Stargate Atlantis: S7—The Last Story4
The Gateroom was crowded. Everyone was in attendance. The mood was somber. The Stargate was a shimmering pool of light, shedding waves across the grieving crowd and the lone bier that was suspended in mid-air. There was no body in the box, however. Ronon's things were in there, to be sent to Sateda in a ceremonial farewell. Lacking a body it was the best that the expedition could do.
It would have to do.
Nearby there was a board which listed the names of the eight scientists who had been culled with John and fed upon. Beneath their names was the name of the hapless airman who had died on the Tria. A single wreath of flowers decorated the monument to the lost.
Letters still had to be composed to the family members.
John was standing with the rest, hands clasped behind his back. He was wearing his dress blues and he stared at nothing, lost in his own thoughts. Richard was speaking about the dead now, and John grimaced, knowing he would be expected to speak next. He glanced round at the others. Everyone was either in dress blues or suits, or somber dresses.
He looked at Moira. She was standing next to him, so close her arm was touching his. She had on a dark gray dress. Her long hair was spilling down her back and her gaze was locked on the floor, as if fascinated by the patterns there. Only hours earlier she had been naked, passionately locked with him as they lost themselves in pleasure and release.
He let the memories warm him. Moira nudged him and he met her gaze. "What?"
"John." She glanced at the Stargate.
John looked there. Richard was waiting, expectant. "Oh. Crap," he muttered, causing her to briefly smile. He sighed. He cleared his throat and headed to the front of the room as Richard stepped aside. John eyed the assembly. "Ronon." He paused. His gruff voice was quiet but it filled the room. "Ronon was one of us. He died to protect this city. He died to save us from the worst threat we have ever faced. He went down fighting all the way. He will be missed. Everyone knows the risks out here. Those scientists did and Airman Peters did. And Ronon did as well. All are irreplaceable. We will honor their memories by continuing on and keeping the faith. Atlantis will never be surrendered."
John returned to his wife. He nodded.
The suspensor slowly floated into the event horizon.
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The music was loud, raucous. The food was extravagant. The drinks were endless. Atlantis was hosting a wake and nearly everyone was participating. It was a celebration of survival as well as a remembrance of those lost. It was noisy and rude and just what everyone needed. The city lights were bright, almost too bright, as if the city was participating.
"To Ronon!" The glasses clinked together noisily.
"You know…I never thought he'd be the first," Rodney mused after drinking deeply of the beer. "I mean the first of us to you know…anyway, I never thought he'd be the first one."
"I always thought it would be you," John wryly commented.
"I thought it would be you," Rodney shot back.
"Me?"
"Yes, you! You are always so reckless and charging in…although I guess you were more in danger of being seduced." Guffaws encircled the table.
"I always thought it would be me. Oh…it was." Carson's comments produced another wave of laughter.
Teyla shook her head. "Enough of this. We are here to mourn our friend."
"And to celebrate his life. It's an Irish wake," John stated. He lifted his glass and drank deeply of the beer.
"Ronon wasn't Irish."
"Shut up, Rodney."
"To Ronon!" The men slammed their glasses against each other again and drank.
Teyla shook her head. She found many Earth customs odd and amusing, but this one was just downright bizarre. She stood. "I think I will find more amiable company elsewhere. And John, we need to speak once you are no longer inebriated."
"Do we? Whaddya want to know?" John asked, a slight slur marring his words.
"It's just a way to express grief and loss," Carson explained. His Scottish accent was becoming thicker as he imbibed with the rest.
"Letting off some steam," Rodney replied. "After all, we did manage to save John and the city."
"At a terrible cost, yes," the Athosian agreed.
"Then what's the problem, Teyla?" John asked. There was an angry tone to his voice as he met her stern gaze.
"We shall speak later," she stated. Giving the group a dour look she gracefully made her way out of the room.
"What the hell's her problem?" John wondered.
"I dunno. Maybe it's an Athosian thing," Rodney suggested.
"Maybe it's a woman thing," Carson theorized.
"Speaking of women…where's your wifey?"
John set down his empty glass. "She's…" John glanced around, brow furrowing.
"Lost her already?" Rodney teased.
"No! Shit." John moved to his feet. He scanned the various groups but Moira was not among any of them. A quick panic seized him but he quelled it. Of course she was still in the city.
"I thought I saw her talking to Woolsey as he was leaving," Carson remarked.
"Ah! Of course. She's talking to Woolsey," John stated.
"Why?"
"Um…" John had no idea.
Rodney laughed. "Maybe they are having an affair."
"Ha ha. I better find her."
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Richard was leaning forward in his chair as he sat at his desk. He eyed the data screen as it was turned towards him. "And you are sure about this?"
"Yes. That is to say I am reasonably certain but we need to retrieve additional data. Something could have survived in the lower levels. If I can reach that database I can see what's there. And retrieve anything else that might have survived the blast. Plus I want to continue my work there with the indigenous species. We were making great strides before the, the attack."
"Echo Base? You wanna go back there?"
Both looked over as John was lounging in the doorway. He entered, swaying a little. He stopped behind Moira and rested his hands on her chair.
"Yes, John. Once we can get there safely," Moira said.
"No."
"I doubt there is anything left but it's worth a second look," Richard said. "Since we can't rely on that Stargate we will have to use the Tria once she is repaired."
"No. We're done there. Trust me, there's nothing on that ice cube now," John argued.
"John! You aren't thinking clearly! I need to go back there to continue my research and to—"
"No. It's not happening, Moira. End of story."
"John!" Moira moved to her feet, whirling to face him. "You can't just arbitrarily decide—"
"I just did." He turned and strode out of the room. He smiled, knowing it would infuriate her.
"Damn it! John! John!" Moira grabbed her data pad and followed after her husband. "John Sheppard!" she said sternly.
John smirked. He turned and watched her hasten down the stairs to him. "End of discussion, Moira."
"We didn't even have a discussion! We need to go back there sooner rather than later!"
"Why? To retrieve your precious data?" he sneered, but he wasn't really angry with her. Not yet, anyway.
"Yes! And whatever personal items are left, if any! We were making great strides in—"
"No. Echo Base is a wreck now. What's more the location has been compromised. The Wraith know about it and we can't be sure that knowledge wasn't communicated to the ones outside of that Hive ship."
"But—"
"No buts, Moira! We're not going back there."
"We are! At least a recon mission to see what's left, and a survey to see what impact, if any the destruction had on the indigenous species! John, you have no idea what's out there! You have no idea how precious the life is on that planet!"
"I have an inkling but our lives are much more important than hairy elephants and primitive humans." He paused. He saw the flare of hurt in her brown eyes as he dismissed her work so glibly. "Um, Moy…I…"
"No." She took a step back from him. "We will discuss this properly when you are sober, John."
"Sweetheart, I didn't mean to belittle your work. I just…we've been through a lot and lost friends and I…um…"
Moira stepped to him. She kissed him softly. "It's all right, John. I shouldn't have brought this up now. That's why I was talking to Woolsey instead of you. We need to go sooner rather than later, though."
"Why? What's the rush? Moira, you're not going to run away from Atlantis. You are here now, with me, and this is where we are going to stay."
"I know that, John."
"Oh. Oh? Then what's the rush?"
Moira hesitated. She glanced round but they were quite alone. She stepped closer and perched on her tiptoes to kiss him again. She slid her lips to his ear. "John…I…I'm pregnant." She stepped back to gauge his reaction.
John smiled. He just smiled.
