A/N: Mage Primal is a concept conceived by Lodylodylody, first introduced in her story Harper Take a Bite Out of Life. When I noticed that what I had planned for Alex in this story bore an uncanny similarity to the concept, I asked, and received her blessing to use it my story. Thanks L3!
Wizard Force
By
James Doyle
Chapter Ten: The Price of Victory
After unloading their evacuees at Atlantis, the Gandalf rendezvoused with the Daedalus to assist with repairs on her sister ship Apollo. During this time, Captain Schiller met with Colonels Caldwell, Ellis, and Sheppard, as well as Majors Lorne and Grimsby, Dr. Rodney McKay, and Alex Russo for debriefing, while Lt. Commander Hemmeryn oversaw repairs.
"I still can't believe what I'm seeing," marveled Caldwell as they reviewed the sensor telemetry from the battle.
"Tell me about it," concurred Sheppard. "I knew Russo was a badass; I had no idea she packed this kind of punch."
"I still don't understand it," puzzled Grimsby. "Standardized testing placed Private Russo..."
Alex cleared her throat, and Schiller cast Grimsby a dirty look.
"I beg your pardon, Sergeant Russo," Grimsby corrected himself before continuing. "At any rate, she was shown to be a level three wizard at best."
"I was never very good at taking tests," volunteered Alex.
"So what's the deal, Russo?" asked Sheppard. "You evacuated several hundred troops with a wave of your hand, you scuttled two hives, you created a black hole, you remotely flew a ship with a bum hyperdrive out of the solar system, which, by the way, you completely obliterated, and all the while, fragged almost a hundred thousand Wraith. Not that I'm ungrateful for any of that, but seriously, what was going through your head?"
"Yes, pray-tell," reinforced Grimsby. "Where did you learn these spells?"
"I wasn't using any spells," answered Alex. "I mean, I was at first, but those were just the basic ones Dr. McKay taught me. But when that Wraith fed on me, I just felt like all hope was gone for good. I'd never felt so empty in my entire life. And then, something just came along to fill it. And when that happened, I didn't need to cast any spells. I just told people and things what to do, and no matter what it was, they just did it. It was like I could take matter and energy, and do whatever I wanted."
"Mage Primal," Schiller said flatly.
"I beg your pardon, sir?" puzzled Grimsby.
"Mage Primal," repeated Schiller. "I've heard of it, but I've never seen it. It's a state of magic far beyond spells and potions and gadgets. It's when a wizard's life force marries with the unseen and unknown forces that fuel and control all universes. The wizard then gains the ability to manipulate those forces, to control matter, energy, and even space-time itself by sheer force of will. Only wizards of extraordinary natural ability are capable of attaining this state, and many of the most powerful have tried and failed. Less than a handful have ever attained to it, to the point where modern wizard-historians largely regard it as a myth."
"I'm no expert, but I'd say there's something to it," commented Caldwell.
"So just how exactly do you achieve this state?" asked McKay.
"It's not a matter of achievement," explained Schiller. "It can only by means of a combination the most intense and passionate emotions. Tell them what you felt, Sergeant."
"Hopelessness," answered Alex. "Sadness that nothing anyone had every done mattered anymore, grief over the loss of everyone and everything I've ever loved."
"What else?"
"Anger. Anger toward Valenczak and the Wraith, and the desire to utterly destroy every last one of them."
"I'd say she hit on just the right combination," noted Schiller.
"Could she do it again if the need arose?" asked Colonel Ellis.
"I don't think so," answered Schiller. "Mage Primal has been, in all known cases, an involuntary reaction rising out of extraordinary circumstances and the emotions surrounding them. It does indicate, however, that she's an incredibly powerful wizard, and could be of immeasurable value to the Force." Schiller looked over at Alex. "Assuming, of course, you're willing."
"Hell yeah I am," answered Alex. "Now that we're out here, let's finish the job."
"That's what I'm talking about," praised Sheppard.
"Perhaps in time," said Schiller. "For now, we'll be headed back to Earth for a refit of the Gandalf and for additional training."
