In 2015...

December 21

A sombre feeling stayed with the two as they exited the old Ford pick-up truck and slowly walked into the house, placing her bag on the table in the main living area former Colonel Cole sat in an old small chair as her tears began to flow free. Slowly her father crouched next to her and attempted to comfort her with a soft and soothing voice.

"He was 92 Jenny, he had a good life"

"I know dad, but it still hurts" He sobbed.

"He was a good man. You should be proud of what he had accomplished"

Smiling she looked up and laughed slightly.

"I am, I always have been… it's tough dad… Grandma, Bobby, Mom and now Grandpa…"

"I know… it never gets any easier loosing the ones we love"

"What now dad, what do we do now?"

"Remember him, what he did… what he meant to you and carry that with you forever"

Slowly the old war veteran chocked back his own feelings as he stood and poured two drinks from an old bottle of Scotch Whisky as he spoke past his own grief.

"Grandpa bought this the day you where born, he said you would change the world one day…"

"Well that worked… San Francisco was almost destroyed by…"

"Not you Jenny, not you. Here drink with an old man?"

Wiping her tears away she looked up and took the glass and drained it quickly.

"Wow!" She coughed.

"Wow… indeed. Another?" He coughed.

"No… I should get back to what I was doing"

"You can't leave that thing alone can you?"

"No sir, now more then ever…"

"What did he mean when he said '… The meal was cooked long ago…'?"

"I don't know, he was dosed up on medication dad"

Smiling slightly she placed her glass in her father's hands as she walked past him. Changing quickly she braved the snow storm and entered the old barn as she looked over an old schematic of the aircraft she had almost completed, placing the book down she turned on the music once again and picked up the final piece of the engine she had been awaiting for weeks, as she turned around she dropped the valuable engine part and ran into the centre of the barn looking around in shock.

"BASTARDS…You total bastards"

Screaming with everything she had she ripped the old radio off the counter and threw it across the room as she kicked open the doors and walked towards the main house. Her first thought was one of pure anger until she entered the living area of the house and saw her father with his head in his hands crying, wiping back her own tears she quietly walked backwards into the next room and grabbed the first weapon she could find, her grandfather's service pistol. Holding it close too her chest she mumbled too herself quietly before leaving the house.

In 2045...

Taking another sip of his drink President McKay smiled as his memories began to flow back of that time, a time when the Great Tau'ri War was at it's height and danger hid around every corner as the enemies of Earth had begun to mobilise against them.

"… I mean, I'm surprised John"

"At what Rodney?" He said as he took another sip.

"That she didn't kill you"

"Yeah, me too" He laughed.

"You know, I thought a lot about those years recently. You know that Cole reminded me a lot of Teyla"

John almost chocked on his drink as he laughed slightly, although he similarity was clear after he had said it.

"Are you kidding me?"

"No, imagine what it would have been like if they had been around together"

"Rodney, that's the single stupidest thing I have ever heard"

Laughing Rodney leaned forward and refilled the drinks as John leaned forward and began coughing uncontrollably. After a few moments he wiped the blood from his mouth and took a sip of his drink as Rodney looked on in shock and concern for his old commanding officer and friend.

"Are you okay John?"

"I'm fine… it happens, now where was I? Teyla and Cole. You know they would've hated each other, from day one"

"One side of the same coin"

"They would have… beaten the shit out of each other and then fought over who won"

"Wow, Rodney McKay… the most influential President in Tau'ri history… using a swear word. Tut, tut, tut… what would you wife… and voters think?" He laughed.

"Lucky for us, they aren't here. So come on, tell me the truth… how did you get Cole to come back?"

"Well that was the tough part…"

"I remember when she… beamed in, holding that old gun"

"What was the one thing she valued the most?" He smiled.

"Ohh you didn't…"

John took a sip of his drink as he smiled slightly.

In 2015...

December 21

For the first time since the great city had arrived on Earth Christmas decorations had been hung around the gate room of Atlantis as the festive spirit had taken over them. Since the cowardly attack on earth over a year ago, moral within the city had hit an all time low. Stood looking down over the control centre General Sheppard had a large smile on his face as he watched his command move around with a slight spring in their steps for the first time in almost a year as Doctor Zelenka walked towards him he turned and smiled slightly.

"Radek, what can I do for you?"

"Nothing sir… actually, a few of us have been wandering, why are you smiling all the time?"

"McKay caught his hand in a car door" He laughed.

"Although funny, it isn't that… what is it"

"Really, Not buying it? Okay…"

A beeping sound caught Zelenka's attention as Sheppard straightened his tunic and stood tall.

