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Time to Begin

Dragonlots aka Dana Bell

Chapter 9

Tucked under the Ranger's arm was a box, which he transferred to his hands and extended to Garibaldi.

"What's this?" Michael asked as he went to the door. His wife took a couple steps away. As he looked at the box he could see it was wooden with delicately engraved flower like shapes on it.

"From Valen," the dark clothed man answered.

Michael hated that his hands shook slightly as he took the box. His blood beat a steady rhythm in his ears and his heart raced. The Ranger saluted, pivoted and left, the black cloak barely escaping the door as Lise closed it.

"Michael, what's wrong?" Lise turned her concerned eyes to meet his.

"Long story," he breathed back. He shook his head. "I can't talk right now."

"Okay," she agreed. "But I want you to tell me all about it later."

"If I can." He hurried out of the living room and into his private office, sagging into his comfortable leather chair. Garibaldi placed the container on top of his expensive oak desk. Almost afraid to open it, his fingers struggled with the simple clasp. He threw back the lid and started at the velvet lined inside. Sitting in the middle was a letter addressed to him in handwriting he recognized.

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"So," Galen drawled. "Your people remember us."

"We do." The warrior glared at the Techno-Mage. "We also wondered if the Colonies would have fallen if your kind hadn't abandoned us."

The Techno-Mage flinched. Fresh in his memory was the guilt he felt every time he remembered how the Circle had decided to flee to a hiding place rather than fight the Shadows. Their unreasonable fear that the ancient enemy would miss use their abilities had prompted the decision. Not to mention the deaths of Isabelle, Burrell, and Kell, and the few mages who had turned away from the Code, choosing instead to ally themselves with the chaos bringers.

"I won't deny my kind make rash decisions based on fear." Galen had no intention of getting into an argument with the Colonial.

"That what you call it?" the other snapped back.

"Wait a minute," Sheppard stepped in. "Commander Cain, you know this guy?"

"I know of the Techno-Mages."

Commander Cain! He was indeed fortunate! He'd read the histories about this man and he felt honored, although he'd never show it, to meet the infamous warrior.

"They lived among us in the Colonies long ago," Cain continued. "When the Cylon war started, they fled."

Maybe the actions of their predecessors explained part of the reason for the Circles' decision. Galen wasn't sure he liked the implications.

"That was long ago," he said. "As I said earlier, I am here to help."

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Apollo enjoyed escaping to the observation dome. His finger activated the control and the metal shields peeled back, exposing him to the blackness of space. Stars blinked in the inky velvet and he sat down at the console. His eyes drifted over the various instruments wondering if there was any new information on their Earth brothers.

A yahren of so earlier, they'd picked up a broadcast on the old Gamma frequency. Boomer hadn't had much luck clearing up the picture and the subsequent lab fire had destroyed the recording. Although Apollo had visited a few times after that, he had not been able to bring himself to check for any new signals.

Tonight, though, was different. He pushed the button and waited to see if anything appeared on the tiny screen. Static met his efforts and he sat back with a deep sigh. A part of him had wanted to hear something even if he hadn't really expected to.

"Are we really on the right course for Earth?" he asked the silent room.

"Atlantis, this is the Deadalus."

The warrior jumped at the sudden sound.

"Ready to make the jump to Earth. Any last messages I need to convey to the SGC?"

Earth? Atlantis? Apollo listened intently wishing there was a way to pin point the signal.

"No, Colonel Caldwell," a woman's voice responded. "If anything new transpires, I'll send the update directly to General Landry."

"Understood. See you in a couple of months."

The communications went silent. Apollo sat listening, hoping, there would be more.

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Their return to Minbar was uneventful and John sighed in relief to once again be home. He stood on the open balcony of their dwelling, staring across the crystal city. There were a few scars still of the civil war over a decade ago, but the Minbari had quickly recovered and repaired the damage.

"A penny for your thoughts," Delenn said as she joined him, her head resting against his upper arm.

"It's good to be home," he answered with a smile. His wife had quickly picked up many Earth sayings and tended to use them with him. It was what made her both a good mate and a good diplomat.

"It is isn't it?" Her eyes looked up at him. "I was about to tuck David in. Would you like to help me?"

"Yes." He followed her down the blue grey hallway to their son's room. Sheridan noted with approval the discreet presence of the Rangers. His son's bedroom door slid open and the pair walked to the child's bed.

"Hi, dad, Mom," the ten year old greeted. David scooted under the covers and grinned at them.

"Have you said your prayers?" Delenn asked.

David's oval face scrunched up. John marveled how much the child looked like both of them. He had his mother's brownish black hair and her intellect. What he'd gotten from John was his clear blue eyes and his grandfather's humor.

"Better say them then," his wife urged.

David rolled over the side and kneeled. "God bless, daddy and mommy, and grandfather and keep 'em safe from their enemies. Amen." Their son got back into bed.

"Short, but acceptable." Delenn pulled the soft blue fabric under David's chin. "Tomorrow night they need to be longer."

"I think I'm getting to old for prayers."

"You're never too old." She kissed David's forehead.

"Night, son." John gently roughed the boy's hair. "Sleep tight."

"Night." David closed his eyes.

John and Delenn left, the door silently closing behind them.

"What do you want to bet," John said, "that he'll be out of bed and playing some game."

"I'll check on him in an hour to make sure he is not."

John laughed. Delenn was a very good mother and understood their son's habits well.

"Are you coming to bed?" she asked him.

"In a little while. I want to check on a few things first."

"Don't take too long." She gave him a look he knew well.

On second thought, catching up with what was going on in the Interstellar Alliance could wait.

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"I don't know about you, Lyta," Elizabeth said as the Doctor and Katie left the cafeteria, "but I'm getting a little tired of surprises."

"I have a feeling," the telepath replied, "that the Doctor thrives on them." She lifted her glass to her lips and sipped her water.

Weir shook her head. "I don't know if I could live like that."

"You did once."

"In a way. There was also a bit of predictability to it as well."

"You miss them, don't you?"

She smiled. "I do. Despite the problems, the politics, or McKay's maddening habit of being right."

"Maybe, when this is all over, you should think about going back to Atlantis."

"I might."

"Or you might not. I caught your thought about things being different."

"You know reading my thoughts is getting annoying."

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"So," the Doctor prompted as they walked down the corridor, "what friend had your father intended to send you to?"

"He just told me it was a very good friend."

"Oh, come on now, no name?" He smiled brightly at her.

Katie shook her head. The Doctor was both charming and far too inquisitive to the point she just wanted to slug him. "No."

"Hmmm." He thrust his hands into the deep pockets of his tan coat. "You like living on Earth?"

"Some days. I liked being in Atlantis." She had to shove aside the painful memory of Rodney's almost proposal and him telling her he was too imperfect for anyone to want as a husband. It had hurt her and the only way she could manage to cope was to run away. "Maybe I shouldn't have left," she muttered.

"Your parents?"

"No. Atlantis."

"Ahhh." He gave her a knowing look. "Someone special there?"

"Was."

"Love is a difficult thing."

She looked him. The expression on his face reflected some sort of pain he quickly concealed. Katie wondered what it was all about and decided, maybe, just maybe, he did understand her dilemma.

Truth was, did she want to rekindle a romance with McKay, or had she put a possible future with him aside and now ready for something new?

Katie wasn't sure, but somehow, she sensed, her future was about to change.

NOTE: Information about the Techno-Mages taken from 'Passing of the Techno-Mages" Books 1 & 2 by Jeanne Cavelos, from an outline by JMS.