"No," argued Alex. "We have to help the mortals take care of the Wraith problem once and for all."
"I'm afraid that's not possible," said Grimsby. "The purpose of this mission was to deal with a common threat to both the wizard world and Earth. The Wizards Council will not, however, authorize a continuing alliance."
"Screw the Wizards Council!" retorted Alex. "You know as well as I do the Wraith will just keep trying. And eventually they'll succeed. Nobody's safe, wizards or mortals, as long as they're still out there."
"Your objection is noted, Sergeant," said Schiller, losing his patience.
"Dammit, Schiller!" pleaded Sheppard. "Listen to her! She's the only one of you who's making any kind of sense!"
"Colonel, this is still my operation," growled Schiller. "Until this assignment ends, you'd best not step out of line."
"To hell with you and your baroque policies and procedures!" dissed Sheppard.
"Enough!" interrupted Alex. "We've got to start working together or none of us stands a chance."
"I'd advise you to zip it, Sergeant," warned Schiller, "Or I might be forced to reconsider your offer."
"Fine!" retorted Alex. "If you won't listen to reason, I'll just have to go with Colonel Sheppard."
"I'm afraid I can't allow that," said Schiller as he and Grimsby prepared to restrain Alex.
"Try and stop me," challenged Alex.
"I will if I have to," answered Schiller. "I can't allow one of my crew to go rogue."
With that, Alex held her forearms together in front of her face and dropped through the deck.
"Schiller to bridge," called Schiller as and Grimsby ran out of the briefing room. "We've got a rogue wizard attempting to go UA."
"Alex, sir?" asked Justin.
"That's affirmative Ensign," confirmed Schiller. "Can you contain her?"
"I'm trying, sir," replied Justin. "Magic subsystems are still only minimally functional."
"You'd better figure something out fast," urged Schiller. "If she makes it to the naquidah generators, there's nothing we can do."
Wizard personnel throughout the ship tried to restrain Alex, only to find themselves slammed against a deck, a ceiling, or a bulkhead, without so much as a hand lain on them.
"You're closing in on her position, sir," reported Justin. "I don't think you'll be able to do much."
"Try something," urged Schiller. "Anything."
"I have an idea," informed Justin. "But it's a long-shot."
"Let's hear it," prompted Schiller.
"I might be able to beam her magical aura out of her," suggested Justin.
"Get on it!" ordered Schiller.
At that moment, the two officers found themselves staring down the corridor at Alex, whose eyes showed no fear. She then charged at them.
"Russo, now would be a good time," prodded Schiller.
"Yes, sir," obeyed Justin. "Accessing Asgard beam controls, reconfiguring, and...got it!"
At that moment, a glowing ball of energy thump-foomed out of Alex, and she immediately collapsed.
"She's alive," reported Grimsby after taking her pulse. "She's merely unconscious."
"Let's get her to sickbay," instructed Schiller before calling back to the bridge. "Russo, did you manage to capture that aura by any chance?"
"Negative, sir," reported Justin. "I didn't have time to make the adjustments for that. It's dissipated into space."
"Damn!" cursed Schiller, regaining his cool before answering Justin. "Good work, Ensign."
"Yes, sir," replied Justin.
A moment later, Hemmeryn stood up to leave the bridge.
"I need to use the head," he declared. "You have the conn, Ensign."
"Aye, sir," answered Justin.
Alone on the bridge, Justin discreetly opened the control cabinet under his console, and carefully removed one of the control crystals.
The Gandalf had a slightly more comfortable version of a medieval dungeon for a brig. Having spent the last two weeks there, Alex had done a good deal of thinking. She regretted absolutely nothing she'd done. Thanks to her, the universes would live on to fight another day. And even though her escape attempt had failed, she still believed it had been the right thing to do, and was prepared to accept whatever punishment the Council decided to mete out. She had been contemplating these notions yet again when she had an unexpected visitor.
"Captain," she greeted, standing at attention.
"As you were, Sergeant," said Schiller, taking a seat just outside the cell. "I have some good news: You're out of here in three days."