"Wait for it… three… two… one"

A bright flash of light appeared in the centre of the Gateroom as a dirty angry woman looked around and saw the both of them stood looking at her with a slight smile on their faces. Anger swelled as she walked pushed past several of the personnel only to be stopped on the first step by Ronan.

"Get out of my way Dex" She growled.

"I can't dot hat Cole, I'm sorry"

"MOVE!" She yelled.

"I'm sorry, hand over that gun"

"If you want this gun Dex, you're going to have to take it from me"

Slowly Ronan walked down a few steps as Sheppard looked on with a smile.

"I have the high ground Cole, you'll have to get past me"

"Not a problem…" She said with a smile. "… Just remember one thing Ronan, this isn't about you. And I'm sorry"

"For what?" He asked.

With almost lightening speed she grabbed him and threw him past her as she quickly spun around as he landed on the ground behind her and rolled before jumping too his feet, smiling slightly he ran his right hand over his lips as they began to circle each other, a large group had gathered around as Cole placed old service weapon inside her overalls as she began to asses her opponent's strengths and weaknesses, if he had any. Almost a clear foot taller then her he had the advantage of reach, but she had been highly trained in many different forms of self defence and rarely lost a sparring session against him in the past.

"Don't do this Cole…"

"Too late Dex, he's gone too damned far this time"

He had never seen this side of her as she used his own fighting style against him, quickly he dropped to the floor to avoid her powerful attack as she leapt into the air and slammed her fist down onto his nose as a crack was heard, falling to the floor he rolled as blood poured from his nose and upper lip, blood filled his mouth, wincing in pain slightly he spat the blood out of his mouth as anger began to swell to a dangerous level within him as he grabbed her and picked up in a powerful bear hug, resisting the urge to scream she ploughed both her elbows down onto his shoulders over and over until his grip was loosened enough for her break free, stepping back slightly she clenched her fists once more as she spun around and swept his legs from under him. As he fell she followed through with a powerful kick too his jaw. As he fell to the floor she grabbed the large energy pistol off his belt and quickly ran up the steps towards the General. Her eyes burned once more as se pushed past the guards and grabbed Sheppard by his tunic and threw him into the nearest console, the sound of Ronan's large pistol activating shocked everyone as she pushed it into the side of Sheppard's head and yelled with all of her anger.

"Where the hell is it?"

"You are this close to being Shit-canned Cole!" He grunted.

"I don't know much about this weapon you Bastard… but I know one thing, Stun or Kill setting, at this distance it will blow your damned head off. Where the hell is it?"

"Safe, for now"

Quickly he pushed back as she threw him down once more, from the side of her eye she saw two security guards slowly walk up towards her, without thinking she grabbed the old service pistol from inside her overalls and pointed it at the two guards as she pulled down on the hammer.

"I want it back Sheppard… NOW!"

Slowly he stood and pushed the weapon away from his head as he paced around her.

"You've lost it… You have no idea what the hell is going on do you? For over a year you've been sat around working on your little project while we're dying for your freedom. Put down those weapons Cole, and I won't have you arrested… hear me out, you owe me that much!"

From the corner of her eye she saw one of the two guards walk towards her, reflexes kicked in as she squeezed the trigger on the old service pistol, sparks flew as the bullet slammed into the floor at the guard's feet. Slowly Sheppard raised both his hands as he walked towards her and pushed the large particle weapon away as he spoke softly.

"We all know what happened to you Cole, and we could have all handled it better then we did… for that, I'm sorry. Jack set you up for the fall… we don't know why he did. I offer you a chance to get even with him, work with us again… help us stop him once and for all… help us end this war. Not for me, not for those thousands that died during the last attack but for yourself… Ronan was right Cole, revenge is a great motivator"

Slowly she lowered her weapons and placed them on the console next to her as grief and anger began to boil over. Collapsing to the ground she began to cry as Sheppard knelt down next too her and placed his hand on her back in an attempt to comfort her.

"Okay John, but after this I'm done… finished with it all. If I see so much as a scratch on the paint work on that plane… I'll kill you, do you understand me Sheppard… I will kill you"

"I got it Cole…" He laughed slightly. "Welcome back. Captain Forest, take the Colonel to the Infirmary, have her check out by the Doctor, once she's been cleared I want to see her in my office… we have a lot to talk about"

"Aye sir" He said slowly.

Nodding slowly she stood and turned to face the large man behind her, wiping her eyes she followed him out of the control room as Ronan stepped beside her with a smile on his face as blood poured from his broken nose and large cut on the side of his jaw.

"You're good Cole… But I want a rematch"

"Are you okay Ronan?" She said with concern.

