***Authors Note: This was a difficult chapter to write, as I have recently dealt with a loss to my family (grandfather) and I broke into tears too many times typing the last and this forthcoming chapter. Know this, I do not own Stargate and its character, but there are Original characters I have made up. As always, please review and let me know what you think of it so far. ****
Chapter Six: An end and a beginning
Jack was in the sparring room with John, attempting to win against him but was having very little luck. He sighed in frustration as he just got used to Teal'c style of fighting and now there's something new he has to learn. Perhaps he was getting old learning new fighting styles. Then suddenly without warning, his legs give out as John's stick connected to the back side of his knee and down he went to the mat. Jack pounded the mat and looked up to a grinning John.
"Having fun?" asked Jack dryly.
"A little bit, but this is all too familiar if you don't mind me saying so." John replied.
"What's so familiar about this?" asked Jack as he slowly got up, rubbing his left leg in the attempt to make it feel better. He will be lucky if he didn't bruise.
"It is usually the other way around, Teyla would be beating me down to the mat like what I'm doing to you." John explained.
Jack eyed him, "You lost against Teyla?"
John sighed, "Yes, I know but she is really really good. Ronon is just as good too. That's why I don't spar with him anymore, he can hit too hard and too fast."
Jack groaned, "You should've warned me about that then!"
John stopped and looked at Jack oddly, "Warned you about what sir?"
"I asked Ronon to spar with me tomorrow after the funeral is done and over with." Jack answered with frustration in his voice.
It was then John understood and then he went to the bench to fetch the towels and tossed one to Jack, "So, how is Riona holding up?" asked John as he changed the subject to something very important.
Jack took the towel and mopped his face a bit and walked slowly to the bench and sat down. He sighed, "She's preparing Adair's body with Iruera as according to tradition. Other than that, she hasn't said much. She told me a bit about the tradition and I know Rodney is helping out."
"What is Rodney doing then?" asked John.
"He's helping her with something to do with the final good-bye for Adair. Some material has to be used and I'm not sure if I even understood it all. I think we will find out tonight, when the funeral begins." Jack explained.
"Okay, what about the people of the Cian Ainalan?" John pointed out.
"Andro has already told me that once the funeral is over, they will be taking their leave of us and never to return. They've asked us to stay away from their home and make no further contact. Riona and I agreed to their requests. They deserve to be left alone after all they have done for Adair and his people 10,000 years ago." Jack sighed as he leaned back against the wall.
"Well, that's solve that one problem, with the Daedalus arriving in two weeks, it will be best if they are gone before then." John said.
Jack rolled his eyes and looked at John, "Tell me about it, my head aches with all this pomp and circumstance, it's a little nerve wracking. I keep expecting myself to screw up at any given moment. And oddly enough, Woolsey has been on his best behavior too and that I'm so shocked at. I thought he be the first person to protest about the Cian Ainalan being docked here on Atlantis."
John chuckled, "I know what you mean, but it's been a trying two weeks and with tonight being the most important part of the day, it will be even more difficult."
"I know, but I hope Riona is really up for this. I hate to see her feeling so bad and I hate what it is doing to me." Jack growled.
"Sir, if I may? Do you care for Riona?" asked Jack carefully.
Jack looked up and sighed, "Yeah I do, and what's even more strange, even though I known her for a short while, she is someone I can see spending the rest of my life with."
"I figured that sir, have you told her that?" asked John.
"No, not with all this going on but after all this have settled down, I will tell her. I don't want to rush into this." Jack shook his head.
"I hope you do have that time to tell her, because with the way things go in the Pegasus Galaxy, things have a way of not being said till its too late." John pointed out to Jack.
Jack looked at him with brows raised, "Is that something you know personally from experience or what?"
John squirmed a little on the bench and then heaved a sigh, "Its something I know first hand from experience and I was lucky enough to get a second chance. Elizabeth and I are working on our relationship and it's a romantic one at that too. Despite the physical difference and all, it's all history. She is the same person I love and care for. I don't want to ever take her for granted ever again. I lost her once, and I'm not about to do that again."
"Okay, you have me convinced. I will talk to Riona after the funeral is over. You are right, I should let her know how I feel about it." Jack admitted it to John.
"Great, now, if you will excuse me, I'm heading off to my room and take a shower and get ready for the funeral tonight. Why is she having the funeral at dusk?" asked John as he got up from the bench and grabbed his work gear and put it away.
