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh yes,\u201d the other Jack returned with a waggle of his eyebrows. \u201cAnd I love every moment of them.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack chuckled. \u201cI do have some good ones, don\u2019t I? Or is it more accurate to say we<\/em> do now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey! I\u2019m a beach bum, not an English major,\u201d the other Jack protested.<\/p>\n \u201cTrue,\u201d Jack said with a nod. The other Jack seemed to have his mannerisms down very well. Jack furrowed his brow in thought and considered the other Jack again, wondering if the man knew why<\/em> he acted like that. \u201cDo you remember Kimberly, the pianist?\u201d<\/p>\n The other Jack gave him a doubtful look and a raised eyebrow. \u201cYou mean Katrina? The gymnast?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack smiled. \u201cOops. My bad.\u201d<\/p>\n The other Jack aimed a knowing expression at him. \u201cWell, if we\u2019re talking about those<\/em> memories, what about Trina, the water ballerina?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack laughed and shook his head, his mind twisting through memories to find the girl he was certain the other man meant. \u201cDon\u2019t recognize her. But there was<\/em> Trixie<\/em> from water polo<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh yes. Of course. Silly me.\u201d The other Jack winked at him.<\/p>\n Jack sighed. \u201cDidn\u2019t she run off with that guy named\u2026something with a G?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGarth.\u201d The other Jack snorted then. \u201cToo bad about that.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack smiled and nodded. Then he got serious. \u201cWhat about Julie and Alex?\u201d<\/p>\n The other Jack froze for a second. He took a deep breath and shook himself out of it before staring directly into Jack\u2019s eyes. Jack saw the pain there. And everything else that went along with them. The other Jack finally said three words. \u201cYeah. I remember.\u201d<\/p>\n That settled it for Jack. This other Jack had his memories, his feelings, and his mannerisms. At least as far as he could tell. \u201cBetty? Jasmine?\u201d<\/p>\n Betty and Jasmine flickered into existence on either side of his bed. \u201cYes, Jack?\u201d they asked in unison.<\/p>\n Jack smirked at the other Jack who responded with an amused wink.<\/p>\n The other two cybers rolled their eyes. \u201cReally?\u201d Betty asked.<\/p>\n Jack aimed an innocent shrug her way. \u201cI was just wondering what you thought.\u201d<\/p>\n Jasmine and Betty looked at each other before nodding. \u201cHe fits you to a tee,\u201d Betty said.<\/p>\n \u201cI agree,\u201d Jasmine added in her own two cents.<\/p>\n The other Jack smiled and spread his arms out wide. \u201cSee Jack? Now<\/em> you\u2019ve got some competition worth competing<\/em> with.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack snorted and shook his head. \u201cBring it on, Mini Me.\u201d<\/p>\n Betty sighed and rolled her eyes again. \u201cOh Brave New World, that has such people in it,\u201d she whispered, and Jack could have sworn he heard the echoes of the redhead that made him audition for a part in that ancient Shakespearean play. He looked at the other version of himself and the man winked at him, obviously having made the same connection. Good.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, I do love<\/em> the Tempest,\u201d Jack said, imagining that amazing redhead on stage with him.<\/p>\n The other Jack let out a long sigh. \u201cMe too. Definitely, me too.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack chuckled and shook his head. \u201cBut is it for the same reason I<\/em> do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely,\u201d the other Jack answered, almost looking affronted. \u201cMiranda was\u2026was\u2026\u201d the other Jack trailed off, obviously searching for words.<\/p>\n \u201cHer, oh her, so perfect and so peerless, created of every creature’s best,\u201d Jack filled in for the other man, only slightly blemishing the lines he\u2019d learned all those years ago. Or that they\u2019d<\/em> learned.<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed,\u201d the other Jack responded with a satisfied smile. \u201cToo bad she liked Ferdinand.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack sobered and pulled in a deep breath, remembering the conniving little art major who played that part. Of course, he was willing to admit he was biased. \u201cYeah. What a waste.\u201d<\/p>\n Betty laughed from the corner of the room, forcing both of them to turn to look at her. \u201cWas there any<\/em> girl you didn\u2019t lust after?\u201d she asked, shaking her head in mock disgust.<\/p>\n \u201cAdmire,\u201d the other Jack corrected, raising one hand to wave an admonishing finger at her.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd flirt with,\u201d Jack added with a wink.<\/p>\n The other Jack pursed his lips, doing an amazing job of acting like he was pondering the matter. \u201cIf<\/em> they could think themselves out of a paper bag.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack chuckled. \u201cOh yes. Must<\/em> have brains.\u201d<\/p>\n Betty snorted. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t put you on a high pedestal you know? Zombies<\/em> like brains too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, well,\u201d Jack said with a sniff. \u201cZombies<\/em> are slow and clumsy while we<\/em>\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre swift and graceful,\u201d the other Jack finished for him and came to his feet to give her a debonair bow.<\/p>\n \u201cOh God,\u201d Betty said with a look of horror. \u201cYou\u2019re finishing each other\u2019s sentences<\/em> now. Please make it stop.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Are we two<\/em> much of a good thing?\u201d Jack asked with a smirk and two raised fingers.<\/p>\n Betty rolled her eyes and groaned. \u201cNot the bad puns too?\u201d she said in a helpless tone. \u201cJasmine? A little help here?\u201d<\/p>\n Jasmine flickered into existence and affected a heroically gallant stance between them and Betty. \u201cNow, boys, please stop torturing her.\u201d<\/p>\n The other Jack sighed theatrically and exaggerated a shrug. \u201cI guess this much awesome is just two<\/em> much to bear,\u201d he said with a wink.<\/p>\n Jasmine snorted. \u201cWell, something<\/em> is at least.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. That\u2019s it,\u201d Betty barked, jamming her hands on both hips with a disgusted look. \u201cIf someone<\/em> doesn\u2019t end this I\u2019m<\/em> ending it. And you won\u2019t like<\/em> the way I end it. Capiche?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCompletely,\u201d the other Jack said with a bow and turned to himself.<\/p>\n Jack had to shake his head to make that particular observation make sense. The American language didn\u2019t have nearly enough ways of thinking about this particular concept to make sense. They were going to need to develop something if this caught on.