"I'll live, this ain't my first broken bone. Welcome back"

With her head low she followed the two large men towards the infirmary as she spoke with a shaky voice as she attempted to hold back her own sense of personal loss.

"Do me a favour Dex?"

"Of course"

"Help me find Jack… 'Cause I'm gonna kill him. But first I'm gonna make him pay for everything he's done"

"I give you my word"

"Thank you… sorry about…"

"Forget it. I got one question though, it's bothered me for awhile now"

"What is it?" She asked quietly.

"You seem to know what people are going to do before they do it… how?"

Laughing slightly she stopped and looked up at the large alien soldier, since Atlantis had become stranded on Earth, he had made this planet his home almost to the point of adopting Tau'ri speech patterns.

"I don't know… I've always been able to do it, it's like I can almost sense an opponent's thoughts before they make the choice to act and mount the appropriate defence. That's how I've always been able…" Smiling at him she continued with a mocking tone. "… to beat you. You're a beast Dex, your skills and training are insane… so far beyond my own you scare me. You almost had me back there but you hesitated, you blinked… why?"

"I don't know… but thank you"

Laughing for the first time in over a year she followed the two towards the medical section of the large city, after being cleared for duty she returned too her old quarters and looked around, it almost looked the same as when she left it with the exception of a new Tau'ri Alliance uniform carefully placed on the bed. After taking a shower she changed clothes and walked towards the command centre as the shocked senior staff watched while she walked towards the General's office and entered.

"Not in wearing a uniform Cole?" Sheppard said with a smile.

"No sir, what I have planned for that Bastard clone… I do not want to be on the conscience of the military… or you"

"I see, civilian it is then. Take a seat, we have a lot to talk about"

"Aye sir" She said with respect.

"I took the liberty of contacting your father for you, to inform him that you have returned to Atlantis"

"I see" She grunted.

"He's worried about you Cole, he told me about your Grandfather… I'm sorry. The aircraft has been returned intact… I've also tracked down the final parts you need to complete the aircraft, they will be sent to your home as soon as possible"

"Thank you sir" She said with a smile.

Slowly he picked up a file and slid it across his desk towards her, as she opened the file she began to read the first page, a classified security file on the man now known as the Asguard designed clone of Jack O'Neill.

"That is everything we have on the clone, it's not much but we think we know why he turned against us"

"Why?" She said through gritted teeth.

"Shortly after he graduated from high school he joined the Marine Corps, with his knowledge he was fast tracked up the ladder at an amazing rate. However, he was discharged from service after almost killing his superior officer during a bar fight. After being kicked out of the Military and the death of the Asguard race he went into hiding… we don't know where he went but a few years later he was spotted working for a… small private army. He was arrested many times for smuggling weapons… we believe he was responsible for the attack on Atlantis that destroyed our Stardrive capabilities. The destruction of the Stardrive was a by product of his true intent"

"He wanted to kill General O'Neill?"

"We believe so… it was the perfect time to assassinate him and many of the leaders of the military that had gathered to inspect Atlantis"

"I see, where is he now?" She growled.

"His fleet moves around a lot however, a Jaffa vessel spotted his command ship here…"

Quickly he leaned over the table and pointed to a star map on his desk.

"… A small system on the edge of our galaxy. Unfortunately the system has no Stargate we are aware of so gating to the system is impossible…"

"I sense a… however coming Johnny Boy"

Laughing slightly he leaned back in his chair and nodded with a large grin on his face.

"We have a… new ship docked on the East Pier, top of the line… all the latest tech. It's a small ship, larger then an Al'kesh. But this thing is the fastest ship we have, it's weapons systems put a 304 to shame…"

"Nice!" She smiled darkly.

"It's the first ship designed with Asguard, Lantean and Tau'ri tech… Primary and Secondary Shield grid, Primary and Secondary cloaking shields… Think Defiant from Star Trek"

"Cool…"

"She's yours Cole… take the ship and anyone you need. Bring that bastard clone back"

"With no due respect John… once I'm finished with that asshole, there won't be much left to fit a match box"

"Be careful Cole… we think he's working on some kind of Ascension"

"Even better… one question, well two actually. What happened to his wife?"

"She gave birth to a boy, they're both in hiding. She gave us everything we have in that file in exchange for sanctuary on Earth and immunity from prosecution"

"Cowardly bitch. Give me Ronan and Zelenka…"

"Zelenka, why?" He laughed.

"Trust me… What's the name of the ship?"

"Vengeance" He replied as she smiled darkly once again. "I had a feeling you'd like that, By the way… She's equipped with two new support vessels, a new design fighter based on the 302"

"And the other?"

"The new Tau'ri Jumper you helped design…"

"Perfect!" She laughed.