"Riona said that its tradition, to hold the funeral at the same moment of the passing. I'm not sure how, but all I know is that it's very important to her and at this point, I will let her do anything to help her go through the motions." Jack answered as he too got up from the bench and retrieved his stuff from under the bench.
"I see, well, see you later sir." John nodded in understanding as he turned to leave the room leaving Jack all by his self.
Once Jack got his stuff, he walked down the corridor, taking his time for he has so much thinking to do. Once he finally reached his room, he dropped the duffel bag on the nearest chair and headed off to the bathroom to take a quick shower and get dressed. Riona had already left the clothes hanging in the closet on what he has to wear. He sighed, he hated funerals, and they reminded him too much of what he had gone through with Charlie. He shook his head and pushed the thought away.
It was an hour before dusk that Jack found Riona with Iruera in the gate room in front of the silver casket that held the body of her father. He was stunned to see her, despite her wearing a dress of black with silver, she looked stunning. Her hair was braided; her dress also had a cape to match his. He shuffled his feet, wondering if he should approach her. Before he could gather his courage, Elizabeth entered his line of field. He was stunned by her dark burgundy dress with a black cloak.
"Elizabeth, wow…you look….well, familiar." Jack smiled at her.
"I knew it, everyone has given the same comment, and it seems that this color will always be my favorite. It's strange though, the last time I wore red and black was during Carson's funeral." Elizabeth murmured softly.
"Yeah, funerals really don't dredge up the best of memories." Jack commented sadly.
"I know, I hate dressing up so formal!" muttered a voice that belonged to John as he finally appeared behind Jack.
Jack turned to him and saw that he wore similar style as he was, minus the crown and sword, "Well, welcome to my world. I feel so, ancient!"
"Well, I think everyone is here." Teyla spoke up as she approached them with Rodney following behind her. He had a sleeping Cailean in his arms. Both were dressed appropriately.
Jack looked around and sure enough, looks like the entire city has showed up. In the window, he saw the sun starting to set on the horizon. Only three people were not from the Atlantis expedition. He sighed, feeling sorry to seeing them go but he understood why.
"Would everyone please be seated?" Riona politely asked. She looked to Jack and he nodded and walked towards him. With Jack by her side, she felt her courage somewhat falter. It was the hardest thing she had to do and yet it was time to start.
Seeing that everyone has taken their seats she looked to Jack and nodded. Jack cleared his voice, "Riona and I are very grateful that you all have come to pay respects for a person that has so much to do with who we are today. If it was not for him, I doubt that we would be here honoring him."
Riona spoke up softly, "Adair is my father, he created Atlantis, poured much of whom he is in it and this wondrous place shows the core of who he was. Despite our loss of him, despite the vastness of time, he finally came home and thus died here. Time ends for all of us in some fashion or other."
Jack and Riona stepped aside to let Iruera and her husband Andro step forward. They touched the casket and turned around to face everyone. Iruera spoke first, "I was picked to be the guardian of his body, never knowing if I was to complete the task he has asked my family 10,000 years ago. As much as I am sad that it has come to an end, it is for the best. He has given us so much, and given the universe so much, not knowing that much of his sacrifice would have such an effect on all of us in many different ways."
Andro spoke next, "It is with great sadness that we passed our kinship to his true family, to Atlantis for the final time. He will be remembered fondly by our people, and our words will speak deeds of him in the years to come."
Andro and Iruera turned to Jack and Riona and bowed before them, "With our burden, we pass to you. Accept the honor that has been ours these long years. Let it shape the things to come."
Riona and Jack bowed before them, "We humbly accept the burden as our own. We will honor your pledge as if it was our own making. May the light of the ancestors light your way home safely."
Once those words were spoken, Andro and Iruera joined with Tirion and left the gate room to head back to their ship. Their part was now done. Now it was Atlantis turn to show their honor.
Music starts to fill the room. Riona had picked this because she felt it was the first suitable song she had heard and felt. It was Josh Groban's "To where you are." She was so thankful to Radek that he had a copy on his computer. Her eyes started to mist as the words flow over her heart and soul.
Who can say for certain
Maybe you're still here
I feel you all around me
Your memories so clear
It was then that Ronon, Todd, John, Lorne, Rodney and Carson took their place on either side of the casket. John and Todd were front, while Ronon and Lorne were next, followed by Rodney and Carson. They lifted the casket up and waited for the next step, unsure of what will happen next.
Deep in the stillness
I can hear you speak
You're still an inspiration
Can it be?