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid we\u2019re going to have to cut this short,\u201d Betty said to the other Jack and looked towards the door. \u201cWe have work to do, and you<\/em> need to get a checkup.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d the other Jack said with a wry grin and another bow. Then he turned to Jack and sighed. \u201cIt almost seems a waste. I could be such a good fighter, but I\u2019m<\/em> the one staying on one of the most heavily defended worlds in the galaxy, while you<\/em>\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhile I<\/em> will get the glory for kicking the Shang\u2019s asses across the galaxy,\u201d Jack finished for him with a cocky tone and an airy wave of his hand. \u201cDon\u2019t worry, we all play our parts in War. Men like you<\/em> collect scrap metal for The War effort while better<\/em> men kick alien ass,\u201d he finished with a merciless wink.<\/p>\n \u201cOooh,\u201d the other Jack returned with an appreciative chuckle. \u201cEpic burn. You know this means war, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack shrugged. It was the least he could do after all. God knew somebody needed to keep his ego in check. Even if that someone was him. Jack blinked as he realized just how weird that train of thought was. Not to mention the situation. The other Jack\u2019s eyes twinkled in recognition of the\u2026unique situation they were in.<\/p>\n \u201cGood luck, Jack,\u201d the other Jack said with a smile and gave Jack a sloppy salute.<\/p>\n Jack sighed and nodded. A dozen and more snarky comments about playing with Samantha came to mind. Then he remembered last night and the gut punch left him breathless.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d the other Jack asked as he slumped.<\/p>\n Jack shook his head and the crushing weight of the vacuum in his life that had been Samantha made it hard to answer. He sat down hard. \u201cSorry, man, I fraked up,\u201d was all he could think to say.<\/p>\n The other Jack frowned in concern. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack shrugged and told him everything. The mugger. His reaction. Her reaction. Her father taking her home. Jack left behind.<\/p>\n \u201cWhoa,\u201d the other Jack whispered and shook his head. \u201cIt\u2019s Julie and Alex all over again. What do we do?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack sighed and gave the other man a helpless shrug. He felt like he was running away. \u201cI have to go. The fleet\u2019s leaving for the Pleiades tomorrow. We\u2019re packing up today. I\u2019m sorry, but I just don\u2019t have any time.\u201d Then Jack shrugged once more. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t think she\u2019d listen to me if I tried.\u201d<\/p>\n The other Jack nodded very slowly and looked away. \u201cYeah. I understand.\u201d Then he shook his head. \u201cYou know\u2026I don\u2019t know. What do I<\/em> do then?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSomething we won\u2019t look back on with regret,\u201d Jack whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d the other Jack said in understanding. \u201cThat I might be able to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood luck,\u201d Jack said and gave him a lazy salute.<\/p>\n \u201cGood luck,\u201d the other Jack returned and took a last look around at what had been their room for the last month. Then he turned and left. The door shut behind him and left Jack alone with Betty and Jasmine.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, that was\u2026unique,\u201d Jack muttered. It had been hard, but part of him thought it should have been harder. He knew he wouldn\u2019t have reacted nearly so well to someone else sabotaging his relationship with his girlfriend. Assuming his clone could claim that of course. He groaned. This line of thinking was going to give him a headache.<\/p>\n \u201cIt gets more unique,\u201d another voice said and Hal\u2019s holoform flickered into existence. The Peloran cyber shook his head. \u201cHe is not what we were hoping for.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d Jack asked with a furrowed brow. \u201cHe seemed okay to me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe is perfectly fine,\u201d Hal said and let out a long breath. \u201cFor a Peloran.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Hal shrugged. \u201cThe cloning process made a one hundred percent Peloran body for him. He has your memories, but all of the genetic imperatives of a full Peloran.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh,\u201d Jack whispered. \u201cThat isn\u2019t what we were hoping for.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed,\u201d Hal said with another shake of his head.<\/p>\n \u201cSo that\u2019s why he didn\u2019t tear my head off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProbably.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo what comes next?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is a very good question,\u201d Hal said. \u201cWe will need to observe him for some time to find out the answer to that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo what can I do to help?\u201d Jack asked and met Hal\u2019s gaze.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing,\u201d Hal answered. \u201cThe best thing you can do is nothing. Leave him alone. Give him a chance to live whatever life he can without your interference. That is the best gift you can give him.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack met Hal\u2019s gaze for several seconds before nodding and taking in a deep breath. \u201cOkay. I guess we should get to work then. The Shang aren\u2019t going to kill themselves, after all.\u201d<\/p>\n Hal smiled at Jack\u2019s bravado. \u201cIndeed. I do believe they will need some help from us on that point.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen it\u2019s a good thing I\u2019m a real helpful guy,\u201d Jack said in a grim tone and came to his feet.<\/p>\n It was time to get to work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We sometimes get too caught up in trying to keep from dying that we forget to live. I promised myself a long time ago to see and recognize everything that makes life worth living. To pursue joy, enjoy beauty, and[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5761","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-2304-forge-of-war-earc","uentry","postonpage-1","odd","post-author-medron-pryde"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5761","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5761"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5761\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5762,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5761\/revisions\/5762"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5761"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}