"Really?" disbelieved Alex. "You're not gonna have me spent the next hundred years as a dung beetle?"
"No, I've decided to write your little stunt up as an adverse reaction to a magical overload," continued Schiller.
"That's not how I remember it," replied Alex.
"Well, then I'd suggest you keep that yourself," advised Schiller. "Unfortunately, the first requirement of serving in Wizard Force is that you actually be a wizard. I have no choice but to grant you an honorable discharge."
"Can I ask you something, Captain?" requested Alex. "Off the record?"
Schiller nodded.
"Why are you doing this?"
Schiller sighed. "Because for what it's worth, Russo, I agree with you. I can't let you take your powers with you, but I support you in helping the mortals in their fight against the Wraith."
"I don't know what to say, sir," reacted Alex.
"Don't say anything," responded Schiller. "It didn't happen."
"What didn't happen?" Alex asked rhetorically.
"Exactly," said Schiller as he took his leave.
As soon as the Gandalf returned to the Milky Way, the remainder of the mortal contingent beamed down to the nearest planet, and dialed the Stargate. Alex jumped back as the connection established, and the unstable vortex jumped out of the ring.
"Whoa, easy there, Sergeant!" consoled Sheppard.
"I'm a civilian now, remember?" corrected Alex.
"For now," remarked Sheppard.
"What does that mean?"
"Russo, I've got a feeling you can be just as good with a P90 as you are with a wand," said Sheppard. "When you're a little older, I'd be happy to have you on my team."
"That could take awhile," argued Alex. "I'd basically have to start over."
"Last I looked, you were a Staff Sergeant," countered Sheppard. "We could fast-track you through OCS, have you back in Pegasus in two years. Does that sound good to you?"
Alex paused for a moment before answering. "Can I think about it?"
"Absolutely," agreed Sheppard. "I'll just make sure you know how to get a hold of my people."
The party proceed forward through the event horizon. Alex hesitated as her turn came.
"Russo," observed Sheppard, "Are you telling me that after wielding the forces of the universe against the Wraith, you're scared of a little thing like the Stargate?"
"Well, it is my first trip," argued Alex.
"Ah, suck it up!" teased Sheppard.
Alex nodded, took a deep breath, and walked through the event horizon. She soon found herself speeding along a rapid, circuitous path through the cosmos in a purple luminescent tube. A moment later, she found herself standing on a ramp in some kind of bunker. When she saw who was waiting for her at the end of the ramp, she ran up to embrace them.
"Mom, dad!" she cried, after which Jerry and Theresa Russo threw their arms around their daughter.
"Oh, honey," cried Theresa. "We're so happy you're home safe."
"We'd heard something had gone wrong," added Jerry. "We were worried sick about you."
"It did," confirmed Alex. "But it's okay now."
"Alex?" interrupted a familiar voice from behind them. Jerry and Theresa parted, allowing Alex to run up to Harper and throw her arms around her, nearly squeezing the life out of her.
"I missed you so much," gushed Alex, on the verge of tears.
"I missed you, too," reciprocated Harper, savoring every moment of Alex's embrace.
After being allowed a moment to get reacquainted, the base guards ushered them out of the gate room and escorted them to the car awaiting them at the main entrance.
"Oh, hey there, Mr. Shanahan," greeted a passing Airman, causing Jerry to get in his face.
"For the last time," he shouted. "I'm not Pete Shanahan. Do I look Irish to you?"
"Um, no sir," whimpered the Airman.
"Good," said Jerry, turning his attention back to his family. "I don't know who this Shanahan is, but that's at least the fifth time somebody on this base thought I was him."
"So where's Justin?" asked Harper as their car took them to Peterson Air Force Base to catch their flight.
"He'll be home in about a week," answered Alex. "He's flying the Gandalf back to earth."
"And after that?" asked Theresa.
"That's something we all need to talk about when he gets back," said Alex.
"We'll have plenty of time to talk about that later," deferred Jerry. "Right now, your mother and I are just happy to have you back."
End of Chapter Ten
Where will Justin and Alex go from here? Stay tuned for the final chapter and find out!