It was then that Riona and Jack who stepped in front of the casket while Elizabeth and Teyla went behind the casket. As the music hit a note, Riona raised one of her hands and in the blink of an eye, the room was gone. The small party was instantly transported and they found themselves floating in deep space, orbiting the planet. It was as if Riona had erected a shield around them to protect them. The Cian Ainalan ship had already departed Atlantis and the planet and was waiting off to the side. They too were witnessing the last farewell of someone they knew quite well.
That you are my forever love
And you are watching over me from above?
Riona turned around and touched her fingers to her lips and to the casket bearing her father. Tears streaming down her face she said her silent good-bye. Looking up at Teyla and Elizabeth, they placed something on top of the casket, it was a small metal shield, bearing the insignia of the Atlantis expedition. It was the project that Riona had Rodney work on and she was pleased with how that turned out. Then Riona and Jack parted and made way for the people to walk forward. Once they let go of the casket, it was as some force held it against the edge of the shield and started to pull it free of it, to bring it out to space. One by one, John and Todd let go and bowed. The others followed suit as the song continued on in their ears.
Fly me up to where you are
Beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight
To see you smile
If only for awhile to know you're there
A breath away's not far
To where you are
Are you gently sleeping
There inside my dreams?
And isn't faith believing
All power can't be seen?
The casket finally was pulled free by gravity into space. As the casket continued its journey by some unseen force, Riona clasped her hands to Jack's arm and leaned her head on his upper arm for comfort. She felt the reassuring squeeze from Jack and closed her eyes and let the song carry her along with her father.
Rodney was in complete awe and he watched the Cian Ainalan come about and watch the casket make its journey into the distant sun. The far away light glinted off the surface of the casket, turning it into a solemn beacon in the darkness of space.
As my heart hold you
Just one beat away
I cherish all you gave me
Everyday
Cause you are my forever love
Watching me from above
And I believed that angels breathe
And that love will live on and never leave
It didn't take long for the Sun's gravity to quickly take its hold on the silver casket, bearing the body of Adair on its last journey to the void. The casket started to shine much brighter, the make of the casket causing a chain reaction to be seen from the far reaches of space. It swallowed the casket in one bright glory for a few minutes and then it ceased to be no more.
Fly me up to where you are
Beyond the distant star
I wish upon tonight
To see you smile
If only for awhile
To know you're there
A breath away's not far
To where you are
As the song finally came to an end, Riona waved her hand once more and the party was back in the gate room of Atlantis once more. The rest of Atlantis had witness this all through Riona's sensors. They watched as the Cian Ainalan jumped into hyperspace and leave Atlantis forever.
With the funeral being over, everyone started to file out of the gate room and made their way to the mess hall where food were waiting for everyone.
Richard had stopped to give Cailean back to Teyla and Rodney before he turned his attention towards Riona and Jack. Once Rodney and Teyla left with their son and headed towards the mess hall, it let Richard go towards Riona and spoke, "I'm sorry for your loss. I was given some information courtesy of Rodney about Adair and it is a terrible loss for all of Atlantis."
Riona smiled, "Thank you Richard. Time will heal my wounds. Today we mourn and we celebrate for the future. Tomorrow I will put it behind me and walk my father's path now that he is gone. It is to be expected."
"Of course, that is completely understandable. I want everyone to take a few days off, it has been a tiring two weeks. Before we do go to the planet that Alya is on, I would rather wait till the Daedalus arrives here. Not counting that SGC will be informed of a possible new place for the Alpha base." Richard nodded as he spoke offhand on things that will happen in the near future.
Riona smiled, "That will require some considerable planning."
"Not counting the fact that we might have to pick more people to man the second city. Has Rodney taken a look at the data crystals that Adair left behind?" asked Jack as he realized just how much work will be coming his way in the next few weeks.
Riona shook her head, "Nope, and he didn't want to look out of respect for me. We will see what's on it once Col. Caldwell arrives for we have much to tell him."
"Okay, that is decided then. Shall we join everybody in the mess hall? I'm starving!" Jack asked as he offered Riona his arm.
Riona gladly accepted his offer and the two of them headed his way towards the mess hall where a buffet of food awaits them. Richard shrugged his shoulder and followed them. There was no reason as to why he can't mingle with everyone. He then noticed Todd was by himself off to the side so he motioned to him to join him. It was high time he gets to know the man, after all, he is here to stay and he can't afford to remain ignorant for much longer. Ignorance is not a good tool to have in the Pegasus Galaxy it seems. Todd finally joined him and they started talking to one another on good safe topics that won't offend anyone.